Twist of Fate

Chapter 23

Harry apparated to the alley behind Grimmauld Place and quickly made his way to the back entrance of the house. Since the house had had its unplottable protections lifted there were often people and reporters lingering in the park across the street hoping to spot Harry. Harry released the wards and unlocked the door with the old fashioned skeleton key. The entrance led him into the basement kitchen.

The kitchen was flooded with light coming in through the four large windows. Gone was the dark, dreary kitchen. Harry smiled every time he looked out the windows and saw the park. No one would guess that they were in a basement anymore when eating in the kitchen. Hermione had loved the challenge of trying to recreate the magic that made the ceiling at the Great Hall in Hogwarts enchanted. Between the two of them they had finally succeeded and he couldn't be more pleased with the results. With a flick of his wand he could change the view from the park outside, to his Devon home, to one looking out at the sea from Shell Cottage.

The large oak table still dominated the kitchen, with its long wooden benches. Harry had had most of the hideous furniture disposed of, but he loved the table that had obviously seen decades if not centuries of use.

"Master Potter, sir." Kreacher emerged from his cupboard and stood before Harry. Regulus' locket shone brightly against the shift he was wearing. At Hermione's insistence Harry had presented Kreacher with a set of clothes, months ago. The house elf had pointedly ignored them. After a day of Kreacher's muttering about the disrespect of mudblood lovers for pureblood traditions Harry had picked up the clothes from the floor where Kreacher had dropped them and put them away.

"Good morning, Kreacher." Harry looked around the kitchen and was glad to see that it was tidy, "I wanted to let you know that we are going to be having company this afternoon."

"Again?" Kreacher raised his eyebrow at Harry. He had become much more accepting of Hermione and Ron since they had stayed at Grimmauld Place during their hunt for the horcruxes, Harry suspected his disdain of them was more of habit than anything.

"Yes, Ron and Hermione but you may be glad to know that Narcissa Malfoy and Andromeda Tonks will also be coming as well as the Weasleys."

At Harry's words, the house elf had straightened to his fullest (minuscule) height. "Miss Cissy and Miss Black?" He trembled with excitement.

"Yes, and maybe Miss Cissy's son, Draco." Harry was rewarded for his words with the first smile he had ever seen cross Kreacher's lips. The house elf needed to improve his dental hygiene.

"Would you like me to prepare some refreshments for our...your guests, Master?" Kreacher bowed low to Harry.

"Yes, I think that would be nice. I am hoping that Miss Black, I mean Andromeda will consider moving into the house with her grandson once the repairs are complete." Kreacher's eyes flew open and he looked frantically around the kitchen.

"If Mr. Potter would excuse Kreacher. Kreacher has much to do to prepare for master's honored guests."

Harry nodded and stepped towards the stairs, looking over his shoulder he saw Kreacher standing on the countertop, frantically searching the nearly empty cupboards, undoubtedly looking for fare appropriate for relatives of his beloved Walburga Black. Harry had been nervous before the renovations had started about what Kreacher's reaction would be. At Hermione's suggestion he had given Kreacher several mementos from the Black family, these gifts were now proudly hung on the door to his sleeping area. As the work progressed and entire walls had been torn down Kreacher had retreated at Harry's suggestion to Hogwarts. The work crew had been grateful for his departure since they had grown tired of his fearful cries at every blow of a sledgehammer. With the work nearly completed Kreacher had moved back and seem to have accepted the changes with as much grace as Harry could expect from the temperamental elf.