5. Spinner's End

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Bickering with Regulus over breakfast and trying to get Kreacher to like her each morning is becoming a routine that Dana can't say she's all that fond of. On this morning in particular, she thought she'd try and tackle the subject of blood purity with the house-elf and doesn't know if she'll make any progress. It seems like a long shot, but it's one she's willing to take.

"Kreacher," Dana begins lightly after swallowing a bite of French toast. "Why do you call me 'mudblood'? Do you even know what that is?"

Kreacher pauses from where he's refilling Regulus's glass of pumpkin juice. "It means..." he begins, but then trails off like he'd never really considered it before. "It means you have dirty blood."

"But why is my blood dirty?"

The house-elf's long, droopy ears go back and he looks down his hooked nose thoughtfully. "Because Mistress Walburga and Master Orion said so," Kreacher replies, as if that settles the matter.

Dana suppresses a sigh. Of course, it always comes back to the Blacks. "Surely you have your own thoughts on it?"

Kreacher looks startled by the suggestion. He blinks up at her, his expression wavering between confusion and discomfort. "Miss is trying to trick Kreacher."

Dana shakes her head, trying to maintain her patience. "I'm not trying to trick you. I'm just asking why you think my blood is dirty. What makes me so different from Regulus?"

Kreacher's eyes narrow in a way that strikingly resembles Regulus's own expression. "Miss was not born with two magic parents."

"That's true," Dana agrees easily. "But I still have magic, don't I? I can do everything a pureblood witch do."

"Miss does not understand," Kreacher insists, backing away as if the conversation is too much for him.

"Wilde, stop it," Regulus demands, glancing at Kreacher sympathetically. "He doesn't understand. You'll make his brain short-circuit. Leave him alone."

"Shut up," Dana dismisses, turning back to Kreacher. "Well? Why is my blood dirty?" she asks again.

"Miss's blood is dirty because she has Muggle blood." Kreacher decides on, looking rather proud of himself.

"And why should that matter?" Dana goes on, thinking she's making true progress.

"Because Mistress Walburga and Master Orion said so!" Kreacher snaps again, clearly still holding onto the beliefs of Regulus's parents.

"Okay, okay," Dana holds up her hands in surrender. "We'll talk about it again another day, yeah?"

"Kreacher would not like that."

"Okay, we won't talk about it ever again. Is that good?" Dana lies smoothly.

Kreacher nods, satisfied. "Kreacher likes that,"

The house-elf Dissappartes and Dana sighs. It didn't go that badly, actually. It could've been worse, like the first time he saw her and tried to attack her.

"Don't do that again," Regulus says shortly. "I mean it, Wilde. I told you he didn't understand, and he's not going to. Give it up."

"How many times do I have to tell you to stop ordering me around?"

"I'll stop ordering you around when you stop needing to be ordered around."

"'I'll stop ordering you around when you stop needing to be ordered around.'" Dana mocks in a poor, childish impression of Regulus's posh drawl.

"You think you're funny, do you?" Regulus asks, unimpressed.

"No. I think I'm hilarious."

"You should join the circus."

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