Re:HP-A New Life

I am 15 chapters ahead on my patreón, check it out if you are interested.

https://www.patréon.com/emperordragon

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Chapter 57: A Midnight Meeting

The streets of London lay quiet, cloaked in a thick veil of night. The lamps flickered sporadically, casting pools of dim light onto the glistening pavement. Harry moved swiftly, the silken fabric of his Invisibility Cloak billowing around him. His footsteps echoed faintly, muffled by the weight of urgency in his chest.

Grimmauld Place loomed ahead like a dark fortress, hidden from the unsuspecting eyes of the Muggle world. Harry muttered the incantation to reveal the ancestral home of the Black family, and the building shimmered into existence, wedged impossibly between its neighbors. The ancient structure radiated an air of grim authority, its windows black and uninviting.

Harry's breath misted in the cool night air as he climbed the stone steps. The door creaked ominously as he pushed it open, the familiar scent of dust and old wood filling his lungs. The hallway was as dark and foreboding as ever, lined with faded wallpaper and adorned with grim portraits whose eyes seemed to follow him with disdain.

He moved cautiously, careful not to disturb the portrait of Walburga Black. Her shrill voice was the last thing he wanted to contend with tonight. The silence was thick, broken only by the occasional creak of the old house settling into the night.

Reaching the kitchen, Harry lowered his cloak and called softly, "Kreacher."

A faint pop echoed through the room, and the ancient house-elf appeared, his bat-like ears twitching and his eyes gleaming with suspicion. He wore a grimy tea towel tied around his waist, his expression as sour as ever.

"Master Harry," Kreacher croaked, bowing low, though his gesture lacked warmth. "Why does the young master disturb Kreacher's rest?"

"I need your help, Kreacher," Harry said firmly. "It's about Regulus."

Kreacher's eyes widened slightly at the mention of his former master's name, but he remained silent, waiting for Harry to continue.

"You know about the locket, don't you?" Harry asked. "The one Regulus took from Voldemort."

The house-elf flinched at the name but nodded reluctantly. "Yes, Kreacher knows. Master Regulus ordered Kreacher to destroy it, but Kreacher could not. The locket is... evil."

Harry's voice softened. "I know. Regulus was brave, Kreacher. He wanted to stop Voldemort, and he trusted you to help him. You've kept the locket safe all these years, but now I need it. I can destroy it, just like Regulus wanted."

Kreacher's wrinkled face contorted with a mix of loyalty and anguish. "Master Regulus was the only true master Kreacher ever served," he muttered. "Kreacher failed him."

"No," Harry said gently. "You didn't fail him. You kept the locket safe. But it's time to finish what he started."

Kreacher hesitated, his gnarled hands trembling. "If young master is certain..."

"I am," Harry assured him. "Please, Kreacher. Let me do this for Regulus."

The house-elf's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he bowed deeply. "Kreacher will obey."

With a shuffling gait, Kreacher led Harry to a hidden compartment behind the old kitchen hearth. He muttered something under his breath as he snaped his fingers, and the stones shifted, revealing a small, dusty alcove. Nestled within was a heavy, ornate locket with a serpentine 'S' engraved on its surface.

Kreacher's hands trembled as he lifted the locket and offered it to Harry. "It is cursed," Kreacher warned. "It whispers to Kreacher, fills his mind with dark thoughts. Kreacher could not destroy it, no matter how hard he tried."

Harry took the locket, its cold surface thrumming with malevolent energy. "Thank you, Kreacher. You did more than anyone could have expected."

Kreacher bowed low once more. "If Master Harry succeeds, Kreacher will be free of this burden."

"I will destroy it," Harry promised. "Regulus's sacrifice won't be in vain."

Kreacher's lips quivered, and for the first time, there was a flicker of respect in his eyes. "Kreacher hopes Master Harry succeeds."

Harry nodded solemnly. "Take care of yourself, Kreacher. And thank you."

As Harry turned to leave, Kreacher's raspy voice stopped him. "Master Harry is brave, like Master Regulus. Kreacher sees it now."

A lump formed in Harry's throat, but he managed a nod before pulling the Invisibility Cloak back over himself. The oppressive weight of the locket seemed to press against his chest, but he knew what had to be done.

Stepping into the cool night air, Grimmauld Place faded into darkness behind him. Harry's resolve hardened. One more piece of Voldemort's twisted soul is in his possession. Regulus's sacrifice would be honored, and Kreacher would finally be free of his torment.

As he walked through the quiet streets, his mind raced with plans for the ritual to destroy the Horcruxes.