✧THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS✧

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It had another two days before Aurora ventured up to her study, though it wasn't much of a surprise. The summer always brought a strange static in her head especially when she kindly sent out gifts for those with summer birthdays. Her godson for instance.

She'd send out a gift, receive a reply from both Draco and Narcissa. His were formal, beautiful script. While Narcissa was downright nauseating to read, full of demands and the list went on and on.

Instead she closed her eyes once more at the idea of the Minister's parcel.

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Dear Mrs. Cassiopeia Aurora Lestrange,

After further investigating the trial in previous years, it has come to our attention that we wrongly accused your husband, Rabastan Alastair Lestrange. 

Under terms of the investigation, there was false documentation that your husband had used the second unforgivable curse, one that could've been administered to the Longbottom's torture. In affiliation with his involvement with those known as Death Eaters, he is being released at the following date:

June 2nd, 1990

We will uplift the hold on the Lestrange account and restore the Lestrange manor to you and your husband no later than September 10th, 1989.

-Cornelius Fudge
Minister for Magic

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The parcel had been short but not sweet, there was a bit of fluttering in her heart at seeing his name being written. But the confusion was all there, that after almost five years had they decided he was innocent of the crimes in torturing the Longbottom couple, and since everyone else was being given a shorter sentence she assumed that he surpassed the minimum.

Or will, come the sixth year mark.

The past few days had been so calming and sweet, and now she leaned back in her chair as though it would just sink her down into the ground.

She and Aidan had talked recently, it wasn't that long of a conversation. And either were partially asleep, but it was the blessed conversation of whether they were ready to have their own child.

Rory didn't see much wrong with having another child, especially when their father wasn't a wanted criminal and locked away. Or had any threats to be sent off.

He came with stability and would be a perfect father...And she wanted to give him the chance at his own sense of happiness in being a parent to his own child.

With no mention of her brother and sister, she assumed they would be remaining while Rabastan had gotten the easier sentence. Though nothing about Azkaban would be pleasant, even when sending Salem herself. She felt the odd remnants of it all.

"Funny, if this happened years ago I would've been ecstatic, but as luck would have it...It's likely to get even better from here." She chuckled, leaning further onto her desk as she sent a calling parcel to her brother across the ways. And it wasn't long until Regulus came with a cheerful attitude, yet it hadn't managed to remain after seeing the state his sister was in.

"Should I get the wine?"
"Get the fire whiskey."

He humbly complied, though when he offered her the small glass in one hand. She reached for the bottle and took a chug, and Regulus saw the lack of regret in her eyes as she returned to lean back in her seat.

"Ice?" She snorted and shook her head, while Regulus took the closest seat, levitating it closer to his sister to get the general idea of the story.

She watched her wand wave away the parcel to show her brother the news, but she hadn't looked to him after that. Instead she remained entirely silent, especially when she felt the trickle down her cheek. Thinking that if she continued to stare at the window an answer would come to her. 

But it hadn't.

It wasn't a surprise that Regulus had taken his own swing of the glass before chucking it at the wall. It had caused an unsuspecting viewer to flinch, but he remained silent otherwise.

"That damnable bastard, managed to get out of his sentencing and—"
"And drag us all back." Romulus had never heard his mum sound so defeated, it caused the lad to grit his teeth and lean in further.

"No. I will not let you go back to—"
"Reg you know I have to return eventually, if not for the kids in Hogwarts than for Otto and the—"
"No! After everything he doesn't deserve to be on top, or deserve you! He left you with nothing Aurora! Nothing, just pregnant and close to alone. It was you who brought you here—Us! Gods no, please!" Aurora sighed away, the gut feeling she had in the previous nights all led to this. And Regulus knew she already submitted into going back.

"Rory please, I beg you. Don't go back to that bloody man, what good has he done? Name one good thing!" She watched as her brother fell before her chair, holding out her hand as though she needed support in her decision or to change her mind.

But she longingly looked up to a family photo, one that rightly lacked Rabastan Lestrange.

"He's given me the children Reg. You know that love Reg, you know now what I tried to share with you that faithful day. It hurts, it hurts how much I love them. But none of them remember him, and if they do they hadn't said a word. That hurts Reg, that they've forgotten their father."

"It's worth to forget, he isn't like ours. He isn't understanding or kind—"

"To us he was." Regulus regained the stance to his feet and scoffed.

"Was he truly kind?! Was he kind when he cursed you without warning, bringing you into a life on the run! How many times had you been questioned in interviews about the damned bloke! Your lawyers might have hidden it but your reputation was tainted! All your work was ruined until you created the Wolfsbane." Romulus had never thought of what his father could've done, or the actions that led them from one big manor to this was across the states.

Was he prepared to see—Meet his father?
No. 

And he wouldn't take favor to it, not after learning what his uncle had said.

Romulus knew much more than anyone gave him credit for, he knew that his family was in a sort of hiding, especially his uncle. Though he was his true uncle, Rory always identified Regulus as Reginald Blackwell instead of his proper title in public.

Rommy picked that up a few years back, and he knew that his mum was a Black.

That his father—Rabastan Lestrange was a bastard. Not in the term of illegitimacy, but because he acted out and wronged his mum.

The sweetest woman on the face of the earth was crying because his father was being released.

But what had he done?

Romulus hurried along to the hallway, Orion Black had been moved to the quaint seclusion of the library. And it wasn't long until the eldest son had been standing before his Opa with a grim face.

"Have you heard something you weren't meant to son?" The boy nodded, his eye already being read by his grandfather, but it was obvious. Especially considering it's happened a lot these past few years.

"Rabastan is being released." Orion didn't know how to respond, but he knew he didn't like his grandson saying their father's first name. However his name has been hidden for years—Yet all of had been delayed as Orion roared in damnation.

"Romulus, you must be absolutely sure—"

"Mum and Uncle Reggie are talking now, mummy got a parcel from the Minister. He's being released." It wasn't that the boy would lie or exaggerate, this was real.

"How do I help my mum? She's crying and Uncle Reggie threw his glass...What has he done? He hurt mum, cursed her and—"

"Son. Your father—He is your father, and I do not want to hear you say his name in my presence. He has done enough against your mother that it'd be best if he never sees the light of day. Had it not been for you children, Romulus, she wouldn't have moved on." The boy found a seat and wanted to shy away, and yet he lifted his chin and continued.

"But mum said we're going to Hogwarts."
"That isn't final, and neither is your mother's decision. Though I am going to heavily lay my opinion, not to worry."

"But how am I going to see him as a father? He did nothing, he left when mum almost died when we were born, he's cursed her, he's left." The painting sighed rather loudly, the boy was right and all, but it was truly damning that he would be traveling to see this all go down.

"Your father, the coward that he was, did love your mother in his own way. What has your mother told you about him?"

"I don't ask her anything, I never wanted to bring him up." Orion knew that the boy was overprotective of his mum, and he smirked in confirmation.

"They were young when they started dating, son. Married just after they graduated, and by the next summer you and Imara were expected. War does funny things, it's why your Uncle is here Romulus. Your mother saved him." Romulus thought he understood that his Uncle was hiding, but not that he was pronounced dead.

"I wish Aidan was my father." He pouted, it was ideally a given amongst the children, though nobody said a word out loud of this statement. Yet here Romulus was, speaking everyone's mind.

"But that is not how life works. I'm sure my first son, your Uncle Sirius, wishes that I was never his father for the actions I have done. And I await the day that I can apologies to him directly. Will he forgive me? Cassiopeia believes he will, though with hesitation." Romulus felt guilty once again for mirroring the situation with his grandfather and his uncle, but this was closer in the future.

This was going to occur by this time next year, not that he knew that it was next year. Romulus questioned how his father could've gotten out of a life-sentenced and Orion gave him his personal opinion.

"You are a Lestrange, son. With Black blood running in your veins. They are two of the most powerful among the sacred twenty-eight." Romulus narrowed his brows together and shook his head.

"What does that mean?"

"That your blood...Is beyond pure. But your mother rightly never cared the difference, she made that abundantly clear as a young girl and now she's made it visible by not teaching you your heritage. Granted any family are either dead, in prison—Or unfriended." Orion was contemplating on mentioning Narcissa Malfoy, but all would eventually sort themselves out, though she didn't know what type of grudge his daughter would hold.

Actually, she had multiple reasons to be angry, and while he placed them from the smallest issue to the worst. Romulus was relaying his worries on returning back to Britain, which caused Orion to chuckle.

"Whatever the case may be, Romulus, you will still be at Salem and then Hogwarts. You will only ever see him during Holidays, and with his criminal record he will not be able to follow you lot here. Meaning Regulus is safe." The boy agreed with all that his Opa had said, but his questions continued as he built up an argument for his mum to stay here with everyone. To just ignore Britain and Hogwarts as a whole, he could stomach never visiting again if it meant his mum's happiness and never meeting his father again.

"What was my father like otherwise?"
"He went into the lawful side, took his job in the ministry. Slytherin, impulsive—Don't get me wrong, he adored your mother."

"That doesn't count, not when it's been...It's been years." Back upstairs Aurora was reduced to tears and in a drunken rage.

It was going to be difficult to tell Aidan of this plan, and Regulus already knew how that was going to be handled. But Rory wouldn't be able to sleep if she withheld it, so Regulus lightly mentioned a summary before returning back to Aurora's study.

Which was now enchanted to keep sound in.

Aidan demanded to see the letter, and she wiped her tears and offered it on up. "A year...A damnable year is all we have?" Regulus choked on his own thought, he knew exactly how the bloke felt. Especially as he was so used to the idea of coming to America and settling down, now with his sister living here as well.

All these years had suddenly been taken for granted, but Aidan took the liberty to hold her. To soothe her out of the tears. "What are you thinking sunshine?" He hadn't realized how angry he'd get over it, and that is what caused Rory to cry further.

"Aidan the war isn't over, it's—"

"Bullshit Rory! You warned me, didn't you? That you still love him. And this is just perfect, he still gets to come back to that damn manor with you waiting there!" Her shoulders fell further, but Aidan caught Regulus warning glare, that if he continued down this path of aggravation that he'd get into trouble.

"Rory's right, the war isn't over...It's far from it, and if he's getting out early a lot more could start seeing the same fate." She shivered at the idea of having to be formal again, to wearing corsets and having tea as an obligation and social function.

But the worse was having to show her face among those she called friends. Perhaps Clemintine and Eveyln would be the easiest of the bunch to speak with. Otherwise she rightly didn't worry herself over the likes of the Avery's and the rest.

"It's not as though I won't come back to Salem. My career is here now, and I won't give that up for anything. But I—I feel something." Regulus sighed once again, she repeated the same phrase over and over again, and with her lack of visions over the years proved to be the choking view rightly then and there.

"Then what?! Rory I love you, the kids, hell I even managed to befriend your brother. And you're going to throw all this away for the damned asshole who left you pregnant to find some crazy satanist!" Regulus' back straightened, both at the mention of himself but also at the idea of someone calling the Dark Lord crazy.

And if anyone knew that, it was himself and his sister.

"But what if he's too far gone? The dementors could've changed him, if he's not himself then what's the point? He wouldn't be fit to be near the children."

"Rory, you're not going to admit him into Saint Mungos. That's not who you are. And if he hasn't lost his sanity? What are you going to tell the children on where he's been?" Aidan drew his arms one over the other against his chest, there'd be a reckoning once Rabastan learned that she's been seeing someone else.

But Rory held against the fact that he committed adultery long before she had.
With her cousin—Their sister.

"Aidan please—"
"I need time Aurora...You won't listen to reason, at least listen to the idea that you can come back here. And we're here." Rory blinked up to him as he lowered down to kiss her forehead.

Aidan decided that he needed time to get his thoughts in order, and once Regulus assumed he left the manor he turned back to his sister.

"You're going to break his heart, aren't you?" Aurora looked away, not liking how her brother called her out yet again to what was going to happen. "We were talking about the future Regulus...Having a child together..."

"You're not pregn—"

"No. I'm not. But had I said yes and then found this out? Reg it's awful, that life here is so perfect. But I'm torn...From doing the right thing to doing something—"

"For yourself? For once in your life? Gods above, I'd take you with child over going back to the git." Rory didn't know how she felt now, but with the lack of Aidan tonight it allowed Romulus to join her.

And that's all she truly needed, and in addition, Lori appeared snuggled up with them as well...However the little witch managed to join without her mum or brother noticing was beyond them.

Perhaps she was just cunning and sly.

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Date Posted: 01-31-2020

Time: 10:36

Words: 3022

Author's Note:

I'm so sorry this is late!

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I couldn't let our boy rot away until Order of the Phoneix, I think the canon version of Rabastan wouldn't hesitate to be involved with Bellatrix and his brother in torturing the Longbottoms. But he doesn't have the responsibilities of being a husband or father like Raba does.

So he's been wrongly accused! 

*GASP*

I really enjoyed reading the responses on which Lestrange child is for their school's house, and I think everyone had the same consensus on a few and found the traits I tried to write in.

Romulus: Ravenclaw/Slytherin
Imara: Ravenclaw/Slytherin
Ronan: Slytherin
Cara: Ravenclaw/Slytherin
Lorelei: Ravenclaw/Slytherin/Hufflepuff

I think I made Ronan's too obvious...Whoops🤷‍♀️😂

Seems like the sorting hat will settle the debate soon enough;)

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Do you think Rabastan still deserves her loyalty?

Is Aurora making the right choice?

Do you think he's changed?

Is Romulus maybe a little too protective over his mum?

Let me know what you think!!

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Side Note:
Extra Immer Waise chapter coming soon (tonight), there's Seven chapters out so far and I'm excited to keep writing for it:)

Anyways, see you all Monday😊💕