Prompt #3: Thoughts on love [private]
Love is such an easy word to throw around, and a lot of people confuse duty or lust for love.

Real love takes years to grow. Take me and Rodolphus. When I first met him, I thought he was the most annoying prig in the universe. But my duty to treat him politely kept me from boxing his ears, and soundly offending his family. Even though the Lestrange family name doesn't carry as much weight as the Black family name, you still don't offend another family if you can avoid it.

Our parents kept pushing us together, and it was obvious to me that they wanted us to marry. Of course, I would've had the choice not to marry him, but by the time I was of marrying age, I had spent enough time with him that I learned of his.. better qualities. But even then, I can't say that I loved him. Lust, yes. But not love. Not yet.

I can't really say when I fell in love with him. I know it was quite early on in our marriage. But I found that I had grown to adore this annoying, silly man that I had chosen to marry. The hardest thing about Azkahban was the fact that I couldn't see him, because I found he had become that important to me. I needed to know he was alive, so I could have a reason to keep on fighting. As much as I hate to admit it, I wasn't sure if my Lord was alive. So all I had left was my Rodolphus.

But, anyway.. I do think that love exists. A lot of people would say I'm too insane to love, but they'd be wrong. Of course, my love for Rodolphus is a weakness. But I find it's a weakness I don't mind having.