The Search Is Over,
Chapter 172, Our Destinies Are One
Over the next few days, Kreacher and Regulus chose to lay low while everything unfolded. Their help wasn't required at this point, and the last thing both wanted was to be spotted out and about too much during the outbreak and have vampires accused of causing it. Though that was a bit of a drastic consideration, people got drastic when they were frightened. Fear was a terrifying thing considering the amount of damage it could do when driving a person. The two only ventured out to feed, sticking to Muggle territory to do so in order to lay low.
As a result, they had to depend on Kereston for reports on how things were progressing. She caught them up nightly when she came home from work at the Ministry. She didn't take over as Minister right away lest things appear too planned. Instead they had to wait about and scramble to keep each department running while both high and low ranking Ministry employees missed work due to a strange and frightening malady that felt like the flu and stripped one of their magic.
Everyone hoped this was temporary as the healers at St. Mungos could find no direct cause, thus no direct solution. Then those healers fell sick as well. It was difficult not to feel sympathy for the panic rocking British wizarding society, but Regulus reminded himself that most of those people would not feel sympathy for enslaved elves or suppressed goblins. Those who did would eventually regain their magic, so no harm was truly done. After a few days of a flagging Ministry due to it hardly having any workers, Kereston was elected Minister by everyone remaining healthy and magical.
This was of course arranged in advance with a few other people also putting themselves forward and Kereston winning the vote. She moved quickly to put her new team into place once elected. The head Auror was a friend of Blaise's from Spain by the name of Romeo Valdez. When Kereston showed them his photo, Regulus remembered seeing him at the meeting at Gringotts a few days back. He'd been seated with Blaise and Gellert. Gellert was now Kereston's chief adviser, which had him basically on call as needed, so free to remain at his shop most of the time.
Greg and those other Aurors who remained from the old guard as it were, worked alongside the new goblin, elf and Acromantula Aurors that Kereston brought on. As she was quoted as saying in the Daily Prophet, "We need all the willing magical help we can get right now,and this presents a wonderful opportunity for various magical races to work together to survive this crisis." The human Aurors trained the new goblins, elves and spiders, and from what Kereston said, they were integrating wonderfully. That was indeed heartening news.
It made Regulus think this thing would actually work. How wonderful that would be! A strongly united magical world standing together against any possible threat of Muggle tyranny. Standing together to form a complexly beautiful magical network with no inner strife and equal opportunities for all. One evening, a few days after the children had gotten home from Hogwarts, Kreacher and Regulus were reading in the library when the door chime rang. The two exchanged a look as they waited expectantly. It wasn't long before Stormy entered with Ballan and Greok. Idly Regulus wondered if Stormy enjoyed it when other vampires came to call because he wouldn't have to offer them tea.
"It is good to see the both of you," Kreacher said, giving the two a warm smile. "How are Greok and Ballan finding vampirism?"
"Filling," Ballan said, flashing a grin that intentionally showed off his new fangs.
"Good to know," Regulus said with an uneasy chuckle. Though he had no qualms when it came to sustaining himself on the blood of people he knew deserved to die, Ballan's open relishment of his new state was a bit disconcerting even if he did like the fierce elf for overcoming his life of unwarranted abuse. "Why don't the both of you have a seat," Regulus invited. "I'm sure you could stand to relax a bit what with how busy you've been."
Greok smiled his thanks as he and Ballan settled into two of the room's ebony wood straight backed chairs. Regulus didn't get the impression that Greok had been very changed by vampirism, which was good. Of course Ballan wasn't that changed either. Vampirism had simply given him the power to do what he'd always wanted to do all along, that being to take his rage out on humans for what had been done to him. "Last night we went out to practice what Dora showed us on how to hypnotize the minds of mortals," Greok shared. "Only Ballan here got the idea to try it massively! So we sort of made a ton of Muggles walk out in front of a train. You know, just to see if we could."
Regulus's eyes widened. What if some of those Muggles didn't deserve it? He opened his mouth to say as much, then shut it again. What would those Muggles do to wizards if they only knew magic still existed, he reminded himself. An innocent Muggle who did not know about magic could quickly turn into a dangerous one if they did.
"Impressive. Greok and Ballan have strong abilities in expanding their minds to control those of others," Kreacher mused thoughtfully. "Kreacher thinks that shall provide a nice distraction. One that is currently needed considering the current circumstances. Ballan is wise."
Ballan gave Kreacher a pleased smile. "Thank you. I thought it might be useful. If odd things are happening that don't all involve wizards, no one will know truly where to look. I will admit, though, that this thought was secondary to my desire to see how many of the bastards I could take out if I wanted to do so," the German elf admitted frankly. Well at least he was honest, Regulus thought. There was something to be said for that as so many folk weren't. As he watched, Ballan's hands curled into fists at his sides. "If any of them ever come after me again, wizard or not, I know I can make them... do something else," the German elf said quietly.
"And now you've got a best bro who also has your back," Greok said, offering Ballan an encouraging smile.
Ballan made a face before grinning back. "Which is still so damned weird."
"Thank you," Greok said with a laugh. Reynaldo entered the room then, trailing a cloud of pure glumness in his wake. Though the spider was the size of a literal horse, he generally always managed to walk with a spring in his step, but now all eight of his feet were dragging. "I guess I'll have to start going to work with Kereston now that she's Minister in case things get dangerous," he said. His tone indicated that this new development was positively tragic.
"Well I never fancied a job at the Ministry myself, so I don't blame you for not being overly excited, but if you're just there to keep Kereston company in case, it may not be so bad," Regulus encouraged. "You could always bring a book to read to ease the boredom."
"It isn't just that," Reynaldo said, settling down in a corner and curling himself into a dejected ball by wrapping his legs around his body. "Hi new people," he added sadly to Greok and Ballan. To the credit of both elf and goblin, neither could resist smiling at the charming Acromantula.
"Hi," they replied nearly in unison.
"I'm hating the idea of eating someone if I have to in order to protect Kereston," Reynaldo said, getting back to the matter of his dejection. "I don't' think they would taste at all good, and I'm just not that sort of spider anyway. If they push me by threatening Kereston, I sort of resent that. It's you know, bad for me psychologically. I'll be angry at anyone I have to kill even if I decide not to eat them because they'll taste bad. It's like they're making me kill them and that makes me mad because they're forcing me to change myself forever."
"You believe that killing changes one forever," Greok asked, clearly interested.
"Nope," Ballan murmured. The elf looked extremely pleased with himself and Regulus couldn't help a slight chuckle.
"I think it depends on the person," Reynaldo said. "Or the spider... But I guess we're still people so... I don't want to change myself so I am resentful."
"Just put them in a web and restrain them. You don't have to kill them if you don't wish to do so," Ballan suggested. Regulus was admittedly surprised to hear that particular non aggressive suggestion coming from the German elf.
"True," Reynaldo said thoughtfully. "I could try that. I just worry someone will let them out before I can get them to the proper person if they have backup."
Ballan flashed a grin. "If they have backup, just make a bigger web."
"Yeah," Reynaldo said excitedly. "I suppose I was just thinking about what I didn't want to do rather than thinking toward a solution. Thanks."
"Sure," Ballan answered gruffly. Clearly he was uncomfortable at the idea of being helpful or being thanked. "Though they truly don't taste bad at all, so perhaps you should try it at least once."
"I tried cat and hated it. Humans are bigger, so would probably taste even worse," Reynaldo said.
Ballan took a moment to consider. "I've never tried cat. Cats have never done anything to me."
"I hated that cat," Reynaldo growled.
"Okay, we're finished with the attic," Hydra called out as she rushed into the room. "Hi, new people," she added brightly.
Greok laughed. "That is precisely what the spider said."
"Hm," Hydra said thoughtfully. "Well, we do hang out a lot."
"We got rid of a ton of things," Loughness said. His hands were busy wiping attic dust from his shoulder-length black hair and clothes as he entered the room.
"Hydra and Loughness, this is Greok and Ballan," Kreacher introduced. "Greok and Ballan, these are our twins."
"But how did two blokes," Greok asked, speaking as best he could around his own mouth that hung open in astonishment at sight of the twins who clearly looked very much like Regulus and very much like Kreacher. Kreacher proudly explained the process while Hydra openly stared at Ballan. Her expression was not one of discomfort or horror at the elf's drooping eye or slightly blood spattered clothes. It was one of open, was that lust on his sixteen-year-old daughter's face, Regulus wondered in slowly rising horror.
While Loughness had long had eyes for Kereston, insisting that he would marry her some day, Hydra had never grown into the idea of a relationship, strenuously claiming that boys were nasty. Regulus supposed she would grow out of it some day, but now that she had, he didn't like it. He didn't mind that it was Ballan, he just didn't like his baby girl finally taking her first steps on the path of becoming a woman. Couldn't she have at least waited until after the revolution was over, he wondered darkly. To his relief, Ballan did not seem to notice Hydra's open appreciation. Regulus knew he shouldn't enjoy that for too long, though. His daughter was beautiful, and though Ballan was an unusual man, he was still a man. Hydra had a lot to offer, and he would certainly see as much.
"They won't move out when they get married." Kreacher whispered, leaning close to soothingly speak into Regulus's ear. "We simply won't allow it. Besides, they have everything they need right here."
"What are you two whispering about," Loughness asked.
"Nothing you need to concern yourself over," Regulus retorted sharply. "And besides, your other father was whispering. I was just listening."
(Dear reader,
Though this part of Kreacher and Regulus's magical story has finally come to a close, it resumes in Bad Romance, told from the POV of the Lestranges, then in Pureblood Squared, told from the POV of Loughness and Hydra. We didn't leave you hanging when it comes to the revolution, both of those works continue the story. Also in In The Dark, the story of Blaise and Gellert, Kreacher and Regulus are prominently featured, and spoiler alert, Regulus helps to free Grindelwald from a nasty curse he may have acquired from using the Elder Wand. Thank you for sharing in on this long adventure with our favorite Dark heroes.)
