HELL'S HEIR

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[rodolphusx]

mageics‌:

If he’s annoyed to have his hair mussed, he doesn’t show it other than attempting to smooth it back out as he falls in step with his brother. He’s quiet, trying to remember if he’d been allowed to sit with Rodolphus at the Welcome Feast before. 

He is also content to walk in silence, remembering. It had been four years now, nearly to the hour, that an eleven-year-old Rabastan had tugged at his sleeve, looking for his place at the Slytherin table. Rodolphus remembers the sheer pride he’d felt when Rab had been Sorted — that’s my brother! he’s my brother!— and wonders where that was in the subsequent years. Nostalgia’s a funny thing. 

[narcissisticblack]

September 15th 1976

[rodolphusx]

narcissisticblack‌:

Narcissa doesn’t move her head from its downward tilt, but allows her eyes to glance up at the eldest Lestrange. She’d snort if it were lady-like, instead she settled for a small smile. “Go away, Rodolphus, I have work to do,” she says with mock sweetness. She hasn’t got the faintest idea as to what he has planned, but she’s quite content to keep it that way, despite her unfortunate track record with Rodolphus Lestrange. 

He groans and pretends to give in,  “Ah, crack on then, and we’ll suffer in your absence,” and drums his fingers on the table impatiently. He gives her a thoughtful look, then spins her textbook around on the table and examines it. “I’ll leave if you don’t want me here, but Cissa,” he holds the book up next to his face, “...this over me?”

[rodolphusx]

lilymxrie-evans‌:

rodolphusx‌:

“Seize and Pull, Accio, Impedimenta…Cat to Cauldron.” Rodolphus lists more possible solutions as if she hadn’t said anything. As he sees it, if the spells are cast well, the cat will be fine — but if not, well, it’s just a cat. “ Leglocker Curse, Slowing Charm, Impediment Hex, Immobulus, Jelly-Legs—” He looks up from his book to glance after the cat, “—although you might want to cast a Tracking spell before it gets much further away.”

Lily was certain that Rodolphus’ intentions hadn’t been to help her, she knew that by reeling off a list of potential spells he was trying to ridicule her, but this time she wasn’t going to bite. “No need for a tracking spell, I think we’re just about done here, so…” And without really waiting for a response, she left him to it. She was grouchy about the fact she had no better comeback, and she spared him one final glance over her shoulder to see he wasn’t looking, and as she rounded the corner after her cat she pulled her wand from her back pocket.

fin.

[narcissisticblack]

September 15th 1976

Location: The Library

There was something unexplainably soothing about the library at golden hour. The bookcases glowed in the warmth of the sun which streaked through the windows in a way that it never could in the Slytherin common room. Narcissa sighed as she located a quiet table in the far corner of the library, far away from the main thoroughfare, content to work away at her Potions essay in some peace and quiet. Unfortunately her peace and quiet only lasted a couple of minutes before the chair across from her scraped back loudly followed by the unmistakeable sound of a body falling into said chair. The blonde didn’t bother looking up from her work as she set her jaw, “The library’s just about empty you know.”  

[rodolphusx]

Rodolphus isn't the type to linger in this part of the castle, keeping his visits targeted and succinct. The librarian appreciates that much about him — if she frowns a bit at the books he signs out, he always returns them promptly and in good condition. Thus he sits, but doesn't intend to settle in. Rodolphus chuckles at her little pout, that genuine reaction. Amusement twinkling in his eyes, he responds, "True, yet here you are all cooped up. I've come to free you, little bird!"

[rodolphusx]

althea-travers‌:

Althea knew it was best to bite her tongue. The Lestrange family was close with the Blacks. They all ran in the same circles. But her disappointment and bitterness about not being chosen as a prefect was far too strong to keep inside of herself, and if she couldn’t say something crude to Rodolphus, she wasn’t sure who she could say it to. “Yes, well… I’m curious why they chose to reward Andromeda over their other choices. It just seems peculiar, to me, that’s all. But thank you for trying to appease me, anyway.”

He isn't quite sure that she grasped the full warning behind his expression, but he is willing to forgive her today. It’s the start of term, and he trusts there is no outright impetulance in her bitterness. “You shouldn’t worry about the title — I’ve done well enough without it, and you’ve got potential.” He means it, too. He has been watching the snakes of her year, especially the last few terms. He knows Bella would hand her invisible crown to her sister, but he is of the opinion that the unspoken monarchs should be able to work around the rules when needed. 

[rodolphusx]

atrophiednebula‌:

“The skin of my teeth, feels like,” She replied, voice equally lowered. She didn’t see Bella hanging about, but that didn’t mean that her elder sister didn’t have ears hanging about. “She kept saying that she had more important things to worry about, but Merlin knows what those could be. So, you know, the summer was much chillier than it would have been otherwise.”

Rodolphus nods, having also felt the chill of Bella’s cold shoulder over the summer. “I’m reluctant to find out how she’s feeling about me now, I doubt I’ve been fully forgiven.” Voice returning to it’s normal decibel, “I missed you, Andie, I look forward to fully catching up after the Feast.”

[rodolphusx]

mageics‌:

Trying not to show how pleased he was to finally have Rodolphus’ attention, Rabastan replies nonchalantly, “Eh. I usually get the Slytherins right at least.” Whether that was true or not, he primarily said it to impress his brother. 

“I should bloody hope so,” he laughs, tousling Rabastan’s hair as he brushes past, walking toward the castle. The brotherly invitation is also a sudden reminder that Rodolphus won’t be the taller brother much longer. 

[rodolphusx]

lilymxrie-evans‌:

Lily acknowledged the dig at her aim—not that she thought subtlety was his goal—and she rolled her eyes, she wouldn’t cast either the full body bind or a stunning spell on her cat because it was cruel, and she wasn’t bothered what he had to say on the matter. “My reluctance has nothing to do with thinking I’m incapable, and everything to do with the fact I’m not going to risk hurting her.”

“Seize and Pull, Accio, Impedimenta...Cat to Cauldron.” Rodolphus lists more possible solutions as if she hadn’t said anything. As he sees it, if the spells are cast well, the cat will be fine — but if not, well, it’s just a cat. “ Leglocker Curse, Slowing Charm, Impediment Hex, Immobulus, Jelly-Legs—” He looks up from his book to glance after the cat, “—although you might want to cast a Tracking spell before it gets much further away.”

[rodolphusx]

atrophiednebula‌:

She straightened her own in turn, so that the prefect badge stood out proudly. Just as proudly as she beamed, grateful that all her hard work had paid off. “Why thank you, Rod. It was the highlight of the summer for mum and dad. The first Black sister prefect.”

He’s also glad to see her that happy. He laughs, knowing the parental approval she referenced was no casual victory. He leans closer. “Bella must have hated that, Merlin, how did you survive?” He lowered his voice to ask, but glances around afterward to ensure a certain witch didn’t overhear. 

[rodolphusx]

althea-travers‌:

He had a point, though Althea was left to question whether or not her own glare would give the same terrifying feeling to first-years as Rodolphus’s would. He was intimidating in ways that Althea was not… in ways that she couldn’t quite imagine herself being. “Maybe you’re right. Speaking of, though… did you hear? About who made prefect for Slytherin? It’s shocking, really. I couldn’t imagine her with any kind of respected authority, even with her last name being what it is. Sad, really. It’s almost a waste.”

His eyes narrow as he starts to glare at her, but Rodolphus remembers he likes Althea and softens his expression. Rodolphus himself had never wanted to be prefect, having loftier goals to spend his time on. Yet he couldn’t fully blame her for being jealous — every Slytherin knows the sting of an ambition failed. “It must be a hard decision, with as many excellent candidates as our House always has. Andromeda worked hard, but she wasn’t the only one. I’m sure it was narrow margins.” 

[rodolphusx]

lilymxrie-evans‌:

“There’s a million and a half ways you could live your life, and you choose to be a dick.” Lily quipped, her irritation rising when she caught sight of Rodolphus’ raised eyebrow. In hindsight, if she had realised it was him at the end of the corridor she wouldn’t have bothered asking for help in the first place, she knew better than that, but alas she had been too far away. “I’m not about to start throwing spells and risk spooking her.”

Rodolphus assumes she wants a reaction from him so he is careful not to provide one, simply turning the page in his book nonchalantly. “If you think you couldn’t hit her with Full Body Bind or a Stunning spell on the first try then I suppose you’ve made the right decision,” he hums, the words oddly sounding natural — it must be the underhandedness of the statement — despite who they were for. 

[rodolphusx]

atrophiednebula‌:

Thank Merlin it was impossible to Andromeda’s eyes to get stuck, because she could not have rolled her eyes any harder. Still, she had missed Rodolphus. It was nice to be able to talk to him without their entire families hanging about. “Of course, how could I be so daft? A burden such as yours must be so horrid to bear.”

“I manage,” he says glibly before changing the subject. He gestures to her robes, then begins to straighten his own.  “I’m glad to see that badge on your robes, I couldn’t think of a better person for the job.”

[rodolphusx]

althea-travers‌:

But what else was there to enjoy, other than watching the youngest students be sorted into their houses and finding out their fates? The Sorting Hat’s poetry was hardly exciting. The food wasn’t out when the sorting happened, either. “And what’s everything else, then? Give me a reason to be excited, Rodolphus. Please. I need it.”

"There's plenty of entertainment to be had during the Sorting, even when the hat is droning on. The little ones are so nervous, even a little glare has them shaking in their boots if you catch their eye." Rodolphus chuckles at the thought. “It’s never too early to induce a healthy respect for one’s superiors.”

[lilymxrie-evans]

Sunday 5th September 1976

“Oh, for Christ’s sake, I am not chasing you around this castle all god damn day.” Lily called after the black kitten as she watched her speed off around the corner, and she found herself vaguely wondering how on Earth she’d managed to wind up in an involuntary game of hide and seek with her cat—whom, at the moment, had outsmarted Lily at every turn.

The cat had been a gift from her parents, they had bought her over the summer before Lily began her sixth year at school; her father had said they’d picked her because she was black and he had thought it awfully fitting, with Lily being what she was, and she suspected he thought himself oh so hilarious for it. But Lily had fallen in love with her immediately, regardless.

“Agatha—oh you are so bloody grounded—” She huffed out, momentarily cursing the third year who had entered the common room at precisely the wrong moment, leaving her opportunist cat free to make a break for it. “Hey—excuse me!” She called when she spotted someone at the end of the corridor, “Please can you grab a hold of that little menace for me!”

[rodolphusx]

He could have. Basic human decency says he should have. Were she someone else he might have. But instead Rodolphus shooed the cat further away with his foot. “There’s a million and a half spells you could use to sort this, and you choose to chase. Hmm.” He raises an eyebrow as if a point has been proven, then turns his attention back to his book. 

[rodolphusx]

lilymxrie-evans‌:

Lily snorted out a derisive laugh, throwing him one more glance over her shoulder, though she didn’t stop, “If that’s the best that you can do, I’d say your own sense of humour needs a little work. At least be a bit creative.” His words admittedly had hit a bit of a sore spot; everything that had unfolded between her and Sev towards the end of her fifth year was still very fresh. But she wasn’t about to let him know as much. She turned away again, rolling her eyes, “You’re not funny, you’re cruel. And the sad thing is you’re probably proud of being so.”

Perhaps willing to let her think she’s had the last word, he mutters, “I forgot how easily you get your knickers in a knot,” although not quite so under his breath that it would be impossible for her to hear. He doesn’t want to appear interested in continuing the conversation, and since she had already taken the ‘walk away’ option, he would remain where he was until she was far enough away or someone he liked came along. 

[rodolphusx]

atrophiednebula‌:

Andromeda felt a buzz in the air as she stepped down from another carriage. She was excited to be back at Hogwarts for her sixth year, especially after being made prefect. Not even Rodolphus being his usual self could get her mood down.

Still, with an eye roll, she looked at him and said, “We’ve just got here, Rod. Can’t you save being a dick for next week?”

Andromeda being the only person he’d allow to speak to him this way, Rodolphus simply grins at her comment. He had missed her company over the summer, while they’d attended some of the same events they hadn’t gotten a chance to truly talk to each other. “I couldn’t possibly. That part of my... personality... is too massive to hold back.” 

[rodolphusx]

lilymxrie-evans‌:

“And some people frankly don’t give a damn where others think their place ought to be.” Lily shot back as she turned away from him, her arms folding over her chest as she walked. “They’re eleven year old kids, you wally. Not everybody was stripped of human emotion at birth.”

He responds as she begins to walk away, but doesn’t make any move to follow her. “At least emotionless golems like me have a sense of humour. But I suppose when your very existence is a dirty joke, it must be hard to develop one.”