Hi guys! The summer goes on and here's another chapter! We are slowly getting a bit more of Caroline and Rabastan time, and it's gonna get even better in the future chapters!

I would like to thank everyone who favourited and followed with even bigger thanks to those who reviewed - namely Wikked, Iris Deveraux and .2020 – your kind words push me to write further!

Thank you!

Once Severus departed and she was left with her husband alone, a weird feeling grabbed her heart.

"So, how were the frogs legs?" he asked with a smirk, making Caroline fully aware that he didn't trust a word she said.

"Low quality. Severus advised me to order a new package and not to use this ones anymore, " she lied easily although it was obvious to her that there was no purpose for that.

Caroline looked around. "Where are Bella and Rudolphus?"

"Mission."

The women just nodded at that. I was usually something like that. She watched him. He was in a foul mood, frowning at her. But he already looked much better than we they reunited few weeks ago. Hu put a bit on weight, so that he wasn't so unhealthy skinny anymore, and did even seem to gain some of his muscles back. And she needed him on her side.

"Rabastan," she said quietly, as she slowly approached him. He turned his head towards her with a silent "hmm" and watched her sit down next to him.

"Thank you for helping me."

He guarded his emotions around her, but she could still feel the interest that grew inside him, when she stated her thanks to him.

"Severus did most of the job," he murmured back.

"But I'm thanking you," she whispered and looked into his eyes, as she carefully sent a light wave of appreciation in his direction.

He kept his eyes locked into her own. She could see he was trying to read through them and revealed a bit of her own emotions. She waited for him to make the first step, and sent his way the tiniest bit of encouragement.

And after a moment, that seemed too long, he leaned towards her, and closed the gap between them, as he carefully and slowly put his lips over hers. It was their first kiss since he came back from Azkaban. Their first kiss after almost fourteen years. Caroline let him in. She almost didn't remember how it was to kiss him, but she was sure this kiss was different than any they've shared before. Only when he raised one of his hands to her face, did she broke away, with a painful "ouch" since the skin on her face was still sensitive.

"Sorry," he murmured and she gave him a tiniest bit of smile. "It's fine."

She sensed now could be the moment to negotiate. "Rabastan?"

He turned his head towards her. "I wanted to ask to you about the Mungo's Annual Ball again."

He frowned at that, but before he got a chance to say anything, she continued. "No, let me explain. I've told you before, I'm tired of hiding. I don't want to do this anymore, Rabastan. And it could be beneficial for everyone if I could get back to my job. I'll let them think I'm still hiding from you, no one will know we're in touch." She looked him in the eyes. "I can convince them about anything."

She could sense it. Her mind magic was having a delicate dance around his mind, slowly and carefully persuading him that it could work. But there was a slight resistance. Although he was no Severus, he knew how her magic worked and she had to be very careful not to be too obvious.

"We'll talk about it again tomorrow," was his strict answer and she smiled inside. Now she was getting somewhere. Only when they were laying in their bed that night, did he slowly said: "Do not think I haven't noticed your little playing with my mind today, Caroline."

xXx

After few days, Caroline's face didn't hurt anymore and she didn't need any healing potions. She was however back on her five-a-day Mind-stabilizing potions a day routine, a fact, that seemed to concern Rabastan endlessly. Although thanks to Severus and his package, she didn't need to worry about brewing them herself for the few upcoming days.

Rabastan went back to his cold self and she didn't dare asking about the Ball with him in that mood. Until one day, when she was just on her way to her personal potions lab, and she almost bumped into a person just leaving Rabastan's study with her husband and another man behind him.

She didn't know who the two men next to her husband were, but something felt off. They both stared at her, but didn't say a word. Rabastan looked frozen as well, but surprisingly, she couldn't feel any worry from him. More like interest.

Which was confusing. Something felt familiar about those two, but she was sure she has never seen them before. But Rabastan would never took people he didn't know to his private study.

She looked at them again, carefully testing their mental magic. And that's when it occurred to her. Why they felt so familiar. She recognised those minds, although both men were probably under cover of Polyjuice potion.

Caroline slowly turned towards the first man, and gave him a polite smile. "It's been a long time, Antonin." The man seemed a bit shocked, but that gave her a wide smile back, took her hand and with a playful smile and heavy accent kissed it. "Always a pleasant surprise, Madam Lestrange."

When she turned towards the other man, she didn't offer him the same smile. That was at least something she could respect about Dolohov. But there was nothing she couldn't despise about Mulciber.

"Mulciber," she acknowledged him with an icy tone. The man was surprised she recognised him as well.

"Scrimgeur," he answered back with a mocking voice. Rabastan on his side shifted a bit, but hold himself back and didn't say anything.

"It's Lestrange now. One would think you'd remember it by now, it's almost eighteen years. But I understand Azkaban did possibly worsen your memory." Her response was cold, without a single hint of an emotion. But it had the desired effect. Mulciber shook upon the mention of Azkaban, fresh memories of dementors coming back. She looked at her husband. He didn't seem effected by her mention of Azkaban, as if he was prepared for it.

"My dear, we're just leaving for a mission, I'll come to see you in the evening," he husband stated and made two steps towards her. She knew what he was up to, she saw it in his mind. So when he approached her, and kissed her, she didn't resist. She could play her part.

Only when they were by the end of the corridor did she hear Dolohov mockingly saying to Rabastan "I see your marriage is back on track" and she smiled to herself.

While her husband and his companions were away – on a mission, she presumed – she continued her way to her potions lab. Not only was she already in a need of more Mind-stabilizing potions, but she also desperately needed something to do. She frowned at the thought that she was actually bored in Hogwarts. She didn't even realise it wasn't that bad. Now the real boredom has begun.

She lost the track of time, and so she only noticed Rabastan's presence by the tiniest alarm in her mind, that was warning her of another's person presence in the lab. She didn't look up though. She learned from the last encounter and was determinate to first finish the critical part of the brewing, before getting distracted. And Rabastan seemed to understand and stood there patiently, until she removed the pot from the fire fifteen minutes later.

Rabastan approached her casually, not saying anything.

"How was the mission?" she broke the silence.

Rabastan frowned at the question. "Do you really want to know, Caroline?"

She looked at him. He was guarding his thoughts and she did not push through his mental walls. He was right. She didn't want to know.

"I thought so," he said with a smirk.

She made a face at that and turned her attention on transporting the cauldron's fluid into prepared vials. From this portion, she would have enough potion for almost four days.

"I was thinking about your request, honey," he stated and she sharply turned her attention back to him, "with the ball and so."

She raised her eyebrows at that.

"You can attend the ball. And if that goes right, you may consider going back to that work of yours. Lucius is gonna keep an eye on you at the ball, and may even help you come up with an excuse about where you were hiding. But I warn you, my dear. I respect that neutrality of yours. I know you don't want to choose side and you don't want to go against your brother. But,-" he paused and looked at her. "others may not be as tolerant. Antonin, Augustus and Rudolphus think you don't want to put too much attention to yourself due to your lack of abilities. But Mulciber and Avery are starting to ask questions. Hell, even Bella thinks you should join us."

She was still looking at him, feeling his emotions. He was telling her complete truth and he paused for a second, before finishing his monologue. "Do not give them – or me - any reason to doubt that neutrality."

"Thank you, Rabastan, I really appreciate it," she answered calmly and he was watching her the whole time, as if he was trying to read her thoughts.

"One more thing," he stated, and reached into his pocket. "I believe you'll appreciate this as well." And he handed her her wand.

The moment she took, a warm feeling settled at her heart. She didn't use her wand much, but she was still used to having it around all the time nevertheless.

xXx

Once she stepped through the gate, she carefully walked through the whole courtyard. She raised her eyebrows at the perfect garden. Everything seemed to be just in the right place. Once she got the main door and knocked, the door opened immediately and a house elf appeared in front of her.

"Madam Lestrange, such an honour," the Malfoy's elf started immediately and bowed so low, Caroline thought he touched the floor with his face.

"Good morning," she greeted, and the elf already helped her with her coat and quickly showed his hand. "Madam Narcissa is already expecting you in the admitting saloon, Madam Lestrange."

Caroline nodded at that, she already knew the way. On the way to one of the few people she considered friends, she checked her mental shields one more time and focused. She smiled. Narcissa's mind was already calling to her, as the Lucius's wife, in contrast to her husband, had no training in either Occlumency or Legillimency.

Once she entered the beautiful room, Narcissa rose from her chair and a slight smile appeared on her usually cold face.

"Caroline," she said and kissed the mind reader on both cheeks.

"It's good to see you again, Narcissa."

"Oh, spear me these pleasantries, my dear," the younger blonde waved her hand, "to be honest, I was a little offended when Lucius informed me you were staying with Rabastan and didn't even let me know."

Caroline felt the truth behind that and took her chance to answer. "I'm sorry, Cissy. Rabastan is still being… overprotective." She had to think a bit before coming with a word "overprotective" although she had no doubt the woman in front of her saw through that and knew very well, that the right word would probably be "controlling". Narcissa did, however, played her part as well and quickly answered. "Well, you two have been apart for quite a some time. I think I can understand that he doesn't want put you in any danger and lose you again."

She then looked at her friend. "Tell me, how can I be of service?"