Atlas Malfoy and how history repeats itself

Part 45

I wake up the next morning really early, and I manage to get dressed and head out the room before I bump into Harry.
"Atlas," He says, smiling, "Why're you awake so early?"
"Couldn't get much sleep," I say, shrugging, "You?"
"Same reason."
I look at the sign on the room we are in and I say, "Regulus Arcturus Black. This is Regulus's room. Why are you in here?"
"I'm exploring. I found this." Harry says, producing a locket from his jumper. He hands it to me and I say, "A locket?"
"A horcrux."

The note with it is sad. He has the intent to destroy it, but the question is if he did it before he died. There is a noise from a cupboard and I scream as Kreacher comes out.
"Where is the locket Kreacher?" I demand. He groans before saying, "It's Master Regulus's."
"But there were two. Where is it? Was it in this house?" I yell. He nods and says, "It was here. In this house. Most evil object."
"How'd you mean?" Harry scoffs. Kreacher admits to not knowing how to destroy it, and then says, "He took many things. The man was Mundungus."
"Get him," I snap, "I'm going to kill that man."
Kreacher apparates away as Hermione says, "You can't kill him."
"He took Regulus's stuff Hermione," I snap, "He had no right.... HE HAD NO RIGHT."

I slam my hands on the table and Hermione slips me a newspaper. It hurts to read it.
Death Eaters take more control than ever before.
Death Eaters, the name given to the group of people who follow He Who Must Not Be Named, are taking more control than they have since He Who Must Not Be Named was defeated by Harry Potter all those years ago. After Albus Dumbledore's death, it has not been safe for many non-pure bloods. Now at the ministry, all staff are being asked to submit themselves for questioning. If you have nothing to hide, you have nothing to here. Many wizards are wanted, one including Harry Potter. If you have any information, report to the ministry.
A young girl has been kidnapped by him, and the family beg to help get her home. Atlas Black, previously known as Atlas Malfoy, has been missing since 1st August 1997. She is a Metamorphmagus, which may make it difficult to find her based off facial shape and structure, and hair colour. Her mother, Narcissa Malfoy, says she is unable to change her height or weight, or voice. Her normal everyday look is very much resembling of a young Bellatrix Lestrange.

Again, we ask you to keep on the watch out for muggle borns. They are very dangerous, and in recent months, we have been able to find many cases of muggle borns being erratic and threatening. Stay away from them, and report them. 

"Who has told them all this?" I ask, as I walk to the living room with a piano in it. Hermione sits down and says, "More importantly, your family already believe you have been kidnapped. It'll be fairly easy to just convince them we didn't let you go."
"But we did?" Ron asks as he sits next to Hermione. She turns to him and says, "Obviously Ronald. We just don't want them to know that. They'd kill Atti if they realised she was with us willingly."
I playfully fall to the sofa, playing dead. Harry nods and as the other two try playing piano, I turn to him. He forced a smile at me and I say, "Are you okay? I'm sorry about Severus."
"He killed Dumbledore, and you stood and watched. I don't blame you. I just don't understand how you didn't react more."
"Reactions," I say, carefully choosing my words, "In my family, get you killed. I... I wanted to survive long enough to hug you again."
"Why?" Harry mumbles. I drag him outside, back to the room with the family tree mural. I sit on the floor, patting the ground opposite me.

He sits and I say, "Have you thought about Cedric recently?"
Harry nods a little and I continue, "When Cedric died, I realised this was very real. I spent weeks hoping desperately that maybe, just maybe, I would wake up and it would all be okay. But Cedric's death made me realise I needed you to understand I was not one of them. Then, Dumbledore died-"
"He was murdered." Harry cuts me off.
"He was murdered," I correct, "And I watched. I know you don't blame me for his death, but I blame myself for not talking to Draco. I needed to talk to you. Do you think Draco would have actually gone through with it?"
"No," Harry says, shaking his head, "No. He was lowering his wand. He only put it back up when Bellatrix whispered in his ear."
"Do you think I am like them?"
"No."
I grimace and say, "Did you used to?"
"No."
"Was there a period of time where you did?"
Harry hesitates before saying, "Yes."
"When was that, Harry?" I ask. It feels good to be talking. Harry takes a deep breathe and says, "When you made eye contact with me and went in the shop."
"That isn't it, is it?"

He shakes his head and starts crying, making me panic. I say, "Harry I want to know. Please let me know."
I watch as he nods and wipes his eyes. He says, "When Ron said your dad was a death eater the first day on the train. When Ginny was taken to the chamber. When you hugged Sirius for the first time. When I saw you run off and beg a death eater to spare you and they did. When Moody- Barty Crouch Jr- said he wasn't going to teach you because of your dad. When you were asked the muggle borns in their rightful place with Barty Crouch Jr and you answered with the right thing. When Dumbledore died. When I saw you for the first time since Dumbledore's death. They were all millisecond feelings. I just felt like you were dangerous."
I nod, taking it all in and say, "Do you think I have it in me to kill you?"
"No," Harry says, "And that is the truth."

We sit and talk for a while, until there is a crash in the kitchen. I gasp and race out to where Mundungus, Kreacher and Dobby are. Why is Dobby here? Dobby says, "Harry Potter! How long it has been!"
I shove my wand in Mundungus's face and say, "Where is the locket?"
Dobby rambles on about why he is here and I say, "Dobby, I'm glad you're here, but would you mind us just figuring this out?"
Dobby turns to me, smiles and nods. I snap, "Where is the locket you thief?"
 "The locket?" Mundungus's face drops, "Was it valuable?"
"You've still got it!" Hermione gasps, the hope heavy in her voice. Ron shuts it right down, saying, "He's worried he didn't get enough money for it."
I don't lower my wand as he says, "Didn't get any money for it! Bleeding give it away. There I am, selling my goods, when some ministry worker comes over, asking to see my license. Says she 'as a good mind to lock me up. Then, she takes a fancy to that locket."
"Who was she?" Harry demands.
"Well, she's there." He says, shoving the newspaper at us, "Pink bow an' all."