"Sss..." Sirius rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Now you decide to be obedient!"
"As the House-elf of the Black Family..." Kreacher maintained his bow, his tone utterly respectful. "Of course Kreacher will listen to the two young masters and strictly obey their orders."
Kreacher's attitude left Sirius with no temper to lose. He could only click his tongue in reluctant frustration.
"Kreacher, you did nothing wrong. In fact, you did very well." Regulus Black spoke expressionlessly, though he could not suppress the amusement in his voice.
"That's true!" Nymphadora Tonks nodded in agreement. "He's also... um... quite nice!"
Kreacher's attitude had indeed changed greatly recently. It was practically as if he had been hit with the Imperius Curse. He had become far more respectful toward everyone who entered Grimmauld Place.
It was not merely respect in his tone—like calling someone "Miss Tonks" in the same voice one might use for garbage—but a genuinely sincere form of address.
"Kreacher, go prepare some snacks for us," Regulus Black said.
"Kreacher has been negligent, to have forgotten such an important matter!" Kreacher turned and bowed to Regulus Black. "Master Regulus, Kreacher will prepare them at once!"
Sirius raised an eyebrow. This was the Kreacher who still made him feel awkward and unable to fully accept things for the moment.
If it had been the Kreacher from long ago, he would probably have said, "It is all because Master Sirius is too harsh and always makes things difficult for Kreacher, that Kreacher forgot something so important."
Nymphadora Tonks still had no idea what was going on. Looking at Lupin, whose tear-streaked face could not conceal his joy, and Sirius, whose reddened eyes tried to feign composure, her curiosity only grew stronger.
"Come to think of it... the way you were just now... um..."