Sitting around the dinner table, Sirius stared at the elf serving his godson.
"Kreacher? What are you doing here?" The elf looked musty. Sirius honestly thought the thing had died and was disappointed to see he was still kicking. The elf always told his Mother when he was up to mischief and he would be sent to the basement. He gave a shiver. The basement was cold and grimy. He would have to sit in the dark and reflect on his actions. It was the reason he was afraid of the dark.
"Mistress ordered Kreacher to serve the next Heir" the old elf wheezed out.
"Mother did what? Harry, when did you meet Mother?" He barked out. His godson blinked at him before saying "I met granny when we were playing hide and seek."
"Harry, did you just call Aunt Walburga granny?" Cissy asked.
"Yes, that's what she told me to call her." He looked confused as he glanced around the table.
"Mistress has tasked Kreacher with protecting the Heir." Sirius stared at him. Kreacher was a nasty elf who only loved his Mother. Of course working for his Mother was the reason the elf was so off. He had never heard him sound so positive about something before. He hadn't even called Sirius a blood traitor yet! He watched Harry smile at the elf and was horrified to see Kreacher smile back.
"Thank you for getting my plate ready, Kreacher. It was very nice of you." Harry praised the old elf.
"Kreacher is happy to serve the young master" he said before popping away.
"Harry, I don't want you to see Kreacher. If you need a house elf, we will use one of the Malfoy's." Sirius said.
"I agree with Black, Harry. Kreacher is a little odd from living by himself for so long." Snape added. He was panicked to see his godson's eyes fill with tears "but Kreacher is lonely! Granny said he's been waiting for someone to help for years." Draco glared at him as consoled his poor fiancé. Sirius looked at Snape for help. The other man rolled his eyes before saying "How about this, Harry? Kreacher can help you but one of the Malfoy elves will as well." Harry agreed and they called Mimi. She had been Lucius's and Draco's nanny elf and she still watched over her boys. She was also wearing one of the Drarry pins. Once Cissy had explained what they meant, he was grudgingly impressed. Mimi agreed to watch over Harry and Kreacher.
"Sirius, are you coming to the Ministry tomorrow? There's a meeting to choose a new member for the school board but it's really just to gossip. I imagine you would want to be a member?" Sirius looked at him. There was no way the school board would let him join. He was an ex-convict, for Merlin's sake!
"All school board members can stop by Hogwarts at any time" Lucius said slyly.
"Where do I sign up?"
~~~~~~
Draco frowned as he stared at the house elf at the end of their bed. He hated to agree with Lord Black on anything but he thought Kreacher was creepy too.
"Kreacher doesn't think it's proper for his master and the Malfoy Heir to sleep together." Kreacher rasped.
"It's okay, Kreacher! Draco and I are getting married." Harry told the elf.
"Kreacher will listen to the little master." Draco watched in horror as the elf dragged a stool to Harry's side and sat down.
"Kreacher will now tell little master and consort a story." Draco wished he wouldn't. Every time the elf talked, he swore he could hear his chest rattle. He looked at Harry from the corner of his eye and saw that he was listening attentively to whatever Kreacher was going on about.
"And then the good elf got their head mounted on the wall. The end." Kreacher looked wistful for a moment and muttered "Kreacher can't wait to have his head mounted" before he disappeared.
"Harry, I absolutely adore you but Kreacher is going to give me nightmares!" Harry giggled before saying "I think he's kind of cute but I will tell him we don't need any bedtime stories."
"Thank you darling."
The next morning, he dragged himself to breakfast.
His Father and Lord Black were already there.
"Little Malfoy, you look awful." Lord Black commented. Glaring at the man, he replied "Harry's weird elf read us a bedtime story and I couldn't sleep." Lord Black stared at him before whispering "was it about elf heads?" They both shivered and Draco said "you too?" Lord Black nodded "Kreacher used to tell me the same one." He learned over and patted his back. "I could obliviate you?" He offered. "That's not necessary but thank you."
Kreacher would never know but he would be the bonding experience Draco and Sirius needed to get over their rivalry.
"Father, I see you managed to grow your eyebrows back in time for the school board meeting." Lucius raised his fresh brows and replied "of course, son. I couldn't have anyone commenting that I was growing senile." The door swung open to reveal a yawning Harry. He made his way to Draco and sat down.
"You've been waking up later than normal, Harry. Good for you for finally getting some rest!" Father said as he patted his head. Harry blinked sleepily at him and said "I can't believe I'm sleeping in so late! By this time, I would have already made breakfast and weeded half the garden!" He watched as Lord Black and Father shared a look before saying "you can sleep as late as you want, Harry." Draco agreed with them. Harry was a growing boy.
"Alright boys, your mother is still sleeping so you be good until she wakes up. Sirius and I need to go to our meeting and we'll be back around lunch." They waved goodbye as the older wizards left.
"I had the oddest dream about dancing elf heads, Draco!" Draco felt himself pale and thought maybe he should let Lord Black obliviate him.
~~~~~~
Lucius loved school board meetings. They met at the Ministry once a month. He had loved Hogwarts and he wanted to help make changes to the magical school. Of course that was easier said than done. Dumbledore loved to block half the bills he tried to pass and the other members eating out of his hand blocked the other half. Hopefully with Sirius on the board he could actually get some things changed!
"Are you ready?" Sirius was pulling at the ends of his sleeves. His face smoothed out into a perfect pureblood mask before he said "I was born ready, love." Entering the room he immediately noticed Mr. McLaggen chatting to the other members. He had thought that McLaggen Sr. would have resigned after Harry destroyed his pride in two short weeks. He still couldn't believe his sweet Hufflepuff son had done that.
"If everyone would gather around, Lucius has a potential member he wants to introduce." Bathilda Bagshot called out. She had been the head of the council since Lucius was in school. The old battle ax was never going to resign. He stepped forward and said "I vote to let Lord Black join the council. I think he would make an excellent addition." Amelia Bones spoke up "and why should we let a former Azkaban inmate on the council?" Sirius stepped forward and said "as you know Amelia, I was wrongfully imprisoned. Perhaps if the Auror's had done their jobs, I would have been proven innocent to begin with" and watched the Head of the Auror Department flinch. Dirk Cressell spoke out "why do you want to be on the board, Lord Black?"
"As many of you know, I went to Hogwarts and I loved every minute of it," he gave a boyish grin before continuing "I would love to give back to the school that gave so much to me." He could see some of the members nodding their heads. "Should we vote?"
"All in agreement, raise your hand!" Bathilda said. He watched in satisfaction as everyone but Emmeline Vance raised their hand. She was firmly in Dumbledore's pocket so he wasn't surprised.
"Welcome Lord Black to the school board!"
After a rather boring meeting, they left the room and went into the elevator. Mr. McLaggen caught up to them right before the doors shut. The man was whistling. How annoying. He thought his child could hurt his son and get away with it? Of course, Harry's revenge had been absolutely adorable. He was so proud of his boy. Looking at Sirius, he leaned over and stopped the elevator. McLaggen Sr. looked at him before saying "is everything alright, Lord Malfoy?"
"I just wanted to speak to you about what your son did to my darling boy." The other man gave a snort and said "what my son did? That Potter brat broke my boy's arm and then had the gall to blackmail us for some letter? Perhaps you should tell Potter to stay out of adult business." Sirius had a retraining hand on his shoulder.
"So it's going to be like that," he said softly "you work in the Ministry correct?"
"Yes?" The man replied confused.
"Did you know that the minister and I happened to be good friends? It would be a shame if I told him that you were mouthing off about the Ministry hmm? Or perhaps I could tell him that you stole important documents? The reason doesn't really matter," looking at Sirius he said "Azkaban is nice this time of year isn't it?" He watched Sirius give a feral smile and say "oh yes. Winter is the breeding season for dementors. Sometimes it gets so cold, your toes fall off!" By this point, McLaggen was slightly green.
"Please forgive my words, my Lords. They were ignorant and abrasive."
"Yes, I understand" Lucius said with a icy smile. He restarted the elevator and the other man got off as quickly as he could. Watching him go, he commented to Sirius "oh no, I forgot to tell him that I had Harry sell those loans to me. Unfortunately in this economy, I had to raise the interest 20%. What a shame" Sirius stared at him before laughing out loud. Lucius just gave him an innocent smile. No one messed with his family and got away with it.
Walking through the entrance of the Ministry, he saw a man carrying a stack of paperwork. Making a split second decision, he called out "hello Arthur!" The head of the Weasley family looked at him warily.
"Hello Lucius. Oh hello Sirius! How are you doing?" Arthur asked the other man, looking him over.
"I'm doing well, thank you Arthur!" Lucius cleared his throat and said "I want to thank you on behalf of my sons. They both loved the sweaters your wife knitted them. Narcissa thought it was a shame she wasn't gifted enough to knit." Arthur didn't look convinced but said "if she's interested, I'm sure Molly wouldn't mind teaching her. She taught the Diggory boy down the road."
"How wonderful! I don't know if your son said anything but Draco wanted to get together before the winter break ended. Perhaps Ron could come to the manor?" Arthur looked befuddled as he muttered something about asking his wife and excused himself.
"Lucius, you know Arthur doesn't like you right?" Sirius felt obligated to ask.
"For now, my friend. I'll win him over soon enough. Imagine Dumbledore's face when he finds out I stole one of his loyal lap dogs." He replied with a smug grin.
~~~~~~
Ron ran down the stairs. Draco had sent him a letter inviting him to his house for an emergency meeting! He couldn't wait. The last meeting had been a hit. Ron found out that he had a talent in sewing. He was currently working on making ties for Draco's peacocks. It was a little tricky but he was determined to help his new friend. The twins were at the table whispering between themselves as his parents did the same.
"Mum! Draco invited me over tomorrow. Can I go?"
"Oi! Why'd Malfoy invite you? We were the ones who told him his wife was in trouble." Fred said.
He gave him a satisfied look and said "can't tell you, it's a secret." The twins hated secrets. Probably because they had so many. The twins shared a look and they launched themselves over the table. They grabbed his arms and held him down.
"Let me go!" He yelled.
"Not until you tell us why Malfoy invited you over!"
"I'll never tell!" Ron wasn't going to betray the club's trust. Herm took her position as Vice-President very seriously and she told the boys that she would have them "swim with the fishes" whatever that meant. Ron wasn't afraid of fish but he wasn't going to tell her that.
"Herm will literally murder me! I'm pretty sure she was the one who told Draco to use Dobby as an assassin!" As soon as he mentioned Herm, the twins got off him.
"Well I guess if Herm thinks so-" George started.
"Then we won't ask again." Fred finished as they got off him. Ron knew it! The twins were just as afraid of Herm as he was!
"Boys! Stop fighting!" His mum snapped. Ron thought it was kind of late for that but didn't say anything.
"Now what were you saying, Ronnie?" His mum never seemed to hear him. He knew the twins and Percy dealt with the same problem.
"Draco invited me over tomorrow, can I go?" He repeated.
"No." His dad intervened. He turned to stare at him. His dad never intervened.
"What? Why not?"
"Because Malfoy is up to something and I won't have you involved." That made no sense! He wasn't going there to see Mr. Malfoy. By this point, Percy had joined them at the table.
"Oh Ron! You're going to the Malfoy's? Is Herm going to be there? Will you pass along my letter? I had a thought that I just had to share!" Percy tended to go on tangents but he finally found someone who could keep up!
"Ron is not going to the Malfoy's." Their dad repeated.
"Why not dad? Herm said they called an emergency meeting?" Percy asked, his brows pushed together.
"Herm told you that?"
"She just mentioned that she was going to Malfoy Manor and to pass my letter to you so Errol had a break." Percy rolled his eyes. Ron gave a sigh of relief. He would hate to tell Draco that Herm had broken his trust and blabbed about the club.
"Dad, I finally have friends! Please can I go? Neville is going!" His mum put a hand on his dad's shoulder and said "let him go, dear." His dad sighed before agreeing reluctantly. Ron gave a whoop and ran upstairs to tell Draco. He couldn't wait for the second meeting of the Harry Fan Club!