Diary Of A Mad Man,

Chapter 11, When You're Crazier Than A Lestrange

Though the clock on the far wall said that Marlene only took two and a half hours to return with the potion, it felt to Rod like forever. He and the others busied themselves on the stupid Muggle social network things for something to do to keep their minds occupied. Waiting was a special form of torture that Rodolphus discovered that he didn't like one bit! In fact, it was right up there with having to talk to a perplexing Muggle, which meant any and all of them. When the doorbell of their apartment rang, he was first on his feet to answer it before recalling that he didn't really want the stupid potion or the stupid memories it would probably give him. He wanted it over but didn't want it all at the same time. It was Rabastan who opened the door to Marlene. She carried a glass jug in her hands. "Hi, Rabbit," she said, giving Rabastan a nearly shy smile. "I'm excited for you all to remember me again."

Rodolphus shot a look at Bellatrix to see her face as pensieve as he was feeling. Whatever had happened to cause them to forget a good friend couldn't be pleasant. Hadn't they had enough? Then again, had they ever truly had a good friend? That said, perhaps they should remember this one. Rodolphus sighed, because Bellatrix was already following Marlene and Rabastan into the kitchen. He trailed reluctantly along behind them muttering about how this was a bad idea, because it was. Rabastan was already getting down three goblets, clearly ignoring Rodolphus's muttered warnings. "I can drink some too if you want," Marlene said as Rabastan began pouring from the jug. "You know to prove that it's safe. You don't remember me, after all, and I'm sure lots of people would love to screw you three over."

Bellatrix gave a short laugh. "When you know, you know."

Rabastan shrugged. "Paranoid is our middle name." He poured a bit into a fourth goblet and passed it to Marlene who drank it down without a flicker of hesitation. Rod was annoyed with himself for being so reluctant to remember more dreadful things after all the ones they already recalled going through, that the possibility of her trying to poison them hadn't even bloody occurred. Not good. He was always as paranoid as anyone!

"You didn't make a face, so I guess you decided not to make it taste particularly shitty just for me," Rabastan observed. He gave Marlene a relieved grin.

"I didn't feel like making two batches and Rod and Bella shouldn't have to pay because you are a bad man."

"Bad why," Rabastan pressed and Rodolphus cringed. Didn't the man know never to argue with an angry woman? Clearly not. He flashed a quick look to Bella who was frowning at him as if having read his mind. He gave her a shit eating grin and she rolled her eyes.

"Really," Marlene demanded, glaring at Rabastan. "You were shagging other girls while I was alone, waiting for you, quite certain I was losing my mind more than once when my visions told me you were out bloody enjoying yourself. Can you even imagine how that feels to be losing your mind," she demanded.

"Yeah, actually," Rabastan said, and she dropped her gaze, clearly embarrassed. Not one to wallow in the past, Rabastan just shrugged. "

Fine let's do this." And before Rod could protest or even brace himself, his little brother was chugging down his goblet of memory potion.

"We should do this together," Bellatrix said resolutely, then snatched up her own goblet. With an inner scream of protest, Rodolphus did the same, having no choice in the matter as he saw it. Idly he wondered if Sunflower would consider this a bad idea. Heading in too fast, perhaps? The liquid tasted of sweet ginger and cinnamon and some other spice that he couldn't quite place. He swallowed it all down, and glanced over at Marlene, waiting for the memories to strike. Oddly he remembered her emotionally first before facts. He remembered trusting her, thinking well of her, considering her a friend, and a little sister or the closest thing he'd ever had unless one counted Narcissa. She was a good egg, Narcissa, so she could count, he decided. Then came the memories.

He recalled deciding that Marlene McKinnon was terrifying because she hadn't even cried when he'd burned her face so badly with Fiendfyre during a Drunken Duel the four were having that the bone of her cheek showed through. She hadn't even cried. Not one tear shed and once the healing potion Bellatrix poured onto her face had taken effect, she was actually ready to duel again.

"I thought you'd dodge the damned Fiendfyre," he complained. "I still don't see how you missed seeing it coming right at you!"

"Because I was too stupidly busy being gleeful that I'd managed to knock Rabbit down," Marlene replied. "You taught me a good lesson that night. Never ever to allow myself to be distracted by a victory. I never forgot it either."

"Good," Rodolphus said. Then he gave a short laugh. "Still, though. You're as insane as any Lestrange, regardless."

Marlene smirked. "I never said I wasn't." She grew thoughtful then as her smile slowly faded. "I think for me you lot were freeing. Comforting. Being myself, learning to be myself with you all was great."

Bellatrix laughed. "I remember holding one anothers hair while we puked outside the Hog's Head after having far too much to drink."

Marlene gave a fond grin. "Yeah. That was a bonding night. It was fun. I remember feeling so damned cool to be puking with Bellatrix Lestrange. I also recalled thinking that anyone else would've been terrified, and wondering if it made me a little crazy that I wasn't."

Bellatrix's smile widened. "Probably, but you were also just smart."

Marlene chuckled. "It's a Ravenclaw thing."

"I recall the Dark Lord wanting your family dead because you were in The Order and he was trying to wipe them all out. It was dreadful, because we knew you were only in it to help us though by then we couldn't quite remember why. We got headaches when we tried to remember... I think he made us forget things. I know he made us forget killing you... He did think we killed you, so we won that round and kept you safe." Bellatrix's smile of triumph was oddly what made Rod sure that they'd all be alright, and that no matter what they remembered, they'd won. They'd survived him and won... Whatever the hell that meant.