"A MUDBLOOD DARES SPEAK TO ME? KREACHER, KREACHER GET..." The painting never finished the sentence as the small paring knife sunk deep into the body of the woman in the portrait. A look of surprise came over the woman's face as the edges of the hole started to smoke. Hermione jerked the blade downward slicing a large gap.
"NO!...NO!...IMPOSS" Was Walburga's final words as the edges of the rip curled up upon themselves and in a cloud of acrid smoke, the painting of the foul woman disappeared.
"WHAT'S GOING ON!" Mrs. Weasley said as she reached the bottom of the steps. Hermione quickly sheathed her small knife and slid it back into her mokeskin bag before Molly could see it.
"Harry and Hermione destroyed the painting that even Dumbledore couldn't," Sirius replied with a smirk.
"But how...I couldn't...and...Dumbledore...I mean..." Mrs. Weasley was staring between the frame and the Potters. She had a nervous look on her face as thoughts from her discussion with her husband earlier and her youngest children came to mind. "Well...," She said finally. "I...I guess it will be quieter around here now."
Kreacher appeared with a crack. Everyone stared at the house-elf waiting for him to react. Harry and Hermione as well as Sirius had their hands on their wands.
"My Mistress..." Kreacher said as he looked at the empty frame.
"That wasn't my mother Kreacher, it was only a painting," Sirius said. "She said foul things about our guests and Hermione."
Kreacher turned his large eyes onto the Potters. Tears were now evident in them.
Hermione knelt in front of the elf as she tried to come up with something to comfort him. "That wasn't your mist..." She started when Harry suddenly said. "Wait here..." as he turned and dashed up the steps. Everyone, including Kreacher heard the racing footsteps as he dashed up one set of steps and then another. A pause and then they heard the steps racing down now. When he finally returned he was holding a picture frame.
"Does anyone know if there is a way to get an individual out of a group photo? Or if there is a better picture of Regulus in the house?"
"Master Regulus?" Kreacher asked.
"Wouldn't a large picture of Regulus be perfect in this frame?" Hermione asked immediately understanding what Harry was doing. "Remember he, along with Sirius, were the first to be Pure of Heart," She added to emphasize the new Black family motto.
Kreacher's eyes dried immediately as he first looked at the frame where Walburga Black had been and then back at Hermione as he nodded.
"I know the spell to separate a group photo," Molly Weasley offered. "Which one?" She asked as she took the photo from Harry.
"I'll help you Molly," Sirius offered and then gave a knowing smile to Harry and Hermione. Then he turned to Kreacher. "Then we'll make it as large as the frame."
Kreacher's eyes had tears again but his attitude was much different. "Kreacher would like that Master."
"Come on," Harry said to Luna and Neville. "We'll go to my room."
"Will they be staying for dinner?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"No, we can only stay a short time," Luna replied. "Neville is most curious about my ovaries."
WHAT?" Mrs. Weasley exclaimed as she whirled around to face the two teens.
"My ovaries," Luna explained thinking Mrs. Weasley didn't understand. "He's positive they are being pollinated well, but they aren't producing."
"Neville Longbottom," A very red faced Molly Weasley exclaimed. "I will be having a word with your grandmother!"
"But...but.." Neville was stammering. "She's...she's talking about.."
"I know EXACTLY what she's talking about young man," Mrs. Weasley said cutting him off. She grabbed Neville's arm. "I think you need to come down to the kitchen so we can have a long talk. Then we'll go see your Grandmother."
"You don't need to ask his Gran," Luna said. "If your ovaries are having trouble producing as well, I'm sure Neville will be glad to help," She turned to Neville. "Do you think it might be a widespread infestation of Gulping Plimpies?"
"MY ovaries are just..." Mrs. Weasley started them stopped.
Harry and Hermione could only gaze in amazement at Neville and Luna.
"Do you really think.." Harry started but Hermione finally realized what was going on. "Of course, plants," She mentally exclaimed and then repeated it out loud. "Plants! Luna are you talking about a plant?"
"Of course," Luna replied. "What else would I be talking about? My Dirigible Plum trees are not growing plums yet though it's late in the growing season."
"Tree?" Mrs. Weasley asked in a confused tone while Sirius had started laughing so hard he could barely catch his breath.
"A fruit tree's ovaries are what grow into fruits," Neville explained as he pulled free of Mrs. Weasley's slackened grip.
Hermione moved over to Luna and whispered. "You remember what we talked about in the Room of Requirements? About what happens between boys and girls? That's what Mrs. Weasley thought you were talking about."
"Oh!" Luna replied as her eyes widened even further. She turned to Mrs. Weasley. "Neville and I are not having sex Mrs. Weasley, but I think he is a great kisser though I don't really have anything to compare him against. Are you wanting to have sex with Neville?"
"NO! Uh..."
Harry and Hermione were still chuckling over Mrs. Weasley's expression two hours later when Neville and Luna left to catch the Knight Bus back to Ottery St. Catchpole and Luna's home.
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