Post Tenebras Lux

Chapter Thirty-Three

The compartment was silent as Cassiopeia sat alone - she had chosen to not sit with Bertie and Modesty as the two were happily discussing what they were going to spend their summers doing and Cassiopeia didn't want to hear about the wonderful things they had planned. Not when her own summer was almost certainly going to be centred around the Malfoy Manor. 

Rabastan pulled open the door and slipped in, his eyes glued to her as she looked away from the window. Within seconds, Cassiopeia felt herself grow irritated as she much preferred to spend her journey home watching the passing scenery. Rabastan silently sat down opposite her, not saying a thing. She scoffed, "You didn't ask whether the seat was free."

"You've changed, Cassiopeia."

"Haven't we all? Isn't that the point of growing up?"

Rabastan laughed, "You are becoming more like Bellatrix."

The comparison caused her stomach to drop as Cassiopeia glanced away from him - not wanting to talk to him about her family, especially the madwoman, "I would not say that I am."

"The difference is you are stronger than her. Everyone knows you will be more powerful. You defeated her at the age of fifteen, Cassiopeia! Imagine what you will be able to do when you finish Hogwarts. Bellatrix will be nothing compared to you."

"I was defending myself," Cassiopeia replied as she tried to come up with a way to escape the compartment, "She started it."

Rabastan smiled, "There are a lot of people saying I am becoming more like my brother Roldolphus."

"Are there?" Cassiopeia cautiously asked - not liking where the conversation was inevitably heading. 

"We would be unstoppable together."

She stared at him - not wanting him to say anymore, "Excuse me?"

"I've spoken to our siblings," Rabastan informed her, "The Dark Lord agrees."

"Agrees to what?"

"We will be finishing Hogwarts in two years time," Rabastan told her, "And upon finishing I intend to marry you. We shall follow in our sibling's footsteps and support the Dark Lord's cause."

Cassiopeia managed to keep a blank face as she continued to stare at him, having no idea what to say to him. Although she appeared calm, inside she felt as though she was going to be sick. The thought of being married to Rabastan Lestrange did not fill her with joy. No, it did the opposite, it disgusted her. Once she had viewed him as her escape from being a death-eater, but now she knew he was merely another trap.