Kreacher could tell a133 and he asked Kreacher to take him to the cave； the cave where Kreacher had gone with the Dark Lord a133 〃
And so they had set off。 Harry could visualize them quite clearly； the frightened old elf and the thin； dark Seeker who had so resembled Sirius a133 Kreacher knew how to open the concealed entrance to the underground cavern； knew how to raise the tiny boat： this time it was his beloved Regulus who sailed with him to the island with its basin of poison a133
〃And he made you drink the poison？〃 said Harry； disgusted。
But Kreacher shook his head and wept。 Hermione's hands leapt to her mouth： She seemed to have understood something。
〃M…Master Regulus took from his pocket a locket like the one the Dark Lord had；〃 said Kreacher； tears pouring down either side of his snoutlike nose。 〃And he told Kreacher to take it and； when the basin was empty； to switch the lockets a133〃
Kreacher's sobs came in great rasps now； Harry had to concentrate hard to understand him。
〃And he order … Kreacher to leave … without him。 And he told Kreacher … to go home … and never to tell my Mistress … what he had done … but to destroy … the first locket。 And he drank … all the potion … and Kreacher sped the lockets … and watched a133 as Master Regulus a133 was dragged beneath the water a133 and a133 〃
〃Oh； Kreacher！〃 wailed Hermione； who was crying。 She dropped to her knees beside the elf and tried to hug him。 At once he was on his feet； cringing away from her； quite obviously repulsed。
〃The Mudblood touched Kreacher； he will not allow it； what would his Mistress say？〃
〃I told you not to call her 'Mudblood'！〃 snarled Harry； but the elf was already punishing himself。 He fell to the ground and banged his forehead on the floor。
〃Stop him … stop him！〃 Hermione cried。 〃Oh； don't you see now how sick it is； the way they've got to obey？〃
〃Kreacher … stop； stop！〃 shouted Harry。
The elf lay on the floor； panting and shivering； green mucus glistening around his snot； a bruise already blooming on his pallid forehead where he had struck himself； his eyes swollen and bloodshot and swimming in tears。 Harry had never seen anything so pitiful。
〃So you brought the locket home；〃 he said relentlessly； for he was determined to know the full story。 〃And you tried to destroy it？〃
〃Nothing Kreacher did made any mark upon it；〃 moaned the elf。 〃Kreacher tried everything； everything he knew； but nothing； nothing would work a133 So many powerful spells upon the casing； Kreacher was sure the way to destroy it was to get inside it； but it would not open a133 Kreacher punished himself； he tried again； he punished himself； he tried again。 Kreacher failed to obey orders； Kreacher could not destroy the locket！ And his mistress was mad with grief； because Master Regulus had disappeared and Kreacher could not tell her what had happened； no； because Master Regulus had f…f…forbidden him to tell any of the f…f…family what happened in the c…cave a133〃
Kreacher began to sob so hard that there were no more coherent words。 Tears flowed down Hermione's cheeks as she watched Kreacher； but she did not dare touch him again。 Even Ron； who was no fan of Kreacher's； looked troubled。 Harry sat back on his heels and shook his head； trying to clear it。
〃I don't understand you； Kreacher；〃 he said finally。 〃Voldemort tried to kill you； Regulus died to bring Voldemort down； but you were still happy to betray Sirius to Voldemort？ You were happy to go to Narcissa and Bellatrix； and pass information to Voldemort through them a133 〃
〃Harry； Kreacher doesn't think like that；〃 said Hermione； wiping her eyes on the back of her hand。 〃He's a slave； house…elves are used to bad； even brutal treatment； what Voldemort did to Kreacher wasn't that far out of the mon way。 What do wizard wars mean to an elf like Kreacher？ He's loyal to people who are kind to him； and Mrs。 Black must have been； and Regulus certainly was； so he served them willingly and parroted their beliefs。 I know what you're going to say；〃 she went on as Harry began to protest； 〃that Regulus changed his mind a133 but he doesn't seem to have explained that to Kreacher； does he？〃 And I think I know why。 Kreacher and Regulus's family were all safest if they kept to the old pure…blood line。 Regulus was trying to protect them all。〃
〃Sirius … 〃
〃Sirius was horrible to Kreacher； Harry； and it's no good looking like that； you know it's true。 Kreacher had been alone for such a long time when Sirius came to live here； and he was probably starving for a bit of affection。 I'm sure 'Miss Cissy' and 'Miss Bella' were perfectly lovely to Kreacher when he turned up； so he did them a favor and told them everything they wanted to know。 I've said all along that wizards would pay for how they treat house…elves。 Well； Voldemort did a133 and so did Sirius。〃
Harry had no retort。 As he watched Kreacher sobbing on the floor； he remembered what Dumbledore had said to him； mere hours after Sirius's death： iI do not think Sirius ever saw Kreacher as a being with feelings as acute as a human's a133i
〃Kreacher；〃 said Harry after a while； 〃when you feel up to it； er a133 please sit up。〃
It was several minutes before Kreacher hiccupped himself into silence。 Then he pushed himself into a sitting position again； rubbing his knuckles into his eyes like a small child。
〃Kreacher； I am going to ask you to do something；〃 said Harry。 He glanced at Hermione for assistance。 He wanted to give the order kindly； but at the same time； he could not pretend that it was not an order。 However； the change in his tone seemed to have gained her approval： She smiled encouragingly。
〃Kreacher； I want you； please； to go and find Mundungus Fletcher。 We need to find out where the locket … where Master Regulus's locket it。 It's really important。 We
want to finish the work Master Regulus started； we want to … er … ensure that he didn't die in vain。〃
Kreacher dropped his fists and looked up at Harry。
〃Find Mundungus Fletcher？〃 he croaked。
And bring him here； to Grimmauld Place；〃 said Harry。 〃Do you think you could do that for us？〃
As Kreacher nodded and got to his feet； Harry had a sudden inspiration。 He pulled out Hagrid's purse and took out the fake Horcrux； the substitute locket in which Regulus had placed the note to Voldemort。
〃Kreacher； I'd； er； like you to have this；〃 he said； pressing the locket into the elf's hand。 〃This belonged to Regulus and I'm sure he'd want you to have it as a token of gratitude for what youa151〃
〃Overkill； mate；〃 said Ron as the elf took one look at the locket； let out a howl of shock and misery； and threw himself back onto the ground。
It took them nearly half an hour to calm down Kreacher； who was so overe to be presented with a Black family heirloom for his very own that he was too weak at the knees to stand properly。 When finally he was able to totter a few steps they all acpanied him to his cupboard； watched him tuck up the locket safely in his dirty blankets； and assured him that they would make its protection their first priority while he was away。 He then made two low bows to Harry and Ron； and even gave a funny little spasm in Hermione's direction that might have been an attempt at a respectful salute； be