✧SEPTEMBER 1ST✧

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Rabastan's eyes popped open instantly at the sound of the alarm, however when Aurora heard it she just curled further under the covers. All in an attempt to hide away and ignore it.

"What time is it?"

"Forget it, we'll drop them off at Hogsmead." She said, but he caught that her voice sound as though she was wide awake, causing him to rumble with laughter.

"Sure that'll pass well with the twins." He allowed her to groan but it did get her to rise up. "Should I get the shower warm for you?" Rabastan questioned, his hand rubbing in a soothing motion as he stayed laid down.

"That sounds like an invitation." She teased, which caused him to slow the gesture down a slight notch and make it lower down her back.

"It could be..." He offered, trying to contain his excitement but she perked her lips in contemplation. Perhaps she did need to calm down a slight—So she nodded though it was a given that they didn't have time for a full-length shower. 

It caused him to jump out of bed and hurry to get to the shower, while Aurora's attention turned to him for just a moment...She hurried up to her feet and locked the doors.

She would be completely mortified if Lori or any of the other children ran in on their parents having a moment.

Although he was slightly misplaced on what his wife meant on having a shower together, he had the best idea on how to go about this, and he was planning while he enjoyed the solitude of being underneath the shower-head alone.

Until arms snaked around him, and his wife's face firmly pressed into his back. "Nobody said it was going to be this hard..." She mumbled, and he chuckled before turning to take the entire stream to the center of his back.

He smiled so softly down to his little wife, even after all these years she looked so small compared to his own stature. Even now when he has barely been given the few weeks to gain weight and return to his previous lifestyle.

His hands trickled down before locked at the curve of her waist and shook his head. "They'll always need their mum Rory...Relax." It was easier said than done, and all of his previous ideas had turned useless as he decided the best course of action.

He needed to calm his wife down, and what better way than this?

Lifting her up so slightly had she soon taken his position in front of the showerhead, his lead had confused her greatly as he soon took a wee bit of soap and began to lather up his wife. Taking extra care of her breasts and hinting to what he was planning in the coming minutes.

Although he hadn't been given enough time as the Hogwarts Express leaves at eleven o'clock, they needed to get a move on with breakfast and last-minute additions to their trunks. However the clarity radiated on Aurora, and Rabastan couldn't help but sit with a proud smirk on his face as he sipped his morning brew.

Oh yes, there was indeed an elated feeling in his chest after having his wife beg for a release on his account. The shower was in pleasing Aurora, it satisfied the urge in their souls for the time being.

"Mum how long is the train ride?"
"About two hours, it goes by quick darlings. And by an hour into the ride, it's best to get changed into your uniform with enough time to spare." Rabastan found himself nodding, he hadn't thought about what the children would need to know their first time around.

Honestly his brother nor mother had been this intricate, and if anything it was the voice of reason from Aurora to what she experienced in Salem to the calming words of Narcissa.

Either Romulus and Imara were pushing around their eggs and it wasn't until their mother had made them each a bowl of fruit with a bit of yogurt did they decide they could finally stomach something.

It was clear that they were nervous—Beyond nervous.

So much so that they couldn't stomach a full English breakfast before them.

"Any last minute things that need to be packed?" Aurora said to her children, and neither of them shook their heads. But the entire table was excused none the less.

"They favor staying home rather than school...Suppose we aren't used to that, are we?" "Speaking on behalf of yourself or me?"
"Both. Though summer was a better Holiday." Rory rolled her eyes as she finished her last sip of tea.

"Best get dressed love, we have to meet the Auror when we arrive at the platform." Rabastan sighed, he was thankful that the ministry was taking these strives to see him become rehabilitated back into wizarding society.

"Will you make sure the children—"
"Are distracted, yes. If anything they'll assume it's protection for all of us." Aurora watched her husband's eyes widen with clarity, suppose it would be spark to have some extra help in that regard.

In other news the trunks that acted as a piece of furniture in the twin's room had turned up to be found in the foyer ready for transfer.

Not only that but the shared owl between the two and their caged pets of Odin and Sterling seemed distraught. Which caused Aurora to sooth either of them until her children returned.

"Papa papa! I can't clip my robe." Lori cried, and it caused Aurora to turn to Rabastan and watch as he so easily kneed down to the gal's height and fixed the issue without a second thought.

"There, now you're ready princess." Lori let out a small gasp, and another squeal as her father lifted her up into his arms.

"Mummy! Papa called me a princess."
"He's a sweet papa bear isn't he Lori." She nodded fitfully before wrapping her arms around her father's neck, the gal was still emotional about having to say goodbye to her brother and sister that she was going to compensate with cuddles.

"Alright! Leaving in two minutes!" The children were trickling down as well, and Rabastan realized that the kids were once again wearing their specially crafted cloaks, and before he knew it, Aurora had waved one over his own shoulders and started buckling it for him.

"Merlin I'm not a child Rory." He said, rolling his shoulder and getting out of her helping hands, and it caused her to pout.

"Shh papa, let mummy help you." A small finger had pressed against his lips and caused him to grin behind it, the hand holding Lori nudged tickle into her side and she squealed.

"Alright! I'll be going first with the trunks darlings, Ronan?"
"I got the owl!" He cheered, while the twins each had their pets in their hands. They would need to get a cart and pile their belongings before offering it to be loaded onto the Hogwarts Express.

Aurora had stepped in and soon Romulus followed in, and one by one had the children filed in before Rabastan had ducked his and Lori's head to look about the Magical bit of the train station.

Merlin it was like jumping back in time.

Rory had already placed the shrunken trunks onto the floor, which she could've managed both perfectly on her own had Rabastan not surprised her by taking one in the free arm while his other was holding Lorelei tightly.

"I think our daughter is more than capable of walking Rabastan."
"But I'm a princess!" Rabastan nodded his head and sure enough, Aurora found herself in what she could only assume was the beginning of a father and daughter relationship.

And it overtook her heart's aching at losing her twins for the years to a blossom of warmth. She never thought that seeing a repeat of herself and her father's relationship would make her feel so drunk on love.

But it had.

Romulus and Imara had returned from their small venture and offered up their carts to be loaded on. And soon enough the family of seven hurried along to platform 9 3/4 with plenty of time to spare.

Entering with Lori so close to his chest suddenly gave him a firm confirmation that he was the father of this generation...Sweet merlin, seeing the long platform with incoming students of all ages, and parents of all ages he was starting to feel the pressure and build up that Aurora must have been feeling.

"Lori darling come here with mummy, papa has to talk to an Auror for a moment." Lori's arms itched towards her mother in this instance and smiled as her face pressed against Aurora's.

Rabastan had informed the fellow of his inmate number, the identity of his children, and showed him the wand. But he was rightly thankful that the Auoror was low-key in the sense that neither he or Aurora wanted to be vocal about his arrival, and the bloke was respectful of that.

Though he too was mentioned on the aspect that Aurora Lestrange is a celebrity in her own right.

When Rabastan returned he wasn't sure if Lori wanted to stay beside her siblings on the ground or not, and instead locked his arms onto the back of his eldest son's shoulder and the lad smiled up.

"You'll keep mum from jumping on the train after us yeah?"
"Let's not give her any ideas, now then...I know your mother went over acceptable behavior and all this and that. But do remember it's still a time for some fun and excitement." Aurora narrowed her eyes towards her husband with hands now locked at her hips in defiance.

"Why do you make me sound like I've ordered them to study in the library all weekend?"
"I'm sure you didn't phrase it like that love, but if it's any consolation for being with your mother during our time at Hogwarts. I expect that two out of the three meals the grand hall offers are eaten, or you head to the kitchens and get a snack. I do not want to hear from either one of you about the other not eating." Aurora rose a brow at her husband and settled a smile.

"Your father couldn't have said it any better...And I will not hesitate to come if there is something wrong or if you've done something wrong. That goes for the both of you." Cara gulped as she looked to her younger sister, the two shared a look of monumental fear as one wouldn't dare cross their mother on those terms.

"We won't mum," Romulus said with a promising smile, and Imara followed in pursuit with following his lead.

Little did their parents know, they were already up to no good.

Aurora had taken one final look to the twins before losing all her built up composure before breaking down. How was she meant to say goodbye to her munchkins?

"Oh merlin mother, we're in public!" Imara chimed, and Rabastan simply placed a hand to Aurora's shoulder to lean in and whisper words of encouragement.

"It won't be forever..." And it was true, they would be coming home soon enough.

Romulus took hold of his sister's hand as he turned to look at the Hogwarts Express, he had fear that the train would leave without them boarding and thus his plan was to just run with his sister after a final goodbye.

Yet his mother was making that quite difficult.

"Wir können nicht Immer Angst sein, Mum."

[We can't always be scared, mom]

Romulus whispered, and thus his mum somehow managed to smile with tears running down her face. But Imara nodded in confirmation.

"Wir lieben dich Immer Mutter..."

[We love you always mother]
And it followed with a quick attack of a kiss on either side of their mum's cheek. Causing her to nod once again.

"As above?" Aurora started, and Romulus smirked.

"As below," He countered before turning to his sister with the same grin. "As within?" And she nodded before looking from both Romulus to her family all before her.

And Imara had never felt so damn confident in her life.

"So without...As the universe?" She called out, and Rabastan smirked as he followed in pursuit of the family as they all whispered out the following phrase.

"So the soul." They said in unison.

With a few final hugs and kisses, with the occasional 'make your mother and I proud' the twins found themselves hurrying onto the Hogwarts Express with plenty of time to find themselves and their pets a compartment.

It was empty and a good position to see their awaiting family as he knew mum wouldn't leave without seeing the train off.

"Gods, mum crying almost got me to...I can't have puffy eyes, everyone'll think I was crying cause—"
"Doesn't matter what anyone thinks 'mara. Loads of students are crying, we're not the only first years." The younger pair of the twin rolled her eyes as she nicked her head towards the family.

"Father's not done with house arrest, that Auror wasn't for mum."
"Hmm, thought so too. He didn't have any children with him or was saying goodbye." The two found themselves looking around the compartment, it wasn't that cramped and could surely fit a few more people in if need be.

But hopefully that wouldn't the case.

"'Marauder's compartment'...Think that means anything?" Romulus tore his attention from the window and looked to see that Imara was looking at a carving in the wall off near the sliding door. "Hadn't a clue...They're probably long graduated anyway."

"So...Did you bring it with?" She questioned and Romulus smirked in victory.
"Braver than I am brother, but once mum finds out that you stole—"
"I'm sure by the time she checks the other twelve portable potion labs she'll see that one's—"
"—Missing. And you're going to be dead, and then I'm left alone without my twin."

"I was going to say replaced with a normal suitcase, which means the other was mistakenly put elsewhere. Where? Dunno, but it gives enough time to go swoop it out next holiday doesn't it?"

"No, you're a dead wizard walking brother. I best start your obituary now." He chuckled again, his hand running anxiously through Odin's soft fur to get a sense of calmness. And if it was anything that Odin provided was cuddles, warmth, and calmness.

The train soon began to move with a slight jolt, causing the two to jump to their feet and throw their hands out the window to wave to their parents.

And it was a rather sweet gesture that they caught their father holding his arms around their mum's body so she wouldn't fall.

"How many owls do you think are waiting for us when we get to Hogwarts?"
"About a dozen or so, I bet—" The compartment door had been issued a knock before two heads popped into their room.

"Sorry couldn't but overhear that..."
"...That there's a bet in the making and we want in."

Imara had turned from the two lads that had come into their compartment almost uninvitedly before looking to Romulus in search of an answer. After a silent agreement, the gal had simply moved her things from one side and placed it beside her brother—A silent offering of the space.

The two were rushing to sit beside the twins and thus two red-headed twins were introduced to what could only be the blood relative of Salem and Padfoot.

Two Marauders out of five.

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Date Posted: 07-12-2020

Time: 8:57

Words: 2653

Happy Birthday to me and Happy Birthday to Aurora Lestrange!!

Also, the two sets of twins are definitely going to get into some trouble for sure.