Noyade | Rabastan Lestrange [2] ✔︎

50 | DELINQUENTS

DEATH EATER REMAINS ON THE LOOSE

Two weeks after their escape from St. Mungos hospital there is still no trace of Rabastan Lestrange and Phoenix Irma Black. The families have been taken in for questioning and their homes searched but they remain fugitives.

Although she hasn't been convicted, the ministry suggests that Phoenix Black is part of You-know-who's following since she helped one of his followers escape. Therefore the British ministry of magic declared the two juveniles as wanted criminals and any suggestions concerning their whereabouts should be called in immediately.

According to Albus Dumbledore, both of them possess powers that he has scarcely heard of in decades which makes them dangerous individuals. Don't wander the streets alone, especially at night, keep a close eye on your children and don't hesitate to get in touch with the ministry if you have any new information.

With a sigh, Phoenix lowered the Daily Prophet and looked at Rabastan who lay on the sofa next to her in Lestrange Manor's living room. Rodolphus had managed to steal the recipe for Rabastan's potion to suppress his depression from the nurses' office but although it kept his dark moods in check up until then, it made Rabastan rather sleepy. Softly she ran a hand through his light hair.

"What are they writing this time?" the boy asked, propping himself up on his elbow to look at her.

Phoenix folded the newspaper and tilted her head. "Do you really want to know?"

The young witch witnessed Rabastan's shoulders slouch a little. Despite her not telling him directly about them still being one of the headlines of the Daily Prophet, she knew her question already said enough. He knew exactly what the journalists made them out to be. Monsters, villains or whatever else there was to describe the sort of people they feared in their midst.

"Yes, I do," Rabastan answered, nonetheless.

"The ministry has declared you a wanted criminal and dangerous individual," Phoenix told him after a short pause. Her grey eyes met his blue ones for a split second before she looked down at the newspaper again. "And they've deemed me just as bad as you for helping you escape."

Rabastan let out an audible breath, sitting up. He buried his head in his hands and shook it. Then he looked at her again. "Merlin, I'm sorry I did this to you."

She knew exactly what he meant by this. Since their successful escape from St. Mungo's they had lived in constant fear of being found. The first few weeks they had spent at Avery manor, which was according to Rodolphus plan. When the coast was clear they returned to Lestrange manor – only the coast wasn't clear. They had been lucky that they had been in the same room when one afternoon Aurors had barged into the house and claimed that they had to search every last corner. According to them, it happened every so often that criminals returned to their relatives as soon as they thought the ministry wouldn't expect them to turn up anymore. There was no knowing what they would have done to the two young death eaters if they had been found. Fortunately, Phoenix had been quick to recognise Alastor Moody's voice. She had grabbed Rabastan's hand and cloaked both of them with her powers. After that they had kept close to each other, fearing that the ministry would find them after all.

After placing the Daily Prophet on the coffee table in front of the sofa, Phoenix leaned towards Rabastan. She softly placed her hand over his and said, "I chose this, Rabastan. You didn't force me to do anything and I'd gladly do it all over again if it meant keeping you out of Azkaban."

After that, neither of them brought up the topic again of whose fault it was that they were stuck in this situation together. Not even Rodolphus, who had seen several wanted posters with their faces on them when he had gone to get some money at Gringotts, dared to say a word about it. Like a muffling cloak, their state among society hung over them as they spent all of their time inside, afraid of getting seen even in the gardens.

★

The last day of school at Hogwarts was on a Wednesday for seventh years and although Phoenix had expected Regulus to visit when he got back home, she hadn't expected him to turn up on the same evening. There was much similarity to her arrival before rescuing Rabastan when Regulus strode in through the libraries doors, almost knocking over a table when he threw the door open.

Before either his best friend or sister could react, the brunette boy had crossed a room and pointed a finger at his sister. "Have you gone bloody mad?"

Phoenix blinked a few times. Her brother's voice was raised and filled with a fire of disbelief and anger. It reminded her all too much of how he had reacted when she had joined the Dark Lord's ranks.

Closing her book in her lap, Phoenix answered, "Why exactly would I have gone mad?"

"You walked out during your N.E.W.T.s." Regulus threw his hands up into the air. "Our parents are furious. They want you to retake the exams and fix your reputation."

Phoenix shook her head in disbelief and pointed out, "Then they have gone mad. Has it slipped their mind that I have been declared a criminal and that I'll mist likely be sent to Azkaban if the ministry finds me? Going back to Hogwarts would be suicide."

Her heart stopped. Why had she just said that? Her head turned towards Rabastan who was looking at both of them. She immediately wished that she could take back her last sentence. Of all the things she could have said, she had to mention suicide. She was such an idiot.

For a moment Regulus looked like he wanted to throw something against a wall but then he let out a breath and sat down with his head in his hands. Right then he looked completely devastated and helpless and Phoenix wanted to put her arm around his shoulders and tell him everything would be alright.

"So what are you going to do?" He lifted his head and looked first at his sister then Rabastan. "Both of you."

Rabastan simply shrugged and Phoenix was left to answer Regulus' question. "I guess I'm going to do what our parents always wanted me to do; I'm going to be a soldier in the Dark Lord's army."

Regulus' eyes widened and he said, "No, you can't." He took her hands in his. "I always knew – and so did Sirius, our parents and basically everyone – that you're too pure to do any of the Dark Lord's bidding. Phoenix, you've always been the purest one of our family and I've done everything to keep it that way, I even became a Death Eater for your sake, but I don't know how to get you out of this mess you got yourself into."

"You don't have to, Reg," Phoenix answered, smiling at him. "I can handle myself – and if not, I'll simply have to toughen up."