Rodolphus
"Lucius already has his internship at the ministry confirmed, so he can work his way up and start spreading word of our cause. Bella, I know you've been speaking to your family, trying to persuade them to vote in ways that would be beneficial to us. Obviously, we have an upper hand as Rodolphus is in charge of his own Wizengamot seat and doesn't have to worry about bypassing his parents due to the... untimely passing of Lestrange Senior," Tom reported, standing at the head of the small table.
The table consisted of the inner circle; Malfoy, Bella, Rodolphus, Rabastan, Yaxley, and Rosier.
In their younger days, they used to meet once every couple of months, but now they were all older and soon leaving Hogwarts; they had upped their meetings. This time was absolutely crucial; Tom made it clear that they all needed to have the same cohesive message, and it needed to be pushed in the way that he deemed fit.
Rodolphus usually loves these types of meetings; he enjoyed standing behind Tom as a warning to everybody else. Not that Tom needed it; Rodolphus was self-aware enough to know that Tom could wipe the floor with him and everybody else with his eyes closed, but still, he enjoyed being an intimidation factor.
"May he rest in peace," Rabastan said, his tone coated in sarcasm.
Bella and Rosier snickered as Yaxley and Lucius gave them disturbed looks.
"What the fuck is your problem?" Rodolphus barked, glaring at Yaxley.
"You're brother is being distasteful, and you know it. That's my problem, and stop trying to pick a fight. You've been in a mood all day; we should be asking you what the fuck your problem is," Yaxley snapped.
"My, my, when did you grow a backbone?" Bella asked, sneering at him.
"I've always had one; it's why you had to cheat during our last duel," Yaxley hissed, his loathing towards her obvious.
Bella stood up abruptly, any trace of amusement gone from her face. "Let's duel again."
"Sit."
Tom's voice was barely raised, his face perfectly expressionless as he looked at Bella, who immediately sat down.
The entire room seemed to get almost unbearably quiet, Tom's silent anger becoming almost oppressive.
"You are meant to be some of the greatest wizards of our time, people who will someday have the highest respect and authority in our society due to your last names, so act like it. Unlike all of you, I am self-made, and everything I have is something that I've worked for, which may not be a concept in any of your tiny little minds, but listen to me good. If this bickering and hostility towards each other ends up getting in the way of what I want, I will make you wish you were dead. Argue among yourselves when I am not there, but during these meetings conduct yourselves appropriately. Do I make myself clear?" Tom said, his tone soft.
"Of course, my apologies," Yaxley rushed out, eyes downcast.
Rodolphus, Rabastan, and Bella all murmured out similar words of apology whilst Malfoy sat there looking smug.
Tom nodded, satisfied. "Now that has been dealt with, what is the issue?"
"My brother is, of course, brooding over that impoverished half-blood, hence why he seems more volatile and on edge than usual. Forgive him, my lord," Rabastan replied, wryly.
"I'm not brooding! I'm just trying to figure out a way to get him to believe that I like him; he's ridiculously stubborn; it's almost impossible to get him to see or hear reason," Rodolphus grumbled.
"Do some big romantic grand gestures," Yaxley offered.
"I don't know how to be romantic; I already stabbed Avery for him. What else could he want?"
"You're a girl, Bella. What sort of things are romantic? What would he like?"
"Severus isn't a girl, you idiot; he has a cock between his legs, not a fucking twat," Rodolphus hissed at his idiot brother, elbowing him.
"Well, isn't he like the girl in the relationship? Since you're both boys," Rabastan elbowed him back with a glare, "I'm trying to be helpful, you ungrateful cunt."
"That's not how it works, we're both boys. There's no girl!"
"And how was I meant to know that?"
Before the twins could descend into another argument, Malfoy interrupted them.
"Why don't you ask Harry? They're best friends. It's only logical. See what he likes and then do it for him; it's what worked on Cissa. I've never said no to her," Malfoy suggested.
Rodolphus hummed, thoughtful.
That was a good idea, as Harry probably knew Severus better than anyone else, but he didn't want to give Malfoy, the pompous arse, any credit.
"I think I'll talk to one of Severus's friends to help me get a better idea of what I can do," Rodolphus announced, as if it was his own idea.
"Great idea, I think that will work," Rabastan agreed, smirking.
~~~~~~
Rodolphus sat on top of the desk in one of the unused classrooms by the dungeon, pensive.
While he had always been more brawn than brains, he wasn't stupid, but he didn't know how to articulate himself, especially in instances like this. He never had an issue getting anyone he wanted before because why would he?
He was handsome, rich, and could be charming if he wanted to.
But intimidating people for Severus or spending money on him didn't seem to work; he was just so damn stubborn.
Rodolphus, however, was good at observing people, and he could tell that Severus was attracted to him. It was obvious. He saw the way his eyes would wander around his bulging muscles, or would sometimes flick to his lips and eyes with a flush spread spreading across his pale face.
Nervous and jittery were words that would never be associated with Severus, but around Rodolphus he was, so that was a clear indication that the attraction was there.
But whenever Rodolphus tried to hone in on that, Severus just became hostile and awkward. He just did not know what to do next.
Rodolphus knew what it was like to like someone, and he knew that this was much more than that; he could not get Severus out of his head. He haunted his every waking hour; he couldn't even concentrate if they were in the same room.
It was embarrassing, or it would be embarrassing if Rodolphus gave a fuck, but he didn't. Nothing could embarrass him because he didn't care what anyone thought of him, but still, it was getting a little much. He needed to get this problem sorted and fast.
Plus, he couldn't keep popping inconvenient boners every time he saw that scowling face of Severus; he had wanked off more times in the last month than he had in his entire life.
It was getting a bit much, even for him.
But Rodolphus had never liked anyone like Severus before; he had never found anyone who could match him, which was why he always tended to lose interest very quickly, but it was different this time. Severus was frighteningly intelligent, witty, and sarcastic, with a penchant for dark magic and humiliating people.
What other qualities but those would Rodolphus want in a partner?
"Rodolphus."
Rodolphus turned around to the soft tone of Tom as he was walking into the room with Harry.
Harry looked cautious, his wide green eyes curious, but his posture was open and friendly as he entered the room. He really was a very bright contrast to Tom, who looked stoic, his body was stiff and posture perfect as he almost loomed behind him.
He couldn't even begin to imagine how their relationship worked, if you could even call it a relationship, as Harry seemed absolutely oblivious to Tom's feelings, and Rodolphus wasn't too sure if Tom was even capable of any sort of real love.
"So, what's all this about?" Harry asked, his tone inquisitive as he rocked almost impatiently on the balls of his feet.
Tom glared at Rodolphus, as if warning him to be nice, making Rodolphus roll his eyes.
"I know you and Severus are best friends, and I would like your opinion on what I can do to woo him," Rodolphus admitted, shrugging his large shoulders almost sheepishly.
"I knew it!" Harry let out a smug smile, shooting Tom a mock exasperated look. "I guessed it was about Severus, but this one here wouldn't tell me anything; he's obsessed with keeping secrets."
"I'm not obsessed with keeping secrets; I just don't feel the need to gossip," Tom replied with an almost smile on his lips.
This time it was Harry's turn to roll his eyes. "If you say so," he mocked before turning back to Rodolphus. "So, how can I help?"
"I want him to like me, and not just because I want to get rid of my blue balls either; I genuinely like him," explained Rodolphus.
Harry flushes at his words, scandalised, "Blue balls?"
"Yes, when your balls feel like they're going to drop off because—"
"Yes, I'm sure he gets the drift." Tom barked, "Get on with it."
"Don't be so rude." Harry elbowed Tom. "Carry on, Rodolphus; don't let him boss you around."
Rodolphus snorted; if only Harry knew the true extent of it.
"Look, I just want to know what I can do to make him like me, beyond just attraction. I've been open and honest. I'm not sure what else to do."
"Severus can be tricky and, well, prickly too. He makes it his mission to be cold and not let people in, but it's not his fault. His home life is difficult, and that's why he struggles to understand that people do love and care for him," Harry explained, brows furrowed.
Rodolphus immediately tensed.
It was obvious that there was something off with Severus's home life, especially as he avoided talking about it like the plague.
Rodolphus could somewhat relate; his father had been barbaric and abusive. He had tortured Rodolphus and Rabastan's mother mentally and physically until she had killed herself during the boys’ first year at Hogwarts.
The twins had plotted his murder ever since.
But at least while enduring the almost totalitarian regime of their father, they had each other. On those cold, loveless, brutal nights when their father terrorised them, at the end of the day, they could lean on one another for support.
As they got older, they learnt to take and endure each hit, each curse, and each bit of dark magic inflicted upon them without so much as blinking or making a noise.
Each hit was a countdown to the looming death of their father, each hit a reminder of the man's impending mortality.
But Severus would have had nobody.
No one to confide in.
No one to trust.
Rodolphus knew the signs of having an abusive arsehole father.
"What did his father do to him?" Rodolphus demanded.
"I don't know; he won't say. He never talks about his home life, but he doesn't like to be touched unnecessarily, and you've seen how he covers as much of his skin as possible," Harry murmured, his fist clenched, visibly upset.
Tom put a supportive hand on Harry's shoulder. "Severus is an accomplished wizard and soon of age. I'm sure his father no longer hurts him, and if he does, well, I'm sure he will no longer once Severus is seventeen and no longer has the trace."
"It's not just about physical abuse; sometimes it's mental and emotional too. Sometimes that's worse." Harry gritted his teeth. "It's not fair. He doesn't deserve it. At least we have each other; he must be so alone during the summer."
"Where does he live?"
"What?"
Rodolphus barely suppressed the rage building inside of him; he clenched his hand to stop him from lashing out.
"I'm seventeen; I'll kill his father, where does he live?"
~~~~~~~~~
"He won't really kill him, right?" Harry asked after an intense beat of silence.
After proclaiming he was going to kill Seveus's dad, Tom had 'suggested' Rodolphus leave the room to cool down.
He looked so tightly wound that Harry felt bad for anyone who encountered him on his way back to the Slytherin common room. They would be absolutely doomed; Rodolphus seemed more hostile than ever.
If it was anyone else who had said that, Harry would have dismissed it as a figure of speech, but there was something so serious and savage about the look in his eyes that Harry couldn't help but think he was being truthful.
Not to mention all the rumours about the death of Lestrange Senior not being accidental.
But it couldn't be true.
Not even Rodolphus could be vicious enough to kill his father, right?
Yes, Tom's group could be a little unconventional and mean at times, but that was still a far cry away from killing someone.
"He was joking," Tom assured Harry.
Tom's face looked truthful and had no indication of lying, but Harry knew Tom like the back of his hand, probably better than he knew himself. He could not lie to him. He may be able to pull the wool over everybody else's eyes, but he couldn't over Harry's.
"Why are you lying to me?" Harry asked, scrutinising Tom's face.
"I'm not lying."
"Yes, you are, and I don't understand why. You never lie to me; do you really think he would do that? For Severus?”
Tom took a deep breath before looking Harry square in the eye.
"I would kill anyone that hurt you, anyone that's so much as made you feel a fraction of the way that I imagine your friend's father makes him feel. If Rodolphus feels half the way I feel about you, then I have no doubt that he would."
Harry felt his face turn aflame, his jaw dropping open at Tom's words.
Tom didn't do feelings; he made it abundantly clear that he thought love and affection was pathetic and beneath him, so this was not only more than a little unexpected but it was mind-boggling.
For once, Harry was at a loss for words.
_______
"What's your problem?" Rabastan asked, eyebrows raised as Rodolphus stormed around the astronomy tower, trying to get his little surprise date set up.
"Nothing," Rodolphus barked, shouldering him out of the way.
"I'd be more convinced if you hadn't shoved that half-blood down the stairs on the way up here," was Rabastan's dry retort.
"I've pushed plenty of people down the stairs; what's the big deal this time?"
"The big deal is I've noticed since your obsession with Snape, you've avoided being mean to half-bloods."
"Oh, shut up!"
Rabastan noted he didn't deny it.
"If you want help with all of this nonsense, then tell me what happened."
Rodolphus spun around, his eyes wild and his body noticeably vibrating with tension.
"His dad hurts him," Rodolphus snarled out, his amber eyes flashing.
Rabastan immediately stood to attention, his own memories of his father hurting him suddenly coming to the forefront. He didn't have empathy for a lot of people, but he did have empathy for those who were abused by their parents because he knew what it was like.
The truth was, it was Rodolphus who got him through it, the brave one who would always insist on getting punished in Rabastan's stead. He was the one that would purposely be rude to their father in hopes that his father would take out his anger on just him.
Rabastan found that he had a newfound respect for Severus.
"It's fine, don't worry about it," Rabastan replied casually.
"Are you out of your fucking mind? In what world is that fine?"
"We're seventeen. We'll kill him and Severus will come and live with us. We've got that big mansion with enough room to house about ten other families. It's a win-win situation; we get rid of the dad and then give Severus somewhere nice to live," Rabastan explained, a grin on his face.
The tension visibly seeped out of Rodolphus, a grin of his own forming on his equally handsome face.
"Yes, that's what I was thinking. But no one knows where he lives, and I doubt he will tell us. We're gonna have to be sneaky." Rodolphus agreed.
"The mudblood, wasn't she his neighbour? Can't we get it off her?"
"You're not as stupid as you look! You're a fucking genius!" Rodolphus exclaimed, his face lighting up in exhilaration.
"We've got the same face, you knob." Rabastan punched him in the arm playfully. "But you're welcome."
Rodolphus smirked before turning serious, grabbing his brother's hand.
"I know you don't like him or this situation, but thank you for helping me with everything. Thank you for standing up for him even when I know you don't want to." Rodolphus said, earnestly.
"You're my brother; there's nothing in this life I wouldn't give you. You saved me with da-"
"I know."
~~~~~~~
After almost an hour of gentle persuasion, which quickly turned into not-so-subtle threats, Rodolphus finally got Severus to come to the astronomy tower.
Severus was silent the entire way up, his body language uninviting and cold until he walked up the stairs, frozen.
His usual impenetrable mask of emotionlessness was replaced by genuine awe.
Rodolphus had to stop himself from doing something inappropriate. He looked so damn edible.
"You set this all up? For me?" Severus murmured, looking around the room.
"I thought actions speak better than words. I wanted to show you how much I like you and not just physically either," Rodolphus replied with a shrug.
Severus bit his lip, making Rodolphus suppress a groan.
"Oranges?"
"I always see you eating them; you seem to have an endless supply. I notice you barely eat in the Great Hall, yet you're always snacking on those, so I got a crate delivered from Brazil."
"Brazil? How—"
"I'm Lord Lestrange now; there's nothing in this world I can't have." Rodolphus paused, wryly, "Except you, it seems."
"I believe you, you know? It's obvious you like me; you're cruel, but I don't think you're that cruel to make all this up, but it just doesn't make sense. We're from two different worlds and just so different in general. I can't see this ending well." Severus admitted, quietly.
"Why? Just give me the chance to show you how good we could be."
"Rodolphus—"
Rodolphus cradled Severus's pale face between his large hands, his amber eyes trapping the black abyss of Severus's eyes.
"I just want to be yours," Rodolphus murmured, honestly.
A flush spread across Severus's face as he broke eye contact, shy and awkward.
"You know, it was the time you absolutely eviscerated Avery that made me realise how much I liked you. Seeing you covered in blood, threatening him with such a deadly look in your eye. I've never been so impressed and turned on," Rodolphus admitted with a grin.
"You're insane," Severus grinned, shaking his head, eyes still downcast.
"Maybe, but I always see you smirking when I'm terrorising people or looking particularly satisfied when Bella, Rosier, or Rab are picking on Lupin or Pettigrew."
Severus's eyes flickered up, his face suddenly unsure.
"What? What's wrong? Rodolphus asked, his thumb stroking the underside of his jaw.
"Some people deserve bad things to happen to them; some people deserve to be hurt. I know it makes me ... wrong and a freak, but I enjoy it. Watching people get what's coming to them," Severus admitted, hesitant.
"I'd slaughter anyone who even looked at you wrong if it meant it would make you happy; I don't give a shit what society deems normal. Your happiness is what I measure my morality on," Rodolphus vowed, his tone lowered.
Severus searched his face before finally letting out a large smile that seemed to light up his usual surly expression.
It made him younger, happier, and free.
Severus lifted his arm slowly, as if expecting Rodolphus to bat them away. Once they were wound around his neck, Severus shifted forward.
"Show me," he murmured.
Groaning, Rodolphus pushed Severus against the wall before finally kissing him.
The world faded, and all he could think and feel was Severus.
He tastes like peppermint and orange.
Rodolphus couldn't wait to taste the rest of him.
Once he was done with him, there wouldn't be an inch of Severus that hadn't been touched by his tongue.