personality • Rabastan: the enfant terrible. With a temper that burns instead of running cold like those of most Lestrange men, Rabastan is in many ways a study in extremes, volatile and predictable in his unpredictability. In his youth, he was a veritable whirlwind of emotions, the boy who pulled faces when the family sat down to have their picture taken, charmed his professors while doodling demeaning caricatures behind their backs, and smuggled cigarettes and other contraband into the dorm. Age and responsibility have tempered the volatility somewhat, but there is always that impression of violence lurking beneath a shallow facade of control. He is domineering and selfish -- Rabastan wants, Rabastan must have -- and entirely unaware of the meaning of the word 'no.' Neither does he understand the concept of personal space, as he is very much a physical person and will not hesitate to use an uncomfortable degree of proximity to intimidate others; on the other hand, with those he truly cares about, he is openly affectionate.

The relationship he has with his brother is undeniably a strange and difficult one. Being a twin has not made them equals, as the space of mere minutes elevated Rodolphus to the position of first-born and condemned Rabastan to the less glamorous role of second son. For this, and many other things, Rabastan resents his brother, and it is this ill-will that has led him to strive to be everything Rodolphus isn't. From the very start, Rabastan was unwilling to get caught in his shadow; he associated with a different crowd in Hogwarts, and worked to be the best in everything he did, as though to prove his worth as an individual rather than the little brother. In this way, Rabastan has fooled himself into thinking he neither idolizes nor seeks the approval of his brother, but in his own contrary way, he is fiercely loyal to Rodolphus, and needs his grounding presence more than he will ever care to admit. The pair of them are bull-headedly incapable of allowing one's dominance over the other, yet miserable without each other, which makes for ugly fights and an entirely dysfunctional relationship. In Rabastan's eyes, no one will ever be able to measure up to Rodolphus: he is critical of and hostile to all of the women he has been involved with, and when he finally joins Voldemort's ranks, it won't be because he is awed by him or enamored by his promises of glory, but because Rodolphus is marked.

magical strengths/weaknesses/peculiarities • While he may not be as adept in the Crucio as Bellatrix, it is certainly one of his stronger spells. Rabastan lacks the mental organization, the iron will and detachment needed to cast an Imperius, but his rages can make for an excruciating Cruciatus curse. He duels with his temper, not his head, leaving him at a distinct disadvantage when combatting someone who is even a degree calmer than he, but makes up for this by nimbly avoiding counter-curses and hurling whatever object or spell that is convenient at the other. However, when it comes to personal vendettas, Rabastan likes nothing more than to drop his wand and take up the issue with his fists, finding the sensation of shattering bones entirely satisfying.

wand • A reasonably supple 12 inch ash wand with a core of Erumpent horn shavings. Ash is commonly associated with the unadulterated power of the sea and impulsiveness, thus suiting Rabastan's sudden shifts in mood well. Meanwhile Erumpents, gigantic rhinoceros-like creatures, are infamous for the explosive qualities of their horns, an attribute that greatly enhances the suddenness of Rabastan's spells.

appearance • Although the Lestranges are usually pale as death, Rabastan is darkly complected. His skin has an olive tone to it; his dark brown hair, although well-cared for, is often crimped due to the ministrations of his restless, twisting fingers. Following the Lestrange aesthetic, which has been preserved throughout the generations through careful and inevitable inbreeding, Rabastan has strong facial features, with his expressive lips and darkly fringed pale eyes acting as constant indicators to his mood. He is tall, standing at almost six feet three inches, and built on lean lines that barely seem to contain the endless reserves of energy within him. Although he carries himself with a certain degree of the arrogance one would expect to find in a wealthy young pureblood, Rabastan is an extremely physical person and often breaks the ramrod posture that has been trained into him to affectionately grapple with his brother or punch him in the stomach.

relationships •
RODOLPHUS
BELLATRIX
REGULUS
MONSIEUR LESTRANGE
MADAME LESTRANGE
ANDROMEDA
SIRIUS