Sirius was about to throw Kreacher out of the window. Every time he was alone with Remus and he thought ‘this is it, I’m going to tell him how I feel’, Kreacher would appear, sneering at him. Every time. All nine of them.
“Moony, is there any way to free a house elf that won’t accept clothing?” He slumped into the armchair opposite Remus, who set down his book and looked at him curiously over his reading glasses.
“Murder?” Sirius spluttered, “Legally? I’m not sure. Harry said he tricked the Malfoys' House Elf into being free. Maybe you could try that.”
“I have handed that little dickhead so many clothes. I’ve asked him to leave, and told him to leave. What’s the point of the gross dynamic he insists on if he won’t even do what I tell him? Even if I trick him, he won’t leave.”
“Ok, so what if we leave? I still have the cottage in Cornwall. It’s small, and it’s not,” He waved a hand at the room, “this, but… you wouldn’t have to put up with Kreacher skulking around. Or that fucking portrait.” Remus shuddered, “You know she called me a treacherous mongrel earlier and my first thought was ‘wow, that was mild’.”
Sirius frowned. Since he’d been pardoned a few months prior, he’d only thought about his future. He’d thought about how Remus fit into that, but, as it turned out, he hadn’t been thinking about Remus and how it must be for him living in Grimmauld Place with Kreacher and Walburga and fittings that changed back to silver eventually, no matter how many spells they tried.
“You think anyone would want to buy this place?” He mused. “Maybe I should just burn it to the ground.”
“See if Kingsley wants it for training curse breakers?” Remus looked down at his book. “Anyone who can silence your mother has truly earned the title.”
“You really wouldn’t mind me living with you, permanently?” He stared into the fireplace.
“No, I’d love it, actually.” Remus smiled at him, “Maybe without Kreacher interrupting you can get around to telling me whatever it is you’ve been trying to tell me for weeks now.”
The smile teasing the corners of Remus’ mouth told him that Remus already knew.