A/N: this is for he RPS prompt 'a smokey haze' for the Rodolphus/Hermione/Rabastan table. It's also for the november writing month and is 1112 words.

As he came back to consciousness, Rabastan realised that the haziness from the Imperius curse had lifted.

He didn't open his eyes straight away as he didn't know where or who he was with.

Moments later he heard voices coming from somewhere near.

"Why don't we try and question them before handing them over to the rest of the Order?" a woman asked.

"They're Death Eaters. There's no way they will talk," a male voice answered.

The events came rushing back to him. The mission Bellatrix had sent them on, and the explosion that happened when he and Rodolphus had been in the building.

He wondered how his brother was doing. It was obvious now that members of the Order had captured them.

Rabastan opened his eyes slowly to get his bearings.

Looking around, he noticed that he had been placed in a bedroom with only the barest of furniture. On top of the table opposite was a small supply of potions and bandages. It surprised him greatly that they had bothered to heal him; obviously they wouldn't torture him for information.

He heard a shuffling noise near the door and turned towards it.

"Oh, you're awake. How are you feeling?" she asked.

"I've been better," Rabastan said croakily.

"You've been unconscious for three days and during that time we've been healing your burns," she said.

"Thank you, Miss Granger," he said, finally recognising her face.

"Don't thank me yet. We still want to question you."

"Could I have some water please?" he asked.

"Of course. Did you want something to eat as well? I can make you some broth," she offered.

"That would be nice. How is my brother? I assume he is here as well."

"He's…he's still healing. The burns he had were a lot worse than yours; almost as if he took the full blast of it to protect you," Hermione informed him.

"Can I see him?"

"Yes, I will bring your water and broth and then you can go to him."

Rabastan nodded.

She left the room at that point.

He wasn't sure what he expected, but it certainly wasn't this. Hermione Granger was treating him more as a guest than a prisoner.

Hermione returned five minutes later with a glass of ice cold water and it felt like heaven.

"Are you strong enough to stand, or do you need help?"

"I should be fine," Rabastan replied.

Shifting to the edge of the bed, he pushed himself up and stumbled slightly.

Small hands helped steady him.

The short walk to Rodolphus' room next door was excruciating. The explosion, and then lying still for three days meant that his body was tense and sore.

Once inside he sat on the chair by the side of the bed.

His brother was lying on his right side, facing toward him. There was what looked to be burn paste on most of his exposed skin. The only place which didn't seem too bad was his face as there was only a light layer and he could see the pink skin underneath.

"I know it looks bad, but it's a lot better than it was. We've had Charlie Weasley come and help out with both of you as he knows how to treat burns. There will be some scarring but it should heal properly," Hermione told him.

"Thank you. I don't think he'd mind the scars. At least they will be better than the ones he already had," he told her before carrying on. "Is his Dark Mark still there?"

"Not entirely. The image is definitely gone, but there is still some magic lingering in the skin where it was."

They sat in silence for a few moments before Hermione asked, "Do you have any idea who might have set the explosion?"

"Bellatrix," he said.

The name tasted like ash in his mouth.

Hermione frowned.

"I know what you're thinking, but you're wrong. She has had Dolph and I under the Imperius curse since the first war. The only time it broke was once we were in Azkaban, but the moment she regained her wand she recast it.

"She's not the best at potions so someone else must have helped her. It wouldn't have been Snape as they hate each other," he replied.

"You've been under the Imperius curse this whole time?" Hermione said trying and failing to keep the skepticism from her voice.

"You might not believe me but it's true. We've been trying to fight it off, but Bellatrix is a powerful witch. I guess between that and the explosion it worked. I can think clearly now; it's no longer such a haze on my mind."

Hermione was quiet for a few moments trying to process the new information.

"If it helps I will tell you everything. All the plans that have been made, who is responsible for the disappearances and murders of witches and wizards, and where some of them are buried. Will that help me gain your trust?" Rabastan asked.

"You would really give us all that?" she asked, astonished.

"I've hated everything I have done for Him the past thirty years. I cannot make up for all of it, but I can try to right some of the wrongs," he admitted.

For the next few hours he told her all the information he could all while wondering what his future would look like.

Hopefully the Order would take pity on him once he had told them everything and at least let him live. He hoped his brother would follow his example even though he was more stubborn.

-0-0-0-

Three years later

"Are you ready yet, love?" he called up the stairs.

"Just a minute!" Hermione shouted.

Rodolphus walked to the bottom of the stairs and said, "Where's Hermione? We're going to be late."

"She's only going to be a minute," Rabastan said.

"More like ten then," Rodolphus commented.

"I heard that," Hermione said as she started descending the stairs.

"You look stunning, love," Rabastan said, taking her hand and kissing it.

"Beautiful," Rodolphus said in awe.

"And the both of you look handsome as always."

Three years ago their wife had done everything in her power to keep them out of Azkaban whilst reintegrating them into wizarding society.

It had worked eventually as all of the information they provided in their interviews had been confirmed. It gave credence to the allegation of being under the Imperius curse, until Narcissa Malfoy had sworn in front of the Wizengamot that the brothers were telling the truth.

Since then their lives had improved and the only thing that could make them happier now was if Hermione announced that she was pregnant.