Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters except maybe the ones I make up myself!
Prologue
The hooded man appeared at the gates with a soft pop. He appeared nervous and his eyes darted continuously about him searching for some unknown threat. Apparently satisfied of his safety, the man approached the ornate gates clutching a small bundle close to his chest. Almost as if they recognised him, the gates swung inward as he approached and he walked hurriedly up the drive, glancing into the darkness around him as he walked up the long gravel drive.
Eventually, a large, sprawling manor house came into view and the man allowed himself a brief pause as a relieved look briefly crossed his face, before continuing his hurried passage to the manor's large oak door upon which he banged three times. A panel of light was cast into the darkness as the door was opened inwards by a small wrinkled house elf.
"I must see your master. Immediately." the man stated.
"Master and Mistress are asleep, sir, please return in the morning" replied the house elf.
"I must see them now" he replied quickly "wake them immediately."
The house elf appeared to fight a mental battle before stepping aside and allowing the man passage through the door.
"Posy will show sir to the parlour to wait for master" the house elf squeaked in a high pitched voice.
"There's no need, I know my way well enough" he stated without breaking his stride through the opulent hall, all the time clutching his bundle protectively to his chest.
The man reached the parlour and immediately placed his bundle gently on the sofa before resuming his quick, agitated stride around the room. Ten minutes passed before the parlour door was thrown open and a second man in a black bath robe strode into the room, his long blonde hair dishevelled from sleep.
"Lucius" The man turned to greet his host and held out his hand in greeting.
The man called Lucius didn't take the proffered arm, instead choosing to stare coolly at the man responsible for his disturbed sleep.
"You shouldn't be here Rabastan; you put us all at risk." Lucius drawled never removing his eyes from the others face.
"Lucius please" Rabastan began, a note of desperation creeping into his voice "I wouldn't be here if I wasn't desperate for your help. Please just listen to me"
Lucius smirked "even my help can't save you from Azkaban Rabastan, resourceful and sneaky as your are I'm frankly amazed you've lasted this long"
"That's why I'm here Lucius, I have ways of remaining hidden, but it's not for myself that I beg for your help." Rabastan gently lifted his bundle into his arms and unwrapped the material slightly to reveal a baby with a mass of dark curls sleeping soundly in his arms. "I cannot hide her anymore" he stated with an air of resignation.
Lucius seemed to be momentarily lost for words and simply stared at the sleeping child. "Is she yours?" he asked finally.
Rabastan simply nodded in silent response. Lucius transferred his gaze to the hooded man and after several moments seemed to reach a decision. He clicked his fingers and summoned a second house elf.
"Bring me some firewhiskey and two glasses" he ordered without removing his gaze from the other man's face.
Seconds later the house elf returned and Lucius offered a glass to Rabastan and motioned for him to take a suit on the elegant sofa.
"I think you owe me an explanation Rabastan. I haven't seen or heard from you for three years and now you turn up in my house with a child, I want answers."
Rabastan took a deep breath and a large sip from his glass.
"You know what it was like after the final battle Lucius there were aurors everywhere searching for the Dark Lord's supporters and I was scared. I couldn't return to Azkaban and I knew there was no way I would escape a charge if the Ministry got their hands on me" he gestured towards the other man "some of us don't have your luck Lucius, without Narcissa helping the Potter boy even you would be in Azkaban now. Draco too I'm sure."
Lucius smirked at this "It's true I admit Narcissa's intervention was fortunate. But Draco and I have worked hard to restore the Malfoy name Rabastan; it's not been easy I can assure you."
Rabastan's face split into a humourless smile "some of us don't possess your charm Lucius. I doubt anything I could do would make the name Lestrange respectable."
Lucius inclined his head in acknowledgement and Rabastan took this as a cue to continue.
"For a year I was in hiding amongst muggles, I was sure it was the last place anyone would look for me with my track record. Eventually I established myself in a wizarding village in Romania and I met Rayna. Her family were wealthy and I managed to get work tending their gardens to avoid unwanted attention. She and I fell in love and married secretly. Her parents didn't react well when they found out; after all to them I was nothing but a lowly gardener with nothing to offer Rayna. But by then Rayna was pregnant with my child, and rather than cause a scandal they grudgingly accepted our marriage and for the first time since before I went to Azkaban life was normal. I should've know it wouldn't last long; Rayna's father somehow found out who I really was and wanted nothing to do with me."
Rabastan paused to take another large sip of his whiskey and with a grimace continued his tale.
"It was worse than that actually, not only did he want nothing to do with me, he informed the ministry of my whereabouts. Rayna was in her ninth month and I wanted her to stay with her family and our child, but she was stubborn was my Rayna" a real smile graced Rabastan's face "and insisted that we left together. We narrowly escaped the aurors and were forced to move around constantly for weeks to avoid being caught."
At this point Rabastan appeared to falter in his resolve to continue and took several deep breaths.
"Then she…Rayna she…I didn't…" he stammered for a moment before managing to continue "Rayna collapsed one night and I didn't know what to do. She was bleeding heavily and I could do nothing for her…and she…she…" at this point Rabastan's voice faltered entirely and he lowered his head to gaze at the baby which had begun to stir in his arms and started to rock her gently.
After a few minutes Rabastan appeared to find some inner resolve; "I managed to save our daughter but I couldn't help Rayna, she died three weeks ago. But I was determined I would protect our baby…she's all I have left of my Rayna." He stated forcefully and then almost whispered to himself "I won't fail her again."
Lucius appeared to consider his next words carefully.
"I'm assuming the reason you're here is that you've found being on the run is not easy with a new baby to think about?"
"We've nearly been caught twice this week alone. I can't protect her properly and I'm scared next time we won't be so lucky Lucius, you know the hard line tactics the aurors use these days, some of the spells they use are worse than any unforgivable and what if next time it's not me the spell is directed at?"
At this point the baby began to cry in earnest and Rabastan stood making soothing noises and rocking the child until she quietened.
"What have you named her?"
"Cassandra Rayna Esfir Lestrange" Rabastan answered in a soft voice never lifting his eyes from the baby in his arms.
"Rabastan, sympathetic as I may be to your plight there must be someone else who…"
"Lucius there is no one else, you're it."
"Surely the child's grandparents…"
"Made it clear they wish to have nothing to do with the child" Rabastan interrupted again.
Lucius sighed "you must understand my position. How could I possibly explain the presence of a wanted death eater's child in my care? I will be accused of helping you and I won't escape this time."
"Lucius I beg you please just…"
"I have more than just myself to think about" Lucius cut across him loudly "Draco's wife has recently given birth to a son, that child deserves to command the respect every Malfoy should, you ask me to risk everything."
"It's not forever, only until the aurors lose my trail again and I then I can look after her properly."
"But how do you expect me to explain her presence? People will be suspicious Rabastan."
"I don't know, tell them she was abandoned on your doorstep or something…anything, you're the charming one Lucius not me."
Lucius stared at the other man for a while. He cast his eyes over the bedraggled hair, dirty cloak and prominent dark circles under his eyes, all in all he was a mess.
"I still can't believe you came here tonight Rabastan…"
"Lucius I'm desperate I…"
"But Cassandra can stay here for now."
"Thank you Lucius, I won't forget this" Rabastan stated in a voice heavy with relief, his shoulders relaxing for the first time since he entered the room.
"But make no mistake, if she endangers my family in any way she can't stay, but otherwise she will remain safe, I promise you that."
Lucius clicked his fingers once more and a house elf again appeared. "Posy take Cassandra to the nursery and put her to sleep. You will attend to all her needs tonight."
Before placing the baby in Posy's outstretched arms, Rabastan kissed her gently on the temple and whispered "goodbye my princess. I'll come back I promise."
As the elf disappeared out of the door, Rabastan's eyes never once left her retreating form. Eventually he turned to Lucius.
"Thank you my friend. I'll leave you now; my presence alone is a danger to you."
The two men shook hands and without another word Rabastan strode out of the door, his black cloak billowing in his wake. Lucius watched his exit, silently wondering whether he would ever return.
Two days later…
In the large dining hall at Malfoy Manor, Lucius Malfoy opened his copy of the Daily Prophet and let out a loud gasp. The front page was entirely occupied by a large banner headline and picture stating "Wanted Death Eater Rabastan Lestrange Killed in Auror Battle". He looked across the table to where Cassandra Lestrange was currently sat on his wife's lap being fed her breakfast and giggling.
"Well my girl, what is to become of you now?" Lucius thought out loud, although he was sure he already knew the answer.
