Chapter Nine: Kreacher’s Mistress.

By evening, Harry, Ron and Hermione were ready to leave. Mrs Wheasley was sobbing like mad while Mr Wheasley was helping them pack. The tears of Mrs Wheasley were making Harry feel guilty. As if he was taking Ron to his death. He tried to speak to her and say that he didn’t force Ron and Hermione to come and that they can stay but he only increased her sobs by doing that. ‘Harry’ don’t think I am blaming you for all this. You are all fighting. We are all fighting. But its – its just that, where will you go?’

‘Don’t worry Mrs Wheasley,’ said Hermione. ‘I have a plan.’

Before sunset they had packed up all gathered in the burrow’s kithen to say goodbyes. Hermione had an enchanted bag that could take in things the size of a Hungarian horntail. And then they left. They apparated from the front gate of the burrow.
Harry Ron and Hermione apparated together. It was hermionee who was leading them. when they reached, it was in front of a familiar, but unfriendly place called Grimmauld Place. They had apparated under the invisibility cloak so they were not seen by anyone. and then in front of them, number twelve appeared, pushing the other buildings aside.

‘Hermione, why are we here?’ asked Ron.

‘R.A.B.’ said Hermione, ‘come.’

They went into the house. ‘regulus,’ said Hermione. ‘his full name was Regulus Arcturus Black. I read about him in a book. And that locket, u remember when we were cleaning this place, we did get a locket?’

‘yes,’ said Harry, astonished. ‘but – but we had thrown that locket, hadn’t we? Where is it now? Wait a minute. He must be knowing it. Kreature, come here.’

And with a loud pop, kreature arrived. Bowing low and muttering things under his breath. And Harry asked him, ‘do u know anything about a locket kreature? That we had thrown two years ago while cleaning?’

‘yes’ said kreature. ‘can you bring it?’

‘yes’ said kreature. And he went. He then brought a box. Harry took the box and opened it. But it was only disappointment that filled his heart when he saw an ordinary locket lying in the box.

‘this is not the one.’ Said Harry. He could see the same frustration on the other’s face as well. And then Hermione asked Kreature, ‘Kreature, how did, master Regulus die?’

And kreature burst into teares. Hermione tried to pat him but he pushed her hand away. He then said, ‘Horcruxes. Master knew about the horcruxes of the Dark Lord. He was regretting being a death eater. And somehow, he – he knew it. The Dark Lord knew it. And he killed him. he killed Master Regulus.’ And he sobbed. Harder than ever. ‘and my poor mistress. Kreature knew the reason of master’s death. He told that to his mistress. And she sobbed. And one day, she killed herself. She told kreature that her death will one day help bring the Dark Lord down.’

It made Harry feel sad. After all, Regulus and Mrs Black were not that bad. He looked at Ron and saw a similar expression on his face. But Hermione looked triumphant. ‘Kreature, your mistress’s death was not a waste. We have finished three of the six horcruxes.’

‘but kreature, why did you helped the Malfoys when Sirius died?’ asked Harry. ‘they were also on the dark lord’s side’

‘Kreature didn’t know. He thought they were good people. And they were very good to kreature. Master Sirius had never been good to kreature. He hated kreature and kreature hated him.’

‘Kreature’ said Hermione, ‘we are sorry. Extremely sorry for what you have gone through. But we need your help. We want to destroy the horcruxes. We want to complete the task that Master Regulus started. Are you with us on this task?’

‘yes’ kreature said. And he started sobbing. And Harry hugged him.