𝗖𝗢𝗥𝗡𝗘𝗟𝗜𝗔 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗘𝗧

ACT TWO, CHAPTER THREE
back to grimmauld place.

"WHERE ARE WE?" Ron's voice asked.

Venus opened her eyes, blinking a couple of times to get herself oriented once more. For a fleeting moment, she thought they hadn't left the wedding. There were still people surrounding them.

"Tottenham Court Road," Hermione answered. "Walk, just walk,we need to find somewhere for you to change."

Venus followed after Hermione, feeling Harry's hand slip into hers as they half walked, half ran up the wide dark street. It was crowded with people going out late and night and lined with closed shops. The stars twinkled above them, and Venus absentmindedly reached up to make sure that the Venus necklace was still around her neck. A double-decker bus rumbled by and a group of pup-goers stared at them as they passed — Harry and Ron were still wearing dress robes, but Venus' and Hermione's dresses seemed normal.

"Hermione, we haven't got anything to change into," Ron protested as a young woman burst into giggles at the sight of him.

"Why didn't I make sure I had the Invisibility Cloak with me?" Harry questioned. "All last year I kept it on me and—"

"It's okay, I've got the Cloak, I've got clothes for both of you," Hermione replied. "Just try and act naturally until — this will do."

She led them down a side street, then into the shelter of a shadowy alleyway.

Harry frowned at Hermione. "When you say you've got the Cloak, and clothes . . ."

Hermione was now rummaging through her small beaded handbag. "Yes, they're here."

She then pulled out a pair of jeans, a sweatshirt, some maroon socks, and finally the silvery Invisibility Cloak.

"How the ruddy hell—?"

"Undetectable Extension Charm," Hermione explained. "Tricky, but I think I've done it okay; anyway, I managed to fit everything we need in here." She gave the bag a little shake and it echoed as a number of heavy objects rolled around inside it. Hermione peered into it. "Oh, damn, that'll be the books, and Ihad them all stacked by subject . . . oh well. . . . harry, you'd better take the Invisibility Cloak. Ron, hurry up and change . . . here, V . . ."

Venus took the pile of clothes Hermione extended to her. It was a pair of jeans, a black long-sleeved, a pair of socks, and a pair of black Converse. She maneuvered herself so that she placed the jeans on under her dress and the shirt over it before shimmying off the dress in a way that made sure nothing was exposed. Venus then leaned her back against the wall and put on her socks and shoes. She gave her blue sparkly dress and heels back to Hermione before tucking her wand into the waistband of her jeans.

"When did you do all this?" Harry inquired as Ron stripped off his robes and Hermione did the same thing as Venus.

"I told you at the Burrow, I've had the essentials packed for days, you know, in case we needed to make a quick getaway," Hermione responded. I packed your rucksack this morning, Harry, after you changed, and put it in here . . . I just had a feeling . . ."

"You're amazing, you are," Ron told her, handing her his bundled up robes.

Hermione managed a small smile as she pushed the robes into the bag. "Thank you. Please, Harry, get that Cloak on!"

Harry threw the Cloak around his shoulders and pulled it up over his head, completely vanishing from sight. Venus wrapped her arms around herself and glanced around anxiously.

"The others — everyone at the wedding—" Harry began.

"We can't worry about that now," Hermione whispered. "It's you they're after, Harry, and we'll just put everyone in even more danger by going back."

"She's right," Ron agreed, who seemed to also know that Harry was about to argue even if he couldn't see his face. "Most of the Order was there, they'll look after everyone."

"Yeah," Harry said.

"I think we should keep moving," Venus admitted, fear creeping up into her chest. "It'll do us no good to stay in the same spot."

They moved back up the side street and onto the main road again, where a group of men on the opposite side was singing and weaving across the pavement.

"Just as a matter of interest, why Tottenham Court Road?" Ron asked Hermione.

"I've no idea, it just popped into my head, but I'm sure we're safer out in the Muggle world, it's not where they'll expect us to be," Hermione voiced.

Ron looked around. "True, but don't you feel a bit — exposed?"

"Where else is there?" Hermione countered.

Venus then heard wolf-whistles from the men on the other side of the road. It was evident they were looking at her and Hermione. She cringed to herself, wrapping her arms around her tighter in effort to feel smaller.

"We can hardly book rooms at the Leaky Cauldron, can we? And Grimmauld Place is out if Snape can get in there . . . I suppose we could try my parents' house, though I think there's a chance they might check there . . . oh, I wish they'd shut up!"

"All right, darlings?" the man that was the drunkest called. Venus felt disgust rise up through her. Hearing somebody other than Harry call her darling made her feel gross. "Fancy a drink? Ditch ginger and come and have a pint!"

"Ignore them," Venus insisted as Ron opened his mouth to shout back across the road. "We should sit down and discuss. Here."

She ducked into a small and shabby all-night café. There was a light layer of grease on top of all the Formica-topped tables, but at least it was empty. Venus felt a wind rush past her and go into the booth — Harry. She slid in next to him while Ron and Hermione sat opposite of them. Hermione had her back to the entrance, clearly not liking it as she glanced over her shoulder frequently.

Ron was the first one to speak after a minute or two. "You know, we're not far from the Leaky Cauldron here, it's only in Charing Cross—"

"Ron, we can't!" Hermione protested.

"Not to stay there, but to find out what's going on!"

"We know what's going on! Voldemort's taken over the Ministry, what else do we need to know?"

"Okay, okay, it was just an idea!"

They fall back into a prickly silence. The waitress, chewing gum, shuffled over, and Hermione ordered three cappuccinos — since Harry was invisible, it would look odd to order him one. A pair of burly workmen hen entered the café and squeezed into the next booth. Venus glanced over at them nervously, a shiver running up her spine.

"I say we find a quiet place to Disapparate and head for the countryside," Hermione stated in a whisper. Once we're there, we could send a message to the Order."

"Can you do that talking Patronus thing, then?" Ron questioned.

"I've been practicing and I think so."

"Well, as long as it doesn't get them into trouble, though they might've been arrested already." He took a sip of the foamy, grayish coffee. "God, that's revolting."

The waitress heard this and shot Ron a nasty look as she shuffled off to take the new customers' orders. One of the workmen, who was blonde and huge, waved her away. She stared at him, insulted.

"Let's get going, then, I don't want to drink this muck," Ron announced. "Hermione, have you got Muggle money to pay for this?"

"Yes, I took out all my Building Society savings before I came to the Burrow," Hermione replied. "I'll bet all the change is at the bottom."

She let out a sigh and reached for beaded bag. However, Venus looked over, and the two workmen made identical movements. Her eyes widened and she did the same without a second thought. All three of them drew their wands. Ron, a few seconds late in realizing what was happening, took Hermione in his arms and pushed them sideways onto the bench. The force of the Death Eaters' spells shattered the tiled wall where their heads had just been.

"Stupefy!" Harry yelled, still invisible.

The great blonde Death Eater was hit in the face by a jet of red light and slumped sideways, unconscious. His companion, unable to see who had cast the spell, fired another at Ron. Shining black ropes flew from the tip of his wand and bound Ron head to foot. The waitress screamed and ran for the door as Harry sent another Stunning Spell at the Death Eater who had tied up Ron. However, the spell missed, rebounded on the window, and hit the waitress, who collapsed in front of the door.

"Expulso!" the Death Eater bellowed, making the table behind Venus blow up.

She instantly dived out of the way, rolling to a stop under another table. Harry, however, hadn't been so lucky. The force of the explosion slammed him into the wall, and his wand left his hand as the Cloak slipped off of him, now looking like him again since the Polyjuice Potion faded away.

Venus pointed her wand at the Death Eater. "Petrificus Totalus!"

The Death Eater froze and fell forwards like a statue, landing with a crunching thud on the mess of broken china, table, and coffee. Venus blew a curl that had gotten into her face away and climbed out from under the table. Hermione crawled out from underneath the bench, shaking bits of glass ashtray out of her hair and trembling all over.

Hermione pointed her wand at Ron. "D-Diffindo." Ron roared in pain as she slashed open the knee of his jeans, leaving a deep cut. "Oh, I'm so sorry, Ron, my hand's shaking! Diffindo!"

The severed ropes fell away. Ron got to his feet and shook his arms out to regain feeling in them. Harry then picked up his wand and climbed over all the debris to where the large blond Death Eater was sprawled across the bench.

"I should've recognized him, he was there the night Dumbledore died," Harry revealed.

He then turned over the darker Death Eater with his foot. The man's eyes moved rapidly between Venus, Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"That's Dolohov," Ron voiced. "I recognize him from the old wanted posters. I think the big one's Thorfinn Rowle."

"To be honest, Ron, I honestly don't care what they're called," Venus said. "I care about how they found us and what we're going to do next."

Harry looked to Hermione. "Lock the door, and Ron, turn out the lights."

He glanced back down at the paralyzed Dolohov while Hermione locked the door and Ron used the Deluminator to make the café go dark. Venus could faintly hear the men who had jeered at her and Hermione earlier yelling at another girl in the distance.

"What are we going to do with them?" Ron whispered through the dark. "Kill them? They'd kill us. They had a good go just now."

Venus twirled her wand between her fingers nervously. Hermione shuddered and took a step backwards.

Harry shook his head. "We just need to wipe their memories. It's better like that, it'll throw them off the scent. If we killed them it'd be obvious we were here."

"You're the boss," Ron responded, sounding relieved. "But I've never done a Memory Charm."

"I can try," Venus suggested. She took a deep breath and pointed her wand at Dolohov's forehead. "Obliviate."

At once, Dolohov's eyes became unfocused and dreamy.

"Brilliant, Star!" Harry exclaimed, placing a hand on her shoulder and rubbing it softly. "Take care of the other one and the waitress while Ron and I clear up."

"Clear up?" Ron repeated. "Why?"

"Don't you think they might wonder what's happened if they wake up and find themselves in a place that looks like it's just been bombed?"

"Oh right, yeah . . ." Ron struggled for a moment before extracting his wand from his pocket. "It's no wonder I can't get it out, Hermione, you packed my old jeans, they're tight."

Hermione stared at him incredulously. "Oh, I'm so sorry."

Venus used the Memory Charm on the other Death Eater and the waitress, just like Harry had asked. She didn't feel particularly good about it, but it had to be done. Once the café was restored to its previous condition, Harry and Ron heaved the Death Eaters back into their booth and propped them up facing each other.

"But how did they find us?" Hermione inquired, looking from one man to the other. "How did they know where we were?" She turned to Harry. "You — you don't think you've still got your Trace on you, do you, Harry?"

"He can't have," Ron answered. "The Trace breaks at seventeen, that's Wizarding law, you can't put it on an adult."

"As far as you know. What if the Death Eaters have found a way to put it on a seventeen-year-old?"

"But Harry hasn't been near a Death Eater in the last twenty-four hours. Who's supposed to have put a Trace back on him?"

"If I can't use magic, and you can't use magic near me, without us giving away our position—" Harry started to say.

Venus immediately rounded on him. "If you think we're splitting up, you're wrong. I'm not — we're not leaving you."

"We need a safe place to hide," Ron added. "Give us time to think things through."

"Grimmauld Place," Harry stated at once.

"Don't be silly, Harry, Snape can get in there!" Hermione insisted.

"Ron's dad said they've put up jinxes against him — and even if they haven't worked, so what? I swear, I'd like nothing better than to meet Snape!"

"But—"

"Hermione, where else is there?" Harry argued. "It's the best chance we've got. Snape's only one Death Eater. If I've still got the Trace on me, we'll have whole crowds of them on us wherever else we go."

She didn't argue, although she looked like she wanted to. Hermione unlocked the café's door and Ron clicked the Deluminator to bring the light back. Then, when Harry counted to three, they reversed the spells on their three victims. Before the waitress or either of the Death Eaters could so more than stir sleepily, Venus, Harry, Ron, and Hermione turned on the spot and vanished into the compressing darkness.

Seconds later, Venus took a deep breath and opened her eyes. She was now standing in the familiar small and shabby square. Tall, dilapidated houses looked down on them from every side. Venus swallowed nervously and took Harry's hand. Number twelve was visible them since they had been told of its existence by Dumbledore, its Secret-Keeper, and they rushed towards it. They checked every few yards to make sure they weren't being followed of observed. After racing up the stone steps, Harry tapped the front door once with his wand. There was a series of metallic clicks and the clatter of a chain. The door swung open with a creak and they hurriedly entered.

Harry closed the door behind them, and the old-fashioned gas lamps sprang into life and casted flickering light along the length of the hallway. It looked like just how Venus remembered — eerie, cobwebbed, the outlines of the House-Elf heads on the wall throwing odd shadows up the staircase. Long dark curtains concealed the portrait of Sirius' mother. The only thing that seemed to be out of place was the troll's leg umbrella stand, which was lying on its side like Tonks had just knocked it over.

Hermione pointed at it. "I think somebody's been in here."

"That could've happened as the Order left," Ron murmured.

"So where are these jinxes they put up against Snape?" Harry asked.

"Maybe they're only activated if he shows up?"

Yet they remained close together on the doormat, backs resting against the door, scared to go any further into the house.

"Well, we can't stay here forever," Harry said.

He looked down at Venus, and through the dim light, she saw his questioning eyes. Venus immediately understood. He wanted her to come with him. Venus squeezed his hand a little tighter and gave him a small nod. Together, the two of them took a step forwards.

"Severus Snape?" Mad-Eye Moody's voice whispered out of the darkness, and all four of them jumped back.

"We're not Snape!" Harry yelled.

However, Venus felt something whoosh over her like cold air and her tongue curled backwards on itself, stopping her from speak. As soon as it started it ended. Her tongue unraveled again and she let out a breath of relief, slumping her forehead against Harry's shoulder. The others seemed to have experienced the same. Ron was making retching noises.

"That m-must have b-been the T-Tongue-Tying Curse Mad-Eye setup for Snape!" Hermione stammered.

Harry gripped Venus' hand a little tighter and glanced at her once more. Gingerly, the two took another step forwards. Something shifted in the shadows at the end of the hall. Before any of them could say anything else, a figure had risen up out of the carpet — tall, dust-colored, and terrible.

Venus' eyes widened as she watched it. Hermione screamed, and so did Mrs. Black, her curtains flying open. Venus pressed herself closer into Harry as the gray figure glided towards them, faster and faster, its waist-length hair and beard streaming behind it, its face sunken, fleshless, with empty eye sockets. It was horribly familiar and dreadfully altered. The figure then raised a wasted arm and pointed at Harry.

"No!" Harry shouted, raising his wand. "No! It wasn't us! We didn't kill you—"

As soon as he said kill, the figure exploded in a great cloud of dust. Venus coughed and wrapped her arms around Harry's waist, hugging him tight from his side. Harry put an arm around her shoulders and pulled her in close comfortingly. The two looked around to see Hermione crouched on the floor by the door with her arms over her head and Ron shaking from head to foot, patting her on the shoulder and stuttering that it was fine.

Venus let herself listen to Harry's heartbeat. Even though it was rapidly racing, it still managed to make her feel okay again. Slowly, but surely, Venus felt herself calm down. Dust swirled around her like mist, catching the blue gaslight.

Mrs. Black continued to scream. "Mudbloods, filth, stains of dishonor, taint of shame on the house of my fathers—"

"SHUT UP!" Harry bellowed, raising an arm around from around Venus to direct his wand at the portrait, and with a bang and a burst of red sparks, the curtains swung shut again, silencing her. He pointed his head down at Venus, whose head was still resting against his chest. "It's all right, darling."

"That . . . that was . . ." Hermione let out as Ron helped her to her feet.

"Yeah, but it wasn't really him, was it?" Harry responded. "Just something to scare Snape."

"Before we go any farther, I think we'd better check," Hermione whispered, raising her wand. "Homenum Revelio."

Nothing happened.

"Well, you've just had a big shock," Ron told her kindly. "What was that supposed to do?"

"It did what I meant it to do!" Hermione insisted. "That was a spell to reveal human presence, and there's nobody here except us!"

Ron glanced at the patch of carpet from which the corpse-figure had risen. "And old Dusty."

Venus untangled herself from Harry. "We should go up."

She glanced at the same spot before leading the way up the creaking stairs to the drawing room on the first floor. Hermione waved her wand to ignite the old gas lamps. Then, shivering slightly in the cold room, she perched on the couch with her arms wrapped tightly around her. Venus moved closer into the room, crossing her arms, also shivering.

Ron crossed to the window and moved the heavy velvet curtain aside an inch. "Can't see anyone out there. And you'd think, if Harry still had a Trace on him, they'd have followed us here. I know they can't get in the house, but — what's up, Harry?"

Harry had given out a cry of pain. Venus' eyes widened and she rushed over to him.

"It's okay," she reassured him, placing her hands on either side of his face. "You're okay. What did you see?" Concern filled her heart. "Is he at the Burrow?"

"No, I just felt anger — he's really angry—" Harry revealed.

"But that could be at the Burrow," Ron insisted loudly. "What else? Didn't you see anything? Was he cursing someone?"

"No, I just felt anger — I couldn't tell—"

"Your scar, again?" Hermione questioned. "But what's going on? I thought that connection had closed!"

"It did, for a while," Harry muttered, reaching up and clutching onto Venus' wrists, like he was trying to ground himself. "I — I think it's started opening again whenever he loses control, that's how it used to—"

"But then you've got to close your mind! Harry, Dumbledore didn't want you to use that connection, he wanted you to shut it down, that's why you were supposed to use Occlumency! Otherwise Voldemort can plant false images in your mind, remember—"

"Yeah, I do remember, thanks."

Harry finally let go of Venus and removed himself from her grasp. She watched, a slight frown on her face, as he turned his back and started to examine the old tapestry of the Black family tree on the wall. Venus wanted to approach him, but as she took a step, Hermione shrieked. She whirled on the spot and drew her wand. However, it was only a silver Patronus. The Patronus soared through the drawing room window and landed upon the floor in front of them, where it solidified into a weasel.

"Family safe, do not reply, we are being watched," Arthur Weasley recited.

The Patronus dissolved into nothingness. Ron let out a noise that sounded like both a whimper and a groan and dropped onto the couch. Hermione joined him and placed a hand on his arm in comfort.

"They're all right, they're all right!" Hermione told him.

"I know, but P . . ." Ron trailed off. He rubbed a hand on his forehead. "God, I wish he was here." He then looked at Harry. "Harry, I—"

"It's not a problem," Harry responded, and Venus noticed the way he sounded sick to his stomach. "It's your family, 'course you're worried. I'd feel the same way. I do feel the same way."

"I don't want to be on my own," Hermione admitted. "Could we use the sleeping bags I've brought and camp in here tonight?"

"Yeah," Ron agreed.

Venus nodded. "Sure."

"Bathroom," Harry suddenly muttered.

She watched, her frown deepening, as Harry left the room quickly. Venus let him go out of her sight and heard a door shut before following him slowly. She walked down the hallway and stood in front of the bathroom door. Venus hesitated for a moment before reaching up and knocking.

"Harry?" she said quietly. "It's me."

There wasn't a response. She let out a small sigh and went to leave, prepared to leave him alone, when the door opened. Harry's eyes looked panicked and he seemed tired. Venus offered him a small smile and reached her hand up, placing it on his cheek. Harry leaned into her touch as she rubbed her thumb back and forth on her cheek.

"Come on," Venus encouraged softly. "Let's try and get some sleep."

╞════════ ༺ ༻ ════════╡

WHEN VENUS WOKE up the next morning, she noticed that Harry wasn't there.

They had fallen asleep next to each other in their respective respective sleeping bags, both of them searching for comfort in brushing arms and interlocked pinkies. However, the warmth was gone, replaced with the cold as her eyes fluttered open.

Panic rising into her chest, Venus shot up and looked around, so fast that black spots started to enter her vision. Harry wasn't in the room at all. Considering that he was probably the most wanted person at this moment, Venus' mind started to worry if something was wrong, if he was captured . . .

"Guys," Venus called to Ron and Hermione, who stirred in their sleep. "Guys, wake up, Harry's gone."

Ron slowly opened his eyes. "What?"

"Harry's gone," Venus repeated, shimmying out of her sleeping bag. "Come on!"

Ron woke Hermione up, and instantly, the three of them instantly started to run around Grimmauld Place. Venus considered it way too early to be this panicked and do this much cardio, but here she was. She raced up the stairs, each step she took matching a thump of her heart.

"Harry?" Venus shouted in the quiet house. "Harry, love!"

"I'm here!" his familiar voice replied, and Venus gave out a breath of relief. "What's happened?"

Venus followed his voice. It was coming from he room labeled SIRIUS with a nameplate. She opened the door, taking in the sight for a moment. The room was spacious and had a large bed with a carved wooden headboard, a tall window covered by long velvet curtains, and a chandelier thickly coated in dust with candle stubs still resting in is sockets, solid wax hanging in frostlike drips. There was a fine film of dust covering the many pictures and posters on the wall. Gold and red, the colors of Gryffindor, was everywhere. Harry was standing there, holding two things in his hand.

She pointed at him. "I love you, but you're so stupid." Venus looked over her shoulder. "Ron, Hermione, I found him!"

"Good!" Ron's annoyed voice yelled from several floors below. "Tell him from me he's a git!"

"You can't just disappear like that," Venus told him softly. She looked around the room, which looked like it had been ransacked. "Why are you in here?"

"Look," Harry responded. "I found this."

He offered her a crumpled piece of paper. Venus took it and started to read. It was a letter to Sirius, and as she read more into it, she noticed it was written by his mother, Lily.

Venus looked up at him. "Harry—"

"And look at this too," Harry added.

He handed her a torn photograph. A black-haired baby, evidently Harry, was zooming in and out of the picture on a tiny broom with a pair of legs chasing after him. Venus smiled softly down at it.

"Aw," Venus commented. "You were so cute."

Harry raised his eyebrows. "Were?"

"Shut up, you're still cute and you know it." She looked at all the papers and the books on the floor. "Was this room like this when you got here?"

"Someone had searched before me."

"Yeah, all the rooms that I checked on the way up were disturbed, too," Venus revealed. "I wonder what they were after."

"Information on the Order, if it was Snape," Harry answered.

"But Snape was in the Order. Wouldn't he have all he needed already?"

"Well then, what about information on Dumbledore? The second page of this letter, for instance. You know this Bathilda my mum mentions, you know who she is?"

Venus looked back down at the letter, her eyebrows knit in thought. "Bathilda Bagshot, didn't she write A History of Magic?"

Harry nodded. "Yeah. And she's still alive, and she lives in Godric's Hollow, Ron's Auntie Muriel was talking about her at the wedding. She knew Dumbledore's family too. Be pretty interesting to talk to, wouldn't she?"

Venus focused back on Harry's face, an understanding smile on her face. She knew Harry just wanted to go see Bathilda to ask about his parents and Dumbledore. Harry flushed a light shade of red, taking back the letter and photograph to put in the pouch around his neck.

"If we ever get to Godric's Hollow, maybe we can find her and talk to her about your parents and Dumbledore," Venus offered. "I'm just . . . nervous. Those Death Eaters found us really easily yesterday. It just makes me think that us going to Godric's Hollow would be a bit obvious because your parents are buried there."

"It's not just that," Harry continued. "Muriel said stuff about Dumbledore at the wedding. I want to know the truth . . ."

Harry then recounted everything to Venus. Apparently, Muriel had read the biography that Rita Skeeter had written about Dumbledore. She then went onto say that Dumbledore had a lot of rumors around him — how he had a Squib sister that was locked in the cellar, how Dumbledore's mother never really let the sister out of the house for her lack of magic, how Dumbledore pretty much abandoned his sister to go to Hogwarts, how Dumbledore's brother blamed everything on him, and how the Dumbledores lived in Godric's Hollow. He also explained how Elphias Doge kept defending Dumbledore.

Venus slowly nodded once Harry was finished. "I can only imagine how much that upset you."

"I'm not upset," Harry said.

She gave him a look, her eyebrows raised.

"Okay, maybe I'm upset. But I'd just like to know whether or not it's true or—"

"Harry, I know you want to know the truth, but I don't think you should trust Muriel or Rita Skeeter," Venus stated. "I mean, you knew Dumbledore."

"I thought I did," Harry muttered.

"From what you've told me, Rita Skeeter has done nothing but spread lies about you. Don't let them get to your head." Venus stared at him for a moment longer, watching as he looked at anywhere but her. "Come on, we should go find something for breakfast."

Harry grudgingly agreed and followed her out onto the landing. However, when they passed the second door that led off it, Harry stopped. Venus stopped as well, her eyebrows knit in confusion. She followed his gaze to see a small sign above deep scratch marks in the paintwork. It was a small sign written by hand.

Do Not Enter
Without the Express Permission of
Regulus Arcturus Black

Venus' eyes widened. She looked over at Harry, whose eyes were also wide. R.A.B.

"Sirius' brother?" Venus inquired, her eyes scanning on the name.

"He was a Death Eater, Sirius told me about him, he joined up when he was really young and then got cold feet and tried to leave — so they killed him," Harry explained.

"It's all starting to make sense. Death Eaters have access to Voldemort, right? If he started to realize that Voldemort is a psychopath, then he would want to help bring him down." She then leaned over the banister. "Ron, Hermione, get up here quick!"

Ron and Hermione both appeared, panting, about a minute later. Both of their wands were in their hands.

"What's up?" Ron demanded. "If it's massive spiders again I want breakfast before I—" He frowned at the sign on Regulus' door, to which Venus was pointing at. "What? That was Sirius's brother, wasn't it? Regulus Arcturus . . . Regulus . . . R.A.B.! The locket — you don't reckon—?"

"Let's find out," Harry suggested, but when he pushed the door, it didn't open.

Hermione pointed her wand at the handle. "Alohomora."

There was a click, and the door swung open. All four of them moved into the room and looked around. Regulus' bedroom was a little smaller than Sirius'. While Sirius had looked to advertise his difference from the rest of the family, Regulus had done the opposite. The Slytherin colors of emerald and silver were everywhere, draping the bed, the walls, and the windows. Above his bed, the Black family crest was painted on the wall, along with the motto TOUJOURS PUR. Beneath his was a collection of yellow newspaper cuttings, all stuck together to make a ragged collage.

Hermione crossed the room to examine the cuttings. "They're all about Voldemort. Regulus seems to have been a fan for a few years before he joined the Death Eaters . . ."

A little puff of dust rose from the bedcovers as she sat down to read the clippings. Venus glanced around the room some more, but her eyes focused on a photograph. It was of a Hogwarts Quidditch team, who were smiling and waving out of the room. Venus moved closer to it, Harry following her, and saw the snakes emblazoned on their chests — Slytherins. Although not knowing Regulus before, Venus was able to spot him out. He was sitting in the middle of the front row, the same dark hair and slightly haughty look as Sirius, although he was a bit smaller.

Venus squinted her eyes at the photograph. "Is that where the Seeker sits? In the middle of the front row? I noticed that's where you sat in the photograph of the Gryffindor Quidditch team."

Harry blinked. "You noticed?"

"Uh, yeah."

Harry gave her a small smile. "Yeah, that's where the Seeker sits."

Meanwhile, Ron was on his hands and knees, searching under the wardrobe, and Hermione was still reading the clippings. Venus continued further into the room. Somebody had evidently searched in here as well. Harry decided to search through the searched desk, although he just ended up with ink on his hands due to a recently smashed ink bottle.

"There's an easier way," Hermione voiced. "Accio Locket!'

Nothing happened.

Ron, from his place by the faded curtains, looked disappointed. "Is that it, then? It's not here?"

"Oh, it could still be here, but under counter-enchantments," Hermione said. "Charms to prevent it being summoned magically, you know."

"Like Voldemort put on the stone basin in the cave," Harry voiced.

"How are we supposed to find it then?" Ron asked.

"We search manually," Hermione stated.

Ron rolled his eyes. "That's a good idea."

The four of them looked at every inch of the room for more than an hour, but were finally forced to conclude that the locket was not there. Outside, the sun was risen, and its light dazzled them even through the grimy landing windows.

"It could be somewhere else in the house, though," Hermione voiced as they walked back downstairs, seemingly more determined. "Whether he'd managed to destroy it or not, he'd want to keep it hidden from Voldemort, wouldn't he? Remember all those awful things we had to get rid of when we were here last time? That clock that shot bolts at everyone and those old robes that tried to strangle Ron; Regulus might have put them there to protect the locket's hiding place, even though we didn't realize it at . . . at . . ."

Venus stopped and looked at Hermione. Hermione was standing with one foot in the air and had a dumbstruck look of one who had just had a Memory Charm used on them — her eyes were even drifted out of focus.

" . . . at the time," she finished in a whisper.

"Hermione?" Venus began tentatively. "What's the matter?"

"There was a locket."

"What?" Venus, Harry, and Ron chorused.

Hermione looked pale. "You weren't there, V, but before fifth year started, we had cleaned out this place. The locket was here. In the cabinet in the drawing room. Nobody could open it. And we . . . we . . ."

"Kreacher nicked loads of things back from us," Harry offered. "He had a whole stash of stuff in his cupboard in the kitchen. C'mon."

He took Venus' hand and dragged her along down the steps, Ron and Hermione following. They made so much noise that they woke the portrait of Sirius' mother as they passed through the hall.

"Filth!" she screamed. "Mudbloods! Scum!"

They dashed down into the basement kitchen and slammed the door behind them. Harry ran the length of the room while still dragging Venus, skidded to a stop at the door of Kreacher's cupboard, and opened it. There was a nest of dirty blankets that Kreacher had once slept, but none of the glittering trinkets were there. The only thing there was an old copy of Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy. Harry, clearly not wanting to believe his eyes, snatched up the blankets and shook them. A dead mouse fell out and rolled across the floor. Ron groaned and threw himself into a kitchen chair while Hermione closed her eyes.

"It's not over yet," Harry insisted. "Kreacher!"

There was a loud crack, and the old House-Elf Harry had inherited from Sirius appeared out of nowhere in front of the cold and empty fireplace. He was tiny, his pale skin hung off of him in folds, and white hair sprouted from his batlike ears. Kreacher was still wearing his same filthy rag, and the scornful look he gave Harry showed that his attitude to his change of ownership had altered no more than his outfit.

Kreacher bowed low. "Master, back in my Mistress' old house with the blood-traitor Weasley, the blood-traitor Black, and the Mudblood—"

"I forbid you to call anyone blood traitor or Mudblood," Harry ordered. "I've got a question for you, and I order you to answer it truthfully. Understand?"

Kreacher bowed low again. "Yes, Master."

"Two years ago, there was a big gold locket in the drawing room upstairs. We threw it out. Did you steal it back?"

There was a moment's silence.

Kreacher straightened up and looked Harry full in the face. "Yes."

"Where is it now?" Harry questioned, squeezing Venus' hand excitedly.

Kreacher closed his eyes. "Gone."

"Gone?" Harry repeated. "What do you mean, it's gone?" The Elf shivered and swayed. "Kreacher, I order you—"

"Mundungus Fletcher," Kreacher croaked. "Mundungus Fletcher stole it all: Miss Bella's and Miss Cissy's pictures, my Mistress' gloves, the Order of Merlin, First Class, the goblets with the family crest, and — and—" Kreacher was gulping for air, his hollow chest rising and falling rapidly. His eyes then flew open and let out a bloodcurdling scream. "—and the locket, Master Regulus' locket, Kreacher did wrong, Kreacher failed in his orders!"

Harry reacted. As Kreacher lunged for the poker standing in the grate, Harry let go of Venus and launched himself upon the Elf, flattening him. Venus' eyes widened and her mouth reached to cover her mouth in shock.

"Kreacher, I order you to stay still!" Harry demanded.

The Elf froze. Kreacher continued to lay flat on the cold stone floor, tears gushing from his sagging eyes.

"Harry, let him up!" Hermione whispered.

"So he can beat himself up with the poker?" Harry argued, kneeling beside the elf. "I don't think so. Right, Kreacher, I want the truth: How do you know Mundungus Fletcher stole the locket?"

"Kreacher saw him!" the Elf cried, tears pouring down his face. "Kreacher saw him coming out of Kreacher's cupboard with his hands full of Kreacher's treasures. Kreacher told the sneak thief to stop, but Mundungus Fletcher laughed and r-ran . . ."

"You called the locket Master Regulus's. Why? Where did it come from? What did Regulus have to do with it? Kreacher, sit up and tell me everything you know about that locket, and everything Regulus had to do with it!"

Kreacher sat up. He curled into a ball, placed his wet face between his knees, and started to rock back and forth. Venus watched the Elf in concern, crossing her arms across her chest. When Kreacher spoke, his voice was muffled but quite distinct in the silent, echoing kitchen.

"Master Sirius ran away, good riddance, for he was a bad boy and broke my Mistress' heart with his lawless ways," Kreacher voiced. "But Master Regulus had proper pride; he knew what was due to the name of Black and the dignity of his pure blood. For years he talked of the Dark Lord, who was going to bring the wizards out of hiding to rule theMuggles and the Muggle-borns . . . and when he was sixteen years old, Master Regulus joined the Dark Lord. So proud, so proud, so happy to serve . . . and one day, a year after he had joined, Master Regulus came down to the kitchen to see Kreacher. Master Regulus always liked Kreacher. And Master Regulus said . . . he said . . ." the old Elf rocked faster than ever. ". . . he said that the Dark Lord required an Elf."

Venus blinked. What?

Harry looked at her, Ron, and Hermione. "Voldemort needed an Elf?"

"Oh yes," Kreacher moaned. "And Master Regulus had volunteered Kreacher. It was an honor, said Master Regulus, an honor for him and for Kreacher, who must be sure to do whatever the Dark Lord ordered him to do . . . and then to c-come home." Kreacher still rocked faster, his breath coming in sobs. "So Kreacher went to the Dark Lord. The Dark Lord did not tell Kreacher what they were to do, but took Kreacher with him to a cave beside the sea. And beyond the cave there was a cavern, and in the cavern was a great black lake . . ."

Venus snuck a glance at Harry. That was where he had gone with Dumbledore that fateful night.

"There was a boat . . . there was a b-basin full of potion on the island. The D-Dark Lord made Kreacher drink it . . ." the Elf trembled. "Kreacher drank, and as he drank, he saw terrible things . . . Kreacher's insides burned . . . Kreacher cried for Master Regulus to save him, he cried for his Mistress Black, but the Dark Lord only laughed . . . he made Kreacher drink all the potion . . . he dropped a locket into the empty basin . . . he filled it with more potion. And then the Dark Lord sailed away, leaving Kreacher on theisland . . . Kreacher needed water, he crawled to the island's edge and he drank from the black lake . . . and hands, dead hands, came out of the water and dragged Kreacher under the surface . . ."

Venus' eyes twisted with disgust.

"How did you get away?" Harry inquired in a whisper.

Kreacher looked at Harry. "Master Regulus told Kreacher to come back."

"I know — but how did you escape the Inferi?"

Kreacher did not seem to understand and merely repeated the phrase. "Master Regulus told Kreacher to come back."

"I know, but—" Harry began.

"Well, it's obvious, isn't it, Harry?" Ron interrupted. "He Disapparated!"

"But . . . you couldn't Apparate in and out of that cave, otherwise Dumbledore—"

"Elf magic is different," Venus stated. "They don't have the same limitations we do. You saw — Dobby Apparated and Disapparated in and out of Hogwarts."

"Of course, Voldemort would have considered the ways of House Elves far beneath his notice, just like all the Purebloods who treat them like animals . . ." Hermione trailed off, her tone icy. "It would never have occurred to him that they might have magic that he didn't."

"The house-elf's highest law is his Master's bidding," Kreacher added. "Kreacher was told to come home, so Kreacher came home . . ."

"Well, then, you did what you were told, didn't you? You didn't disobey orders at all!"

Kreacher shook his head, rocking as fast as ever.

"So what happened when you got back?" Harry asked. "What did Regulus say when you told him what had happened?"

"Master Regulus was very worried, very worried," Kreacher responded. "Master Regulus told Kreacher to stay hidden and not to leave the house. And then . . . it was a little while later . . . Master Regulus came to find Kreacher in his cupboard one night, and Master Regulus was strange, not as he usually was, disturbed in his mind, Kreacher could tell . . . and he asked Kreacher to take him to the cave, the cave where Kreacher had gone with the Dark Lord. . . ."

"And he made you drink the potion?"

Kreacher shook his head and wept. Venus froze, the dots connecting in her head.

"M-Master Regulus took from his pocket a locket like the one the Dark Lord had," Kreacher voiced, tears still pouring. "And he told Kreacher to take it and, when the basin was empty, to switch the lockets . . ." His sobs started to come in great rasps now. "And he ordered — Kreacher to leave — without him. And he told Kreacher — to go home — and never to tell my Mistress — what he had done — but to destroy — the first locket. And he drank — all the potion — and Kreacher swapped the lockets — and watched . . . as Master Regulus . . . was dragged beneath the water . . . and . . ."

"Oh, Kreacher!" Hermione exclaimed, who was crying.

She then dropped to her knees beside the Elf and tried to hug him. At once, Kreacher was on his feet, cringing away from her in repulsion.

"The Mudblood touched Kreacher, he will not allow it, what would his Mistress say?" Kreacher said.

"I told you not to call her Mudblood!" Harry argued.

However, the Elf was already punishing himself. Kreacher fell to the ground and banged his forehead on the floor.

"Stop him — stop him!" Hermione insisted. "Oh, don't you see now how sick it is, the way they've got to obey?"

"Kreacher — stop, stop!" Harry yelled.

The Elf laid on the floor, panting and shivering, a bruise already forming on his forehead where he had struck himself, his eyes swollen and bloodshot and swimming with tears. Venus frowned.

"So you brought the locket home," Harry continued, determined to know the full story. "And you tried to destroy it?"

"Nothing Kreacher did made any mark upon it," the Elf revealed. "Kreacher tried everything, everything he knew, but nothing, nothing would work . . . so many powerful spells upon the casing, Kreacher was sure the way to destroy it was to get inside it, but itwould not open . . . Kreacher punished himself, he tried again, he punished himself, he tried again. Kreacher failed to obey orders, Kreacher could not destroy the locket! And his Mistress was mad with grief, because Master Regulus had disappeared, and Kreacher could not tell her what had happened, no, because Master Regulus had f-f-forbidden him to tell any of the f-f-family what happened in the c-cave . . ."

Kreacher started to sob so hard that there were no more coherent words. Hermione's cheeks glistened with tears as she watched Kreacher but did not touch him again. Ron looked troubled. Venus, on the other hand, felt her mind spin. This was all so new.

"I don't understand you, Kreacher," Harry admitted. "Voldemort tried to kill you, Regulus died to bring Voldemort down, but you were still happy to betray Sirius to Voldemort? You were happy to go to Narcissa and Bellatrix, and pass information to Voldemort through them . . ."

Hermione wiped her eyes on the back of her hand. "Harry, Kreacher doesn't think like that. He's a slave; House-Elves are used to bad, even brutal treatment; what Voldemort did to Kreacher wasn't that far out of the common way. What do wizard wars mean to an Elf like Kreacher? He's loyal to people who are kind to him, and Mrs. Black must have been, and Regulus certainly was, so he served them willingly and parroted their beliefs. I know what you're going to say, that Regulus changed his mind . . . but he doesn't seem to have explained that to Kreacher, does he? And I think I know why. Kreacher and Regulus' family were all safer if they kept to the old Pureblood line. Regulus was trying to protect them all."

"Sirius—" Harry began to protest.

"Sirius was horrible to Kreacher, Harry, and it's no good looking like that, you know it's true. Kreacher had been alone for a long time when Sirius came to live here, and he was probably starving for a bit of affection. I'm sure Miss Cissy and Miss Bella were perfectly lovely to Kreacher when he turned up, so he did them a favor and told them everything they wanted to know. I've said all along that wizards would pay for how they treat House-Elves. Well, Voldemort did . . . and so did Sirius."

Harry stared down at Kreacher. "Kreacher, when you feel up to it, er. . . please sit up."

It was several minutes before Kreacher hiccupped himself into silence. He then pushed himself into a sitting position again, rubbing his knuckles into his eyes.

"Kreacher, I am going to ask you to do something," Harry told the Elf, his tone kinder. "Kreacher, I want you, please, to go and find Mundungus Fletcher. We need to find out where the locket — where Master Regulus' locket is. It's really important. We want to finish the work Master Regulus started, we want to — er — ensure that he didn't die in vain."

The Elf dropped his fists and looked up at Harry. "Find Mundungus Fletcher?"

"And bring him here, to Grimmauld Place. Do you think you could do that for us?" Kreacher nodded and got to his feet, and as he did so, Harry reached into the pouch around his neck and took out the fake Horcrux, passing it to Kreacher. "Kreacher, I'd, er, like you to have this. This belonged to Regulus and I'm sure he'd want you to have it as a token of gratitude for what you—"

Kreacher took one look out the locket, let out a howl of shock and misery, and threw himself back onto the ground.

"Overkill, mate," Ron commented.

It took them nearly half an hour to calm down Kreacher, who was so overcome to be given a Black family heirloom for his very own that he was too weak at the knees to stand properly. When he was finally able to walk a few steps, they all accompanied him to his cupboard.

Kreacher tucked the locket safely in his dirty blankets, and they all assured him that they would make its protection their first priority while he was away. He then made three low bows to Venus, Harry, and Ron, and even gave a funny little spasm in Hermione's direction that might have been an attempt at a respectful salute. He then Disapparated away with the usual loud crack.

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I live for kreacher's redemption arc