Silvia and the Rising Moon [EDITING]

R.A.B.'s Final Mark

     The newlyweds inherited 12 Grimmauld Place, all the furniture, and Kreacher, the black family house elf. A portrait of Walburga was placed in the hall as an additional wedding gift.
     "Can you believe it, Silvia?" Blaire asked, leading her cousin around the house. "It's so lovely and old. Not to mention, this house elf works so much harder than any of mine," she said, pushing Kreacher away with her foot. "It's ridiculous that you freed yours."
     "I think they deserve rights, Blaire," Silvia explained, offering Kreacher a leftover slice of wedding cake.
     "I don't want your pity, half-blood," Kreacher growled. Silvia pulled away quickly, offended and disappointed.
     Blaire saw her cousin's upset expression and offered a quick distraction. "Why don't we sit on the back porch? Daddy bought us new furniture as a wedding gift."
"Er, alright," she agreed, following Blaire out the door.
Kreacher continued to wipe down the banister when he suddenly heard his master's voice calling him from upstairs.
"Yes master?" he asked as he slowly crept up the wooden stairs.
"Kreacher," Regulus called. "Please come to the guest bedroom. There's a special friend of mine who wishes to speak with you."
"I shall speak with him." The house elf finally reached the top of the stairs and slowly crept into the guest bedroom. Before him stood a man with the appearance of a snake. The man's red eyes carefully studied Kreacher as he turned his neck, grinning widely.
"Kreacher," Regulus told the elf. "We have a very special guest here. Meet the Dark Lord."
Voldemort laughed sinisterly. "Ah, this is the little gremlin."
Kreacher bowed before the Dark Lord. "My lord, why have you come for me?"
The pale man slid a wand out of his sleeve and skillfully spun it to point between Kreacher's eyes. "I have a special mission for you, scum."
     "It would be an honor to serve the Dark Lord," Regulus reminded Kreacher.
     Kreacher swallowed hard. "Yes, Master Regulus. I shall join the Dark Lord on his special mission."
     "Excellent," Voldemort hissed, lowering his wand. "Join me."
     Kreacher carefully placed an hand on Voldemort's leg, preparing for apparation
     "Return home as soon as you're done," Regulus stated. "Dinner must be prepared for Blaire's cousins."
     Voldemort cackled before vanishing with the elf by his side.
     Kreacher appeared on the shore of an eerie and endless lake. Reckless wind whipped his beaten cloth. He turned around to see the entrance of a vast cave. Voldemort stepped towards it, beckoning the house elf to follow.
Some way into the cave, the two encountered a shimmering pond. In the center stood a small island accompanied by a basin.
Without hesitation, Voldemort summoned a boat, which he forced Kreacher to board with him. The two sailed out until they reached the island. Voldemort then pushed Kreacher in front of the basin full of a dark potion.
"Drink it," he told the elf. "Drink every last drop."
Kreacher hesitated.
"Do as I say!" Voldemort roared.
The house elf began to drink. His mouth instantly dried. He drank more to honor Regulus's name for the Dark Lord. Endless knots formed down in the pits up his stomach. He doubled over, retching as the pain consumed him.
"Keep drinking!" Voldemort hissed.
Kreacher stood, head pounding and throat burning, and took another mouthful of the potion. Agony ripped through him as he continued to drink.
Voldemort laughed, pleased, as Kreacher took the last gulp of potion. He held up a locket momentarily before placing it back into the basin and refilling in with potion. "If you're thirsty," he said, boarding the boat. "There's plenty of water in the pond."
The boat slid away, abandoning Kreacher, who gasped for breath. However, visions of demons clouded Kreacher's thoughts. Without even approaching the lake, he disapparated as quickly as possible.
He flopped onto the parlor floor at 12 Grimmauld Place, right in front of where Remus stood, sipping tea.
"There's that bloody elf!" Blaire said. "I had to make tea all by myself."
"It tastes wonderful, Blaire," Remus said, spitting out another bit of tea leaf.
"Oi, what's wrong with him?" she asked, watching in horror as Kreacher choked. "Regulus!"
Regulus suddenly appeared and hurried to his house elf's side.
"Water," Kreacher choked.
Regulus obliged, quickly grabbing Remus's teacup and dumping its contents onto the floor. "Aguamente." The cup instantly filled and he held it to Kreacher's lips. The elf relaxed and took a deep breath.
Regulus looked quickly at his guests. "I'm taking Kreacher to my room. Do not bother me," he warned Blaire before hurrying Kreacher upstairs.
"Master..." Kreacher whispered. "I'm sorry."
"What happened?" asked Regulus. He waited and listened to every detail in Kreacher's story. Finally, he said, "Slytherin's locket. I know what must be done."