Squib On The Run (sequel to Squib In The basement)

14. Unwilling Accomplice

Harry ended up catching the snitch in the Quidditch match, before Draco, securing a win for Gryffindor.
But unfortunately one of the bludgers had been bewitched, and it spent the whole game trying to kill Harry.
Cassiopeia was glad that she hadn't been there to watch, as she found it hard enough to read about in Harry's letters, and she wasn't sure that she could've just sat back and watched as a bludger chased Harry around the pitch.

Harry revealed in his letter that Dobby was responsible for corrupting the bludger, and for stopping Harry from accessing Platform 9 and ¾. These acts had been part of the elf's plan to make Harry leave Hogwarts, so that he wouldn't get hurt by the creature in the Chamber of Secrets.
Cassiopeia was worried that if Dobby didn't stop trying to save Harry soon, he was going to accidentally end up killing him.
Dobby's fears ended up not being irrational, as the night after the Quidditch match, a 1st year Gryffindor boy was Petrified by the monster, while trying to visit Harry in the hospital wing.

Concerned for Harry's safety, Cassiopeia decided to put her own life on the line to help him uncover the mystery behind the Chamber of Secrets.
She might have sworn never to return to 12 Grimmauld Place, but that wasn't the only manor with a large a library that she had access to.
The Malfoy Manor not only contained knowledge of dark magic, but Cassiopeia also hoped she would be able to get some information on what Lucius and Dobby were up to.

But getting to Malfoy Manor without anybody noticing, would not be easy.
So, Cassiopeia decided to call in a favour from an old friend, one she wasn't even sure was alive, but if he was, he would have no choice but to help her.
"Kreacher" Cassiopeia called out one night.
An awkward silence filled the room for a few moments, before a loud crack echoed off the walls, and a small figure appeared in front of her.
She might not have any magic, but she was still a Black, which meant that whenever she wanted to, she could summon the family house-elf.
It had been around 10 years since she had last seen Kreacher, and she hadn't even been sure if he was still alive. And as Cassiopeia looked closer at the elf, she had to admit that he didn't look entirely healthy. But he was there, and that was what was important.

Kreacher looked up at Cassiopeia with an open mouth and wide eyes, as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing.
"Mistress Cassiopeia, you are still alive" he gasped.
"I am. And as it turns out, so are you. Which is good news for me" admitted Cassiopeia.
"Why did you summon Kreacher to you, after all these years?" Questioned the house-elf.
"Because I need to get in somewhere that is protected by powerful magic. I know that elf magic is different to human magic, so you will have no trouble getting me where I need to go. And since I am a Black, you will have no choice but to do as I command".

"Where does Mistress want to go?" Quizzed Kreacher curiously.
"Malfoy Manor" answered Cassiopeia.
"I'm sure that there are easier ways for you to get there, without using me" replied Kreacher.
"Possibly. I am friends with Narcissa afterall, so I could ask her to take me there, any day of the week. But since I want to go snooping around the Malfoy's library, it's probably best that Cissy doesn't find out what I'm doing. And for obvious reasons, I don't want to bump into Lucius Malfoy. I don't want to get caught by anyone, which is why I am going to use you, because you can apparate us in and out without anyone else knowing".

"What is Mistress looking for in the Malfoy Manor?" Asked Kreacher.
"Information, but regarding what, is none of your concern" replied Cassiopeia.
"Grimmauld Place has a library to rival the Malfoys" mumbled Kreacher.
Cassiopeia frowned, "I'm sure it does, but I do not need to explain to you the reason why I don't want to go back there".
"You committed multiple murders in your own home"
"You know better than most why I had no choice but to kill my mother. You know what kind of woman she was".

"Kreacher used to keep you alive when Mistress locked you in the basement" said Kreacher.
"It's true. You kept me fed, and without you, I would have died. You kept me alive, but you did nothing to protect me and make my life worth living. You allowed my mother to hurt me in so many ways, and you did nothing to stop her" replied Cassiopeia.
"It was not Kreacher's place to question his Mistress" mumbled Kreacher.
"She was just as cruel to you as she was to me. We should have tried to protect each other... But there is no point in dwelling on the past. We have to focus on the present. I am the only true Black left, so you will do as I command".

Kreacher bowed his head, "Kreacher will do whatever his Mistress orders".
"Good. Then let's head to Malfoy Manor. I've got a library to raid" announced Cassiopeia.
"Kreacher will do as he is told" replied Kreacher, as he extended his hand to Cassiopeia and apparated them to the Malfoy Manor.