Protecting Harry

An elf. A fucking elf. Where did the blasted creature come from?

Sirius could remember the tremor in his godson's voice when he told him:

- An elf named Dobby ... he was so scared, Uncle Padfoot. He did not want me to go to Hogwarts because of a plot. I don't know. He was so mental, it seemed hard to believe, but he was really scared.
The blasted creature appeared in the backyard at night, while Harry sneaked unnoticed to fly ... The damn kid was just like his father, crazy about Quidditch. And on the slimmest of opportunities, danger followed the kid.

Sirius had promised not to tell Prongs about it. What a fucking nightmare! He hated to keep secrets from his brother, but he and Lily had so much on their plates, just with general worry for their firstborn and baby Mia.

No, this had to be Sirius's task. And he knew who he should ask for help.

The path to the prison was narrow and wet, with a strong stench of rotted fish. The gloomy grey sky looked upon the poor souls who went on a visit; Sirius knew by memory now the faces, which were the same every time, as was their contempt by seeing him. The rogue Black, the blood traitor, an ungrateful son and heir. Fuck them! As he could not start punching through the big prejudiced swots, Sirius held his fists on the pockets of his leather jacket and kept his head raised high, looking only to the front. He might have to hold his will to teach them a lesson, but he would never, never again let the bigots belittle him.

Finally, in the dark room, sitting at a round table with uncomfortable benches, he waited until he and the other prisoners came to the room.

Arriving with his hands and feet chained, as always, his brother sat in front of him. Only nodding, sometimes that was the only thing they did. Sirius never knew what to say, and how to say. Sometimes he traced the new scars, the traces of starvation, and just started raging and demanding to speak with the Aurors in charge until his brother finally spoke and asked him to calm down. Other times, he gave Regulus some letters and postcards from Andromeda, or Lily, who was still grateful. There was not much more than that. But today it had to be different.

Sirius cleared his throat, which prompted Regulus to look up and wait for him to speak.

- An elf named Dobby came to Harry. He spoke of a plot to happen this year at Hogwarts. Said that he works for an evil family, who exploits dark magic. Do you know anything about it?

Regulus raised an eyebrow; the gesture might have produced other effects a few years ago, perhaps a show of arrogance, but it was impossible to read arrogance on such a broken face. The effect now of this was only accentuate how fucking destroyed he was.

- You, better than anybody should know how dark families keep using their elves to do their dirty antics, brother. - rasped Regulus - It fails me to understand what you are specifically asking.

- I want to know if you know of any plot that could affect my godson and if you know this elf, Dobby, and who he works for. - whispered Sirius furiously.

- Plots are easily made, reformulated, abandoned, and enacted ... And, when it is related to the Potter boy, I would say many spend their time working on it - said Regulus, while his hollow eyes rounded the room until he fixed Sirius again - But I do not know of any plot made before I was arrested that could be on the current works. Nor do I know any elf named Dobby, but again, what attention did we give to the elves that served other families? Some wizards don't even acknowledge their elves.

Alright, that subject again. Not the fucking time, Regulus, thought Sirius.

- Should I be worried? - spat Sirius - I mean, what kind of elf endangers himself to help a child against his masters, or might that be part of the ruse?

Regulus gave a shallow chuckle and answered:

- You are always determined to see the evil in elves? That would be prejudice, brother.

- Oh, spare me your jokes, Regulus.

- I am sorry, as you may see, I don't have many opportunities to stand on a moral high ground. - Regulus seemed to be enjoying some twisted joke, glancing from the room before sobering up and looking again to Sirius - You should always be worried, you know that some of the Death Eaters are in freedom. Some of them might even have access to dangerous tools. Tools that could be used to bring the Dark Lord back... They won't hold for long, Sirius. Each year that passes, Harry Potter grows and becomes a stronger threat. The only threat that could defeat him.

- Are you talking about the ... you know, those blasted things Voldemort created to keep him alive? Who can have access to that? - pressed Sirius.

- They were many of the Death Eaters who were dumber than bells. Only muscle strength or frankly, just shields in a fight and gold coin purses. But only a few of us were truly trusted ... but we had to swear secrecy. - Regulus gave him a yellow smile - You see, we Death Eaters do not trust or particularly care for many others. After all, our main goal was to protect him and love him above all - Now, Regulus seemed positively green - Whoever it is, they will fight you for death.

- Good - chuckled Sirius - I am feeling a certain fatal rage. And I am why anxious to get it out. Any suggestions for targets?

- Besides Bella, who is being watched for every breath she takes, only two people come to mind... Lucius and Snape. And, as I knew, the last did not have an elf... Whereas, the Malfoy, had an army of elves to support the luxurious lifestyle they liked to flaunt ...

- Should I visit our darling cousin?

- No. You know that you cannot get anything from her unless you only want an opportunity to draw blood. And, even with all of our family history, would you be able to look yourself in the mirror if you hurt her? Or Andromeda? - asked Regulus, looking him straight in the eyes. A rarity.

Sirius huffed and turned his head to the ceiling. Again, what a fucking nightmare.

- Don't waste time, brother. Hold your strength and use it wisely. And choose your allies; don't hold on to prejudices. You should know how to get intel on elves...

- Oh, fucking Merlin ... don't even say it!

- It is the only way. If you ...

The sound charm ringed, and they knew that their time was up.

Regulus sighed and told him:
- Get on with it, Sirius.

- Alright, alright... it is infuriating, thought ... - he stopped short when the Auror came to open the door and signed him to get out.

He looked once more to his brother and said:
- Goodbye, Regulus.

- Goodbye, Sirius. Please, give my regards to Kreacher. And be kind.

Again ... What a Fucking Nightmare!