The Search Is Over

Chapter 98

A few days after Blaise and Gellert's dinner party, the two contacted Kreacher with another pillow idea. They'd thought of a concept Blaise called nap pillows. Pillows that would be enchanted for two hours of sleep rather than the customary eight for those who just had time for a few winks. Of course Kreacher was interested in adding more money to the Black family bank vault, and nap pillows would take even less time to produce than those intended for a full night's sleep. He agreed to meet with Blaise and Gellert the next day after one in the afternoon. Blaise wrote back to confirm, saying they'd bring the pillows, and Kreacher promised to provide refreshments and even dinner if the two were able to remain. Regulus enjoyed Gellert's company, and due to Gellert and Blaise keeping so busy with preparations for the shop, they were rarely free to socialize of late. Regulus would be pleased if Gellert stayed for dinner, so Kreacher planned to do his best to make it happen.

It was nearly surreal for Kreacher to have such a busy life. When he wasn't indulging his newly discovered talent for writing horror based on his life and the lives of those around him that he either liked or disliked, he was working with Blaise and Gellert, or socializing with Kereston and Millicent or with Master Regulus. To some extent, he would be pleased when the Lestranges did find the four elves he'd requested to take over his tasks so that he'd have even more time for these other pursuits. To some degree, he'd requested four elves, because he hadn't expected four elves to be available. That would leave him free to continue looking after his own home as part of him wished to do. If the Lestranges did manage to come up with four elves, though...well then four inferior beings should be able to, with extensive training, manage the proper care of 12 Grimmauld Place.

The next morning, he was readying snacks and tea for Blaise and Gellert's afternoon visit when the mail arrived. They rarely received mail, so Kreacher assumed it may be a note from Blaise and Gellert, but instead it was an acceptance letter from the Monster's Fang publication. They wanted his story! With a whoop of jubilant glee, Kreacher jumped up and down, waving the letter in the air for several seconds. If only he had someone to share the news with, but Regulus was sleeping and Kereston had already gone to work. He could write Millicent, but writing the news rather than speaking it somehow just didn't feel as satisfying. There was Mortis, but somehow he doubted the phoenix cared one way or another about horror stories or dark publications that paid for them. Kreacher sighed, resigning himself to waiting to share his news until after lunch even if the words did want to burst from him in that moment.

For several seconds, Kreacher stood in the kitchen, simply clutching the acceptance letter to his chest. Until recently, the Black family were the only ones to ever think well of Kreacher. After everything fell apart, and Kreacher was left alone, there was no one to think well of him and many to think ill and be unkind. Now not only did he have many friends who treated him as if he mattered as much as anyone else, but an actual esteemed publication wanted to pay him to print his story! It hit him then that it even got better than that. Soon dark wizards all over the world would be reading his story! People that he didn't even know would be reading the words he wrote! It was thrilling as well as awe inspiring. It made him want to write more at once. As he was already in the midst of writing a horror novel about the creation of Inferi for an ancient war, that was a simple urge to satisfy. He wrote nearly feverishly until almost one, when his stomach made its hunger known with a loud demanding growl. This also served to draw his attention to the time. He'd have to eat fast as Blaise and Gellert would be arriving soon.

He finished up the left over chicken and rice from last night's dinner in record time. Blaise and Gellert arrived just as he was tidying up the kitchen. At the sound of the door chime resonating through the manor, he apparated into the front hall.

"Kreacher shall be published," he crowed as he tugged open the heavy front door.

He felt his face breaking into a grin at the sharing of the news.