50 Shades of Rabastan Lestrange

by Cyclothymic

Rabastan Lestrange: Death Eater extraordinaire, living in the shadow of his older brother and step-sister, growing up in a less-than-easy life. There's more than what meets the eye for one of the Dark Lord's most loyal followers. Written for the "50 Shades of..." and "Minor Character Boot Camp" challenges.

2. North

North

Rabastan grew up almost solely with his mother and brother; they were the only family that Rabastan knew. He knew the house elves more than he knew his own father. By the time that he was two, he could name his mother and Rodolphus, who was five years his elder, but his father he would need to be reminded who he was.

"That's your father, sweetheart," his mother reminded him, running her hand through his hair. It was slightly wavy, just like hers.

"Don't coddle him, Ophelia. The boy will learn who I am one day, and know the importance of what I am doing." Each night, he would collapse in his chair in the sitting room and wait for his wife to pour him a drink. She inevitably would, and he would nurse it while telling her his escapades of the night. Some days it was as simple as a raid on someones house, and other nights an entire village would be being burnt down. But no matter what it was, she would wait for him every night; some nights, she would be awake the entire night, not sleeping until he came home.

"I can't sleep without him next to me," she would justify to Rabastan, as though the child could understand what she was saying. One particularly late night, she kept Rabastan up with her, moving him every time he would begin to fall asleep. She had pulled him outside to the orchard, conjuring a blanket so that the two of them could lie down.

"There is Cassiopeia, which would've been your name if you were a girl, my love. And there are Ursa Major and Minor… and there is the North Star," she was speaking in a tone that wound up putting Rabastan to sleep as she named the constellations, but she paid him no mind. She spoke until her voice was giving out, describing the stories behind each of them.

"Just remember, Rabastan, if you ever are lost, all you need to do is find the North Star. It will lead you home." it was then that she looked to her side and realized that Rabastan had fallen asleep. His dark hair had fallen into his eyes, and his chest rose and fell in a rhythmic pattern that calmed Ophelia's rapid mind, until one phrase remained in it.

"Always find the North. Always find the North."