Vincent Crabbe and Gregory Goyle were simple, down to earth boys. They were boys, much like their fathers of few words, this in turn led people to believe they were stupid. They were not, they knew much of the land and of things of the land, their fathers worked hard, Vance Crabbe raised sheep that produced wool for most of the robes and clothing worn in magical Britain by the average witch or wizard. He was one of many wizards who raised sheep, in fact Gregory Goyle Sr. was another wizard who worked with him. This meant that they, like their sons were knowledgeable in all things that were sheep and knew the land well and they were of good strong peasant stock as it were as were their sons.
Unlike many pureblood families the Crabbe's and Goyles were not inbreed, in fact the fathers had gone to the continent to find wives, Crabbe had found a strong sweet woman from Russia and Goyle had found his wife in Ukraine. The witches had been more than happy to escape the drab world that was their lot and settle in a freer society in England. They helped raise several fine children and their oldest were now at Hogwarts and were cunning and crafty as their fathers had been in school. They were strong in magic and knew much about the ways of animals but of the complexity that made up much of the higher strands of human life they were not too stupid to learn of it, they just did not act as if they cared or could.
This was why no-one suspected the two sturdy lads as they passed another boy equally above suspicion, one Blaise Zabini. He was a tall handsome boy with black skin and slanting brown eyes, his father was a Moor from Italy, he had married Blaise's mother who had Blaise and a few years later Mr. Zabini had died. Blaise was believed to have no since of humor and it was believed the quiet youth was above a prank. Yet that is just what he was doing, he took the item slipped to him and walked to the library where he acted as if he was looking up something. He saw Fred and George and very nearly smiled, this prank would make inter house cooperation tolerable he supposed.
"Here," He said sliding the object over to the twins on a shelf. "use it well."
"Oh we shall, shall we ask who made these?" Fred asked.
"We need to thank them." George replied.
"A raven is all you need to know." Blaise said, "I promised not to tell, in case you are caught."
A few days later the prank unfolded and as planned Crabbe and Goyle were the first "victims". As the students sat down for dinner Crabbe stood up just as music came on. To the tune played he started to sing "Mac the Knife" and sang it rather well. The next "victim" was Crabbe and he stood up and took over where Goyle left off. While this was going on Sirius had a package he was to deliver to Remus but Remus had been too busy all day. He decided to give it to him at dinner. His plan would have been perfect accept he walked into the great hall just as Harry got up as the latest "victim" of the prank and started to sing.
Sirius stopped dead in his tracks, eyes widened and Remus smirked, oh he had nothing to do with this prank but he knew Sirius's little weakness. He loved the song "Mac the Knife" so much so he heard it sung he had to sing along, it had been amusing to catch him unawares with the tune as one, Sirius could sing and two it was funny to see him unable to resist. Remus might have let slip that Sirius loved this song and to sing it but he did not think there would be inter house cooperation on this level to pull off this prank! He was sure there was a charm or maybe a stone that helped the students learn the lines and only a few were given them. Sirius could not help himself and so, in the middle of the great hall, in front of so many students and staff he busted out into song:
Oh, the shark, babe, has such teeth, dear
And it shows them pearly white
Just a jackknife has old MacHeath, babe
And he keeps it … ah … out of sight.
Ya know when that shark bites, with his teeth, babe
Scarlet billows start to spread
Fancy gloves, though, wears old MacHeath, babe
So there's nevah, nevah a trace of red.
Now on the sidewalk … uuh, huh … whoo … sunny mornin' … uuh, huh
Lies a body just oozin' life … eeek!
And someone's sneakin' 'round the corner
Could that someone be Mack the Knife?
Sirius really got into the song and there were two professors that sat doing their best to not laugh or even smile. Severus forced himself to scowl and McGonagall pressed her lips into a thin line watching Sirius make a fool of himself. What was even better was the fact that Hermione had a muggle video recorder ordered from the States that was charmed to work in magical fields. She would send this to her parents so they could get a laugh too. Finally Sirius finished the song and bowed a low flourishing bow to the hoots, cat-calls and applause he received. When things died down he looked around a grin on his face.
"Whoever managed that fine prank very good, I will find out who did that and get you back." Sirius said.
"Give us an encore love!" Someone called out.
"Alas despite Mr. Black's wonderful singing voice I must say no." Dumbledore said standing a twinkle in his eyes, "now is a time for food, singing though fine will have to wait."
"Here here for inter house cooperation!" Came another voice.
"Yes, yes I quite agree, now, dinner!" Dumbledore said.
Sirius walked up to Remus and handed over his package and had a few words with him. He was surprised his dear friend had not had anything to do with this prank. One thing was for sure he would find who did that and of course cheer them up! After all that is one thing two very clever boys taught him, pranks are for fun only! He smiled sweetly at Severus who glared at him and he walked out humming to himself.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
Sirius sighed in contentment as he looked around the mostly modern village of Allington in Kent with the Allington Castle as the muggles called it on the river Medway. Sirius smirked as he rode his motorcycle through the town, he could see the castle Allington on the river where nuns now resided. He was headed to a hidden "ruin" the castle Black where he was planning on living. His uncle Cygnus was head of the Black family, not his own father wish really was a blessing. Sirius still did not have much love for his uncle, he had never done anything to stop his brother-in-law and cousin from abusing his son, then again Orion had stood by most of the time while Wallburga had beat and hexed him badly. Sirius hated and was jealous both of the love and kindness his cousins and brother got while he was treated horribly.
Now he was head of the Black family as Cygnus had not disowned him, he simply let his parents think he had, bloody coward just like the rest of the family Sirius thought. He came up on the castle nestled behind several old trees, standing tall and proud, made of grey stone that was almost cheery. Sirius rode up to the outer walls of the shrunk his bike and used his key to enter the castle. He looked around and grinned, unlike the house he grew up in this was airy and warm and light! He looked around the main hall with its green and gold marble floor, the massive oak staircase that led to the two upper floors and the paintings of past heroic ancestors. The castle was elegant and cozy all at once and Sirius knew he would love living here, he was going to sell Grimmauld square and end that chapter of his life.
There was a soft pop and a house elf clad in tunic and hose (not clothes a uniform) showed that Cygnus had tried, in some things to be more progressive. Like a few pureblood families he had gone away from his elves clad in pillow cases or towels to having them dressed properly. They were not free, but he had known that treating a servant good would get more good work out of them. The tunic, hose belt, soft shoes and cap were all brown and the Black crest was on the front and back of the tunic. The elf had bright brown eyes and large nose and the bat-ears of all its race, it bowed low before him and then stood tall, head bowed slightly to show respect.
"Muffy is the head of the Black Estates, what can Muffy do for master Black?"
"I will need to see how you have kept the estate." Sirius said, "if you will show me over the castle?"
"Muffy would be honored, Muffy and the others have been alone, sad there was no master or mistress, Muffy and house elves are honored master is here now!"
"Thank you, so far I like how well the castle is kept." Sirius said.
He followed the elf over the castle and saw it was well kept, each room was spotless and well tended, there was not a spec of dust or dirt and though the castle was old there was no sign of age on anything, the furniture was so well cared for it looked nearly new. Sirius took the master bedroom with large bath and closet, he liked the blues, greens and purples of the room and the large king sized bed was nearly soft as a cloud. He walked back down the stairs to the sitting room and was looking around when he felt someone looking at him. He turned wand out and stared at the painting before him. There in the painting was his brother, a handsome young man with a main of near black hair and gray eyes. He was still in the flush of youth and was clean shaven and clad in robes of navy blue.
"Hello brother dearest." Regulus said, "it took you long enough to get here."
"Reggie, brother, what are you doing here, why not at Grimmauld place?" Sirius asked.
"You expected me to be in that den of evil?" Regulus said, "no not after all the horrors you and I suffered from those fiends, oh you suffered more. It sickened me how they petted and pampered me and beat you like a cur, uncle Cygnus was more a father than Orion ever was and I regret I did not listen to him and became a death eater."
"Who killed you?" Sirius asked.
"Ah I gave my life, there are two things I wish from Grimmauld place, first is Kreacher, will you call him?"
"Kreacher is a filthy animal that should be put down…"
"No Sirius, no he only acted the way he did due to the evil of the place, please call him, I wish to see him." Regulus said. "Please for my sake do not be cruel to him, he has suffered so much."
"Fine, I will call him, Kreacher come here!" Sirius called out.
At once there was a pop and an old house elf with skin hanging off him in folds appeared. He was clad only in a ragged loincloth and he was filthy. His watery green eyes looked up at Sirius with hate and Sirius just looked coldly at him. Kreacher looked around the room then up at the painting above the fireplace and he froze, the look on his face chanced and he looked at Regulus wide-eyed then he sat on the floor and bawled and could not stop. He cried and cried and Sirius watched as even he could see the love this little creature had for his brother.
"Hello Kreacher, I am sorry I left you alone." Regulus said, "have you the locket still?"
"Kreacher is bad elf, Kreacher tried and tried but could not destroy it." Kreacher ran to grab a poker.
"Stop! I command you not to harm yourself, you know that displeases me!" Regulus said, "if you could get the locket and bring it here please?"
"What is with this locket?" Sirius asked Regulus as Kreacher popped away to get it. "Did it belong to the dark lord?"
"Yes, you know what a Horcrux is?" Regulus asked.
"Dear gods of heaven and earth, tell me that Voldemort did not create such an evil?" Sirius said.
"He did, let me tell you how I found out." Regulus said just as Kreacher came back with the locket. "I can trust you, I know you are good, Kreacher will you tell Sirius all you know? I am a painting so I don't know fully how I died though I know I went to the cave."
Kreacher dried his eyes and told the tale from the first, how Voldemort went to Regulus and said he needed and elf. He explained how he was ordered to come back when he was done and how Voldemort forced him to drink a vial potion and how it hurt him. How he went back to Regulus and told him of what he had learned and how Regulus had, a few days later had him take him to the cave. Regulus ordered him to feed him the potion and when done he gave the locket to Kreacher and put a fake one in. Then the last thing Kreacher saw of him before he left was him being drug beneath the waves. Kreacher sobbed as stated he could not fulfill the last order of Regulus and Sirius did something he never would have done before, he hugged Kreacher and held him as he sobbed.
"You brave, wonderful elf, you have been through so much, you will be honored." Sirius said, "truly honored I promise you that."
"Kreacher failed, he did not destroy the locket." Kreacher said. "He tried to open it to destroy it but Kreacher could not."
"Well you did all you could, in fact if you give it to me I promise that once I find a way to destroy this you will get to do the actual deed?" Sirius said and he was rewarded with a sobbing elf hugging him fiercely. "Now, you will serve me only, here at Black castle, and as such you will wear a uniform, no not clothes."
"Not clothes but a uniform?" Kreacher said.
"Yes, and here this is yours." Sirius said making a clean non-dark replicate pendent.
Kreacher was outfitted just as the other elves with the pendent and he served Sirius loyally to the end of his days. He became a good and wise and happy elf and was able to tell tales of the days when the Blacks were great and good and not evil and wicked. He of course was long lived like most of his race and though near the end of the two hundred and fifty years that was normal for an elf to live he was still strong and hale and now so very healthy.
x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x-x
High in one of the many towers of Hogwarts lived a woman who hated what those here had done to her master. She vowed they would pay and she was a very patient woman. She knew none suspected her after all, who would suspect one like her? She had been happy to hear how Harry Potter's aunt had raised him and had hoped that had cowed him a bit, she was not happy to see him so healthy coming to Hogwarts. She could not attack him outright, nor could she attack his godfather. Once she had thought to break the man out of Azkaban but when she found he was still against her master she was angry. They would all pay, she could befuddle the headmaster just enough to keep him from figuring things out and she would make sure that one day it would lead to his death. She stepped from the window and went back to her desk to grade papers and bide her time until her master came back.