Sirius Black (the_last_black) wrote in tempus_fugit, @ 2009-01-02 14:19:00 |
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Entry tags: | character: sirius black, location: number 12 grimmauld place, status: complete |
The Tapestry Room
Characters: Sirius Black and Kreacher
Location: 12 Grimmauld Place
Date: 02 January 2002
The sight of Kreacher inspired the same feeling in Sirius that it always had as a boy. The tightness of his lungs as they paused, that feeling of being caught. Sirius' hand moved for the edge of the doorway, for the comforting solidness of the wood. And then the realisation of mutual power; Kreacher might have been able to tell his mother, but Sirius could make him pay for it. He released his grip on the doorway and moved into the room, turning his gaze to follow the path of the house-elf.
"Poor, poor Master," the elf was cooing, pressing himself to the tapestry that covered the wall. Kreacher wasn't tall enough to reach, but Sirius knew which name he was trying to touch.
"You're back, then," Sirius said, smirking as Kreacher fell backwards from the tapestry. He really wished that Regulus could have made use of the house-elf, or that house-elves were not so durable. Kreacher was getting old, but not yet old enough for Sirius hang his head along the stairway. At least his brother could have taken him away for longer.
"Kreacher has been in the noble house of Black for days." Kreacher had righted himself, and was looking up at Sirius with dark eyes full of loathing.
"Oh goody, so you've been lurking." Sirius hadn't thought much of Regulus' request for Kreacher. When you were brought up with house elves, it was a natural inclination to have them do your dirty work, that was their purpose. Regulus hadn't explained what he'd wanted Kreacher for; perhaps the Malfoys house-elf was shirking its duty.
"What did Regulus want you for, anyway?" he asked, not bothering to look at the house-elf as he answered. His eyes moved over the tapestry; lightly worn at the edges, and of course damaged in part. They had never burned away Regulus' name, or known that he was a traitor.
If Sirius had bothered to look at Kreacher as he spoke, he would have realised the depth of reluctance the house elf felt. He was required to answer, and yet his loyalty to Regulus seemed the greater need. For a moment Kreacher was silent; did young Master Regulus' initial instructions out-weigh these? No, Kreacher could never have lied if directly asked. If his Mistress had asked him, he would have had to tell her about her poor Regulus.
"Master Regulus wished Kreacher to guide him on a journey," Kreacher said, very quietly.
Though the house elf had intended to keep his description vague and bland, Sirius was now intrigued. Sirius had known the house elf long enough to ensure that his questions left no room for conversational manipulation. Once Kreacher had begun to describe the journey he'd taken, it seemed that he couldn't stop, and Sirius' gaze couldn't be torn from the creature he so detested. Kreacher told him of the cave, the lake, the inferi. By the time Kreacher had finished speaking Sirius had carved red half-moons into his palms.
"You went with him the first time," Sirius concluded, anger creeping into his voice "you knew where he'd gone, why didn't you tell anyone?"
Kreachers' sunken, grey chest heaved with the beginning of sobbing. "Master made Kreacher promise, it was too late - too late!"
His own chest seemed to be rising and falling a little too quickly. Sirius had known the basics of what his brother had done; attempted to destroy a part of Voldemort's soul. He hadn't known the facts of the persuit. It didn't seem that anyone had but Kreacher. The house-elf alone had kept the secret of Regulus' death, the bravery and loneliness of it. And yet, once revived Regulus had gone back to Bellatrix.
Sirius knew that he would never understand it, not until it came directly from Regulus.