numb; rosine

That was his one pet peeve, having only been a qualified Hit Wizard and part of the Law Enforcement for so long left you with these menial tasks when he really wanted to get to the good stuff. Too long he had studied the law, studied his spells and charms and whatnot to be just walking around the school for a night shift. But, what could he do? A job was a job and he couldn't be unemployed if his father had any say in it. The last thing he wanted was to have to fall to his level and have to work for him. All he did was live in the past and try to bring that to the present and future when it wasn't feasible anymore. Times had changed, people had changed and most of those antagonists from more than two decades ago weren't around anymore. It was something he could take solace in that he wasn't the only second generation that had to suffer from an unfortunate last name, some just came with so much baggage and it wasn't light. Caine had a sense though that he'd been kicked out of the office from paperwork he should have been completing for some other investigation instead. He always figured they would have been digging some dirt on his family and background especially because of the recent events at hand, anyone with a former Death Eater associated name was under scrutiny. But, he wasn't worried because he had nothing to hide and no knowledge of any of his father's activities. Would he ever turn him in? Probably not, it was so wrong in his mind, but he just stayed out of it. Therefore, he wasn't completely disappointing to be at his old school, he could visit his older sister and then find his younger sister to which he had left a note for to meet him out here while he walked around and pretended that anything dangerous could happen here.

The last thing he wanted was for her to be involved, she was only seventeen and had so much more waiting for her in the real world instead of in their father's dreams. It was a little cold outside and he twirled his wand delicately between his fingers while he kept his eyes open and alert for anything unusual. His old school buddy was the Groundskeeper here and he supposed he would stop by for a visit before he took off int he morning, in the mean time he'd heard some information that his father was being watched carefully, owls in and out and anyone that visited the Lestrange home. Fortunately, no letters had been intercepted but knew they were looking for accomplices as well. In connection to that there were some other people of interest that all of a sudden had stopped talking and this was why the focus had changed. Someone was meeting these people and making them keep their mouth shut, not that he had any idea in particular why. Their questioning by the Department had nothing to do anything major, though criminals tend to spill everything once they crack and he had watched one too many interrogations while training to know that for certain. If Rosine had any involvement whatsoever he really didn't know how he would respond. Thankfully, the patrols they were assigned weren't anything of particular difficulty and really were a low priority hence sending whatever available Witch or Wizard over here from whatever job they were supposed to be doing. Caine stopped walking and glanced back up at the castle he used to call home and his haven. The only place to feel normal and happy, not judged all the time and pressured. Oh, how he missed that.

Behind him he heard a noise and immediately he turned, but hardly anything threatening.

Rosine was exhausted. It had been an incredibly long and draining week, but she felt the satisfaction that came with a job well done. Her father had kept her busy and Rosine had been sneaking in and out of the castle all week to 'meet' with different associates of his for whatever reason Rabastan instructed. Rosine didn't know what he was up to exactly, she never asked for details beyond what she needed to complete the task assigned to her, and she knew that even if she had asked chances were he wouldn't have told her anyway. Rabastan was a lot of things, but Rosine knew he'd do anything to protect her and sometimes that meant her knowing as little as possible in case the wrong people came sniffing around. She frowned at that thought, wondering if maybe that was what was happening here and why she had been so busy persuading people that it would be in their best interests to keep their mouths shut. She sighed as she lay on her bed, staring up at the canopy above her. She used to do this for Rabastan because she found manipulating people to do what she wanted a fun game, but now? it was still fun, but it was time she started getting rewarded for her work. She'd have to speak to her father about compensation of some kind, though she supposed it was rather pointless as she already had access to all her family's money so being paid was a moot point.

Rosine lifted her head when someone knocked on the dorm room door as she instructed them to come in, her eyebrows raising when a nervous looking first year girl opened the door, 'I umm, I.... Here." she said, holding out a piece of parchment toward here, so nervous in Rosine's presence that she couldn't even form a coherent sentence much to Rosine's amusement. She got up and walked the few spaces between them, plucking the parchment from the girls trembling fingers, "You can go."

[/color] Rosine said, dismissing the girl, the dorm door closing behind her heavily in the younger girls hurry to escape. Rosine chuckled before looking down at the parchment she'd delivered - a note from her brother who it would seem was in the castle. She was pleasantly surprised and couldn't help the grin on her face. The Lestrange siblings were a strange bunch really, such different opinions and outlooks on life but they all loved each other and despite not seeing eye-to-eye on a great many things, they'd still always be there for each other. Rosine quickly pulled her cloak on knowing it would be cold outside of the castle and left in search of her big brother who she felt like she hadn't seen in forever.

She walked briskly, the fast pace not only covering more ground but also serving to stave off the cold as she headed out to the grounds where his note said he'd be patrolling tonight. As she made her way outside she could see a tall figure wandering around and smiled, walking a little faster again in her eagerness to get to him, "Well isn't this a pleasant surprise"[/color] she said happily once she was within earshot, her arms going around him as she finally arrived by his side, "So what's up Davin? Hows work?"[/color] she asked as she took a step back, a smile on her face. [/font][/color][/size][/blockquote]

Caine turned around quickly and almost pointed his wand at the supposed intruder before he recognized the form of his sister. Her frame was like his older sister's but she wasn't as tall as her. Hugging her back he couldn't help but grin slightly, it didn't matter how much she annoyed him or just made him angry, it was family and that's what mattered. Hence, the business he had summoned her for. "Just figured I would say hello while I was here". Caine rolled his eyes, he didn't know why but he detested his first name, Davin. It was a nice name but maybe because it was the fact his father had given it to him that he didn't like it, either way it had become habit some way or another to use his middle name instead. His family insisted on referring to him as Davin and he didn't mind, at least he knew who he was talking to because they never used his middle name. "It's fine, keeping me plenty busy, but also why I asked you to come here." Might as well get to the point before they both froze to death. He paced around for a few steps deciding how he was going to word this properly without starting a scene. For whatever reason Rosine had it in her mind that their father was always right and doing what was right and she should follow. Though the fact that his influence of such Dark matters had surpassed the two eldest siblings should have been the greatest hint to her. But, where did he start? His father, the suspects that wouldn't talk and the growing investigation.

"I was wondering if you could tell me what he has been up to." and by 'he' he was referring to their father. "I'm not investigating him, but i'm sure they're looking at him. Not that they would tell me"

[/color]. He admitted, basically his whole point here was to keep her out of trouble and since he had the means and was the older brother he would do so. "I don't know what he has you doing or if you're involved but I would caution you to stay away and not listen to him. I don't want to see you get hurt or get in trouble in some way."[/color] Hopefully she didn't dismiss him as just being overprotective and overly cautious because in real life these things had permanent consequences. As permanent as that tattoo on his arm that was a symbol of a dying breed and age and a symbol of those who tried to destroy the world, the Wizarding world in it's entirety. Caine crossed his arms, he wasn't even sure if she would tell him. The other details he would save for later to prove he wasn't going on rumor or gossip because he didn't play those games and knowing how Rosine had all the charm in the world to get her way he was being careful to really prove his point here.

[/blockquote][/size][/font]

Rosine stopped a few feet away as Davin spun around his wand raised in her direction. She raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow in his direction and could help the sinister grin that graced her face, “Really brother dear? You need to work on your reaction time. If I was going to harm you, you’d have already been dead,” "

[/color] she stated, only half teasing. It wasn’t completely untrue though, if he really hadn’t noticed her until then, she could have easily killed him with a simple killing curse before he’d even raised his wand. She supposed he was probably just less on guard at a place like Hogwarts though so it wasn’t a true example of what he was capable off. She’d seen him in action a long time ago during training sessions with their father so she knew he was good, and very quick, she just loved any opportunity to give him a hard time.

Rosine’s penetrating gaze observed him and she frowned minutely as he explained that the real reason he’d asked to see her was not for the simple pleasure of seeing his younger sister, but business. Her suspicions rose and her guard went up almost instantly. Davin was law enforcement, any business matter he wanted to discuss with her could not possibly be a good thing. She watched as he paced and she could almost see him running through different options of what to say to get the most favourable response from her. She’d play along, try and figure out exactly what was going on. Part of her felt a little guilty for using her own brother in this way but he was the one who had come to her, and she was nothing if not an opportunist.

She chuckled a little at Davin’s refusal to say their father’s name or acknowledge their relationship in anyway. He reminded her a lot of Charlotte in that moment and Rosine couldn’t help but shake her head to herself. She never understood why her older siblings had walked away from their birth rite, just as she was sure they likely did not understand how she could embrace it so fully. They were simply different personalities and Rosine was just more like their father she supposed. She found it curious though that he was asking questions about a case he wasn’t assigned to however, “If by he you mean Father, then just the usual as far as i’m aware,”"[/color] she said with a noncommittal shrug, “nothing worth wasting the departments precious time on i’m absolutely sure,”"[/color] she said as if they were discussing nothing more interesting than what they’d eaten for dinner that night.

She knew Davin wouldn’t by it, but it was essentially at least a partial truth. She didn’t question the motivations behind her orders, just had faith that those calling the shots had a bigger plan that each little job she successfully completed contributed to. Some may have called her naïve for not asking questions, but Rosine had amibition, and to climb the ladder you first had to prove your worth. Rosine listened and smiled at him indulgently. She knew he only had her best interests at heart, but she didn’t need him to look out for her, she knew what she was doing, “Have you been talking to Charlotte Dav? I feel like I just got this lecture from her,” "[/color] she said rolling her eyes. She appreciated that they cared enough about her to want her to be safe, but she wasn’t them. Their father had already effectively lost his eldest two children, so the weight of his expectations that rested on her shoulders now – did they not get that? She loved him and she was really, really, good at this. “I appreciate your concern Davin, honestly, but everything is ok,” "[/color] she said genuinely, reaching up to rest her hand on his crossed forearm, begging him with her eyes to believe her.[/font][/color][/size][/blockquote]

Caine merely shot her a look to shut it, commenting on his reaction time. Clearly he had other things on his mind than to protect these students who he thought were really just fine and out of harms way, at least it was easy pay for the moment until some fun began somewhere. "And why would you want to kill me?" He smirked, not that she would harm him at all though at their father's request of anything he was never sure when it came to his littler sister. Her devotion to him was silly and whenever she decided to come to reality with him and his older sister she would realize exactly what they were talking about. Caine's family was always a tricky play, he couldn't approach her too casually or a discussion would never happen, however if he started immediately with business there immediately would be walls. It's one of those things were you want to trust your family but you are also wary because they can easily be the first to betray you and he hoped it would never have to reach such a situation because his job was already a compromising position enough with his name. "I'm not on department time, just making sure you aren't caught up in something bigger than you or him can handle. I've been hearing a lot of things and I wouldn't be asking without a reason." Well time to get serious then, he needed answers and no good former Death Eater who couldn't stop reliving the glory days was going to ruin his little sister, he would be ignoring his duties as an older brother to do so. Rabastan Lestrange hardly seemed to leave his home, let alone go and do his own bidding, the profile of a Death Eater was always quite clear and there were always more than one involved.

Caine paced some more and really thought about how casual she was being about all this, she had to know something or maybe he was talking himself into wanting to believe that. There was a faint touch to his arm, her hand and he looked down at it and then back up at her. Caine knew better than to believe his sister outright, how many times had that backed him into a corner? There was an advantage to being related to some people, you knew them and most of their habits just as she knew his patterns and generally how he was most of the time, didn't matter what age or what time passed. The Charlotte comment made him grin slightly, he supported his sister fully in whatever she had done and even if he had been careful when and how he voiced it Caine had still managed to attend her previous wedding and be there when she every decided to open up to him, it was a sibling thing and they both seemed to be on a similiar path as far as ideals nowadays. "That's because we know better, shouldn't that be a hint to you that we're both concerned?" Once may be a coincidence but if it is happeneing repeatedly one should pay attention. "There's people he is involved with that all of a sudden won't talk anymore, and you know how serious everything is now and its easy to get caught." Was she involved? Caine couldn't wrap his mind around it and he really was scared for her. "How do yo know he won't throw you under the bus if he has a chance? Dad is just stuck in his old days being a Death Eater he can't see the world now, don't get caught up in that."

Rosine smiled at her brothers good natured teasing and chuckled, "We'll I wouldn't Dav"

[/b] she said jokingly, a mischievous smirk on her face, "but then not everyone is as loving and kind as I am - you never can be too careful," she stated in mock seriousness. This fun, joking behaviour was one of favourite things about having Davin as a brother and she was again reminded how thankful she was that they'd found some kind if middle ground in which they could be together, despite their differences in opinions about many things.

Rosine sighed as he continued to press his point, trying to get her to spill something, anything. It wasn't as if she didn't want to talk to him about this stuff, hell she was pretty sure he already knew most of it, or at least thought he did. But she couldn't be the one to confirm anything to a hit wizard, even if it was her brother. She wanted so badly to trust that he would never use anything she told him again her family, but she couldn't. He'd already turned away from their father, and who knows what lengths he'd go to see Rabastan go down, "I'm not doing anything I can't handle Davin,"[/b] she said with a sigh, wishing he'd have a little faith in her. "What do you mean you've been hearing things? What kind of things?"[/b] she questioned, making her tone sound more curious though inside her heart had dropped.

She watched as he paced again. She couldn't recall ever seeing him this flustered before and she began to wonder exactly what it was that was going on at the ministry that had him this worried about her. Perhaps she needed to be taking his warning more seriously? She couldn't help but put her guard up as he spoke down to her about both he and Char 'knowing better'. "And like I told her Davin, you don't need to be..."[/b] she said, trying to reassure him. She appreciated that they cared, loved that they gave enough of a shit about her to even bother, but at the same time they were getting in her business a little too much for her liking.

Her eyebrows raised and she couldn't help the self satisfied feeling of a job well done as he confirmed her success without even realising it. No one had talked huh? Score one for her. "And exactly how would someone get caught if, as you just said, no ones talking?"[/b] she questioned pointing out flaw in his argument. She had done her job well, and felt secure in that knowledge. And besides, what was she actually guilty of? A dinner here, a drink there, a casual visit to a family friend? She hadn't hurt anyone and if they did tell, it would be her word against theirs... and Rosine had made a habit of making sure people believed her.

Rosine nodded, "You're quite probably right Davin,"[/b] she said with a shrug. She didn't believe it of course, but if letting Davin think that perhaps she doubted their fathers loyalty got him off her case a bit then it would be worth it. "Look, this is bigger than Dad's old grudge ok?"[/b] she said with a sigh. "I know you came here to warn me off Davin, but you should be careful yourself... if the wrong people find out that you're sniffing around I won't be able to help you.[/b] she said firmly, begging him to understand that this really wasn't something he wanted to get involved in.[/font][/size][/blockquote]

In this day and age there were certain expectations and assumptions with names, especially in consideration of the last war and conflicts that had occurred before or after. Being a Lestrange didn't signal any kind of happiness or glorified prestige, no honor at least not the kind people sought out for. At least Caine didn't want this notoriety that he had been born with, it never left. In his family, the second of five children and the eldest son he was the only Ravenclaw which in itself had been troubling and had left him somewhat of a target for his family and his father in particular who immediately had become the biggest bully in his life. After that, his younger brother and the youngest of Rabastan's children had become the favorite and Rosine apparently as well. This could only serve to trouble him more and really he was powerless at this stage. He smirked, his sister was hardly an outwardly loving person and really was her father's daughter, at least he and Charlotte shared some common sense about all this and separated themselves from the cancerous existence of their father. How could I forget, you were supposed to be a Hufflepuff, I forgot. He didn't know why but he was certainly eternally grateful he hadn't been at least placed in the house where they stuck everybody that did not belong in one of the other three. Caine at least had the reputation of his intelligence behind him and ambition for knowledge if not power.

Well, what have you been doing then? Was she not understanding the gravity of the situation in front of them? Really, she was this stupid young girl stuck in their father's spotlight and pedestal he created so he could use her for his means because he couldn't move without the Ministry knowing about it. There was this fantasy that she couldn't get her mind out of and it was really angering him how ignorant she made herself. You know I can't tell you that, you would tell him of course. Maybe a little harsh but it was the truth. If there was anyone she should be confiding in it was her siblings and not their father, he was from a different generation and age and she had a chance to prove society wrong of the stigma of their name, change and create her own legacy. There's a lot of ways, and you should know just because somebody isn't talking doesn't mean there isn't other evidence. Things had changed over the years, maybe back in the day all it took was a confession and accusation and word of mouth but now there was much more used to back these cases up and he'd seen it first hand having testified in a few cases thus far, not on such serious crimes, but still. These Death Eater associations were by far a level that was not to be toyed with. She warned him about what he was getting himself into, though he knew that it was dangerous going about like some small time vigilante, but he couldn't sit around and not do anything. I doubt that you would be able to help me either way. She was just a girl caught up in this web and he was powerless to help his little sister, at least that's what he was starting to think.