Ch25. How to deal with a corpse.

Harry was numbly staring at the still-warm corpse lying in the luxurious bed sheets. He didn't know what to think of his apathy at her death. Scrunching his eyebrows, he searched if his emotional state shifted or not but oddly enough, nothing. He just... didn't care?

It was Kreacher's sobs that pulled him out of his confusing reverie. Harry looked at the grieving elf and released a tired sigh as his lips thinned in manipulative contemplation. In the end, he put his hand on the head of the grey creature in a comforting gesture.

Kreacher was shocked that his new master cared about his feelings! He swore to himself to serve the new lord with everything he is!

As Harry saw the shift in Kreacher's expression, he pulled out an awkward knowing smile.

'So simple.' He mused.

Harry looked back at Walburga's corpse and pondered what to do with it.

'Burn it? Throw it onto the streets? Gift it to Kreacher?' Harry glanced at the elf with a corner of his eye. 'Yup, definitely gifting. Gotta motivate the little guy...'

He was about to open his mouth when a sudden stray thought completely halted his mind.

What actually killed Walburga?

Yes, the reason for her death eluded Harry. He didn't even give it a thought yet. But...

Old age?

No, while the woman was definitely old enough to be called grandma according to the muggle standards, the witch was still too young to die of old age.

Sickness?

She was definitely pale enough. But... once upon a time, she was Lady Black. There is no way she wouldn't get the best healer if she was ill. No, her state and the situation clearly indicated even healers were stumped. Harry didn't put much stock into the cause of her death being sickness. If she had dragon pox or something more exotic, the healers would certainly detain her in St Mungo.

There was only one solution to this puzzle.

"Kreacher?" Harry gave the elf a thoughtful glance. "When did Walburga's illness start?"

The little deranged elf was caught off guard by the question but after a while of pondering he vaguely answered.

"Around half a year ago, master. Kreacher doesn't remember too well."

"Ah, and, pray tell, did she possibly visit someone... let's say, in the month before she has fallen ill?" Harry asked.

Walburga was spiteful. Too spiteful to walk around and attend social meetings. And that's without mentioning her fixation on Tommy-boy. She would never have enough patience to roam outside looking at people she thinks her 'Lord' has the right to kill, torture, and rape for no other reason he is supposedly pureblood and strong. No, she was most likely holed up in the house. That means...

"Yes, master. Mistress visited Malfoys." Kreacher informed Harry.

'Aha! The Death Eaters ilk. Figures she would mingle with them.' Harry thoughtfully drummed his finger on the edge of the bed. 'She wanted Draco as the next Lord Black.'

Harry's face split into a grin.

"Kreacher, do you have some artifact, spell, or device that could do a quick diagnostic of Walburga's body?" Harry asked more out of curiosity than the expectation of getting something.

To his surprise, Kreacher nodded and brought a ring to him. Harry probed it with his perception and when he didn't feel any curse, he slowly and carefully put it on. Waving his hand over Walburga's body, a parchment with its state was generated.

Harry's grin widened.

"Kreacher, quill and paper, please." Harry asked and on the table near the bed, they instantly appeared.

He sat down behind the table and penned a quick letter for dear Amelia in his station as Lord Black, something very, very hard to ignore. Especially now since most people owe him a lot. Bones included.

The letter was regarding an investigation of the death of his 'dear' and 'poor' family member Walburga Black. According to it, the new Lord Black 'suspects' foul play via poisoning. His 'peaceful' and 'loving' family member was brutally murdered and he won't stand for it! He 'requests' Amelia and her department to 'do something'. After all, Walburga was a 'delicate' woman who never 'hurt' a fly! Lord Black is 'apparently' deeply 'distraught' at her fate and wanted to take revenge on her killers himself! But... as a 'model' citizen of Wizarding Britain, he understands, it is the responsibility of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement to investigate the case. Oh, and he also humbly informed her of the last, and only people Walburga came in contact with, Malfoys. May the attached parchment containing the results of a diagnostic artifact, used shortly after her tragic demise, help her in her 'duty'.

"Kreacher, take this letter, and Walburga's body and deliver them to Madam Amelia Bones in the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. She will know what to do with them." Harry ordered but then got an idea. He quickly penned a short note and also handed it to Kreacher. "Oh, and deliver the short note to Malfoys, please."

The elf nodded and the second it put his hand on Walburga's corpse, they disappeared.

Harry inspected the dimly lit room with a discerning eye and found a big frame covered in a silk cover. He took the cover off and underneath was a portrait of younger Walburga with a mahogany frame.

The portrait came to life and the younger Walburga looked curiously at Harry.

"Who are you, boy?" She asked, no hostility at all. Instead, her eyes swept his frame, clothes, and face. It was obvious she didn't appreciate the muggle clothes in 'her' house but refrained from saying anything before she knew the status of the boy in front of her.

'The portrait doesn't know?' Harry's mind went a mile a minute, but then his lips formed a pleasant smile. 'Oh, I am so going to use her to show me every hidden stash and secret of House Black!'

"Hello," He gave a curt polite bow. "I am Hadrian Black, the new Lord of House Black."

...

It was around lunch-time and weary Amelia Bones was about to get out of her office. She cursed Lord Black to hell. Because of him and the debts, not only her department budget considerably lessened due to ministry owing him a literal mountain made out of pure gold, but the amount of work she had to deal with was insane! The crime rate increased considerably. And that was not even counting the shit she had to deal with at home because of the debts of her own family!

She was about to leave for lunch when something suddenly fell on her desk with an audible 'thud'. She quickly sprang up and leaped back on instinct while unsheathing her wand in preparation for combat, Reducto almost leaving her lips.

Her brain finally caught up to her instincts and Amelia noticed the 'thing' on her table is actually a corpse! She approached and her sight caught a neatly placed letter on the corpse's chest. She opened it and started reading. The closer to the end she got, the more frustrated she became.

'Yes, I definitely hate Lord Black!' She groaned.