2 | CONFESSIONS° HARRY POTTER

10 | REMUS'S ARRIVAL

ACT FIVE, love
CHAPTER TEN, remus's arrival

       Kreacher did not return that morning or that afternoon. By nightfall, Iris was becoming anxious, and a supper composed largely of moldy bread did nothing to help. Iris would spend the rest of the night waiting for Kreacher while she flipped through the Hel's Codex. The stories she read about were long and extensive, but the ones that had stood out to her most were about Morgan le Fay.

Growing up, she had known Morgan le Fay as Merlin's sworn enemy. She had about twenty cards dedicated to her from Chocolate Frog's, but the Codex spoke about her differently. It said that the most secretive of Dark Arts spells — the ones that only known within the Hel family and were passed down from generation to generation — had originated from her. Iris's eyes halted when they mentioned a spell that Morgan had created; it was one that could change a man into a shapeshifting animal. Iris looked over at Veles and marked that page. She turned to the next:

Mighty was she in magic and her life was greatly in defiance of Nature, for at her command were the birds in the wild, in the woods and fields, and in what seemed to me greatest, those evil spirits, that are called dark creatures — they were all at her command. She was able to communicate and raise the dead at her will  — even those who had died long ago — and have them walk amongst the living to do her bidding. She was well capable for the marvels of dragons, and could transform into one at will. Her connection to the dark magic of the land ran deep. She had aid, even from the fire. And whatever she would have from this earth, she took, without peril, in ample measure, all for herself. The earth bore no root, the power of which is not as familiar to her as the back of your hand is to you. This earth never acquired a better mistress of magic arts as Morgan le Fay.

A chill ran deep in Iris's bones at these words, and she wondered if Rhea had ever read this book because she and Morgan seemed as though they would be two peas in a pod. 

Iris closed the Codex and decided to read more of it at another time and to wait with the others for Kreacher's return. 

Kreacher did not return the following day, nor the day after that. However, two cloaked men had appeared in the square outside number twelve, and they remained there into the night, gazing in the direction of the house that they could not see. 

"Death Eaters, for sure," said Ron, as he, Iris, Harry, and Hermione watched from the drawing room windows. "Reckon they know we're in here?" 

"I don't think so," said Hermione, though she looked frightened, "or they'd have sent Snape in after us, wouldn't they?" 

"D'you reckon he's been in here and had his tongue tied by Moody's curse?" asked Ron. 

"Yes," said Hermione, "otherwise he'd have been able to tell that lot how to get in, wouldn't he? But they're probably watching to see whether we turn up. They know that Iris owns the house, after all. I think it's safe to say they've gone to Krane Manor too."

Iris's head whirled around at that. 

"What?" she asked. Hermione turned to her with a confused expression at the edge in Iris's voice. "Do you really think they've gone to Krane Manor?"

"I think it's very likely, why?" 

Iris moved away from the window and called out, "Minnie!"

With a crack, Minnie hurtled out of the air and fell to her wobbly knees. Iris and Hermione rushed to help the house elf up as Ron and Harry eyed her.

"Who's this?" asked Harry.

"Minnie. She's the one who helped me find my mum four years ago." said Iris. Minnie gripped Iris's hand tightly as she shook and Iris bent down to her height. "Minnie, are you all right?"