Hello again! I was worried I wouldn't be able to update, because like an idiot I spilled water on my precious computer yesterday and managed to kill the keyboard. So Now I have a cheap external keyboard, which is great; but sometimes the "a"s don't type, so sorry in advance for any typos (though hopefully my betas will pick up on them).

First of all, thanks so much to VidereLux for beta-ing as usual!

A new dedication to Zoya, who has agreed to be an in depth beta from chapter one (i.e. plot holes, etc...)

Thanks also to lizyeh2000, summersaults16, Teddy0407, Guest, VidereLux, Senyuu, Belle Tris Grey, Cae-Leigh Anne and Nik1804 for reviewing!

Also, I have decreed it Rabastan appreciation week, so this is entirely from Rabastan's POV. I have also written a short one-shot about him in chapter 3 of my various challenges if anyone wants to check it out.

They appeared in Hogsmeade, gasping for breath. Not because the Portkey had malfunctioned, or because they had inhaled too much dust at Little Hangleton, but because they were in shock from having made it out alive.

'Wow,' Barty summed up their feelings. 'That was…intense.'

'It's not always like that, Barty,' Rabastan hastened to say. 'That…didn't go according to plan.'

He looked down at Emma, disapproval and worry fighting for dominance of his features. Finally, he settled for just looking grimly at Regulus, who had been staring at the ground, thinking hard. When there was no obvious response from his best friend, Rabastan took charge.

'Rennervate,' he said, pointing his wand at Emma and hoping that she had just fainted, and not passed out from something worse.

The girl's eyes snapped open and she tried to sit up, only to clutch at her head in pain. Rabastan felt the thrill of the forbidden when he saw the Dark Mark on her forearm, lazily curling around her wrist.

Odd, Rabastan thought. I was sure that it couldn't move that much.

He shrugged it off, instead kneeling down in front of Emma. Barty still seemed to be in shock, and Regulus…well, who knew what Regulus was doing half the time? Mostly brooding and studying, from what Rabastan had experienced, though he was a more seasoned dueller than both of the other seventh years.

Still, there was a reason the Dark Lord hadn't included him in the tactician subgroup. Regulus was intelligent and a powerful wizard, but he wasn't a good planner, and tended to get caught up in situational analysis.

So Rabastan made himself the de facto leader, a position he usually hated. Then again, he didn't usually find himself in an ambush planted by a friend for their own side.

'There are a ton of Aurors there, Ems,' he said, slightly roughly. She still looked glazed, her blue eyes unfocused. 'Ems? Can you hear me?'

'Yeah,' she replied. 'Just don't whisper so much.'

Rabastan shot a worried look towards Barty and Regulus, who had by now tuned in to the conversation. None of them were particularly good at Healing, so they would just have to hope the noise would die down. The ringing in Rabastan's own ears from the blast had faded when they took the Portkey, but he hadn't been as close.

'What are we going to do?' he asked, a little louder. 'My brother's still out there, against at least twenty Aurors, with only Bellatrix and Dolohov to back him up. The others haven't arrived yet. I'm not sure they're even coming.'

The worry seeped into his voice as he imagined Rodolphus being carted off to Azkaban, Dolohov, his brother's best friend, who had always been his childhood idol, dead in the field like the Auror who had identified Emma.

'You had a plan for Little Hangleton. You have a plan for everything. What's your plan for this?' he raised his voice. Still, he didn't want Barty to accuse Emma of treachery, not when she had promised Rabastan she would look after their own, so he bit his tongue from saying more.

Emma blinked a few seconds, as though processing the information, then frowned at her Dark Mark, watching it curl around her wrist and elbow.

'I have an idea,' she said, slightly slurring her words. 'Show me your Dark Mark, Bast.'

Rabastan grudgingly obliged, but didn't know if showing his mark would do any good. Plus, Emma still seemed too out of it to plan anything. Now that Rabastan got a closer look at her,he could see that there was a slight trickle of blood trailing from one ear.

'Episkey,' a quiet voice sounded from his left.

Regulus had crouched down next to him, obviously having resolved his internal questions. Sensing Rabastan's gaze on him, Regulus turned to look at his friend, sharing his sense of futility. Immediately, Rabastan felt reassured.

He regretted his earlier thoughts. Though the others in their dorm never understood their friendship, Rabastan knew that Regulus was one of the few people who could be a true friend, loyal until the end. And Rabastan felt a sort of protectiveness over him. Regulus didn't belong in Slytherin, not truly. He rarely used the knowledge he gained over others against them. Privately, Rabastan thought that Regulus might have been Sorted into another House had he not been a Black, but was glad all the same.

He was glad for all of them.

Something sharp stabbed his arm and he hissed in pain. Looking down, he saw that Emma had cut into his forearm with a jagged rock. She smiled sheepishly at him.

'This ringing in my ears is killing me,' she said. 'I can't concentrate on the simplest of spells. Press your wand to the mark.'

Rabastan did as he was told, realising then what Emma's plan had been. The Dark Mark had blood magic, more powerful than the woven spells of even several wizards.

As Barty, Regulus and Emma clutched at their own arms, three large cracks resounded in the deserted village.

'Thanks, little brother,' Rodolphus said, clapping Rabastan on the shoulder.

Rabastan restrained himself from hugging his older brother in front of the others, but then changed his mind.

If I can't hug my brother when I thought he was about to die, when can I?' he thought to himself, hugging Rodolphus tightly.

The older man gave his thinner brother a few claps on the back, before clearing his throat and stepping back.

Before anything else could happen, another crack resounded, and the blond locks of Lucius Malfoy shone under a metallic mask of his own. After glancing around, he removed his mask.

'What games do you think you are playing?' he asked, his tone so soft it was almost hissing. 'You know the Mark is only to be used in the most dire of circumstances. Once could have been an accident, but twice?'

Another crack resounded, the newcomer raising his wand immediately, but before he could cast anything, Malfoy called out to him. 'It's alright, Avery. There's no danger.'

'No danger?' Dolohov huffed, nursing a bloody wand arm. 'I'd like to see you fight your way past Albus Dumbledore and the best twenty Aurors the Ministry had. If it wasn't for young Lestrange here, we could have been dead meat. Last time I ever sign up for a Muggle hunt without vetting the place out first, I'm telling you.'

'Is this true?' Malfoy looked to Bellatrix for confirmation.

She nodded, baring her teeth with disappointment. Rabastan knew that she would have liked to be the one to bring the old man to his knees.

'Well,' Malfoy said. 'That changes everything. Apparate to our new base of operations.'

He made as if to turn around, but Rabastan quickly interjected. 'Where is that, exactly?'

Lucius turned, surprised, as though he had forgotten Rabastan even existed

Always sucking up to the most important of us, Rabastan thought sourly. He had never particularly liked Lucius Malfoy, who would treat people according to their importance in his view. Being Rodolphus's younger brother made Rabastan expendable, since his brother had all the connections, and Rabastan didn't enjoy being ignored.

'Perhaps the children should go back to Hogwarts,' Malfoy said, his pale eyes flickering over the four of them grouped together. He frowned. 'What has happened to Emma? Dear Narcissa won't be pleased if you've neglected her, Bella.'

'She got caught in the fringe of an explosion,' Barty hastened to explain. 'It wasn't Bellatrix's fault.'

He looked nervous, as though it were wrong of him to address someone so high in the Dark Lord's hierarchy by their first name. As for Bellatrix, she looked surprised, and a little amused, that Barty would jump up to defend her.

'I think baby Crouch is starting to grow on me,' she grinned. 'We'll bring them along. It's time they knew where it was, anyway.'

With that she grabbed Regulus's arm and Apparated away, leaving Barty to Side-Along with Avery, whilst Malfoy knelt down to half-carry Emma and Dolohov grasped Malfoy's shoulder.

'Come on, little brother,' Rodolphus said, holding an arm out for Rabastan. 'You did well today.'

They Apparated to a pathway on the top of a hill, kissing gate blocking their path to a stately manor house. Avery went first, Charming the gate open so that he didn't have to break his pace. The rest of them trooped after him, feeling the effects of a drawn out duel.

Rabastan felt as though he could pass out on a sofa there and then, but at the same time the adrenaline of failure feebly stirred him into action. His movements were fluid, but he had trouble keeping his eyes open, even if his mind was ablur.

He noted the multitude of windows upon entering through the front door disapprovingly. In the case of an attack, they would provide easy armaments for either side, but mostly a hindrance. Still, he supposed that Lucinda would admire the stain glass facade on the door.

She would probably want that in her own house, later, he mused, before having a slight panic attack. Wait, was I just picturing Lucinda later in life? That doesn't mean anything, does it? Was I imagining her being in a house with me? Is this even a conversation I want to be having with myself at this point in time?

A sharp elbow made its way into his side and he started, only to see Regulus look at him intensely.

Right, Rabastan thought. He had a tendency to act out his thoughts on his face, unlike a certain someone he could name.

He concentrated once more on the décor, almost snorting with laughter at the fact he was concentrating on décor. Focus, Rabastan, he told himself sternly. His concentration was really slipping.

They entered the drawing room, a large rectangular room with stone floor and opulent rugs. Rabastan had the fleeting urge to remove his filthy shoes and let his feet bask in their warmth, but curbed it. Lifting his head, he noticed that half of the other Death Eaters were already standing around in a semi-circle around a large, high-backed armchair.

A pale hand rested on each arm, with long fingers more suited to playing music than ordering murders. Rabastan raised his eyes, but didn't dare look the Dark Lord in the eye, for fear of the reprimand he would see there.

'I find myself…disappointed,' the Dark Lord said softly, his voice seemingly whispering into Rabastan's very soul.

He suppressed a shudder.

'Emma, I trusted you with this operation,' the hooded man turned his face to Rabastan's right, where the girl was still being propped up by Malfoy and Dolohov.

Emma looked even more like hell than she had earlier. Regulus may have removed the most visible signs of her injuries, but her eyelids were moving up and down so heavily she could have been mistaken for Bellatrix on a bad day. Her mouth was slightly open, as though she hadn't the energy to work her jaw properly.

A slight movement to his left caught his eye, and a jolt of red energy was sent Emma's way, forcing her to clamp her mouth shut and look around with newfound clarity.

'Thank you, Regulus,' the Dark Lord said politely. 'But had I needed assistance, I would have asked.'

Regulus gave a short nod and stowed his wand back in its holster, returning to watch the scene. Rabastan marvelled at his calm demeanour; he himself was sure that the worry was written plain across his face.

'There were Aurors,' Emma mumbled, her voice sounding nothing like her usual self-assured tones. 'No, there was Dumbledore. Then Aurors.'

When no more information was forthcoming, the Dark Lord raised a single eyebrow and sighed.

'I confess, I find myself most disappointed. I had higher hopes for you, but I see that you have suffered enough for your ineptitude. Very well,' he rose from his chair. 'Come closer, so that I may find out more for myself.'

'Wait!' Regulus said quickly, the words spilling out. 'Let me, my Lord.'

Regulus, what are you doing? Rabastan yelled inwardly. No one liked to be probed by the Dark Lord's Legilimency if they could help it.

For a second, he thought the Dark Lord would strike Regulus down there and then for his impertinence, but instead a cruel smile curled over his thin lips.

'Your enthusiasm is admirable, Regulus,' the Dark Lord said. 'Very well, I will allow you to prove your loyalty once more. You may approach.'

Regulus walked forwards to kneel before the Dark Lord, but it wasn't an act of submission, Rabastan noticed. Rather that of a distinguished squire about to be knighted.

The Dark Lord brushed Regulus's hair out of his eyes in an almost kindly manner, before raising his chin to look him in the eye. A long moment passed without either of them moving, though Rabastan noticed that Emma had once more near slumped into Dolohov's arms, who seemed rather uncomfortable with the situation.

Suddenly, Rabastan remembered that Dolohov was hurt and soundlessly motioned to the older man. Gratefully, Dolohov swivelled around, allowing Rabastan to sling Emma's arm around his shoulder, supporting her with ease after seven years of Quidditch training.

A few minutes later, the Dark Lord released his hold on Regulus, letting the Hogwarts student fall back onto his ankles as he became aware of his surroundings.

'Thank you for this information,' he said. 'Now, I believe that a few things are in order. First of all, we must tend to our wounded.'

Rabastan couldn't hide his shock. Was that really it? Were they not going to be punished for their botched raid?

Voldemort turned to look him directly in the eye, black meeting green. 'My dear Rabastan,' he said in response to Rabastan's thoughts. 'Incompetence is met with punishment without fail. But this particular incident has given me valuable information on our enemies, thanks to Regulus's perceptive skills. We now know the amount of time it takes for Dumbledore's pathetic club to summon the Aurors and their preferred means of communication.'

As an afterthought, the Dark Lord added. 'The Muggles will be dealt with another day.'

'My Lord,' Bellatrix said breathlessly, falling to her knees. 'Thank you, my Lord.'

Rodolphus and Dolohov bowed their heads likewise in a sign of thanks and respect, neither quite believing their luck.

Voldemort drew his wand, a long, thin contraption that reminded Rabastan of the man himself, and with a flick and a wave, Dolohov's arm was cleaned and bandaged. Approaching Emma and Rabastan, he looked almost paternal in his concern for them, and Rabastan felt a wave of loyalty wash over him.

Would Dumbledore have done as much? Would Dumbledore know how to do as much?

Moments later, Emma was sleeping soundly, her head trauma assuredly gone, though Voldemort warned that she would stay that way for the next twenty four hours.

Next, he turned to Rabastan.

'Congratulations are in order,' the Dark Lord said. 'Fear not, my faithful friend. You rid us of a powerful enemy today, Owen Vance. The Auror department will have to find themselves a new liaison with the Misuse of Magical Artefacts Department, allowing us to make our move.

'Rookwood,' he called, not turning around. 'Make sure that Nott is recommended. Nott, let us hope that you do not fail the Auror test this time.'

Rabastan could almost taste the threat. Knowing that it was not for him or his friends made all the difference. He began to breathe easily again.

'Rabastan, I am putting you in charge of Hogwarts operations during Emma's recovery,' the Dark Lord instructed, and Rabastan felt his chest puff up with pride.

As Voldemort approached Barty with words of encouragement, and Bellatrix and Rodolphus to discuss more of a new strategy to make the Ministry fall, Regulus got up from the centre of the room and moved towards Rabastan.

'Here, I'll take her,' he said quietly.

Rabastan looked at his friend dubiously. The Dark Lord was notorious for being thorough in his mind viewings. But Regulus simply looked worried and impatient, his Occlumency shield having been shredded by Voldemort's investigation.

'I've carried her after a Death Eater meeting before,' Regulus reminded him, and Rabastan remembered that his two friends had been at this for at least a year longer than he, if not more.

Rabastan shifted, ducking his head under Emma's arm and allowing Regulus to pick her up like a baby, her head tucked close to her knees. She would have a lot of catching up to do.

'Where's my sister?' James demanded angrily.

Rabastan shushed him loudly, looking around the Potions class. Regulus wasted even less time, casting a non-verbal Silencing Charm.

'He found out,' he explained to Rabastan. At the latter's shocked expression, he embellished a little. 'He promised not to say anything, and besides, he thinks that only Emma and I...' He trailed off, looking at Rabastan meaningfully. 'Anyway, I'll take care of this.'

Without further ado, Regulus shoved James into the supply room and shut the door behind him.

'Where is female James?' Sirius asked curiously, coming up from behind Rabastan. 'Also, why has that git just locked himself in the closet with my brother?'

'She's sick,' Rabastan replied shortly. Great, I'm left to deal with the crazy one. 'Lucinda said it was some kind of twenty-four hour bug, but I'll be sure to tell her you missed her. And "that git"? I thought you and Potter were inseperable.'

'No, the other git,' Sirius said, his mouth turning downwards unpleasantly. 'The one whose family I have proudly renounced.'

'Well, sorry to break it to you,' Rabastan said cheerfully, not feeling sorry at all. 'But you've chosen the wrong surrogate family. Soon your blood brother will become a part of your adopted family. Funny, the way things work out sometimes, isn't it?'

'Shove off,' Sirius growled, pushing Rabastan out of the way to get at the ingredients room.

'Now, now, boys,' Slughorn said, seemingly appearing out of nowhere. 'Let's all be nice here. Why is this supply room closed?'

'Sorry,' James's face appeared sheepishly. 'I knocked over one of the display cabinets and Regulus and I were cleaning it up a bit before anyone stepped on the broken glass.'

'See, now that's teamwork!' Slughorn beamed. 'Five points to Slytherin and Gryffindor for interhouse cooperation.'