Coup de Foudre [Fred Weasley] [7]

⚡️ Chapter 15 ⚡️

"Kreacher has returned with the thief Mundungus Fletcher, Master,"

Mundungus scrambled up and pulled out his wand; Vega, however, was too quick for him – "Expelliarmus!" Mundungus's wand soared into the air, and Hermione caught it. Wild-eyed, Mundungus dived for the stairs. Ron rugby-tackled him and Mundungus hit the stone floor with a muffled crunch. Vega walked over, her wand raised.

"What?" Mundungus bellowed, writhing in his attempts to free himself from Ron's grip. "Wha've I done? Setting a bleedin' 'house-elf on me, what are you playing at, wha've I done, lemme go, lemme go, of –"

"You're not in much of a position to make threats," Harry said. He threw aside the newspaper, crossed the kitchen in a few strides, and dropped to his knees beside Mundungus, who stopped struggling and looked terrified.

Ron got up, panting, and watched as Harry pointed his wand deliberately at Mundungus's nose. Vega lowered her wand slightly but it was still pointed at the man. Mundungus stank of stale sweat and tobacco smoke. His hair was matted and his robes stained.

"Kreacher apologizes for the delay in bringing the thief, Master," croaked the elf. "Fletcher knows how to avoid capture, has many hidey-holes and accomplices. Nevertheless, Kreacher cornered the thief in the end,"

"You've done really well, Kreacher," Harry said, and the elf bowed low. He turned to look at Mundungus. "Right, we've got a few questions for you,"

"I panicked, okay?!" shouted Mundungus at once. "I never wanted to come along, no offense, mate, but I never volunteered to die for you, an' that was bleedin' You-Know-Who come flying at me, anyone woulda got outta there. I said all along I didn't wanna do it –"

"For your information, none of the rest of us Disapparated," Hermione interjected.

"Well, you're a bunch of bleedin' 'eroes then, aren't you," Mundungus responded. "But I never pretended I was up for killing meself –"

"We're not interested in why you ran out on Mad-Eye," Vega interrupted coldly, her eyes narrowed down at his baggy, bloodshot eyes. "We already knew you were an unreliable bit of a scum who doesn't care what becomes of others as long as you save your own tail,"

"Well then, why the 'ell am I being 'unted down by 'ouse-elves?" Mundungus asked. "Or is this about them goblets again? I ain't got none of 'em left, or you could 'ave 'em –"

"It's not about the goblets either, although you're getting warmer," Harry said, interrupting the man's babbling yet again. "Shut up and listen,"

Harry's wand was now so close to the bridge of Mundungus's nose that Mundungus had gone cross-eyed trying to keep it in view.

"When you cleaned out this house of anything valuable," Harry began.

But Mundungus interrupted him again, "Sirius never cared about any of the junk –"

There was the sound of pattering fee, a blaze of shining copper, an echoing clang, and a shriek of agony; Kreacher had taken a run at Mundungus and hit him over the head with a saucepan. Vega made no move of stopping the house-elf this time.

"Call 'im off, call 'im off, 'e should be locked up!" Mundungus screamed, cowering as Kreacher raised the heavy-bottomed pan again.

"Kreacher, no!" Harry shouted.

Kreacher's thin arms trembled with the weight of the pan, still held aloft, "Perhaps just one more, Master Harry, for luck?" Ron laughed.

"We need him conscious, Kreacher," Harry said, sharing a look with Vega. "But if he needs persuading, you can do the honours,"