His Beloved Master

Chosen Creature: House-Elf

For the Quidditch League Fanfiction Competition, Round 4 for Puddlemere United. Beater 1 Position.

Word Count without A/N's: 1,426

Prompts:

(dialogue) "Do you really have to do that?"

(dialogue) "I'll survive. I always do."

(word) obliterate

"Master Regulus, are you alright?" Kreacher asked as a four-year-old Regulus ran inside his room and jumped on his bed, covering his ears tightly.

Kreacher understood what was going on with his Master as soon as he heard a loud rumble of thunder come from outside.

"I got scared," whimpered the little boy. "Si-Sirius won't let me stay with him. He said only babies are scared of thunderstorms. I'm not a baby—I just got scared."

"There, there, my beloved Master. Kreacher is here," he said soothingly. He had never liked the Sirius brat. Kreacher had always thought of him as too disrespectful and rambunctious, unlike his Regulus.

"Protect me?" whispered little Regulus.

The words broke Kreacher's heart.

"Always, Master."

At least he would do his best.

"House-Elves are not equal to us," his mistress Walburga snarled at her now seven-year-old son. She had found Kreacher and Regulus talking casually and had gone absolutely livid with rage. "And don't you forget it."

"What about Kreacher?" asked Regulus.

"He is nothing more than your slave," hissed his mistress.

"He is a person too!" argued Regulus, tears coming to his eyes.

"Don't you dare start turning into your incorrigible brother!" screamed his mistress, slapping her son in the face.

"Mistress should not abuse young master like that!" Kreacher squeaked, to which she responded by grabbing the linen cloth he was wearing and throwing him near the edge of the window.

"I forbid you to talk to Regulus for a full year," she screeched. "I'll have other House-Elves cater to my son."

As a House-Elf, Kreacher had no choice but to obey his mistress.

He still talked to Regulus.

He just was forced to punish himself every day for it.

"Do you really need to do that?" (1). Regulus would ask as he seized Kreacher away from whatever he was using to hurt himself.

"Mistress is right, Master Regulus. I am a slave."

"Kreacher?" asked Regulus, who was now eleven. "Do you think mum will hate me if I get into Gryffindor like Sirius?"

"She will not hate you, Master Regulus." Kreacher said firmly, organizing Regulus's trunk. "Master will not get into Gryffindor."

Kreacher had no doubt his master was not getting into Gryffindor. He was quieter and studious. He had a lot of cunning in him. Either Slytherin or Ravenclaw would do for him. Kreacher hoped Regulus got into Slytherin, for his own sake. The other houses were filled with mudbloods and blood-traitors alike.

"What if I do get into Gryffindor? Will I still be the same Regulus to you?" he asked.

"You will always be the same Master Regulus to me," Kreacher said firmly.

"Thank you, Kreacher," Regulus said sincerely. "I'll miss you when I'm gone."

"Kreacher will miss his Master," He said solemnly as his Mistress grabbed Regulus by the arm and Apparated him using Side-Along.

Later that night, Kreacher, his Master, and his Mistress were both overjoyed to hear that Regulus got sorted into Slytherin, unlike his 'disappointment of a brother.' Walburga Black was already telling all her friends that she was thinking about making Regulus Heir instead of Sirius.

Kreacher was overjoyed to hear that too.

"Kreacher?" Regulus called softly. He was now in his third year at Hogwarts. "Am I an evil person?"

"Who called you that, Master?" asked Kreacher. He'd hurt anyone that said that to his beloved Master.

"James Potter," whispered Regulus, "And—and my own brother."

"Master must not listen to those wretched boys," Kreacher said sternly. "In Kreacher's eyes, Master Regulus is the most angelic person in this world."

"Oh, really? Master Regulus aided his friends in torturing Lily Evans, a muggleborn Gryffindor," snapped Regulus. "That doesn't sound very angelic to me."

"Master Regulus was doing what he could to survive in the House of Slytherin," said Kreacher firmly. "In addition, the girl is a mudblood. Master should not feel guilty for hurting a mudblood."

"Kreacher," paused Regulus. "What exactly are Slytherin's ideals?"

"Master Regulus shouldn't let his mother hear him talking that way," warned Kreacher. "Slytherins are cunning. They do anything to achieve their means. They are not foolish like Gryffindors. Understand that, Master."

Regulus simply nodded.

"Kreacher, I don't get it," said Regulus weakly. He was now fifteen.

"He was an insolent boy, Master," said Kreacher.

"He-he just left! He took his trunk, and left!" Regulus yelled angrily. "And I didn't say anything! I wanted to stand up to Mother this time, I really did—"

"Master should be glad that Sirius is gone—"

"No!" snapped Regulus. "He's my brother! Just get out! Leave me alone! You don't understand!"

"Master should not feel guilt for—"

"I told you to get out!" snarled Regulus, and Kreacher had no choice but to obey him.

Regulus was, after all, his beloved Master.

His Master had just graduated Hogwarts. His mistress had thrown a big graduation party for Regulus, and Kreacher was making the food in the kitchen as there had been a request for more brownies.

"Can Kreacher see it?" Kreacher asked Regulus softly as Regulus ducked inside the kitchen.

Regulus shakily took off his jacket, leaving his Dark Mark open for all to see. "Currently the youngest Death Eater," He said softly.

"Kreacher is so proud," Kreacher gushed.

"Mother did make a big deal out of it at breakfast. Kreacher—I'm a Death Eater now. How am I angelic? How am I not evil?" asked Regulus.

"Kreacher overheard the Dark Lord talking to Mistress Bellatrix the other day. He said there is not good and evil. There is just power—and those who are too weak to see it. Master Regulus is not weak," said Kreacher, "Promise me you will not evoke the Dark Lord's wrath, Master. The Dark Lord has done great things, but he has killed followers before."

Regulus' eyes shone with gratitude, glad to get the reassurance he needed from his favorite House-Elf.

"I'll survive. I always do." (2).

"He needs a House Elf," said Regulus softly. It had now been two years since he became a Death Eater. "This is my chance to prove myself for the inner circle."

"Kreacher would be honored to serve the Dark Lord and his beloved Master Regulus," said Kreacher. "What must I do?"

"Come with me," said Regulus softly.

Kreacher clutched Regulus' arm, and Regulus Disapparated.

They stood in front of the Crystal Cave, and they found themselves standing directly before the Dark Lord.

Regulus bowed deeply, "My Lord, I present to you Kreacher, one of the Black Family House-Elves."

Voldemort nodded, "You may go, Regulus."

Regulus shot his elf a concerned look, "Disapparate home when you're done," he said softly.

Kreacher nodded, "Of course, master."

Voldemort then turned to Kreacher, "Come, House-Elf."

Kreacher followed Voldemort into the cave, "I need you to drink this potion," He ordered, nodding towards the potion in the basin.

"Just the potion, My Lord?" Kreacher asked.

"Yes. That potion," said Voldemort.

Kreacher grabbed the potion and started to drink it, and he immediately collapsed in pain. Visions of his entire life swam before his very eyes.

"My Lord—all of it?" gasped Kreacher.

"All of it," snarled Voldemort, "And I don't care if it kills you."

He continued to drink the potion. It was all for his beloved Master.

It had been a year since Kreacher had to drink the potion.

"I need you to take me back to the Crystal Cave," Regulus said firmly.

"Master?" gasped Kreacher, "That place is dangerous."

"I'm done," said Regulus. "I can't live with the guilt anymore."

"Master, you are in the inner circle—" started Kreacher, but was cut off.

"That's exactly why I need to end this," his Master said. "I snuck into the Manor and nicked this out of Mother's room earlier," Regulus waved a replica of Slytherin's locket. "I need to go back there. That's an order," He added.

Kreacher had no choice but to take his Master back.

"I'm not going to make it out," warned Regulus as they arrived.

"Master will not drink that potion!" hissed Kreacher.

"When I'm done, switch the fake locket with the real locket, and destroy the real locket. Leave me to die," said Regulus, "I order you not to stop me."

Kreacher watched helplessly as his beloved Master screamed in pain. As Kreacher switched the locket with trembling hands, he saw the Inferi pulling down his Master.

His beloved Master was all he lived for, and now that he was gone—his world felt like it was obliterated. (3).

He was the only one Kreacher would love wholly.

A/N: That's a wrap for Round 4 :) I hope you enjoyed it! Thanks to Pete (petethehotdog) for beta-ing my story :)

Footnotes: three, one for each prompt used.

Please R&R :)

-Ana