Hermione watched Harry Potter turn his back to his Uncle and walk back to her.
"Doctor Granger. Would it be possible to get a lift to the Leaky Cauldron? I did promise Hermione some books…"
Emma chuckled. "Are you sure you want to go there?"
"I promised her some truths and need to know her mind is secure. There is an Art of Magic that allows someone to scan your mind. The Potion Master uses it to keep an eye on his more bigoted students. He was the school yard rival of my father. His moral compass doesn't always point north." Harry licked his lips. "I promised her books on the counter art. Her mind is organized, which makes it easier to read. The Art she is going to learn organizes the mind and helps you build a shell around it. Rumour has it that squibs can learn it as well."
"Harry, are you saying…"
"My Queen. They must be… they made you."
"Okay. Now her knickers are his." Emma smirked. "Let's get him to the pub so he can get her the books. And you don't have to hear talking about her Wizard and how he has magiced her knickers off."
Hermione smirked as the guys exchanged looks of shock.
Harry shook his head. "I don't have her tells. I don't know if she's joking or what. I can tell you that Hermione is thinking about books and good clean mischief." Harry grinned at his friend. "And in that order."
"We will take a cab there and back." Dan huffed as he turned towards the entrance. "It will be cheaper and faster than driving there and trying to find a parking place."
As they were waiting for the next cab, Harry turned to his Witch. "On a Question of Logistics, how do you travel with Crookshanks?"
"The bloody Carrier." Hermione huffed.
"I would be willing to cat-sit if he wants to stay with me." Harry shrugged.
Crookshanks jumped from her arms to his shoulders.
"Get." Dan sighed. "First you say he has her knickers, now he has charmed her pussy."
"Sir." Harry frowned at the man. " Just what is your problem?"
"He approves of you." Hermione sighed. "Trying to embarrass me. Kind of like Padfoot."
"Who?" Dan asked
"My Godfather." Harry answered with a grin, as a black cab pulled up.
POMP
Harry was walking the streets from the Leaky Cauldron to Grimmauld Place, not quite lost in thought as Crookshanks strutted along on the lead and harness, marking every third stoop post they passed.
Upon reaching number twelve, he picked up the 'proud of himself' tom, and climbed the steps to the door. Placing his palm on the door, he pulsed his magic into the Wards. "I, Harry Potter, Heir to Black, seek entrance to this noble but fallen bastion of Black. I seek to rebuild it to its former glory and prestige."
The house creaked, before it groaned, and a wave of warm welcome washed over him. The door popped and clicked as the locks undid themselves and the door swung open.
Inside, the house was more of a tomb than a home.
Harry set the cat on the floor. "Stay close. We are only past the Wards and walls." He drew only the holly wand. A flick of the wrist and a ball of light, green like his eyes, floated just above his head.
"Who you?" The hatchet nosed Elf loomed out of the darkness. How could a three foot tall Elf loom, Harry asked himself, but applauded Kreature for his performance. "What you doing in the Noble House of Black."
"Harry Potter, Heir to Black. I seek to rebuild House Black to Power and Glory." He gave the Elf a hairy eye. "Step One. Make the Townhouse the Pride and Envy of London. Step One of that… bring me the Locket acquired by Master Reggie's Death. It is time to finish the job."
"Kreature tried, but he couldn't." The Elf wailed.
"Kreature. The Dark Bastard used magics no respecting Elf would know of, much less be able to use or counter." Harry straightened to his full height. "Now let us finish what Reggie started and bring the Bastard who disrespected House Black to his final reward."
The Elf drew himself up, "Kreature fetch Reggie's Locket." The Elf turned and vanished into the dark.
Crookshanks sneezed.
"Now step two." Harry muttered to himself. "Dobby!"
"Master Harry call… " the excited Elf appeared before seeing what was around him and with a high pitched sqee of joy, attend the grime.
Kreature returned, dragging the Locket by its chain. "Sir is replacing Kreature?"
"In due time." Harry pulled his trunk from his pocket and returned it to full size to sit on it. "Kreature has three tasks to complete before then. One, Complete Reggie's Last Command. Two, Clean this House of Black to its former glory. And Three. Train your successor in the ways of service to House Black. And Dobby is not a Black Elf. He is a Potter Elf."
Kreature glared at Harry.
"Let me prove it to you. Set the Locket here between us." Harry waved at the floor. As soon as the Locket was in place. $open. [repozie epio netwaye'a]$
A azure bolt of light splashed across the open memory keeper, the soul shard was absorbed and banished by the voodoo hex.
"Now the Locket is clean. As it is a Founders Relic, and a Victory Trophy, It needs to be displayed proudly." Harry smiled at the Ancient Elf, before he lifted the chain with a charm and hung it around the Elf's neck. "There. For Master Reggie." He stood and placed his palm on Kreature's head. "Kreature is a good Elf. Harry Black rebonds Kreature to service." He felt his reserves take a hit, but the effect on the Elf was noticeable.
"As soon as I wrestle Dobby down, we need to talk. I presume that Reggie's Room is habitable. I would like permission to stay there for the summer while we rebuild and refurbish this House back to its Glory and Power."
"Why Master Harry ask?"
"Because I know how much you worship Reggie. What he meant to House Black and to you personally. I could stay elsewhere but it is easier to ask permission to stay in the one room in this place that is safe."
Kreature cocked his head as he squinted at the human. "Why you ask, not demand?"
"Because I respect your feelings. A happy Elf is a productive Elf. An unhappy Elf is a bad week in a day." Harry reached out and scratched behind the ear of the Elf before him.
A high pitch screaming sounded out and ended with a splat, followed by a mad cackling that could only come from a House Elf.
"Something not Right with that Elf." Kreature whispered.
"No, He is not normal." Harry grinned. "His last Master abused him, and only saw him as a status symbol. An Elf is a member of the House if not a Member of the Family. He was my first personal victory against House Malfoy, and my most prized possession that I didn't get handed down."
"Most prized?"
"And only because he is a Potter Elf, that makes you my Most Prized Black possession. Even greater than this house and everything else in it."
"Most Prized?" The Elf stood upright.
"Dobby. Can I get you for a minute?" Harry called out.
The mad high pitched cackling cut off as the little guy appeared at Harry's knee.
"Dobby. Go fetch Winky. Kreature is getting old enough to be training his successor. Winky needs a family and if I am going to raise the Black Line here, some work needs to be done."
Dobby popped away.
"You replace Kreature?"
"In time." Harry returned to scratching behind the bat wing ear. "First we need to rebuild our townhouse, train young Winky, and breed the newest generation of Blacks."
"New Blacks?" Kreature perked up.
"Yes. And I will need a wise Elf to teach them Black Ways." He moved his hand to lift the Elf's chin. "I am changing one tenet. 'Always Pure' is not just about blood purity but about Purity of Purpose. I have a Muggleborn who I believe to be Squibborn. She is the smartest witch of our year. She is a Potter interest, but I don't have access to the Potter Library right now. So, around the first of August she will be visiting to browse the Black Library. She needs to learn that all knowledge comes at a cost. Prevent any harm that is greater than a burn blister or book bite." He grinned at the Elf. "House Black is, after all, a Dark House. It's time for us to breed a Dark Lord."
Kreature leered.
Dobby popped back in carrying a drunk Winky. "Winky not so good."
"She was betrayed by her Masters. One used her nature to help him kill his father, the Father gave her clothes to hide his shame and crimes against Magic." Harry placed his hand on her kerchief-wimple covered head. "I, Harry Black, take Winky into service. She will serve unto Death."
Winky started crying, hic-uping, and blubbering.
"Harry rubbed her head. "Dobby upstairs is a clean bedroom. Master Reggie's. I have been given permission to use it during my stay. Put her on the bed. Let her sleep off her butterbeer, while we clean up the House."
Dobby popped away with the now sleeping Elf.
"There's one more thing that needs to be done right now." Harry stood. $Nagini, you are welcome to come out, but it is cold, dark, and damp right now.$
$No thanks. I will just nap until you go to bed.$ Harry felt her shifting in her Familiar Pouch.
"Master speaks Snake.?" Kreature frowned up at Harry.
"A gift from my Mother." Harry sighed. "She too was a descendant of Slytherin himself. It came down from his Squib Daughter. It has lain dormant for almost a millennium."
Kreature frowned.
"Our next item to do." Harry led the way to Walburga's portrait. "We need to move your former Mistress." He flung open her curtains.
"Milady Black. You will be silent. I have decreed that you will be moved. Kreature likes you. So you will hang in one of three places. The Family Gallery, the Welcome Parlor, or kitchen fireplace. I have no need for a foul tempered Harridan to be yelling at my guests. I seek to rebuild House Black to its Former Glory. Your Father's Glory."
"Why my Father's Glory?" The painted Witch sneered.
Harry drew the Yew wand and showed it to her. "Because you threw your lot in with a half-blood Bastard and encouraged your sons to do the same. It cost you both. One found Glory as the Right Hand of House Potter. The other died with only a House Elf to mourn him. Sirius is the last true Black. I was named his Heir six days after my birth. The other two possible heirs are the children of Andromeda and Narcissia. A metamorphmagus and a pampered Ponce that can only wave his father's wand, name, and money. And considering that they are tapping House Black's accounts under the guise that the inbred anal growth is the Heir." Harry sneered. "Just think what havoc I will release when I call loans due."
"You would do that?" The matron raised her chin. "You would ruin many Pure Blood Houses."
"They kiss the feet of the same Half-blood Bastard that murdered my Parents and failed to Murder me." Harry sneered. "I Defeated him fifteen years ago and they await the day of his return. To save themselves, these Noble and Ancient Houses will do anything to protect themselves and their status in Britain. Bending these houses to my will… to the Heir of Black's will…" Harry offered his evil grin. "House Black has always been a Dark House. About time we had a Dark Lord."
The witch pulled back. "When are you going to move."
"Already have. Harry Potter was Named the Master of Death. Harry Black has begun to move directly against the so-called Leader of the Light. I have thrown off his yoke and made minor steps to undermine his authority. By September First I will have a solid foundation to build my Bastion and strike him down."
"The Parlor will do." She settled back in her chair. "Elf, put me so that I am the First thing they see when they exit the Floo." The painting popped loose from the wall and Kreature 'caught' it and 'carried' it into the Darkness.
POMP
Off the Rock of Gibraltar, a black dog was running on the beach to catch a stick thrown by his 'human' friend.
As he pranced back to his Human, the stick, slightly chewed, in his teeth. He dropped it beside his friend.
"Again, Padfoot? I'm getting tired." Moony was lounging in a Deck Chair in front of a Pup tent. A Wizarding tent.
Arf.
"You have to wait until the Fool Moon you Idiot."
Before Padfoot could reply, a ghostly Thestral came galloping across the waves. When it arrived, it sniffed the two 'wizards'...
Harry's voice spoke to them. "Padfoot, hopefully Moony is close by. I have taken Number Twelve Grimmauld Place. Mother has been gagged. As has the Elf. The Rat has been handed to Director Bones, Personally. If Lupin would be so kind as to return the now house broken Grim Familiar of my Father, we can begin the planning and plotting of Mischief Making on all levels." The Thestral winked, "Mischief Managed." The winged horse burst into motes of light.
The dog flickered to human form. "Was that the Pup?" He turned to look at his tweeded friend. "I thought his patronus was a copy of Prongs."
"It was last year." Remus sighed. "A lot has happened in that time. He just finished with the Triwizard Tournament. We have not checked in since that night you floo'd him. Now the question is what to do with Bucky."
"Ride him to the edge of London, and then send him to Hagrid to hold for me?"
Squawk.
"And now we have a plan." Remus turned to 'pack' up.
TBC