The Search Is Over

Chapter 74

Before he left, Harry agreed to go to Gringotts with Regulus and Kreacher to sign 12 Grimmauld Place back over to them as soon as Regulus set up his appointment with Griphook. Regulus thanked him yet again before walking him out.

"That was shockingly easy," he marveled to Kreacher as they walked back inside. Though they still had to officially move out of Doge's, Regulus just couldn't bring himself to leave the Black manor quite yet. Being back in his family home was somehow a balm to his soul. Perhaps it restored a bit of the old reality before he'd lost everything and so much had gone all wrong.

"Thank you for not instigating an argument with him, by the way," he added, bending to kiss the elf.

"I do understand how difficult that was."

Kreacher not speaking his mind was a grand feat of self restraint and Regulus knew that better than anyone.

"Kreacher could always be rewarded," the elf murmured, leaning into Regulus and winding his arms around him.

"Harry Potter's association with filthy Mudbloods and blood traitors and especially his fondness for Sirius Black does offend Kreacher's sensibilities to the depths of his very soul, after all."

Regulus's lips twitched slightly as he nodded.

"Completely understandable," he said honestly.

"And your self control is commendable. A reward is indeed in order, but..."

He trailed off, brushing his lips across the soft skin of Kreacher's cheek, stopping at his ear.

"Yes," Kreacher breathed.

"Master Regulus should go on."

"But you are wearing far too many clothes for me to do it properly," Regulus concluded, tongue flicking out to tease the pointed tip of Kreacher's ear.

With a low growl, Kreacher tightened his grip on Regulus and apparated them into Regulus's bed chamber. Now their bed chamber, Regulus thought with a smile. At last they could share a room without having to hide anything from anyone.

He gave a sigh of contentment as they sank down onto the bed. It was so soothingly familiar in spite of the fact he'd spent literally as long away as he had sleeping on it. The sudden realization that he'd likewise literally spent a lifetime away from Kreacher struck him like a blow that made him catch his breath. Kreacher's eyes flew up to lock onto his as the elf's mouth opened in a silent O of concern before he spoke.

"Is Master Regulus well?"

"Of course. It's rather difficult to make a vampire unwell without a lot of sunlight or fire," Regulus said dryly, averting his gaze in chagrined embarrassment as he spoke.

"It's just...Oh Kreacher I hate that we spent so much needless time apart!"

He drew the elf hard against him and they clung together while the silence stretched out for several seconds.

"I hate that in my stupid belief that you did not want me, I unknowingly left you to suffer. I believed you were safe! I had no way of knowing that Mum would die or that bloody Sirius would somehow escape Azkaban."

No matter how many times, in as many different ways, he said the words aloud or to himself they never helped or mattered, never weighed in against the heavy mountain of regret pressing down upon him for long if at all. Kreacher nodded against his shoulder as he gave a weary, long suffering sigh.

"Yet even as he says he had no way of knowing, Master Regulus blames himself. Which is it to be?"

"I can't help that I feel they're both true," Regulus admitted, shaking his head in frustration.