The next few days at Grimauld place passed uneventfully, and involved a lot of cleaning, to say the least. On the last day, I packed up all of my clothing and belongings, and called for Kreacher.
"Yes, Master Potter sir?" he said with a bow, "What can Kreacher be doing for you?"
"For the remainder of the vacation, I will be staying with Professor Snape. I want you to clean up this place as best you can." I told him.
"Yes sir, Master Potter sir!"
"I'll try to be back around the end of the week to check your progress. If all goes well, you will come with me to Gringotts at the end of the month. There are some things in my vaults that I wish to go over. My parents may have left me some of their things, and if that's the case, I'd like to bring them back with me here."
"Yes sir."
"Also", I continued, "I will be restoring my ancestral home, so some things will be relocated there as well."
"Yes sir. Is there anything else that Kreacher can do for his most gracious master?"
"One more thing: see if you could remove the portraits and tapestries in this house."
Kreacher's eyes widened. He loved that old portrait of Sirius' mum.
"I won't be destroying them. I'd actually like to restore them, but I can't do that with them here. There's a charm on the house, so I can't bring anyone else in, but I can take them out. Hopefully." I said, Kreacher looking more and more relieved as I spoke.
"Yes sir, Master Potter." He said bowing.
"And Kreacher? Try to stay out of trouble will you?" I asked him in an off-hand kind of way.
"Of course Master Potter sir! Kreacher will not be causing any trouble at all." He said, looking rather scandalized. I just smiled and nodded.
"Good. You may go." He disappeared with a faint pop.
I guess he's not so bad after all, I thought as I descended the stairs to the kitchen to await Snape's arrival. I wonder what his house is like. I wonder if he's married? Maybe he has kids… a son or daughter perhaps?
My mind wandered as I waited, and eventually ended up on that pretty girl I'd met when out shopping. I told her I'd call her, I mused. What was her address again? Number… fourteen? Number fourteen what? Ambrosia… Circle? Yes, that sounds about right. I decided to Floo her before I left.
I walked over and kneeled down in front of the fireplace. "Number Fourteen, Ambrosia Circle." I called out as I threw in the Floo powder. After a few seconds of trying to get someone's attention, a woman with wavy, shoulder-length hair walked past.
"Excuse me ma'am." I said in my most polite tone. She turned quickly, looking quite startled.
"Oh! Oh my! Why, I didn't see you there. How long have you been there?" she asked in a very sweet voice that slightly reminded me of a songbird.
"Not long." I replied, "Sorry if I startled you. My name is Harry Potter. Is this Number fourteen, Ambrosia Circle?"
"Yes," the woman answered.
"Oh good. Rein never told me she had a sister, but I suppose that we have only met once. Is she in? Rein, I mean."
For a reason I couldn't understand, the woman looked extremely flattered. "Yes, just one moment. I'll get her for you." She said, walking off.
I conjured a large pillow, making myself somewhat more comfortable as I waited.
"Harry?" said a voice. "Are you still there?"
"Yes." I replied, sticking my head back into the flames. "Rein!"
"Hello Harry," she said, her melodic voice drifting out to greet me. "How are you?"
"I'm great. I've been busy, in case you're wondering why I haven't called you up before now." I answered, "How are you?"
"Oh I'm fine. I've been working at the shop, so I've had a bit to do myself. You said you've been busy. What have you been up to?" She said, settling into a large, squishy blue pillow.
"Oh nothing to much. I was staying at my aunt's before – they're Muggles, so they don't have Floo, but I'm at my godfather's old house now. I'm supposed to be moving later today."
"Oh? Why?"
" Well, ever since Sirius passed, the house had been empty. I came by here after I saw you that day. It's closer to Diagon Alley than my aunt's house is. Anyway, a… friend of the family stopped by, and I'll be going to stay with him for the summer later. I thought I'd Floo you before I moved."
"Oh ok." She shrugged, "What did you say to my mom? She was all smiles when she told me that you were calling for me."
"I didn't talk to your mom." I said confused. "I talked to a young woman with short, wavy dark brown hair, and blue-green eyes."
Rein laughed, her eyes sparkling with amusement. "There are only two of us here, Harry."
"You mean…?" my eyes widened with shock. "That was your mom?! I thought she was your sister!"
"No," Rein said, still laughing, "That's my mom. I've only got brothers!"
"No way…" I said, still amazed, "Blimey… she takes care of herself, doesn't she?"
"Mmm, she does." Came the reply. "You're not thinking about making a move on my mom, are you Harry?"
"What? No!" I said laughing. "But I can definitely see where you get your good looks from."
Rein blushed a decidedly cute pink. "You are shameless aren't you?"
"Sometimes." I said, winking mischievously.
"Well, thank you anyway."
Rein and I talked for a bit longer, and then she had to leave to go do something with her mum. She really is a great girl, I thought to myself. She's such a riot. I could definitely see myself dating her. Just then, Mrs. Black's portrait started spurting her pureblood brouhaha.
"FILTH OF THE EARTH! YOU ARE THE WOST KIND! TO BETRAY YOUR OWN KIND TO THROW YOUR LOT IN WITH THEM! HOW DARE YOU SCUM OF SCUM SET FOOT IN MY HOUSE! YOU TRAITOR! YOU…"
It grew quiet very suddenly. So he must be here then. I stood as the door to the kitchen opened and a hassled-looking Professor Snape walked in.
"You should really do something about that wretched portrait, Potter." He said sourly.
"Why?" I asked sarcastically, "I know it's annoying, but really, no one else has a doorbell quite as unique as that, now do they?"
I was rewarded with a glare, albeit an amused one. "Yes, but she's not exactly polite, now is she?" he replied.
"I suppose not." I said in mock exasperation.
"If you're ready, we can leave now."
"Of course," I said, grabbing the handle of my trunk and Hedwig's cage and stepping into the fireplace with Snape, "We mustn't keep old Wormtail waiting."
Snape choose not to reply to my comment, and instead grabbed a handful of Floo powder.
"Spinner's End!" He called out before we were whisked away.