Adult-FanFiction.org : Harry Potter

Preventative Measures	By : SpeedyTomato Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male Views: 151582 -:- Recommendations : 8 -:- Currently Reading : 30
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and make no money off this work in perversion

Chapter List
- 26
- 27
- 28
Chapter 27

Beta'd by the most wonderful, amazing and stupendous Tenchi. Woman, you are the best and love you for all you do for me!

With help from Lynn who works with me when it comes to flow, continuity and other issues

Just a reminder of what's on my profile; reviews complaining or whinging about the lack 'o sex in stories will get deleted. If you want a smut-filled romp, you need to find another story to read.

Striding into Grimmauld Place, Severus was uptight, but had a determined look on his face. Lupin explained what the issue was, so now he had to help figure out what in Merlin's good name a chunk of the Dark Lord was doing in a locket and how it related to so much of this nightmare. And he was damned sure that it was connected somehow, in a big way. Whatever this would turn out to be couldn't herald anything good.
Stepping into the parlor they were in, with Lupin right behind him, Severus glanced around. Black was right by the door, holding out an arm to stop them. Harry was over by the deranged elf, crouched down, looking like he was talking to the creature. Not going in that direction, he asked Black, “What have you found out so far?” Motioning Lupin to stand by them, he waited.
Handing over a parchment that had every reading he could think to get on the locket, Sirius said, “Not much. Those are the readings on it. I can honestly say that I don't ever remember seeing it before. As far as I know, it didn't belong to my mother or father. And I'm getting nowhere with Kreacher. The only thing I was able to get was the locket belonged to Regulus. At least that's what it sounds like. Again, I don't remember seeing it or him having it.” Sighing and looking over to where Harry was, he said, “I'm having Harry see what he can manage. He seems to be getting a little further than I was, probably because of who he is. Even Kreacher has heard of him. Let's see what he can get.”
Taking the parchment and looking at it, Severus then gazed at the locket that was suspended in mid-air, shivering slightly at the malevolent feel of it. “Harry says that he can see the magic on it?” Lupin had told him that, but he wanted to confirm it.
“He does,” Sirius nodded. “He told me it's as clear as any of ours. My guess would be that means it's still living, at least in some way. And he swears he's never seen magic that black on anyone but You-Know-Who.”
“Understood,” Severus nodded, reaching up to rub a hand over his face as he looked at the readings again. Eyes lifting to the locket, he asked, “Have you tried to get it open?”
“I've tried every opening spell I can think of,” Sirius told him, eyes locked on his godson. “Nothing worked. Honestly? Before one of us tries again, I think we need to put a shield around it. With the feelings all but rolling off that—thing, we might need to protect ourselves. Because I have no clue what might be in it.”
Taking that as a damned good suggestion that they needed to follow, Severus nodded. Another glance at Harry, seeing him still talking, though only hearing parts of what was said because he was keeping his voice down, Severus sighed. Pulling his wand, he cast a few more spells to get readings on the locket. He didn't think they would add anything to what was already there, but he wanted to make sure. When that was done, he had Lupin put up the strongest shield he could around it and ran through every opening spell he could think of. Nothing. It stayed shut. However, he did notice that the more they 'interacted' with it, the more it made his skin crawl. And it seemed to be setting off plenty of vile things in his head. Another very bad thing that heralded nothing good when it came to the situation and what this might be.
Finishing up, seeing Black and Lupin, both, slightly paler than they had been, he asked, softly, “Is it setting off bad memories and self-deprecating thoughts in both of you as well?” He thought this related and wanted to make sure it wasn't just something he was getting.
“It is,” Remus said, voice quivering softly, glancing between the locket and where Harry was.
“Which means we need to figure out what in the bloody hell it is,” Sirius told them, folding his arms over his chest, goose flesh having risen over most of his body at what it set off in his head.
“Let's move over by Harry to see what he's gotten from the elf,” Severus gruffed, levitating the object in that direction, making damned sure that shield was still around it.
Stepping over to where Harry was now sitting down, cross legged, on the floor, Severus asked, “Did you get anything we can use?”
Eying the locket and shivering, Harry sighed then looked at Kreacher, who was glaring around. “Some. He's calling it Regulus' locket. From what I could get he's supposed to destroy it, but hasn't managed, obviously.”
Looking at the elf, who was glaring at all of them, a dour look on his face, then glancing at the locket, almost fearfully, Remus said, “Can you ask him if he ever got it open.” As they couldn't, he was wondering if the elf had managed. House elf magic was different than theirs, so Kreacher may have managed. And if Harry was getting anywhere with the elf, it might be best to let him handle this.
Nodding, Harry focused back on the elf and asked as gently as he could. When he finished, he added, “We're trying to figure out what it is. If we can, we might be able to tell you how to destroy it.”
Thinking that over, glancing between the locket and Harry Potter, Kreacher lifted a hand and began to reach out to the teen, wanting to finger the scar to confirm to himself that this is who he thought, but drew his hand back. If it was that Harry Potter, he was attached to his hated master in some way and to be viewed with suspicion. However, he said, shaking his head, droopy bat ears flapping, “Kreacher couldn't get it open.”
“Understood,” Severus said with a sigh and nod. Not sure what else to ask, certain the elf wouldn't like being questioned by any of them, even if it went through Harry, he was trying to figure out what to do next.
Focusing on the elf, Harry figured what the creature was going to do as so many had done something similar in the past. Quietly, he said, smiling just a little, “You can touch the scar. It's real.”
Unable to resist, Kreacher reached out and ran a trembling finger down the lightning bolt before saying, voice quiet, “Harry Potter. The one that ended He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named.”
“That's me,” Harry told him with a little bigger smile.
Nodding, not sure what to say after that, Kreacher then glared around before his eyes lit on his hated master. He didn't want to help Master Sirius in any way.
Glancing up at the locket that hung above them, Harry's brow furrowed. Because so much dust and dirt had been stirred up while cleaning, his eyes were a bit gritty. That would be fixed after a shower, he knew that, but as he looked at the front of it the snakes seem to writhe the way the opening to the Chamber had in his second year, probably because of how his eyes were feeling. Thinking over what had been said so far, he then told the others, “Let me try opening it. Not sure if what I'm seeing is real or if it's just brought on by all the dust we stirred up, but I might be able to accomplish it.”
“How?” Severus asked, glancing at Harry then to the locket. “We don't want you touching it.”
“No touching,” Harry assured him firmly. “Parseltongue. It's the snakes on the front.”
Glancing at the other two, Sirius said, pulling his wand, “Let us put up every shield we can then give it a go. Nothing else worked, so we might as well try that.” If this was a chunk of You-Know-Who, Harry might succeed because of that trait.
After they layered on every shield they could, Severus stiffened up, hand clutching tightly to his wand as he didn't know what this could unleash if Harry managed to open it. Then said, tone tight, “Give it a try, Harry.”
Stiffening up, not sure what could come of this, Harry focused on the snakes then, as with the Chamber, he hissed open. The second that locket opened, he covered his ears and winced at what he heard. It was Vernon's voice during the worst of the molestation.
“Shut it!” Remus almost shouted, voice strangled as he heard Fenrir's voice during that horrible event of getting bitten a child.
Not looking up, hands still over his ears, Harry hissed shut, thankful that the voice stopped. However, he couldn't stop shaking and the feelings the voice brought on wouldn't go away. Looking up, he glanced at Kreacher, who was wide-eyed, pulling on his ears, knuckles white. Glancing back over his shoulder, he saw the other three pale and shaking as well. He wasn't sure what they heard to cause that reaction and didn't want to know. It just shored up his feeling that whatever this locket contained was pure evil. Shaking his head, he said, “I'm not opening that—thing again!”
“No, you're not,” Severus told him firmly, though his voice was quivering slightly over some of the memories it set off. Looking around, eyes wide, he said, trying to get himself under some form of control, “We need help. This isn't something we can figure out ourselves.”
“We do,” Sirius said, smoothing down his goatee in a nervous way with a trembling hand. “From who though, is the question.”
Trying to think, Severus sighed then said, “We need Albus.” Seeing looks thrown at him from the other three, an especially dark one from Harry, he said, “We need his help, Harry. He might be able to figure this out. I'll go grab Moody, Arthur and Bill before I get him. That way we can't get tricked and he'll focus on the situation, not you.” Seeing reluctant nods, he then turned his back and whispered, though he didn't care if Harry overheard, “Have Harry keep working with Kreacher. Tell him to get as much information as he can out of the elf. And have him assure Kreacher that we will either find a way for him to destroy that evil thing or we will tend to the matter. One way or another, we need to do that. Make sure he gets that across. To do that, though, we need every bit of information we can get. He has to impress that on the elf. It might be something that can't help us, but we need it to determine what in Merlin's name is going on. Because I agree with the assessment on the magic; that is a chunk of the Dark Lord and is pure evil.”
After looking at the pale and trembling Remus, Sirius sighed then nodded. “Do what you need to do. We'll see what we can achieve here. Just—get copies of all those damned readings and we'll do the same on this end if anything else comes up. For our own sake. Whatever Albus might figure out, he's not going to tell us. And we need to know this, for our own safety and knowledge.”
“I will,” Severus told him firmly. Seeing Harry look at him, sure the young wizard overheard, he nodded to him. Seeing a nod back, he then swept out, mind in overdrive with the implications of this.

Having Remus set up the ward to signal when someone came in, Sirius walked over and pulled Harry away, after having his godson tell the elf to stay put. Leading him only a short distance away, he explained, keeping his voice down, “Get everything you can out of him, including the history. That might be the best place to start. The more we know, the better off we're going to be. We'll stay out of it as much as we can. Any questions we have, we'll have you relay. If you have to, give up the relationship with Lucius and Narcissa. That might help. The same with assuring him things aren't how they seem. Just make sure he knows that we're doing this to destroy whatever the fuck that thing is. To do that, we need to know what it is.”
“I'll see what I can do,” Harry whispered back, keeping an eye on Kreacher.
“I'll stay out of it as much as I can, but if I can help, I will,” Sirius assured him.
“Let me see what I can manage,” Harry told him. Seeing Sirius nod, he went over and sat back down in front of Kreacher.
Sighing, not sure where to start, he thought it over then said, “We need some help, Kreacher. In order to tell you how to destroy it or see if we can do it, we need to figure out what in Merlin's name that locket is and what is in it.” Seeing the elf give a wary nod, eyes drifting from him to Sirius, he pressed on, “As we don't know what it is, we need your help. We can't figure any of it out without you giving us some of what you know.”
“Kreacher needs to destroy it. He promised Master Regulus,” the elf said firmly, eyes drifting back to Sirius.
“I'm not sure if you can,” Harry told him honestly. “If we can find a way, we'll let you. If not, let us see if we can manage to do it for you.”
Looking back at Harry Potter, Kreacher thought that over. Then he shook his head. “Kreacher won't help blood traitors.”
Inching just a tad closer, Harry softened his voice and said, lowering it, acting as though he was afraid that he would be overheard, “Things aren't as they seem, Kreacher. With any of us in this room. I swear it.”
Brow wrinkling, Kreacher focused on Harry Potter. He wasn’t sure what to say, so he didn't utter a word.
Figuring that was the opening he needed, Harry pressed on, “Yes, this is Order headquarters, but I can guarantee that I can't stand Dumbledore. In fact, I hate him. I think I can also safely say that the two behind me don't like him much either. And we don't trust him. We all want out of this mess, Kreacher. As fast as we can find a way to do that. The other side—we don't want anything to do with that maniac either. We just want out. I don't know what that makes us to you, but they aren't as they seem.”
Shaking his head, not sure what to make of it, Kreacher said, “What does Harry Potter want?”
Thinking quickly, Harry thought he had something that might work. “How about this; you and I make a deal. You give me the information we need and I bet I can work it to where we do something you'll like.”
Not sure what that meant, the elf inquired, “What would Harry Potter do that Kreacher would like? It's a house elf's job to serve, not for wizards to do something for them.”
“You have to keep this a secret, like you do for Sirius. It involves him and he's your master.” Harry said firmly then waited.
Though wary, glancing at his hated master, Kreacher then nodded slowly, knowing that was part of his duties to the House of Black. Then he waited.
“You want some of what's in this house not thrown out, right?” Seeing the elf fully focus on him and nod firmly, Harry pressed on, “How about if we arrange for some of it, the really special stuff, like the tapestry and paintings, to go to Narcissa Malfoy? We can do that, Kreacher. I bet she would take other items as well, the really special ones.” Remembering that conversation with Sirius and Narcissa, he thought this might work. After all, it was something Sirius promised her.
Focusing fully on that, eyes locked on Harry Potter, Kreacher said, “Miss Cissy would be a good caretaker for the paintings and other special things. How would Harry Potter do this? Miss Cissy is with Mister Lucius. The blood traitors in this house hate them.”
Smiling bigger, Harry chuckled, “I can manage.” Leaning forward, lowering his voice, he said, softly, acting like it was a huge secret, “Lucius is Sirius' lover. And mine. He's been over here plenty of times. They just made sure that you didn't see him. The same with Narcissa. She's a very nice lady, Kreacher. The both of them even gave me some wonderful birthday presents. We have a way to get them to her, I swear.” Stopping, he waited.
Eyes wide, Kreacher stared at Harry Potter then lifted his eyes to his master. Seeing Master Sirius grin and nod, Kreacher then focused on Harry Potter. “Harry Potter will make sure Miss Cissy gets the paintings and tapestry? Along with special treasures? He promises Kreacher?”
“I swear,” Harry assured him firmly. “We have a way to do that. When all this is over, I'll show you how.”
Glancing between Harry Potter and his hated master, Kreacher thought it over then gave a brief nod. “What does Harry Potter want to know?”

Leading Arthur, Moody, Bill and Albus into the parlor, Severus glanced at where Harry was seated on the floor in front of the elf. Black was beside him, crouched down. Looking at Lupin, he waited.
Casting a muffling charm, one that allowed them to hear what was said by the trio across the room but they couldn't hear them so Kreacher wouldn't be so wary of the ones that came in, Remus began to explain. “Harry has actually gotten quite a lot of information from Kreacher. And Sirius cut a deal with the elf. Though Sirius is still his master, so Kreacher serves the House of Black, he's bound to Harry as his personal elf. That's helped tremendously. In doing that, Kreacher is more than willing to answer any questions Harry has. There is one caveat in this, though.” Seeing nods, he told them, “Kreacher wants to be able to destroy the locket if at all possible. Or to be there when it's done. That was the promise he made to Regulus.”
“I believe we can do that,” Albus told him firmly with a nod. “Does he have any information on just what it is? We've seen the readings, of course, but those don't give us a hint. Some read like a curse and others don't.”
“That he hasn't been able to help with,” Remus sighed. “He doesn't know either. And even his magic hasn't been able to destroy it. However, what he has given Harry shores up what we thought; that this has something to do with a piece of You-Know-Who.” Quickly, he gave a rundown of what Kreacher told them about Regulus, the cave, all of it. When he finished, he said, “That's all he knows. Harry's trying to get more out of him, but we don't think what else he might know will be of any help.”
Arms folded over his chest, looking at where Potter was seated, Moody gave a slow nod. “It'll help trace something with this. At least it's a start. The elf couldn't open it either? Only Harry?” He finally asked, eyes lifting to where the locket was suspended.
“Kreacher couldn't get it open. We tried everything we knew and couldn't manage either. Only Harry could get it opened,” Remus affirmed with a nod.
“Bill? Can you check it for curses? I wouldn't touch it, of course, but we need to make certain it doesn't have any on it,” Albus said, eyes drifting from the locket to Harry.
“I will,” Bill told him with a firm nod, pulling his wand and stepping over to the locket.
Motioning the others to follow, Albus stepped closer to Harry and Sirius. Seeing Harry give him a malevolent look, he gave an internal sigh. He then motioned Sirius closer. When the man stood and joined them, he asked, “Can you get Harry to see if Kreacher could make a map of where this cave is? I don't think exploring it will help us, especially if it's infested with Inferi, but we might be able to put some clues together as to why that cave and how it relates. I doubt it was picked at random to store something like this object.”
“Will do,” Sirius assured him nodding, then going back over and crouching down. Relaying that to Harry, he had his godson work with Kreacher.
Listening in as Harry talked to the elf, watching the creature reach out here and there to touch the scar on Harry's forehead, Arthur asked, “Is anyone besides me getting a creepy feeling from that locket?”
“All of us,” Severus snorted, shaking his head, keeping a close eye on Harry, pleased with this. He also needs fully filled in as he doubted Lupin told the old man everything. “It's nothing compared to what happens when it's opened.”
“Did you try to destroy it when it was open?” Moody asked, taking a sip from his flask.
“No,” Remus sighed. “We didn't even try. What it set off—you don't want to know. It even did in Kreacher. And the feelings you're getting now magnify when it's opened. Which means you have to be cautious.”
“We'll find some way to get rid of it,” Albus assured him, watching as the elf quickly drew a map. This was good. Though he was already damned sure what this object was, the information he could get would only help.

Seated on the bed, holding Harry close, Sirius quickly ran Lucius and Cissy through what they dealt with when it came to the locket. The others had left and Snape had gone with them to help. Snape managed to relay to get with Lucius and explain then to tell the man he would be over there with all the readings when he could manage. And he needed Cissy for something, so they got hold of them quickly.
When he finished, he said, “Snape is coming to see you when he's done with the old man to give you everything he can on this. Maybe you know or can find something we can't. Kreacher gave us everything he could, which is good. And we know the old man won't give up everything he knows.”

“I'll do what I can,” Lucius told him firmly, a determined look on his face. “That locket has to relate to this nightmare in some way.”
“That's what we all think as well.” Sirius affirmed.
Looking between everyone, Narcissa took in what was said. This wasn't her area to deal with as her husband knew more about it than she did, so she didn't know how any of this related to her. Quietly, she asked, “What did you need me for, Sirius? I'm not going to be any help with this mess.”
“It's something Harry promised Kreacher to get his help,” Sirius told her. Looking at his godson, he said, “Can you call him so you can work with that end?”
Nodding, Harry called for the elf. When Kreacher popped in, Harry grinned at him then gestured to the mirror, “See? I told you we get along fine.”
Eyes wide as he looked at the mirror, Kreacher then bowed to Miss Cissy and Mister Lucius. “Harry Potter told the truth,” he said in an awed voice when he was finished.
“I did.” Harry assured him with a smile. Looking at the mirror, Harry asked Narcissa, “You'll take the paintings and tapestry, won't you, Narcissa? And any of the other special things Kreacher knows mean something?”
Now understanding, Narcissa gave a firm nod. “Of course! I will treat them with the respect they deserve. Pass them to me the way you do when you send items to Lucius and I will take care of them.”
An almost happy look on his face, Kreacher bowed to the mirror. “Kreacher will make sure Miss Cissy gets the House of Black's special treasures.”
Face taking on a firm look, Narcissa told the elf, “I expect you to treat Harry with respect, Kreacher! You now serve him. He is your responsibility to care for. If I hear you aren't, when I come over next I will take up my displeasure over it with you.”
“Kreacher will be a good elf for Master Harry, yes he will!” The elf assured her firmly, looking determined. “He will make Miss Cissy proud of him.”
“Keep his and Sirius' secrets, Kreacher. Just like you would your Mistress and Regulus. They are your responsibility. You are protecting me and Lucius when you do that.” She told the elf firmly, staring hard at him.
“Kreacher will do that!” He told her, standing straight.
“I sent two elves to Sirius. They are from the House of Malfoy. Let them help you with the house and to clean it. They will listen to Sirius about what not to throw out. You worry about serving Harry and keeping him safe. You can help them when you can, but Harry needs you more. No fussing over it, Kreacher,” she said, eying the elf.
“Malfoy elves are good for the House of Black,” Kreacher assured her, pleased with this. If Miss Cissy liked Master Harry, that meant he was a good master.
“And you will help keep Lucius and I protected when we come to visit. That we need. We trust you to do that,” Narcissa told him, very happy with this. If Kreacher served Harry and was loyal to him, he wouldn't be an issue in so much.
“Kreacher will,” he assured her with a vigorous nod.
“Good! Now, clean yourself up and look respectable. Make sure you take good care of Harry. He is a very nice young man that you will like.” Narcissa told the elf with a small smile as she saw Harry give a sheepish grin.
“Kreacher will,” the elf assured her. Seeing her give a dismissive wave after that, the elf popped away.
“Thanks, Cissy,” Sirius told her with a smile. “We needed this to kick off the right way. It ends plenty of problems with him.”
“Very glad to help,” Narcissa told him with a smile, relaxing back in her chair. “He should be able to get the paintings and tapestry down for you. Just have Harry say something to him. And he is perfect to keep Albus away. Not to mention a way to get Lucius out of that house if there is a problem.”
“I didn't think of that, but you're right!” Sirius grinned. Then he added, “You were always the smart one. Good thinking, Cissy.”
Smiling bigger at the compliment, Narcissa began listening in as the men went back to the original topic. She might not be able to help, but the information was something she probably would need to know in the future, so it behooved her to pay attention.
- 26
- 27
- 28
You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.You need to be logged in to leave a review for this story.
Report Story

Preventative Measures