An Indecent Proposal (Rabastan, open)

[Rita Skeeter]

Rita beamed her brightest smile at Bellatrix as she walked closer. She had no shy bones in her body and wasn't afraid of repercussions to her curiosity. But she knew these two enough to know what side they would be on if a battle were ever to break out... she had her methods of spying and although she didn't have anything concrete she knew enough about their respective familes blood traditions that she could make up the rest of the story herself.. and one day she just might do that. But for now her purposes were about something more specific to the Black family... the sisters.

Rita had heard rumors of the rather public argument held a few days ago in the restaurant that the the classier families usually frequented. And she wanted to find out more... she'd have to find a way to get them to talk about it if they weren't willing to discuss it on their own that is.

"I heard some nasty rumors that your older sister has chosen a mudblood over her own sisters! I was aghast at the news, my dear I am so very sorry to hear it. You must be appalled utterly at the disgrace she's causing your family!" Rita waited to see what effect her words would have on the two, but mainly Bellatrix. She hoped the woman would see her perspective and make this whole thing easier on them both.. she'd do anything for a story.

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix's eyebrow raised slowly at Rita's words. Just who had she heard these "rumors" from? She was going to kill someone for letting Nosey Rita in on it all. Her jaw tensed. "What concern of it is yours Skeeter?" She crossed her arms across her chest and shifted her weight onto her right leg. She appraised Rita's face, though it was always a difficult task. The girl was almost like a statue at times, she looked so unfeeling.

[Rita Skeeter]

Rita watched the woman closely and thought she looked a bit defensive about it and had not denied the rumor. So it must be true.. how lovely! So the happy little Black family was having a dispute and she relished the ideas that popped into her head.

"Well my dear from the way I've heard it you made it quite public to anyone who was nearby as you're voices were quite easily heard in such heated anger. I even heard that your poor Andromeda ran off crying! And I was just wondering if I could help of course. Surely you want to keep her close at hand in the family... if nothing else than to avoid the disgrace she's caused you're entire family name! Just being a friend my dear, as always. And I'm sure you value your family name do you not?" She inked her way closer adding her own spin onto the tale she'd heard as she tried to pull her own strings in order to get one of them to tell her what really had happened. Was Andromeda really removed from the family tree now for good? Would they save her from the mudblood tainting the family line? The public would want to know and she was sure Bellatrix would use the opportunity to clear her family name even at Andromeda's expense if the needs suited her.

[Bellatrix Black]

"As much as I appreciate your friendly gesture, Rita," her tone of voice and posture showed she really didn't appreciate it at all, "I really think it best to keep any possible familial issues there; within the family. I'm sure you can understand that." Her jaw was still flexed as she spoke. It was quite obvious Rita was looking for something more about the incident she spoke of. Bellatrix, of course, had no interest in letting her sister's faux pas be known to the public. It was going to be resolved privately, with as little attention drawn to it as possible.

Andromeda was reckless and headstrong, but a Black girl at heart. Bellatrix knew, deep down, Andromeda was only dating the mudblood to get attention from their father. Bella and Narcissa were clearly the favorites, they were the most devoted to the family and of course, they had the good looks. Poor Andromeda was cursed with looking more like their father than their beautiful mother.

[Rita Skeeter]

Rita pursed her lips as Bellatrix spoke. The woman obviously had no idea how far that rumor was already spreading without Rita's help. Rita wondered what Mr Black would say if the word got to his ear that Bella still considered her sister family... unless she meant to cover up the whole incident. But Rita knew it was already a lost cause to cover it up. Unless she manged to change Andromeda's mind. "Well I can tell you that the rumor is already spreading beyond Hogsmede and I wouldn't be surprised if your father heard about it before too long. And the rage that he might resort to if he found out... surely you don't mean to keep brushing her under the rug and hoping she'll change her ways do you? After all she is an Auror and everyone knows she's madly in love with that Tonks fellow. He is quite a good looking man and I wouldn't be surprised if tearing her away was an impossibility, even for you Bellatrix." Her unsaid words were insinuated though, she was not a person to threaten anyone but she did know how to twist the facts into a new and completely understandable set of new circumstances.

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix pursed her lips. Rita was right and Bellatrix had already known this would be a problem to face. And perhaps Rita, with all her 'friendly' concern, would be the perfect solution. "Well, perhaps I cannot do anything. But I'm sure someone as insightful as you would be able to put a wedge in that relationship."

[Rita Skeeter]

Rita raised an interested eyebrow. She had a feeling she was about to be used, but that wasn't the first time nor would it be the last that she'd let herself be influenced by someone else's use of her to get what they wanted, as long as she could use it to her advantage. And the best advantage was a story that could catch the attention of the reader and make them flock to her as a writer. Even if she had to work on gossip columns for now, what did it matter to her what side she chose, either one could be exploited but she thought she'd picked the stronger side of the two to further her own story this time. After all two sisters against one rouge one... yes.. this was the side of the story that would help her the most she decided.

A wedge in the relationship eh? Hrm.. that might make a truely interesting story, she of course would play it off as the innocent one when she wrote her story regardless.. and Mr Tonks auror would be as good a target for her story as anyone else. The wheels were already turning in her head.

"I think we could come to some arangement of course. It would make a lovely spin to show just how devious Mr Tonks true nature is with trying to bring down the great wizarding families. He's not strong enough though as I'm sure your family.. with the right touch could be reunited if he's... exposed for his true devistating past as a muggle born who is jealous of the Black name. And of course the Blacks as always would come out on top." She spun her idea of a tale aloud tasting the feel of it on her tounge, hmm.. yes that would make quite a sensational story to stir the readers hearts.

She lowered her lashes and beamed a smile of satisfaction and waited to see what Bellatrix had in mind. She also looked toward Rabastan with a gleam to her eye. She wondered idly if his eyes would look like in passion, not that she was truely interested mind you but she could appreciate his type. She winked at him with a brazen smirk before ignoring him again for Bellatrix.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

(Wow... I'm sorry...)

Rabastan had hung back in silence. There were certain women he didn't bother touching... and Skeeter was one of them. More trouble than she was worth, he thought. But if she was the one Bellatrix wanted to use, who was he to interfer?

He raised an eyebrow at her wink, but returned no other gesture. His arms folded across his chest. Tonks would have no idea what hit him, between him and Bellatrix, and whatever damaging rumors Skeeter wanted to come up with for him. He'd be ruined, and Andi would have to come to her senses. She needed to learn the hard way, which was unfortunate, but necessary.

He glanced at Bella to see if she had anything more to say.

[Bellatrix Black]

At first Bellatrix cared nothing about Rita's article. She just needed someone to pull off this ploy and win her sister's loyalty back. But as Rita went on, and on and on, about how she could make the entire wizarding world hate that Tonks bloke. She smiled at Rabastan and then back at Rita. "This is going to be lovely. Since Andromeda is working here now, I'm sure that bloke will be by here sooner or later."

She kept her mouth shut about Rabastan's part in all of this. The less Rita knew the better. And she wouldn't want Rabastan's reputation as a playboy publicized more than it already was. No need to draw attention to it.

[Rita Skeeter]

Rita Skeeter looked as if she'd been given a boon, "splendid! and what a surprise your big sister will get when her knight in shining armor is discovered the tarnished person we all know he is... such a shame to break her heart of course, the grieving heart of love scorned. But it's better she learns the truth now rather than after it's too late don't you think?" she spoke aloud almost imagining the scene before her eyes, having already convinced herself she was doing it for the good of wizarding kind to expose him as the flawed muggle-born she already thought he was, and the fact it got her a story in turn the better.

[Bellatrix Black]

Bellatrix smiled at Rabastan. She had played matchmaker quicker than even she expected. Rabastan had to be slightly impressed. Hell, she was impressed with herself. Sure, Rita basically pushed herself on them, but Bellatrix was not one to give credit to others. Especially to people like Rita Skeeter.

[Rabastan Lestrange]

Yes, he would admit, he was pretty impressed. It had taken her less than ten minutes to get someone to do her dirty work. No wonder his brother was so attracted to her. But then, he knew who would really be running that relationship, and he loved Bella for it.

"Keep your eyes open, Rita," he said, arms over his chest still. "The mudblood should be wondering our halls soon. Her first class is starting soon. And I think I'll make an appearance."

[Rita Skeeter]

Rita put her hand on her chin considering the fellow seventh year slytherin's suggestion and a pleased smirk that didn't quite look like a smirk her head tilting in an odd way as shrugged as if it would be no difficult task to keep her eyes and ears out for the Tonks fellow. "I'll just have to try to find him then soon won't I? Well I'm sure you two birds don't need me here and I have something to prepare... goodbyeeeee...." she sashayed off down the stairs as if she hadn't a care in the world away from the pair she had already disregarded her mind already ticking ideas and stories.