The front door slammed shut, and Mrs. Black's portrait immediately burst back to life.
"FILTHY CREATURES! LEAVE MY HOUSE AND RETURN MY ELF—"
"Shut up, you old hag," Ron muttered, struggling to pull the curtains over the portrait.
Harry moved into the living room and sat down.
The place had changed.
The worst of the creatures were gone, the filth mostly cleared, but dust had already begun creeping back, settling into corners as if the house refused to stay clean.
"Maybe she's right," Harry said quietly. "Kreacher could come back here. He could take care of the place."
"Oh, Harry," Hermione said, her eyes lighting up. "I'm sure that would make Kreacher very happy."
"I was joking," Harry replied sharply. "I'm not bringing him back here."
"No," Lupin said calmly, stepping forward. "Hermione's right. You should bring Kreacher to your side, Harry."
Harry glanced at Hermione. She looked hopeful.
Lupin was watching him as well, encouraging.
After a few seconds, Harry made his decision.
"KREACHER!"
With a sharp crack, the elf appeared.
"Master has called?" Kreacher croaked, bowing low.
"Yes," Harry said. "Where would you rather be? Here, or at Hogwarts?"
"Here," Kreacher said eagerly. "But Kreacher goes where Master orders."
"You can stay here," Harry said, "but only if you clean the house and stop insulting people. Even when you think no one can hear you."
"Very well, Master," Kreacher replied, though he shot Hermione a look of clear disdain.
"And you do not leave the house," Harry added.
"Yes, Master."
"Good. Then start working."
Kreacher glanced around the room, then disappeared upstairs.
"I have to go," Lupin said from the doorway. "If you plan on leaving, Moody is here."
Moody stood near the window, his magical eye scanning constantly. After a moment, he turned and sat down beside the Black family tapestry.
Harry waited until Lupin was gone.
Then he spoke.
"Moody?"
"Mmm."
"Do you have a list of people who were killed on Voldemort's orders during the last war? Members of the Order, Ministry workers…"
Ron and Hermione exchanged a quick glance.
Moody didn't hesitate.
"Of course. I was an Auror back then."
"Could I have a copy?"
"I should have one upstairs."
Moody rose and disappeared up the stairs.
As soon as his footsteps faded, Hermione leaned closer.
"Do you think R.A.B. is on that list?"
"Maybe," Harry said, pulling the fake locket from his pocket.
"He said he faced death," Hermione added. "That means he knew he was in danger."
"Or he survived," Ron suggested. "Escaped You-Know-Who."
They fell silent as Moody returned.
"Here," he said, handing Harry an old, yellowed parchment.
"Thanks."
Harry opened it.
Dozens of names filled the page, each followed by a date and the name of the killer.
Near the bottom, two names stood out immediately.
James Potter – October 31 – Lord VoldemortLily Potter – October 31 – Lord Voldemort
Harry felt something tighten in his chest, but he kept reading.
"These are all victims of Voldemort and the Death Eaters?" he asked.
"All of them," Moody replied. "Whether they fought him or not."
Harry continued scanning the list.
Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Ron and Hermione trying not to look too interested.
"If you tell me what you're looking for, I might help," Moody said.
"I'm not looking for anything specific," Harry replied, though it sounded weak even to him.
Moody gave a faint, knowing smile.
"I'll be upstairs," he said. "Call if you need me."
The moment he left, Ron and Hermione leaned in.
Half an hour later, they had gone through every name.
Nothing.
No one with the initials R.A.B.
When they returned to the living room, Moody glanced at them.
"Well?"
"No," Harry said.
"What happened to your man?"
"He knew he was in danger during the first war," Harry said, abandoning caution.
"In that case," Moody said, "he could've been a Death Eater. Some of them were killed by Voldemort… others by their own."
He paused.
"Like Sirius's brother. Regulus."
Harry froze.
It hit him like lightning.
He rushed toward the Black family tapestry.
At the bottom, he found the name.
Regulus Black.
"That's him," Harry said, his voice rising. "What was his full name?"
"Regulus Alphard Black," Moody replied. "I remember him. I was supposed to track him down, but the Death Eaters got to him first."
"It was right in front of us," Hermione whispered.
Ron suddenly turned and rushed toward one of the glass cabinets.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"When we cleaned this place two years ago," Ron said quickly, "remember?"
"Yes," Harry and Hermione replied together.
"There was a heavy locket. We couldn't open it."
Harry and Hermione moved immediately, searching through the cabinets.
Moody watched them carefully.
"You're looking for a locket?" he asked.
Harry turned sharply.
"Don't tell anyone. No one can know."
"I won't," Moody said simply.
They searched.
Minutes turned into an hour.
Nothing.
"It's gone," Ron said. "But I know we didn't throw it away."
"There are other things missing too," Harry said slowly. "Valuable things."
Ron looked at him.
"You're thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Mundungus," Harry said.