Beyond the Darkness

Date: May 9, 2005
Characters: Rodolphus Lestrange, Theodore Nott
Location: Lestrange Manor
Private/Public: Private
Rating: G
Warnings: None
Summary: Theo comes to Lestrange Manor to meet with his godfather.
Completion: Complete

Rodolphus sat in one of the large wingback chairs in front of the fireplace, waiting for Theodore. He was interested to hear what information his godson had for him and he was even more interested to gain a few explanations.

He had just had a visit from one of Fenrir's werewolves, reporting that Theodore was down at Severus' house. The werewolf had come immediately rather than waiting to report at the end of the day since he knew that Theodore was Rodolphus' godson. There had also been an earlier report that Theodore had also been there a few days ago.

Rodolphus suspected that it had something to do with gaining evidence of Severus betrayal... or loyalty. But he would be interested to know why Theodore felt the need to go there today.

He rested his elbows on the arms of the chair and steepled his fingers. He was a patient man. He could wait for Theodore to arrive to get his explanations.

Theo felt the tug of notification shortly after he left Severus's house, quite a while before he reached the manor. Feeling relieved, he didn't hesitate to knock the door, convinced Severus wouldn't be so stupid as to stay after a warning.

After being shown in by the elf, Theo made his way up to Rodolphus's study, smiling gently as he walked in.

'Hello Rodolphus,' he said softly, setting the box of potions quite visibly (but not overly so) on a nearby table before making his way over to the armchair opposite the one Rodolphus was sitting in.

"Theodore," Rodolphus said calmly as his godson walked over and sat down.

He'd noticed the box Theodore had set down and gave a mental nod. So perhaps his speculation as to why Theodore had been at Severus' house was correct. He would wait and see if Theodore would admit to having been there and what excuse he gave. If his godson didn't mention it then he certainly would. Theodore's reaction would tell him everything he needed to know.

"You have some... unexpected information for me?" he said with mild interest.

Theo saw his godfather's gaze move to the box. So he had heard already. Well that was good to know, and good for adjusting ones tactics.

'Yes, I do,' he said with a nod. 'But before I get to that, I have the evidence you asked for,' he said, making sure to be the first to bring up Severus. 'Indisputable evidence.'

He watched Rodolphus expression for but a moment before continuing. 'I set a trap for him, using a genuine need for a number of potions to set it up. He walked right into it,' he said, nodding slightly in the direction of the box when he mentioned potions.

'I almost wished he hadn't failed, he's still working on one of the potions I need and now I will have to get it from Draco instead.' The slight frown was genuine, but he had absolutely no intention of asking Draco for the potion. There was no need for Rodolphus to know that though.

Rodolphus raised an eyebrow at the news about Severus, anger darkening his eyes. And he was angry but also disappointed. He had known Severus for a very long time and had even trusted him in some small, unique way. Well, no matter... his plans were in place and they would be set in motion. The important thing now was to discover how much Severus knew about their plans, how much he had told his contact and who precisely he was working for.

"I see," he said reasonably calmly though a hint of the anger he was feeling did bleed into his voice. "Thank you, Theodore. That information is most... useful."

He ignored Theodore's slight whine about his potion. That wasn't his problem though he too would miss Severus' deft hand with a potion. His mind was now concentrating on what needed to be done.

"And what is your unexpected information?" he asked briskly as he rose to his feet, limping over to his desk.

Theo could tell Rodolphus was not pleased, that he had hoped for another outcome. In truth he had as well, though he'd never expected it.

'It came as a result of the trap,' he said instead, watching his godfather stand and walk over to the desk.

'I made up information about the captured Death Eaters being held in the Shack, which I thought I knew wasn't true. When I went to order the potions, I planted it with Snape, as if I accidentally dropped the information. A few days later, Minerva contacted me, just as I had expected she would. What I didn't expect was the way she went about it. Instead of questioning me, as she should have, she wanted me to find out what your plans were regarding the Shack. The way she went about it, it was obvious she, at least, believes some of the captured Death Eaters are being held there. I've set Romilda on the task of finding out, one of her costumers is a Healer. She's going to find out if there is some wards on the place that wasn't there before the battle. I should know before too long.'

He looked over at Rodolphus again, waiting for his reaction.

Rodolphus' eyes narrowed as he listened to Theodore's explanation, his hand resting on the report from one of his house elves about the readiness of a certain cell he intended to use for his errant Potions Master.

He had suspected that the wounded among his captured Death Eaters were being held at the Shack but Orla hadn't been able to confirm that for him. So, Minerva McGonagall believed they were there as well. Not absolute proof but enough to make him bring certain plans to the forefront in his mind. Perhaps Lisa Turpin would be a useful tool for this matter. Rab certainly believed she could be.

"Intimate to her that I currently have no plans for the Shack," he said sharply. "That I am displeased with the Death Eaters who were captured and am prepared to let them cool their heels where they are for the moment. Let her believe that as far as I am concerned the captured Death Eaters know nothing of any significance and that I know that the Order and Ogden will not have them killed, fools that they are." He paused and chuckled maliciously. "Insinuate that should I choose to go after my people, my preferred choice of 'rescuer' would be Fenrir and his pack. After all, Fenrir has one of his own to claim in Hogsmeade."

There was very little in the way of truth in any of the statements he had made except for the second one. The captured Death Eaters didn't know anything of worth and those fools for the Light were too soft-hearted to kill his people. But Theodore didn't need to know that, he only had to pass on what Rodolphus wanted them to know. If McGonagall chose to disbelieve it then that was her own problem. After all, Fenrir did have the boy to collect so maybe it would be worth including the pack in any plans.

Theo nodded as he listened, not believing what his godfather said, but understanding the point of telling him.

'I'll tell her,' he said with a nod, letting Rodolphus know he would do what was asked, as he always did. Of course what he actually told Minerva would be that this was what Rodolphus had told him to tell, but then Rodolphus didn't need to know everything.

He watched Rodolphus, before he sighed and leaned back.

'May I offer an opinion?' he then asked.

Rodolphus picked up the report, glancing over it to ensure that all was in readiness. Once he was certain, he returned the parchment to his desk.

He arched an eyebrow at his godson, quietly amused by the young man's reactions. Theodore did not like what he'd been asked to do. Likely some residual loyalty from when Severus had been his Head of House. Well, it was time Theodore learned who his loyalties lay with.

"You may."

'I do not accidentally drop things - especially orders from you. As much as I covered my tracks, Severus is not a fool - and he was my head of house for years.' He looked calmly at Rodolphus before continuing.

'Something was out of place there today - or rather it wasn't, which makes me convinced that there was. Also there was something in his behaviour, though I can't put my finger on it. He's getting ready to flee, of that I'm sure. You should move quickly on this.'

It would give Severus less time to escape, but hopefully he was already on his way. If not...well then he had made his own bed, and this was Theo making his. Rodolphus knew he'd been there, he could not afford to let his godfather suspect that he had warned him. Rodolphus might like him, but not enough to keep him alive if he thought he had betrayed him.

That was a meeting with Adrian he preferred not to have.

Rodolphus smiled mirthlessly, a smile that did not reach his eyes.

"Oh, I have no doubts that Severus has seen at least partway, if not all the way, through your charade," he said coolly. "He is a clever man and well versed in seeing the subtleties. But until he knows for certain that you have betrayed him, he will remain where he is in the hopes he can lie and finagle his way out of this situation. If he has indeed been a spy for as long as my sources suggest then he was able to lie successfully to the Dark Lord. Quite a skill, considering the Dark Lord's ability with Legilimency and his penchant for using it freely."

Rodolphus chuckled darkly, malicious amusement gleaming in his eyes for a moment.

"I am quite tempted to allow him to try and lie his way out of this. If nothing else it would be an intriguing exercise to see what tack he takes before I destroy his illusions."

He sobered and his expresison became cool and collected once again.

"I have no intention of letting that little crow fly the nest, Theodore," he said dismissively. "There shall be no hesitation."

Theo listened and nodded, a slight smile on his lips as Rodolphus told him his intentions. He did not offer any more of his own opinions. He'd warned Rodolphus that Severus was about to leave, when he left it would not come as a surprise. Rodolphus would of course suspect him for warning him - but he would not be able to prove anything, and in the end, the fact that he had indeed warned Rodolphus that Severus was ready to flee would count for more.

Besides, he had no intention of stepping out of line again. Not for as long as he could avoid it. He preferred his neck where it was, and did not fancy sitting the rest of the war out in Forter Castle while Rodolphus tried to figure out how to bring a killer to the place.

'I would wish you luck, but it seems unnecessary,' he said instead, pondering if he should occupy more of Rodolphus's time to give Severus more time. Then again, combined with his warning that seemed...well foolish.

'I will not occupy more of your time. I do have a few more things to discuss, but perhaps we could do that at another time, when you don't have a spy to catch,' he suggested.

"Yes, come back at a later time," Rodolphus said dismissively. "No doubt I will have some free time in a few days. Contact me through the book to find out for certain."

He stalked over to the door, his limp barely noticable, holding it open for Theodore. He was not normally this abrupt with his godson but he had other things on his mind. Not the least of which was ensuring that Bella did not try anything... permanent with Severus. At least not yet. That could come later, once Severus was broken and had told him everything.