I still don't own any of the properties I am playing with in creating this work of fiction.

Chapter 7 – Putting the pieces together

While Batman was introducing himself to Draco Malfoy, Harry, Hermione and Ron were discussing what happened in their rooms at the Leaky Cauldron.

"Ron, how did that Death Eater get knocked out," Hermione asked.

"The one that was sneaking up behind me," Ron asked. "I haven't the foggiest. One minute I'm covering you two and Bruce is behind me, the next I hear a thump and turn around seeing that Death Eater face down on the pavement and Bruce is nowhere to be found."

Harry sat on the bed listening and thinking before adding, "Well it was a good thing he got away and you were lucky that Death Eater didn't sneak up behind you and curse you."

"Harry," Hermione began, "I know you want to go to Godric's Hollow tomorrow, but I was thinking maybe we should verify Alfred's story first."

Harry turned quickly to look at Hermione. She and Ron both prepared for a dose of Harry's quick temper, but were surprised when he said, "You are right Hermione, though I have a feeling it will check out."

Ron looked at his friends and said, "Well I don't know about you two, but I need some sleep." He walked into the loo to get ready for bed.

Hermione looked at Harry awkwardly before hugging him gently and wishing him a good night as she went to her own room.

Harry sat there a moment and then got ready for bed.

The next morning Harry, Hermione and Ron all apparated to Number 12 Grimmauld Place to find some answers.

Harry paused a moment before opening the door, steeling himself for what he might find inside.

The teens entered the Most Noble House of Black and were not surprised to hear Mrs. Black's painting screaming at the top of her lungs, "BLOOD TRAITORS, FILTH, and WHERE IS KREACHER!"

Harry quickly approached the portrait and quietly said, "Kreacher is no longer owned by your family. I own him as both the heir of Sirius Black and the Black Family. As the Head of this House I order you to be quiet and remove yourself from that wall or I will find out how many reductos it takes to remove you permanently."

Mrs. Black looked at Harry in shock and silence, before releasing her hold on the wall.

"Thank you," Harry said. "Dobby, Kreacher," he called out.

Two pops immediately signaled the arrival of his elves.

Kreacher seeing his mistress off of the wall, screamed, "Mistress I tried, I took care of that Blood Traitor son."

Harry fought the urge to kill Kreacher and instead said, "Kreacher, I order you to bring us every book the Blacks might have owned or possessed on the creation and destruction of Horocruxes. You are not allowed to speak or contact or inform anyone other than myself, Hermione, Ron or Dobby when you have completed your task or what you are doing."

Turning to Dobby Harry said, "Dobby would you please make sure Kreacher completes his task."

Dobby looked at Harry with wide eyes, "Harry Potter thinks of Dobby as an equal to his friends." Dobby grabbed Harry around his knees and wailed with pleasure.

Harry looked for help at the smirking Ron and Hermione, and finding none, he said, "Of course Dobby you are a friend."

Grimacing as Dobby continued to praise him above all that is holy, Harry coughed and said, "Dobby can you and Kreacher please go take care of that now."

Looking abashed, Dobby nodded and he and Kreacher popped away.

"You know Mate," Ron said with a smirk, "I think Dobby likes you a little too much."

Groaning at Ron, he then said, "Let's go look at a family tree shall we?"

The three teens walked into the drawing room and looked at the tapestry of the Most Noble and Ancient House of Black.

"Hermione," Harry asked, "Who did Alfred say was his father?"

"Marius," she replied looking at the scorch marks. "Harry, it is possible since he was a squib his name might have been removed."

"Look here," Ron said.

Against the wall was a parchment in Sirius's hand writing, showing who was missing from the tree and how they must have been decent folk.

Hermione looked at the parchment and at the burn marks and said, "Marius Black, Second Son to Cygnus and Violetta Black. Removed from the family at age 17 as was now an adult and a squib."

Harry nodded as looked down where Sirius's name had been burned and glanced at his brother's name.

"It can't be," he mumbled to himself.

"What can't be Harry," Ron asked.

"Regulus Black," Harry said as if that explained everything. "Hermione how did Remus say Regulus died?"

Hermione thought a moment and got a look of inspiration, she said, "He was killed by Death Eaters after he tried to leave them. Harry, Regulus A. Black, R.A.B. you think he was the one who took the locket."

Ron finally catching up to his friends thoughts asked, "Didn't we find a locket when we were cleaning this place?"

Harry and Hermione both looked at Ron in shock. Hermione quickly said, "Then it is here isn't it?"

Harry glowered thinking about the waste of Dumbledore's life now and then shouted, "It was here the entire time! Dumbledore would still be alive!"

Hermione quickly wrapped her arms around Harry and softly said, "Harry you didn't know. Dumbledore didn't know; it wasn't your fault."

Harry nodded and pulled away. He asked Ron, "Do you know where it was put?"

"I'm not sure Mate," he said. "Though I think Kreacher was taking and hiding things Sirius kept trying to throw out."

Harry called out, "Kreacher!"

A pop sounded at his arrival. "Nasty scar headed Master called for Kreacher," the mutinous elf said.

A second pop quickly sounded and Dobby grabbed Kreacher by the ear and said, "You will respect Harry Potter."

"That's enough Dobby," Harry said. "Kreacher where is the locket with the S on it?"

"The drunk filth took it and some of my Mistresses other possessions," Kreacher said.

"Dung," the three teens said simultaneously.

Harry nodded and said, "Return to retrieving the items I asked you to get."

With two pops the elves were gone again.

"Harry," Hermione said, "He could have already sold it."

"I know Hermione, but after the scare I gave him in Hogsmeade I'm hoping he is still holding on to it," Harry said. "We need someone to track him down and I think we might want to call Bruce to do this. He said he had contacts who could find out anything or anyone. Hermione can you call him please?"

Hermione nodded and walked outside to contact Bruce Wayne.

Dialing his number on the phone she was given she said, "Alfred? Yes may I speak with Bruce? Bruce, this is Hermione. Harry was curious if you could help us find a thief."

She proceeded to tell Bruce everything she knew about Mundungus Fletcher and what they needed back from him.

"All right I will tell him, thank you again," she said and hung up.

She walked back into the house and told Harry, "Bruce said he shouldn't have a problem finding him and he will contact us when he gets the locket."

"Did he ask why we wanted it," Harry asked.

"No, but I could tell he was curious," she said. "We may need to tell him what these are for."

"I know Hermione, but I would rather wait until it was absolutely necessary," Harry said.

In Little Hangleton, Draco Malfoy was learning first hand that Voldemort believed in punishing the messenger.

"CRUCIO," Voldemort cried out, holding the curse on the younger Malfoy for 30 seconds then on MacNair as well.

"Master," Draco said hoarsely, "He must be a powerful Wizard to disarm us both without a wand."

"Silence Malfoy," Voldemort shouted. "You have not proven yourself enough to speak to me. However, you might be correct. You said he looked like a demon?"

Draco nodded fearing being cursed again for speaking.

Voldemort thought to himself, 'Perhaps I can turn this to my advantage.' He then whispered menacingly, "You are hiding something Draco."

'Legilimens' he hissed as he dived into Draco's unprotected mind.

Voldemort then laughed at what Draco was hiding from him. The prideful Malfoy didn't want to share his embarrassment; he then cast 'Crucio' on Draco.

As Draco screamed in agony, Voldemort said, "Never hide anything from me, I will find out and punish you far worse."

A/N: Yes action is coming, but there is a bunch of ground work that needs laid first. From the reviews, I'm glad you all like the story and hope you enjoy what is to come.