Chapter Three: The Sorting of the Lestrange Heir.
Characters: Lucius Malfoy, Narcissa Black, Bellatrix Black, Antonin Dolohov, Augustus Rookwood, Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, Hagrid, McGonagall
Summary: The sorting of Rodolphus Lestrange.
Rating: K.

Behind the wall of platform 9 ¾, Rodolphus Lestrange stood facing his father, and his younger brother, Rabastan. Rabastan was upset with Rodolphus' leaving, and his father was pleased to see one of his sons begin their education.

"I promise that I will write to you every day. Father got my some Floo powder, you know, so I will Floo home from Slughorn's office. I won't get caught, and I'll do it often, okay?"

Rodolphus hugged his little brother tightly, then tucked a long strand of hair behind his right ear. "I'll miss you, father."

"And I you," the Death Eater said simply.

The train whistled, and Rodolphus whirled around for a moment. He hugged Rabastan and his father again. As he turned to walk to the train he said, "By Rabby, by father!"

Once inside the train, he went looking for his friends. Lucius, Augustus, and Antonin were third years, Narcissa a second, and Bellatrix a sixth. They sat together, Rodolphus was told, but he knew from experience that Lucius and Bellatrix could not be trusted to get along.

When he found them, he slid the compartment door open, smiling merrily. "Hi!" He said brightly.

Augustus glanced listlessly at him, and Antonin smirked. "Nervous, Rodolphus?"

"Not at all," he replied confidently, seating himself on Bellatrix's lap.

She glared at his head for a moment, but did not make him move.

Narcissa asked kindly, "Is Rabastan okay?"

She knew that Rodolphus would be much more upset than Rabastan, but she knew Rodolphus, and so she inquired.

"He seemed like he was fine, but I worry. I will miss him so much. I know he will miss me so much. Daddy was okay."

Lucius nodded, a ghost of a smirk pulling at his lips. "Are you sure Daddy is doing okay? Sure he does not need a good cry with Rabby? I know I sure would not miss you."

Rodolphus looked as if he was going to cry, but then smiled brightly and said, "I know you don't mean that, Lucius! You are my friend, and you only play with me." He eyes shone with doubt for a moment. "Right?"

Lucius, knowing Rodolphus as well as Narcissa, nodded. "Yes, Rodolphus, I was only playing."

The conversation returned to what it had been before Rodolphus interrupted.

When the train stopped, Rodolphus followed the others off, but when he entered the night and saw Hagrid calling for them, to go on a boat. In the water. At night. He point blank refused to go. "What if I fall in?" He demanded to Hagrid.

"Then 'he Squid 'll get ya," Hagrid said breezily.

Rodolphus blanched and looked appalled. "The only way I would like that squid would be dead on a platter. I will not get on the boat."

The other first years were beginning to get impatient, shuffle their feet, and glare at Rodolphus.

He snapped.

"What do you all wanted?" He snarled. Then, pointing to a boy in jeans, "You have some nerve Mudblood, to look at me that way! I am the only one intelligent enough to have a lick of sense!"

"Don' use tha' language!" Hagrid ordered.

Rodolphus glared up at the much taller man. "Why are you put in charge of this? You great oaf, I bet this lake thing was your idea."

Then he looked to where the carriages had disappeared. "I shall walk."

Hagrid picked Rodolphus up when he turned and deposited him in a boat.

Later, once in the hall, Bellatrix caught Rodolphus' eye. He had the look he always caught when things went the very opposite way he wanted them to. His green eyes were wide and sparking with anger, and they twitched around, glaring at everyone. His pale hands were clenched into fists, and his lips were pursed. He barely moved, and when anyone touched him, he jumped wildly and moved away from them, mumbling curses.

"Poor Rodolphus. You know how much he hates being over water," Narcissa murmured.

"He only does not like that because his precious hair could get wet, or his precious robes, or his precious skin – " Augustus sneered.

"You only saw that because you are jealous," Bellatrix snapped.

By this point, McGonagall had gotten to "Lestrange, Rodolphus."

Rodolphus obediently marched up to the stool and sat down, but he held the hat delicately in his hands. "I am not going to put this ratty thing on my head."

McGonagall pursed her lips, having already gone through this problem with certain other students.

Narcissa smirked at Rodolphus, envisioning herself, and Lucius shook his head, ever the hypocrite.

"I'm sure it will only take a moment. Please." She ordered.

Scowling, Rodolphus did as asked.

You do not seem to be a very stable young man.

"What is that supposed to mean?" Rodolphus knew there was nothing wrong with him.

Paranoia, short-temper, an interest in the Dark Arts, emotionally stunted, just to name a few.

"So?"

Shall we go through all the houses. Your father wanted to hear it all.

"Just get it over with."

Hufflepuff. Loyal, in all the wrong ways. Not friendly or open-minded. Definitely not. Ravenclaw. Bright, very bright. Gryffindor. Brave, yes, but not exceedingly so. You think before you do things and you have quite a high amount of self-preservation.

The hat said –

"Slytherin!"

The Slytherin table erupted in cheers, and Rodolphus yanked the hat of his head, tossed it on the floor, and tread on it as he went to his seat. He heard none of what McGonagall had to say.

As he sat down, he smoothed his shiny, dark brown hair, glaring at the hat, now on the head of the Mudblood he had insulted.

"Such an attitude," Bellatrix remarked, clicking her tongue.

"Just like Lucius. Pretty boys." Bellatrix wrinkled her nose and glared at Rodolphus. "You are a pure-blood. Act like one."

"I do!" Rodolphus defended.

"Leave him alone!" Narcissa abolished. "You are only mad because you are hungry. Calm yourself and wait. Please, Bella." She pleaded.

"Very well, Cissy… Malfoy! Get you slimy hands off my sister!" She shirked. The hall turned to look at her.

"Bella, what the bloody hell is the matter with you?" The fellow Black asked. Bellatrix knew Narcissa was engaged, and she knew she loved Lucius, and she damn well knew they were together.

"I do not like to see his dirty hands on my little sister." Bellatrix shrugged, glaring still at Lucius.

"And I don't like to see your dirty hands on my fiancée," Lucius snarled.

"I need a wash," Rodolphus muttered angrily. "Absolutely disgusting. Why can't the thing be cleaned?"

Bellatrix, Lucius, Narcissa, Antonin, and Augustus stared at Rodolphus. He sat stiffly in his seat, small hands smoothing over his head, scowling. He glared at Dumbledore, the door, and the table, as if willing Dumbledore to make the food appear.

Everyone who knew Rodolphus knew that he hated germs, hated when things didn't go his way, and hated anything that messed up his pretty perfect image. The hat and the boat ride are two examples of things Rodolphus detests. He was not used to not getting his way, and definitely not used to such atrocities happening twice in one day.

"Rodolphus, it is not that bad," Bellatrix said dismissively. "It spent almost no time on your head. Get over it."

"Food!" Antonin exclaimed happily.

"Do not interrupt-"

"Food!" Augustus cheered.

Conversation ceased until the teenagers made their way into the Common Room.

"Go away now, firstie, I don't need you mucking up my image," Antonin said dismissively.

Rodolphus swung around to glare at Antonin, "Don't call me a firstie!"

"Who is that noisy little bugger?" Some fifth year muttered.

Rodolphus looked at her.

"I am your worst nightmare!"

She laughed cruelly and walked over to Rodolphus, bending to press one finger over his lips. "Aw, now baby, be a good boy. Didn't Mummy ever teach you to respect your elders?"

Rodolphus took out his wand and hexed her. "My mother is dead," he snarled.

Narcissa glared at the girl. "You stupid little half-blood…" Rodolphus did not get to hear the rest of what Narcissa had to say. He had stomped into his dorm, grabbed his toiletries from his truck, and had holed himself up in the bathroom.

Things were not going the way he wanted, and Rodolphus could not wait for his education to end.