Unlikely Allies, Chapter 17
"You're saying that you actually know where Merlin's lake is," Regulus asked Marlene. His gaze was suddenly eager and fascinated, as if there was no danger of Dark Lord madness looming over them.
"Not really," she answered with a shrug. "Besides, as I said, it's all ruined now with Vo...Damn it, with HIS inferi! I wish I could remember to stop saying his name," she complained.
"A pity," Regulus murmured regretfully, obviously still thinking about Merlin and Nimue's lake. "I wonder if Arthur's sword is truly in it as the old legends claim."
"Now that's a thought," Marlene said, suddenly brightening as she straightened in her chair. Perhaps Regulus's vaunted intelligence had some fact to it after all. "What if we could use Excalibur to kill him! I mean it's supposed to be super powerful and magical." Though the idea did raise her spirits for an instant, Marlene's own doubts deflated them just as quickly. There went damned logic, popping a bubble of hope once again. "Then again how to get it out if it's even really there...I mean that lake is full of Inferi. They nearly killed Kreacher...that is they will nearly kill Kreacher if things don't change and...you, well..." She glanced hurriedly away from Regulus, trying not to remember the Inferi dragging him under in that first vision she'd had. "Just it'll be hard to get the sword out if it is in there at all," she muttered.
"If all this about The Dark Lord is true...I don't know what I shall do," Bellatrix suddenly spoke, voice breaking on the last word. "He taught me! Trained me! Said I was nearly like the daughter he never had! He said he saw so much potential in me...qualities that allowed me to be his right hand. He said I was like him! But if he is a soulless thing, what the hell? I don't think I am precisely soulless!" Her voice rose on a shriek and Marlene blinked.
"Um...I'd not worry about it? He's like insane, and his opinions should hardly matter?"
Why was Bellatrix Lestrange, a young woman who seemed to have it all, concerned about that rather than the fact she could end up dead or worse were this not played out properly.
"What does that say about me, Roddy," Bellatrix demanded, seemingly ignoring Marlene. Her dark eyes were wild as she turned to Rodolphus, who sat at her side.
"Perhaps that you should eat more? Everyone is more rational on a full stomach," Rodolphus said sagely, giving Marlene a slight smile as she nodded.
"Is there something in me that's that bloody lacking that he sought me out and..."
"No," Rabastan spoke up firmly. "He sees you as the power hungry bitch we all know and love is all."
"But why not train Roddy as well, then," Bellatrix demanded. "He's as hungry for power as he is for anything else, after all." Her lips twitched slightly as Rodolphus gave an appreciative chuckle.
"Perhaps he doesn't believe me to be as smart as you are," Rodolphus said with a careless shrug.
"Rubbish," Bellatrix snapped. "It's likely because you're another man. A would be rival."
Rodolphus's eyes widened as he shook his head. "I could never..."
"Why not," Bellatrix shot back. "You are a very gifted man, Rodolphus."
"Okay everyone is great...No one is soulless like Voldemort and he's crazy. Now can we get back to figuring out how to do this getting rid of him thing right," Marlene interrupted the madness as gently as she could.
"I need a drink," Bellatrix declared shakily. She gave Walburga a pleading look and Walburga nodded at Kreacher.
"Drinks for everyone, Kreacher."
"Including you," Regulus told the elf as Kreacher rose from his seat at the table.
Well this could only get better with a drink, Marlene thought in nearly hysterical amusement. The situation was almost surreal, but oddly comforting at the same time because they seemed to believe her...at least sort of. "I saw most of you die if you try to kill him directly," Marlene said. "You, Mrs. Black, were not informed, because Mr. Black and Regulus wished to protect you. Later when you were a ghost, you were very angry about this. You felt had you known, you could've handled the situation far better than the men."
"Surely true," Walburga muttered dryly. Then giving Marlene a startled look, eyes narrowing she asked, "If I was uninvolved, why was I dead, then?"
Marlene grinned. "Ah, you are paying attention. Good. You died from some disease, but I think a lot of it was grief over Regulus and Mr. Black making you not properly take care of the signs that could've sent you to the healers quicker."" Orion looked ill. He was the first to reach for a drink when Kreacher entered the room with a tray full of small crystal goblets. "Brandy," the elf said to Bellatrix's questioning glance. "It felt the most festive to Kreacher, and it is the holidays."
Bellatrix gave a hysterical laugh and Marlene had to bite her lip to keep from doing the same. "The Dark Lord is a soulless madman! Merry Christmas and happy new year! Thank you, Santa," Bellatrix said dryly.
"I think it would help all of us to process if you demonstrate your skills for us," Orion told Marlene gravely. She nodded readily, glad to have come prepared. As Kreacher passed out the drinks, she brought out her crystal ball and glanced around the table.
"Who should I try to read for?" Then feeling that she should clarify she added in a rush, "I like to say try, because this is still all so new that I never feel entirely confident that anything will come of it."
"Whoever you like," Orion said, and she nodded.
"I'll just try everyone and see what happens," she said, drawing in a deep breath before glancing at the Lestranges then into the clear crystal depths of her ball. She was surprised to see them all as children. They looked rather similar except in miniature. Rodolphus was already a stocky strongly built boy at about ten or so, and Bellatrix sat at his side, a thin undeveloped girl with long dark hair and intelligent dark eyes. They sat together on the floor across from Rabastan who appeared to be around six. He enthusiastically built a castle of blocks while they helped. When Bella and Rod glanced away to speak to one another, Rabastan surreptitiously knocked the castle down so that they would have to begin the process all over again. He loved their attention and wasn't ready for it to end. They didn't complain, simply helping him to rebuild the castle, bigger and better than before.
"You three used to make castles from building blocks. Rabastan really loved it when you played with him. He loved it so much he once knocked the castle down to prolong the play time, because he knew you'd help him build it again. He wasn't being mean, though, he just loved your attention that much." As she spoke, Marlene glanced up at Rodolphus and Bellatrix.
Bellatrix chuckled, looking up from her now empty glass. "I remember that! Remember, Roddy? I saw him knock that castle down out of the corner of one eye and told you later how cute it was."
"You saw, damn it," Rabastan groaned, laughing. "And I thought I was being so smooth."
"And none of you spoke of this to anyone else," Orion asked the Lestranges. All three shook their heads.
"Marlene has already read for us, Kreacher and I that is, so she won't need to do that again," Regulus said hastily as Marlene glanced around the table. She knew he was concerned that she'd spill about he and Kreacher, which she probably would not do. She shot him a frown before turning her gaze to his parents, then to the ball cupped in her hands. She stared into the crystal for a long time, because it took a while for anything to come.
"I see you, Mr. and Mrs. Black as teenagers. You enjoyed parties with your friends very much. It is difficult to see much because you are so private. At least that's the impression I get. Both of you are very skilled, Mr. Black, especially you when it comes to defensive spells and wards. Mrs. Black is very smart, though, and I do believe she can help and that you can still keep her safe. She had the highest marks in all her classes at Hogwarts. Always the highest of anyone."
"That is true," Walburga said proudly. "More brandy, please Kreacher. Everyone has finished theirs save for Marlene.""
"Have you ever drunk scried," Rabastan asked with an amused grin and Marlene shook her head.
"I'm not sure if it would be as reliable. I never thought of trying it before, though." She chuckled. "Who knows? Perhaps I'd even see more." She lifted her glass and took a sip. The brandy was cherry flavored and thickly sweet. Kreacher was right. It was festive. "If anyone has particular questions, I can try to scry out specific topics," Marlene offered, in case she hadn't proven herself enough. Though this sort of thing stressed her and put her on the spot, she did understand why people required it if they were to change their lives on her word alone, or in this case even with Regulus and Kreacher's word added to it. As everyone considered, Kreacher went to refill the drinks. He was back in less than a minute passing out the fresh glasses to everyone but Marlene, who still had a nearly full glass.
"I think I'm good," Rodolphus spoke first. "I believe you. It is very worrisome, but I believe you. I have no idea what the fuck we're going to do, but I believe you. " At that pronouncement, Bellatrix burst into silent tears. Rodolphus took her into his arms, holding her close as she clung to him in return. "It'll be alright, Babe. We'll sort it somehow. I have no idea how, but we will."
"You could always go to Dumbledore," Marlene said. "I think he knows something about Vol...About him. I get the impression he could help at any rate even if not. He could work with you, combining forces to do this right."
"Dumbledore," Walburga asked skeptically. Marlene nodded. "And he's going to believe us," Walburga demanded.
"I think he will have to," Marlene said. "Of course I will come along to talk with him. I assume you would prefer that so he knows you can be trusted and are not in fact spying for Volde...damn it for him or something." It was harder than it may seem not to use someone's bloody name when bloody referring to them!
"I agree with Rodolphus," Orion spoke up. "I believe you, young lady. You have proven yourself tonight combined with what Regulus has already said of your skills. Granted it would be easier not to believe you, to simply go on as we were, but I can't see my family harmed or dead because I ignored that which was uncomfortable to hear."
Walburga tossed back her second glass of brandy, then chuckled. "I believe her, because how would a Gryffindor her age be aware of Horcruxes?"
Rabastan Lestrange laughed. "Great bloody point." He tossed back his brandy, still gazing at Marlene.
"Is this going to be a drinking contest," Bellatrix asked, sniffing and wiping at her eyes as she straightened from Rodolphus's shoulder. "Because if it is, Roddy and I are going to drink all of you under the bloody table!" It should've been a festive holiday drinking contest among a strange crazy family, and instead it was comfort drinking due to very unsettling news, Marlene thought a little sadly.