Knowledge is Power

Chapter 63

"What are you going to do now," Severus asked Regulus.
"I came to help, so anything I can. I thought Albus would know where I could do the most good in the fight."
Severus nodded.
"If you thought Kreacher didn't want to see you, what made you seek him out first?"
The elf in question straightened and glared at Severus in open defense of Regulus.
"KREACHER thinks that Severus Snape should keep his long nose out of the business of Kreacher and Master Regulus," he said haughtily.

//Considering the nose that one's got, did he really just say that,// Nightshade demanded, and Severus gave a slight smile of appreciation.
Nightshade really was, as he so frequently claimed to be, his only friend, Severus thought rather fondly. At least the only friend to always be there and defend him no matter what.

"I am simply trying to understand what happened, as it somehow feels off," Severus explained.
"I don't believe that you're lying, Regulus. I just don't understand why you wouldn't even try to talk to Kreacher, to convince him to forgive you for whatever you feel you did to garner his dislike."

"I came to see Kreacher first before coming here because...now that I'd come back, I had to try," Regulus said.
"I missed him every day. I grieved the situation every day. I stayed away to keep my family, Kreacher included, safe when Voldemort still lived, and even afterward, as I said I thought Kreacher didn't wish to see me. After all I'd done, if this was his wish, it was the least I could do no matter how much it hurt me. I deserved any pain I got, after all."

Kreacher cringed, each word Regulus spoke seeming to act as a verbal lash to the elf.
"How could Kreacher not wish to see Master Regulus," the elf asked, face crumbling.
"Because, Kreacher!"
Regulus's own face was a mask of open misery, and his tone held raw frustration.
"Because I was an idiot whose loyalty to the wrong person nearly got you killed! Gods, I ruin everything I touch, and I nearly got the one person I loved most killed because of my choices!"

Kreacher's hands balled themselves into fists at his sides.
"Kreacher believed in the dark lord just as much as Master Regulus," the elf proclaimed.
"Kreacher never blamed Master Regulus for what the dark lord did. Kreacher just wishes Master Regulus had never left him. That is all."
The elf's voice shook, and though he was obviously struggling not to cry, the tears stood in his eyes.

The two clung together for a long wordless moment in which Severus and Albus both looked away uncomfortably. For his part, Albus hastily reached for a bag of twizzlers. When he offered Severus one, for once the potions master accepted for something to do. He still didn't understand why Regulus hadn't tried harder to talk to Kreacher in the past, to offer to do whatever he could to make things right. It was odd because Severus had always seen Regulus Black as one of the thinkers. One of the masterminds. Still it was none of his business, so he'd stay out of it.

"If you tell me how I can help, I will do whatever you like," Regulus said, turning to Albus, one arm still protectively keeping Kreacher against his side.
"As long as it doesn't put Master Regulus in danger," Kreacher said firmly.
Severus felt his lips twitching. It was obvious who was in charge.
Regulus nodded, giving Kreacher a tender smile.
"Yes, of course."

"Well, for a start, I would like you to take over Severus's lessons with Harry Potter," Albus said.
"The boy to whom Sirius left my home, yes," Regulus asked.
"Filthy blood traitor wizarding trash with equally trashy friends," Kreacher elaborated helpfully.
Severus tried not to smirk in agreement...and failed.
"Worse than that, intellectually challenged," he added.

Albus frowned.
"Untrue."
"My house," Regulus asked and Albus sighed.
"I must ask you to leave that be until Voldemort is dead. We need you to be an ace in the hole, as it were, Regulus. We don't want Voldemort discovering that you're alive. You can remain with Kreacher somewhere safe. I will procure something suitable. When this is over, I'm sure Harry will gladly return your home to you. He is a very decent good hearted boy."

Severus snorted and Albus shot him a frown of open disapproval.
"For at least the fifteenth time, Severus, Harry isn't James! I wish you'd let the past go as it only hurts you."
Severus's eyes widened as he shook his head in open incredulity.
"Really, Albus? We're doing this again when you haven't forgiven your own brother yet? At least Potter and I aren't related."
"Aberforth hasn't forgiven me," Albus snapped.

"Harry Potter has many faults of his own. Kreacher has seen many of them," the elf shared.
"What is it that you want me to teach him," Regulus asked hastily.
"Severus was working with him on legilimency and occlumency with moderate success."
Severus frowned and Albus hastened to continue before he could interject.

"Of course this is no fault of Severus, but he and Harry have so much animosity built up over the years that Harry simply can't relax enough with him to open himself and properly learn. I recall vampires having the natural capacity to read minds and block their own. I have heard that their abilities are even stronger than those wizards who are highly skilled in legilimency and occlumency as are myself and Severus. This means your qualifications are excellent. If you can train Harry, it will greatly help his chances in destroying Voldemort."

"Wait, why is he destroying Voldemort," Regulus asked, confused.
"I assumed it would be you. Or an army."
"There is a prophecy," Albus said.
"I have things to do so I'll leave you to explain that," Severus told Albus, standing to go.
Frankly he couldn't stand to hear more about Harry Potter or the dark lord.

"There is someone else you may want to meet, Regulus and due to recent events he's here enough," Severus said.
"His name is Wolfgang Adler. He's a dark wizard from Germany who has been systematically taking out Voldemort's Death Eaters to weaken the ranks. Many of us have been working with him, lending whatever skills we can to the effort. He isn't trying to pick up where Voldemort leaves off, just to be free of him. He, like many dark wizards who haven't followed Voldemort, feels that at times one must fight fire with fire, and darker means with darker means. I'm sure he'd very much appreciate anything you would be willing to contribute."

Regulus was a very skilled wizard, and being a vampire as well, he likely had more to offer than most, Severus thought.
"I am interested," Regulus said carefully.
"Who else is working with him other than yourself?"
"WestCraven, Boxwood, Bulstrode...People like that, darker wizards who never stood with Voldemort."
Regulus gave a slight smile.
"That sounds good. Thank you for telling me."
Severus nodded and left.

It wasn't until he was half way to the dungeon that he wondered why Regulus trusted him enough to speak to Albus in front of him. Severus was definitely among the ranks of Death Eaters during Regulus's time in Voldemort's service.

//Cause he looked into your head and saw that you're spying for Dumbledore,// Nightshade replied helpfully.
//And you didn't even notice that shit. That's how smooth vamps are with that mind shit...And he can go far deeper into the mind than I can. I can only see surface shit but he found the fact that you're spying for Dumbledore and you weren't thinking about it or anything. I saw him thinking about it, though.//

From the tone of Nightshade's mental voice, he was impressed. For that matter so was Severus.
He was relieved to have the training of Potter off his plate as well. Considering the year ahead, the less he had to see Potter the better because he'd have enough to deal with.

//At least as Headmaster, you won't have to teach fucktards all day,// Nightshade said, trying for a bright side.
Severus wasn't having it, though.
//As Headmaster, if that actually happens, I shall be responsible for keeping all the fucktards safe from Voldemort, and that's going to be far worse.//
After a long, thoughtful pause, Nightshade relented.
//Okay, you're right. That's gonna suck.//
After another thoughtful pause he added, //But I really am proud of you for using fucktards properly in a sentence.//