Chapter 166
"You've improved again today," Pansy said with relief as she stared at the completely carbonized meat roll on her plate.
"Here, this is your reward."
She handed the plate to Kreacher. The house-elf took it silently and stared at the blackened food, swallowing hard.
Master Malfoy… please cut off Kreacher's head after he dies. This is Kreacher's final wish…
Just as he was about to eat it, Pansy snatched the plate back.
"What do you mean by accepting death so calmly? If you don't want it, then forget it!"
She threw the food into the trash.
"Continue," she ordered, glaring into his eyes.
---
From that day on, except for sleeping, Pansy spent nearly all her time in the basement kitchen practicing.
Meanwhile, Draco immersed himself in potion research and spell experimentation in his laboratory.
The days passed quietly.
Until the peace was broken.
---
While Pansy was concentrating on cooking, the sound of chains sliding echoed from the first floor—followed by Mrs. Black's shrill screaming.
"Miss Parkinson, please don't come out. Kreacher has detected intruders!"
With a crack, Kreacher Disapparated.
Moments later his furious voice echoed upstairs:
"The useless prodigal son has brought his brats to invade my new master's home! Smell it—the stench of mud!"
"I order you to stop using that filthy word!"
A clear male voice responded sharply.
At the entrance stood Sirius, tall and stern. Behind him were Harry, Ron, and Hermione, all staring at Kreacher with varying degrees of discomfort.
"Say that again!" Ron snapped, raising his wand.
"Ron!" Hermione pushed his arm down. "He doesn't know better."
"The master Kreacher serves is no longer Master Black!" Kreacher shrieked. "The traitor has no authority!"
---
"Quiet, Kreacher."
A calm voice came from the staircase.
Draco descended slowly, one hand on the railing.
"Please forgive my house-elf. He has lived alone here for nearly ten years. I haven't yet had time to correct his behavior."
He reached the bottom and faced Sirius directly, his expression polite and composed.
"Oh? Quite a crowd. Kreacher, go prepare refreshments. We mustn't appear inhospitable."
Ron noticed Kreacher silently mouthing insults as he left.
"No need," Sirius said shortly. "I'm only here to take a few things."
Draco gestured lightly.
"Please. Though I should mention—I've already thrown away some useless trash."
Sirius's fists tightened.
Draco smiled faintly.
"I'm joking. I've only been here a few days. Take whatever you need. After all—this was your house."
"For the first time," Ron muttered to Harry, "I think he's even more annoying than at school."
Harry nodded.
Hermione said nothing, though her breathing had quickened.
She hadn't expected to meet Draco here.
---
Hermione's summer had been carefully planned. She intended to study defensive magic on her own and address the growing injustices she saw around her—against Lupin, Hagrid, Filch… and now, house-elves.
But everything had changed when Sirius appeared at her home with Harry and Ron.
After the initial shock, her parents had accepted him—trusting their daughter's judgment.
Sirius wanted to thank her.
He also wanted to spend time with his godson and make up for lost years.
---
They had travelled together for several days.
In Hogsmeade, Sirius bought them gifts.
Ron had tried to refuse, though he couldn't stop looking at a sleek owl.
"This is compensation," Sirius insisted. "If I'd caught Pettigrew earlier, none of this would have happened."
When Hermione tried to refuse, he said quietly:
"If you won't accept it, I'll assume it isn't valuable enough."
That ended the argument.
For Harry, however, the greatest gift wasn't anything bought.
"I don't need anything else," he said. "I already got the best gift."
Family.
---
Now, back at Grimmauld Place, Sirius watched Draco from across the hall.
The atmosphere between them was tense and cold.
And the quiet days in the Black house were clearly over.