Bad Romance

Chapter 85

Chapter 85: To Kill Or Not To Kill

"What took you so bloody long?" Rabastan demanded as Bellatrix and Rodolphus met him at the front door, Rhadamanthus close on their heels.

"Lyra's boyfriend," Bellatrix said with a frown of distaste twisting her lips.

"As it turns out, he's almost tolerable," Rodolphus said. "A shame he'll be dying and all."

Rabastan snickered as they headed out and was still laughing as they all Apparated.

Throughout the first half of the workday, Rodolphus and Bellatrix were both brooding, neither even interested in torturing any of the unfortunate prisoners.

Neither spoke much after filling Rabastan in on the conversation with Cassius. Rodolphus put the Aurors currently on guard through terse defense drills while Bellatrix checked the wards on all the prison cells, just in case. For his part, Rabastan busied himself in their shared office checking mail and reading over the report left by one of the night guard Aurors. The mail consisted of news updates from the Ministry for the most part.

The three didn't meet up again until lunch in the newly built break room with all the Aurors.

"Oh yeah, Grindelwald had a note in for us with the Ministry reports this morning. He wants us to meet him at Regulus's for dinner tomorrow," Rabastan said, speaking unabashedly around a full mouth of turkey sandwich. "He said it's just a catch up on intel, nothing to worry about."

"Good to know," Rodolphus said. "The last thing we need is more to worry about."

Bellatrix nodded. She was curious to know what Grindelwald had to share.

"You think Regulus will be cool enough to have drinks for us," Rabastan asked, and Bellatrix's lips twitched.

"There should definitely be tea, milk, pumpkin juice... You know, the usual." She shrugged, struggling not to laugh at the scowl on her brother-in-law's face.

"Now you're just being mean," Rabastan chastised.

"Well, she has to take our mood out on someone, doesn't she," Rodolphus asked.

Bellatrix sighed. She did have a very good reason to be in a foul mood. For a moment she'd almost forgotten. "What are we going to do about that," she asked, turning a worried gaze to Rodolphus.

"I suppose we'll be asking Grindelwald tomorrow night if he has a use for the boy's talents. If he says no, I can just kill him and have done with it," Rodolphus said, an eager light glimmering in his eyes.

"He has useful abilities," Rabastan asked in open interest.

Bellatrix shrugged and Rodolphus silently glared.

"He can unlock any hex lock if he speaks the truth, and he can lock things just as thoroughly as he can unlock them. The ability isn't limited to wards. He can also lock spells in place. If he can lock an attack or defense spell in place SHE can't unravel it," Bellatrix said.

"Sweet," Rabastan acknowledged regretfully. "Killing him will be a waste if it comes to that, but what can you do?"

Rodolphus nodded. "Exactly! I can't let him take my baby girl away when we just got her back."

"Plus the idea of her doing adult shaggy things makes me all sick," Rabastan said, making a face. "It's like in my mind she's still three if the boyfriend topic comes up."

"Exactly," Rod and Bella agreed in loud unison.

After lunch, they got back to work, and the rest of the day went far more cheerfully. At least more words were exchanged with far less sulking. When they arrived home in the evening, it was to discover a fuller house than usual waiting for them. Druella and Cygnus were present as well as Corvus. They were all in the library having pre-dinner drinks and chatting with Cassius through the fire. Gorse was even present, looking almost recovered from the morning's curse removal for Lucy.