Logical Confusion

After the incident the previous day, Hermione's parents had been against letting her return to Hogwarts. Fortunately for Hermione, Taltria and Alavel had stuck up for her, and Alavel had a way of talking to adults that convinced them to listen. Unfortunately, her parents had still insisted on accompanying her and Taltria part way to Number 12 Grimmauld Place. Hermione wasn't sure what had been worse: the car ride with her parents, or the circuitous path she'd walked on foot that had followed. Fortunately, Crookshanks didn't need to be carried.

Looking at the surrounding houses, she noticed that they jumped from 11 to 13 without any sign of 12.

"How do we get in if it's hidden?" she asked.

"'How do we get in?' 'Why take the same street three times?' 'Why not just apparate there?'" Taltria mimicked her questions in an obnoxious voice that made Hermione want to hit her, even though she knew it would do her no good. "Can't you stop asking questions and just wait?"

"No," Hermione huffed. "If I stop asking questions, I might stop thinking. I'm proud of how much I think, and I wouldn't want to dull the only good quality I've got."

Taltria gave Hermione a familiar smirk, and Hermione felt the pain inside with which she'd grown all too familiar.

"You'll have to learn to live with that."

"Let's just go."

Hermione's attention returned to the houses, and she pondered how the mechanism worked. Perhaps it was some sort of password? She hoped it wasn't, otherwise it would be all too easy for Death Eaters to find it. Perhaps only certain people could access it. That seemed safer to her, but then how was she supposed to? Who decided which people got in?

She looked at Taltria, who was tapping the side of her head. Hermione got the message and activated doublespeak. Even though no one could properly understand them, Taltria still leaned in and whispered in Hermione's ear.

"Don't repeat any of what I'm about to tell you," she whispered. "Nor ask any questions about it."

"No promises."

"Then go home," Taltria said, standing up straight again. "If you can't keep the secret, you can't get in."

Hermione immediately understood the severity of the situation and nodded to show Taltria that she did.

Taltria leaned in again, and whispered, "The headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix is at Number 12, Grimmauld Place."

It took Hermione only a second to understand the true meaning of the secret. The building was warded by the Fidelius Charm, which meant only people who knew the secret could access it.

"Stand back," Taltria said, approaching the gap between 11 and 13, "and focus on what I just told you."

Hermione watched the Nimblewright move forward, fascinated to see new magic working in front of her. Her mind still reeled with different possibilities, but she remained quiet as she'd been told.

Before her eyes, houses 11 and 13 separated. It was as if they served as guardians for Number 12, and only moved aside when Taltria approached. A quick glance around told her that no one else could see it, even though she could see it quite clearly. How'd the magic known to include her? How did it work? Was it like the Room of Requirement? She figured it had to be similar magic, although on further thought, she realized the Room of Requirement probably didn't exist until someone called upon it.

"Brain!"

Hermione looked up when Taltria called her over to the front door. The house wasn't terribly big, but big enough to be impressive. It was no mansion, but certainly on the higher end of houses. At least, it must've been when it was new. Now it looked to be a dying, decrepit house.

Hermione felt anxious as she went inside, eager to see a proper magic house. The only one she'd seen so far had been the Weasley's house, which was exciting on its own, but this was a higher end house. What would it be like? Would there be house-elves? Animated statues? Why didn't Mrs. Weasley make one?

She must like doing everything on her own, Hermione thought as she walked inside.

The house looked better inside than out, although it still felt abandoned. Hermione couldn't get over the feeling that she wasn't supposed to be there, but Sally-Anne's presence did something to cheer her up.

"There you two are," Sally-Anne said as Hermione walked through the door. "We were starting to worry."

"Nothing to worry about, Lady Princess," Taltria said as Hermione hugged her friend. "I had Lady Brain with me the entire time, so I was never in any danger."

"I was plenty worried about both of you," Sally-Anne said. "Especially after hearing about what happened yesterday. To think, a Dementor came after you unprovoked."

"I'm sure we've provoked the Ministry enough over the past few months," Hermione said. "Who else is here?"

"Professor Dumbledore's fetching Neville now, Harry's coming tonight with half the Order by his side, Ron and Ginny are upstairs, and Luna's still refusing to join us."

Hermione forgot all about being in a new place, concentrating instead on the phrase "Ron and Ginny are upstairs." She wasn't sure if she was ready to face Ron.

"What's going on with you and Ron?" Sally-Anne whispered.

For a moment, Hermione thought she could get away with saying nothing. After that moment passed, she remembered to whom she was speaking and thought better of it.

"I've hardly written him all summer," Hermione replied. "He's written me about once a week."

Sally-Anne gave her the same warm smile Alex used to give her in her first year. "It's alright now. No harm done." She frowned. "Thinking about it, some harm, but none to Ron."

"Then who—" Hermione started to ask as Sally-Anne led her into the dining room.

Her question was answered shortly after arriving. While Professors Lupin and Moody were cheerful, Mrs. Weasley glared at her as if she were Voldemort himself.

Hermione greeted the Weasley Matriarch, but received nothing but a cold shoulder and miserable excuse to get away from Hermione.

"Professor Lupin, is she cross at me for something I don't know about?"

"Call me 'Remus', and I don't know. She was fine a moment ago."

"As I was saying," Sally-Anne whispered, "no harm to Ron."

"Make yourself at home, Lady Brain!" Taltria exclaimed, interrupting their conversation. "Be sure to say 'hi' to Severus, he's missed you horribly."

Hermione looked down the table to where Professor Snape was sitting. He glowered at her when he saw her looking at him.

"More than I can possibly express," he said in the same monotone voice he always used.

"Same," Hermione said dryly.

"Hermione!" Mr. Weasley greeted her warmly, in stark contrast to his wife. "With all the hustle and bustle, I didn't realize you'd arrived."

"What's going on?" she asked.

"Oh, this and that."

"I'll explain later," Sally-Anne whispered, "because I know they won't."

"Is it something to do with whatever the Order of the Phoenix is?"

Hermione waited for an answer, but the adults ignored her.

"I'll explain later," Sally-Anne repeated. "The short version is that they think we're too incompetent to figure out that's what they're doing in here every night."

"Was that snark?" Hermione asked.

"Of course not. That would be unladylike."

Hermione grinned at Sally-Anne before allowing her friend to escort her down the hall to the stairs.

"MUDBLOODS! ANOTHER ONE IN—"

"Good evening to you too, Walburga!" Sally-Anne shouted to be heard over the portrait that had started screaming at them. "I trust you slept well?"

"Have purebloods got a sixth sense about blood status?" Hermione asked.

"No, they're just all inbred so it's easy to tell," Taltria said, adding her voice to the shouting. "You should see the family tree in the other room. It grows in on itself."

"All of you should be banished from my house immediately!" the portrait screamed.

"It isn't your house anymore, Walburga," Sally-Anne said. "It's your son's. If you didn't want him to inherit it, you should've taken him out of the will. Since you didn't, we can either listen to you and ignore succession in a pureblood family, or be on our way and let us get back to ignoring one another."

Walburga grumbled something Hermione couldn't hear.

Sally-Anne led Hermione and Taltria up the stairs to the first floor.

"I love it when Lady Princess does that," Taltria said, wrapping her arms around Sally-Anne.

Sally-Anne smiled, but removed Taltria's arms from around her.

"Thank you for your kindness, Taltria, but there's no need."

"Who owns the house now?" Hermione asked, looking around and trying to place the name "Grimmauld Place".

"Sirius, although he hates it here." Sally-Anne nodded down the corridor. "Come on; our room is this way."

"You seem to have settled in well."

"Anything I can do to take my mind off Harry. I'm still worried about him."

"He's got Alavel with him," Taltria said. "Trust me, the only way Voldemort's getting through my brother is by ripping him apart, and that's not as easy as you might think."

Harry put the last of his belongings in his pack. He smiled at the photos of his parents before putting them away.

"I'll make you proud," he promised. "And I'll get revenge on him for taking you away."

He slung his pack over his shoulder. Only his wand and broom remained in his hands. Harry put his wand in his pocket, then practiced drawing it without looking until he was convinced he was fast enough.

"You won't need that," Alavel said from the doorway. "Remember, any–"

"'Any use of magic will give the Ministry the ammunition it so desperately desires'," Harry recited. "I haven't forgotten the lectures or drills."

Even though he knew Alavel was right, Harry hated feeling powerless. He'd spent the summer looking over his shoulder, ready to spring into action, but everyone kept reminding him that he shouldn't.

"The sooner I get back to Hogwarts, the better."

"If you insist," Alavel said. "You can still have a normal life, if you so choose."

Harry shook his head. They both knew he could never be normal, not with Voldemort alive. Harry thought back with sadness on the past year. Right up until the bitter end, it'd been amazing.

"On the bright side of things, Quidditch starts back up this year."

Harry grinned at the thought of flying high above a cheering crowd. He had little doubt that Angelina would be every bit as strict as Wood had been, but there was some fun in it. Besides, it made them the best. They just had to find someone just as good at playing Keeper as Wood had been.

"Thanks, Alavel," Harry said. "For everything."

"It has been a pleasure, Lord Skyeyes."

"Ready to go, you two?" Sirius asked, appearing at Harry's door.

"Ready," Harry said. "Not afraid of heights, are you, Alavel?"

"Not in the slightest, Lord Skyeyes, but I appreciate the concern." Alavel stood still for a moment. He was in his true form, so Harry couldn't tell what he was doing. He could've fallen asleep for all Harry knew.

"Taltria says they'll be here in 2 minutes," Alavel informed them.

No sooner did he say it, than there was a knock at the door. Sirius nodded to them, and they moved to the window. Sirius himself went to the door.

"Who is it?"

"Bombarda!"

Alavel moved like lightning, darting from the window to the door. He tackled Sirius aside a second before the door exploded.

Harry picked up the movement of four people as the dust settled. He saw the first of them push his way into the flat.

They all wore black cloaks and masks, bringing Harry back to the graveyard. The Death Eater in front spotted Harry and aimed his wand. Harry instinctively went for his wand, but before he could fire, Alavel knocked the man's feet out from under him.

Alavel lept clear over the next Death Eater as he stepped into the flat. A red flash lit up the room as Sirius took out that one. He was dragged back by his companions while Alavel struck the first with the flat of his blade.

Harry pulled out his invisibility cloak and threw it over himself, just as Alavel had drilled him dozens of times. As much as he wanted to help, he knew it would only make things worse.

The final two Death Eaters shoved their way into the flat, but Alavel and Sirius were waiting. Sirius fired another stunner, which knocked down one, while Alavel slapped the other with the flat of both his swords.

The first Death Eater that Sirius had stunned recovered and dragged the others back. They each recovered and ran for it, leaving the others to fend for themselves.

Sirius watched them run, then looked down at his destroyed door.

"The land lord's not gonna like that," he muttered. "Harry, are you alright?"

Harry pulled off the cloak and shoved it back in this bag.

"I'm okay," he said.

Sirius turned to Alavel and started laughing. "Where'd you learn a move like that?"

"A simple maneuver of the Tiger Claw martial discipline," Alavel replied. He folded his swords back into his arms. "Taltria and I both have training as Swordsages."

Sirius patted Alavel on the back. "Who needs magic when we've got you?"

"You are much too kind. I was merely doing my part." He froze for a moment. "Taltria has been informed of the situation. Her party is just arriving, and will be up shortly."

Compared to the events that came before it, the trip to Grimmauld Place was a breeze. Harry flew with Alavel, surrounded by a guard of four fliers. Taltria rode with Remus and kept an eye out for trouble. They had placed a disillusionment charm on Harry, making it appear that only Alavel was on his broom.

"I suppose the cloak would fly off!" he called to Alavel when he finally reasoned it out.

"Quiet, Lord Skyeyes! No one must know you're with us!"

Harry remained quiet as they flew over London. It was breath taking to see the city from above at night. A sea of lights flew by below them as they rode closer to their destination.

After a series of twists and turns, they finally landed in front of the headquarters of the Order of the Phoenix.

Harry found that two people in particular were patiently awaiting his arrival.

"Are you alright?" Sally-Anne asked.

"Are you hungry?" Mrs. Weasley added. "There's food in the kitchen if you like. They'll be starting soon, but there's still time."

The two rushed him when he arrived, both attempting to outdo the other one at hugging Harry.

"Did everything go alright? Were there problems?" Sally-Anne didn't wait for an answer from Harry. "Alavel, Taltria, report!"

On her command, both Nimblewrights stood at attention.

"A minor incursion at the flat, but nothing to worry about, Lady Princess," Alavel replied.

"I'm fine." Harry didn't know if the cracking he heard was the old house or his ribs. "Please, let go!"

Sally-Anne and Mrs. Weasley released him, and he gasped for air.

"I'm sorry." Sally-Anne turned pink for just a second. "First that Dementor, now this. Is everyone else alright?"

"Me and Alavel handled it," Sirius said, grinning at Alavel.

"We were unable to apprehend the attackers, but Lord Skyeyes wasn't harmed."

"Glad to see you all in one piece," Professor Dumbledore said. "Truly wonderful, but we must get started."

Harry looked to Sally-Anne for an explanation, but she nodded up the stairs. She led him away from them as Alavel and Sirius went to the other room with the rest of the adults.

The stairs creaked under his weight. It startled him at first, but after a moment, he adjusted to and ignored it. Instead, he took in what he could of his surroundings. The house was worn out and falling apart, although he was sure the feeling it was about to collapse was just paranoia. It looked like someone had tried repairing it, but gave up part way.

He found the Weasley children huddled around at the top of the stairs. Harry couldn't tell what they were crowded around, but he had a feeling it was something to do with the meeting downstairs.

"What's going on?" Harry asked.

"Professor Dumbledore's got this group called the Order of the Phoenix he started to fight Voldemort."

The Weasleys all cringed.

"The Weasleys listen in on every meeting, Hermione's reading in her room, and Neville's off somewhere, practicing killing people."

"So we're not allowed in the meetings?" Harry asked.

"No, we're not, because we're children, and not remotely ready to fight trained killers. Taltria's kept us all informed, even if we can't participate."

"I saw him come back to life! I've got a list of names of all the Death Eaters! Why can't—"

"What did you do when you were in that graveyard? Did you fight back?"

"I could've!"

"And you would've died, and then what? What good would that have done anyone? Would your parents really want you to throw your life away like that? Would Rose?"

"Rose would—"

"No, she wouldn't. I still remember her holding her boot to your chest and pressing a sword to your throat."

"But—"

"According to Professor Dumbledore, Alavel's been talking to him about our involvement. He knows we'll get involved anyway, so he argued we might as well have some involvement."

Harry would've found it hard to believe that Alavel would stand up for him a year ago, but now he knew better. Alavel always had his back.

"Come on," Sally-Anne said. "Let's get you situated. We can at least pretend you're normal for a moment, can't we?"

Harry's room was just as unimpressive as the rest of the house. Paint peeled from the walls, cracks and cobwebs littered the ceiling, and his bed looked worn out. Ron's bed was next to his, easily identifiable by the Quidditch posters over the bed. Neville's was down one from there, although he hadn't made himself as at home as Ron had. The only personal effect of Neville's was a picture of Rose on his nightstand.

"I know it's not much, but it's only for a few days," Sally-Anne said.

Harry sensed something else moving and turned towards the hallway.

"It's alright. It's probably just Kreacher with some food."

"What?"

Harry looked out the hallway and saw a house-elf stalking towards them. It was worn out, wrinkled, and looked as enthusiastic to be there as Professor Snape always did during class.

Sally-Anne pulled Harry aside to allow the Kreacher to enter the bedroom. It muttered something about degradation as it set the tray down on Harry's bed.

"Will that be all?" Defiance and indignation adorned its eyes as it glared at Sally-Anne.

Sally-Anne's expression was the opposite. She smiled pleasantly at the house-elf.

"Thank you, Kreacher. You've been a wonderful help. You may go."

Kreacher stalked off, grumbling to himself. As he walked out of the room, Harry heard him mutter another word that he almost thought he misheard.

"What did you just call her?" Harry shouted at the elf.

"There's no need to shout." Sally-Anne's smile turned to a frown, but her voice didn't change from its neutral politeness. "Kreacher, would you please answer his question?" She crouched down and put herself as close to eye level as she could. "You're not in any trouble, we just want to make sure everyone's clear with one another."

Kreacher glared at her defiantly. He didn't speak a word until given another order.

"What did you call her?"

Sirius had arrived upstairs, although Harry didn't immediately wonder why. He towered over the house-elf, his arms crossed, looking like he was about to hurl the elf across the room.

Kreacher mumbled something that even Harry couldn't make out.

"Louder!"

"Mudblood."

Sirius's face contorted into a look of fury, and he grabbed the house-elf and shook him.

"How dare you use that word! I don't want to hear another–"

"Enough!"

Sirius, Harry, and Kreacher all looked to Sally-Anne. She glared not at Kreacher, but at Sirius, and extended her arm with a finger pointing down.

"Drop him."

The only part of Sirius that moved were his hands. They released Kreacher and the house-elf fell to the ground with a small thud. Sally-Anne crouched back down to put herself at eye level once again.

"Did he hurt you, Kreacher?"

"Kreacher is not needing pity from a mudblood!"

Harry and Sirius nearly lost it again, but a glare from Sally-Anne made them back off.

"It's not pity, it's concern, and I respond just as well, if not better, to Sally-Anne, Perks, or Princess. You can even call me 'girl' if it'd make you feel better. My boyfriend's rubbish with words, and even he found something that works for him."

Harry watched in shock as Sally-Anne smiled at the thing that had just called her a foul word.

"Will that be all, girl?" Kreacher asked.

"It will, Kreacher, thank you."

Sally-Anne held a finger up to Sirius and Harry, then waited until Kreacher was out of earshot. The moment he was, she got to her feet.

"I'm sorry about him," Sirius said. "He doesn't–"

"Noble House of Black?" Sally-Anne's voice was low and threatening. "What sort of lord of any estate treats his servants like that? You ought to be ashamed of yourself, Sirius Black. That elf has dedicated his life to service of your family, and you repay him with screaming and dropping him on the ground."

"Did we not both hear what he called you?"

"That's no excuse. You're the master of this house, and he's your family's loyal servant. You of all people should understand what it feels like to dedicate your life to people only to have them turn their backs on you."

Sirius and Harry stared at Sally-Anne as she left the room. Harry couldn't think of anything to say to that. It was Sally-Anne; sweet, kind Sally-Anne, unless you gave her reason to go for your throat. Like he and Neville, she didn't miss.

"She's a handful, that one," Sirius said.

"I can still hear you!"

Sirius closed the door behind him, then sat down beside Harry. They exchanged looks, then both burst out laughing.

That night after everyone had left, Alavel took the opportunity to check in with Albus.

"Alavel. What can I do for you, my mechanical friend?"

Albus had grown quite fond of Rose's constructs. Not only did they serve his cause well, they had shown a large capacity for caring for her friends. This put them in a unique position to act as liaisons between her friends and the rest of the order. He finally had an adult to whom teenagers would listen.

"I wanted to thank you for considering my arguments regarding the students. Fighting them at every turn is something none of us wants."

"Indeed not. I'm sure you noticed the boys' listening device?"

"I did."

Albus chuckled, despite knowing the weight of the situation. "As you said, they're involved whether I want them to be or not." His eyes locked onto the flickering fireplace. He watched it as if in a trance, his mind drifting back to the last war. "I still can't help but feel I'm making a mistake."

"You are one man, Albus." Alavel placed a reassuring hand on Albus's shoulder. "You've got a thousand decisions to make. You're going to get at least one wrong. Remember, we're here in case you do. We've all agreed to follow you, so no matter what happens, I know we'll win in the end."

During the previous war, Albus had felt that he'd had the weight of the world on his shoulders. Every decision he'd made could've won or lost them the war, but this time, it felt as if he had help. Not just Taltria and Alavel, but his staff, his friends. He didn't have to lead them alone.

"There was supposed to be a place for Rose at this table," Albus said to no one in particular. "I'd already started looking for anything Tom had once owned that Rose could've used to find him. I figured once we found him, the war would be over. With Rose on our side, he couldn't hide and amass power. We'd always know when he was coming."

Alavel folded his hands behind his back. His face bore his usual neutral expression that Albus couldn't read. He often found it odd that while he could almost always tell what Rose was thinking, her constructs were a far greater challenge.

"I don't suppose she's still out there," Albus said.

"I'd like to continue my silence and suggest that I was hiding something, but I can't. Taltria and I know Lady Rose isn't alive anymore. We get no response from her. I'm sorry, Albus, but she is dead."

Some part of him still refused to believe it, but in his heart, Albus knew Rose was gone. Something still seemed off about the way she'd died, but it didn't mean she wasn't dead.

"Doesn't it feel wrong to you?"

Albus was glad to see Alavel nod his head.

"Something does feel wrong about it. It feels as if Lady Rose simply gave up, which is quite unlike her."

Albus scanned the room for eavesdropping children before continuing. "Might her friend in the Chamber of Secrets have had something to do with this?"

Alavel followed suit and lowered his voice. "I have no doubt in my mind that it was involved somehow. Unfortunately, I don't know how."

Albus nodded, his hopes dashed a little.

"I was hoping she told you two everything."

"She told us enough, but there's always a small piece she leaves out. She doesn't like people to think poorly of her. Not her friends, my sister and I, or you. I believe she was being forced to do something she regretted, and her death may have been the only escape she found."

Albus stared into the fireplace for a time, pondering Alavel's words.

"Thank you, Alavel. I believe your words have been a great help."

Hermione grumbled and waved her hand over another chunk of the kitchen. The "kitchen" that took up most of the basement. After removing the dust and cobwebs, she moved to another small chunk.

"'We'll do it together'," she said in a mocking tone. "'Don't worry, we're 17 now, so we can use magic to clean.' If I'd been paying more attention to those red-headed gau halaks…"

As part of them staying in the protection of 12 Grimmauld Place, they were required to help tidy up. Being the only one of her friends to be able to use magic without consequences, she'd agreed to work on the kitchen, the largest room in the house. The Twins had promised to help her.

"In hindsight, I shouldn't have been trying to read while they were giving us assignments."

She heard a scream from upstairs that sounded a lot like Ron.

"Of course, I could've gotten the china cabinet overrun with spiders, so it's not all bad."

She worked her way through the kitchen, then into a small cupboard. Inside, she found worn out blankets and a few trinkets.

"I hope this is where Kreacher sleeps," she said, plugging her nose to fight off the smell. "Otherwise…"

Her eyes scanned over the trinkets, and fell on one in particular. A golden locket with an emerald 'S' on it that looked a lot like a snake. Her eyes grew wide when she saw it. She picked it up, trying to convince herself she was really seeing it. She undid the clasp, hoping it'd give her some clue, but found it empty.

"Mudblood!"

Hermione closed the locket just as Kreacher snatched it out of her hands.

"Mudbloods is not touching Kreacher's things!"

"Where'd you get that?" Hermione asked.

Kreacher smirked. "Kreacher is not telling!"

"WHERE'D YOU GET THAT?" Hermione roared.

All she had to do was envision herself shaking the house-elf, and he was lifted off his feet.

Several pairs of feet thundered down the stairs to the basement.

"Hermione! Put him down!"

Sally-Anne's voice snapped Hermione out of her rage. Kreacher fell to the floor and covered the locket with his hands.

"What are you doing?" Sally-Anne snapped. "I expect this from Ron, but you? You're better than this!"

"That locket! Where'd he get it?"

"Why does it matter?" Sally-Anne asked. "It's just a locket. It probably belonged to an old owner of this house." She crouched down to meet Kreacher's gaze. "Are you alright?"

Kreacher grumbled something in response.

"Good." She turned her attention to Hermione. "Hermione, I think you need to rest."

"I'm fine!"

"No, you're not."

Hermione opened her mouth to argue, but caught herself. If she told anyone that Rose had had an identical locket, no one would believe her. No one else had been able to see it.

"What's going on?" Sirius asked, making his way downstairs. "Kreacher, if you—"

"It's fine," Sally-Anne said. "Nothing to worry about. Everyone, go back to work."

Most of the others left. Ron lingered for a moment, but a glance from Sally-Anne ushered him on his way. That left Sally-Anne, Kreacher, Hermione, and Sirius.

"What's Kreacher doing?" Sirius asked, glaring at his house-elf.

"Mudbloods is stealing from Kreacher!"

"Open your hands!"

Kreacher fought to ignore his master's command, but opened his hands nonetheless.

"What is that?" Sirius asked. "I've never seen that before."

"It is being Master Regulus's," Kreacher said through clenched teeth.

"Regulus didn't wear a locket!"

"That doesn't mean he didn't own one!" Sally-Anne snapped. She turned back to Kreacher and resumed her soothing tone. "Take good care of it, Kreacher. I'm sure Master Regulus would be proud of you. I'm sure this is just one big misunderstanding. You won't have to worry about anyone taking your things."

Kreacher nodded.

"Yes, Ms. Perks."

"Thank you, Kreacher. I'll talk with Ms. Granger and sort this out."

Kreacher nodded again, then Sally-Anne motioned for Hermione to follow her.

Hermione and Kreacher exchanged glares, then Hermione moved to Sally-Anne's side.

"Sirius," Sally-Anne hissed, "when addressing the staff, you shall reference other members of this house by their titles. It's Master Regulus to Kreacher, understood?"

"That's how you're opening this?" he asked.

Sally-Anne didn't so much as hesitate. "I'm getting to the rest of it. Is that understood?"

Sirius shrugged.

"Don't shrug at me. You're the master of the Noble and Most Ancient House of Black, and I'll make you act like it if it kills me."

Sirius gave her a wide-eyed nod. "I believe you."

"Good." Sally-Anne turned to Hermione. "I'll take over down here. You can work on the drawing room."

"The one with the boggart in it?" Hermione asked dryly.

"Yes. It shouldn't be a problem for you, Ms. 'I can cast magic outside of school'."

"Fine."

Hermione and Sirius walked back upstairs, then Hermione took the stairs up to the first floor. All the while, her mind remained fixated on the locket. Why did it look identical to the locket Rose had fetched for Sylvia? Was it the same one? No, it couldn't have been. Hermione had watched them seal Rose inside her coffin, and the locket had been there. It wasn't possible for anyone to have penetrated that coffin.

With that in mind, Hermione came to the conclusion that it was identical to Rose's. Why? If it was important to Voldemort, he must've had a duplicate made to throw people off the scent of the real one. Two of the Horcruxes had been held by high ranking Death Eaters. It made sense that he'd leave another with a family known for supporting him.

The thought put Hermione's mind at ease. She didn't care much, apart from knowing that Rose's coffin hadn't been breached.

"Ms. Granger."

Hermione jumped at Professor Dumbledore's voice. She turned around and found him standing in the doorway to the drawing room.

"I just heard the strangest story from Ms. Perks. Something about you and a locket with an 'S' on it."

"It was nothing," Hermione said. "I just thought… it was nothing."

"Well, if it turns out to be something, I'd love to hear about it."

"I'll be sure to tell you."