Chapter One- Kreacher's Care

Harry was alone, sat on his bed in Gryffindor Tower, eating the sandwich that Kreacher had brought up for him as requested. He knew that he would have much to do over the coming hours and days, but for now, he was content to eat his ham sandwich, washing it down with the goblet of pumpkin juice by his side. As he chewed, he thought of the sort of things he would need to do in the future; things he would feel badly about if he didn't do them, things others would expect him to do whether he wanted to or not, and things that he absolutely would not do- some of these things may or may not overlap.

He swallowed the last bite of sandwich before turning and lying down on the bed, still thinking about how busy he was going to be, but grateful for this calm moment before he would have to face the rest of the world. His eyes fluttered shut and he was asleep within seconds.

"Master! Master Harry, sir!"

A small hand was on his shoulder, shaking him awake what felt like seconds later. Kreacher was standing on Harry's pillow, bending over him as he called his name.

"Ah, Master Harry is awake," Kreacher said, straightening up and jumping down from the bed. "Kreacher is sorting Master Harry's best clothes while Master Harry goes for his washing- including hair please, Master Harry!"

Harry stared blearily at Kreacher, rubbing one eye.

"What? Kreacher, why are you doing this. First of all, I can sort my own clothes. Secondly, Why my best clothes? And thirdly, how are you sorting out my clothes? Did I accidentally free you yesterday?"

Kreacher looked at Harry as though he'd just grown several extra limbs.

"Firstly, Kreacher is Master Harry, Saviour of the Wizardy World's House Elf and Kreacher will sort the clothes, not Master Harry. Secondly, Master Harry, Hero of House Elves, has to look his best when he makes his speech and conducts his meetings. And thirdly, Master Harry, Defeater of Lord Bloody Mart, did not free Kreacher. Kreacher's mother taught Kreacher how to look after clothes when Kreacher was a very small Elf, as Mistress Walburga and her family refused to do their own laundry. Now Master Harry will take his bath now please."

Harry continued to stare at Kreacher. He could do laundry without being freed? Harry wasn't sure that was possible, but if Kreacher was able to do this, then he would have to try and dissuade him from it- it would probably upset Hermione even more. But then something registered. "Meetings? Speech?"

"Yes, Master Harry, but after the bath." Kreacher replied, flicking his wrist in what looked like a very complicated pattern over a pair of dress robes that Harry had never seen before. Kreacher spotted Harry gazing at the robes. "Kreacher took the liberty of buying Master Harry several sets of brand new robes from the rewards that Master Harry has received for defeating Dark Wizard Bloody Mart"

"Voldemort," Harry corrected absently. He was looking around the dormitory, thankful that none of his roommates had decided to crash there at the same time he had. Unless, of course, Seamus was asleep under that enormous pile of clothes that Kreacher had dumped on his bed, or perhaps Neville was reading a Herbology textbook behind that massive sack of gold. Harry looked at the sack of gold- that'd be going towards helping the families of those that had suffered during the war, he thought. Plus most of the people who had helped him throughout the last year would be getting a huge chunk. He was too busy thinking about where the gold would go to realise immediately what was so different about the room.

"Um, Kreacher, just how many sets of robes did you buy?" Harry asked, looking amazed around the room. As well as the pile of robes on Seamus's bed, there was an equally large pile at the foot of Dean's bed, a slightly smaller pile that Kreacher was currently working through on Ron's, and about twenty hanging on the curtain rail on the window between Ron's bed and his own. He watched dumbfounded as the ornate black velvet robes that Kreacher had been working on gave itself one last flap before placing itself on a hanger by the window with the other prepared robes.

"Master Harry must wear clean, neat robes every single day," said Kreacher, reaching out his hand as a gold robe with little shimmery bits floated lazily towards him. Harry watched Kreacher perform the same complicated pattern with his wrist before realising what Kreacher had said. He stared around the room at the piles and piles of robes and something clicked within his brain.

"Kreacher?" Harry asked tentatively. "Did you actually buy that many sets of robes? Did you seriously buy me three hundred and sixty five sets of dress robes?"

No, Master Harry. That would be silly. Now bath at once, Master Harry. Kingsley Minister Sir wants to see you."

Still eyeing him suspiciously, Harry headed for the bathroom. Seeing the thoroughly welcoming sight of a full bath, complete with bubbles, the steam rising softly and fragrantly from the surface, Harry let out a sigh, which quickly turned into a gasp, head whipping around, as he heard Kreacher's final remark.

"After all, Master Harry, Kreacher knows all about Leap Years."