Bad Romance

Chapter 128

Chapter 128: One Small Step Forward

Kreacher Apparated everyone to Raven's Nest, and this time Arthur didn't even react.

"You're like a pro already," Rod grinned proudly.

"I'm almost getting used to that...at least, for now," Arthur muttered half to himself.

"Harold! We're home," Rodolphus sang out.

"We killed Delphini, and all of us survived without even a bloody scratch," Rhadamanthus called to the elf.

"Mainly because we didn't have to do anything but provide shields, but still," Rabastan concluded.

Being surrounded by the familiarity that was home felt surreal to Bellatrix considering the evening they'd just experienced as well as all its implications.

Harold made tea while everyone sat around the dining table. Somehow the solid support of the heavy oak table felt more suitable than the formal parlor for what was probably going to be a long night of talking.

Rabastan caught Harold up on everything, and somehow the elf managed to convey a sense of being impressed over Bellatrix's wild ride even with his plague doctor mask hiding any expression. "Harold is sorry to have missed it," he said.

Bellatrix grinned. "It would've been brilliant to have you along for back up."

"Next time," Harold said with a smile in his voice.

"So is the plague doctor mask magical," Arthur wondered.

Rabastan smirked. "No. It just looks creepy as hell, don't you think?"

Arthur nodded. "It certainly does," he agreed. "And it matches your Gothic aesthetic," he added, glancing around the dining room.

Bellatrix found herself glancing around with him as if seeing the place for the first time through his eyes. The dark wallpaper was covered in abstract raven designs, and the chandelier above them was heavy twisted iron and shimmering black crystal. Harold certainly fit in as he moved about pouring tea and setting out sandwiches and cakes.

Though there was food at the Ministry and they'd only just eaten, Rod dug in as though he hadn't eaten in hours. Arthur took a sandwich, giving Harold a smile of appreciation.

"I'm not sure if magic food is better or if it's British food, but this is very good! Thank you, Harold."

"Arthur is welcome," Harold replied politely. "Harold has never eaten Muggle British food, so he cannot help to answer Arthur's question."

"None of us have," Bellatrix added.

"Some other wizards we know have tried Muggle food for various reasons and to various degrees, so the next time we're around any of them, I'll try to remember to bring it up," Rabastan said. "I should think wizarding food is better, though."

Realizing that she was hungry now that the adrenaline crash was beginning to happen, Bellatrix ate a sandwich. Rabastan took one as well and two cakes. Hydra thanked Harold, saying she'd already eaten at the Ministry, but she did have a cup of tea. Regulus and Kreacher simply watched the others eat in that weird vampire way that said food was now a foreign entity to which they could no longer relate.

"So where do we start," Rodolphus mused, leaning back in his chair. "We have a lot to tell you," he said, regarding Arthur thoughtfully as he spoke. "It's a matter of where to start, though. With the things you may personally be interested in or the history of it all."

"I'd say history, as that shit always repeats," Arthur said.

"Sounds right," Rabastan agreed with a grin.