Chapter Eleven: A Matter of Kreacher:
Grimmauld place was dreary, and it had been left to rot for many years. Sirius was only here as he needed to clear out the place but Kreacher, well Kreacher was a problem. No, he was insane, Sirius had learned how to treat house elves better, but Kreacher was a problem, and he could not reach him mentally. This was why he had invited both Sprout and Flitch here to talk with Kreacher. Flitch got along with house elves and treated them well and as they liked. They liked kindness but would be insulted if he did not give them orders too. He came into the house, looked around and headed right to where Kreacher was.
He found Sprout seated cross-legged on the floor. He joined her, sometimes it was best to be on the same level as a house elf when they were distraught. This one was showing anger, anger that hid the deep grief this one felt. Flitch smiled at the old elf and saw that Sprout had a locket in hand. Squib he might be, but he could feel something wrong and evil about it. Sirius came into the room and sat down as well. Kreacher had finished a tale of Regulus, his master and it was terrible and horrible, Sprout looked very worried at this tale.
"So, he found this in a cave?" Sprout asked, "and asked you to destroy it?"
"Yes, and I tried and tried but Kreacher could not!" Kreacher wailed and tried to hurt himself, Sirius made sure he could not, "Kreacher is a bad elf, bad elf!"
"No ye are not, I know how powerful fae magic is." Flitch said, "ye did what ye could, an' if ye canno' destroy it, there is a reason. Let us help."
"But Kreacher ordered to destroy it." Kreacher protested.
"I know, I know and ye will as much as ye can, but there are enchantments on this." Flitch said, "let us help, please?"
"Very well, Kreacher will let you." Kreacher replied.
"Are you lonely here?" Flitch asked.
"Kreacher has mistress." Kreacher said.
"That is not a person, there is an elf, she had a family, they are all in Azkaban now." Flitch said, "her name is Winky, now I know you can clean, but not as well if you are alone."
"Kreacher can clean well!" Kreacher said.
Flitch held his hand up as Sirius was about to say something. Flitch was good with house elves; they trusted him and liked him. Flitch disliked those that treated them badly, and he was not going to let Sirius upset this poor fellow before him. House elves did not do well by themselves, they needed a family or other fae and Kreacher had been alone for too long. No portrait could make up for being along, and as he was bound to house Black, he could not and would not leave even if he could.
"I know but you are not well, you are alone and should not be alone." Flitch said.
"Very well, bring Winky." Kreacher said.
"Winky, please come." Flitch said and with a pop a sad elf appeared, "Lord Black would ye find pillowcases fer them?"
"No, uniforms, not clothes!" Sirius said at the dismayed looks from the elves, "uniforms mean that when I see you, you look well cared for."
"Okay, uniform it is." Kreacher said.
With a wave of his wand, the elves were clad in tunics and breeches. Then they went to clean the townhouse. Sirius had learned a lot in America and did treat the house elves that worked for him well. Still, he hated this place and intended to clean it up and sell it. He did not want it, but Kreacher had never been bad to him. When he was refused meals as punishment, Kreacher would give him snacks to eat. When his mother would be looking for him, Kreacher would make sure to not watch where he hid so he could truthfully state he did not know where Sirius was. Kreacher was a good house elf and Sirius had been ready to be cruel to him.
Sprout was headed to Hogwarts with the locket and Flitch followed her, leaving Sirius to watch the two elves work. Once back, Sprout headed to Flitwick's office and placed the locket on his desk. He waved his wand over it, then waved it again and then made a quick call through the floo. Soon Severus Snape and Nagini stepped through. Nagini hissed and the locket opened, if not for Flitwick's skill, the thing in the locket would have done something bad. He shoved it into a sphere and sat back at his desk.
"We need a curse-breaker here." He said.
"Oh?" Snape asked, "what is that thing?"
"Something so vile I will not name it here." Flitwick replied, "I will contact my cousins at Gringotts."
"A sound idea." Sprout said.
"What is that thing?" Flitch asked.
"A soul jar." Sprout said horror on her face, "the stupid little fool!"
"He made one. But only, well he is a fool indeed." Snape said and at a look from his dad, "it's how some in the past though they could create immortality, but all it does is create a one-way ticket to hell."
"So, he is immortal?" Flitch asked.
"No, not like that, not at all, he has extended his life by centuries true, but he will die and when he does, well…." Sprout said.
"Should we tell the headmaster?" Flitwick asked.
"Tell me what?" Dumbledore asked.
"The dark lord created Horcruxes." Snape replied, "and I say multiple because that is what he would do."
"Oh dear, I hoped he was not that far gone." Dumbledore said looking very sad.
There was work to be done and, not a moment to lose. A curse-breaker had to be brought in to find out just how many of these horrible things had been made. Voldemort was a fool, a big fool and one that was very dangerous. But then all he cared about was what he could gain from doing whatever it took for him to stay alive.
Back at the townhome, Kreacher was happy. Winky was great at cleaning, and he enjoyed not being alone anymore. As they cleaned, an idea came to Kreacher, why was mistress's portrait in the hallway? Should not another be there? Regulus had a portrait and in short order it replaced the old one that he placed in storage. Furniture was mended, carpets gleamed and the whole place took on a cheerier state. Kreacher even hummed as he cleaned and soon, he felt lighter than he had in a very long time.
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So that is a shorter chapter but important to moving the story along. Now they have one Horcrux they will quickly find the others. No, Harry is not one, his mother's sacrifice kept that from happening. Things will pick up from here though in getting rid of Voldemort once and for all.
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