CHAPTER 2
Back To Grimmauld
After Kreacher had left Harry focused his attention on the book on Warding, which he had been given by Bill Weasley during his Seventeenth birthday at the Burrow. As he read about the Fidelius charm he noticed that he could either choose someone to be his secret-Keeper or he could either choose himself as the caster to be his own secret-Keeper. Another thing that he learned was that he needed to tie the Fidelius charm to a ward-stone that only he could identify it.
As for the wards that they had been using whenever they went they were easy to set up and anyone who was a skilled curse breaker could easily identify them and break them in a matter of minutes. Sighing loudly he moved towards his packed backpack and removed the clothes he was wearing and replaced with some that were clean.
As he headed towards the outside of the tent he saw his book on Metamorphmagy lying on the grass. Summoning it wandlessly he pocketed it and he went to take a quick walk. Reaching the river bed he sat down staring at the moving river. The cool air had somehow helped him by clearing his head of any lingering thoughts and worries.
He was so focused at the moving river that he hardly heard the soft pop of Kreacher apparating right beside him. He was startled when he felt someone touch him, whipping his wand at a lightning speed towards where he had been touched. Seeing that it was just Kreacher he breathed a sigh of relief. Noticing the bundle in his arms he questioned him "I see you managed to get the ward-stones, is there anybody right now at the Grimmauld place?"
Looking pleased at himself Kreacher puffed his chest and said "No Master, there are no filthy murderers in the Ancient and Noble House of the Black." "Well I guess its time to move on from here come on Kreacher help disassemble the tent and go to and ward the Grimmauld place. Why don't you go ahead Kreacher and clean the house I will be there after I'm done here. Also you warn should any person come to the Grimmauld place."After an excitedKreacherleft he entered the tent and picked up his warding and the healing book left by Hermione. Stuffing them in his bottomless backpack, he went outside and started dismantling the wards that they had put up. After doing that, with a flick of his wand the tent was neatly packed and folded, picking it up he kept it in his backpack. Before he apparated away he covered all his tracks carefully making it look like he had never been there before. Glancing back at the place where a seven year relationship had been broken he focused on the pack near the Grimmauld place and without any sound he apparated away.
Soundlessly he appeared in the park that was opposite the Grimmauld place, as he looked at the house he knew that all the protective charms were broken and it would be risky staying in there unless he kept it under Fidelius and other protecting charms. Putting on his invisibility cloak he stayed there for a couple of minutes, making sure that there were no deatheaters lurking around. After seeing no sign of them he moved towards the Grimmauld place, opening the door silently he slipped inside.
Moving towards the kitchen he saw Kreacher working diligently, trying to make some food. Removing his invisibility cloak he stepped in to the kitchen. "I see you are doing a good work Kreacher, but this house is so big I think you are going to need some help in cleaning it." Kreacher who looked pleased at being praised he scowled when he heard that he was to be assisted by others in cleaning the house. "Dobby!" Harry called out as he figured that the hyper-active house elf would be glad to help in cleaning the house.
A soft pop announced the presence of another house elf. "Harry Potter sir! What can poor Dobby do for the Great Harry Potter?" Dobby squeaked as he hugged Harry's knees. "Thanks Dobby, I would like you to help Kreacher here in cleaning this house as fast as you can, while I put some protection charms on the house. Is that understood Dobby?" Harry said seemingly unaffected by the comments given by Dobby.
"Of course Harry Potter Sir. Dobby loves to serve the Great Harry Potter." Dobby jumped up and down obviously excited at being able to serve Harry Potter. With a soft pop he was gone to clean the rooms that were upstairs. As Harry looked at Kreacher the crazy old house elf just said "Kreacher lives to serve the Ancient and Noble house of The Black." and he continued with what he was doing earlier.
As Harry turned to leave the kitchen he was struck with a brilliant idea calling for Dobby again who reappeared before him he said "Oh and Dobby I think it would be much better if you removed those heads of the house elves that are on the walls. While you are at it also remove the portrait of Mrs. Black and I give you permission to use any means necessary to remove it. That's all." "Yes Harry Potter sir, Dobby will do that right away." Dobby answered before disapparating.
Leaving the kitchen he took out his book on warding and the ward-stones. Putting on his invisibility cloak he stepped out of the Grimmauld place. Moving towards the park facing the Grimmauld he stationed him self there so as to start doing the protecting and Fidelius charm on the house.
Harry reached into his bag and floated out four anchor stones. He started carving rudimentary symbols onto the stones. Willing his magic he used wandless magic to levitate the four stones, they zipped away from their bodies, held in place by the wandless levitation spell.
Harry was chanting under his breath and sounded slightly like an old man wheezing before swirling his arm in a large circle and pointing his wand straight into the ground.
"Fidelio!" Harry cast in a firm confident voice. Magic flowed from his wand into the ground and seeped outwards until it hit the four stones arranged in a square around them. As soon as the magic reached the stones it began to flow perpendicular to the ground towards the sky. Harry snapped his wrist and twisted his wand to point straight up sending more magic flowing upward. It flattened against the rooftop of Grimmauld place No.13 and began to spread outwards, meeting the magic flowing from the stones at sharp crisp corners.
A blinding white light flashed once indicating that the Fidelius charm was done. Sweating profusely Harry knew he had drained his magic and it was a matter of minutes before he passed out. Looking around to make sure no one had seen the blinding white light; he staggered to his feet and quickly started putting up muggle repelling charms, apparition and portkey wards. Stumbling he dragged himself inside the house and in to the kitchen where he collapsed on the nearest chair and he passed out from magical exhaustion.
Harry opened his eyes as he felt something shaking him hard. Stretching his arms he heard his name being called. "Harry Potter Sir must wake up now!" As he focused his eyes on where the noise was coming from he saw, "Dobby, Kreacher, what is going on here?" Harry questioned the two House elves that were in front of him.
Kreacher moved towards Harry and said "Master has slept for a full day. Master has to wake up and eat now." as soon as he finished Dobby piped in looking excited and pleased at the same time "We have finished cleaning the house as you requested Harry Potter Sir, Dobby even put your things in the master bedroom." as Harry stood up from his chair to stretch himself, he was pleased to see the noticeable changes in the kitchen. Where once it had been dark, filthy and smelly was now gone and what was there now was a clean and light kitchen,
"I must say I am impressed with what you two have done. If you will excuse me now I am desperately in need of a shower. By the way Dobby where is the master bedroom?" Harry asked Dobby as he reached for the door. "It is in the topmost landing, the door with the label named Sirius." The bat eyed elf answered.
After a long hot shower, he took his time in exploring the house he came up with nothing interesting. The only things interesting that he found was the Black library that seemed to be filled with books in all the shelves, he was surprised to have not found it when they had stayed here after they escaped from the deatheaters at the burrow.
On his to the kitchen he was pleased to see that Dobby had managed to remove Mrs. Black portraits and also the heads of the elves that were hanged on the wall.
As soon as he entered the kitchen he was quickly pushed in to the nearest table and told to eat by both elves. Chuckling at their antics Harry was curious at what was happening at Hogwarts so he asked Dobby since he worked there "Dobby can you tell what's going on at Hogwarts, apart from the time where Ginny Weasley and the others tried to steal the Gryffindor's sword from Snape. What else has been happening there?" solemn Dobby answered Harry as he clutched a table towel tightly while twisting it at the same time "Harry Potter Sir, things at Hogwarts are not good at all. There are bad teachers working for you-Know-Who there. They punish the students using the unforgivable curse."Harry was aghast to hear that the two Carrows (Recalling when Remus visited them while they were in Grimmauld place) worried about the safety of Ginny he asked Dobby "How is Ginny and her friends? Are they okay?" Dobby looked like he was afraid to tell him something his heart lurched as he started fearing for the worst. Not able to hold his curiosity any longer he ordered Dobby to tell him what he was hiding. Dobby if possible he twisted the table towel even harder before he proceeded to tell him, "Dobby is sorry to tell you this Harry Potter Sir, but your Wheezy girl is fine, but she is with Longbottom now she is no longer your Wheezy girl now." right after he had finished saying that he proceeded to knocking his head using a pan. Harry who hadn't expected that, felt like his heart had completely shattered.
Dropping whatever he had in his hand he left the kitchen and went into the living where he sat on the nearest chair and brought his legs close to his chest as he stared at the fire burning on the fireplace, tears streaming down his face at what he felt.
He knew it was his fault that he had broken up with her he was sure she would wait for him until this was over and they would be back together, but she seemed to have moved on pretty quickly for someone who said she loved him since first year, possibly forgetting about him. But then again Hermione's words played in his mind again "Just for the sake I don't think Ron and I are ready to die for you." these words hurt Harry more than he could admit it. He had been prepared to die for them before but now he wasn't so sure about that anymore after what they did to him.
Rubbing his stained face, he walked back in to the kitchen; ideas flowed in to his head at a fast rate. "Dobby!" Harry called out the for Dobby, "What do you know about the Gryffindor's sword that is in Snape's office." looking confused at the type of question asked Dobby answered "Harry Potter Sir, Dobby is knowing that Headmaster Dumbledore kept the sword in his personal room and the new bad headmaster has not yet removed it from there."rowing excited he stared down at Dobby and asked him "Dobby do you think you can bring the sword to me?" "I am sorry Harry Potter Sir. But Dobby is bonded by the Hogwarts rule. I can not take the sword away from Hogwarts."
Frowning in disappointment, Harry tried to think of what else he could when he saw a loop hole in what Dobby had said. "Hold on a minute Dobby, did you say that you are not able to take the sword away from Hogwarts?" seeing his nod he continued "So that means you can take it from the Snape's office and give it to me while I am there at Hogwarts. Because technically speaking you won't be breaking the rules of Hogwarts that you are bonded with, since you will not have taken the sword out of Hogwarts ground instead it will be me that will be doing that."
Looking at the tiny elf in front of him he asked him "Am I right Dobby?" The house elf not seemingly pleased with the idea but could do nothing about it since Harry was right, nodding his head in agreement. Harry looking pleased that his plan was starting to work, he dismissed Dobby back to Hogwarts telling the house elf to remove the sword from there as soon as he could and to create an illusion where the sword was, to fool Snape should he come to check on it.
Before Dobby went away he instructed him carefully to hide the sword until he (Harry) came to Hogwarts to collect it along with other things.
Once Dobby was gone, he turned to look at Kreacher who was sulking at being ignored because of another house elf. "Well Kreacher it looks like you have another task. I would like you to go down the Knockturn Alley and get me a book on how to become an animagus and also the potion needed to drink so as to become one. Oh and Kreacher, do whatever means necessary so that you obtain those and while you are there I would like a new pet. I'm sure that in Knockturn Alley there are shops that sell magical creatures illegally, I don't want an owl, I don't think there is another one that can replace Hedwig. Whatever magical creatures that you think are worthy enough, buy them if not possible, you know what to do."Kreacher's eyes widened at the kind of task he was given. Smirking evilly he bowed and muttered "Kreacher is honored at being given such an important task. I will not disappoint you Master." and with that he was gone.
Harry rolled his eyes at Kreacher's antics, knowing he was the right house elf for such kinds of jobs he didn't worry that much at whether he would be successful or not. Leaving the kitchen Harry made his way to the Black's library to prepare himself for the days to come.