Noyade | Rabastan Lestrange [2] ✔︎

51 | YOUNG ELITES

Phoenix had always liked to imagine what her future would look like. When she was little she had drawn pictures of dresses she wanted to wear one day or houses she wanted to live in. Of course, those drawings had been nothing compared to Rabastan's masterpieces but nonetheless it showed a version of her future that she hoped for. She had always believed that she would live in a gigantic mansion as soon as she graduated Hogwarts and entered adulthood. There would be a broad stairwell in the entrance which lead to the upper floor, chandeliers would light up the whole house and there would be carefully placed decorations in every room. Visitors would feel welcome at her house and her friends would visit her every day for tea and biscuits. As a little girl, her ideal future had revolved around possessions, wealth and friends.

Never had she believed that she would find herself dropping out of school, making herself a criminal in the eye of the public by rescuing the boy she most likely still loved and then three months later recruiting followers for a dark wizard, who wanted to rid the world of witches and wizards with filthy blood. But at the end of August that was just the situation, she was stuck in.

With her cousin, Bellatrix, standing next to her she twirled once in a dark corner of Nocturn Alley and Bella shouted, "My cousin was lost before she joined the Dark Lord's ranks. She didn't know who she was and what the true extent of her magic was but with the Dark Lord's guidance she learned things she would never have dreamed of. He gave her life purpose."

Phoenix closed her eyes and threw her hand into the air. A series of gasps went through the small crowd gathered in front of them. With some struggle because of their number, Phoenix had tapped into their minds and made them believe that her dark dress was in flames and she was slowly rising into the air like the bird she was named after. In truth, however, she was still standing next to Bella with a small smile on her lips. It would have been a lie to say that she hadn't become to like the admiration for what she was able to do.

"Yes, by joining the Dark Lord we can reach our full potential as an effect of our pure blood. Only the ones with no trace of filth in their blood, like my cousin, are destined to full greatness. Mud-bloods and Half-bloods have wiggled their way into our society for too long. It is time to show them who really got the power. Together we can rise above them," Bella shouted.

Some people rose their fists into the air and yelled their approval, others cursed Muggle-borns and the rest of them simply stayed silent. Bella nodded at her younger cousin and Phoenix produced a bowl and knife from her coat pocket. "You can be part of this movement. The only thing you have to do is drip some of your blood into this bowl and we'll get in touch with further information."

It had taken the Death Eaters some time to figure out a way to recruit new members efficiently. The Dark Lord's following grew with every day and at first, they had written down names for newcomers to be initiated but since writing down all their information took too long and the Aurors had got faster at finding them, they had figured out a way to get their information out of blood. It was beyond Phoenix how that actually worked but apparently it did.

Only a few spectators had cut their palms and dripped their blood into the bowl when Rabastan appeared at the back of the alley. He had drawn up the hood of his cloak but even then the strands of white hair gave away his identity. Phoenix would have recognised him in any crowd. Due to his height, he didn't even have to stand on tiptoes to meet her gaze and he signalled that they had to leave.

"This is all for today," Phoenix called out, which earned her a few shouts of protests and Bella's attention. "If you really want to join the Dark Lord's ranks, I'm sure you'll be able to find us again."

Upon their return to Malfoy Manor, which had become the Death Eater's main layer, Bella smashed the bowl onto a table in the Entrance Hall and cried, "I don't know why the Dark Lord makes us do this all the time. He could use his less skilled followers, but no, it has to be us. Honestly, I hate it."

Rabastan eyed his sister-in-law with a short glance and pulled the hood from his head. His white hair spilt out from underneath it and the arrogant smirk on his lips was now clearly visible, "Maybe it takes the best among us to convince newcomers of our greatness."

His words were underlined with broad gestures of his hands and he reminded Phoenix of an actor playing a monologue in front of a small crowd on a market. Somehow he had managed to come back to his usual arrogance and self-importance after his escape from St. Mungos, which he showed towards most people, only very rarely did he let his guard down and that was when Phoenix was able to see the vulnerable boy she liked just as much as his other self. Both sides of him made Rabastan who he was and she was glad the more self-confident appearance was back, even though she wasn't quite sure if it wasn't just a façade.

"But it's no fun, is it?" Bella complained, guiding them towards the dining room. "I want to hunt down Mud-bloods and make them scream for mercy. Just praising those actions is nothing like actually doing it."

"You sound like a maniac", Phoenix pointed out. There was nothing normal about having a wish to torture and kill Muggle-borns. The youngest of them still hadn't quite forgiven her cousin for killing two of her friends, Daphne Greengrass and William Nott, either but she had learned that acting like nothing had happened was easier than holding a visible grudge against Bella.

"You know, maybe I am a maniac," Bella said with a cheerful laugh and a skip in her step.

Of course, she was. Who in their right mind would kill someone? And especially who would agree to kill her cousin's friends? Despite working with Bella over the past two months, Phoenix hadn't managed to change her mind about the witch. Whenever she looked at her she saw the way she had grinned after shooting the killing curse at Will. There were even nights when she dreamt about Bella pointing her wand at her.

Bella was the one to open the door the dining room and she exclaimed with excitement in her voice, "We're back."

To Phoenix's surprise the chairs were filled with people, heads of the old wizard families, and at the top of the table sat Lord Voldemort himself. The young witch swallowed as the brunette man's gaze met hers and she slightly bowed her head. Something must have happened if the Lord himself visited one of the larger meetings.

The Dark Lord got to his feet stretching out his hands to both his sides. "Ah, our young elites are back. We were just discussing your part in our plan."

"What plan, my lord?" Bella asked, walking closer towards the table.

Rabastan and Phoenix glanced at each other. Despite their wavering loyalties and beliefs, the Dark Lord had begun to call them his young elites. According to him, they were his most promising followers due to their celestial powers. He seemed to be more lenient with them, almost eager to keep them on his side of the war. Even for them, it was dangerous to talk without being asked to in his presence, but Bella didn't seem to be fazed by his air of authority. She seemed to believe that the Dark Lord had taken a special liking towards her and that she stood above the other Death Eaters.

The Dark Lord sent her a stern look but answered, nonetheless, "Albus Dumbledore has created a group to oppose us. We don't have a lot of details yet but we know that they want to protect those filthy Mud-bloods, blood traitors and such. If we want to succeed in our quest we'll have to get rid of them. Lestrange?"

Rodolphus nodded solemnly although it was more than obvious that he didn't feel particularly comfortable speaking in the Dark Lord's presence, even if asked to. "Your powers allow you to walk where we dare not go, Phoenix. We'll supply you with the information we have so far and you'll shadow the members of the group of rebels until we have sufficient information to launch an attack." His eyes darted towards Rabastan, who stood next to Phoenix with his expression and stance not changing a single bit. "And you, brother, will help her in any way you can."