✧FAMILIAR FACES✧

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||Three Days Left||

    The morning was rightly dragging on longer than Ronan anticipated, as he didn't have the heart to wake up his mum. But also he was a bit worried in leaving the bedroom to explore. So it took the coaxing of Nymeria to get him to venture and explore around.

    "Master Ronan, Daisy cook breakfast. Mother mistress asleep." He turned around to smile down to the little elf, he didn't know if he'd ever get used to having that title.

"Think mum would like to eat outside." He mumbled, and the elf said that they could prepare it for the gazebo. "Brillant, could you make French toast?"

"Of course Master Ronan, Master want orange juice." These options were giving him the opposite culture shock to have the world be offered to him, and so he smirked.

    "That would be grand, mum likes fruit on her pancakes and—Drat I forget which tea she favors at the moment." He was being adorably sweet, especially since he took the initiative to wake her up.

Why he thought he had to set the table was damn near a miss, and he found himself sitting across from his mum who hadn't seen any of this as odd.

    Instead she kept her eyes down to the paper after a prayer and let the conversation of the Quidditch teams roll-off in order to give something eventful to talk about. But alas, Aurora couldn't take it anymore.

"Ronan, I haven't been entirely honest about our trip..."

"I know."

"But I—You know? What do you know?" A frog had been instantly caught in her throat as the idea that her son already put the pieces together gave her a douse of anxiety, so he grinned across the table with a proud smirk rally through after calling her out.

"You're not the best liar mum."

"Oh you little—and here I thought we could enjoy a trip to Diagon Alley." He looked downright distraught that he could've ruined today's plans, but then she chuckled.

    "Alright alright, we'll go. But that's a partial bribe on my behalf, deal?"

"No deal, I want to know what you aren't telling me." He demanded, and she rolled her eyes at his playful demand.

Like father like son.

    "Do you recall what I told you about your father, and how he might've gotten into a bit of a mix-up and into some trouble."

"...Yes?" She let the silence dwindle far too long on her behalf as she attempted to formulate the words.

"Your father is expected to return in a few days." The entire table was sent into a clatter.

"What?! Truly?!" Aurora had been bewildered by the sudden excitement, it wasn't that her son was...Dull, but he reminded her of a quiet version of Rabastan, a rightful combination of the boy's mother and father. Yet Rory nodded her head.

"Yes, and you father will need a bit to reacclimate back to his life here and his life as a father."

"When is he coming? Does he know how long it's been?...D-does he miss us?"

"Darling of course he misses us all."

"But why hasn't he been here?"

    "I'm sorry sweetheart, but you're too young to understand what has happened. Nor do I want to change your opinion on your father."

"Is that why Romulus hates him? Because he knows?" Aurora felt defeated, though she had told Romulus to not control his brother, it still happened anyhow.

    "He knows parts of the story, I don't know how you figured it out Ronan, but I will not be telling it. It will only harm everything I've tried to hide from you children." He fell back in his chair and nodded.

"May I be excused? I wish to get ready for today." She sighed and allowed the benefit to go ahead and do what he will with all he learned. And yet when she waved her hand for him to be excused, he came over to give his mum a kiss on the cheek.

Which she jumped at the opportunity to cup either of his cheeks. "Trust that I am doing what is best for all of you, please remember that Roe."

"I do mum." It was a general sense of relief as the lad scampered away with Nymeria close to his side.

"Suppose I did a few things right." Finishing off her tea before calling upon the elves that they finished their meal and would be heading off within the hour.

    Aurora however found herself back in her study, as she hadn't spent more than a few minutes in here the previous afternoon. Yet now she had waved her wand to unlock the latches of her truck and summoned the one and only painting of the late Orion Black.

"Have you settled in then? How is the house?" She smiled as she hadn't even managed to hang him on the wall just yet, but once she had she shrugged.

"Dull as ever. Ronan felt the coldness as well, and he flinched at hearing the elves calling him master. This is an entirely different world, I should've brought them sooner."

"I still favor the idea that Rabastan comes home to an empty manor with no note and no possible way to contact you."

"Then he'd find himself straight back into Azkaban. They found him innocent of the crime he was arrested for, it's all technical error. Yet getting Sirius out is—"

"Unachievable at the moment, you need proof. After years of suspicions then there is nothing to be done. And stay the bloody hell away from that headmaster of yours."

"Duly noted."

She didn't need to be told twice on that advice, but looking at her pocket watch caused her to hurry and find Ronan.

Yet a groan escaped her, if it wasn't difficult to know where Rabastan was in the manor. Then finding her children within it was another task.

"Poppy. Where is my son?"

"Master Ronan is in the library Mistress, he asks for mistress' favorite places in the manor." It allowed her to hurry down the hall and down the main staircase, but even the sight of the elevator had made her heart miss a beat.

It was there because Rabastan had thought ahead on his wife not wanting her go down the stairs while pregnant with the twins.

"Ronan? Darling grab your cloak, it'll get busy this time of year."

"How come?"

"It's much like the Enchanted Trail, it's where young witches and wizards find their wand and purchase their school supplies." He understood and was about to travel all the way up to his room to retrieve his cloak.

"Roe...I don't want you to get used to the elves in doing every-little-thing for you. But for things such as grabbing a cloak that's across the manor, you may." He stopped and turned about.

"Is that why we have so many elves?"

"They cook and clean, most families here aren't as kind to their elves as the laws are drastically different. For example we don't pay them here." It took Ronan by surprise sure, but he recalled back on one of the Salem museums that there were slaves.

And he thought it similar to that.

    "So they live here?"

"Hm, and they took care of the manor all this time. They didn't have to cook or aid me in tending to so many babies." Aurora had decided to apparent the two, unfortunately Ronan had to wear his hood to shield themselves from onlookers, had he been a bit older he would've questioned and sought this as a red flag. But here and now?

He trusted his mum and wanted to explore Britain, and although she allowed him to put his hood down after awhile, he realized she didn't.

    She spoke in a low voice and was very weary on people passing back and forth. It wasn't that she was underdressed or in muggle clothes. Aurora always wore witch attire, and Ronan wasn't surprised how beautiful she looked in her wedding portrait on the mantle.

Was it the crowd?

Did it have to do with his father?

Who didn't she want to see?

    He did make a few purchases, but he was far too excited to meet his godfather and his supposed 'cousin' from another side of the family. Dropping off what they bought did they continue to the Malfoy manor—And already the memories began to flow in.

    Was it strange to think she was on her way to meet the Dark Lord?
That she was late for a rally?

"Takes a moment, yeah?"
"Nah, I like our home better mum." She kissed his temple and squeezed their interlocked hands once more as they continued down the long path and through the fence.

Once they arrived to the front door, she gave a fitful knock all while putting her son in front of her.

    "Mum, are you nervous?"
"Hush up you...We're guests, best behavior." He nodded at her rushed humor, and like the trained little pureblood his mother raised him to appear to be, caused her to relax all the more.

    She didn't want her children to be the posh purebreeds that she and Regulus had grown up to be, the second that they were home it was free-range, course she never allowed them to be out of control, and with the number of children versus the amount of parents on the premises.
The children took the count.

But their mum's were the head of the households.

    The door suddenly opened up to see a small little elf with floppy ears smile up. "Dobby ask who knock on the Malfoy estate." He questioned, and Ronan looked up to his mother in confusion to his reaction but the woman laughed.

    "Merlin Dobby, barely a decade and you've forgot who I am?" The voice instantly sent the elf into a reminder and he swung the door open wide in the account of his realization.

    "Mistress Lestrange! Mistress and Master will be so pleased to see you!" The woman gently nudged her son to follow the elf who tripped on account three times barely into the foyer.

    "He's excited."

"Hm, and the last time he saw you...You could barely stay out of my sight for no more than ten minutes without you wailing out." He groaned showing his discomfort with bright pink cheeks.

"Salzar, he's lost it Cissy, he's gone senile if, for one second, he thought that—" Both adults stilled at the sight of their estranged family member.

Aurora swallowed her pride and tilted her head in a sort of bow of a greeting. "Lucius...Cissy, you're looking well." She stated, and instantly Ronan felt his mother's discomfort.
Was it like this all the time?

    Lucius still held more than enough anger for Cassiopeia leaving the way she did, leaving without a word until it was too late.

And of course she covered her tracks enough to not to be found.

Narcissa was livid, but she had cooled down significantly—Yet that didn't stop her attempt in trying to find her cousin. She knew the risks and what was at stake, it took a few months for her to understand that Cassiopeia was doing this for a fresh start, and it was needed for her and the children.

The Malfoy's watched out for their own, Draco had been given the easy life with no siblings and being their parent's main concern.
And Lucius had been able to avoid prison.

    Aurora had her brother, his family, her own...Her friends? It was a mess to watch out for. Narcissa even wrote to her about fixing up the Black Manor as a place to live as Walburga Black had passed away, which went with hearing that the Lestrange fortune was being withheld.

    "Cassiopeia...Funny seeing you here, I didn't think Romulus or Halsey were old enough for Hogwarts just yet. Or are you here to tell us they're going to Ilvermorny?" She chuckled, biting her tongue as she could surely ruin his life within a few words to his dear wife, and she carefully rose a brow to tempt him with it.

"I see the Imperius Curse did a number on you Lucius, but then again, you were always a git." His devilish smile shined as he had made her look fowl in this reunion. "Always the sarcastic one...Romulus. Looking rather—"
"This is Ronan, your godson." She would not stand for her children to be ignored or confused.

    Lucius apologized but continued to smile none the less. "Ronan, you're the spitting image of your father." The master of the manor commented, and it caused the son to feel elevated.

    "Mum says that all the time." Cissy, who was still in awe at the sudden epiphany that she had been wrong to judge all these years. She pictured how Draco would act had he never met his own father on the account of being in prison.

    "How are you Cassi? Is everything alright?" She smiled brightly, as Cissy didn't sound so angry.

"Grand, all the children wanted to come, but they all had their fair share of camps." Out of the three adults in the room, Ronan understood that his mum as younger than the two before them.

    But it confused him entirely as to what they were discussing as they were dancing around the topic. "Ronan darling, why don't I introduce you to Draco. He has an extra broom to spare if you're up for flying. I won't take you not playing, both your mother and father were very skilled on a broom." Their conversation was drowning out in Aurora's ears as Cissy led Ronan out of the room, but the dark stare that lingered on the young wife in the room rallied to the white-blonde haired bastard in front of her.

    "Such a low blow Lucius, I see you're living it up with no ounce of sympathy to the rest of our relatives incarcerated. But that little donation was enough, yes?... Oh I have eyes everywhere Lucius, I might not have set foot on the soil, but I still hold enough blackmail to hold the position I had before." He hummed in agreement.

    Oh he was indeed afraid of the woman before him, she had the same cunning as his wife, but the unknown factor brimmed so far as to match Bellatrix's.

    "I am truly sorry what has happened, but six years—"

"Five minutes in that place is enough to forever change a soul, let alone years...And if you feel truly sorry, you would've transferred the percentage we agreed on." She had taken a very confident step forward, and he stuttered.

"T-the Lestrange funds had closed, you weren't here to—"

"You're smart Lucius, or at least passed one course of Arithmancy. But where did you send the ten million the last time?" She allowed her eyes to flutter in a statement of being bored.

    "Perhaps I have as much resentment as my husband, our souls are tied together you know...And I could've been cursed to feel each and every Dementor's kiss he's endured." The fear was now plastered on the platinum blond wizard's face.

    "How are the children?" She swallowed and avoided eye contact as she looked off to where Cissy had led her son off. "They're alright, Ronan is the most like his father. Romulus is much more like..." Lucius nodded as he understood that both her brothers were seemingly out of the picture...

Or so he thought.

    "I heard about your mother, perhaps America was the best option." He caught only a slight glint in her eyes, one of which sent instant chills into his spine. And the only comfort to the situation was when Narcissa returned with a bright smile.

    "Are Halsey and Romulus at home? I can pick them up if—"

"No, they're in America with a family friend. I thought it best for Rabastan to see one child before they all swarm him with questions...And Halsey goes by Imara now." The two nodded, and she finally took a breath of an exhale.

    "Lorelei is ...My youngest actually." That sanctioned a bewildered flare in either of Malfoy's eyes. Not only had she raised the children, she went through a final pregnancy by herself.

    "Cassi I—" Mrs.Lestrange held her head up high and didn't take the comforting words. "I know I haven't been a proper Godmother to Draco, but I truly don't know how to make this work. I love my life in America, but my children deserve to go to Hogwarts. And I have a few unspoken words that I need to tell that bastard when he's released." Narcissa was happy to hear of it, and she extended her arm out the three adults simply had the effort in attempting to make it normal...But alas, it wasn't.

    "What have you been busing yourself with Cassi? You look tired." She hummed into her offered tea, but hearing that she looked tired was another saying of you look awful.

    So she explained that she was on the council at the Salem school and they were starting a Salem University. As well as having Wolfsbane released, and a pregnancy kit coming in the following months.

    "I have been the soul provider for anything to do with Rabastan and his case. It appears that he hadn't fired a curse to the Longbottoms, those who tested his wand gave a false testimony as it was confirmed by Barty Crouch Jr a few months after the sentencing." She perks her lips at this new information, and to be honest it was such a nice break from this torturous social setting.

Her spine was already in pain from pretending for so long, but she wasn't about to break her composure.

    "I told him to stop the nonsense of trying to find him, and even now there is silence...There's a lot I couldn't share with him in the letters." Narcissa instantly thought about the Lestrange Manor, and was going to send Dobby to aid the elves in hurrying to clean it up.

    "Nonsense, I had them start working on it since last week...I knew since last year that he was going to be released. But with the twins in Salem and most of my work being stationed in Massachusetts, it wasn't worth dragging the children back and forth."

"He's been on proper behavior, unlike his brother and Bella for instance. We'll see to it that he gets the medical treatment that he—"

"I have enough financial stability Lucius, don't downgrade me just like that when my next potion is already in the works." He nodded in half a submission face, Narcissa smirked, enjoying the fact that her husband was a bit of a coward towards the youngest Lestrange of the bunch.

    "Do you believe Ronan will be in Slytherin?" Rory licked her lips and gave herself a moment to dwell, her honest prediction sounded corrected. But saying out loud was troubling.

    "Unfortunately I believe he's the only one so far that reminds me of any full Slytherin qualities, Romulus and Imara always seem to have their noses in the books. Cara is a bit of an in-between, I don't fully know. And Lori's too young for a proper guess...They've all been excepted into Salem. It took a lot of convincing for them to even recognize Hogwarts." Narcissa was the most supportive, listening and responding as Lucius would shift uncomfortably.

    It was interesting to see how everyone was functioning with the rest of them, and part of Aurora wanted to visit her friends. At one point she made the decision that she would stop by, even if it was nearing the late afternoon.

    "We don't mind Cassi, please...Get everything ready, owl us if you want us to come over." Lucius agreed, and the young mother went on outside to see the young lads laughing and playing up off into the air.

    "DRACO MALFOY YOU KNOW THAT IS TOO HIGH TO BE FLYING!" Narcissa yelled, and Aurora looked off to Lucius with a smile of how it is to be in the air. "Seeker in the making?"

"And a beater in the making as well, perhaps you'll have all of your Ravenclaws on the team at the same time." Ronan laughed to his Godfather's taunt and he nodded.

    "Imara has a wicked throw, knocked Romulus to the ground a few times." His mother bopped his nose as she leaned down for a moment.

    "I have to run a few errands, how about you stay here with Draco and have yourself a sleepover?" The light shone in either of the boys' eyes and Narcissa was pleasantly at ease. This shouldn't be the first time the two had gotten together for this sort of thing.

    "Mother, could Dobby make those apple tarts that he did the other day?"

"Of course, and pair it with some proper tea. I doubt Americans could even manage to do it properly." Ronan laughed and nudged at his mum.

    "Mother orders proper tea, not to worry. I've had my share." The lot of them were sharing a polite laugh, but the stress and panic over it didn't allow Aurora to enjoy it. And Ronan felt it far too fake.

    She gave him a kiss goodbye, and before long she was forced to go through with her given tasks. But she was not going to go straight to the Avery manor.

Aurora possibly couldn't.

Instead she went to an easier couple, the McNair's.

    Not having to walk far passed the enchanted fence, did she apparent straight to the manor's door. And it was a sigh of relief, Otto had confirmed that they all lived in the same places, but it looked as though someone was home now.

Before she could regret her choice of reconnecting with old friends, Aurora knocked on the door with the same force she had with the Malfoy manor.

    She needed to be strong, the strong Madam Lestrange that spoke to the Dark Lord in a familiar manner.

The door suddenly opened with an elf and a young child just a few paces behind. Their son.

    "Good Afternoon young master McNair, is your mother or father home?" She questioned out, and the young lad started to turn back but remembered he had to ask an important of her name.

"An old friend." It was cryptic sure, but she didn't want to get kicked out before she'd get the chance before she was booted out.

    "Darling the elves should be answering the door, you have to finish your studies before your father comes home or else—we can't—" Aurora turned from her position at the mantel, she was mindless looking at the small photographs that lingered about.

"Evelyn. I know this isn't the best of times to be bothering you at your home." The mother of two had looked at her old friend, the one who had aided her on the path to motherhood and grow close with her husband.

The woman who had been missing for so many years now was standing in her den, looking more than apologetic. It caused Evelyn to run over to her old friend and throw her arms over her shoulders in a warm embrace.

    "Sweet gods Evelyn, we're sure to break something!" Aurora laughed, and it caused Eveyln to wipe her tears and mumble all sorts of sayings. So it was Aurora who looked back at the young boy.

    "Elijah darling, go and finish up yours studies before your father gets home like you mum said." The lad could hear the demanding motherly tone in the woman's voice and hurried to do just as instructed, and that caused Evelyn to squeal.

    "Are you back? Are you visiting? Oh you must stay for dinner!" She waved her hands in a sigh of a panic, it was a lot of questions. But at least it was a less formal setting than the one she had with her family.

"One question at a time sweetheart, deep breaths." The young Slytherin wife looked the same since the day Rory left, or perhaps she appeared more mature. Motherhood fit her wonderfully.

    "Are you staying?"

"For the moment yes, Rabastan is being released from Azkaban in two days." Evelyn had looked shocked at the reveal, so perhaps it wasn't public knowledge yet. So Aurora had a chance before the public scrutiny hits, and she'd have to owl Otto in fear of what's to come and contact her lawyers.

    "He's being released, Merlin Rory, I heard your connects were brilliant but—"

"No, he managed on his own. It was a bit of a technical issue, whomever analyzed his wand lied. He never attacked the Longbottoms directly." Evelyn was couldn't remove her hand from her old friend, and tears were already coming from the young mother's eyes.

    "I want to apologies for leaving so abruptly, and everyone has the right to be angry with me."

"Oh nobodies angry—Well perhaps Narcissa and Amelia but—Oh shite." Evelyn tried to retract her statement, but Aurora had simply pulled her friend down to the couch just behind them to enjoy each others company.

    "I've just returned from Narcissa, I brought Ronan with me this trip. The children had too much going on in Salem that—"

"I knew it!" She cheered, and Aurora humored herself in thinking that her friends were taking bets on her location.

"Oh no Rory I didn't mean to shout. We simply assumed you'd be near it or America in general. Eliza thought you were off in Canada, Amelia and Clem thought France." Aurora questioned who Eliza was, and Evelyn called the elf for some tea.

    "Eliza Dolohov's, Antion was imprisoned as well. I think you only met her a few times. She was a Slytherin above me....Waldon and Avery were devastated to hear what happened, they both went to the Lestrange manor when we learned about it in the Prophet. And they tried to find you but your elves were sealed." Aurora took a steady sip of the tea and hummed.

    "I wasn't in my right mind when I left, and I wasn't for a few months after. But I suppose I'll wait to share until McNair comes. May I meet the kiddos?" That won Evelyn over instantly as she led her to the children's playroom. She learned that either child—Elijah and Rosabelle, were still very young. Granted Elijah was seven and Rosa seemed to be in Lori's grade.

And the pressure for Aurora and sending her youngest to Hogwarts without a sibling in her year was already stressful.

    Evelyn adored another mum playing with her children, and it was easy to fall back into sync with Madam Lestrange. And Elijah knew Aurora to be the woman who sent a few birthday presents over the past few years.

But Rory didn't know about Rosa, yet the little girl turned obsessed. And she couldn't wait to tell them that Lori was in the youngest McNair's grade.

    "Papa is home!" Rosabelle cheered, and the daughter ran faster than light down the hall to greet her father.

"My sweet Rosabelle!" Aurora smiled to herself in a blush as she heard all that little Rosa was telling her papa.

"I made a new friend papa! She's upstairs! Come see her, come see!" Mrs.Lestrange had suddenly turned nervous, especially when she caught sight of McNair himself.

Evelyn was also sporting a smile that McNair caught, but he didn't realize it was the same reason to why his daughter was shouting with excitement.

"Waldon, you won't believe it..." His wife mumbled, and he had just kissed her lips in a greeting. Before Evelyn had a chance to warn him, Aurora came from the other room and looked upon this gorgeous family.

This family with a mother and father, two children. A boy and girl.

Was it wrong for Aurora to see that as normal?

Did she have too many children?

    "McNair, you—"

"Rory!" He placed down his daughter before rushing to his best mate's wife, all of a sudden she had picked up and spun around. "Goodness Lestrange! Where in the bloody hell have you been young lady!" Aurora laughed, perhaps the first honest laugh this entire trip as she was set back down onto the floor.

    "Everywhere...Evelyn invited me for dinner, I don't want to impose but I do need to tell you and Evie a few things."

"Of course! Please, where are you staying?" Evelyn had pushed the children to return to play, although Rory felt bad to put all of this on him just when he came from work.

"Perhaps it's best we all sit down, it's a lot..." Evelyn had called an elf to get the wine, fire whiskey, and a small appetizer plate as McNair looked quiet hungry for dinner.

    "Rabastan is being released in two days, the Lestrange vault and manor has been unlocked." McNair had choked on his first sip of fire whiskey. "So you're staying then? Long term and not just for a visit?"

    "That depends on how Rabastan is, I couldn't explain this to Lucius and Narcissa. But my soul has been tied to him throughout his time, and I had to numb it. Or else I would've felt ever bit of torture the dementors gave him."

"We'll help in any way we can Rory...Bass is coming back." Evelyn beamed at seeing Waldon so happy, and Aurora smiled to look at the beautiful couple before them.

    "I am truly sorry that I left without much of a word of where and why. But it was better for the children, and Hogwarts is coming up for the twins so—"

"Ha! Avery owes me!" McNair cheered, and Rory smirked. This was the people she remembered.

But Evelyn knew that the feud between Amelia and Aurora didn't do well when Rory disappeared.

    "And I owe them an apology as well."

"No you don't. You don't answer to anyone Rory. Please—Don't give that wrench the satisfaction." Did McNair just call Amelia a wrench?

    "Waldon!"

"Oh Evie you said much worse. Besides, she is...They almost god a damn divorce a few years back. And to top it off, Avery doesn't know if Noah is his." Aurora lips parted as she felt shocked, even the sound of Evelyn's attack on her husband didn't pull it out of her.

"Shite."
"Darling it was bound to happen, shame as the lad is in Rosa's year." Rory's head connected down to the table as she asked which year that would be.

And she brightened in a decent grin.

    "Well it's seem Noah, Rosabelle and Lorelei will in the same year together then." Evie narrowed her brow together as she didn't know who Lorelei was.

"I didn't know I was with child when I left...The first few years were difficult enough, then a child."

"Rory you stayed away because it reminded you of Rabastan and what he did. Nobody is faulting you for that, hell I'll share my own thoughts on the blood bloke. He has a beautiful wife and children that waited for him and what did he do?! He left you waiting!" Waldon found his footing as he stood, shaking the table as he rose up to the occasion.

    "Believe me McNair, I found my own happiness in America. And I had to leave it to be back with my husband." Evie perked her lips as she thought of what to say to defuse the tension, but the elf claimed that dinner was all prepared. The children were called and Rosa found herself sitting next to her godmother.

Who else was going to be the godmother of their children?

    "You know, my daughter is your age...I'll be sure to introduce the two of you once we get settled into our home."
"Can we play doll house? Does she have dollies?"

"Both she and her sister Cara have plenty of dollies, and I'll be sure to pick you up a new one from America...Elijah, what are you fancying at the moment?" McNair boasts that he's brilliant on a broom.

    "Hmm, the American brooms are quite different from the ones here. My sons seem to enjoy them, are you up for a challenge?" To be honest, Waldon was beyond ecstatic that Aurora was back, to see her happy and healthy. To hear about the children and their education.

He was in fact the godfather of Cara Lestrange, and soon he'd need to pick up that title once again.

    "I heard from a little owl that you were launching another potion."

"Hm, a potion kit actually. Having Lori really pushed my limit and I'm sure some witches need the relief as well." Evie was indeed supportive, and she wiped her lips before sending the children off to play before bed.

"What is your plan for when Rabastan returns?" With McNair being the only one left in the room, Rory felt a little bit more at ease. This was one of his best mates, they grew up side by side.

    "I prayed that he is the same, but I think I've jinxed myself." It broke his heart to see her breaking down, and Aurora didn't want to share it but she needed to tell someone.

"I might've shield my soul from the unwarranted torture the Dementors gave, but when he and Bella—" McNair gritted his teeth, completely enraged to hear that Rabastan had done this to Aurora.

Loyal to the end.

    "It took me years to accept another, and perhaps I should've found an annulment than do what Amelia has done to Avery—"

"She did it in spite, you did it because you met someone—Sweet Salzar Rory, you're shaking. It's alright, honest. Six years is a lonely life with five children." Aurora swallowed and wiped her eyes away with the tears.

"Would you come and see Avery with me? I don't want a fight with Amelia at the moment." He nodded, just going up to get changed while Evelyn returned.

"You met someone?" Aurora knew she wanted to know more about Aidan, but Rory just wiped her eyes and mumbled a yes.

    "Not that it matters now."

"Of course it matters, if you love him, if the children love him..." Rory didn't want to think of this as a mistake, but when she saw an escape to leave in the moment with Waldon she took it.

But not without saying goodbye to Evie and the children. "I promise that I'll give a warning if I disappear again."

"Nah, this time we know where you'll be." It had barely been two minutes before they stood outside the Avery manor.

"Perhaps I should give you my wand, I've been known to throw things and spit fire balls."

"But was this during pregnancy or after?" She narrowed her eyes and he rose his hands.

    "We're not here for Amelia, though she'll try to throw fireballs. But Avery will be relieved." She let out a small grin, but he noticed it didn't match what her eyes were saying. So instead he led Madam Lestrange to the grand entrance to knock.

    "Buck up, sure werewolves are worst than this."

"Actually it wasn't that bad, my animagius status helped quite a lot." He chuckled at how optimistic Aurora was in the moment, but the familiar scenery of the crept in to the suppressed memories.

"Goddess, I thought my manor was bleek."

"This the American lot we're talking of or the Lestrange manor...Evie would love a project if you could do for some help." Aurora wasn't above taking the offer, she preferred it over Narcissa's.

Especially after seeing the children's room just an hour ago. She could definitely see her kids enjoying their bedrooms in that theme.

    "Wally!" A child cheered, and McNair kneed down to pick up the youngest Avery child.

"Well I'll be, you must've grown since the last time I saw you." A burst of bitter laughter caused Aurora to give a sideways glance to McNair.

    "He has, and the last time you visited was a two months ago McNair."

"Actually Mrs.Avery I visited just a few days ago, I just snuck passed your radar." Amelia's laugh was strange, how utterly hopeless had she turned.

Finally turning around to see the mistress of the manor, did Amelia stop in her step. "Get the bloody hell out of my manor!"

"Oh I plan to darling, I just want a word with your husband." The wizard hid his laughter as he bent down to direct Noah to his father and away from this argument.

    As much as McNair wanted to deny it, most of Amelia's rage was with Aurora. As it was the delusional witch's story that Rory was the reason their marriage failed.

As if that was truly the case.

    "We want nothing to do with you. Should just leave and crawl back into the hole you've resurface from...What do you want? Money? Guidance? A pity party?" Aurora nodded her head and held her wrist tightly to not reach for my wand. "Oh I think I've good on money—"

"I heard they closed the Lestrange vaults and foreclosed the manor."

"And I heard a great few things about you darling. But if you must know, I think my net worth on its own surpasses that of the Lestrange vault. And as for the manor, I simply didn't think I need to move back." Amelia took the brave few steps, causing Rory to raise a brow.

Avery, on the other hand, had watch in pure satisfaction to see his wife crumble. If it was one thing his wife was afraid of, was Aurora Lestrange.

    "Then what is it? A welcome back reunion?"

"For certain people, though I didn't expect any humbleness from you...Now then, are you done breathing fire?" Aurora took the final steps forward and leaned in close to her hear.

    "Did you happen to hear what happened to my mother? Such a pity don't you think?... Who could've poisoned her like that?" Waldon had stilled on the same account that Avery had found his footing than lost it.

"Get out of my bloody sight before I do something I truly regret." Amelia stormed away, and Aurora laughed at the woman. "As if you had anything hard to deal with!"

"You're the one who left! Left a giant mess and expected everyone to pick up the slack!"

"Oh I'm terribly sorry that your career was put on hold Amelia, shall I give you a compensation? Were you emotionally scarred?"

"Of course I was! You're the reason I met the Dark Lord!" Aurora had to hold in so many awful things, as if she was the one to blame on that. As if Avery wasn't her husband and a Death Eater.

    "Your husband is here, you ungrateful bitch! You're in a beautiful manor with your children. Who get to see their father every single bloody day, and you have this urge—this right to try and get a inch of pity from me? You make me utterly sick Amelia. And you truly wonder why I left?" Amelia was close to tears, trying to get a word but she was dismissed in her own household by a woman she hadn't seen in years.

Funny how a last name seemed to dictate power.

    Avery had finally digested the argument and began to clap. "Well done love, well done." Aurora held her pointer fingers to both sides of her temples. "Well enough to get a drink?" McNair clapped his mate's shoulder.

"Ah Avery, she comes with good news...Best get away from the brat." The master of the home took it upon himself to lead Madam Lestrange on his arm to bring her to a room she actually designed herself.

    "I favor the classics. Wine or—"

"I need fire whiskey." McNair poured her a glass and they all sat at their own armrests. "Rabastan is being released in two days, that is why I'm back."

"Damn...For sure thought we lost the both of you Rory." A slightly drunken smile came about her expression as she look to two men she hasn't seen in years.

"Like I told your wife, the Lestrange manor and vault are now accessible. And I truly am sorry to leave as I did. Or ruining your evening with a screaming match with your wife—"
"That, you do not have to apologize for. She's been wreaking havoc with the wives." Avery shared, and it caused Rory to turn to McNair.

    "Evie won't step foot in this house, she took your spot."

"Well, suppose I'll take it back...As if she had any attention from the Dark Lord." Aurora rolled her eyes, but it was indeed a sore topic for the rest of them.

"Rory...We're sorry we couldn't do more to change Rabastan's mind." Avery started, and McNair soon took over. "We could've, but we put our family first when we should've thought about you and what you've done for us."

    "No...You did the right things, perhaps it was because I was with child—I truly wasn't in my right mind."

"With child?" Avery looked between his best mate and Aurora, and Rory smiled as she reached into the gifted pouch Romulus had gotten her for her birthday.

    "Lorelei...McNair said that Noah and her are the same age." Avery attempt to withhold himself from making a comment on Noah, but he gazed upon the Lestrange bunch and smirked. "That really Halsey and Romulus?"

"She goes by Imara now, but yes...They'll be in Hogwarts in the fall. It's been a wild ride." Avery handed the picture off towards McNair, and the wizard laughed.

Ronan was indeed the spitting image of his father.

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Date Posted: 02-14-2020

Time: -

Words: 6971