A/N: This is for Hogwarts Creative Collection and rarepair_shorts Number Game Ficathon. The character and prompt for the Creative Collection is Rabastan Lestrange and ingenue. The pairing for the Number Game is Rabastan/Narcissa. The fic is 540 words.
Rabastan walked around the garden trying to get away from all the pure blood girls trying to latch onto him. Now his elder brother had been taken off the marriage market, he was looking like a nice fat juicy steak to sink their teeth into.
He didn't want any of them. His heart belonged elsewhere and he would rather spend the rest of his life alone than with someone he couldn't stand.
As he was about to enter one of the smaller sections of the garden he heard voices.
Slowing down his footsteps, Rabastan edged closer to the entrance so he could hear what they were saying.
"She is too innocent and naive," he heard one man say.
"They're better that way. You can mould them exactly how you want them. No need to break them in," the other replied.
"Have you asked for her hand then?"
"Of course, but you know Cygnus Black. He will only have the best for his daughters," he said sarcastically.
Rabastan knew that they were talking about Narcissa, and he also knew she would be pleased to learn of their assessment with her. She had wanted the whole world to think of her as innocent and she played the part of an ingenue well.
A little too well at times, he thought.
Narcissa Black was the epitome of what a pure blood witch should be; graceful, well mannered, and quiet. At least she seemed that way. Rabastan knew that underneath the facade was a cunning and fierce witch not to be trifled with.
"What about when you're married Cissa? What will you do then?" he asked concerned.
"I will bend him to my will. I have no doubt whoever my parents choose for a husband will underestimate me, and that will be their downfall."
Rabastan had hoped for a number of years that he would be the one to marry Narcissa. They had been friends since they were children and he knew her like no one else did. He also didn't care that she would want to be the ruling force of the marriage. There would be nothing he could deny her.
It was not, however, something that was meant to be. It was devastating to find out that it would never happen because of his brothers marriage to her sister.
"Knut for your thoughts," a voice said bringing him out of his trance.
He hadn't realised that he had walked straight to the back entrance of the ballroom.
"There's not much to tell," Rabastan shrugged.
"It doesn't look like it," Narcissa said eyeing him critically. "You know you can tell me anything, don't you?"
"I know I can, but trust me when I say that you don't want to know," he replied.
"If something is bothering you I want to know, Rabastan. You're my friend."
He shook his head. There was no way he would tell her how he felt. Not now nothing could ever happen between them.
"I happened to hear a couple of wizards talking about you," he said before telling her what had been said and by who.
Rabastan could tell that Narcissa knew he was changing the subject on purpose, and was grateful that she didn't press him for any details.