Rabastan went into Azkaban thinking that he was lower than dirt and knowing that his father didn't want him, didn't love him and believing fully that he'd killed his own mother."
"Then he started on Rabastan again as soon as they were freed." Harry said his hand clenching into a fist.
"Exactly. Xerxes does what he can, but the damage has been done by a lifetime of hate because, despite not being physically there, he always made sure that Rabastan knew how much he was hated and unwanted. Rhadamanthus' brand of torture works so very well because it's the truth, at least to an extent, and the truth always hurts worse than any lie that can be fabricated. Rabastan naturally and subconsciously seeks his father's love and approval, which only makes it that much easier for Rhadamanthus to hurt him with the truth that he was unwanted and unloved. Nothing Rabastan does or has ever done will ever change Rhadamanthus' mind, but still, he tries and it completes a vicious circle where Rabastan sets himself up for Rhadamanthus' torture like a pig walking blindly to the slaughter."
"Why can't he just go back to India and leave us all alone?!" Harry declared, changing the direction of his pacing before he became dizzy and fell down. "Because he wants to see Rabastan dead." Lucius replied.
"Over my dead body!" Harry hissed.
"I believe that would make him very happy as well."
Harry muttered under his breath about wanting to kill the vile man as his pacing picked up yet another level of speed. It wasn't working at all, the pacing was not helping him to calm down his anger. The more he heard, the more he wanted to rage and lash out.
"Yes, Xerxes had mentioned that to me, about your desire to kill Rhadamanthus. How serious are these desires, Harry?"
Harry looked at Lucius and then looked away again, carrying on his pacing.
"That serious, hmm? I knew that you disliked him, you make it plain and obvious enough, but I never thought to that extent. Murder is a crime, Harry. If you're caught, you will face life in Azkaban for it."
"He is trying to kill the man that I love! His own son!" Harry exploded.
"Murder is still murder, no matter the reasons. You have too much potential, too much to live for, to throw it all away by killing Rhadamanthus. He would love knowing that he'd ruined your life in such a way, even if you did end up killing him."
Harry had known that Lucius would try to talk him out of killing Rhadamanthus, so he just sighed and nodded his head, sitting back down in the chair in a show of calm. An image of Rhadamanthus harming his child as he'd done to Rabastan popped up and he crushed it viciously. He was still going to go ahead with his plans to kill Rhadamanthus, he just couldn't tell anyone about them. "If Rabastan does break his betrothal with you, then I have a backup betrothal contract for Thorfinn Rowle already planned."
Harry clenched his jaw so hard that the joint cracked. He didn't want anyone else!
"If he doesn't break the contract, then there is no reason why you can't dangle Rowle in front of him. A bit of jealousy is healthy in any relationship. It shows, at the very least, that you both care about one another. It might help to prove to you that Rabastan will fight for you because I'm very sure that he isn't going to break the contract. He loves you just as much as you love him. He's just inept at showing it."
That made Harry smile. "What does Rowle look like, anyway?"
Lucius smirked and Harry didn't like it. "He is an incredibly handsome man. Tall and muscled, he's blonde with blue eyes and though he's loyal to a fault, he's fiercely protective of anything he perceives as his. I didn't pick him as a first choice because of that. He'd treat you as a possession, not as a person who could think and feel for himself, and I didn't want that for you. I will not have any son of mine become another man's toy."
"He sounds awful."
"Still, a bit of harmless flirting wouldn't go amiss in this situation. He likes pretty things, so you're likely to catch his eye regardless."
"Excuse me? When will I catch his eye?" Harry demanded.
Lucius' smirk grew. "My, did we forget to tell you that every year we, the pureblood society, hold an annual ball on New Year's Eve?"
"No." Harry shook his head. "I won't do it."
"You won't have to do a thing, Harry. Rowle will inevitably spot you at the ball and he'll be drawn to you. As I said, he likes pretty things. The Lestranges already know that Rowle was on my list of candidates for you. So this little set-up should all fall together nicely."
"The New Year is over a week away, what if Rabastan and I make up before then? He could ruin everything!"
"If you've already made up by the New Year, then it is unlikely that Rowle taking an interest will do either you or Rabastan any harm. If you haven't made up by then, then he could be just the catalyst that you both need to sort things out."
"I hope we have made up by New Year…it's a little over a week away and I don't think I could stand to stay here for that long if he isn't speaking to me."
"Go to bed, Harry. We'll see how things pan out in the morning." Harry nodded at the clear dismissal and he stood up and walked to the door. He opened it and stopped just before he walked out.
"Thank you." He said quietly. "For everything."
He closed the door behind him and he went to his own rooms. He still didn't know how things had gotten this bad so quickly, but he did know that if he gave in and apologised, then nothing would be resolved and he and Rabastan would never move forward. He needed them to move forward for the sake of their relationship and the chance of a future together.
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