Rodolphus slipped into the nearly empty pub with a nod of greeting to the older man at the counter. He remembered how, at first, the pub had been a place to get away from the masses of Hogwarts students that stared at all Slytherins with the eyes that held the same distrust despite their differences. It was like they expected all of them to be Death Eaters, and Rodolphus thought that a little unfair.
It wasn't all of them, just… most of them.
The pub had become a common escape for most of the Slytherins after that, and the owner indulged them by making sure he had more butterbeer over the Hogsmeade weekends. There were still the few Slytherins that sat at The Three Broomsticks, of course, the ones who could ignore the stares and heated glares, but Rodolphus had never been one of those people, despite his Pureblood upbringing.
Rabastan found it hilarious because he a part of the gang that consisted of Malfoy and most of the Blacks that had claimed a table within The Three Broomsticks. None of the other Houses dared say anything for fear of their lives and the lives of their families, as ridiculous as that sounded. A self-depreciating smile touched his lips, before being hidden behind a glass of firewhiskey.
Now The Hog's Head was the only place where they weren't judged. The war had marked all of them as traitors to the Ministry and the rest of the magical population. That hadn't been why they joined, they had only wanted to be able to freely practice the magic that ran through their blood and in their veins, but they had lost. Whatever hope they had once held on to had slipped through their fingers with the loss of their Lord's sanity, and the loss of the war as a result.
She had fought against him, against them, but Rodolphus couldn't blame her for it. Her life had been in danger with their Lord's ever declining sanity, and, now, Rodolphus couldn't help but feel glad that they hadn't won.
Forgiveness had always been hard earned, if earned at all. It had always been too much effort, in Rodolphus's opinion, yet hers had come so easily.
Rabastan slipped into the seat next to Rodolphus. A glass of firewhiskey appeared before him moments later, and he nodded his thanks to the owner. The black cloaks that covered both their faces didn't prevent them from recognising each other, they didn't think anything could prevent something like that. They had been together for all their lives, after all, even through the entirety of his marriage to the insane Bellatrix Black.
It had always been just them.
Always until a year ago.
The door swung widely open with no attempt at the more silent entrance everyone else had tried. Her face wasn't covered either, although they doubted anything could disguise that frizzy hair that they loved so much. Her brown eyes sparkled as she caught sight of their hooded figures, and the door slammed shut behind her. A cheerful wave was cast towards the owner, and was returned with an exasperated smile, before she sat on the remaining chair at their table.
Hermione Granger was truly something else.
"Hermione," each of them greeted, a sile spreading across their faces despite the attention that had been drawn towards them. Rodolphus wished, for once, that they didn't have to keep them a secret. It was usually Rabastan that enjoyed flaunting everything, but this was Hermione, and she would be worth every jealous glare.
"Rabastan! Rodolphus! I hope I didn't make you wait too long!"
"Not at all. I only just got here myself," Rabastan assured her.
Hermione grinned, "I can see Rodolphus has been nursing that Firewhiskey for the past hour."
Rodolphus's eyes widened, "How did you know?!"
Hermione and Rabastan burst into laughter at Rodolphus's expense, and Rodolphus could feel himself smile despite it. It was rare to see his brother so carefree nowadays, and he only managed to see it when they were with Hermione. Even Rabastan's Pureblood etiquette was gone, missing amidst his glee. Rodolphus would like to think that Hermione was her happiest with them too.
Because this was where she belonged, Rodolphus was sure of it.
Written for Ultimate Chocolate Frog Card Club: Rodolphus Lestrange
Written for History of Magic: Magical Architecture [Hog's Head]
Written for Ultimate Hermione Competition [Hermione/OT3: Hermione/Rabastan/Rodolphus]