Word Count: 489
When the war ends, Rodolphus doesn't know what else to do. Maybe there's a part of him that thinks he should stay and hand himself over. The Dark Lord has fallen; who is there to be loyal to now?
But he doesn't. He does the only thing he can think of.
He runs.
Bellatrix would hate him for that.
…
She slaps him hard enough that his head jerks violently. "Do you even care? The Dark Lord is gone, and here you are, acting like a coward."
He will not back down. This is a game they've played for so long. Neither really love one another, but he had tried. Bellatrix, however, remains wholly indifferent. Once, he had thought they could find some compromise, some agreement to actually pretend.
She likes doing things the hard way, and he will oblige.
"'Scuse me," he says, eyes rolling. "Didn't realize I was married to a bloody Gryffindor."
Her scowl gives him deep satisfaction. It lasts for just a flicker of a moment, but it is enough. "We're leaving," she tells him. "We shall find our master."
…
He's surprised by the heavy weight of sadness that settles in his. It isn't as though he loved her. Still, she had been a constant in his life. Perhaps he had come to care for her, even if the feeling was not mutual.
But no. It isn't just grief for his fallen wife. He's lost more than that in this bloody war. Rabastan is gone too, taken in a blast of green light. His brother, his extraordinary baby brother, is dead.
…
Rabastan folds his arms over his chest and huffs, drawing Rodolphus' attention away from his book. Rodolphus looks at his little brother, amused. He's always thought he was the one to take care of Rabastan, but Rabastan does the same for him. Rodolphus can see it in his little brother's eyes now.
"I'm gonna say it, and you're gonna listen," Rabastan tells him. "And then when you're ready, you let me help you."
Rodolphus shakes his head. "If this is about Bella, save your breath. You know I have to do what Father tells me to. Be happy you're the youngest. Less pressure."
Rabastan doesn't smile at that. He worries too much, really. Rodolphus thinks it's sweet, if a little annoying.
"I want you to be happy, Rod."
Rodolphus sighs. Rabastan has such a kind heart. "We can't always get what we want."
The younger man purses his lips, falling silent as he seems to consider this. "Yeah, well, you should."
Rodolphus laughs and reaches up, affectionately ruffling Rabastan's hair. "Guess we'll just have to wait and see what the future holds, eh?"
…
Rodolphus doesn't actually know where he's going. Maybe he's searching for that happy future Rabastan wanted him to have. Maybe he's waiting for the miracle to happen.
Still, he walks on, and he doesn't dare to look back.