At 12 Grimmauld Place, Harry, Bloom, Hermione, Sirius, and the Weasleys are staying for winter break.
Bloom and Harry literally couldn't be happier for the fact, they couldn't stay in Hogwarts and going back to the Dursleys is still a terrible option.
Harry and Bloom have been practicing Occlumency the whole time - mainly by trying to block the connection between each other.
Bloom is much more successful than Harry, though he does manage it eventually.
Bloom thinks the ritual used to bring Voldemort back to life with some of her blood is the reason why she's got a connection to him - but she has no idea why Harry would have one - but it's clear now that he does have one, he's been seeing the same dreams she has lately.
As Harry and Bloom get in the dining room, they see presents being handed out to people.
Ron is holding a brown sleeveless sweater-vest with an 'R' on the chest - and he's looking not at all happy with it.
Molly sees the two of them and hands them each a present of their own.
Bloom grins at Harry and opens hers - it's a scarf with a 'B' on it - and its deep blue and with a pattern that looks like its fire on it - it's fiery red wool, but it looks amazing.
Arthur gets to the table, he's covered in bandages and bruises - but he's alive, and he'll make a full recovery.
Bloom puts a hand on his arm and channels more of her magic into him - she's been doing that a lot lately - and he sighs for a moment before moving her hand off his arm.
"Thank you, Bloom."
She's grinning at the happy scene, looking more like herself than she has since the last trial last year.
Arthur proposes a toast to Bloom, she's the reason he's alive after all.
Bloom turns bright red from blushing, and Sirius winks at Harry.
When Harry, Ron, Bloom, and Hermione are walking down the stairs, Hermione says "I don't know why you don't want to wear it, Ron!"
"Because I'll look like a bloody idiot, that's why!"
A room catches Harry's eye, and Bloom stops moving when he does so they can see what's in it.
When they look in, they suddenly hear a voice comment "Don't know why…nasty brat, standing there bold as brass."
They whirl around to see a house elf standing there, who pauses when he sees them staring.
"Harry Potter, the boy who stopped the Dark Lord. Friend to Mudbloods and traitors alike. And his friend, the girl who shakes the house. If my poor mistress only knew-"
Suddenly, Sirius is at the top of the stairs and yells "Kreacher! Enough of your bile, away with you!"
Kreacher scowls, and says "Of course, master. Kreacher lives to serve the House of Black."
Kreacher exits the room, as Sirius enters - and Bloom is wincing at the whole argument that wasn't one.
"Sorry about that, he was never very nice when I was growing up. At least, not to me."
Harry asks "You lived here?"
"Yes, I grew up here. I offered it as the Headquarters to Dumbledore, it was the only thing I could do after all."
He points at a wall with names all over it, and says "The Black Family tree."
He points to his deranged cousin, one Bellatrix Lestrange.
He hated his parents and their pure-blood mania - and, by association, he dislikes Kreacher as well.
Bloom asks "So, why do you hate Kreacher? And, if you do hate him, why not free him?"
Sirius considers her point, and says "We hated each other since the beginning, I don't think anything will change that now."
Bloom says "Well, you don't have to treat him like he's worthless, Sirius."
Harry puts an arm around Bloom, remembering all the times the Dursleys would do the exact same thing.
Sirius can see the conflict in her eyes, and asks "You see the best in everyone, don't you Bloom?"
"I try, sometimes there's no best to be seen though."
Harry squeezes her shoulder, knowing she's thinking about a lot of people: the witches, the Trix, Voldemort, Peter Pettigrew, the list goes on.
Sirius isn't on that list though, and she refuses to put Kreacher on it without even attempting to get to know him.
That night, Kreacher goes to the bed he made himself and finds a bunch of chocolate and a pillow - and a note that says 'To Kreacher, From Bloom. All yours, enjoy!'
Kreacher stares for a moment, then pokes at the box to make sure it's real.
Sirius never treated him with any kindness, but he's also never pulled any tricks on the old House Elf either.
Underneath the box, is another note that reads 'P.S. Sirius says he'll try to be nicer. Bloom.'
Now Kreacher's jaw drops in shock, he really can't believe what he's seeing.
That morning, before everyone leaves, Kreacher sees Bloom smile and wink at him - then she looks at Sirius and nods to where he's standing with an impatient and somewhat annoyed look on her face.
When he looks over, he sees Sirius with an annoyed and conflicted look of his own - and he sees the House elf watching curiously.
He rubs his face with one hand, then walks over to Kreacher and sits down to get a better look at him.
"Is there something you need, master?"
Kreacher is more confused than he's ever been before, and it only gets worse when Sirius says "No, there's nothing you need to do, Kreacher. There's something Bloom said yesterday. Would you like to be free?"
Kreacher gapes, seeing his master isn't joking.
"It is my duty and honor to serve the House of Black!"
Sirius is taken aback by Kreacher's near-shout of outrage and insult.
"Yes, except I've been terrible to you. I know very well you and I are not on remotely good terms, but Bloom pointed out to me that you had done nothing to me. She also asked why I didn't free you if I disliked you so much."
Kreacher goes still for a moment, then yells "I swear, the next time I see her…"
Sirius raises an eyebrow at him, and says "Kreacher, one thing about Bloom is that she cares about people - most things, actually. You've seen her with Fyra, her phoenix."
"Yes, master. A phoenix, at so young, quite a sight - especially with them being so close."
"Yes, which is why I didn't tell her house elves consider it a personal insult and the highest disgrace to free them."
Kreacher says "She left me chocolate. Along with a note that said you'd try to be nicer to Kreacher."
"Yes, I did promise her I'd try."
Sirius shuts his eyes and lets his head bang against the wall.
"Kreacher supposes you won't try hard."
Sirius chuckles at that, and says "I certainly haven't until now, have I?"
"No. Master has not."
"Well, I apologize for that. I hated my parents and their mania about pure-bloods and how we were part of that group."
"Kreacher was keeping himself from getting punished - master knows he would have been beaten if he didn't agree with what his former masters were saying."
"Hm, I suppose so. My mother was not a very patient woman - or a good one, for that matter."
"Kreacher has no opinions on his former masters. You do not speak ill of the dead, he's been told. Regulus Black, he was a good master. Turned against the Dark Lord for Kreacher."
"I see, well, it might interest you to know I've no intention of working with him."
"Kreacher is relieved, the Dark Lord is not a person Kreacher ever wants to serve. The red-headed girl, she's different. Insulting ideas aside, she was nice to Kreacher. She seems like she would be a kind mistress - provided she doesn't attempt to free Kreacher from his service."
Sirius laughs at that, and says "I'll tell her so. It wasn't meant as an insult, she thought we'd be happier if we didn't cross each other's paths."
"Kreacher admits he'd be happier if master was nicer to him."
Sirius sighs and says "Yeah, I know. Can we try to be not-as-hostile toward each other, if not even neutral? By the way, Bloom is very scary when she's pointing her wand at you - personal experience, and I have no wish to repeat it."
Kreacher says "She's not an ordinary witch, I could sense that much. She's more powerful, heat was radiating off her skin. Can Kreacher assume she has powers not of this world?"
Sirius nods, and Kreacher asks "What is she, Master?"
"She's a fairy, the fairy of-"
He can't get the words out, what she's the fairy of.
After a moment, he recognizes what's happening and starts laughing.
Kreacher asks "What's funny?"
"Kreacher, do you know of the Fidelius Charm?"
"Yes, master. Kreacher has heard of it. It makes it impossible for any but the one the charm is on to reveal a secret."
"Well, it seems Bloom knows it as well!"
Kreacher takes a moment to get it, then he starts laughing as well.
Sirius tells Kreacher everything he can say about Bloom: her strength in battle, her stubbornness and determination, her sheer iron will, her innate kindness and compassion.
The two of them aren't friends, not even close, but they also aren't total enemies anymore.
AN: Yeah, I know, Kreacher and Sirius are never going to be friends. I really don't think Kreacher should get the short end of a stick here though. Besides, any ideas about what's going to happen next? Keep reading to find out!