A/N: Hey babes! Thank you all so much for your reviews, favorites and follows! I am so excited you liked the little date between Regulus and Hermione, even if they would totally deny that it was a date, haha! Now, you will get a chance to see what kind of date Rabastan is, lol. If you'd like, you can follow me over on tumblr (nauticalparamour) where I post sneak peeks, story updates and answer questions. Huge thank you to Alassea Black for beta reading this chapter!
Please let me know what you thought of chapter twenty-one and be on the lookout for chapter twenty-two soon!
By the time that her tea with Rabastan rolled around, Hermione found that she wasn't nearly as nervous as she expected she would be. After having dealt with Dolohov, Hermione found that she wasn't so afraid of Rabastan Lestrange. Especially not while knowing that Cassiopeia would be in the same room as her. If she knew one thing, it was that Cassiopeia wouldn't allow her to be put into an unsafe location.
The Orangery Tea Room was nothing like Madam Puddifoot's, to Hermione's vast relief. Instead, it was a very classic British establishment full of scones and the soft clinking of spoons. Cassiopeia had insisted that she get a new set of robes for the occasion, which Hermione could now admit was making her feel more confident.
Rabastan stood as soon as she walked in the room, walking over to greet her and her two chaperones, who were to be seated nearby, but not so close as to be hovering. She could admit that he looked rather nice, but he made her a bit uncomfortable with how formal he was being, bending at the waist to press a kiss to the back of her hand. "Miss Dagworth-Granger, you look beautiful today," he said suavely, obviously used to doing well with witches.
"Thank you," she accepted, letting him press a hand into her lower back so that he could guide her to their secluded table. Once she was seated, she looked around the room briefly, seeing some people who might be familiar, but not familiar enough to recognize.
He'd already ordered and once the tea was served he looked at her a bit expectantly, before Hermione realized he was waiting for her to pour for him. Biting the inside of her cheek, Hermione tried to tamp down her annoyance. Of course, she served tea for Cassiopeia all the time, but didn't mind because Cassiopeia was her friend and even though the older witch pretended like she was spry as ever, Hermione knew that the constant up and down of the couch was harder on her than she'd like to give away. With Rabastan, she was positive that this was the kind of treatment he expected from witches.
Rabastan happily picked up the teacup, his light green eyes looking at her own with mischief. "Hermione, may I call you Hermione?" he questioned, but moved on before she could agree to it. "I was so glad that you agreed to come to tea with me, though I must confess I wish that you'd have just agreed to the courtship outright.
"Rabastan, if I might call you that?" Hermione mimicked him, seeing a pleased smirk on his face. "I must say that I was...while very flattered by your offer of courtship, I was also a bit caught off-guard. It was my understanding, from my grandfather, that such a formal offer of courtship was not typically practiced in these modern times."
Her date gave her a little smile, as if she were some sad, naive creature. "Of course, Hermione. But your family isn't one of the Sacred 28, so I suppose he might have been unfamiliar with such practices," Rabastan patted her hand gently. "Don't worry, though. I intend to treat you with the utmost respect that a pureblood girl in our most exclusive circle should be treated."
Hermione knew that he was probably meaning to flatter her, but she was sure if she had been a pureblood girl, she would have found it incredibly offensive. "The Sacred 28?" she questioned with a laugh. "That sounds a bit antiquated. What's its purpose?" She'd been unable to escape the idea of a Sacred 28 whilst at Hogwarts - no one had been with the likes of Theodore Nott and Draco Malfoy peacocking about - but, generally it was regarded as a stuffy directory made up by a man who had nothing better to do than think about how exclusive his family was.
Rabastan appeared to be momentarily horrified by her words, but he quickly collected his face. "I keep forgetting how sheltered your life must have been in the Alps," he said. "The Sacred 28 is a vital part of our quest to keep our culture pure. The government has become far too permissive, letting mud-" he caught himself before the pejorative could escape his lips in polite company. "Muggleborns into our society without teaching them the basics of Wizarding culture and its greatness."
Hermione was a bit taken aback by his directness and passion. She could easily see how someone without more of a mind of her own could be swayed by his words. He made it seem as if they were being overrun by hordes of muggleborn invaders, which in her experience was just not true. Muggleborns had not even made up ten percent of her class at Hogwarts. "So you would like to teach muggleborns about wizarding culture? I am sure that is a noble ambition," she played a bit dumb.
Rabastan leaned in closer to her. "Well, it would certainly be an improvement on our current curriculum where we are expected to learn muggle culture. What an oxymoron!" he teased with a laugh that Hermione could admit sounded pleasant if you ignored the poison of his words. "I think we need to be a bit more drastic, though, to save our culture. We should stop admitting muggleborns at all, before the damage is permanent."
She wanted to roll her eyes at his words, which seemed so preposterous. "But what about the muggleborns? Won't they have bouts of accidental magic? They could expose our world without proper guidance."
"They could eventually be admitted to our society, once we get a handle on it," Rabastan said with a shrug, before taking a bite of a scone. Then he leaned in a bit closer. "But, then again, my darling, I would say that the muggleborns and what the muggles do to them is really none of our concern," he told her sweetly. "You are so good to think of them, but I promise you that they won't return the favor."
Hermione forced herself to take a deep breath at how typical Rabastan was being. She didn't know much about the man other than his Death Eater leanings, but what she was finding out on this little date was far from positive. Wanting to steer the conversation to other topics, Hermione tried to focus on work. "So, do you want to pursue a legal career in order to bring about the changes you wish to see? Perhaps in the Wizengamot?" she questioned, remembering that it was Regulus's ambition.
Rabastan laughed. "No, that is Rodolphus's plan, seeing as he is the older son, though to be honest, neither one of us has much interest in government."
She made a little noise as if she understood, but she couldn't fathom turning down an opportunity like that. Though she supposed one less Lestrange in the Wizengamot could only be a good thing, if they were all so insistent on being pureblood zealots. "If you aren't interested in the Wizengamot, what will you do for a job?" she questioned, trying hard to make the conversation work.
"I'm the second son, a job isn't something that's necessary for me," he said with a grin. "I spend my time traveling, watching Quidditch, going to parties with my friends. All terribly indolent, I know, but I wouldn't trade it for anything. We'd have plenty of time to see the world together."
Hermione gave him a small smile, though she couldn't imagine living a more boring life. Travel would be nice for a while, but she knew that she couldn't sit by idly by, especially not when there was so much to do. "I've thought that it might be interesting to be...I don't know, a curse-breaker or something. Cassiopeia is helping me to arrange taking my NEWTs next year," she explained, a little bit of excitement filling her veins.
Rabastan, on the other hand, looked completely horrified. "A curse-breaker? Darling, surely there are more worthwhile pursuits that a lady of your standing would be interested in. Something more suitable," he argued, completely ignoring the crestfallen look on her face. "All pureblood ladies have some little pet project. Narcissa Malfoy organizes charities to combat dragon pox, for example."
Clearing her throat, Hermione tried to regain control of the discussion about her life. "That may be, but I am interested in something a bit more fulfilling than a pet project. My...grandfather didn't raise me to be idle, and I've come to appreciate hard work."
Her date gave her a little smile, before patting her on the hand. "Well, that's nice, I suppose," Rabastan dismissed her ambitions. "I'd certainly have the hardest working wife."
Hermione was horrified that Rabastan thought that this date was going well enough that she would actually see herself getting married to him. Of course, it had never been a real option in Hermione's eyes - she'd rather fake her death than marry Rabastan Lestrange - but he certainly thought rather highly of himself. If he honestly thought she'd want a husband who dismissed her likes and wants, he was truly delusional. Retreating into herself, she spent the rest of their date letting him lead the conversation, which, predictably, remained superficial.
She nearly jumped for joy when Cassiopeia finally walked over and ended the date for them. Rabastan was quick to hop to his feet and offered Hermione his arm for their walk to the door. Taking her hand in his, he pressed a kiss to the back of her hand. "I had a really great time today, Hermione. I hope you will consider my offer of courtship."
Giving the handsome man a tight smile, Hermione nodded. "Thank you, Rabastan. I promise I will think on it."
"Sorry I'm late," Frank whispered to Moody when he walked into the Order meeting. "I just saw something interesting in Diagon Alley," the blond whispered to the other man, ignoring the confused looks of his wife from across the room.
"Something interesting enough to share with the rest of the Order?" Moody asked back, tuning out whatever it was that Dumbledore was talking about at the moment.
Frank shrugged his shoulders, before nodding. He wasn't sure that it would end up being something of note, but he didn't think he could just leave it be either. Not giving him a chance to think it over, Moody was shoving Frank into the middle of the circle. "Er, I might have something, Professor," he stammered, trying to apologize for the interruption. "We've had reports of a Dark Witch. Someone we are unfamiliar with."
"Go on," Dumbledore nodded, steepling his fingers together.
"Well, a new witch was first noticed at a party thrown by Abraxas Malfoy. She's been seen with Antonin Dolohov and Regulus Black, as well," he said with a slight blush on his cheek when he made eye contact with Sirius. "Then, today, I saw her in the company of Lestrange as well."
"Which Lestrange?" one of the Prewett brothers asked, with curiosity.
"Rabastan," Frank said, hiding a smile. "Unfortunately, Bellatrix is still with us - I doubt she'd let Rodolphus be seen in public with another woman." The room erupted into tiny chuckles at the assessment, knowing how territorial the Black witch was. "Now, I am not really sure who she is, but she is on our radar. I think we should keep an eye on her."
While Dumbledore was agreeing that they should all keep their eyes peeled for anything suspicious with the Dark Witch, James was leaning forward to whisper into Sirius's ear. "Do you think it might be the woman who is living with your Great-Aunt?" he questioned.
Sirius made a little noise, thinking it over. Suddenly, the meeting that his Uncle Alphard had floated to him on the behalf of Regulus seemed a lot more interesting. Rubbing his hand across the bottom of his face, Sirius thought that he would definitely be hearing out what his little brother had to say. No, he wouldn't tell the Order about it, yet. Not until he had something worth sharing - there was no need to get anyones hopes up if it was nothing.
But it was very intriguing.