Title: Long distance

Author: Lilya

Genre: Family.

Summary: All favorite toys have stories behind them – but Regulus spent his childhood with crayons in hand. But his drawings went a long distance.

Main characters: Kreacher, Regulus Black, Walburga & Orion Black

Rating: G

Disclaimer: They belong to J. K. Rowling. Partially inspired by the essays at the Red Hen.

Long distance

I. Name

May 1966

The nameless House-Elf lifted the heavy kettle from the stove and poured the hot water in the two waiting teapots, then stood back to check everything.

Three trays, each one with its proper tea set and the proper assortment of biscuits, stood on the kitchen table, ready to be delivered.

He glanced at the clock: it was twenty-nine minutes past four. Perfectly on time.

Grabbing the tray on the right, he disappeared with a faint pop.

It was not Sunday, Master and Mistress Black were expecting no guests – which meant the white china tea set and the private sitting room at the third floor.

The tray was placed on the low table in front of the sofas right before the clocks in the house stuck the half hour.

At the same time, Orion and Walburga Black walked into the room, conversing between themselves and tanking no notice of the House-Elf bowing so low he was seriously risking to topple over.

Walburga eyed the tray critically, but her harsh eyes softened marginally when she spotted her favorite biscuits neatly arranged on a plate.

"Well done, creature." she said as she sat down.

He bowed again. "House-elf is glad Mistress Black is pleased, Mistress Black."

"Did you already bring the tea to Master Sirius and Mr. Brocklehurst, creature?" Orion asked, leaning back against the sofa.

"No, Master Black, House-elf hasn't. House-elf knows he must serve the Master and Mistress first." He replied, holding very still.

"Yes, yes…Tell Mr. Brocklehurst Sirius is not to have any biscuits with his tea. Understood?"

"Yes, Master Black, House-elf will tell Mr. Brocklehurst now, sir."

"Good. Go now, creature."

With another bow and a pop, the House-Elf was gone.

Within seconds, the House-Elf delivered the second tray – the blue, less expensive tea set – to the school room and reported the Master's order, earning himself a glare from Little Master Sirius for his troubles.

Not that he was surprised: the child was such a disappointment, he had always been.

The House-Elf sighed. House-Elves had their own names in the ancient, almost forgotten Elfin tongue, but their Masters often gave them new, special ones to use.

It was a sign you Belonged – to what, his mother never said, but it was Important.

Very important indeed, since the new names were usually made up by the children of the house.

After all, only children saw them coming and going all the time and even spent time in their company.

Names didn't change with every generation, but sooner or later a child would have troubles pronouncing a letter or two, or simply wouldn't like it and change it to a new one, which would be soon adopted by the whole family.

The House-Elf shook his head sadly. It hadn't been his case for years and years now, not since before Master Phineas Nigellus and it didn't look like it would change soon.

Still, it was not proper to waste time while Little Master Regulus was still waiting for his snack.

Grabbing the last tray – a glass of milk, two toasts with jam and one with honey – he Apparated right into the nursery.

The curtains had been pushed back and sunlight shone in through the window. All sort of toys were scattered across the carpet, some of them half-hidden beneath sheets of paper.

A black-haired, black-eyed child lay on his stomach in the middle of the room, surrounded by more and more carelessly strewn papers, a box of crayons in every possible color right beside him.

As soon as he heard the tell-tale pop, he looked up and squealed in delight. "Hello!"

"Your tea, Master Regulus." The elf said as he placed the tray on the low table.

"Can't I eat here?"

"Master and Mistress Black do not approve, no, Master Regulus."

With a dramatic sigh, the child put down his blue crayon and went to sit down on the tiny chair, though his pout disappeared after the first bite of toast.

The House-Elf stood by, watching over him as he ate. Once Regulus was finished, the House-Elf ignored his theatrical sighs and eye-rolling as he cleaned his chin with a napkin.

"Can I go now?"

"Mistress Black always wants Master Regulus to wash his hands after Master Regulus ate, Little Master."

Grumbling, the child walked to the bathroom while the House-Elf started cleaning up, piling everything back on the tray.

Regulus came back right when he was about to Apparate back into the kitchen. "Wait!"

The House-Elf stood still, staring at him curiously. Regulus hurried across the room and dove to his knees, scattering more papers around as he looked for something.

With a small cry of joy, he jumped back to his knees and hurried back to the House-Elf, holding a sheet in his small hands.

"For you." He said as he handed it to him.

Hesitantly, the House-Elf took it. His large eyes filled with tears.

On the paper, Regulus had drawn a creature with long arms and legs sticking out from a white triangle, a big round head wit two pointy bits sticking up by its side and two lopsided, grey circles for eyes. In one hand it held a crude teapot and in the other a long stick with a sort of cloud around it – which was probably supposed to be a feather duster.

And right above it, as if hovering in the air, there was his new name in big, crooked letters:

KrEACher

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