✧WRETCHED CURSE✧

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OCTOBER 3RD

Rabastan was applauded that Walburga would try to butter him up, and in the instance of being within the Black family manor once again, it sent him to have actual chills.

Whether it be from Kreacher.

The woman that was entertaining him.

Or the fact that he felt like a schoolboy trying to win back the favor of his girlfriend's mother.

He hadn't even stayed to finish more than half his cup of tea as he insisted that he needed to leave, and it was very clear what the issue at hand was.

Walburga Black was lonely.

The woman had far too much pride to claim otherwise, even with all her gal parties and get-togethers.
But at the end of the day, the only person alive in her given side of the family was Aurora.

And he knew well enough his wife had enough on her plate than entertain her own mother as well.

Had it been any other person, he would've suggested to come over and watch the kids for an afternoon. As that is what he would normally say to his mates as they were experiencing relatively the same milestones in life.

But had Walburga been successful, his wife could've lost the twins...Could've lost his wife.

His hatred burned deep, and that hadn't even come to all the times when he's heard second-hand information. The starving, the torture...Gods, he wished he forced her to come over during the summer more often.

But there was nothing to do now, and after the conversation with his wife. The two decided to be cautious when communicating with Walburga.

However nothing was to be done now as Rabastan had been on a few missions, his leaving his wife during the process of her potion would cause suspicion.

Now he was in the clear and up for task after task.

With the twins being set on a schedule, it was easier most days without their papa in the home. Other days would be filled with playdates or Rory off inventing with Otto.

He recalled that the young potion mistress had tried to tackle one cure.

And that involved Werewolves.

It was a promise she made on one of the firsts night she had been Salem with Remus. But the idea was that she needed to learn and search for the most obscure ingredients.

As that was the truth about the Dragon pox virus.

Rose and Otto had turned into an unofficial Oma and Opa to the children, especially considering how absent either Rabastan's father and her own mother had become. It was for the better.

September had already disappeared far too quickly for Rory's taste, and other than giving her brothers a share of her wealth, there wasn't more she could do.

The Potters were still hiding, and whatever words she wanted to get through to them was through Sirius as there had to have been another fight between her own brother and Remus.

And with Remus away and living with the Werewolves to gain their support, there was little anyone could've done.

On a day that no inspiration that could be wrangled and projected out, she took Rabastan's words and decided that letting it fester would be the fatal approach.

Instead she was with her children and the wolves, all of them in a makeshift playroom downstairs. It allowed them another room other than where they slept.

But a thought came to Rory in the mix of playing kitchen with Cara, and before she really could pass it with a second thought.
Salem's eyes sparked to look in awe at her children.

Was it the sensation of her kin so close by? Whatever it was caught Halsey's attention to copy her mummy's eyes. Aurora cupped her eldest daughter's cheeks and kissed her nose.

"I want to show you four something..." She announced, and the excitement rushed through the children as they toppled and tripped to come closer to their mummy.

"Is it a surprise?" Romulus questioned, and his mother agreed.
"It is. But if you don't like it, any of you. Tell me. I'll come back." It was a bit confusing to understand where their mummy would go in a moment, but the smile soon shifted from that of a witch to a Leopard.

It was the eyes that the children recognized.

"Mummy!" Cara cheered, her arms flinging over the large cat's head. Latching close to the shoulders, hearing the euphoric purring sound caused the other three to scoot closer.

The large cat still towered over her eldest, so she lowered herself to lay down. With this they tackled and tested the limits of that of a feline.

"Loki, Nymeria. Come...Say hello." She called out to her fellow pups, and they followed the sound of her familiar voice and began to rub their cheeks in a sign of introduction.

Having met two canines before wasn't the issue with these two, it was the level of energy Loki had that rallied for Nymeria and the children to join in on.

Rory assumed that since she hasn't shifted in over...Merlin since before the wedding, she would be rusty. More than rusty, she wobbled just a tad.

It was the tail that had been her biggest issue, and Nymeria hadn't wasted a moment to give teasing.

The children loved it. Romulus took to sitting against his mother's stomach and reading out loud while the girls took the time to brush her fur.

Ronan felt out of place, but then his mummy started nipping and rubbing her cheek against his. The loud purring brought him into a world filled with giggles.

However whenever Rory played with her second son, she thought of Harry. Although all of her children were older, she couldn't understand how Lily and James were managing it.

Without any help and the only aid to whichever passed the wards for today. All planned in advance, but unfortunately it had been two months since her last visit.

However without Sirius she wouldn't be able to enter, it would be far too difficult to do so.

Rabastan had been awake for an onset of thirty-six hours, the lack of trust the Dark Lord was having, started to rally those against one another.

But the Lestrange's and the top tiers were tasked to finding the snitch. Their own trader. Whomever it was, was giving far too much information out on future plans.

Snape was doing his job beautifully, his double-agent status rising. Especially when the suspicious wasn't directed to him, nor Aurora.

However, Rabastan simply wanted to check on the children and retire for the rest of the day. As he knew that he would be called again, and soon.

Upon calling the elf, had the little servant cheered that everyone was in the downstairs playroom. Perhaps it was the lack of sleep or the stress waining in on his body, but there had been on account three dogs within the playroom.

Had Aurora purchased another?

It wouldn't come as that much of a shock all things considering, but he would've liked to know prior to the wolf's arrival...Yet coming closer to the scene, his heart clenched in despair as he focused his entire attention to the questionable beast.

There was nothing friendly about it.

Aurora had an amused glint in her eyes, she had been wanting to tell her husband after Hogwarts. But there had been little time in between the war and pregnancies that now would be the perfect time to—

The smell of smoke hit faster than Salem's retraction had managed, she dodged the curse just in the nick of time. But the second hadn't been so gentle.
And in front of the children!

Unceremoniously had she morphed back into skin form and let out a string of foreign curses to amiss what she was feeling.

However Rabastan had still planned on acting, his wife turning from a big cat? No.
That was undoubtedly a trick from a traitor.

Knowing that his children were in the room had he apprented down to the imposter and out to another unused room of the manor.

Throwing her down to meet the ground roughly.

"You're a bastard...Have I told you that enough this week?" Rabastan sneered and gripped the woman's chin, his wand making a firm indent in her skin as a viable threat.

"What is the song that Aurora sang in the empty manor at Grimmauld Place?" She stared at him in confusion, her stomach still clenching tightly at the muscle spasms were apart of the curse.

"Which time?" A question with a question was deliberate suspicion, so he asked another question.

"Where is your father's portrait located?"
"My study...Rabastan this is—" He proceeded to ask another question as he failed to realize that if this person was within the manor, they could've figured out the placement.

So it was up to Aurora to figure out a statement that only she would know.

"Our first night together we shared the rites. The safe in your study's code is 2413...I sung a million dreams just a week before our wedding." Her breath was starting to hike in a desperate tone, this version of her husband was throwing into a sense of horror.

She was at the receiving end of his wand.

"P-please Raba." There was no part of her that wanted to attack him, and she couldn't. She left her wand off with the children after shifting into Salem.

However the pain finally reached her limit as she clutched the area in dire agony. There was one thing that would clear her in his mind, and with one final attempt had she gripped the hem of his shirt to pull him down for a kiss.

Finally...Finally had his wand gestured away from her, and once she had unlocked her husband from this Death Eater curse she moved away.

Her free hand giving her leverage to move away as her other arm was occupied in holding her stomach.

"Rory I—"

"Stay there." She instated the rule, the tears still streaming down her face as she hissed in damnation. The curse was worse if left untreated, and so he apparent to their bathroom and returned with a potion.

It was Aurora's first crucio curse, and of course it had been administered by Rabastan. Only to be treated by the same person, she eyed him with such distrust that he couldn't contain his emotion.

"I beg you Aurora...Take this." The twitching had already begun and he knew if she didn't hurry that it would cause lasting effects.

He hadn't wasted the effort in protecting his children, so it had been his full strength.
Him identifying it as to be for the family.

Having watched Rory administer countless potions before, he attempted in this moment to do the same and force it down her throat.

She covered her mouth, knowing full well that the liquid needed to get down without coming back up. And she fell back in relief, clutching the floor in bliss at the cool undertones.

"Aurora I thought—I—"
"Don't..." Her breath was still off its regular pattern, silence is what she needed in order to restart her rapid heart and the burning sensations in her lungs.

Seems like her potion would need an update.

Rabastan had stared in awe, tears becoming untamed as they trickled down his face as well.
"Je vous demande pardon."
[I beg for your forgiveness.]

Aurora's French hadn't skyrocketed entirely, but this she understood. Instead she continued to clutch the area in question, afraid that if removing the pressure that the curse would spark a return.

The potion did it's job, but didn't destroy the shivers that would follow. And when Rabastan received these punishments Aurora made sure that he would soak in the tub and cuddle for warmth.

But no part of her wanted him.

Managing to her feet did she stumble at first before making the first step off towards the closed door. And when Rabastan made any movement to block her did he make the biggest mistake of the century.

"Don't you dare bloody touch me Lestrange! You ungrateful arsehole!" Her voice was hoarse, though that didn't stop her rage from shaking the ground beneath them both.

After all the times of witnessing the curse fired to Sirius, she struggled into even thinking of how damning it would've been when her father was the caster.

It was foolish to do what she did, completely and utterly foolish.
Aurora Lestrange had fled to France.

Rabastan couldn't fathom the idea that she left, but he had asked all the bloody elves to confirm or deny. And to make matters worse she had taken Cara.

Taking the youngest had itched him further off the edge, how could he apologies for his actions?

"Gods brother, it's too early for even me. What's got your panties in a knot?" Rodolphous cheered, and Avery scoffed at the idea. He had received little to no sleep the past few days as well, but the newborn had been one of the many reasons for the case.

In a spiteful case, Harper named others the godparents than Aurora and Rabastan. Which was fine in their eyes, but Avery was still relatively angry at the dispute between the wives.

Especially when it was based off of her scandalous acts, even if they claimed that they were civil.

It was clear everything was not resolved just yet.

Rabastan held onto his class tighter as his brother bounced onto the couch beside him. "Nothing." Avery paused his pouring for a moment, turning back to his mate and closed his eyes.

"Aurora?" Rabastan warned Avery in one solid glance, and McNair sighed into his hands as he leaned forward in his own seat across the brothers.

"Evelyn could talk to her if—"
"She's in France." The room of wizard's stilled, it wasn't the first time Aurora has left to go to their honeymoon location. But in the way Rabastan was acting, it was surely his doing.

McNair rose a brow off to Avery, and it was the silent communication as to their leaving...To leave in search of Mrs.Lestrange.

The elf that Rabastan had sent was the first to greet to the two lads, and Aurora soon came in with a look of both confusion and revelation.

"Don't you two get tired of being the middlemen in Rabastan and I's arguments?" McNair chuckled at her ability to see through their arrival without a word on their end. But Avery interrupted with an elbow to his stomach.

"What happened? Rabastan didn't share." Aurora perked her lips and rolled up her stomach just a small bit, seeing the amount of bruising caused McNair to rush to her side and examine it further.

The two mates had gone blank at the reveal, the blotches on her skin told what curse had been used and by whom. As that was where Rabastan always struck.

"He's a coward. He attacked in a room with our children. So the answer is no if you're asking if I will be returning." Avery took note that she flinched having pulled her jumper down further.

"Rory there's a traitor."
"Oh believe me, after the question game the nights before I realized that. Tell that bastard that I was simply bored fourth year and decided to become an animagius." Avery knew the look in Rory's eyes as she spoke.

She was scared of Rabastan.

Whenever the two had their bits of arguments it was never to the point of actual fear. But whatever the bastard of a friend had managed, forever wounded and changed Mrs.Lestrange.

"Would a curse his way help?" McNair smirked, and Aurora turned her saddened gaze of his way.
"No. And please do not speak of this to anyone else. I fear that I will be looked as wea—"

"Aurora you are the furthest from being weak. Rabastan has the most practice out of the lot of us." The conversation had been interrupted as Cara bumbled in, her small arms itching up to the visitors and McNair had pulled the young child instantly up to their height.

"You have mummy all to yourself hmm? What are the two of you up to?"
"Mummy read and play dollies!" Avery was glad that the woman was still attempting around a normal routine, but knew that if she didn't return soon then their best mate would fall further down the rabbit hole.

"Thank you for coming Avery, but I cannot fathom being near him at the moment."

"We are being called within the next few hours, the manor will be empty. With a traitor in our mists Aurora, I don't recommend leaving the children alone." He hadn't rightly said it out loud, the idea of her being a bad mother. But Rory took her actions to heart and realized how selfish she had been to the rest of her babes.

So instead she planned on hiding within the manor without his knowledge. Then at least she could be near the children.

"Let me pack my bag." She whispered, and Avery felt the sting of regret having guilt-tripped the witch in returning. But these were desperate times and the Dark Lord would not favor the idea of his seer being in another country.

It looked suspicious without meaning to.

McNair was content with the youngest Lestrange and carried her as Aurora attempted to hold the duffle bag in her arm. Though Avery hadn't allowed that for much longer as he saw the strain it caused.

"Amelia would have a few words had she known you're visiting me." 

"She's simply bitter that you were right, and for the both of you being Ravenclaws it should be common knowledge one side is false." Aurora huffed in damnation as her friend was still bitter.

"Karma then, because you both are telling me to return when I very much don't want to."
"Children Rory...Children." Narrowing her gaze towards Avery did she allow herself to be lead to the fireplace, and evidently it was Avery who arrived first.

Followed by Rory, then McNair and his Goddaughter.

"Perhaps I should attempt this curse on Amelia."
"As she claims my issues aren't that big of a deal. But as her friend, I wouldn't recommend sharing those plans of yours in a conversation with myself." It was evident that the mistress of the manor had been listening to the arrival of guests.

And although she frowned at Aurora's presence, she cracked as she watched her friend defend her once again.

"But 'Bas? I assure you I could make damage if—"
"Enough. Hurting him during this time would only cause more issues. Thank you Avery, McNair. But I should be going." Her sudden want to depart was due to the woman who just entered.

"Is everything alright?" The question rang in Rory's mind, but then she shrugged.

"Of course. My problems are minuscule so I won't bother you with them this time. Have a good night." She bowed her head as she was not the mistress of this manor, but it was more in favor of the wizards than the witch near the staircase.

"Wait!...D-did you want some—something to drink or—" Aurora caught Avery's eye as either were unaware of her sudden behavior.

"No. My thirst is quenched." McNair snorted at Mrs.Lestrange's response as everyone in the room knew that Aurora could never deny a cup of tea.

"O-oh alright, h-how about tomorrow?"

"Listen Amelia, I won't drag your life at home down for a bloody spot of tea. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a husband to yell at." Without another word spoken between the two, Rory held Cara close and transported from the Avery manor to her study.

Smiling as the scent of lavender already filled the air nicely, calming her nerves, especially after the engird it took in ignoring Amelia. Her attempts at being friendly were completely unwarranted, but at the moment she didn't care.

She had access to her potions labs and was going to use it entirely. But with that being said, Cara's presence would alert Rabastan too early.

Cara watched in pure curiosity as she watched her mummy in front of the entire brewing stand. "You get a first-hand look Carebear, when you're older I'll show you the beauty of it. I promise." A light smile grace the mother's face but soon fell as she was creating a healing paste for the injury that her own husband caused.

When finished and cooled, Aurora capped all the small jars of the given substance and hurried along up the steps. But of course the running of Romulus and Ronan after Loki caused her to panic.

"ROMULUS DIMITRI LESTRANGE YOU STOP RUNNING THIS INSTANT!" It caused Rabastan to jump up from his uncomfortable position in his study, had he heard correctly?
Obviously not, Rory wouldn't return home anytime soon.

Wiping his hand down his face did he settle up straighter and attempted to stand straight. "Daisy. Hangover tonic. Now." He ordered briskly, and the Elf fulfilled the order in seconds.

"Mistress returned good Master. Mistress Aurora and Mistress Cara are home." The elf squealed, though it was their civic duty to the family to announce a presence when returning.

But Rabastan smiled lightly, especially after feeling the burning effects from the booze dwindle away so he could start acting rationally.

Aurora was back with Cara. Now he needed to plan accordingly.

"Aurora's favorites for dinner...Brew her that special tea for now." The elf nodded and hurried along to continue the task. As of now, he was considering his options. Only to cower and ask where she is and where the children were.

Cara and Romulus had been in their mother's study until they wished to return to the playroom. Halsey was missing her sister and Rory couldn't handle upsetting anyone else.

However her father casting one long look to the bruise caused a rage that Rory hadn't seen ever. He already concluded that it was from his daughter's husband, the bastard that he was would've shared otherwise.

"Cassiopeia, tell me what has happened."
"It would simply make matters worse, and he doesn't know I'm back just let. Let me heal father, in peace." He knew that his daughter would come to him if she needed him, but he still felt helpless in terms of simply watching and only being able to speak.

Having said that she removed her jumper and reveal the wound in question, it caused Orion to sigh heavily and attempt to look the other way. However his self controlled lacked within the moment as he spotted another reason to explode.

"Cassiopeia Aurora Black the Second...IS THAT A BLOODY TATTOO?!" His daughter smirked and rolled her eyes.
"Yes father. It is. And I got them when I returned to Salem for a week during the summer of sixth year? No reason to disrupt your scenery with it." Orion Black had finally understood all those warnings his own siblings had warned about having a daughter.

"It could be worse father, it could be the devil." He shuttered further, crossing his arms. Especially after catching the small shift in light from the figure outside the door.

So Rabastan knew she returned? This was surely going to return well.

The smallest bit of pressure caused her to hiss at the contact of her hand with a bit of sap. But the cooling relief mended the injury and allowed her hum, finally would it start healing properly.

The silence was soon short-lived as a knock on the door pierced Rory's ears. Closing her eyes did she call for whomever to enter, though it was barely a surprise with her husband in entrance.

One glanced and she understood why Avery and McNair came. He looked downright awful, his handsome curls were unwashed and ungroomed. His desperation reeked instantly and caused her to sigh.

"Since both of you are just dying to reunite, how about I hear why you attacked my daughter. As this isn't the first time now." His voice only fell on Aurora's ears as Rabastan's eyes were fixated on the half-covered bruise.

"R-R—Rory." He croaked, but Aurora was close to tears. How many times were the two of them going to go through this same fight?... And it would only prove Aurora's point further, that Rabastan needed to leave the Death Eater side out of the house.

"Your words didn't work the other day. So why should I trust them now?" Her voice hadn't been as damning as before, but it still held the same hostility and promise for an argument.

"Kitten there's a traitor and after seeing you shift—Seeing you so close to the children I—"

"Jumped to conclusions. Yes. I can very well see that. But I was waiting for you to return home that I finally got my license to share with you that I am an animagus."

Both Orion and Rabastan had the same reaction, but Rory didn't flinch. Not at the cost of straining her stomach further.

"Both of you kept the truth from me countless times, so no. I don't feel all that sorry in this case, but you...You bloody bastard..." She stopped speaking for a moment and shook her head in defeat as well. "...You promised."

It was true, the man had promised countless times that he would never hurt her again.

And here he was. Doing it again.

"Kitten please." She shook her head, and when he attempted to move forward and again she resumed to shake her head.

"No. I said loud and clear that that stays out of this house. That when the mask is off then you're my husband again." Aurora stilled at her own words.

As had Rabastan.

"I'm not your husband when the mask is on?"

"Were you one the other night? When you struck first and asked questions after?! There is no line with you, I have been patient! I have been there for you the same as you've been with me. But this...What's to say it won't happen again?!" Aurora had retreated behind her chair as Rabastan moved forward.

"It won't love...We just learned of a traitor and—"
"Yes. I've heard. Avery and McNair said I shouldn't leave the children alone when you're called again." His expression fell as she hadn't returned to hear an apology as it was entirely premature.

"In front of the child? If you think that's acceptable in any regard, then what are we teaching them?!" He bowed his head in shame, and did the only thing he could think of.

"Then do it to me Rory...Make it even."
"You're not understanding what I have to say! I don't want this to happen under our roof. This isn't about getting even, I'm not a Death Eater!" Rabastan had taken a step further and gotten down to his knees, choking back a sob as he didn't want to cry, especially with the thought in the back of his mind.

Was this his last strike?

"I cannot express how sorry I am Rory. What can I do?" She withheld herself for a moment and blinked away the tears, after her slip up she needed to redeem her status.

Coming closer did she grip the ends of his hair to tilt his head up towards her instead. Guilt was washing over her soul as their handfasting started working in his favor, immediately acting along with her empathy.

"You find that bloody traitor." She hissed through gritted teeth, her eyes at his level when she said this. Gods she wondered who it'd be, perhaps she could aid them.

Rabastan swelled at the opportunity to regain his place to his wife and took her hand in his, soothing out her beautiful skin and laying a kiss.

It was delicate, and he knew it was one of the last chances he would have until he fixed the situation.

"I'm glad you would defend the children, believe me, I am. But gods, Cara wouldn't leave my side for a minute." Bowing his head further close to her inner thigh did she to close her eyes. The intimacy was extremely private and Rabastan feared any more retaliation from Senior Black would continue for years to come.

And so he apprented himself and her to their bedroom, already having her sitting on the side of the bed allowed him the one up.

His hand coming to slip off her flats, and Rabastan hadn't dared look up to see her gaze. But if he had he would be greeted with utter confusion.

"Let me beg kitten...Properly." She blinked rather taken back by his sudden interest in her shoes, or more importantly. Her feet.

Her assumption was instantly denounced as he lifted her skirt just a bit higher to showcase below the knee, his lips brushed up against her beautiful porcelain skin.

Having missed her for the previous few days, all spent in anxiety...His shaking hands were instantly revived by his wife, but perhaps her installation of his last touch with this would cease this damn feeling of being afraid of her husband.

"What can I do for you Aurora...My actual kitten...Doux félin."
[....Sweet feline]
She swallowed was caught in her throat as she watched his eyes reach the brim as he gazed up from his position.

Rabastan might've hurt her, but she had the power.

"Raba...It's—" He was distracting her, and perhaps it was the lack of contact between the two as of late due to their careers. But there was little to no foreplay, not after the children at the very least.

He was playing with her emotions and her weakness.

Especially when her dress continued to hitch up, pushing his attention to follow in a steady pace. Rory was simply in a bralette and a high waisted skirt.

Making his plan perfect.

"Damn Bastard." She breathed, which caused him to push forward further. His attention now between the sweet spot in between her legs. Towering over her now did she finally get direct contact with his stormy blue eyes.

"I am."
"And cocky."
"Very much."
"The biggest git on the planet." He hummed in agreement. 

"Undoubtedly. I'll right my wrongs. I'll do whatever it takes." The woman didn't want a single thing, she wanted peace and quiet.

Her children happy and healthy. A calm husband, that isn't a death eater.

Aurora watched Rabastan's mouth open to speak once again, but was silenced as her finger pinned against his lips.

"No more strikes." The man stilled at the relay of this information, nodding entirely in agreement.

She then cracked as tears leaked uncontrollably down the sides of her face as she knew finally what the consequence would be if he fails once again.

"I hate being cold towards you Raba...I—I thought you were going to kill—" me.

Rabastan had cowered at her honesty, his head deeply embedded into her breasts as he needed to hear her heartbeat. To hear the truth behind her words.

He was mindful of her stomach, but he knew all too well that his closeness would allow the process to heal. She needed warmth and he was going to treat her with as much as she desired.

A promise that he's continued to treat her like a princess was a cycle of not committing to his words.

This was it, he didn't have any strikes left.

"It hurts..." She cracked further, causing Rabastan to turn the tables and proper her onto his stomach completely aware of the large bruise.

It was the worst of colors, vibrant underneath the paste as it was solidify further to try and heal. "I know love...Let me run you a bath...I promise it'll make it better."

"It didn't." She whispered, and he shook his head as he knew why.

"Our ritual heals one another Rory, my soul will tend to yours as yours has done for mine...Warmth. My warmth." She nodded, feeling disappointed in herself for cracking as early as she had.

But where did they draw the line?

"Daisy. Ready the bath." He ordered, and the two listened to the elf complete the task and cheer that she was finished.

"We'll sleep in tomorrow love..." She hummed, her body conforming to his as her soul began to recharge. The idea of water would be washing away the impurities, of course Rory's religion seemingly created a solution without meaning to.

Undressing her was simple, he was about to demand the elf lay out clothes for his wife. But it'd be better if she was bare throughout the night, their souls connecting without the block of clothes.

After the bath, he dried her exhausted body and only kept her in a robe for just a moment before Rabastan removed it. The skin on skin contact would indeed aid it, especially after the false treatment that had been festering for the past two days.

He hadn't seen Rory since the incident.

However, the elves reminded their master that Aurora had barely eaten anything. It caused him to rouse her back to consciousness, whispering an assortment of begging for her to eat.

"Not hungry."
"That's a side effect Kitten, you still need to eat." She pouted but remained in this babied state as she couldn't keep her eyes open, she simply received the bites as they came.

There was no taste. It felt dry in her mouth, but by the end of it had she felt heavily devine. And Rabastan checked once again at the bruise, making sure that a new layer of sap was secured by a wrap.

The man hadn't slept a wink, it was the first night she's returned and he'd be damned he didn't imprint this feeling in his mind. As Rabastan wasn't thick enough to believe that because she returned that everything is alright.

It was far from the truth.

Instead the married couple stayed intertwined until the well hour of ten o'clock, when little Cara decided she wanted to say good morning to her mummy and papa.

Rabastan, though partly awake, hadn't thought of what his children would think of this picture. Rory swore to the ends of the earth that if their children caught them in the act then he would be in another world of damnation if he wasn't already in it fully.

"Mummy?... Papa is mummy awake?" Having been caught in this very predicament did he lean forward a small bit and smile.

"Mummy has a little headache, ma Cherie [Honey]. How about we meet you and your siblings in a bit?"

The young child squeal and rushed out of the room to tell her sister and brothers the news. Or as much as she could until Halsey planted her at the childish vanity to brush her hair.

"You don't call me mon Cheri."

"No. You're mon chaton." Rory perked her lips for a moment before rubbing her eyes.
"Mon chiton? I don't think I've heard that one yet."

"My kitten? I swear I've called you it before we were married, perhaps I started when we were engaged." With her being utterly exhausted, it allowed him the final minutes of comfort before the world would shatter in its own wake.

Once her thinking picked up its pace, she wouldn't be this close.

"That's why our patronus' is a Leopard...Because it's...Me." Rabastan couldn't do anything more than agree, but after finally feeling revived from the curse did she smile lightly to herself.

Ready to bounce back to her feet and ignore the living daylights out of her husband.

"And why did you decide out of the blue to become an Animagus? Don't you have to...How would you even..." His questions were half asked, and she smirked at having her secrets unidentifiable.

"Suppose you'll have enough time to research on the lonely nights." He frowned, only before turning it into a pout. "Yes Mon Chaton...Let me get you something to wear for breakfast." She shifted to allow him to leave, but adored Omen's sudden presence in bed.

"You're a cat who has a cat?" She smiled behind Omen's form and nodded.

"When you're in an animagius form I can speak with animals, and I was already Salem before I got her." Salem. So the name hadn't been inspired by the lone patronus.

"Why didn't you tell me?" He croaked, out of all the lies he's withheld, he finally was met with the same betrayed feeling that Rory held felt throughout her brother's unknowing addition to the Death Eater Ranks.

"Other than it was massively illegal, Professor McGonagall suggested that I keep it a secret...She only found out after." He handed his wife the clothes, and she slipped into the comforting skirt that resembled the one from yesterday and one of his tunics.

"When you're healed...Could I—May I see her?" She smiled softly and shrugged.

"Depends if you can handle what I went through to unlock her, enjoy your reading Lestrange." She cheered, hurrying along from their room off to her greenhouse.

It was the perfect addition to the manor, renovating the old windows to give a sort of sunroom vibe. But alas it was the perfect activity she could do with the twins, the two adored the garden, and here they could learn first handed how to handle the delicate work of agriculture.

Romulus adored the smell while Halsey found herself changing her hair to the colors before her, whether they were green to red? It was a mixture to them all.

The two followed their mum around the room, she had to shrink two smocks for her eldest munchkins to fit into them properly.

Then it came the gloves, which were completely discarded as the two didn't mind getting dirty. It was much more of a hassle to get them to wear them, taking away from the whole experience. So she let it slide and continued this little lesson.

When going through the rows did she point out to a specific plant, let the children sniff them and get a good identification to them.

"Daisy?...Could you make the snack that Otto and I had the other day?" The elf had been entirely pleased at hearing that her mistress wanted a snack, she blinked away and hurried along to make the given order.

All of her favorites as they knew one order wouldn't be enough.

"Master? Mistress ask for snack, eat with mistress?" Rabastan had blinked out of his trans, the man had been currently reading the Transfiguration book from Hogwarts.

His wife was mad!

He was bitting his thumb in utter nervous, how did his wife...A mere fourth year accomplish this? When did she first transform, where was he?

How could he not have caught on?

Instead his given distraction was now to go meet the witch of the hour. Closing the book shut did he continue down to the porch, as he had taken a small peek to the dining room and hadn't found her there.

Suppose a snack didn't consuetude for all the kiddos.

"I thought the elf was lying when she told me you asked for a bite to eat...What do you have here?" He looked down to the odd utensils in her hand, catching her with a full mouth did she pull her napkin up from her lap to cover it.

"Sushi. I had it once in American but forgot what it was called. Otto recommended I try a certain roll, I think you'll like it." She picked up the wooden sticks once again and picked up a piece in between them.

"I think I'll—" She stuffed it into his mouth and smiled brightly. "How was that light reading?" He scoffed, his inability to take her actions by without surprise was sure to cause a bit of humor.

Especially when he did like this new food Sushi.

"What did I just eat?"
"It's raw fish, rice, avocado, and a few other things. The elves did perfectly." She spoke, plopping another one into her mouth before eyeing the book in question.

"What's the first question you—"

"How did you manage to keep a leaf in your mouth without me realizing it?" Her smirk grew close to instantly.

"You almost caught me...Actually I think there was this one-time seventh year where we were outside studying, you were playing with my hair and I—"
"You purred..." He finished her sentence as he smiled to himself. Taking the free chair there and taking another piece of this raw fish and beginning to think of his next question.

"And the transformation? It says it's painful."
"To some it is, I believe I got the short end of the stick. But that meant I adapted quicker, one attempt I was reading they had an issue with controlling their senses." He was caught staring up to his wife, though his head was faced down. It hadn't meant his eyes weren't focused solely on her.

"I could've told you, I know. But you would've talked me out of it."

"Of course I would've!" Her shoulders slumped as she felt relatively repressed, and he realized in one failed swoop that this is why he was never told.

"Rory I simply want you to be safe, and putting yourself in this position is—" Her eyes had suddenly changed into that of a feline, they were beyond beautiful, a smile creeping upon his face.

"It makes it easier for our children too. Not that they have to be animaguis'...Anyway, you're in the doghouse." He couldn't help but let his smile fall, but he nodded.

"Doghouse as in you're a kitten and don't like dogs?"
"We have two don't we?" He rolled his eyes and nodded, it was his turn for his shoulders to fall as he would except his fate.

"How could I make amends?" She took another bite and began to think about what would get her to forgive him. "You don't have anymore strikes Lestrange, it's a matter of time now."

"Tell me what happens after. Let me hear it." She knew what the answer was, but it shocked her that he finally asked the question.

What would happen with no more strikes?

"I don't believe in it Rabastan, our souls are bounded to one another like you said last night...But by law? By law we can have it annulled." Rabastan's hands began to shake.

Divorce?! Had he heard her correctly?

"D-Divorce...Rory that's—"

"Leaving the twins, withholding my brother getting the mark, leaving without saying where you're off to. Missing my father's funeral. Cursing me by accident...What is the last straw Raba? If you have to hear what happens then so be it." His breathing began to grow heavy as he took her words as serious as she had when he proposed.

In all of this he darkly thought how their marriage had worked, he asked to get married, but Rory would be the one to end it. Even though she clearly felt uncomfortable with the word, she flickered her attention away from him the moment he said it.

"If it sticks in your mind better then yes. We'll get divorced. We'll split the kids." It hadn't even been a thought about what would happen with the children, it was the idea that she would be single, that the possibility of a stepfather would come in and take his place.

"...And no sex." He expected that much, but he nodded never the less. With his agreement did she share case her own agreement before pressing that he should eat a bit more.

Especially if he was set to leave in the coming days.

It was true, the man had been summoned that evening. And had been absent the next few, so Rory didn't relocate to a guest room, she remain in the master bedroom with Roe.

The idea of what her husband was doing caused her to grow...Weary.

They were hunting the Potters, and the words Remus had said in anger were completely true. Rabastan had more than a few notches on his wand, all in the name of the Dark Lord.

Good gods who was she married to?
It wasn't the young wizard who lied about falling off his broom just to steal a kiss. This was a different person, though she couldn't fault him for being the only one who changed.

She had been the one to lie to her parents, to claim that Sirius was a blood traitor when she truly was talking out of her arse.

"Anything I can help with Cassi?" Her attention turned off towards her father and she shook her head. "I'm scared for the Potters. He really got along with Cara..." Orion held his back a bit straighter, the mere mention of the Potters always caused him to do so.

That is where Sirius had run off towards, but his daughter continued claiming that she was worried for the whole lot of them.

"There is nothing more you could do Cassiopeia. Playing both sides is—"

"Is reckless. I know. But there is a spy on either side, it just feels...It feels like there's a pit in my stomach. A vision that won't come." His daughter was indeed plagued with an overactive mind, after healing from Rabastan's attack was she now in a difficult mood for brooding.

What was she meant to do?

"You've mediated the day away yesterday, it will come when you least expect. Then you could continue. Why don't you work on the wolfsbane?" Aurora chuckled as she sunk further in her chair.

"Why? It's not like Remus would talk to me if I've cracked it."

"This Remus...Lupin isn't it?" She turned to her father in confusion and nodded. "Lyall Lupin?"

"Yes, you told me and Sirius that he threw away our world for a muggle...Remus is a sweetheart." Orion knew that smile all too well, but remain silent as it slowly dwindled. His daughter was indeed invested in keeping her friends and family safe.

However aiding one would harm the other.

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Date Posted: 12-04-19

Time: 11:57

Words: 7732

Another long chapter, but we're winding down to the end!
Chapter Eight-Two will be the last chapter of Immer Angst.