Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of the characters or included in this story. Everything other than the new plot belongs to J.K. Rowling. I'm not making any money off this, I'm just having a little fun.
A/N: Yes, I know, this is ridiculously short. No, I don't plan on making a habit out of this. It's just a direct continuation of the first "chapter." These installments, as I like to call them, will be relatively short, and they only exist to set up the premise that makes this a major AU.
Horace Slughorn was not a man who spent much time dwelling over things that did not reflect positively on him. He'd spent his life surrounding himself with anybody who he felt might become successful later in life, and wasted no time bringing these people up in social settings, all in an effort to portray himself in the best possible light. And he'd always believed that he was, beneath it all, someone who had achieved good, albeit indirectly. But after hearing the house-elf Kreacher's account of Regulus Black's death, Slughorn could feel everything begin to unravel.
Said elf was sitting silently on Slughorn's desk, staring at the portly Potions Master with... curiosity? Loathing? Despite having little actual knowledge about house-elves, he had a feeling the latter was closer to the truth, and Slughorn knew that it was justified, despite the elf having no way of knowing that. For the aging wizard knew that in truth, Regulus' death was his fault, no matter how indirectly.
Reluctantly, Slughorn addressed the elf. "Kreacher?"
"Yes, Slug Man?"
Several things about the response unnerved him. For one, the elf had said it without a hint of emotion, as though recounting the death of his master had drained him. This seemed to be the case, as Kreacher hadn't even appeared to move his lips when speaking, although Slughorn knew that was impossible.
And being a master at Potions, an accomplished duelist, and a respected wizard, he didn't like being referred to as Slug Man.
But the elf's title for him was an afterthought, as he knew that he had to fix his mistake.
"I believe... that someone I know will be able to destroy the horcrux. Do you have it, Kreacher?"
The elf seemed to know where he was going with this. "Kreacher will not give the horcrux to Slug Man. Master Regulus told Kreacher to destroy the horcrux, and so Kreacher must. Master Regulus also told Kreacher only to tell Slug Man about the horcrux, so Slug Man will have to destroy the horcrux without person you know."
Slughorn leaned back in his chair. "But Kreacher, by your account Regulus said only to tell me. He never said I couldn't find someone to help me, did he?"
Kreacher looked straight into Slughorn's eyes for several moments, before breaking the eye contact and jumping off the desk. He spoke in his raspy whisper once more. "Kreacher was not told to stop Slug Man from contacting others. Take Kreacher to your friend."
Sighing, Slughorn rose from the armchair, and led his visitor out of the office.
After walking in silence for what seemed like an eternity, the pair stood on the seventh floor, in front of the gargoyle which opened the path to the Headmaster's office. Before speaking his one-time password, Slughorn spoke to Kreacher.
"Kreacher, would you stay out here for a few minutes? I need to speak with him privately first."
The elf did not look happy at the request, but nodded and went to stand by a window.
Taking a deep breath, Slughorn tried to compose himself. Then he turned toward the gargoyle.
"Flapjacks," he said, despite not knowing what one was.
Reacting to the word, the gargoyle moved aside, and Slughorn walked through the now open door with a feeling of dread.
A/N: Okay, I know there's no good reason for this to be its own chapter, but rejoice, the next installment will be the last one before I get to the pre-Harry fic, which will be an actual fic instead of a few one/two-shots that set up the next one. Please review, I'd like having an audience.
~ThePillowOfDoom