✧RETURNED✧

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Ronan Lestrange

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|One Week Left|

It was difficult in sending four children to Salem now, but Mr.Crawford opened his arms and promised to take the best of care to her little munchkins. The kiddos were used to their headmaster dinning with them over previous summers, but seeing them in a school setting was overwhelming, especially to Aurora.

Yet for the first time in Lori's life, she had her mum's entire attention.

Which allowed the two girls to visit the historical importance of...Salem.

It was confusing to Aurora as to why Lori wanted to visit muggle museums. She even ventured into the muggle stores as she wanted to find the balance, or at least that's what she told her mum.

"Mum?" She questioned, and it caused Rory to lean down to her daughter's height so she could whisper without the muggles hearing anything they weren't supposed to.

"Can we buy some potions and see if they work?" Aurora laughed, it sounded like a brilliant idea. And it was adorable to see her youngest want to do something academically.

"I don't know if muggles can be affected by our potions love, but we can surely try to see what's in these." The pair returned home with at least a dozen samplers, they hadn't even bothered to go into the house as they traveled to the at-home labs.

It was simply a bonding few hours, especially when she decided to treat her out once again into going to a restaurant in New York. It wasn't that difficult to travel, took all of two flashes between apprenting to a fireplace and then walking straight through it together.

The Halliwell line had a mixture of roots, and Grams adored cooking an Italian meal. Which caused the two Lestrange gals to dine in a wonderful little family setting.

The rest of the days had been similar to it, and before long the children returned for an intermission. Or rather the orientation of Ronan and Cara had been finished, though Cara decided she wanted to sign up for another camp which was going to overlap the trip to Britan. 


Which left Aurora to think of Ronan...

Should she take him?

It wasn't smart to take Lori with her to introduce her to her father right away, to be fair she didn't want anyone to be there when she sees Rabastan.

She told Ronan the bare basics and promised she would explain the most of it once they get settled at the house, though he just assumed it was a rental.

They were set to leave the next morning, and Rory was already feeling the fear of what's to come. Regulus couldn't disagree that the war wasn't finished, it was yet to return and he needed to prepare as well.

It worried him that his sister asked him to train with her, dueling and otherwise. All the things they tried to hide away about their past life was returning with her traveling back.

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"I am not changing my mind Regulus." She warned, her eyes trailing to the side as he was simply in the doorway watching her pack. It felt like she repeated that line a million times already—that week.

The trunk she was attempting to pack manually was finally starting to scare him, but the fact that he was simply leaning against the wall of his sister's bedroom caused him to pout.

His own wife claimed that he was still acting like the little brother to the women, but to be fair...They were living this life because of her.

She turned both their lives around, even being nominated by important figures in the magical congress.

"Wouldn't it be easier Rory, for you? The children, Merlin how much better have you felt since he's been—" 


"What? Locked up? Reg it's awful in that place, I feel guilty. Six years in that wretched place? I could've been right there next to him, I should've been in the same cell as him and Bella for what happened when—"

"No! You are not at fault here! You were protecting the kids, you were protecting yourself and Lorelei. If he had any decency he would've stayed and listened rather than go off and avenge something that didn't need avenging." His returning aggravation caused Aurora to inhale loud into the air. But the oncoming of children caused Rory to turn her expression to lack any details of what just happened.

"Mummy! Do you really have to go?" It was Imara interupted, followed by the rest of the Lestrange daughters who entered the room now, looking up to their mum in hopes that their adorable faces would be able to persuade her otherwise.

"You know mummy has important business back home that she has to take care of...I won't be gone for long."

"But why does Ronan get to go?" It was a small choice, but the fact that Cissy could watch over him—Or better yet, Otto and Rose, it'd make for an easier meeting with Rabastan.

"Because you and Romulus still have camp to attend to, and Cara you were so excited for the extra lessons...And you, my little Lori, I don't want to leave you all alone when I have to work...It's not a vacation." In truth, Narcissa didn't know anything about the youngest of her cousin's children.

"It'll be boring, besides Phoenix and Saros need their Quidditch partner. How else will you lot make it to the official team?" Regulus teased, and it caused Lori to reach up her arms. Making her uncle sigh in defeat to lift her in his arms.

"See, without me here you'll spoil them rotten." Lori shook her head and pouted as she leaned into her uncle's hold, attempting to hideaway.

"You sure lil Lori? I think you'll manage in Uncle Reggies' and Aunty Phoebe's bed again." The youngest Lestrange child tried to deny it, but Cara's hair switched to a shade of blue before sprouting to black.

"But mum..." 
"Cara I won't be gone that long love, no need to get you all riled up. You won't even be here." It caused the daughter to actually rally up as she flared her hair into a damning red blaze.

Regulus knew what the sad droop of his sister's expression meant. Red hair could only point in one direction.

"I bet Auntie Phoebe could use some help. I'll help your mum finish up here so we can eat lunch." They nodded along and rushed downstairs, but Aurora had already fallen into the ever-open abyss of defeat.

"Rory it wasn't—"
"My fault? I could've done more, look what happened when I told everyone that the Longbottoms killed you? Look where our brother ended up, there's no way in getting him out." Regulus sighed at the mention of their brother and began to rub his eyes.

"Bloke thinks I'm dead too, but if you know he's innocent...The kids grow up to know that he was as well, then perhaps it won't die in vain."

Silence had taken over the siblings, and it had taken a few moments before Rory felt the strength to continue her packing. It was all that much she was taking with her, mostly her work and the beginning of what she would be moving with.

"Cissy is going to convince you to stay, and you wouldn't want that bastard of a husband of yours to actually live here with—" 
"Not at all, but if he's lost all sanity then what am I meant to do?"

He was starting to get fed up with his sister and closed his eyes all while opening his mouth. "Not. A. Divorce. You know I don't believe in it." He scoffed with his hand in the air.

"Then what Rory, his assets were closed. We're all living off the Black fortune and yours. Mother's dead. She doesn't have any hold over you."

Aurora rose a brow, finally packing all that she had listed before popping the trunk closed. 


"In reality Reg, she never did...And I'm subtly reminding you what happened to her." He gulped, his sister's eyes turning rather exclusively dark in anger, causing him to raise the white flag.

"I don't wish to anger you, sister...But you think what's best for the children, yourself then him." She hummed, but all the while sitting down onto the trunk as she felt emotionally drained already.

"You think dust still layers everything?" The woman shrugged, even going as far as rubbing her eyes as she felt damned for the next few days.

"Rory...Please. I owe you my life and I hate to see you throw yours away just on the whim of having him as a husband or father to the children." He had kneed down before her beside the trunk, and a soft smile erupted as she opened her arms and encased herself into his hold. Allowing him to so easily plant the top of his head onto hers.

The two were silent, and were as Aurora found herself getting through the last dinner with the Halliwell's and Blackwell's. It made her feel sick to her stomach, and even the offered glass of wine hadn't cooled her nerves.

Liz caught sight of the situation, but Regulus eyed the host and shook his head. Silently mentioning that there is nothing that could be said now to change her mind. It was simply how Aurora operated.

That night she laid awake, without the warmth of any of her children, or the warmth of Aidan. And instead as she refused to recognize that anyone was in her room at all, she peeked one open to see Regulus in the center of the room.

"Reg? What are you doing?" She mumbled, her voice hoarse with sleep.

He flicked on the machine and smirked behind in a gesture of what his idea had been. Knowing her so well that she'd be experiencing insomnia.

Leaning against the end of the bed did he turn back slightly with a smirk. "Thought you could use a proper send-off." 

"You act like I'm not coming back Reg." She mumbled, coming over to join him on the floor with two pillows to share between them.

"I know you don't think this is a good idea Reg, but I do owe a bit to James and Lily." Regulus remained silent for a moment, weighing the odds. "Suppose the chosen one needs a check-up, where did Dumbledore say he was at?"

"I don't know, haven't spoken to the bastard since before the trial. But now I don't know if I should've trusted him..." It was a losing battle with the headmaster, after offering herself to the cause and risking her life—In the end there was no backup, she was left on her own.

Regulus had surprisingly stayed the entire night in his sister's room, though he moved her to the bed. He let out far too many sad sighs, the years spent together weren't enough. This house being empty—Not having her just across the yard was going to be difficult, and even though she was going to be returning for work...She would also be returning to her former title of the mistress of the Lestrange manor.

That was pressure in itself.

"What time is it?" Aurora mumbled into her pillow, her body begging for more sleep rather than the artificial rush of caffeine. Coffee was for early meetings and for emergencies.

Seem like today was one of those days.

"Probably time to start getting ready, I'll help Ronan finish packing." Thanking her brother did she hurry along to get ready once again, the two were silent from there on, as Aurora decided that they were running late.

So she and Ronan went along to get to the American Congress and properly retrieve a portkey. "Alright son, I'm sorry for not giving you the full reason for our trip. But we're going to Britain, to our old house because mummy needs to meet with some old acquaintances." She had taken his expression as panic, and her soothing was misplaced as a massive smile formed in its place.

"How long are we staying? Can I see your old study—My old room?" She met a massive gush of relief as she hummed and caressed her thumb against his cheek. "Of course, the elves have been working effortlessly to make it livable, it's been a while...Hasn't it?" The excitement was rolling off of him and there was nothing she could do to get him to remain still.

"We're also going to be taking a visit to see your godfather...I know you were very young, but there will be a boy your age there to play with, Draco. I want you to behave and if anyone asks about Salem?" She questioned, and the young wizard zipped his lips.

She kissed the top of her second son's head, and gripped his hand properly to avoid that much of a damaging struggle to his stomach.

And within seconds were they greeted by the same elder wizard who had watched Aurora travel to Salem when she attended.

"Welcome to the British Ministry, please sign in and state your business." She smiled and shared her identification and wand, both her American and British standings, as well as sharing her son's.

"How was it son? Dizzy?" The boy puffed up his chest, it wasn't every day to hear those around him speaking like his mum and uncle.

"Mum gave me a potion for motion sickness. Just grand." The elder chuckled, but did a long check back to see Mrs.Aurora Lestrange in all her glory.

"How long have you been in American Madam Lestrange?" Ronan tried to hide his widened eyes, it seemed like the rest of the fellows behind the counter all straightened their backs at the name.

"Not long enough for him to learn their wretched accent...Isn't that right Ronan?" The boy smiled proudly, the elder continued to chuckle as he wasn't rightly affected by her name like the others around him were.

Not long after were they allowed to pass out of the office and into the rest of the building. Which Aurora instructed Ronan to pull up his hood and hold onto her hand.

It was a firm grasp, and he wanted to protest until he saw the chaos that was the British Ministry.
"Sweet Morrigan."

"We're just heading to the fireplaces off in the corner, please stay close love." He hadn't gotten the height just yet and it worried Aurora, even if the lad has his wand. He didn't know anything enough to find her otherwise.

Unless she called on her Patronus to seek him out.

"Where are we going first?" He called out, and she made sure her son could see her under her hood as she smirked.

"Home." Luckily the trunks were already sent ahead of time, and Nymeria had been waiting rather closely to their belongings just a few feet from the fireplace they emerged from.

For Aurora, it was a sickly breath of a reminder to what she lost.

But to Ronan... he looked in awe at the house that he had once lived in, the tall lofted ceiling was just telling how big the manor is. Letting go of his mum's hand did he crane his neck to get a view of this room.

"Oh goddess...Daisy!" She called out, and the elf popped just to their right. 

"Sweet mother mistress! You return! Mistress so beautiful!" She smiled down to the elf and called upon the army of elves that kept her house in order while it was under the bank's locks.

The half a dozen elves stood before her and she sighed in relief.

"I want all the windows open, we need to air out that ghastly mold. How many bedrooms are ready?" 

"All of them mistress, Daisy show where mother mistress and Master Ronan sleep?" With a nod it allowed the elves to cater to the whims of lugging their trunks up the given steps and leading them to the opposite end of where they used to live.

"Mum, could I see my old room?" She nicked her head and humored Nymeria as she found the reminiscence of being here as well. But for Aurora, it was a straight punch to the gut.

"You shared it with Cara, you both were a wee bit too tiny to be switched to twin beds...But—" Ronan had walked on into the nursery with cation as he didn't want to step over the dozens of toys that lingered about.

"W-what...What happened?" He mumbled, bending down to pick up a hippogriff stuffie. "We left in a hurry love, it wasn't safe for us to stay here anymore."

"And now it's safe?" He questioned, and it caused his mum to drape her arms over his body.

"I wouldn't risk you munchkins for anything, now how about we freshen up, get a bite to eat and explore more?" The two exited out of the room, only to see the effort of both Poppy to try and open all the windows in the house.

"How many elves are there?"
"Six. It's a big house, and they helped me with your brothers and sisters when I was working or feeling ill." He nodded in understanding, though he was only used to the Halliwell's elves—who were only ever really visible when there was a holiday.

Here he continuously found them off and around, and yet when he went searching for his mum...It confused him as to where he found her at the end of the hall, two very dark wooden doors just before the both of them.

"Is this your study?" 


"No...This was your father and I's room." She whispered, and Ronan felt the shift in conversation drastically. The young lad looked back behind him for a moment and tried to remember ever traveling to find his mum in this room.

But nothing came.

"When did we leave?"

"Before I knew Lori was in my tum." Ronan frowned, his mum was afraid to be back here and so he took the incited and wrapped his hand around the bejeweled handle and twisted it before she could protest.

"Should I open the windows?" He questioned, and Aurora followed with a delay nod. Ronan held his sour face to himself, he was unaware of how his mum was feeling being back at their old home.

But now, in the presence of his parents old bedroom...He could start to see why she doesn't talk about him often. 
Or why Romulus was so protective over it.

Turning back around did he catch his mum a few paces away looking above the fireplace, and since it was out of his view he went to stand beside her. Only gasping at the women in the portrait, a brilliant smile rallied on the painting as she looked like a goddess.

"Mum...is that you?" She turned to gaze down at him with a smirk. "Oh you little devil, yes, I can clean up nicely thank you very much." She spoke playfully, pinching his cheeks in torment causing him to squirm away in damnation. But his mum stopped abruptly to focus her attention elsewhere.

Suppose she did forget a photo.

"This was your father and I's last game against each other our seventh year at Hogwarts." The boy's smile grew rather large as he saw how young his mother was, and then his eyes darted to his father, the proud smile that rallied on his face made the boy lookup.

"Who won?" She scoffed, letting out a subtly laugh before tapping his father's side. "Slytherin won, but it was a very game. I believe Amel—An old friend took this picture actually. Or maybe Reg." She smiled down after hovering over her son for a moment, but taking a look at her wedding picture just plastered over the fireplace already made her seem narcissistic.

"Your grandma on your father's side gave us this...She was the sweetest woman." Ronan replaced the small picture frame before turning back to his mum.

"But she's dead too?" He bluntly exclaimed, and his mother's silence was truth enough.

The two managed to explore the house just a bit more before the elves called them for a feast, it was a shame that this beautiful dining room hadn't been utilized in the years. But now it gave a beautiful soft glow by the chandler above them, once of which wasn't missed by Ronan's eye for taste.

"This house is so big...Bigger than the Halliwell manor."
"Hmm, yet this is one of the smaller Lestrange Manors, our home in Salem is a bit bigger than the house I grew up in here." Ronan sparked up with interest and asked if they could visit that home as well.

Aurora was quick to disagree. Though with good reason as she didn't want to know what sort of state in decay the damn thing was in, especially when Kreacher was here.

His hope deflated as he turned back to his meal, his mum took a steady sip of wine as the conversation fell silent until Ronan found another question to ask.

"Mum, does Aunt Cissy know we're coming?" Aurora shook her head quiet easily, the communication between the two cousins were rightly—Nonexistent. The only exception being birthdays for Aurora's godson.

But perhaps there was a brief mention of when Rabastan was going to be released in the coming days. So she simply passed it off as a surprise visit, and that they were always welcomed at the Malfoy's.

"So...So Auntie Cissy is the sister of Bella...Who's my..." She awaited her son to piece it together, but she let out a soft smile letting him know it was alright that he forgot. 

"Aunt. She's your aunt as well, Bella is your father's sister in law, but both Bella and Narcissa are my cousins." The boy nodded, he sort of understood the tree in which he was blessed to be born under. But if all went well then perhaps...Oh who was she kidding, she didn't want to leave Regulus and Phoebe—Hell she wanted to go back now.

"How about we go outside for a bit?" She offered, and the boy hurried along to join his mum as they went out to the gazebo. 


"I used to love this garden, your grandmum was so dedicated to it. Your father and I would run in these fields during the Summer Holiday."

"Cara and Lori would love to help with the garden, sure of it." She smiled at the idea, she hadn't rightly thought of that end, though it caused her to plan on further ideas on what she could do with the children now.

"We have a pool here, perhaps we could try when everyone is here." 


"Could we build a treehouse? Uncle Reggie said he was going to build one with Uncle John." Rory swiped her son's nose and nodded.

"I think that's a brilliant idea, and we'll have a swing set with it. Lori liked the swings didn't she?" It was such an easy conversation, but whenever it fell silent for too long, it caused Ronan to feel guilty.

"Mum, why are we here?" He trickled into the questions, and for the first time in quite a while, his mum couldn't look at him directly... 

Because your father is being released.

"I can't let Otto take care of everything here this time, he's getting a lil old to force him to do it all..." Ronan wasn't thick, his mum was holding out on the truth. Yet he withheld his next question as he trusted her.

When has his mum ever fail him before?

As the silence swelled them once again, Rory cast a solid look down to her son. Causing Ronan to smile up to her, hoping that he could help her not feel so sickly being in their old home.

Yet he resembled his father so much—A comment Regulus seemingly brought up a few times as the boy grew older, but alas, he was still young and adorable in her eyes...And that was that.

"So why can't we talk about Salem mum?" Now that was an answer she could stomach.

"Because your Uncle and Auntie want to stay hidden...They're the last of the Black's and they'll be dragged back here if word spread, alright? That means big and unwanted trouble for your cousins." He nodded, understanding the bits and pieces his mother began to tell him of.

"So are we being dragged back? Or why we left?" 

"War does funny things to everyone in it love, I did it to protect you and your siblings." He agreed, though he couldn't picture a life or childhood in a home like this.

Even he felt the coldness lurking in it, the old style that lurked in the nicest parts of the Halliwell manor. As though it was too nice to actually live in.

"I say we have an early morning, perhaps we'll head into Diagon Ally before we head to the Malfoy's hmm?" She was indeed trying to coax a better reaction when she was going to drop a bombshell on everyone.

"Can I sleep with you mum?" 

"Do you not like your room? We could trade if—" He felt what his mother had been feeling now, it didn't feel like a real home. "It's too big." 

"I believe you called our home small before we fixed it on up...And before Lori was born we all lived in Uncle Reggie's flat." He took the moment to think back, but he shrugged a laugh.

"But we were small. And I wasn't sleeping alone." Suppose sleeping with a sibling in the room was a normal reoccurrence and so she couldn't fault him for missing that comfort.

"Course love, shall we read a bit?" He agreed, though either he and his mum had failed to stay awake all that much longer. The days events, travels and the almost tear filled conversations brought them to an early night.

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Date Posted: 02-10-2020

Time: 11:00

Words: 4414

Author's Note:

👀😬

Aurora and Ronan have returned home!
Time to have a few (overdue) reunions😏