Re: In Hogsmeade...
Letting out a bitter laughter, Rodolphus leaned forward, regarding Pucey with disbelief. 'I take it you do not agree with the Minister? That nobody remotely sane would want to...' Rodolphus shook his head. 'You have really no idea exactly how wealthy I am, have you? Just for that, I will have more offers that I could possibly consider going through without a secretary.'
Rodolphus looked haughtily at the Auror, for a moment revealing why he had been one of the Dark Lord's most dangerous Death Eaters, letting show in his look a bit of the cold cruelty he also held. 'Maybe you are not as well versed in wizarding politics as you would like to be, young Pucey? If it is as the Minister says, the wizarding world has a problem, and it cannot afford to let anybody who might be able to breed sit idle in Azkaban.' Rabastan let the expression of relaxed carelessness slip over the ever-present cruelty. 'We are all breeding material, and if the Minister can show me off: A handsome, rich, clever pure-blood who has seen the brilliance of the plan and redeemed himself to serve the wizarding world, then it will be easier for him - both to get more prisoners out of Azkaban, and to make people marry.'
Rodolphus got a haunted look. 'No matter the distastefulness, I do want to comply. You see, none of us had any choice before. Do not think my marriage was one I would have entered into, had I had any say in it. There were very few women to choose from, then, and my late wife... This time I have the possibility to marry for... more. Maybe even to be lucky enough to marry for love or for friendship; to somebody who likes me, and may forgive me for what I have done. My lovely Bella never forgave me for not being the Dark Lord.'
Raising his teacup, Rodolphus said,' Mr Pucey, I have everything Galleons can buy, or at least the possibility to get it. I have my freedom, something Galleons cannot buy. However, I would like the Minister to lend me one of his Aurors. I would like to get out of this house, maybe just to go to Hogsmeade. But as I do not have any wish to be spat at or insulted, I think an escort would be advisable. I could, of course, hire one of my own, but I am certain an Auror would be considerably more impressive.'