I. War make us

"When I thought that I fought this war alone
You were there by my side on the frontline"

War, Poets of the fall

"Still awake?"

"Maybe…"

"Bella…"

"What?"

"Turn around, I want to talk. Neither one of us is going to sleep tonight. And we are barely comfortable in this bed."

"I never thought I'd end up sleeping here again. Not married."

"At your parents' house. Are you sure they are okay with all this? With all of us here? Hiding Death Eaters from the aurors is a crime, I'm sure."

"They'd do anything for me. Deeply, they're proud."

"They didn't seem proud."

"They are just worried."

"They didn't seem just worried."

"They aren't soldiers. They can't understand this; what we do."

"Bella…"

"What? Are you going to fight me? We're all wanted criminals. Our faces are in every street, every corner. Except Barty, of course. Fucking Barty still has an alibi."

"His father is going to be Ministry of Magic."

"Barty hates him".

"I know. Have you ever thought what is going to happen when we win the war?"

"You seem really sure we're going to win."

"We have to."

"Everything is against us, Rodolphus. Azkaban is full of Death Eaters now."

"The best reason to stay in hiding right now. But, Bella, for real, have you ever thought about what are we going to do when we win?"

"We're soldiers. There's always going to be a war to fight."

"And if there's no war?"

"No war? That's ridiculous. There's always people who want revolution, we'll always have someone to fight. I don't know."

"And if there's no war, Bella? How do you think that's going to be?"

"―"

"Bella, don't turn around."

"―"

"Bella, please. I really want to talk."

"I don't want to talk about that and, deeply, neither do you. You're just bringing up the topic to see if I'm as scared as you. I don't want the war to end, I need something to do and be a soldier is the best I do. Have you ever thought what's going to happen if we lose?"

"I don't want to."

"You should. It's going to be like now: always running away."

"It could be worse."

"Don't say it."

"It could be Azkaban, you know. For the rest of our lives, the two of us. Bella, have you thought about it? Like, seriously?"

"―"

"Bella, say something."

"Yes, the idea has crossed my mind! Happy? I'd do it for Him. And you? Would you do it?"

"Not for Him, not for the Dark Lord. I'd do it for you."

"What a romantic husband."

"I'm deadly serious."

"I insist: what a romantic husband."

"You know, I'm the romantic one in this marriage. But, seriously, what are we going to do? Because I'm doubting your mum's idea is the best: she wants grandchildren with Lestrange in their names."

"Narcissa is already going to give her a grandchild. She is pregnant. My mum can live without Lestrange grandchildren. Even tough―"

"What? What were you going to say?"

"Nothing."

"Of course you wanted to say something. You always want to say something."

"Your last name ends with you and Rabastan. If you care about that…"

"I have no interest in bringing more humans to this world."

"Your answers come out of your mouth very quickly."

"You don't want children, I don't want children; we're soldiers, Bella. Better than that: we're Death Eaters. Do you seriously believe I care about my last name? I wouldn't dare to ask you about having kids. Never."

"What a romantic."

"You know, that's me. Hey, are you smiling?"

"―"

"I love your smile, altough it makes you look like a crazy psycopath."

"Thank you, I guess."

"―"

"Rodolphus! My mum and dad are in the next room!"

"We're not twenty anymore: we're married, Mrs. Lestrange."

"Mrs. Lestrange makes me sound like… like if we had a normal and boring life. Like my parents'. Having kids and organising boring dinners, going to events with more pure bloods. Being normal. Boring."

"We will never be normal and boring."

"How are you so sure?"

"You know. We are Death Eaters. War made us."

Have you ever read The Kiss of the Spiderwoman, by Manuel Puig? It's an Argentinian novel and it's like this fanfiction: all dialogues, no description. That was the inspiration for the fic.

My mother lenguaje is Spanish (Mexican Spanish), so if you found mistakes, feel free to tell me.

Andrea Poulain

Original: June 14th, 2016

Translation: August 24th, 2016