✧PASTA AND TEARS✧

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Phoebe understood Reg's decision in staying up, but coming and going from their bed to hers was beginning to wake her up at the oddest hour and without a pattern.

She couldn't take it anymore.

"Reg—Reg! Stay with your sister." Guilt already wracked his face as he sighed.

"I just got her back Phebs, she's not going to—" The woman rose up for a moment to pull him back down on the mattress.

"You've managed well, we're all here to help. Once John's letter gets to the MACUSA and we know she's staying then we can help her." Reg smiled but still ventured to return to his sister.

Who was still in the same position with Romulus tucked in between her.

"Regulus...Your sister is fine."

"I know she is, Phoebe checked if—" A slight grin papered once again and Regulus crossed his arms. "What did Rory tell you?"

"Just a bit, but it's very clear on my behalf son. I'm not blind. She seems like a sweet witch." Regulus was prepared for backlash, claiming that she wasn't worthy to join the Black family line in any regard.

But the man continued to smile.

"She is...Merlin is she. She's helped me so much, we actually just returned from New York. Good Morrigan is it breathtaking, the buildings and all." Orion rose a brow at the American and chuckled.

"And this degree?"
"Almost done, then I'll be away interning at Ilvermorny, John says I have a good chance since the current DADA professor is switching to Salem. Think I'll be with him for a year as a side professor before he actually retires." Senior Black couldn't think of a time when Regulus had spoken with such spunk or excitement, and so he nodded along and followed through with distracting Regulus from his sister.

"What did you decide your name to be here?"
"Reginald Blackwell. Reg still works and so does Black." It was quick questions like this that caused the son to sit down on the couch before his father...Until he was fast asleep as well.

Come morning when Phoebe opened the door to see that Regulus was passed out on the couch, it caused her to frown.

"Not to worry, I simply distracted him from his sister." The painting caused the witch to smile as she nodded, politely yawning behind her hand and nudging Regulus with her knee.

"Coffee?"
"Hmm, that sounds lovely." The wizard was simply cuddling away with a pillow, and the action had Orion sigh into his hand.

Going as far as shaking sighing down for a moment or two.

The day had really begun once the children were up, and it wasn't just the Lestrange kiddos who were running about the small apartment. It was the Halliwell boys and little Paige who wanted to play with the newcomers.

But Elizabeth was adamant about taking the children so far from Aurora while she slept.

"Paige and Cara can stay here and play, a dollhouse won't be too hectic." Phoebe wanted to make sure that the twins and Ronan were comfortable and well-fed before tackling the day away at the farm.

Regulus couldn't imagine how excited they would be to see all the animals or play with Uncle John.

And nothing warmed his heart more than seeing Phoebe play with their shared nieces.

It was well-passed lunch when Regulus returned to check if Rory had at all taken the offered water or snack, but it was still in the center of the coaster.

His sigh was premature when he saw that her eyes were open, and he settled right before her like he had when he was praying.

"Rory?"

The witch heard her name, of course she did, but it sounded so damn far away that she moved to the side for a moment and took the sun as though she was a vampire.

Regulus quickly flicked his wand to cover the peeking rays from his recovering sister, but nothing of his presence was giving her a flash of realization.

"Rory?" He attempted again, and Phoebe huffed in irrigation. "Regulus, she's under a potion. Would you give her some space?" She knew his inner weakness was how close he was with his sister, and that the separation for the past few years was damning on his end.

But he needed to allow her to heal.

"Reg, she's healing, she's exhausted and I can't even begin to imagine how much she's hurting. You have the rest of our lives to talk to her now, Aurora's here to stay." He needed to rehear it, and it was the idea of a future that gave him the reassurance he needed to take the step back with his hands in the air.

"I'll go study and—"
"You're going to study? Please Reg I'm not an idiot. Go play with the twins and Ronan. Halsey was very excited this morning to see you again." She spotted his smile rising, even though he hadn't planned on being distracted with such the idea.

So he nodded and continued off while Phoebe was left with the gals.

Phoebe was thinking about the first few nights that Reg was here, she was preparing herself to have the same experience with Aurora if not worse.

Especially when having to think about the children, or having them all hold some traits to their father. Regulus always made a comment about that, though he took pride in the fact that Romulus looked somewhat like himself.

Partly the reason he was outside now.

However Cara was undoubtedly smart, Phoebe watched in awe as the young child spoke and interacted with a child close to her age.

And her little trick with her hair was hilarious.

Orion watched in pure amusement to see his future daughter in law interact with children. And what he spoke with Regulus last night, he was on the same approach.

The only issue was that Americans saw marriage differently than in Britain. Especially when Regulus couldn't use his proper last name.

But the Blackline would indeed have a chance!

Phoebe had been distracted by Paige's interest in the trunks once again, the young child had started to hear something. And of course the trunk had to rise up and slam down with a thump.

She was quick to pull her niece away in worry that something awful would fall out, but Orion groaned in pure annoyance.

"I apologize, Cassiopeia must've put the pets in—" The father had little time to explain as Phoebe rushed down to the box and opened it, already the spell placed on them was starting to detract, and within seconds had three animals popped out.

Returning to normal size.

Cara had been tackled the grey, wolf-like creature with enough force to misjudge her own footing. But the female wolf hadn't so much as growled before sitting down and round the child.

"They're very well tamed, Halsey favors Loki the most." Phoebe listened to the tales of these three creatures, Omen was the black cat that he himself had gifted when Sirius had left.

Loki was a six-month anniversary gift from Rabastan and Nymeria was a gift from a friend to ensure the safety of the rest of the twin's pregnancy.

"I'm sure they'll remember Regulus, they're well trained...But Nymeria usually gives Cassiopeia the best comfort." Phoebe tested the name out on her lips and it had the wolf tilt her head, she was indeed calmer than the male was.

But she rose and urged her to follow, it hadn't been too much persuasion before Nymeria was curled up and around Aurora's form. Her head resting on her mother's stomach.

Phoebe mumbled a blessed prayer before turning to continue playing with the children, and soon after gave them a bit of a snack prepared in the kitchen just to the side.

"I'm sorry sir, would you like to be moved?"
"You cooked?" That had been an entirely different question from the first, and she began to blush.

"Of course, it helped me with the potions portion of my exams. Reggie's learning too, he loves Italian food." She picked up the portrait with ease and decided that perhaps he could be put at the edge of the room instead of the center, and she watched in amusement as he moved his shoulders as if he too moved as well.

"I thank you darling." There was only a few times that Phoebe has met Orion in person, it was during the off chance of her parents bringing her along to pick up Elizabeth from Salem.

"Do you know how late Aurora usually sleeps for? The potion shouldn't be this heavy on her."

"I'm sorry that I cannot be on more help, the months between her husband being absent I rarely saw her...My little light is so tired of it all." The man was starting to feel guilty in not being able to help much more than words.

As well as blaming himself for allowing his precious daughter to marry such a man.

"Perhaps I can lift the potion up or—" It was a faint whine, and Phoebe knew all too well what it was.

"Mummy?...Mummy?" Cara mumbled, her lip quivering as she looked up to her mother in the tall bed.

Or it was tall in comparison to the toddler looking up. And Cara's fears only continued when she started to see her mother crying softly in bed, because the woman knew that she wasn't home.

She wasn't at the Lestrange manor and wouldn't be for the rest of their days.

"Mummy, come play! Play with me...Play with Paige!" Aurora couldn't feel any bit of her limbs, and even if she had. No part of her wanted to play.

She didn't want to get up if she could.

She assumed that the antidote she had taken was still heavily in her system to make her limbs weak. But in seeing Phoebe now, rushing in and carrying Cara away, it caused another wave of panic.

Aurora had almost lost her children, and had she...They would've grown up with Walburga had Regulus not known.

Phoebe had whipped out her wand and instantly called Regulus with a patronus, a beautiful lion—Ironic as ever—rushed out through the wall. But Phoebe shared the beast with her sister, the family bond forever strengthen them further.

Regulus hadn't been much more than a minute as he apparent into the living room and looked around. "What?" He breathed, already in a panic.

"She's awake. Reg I—" She had to catch up with him and grip his shoulder before he continued, but Pheobe hadn't said a word.

Her tears were enough to know that it wasn't good, and that he should prepare for his sister's anguish. But Regulus was still childish, and what he was going to witness was his sister at her lowest.

He thought he had witnessed it before, her grey hair was bleak as ever...But she gained a new shade. Dead grey. Grey as though she aged a century.

Nymeria was a helpful warmth, but still not the one her soul was searching for. Even the warmth from her brother was truly hot.

She wanted it to burn.

Bending down on his knees as he had done earlier, he kissed her cold soft hand in his and smiled lightly.
"It's so good to see you sister, you have no idea how much I've missed you. I wish it hadn't been the worse of circumstances, but you're perfectly safe. The children. The animals...John has already sent word to the ministry on her arrival." Her eyes hadn't left him on the attention of staring at her brother, however it was a slow voice of what her brother was speaking of.

And no smile graced her face like it used to, or his assumption of their reunion to be.

"Goddess take this prayer in place for my sister:
'Mother Earth, Enlighten what's dark in her,
Strengthen what's weak in her,
Mend what's broken in her,
Bind what's bruised in her,
Heal what's sick in her,
And lastly,
Revive whatever peace and love
Has died in me.'"

It earned a reaction in her eyes, but nowhere else. The only thing Aurora had done was continue to cry, it was upsetting Nymeria greatly as her company was failing.
As was Regulus'.

"It will get better Rory, believe that. The children are here and healthy...You've made it. You're free. We can live." Regulus couldn't understand which part of his explanation had her turn further into the pillow and cry further, yet this time it was awful.

It was painful wails as though she was in pain, and once the sound had caught to Orion he pulled his hand further through his painted locks.

"Ms.Halliwell, I need to speak with your sister...I suggest taking the children away. I fear this will only get worse with Cassi." Phoebe listened first and foremost to Senior Black and took both babes in her arms and continued out into the field where the children were having a break under the tree with the company of John and Elizabeth.

"A-w-a-k-e." She spelled, not wanting to alert the child and beg to see their mummy. The longer they're distracted the more time their mum has to recover.

"I need your help Liz." Phoebe offered, dropping off Paige to her father. And Cara down to Romulus who was beyond excited to be reunited with his sister.

Liz kissed her husband before taking her sister's hand and coming to the apartment once again, and hearing her agonizing cries picked up the sister's pace.

"What's wrong?!" Elizabeth shouted and Phoebe couldn't tell her anything more than placing in front of Orion, who was caught pacing back and forth.

"I feared this would happen, I didn't think—The Dementors are torturing Lestrange. Their wedding vows were sealed with a handfasting..." Orion words hit Elizabeth as she gripped the couch before her. "Sir, we can numb it or..." Separate it.

Phoebe looked between her sister and the painting. "A handfasting? What is—"

"It's our marriage ceremony, to combine the soul. And with it...It's what's causing her pain as his is being sucked out by Dementors." Phoebe fell down to sit on the couch and shook her head.

"Then they're soul mates, it wouldn't affect her as much if that wasn't the case."
"It makes it worse...We'll have to numb it, separating is her choice to make, not ours." Orion nodded and it was up to them to calm her strangled soul.

Regulus looked to them in desperation.

"Reg it's the hand fastening, your father said we need to numb it. Or else whenever he's tortured she'll feel the effects." While Phoebe explained, Elizabeth had worked her will and managed to allow Aurora the calming relief of ceasing any more heartache.

Although the internal struggle has gone, her own set of mind was hopeless. The woman hadn't spoken even when the pain left. Thankful sure, but didn't voice anything more than soft sobs into the pillow.

Even if Regulus continued to speak.

The children wanted to see their mother, but telling them that she was ill sent them on their merry way.

Except for Romulus, Regulus and Orion both claimed that he inherited his mother's smarts. But it threw the adults for a loop when his hair turned the same shade of grey as his mother's, though he hadn't seen her for a solid two days now.

"Mummy?" He called out, he had snuck away from the crowd, he was partly surprised to see bright yellow eyes in the dark of the room. But the familiarity of Omen was a good sign, what wasn't...Was his mother's soft cries.

The boy followed up and climbed into bed, though it was a struggle. He persisted until he finally managed after stretching one leg to the chair and up.

A huff of achievement rallied through the young lad, though there was no approval from his mum. Nothing from his mum other than the continuation of cries.

"Mummy what's wrong?" He questioned, and the woman sniffled slightly as she reached her hand out to him, caressing his face. His cheeks flushing at his mother's sadness.

"I miss your papa...I miss him." She whispered, and he realized that he too missed him.

Where was papa?

Aurora's mind wasn't towards the future yet, she was more so in the mists of getting through the next few days. It was an awful feeling of being disconnected, and for a religious soul like Aurora...There was little she could do herself to aid.

Romulus was warm, her soul reached out to accompany her son. It was close to a soothing manner as the two could get.
The boy talked about what they did for the day, and the pattern would continue like this. The child would only leave his mum when others would come into the mix.

It lasted until Regulus checked up on the children and saw that Romulus was missing.

There he was, snuggled up to mother. This had been the most active Rory had been, soothing through her son's hair. "Hey Rory..." He whispered, and she turned for a moment in a silent acceptance to his presence.

"Merlin Rory, tell me what you need. I cannot stand this much longer, I want my sister. I want her to run around the field like we had when we were younger—when you were younger you did the same. I've learned so much about you here, it's unfair that I never let you share it with me because I was sided with them. But you're here, you can get your own degree. Still have loads of money, it won't be a problem. Liz already has people lined up who want to meet you..." The idea of any company left a bad taste in her mouth, but he stopped the moment lip started to quiver.

"I want him back." She whispered, so broken in torn between the evil he's done to the rightful sentence. Regulus knew there was nothing to be done to save him.
He was downright caught right after the torture of the two Auror.

"I know Rory, I know. But he chose, that was his last strike, wasn't it? You need to focus on yourself and the children, they ask for you constantly. And Rommy's snuck around us to join you at night I assume." Aurora had a shadow of a smile, but Regulus soon named it as anything but a frown.

"Come with us to new york, there's plenty of room... Rory, you made me promise that I should live when I'm here. And now you can too. Please. Rabastan wouldn't want you to wallow, he's a bastard that—"
"He's the father of my children...He'll—Never see them grow up. Go to Hogwarts. How can I live when he can't see them?" It was the most she had spoken in a long while, and although they attempted to get her to eat or drink...It proved to be faulty and showcased heavily now that her voice was itching to speak.

Regulus reached for the glass of water, and she threw in the white flag to down it. He summoned another, and another before finally she was quenched.

"Do you want to go on a walk? Spring is rather lovely this time of year." Nymeria had known that word all too well, and encouraged her mother to go with the push of her snoot. All but booting her out of bed.

Gaining some strength did she shift just a tad, her brother aiding her to her feet and supporting most if not all her weight. She held onto him tightly, realizing that this was the first conscious reunion she would have with her brother.

It caused him to chuckle.

"Almost forgot about me did you?" He joked, and she shook her head in his chest. The damn bastard grew even taller, not as tall as her husband but they would be closer to eye level now.

Trailing out of the bedroom she entrapped herself in for the number of days, she didn't know how long she's been in the states. But enough to catch the attention of addressed parcels.

No. They were from Britain.

"Er, Otto send the bundle, what is—Oh." It was most likely demands as to where she had gone, but it didn't matter. Her friends needed to stay where they were, and she needed to remain here.

"Their husbands returned home." She whispered, not bothering to look at the details of the parchment. Instead she dropped it with a thud back to it's resting place.

The living room itself was a bit cramp, with all the children's toys everywhere and the trunks still in the place she left them. But it was Orion who smiling ever so brightly to his children as he nodded them forward.

"Well done son, you've managed to get the cat out of her den." Aurora scoffed and shook her head, managing well without any long sleeves as she took leave after her father's jesting words.

"Sod off." Orion hadn't been all that offended, but Regulus was a fish out of the water as he looked between the two and was caught in whether to follow his sister or beg for her forgiveness.

"I've heard quite a deal worse from her, rather a sharp tongue she has...Go, make sure she's alright." Regulus appreciated his father's guidance and continued off down the steps as she started to walk the property.

Aurora knew most of the land, having stayed a few off weeks while in Salem. It wasn't that Orion didn't know, he was simply told after the fact.

The Halliwell's were the pureblood royalty of America, but the standards were different here than in Britain. Britain was smaller, America had such a vast standing. Though everyone had their own witch trials.

Regulus followed Aurora to the willow tree that the children had played at for most of the day, he even tapped her shoulder and showed her his initial and the children's in the tree.

But she simply casted her eyes upwards until she spotted her name. And then Aidan's.

She hadn't kept in contact with him as much as she wished, instead his name simply was carved there right beside her in a sign of friendship.

They had gotten tattoos together in a group. Him, John, Elizabeth, Dalilah, Mia and Kia.

"It's really nice here Rory, I'm glad you sent me here. Liz and John, they're brilliant...And Phoebe is—Well I guess you've got me figured out." Aurora continued to blink out towards the black abyss before them, small candles gave her a sense as to where the main Halliwell manor was.

But nothing was enough for them to see further, if anything, Rory could barely see Nymeria a few paces before her.

Regulus waited for her to say something, but instead he allowed her to continue to cry.
Fuckin' hell, Sirius couldn't be here now to help?

It was up to the youngest brother to heal his sister. Reaching around her shoulders did he pull her in, so much so that they fell backwards into the grass.

There the two could start to see the fireflies, making Aurora's eyes widen in surprise. Of course she couldn't remember each thing from visiting the states, but this is something that indeed happened at school here.

It lightened her heart.

"I love her...I really do Rory. I cannot imagine how you feel, or your plans with the children. But you do not have to do anything today or now. They're young." She responded with a snuffle, and he understood that this is something that needed to be said.

"How about this, you said the twins were enrolled in a program. Liz can get them in easy where her sons are going." He received a nod, but it was strict and restrained. Good gods was this difficult, what the hell was he meant to do?

"Cara is making good friends with Paige...But I suppose we'll have to convert the bedrooms first...Phoebe's already working on it, but nobody wants to bother you." Aurora surely heard him, of course she could. But her mind was far too clouded and in pain to divide attention to the idea of bedrooms.

That was why she ran here, had she been sentenced to Azkaban the children would've been shipped off to another manor to be parented by Walburga Black...The elves would've simply done it and there would never have been a second thought.

Here she was their mother, and their only parent.

Aurora knew she had to pick up her losses and continue on...But bending down to collect the fallen pieces felt so stressful and difficult to process. It was just so easy to slip into the void and lay there with nothing but her thoughts.

Yet Reg was right there. He was right there next to her, waiting for her to return back. And so nodded stiffly at the idea.

"We can have the girls in one room and the boys in another...There's three bedrooms upstairs, and then downstairs it'll be for Phoebe and I."
"No." She spoke, her voice still groggy and rough around the edges, but her sudden shut down caused Regulus to narrow his brow.

"No? To which part?" It was a guessing game, and he realized that Rory was guilty of taking over the apartment from him.
"Nonsense, Phoebe and I take up one room...It's just for now too. Perhaps we can build more outward." Build a house.

It was an idea that called to her, but it was terribly rude for her to ask. This was Halliwell territory, and yet...She didn't want to bother them in their manor, nor in the small apartment that was for Phoebe and Regulus.

Her and her children should have their own manor—house. It wouldn't even need to be that large. Small even. She wanted small.

All her life she had lived in a posh environment, but now she would be living on a farm. With her children, and she could teach them properly, without pureblood propaganda.

Regulus took a break from speaking, he had for a while. But Aurora had still acted like she was listening, until a smile faintly rose on her face.

The numbness of her soul finally working, even if it wasn't an entire separation from Rabastan. She knew it to be true that she felt little need.

"I'm here." She whispered out, smiling out into the darkness and closing her eyes in a blissful manner after the light breeze took over.

Regulus wished he had a cloak to spare for her, but instead threw off his sweater and stuffed his sister's head into it before she could protest.

"We can fly the Hippogriffs, you can have a garden. Work on your projects, merlin Rory you're famous here in figuring out the Dragon Pox. They were awful here I tell you, gods I couldn't get through classes without hearing you from the potion nerds." It was true, Regulus had gone to the University off in New York while Phoebe had taken classes and internships around the city.

Each time he heard her name being passed around in such a bright light, it gave him a sense of pride knowing that it was his sister.

Even if he felt a little shadowed, wanting to be a professor and all. He recalled Aurora saying that she wouldn't have gotten anywhere without professors, and it made him feel instantly better.

"I love you sister...But when we return back inside, could you possibly take a bath?" Her body shifted, bringing both her gown and hair to her nose. Godbless that he hadn't offended her as she nodded in agreement.

"Tomorrow we're going out. I'll show you around town...think it's best if you get out before the children do." Once again she agreed, but a sudden dizzy spell caused him to frown.
Course she'd be hungry!

"Come, I'll make you something to eat." She hadn't caught all that he managed to offer, but their exploration outside wasn't as far out into the property as he planned with his origional idea of a walk, which called for a quick return back inside.

And although he trusted his sister tenfold, he still sent Pheobe in while she was bathing.

He scoffed as he usually was met by a quick remark, but hearing her beautiful voice being sent to Aurora caused him to groan further.
Pulling the pans out of the cubby did he start boiling the water, and adding the additions to the jarred sauce. Hopefully Rory could stomach this, she's usually not picky.

Or was she? It's been a good while that so much could've changed.

But that was still his sister. After what she's done, it's his turn to return the favor.

Phoebe held a bright smile as she had her arms wrapped around Aurora, her head leaning into hers as they made their way into the kitchen and aided her into a chair.

"Let me get you some tea...Reg hides the best off behind the coffee grounds in a cookie tin." Aurora held a playful glint in her eyes, but she hadn't a single ounce of control in her mouth.

It was stitched in a permanent frown, almost like it was stopping her from speaking.

Aurora got to witnesses the growing relationship between her brother and Phoebe, it was adorable to say the least. But it was the kisses, the silent gazes on either side when the other wasn't looking...That is what she was going to miss, because all she had gotten from Rabastan was an apology.

So Rory looked down, her eyes remaining down beside the cooling glass of tea.

"Penne a la vodka, perfection if I do say so myself." Her potion mistress nose had caught a whiff of the plate now in front of her, and she mumbled a thank you, before diving in.

Phoebe sat in front of Rory, while Regulus took the head of the table to her right. "We should probably address the amount of bundles the elves at your manor are sending. I'm assuming you didn't say goodbye?" She scoffed, covering her mouth for a moment as she shot her attention to her brother.

"Why would I say goodbye to Narcissa and her god awful husband, they suckered the jury and claimed they're under the imperious curse. They've escaped it, same with Avery and McNair. Rumor is Rookwood is dead. Yaxley I'm unsure of..." She continued to eat, and Regulus left for a moment to grab the wrapped up parcels. It seems that every day it would grow tenfold.

"And the ministry owling you?" Her eyes shot open and careful broke the wax seal off this particular one, hopefully she hadn't missed a court date or a renewal to her given trial. But alas it was a simple formality for Walburga Black's death, and for the first time had she actually drew a smile.

She broke the grin and couched for a moment and handed the parchment off to her brother. "Suppose there's some good in the world..." She whispered into her tea, not daring to catch her brother's eyes as he looked at the contents of the parchment.

"She's dead?"
"Hmm, what a terrible way to die. A bursting heart." Phoebe didn't think Aurora to be maniacal, but the way she was acting was far too strange for her taste. And so she too took the paper and read through it.

"I'm...I'm sorry that she's—"
"Aurora what happened?" Regulus addressed her with no emotion, and it caused Phoebe to still. She's caught him grow angry and silent with rage, but this was one of the lesser two.

Another smile rose as she blinked innocently, and it prompted Regulus to turn to Phoebe.

"I think I need to speak to my sister myself Phoebe, just for a moment." The woman hadn't wasted a moment in doing so, and Regulus waved his wand right off towards the door to mute the walls.

"Now that's unnecessary..."
"Did you kill our mother?" It was a brutal question, and Regulus prayed that she would deny it. Aurora simply pointed to the parchment.

"Not by the ministry standards. Like I said, heart burst."
"I'm not a child Aurora! She was found after you arrived, but dead before you left!" His sister shot another glare in his direction, holding the teacup tighter as she shook her head.

"Do you know what would've happened if I went to Azkaban?... That she would've been in charge of my children?" Regulus grew rigid, it was the truth and that was all he needed to hear.

"You killed her just as you escaped an Azkaban sentence?!"
"What good has she done to us Regulus?! She sent you straight to the snake den, she sent me to a doomed marriage, she sent Sirius packing when he barely of age! Tell me! Tell me one good reason why I shouldn't have!" Regulus slammed his fist to the table and rose to his feet.

"She was our mother!"

"After all the time you spent here, with Liz, Grams, and Phoebe. Have you seen anything remotely the same to what our mother put us through?! Do you see them cowering away, waiting for a curse, do you see Grams shunning Phoebe for going into healing? Or living with you here without a ring on her finger?! No! Because that's how a family is supposed to be, we aren't porcelain dolls Regulus! Mother would've hated you going to be a professor!"

"I suppose I'll never bloody know since you killed her!"

"Tell me Reg, were you just itching to go back to mother?! She was so happy that you died for the cause, that you died attempting to torture others! Should a mother be proud of that?!"

"And should a brother be proud that you killed our mother?!"

She tilted her head and shook it after a moment of thought.

"I suppose not, but Grimmauld place is now abandoned and locked away. I uncovered a few of your belongings in one of the trunks. When I get my head sorted I'll look for it." He felt dirty knowing this, he felt strangely unease at the thought. But the sharp look countered all he felt.

"We are both guilty Regulus, I know you've cursed and tortured before. The only person I ever managed was mother. And damn her for outliving father!" The two were in a sense of distrust, for the war to be over it was as if the time spent away simply separated the siblings.

"I don't wish to argue, and frankly I'm confused as to why I feel better than I did yesterday and the day before—"
"Liz silenced your soul." She turned to her brother in confusion, but he remained silent in allowing her to piece it together herself.

Had it not been for their father's advice, she would still be writhing in pain.

"Because my soul is tied to a damned man—That bastard!" A pained sigh released from his sister, and she shook her head.

"Rory, you could separate your soul from him, get—"
"I'm not getting a divorce Regulus. After all the prayers you've given me, you forgot that that's the last ethical thing to do." Regulus ran a stressful hand through his hair and shook his head.

"No. It's not. That was his last strike. Aurora look what he's done to you, to your children. This isn't about calling you a heartless bitch in Hogwarts, we're beyond that. He's hurt you more times than I can count. Why continue to tie yourself to him?" Her tearful gaze told him all he needed to know, and she remained silent as she hid further into her napkin.

"I love him Reg...I truly do—did. I was blinded by it all, I saw what he wanted me to see. But really I was fucking a Death Eater, wasn't I? Lupin was right. He's a murderer and he hurt the Longbottoms...The children—Fuck. How do I explain this?" Regulus gripped the chair in front of him, bending his head down in between his stretched shoulders.

"What have you told them before, when he's gone and away?"
"That he's working...No Reg that won't work, he cannot be working forever." The man was sentenced to be incarcerated for the rest of his life, surely saying that he's dead would be easier on the children.

But the woman was not in her right state of mind, even so did she pick up her fork and continue to eat.

"My brother the chief."

"Oui Madam." She snorted, shaking her head in amusement. This was indeed the strangest reunion of them all.

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Date Posted: 12-25-19

Time: 10:52

Words: 6258

Hey! Welcome back! I hope you're all having a wonderful holiday and a break from school/work. 

We've come to the start of book two-part two!

This book is heavily focused on Aurora and the children, plus Reggie and Phoebe. 
I think this book will make it up to the twin's second year at Hogwarts. So Book three will be their third year, while Ronan and Cara enter their first!

Also, I'm revamping the whole series book covers, so don't be too alarmed if Immer Angst looks different by tonight or tomorrow!