Never Return

When Bernard woke up, the first thing he wanted to do was to skip breakfast and go straight to curse-breaking, but Kreacher made breakfast for him and Bernard didn't want to refuse a nice breakfast from Kreacher, so he ended up eating it. Kreacher made him pancakes with bacon, and eggs. It was a hearty breakfast. When Bernard was done, he filled a few bottles of water, just in case if the potion gets too much for him. Bernard wasn't sure what would happened, but he wanted to be prepared. As soon as Bernard got everything he needed, he walked over to Kreacher, who was finishing washing the dishes.

"Okay, Kreacher," Bernard said. "Take me to the cave."

Kreacher nodded. "Yes, Mister Bernard."

Then Kreacher apparated him to the cave. It only took seconds for Bernard to be at his destination. The cave was next to the seashore. Bernard took out his wand and muttered some spells. Right away he detected that the cave was heavily guarded as well and had protection charms. Bernard remembered from what Kreacher told him, blood was the only way to get inside.

"Does Mister Bernard need to use Kreacher's blood?" Kreacher asked.

Bernard shook his head. "No, I'm going to use my own. Kreacher you stay here and keep watch."

"Yes, Mister Bernard."

Then Bernard use his wand to draw blood on his arm. He winced as he let the blood dropped on the outside cavern rocks. With that, Bernard stepped inside the cave. He didn't felt anything that would harm him. There was a lake in front of him and across from him was a small pillar-like stand with a bowl on top.

"Lumos," Bernard whispered.

As his wand lit up, he could see an outline of an invisible boat. The same one that Kreacher said. With a deep breath, Bernard hesitantly stepped onto the boat. He could feel the boat automatically drifted itself to the other side of the lake. Bernard remembered the plan he made for himself...or t least follow the rules of this cave. Drink the potion, get the fake locket, drink water he brought with him, don't drink the water from this very lake, and go back. Even though it sounded so simple, but Bernard knew it wasn't. This was the wizarding world after all. A simple plan may turned out to be complicated.

When Bernard got to the other side, he stepped out of the boat. He walked over to the stand and saw the Emerald Potion. Like it's name, it was like the other of emerald gems. It almost reminded him of Aunt Lily's eyes. With a deep breath, Bernard took a scup from the side and dipped it. The potion went into the shell as Bernard brought it up to him. Out of all the insane things Bernard has done in his life as a curse-breaker, this was one of them.

With a deep breath, Bernard drank the potion. As he swallowed it, the potion burned in his throat to his stomach. Slowly, the pain ached inside his stomach. Bernard drank the second time and this time more pain burned inside of him. Slowly, he was starting to see his worst and fearful memories. His throat was becoming dry and he was getting thirsty. Shaking his head, Bernard drank again and again. Bernard coughed and fell onto his knees, clenching the dirt underneath him.

The memories kept popping up. The memories of when he and other people were kidnapped because of a cult. Bernard used to be the victim of the Children of Dionysus at the time. Tim saved him before he was used as a sacrifice. It was the only time he felt fear because Bernard knew he could get out of the situation by apparating, but he didn't do that. At the time...he was scared and there was the Statue of Secrecy too. He knew that if he exposed himself as a wizard...he would be in trouble with the wizarding law. Bernard didn't even had his wand on him at the time because he forgot he left it home. Also...he was even scared at the time of how if Tim him doing magic, Tim wouldn't accept him as a wizard. Funny how these memories was able to strike fear into Bernard than all of the adventures he got in school.

Bernard slapped himself, trying to erase those scary memories. As much as he hated remembering that time, but he knew he needed to keep drinking. Bernard pointed his wand at the cup.

"Aquamenti," he croaked.

Nothing.

No water appeared.

"Shit," Bernard cursed.

He should've known it wouldn't work, but Bernard did tried a spell. With a deep breath, Bernard slowly got up and drank again, again, and again. He didn't kept track how many times he did. Half of his mind was telling him to keep drinking it, while the other was making him remember his memories. The basin was now halfway gone. Bernard took out a water bottle and drank it. Eyes widened, he spat the water out. The water now tasted like it hadn't been cleaned. Almost like sewer water. Bernard felt like he wanted to throw up. He thought bringing his own water would work, but it seemed Voldemort thought of that ahead.

"Fuck," Bernard said. "Dammit."

Bernard stared at the water behind him. A part of him wanted to go over there and get a drink. Another part of him didn't wanted him to. Bernard tried to cleared his mind as he could, taking slow and deep breaths, but it wasn't working. The pain inside of him hurt and the memories of that day haunted him. Bernard drank again, but this time he almost spit it out. He swallowed it and groaned. He wasn't sure if he should keep doing this or not.

Just drink some water, a voice spoke in his mind, one drink of the water wouldn't hurt.

"Shut up," Bernard growled.

Bernard drank the potion. Tears filled in his eyes as it streamed down from his cheeks. The pain was building up even worst. His throat was so dry that his mind wanted him to drink the water behind him, but Bernard knew better. He didn't wanted to ended up like Uncle Regulus. He didn't want to die without the people knowing what happened to him. Most of all, he didn't want to leave the people he love behind.

Coughing, Bernard took out his water bottle. Despite it not being in good use, he opened it, and chugged it. He didn't care it tasted gross now. He needed something to drink. Once his throat wasn't as dry as it was before, he drank the potion. Bernard groaned as he drank the potion again and drank his water bottle. He kept drinking from his water bottle after he drank the potion. Each time he drank from bringing his own source of water, he felt like he was going to be sick.

As Bernard kept drinking the potion, he could see a speck of gold. Eyes widened and a weak smile grew across his face. The fake locket. He was almost there. Bernard tried to remember why he was in this cave and why he was doing this. It was for Kreacher, so that way he would have something to remember Regulus. Yes, Bernard was in extreme pain, but Bernard knew he couldn't let Kreacher down. He couldn't let any of his love ones down. He wasn't that kind of person to give up that easily.

Bernard kept drinking and drinking. No matter how much pain he was in and how many horrible memories he was experiencing, he kept on drinking. When Bernard drank the last drop of the potion, he stared down at the basin. A golden locket was there. Smiling weakly, Bernard took the locket and shoved it into the pockets of his robe. As Bernard took a step, he fell onto his knees and collapsed on his side. Groaning, Bernard took out his last water bottle and drank it. Water dripped from his mouth. His body was telling him to stop drinking it, but his mind was telling him to keep drinking it. With a deep breath, Bernard slowly got up as he hesitantly crawled over to the invisible boat. When he got there, he stopped and stared at the water.

Drink it, another voice told him, Drink it. Aren't you thirsty?

"I am," Bernard whispered.

Bernard let go of the boat and crawled over to the water. He licked his dry lips and smack his mouth. He could feel how dry his whole mouth was, even his throat. It was like he was out in a desert for years. Water! He needed water. Then Bernard reached out to the water. As his fingertips almost touch the water, Bernard let out a scream.

STAB!

Wincing, Bernard stabbed himself in the arm with a knife. The knife was handmade and it had a red hilt. On the hilt were the letters R.R. It was the knife Tim gave him after he told him that he was a wizard. Bernard winced, shaking his head and took out the knife as blood dripped from his fingertips. He couldn't believed he almost did it. He almost touched the water. Bernard didn't want to imagine what would happen if he did touch the water. From what Kreacher told him, he would ended up like Uncle Regulus.

You're better than this Dowd, Bernard thought to himself, Get a hold of yourself! Bernard quickly scrambled away from the water and climbed into the boat. He collapsed on his side and hugged his knees as tears kept streaming out of his eyes. He could feel the boat moving. The pain was unbearable, but he was glad that he going back out of this stupid cave.

"Tim is going to kill me when I tell him this," Bernard chuckled to himself.

Of course Tim will kill him. Bernard always told Tim about his curse-breaking adventures and whenever there is a life or death situation, Tim will be upset that Bernard put himself in that situation. However, most of the time, trouble finds him.

When the boat got out of the cave, Bernard tried to stand up. He wobbled a bit as he got out of the boat. Kreacher looked at him with wide eyes. As Bernard's feet touch the ground, he fell onto his knees, breathing heavily.

"Mister Bernard!" Kreacher exclaimed. "Is Mister Bernard okay?"

Bernard didn't say anything, instead he pulled out the fake locket. "I got Uncle Regulus's locket, Kreacher. It's yours now."

Bernard handed the fake locket to the house elf and gave him a warm smile. Kreacher took the locket and held it with admiration. Before Bernard could do and say anything else, his vision blurred as everything turned black.

"Mister Bernard!"

~OoO~

The only thing Bernard heard was the sound of a ticking clock. Bernard's eyes fluttered opened. He was in a room. A room he wasn't familiar with. It was a plain and simple room. There were tons of bookshelves, there was a broom hanged on the wall, some Qudditch posters, and a Slytherin banner. Bernard turned to the nightstand. There was a photo of Uncle Sirius, Uncle Regulus, and their parents. Bernard was sure he was in Uncle Regulus's room...but why? Groaning, Bernard sat up and rubbed his eyes. He noticed his arm was wrapped in bandages. The only thing he remembered was passing out and...Kreacher calling out for him...? Bernard looked at the time. It was six in the evening. That meant he was out for at least around nine hours.

"Mister Bernard!" a voice called.

Bernard turned and saw Kreacher hurrying over to him with a tray of soup. He was wearing the fake locket. Blinking a few times, Bernard stared at the house elf. Despite his old age, Kreacher was racing over to him like no tomorrow. Kreacher set the tray of soup on his lap. The soup looked hearty with full of meat, carrots, peas, leeks, and onions.

"Kreacher, made Scotch Broth," the house elf explained. "Kreacher remembered Mister Bernard like Scotch Broth."

Bernard gaped at the house elf. "Um...thank you, Kreacher."

Bernard had no idea that Kreacher actually remembered the things he liked whenever he stayed at Grimmauld Place in the past. Kreacher stared at him, waiting for him to eat. Bernard really wanted the house elf to go, but he had a feeling that Kreacher would just spy on him to see if he did eat. Bernard, hesitantly took the spoon and ate the soup. Eyes widened, Bernard gasped at the burst of flavor. Without a word, Bernard ate the soup. It was like how he remembered. Bernard never realized he was really hungry. Once, Bernard was done, he gave Kreacher a warm smile.

"This was a delicious meal, Kreacher," Bernard said.

"Kreacher wanted to thank Mister Bernard," Kreacher looked at him. "So Kreacher made Mister Bernard Scotch Broth."

"That's very kind of you, but I think I should be the one thanking you." Bernard put a hand on the house elf's shoulder. "Thank you for taking care of me when I was out."

Kreacher nodded and smile. Bernard blinked. This was the first time he ever saw Kreacher smiling. Of all the times he encounter the house elf in the past, even when he got here for the first time in thirteen years, he never saw Kreacher smile.

"Kreacher did what he could," Kreacher said. "Kreacher also wanted to ask Mister Bernard something, if that's okay."

Bernard chuckled. "Sure, go ahead."

"Kreacher would like Mister Bernard to be his master," Kreacher said. "Kreacher would like to serve Mister Bernard until Kreacher's time is up."

Bernard froze. He stared at the house elf with wide eyes. Did he just heard that right? He waited to see Kreacher telling him it was a joke and how of a gullible filthy half-blood he was, but nothing. Kreacher stared at him with full determination. It was like as if Bernard refused, Kreacher would find other ways to make him serve him. In all of his life, Bernard never had an house elf asking to work for him. Bernard was taught to do things himself, even cooking and cleaning. Sure he use magic on the cleaning part, but cooking, he didn't mind. He actually liked cooking.

"Why?" Bernard asked. "Kreacher...I'm a half-blood and I'm dating a muggle. Kreacher, you know that through families with house elves, when the main head family dies, the house elf goes to the children. I know you don't like Uncle Sirius, but there is Andromeda Tonks, Narcissa Malfoy, and the Weasleys."

Bernard knew there was Bellatrix Lestrange, but from the stories Uncle Sirius told him...he was actually scared of her. Besides, Bernard knew who he was distantly related to. Had he met these people? He only met Andromeda once and that was it. He hadn't met the Weasleys, but he heard they're very nice.

"Kreacher knows," the house elf answered. "but Misses Charlotte Potter is cousins with Master Sirius. That makes Mister Bernard successor to the Black family fortune."

Rubbing his neck, Bernard sighed. Kreacher wasn't wrong. Arcturus Black had an affair with a pure-blood witch and his grandmother Dorea Black was born. Arcturus made up a lie that Dorea was given to him by a family member who was sent to Azkaban. However years later it came into light that Dorea was an illegitimate child, but at the time that came out Arcturus's wife passed away without knowing that her husband cheated on her. Grandma Dorea and Grandpa Charlus did had a first born son, but he died at a young age and years later they had his mother, Charlotte Potter. However, the thing is that Bernard is a black through blood and not by name. So unless Uncle Sirius passed his wealth to Bernard as his successor, then that would make Bernard the head of the Black family.

Bernard shrugged. "I guess so? We need to see Uncle Sirius before we make things official, Kreacher."

Bernard knew that Sirius would give him Kreacher in a heartbeat. There was no surprised to that and he was sure that Kreacher felt the same way about Uncle Sirius. However, through the laws of head families owning house elves, he will have to ask Uncle Sirius.

"Does Mister Bernard want Kreacher as his house elf?" Kreacher asked.

Pursing his lips, Bernard glanced to the side. From childhood, Bernard remembered clearly that he didn't like Kreacher, even when he was nice to him. When Bernard came back to Grimmauld Place thirteen years later, Kreacher ignored him and called him a filthy half-blood once. However, from the looks of it, after he got rid of the horcrux and got the fake locket, it seemed that Kreacher was being nice to him. Even when Bernard told him he's dating a no-maj, but the house elf didn't bat an eye. It was like as if Kreacher respected him for helping him get rid of the horcrux, getting the fake locket, and helping Uncle Regulus be at peace. If Kreacher really wanted Bernard to be his master, then Bernard will let him.

"I wouldn't mind if you become my house elf, Kreacher," Bernard finally answered. "but we will have to established some rules."

Kreacher nodded. "Kreacher will listen."

"Now you know I'm dating a muggle, you will be nice to him. Also you will be nice to my father and mother too."

"Kreacher understands. Does Kreacher has to be nice to Master Sirius?"

Bernard frowned. "Um...If you do see Uncle Sirius, just tolerate him. You don't need to talk to him unless I tell you."

As much as Bernard would like Kreacher and Sirius get along, but from past experience, he didn't want to risk that. Those two were like night and day. If there were in the same room, Bernard wouldn't be surprised if the two were trying to strangle each other. Besides, Bernard will make sure that these two wouldn't interact too much.

"Kreacher will do that." the house elf said. "Can Kreacher call Mister Bernard his master?"

Bernard smiled. "Go head."

Kreacher's eyes lit up. It seemed like Kreacher really wanted to serve him. Bernard never thought he will get himself a house elf, but he did. He knew that he would have to tell Tim eventually. It'll be hard to hide a house elf. Besides, Bernard could use some extra hands in the mansion whenever he's gone for his curse-breaking job.

"Would Master Bernard like some treacle tart?" Kreacher asked.

Bernard nodded. "Yeah, I'll like that, Kreacher. Thank you."

At once, Kreacher hurriedly ran out of the room. Bernard chuckled. Kreacher almost acted like he was a young elf again. Bernard winced a bit. He was still a bit sore from what happened at the cave, but he knew that tomorrow, he needed to continue his horcrux hunting. After all, anyone who messes and hurts Harry is an enemy.