2 (EDITED)
Rabastan Lestrange had been waiting for fourteen years to see baby Henrietta Charlotte Potter again. He couldn't believe that she was now fourteen years old, just two years away from the age at which he had planned to force her to marry him. But the truth was that Rabastan had been planning to get his hands on Henrietta even earlier than that. The question that plagued him was how he would accomplish this. He knew he wanted her badly, but he didn't know how to get his hands on her when she was only fourteen.
As he walked into the dining room of the Malfoys, where he had been invited, he couldn't help but feel a sense of irritation toward them. He wasn't a fan of the Malfoys, but his brother was married to Bellatrix Lestrange (nee Black), the sister of Narcissa Malfoy (nee Black), so he had no choice but to interact with them. He sighed and glanced at the young teenager in the room—Draco Malfoy.
As Rabastan pondered his thoughts, an idea suddenly struck him. Without wasting any time, he quickly made his way over to the young Malfoy heir. Rabastan sat down next to the fifteen-year-old boy, his mind buzzing with excitement and anticipation as he contemplated the best way to present his idea to the young heir.
"Hey Draco, have you heard anything about Henrietta Potter?" Rabastan asked curiously.
Draco appeared puzzled as he tried to gather his thoughts. "Henrietta Potter? I believe I heard a rumor that she might be dating Neville Longbottom, or maybe it was Ron Weasley. I'm not entirely sure. As far as I know, she's seeing someone, but I don't keep tabs on Potter's sister since she's a Gryffindor. Why do you ask?"
"Draco, do you think you can get her alone?" asked Rabastan. Draco was taken aback by his sudden question, wondering what he meant by it.
Before he could respond, Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan's brother, interjected, "Brother, I thought I told you we would get a hold of her when she's sixteen. I understand you are supposed to marry her."
Draco felt uneasy discussing this topic with the Lestranges. He knew that his family had arranged his marriage to Astoria Greengrass. Still, he didn't expect the Lestranges to be so involved in their own arranged marriage, especially with Henrietta Potter.
Narcissa appeared perplexed and sought clarification, asking, "What do you mean?" in a confused voice.
Rabastan revealed a dark, twisted plan he had harbored for years in the conversation. He confessed that in 1981, he had learned about the Potters' whereabouts from Peter Pettigrew. At the time, Rabastan was a follower of the Dark Lord and thought he would disclose the information to him. However, something unexpected happened that changed his mind.
Rabastan recounted that he was present when the Potters returned home after the birth of their daughter, Henrietta. Holding the newborn in his arms, he was struck by her beauty and saw her as his future wife. He considered kidnapping her but decided to take a different approach. He resolved to force James Potter to sign a betrothal contract, which he did by forging his wife's signature, which Rabastan called a "mudblood."
Rabastan shared with Draco that Henrietta was almost sixteen years old, and he could no longer wait to make her his wife. He instructed Draco to break up any relationship she might have and claim that she belonged to him. Rabastan's sinister plan was to take her away from her family and make her his bride as soon as possible.
"Are you seriously telling me that you're planning to force yourself on this fourteen-year-old girl?!" snapped Narcissa, her voice filled with a mixture of shock and anger. "I understand she will be your wife, but bloody hell, Rabastan! She's only fourteen years old! She's still a child, for Merlin's sake! How could you even think of doing something like that? You should be ashamed of yourself!"
Rabastan made a suggestive comment about a teenage girl's appearance and expressed his desire to make her his own. He suggested to Draco that instead of intervening when she arrived at Hogwarts, they should invite her over. Rabastan seemed quite taken with this young woman and wanted her to know he had his eyes on her. However, he did not indicate any intention to force himself upon her.
Draco was reluctant to contact the girl Potter, stating he was not friends with her. He believed that sending her an owl might come across as strange and could result in her sharing the information with her brother, whom he deemed foolish. Draco shared these thoughts with Rabastan, indicating that he hesitated to take any action that could lead to negative consequences.
Rabastan's eyes locked with Lucius Malfoy's as he leaned forward, placing his folded hands firmly on the table. "I know that look on your face, Lucius. You don't have to worry. She's going to be my wife one way or another." Rabastan's voice was steady, his gaze unwavering. "But what if we could kill two birds with one stone? What if we get her here for me, having Harry Potter believe we kidnapped her? He will come running here, and we can hand him to our Lord. It's a win-win for everyone—a win for me and the Lord."
Lucius nodded his head, his face expressionless. "That's a good plan, Rabastan. Draco, please send an owl to Miss. Potter immediately." Draco nodded in response, knowing that the task was urgent.
As Rabastan left the dining room, he couldn't help but let out a small chuckle. The food the house elves placed on the table didn't appeal to him. His mind was preoccupied with thoughts of Henrietta. He had been planning to make her his wife for some time now. He had already decided to enlist the help of Narcissa to transform Henrietta into a perfect homemaker. Rabastan was confident that he could make her fall in love with him before he made love to his future wife. He eagerly awaited the day when he would finally marry Henrietta and make her his own.
As night fell, Rabastan sat on his cozy bed, lost in thought. In front of him, he held a crumpled copy of the Daily Prophet, which featured a picture of a woman named Henrietta. In the photograph, she appeared to be frowning, her eyes darting around before settling on something in the distance. But then, her expression softened into a small smile that lit up her face. Rabastan couldn't help but smile, too, hopeful that everything would go as planned.
He sighed and carefully folded the paper, placing it beside the nightstand. As he lay down, he put his hands behind his head and closed his eyes, replaying the day's events. He knew he wasn't lying when he told Henrietta he saw a future with her, but he couldn't quite explain why he felt that way. After all, there was someone else he was supposed to marry - a woman he had never met and didn't care for.
But fate had other plans. The Dark Lord had killed Rabastan's intended bride, leaving him free to choose someone new. And now, thanks to Henrietta, he would get a terrific woman. Despite his past, Rabastan couldn't wait to see the future.
Dear Henrietta Potter,
I hope this message finds you well. I know we have not had the opportunity to get to know each other, and it's true that your brother and I have been on opposing sides in the past. However, I invite you to spend the summer at my family's home.
I understand that the circumstances surrounding your family's history are complex and painful. My mother recently learned that you were only a week old when You-Know-Who executed your mother, and she would like to offer you a chance to experience the love and warmth of a mother-daughter relationship that you may have missed out on.
Please know that this invitation is extended with the utmost sincerity and respect. If you want to accept, my owl will remain with you until you respond.
Sincerely,
Draco Malfoy
Henrietta Charlotte Potter was confused as she sat at her desk, holding a letter from Draco Malfoy. She had read it several times but still couldn't understand why the woman wanted her as a daughter. Henri had always longed for a close relationship with a mother figure, especially since she wasn't close to her aunt. But the idea of being taken in by the Malfoys made her nervous and hesitant.
Despite her reservations, Henri felt a strong pull towards accepting the offer. She couldn't help but wonder what her life would be like with a loving mother and father, and the idea of finally having a sense of family was too tempting to ignore. However, a nagging voice in her mind urged her to be cautious. She couldn't shake the feeling that there was something off about the Malfoys.
She placed the letter on her desk and took a piece of paper to respond. Henri knew she needed to decide soon but wanted to ensure she was making the right one.
Henri was startled by a sudden interruption and quickly turned around to see her godfather, Sirius, standing in the doorway. She had been so engrossed in reading the letter that she didn't even hear him come in. Henri felt a wave of embarrassment wash over her, as she had not intended for anyone else to read the letter. She kept it hidden in the room that belonged to Sirius' late brother, Regulus Black, as she didn't want to share it with her brother's friends, Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley. Henri felt relieved, knowing that at least Sirius had discovered her secret and not someone else. However, she was still anxious about what he might say or do next.
As they sat at the desk, the woman couldn't help but keep her eyes fixated on Sirius. He was her confidant, and she trusted him completely. Suddenly, Sirius turned to her and pulled up an extra chair, looking very serious.
"Henrietta," he said sternly, "don't lie to me. Why would Draco Malfoy send you an owl to visit? I saw that he mentioned my cousin, but I know Cissy, and she isn't the mothering type. Tell me the truth."
The woman took a deep breath, knowing she couldn't keep the truth from Sirius any longer. She explained the situation to him, recounting every detail of the letter she had received from Draco. As she spoke, Sirius listened intently, his eyes never leaving hers. She knew she could always count on him to be helpful, fair, and safe.
Henri vehemently denied any previous conversations with Malfoy, claiming she had always been hostile towards Henri's brother and his two friends. However, on this particular occasion, Malfoy had initiated a conversation with Henri. Henri assured her that she had no affiliation with Malfoy and that she only knew that Mrs. Malfoy and Mrs. Lestrange were sisters.
Sirius clutches the letter tightly and mutters to himself under his breath, "Bellatrix, the wife of Rodolphus Lestrange..." His tone is fraught with concern, and Henri watches him with a puzzled expression. Henri can sense that Sirius is hiding something from her, and she begins to connect the dots. She realizes that Rabastan Lestrange, Bellatrix's brother, is trying to get his hands on her. Henri also understands that Bellatrix is the aunt of Draco Malfoy, which is why he wanted her to come to his place in the first place. The fear inside Henri intensifies as she contemplates the implications of this realization. "What do you mean?" Henri asks, her voice barely above a whisper.
Sirius looked at Henrietta with concern as she read the letter from Draco Malfoy's owl. He shook his head, trying to hide his worry, and told her to ignore it. "Nothing to worry about, pumpkin," he said, but his voice betrayed his anxiety. "Could you not reply to his owl? It would be best if you didn't fall into whatever trap the Malfoys are trying to set up. They have always been up to no good, and I don't want you to get hurt. Listen, I'm doing this because I love you. Promise me you won't engage with the Malfoys and ignore their attempts to contact you."
Henrietta nodded, understanding the gravity of the situation. "Yes, Sirius," she said softly. She knew how much Sirius cared for her, and she didn't want to put herself in harm's way. She put the letter aside.
Sirius Black stood up, his heart heavy with emotion as he held the letter tightly. He leaned down and placed a tender kiss on top of Henri's head before turning to leave the room. Henri watched him go, feeling a pang of sadness in her chest. She knew the Malfoys were planning something that could endanger the entire wizarding world. But even with this knowledge, Henri couldn't help but long for a mother figure in her life.
Henri's thoughts turned to Molly Weasley, the kind-hearted woman who had taken Harry and Henri under her wing. Although Henri appreciated her efforts, she couldn't help but feel suffocated by her overbearing mothering. Unlike Harry, who welcomed her nurturing presence, Henri often pushed Molly away. It wasn't that she didn't appreciate her love and care, but sometimes, it was just too much to handle.
Henri sat at the desk, her heart racing with excitement and anticipation. She grabbed the quill and was about to start writing when a pair of warm hands covered her eyes, and a sweet smile formed on her lips. A familiar voice spoke softly, "Guess who?"
Henri's mind raced as she tried to guess who the person could be. A smile tugged at the corners of her mouth as she replied, "Oh, is it Ron?"
The person gasped in a fake offended tone, "I'm nothing like little Ronnie!" Henri couldn't help but laugh at the familiar voice of one of the Weasley boys.
As the hands uncovered her eyes, she turned around to face him. Her bright green eyes sparkled with love and joy as they met the eyes of her dear friend.