✧SLAPPED✧

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Rory was working on the second nursery with the help of the elves, granted with all the other side projects and the events of working on a potion for the Dark Lord...She was at a loss.

He wanted a potion to hide an object.

What the bloody hell am I suppose to do with that information??

She wanted to ask Severus for an aid, however that would lead to no gain as he would surely be unable to aid the knowledge of it from the Dark Lord himself. Causing Aurora to have outed a secret.

Suspicion had gained in her heart as it felt like he was hiding another one of those odd objects. Nagini and the diamond had the same feeling. But she didn't know what it was.

And nothing was aiding her research in regards to what it could be.

Theoretically, it was a deathly potion that needed to be created, and so she began to brainstorm what was the worst form of dying.
Drowning.

Drowning was her own personal hell, burning just sounded too ironic for a Salem graduate that she would've laughed at the idea too much.

Perhaps she could simply ask for more information or preference, but that would be after she had some sort of idea that would rid of the others.

But then it clicked.

"Daisy? Could you get my potion manual, it should be on my desk."
"Right away mistress, mistress still want tea?" A smiling hum graced the Elf's floppy ears as she hurried to and from to deliver the book.

Perfect.

She had made it as a prank joke for Sirius but she doubted they ever used the actual potion. If anything she barely gave him enough to do damage, however if one was to take a heavy dosage then they would start to go more than delirious.

Aurora soon wrote up a letter to the Dark Lord in explanation of this said potion, but also in aid for testing of precautions into someone managing to get through to the object.

Severus was taking a few classes on the side of his Death Eater persona for another task that Aurora was informed on. And the second Mr.Snape had shared the contents of the undercover mission she couldn't utterly believe it.

"You—You have to teach at Hogwarts?!" She hissed, that was going to be a tough job indeed. But there were too many running problems at the moment to be fully concerned on Severus, though she offered her hand if he did in fact need anything.

However most of his letters were about how inadequate the school he was going to is, but honestly nothing would matter if she told Dumbledore beforehand that the Slytherin would be attempting to apply for Slughorns position.

At the moment she was trying to sike herself up to go to another gastley pureblooded event, and personally she was damned that she was more pregnant that she could be excused from it.

Instead they were going with Amelia and Avery. At least then they would have someone to socialize with who's their own age.

Aurora was currently dressed and ready to go, a charm hiding what is her small tum at the moment however her mind was spiraling most days.

Currently she had been set to finish Ronan's room, however Harper found her way up the stairs impatiently and squealed.

"Are you making Halsey's or Rommy's room? As his Godmother I should know when he is getting his own room."
"I was bored, and you look far too excited to go to this—"

"I have exciting news!" Her friend clapping along had Loki perk his head in confusion at the sign.

"Okay okay, I'm not suppose to tell anyone yet but...I'm with child!" Aurora had dropped the small notebook that was in her hands as she hurried towards her friend.

"I know it's early to tell friends but, but Avery wanted to tell Rabastan and here—"
"Well knowing my husband he's going to out my secret too. Ravenclaws in the same year?" Harper squealed once again, spinning around the room and talking utter nonsense that Aurora couldn't get much of a word from.

Her babes were already being entertained by the elf so there really wasn't any reason to distract them before leaving for the rest of the night.

However now the time spent before departing for the party was left in entertaining the thought of these babes being in the same year.

Then Rory slipped that she was going to try for two in one year. "Oh Irish twins, do you think I could get my husband on board with that...He's excited, but now he's going to be ecstatic that you're expecting too!" It was clear that Harper was going to be like this for the majority of her pregnancy, and if that wasn't clear...The exhausted expression on Avery's face was enough to tell her that.

"Congratulations Avery," Aurora spoke, bringing her friend into a hug as he beamed. "You told her?"
"She's pregnant too!" Mrs.Lestrange flinched at the volume of her friend's voice once again.

"Darling it's too early to—"
"Aurora you told!" The accusing finger was pointed directly in the pregnant women's face and it was too easy for anger to flare into her eyes.

"I told what is happening to my body to my friend who is also having a child?... I believe you've talked yourself out a nice night Lestrange." Avery snickered in his arm and gripped his mate's shoulder.

"Damn, how'd you manage to hide that...Deserve to miss out on a good night mate. If you're even really my mate." Avery faked his own dismay because Merlin had he felt offended.

"Two Slytherins, they're going to be best mates."
"Unless this is she honey, but this one is going to be a mate." Rabastan, though obviously angering his wife, still pulled her close and settled a protective hold over her stomach.

"These two are indeed going to be best of friends, now I didn't eat at all today so can we go or..." With the mention of food it threw Amelia into a fit on what food they would be serving, and all the comments bounced off and back around to what Aurora was feeling as well.

"Guess we can look at the brighter side." Avery whispered off behind the two gals, causing Rabastaan to turn in complete horror. Two pregnant woman? They were going to die.

"Bright side is a decade away."
"Nono, I mean they have each other with the same symptoms." Rabastan bit his tongue as he shook his head.
"Mate, I think you have some serious heavy reading to be doing." That warning was needed, though Lestrange didn't want to ruin his excitement. Especially now that Aurora and Rabastan had the chance to be godparents themselves.

This was going to be a brilliant year.

Harper had instantly gone to the table holding the abundance of snacks, and already Aurora had to aid the woman in what she could and couldn't eat.

"Amelia as much as I want to eat all of those chocolate bark off in the corner, nobody knows we're pregnant yet but then they'll know...We'll eat in a little bit." It was indeed a struggle to pull Harper away from the food when Aurora herself wanted a nibble of everything as well.

Instead she held back and distracted herself with entertaining the likes of her husband, or more so taking his apology and persuading to continue what their had planned for the night.

However, like most of these pureblooded events the wizards found themselves taking a smoke break outside. Even some of the elder witches snuck out on the opposite end to smoke a quick cig, one of the biggest new comings to their world as Sirius hadn't stopped laughing at the addition to it.

Just collecting a bit of food onto her plate had she smiled politely to the young wizard who had been taking the opportunity of an empty buffet line to fill up his plate once more.

"I must recommend the stuffed potatoes, honest perfection."
"I'll take your word for it." Sure it was kind, but it was almost as though this wizard was trying far too hard to get close.

Especially when she had just left the loo and almost bumped into him. The odd feeling had stayed with her, but it was overpowered with the sudden dread of tiredness and having to compete with Amelia. Who was still alive as ever and bouncing on the first child high that Aurora had surely missed.

Two pregnancy and three kids?
This was going to be very stressful, and for some it hit her now. The wizard from table prior had managed to gain a bit of information.

Married.
Two children.
And a reasonable amount of drama being whispered to either friend.

His plan was starting to build beautifully.

*

"...But every night I lie in bed, the brightest colors fill my head. A million dreams are keeping me awake..." Currently Aurora was in a playful manner with her little babes as one rested against her leg, using it as support while the other was in their mother's arms.

The change of Halsey's hair showcased what Aurora's song actually stood for, and it was all in good irony how that had played out.

Even if Romulus had yet to show any sign of having the same ability as his sister.

She was simply organizing the gifts she had gained from either side of grandparents as they were beyond ecstatic to hear that they were expecting another child.
A boy.

The twins were on the job of testing out everything that would be suitable for their baby brother, though the crib and most of the contents of the room was anything but finished. Just mismatch of pieces and a notebook filled with ideas on what to add, however it was the sniffle at the door that had her turn back...

And in seeing her cousin all tear eyed threw her in for an almost instant empathetic state.
"It's true...Isn't it?" Aurora didn't know what Narcissa could be referring to, there were dozens of—
"...Isn't it?! You're pregnant again!" Now the younger witch flinched at how accusing it had sounded, and how genuinely saddened this dispute of anger was making her feel.

Was she meant to feel pity that she was pregnant?

"I—"
"You what?! You couldn't give me a year Cassiopeia, a year...You said you weren't trying for children and now?" It would've been wrong to say that this one came out of half accidental half on hope, but the silence said it all.

"I cannot take any contraception potions while breastfeeding, it's—"
"It's unfair! I have been trying for years! Years! And all Igot were two false positives and here you are...Your—your third child! And now Avery's wife?!" Aurora had a few suggestions of what she could do or ask a few colleagues who have dabbled in the conception business but it was all useless as it fired Narcissa up more.

And Aurora hadn't known what had happened until after the burning had started to enact on her swelling cheek. Her cool hand had pressed to it, almost in an experiment to see if her cousin had actually slapped her.

Narcissa surely had.

Mrs.Lestrange, high on emotions and high in anger at the demonstration happening in front of her children tried to settle either of them in the crib.

The tears of pain and agony had turned to hold on of her babies and soothe their worries on what had happened. And above all else, Romulus' hair turned a sickly green color in response as his attention was solely on the woman who hurt his mummy.

"I need you to leave this manor...Now." It was as polite as Aurora was going to be with her cousin after such an example, but it only caused a rushing effect as Narcissa ticked up her chin and huffed in aggravation, throwing a small comment before leaving.

"AT LEAST MY HUSBAND'S COCK ACTUALLY WORKS!" Rabastan Alastair Lestrange had flinched at the sound of his wife's words, waving away the spilled ink as he rushed out of the room only to see Narcissa hurrying down the main staircase away from whatever transpired.
While he met his wife sobbing along with the kids.

It wasn't the tears, or Romulus' green bedhead that made him act as quickly.
It was the obvious hand mark that rested on her cheek.

Without another thought he apprented from the nursery to the front foyer. Managing to intercept Narcissa Malfoy.

"Rabastan I—" He held up his hand and closed his eyes. "You hit my wife in the presence of my children and you dare have the audacity to still be in this house?!" The flash of realization had been prominent but Rabastan was not a fool to believe that Narcissa came here with good intentions.

"I...I was just—" 

"I thought a lot of you Mrs.Malfoy, but hitting a pregnant witch...? Now whatever issue the two of you had I am sure that there could've been a verbal approach." The elder witch had watched these either Cassiopeia or Rabastan grow up beside one another, even teased her youngest sister at how adorable the children they'd have would be and now...Now she had just turned onto the wronged list of the Lestrange.

How would her sister feel?

A brow rose on Rabastan's appearance as he too knew that she was thinking of it too.

Judging by his wife's comment about his cock, he assumed it was the witch before him's jealousy on Aurora being pregnant once again.

"You know first hand that my wife had anything but an easy pregnant or birth, yet you wish to test the boundaries of my patience with your hand hitting my wife?" Her head fell down in shame now as she was in for it, and as much as Rabastan wanted to do something, he knew his own wife would have a fit over any contact or magic that came to harm her cousin.

"No more unannounced visits Mrs.Malfoy, should be by owl...And that's if my wife wishes to see you." The extent Rabastan would go for his wife is far too great, and he wasn't going to make an example of this woman here.
She might be family, but that doesn't excuse her from it all.

Rabastan stepped out of the way and offered the door before giving a taunting way. Though he wasn't satisfied until she finally left the perimeter, when she had he rushed in return of his wife.

Who was in a fit of tears with the rest of his children on the floor, either one of them trying to soothe their mummy's worries and fears.

"Rory love it's alright...Come here." She was far too easily convinced to come into his hold, and now his children lapped him in a protective manner as well.

They were already this way due to their mum being pregnant, but seeing how sickly green Romulus' hair is at the moment he hummed along to set his wife into a calmer state.

"Look's like he's sporting his father's colors." She issued a sad smile, running her hands through Rommy's locks. Relaxing the bouncing baby, and soon after either had managed to lay in their parents hold.

Yet their son's hair had not returned to normal, nor did he want to be out of arms reach. Instead either of babes wiggled forward and put their pudgy little hand on the side of their mum's face...And right before Rabastan's eyes had they healed the small mark and cut from Narcissa's nail.

Confusion rallied on Aurora's face as this happened just under her eyes though she couldn't believe her little munchkin's healed her.

An instant smile formed on her face as she rewarded them with kisses and snuggled them senselessly. Though Halsey did look up to her father in the same display of wanting a kiss, and he was more than happy to comply with.

Especially when both of them were showing the same hairstyle and shade.

Even with Rabastan's looming deadline, he stayed with his wife, his father would understand this situation as it wasn't in any way Rory's fault. She hadn't even told her parents all that long ago, so he could only assume that Walburga was bragging to an already hormonal niece.

He knew his wife wouldn't be anything less than supportive the day Mrs.Malfoy finds herself to be pregnant, but now he was suspicious as to what is going to happen between the two cousins.

Especially now at the risk of picking different Godparents.

Aurora was already in her second trimester, and though her hormones were significantly different than the previous pregnancy, Rabastan didn't overstep an inch after the small feud that sparked between Mrs.Lestrange and Mrs.Malfoy.

Days had passed and yet Aurora was still shaken up about the entire ordeal, and Romulus' hair had yet to return to normal. Just another reminder of what had happened, and even with Clarissa's aid it just made Aurora feel worse.

That the woman she grew up looking to as a sister had bloody betrayed her, all over something as simple as having children. And now she was trying to construct a potion behind her husband's back to get her cousin pregnant...But why should she reward the behavior?

Out of everything that the Malfoy's could obtain, it was a biological child they couldn't manage.

So while Narcissa was sobbing over her twelfth written letter to her cousin in apology, it was obvious that there was going to be no return owl in the following weeks.

Aurora's silence was like no other, she shared with her husband in a rage that there was always something that she was blamed for.

Not being pregnant.
For being pregnant.

Rabastan tried to tell her that she couldn't please everyone, and for once in her life to relish in what she's managed to have already.

Whether it was a generational thing, but most of Aurora's Ravenclaws were still practicing their theories and research. Avery joked that it was a Ravenclaw trait to always be searching to learn.

Granted his own wife was focusing on being pregnant and eating...Cooking.

It threw him for a loop to see his wife the mistress of the manor want to cook something. Especially pregnant?

Aurora had laughed at the idea of seeing either Avery or Rabastan in awe at the want.
"Tisk tisk gentlemen, the smell of fresh-baked cookies while with child is ten times better than what you'd expect." Now it left her husband to think all pregnant women are crazy.

And denied Aurora the ability to cook, and that threw him into the Ravenclaw pit.

He has never seen the woman so angry in his life, the bitch comment was nothing...The clocktower...Forgotten.

"I CAN'T EVEN DO MY RESEARCH OR TRIALS BECAUSE I'M PREGNANT AND NOW YOU WANT TO TAKE AWAY COOKING FROM ME?! SCREW YOU LESTRANGE!" That night he drank a hefty glass of well-aged firewhiskey, even thinking of how to remedy the situation threw him for a loop.

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Date Posted: 10-05-19

Time: 12:08

Words: 3266

Sorry this is late, I have a monster migraine right now and flew through trying to edit this.