Regulus gave Harry a smile, though it was a tired one. Even walking and keeping up an excited energetic front for such a short period of time had left him hovering on the verge of collapse.
When Harry entered the warden's office, he felt it start to get colder, signalling the presence of a dementor in the close vicinity. He felt Regulus tremble beside him. The man was clearly exhausted, and in horrible physical shape. The effects of dementors didn't help Regulus at all.
Taking a breath, Harry gripped Regulus shoulder and flamed the both of them to the outcropping of rocks he had left Draco hiding at.
Draco jumped slightly when he saw the flames and then gasped when he saw Cornelius Fudge and a scraggly man who was being supported by Fudge to keep from collapsing.
"What the hell?" Draco exclaimed in shock his wand pointing at the new arrivals cautiously.
Regulus fell to his knees next to Harry. "That… actually wasn't a horrible way to travel." he muttered half in disbelief and half in wonder.
"Huh?" Harry blinked at the caution in Draco's voice before he realized what the issue was. With a wave of his wand he dispelled the glamour on himself.
"Malfoy, it's me, you twit," growled Harry. "Were you expecting someone else?" Harry was bent over at the waist with his hands on his knees to catch his breath.
Harry had his eyes closed for a few moments while he shook off the drained feeling. Flaming from one place to another with someone else in tow was tiring. Far more than apparition. Flaming himself wasn't a problem. That wasn't a significant drain on him. However he had now flame transported Regulus twice, in a short span of time. Once from inside the cell to just outside the lower security area, and once from the warden's office to here.
"No, I just didn't expect to have Minister Fudge pop out of nowhere." Draco responded dryly, moving forward to help Harry who quickly waved him off. Regulus was frowning as he looked up at Draco's form, his eyes suspicious, though he couldn't see Draco's face because of the cloak. "Malfoy?! Lucius Malfoy? You said you were an enemy of the Dark Lord! Malfoy's practically has the title of 'chief bootlicker' for Voldemort!"
Draco shook his head, and after a gesture from Harry took the hood off of his face. "Not Lucius. That's my father. I'm Draco Malfoy. And we don't serve the Dark Lord."
Regulus scowled as he looked up at Draco's revealed face, once more surprised at the youth, "How can I trust you? Even if your lackey got me out of Azkaban?"
Draco coughed and looked surprised at the lackey comment but it was Harry who replied as he stood up. "Well, like I said, we could have just killed you instead of getting you out. But if it will make you feel better…" Harry held his wand out, "I swear on my magic my goal is to kill Voldemort once and for all."
There were a small surge of light that gathered around Harry. Then he cast a quick charm above their heads to keep the drizzle of water that had just began to come down off of them.
Regulus looked mollified by Harry's use of the oath, as he stopped cringing away from the two of them.
Draco spoke up, "And he's not my lackey."
Harry snorted, "Damn straight. Malfoy is my lackey." Draco looked affronted at this and opened his mouth to comment but Harry continued blithely.
"Anyway, down to business," said Harry. "First thing is first. Regulus, can you please call Kreacher here?" Regulus nodded after a moment's hesitation and another glance at Malfoy. Harry could still see there was some distrust there, but for better or worse, he was now committed to this path. "Kreacher?"
There was a few seconds pause and then with a small snap the familiar elderly curmudgeon of an elf appeared, a puzzled expression on his face until his eyes fell on Regulus and his eyes morphed into surprise "Master Regulus?!"
Instantly, Kreacher moved forward to grip the ragged and threadbare cloth covering Regulus' shoulder, as if confirming it was really him. "Master! Master! You've summoned Kreacher!"
Harry could honestly say he had never seen the thing look any happier. Actually, it was rather eerie how much Kreacher reminded Harry of Dobby of his old world and Dobby's attitude toward Harry.
Harry was happy to see that, however jaded Regulus was, he leaned forward and hugged the filthy old Elf who was literally bouncing on his toes. "It's good to see you, Kreacher."
Kreacher returned the hug still bouncing with excitement. "Kreacher was so worried for Master Regulus! Beings locked inside nasty prison! Kreacher could not even bring Master food! Master is free? Master is… okay?" Kreacher suddenly looked at both Harry and Draco suspiciously as if they might attack Regulus at any moment.
Regulus shook his head, drawing Kreacher's attention back to him. "I am out of prison, they helped me. Do you still have the necklace? Is it secret? Is it safe?" Regulus' voice took on a note of concern and urgency. The house elf nodded enthusiastically, of course that meant his entire body bobbed up and down with the movement. "Yes, Yes. Kreacher has done as Master Regulus asks! Kreacher protected it from everyone. Kreacher not talk to anyone about it. The 'Mistake' never asks for Kreacher at all."
"The 'Mistake'?" Harry couldn't stop himself from asking.
Regulus looked half amused, and half abashed, "That's what my mother referred to my older brother as after he was sorted into Gryffindor. Kreacher took a liking to the name."
Harry raised an eyebrow, "Based on what I know of your mother, I am unsurprised. Though I'm certain Kreacher would have stopped using it if you asked him to."
Regulus shrugged with an innocent expression, "Keeps slipping my mind." He replied blandly, though the effect was lost somewhat as he swayed slightly with exhaustion.
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