the_debt_of_time

He forced himself to look ashamed as he recalled how the diminutive witch used to
reprimand him for his mistreatment of Kreacher.
"He has a point, Hermione," Ron noted, clearly no love lost between himself and
the elf. "Kreacher's the reason Sirius died."
"I know that!" Hermione snapped at him.
Sirius narrowed his grey eyes at her. "Then maybe show a little less consideration
for that thing!"
"Out, both of you." Hermione pointed at Sirius and Ron. "Harry and I will deal
with Kreacher." She looked incredibly upset and not just because of how the elf had been
treated.
Sirius opened his mouth to protest, but she stepped into his personal space and
narrowed her eyes at him stubbornly. "As far as I am concerned, Kreacher is a product of
his environment. You treated Kreacher poorly, so Kreacher turned on you. You are both
to blame. Right now, I am having a hard time dealing with either of you when there are
more important things to be concerned about."
Clenching his teeth angrily, he mentally reminded himself that she might not always
feel that way. He turned his anger on Kreacher, glaring down at him with pure hatred.
"You stay in this room and answer every one of their questions. Got it? You are not allowed
to leave this fucking room unless they tell you to!"
"Whatever Master says." Kreacher bowed low before him. "Kreacher lives to serve
the Noble House of Black."
Sirius spent a moment trying actively to avoid kicking the elf again, keeping his eyes
fixed on Hermione's firm stance, using her to ground himself before storming out of the
kitchen. Ron followed quickly behind him.
Hermione sighed in relief as the door closed.
Harry immediately began interrogating the elf. "Two years ago, there was a big, gold
locket in the drawing room upstairs. We threw it out. Did you steal it back?"
There was a brief silence, during which Kreacher straightened up to look Harry full
in the face. "Yes."
"Where is it now?" came Harry's jubilant query while Hermione looked on, gleeful.
Kreacher closed his eyes as though he could not bear to see their reactions to his
next word. "Gone."