Change the Future

DH 10

Harry was in the process of lowering the newspaper after Remus had left, to ask Ron's and Hermione's opinions, when a deafening crack echoed around the kitchen. He hurried to his feat as Kreacher disentangled himself from Mundungus and, bowing low to Harry, croaked, 

"Kreacher has returned with the thief Mundungus Fletcher, Master." Mundungus scrambled up and pulled out his wand Hermione, however, was too quick for him. 

"Expelliarmus!" Mundungus's wand soared into the air, and Hermione caught it. Wild-eyed, Mundungus dived for the stairs Ron rugby tackled him, and Mundungus hit the stone floor with a muffled crunch. 

"What?" he bellowed, writhing in his attempts to free himself from Ron's grip. "Wha've I done? Setting a bleedin' 'ouse-elf on me, what are you playing at, wha've I done, lemme go, lemme go, or" 

"You're not in much of a position to make threats," Harry said. He threw aside the newspaper, crossed the kitchen in a few strides, and dropped to his knees beside Mundungus, who stopped struggling and looked terrified. Ron got up, panting, and watched as Harry pointed his wand deliberately at Mundungus's nose. 

"He looks a bit scared of a Potter being near his nose" James smirks at his daughter.

"Kreacher apologizes for the delay in bringing the thief, Master," croaked the elf. "Fletcher knows how to avoid capture, has many hidey-holes and accomplices. Nevertheless, Kreacher cornered the thief in the end." 

"You've done really well, Kreacher," Harry said, and the elf bowed low. "Right, we've got a few questions for you," Harry told Mundungus, who shouted at once. 

"I panicked, okay? I never wanted to come along, no offense, mate, but I never volunteered to die for you, an' that was bleedin' You-Know-Who come flying at me, anyone woulda got outta there, I said all along I didn't wanna do it" 

"For your information, none of the rest of us Disapparated," Hermione said. 

"Well, you're a bunch of bleedin' 'eroes then, aren't you, but I never pretended I was up for killing myself"

"We're not interested in why you ran out on Mad-eye," Harry said, moving his wand a little closer to Mundungus's baggy, bloodshot eyes. "We already knew you were an unreliable bit of scum."

"Well then, why the 'ell am I being 'unted down by 'ouse-elves? Or is this about them goblet again? I ain't got none of 'em left, or you could 'ave 'em"

"It's not about the goblets either, although you're getting warmer," Harry said. "Shut up and listen." Harry's wand was now so close to the bridge of Mundungus's nose that Mundungus had gone cross-eyed trying to keep it in view. "When you cleaned out his house of anything valuable," Harry began, but Mundungus interrupted him again. 

"Sirius never cared about any of the junk" There was the sound of pattering feet, a blaze of shining copper, an echoing clang, and a shriek of agony; Kreacher had taken a run at Mundungus and hit him over the head with a saucepan. "Call 'im off, call 'im off, 'e should be locked up!" screamed Mundungus, cowering as Kreacher raised the heavy-bottomed pan again.

"Kreacher, no!" shouted Harry.

"I love that elf now" Rory said with a smile. 

Kreacher's thin arms trembled with the weight of the pan, still held aloft.

"Perhaps just one more, Master Harry, for luck?" Ron laughed.

"We need him conscious, Kreacher, but if he needs persuading, you can do the honours,"