NOVEL NEXT Chapter -013.
Chapter -13.
"Don't worry about it! I know a few ways to get some galleons out, and besides, the vault I'm talking about belongs to my parents, so I doubt anyone will care too much." Seeing Theodore's concern about her possibly getting into trouble for a minor mistake gave her some comfort.
Moreover, she was confident in her plan, as she'd seen that nearly lifeless creature running errands for her parents when they needed to withdraw galleons from Gringotts. All she had to do was come up with a solid reason that would slip under the radar of those greedy goblins.
Meanwhile, when Bellatrix mentioned she had a plan, Theodore couldn't help but ask her about it. Without holding back, she filled him in, making somewhat clear that he was now a part of her life too.
"While I think your idea might work, do you really think using your deceased parents and saying that Kreacher is a slightly unhinged house-elf is pushing it a bit?" Theodore chuckled at Bellatrix's scheme, finding it amusingly clever, but still wanting to maintain his good-guy reputation, he asked.
However, what Bellatrix said next caught him off guard.
After studying Theodore's expression for a moment, she seemed to size him up and said, "So you’re not interested in those galleons, then?" It was clear she was blending her new persona with her previous one quite effectively and rapidly.
Feeling a bit cornered, Theodore could only grin awkwardly and replied, "Okay, you win. Go ahead and explain your plan to Kreacher, making him seem like a mentally-challenged creature who can still see his old masters and wants to withdraw galleons for them."
Theodore was a bit worried about someone spilling the beans about Kreacher trying to snag some galleons from the vault.
But with this plan, they could create a solid image of Kreacher being a bit off his rocker, which might just keep nosy folks—like Narcissa or a random thief—away from their doorstep. After all, who would want to mess with a house that had a quirky little elf walking around with a bunch of cash?
When Theodore finally gave in, Bellatrix couldn’t help but smirk a little. She felt a rush of happiness from having a small victory over him, even if she didn’t quite know why. But she pushed that joy aside for later and called out, “Kreacher!” to summon the little house elf.
*Bang!*
With a loud pop, Kreacher appeared in the room, and instead of looking like he’d just crawled out of a grave, he had a huge smile on his face.
He looked at Bellatrix and Theodore, who were sitting close together on the bed, bowed his head, and asked respectfully, “Did Mistress Bella call for me? How may I be of your help?”
“Are you sure anyone would actually believe he’s mentally ill?” Theodore whispered, eyeing Kreacher’s big smile.
Bellatrix felt a bit awkward at that moment. She hadn’t expected Kreacher to bounce back to life with so much energy in just a day! But she was determined to stick to her plan, so she took a deep breath and said, “Kreacher, I have an important task for you—something I believe someone as clever as you can handle.”
Theodore raised an eyebrow, surprised. He looked at her as if to say, “Wait, didn’t you just call him stupid a minute ago?”
Noticing his questioning gaze, Bellatrix decided to ignore him and focus on Kreacher. Even though she wasn’t a fan of the little elf, she knew how to play to his strengths. She explained what she needed him to do in detail and then asked kindly, “Kreacher, you can do that, right?”
“Of course! Since it’s Mistress Bella’s order, Kreacher will definitely do it!” the little elf replied without a moment’s hesitation.
Seeing Kreacher so eager to help, Bellatrix shot Theodore a look that said, “See? I told you this would work!” But Theodore, still focused on Kreacher, added, “Kreacher, you remember what I told you before, right?” The little elf nodded vigorously before vanishing into thin air after Bellatrix gave him instructions about fetching the vault key and stuff.
*Bang!*
“What was that? What did you say to him to make him so serious?” Bellatrix asked, intrigued. Since Theodore was practically an outsider, she was surprised Kreacher had reacted that way to him.
With a smile, Theodore replied, “Oh, nothing too serious. I just said what he probably wanted to hear to get him motivated.” He left a little mystery hanging in the air, thinking some things were better left unsaid until the right moment.
Seeing Theodore acting up as usual, Bellatrix quickly realized she wasn’t going to get an answer and sighed, “Fine, if you don’t want to tell me.” But then she added playfully, “You know, you could have just sent Kreacher with the Disillusionment Charm to check if everything was going smoothly. Plus, he could have helped look for the magic lantern at the same time!”
Theodore shrugged, “I don’t think I need to keep an eye on someone who follows orders perfectly. And as for the magic lantern, I already know where to find them without any trouble, so I’ll just go after I’ve had a day to rest.” He recalled a moment that showed how resolute Kreacher could be about something, even in tough situations, so he wasn’t worried about the house-elf messing things up.
“There you go again, acting like you know Kreacher better than I do,” Bellatrix said, raising an eyebrow. But despite her curiosity, she couldn’t help but smile, momentarily forgetting about the worries of yesterday as she chatted with someone who seemed genuinely interested in her.
Theodore, who knew more than Bellatrix could ever guess, just smiled and replied, “How could I? I only met him for the first time yesterday! But I have a feeling that all house-elves are like that—if you treat them well, they’d do anything for their master.”
“You’re definitely a strange guy,” Bellatrix said, feeling a flutter in her heart. It seemed like Theodore always knew just what to say at the right moment.
Taking that as a compliment, Theodore grinned and said, “Well, I am a strange guy, and maybe a little shameless too, if you want to add that.” Hearing this, Bellatrix couldn’t help but show a rare smile.
With that, the two of them continued their lighthearted conversation, each sharing their thoughts while waiting for Kreacher to arrive.