WHO: Rodolphus and Bellatrix Lestrange WHAT: Bellatrix shares her success with Rodolphus and he's not having it WHEN: This morning, 13 January WHERE: Malfoy Manor WARNINGS: Marital bliss
Bellatrix was in high spirits when she returned to Malfoy Manor and searched the rooms for her husband. She found him in the library, his nose buried in a book, and let out a breath of relief that she wouldn’t have to go to the stables to look for him. With the air of someone looking for attention, she sidled across the room to claim a seat on the arm of his chair.
“Ask me why I’m in such a good mood,” she said, reaching for Rodolphus’ bookmark and tucking it into the crease of the book in his hands.
Rodolphus lifted his head and looked at her, a finger tracing down to the sentence he was at in the book and marking his place. He smiled at her, broad in the face of the bounce in her step. “Why are you in such a good mood, dear?”
“Ignatius and I have just completed a masterpiece,” she said, the corners of her mouth curving into a self-satisfied smile. “Just wait until you see it.”
Keeping his gaze on the shape of her smile, Rodolphus said, “Am I going to get a hint? What kind of masterpiece?” A thought struck him and he frowned. “Tell me I don’t have to go into London.”
“Of course not,” she said, shifting on the arm of the chair and dropping a hand to the top of his head to brush her fingertips through his hair. “I’ve left it with Ignatius for now, but I think it’d be more at home with space to roam.”
Interest sparked through him and, if her hand hadn’t been in his hair, Rodolphus would have drawn back to look at her, almost giddy excitement on his face. As it was, he grinned ahead. “Did you get us a pet?” he asked, amusement and delight slowly creeping into his voice. “A hound? A horse?”
“A golem,” she said, moving her hand to his shoulder. Her voice echoed his delight as she clarified, “A machete golem.”
There was a long, drawn out pause. Rodolphus could feel his smile slipping from his face, the expression melting like in an absurdist painting. “Excuse me?”
“Isn’t it brilliant?” She hadn’t noticed the turn in his enthusiasm and kept her own still prominently on display. “Just wait til you see it. I was thinking we could set it up in that spare pen of yours.”
Rodolphus blinked again and tried not to gasp. He turned, twisting away from her so he could look at Bellatrix more fully. His eyebrows were halfway up his forehead. “Excuse me?” he repeated.
“Well, we can’t keep it here,” she said, raising her eyebrows back at him. “As amusing as the look on Lucius’ face would be, Narcissa would never allow it.”
“Why would it go in with my horses?” Rodolphus said, his voice deepening with horror. “They’re not getting anywhere near a machete golem.” He frowned and ran a hand through his hair. “No. I don’t think so at all.”
“Please,” Bellatrix scoffed, furrowing her brow. She sat up straighter on the arm of the chair. “It won’t be in with them. It’ll be in its own enclosure. You have the space.”
“I do not have the space for a golem.” Rodolphus shook his head, turning slightly to the room at large as if he was making the point to an invisible audience, as well. “I have the space to expand. I’ve been in touch with a number of breeders. You know that. I told you yesterday.” He thought. Maybe it was the day before. It had probably been at some point in the last week.
Bellatrix stood up and her humor evaporated as she folded her arms across her chest. “I don’t see why you should have more horses and I can’t have a golem,” she said. She gestured at the empty room, indicating the home’s other occupants. “I don’t see why you all have to fight me whenever I try to do something for my own enjoyment.”
“It’s a machete golem near horses,” Rodolphus said, squinting at her. “They could get very injured.”
“We’ll ward the pen, Rodolphus,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Your precious horses will be fine.”
Rodolphus was already shaking his head. “It’s for very expensive horses, Bellatrix. We can find somewhere else for your golem. I’m sure Narcissa and Lucius have a shed they don’t care for.”
“My golem is worth at least three of your horses.” Her gaze few harder. “Narcissa will have a fit if I ask and it may come as a surprise to you, but I don’t particularly enjoy arguing with my only sister.”
“Yes, I’m very shocked,” Rodolphus said, in the crisp tone of someone who was anything but. He sighed and placed his bookmark into his book, setting it on the table beside him. He had a feeling that this wasn’t something Bellatrix would be easily dissuaded from, which was, of course, ludicrous. His horses were worth thirteen hundred times more than a golem, he was fairly sure. Who even cared about golems?
“You can find somewhere else for it. Take some money or your wand and procure it. You can call it a nice jaunt.” He looked at Bellatrix, one eyebrow lifting. “Doesn’t it sound better that way? It could have its own space.”
“Yes, it sounds lovely,” Bellatrix answered with a sneer. Her suggestion had seemed like a small one, and perfectly logical. But this was no longer about finding the space to keep it. It was a matter of principle. “I do hope you’ll agree when I move all your things out there.”
“I don’t think so,” Rodolphus said, frowning. “I think you’ll find I’m staying put. I like it indoors. All the cushions appeals to me.”
“I do hope the sofa cushions appeal to you.” She frowned at him before adding, “Or that chair of yours. Because you’ll be sleeping on one of them tonight.”
“They do, actually,” Rodolphus said, after a beat. He had to take a deep breath first, biting back the urge to snap. “I think I’ll be able to turn myself into a mouse, perhaps, and curl up at the bottom of the chair.” He stood to look at it, as if properly inspecting it and then turned. “Oh wait, no. That’s ridiculous.”
“You’re right, that is ridiculous,” Bellatrix shot back. “Almost as ridiculous as your buying another horse instead of letting me use the pen.”
“They’re there for horses!” Rodolphus said, exasperation crawling into his voice. “That’s what they were made for! I’m only keeping them for their actual purpose. It’s the right thing to do.” He looked at Bellatrix with a level stare, almost daring her to question it.
“The right thing to do,” Bellatrix echoed through clenched teeth. She knew this wasn’t an argument she was going to win. She knew she was going to put the golem in the pen anyway. She didn’t need his permission. She didn’t need him.
Without warning, she swept forward and snatched the book from the table. Out of pure spite, she pulled his bookmark from between the pages and threw them both on the floor. “I hope your horses keep you warm at night.”
Letting out a quick, sharp breath, Rodolphus glared at first the book and then Bellatrix, his temper spiking. A muttered charm and the book and its bookmark flew back up into his hand. “Yes, they keep me nice and toasty, thank you,” he said, voice as smooth as ice. “Wonderful creatures, horses. Much better than golems.”
If looks could kill, it would’ve made Bellatrix an even more dangerous witch. But as it was, her glowering was entirely useless. She thought about setting his chair on fire beneath him, or maybe his shoes. Instead, she settled on the book in his hands and brought it to life with a flick of her wand.
The book snapped at him, instantly jumping out of his hands and towards his face with a sound of ripping paper. Rodolphus jumped back, flinging an arm over his face as it tried to use its edges against him. He felt, rather than saw, Bellatrix move back and then heard a loud slam of the door just as he threw the book back onto the floor.
“Oh for Merlin’s sake,” he told it, casting a spell at it that stopped it in its tracks but also ripped it cleanly in half. He sighed loudly and sat down. He had a feeling he’d have to be careful with his horses.