rodolphus as bellatrix's teacher from when she returned to the Black manor in the summer. he sees bellatrix go from functioning to insane, drunk to scared sober, perfect and poised to barely stable and then back to poised. when her mania overtakes her and she gets violent with her sisters and her parents when they won't join the dark lord, when she tries to hurt them and cygnus comes to him asking him to talk to bellatrix ("it's like you're the only one she listens to") he sits down with her and listens to her and takes the mark for her. he's never afraid of her and he knows he should be, she never loves him as a husband but loves him as a man. they get married after andromeda runs away and rodolphus kneels at her feet and kisses her hip because her lips are reserved for the dark lord.
