Who: Rabastan and Bellatrix When: January 8th Where: The guesthouse What: As per Rodolphus's request, Bellatrix interrogates Rabastan concerning his actions.
Rabastan had been deep in research and thought all day. He sorted through various books with information on famous wizarding families in hopes of discovering something that could be useful to him in his task that Rodolphus had given him. Letting out a sigh of frustration, Rabastan sat back in his chair, cringing at the annoying creak it produced. He felt somewhat accomplished having already sent a letter to the Dark Lord and to the Bones girl. He still hadn't gotten a reply. Rabastan rubbed his eyes, which were heavy with exhaustion and returned to the large book.
It was not often that Rodolphus asked her to intercede on his behalf, and the details of why this occasion had been different were relatively scarce. He had elaborated little on the complications that had beset him subsequent to Rabastan's as yet undetermined actions. But the request was rare and sincere enough to pique her curiosity - and thus prompt compliance from the otherwise difficult woman.
"Straining your poor brain?" Bellatrix asked in mock sympathy from the guesthouse's doorway, arms folded loosely over her chest as she regarded the pitiful figure her brother-in-law cut.
Glancing backward towards the door with clear disdain, Rabastan looked at Bellatrix, acknowledged her presence, and then returned to work. There was a silent pause in the room. After moments of hearing only the scribbling of Rabastan's pen, he looked back up. "I really have nothing to say to you right now." Again, his head flicked back to the book and the papers scattered before him. It was clear he did not want to speak with Bellatrix.
"No?" She offered in response, her tone distinctly amused and unfazed by the snub. Rabastan was little more than a child to be scolded and pitied. "That's a shame - because my husband is quite convinced that you do." Making no move to retreat, she closed the door behind her and stepped further into the room, eyes fixed casually upon her companion.
The pen stopped scribbling. Rabastan, dropping his utensil, looked up at Bellatrix. With his left hand resting against his temple, Rabastan looked extremely annoyed. "Are you so bored that you must come in here trying to stir things up?" The look in his eyes was a sense of disdainful sarcasm. "Besides, since when are you one to take orders from Rodolphus?" This triggered a button in Rabastan's head. Bellatrix wasn't one for being ordered around. Her business must have been important.
The annoyance clearly written on Rabastan's face only delighted her, though she admirably managed to resist smirking at how easy he was to rile, swayed only by the seriousness of her husband's request. It wouldn't very well do to antagonize him to the point of unwillingnessn to relinquish information, after all.
"Oh, I assure you that I don't mind taking orders from your brother on occasion," She replied wryly, fully aware of the slight innuendo in her words. "I'm afraid this particular task is a bit less enjoyable, but nonetheless necessary." Dark eyes narrowed upon him. "Rodolphus wishes to know the specific action you took against the Bones girl. He is presently too occupied to inquire himself."
The question hit Rabastan like a ton of bricks thrown against his chest. Is there were questions about the letter, there was clearly something wrong. Rabastan looked at Bellatrix; a very formidable opponent indeed. Regardless of the situation, Rabastan was always competing with her. This was no different. "The action that I've taken against the Bones girl?" He played his cards wisely, denying anything that would come his way. "You see what I am doing. I haven't taken any action." Narrowing his eyes on Bellatrix, he smirked. "I would've if there weren't so many interruptions" He returned back to his book. This time not writing or reading anything but planning his next move
"Tut tut, Rabastan, do you think me so dense?" A soft sigh of feigned disappointment. "I'm hurt that you think so little of your brother." A twinkle of mirth that disappeared almost as quickly as it had arose, replaced by the calm insistence with which she intended to elicit the information she desired. "Do you really think he'd enlist my aid to ask if no action had been taken?"
Her tone struck Rabastan as degrading and patronizing. Standing up to show her that he was serious, he walked closer to her. "My dear sister , the facade you put up..." He trailed off leaving his meaning up for interpretation. "I haven't taken any substantial action. " He looked at her in the eyes. "Why does Rodolphus raise concerns?" Rabastan was now cautious as to what Rodolphus wanted in questioning him, and the only way to find out was through Bellatrix.
Bellatix merely met his gaze, unaffected by his attempts to intimidate her. She did not cower in Rodolphus's presence; the thought that she would do so for Rabastan, a decidedly less intimidating man, was absurd.
"Your actions have complicated his mission. It is imperative that you tell me exactly what you did so that the situation can be rectified. By your brother's order."
Rabastan smirked. He wasn't going to end the fight so easy, so in a turn to end the conversation, he decided to be diplomatic. "I will send an owl to him tomorrow telling him the actions I've taken. Seeing as this matter is between the two of us, I really have no reason or want to report to you or include you in any way. Now if you could please step out of the room, I need to get back to work." Rabastan, just to anger Bellatrix narrowed his eyes in a manner solely to patronize her. With that, he turned back to his desk and with his back facing Bellatrix, returned to work.
"Are you utterly insane?" Bellatrix asked, incredulous. "You can't owl him. Your actions have complicated - and possibly compromised - his situation. I realize that you do not care for me - and I assure you that the feeling is mutual - but are you so childish as to put your brother's disguise - and maybe life - at risk, merely to spite me? He would not ask me if it wasn't important. Can't you recognize that?"
Rabastan slammed his book closed. His anger was obvious. "Listen to me Bellatrix. Do you think of me as some idiot that has no idea on how to deal with these sorts of things? I know what actions I've taken and will tell him so that he can work things out. What difference does it make if I tell him or you tell him?" He was livid. Memories of growing up with Bellatrix consuming all of Rodolphus' attention surged through his body and he was placed back into those times in his mind. The frown on his face was powerful and intense. "What would you do that I can't in this situation?"
Bellatrix rolled her eyes in genuine exasperation, astounded by his immaturity and pettiness. "Oh, for Merlin's sake, Rabastan - must you make everything about favoritism? This isn't about preference. Due to his circumstances, he felt it safer to contact me and seek my aid in inquiring as to your actions. If you wish his favor so desperately, answer me honestly. It is to your disadvantage to be seen as resistant to his wishes."
Rabastan was being quite childish but he didn't see it as such. He was assigned the task, and he wanted to complete it himself. "Bellatrix, I dislike you. You know this. This isn't a secret it's something I admit to. But if I didn't think Rodolphus was in danger, I would never be telling you this. I am going to write a letter that you will deliver to him. I do not feel as if you should be involved." Rabastan walked over to desk and quickly scribbled on a peice of paper details about the letter he had written to Susan Bones. With a flick of his wand, he bound it tightly so that it was inpenetrable. "Here. Give this to him."
Bellatrix merely stood silently as he indulged in his tirade, far too used to his derision to take any true offense to his words. One could only spout hatred for so long before it lost its shock value. She resisted the urge to snicker at his insistence that she 'deliver the letter' to her husband, amazed that he didn't understand that any owls were out of the question. Nonetheless, she accepted the letter and tucked it into her pocket without another glance - for the moment. "Incidentally, Rabastan," She sing-songed merrily, absolved of the responsibility to be civil to him now that she had attained the desired information. "Rodolphus might be inclined to trust you a bit more if your actions didn't backfire." And with that little gibe - and a sweet smile - she abandoned the disgruntled boy.