Chapter 38
"Hey Harry, where is that fake locket?" asked Ewan
"In the pouch, I was going to chuck it." answered Harry.
"Can I have it?" asked Ewan.
"Why?"
"I have a better place for it."
"Here." said Harry, getting the locket out of the pouch and handing it to Ewan.
"Thanks. KREACHER!" called Ewan.
With a crack, Kreacher appeared. "Yes, Master."
"I love that, don't you Harry, Master, not having to clean or work, it's the life. I'm so happy Sirius got Kreacher to obey our orders too." Ewan said.
Harry rolled his eyes.
"Anyway Kreacher, Master Regulas had a locket, tell me about the locket. How did Regulas get it?" asked Ewan.
"Master Sirius ran away, good riddance, for he was a bad boy and broke Mistress's heart with his lawless ways. But Master Regulas had a proper pride; he knew what was due to the name of Black and the dignity of his pure blood. For years he talked of the Dark Lord, who was going to bring the wizards out of hiding to rule the Muggles and Muggle-borns... and when he was sixteen years old, Master Regulas joined the Dark Lord. So proud, so proud, so happy to serve...
"And one day, a year after he joined, Master Regulas cane down tot he kitchen to see Kreacher. Master Regulas always liked Kreacher. And Master Regulas said... he said... he said that the Dark Lord required an elf."
"Voldemort required and elf?" asked Harry, looking back to Ron and Hermione. Neither understood either.
"Oh yes," moaned Kreacher. "And Master Regulas had volunteered Kreacher. It was an honor, said Master Regulas, an honor for him and Kreacher, who must be sure to do whatever the Dark Lord ordered him to do... and then to c-come home.
"So Kreacher went to the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord did not tell Kreacher what they were to do, but took Kreacher with him to a cave beside the sea. And beyond the cave was a cavern, and in the cavern was a great black lake... there was a boat...there was a basin full of potion on the island. The D-Dark Lord made Kreacher drink it...
"Kreacher drank, and has he drank, he saw terrible things... Kreacher's inside burned … Kreacher cried out for Master Regulas to save him, he cried for Mistress Black, but the Dark Lord only laughed... He made Kreacher drink all the potion... He dropped a locket into the empty basin... He filled it with more potion. And then the Dark Lord sailed away, leaving Kreacher on the island...
"Kreacher needed water, he crawled to the island's edge and he drank from the black lake... and hand, dead hands, came out of the water and dragged Kreacher under the surface."
"How did you get away?" asked Harry.
"Master Regulas told Kreacher to come back." said the elf.
"I know that- but how did you escape the Inferi?" asked Harry
Kreacher didn't seem to understand.
"Harry, he can disapparate." said Ewan
"But... you couldn't apparate in or out of that cave, or you and Dumbledore would've-"
"Elf magic is different than wizard's magic." said Ron.
"Of course, Voldemort would have considered the ways of house elves far beneath his notice, just like all the pure bloods who treat them like animals... It would have never occurred to him that they might have magic that he didn't."
"House elf's highest law is his Master's bidding," intoned Kreacher. "Kreacher was told to come home, so Kreacher came home..."
"What happened when you came home?" asked Ewan.
"What did Regulas say when you told him what happened?" added Harry.
"Master Regulas was very worried, very worried. Master Regulas told Kreacher to stay hidden and not to leave the house. And then... it was a little later.. Master Regulas cane to find Kreacher in his cupboard one night, and Master Regulas was strange, not as he usually was, disturbed in his mind, Kreacher could tell... he asked Kreacher to take him to the cave, the cave where Kreacher had gone with the Dark Lord...."
"And he made you drink the potion?" asked Harry, disgusted.
"M-Master Regulas took from his pocket a locket like the one the Dark Lord had... and he told Kreacher to take it and, when the basin was empty, to switch the lockets. And he ordered – Kreacher to leave – without him. And he told Kreacher – to go home – and never tell my Mistress – what he had done – but to destroy – the first locket. And he drank – all the potion – and Kreacher swapped the lockets – and watched... as Master Regulas... was dragged beneath the water... and..."
"You brought the locket home. And you tried to destroy it?" asked Ewan.
"Nothing Kreacher could do made a mark on it. Kreacher tried everything, everything he knew, but nothing worked... so many powerful spells upon the casing, Kreacher was sure the way to destroy it was to get inside it, but it would not open... Kreacher punished himself, he tried again, he punished himself, he tried again. Kreacher failed to obey orders, Kreacher could not destroy the locket! And his Mistress was mad with grief, because Master Regulas had disappeared, and Kreacher could not tell her what had happened, no, because Master Regulas had f-f-forbidden him to tell any of the f-f-family what happened in the c-cave..."
"I don't understand you, Kreacher. Voldemort tried to kill you, Regulus died to bring Voldemort down, yet you still act like Voldemort is the best thing in the world." said Harry.
"Harry, Kreacher doesn't think like that. House-elves are used to bad, even brutal treatment; what Voldemort did to Kreacher wasn't that far out of the common way." said Ewan
"What do wizard wars mean to an elf like Kreacher? He's loyal to people who are kind to him, and Mrs, Black and Regulas were, that is why he served them willing and parroted their beliefs. Regulas changed his mind but he obviously didn't explain that to Kreacher. I've said all along that wizards would pay for how they treat house-elves. Well, Voldemort did." Hermione added.
"Kreacher, the locket, the Locket that Regulas said was to be destroyed, well... it has been. It was destroyed. This locket," said Ewan, showing Kreacher the locket in his hand. "This is the fake locket you but in the basin in the cave. Here, you can have it."
Kreacher took the locket, then gave a cry of happiness that lasted for over an hour till Ewan told him to take his locket and cry to his room.
A few days later, the four in the house started noticing cloaked man, outside the house, which of course they couldn't see because Ewan was secret keeper. Ewan was eating in the kitchen, that thankfully contained edible food when he heard a tab on the door.
Rushing to the front door, where he found Harry, Ron, and Hermione also with their wands raised, he heard the front door open.
"Don't move." said Ewan.
The unknown man raised his arms. "Hold your fire its me, Remus."
"Oh thank goodness." said Hermione lowering her wand followed by Ron, but Harry and Ewan did not.
"Show yourself." said Harry.
Lupin moved forward into the lamplight, hands still held high in a gesture of surrender.
"I am Remus John Lupin, werewolf, sometimes known as Moony, one of the four creators of the Marauder's Map, married to Nymphadora, usually known as Tonks, and I taught you how to produce a Patronus, Harry, which takes the form of a stag."
"Oh all right," said Harry lowering his wand, "but I had to check, didn't I?"
"Yeah." said Ewan, lowering his wand.
"Speaking as your ex-Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, I quite agree that you had to check. Ron, Hermione, I wouldn't be so quick to lower your defenses."
"Where's Sirius? His he okay?" asked Ewan. "What about Katie?"
"Yes, yes. What the Death Eaters attacked the wedding he was able to his at Tonks parents place. He's been staying with Tonk's and I. He would come here himself but... well, you know how he is, all in for the fight. As for your Miss Bell, she is completely safe. Molly has been taking care of her, but she still a wreck worry over you."
Ewan let out a breath of relieve. "I love that girl."
Harry rolled his eyes, "But Sirius he's okay?"
"Yes. More than okay, I should say, I never see him outside his and Maria's room."
"What about my parents?" asked Ron.
"Everyone is okay I assure you, we're all being watched though."
"Tell us what happened after the wedding." said Ewan.
"Well, Kingsly saved us. Thanks to his warning most of the guests were able to disapparate before they arrived." said Lupin.
"We're they the Ministry or Death Eaters?" asked Hermione
"A mixture; but to all intents and purposes they're the same thing now. There were about a dozen of them, but they didn't know where you two were Harry, Ewan. Arthur heard a rumor that they tried to torture your whereabouts out of Scrimgeour before they killed him; if its true he didn't give you two away."
"Well, I guess he did one thing right." said Ewan.
"The Death Eaters searched the Burrow from top to bottom, they found the ghoul, but didn't want to get too close – and then they interrogated those of us who remained for hours. They were trying to get information on you two. Of course, no one apart from the Order knew you had been there.
"At the same time that they were smashing up the wedding, more Death Eaters were forcing their way into every Order-connected house in the country. No deaths, but they were rough. They burned down Dedalus Diggle's house, but you know he wasn't there, protecting the Dursley's, though I don't see why, and they used the Cruciatus Curse on Tonk's family, Sirius was hidden at that point. They're all right, shaken, obviously, but otherwise okay."
"Are they bothering to give an excuse for torturing Harry and Ewan's whereabouts out of people?" asked Hermione.
"Remember Death Eaters have the Ministry on their side now, they got power to use brutal spells without fear of identification or arrest. Here, let me show you." said Lupin, pulling out a folded copy of the Daily Prophet and giving it to Ewan. "That is there pretext for coming after you two."
"'Wanted for Questioning about the Death of Albus Dumbledore.'" read Ewan.'
"WHAT!?" said Harry in outrage.
"So Death Eaters took over the Daily Prophet too?" asked Hermione.
"But people must be realizing whats going on?" asked Ron.
"The coup has been smooth and virtually silent. The official version of Scrimgeour's murder is that he resigned and was replaced by Pius Thicknesse, who is under the Imperius Curse."
"Why doesn't Voldemort just declare himself Minister?" asked Ron.
"Why should he have to when he has puppets doing it for him?" said Ewan.
"Thicknesse is taking care of the everyday stuff, leaving Voldemort free to extend his power beyond the Ministry." added Harry.
"Naturally, many people have deduced what happened: There has been such a dramatic change in Ministry policy in the last few days, and many are whispering that Voldemort must be behind it. However, this is the point: They whisper. They dare not confide in each other, not knowing whom to trust; they are scared to speak out, in case their suspicions are true and their families are targeted. Yes, Voldemort is playing a very clever game. Declaring himself might provoke open rebellion: Remaining masked has created confusion, uncertainty, and fear." said Lupin.
"And this dramatic change in Ministry policy," said Harry, "involves warning the Wizardry World against Ewan and I instead of Voldemort."
Ewan sighed. "You know, I hate to say this, and I'm sorry Harry if it upsets you, but I don't understand why Death Eaters and Voldemort are after me to begin with. I understand Harry, being the Boy-Who-Lived and all but why me?"
"You are Harry's brother, you are the next in line that the anit-Voldemort movement will turn to IF Harry is to fail." said Lupin.
"But I'm not prophesied!" said Ewan.
"Its just the fact that you are Harry's brother that makes you a target."
"That is so not fair." mumbled Ewan.
"Anyway, Now that Dumbledore is dead, you, Harry – the Boy Who Lived -were sure to be the symbol and rallying point for any resistance to Voldemort. But by suggesting that you hand in the old hero's death, Voldemort not only set a price on your head, but sown doubt and fear amongst many who would have defended you. Meanwhile, the Ministry has started moving against Muggle-borns. Look at page two."
Ewan flipped over the page and read aloud.
"'Muggle-born Register. The Ministry of Magic is undertaking a survey of so-called "Muggle-borns," the better to understand how they came to possess magical secrets. Recent research undertaken by the Department of Mysteries reveals that magic can only be passed from person to person when Wizards reproduce. Where no proven Wizardry ancestry exists, therefore, the so-called Muggle-born is likey to have obtained magical power by theft or force.
"The Ministry is determined to root out such usurpers of magical power, and to this end issue an invitation to every so-called Muggle-born to present themselves for interview by the newly appointed Muggle-born Registration Commission.'"
"People won't let this happen." said Ron.
"It is happening, Ron." said Lupin. "Muggle-borns are being rounded up as we speak."
"But how are they supposed to have 'stolen' magic?" asked Ron. "It's mental, if you could steal magic there wouldn't be any Squibs, would there?"
"Maybe that's what they think, maybe the Ministry thinks that Muggle-borns stole there magic from wizards, there by making Squibs." said Ewan.
"Nevertheless, unless you can prove that you know at least one close Wizardry relative, you are now deemed to have obtained your magical power illegally and must suffer the punishment."
"What's Voldemort planning for Hogwarts?" asked Hermione.
"Attendance is now compulsory for ever young witch or wizard," Lupin replied. "That was announced yesterday. It's a change, because it was never obligatory before. Of course, nearly ever witch and wizard in Britain has been educated at Hogwarts, but their parents had the right to teach them at home or send them abroad if they preferred. This way, Voldemort will have the whole Wizardry population under his eye from a young age. And it's also another way of weeding out the Muggle-borns, because students must be given Blood Status – meaning that they have proven to the Ministry that they are of Wizard decent – before they are allowed to attend."
"Meaning only half-bloods or pure-bloods..." said Ewan.
"There's another thing, you see... Tonks- well, she's having a baby." said Lupin.
"Oh, how wonderful!" squealed Hermione.
"Excellent!" said Ron enthusiastically,
"Congratulations." said Harry.
"That's great" added Ewan, "But you don't sound happy about it?"
"You don't understand." said Lupin.
"Then help us to." said Harry.
"I've made Tonks an outcast! You have only seen me amongst the Order, or under Dumbledore's protection at Hogwarts! You don't know how most of the Wizardry World see's creatures like me! When they know of my affliction, they can barely talk to me! Don't you see what I've done? Even her own family is disgusted by our marriage, what parents want their only daughter to marry a werewolf? And the child – the child-
"My kind usually don't breed! It will be like me, I' am convinced of it – how can I forgive myself, when I knowingly risked passing on my own condition to an innocent child? And if, by some miracle, it is not like me, then it'll be better off, a hundred times so, with a father of whom it must always be ashamed!"
"Remus, you're being stupid, you don't know how your kid will be, and even if he or she is like you, then you can be there for them, like my dad and Sirius was for you. He or she won't be alone. No child is ever ashamed of their parents, even if you were a werewolf, he or she would love you." said Ewan. "Besides, how could you even consider leaving Tonks, she loves you. As for her parents, be a man, show them that you are the best thing for their daughter, prove to them, hell prove to yourself, that you can protect them, love them, and be for them, no matter what."
"You really think that I... I could be a good father? A good husband?" asked Lupin.
"You already are." said Harry.
Lupin smiled. "I should be going back to them. I'll tell Sirius and everyone you four are okay."
"Good bye, Remus." said Hermione
"Bye!" said Ron and Harry.
"See ya, mate." added Ewan.
After Remus left, Harry went to reading the rest of the Prophet Remus left.
