When Harry arrived at Sirius' house he was still incensed. He'd briefly stopped by The Leaky Cauldron to buy some mulled wine and then come straight to what he was now considering his new house.
As he opened the front door, he was nearly bowled over by Albus, who materialised just behind him as he was stepping forward. Harry got a nice shove from the large bag that Albus had clasped in his hands.
"Al? What the hell!" gasped Harry as he stumbled forward nearly dropping the two bottles of wine he was carrying in large bag.
"Oops, sorry dad, I just brought over a few things I thought you might need, you know, a spare set of robes for work, some grungy old underwear and a toothbrush, just a couple of essentials to tide you over. If you want anything else and don't want to speak to mum, either Lily or I will get them for you. Don't worry, we've got your back."
Harry smiled as they entered the old house, he was about to reply to his sons claims of "grungy" underwear when as they entered the downstairs parlour, both stopped dead in their tracks, all thoughts forgotten. Harry gazed about him, it had been at least five months since he'd been here and yet the old house was clean. Not only clean, but spotlessly clean, even the old chandelier was sparkling as if new.
He blinked several times as if making sure he was seeing things right. "Dad? Is someone else living here?" asked a clearly suspicious Albus.
Harry shook his head and took out his wand, Albus quickly followed, just then the door to the downstairs kitchen opened and out walked Winky. Harry did a double take, "Winky? What are you doing here, and more importantly, are you responsible for all of this?" he asked waving his hand around.
Winky curtsied and nodded enthusiastically, "Winky is applying to be's you house elf Master Harry." Her ears dipped as she said, "Kreacher talked to Winky, he saids he's not going to be here to look after you much longer, and that's you needs an elf. I saids to Kreacher that's I could be your new house elf. I looks after Master Barty and his family for long times, sir. I can be doin all your works here now, and I can keeps all your secrets - if you'll accept me into service, sir."
Harry shook his head in confusion, "but I thought you worked at Hogwarts now, and what do you mean Kreacher won't be here? Is he going somewhere?"
Winky ears drooped even lower, "Kreacher is very old Master Harry, he's oldest elfs I know. We elfs, sometimes if we be getting old enough, we sometimes be knowing when our times to go home is comin, and Kreacher is a knowing his is near, so he's a wantin to find someone to helps with his Master when he's gone, that's why he comes to Winky, because Winky wants a families again, she doesn't like Hogwarts, and she has, she has . . . she's gots a drinking problem at Hogwarts cause she's so unhappy, but when I comes here Master Harry, I can works."
She looked around proudly, "I can works in a homes again, I can has me a family again. Winky doesn't touch a drop anymore, because Winky can be being a proper elf again."
Albus started to laugh, "c'mon dad, the place has never looked better, and it would take pressure off of poor old Kreacher and make Winky happy, so it's really a win, win scenario.
Harry shook his head, and looked down at Winky who was gazing up at him with her huge lamplight eyes full of undisguised hope. For a moment it felt like he was looking at Dobby again, and before he knew it, he was saying.
"Okay Winky, you have yourself a deal, and thank you, I never thought I'd be lucky enough to have an elf of your capabilities in my service. Now, how much would you like to be paid per week?"
Winky's ears went up as a beatific smile lit her face, until she realised what Harry had just added on.
"Master is not needin to pay Winky, the compact is mades, Winky is now Master Harry Potters house elf."
She pointed her finger in the air and waved it around, a golden haze appeared over her and slowly compressed into a ball before it suddenly shot through her and then through Harry. He jumped at the sudden feeling of warmth that spread through his limbs, for a moment he could still see a fine golden trail, linking Winky to him.
"What was that?" he asked in alarm.
"Final acceptance of the compact Master Harry, you's is agreed to have Winky as your house elf, and Winky has now bonded herself to your house, forever."
She smiled happily at him as Harry gaped at her. "Now, would you like me to makes some dinners for you and the young master, or would you like me to turn your bed downs for you?"
Harry absently handed Winky the two bottles of mead he was carrying, "some dinner and some wine would be lovely Winky, thank you."
With that Winky turned around and marched happily out to the kitchen.
Albus turned to his still shellshocked father grinning. "Score! Well done dad, no more housework or cooking, wow, having you own elf, damn. I mean I know you had Kreacher and all, but the last couple of years he's only been doing the occasional message for you, but Winky, she'll be able to look after you. I mean, if things don't pick up between you and mum." He ended on a sadder note.
Harry stared at his son lost in thought for a moment. "So many changes are coming Al, my head feels like it's spinning, and there's nothing I can do to stop the events I've set in motion from happening, not now, no matter how much a part of me might want to."
Al looked at his father, frowning at the odd thing he'd just said. "So how about, for just tonight, we forget about whatever is happening now, and we reminisce over the past with some of that wine I see you bought."
Harry smiled gratefully, "thanks Al, I think I'd like that. I think I'd like that very much."
Later that night Harry was awoken by Winky shaking him frantically, he sat up groggily. "Winky? What is it? What's wrong?"
Winky looked frantic, "It's Kreacher Master Harry sir., he's going home."
Harry blinked, "What? What do you mean?"
"Hurries Master Harry, Kreacher is needin to talk to you, just one more time, before he leaveses and goes home."
Harry suddenly grasped what Winky was trying to say, he leapt out of bed, grabbing an old coat to put over his pyjamas as he followed Winky out to the landing.
He found Kreacher sitting, propped up against the banister as he stared at the heads of his ancestors that still hung there.
"Master Harry," he said in his deep bulldog croak.
"Kreacher, are you alright, can I get you anything?" said Harry as he rushed to the old elfs side and sat down beside him.
Kreacher smiled, his eyes starting to film over little, by little, "Kreacher knows he's finally going home Master, but Kreacher has decided he doesn't want to be on the wall with his ancestors. Kreacher wanted to ask you not to put him there, please."
"Never said Harry, I'll even take your ancestors down and bury them beside you, how would that be?"
Kreacher smiled, his eyes filming over even more, they were almost white now, Harry knew it wouldn't be long now, and he felt like his heart was being torn in two.
"That would be nice I think," Kreacher croaked more quietly as a rattle began deep in his chest. "I dreamed I was a hero Master Harry. I dreamed I was loved by my Masters, that I . . . mattered, it was a nice dream." He whispered as his breath slowed and his eyes became almost fully white.
"You were loved by your Masters, Kreacher, Regulas loved you, and I love you dearly, you've been the bravest elf ever. You helped save us all Kreacher. Like a true hero of legend, you helped fight the dark lord, and you avenged Master Regulas."
Kreachers thin arm crept up to the old locket on his chest.
"I did? I was a hero?"
"Yes," said Harry as he held the old elf, his own tears trickling down onto his face.
"You were a real hero, a true elf, the truest."
Kreacher smiled as the film over his eyes turned completely white as he let breathed out his last, gentle, happy sigh.
Harry looked up at Winky, tears coursing unashamedly down his face, she was watching him with her own tear-filled eyes.
"Where do you think I should bury them Winky?" he asked brokenly.
Winky smiled gently and patted Harry shoulder, "not you's Master Harry, you has given Kreacher the gift of the hero. It's time that we elfs will take him to our sacred place, where only the bravest of us may be buried, so that all elfs will know the name Kreacher. It's our way Master Harry, it's our greatest honors and we is prepared."
Harry took a deep shuddering breath and nodded. "I think he would have liked that, thank you Winky."
Winky snapped her finger and another five elves appeared, they gently lead Harry away and then very gently laid Kreacher on a grey silken sheath before sewing it together quickly. Harry could see words and symbols unknown to him engraved over the shroud, and although he didn't understand them, he felt the latent power in the images, even from where he sat.
Winky walked over to Harry as the other elves each took a small fold of Kreachers shroud, "We's be taking him now Master Harry, Kreacher is finally going homes."
With that the elves all snapped their fingers and were gone, leaving Harry alone with his grief. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up to find his son staring down at him, tears in his eyes.
"That was beautiful dad, I think Kreacher would be really pleased, he deserved it."
Harry nodded and let his son help him up and take him back to his bedroom, where Harry spent the rest of the next few hours staring at the ceiling, until finally, near dawn he finally dozed off.
