Noyade | Rabastan Lestrange [2] ✔︎

56 | NOT BARBARIANS

Although Phoenix had tried to make Maureen believe that she was totally fine with the whole wedding ordeal the thought of having been excluded from all those things kept nagging on her. She often imagined what Dawn must have looked like in her dress or how the whole thing had taken place. One evening Rabastan had even found her so deep in thought that her power had changed the room around her into what she was imagining. They had both laughed at that and Rabastan had asked her to dance with him since that was what people usually did at weddings. Still, Phoenix felt like so many things that made her who she was had been taken away from her.

She hadn't heard from her parents in weeks and while Regulus visited every week she felt the loss of her twin brother, with whom she had always been close since they were toddlers. Even her friends seemed to be miles away. The only constant in her life was Rabastan whose mental state was still steadily getting better. Of course, there were moments when he showed sadness or hopelessness without any visible reason but he felt like the Rabastan she had got to know in her sixth year at Hogwarts again. Whenever they weren't on the hunt for their enemies, they spent hours sitting side by side and reading or talking about books and authors. Throwing themselves into stories helped to forget what was going on outside and despite the dark times they were living in, the Lestrange's library seemed to light up.

But that day in late September was different, Phoenix knew that as soon as Regulus stepped into the entrance hall of the manor, wearing one of the black cloaks that had become known as some kind of uniform for Death Eaters. For a second, the young woman had to keep herself from shaking. She remembered all too well when she had last seen those cloaks. The battle at Hogwarts. The day her cousin had killed Will and she had found out about Rabastan being a Death Eater. Painfully she remembered how she had been horrified at the realisation and now she was wearing the same cloak and holding the same mask in her hand. That combined with the knowledge that somebody had found one of their enemies made her feel like she was going to be sick.

"Are you ready?" Regulus asked, tilting his head at his best friend and sister.

"Born ready," Rabastan answered but that day his voice lacked enthusiasm.

All of them were nervous, despite showing it in different ways. Neither of them had ever gone on a mission like this because the Dark Lord had deemed them too young. But finally, the day had come and although Regulus tried to make them believe that he was curious, they all knew that they were unsure if they would like what the mission would turn out like.

Although Phoenix thought she would splinter during apparation because her limbs were shaking so heavily, she found herself in a field right next to Regulus and Rabastan. She turned around, scanning it for other followers of Lord Voldemort but there was only a house in the far distance and the sound of the wind.

She turned back towards Regulus. "We must be in the wrong place."

"Just be patient. Father said they would be here and besides, we're a little early," the brunette young man replied with a shrug.

Phoenix narrowed her eyes at her brother. She had known him since childhood. Although he tried to play it cool, she felt that he was nervous and it made her tremble even more. Why would he be nervous if he was so sure that they were doing the right thing, if he was sure they were fighting for the right side?

The sun hadn't even appeared on the horizon and with the soft wind blowing over the field, Phoenix pulled her black cloak tighter around herself in order not to shiver.

Regulus, on the other hand, squinted towards the cottage and said, "I'm going to scout ahead. Will you wait for everyone else to get here?"

His best friend answered with a short nod and he started to make his way closer to the cottage. Scooting closer towards Rabastan, Phoenix laced her fingers through his and stared after her brother.

"Something feels off," she breathed.

Rabastan squeezed her hand and answered, "Everything is going to be all right. Everybody knows the plan. We raid the house for members of the order and give them the choice to either join us or be captured. We're not barbarians after all."

"Do you at least know who lives here?"

"No idea," Rabastan answered, his eyes fixed on Regulus retreating figure.

The weird feeling in Phoenix' stomach wouldn't budge and she almost jumped as more Death Eaters arrived at the field. They had promised her that there would be no killing. For weeks Regulus had kept her out of the planning of the raids with the argument that she was sensitive to violence but after her quiet search for members hadn't been successful the Dark Lord had grown impatient and ordered her to go with the others. According to Regulus, there was no guarantee that he would show at the scene but at least there was the promise that no one would get killed. Violence was one thing but Phoenix was unsure if she could bear to see anyone else die. Not after burying Will and Jack and almost having Rabastan die in her arms.

There would be no killing.

Despite them being in an open field where their enemy would see them coming for miles, the masked group moved slowly towards the house. Regulus was gesturing that everything looked like they had expected and due to the early morning hour there was no activity inside the house whatsoever.

As they drew nearer, Rabastan grabbed her hand again. "You'll stay close to me. Promise?"

Under different circumstances, Phoenix would have rolled her eyes at him trying to be her knight in shining armour but she gathered that they both needed each other's support if something were to happen. He wasn't trying to make her weak. Although she had no idea what his celestial powers were, she believed that he had to feel her uneasiness through their connection just like she felt his pain at times. He was trying to make her stronger.

"Promise."

And she was glad for him being close when they reached the letterbox. As soon as she read the name on the red object she wanted to turn around and run away as fast as possible but a look at Rabastan made her stay. The Dark Lord would be furious if she abandoned the mission. If only there was a different name on that letterbox.

Not McKinnon.