Severus returned to the main house's sitting room and sat down on the sofa.
Felix Yang and Kreacher were both waiting for him there.
An invisible, terrifying pressure hung over them, leaving them too frightened to speak.
"You are both weak," Severus said coldly. "Will you stay here with the women, or come with me?"
"I'll go with you," Felix said at once.
"And you?" Severus looked at Kreacher.
"I want to save Master Regulus," Kreacher said in a voice like a bullfrog's croak.
"I met a House-elf yesterday. It was younger than you, but far less capable. I want you to learn something from it. It may prove useful when we save Regulus..."
"No, you only want to save her." Kreacher interrupted Severus. "You don't want to save Master Regulus at all."
"I need strength. If Regulus is brought back, he will help me. And don't forget, Kreacher, who took you in and gave you freedom?" Severus stared at him.
"Harry Potter," Kreacher said timidly.
Severus restrained himself before continuing, "You can go ask him whether he is willing to help you save Regulus. He gave you Slytherin's Locket, but he never said it was a piece of clothing. He threw you into the Hogwarts kitchens and left you to fend for yourself. Think about it—who allowed you to return to 12 Grimmauld Place? She understands you. She knows your loyalty. You are a hundred times smarter than that fool Dobby..."
"Professor, you look just like the Dark Lord right now," Kreacher said. "I cannot follow someone like you. And you, young human—he will use you to achieve his own ends."
"I know," Felix said coldly. "Isn't that how people are? Using each other?"
Kreacher's eyes widened.
"She made you believe that there were still beautiful feelings in this