Born From Madness (Harry Potter Fanfic)

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Hermione knew she was insane, but she needed to have a chat with Mrs. Black even if she didn't want to have a single word with Hermione. She waited till everyone was upstairs enjoying a quick nap when she hurried over to Mrs. Black's portrait. Her hand wrapped around the curtain as she pulled it to the side to reveal Mrs. Black. Of course, Hermione wasn't shocked when Mrs. Black let out a gasp at the sight of her. 

"YOU!" She shrieked, "GET OUT OF MY HOUSE! YOU-- YOU FIEND! YOU GRANDDAUGHTER OF THAT BACKSTABBER!" 

"Please, I-- I need to ask you a few questions," Hermione asked while trying to hush Mrs. Black so she didn't wake anyone up. 

"Never! I will not speak with such a vile child!" Mrs. Black screamed before grabbing the skirt of her dress and began to make her way out of her portrait. 

"PLEASE! I need to ask you about Iracebeth! I think she's still alive and I need to stop her!" Hermione pleaded with Mrs. Black. For a moment, she thought Mrs. Black would never return. But then a few minutes past before Mrs. Black came stomping back, her sharp narrow eyes glaring down at Hermione. 

"What exactly do you wish to know?" Mrs. Black grumbled before having a seat on her chair. 

"Well-- for starters, what was Iracebeth doing here? I mean, she could have picked any other place to hideout in." Hermione asked. 

"Iracebeth, came to us seeking refuge after she was kicked out of Azkaban. Since she didn't care for muggles or mudbloods, I thought she was a friend. Someone loyal to the Death Eater's cause... but I was deeply wrong." Mrs. Black hissed, "She pretended to be part of the Death Eater's side-- but she was no Order member either. I soon realize that when I caught her snooping through Regulus's room, tearing it to shreds and everything. She was looking for something, but I didn't know what it was. I demanded her to explain herself! And then-- well-- you can put the ending together." 

"Do you have any clues as to what she was looking for?" Hermione asked. Mrs. Black lightly tapped her chin. 

"If I were to guess-- it would be something to help her win the war for her own side. I'm not even entirely sure what she wants nor do I know what would help her. She's not after a Pureblood world as I thought nor is she someone trying to do good-- I'm not sure what else would she be this determined to fight for." Mrs. Black confessed, "But mark my words, she is no friend to anyone. I feel she wants to take down everyone, including her own race to obtain what she desires." 

Hermione nodded her head. She opened her mouth to ask more abut Iracebeth to know what she was like, but the sound of footsteps coming from behind her let her know, she ran out of time. 

"I think I'll have to go, I hope you don't mind if I come back later to ask you more questions about Iracebeth, do you?" Hermione asked. Mrs. Black narrowed her eyes before sighing. 

"I suggest going to Kreacher," She mumbled, "he'll know more." 

"Thank you," Hermione told her as she made to close the curtain on Mrs. Black. 

"One more thing... Miss Granger," 

Hermione stiffened as she looked at Mrs. Black, who surprised her by calling Hermione by her name. 

"May I ask for one favor," she asked with eyes beaming with a pleading look. 

"What is it?" 

"If you do come across Iracebeth, make her suffer for me." Mrs. Black asked her with a stern upper lip. Hermione nodded her head before closing the curtain over Mrs. Black. She hurried down the hall and found Harry walking down the stairs. 

"Hermione? Who were you talking to?" Harry asked her. 

"I-- uh-- was talking with Mrs. Black." Hermione admitted to him. His eyes widened. 

"Why would you be talking to her?" Harry asked her. 

"Because she was the last one to see Iracebeth, and I need to figure out what she's after." Hermione explained to him, "Do you know where Regulus's room is?" 

"Who?" Harry asked. 

"I think he's one of Sirius's brother. I need to go through his room. Mrs. Black said before she was murdered by Iracebeth, she found her going through Regulus's room searching for something. I want to see if Iracebeth was successful in finding what she wanted." Hermione told him, "and I also need to talk with Kreacher. He might know something as well." 

Hermione scurried past Harry to begin searching for Regulus's room. She listened to Harry following behind her as they searched quietly to not wake the others. They were roaming up and down the halls until they found a door with the initials R. A. B. across the door. 

"Maybe this is it," Hermione suggested to him. They were about to enter when-- 

"GET AWAY FROM THAT ROOM, FILTHY MUDBLOOD!" 

Hermione and Harry turned to find Kreacher storming towards them, swinging a wooden spoon at them. They took a few feet away from him as they held out their arms in front of them to try and catch the spoon whenever he swung it at them. 

"Kreacher, we're just trying to find clues," Hermione claimed to him, "we're trying to figure out what Iracebeth was wanting from Regulus." 

Kreacher didn't seemed to listen as he kept shouting at the two of them and swinging the spoon faster and harder than before. 

"We're trying to solve Mrs. Black's murder so she may get justice!" Hermione blurted out. Kreacher froze when Hermione said that. He stared at her in disbelief. 

"You-- You help my Mistress? Why?" Kreacher growled. 

"Because Iracebeth should not be allowed to get away with all the terrible things she's done. I know you want her locked away as much as the next person or even--- kill her." Hermione told him. He lowered the spoon, darted his eyes between the two of them as he seemed to be calmed down. 

"What do you want from Kreacher?" 

"Do you know what Iracebeth was looking for? And if she was able to require it," Hermione asked him. Kreacher licked his lips as he looked around him like he was trying to ensure no one was listening in on them. 

"The Traitor did get what she wanted." Kreacher told them. 

"What was it?" Hermione asked. 

"A locket... a locket Kreacher had been told to destroy, but Kreacher couldn't. Kreacher tried... and tried... but it would not break. So I hid it away so no one could find it. But she did." Kreacher admitted while shaking his head, "Kreacher failed his master. Kreacher was supposed to destroy it but did not and look what happened. Kreacher failed Master Regulus and Kreacher got his Mistress killed." 

Kreacher burst out crying floods of tears while he pulled at the ends of his clothes and wiped his nose with it. Hermione lowered herself down on her knees and gently patted Kreacher's shoulder. 

"It's not your fault, Kreacher. You can't take the blame. I bet you couldn't break it because it need something specific to destroy it." Hermione explained to him, trying to comfort him a bit. 

"Kreacher," Harry suddenly spoke, "do you know why Iracebeth was so determined to get the locket? What was so special about it?" 

Kreacher wiped the tears from his eyes as he turned towards Harry. 

"It was his locket." 

"Regulus's?" Hermione asked him. 

"The Dark Lord's."