Kreacher was efficient. By the next day, he had completed the task Phineas gave him and returned from the Ministry of Magic's elf settlement with five young house-elves, all newly independent.
Most wizarding families wouldn't consider such a purchase. For one, these elves lacked mastery in household magic and would need to be trained. For another, large wizarding families typically had their own bloodline of house-elves. Kreacher, for example, was born into the Black family and would die in service to it, just as his parents had. After death, their heads were severed and mounted on the wall as a mark of honor—at least according to ancient Black tradition.
"Third Young Master, I have brought the house-elves you requested," Kreacher announced respectfully.
Phineas looked at the group trailing behind Kreacher, nodded, and said, "Kreacher, have a few of them study Eastern cuisine. They'll handle the kitchen from now on. You can assign the rest to manage the household cleaning. Then, pick one with potential in magic to assist you in looking after me."
He paused, then added, "Oh, and Kreacher, you and the others need to learn basic combat magic. I'll need protection—for myself and this house."
Kreacher bowed low. "Kreacher understands."
Phineas gave a small, satisfied nod, then looked pointedly at Kreacher's filthy rag. "Go find yourself some proper clothes. It's shameful to appear like this beside me. But remember, these are not gifts—they're your uniform. You still serve me."
Kreacher's eyes brimmed with tears. He was about to bash his head against the wall when Phineas quickly continued, "That applies to the other elves too. No more pillowcases or rags. I don't want to be embarrassed."
Giving clothes to a house-elf traditionally implied freeing them, but if done under a master's explicit command, it didn't count. That was Phineas's approach—he wasn't about to liberate them, but he could at least treat them with a degree of dignity.
As a time-traveler with memories of another life, Phineas could enjoy the convenience of house-elves without treating them as true slaves. Still, he fully understood their place in wizarding society. House-elves had no concept of privacy and could bypass magical protections—Hermione's original attempt to free them was admirable but naive. It would have upended centuries of magical society.
So while Phineas wouldn't disrupt tradition, he could improve their living conditions. Besides, being part goblin and part elf, house-elves had remarkable magical talent. Teaching them combat magic would strengthen household security—and with their nature, there was no fear of rebellion.
"One more thing, Kreacher. Go to Hogwarts and find Professor Dumbledore. Give him this locket and tell him about my second brother."
Kreacher was startled—he hadn't mentioned Regulus Black to Phineas—but he didn't question orders. House-elves never did. In a blink, he vanished.
Phineas watched with envy. Though he would eventually master Apparition through his system, he found the inability to teleport inconvenient for now.
The family had assumed that if Phineas declined to attend Skuller, he would live with relatives—after all, he was still only three. He looked closer to five due to his fast development, but age was age. Still, he had no intention of going to live with any of them.
He knew exactly who his relatives were, and none were suitable.
There was Bellatrix Lestrange, his eldest cousin and a fanatical Death Eater, soon to be imprisoned for attacking the Longbottom family.
Then Andromeda Tonks, the only cousin close to his eldest brother, had married a Muggle-born wizard and was disowned. The family would never allow Phineas to stay with her.
Narcissa Malfoy, his youngest cousin, had married into the Malfoys. Though technically not imprisoned for her role with the Death Eaters—thanks to a lot of gold—Phineas had no interest in living under Voldemort's shadow.
Living alone at Number 12 Grimmauld Place was the best option.
That's why he had sent Kreacher to find Dumbledore.
About half an hour later, Dumbledore arrived at Grimmauld Place with Kreacher.
"Good day, young Mr. Phineas Black," Dumbledore greeted with a kind smile. "Your house-elf gave me this locket, claiming you instructed him to do so. I presume you know what it is?"
Phineas nodded and waved Kreacher away. "You may go. And Kreacher—prepare two glasses of honey water and some Cockroach Clusters. Our Headmaster is quite fond of them."
Kreacher obeyed instantly, returning shortly with the requested refreshments before vanishing again.
Dumbledore regarded the candy and honey water before him, then fixed his twinkling gaze on Phineas. "It seems you know quite a bit for someone so young, Mr. Phineas."
Phineas gave a small shrug. "As the heir to the Black family, it's not unusual. We pure-blood families are full of secrets. I'm sure, as a member of the Dumbledore family yourself, you understand that well."