The guttural scream bounced off the stone walls awakening Rabastan from a daydream about better days before his return to Azkaban.
"No! Please, don't!" called the man in the cell across from him. The words fell from the man's lips, laced with pure terror. The man pulled his head and knees to his chest to shield himself from the impending horror approaching him. As the hooded figure bent down closer, his screams turned into sobs, broken pleas mixed with tears.
Lucius Malfoy had finally fallen. Not that his descent hadn't already been in play – with the botched diary and failure to retrieve the prophecy.
Rabastan gazed at Lucius after the Dementor slid away, its appetite temporarily stated. Lucius's thin top clung to every bone of his spine. His hair had lost its luxurious shine and hung in brittle strands down his back. Lucius Malfoy's power and strength had crumbled at the foot of the Dementor.
Rabastan's heart broke, and he wished he could help. Is he trying to fight?
Rabastan fought in the early years, but eventually gave up and let the Dementors have their way with him. But, some memories etched themselves into his soul, making them hard to let go.
Lucius turned, his tear-filled eyes locked into Rabastan's. Do you think about me?
xxx
Rabastan had been in love with Lucius for as long as he could remember. It started during his first year when Lucius graciously welcomed him into Slytherin house.
"You'll feel quite at home here," Lucius said, placing his hand on Rabastan's shoulder. Rabastan felt his cheeks growing hot, and he sought to control the blush from spreading.
"I'm sure I will," Rabastan managed to spit out, his chest dropping as Lucius turned his attention to the person seated beside him.
Like a lovesick puppy, Rabastan tagged along. He bettered his Quidditch skills and played alongside Lucius. He faked interested in Death Eater meetings since he knew Lucius attended them.
His efforts paid off in his 6th year. It was glorious, but it all came crashing down.
"I have to marry her," Lucius sighed, stepping back into his trousers.
"I know… but I love you."
Rabastan stared at his duvet, his vision going blurry from his tears. Lucius shuffled about the room, throwing his possessions into his bag.
"You don't love me, do you?"
"I care about you very much," whispered Lucius. "But this ends today." He stepped toward Rabastan, lifted his face up, wiped away his tears with the tip of his thumb and walked out of Rabastan's life.
xxx
Lucius's arm stretched out, his mouth dropping slightly. Rabastan's chest filled with warmth as he scrambled toward the front of his cell. He remembers!
Rabastan stretched his arm out, knowing that it could never cross the distance between them.
"Narcissa...," croaked Lucius. "Narcissa... Narcissa..." he called again and again as tears coursed down his face.
Rabastan quickly pulled his arm away and shuffled back to the far corner of his cell. He never loved you anyway.
A/N: Word Count: 500. Written for Pairing the Character Drabble Competition - Week 8 Rabastan Lestrange.