Hi guys! Here's the next chapter, which I really hope you'll like. And if you could spare a minute and leave a review, I'd be the happiest. Thank you so much!
She stood against him, wand in her hand and was preparing herself for him to send the first spell. And soon he did. But Caroline cheated a little bit and watched his thoughts and just as he send an Expelliarmus in her way, she concurred a weak shield to rebound it. She was successful but it didn't escape the notice of her companion, that she was just a bit too quick.
"I've said no mind reading of yours, Caroline," he said with a smirk and send another curse. She was able to block that, even the second one and to her surprise, even the third one, but he was too quick and even with her knowing what he was going to do next, she couldn't concur a shield strong enough for his fourth spell flying towards her.
Her back cracked as she hit the floor with high force. She closed her eyes as she was waiting for the pain to vanish. But his voice didn't allow her much rest. "Blamie. You've really gotten better." She could hear the mocking in his voice but she also felt a hint of surprise from him.
He's never seen her rebound three spells in such speed. But then again, she spent a lot of time living with Severus Snape, who, as he often reminded her in the beginning of their fragile friendship, couldn't bear to live with someone, who can't even disarm his opponent properly. And by properly he meant anyone, whose occlumency was strong enough to prevent her from reading through their minds like in open book and know every step they're going to make. This meant that when Severus started to practise with her, she was actually unable to do anything against him.
Rabastan's mind just crossed a though to send another spell in her direction, which Caroline used and before he could actually perform the spell, she send her own disarming one towards him, while still lying on the ground. Rabastan blocked it with ease but a hint of surprise appeared in his mind. He wasn't used to her being the one firing the offensive spell.
They continued for almost two hours, all the attempts usually ending with Caroline disarmed and on the ground. Although Rabastan showed her enough courtesy to actually perform a cushing charm, in order to prevent her for actually breaking her some of her bones several times. When they've finished, both of them looked like they went through quite a workout. Although Caroline was a little bit pleased to see that her husband showed some sweat as well and his hair were almost as messy as Caroline's. Although still overpowering Caroline in every combat way, his years in Azkaban weren't easy on him.
They just exited the room in order to get changed when the main door opened and Bella and Rodolphus entered the house.
"Oh, hello. You look like you had a bit of fun," said Bella with a mocking voice after eying them both. Rodolphus didn't say a word but send a questing gaze towards his brother. Caroline was too exhausted to reply, so she just murmured a greeting and turned around in order to leave the room with the excuse of making herself presentable.
But when she was on her leave, Rabastan stopped her. Caroline sent him a questioning look before she noticed his opened hand. Irritation and hurt filled her mind, but she made sure to hold her face emotionless. She took her wand and placed it into his palm, not letting him know that she hoped to keep her wand with her. Because although her spell work wasn't really strong, like every witch or wizard, she felt a strong connection with her wand.
Caroline was too tired to actually pay any attention to the minds present around her and just as she was leaving, she heard Bella asking Rabastan in mocking voice: "What is it you were actually doing?"
She didn't stop to hear Rabastan answer.
Then it continued as before. From time to time Rabastan would take her and practise a bit but that didn't change the fact that Caroline was slowly falling into apathy. And also, she couldn't decide whether it annoyed her or saddened her, that Rabastan was still keeping her wand. Another week passed, until an important visitor arrived.
She was just on her way to her private potions lab, where she spent a lot of her time lately, when she met her husband together with Lucius Malfoy in one of the corridors.
He greeted her politely, kissed her hand and complimented her appearance, claiming it was nice to see her well and unharmed, after the time they couldn't find her.
"I actually wanted to talk to you," he said with a polite smile and Caroline could see with the corners of her eyes how Rabastan raised his eyebrows at that.
"How can I help you, Lucius?" she asked nicely, as her husband was eying them both suspiciously.
"You were the healer who looked after Bode, weren't you?"