The Boy Who Fought: OC X Hermione

Master Regulus' Locket

"Been spying on us, have you?" Harry asked, Kreacher nodding.

"Kreacher has been... watching. Kreacher always watches."

"Maybe he knows." Hermione told the boys, Harry catching on to what she was talking about.

Harry took out the locket and showed it to Kreacher. The house elf was transfixed on the locket and Harry spoke up again.

"Ever seen this before?" Harry asks and Kreacher mumbles something incoherent.

"Kreacher, I own this place. Sirius left it to me. Which means I own you too." Harry reminded, causing the house elf to speak up.

"That was Master Regulus' locket." Kreacher answers.

"That's right. But there were two, weren't there?" Harry asked, kneeling down to Kreacher's level.

"Kreacher doesn't know where the other locket is."

"But was it here? Did you ever see it?" Hermione asked, as Kreacher looked at her in disgust.

"Filthy Mudblood! The Death Eaters will soon be coming for you!" Kreacher grumbles, as Carson grabs Kreacher by the neck.

"Don't you dare call her that!"

"Blood-traitor Marshall..."

"Carson! CARSON!" Hermione shouts, trying to pry his grip off of the house elf's neck. Carson reluctantly lets go.

"Answer her."

"Yes. It was here, in this house. A most evil object... "

"What do you mean?" Harry asked the house elf.

"Before he died, Master Regulus ordered Kreacher to destroy it. It was the last thing he asked of Kreacher. But no matter how Kreacher tried, he could not.."

"Where is it now? Did someone take it, Kreacher?"

"Mundungus. Mundungus Fletcher."

"Find him." Harry ordered.

Kreacher vanishes, and they spend the day waiting for him to come back.

"As your new Minister for Magic, I promise to restore this temple of tolerance to its former glory. Therefore, beginning today, each employee will be required to submit themselves for evaluation. But know this: You have nothing to fear... as long as you have nothing to hide." Carson read the article in the daily prophet, seeing Umbridge in the back and grumbling to himself.

Ron is fiddling with the radio, Harry is observing the snitch, and Hermione is reading the book Dumbledore left her. Carson walked over to where Hermione was and sat next to her.

"How's the book?"

"Interesting. Do you think your mum still has the children's books she used to read to you?"

"Probably, why?"

"Just imagining the future. One day I can read them to him before he goes to sleep like your mum used to do with you." Hermione whispered, looking down at her stomach, a very faint baby bump showing.

"Maybe you can. And I can teach him how to play quidditch." Carson whispered and smiled at the thought of Hermione reading to their son before he goes to bed and Carson teaching their son how to play quidditch outside.

Hermione rested her head on Carson's shoulder as she eyed the snitch in Harry's hands.

"Snitches have flesh memories." Hermione told Harry, "Snitches. They're never touched by bare skin until the Seeker captures it. Even the wizard who fabricates it wears gloves. That way, if there's a dispute, the Snitch can identify who first touched it. Carson told me that back in third year on our first date when he took me to the quidditch shop in Hogsmeade."

"You mean... it remembers me?" Harry asked in disbelief. Hermione nodded her head before speaking again.

"When Scrimgeour first gave it to you, I thought it might open at your touch, that Dumbledore had hidden something in it." Hermione explained.

Harry ponders the idea as a cracking sound in the kitchen is heard. They all rush downstairs to see Kreacher, Dobby the house elf, and Mundungus Fletcher downstairs.

"Harry Potter! So long it's been!" Dobby squeaked.

As Kreacher, Dobby, and Mundungus fought, Hermione got out her wand. "Expelliarmus!"

Mundungus' wand flies through the air and lands in Hermione's awaiting hand.

"As requested, Kreacher has returned with the thief Mundungus Fletcher!"

"Dobby has also returned with the thief Mundungus Fletcher!"

"What are you playing at, setting a pair of bleedin' 'ouse-elves on me!"

"Dobby was only trying to help! Dobby saw Kreacher in Diagon Alley, which Dobby thought was curious. And then Dobby heard Kreacher mention Harry Potter's name, which Dobby thought was very curious. And then Dobby saw that Kreacher was talking to the thief Mundungus Fletcher, which Dobby thought was very, very..."

"I'm no thief, you foul little git. I'm a purveyer of rare and wondrous objects.."

"You're a thief, Dung. Everyone knows it." Carson chimed in, Dobby turning to face him.

"Master Marshall! So good to see you again!"

"You too, Dobby."

"Listen, I panicked that night, all right? I never volunteered to die for you, mate. Can I help it if Mad-Eye fell off his broom.."

"Stop lying!" Hermione shouts, going closer to Mundungus. Carson walked over and grabbed her by the shoulders and steered her back away from him.

"Dont stress my love. It's not good for the baby." Carson whispered to her.

"When you turned this place over, don't deny it! You found a locket, am I right?" Harry asked incredulously.

"Why? Was it valuable?" Mundungus asked, his eyes widening.

"You've still got it." Hermione asked him with a smile.

"No. He's worried he should have got more money for it." Ron told her.

"Wouldn't be difficult, would it? Bleedin' gave it away, din' I? There I was, pitching me wares in Diagon Alley when some ministry hag comes up and asks to see my license. Says she's of a mind to lock me up and would've, too, she hadn' taken a fancy to that locket."

"Who was she? This witch?" Harry asked the thief.

"Well, she's right there, in't she? Bleedin' bow an' all." Mundungus told the four, as he pointed to a picture of Dolores Umbridge in the daily prophet.