Vasilis is my new muse. Love him.
Title: Family Reunion
Genre: Nonromance
Characters: Rabastan Lestrange, Rosalind Bungs, Nikolai Rosier, Vasilis & Sophie Komnenos (OCs) and a slew of other characters (both ACs and OCs).
Rating: PG-13, just to be safe.
Word Count: 1568 words
Summary: It's a Happy New Year at the Rosier residence.
Author's Notes: I wrote one version, called it crap. I rewrote the same plot in the present tense, still called it crap - but at least it was crap in present tense. Rabastan may be thinking some incredibly inappropriate thoughts. Those are probably my fault, not Rabastan's. Written (and rewritten) for my Rab/Ros Prompt Table: #06. New Year.
Rabastan stands in the garden of his Uncle Nikolai's manor. There is approximately an hour and a half left before the new year officially begins. His brother is off somewhere, courting his lady Bella. He is quite alone, for the most part. Except for the glass of Russian vodka he holds in one hand and the memories that incessantly surface in his mind. He tries to shake them off. He takes another sip of his vodka and looks up at the stars. He hears Narcissa giggling, but does not turn his head.
"I do wish you'd stop staring at me. It's a little disconcerting, you know," a voice behind him says.
"I am not staring at you," he answers.
"Yes, you were," she insists. "You may not be looking at me now, but at dinner you looked like you were about to eat me or something."
Rabastan stifles a laugh. "Your imagination has run off, I believe."
"It's a figure of speech."
Oh, but you are a delectable little morsel, Rabastan can't help himself from thinking.
She writhes beneath him. One of her hands is tangled in his hair, the other digs into his back. She cries his name out and he shudders. They are both still for a moment before he withdraws and falls beside her. She rolls onto her side, facing away from him. That is how it is. No kissing, no cuddling, just mutual need.
He looks at the fourteen-year old beside him. He tries not to think of the girl he left behind at Hogwarts. The young lady before him glares at him without any fear. How is he to explain to her that her pout only makes him want to kiss her? That her angry eyes delight him? Rabastan looks away. This is wrong. He is no child molester. She taps her foot impatiently, hands on her hips. She is, in almost every way, the perfect lady. Rabastan wonders how it is possible.
"Yes, cousin?" he asks.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Aren't you going to apologize?"
"Whatever for?"
Rabastan and Rodolphus are sitting in the library, pretending to write thank-you notes for family members who have sent Christmas presents. Of course, they fully intend to commission Till to finish these for them later. Their mother comes in. Something is worrying her. She waves an invitation from her cousin Nikolai, who has invited them to celebrate the New Year at his manor. They ask her how that is bad news. She says that the party is being held in honor of their late aunt's first husband, who is visiting Britain. With him will be his second wife, his children and their children. The boys still do not comprehend how this is bad. She explains that Uncle Vasilis' daughter (one of those that were to come to the party) married a Muggle. This perturbs her. The boys ask why they even tolerate her company. Their mother says it is because she is Uncle Vasilis' favorite and he never disinherited her. Also, because the Muggle is very famous and prominent among his own kind, therefore, at least tolerable.
They contemplate the situation. On one hand, they can choose not to go but risk disfavour with their cousins, including Nikolai. On the other hand, they can decide to go and endure the half-bloods for a few hours and gain Uncle Vasilis' favour. After all, it is he who matters and he who gives excellent presents. Calliope agrees that this is the most prudent path and they decide to go.
"For staring at me."
"I do not think one needs to apologize for that."
"You were making me excessively uncomfortable."
"Then I apologize for that."
"Thank you."
"But I will not apologise for staring."
"You confuse me," she crosses her arms.
I can say the same about you, Rabastan thinks.
Uncle Vasilis is indeed a formidable man. He is tall and clearly wellbred. He positively reeks of pride and purity. His wife, Sophie, is a sweet Frenchwoman. She is also very obviously a pureblood. She compliments her husband. Her gentleness subdues his strength. Vasilis has five children, two with Sophie and three with his first wife. Grigoriy, the eldest, is unmarried. He is very much like his father. Quiet, reserved but wellbred and respectable. Zilya is the second. He has but one son, Vasiliy, the only one who can carry on the Komnenos name. Vasiliy is heir to everything. His mother passed away in childbirth and his father never remarried. Basil is the youngest of Vasilis' children with his first wife. Basil is married, but has no children. He does not come to the party. Athanasios is Vasilis' fourth son. He is more like his mother. He is young-looking and gentle. He has had two wives, both dying before they could carry his sons to full-term. The youngest of Vasilis' children is Ophelie. She married the Muggle. She is like her mother in looks, but she has her father's strength. Her husband does not come for the evening, though she brings all her children. She has four: Alphonse, the eldest; Sevastien, the middle son; Athanasios, named after her brother is her youngest; and, of course, her darling rose, Rosalind.
"How are you doing that?" Narcissa asks Sevastien. Sevastien is a Muggle, but he performs magic. He takes a blade of grass from the ground, grinds it between his palms, blows on the dust and produces a rose. Narcissa is enthralled. She refuses to believe he is a Muggle. No, he must be special, like her.
"And you've been to Egypt, as well?" Bellatrix listens intently to Vasiliy. He has been everywhere. He knows so much on so many things. He has many stories to tell her. She, like her sister, is enthralled. Unlike Narcissa, however, Bellatrix refuses to admit it. He is charming, but that is all. Rodolphus also listens to Vasiliy. He intends to break his head in half if he tries anything with Bella.
Andromeda watches Athanasios curiously. She does not have a brother and so she is very amused by Nasi's antics. He is a Muggle like his brother Sevastien, but Andromeda does not care. She watches him carefully, making sure he does not hurt himself as he runs across the yard, fetching flowers for her. She is worried Uncle Nikolai may scold them, but she cannot deny Nasi the enjoyment of procuring flowers for her.
Evan and Alphonse discuss Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. Alphonse has graduated from Beauxbatons and Evan from Hogwarts. They swap stories. Of classes, of teachers, of succeses and the rare failure. In lower voices, they discuss the ladies. Alphonse has a lot to say about the open-mindedness of the French lady. Evan has even more to say on the technique of the English.
Rabastan stands apart from them, Rosalind at his side. She is still glaring at him with those impertinent eyes of hers. She is fourteen. He is four years her senior and she does not falter at the sight of him. She amuses him. She has been the perfect lady all evening, right from the top of her neatly brushed head to the tips of her satin-clad toes. She ate with perfect composure, talked with appropriate courtesy and had the carriage of a wellbred lady. He turns to her and looks at her curiously.
"You're doing it again," she scolds.
I cannot help it. You are a mystery. Rabastan does not speak but turns to his vodka.
Two months from now, Rosalind would walk across the Great Hall with a look of someone who has a purpose to fulfill. She will walk from her Gryffindor table to the Slytherin table, stand before Rabastan and give him a kiss. This will begin a rather tumultuous love affair between them. The reason why this is known is because it has already happened to Rabastan. When he was fourteen, she was too. On the fourteenth of February, also known as Valentine's Day, Rosalind Bungs (Half-blood and Gryffindor) will force her way into the life of Rabastan Lestrange (Pureblooded Slytherin).
"Onie, Meda says she'll kiss me at midnight. Is that all right?" Nasi approaches his sister, tugging gently at her skirts.
"Hm? Of course, Agapi," Rosalind bends to give her brother a kiss on his forehead before he runs back to his new favorite cousin.
Rabastan looks at her strangely. She glares at him again.
"It is a silly Muggle tradition," she feels the need to explain. "To kiss someone when the clock strikes midnight will bring good fortune for the rest of the year."
"It is silly," Rabastan agrees, feeling a sort of pleasure at her angry eyes.
"Shall we cheer the New Year, then?" Vasilis stands at the adults' table. The others quickly follow suit, picking up their glasses as Vasilis begins the countdown. "Ten-nine-eight-seven--"
Rabastan holds his own glass of vodka. He looks at Rosalind from the corner of his eye. She is watching her grandfather with unadulterated admiration. As the countdown nears zero, Rabastan has a sudden impulse to do something incredibly stupid. It must be the vodka.
"...two-one-Yiamas!" Vasilis cheers and raises his glass. Everyone else does the same and laughter ensues. Everyone goes back to what they were doing...
...save Rosalind, who realizes she can no longer glare at a man for staring at her after he's kissed her.
"Happy New Year, Lind," Rabastan mutters as his lips leave hers.
"Happy New Year, Rabastan."
Genre: Nonromance
Characters: Rabastan Lestrange, Rosalind Bungs, Nikolai Rosier, Vasilis & Sophie Komnenos (OCs) and a slew of other characters (both ACs and OCs).
Rating: PG-13, just to be safe.
Word Count: 1568 words
Summary: It's a Happy New Year at the Rosier residence.
Author's Notes: I wrote one version, called it crap. I rewrote the same plot in the present tense, still called it crap - but at least it was crap in present tense. Rabastan may be thinking some incredibly inappropriate thoughts. Those are probably my fault, not Rabastan's. Written (and rewritten) for my Rab/Ros Prompt Table: #06. New Year.
Rabastan stands in the garden of his Uncle Nikolai's manor. There is approximately an hour and a half left before the new year officially begins. His brother is off somewhere, courting his lady Bella. He is quite alone, for the most part. Except for the glass of Russian vodka he holds in one hand and the memories that incessantly surface in his mind. He tries to shake them off. He takes another sip of his vodka and looks up at the stars. He hears Narcissa giggling, but does not turn his head.
"I do wish you'd stop staring at me. It's a little disconcerting, you know," a voice behind him says.
"I am not staring at you," he answers.
"Yes, you were," she insists. "You may not be looking at me now, but at dinner you looked like you were about to eat me or something."
Rabastan stifles a laugh. "Your imagination has run off, I believe."
"It's a figure of speech."
Oh, but you are a delectable little morsel, Rabastan can't help himself from thinking.
She writhes beneath him. One of her hands is tangled in his hair, the other digs into his back. She cries his name out and he shudders. They are both still for a moment before he withdraws and falls beside her. She rolls onto her side, facing away from him. That is how it is. No kissing, no cuddling, just mutual need.
He looks at the fourteen-year old beside him. He tries not to think of the girl he left behind at Hogwarts. The young lady before him glares at him without any fear. How is he to explain to her that her pout only makes him want to kiss her? That her angry eyes delight him? Rabastan looks away. This is wrong. He is no child molester. She taps her foot impatiently, hands on her hips. She is, in almost every way, the perfect lady. Rabastan wonders how it is possible.
"Yes, cousin?" he asks.
"Well?"
"Well what?"
"Aren't you going to apologize?"
"Whatever for?"
Rabastan and Rodolphus are sitting in the library, pretending to write thank-you notes for family members who have sent Christmas presents. Of course, they fully intend to commission Till to finish these for them later. Their mother comes in. Something is worrying her. She waves an invitation from her cousin Nikolai, who has invited them to celebrate the New Year at his manor. They ask her how that is bad news. She says that the party is being held in honor of their late aunt's first husband, who is visiting Britain. With him will be his second wife, his children and their children. The boys still do not comprehend how this is bad. She explains that Uncle Vasilis' daughter (one of those that were to come to the party) married a Muggle. This perturbs her. The boys ask why they even tolerate her company. Their mother says it is because she is Uncle Vasilis' favorite and he never disinherited her. Also, because the Muggle is very famous and prominent among his own kind, therefore, at least tolerable.
They contemplate the situation. On one hand, they can choose not to go but risk disfavour with their cousins, including Nikolai. On the other hand, they can decide to go and endure the half-bloods for a few hours and gain Uncle Vasilis' favour. After all, it is he who matters and he who gives excellent presents. Calliope agrees that this is the most prudent path and they decide to go.
"For staring at me."
"I do not think one needs to apologize for that."
"You were making me excessively uncomfortable."
"Then I apologize for that."
"Thank you."
"But I will not apologise for staring."
"You confuse me," she crosses her arms.
I can say the same about you, Rabastan thinks.
Uncle Vasilis is indeed a formidable man. He is tall and clearly wellbred. He positively reeks of pride and purity. His wife, Sophie, is a sweet Frenchwoman. She is also very obviously a pureblood. She compliments her husband. Her gentleness subdues his strength. Vasilis has five children, two with Sophie and three with his first wife. Grigoriy, the eldest, is unmarried. He is very much like his father. Quiet, reserved but wellbred and respectable. Zilya is the second. He has but one son, Vasiliy, the only one who can carry on the Komnenos name. Vasiliy is heir to everything. His mother passed away in childbirth and his father never remarried. Basil is the youngest of Vasilis' children with his first wife. Basil is married, but has no children. He does not come to the party. Athanasios is Vasilis' fourth son. He is more like his mother. He is young-looking and gentle. He has had two wives, both dying before they could carry his sons to full-term. The youngest of Vasilis' children is Ophelie. She married the Muggle. She is like her mother in looks, but she has her father's strength. Her husband does not come for the evening, though she brings all her children. She has four: Alphonse, the eldest; Sevastien, the middle son; Athanasios, named after her brother is her youngest; and, of course, her darling rose, Rosalind.
"How are you doing that?" Narcissa asks Sevastien. Sevastien is a Muggle, but he performs magic. He takes a blade of grass from the ground, grinds it between his palms, blows on the dust and produces a rose. Narcissa is enthralled. She refuses to believe he is a Muggle. No, he must be special, like her.
"And you've been to Egypt, as well?" Bellatrix listens intently to Vasiliy. He has been everywhere. He knows so much on so many things. He has many stories to tell her. She, like her sister, is enthralled. Unlike Narcissa, however, Bellatrix refuses to admit it. He is charming, but that is all. Rodolphus also listens to Vasiliy. He intends to break his head in half if he tries anything with Bella.
Andromeda watches Athanasios curiously. She does not have a brother and so she is very amused by Nasi's antics. He is a Muggle like his brother Sevastien, but Andromeda does not care. She watches him carefully, making sure he does not hurt himself as he runs across the yard, fetching flowers for her. She is worried Uncle Nikolai may scold them, but she cannot deny Nasi the enjoyment of procuring flowers for her.
Evan and Alphonse discuss Hogwarts, Beauxbatons and Durmstrang. Alphonse has graduated from Beauxbatons and Evan from Hogwarts. They swap stories. Of classes, of teachers, of succeses and the rare failure. In lower voices, they discuss the ladies. Alphonse has a lot to say about the open-mindedness of the French lady. Evan has even more to say on the technique of the English.
Rabastan stands apart from them, Rosalind at his side. She is still glaring at him with those impertinent eyes of hers. She is fourteen. He is four years her senior and she does not falter at the sight of him. She amuses him. She has been the perfect lady all evening, right from the top of her neatly brushed head to the tips of her satin-clad toes. She ate with perfect composure, talked with appropriate courtesy and had the carriage of a wellbred lady. He turns to her and looks at her curiously.
"You're doing it again," she scolds.
I cannot help it. You are a mystery. Rabastan does not speak but turns to his vodka.
Two months from now, Rosalind would walk across the Great Hall with a look of someone who has a purpose to fulfill. She will walk from her Gryffindor table to the Slytherin table, stand before Rabastan and give him a kiss. This will begin a rather tumultuous love affair between them. The reason why this is known is because it has already happened to Rabastan. When he was fourteen, she was too. On the fourteenth of February, also known as Valentine's Day, Rosalind Bungs (Half-blood and Gryffindor) will force her way into the life of Rabastan Lestrange (Pureblooded Slytherin).
"Onie, Meda says she'll kiss me at midnight. Is that all right?" Nasi approaches his sister, tugging gently at her skirts.
"Hm? Of course, Agapi," Rosalind bends to give her brother a kiss on his forehead before he runs back to his new favorite cousin.
Rabastan looks at her strangely. She glares at him again.
"It is a silly Muggle tradition," she feels the need to explain. "To kiss someone when the clock strikes midnight will bring good fortune for the rest of the year."
"It is silly," Rabastan agrees, feeling a sort of pleasure at her angry eyes.
"Shall we cheer the New Year, then?" Vasilis stands at the adults' table. The others quickly follow suit, picking up their glasses as Vasilis begins the countdown. "Ten-nine-eight-seven--"
Rabastan holds his own glass of vodka. He looks at Rosalind from the corner of his eye. She is watching her grandfather with unadulterated admiration. As the countdown nears zero, Rabastan has a sudden impulse to do something incredibly stupid. It must be the vodka.
"...two-one-Yiamas!" Vasilis cheers and raises his glass. Everyone else does the same and laughter ensues. Everyone goes back to what they were doing...
...save Rosalind, who realizes she can no longer glare at a man for staring at her after he's kissed her.
"Happy New Year, Lind," Rabastan mutters as his lips leave hers.
"Happy New Year, Rabastan."