AN: This chapter is more of a filler chapter. The next chapter, the plot will return.

The next morning, Hermione, Petunia and Regulus were preparing breakfast when Dorea, Charlus, Evelyn, Michael and Hope came downstairs and sat at the dining table. Mipsy, having just finished brewing fresh tea and coffee, served the adults with their drinks of choice. Finally, once breakfast had finished, James and Sirius stumbled into the room.

Tilly served everyone, having learned everyone's favorites. Just as she was preparing Remus' plate to store away until he woke, a voice softly rang out. "You don't have to put it under stasis, Tilly," Remus said softly. "I'll eat now."

"Remy!" Hermione said, surprised. "Shouldn't you be resting?"

"I feel fine," he said, digging into his breakfast. "I feel like I usually do two days after a transformation, anyway."

"The pack bond!" Lily whispered suddenly.

"Come again?" Evelyn said, her coffee halfway to her lips. "What's a pack bond?"

"I think Petunia can explain that," Hermione said, smiling. "You did it, didn't you, Tunie?"

"I-I read in that book I told you about," Petunia began, looking at Hermione. "I didn't think it would work, given that I'm not magical, but when Reg, Lily and I went with Hermione to take care of the boys, I helped Hermione clean Remus up. I accidentally got too close to a cut that Hermione hadn't healed yet, and Remus reacted. I told him that it was okay, we were his pack, and to let us take care of our Alpha while he healed. I'd hoped it would help Remus, but I didn't think it would truly work."

"That was very brave of you, Petunia," Dorea said, smiling at the girl. "Most muggles would run at what you saw last night, instead, you didn't see the wolf, you saw your friend, and did what you thought would help. If I may ask, did you have all of us in mind when you talked of Remus' pack?"

Petunia nodded, "I did, I even included the elves, especially Tilly, as she's the one that helped me get the blood off of Remy."

Suddenly, Remus jumped and hugged Petunia. "I don't know how to thank you! We, werewolves that is, can't initiate a pack bond. We can see people as pack, but there's no bond. It's initiated by people who love the wolf and the man."

"I just wanted to help," Petunia said, smiling. "I wasn't even sure it would work since I'm a muggle."

"I don't know how you did it," Hope said, smiling. "But you did, and as a mother, I'm eternally grateful."

A little while later, the teens were in the library, all of them except Petunia and Hermione working on their summer assignments.

"This equation doesn't make any sense," James said, slamming his quill onto the table. "Remind me why I let you talk me into taking arithmancy, Remus?"

Petunia glanced at James' parchment. "That's Agrippa's theory, is it not? You solve it by working backwards, from right to left, creating a simplified equation, you then use the Aramaic rule to solve."

"You get this?" James asked, amazed.

"It's not that difficult," she replied, shrugging. "I still don't entirely understand how the equations predict events in the future, but solving the equations, that's easy. Lily and I did some of the third-, fourth- and fifth-year equations when we first came here."

"This is a high sixth-year equation," James said, amazed. "Even Remus struggles with some of them."

"Oh," Petunia said, smiling. "I enjoy math, I guess."

As Petunia finished her sentence, there was a pecking at the window.

"Oh!" Lily said, looking at the window. "That should be our Hogwarts letters!" She went to the window, allowing the owl inside, and took the letters from the owl. "But, there's seven letters, only six of us go to Hogwarts."

Lily passed the letters out, gasping when she saw one addressed to Petunia. "Tunie, you got one, too."

"What? But I'm not magical!"

"That may be my doing," Hermione said, smiling. "I wrote Professors Vector, Sinistra, Babbling, and Burbage and inquired if you could receive some tutoring. I know Muggles can't go to Hogwarts, but that doesn't mean that you can't learn a few things we learn!"

Petunia smiled, opening the letter. "I need to read this to you all, you'll never believe it."

Miss Evans,

My name is Septima Vector, I'm the arithmancy professor at Hogwarts. I've just received an extraordinary letter detailing your already extensive knowledge in arithmancy, runes, astrology and obviously, muggle studies.

On behalf of Headmaster Dumbledore and Deputy Headmistress McGonagall, I'd like to invite you to Hogwarts to receive tutoring, as well as help Professor Burbage (our muggle studies professor) bring her curriculum up to date, as I fear it's dreadfully behind.

I await your reply, feel free to send it with this owl, it's also delivering your friends' letters for the upcoming year.

Sincerely,

Septima Vector

"Tunie, that's amazing!" Lily said, smiling. "You get to go to Hogwarts!"

Petunia smiled at Hermione. "I don't know how to thank you!"

Suddenly, Sirius laughed loudly, his laugh sounding more like a bark than a laugh. "Prongsie, Head Boy? McGonagall has gone round the bend!"

"James," Lily said, getting his attention. "Look what I have." She held her Head Girl badge up.

James smiled and hugged Lily. "Mione, Reg, why aren't you two saying anything?"

"I don't have to go through a sorting," Hermione finally said. "I'll join Gryffindor at the Welcome Feast, Professor Dumbledore spoke to the Sorting Hat, who decided, given everything I've been through, that I deserve my old house again."

"I'm allowed to resort, if I wish," Regulus said. "Given what happened, McGonagall thinks its safer for me. Plus, she heard word from Bones that they're arresting Walburga today."

News of Walburga's arrest traveled to Potter Manor quickly, with the arrival of Orion and Alphard.

"The aurors just left Grimmauld Place," Orion said after greeting everyone. "Walburga fought tooth and nail, they had to stun her to arrest her. They also found evidence of Death Eaters staying in the home, adding more charges to her. I gave Kingsley and Alastor permission to search the house entirely and clear out anything dark. Kreacher was beside himself, I called Mipsy and Patty to try to calm him, I think they brought him here, I hope that's okay."

Dorea nodded. "Kreacher is related to Patty, he'll be fine."

"Mum, I'd like to see Kreacher," Regulus said suddenly. "He adored Walburga, but he doted on me, he practically raised me. Maybe I can help."

Orion nodded, "I can attest to that. Kreacher was glued to Reg's hip. He was miserable when Reg came here."

"You may go, Reg," Charlus said finally. "However, I think the rest of the kids should join you."

Regulus nodded at his father. "Why everyone though Dad?"

"You may need the support of your friends," Charlus replied. "I have a feeling Walburga did something to Kreacher's mind. Sometimes, if an elf's mind has been tampered with magically, their cores implode, killing them. However, with enough hands and enough magic, it's possible to repair the elf's core and their mind."

Regulus blanched.

"Don't worry, Regulus," James said, smiling at his brother. "We'll help him. That's what family does."

"Mister Reggie," Mipsy said, popping into the library where all the teens were gathered. "Kreacher be's asking for you."

Regulus nodded, following Mipsy out of the library and toward to kitchens, his friends all behind him, Petunia holding his arm.

Once there, Mipsy again turned to the teens. "If you's be touching the door, it will grow so you's be able to enter Mipsy and Patty's house."

Sirius, being the tallest, opened the door and allowed everyone inside before he too entered.

"You have a beautiful home, Mipsy," Hermione said, smiling.

"Missy Dorea helped Mipsy decorate after her wedding," Mipsy said, smiling back at Hermione. "Kreacher be's through that door with his brother Patty. Bad woman did something to Kreacher's mind, Kreacher needs help."

Nodding, Regulus lead the teens through another door. "Master, you came back to Kreacher!"

"I did, Kreacher," Regulus said, smiling at the old elf. "Patty and Mipsy brought you to Potter Manor so we could help you."

"Potter Manor?" Kreacher said, suddenly scared. "No! Missus Dorea will kill Kreacher when she finds out what Mistress did!"

"Kreacher," Sirius said softly. Even though he hated the elf, he didn't want to see the elf in this state. "Dorea knows, that's why Regulus and I are here. We're back with our real family."

"No," Kreacher said, shaking his head furiously. "She knows not of the curse Mistress cast upon her! The curse of being unable to have a daughter. Mistress wanted Dorea to suffer as she had."

"I didn't suffer, Kreacher," Dorea said softly, watching the elf work himself in hysterics. No one realized she had followed them into Mipsy's home. "I have three sons I adore more than anything. I have another boy who I view as my favorite nephew, and three girls I love as if they were my own. I never suffered, Kreacher. I also don't want you to suffer."

"Kreacher is beyond help," the elf muttered. "Kreacher is ready to die."

"No!" Regulus cried. "You can't leave me Kreacher!"

"Mistress cast spells and charms on Kreacher," he began. "Kreacher doesn't want to hurt anyone anymore. It's time for Kreacher to join his parents."

"Reggie," Dorea whispered to her youngest son. "When an elf is ready to die, there is nothing that can be done, except for keep them comfortable and love them until it's their time."

Regulus nodded, tears streaming down his face. Petunia wrapped her arms around him, comforting him as he had comforted her.

"Miss," Kreacher said, addressing Petunia. "Take care of Master for Kreacher. Master needs you."

Petunia nodded, hugging Regulus closer. "I will, Kreacher."

One by one, everyone filed out of Mipsy and Patty's home, except Petunia and Regulus who kept vigil by Kreacher until he took his last breath, Petunia noticing he was gone first. She stood, gently closing the elf's eyes and saying a prayer over his body while Patty looked on.

"Missy Tunie," Mipsy said sadly, comforting her husband. "Thank you for praying over Kreacher. Not many people be's doing that when an elf dies."

"It's the least I can do," Petunia replied, returning to Regulus' side. "He raised Regulus, and he was Patty's brother. That makes him family in my mind, even if his mind was going. Mipsy, Patty, do you need help planning a memorial?"

Mipsy nodded. "We's be wanting the family there as well, especially Mister Orion and Mister Alphie. Mipsy not able to plan right now."

"I'll take care of all of it for you," Petunia said softly. "Do I need to do anything special?"

Mipsy shook her head no. "Thank you, Missy Tunie. We's be preserving Kreacher until the service."

Petunia managed to convince Regulus to leave Kreacher's side, immediately meeting Dorea when they reentered the kitchen. Dorea, sensing something was wrong wrapped Regulus in a hug.

"Kreacher passed," Petunia whispered. "I offered to plan his service, Regulus and Patty are too upset to do so, and Mipsy shouldn't stress herself too much. Mipsy said she'll preserve Kreacher until the service is planned. Her only request was Orion and Alphard attend with the rest of the family."

Dorea nodded. "I'll help you. Elf funerals are similar to their weddings, a few speeches, a lot of food, and celebrating the life."

Petunia nodded, Regulus reaching for her again. She led him upstairs, where their friends, no, family, were all gathered in their shared bedroom. As soon as they all realized Regulus had been crying, they all encircled him, protecting and comforting him.

Kreacher's service was two days later.

Petunia had been working nonstop to plan the service, having every detail perfect, from who was going to speak, to the food, to the celebration of life that followed.

"Patty thanks Missy Tunie," Patty said, hugging Petunia's legs. "Kreacher would have loved this."

Petunia smiled softly, crouching to return the hug. "It was my honor, Patty."

Hours later, after a lot of food, laughs, and even more tears, the teens, followed by Tilly and Mipsy headed back into the house.

"Thank you, Missy Tunie," Mipsy said finally. "Patty thanks you too."

"Of course, Mipsy," she replied, smiling. "We're just going to turn in, we'll see you in the morning?"

"Mipsy and Tilly be's wondering if we can join you tonight," Tilly said, wringing her hands. "Elf tradition says the men, Robby and Patty be's holding vigil over Kreacher's remains until sunset tomorrow, then we's be burying Kreacher."

"Of course you can," Hermione said, smiling at the pregnant elves. "Meet us in James' room, we're just going to change into our night clothes."

The elves nodded, popping into Mipsy and Patty's home to change while the teenagers went upstairs to change. When they all met up in the bedroom, Tilly and Mipsy stood at the foot of the bed, waiting for the teens to get in the spots.

"Mipsy, do you want to lay between Regulus and I?" Petunia asked, smiling at Mipsy's enthusiastic nod. Mipsy settled between Petunia and Regulus, her head on Regulus' arm. Tilly, having taken a liking to Remus, climbed between him and Hermione, cuddling into the werewolf's arms.

When the mothers checked on the teens a few hours later, they smiled, which seemed to be an every night occurrence now. Between Petunia and Regulus lay Mipsy, cuddling them both as a child would cuddle their parents. Dorea chuckled when she noticed Tilly, both arms around Remus' neck, as if making sure he didn't leave her. Sighing, Dorea closed the door.

"Alphard and Orion are sitting vigil with Patty and Robby," she finally said. "They both feel guilty for leaving Kreacher with Walburga."

"They couldn't have known what she'd do," Hope said, consoling her friend.

Dorea nodded, telling her friends goodnight as she headed back to the wing she shared with Charlus.