RP: Unlikely team mates

[shh_ginny]

Date: March 28th, 2005
Characters: Ginevra Weasley, Rabastan Lestrange
Location: The Church on River Road
Status: Private
Summary: Ginny arrives for her 'appointment'.
Completion: Complete

Comments

[shh_ginny]

Ginny set her drink on the table and sat up, her hands planted firmly on her knees as she heard the distinctive shift in his tone. "It is more likely that you will forgive me nothing, Rabastan, so spare me the false platitudes. I have never met a Death Eater who wasn't a Dark Wizard but I've met many Dark Wizards who were never Death Eaters. As much as you like to pretend otherwise, you were a Death Eater, so spare me the self-righteous anger and blustering protests."

"Wanting to know as much as possible about what might affect my patients does not make me a Dark Arts practitioner and I refuse to answer that question and will not tolerate such disrespect again." She stood now, pacing two steps away, her fists clenched in abject frustration at her sides as the wide legs of her pants fluttered about her ankles from the swift motion. "I must have been mad to think we could ever find middle ground. You cannot or will not let go of your pompous beliefs that won't allow you come down off that high horse of yours and see that other people's perspectives hold value as well."

"I was mad to think... never mind. I apologize for taking up so much of your precious time, Mister Lestrange." Ginny purred, her eyes flashing with leashed anger.

[shh_rabastan]

"You must have been mad? I must have been mad to think that you had abandoned those preconceived notions of yours! I have never claimed not to have been a Death Eater but if you think for one moment that every person who wore that monstrosity on their arms did so willingly or because they embraced dark arts, think again."

He rose and went to her. "If you want me to show you respect, I expect the same in return."

He summoned a port key from his study in case they needed a fast exit, then held out his hand to her. "Come. You want to know what kind of Death Eater I was, Healer Weasley? I will show you."

[shh_ginny]

"Magic is magic. Dark. Light. They are terms defined by governments in an attempt to control that which they cannot. Use is what defines intent." Ginny hissed angrily, closing her eyes in an attempt to rein in her anger which threatened to overshadow all reason now.

She eyed him warily when he moved toward her, her gaze dropping to his hand and then up to his eyes as he spoke. Without a hint of understanding what he intended, Ginny reached out and lifted her hand into his.

[shh_rabastan]

"Yes, magic is magic. It isn't the magic itself but the intent of it. That is why I have not learned dark magic, Ginevra. I do not come from a dark family. When I was young I did not have any desire to focus dark intent. Now, I no longer have the ability to do so even if I were to somehow gain the desire. It isn't some list of spells I can't or won't work, it's the intent needed to manipulate magic in that way.

"Ministries, Village Elders, religious and other groups the world over each have their own ideas of what is dark magic. Believe me the conceptions of what is and is not dark magic varies so much from place to place that it would be impossible to define it globally. Did you know that there is a tribal euthanasia spell that is so similar to an AK that I doubt even Albus Dumbledore could have told them apart? That fertility potions, not just contraceptives, are considered dark in some places?"

He sighed. In his own anger, he had failed to see what had set her off, but he understood better now. "Healer... Ginevra, I was not insinuating that either you or your... teacher were using dark arts to harm others. I was merely trying to comprehend... the reasons for you and the Duke using dark arts, and expressing a curiosity regarding why you would seek my knowledge of the dark arts as well. It was not my intention to disrespect you or the memory of your teacher."

He looked at their joined hands for a moment and thought about what he could show her in a short trip or two that might explain himself best. No, he knew exactly where he wanted to take her, he just didn't want to expose her to that, but that it may also help him bring her around to listening to his idea for the link later, cemented the decision.

"Three stops I think." He enveloped her in an embrace to take her side-along. "Hold on, Ginevra."

[shh_ginny]

"Pavel was not my teacher. He was..." The sharp, jagged memory came rushing back from a place she'd long ago locked it away in abject sorrow and rejection of the realization that he'd been taken from her and she hesitated only a second before the words that she'd denied for these long years spilled forth, unbidden. "my fiancée. Nothing anyone says can touch what he was."

Ginny glanced up in surprise when he swiftly wrapped his arms around her, disapparating them both before she had any chance to react.

[shh_rabastan]

"Then we find we have another point of similarity. My... companion has been lost to me as well." He could understand her reluctance now, he found speaking of Ranee difficult himself. He admitted being curious as to how she became affianced to a Russian Duke, but he would not distress her further.

She was so light that when he gathered her up, he was afraid he'd hurt her. "All right are you? I forget that while I am not nearly as thickly muscled as I was in my youth, I have not yet become a weak old man.

"Hold here for a moment. I need to announce us. The wards I set won't let me in without an invitation." Rabastan realized that he was still holding her, just for the bit of comfort the contact afforded him, and swiftly let go. He took a few steps forward and transformed as he went. Once he obtained his animagus form, he let out two loud yips and a long howl.

The farm house door opened a moment later. "Rabastan? Is that you?"

He had returned to human form and responded. "Indeed, Elise. Is Morgan home as well?" Had he not responded exactly that way, he would not have been invited further.

"Come ahead then, and please bring your friend." The woman was heavy-set and very motherly with chocolate brown eyes and hair, although Rabastan thought she was looking younger than she had last November when he saw her last.

"Elise, this is my friend Healer Ginevra Weasley. Ginevra, this is Elise Roth, she was a medi-witch at St. Mungo's before she met her husband and decided she'd prefer to tend goats and children. Speaking of children, is she about? I'd like Ginevra to have a look at her." The lady offered her hand and a greeting. Any friend of the man who saved her youngest son from Death Eaters was welcome to bring anyone he liked.

"Oh yes, she is growing like a weed, that one is. Still quiet though, but she is a talking now. Oh, and Morgan and Forest are off to town. They'll be sad they missed ye. Heavens it's good to see you still in one piece, lovey."

Just then a small girl, came bounding in and flung herself at Rabastan. "Ginevra, meet Anne. She's had a tough time of it. Would you mind taking a quick look at her for me? She nearly died on me before I got her to Elise, here."

[shh_ginny]

"I'm fine, Rabastan. I'm not made of porcelain." Ginny protested, disoriented from the sudden apparation and unnerved to be somewhere she had no recollection of. She nodded slowly, glancing around, as he stepped away, feeling the chill of the air for the first time. "Rabastan! Wait... where are..." But he'd metamorphed and Ginny took a step back, the memory of the wolf that morning flashing in her mind followed quickly by the wolf in her dreams before that too faded when the farm house door opened.

She shot him a rather pointed look that promised a long discussion later on and took a step forward at the older woman's invitation, taking her hand and leaning forward to press a kiss on the woman's cheek. "It is a... pleasure to meet you as well, Mrs. Roth." Ginny shot Rabastan another sharp look but he continued speaking.

When a tiny female ran up and threw herself at the wizard, Ginny's eyebrows shot up but she focused herself on what the wizard was saying and she dropped into a crouch, holding her hand out to the little girl. "It's nice to meet you, Anne." Looking up at Rabastan, she frowned slightly before looking back at the girl. "Would you mind terribly if I cast a spell on you, sweetie? It won't hurt at all but it may tickle a bit, I promise."

Anne seemed reluctant to release her grip on Rabastan but she nodded timidly and Ginny found herself moving to kneel beside the girl instead, letting her wand drop from her sleeve and she gently disentangled one of her tiny hands from where it clutched at his pants leg, holding it while she silently mouthed a diagnostic spell. There was a myriad flash of light and Ginny quickly scanned the shifts. "You've done fine work, Elise."

Re-reading the scan twice, she stood, giving the girls head a soft pat and, standing, Ginny laid her hand on Rabastan's arm and very quietly asked, "What did she nearly die of?"

[shh_rabastan]

Rabastan scooped up the little girl and gave her a nuzzle. "Anne, do you remember anything yet? You do remember that if you dream about anything like your parents or your name you are are to tell Mrs. Roth, right?"

The girl giggled, "I remember Wolfie. You aren't mad at me?"

"Of course not, you're my brave girl. How many little girls do you think I know that can defend themselves against a bear? Although I'll tell you a secret... I think Healer Weasley could have when she was your size." He sat her down. "I promise that I will come and visit more often. Now, we need to talk to Mrs. Roth alone, all right?" The girl nodded and took off. "Elise, you can describe it better than I."

The woman hadn't been a practicing medi-witch for over 20 years, but she had had a large family of boys prior to the Death Eater attack while they were all on holiday. "She was feverish, nearly catatonic, suffering from a magical backlash, malnourished and filthy."

"I have no idea how long she had been living on her own. We named her Anne after the first place I took her for sanctuary, she doesn't even remember her own name. She blew a small boulder apart in a burst of uncontrolled magic during a bear attack. The explosion was what led me to her." Rabastan took a breath. "I am pleased to hear she is mending, but her health wasn't the reason I brought you here. This is just on the way to where I wish to take you."

Rabastan removed right his earring and cast a pair of spells on it. "Elise, I... we need a favor. Put this in a dish or something safe. If it starts flaming, I need you send your owl to the person I directed you contact if Anne needed anything. Tell him who is with me and that we went to hell. Can you do that for me?"

"You went to hell? It's a code, right lovey?"

"Yes, of sorts. The earring will return to me as soon as we're safe, so don't worry when it disappears. Thank you for taking good care of her. Give my regards to your family. I will try to visit longer soon."

They left the house to disapparate. "I know you have questions, but I wanted to make sure that if something goes wrong, that someone would know where to find us. I will answer anything you'd like after we make our final stop. Are you ready?"

Rabastan drew her to him again and when they reappeared near the cave, the wards and feel of dark magic were nearly over powering. "Welcome to Hell, Ginevra."

[shh_ginny]

Ginny listened to the exchange with no small degree of curiosity, an aspect of their dynamic that she did not delude herself in believing he wasn't taking advantage of. He knew of her strong curiosity and she knew he was playing on it now, despite his obvious concern for the child.

When he indicated that he did not actually wish her to work with the girl, Ginny began to protest. "But I can..." Whatever else she might have said faded when he began casting, her eyes narrowing in sharp recognition of two of them, the same ones cast on her dragon charm. Following him outside, she glared at him when he cut off the anticipation of her questions, sighing as she tightened her grip on her wand. "I don't suppose I have an actual choice, do I?"

The tug into his embrace was her answer and she barely had time to lift her hand to the small of his back before he disapparated them both. Apparating before what appeared to be a cave, Ginny staggered against him feeling disoriented and chilled beyond words. "Have you lost your mind? This place... the... Rabastan... what happened here?"

[shh_rabastan]

"You always have a choice, Ginevra. It is only that sometimes none of the choices available are good ones. A situation I have found myself in on far too many occasions."

He did not relinquish his hold of her this time. "We are beyond my wards, but past the white boulders, you must remain in physical contact with me. I asked if you wanted to know what kind of Death Eater I was. This is your answer.

"Are you as talented at transfiguration as I suspect? Could you change your Ao Dai into pants and a short top, baring your stomach and lower back? I'd like to use my shirt to bind us together with you in front of me. That way we can't accidentally lose touch."

[shh_ginny]

"You have lost your mind if you think..." Ginny put her hands against his chest and pushed, unnerved by the intense chill and continued feeling of disorientation, stopping only when he clarified as to why he would not release her. She was shaking with anger, hissing. "This little escapade of yours is doing my trust issues no favors."

She laughed wryly. "You couldn't be more wrong. But, lucky for you, magic is actually unnecessary in this case." Tugging the back of her tunic up, Ginny reached back and pressed his hand against the small of her bared back as she swept the tunic off over her head, revealing a short, tasseled mid-riff top that matched the gossamer white pants.

"Ao Dai come in three pieces. Clearly you've never undressed anyone wearing one." If was hard to concentrate on her magic but, after a moment, she managed to banish the tunic, giving him a look as if to say 'well?'.

[shh_rabastan]

"If you lack the courage to stay, I will not stop you from leaving. I will simply request that you tell no one of this place. You are the only the second person I have trusted with the secret."

Clearly you've never undressed anyone wearing one.

"Only mentally. Thank you for a more accurate visual image. I will be sure to adjust my mental imagery when I avail myself of that particular fantasy in the future." It really wasn't the time to smirk, but bugger it, he had always been curious about that but too much of a gentleman to find out.

Rabastan ran a finger up his buttons releasing them by magic then slipped it off. It wasn't necessary to maintain contact outside the wards, but he could tell that they were bothering her. Keeping at least minimal contact would help her cope until he surrounded her with his magic. Rabastan closed his eyes, focused carefully on what he wanted and shook out his shirt. In its place was a long length of black cloth with golden yellow runes and markings woven in. "Stand in front of me. You're a bit shor... I'm a bit tall for this, but it will work." In the end, he had to adjust his pants to ride at his hips instead of waist but he had the cloth pressing his front to her back.

Once secure, he asked, "Still willing to trust me? After the next step, the choices diminish, Ginevra."

[shh_ginny]

"Courage has nothing to do with it and you know it. I can hardly tell anyone of it as you have not told me where we are, a fact which you know prevents me from disapparating," Ginny purred dangerously, reaching up to brush her fingers over the small cut on her forehead absently.

"Steady on, old man. I don't care if you have fantasies or not but I don't need to know what they are." Moving as he instructed, she was not discomforted by his undress or the contact with him but anxious to get whatever this was over with. Ginny slipped her hand in the pocket of her pants, curling it around the small key that she was never without. "I have two choices, Rabastan, and I suggest you get on with this demonstration before I lose what's left of my patience."