RP: I Will Have Answers
Date: 5 August 2005
Characters: Rodolphus, Bellatrix, Klotter the house elf
Location: Lestrange Manor
Private/Public: Private
Rating: PG
Warnings: Death of a house elf
Summary: Rodolphus has time to think about what has happened and he takes steps.
Completion: Complete


Rodolphus sat in the private courtyard he’d apparated to from Romilda’s room, his thoughts rampaging around his head. His child, his heir, lost... for the second time. He closed his eyes. All he wanted was an heir? Was that truly so much to ask? He ran a hand down his face, his shoulders slumping, wondering if he would ever dare to try for a third time. He hadn’t even had the opportunity to find out if this child had been a boy or a girl.

As he sat there, the things he had put aside to think of later rose in his mind. Klotter had been frightened... no, more than frightened. He had been terrified, far beyond what he should be feeling if he was simply reporting the serious illness of another. His fear had been that of someone knowing he was going to be in trouble. And Klotter was very loyal to his wife.

Romilda’s words came back to him then. Tastes funny. Her food and drink had tasted funny. He’d simply thought her assessment that it was caused by morning sickness was right. But now... now he wasn’t so sure. He may not have a great deal of experience but that had not looked liked a normal miscarriage. He’d voiced the thought to Theodore earlier about poison but he needed to be sure.

His expression slowly solidifed into one of grim anger and he barked, "Klotter!"

The house elf appeared a moment later. He took one look at Rodolphus’ face then bowed deeply, shivering in fear. "Master Rodolphus?"

Rodolphus leapt forward and snatched Klotter up by the throat, holding him up so that they were face to face, Klotter dangling from his hand.

"Klotter, you have done something very, very wrong, haven’t you?" he said in a tone that was almost conversational, his face calm and only his eyes reflecting the danger that Klotter was in right now.

The house elf whimpered and quivered then nodded, knowing that for all the loyalty he felt for Bellatrix, this was the master of the house and the final authority to whom he was answerable.

"I thought so," Rodolphus continued, still in that same conversational tone. "What did you do, Klotter?"

"Klotter gave Miss Vane clover oil, feverfew and pennyroyal," he said, his voice shaking and falling back into the more stilted house elf speech. "Klotter put it in her tea and her juice and her food."

Rodolphus growled a little, causing Klotter to squeak and cower as best as he could, hanging as he was. He knew what those plants did and he had little doubt as to who had ordered this. Still... he wanted proof.

"And who told you to do this? And why?"

Klotter squeaked again and quivered and whimpered then said in a tiny voice, "Master Bellatrix. She said you were hers. Only she was to be in your bed."

"Thank you, Klotter," Rodolphus said gently then he placed the house elf back down on the ground. Klotter immediately collapsed and grovelled in front of him. Rodolphus watched him impassively then pulled out his wand and pointed it at the house elf.

"Avada Kedavra."

Green light flashed out and the house elf went still. Rodolphus tucked his wand away and walked back towards the house without a backward glance.

"Telsy," he called as he walked into the house.

The house elf appeared a moment later and looked at him with bland curiosity. "Yes, Master Rodolphus?"

"Prepare the special cell for me,” he said calmly. “I shall be down with its new occupant in a moment." He paused for a moment. "Oh, and tell the others there is a mess to clean up in the courtyard."

Telsy nodded and disappeared with a crack. Rodolphus continue stalking through the corridors of the manor, his anger slowly growing and causing the manor to start to resonate around him. When he reached Bella’s rooms, the doors burst open without him having to lift a hand. He didn’t give his wife a chance to say or do anything, he simply silenced her and bound her.

"I know what you have done, my wife, and I am very displeased with you," he said gently, feeling a savage sense of pleasure when her eyes widened at his tone of voice. "There is no need to protest. Klotter has told me all."

He paused and smiled pleasantly at her. "I am afraid that Klotter will no longer be serving you... or anyone else for that matter."

He grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out of the room and down the corridor. "You have ruined my plans for the last time, my wife," he said, his voice becoming cool and distinctly chilly. "I will not tolerate this behaviour from you anymore."

As he dragged her down the stairs towards the dungeons, his tone became conversational again. "All you had to do was ask me about Romilda and I would have told you. Did you really think that silly little girl could take your place in my bed or replace you as my wife? Such little faith you have in me. I am very disappointed with you."

They had reached the dungeons by now and Telsy was waiting by the open door of the special cell he’d prepared long ago for... special guests. The cell was warded such that its occupant could not use magic or apparate out and the door was bespelled so that only he could open it. House elves could go into and out of the cell to deliver food and clean up but they knew to make sure they were not seen. He’d modelled it on the cells in Azkaban.

He dragged Bella into the cell and dumped her there. He crouched down beside her and grabbed her hair again, giving her a sharp shake.

"You will stay here for now, my wife, so that you may think carefully about the mistakes you have made."

He rose to his feet and stalked out of the cell, closing the door then removing the spells from his wife. He then looked down at Telsy.

"Pass the word to the other house elves, Telsy. None of them are to obey any orders given by my wife. Anyone even thinking of disobeying will be given clothes."

That broke through even Telsy’s sangfroid and his eyes widened and he nodded. "Yes, Master Rodolphus."

Rodolphus turned and stalked out of the dungeons, hearing Telsy disappear with a pop behind him. He intended to return to his courtyard and take the time to mourn his lost child.