✧FIRST INTRODUCTIONS✧

♕♕♕

◊━━━━━✥━━━━━◊

***

━━━━━▼━━━━━

━━━━━▲━━━━━

***

It was currently Wednesday, Aurora still had to wait a few days before visiting the Potters. And she was as thrilled as can be, especially as it was going to be a surprise to them that she was coming and with Cara.

Currently, she was in a meeting with a few trusted advisors to Otto. This team was going to aid her when processing the cure, Aurora had been at the head of the operation. The administrations and those working under her were all because of Mr.Handson.

And she couldn't thank him enough.

But whenever she tried, he simply brought her in for a hug, claiming she was his daughter, and invited her to another celebratory dinner.

She tried to think of what she could do in his name, but her dedication to the potion was already noted to her father. Yet a part of her wanted to prove herself, to the women she met at the convention all those years ago.

All the witches that could be counted on one hand.

It had been just before dinner when Aurora finally came home, her lab coat still featured on her form and a firm grip on her briefcase.

"Mummy! Mumumum! I drew a pwichture with you and papa and Uncle Rolf and Auntie Bell Bell." Oh it had been a glorious day to hear Romulus call his Auntie that, and the woman hadn't even been that mad.

He was the firstborn after all. And Halsey had been adored by her aunt and uncle, the little ones had the same safety net. Something about their crazy aunt was fun as a child.
But horrifying later on.

The babes babbled on, and a few moments later had her husband followed through on downstairs and aided her out of her coat. "Munchkins mummy is going to wash up before dinner, go draw mummy a picture of her brewing. She can take it to her office at work." The kiddos adored the idea, especially if it was going to be featured in her office!

They rushed to the elevator and hurried along to their room, trying their best to find the right colors to form the shapes that they saw in mummy's lab.

"How did it go?"

"Good, the committee is finding a few people to be tested, all the apothecaries are doing it to scare one another apparently. It's cruel what they're managing, giving hope and possibly killing the test subjects."

"Well, my wife is here to restore the balance." She smiled into his hold but groaned.

"I smell like a cauldron."

"I find it to be your signature scent by now. What time were you up this morning?" She sat down on the couch to get a hold of her planner.

"Four-thirty. I had a meeting a six and I had to get the board prepared, check the testings rooms and—What?" The smile was plastered on his husband's face and he shook his head.

"Nothing.  It's good to see you happy again, I thought I lost you for a while..." His hand began to caress her cheek, grinning into it did she kiss his palm.

"If Lucius wasn't so much of an arse, I would ask him for business advice. But I rather hire someone." Rabastan didn't hold his wife to anything more, but then she scratched her head and held out a file.

"And what's this?"
"Usually when a potion is made there's uh...A separate vault from the families', just so that reporters can track it or...I forgot what else Jade said." He didn't doubt that his wife wrote it down somewhere, it was finding it in her folder that was the issue.

"I understand love, we'll go down to Gringotts and sort through it with a goblin...What is this bit? The patented stance?"
"Oh! Once I claim it, I have to go to the ministry. Otto said it's a standard procedure, especially when they bring their own potioneer to check to see if it actually works." Rabastan had to admit that he hadn't realized that this much goes into releasing a potion.

But then again the patenting it was a formal name to the idea. Aurora Lestrange was going to be on the name of bottles at Apothecaries.

How brilliant.

"What will you be doing with the earnings?"
"Open an apothecary." She hadn't missed a beat, was that her end goal? Be a brand name?

"Everythings on the right track, but I have a meeting early tomorrow too. But I'll be home just after lunch, promise." With another kiss to his cheek did he watch his wife hurry along to go and take a shower.

Or bath.

He hummed in delight at thinking of his wife, but he had other tasks to complete. A growing pile of responses he would have to finish, gods he wished he didn't go into law.

Perhaps he should lower the number of clients at a time if he was helping his wife with legal issues such as this. He was going to cut back at the end of the month then, as in the next few weeks would be the rush of it.

The potion's chance to rise or shine.

With the rest of the week following in the similar pursuit, it was a grand time to host over Otto and Rose. Especially when it involved boasting on behalf of his wife, and Mrs.Handson couldn't get enough of any of the children.

She acted like a proud grandmother, while Walburga had been hiding out in Germany since everyone had passed or in Aurora's case...Ignored her.

It was Saturday morning and Aurora had it all planned, she was going to bring Cara with her to Diagon Alley, or that was the lie for now. But she was going to join Sirius to the Potter's house and then go shopping to get Evelyn something for the babe.

The entire week was partly dreadful, and she felt insanely guilty for not giving her babes individual time one on one. And Cara being so young it made her feel worse.

"Just you and Cara? Rory, I don't think that's smart to be out."

"Not for long, I simply want to pick a few things for Evelyn and the babe before stopping by...Cara's first time to Diagon Alley shouldn't be when she's eleven." Rabastan sighed, he knew well enough that Aurora had been older when visiting first.

And it was only because her wand needed to be added to the Black family vault at the cutting age at eight. Or the fact that she needed a wand for Salem two years earlier than the rest.

"That's not what I'm saying love, simply that—"
"Or I can't handle myself." She knew how to demand things now, and he huffed as he fell back to the chair.

"No venturing down Knockturn Alley." She narrowed her eyes down to her husband and shook her head. "That better have been a joke Lestrange." He chuckled out abruptly in hopes it would pass as a joke now, but he was rightly screwed.

"Of course it was...Don't go overboard Rory, we're not supposed to know just yet." She pouted up, her doe eyes matching Halsey's close to instantly.

"You two are going to be the death of me."

"Three once Cara learns your weakness. Once Cara's a little older we'll take them all." That was defiantly going to be a difficult task, especially since Otto warned the likes of what the Prophet likes to do about Potioneers.

But better yet, a potion mistress.

He remembered that picture kindly of Aurora being on the cover of Witch Weekly after being proposed to, how they managed to get that photo is terrible. Orion fought with his own father to get the issue in trouble.

It fell through.

"How long do you expect to be out?"
"I don't know, a bit. I had a few plans for a baby room for—" Course Aurora would spark all these onto the poor gal so early in her pregnancy, but he knew Evenly would appreciate it.

And McNair even more if it meant involving his little Rabbit.

"Alright, enjoy yourself. Little girls day you've managed." She grinned, she was indeed going to enjoy this time. So off she went, getting dressed into something she wouldn't mind being caught in public with as well as dressing Cara into a comfortable dress as well.

Cara was a very happy baby as her mummy explained what they were going to do today, and after seeing the presents she thought she was going to a party.

It was a little early for Harry's party, but Sirius wouldn't be able to make it to the 31st.

Aurora managed to get to the flat just in time, knocking fitfully as she grinned down to her babe. "Mummmum?"
"We're meeting someone very special, and then we're going to meet your new best friend." She snuggled closer, confused at the odd proximately and the idea of being in an unknown hallway.

But soon enough Sirius had opened the door and grinned brightly, seeing both his sister and niece threw him for a loop. "Ladies, would you like to join me?"

"Cara, can you say hi to Uncle Paddy?" The babe blinked up to the man, staring with the Black family's eyes that she inherited. Almost like she was analyzing him and who is he is.

"Does she always stare into people's souls?" He whispered closer to his sister's ear, but then she shakes her head. A smile on her mummy's face caused Cara to grin.

"Ah success! What can I say...? The babes like me."
"Gross Siri, I think she thought you were Opa." Or Regulus. But Sirius kept his mouth shut as he offered out his hands in an attempt to hold his niece.

Her Uncle Rolf and Aunt Bella were always a little weary on holding the younglings, especially Cara as she was still tiny and needed to be held properly. So instantly the young gal had inched her fingers towards her uncle and snuggled in his hold.

"You're going to really like him when he turns into Padfoot Carebear...But we'll save that for later." Sirius winked and hummed in delight, his canine counterpart loving this family moment.

He wanted Cara for himself for a little longer before they headed out. But all this was on a time constraint, and so he returned Cara to her mum and held close to the excessive amount of gifts that both he and Aurora had bought for this meeting.

Aurora didn't give herself the luxury of seeing the house, instead Sirius led her to the door and put her inside before calling out. "Prongs! Lils! I made it!" He called out, and it allowed Rory to pop her eyes open and hide around her brother.

"Mate, am I happy to see you! It's been a month. A month! We cannot—" James had finally managed to make it to the main hallway as he caught sight of Aurora. And he cheered to see a babe in her arms as well.

She issued her finger to her lips and he nodded at the idea.

"Guess whose's here Harry. It's uncle Paddy." Lily cooed down to the babe, and Aurora followed along after her brothers and smiled to the sight of Lily beside her son.

They were simply playing in the den together, but once the pair of matching green eyes had stared at the matching grey eyes...

All hell broke loose.

Now Harry has never met anyone his age, another babe was unheard of. So the young Potter son looked up to the woman and little girl in her arms in confusion and curiosity. Only his mum was far too excited, gushing back between the woman to the babe.

Causing Harry to pout.

"That's your Auntie Rory." Sirius introduced, and the woman wasn't afraid to bend down before the boy and ruffle his hair.

He's surely got the Potter genes, as his hair retained in thick bunches and pointed off in different directions.

"Hello Harry." She smiled, and the beautiful witch before Harry had gotten tackled instantly by a hug. Rory became a giggling mess as she fell back with the young Potter son sitting on her waist and cuddling to her chest.

Rory took one look off to James and Lily and smirked, they were undeniably obsessed with Cara, the little girl adored the attention. Sirius only laid down beside his sister.

"Why'd you pick Cara?"

"Because Ronan isn't that welcoming to others. He only likes his siblings at the moment. Even Draco isn't safe from it." Sirius chuckled at the idea that Ronan was picky, or maybe he knew that everyone around his surrounded the idea of Death.

Babies were good like that.

"Paddy, where's paddy?" So Harry knew about Padfoot? Perfect. Cara will surely enjoy that, she adored Loki and Nymeria just like the rest of her brothers and sister.

Close to instantly had Sirius turned into his mutt form, and Cara had indeed lost interest in James now that there was a doggy in the picture.

And James of course took that as a challenge.

"James don't you bloody dare to—" Lily's warning hadn't been enough as a buckling huff caught Rory's attention. The mothers shook their head as Lily joined both her son and friend on the ground, watching in pure amusement at the fact that either wizard took it to this extent.

"I think papa and paddy are being silly, what do you think Harry?" He squealed at getting his nose tapped, Rory knew the look on Lily's face.

She was exhausted.

"Rory tell them." She turned to her brother for a moment in confusion. "Did I forget something?" Sirius rolled his eyes and nudged Prongs.
"This one managed to figure out a cure for Dragon poxs."

"Sirius, merlin I'm still in the stages of testing and—" For someone who lost both parents to the illness, he couldn't have heard better news. He wrapped his arms around his mate's sister and kissed her cheek.

"You brilliant witch, how in Merlin did you manage it?" She dove in on how she's been on the team with Mr.Handson, but then the two Potter's were heavily invested about all the other bits and pieces.

This was better than the daily prophet or listening to the radio, hearing the gossip was enough to get them smiling and give them something to discuss later.

Rory just wished she could've stayed longer, especially when Cara looked so happy with Harry. The two instantly became best friends, Harry adored Cara's trick on changing her hair color, everyone found it an amazing talent.

All Aurora's children inherited it, Sirius claimed that it was indeed a Black family secret if Nymphadora had it as well.

There was this very lingering detail that everyone in the room was ignored, a few actually... But what was eating Rory alive seemingly was the fact that Sirius was being blamed for being the traitor, and in defense, he threw the traitor card right on back.

The next was the target over this family's head, Rory didn't want to blur these moments from her mind. But it'd be safest, just to stick them in a bottle and hide them away.

Nothing about this get together is safe, if she gets caught—

Aurora didn't allow herself to think of anything more in. That regard as she continued to shower the Potter family in gifts. Presents from previous holidays and birthdays that she had missed.

Either sibling wanted to spoil the living lights out of Harry, and brilliantly enough had Rory been the one to introduce the best gift for the son of a chaser.

Unfortunately Harry wasn't old enough to ride it at the moment, but in the coming few weeks that was indeed going to be an adventure. And to settle Lily's worries, had Rory gifted extra armor so the babe wouldn't injury himself like Halsey and Romulus had when playing.

Aurora looked at the clock in defeat, Cara and her would have to be going soon if they wanted to make it at a decent time to Evie's.

She sighed off to her brother and he nodded. "Go Rory, it's not worth it for you to stay if you're going to get caught." She blinked quickly and started to get up, she was already in dangerous waters as is.

The rushed goodbyes allowed Rory out of the house before either she or Cara could be a pouting mess for being taken away from Harry.

Instead Rory quickly distracted her daughter as the young Ms.Lestrange picked out small bits and bops for the future McNair babe.

Not knowing if they were a witch or wizard yet prompted Rory to simply buy neutral blankets and a few stuffies. Though she had to remind Cara that they weren't for her.

Leaving the shop had been a countless mistake, people from the Daily Prophet were waiting for her to exit. And they began flashing their cameras to run an editorial on her.

Otto warned that this could be a possibility, but what could they possibly post in the news.

"Mrs.Lestrange! Mrs.Lestrange! Could you answer a few questions? It's for the Daily Prophet, Mrs.Lestrange!" Cara had started to whimper at the obnoxious yelling that was directed to her mummy, and so Rory hid her from the press and underneath her cloak.

Protecting her from the flash and strangers, and once Aurora turned around. The paparazzi had been startled, had their cries been answered.

"Lads, I am not answering any questions or comments. I'd appreciate it if you'd leave me and my daughter be. You've made her quite upset. Now excuse me, I'm late for an appointment." The line of interns wrote down bit by bit and watched her retreating form, but that didn't stop them from trailing her until she popped on and away.

Arriving at the McNair gave a slight reminder of the Potter's, it wasn't as homey as theirs. The Gryffindors knew comfort and Slytherin knew luxury. This one looked similar to the size of the Black family manor.

The only difference is that it's been modernized, Evelyn took to spoiling her husband and redesigned the entirety of it. With Aurora's help of course.

She smiled to her designs and pushed to knock at the door, only to be greeted by an elf. "Mistress Lestrange! Mistress McNair is..." The elf knew the truth and it already outed the secret.

"I just wanted to stop by, Cara's been asking for her." The Elf saw nothing wrong with it, instead she followed the little elf scurry away in hopes of the good news to grace her mistress.

She had been miserable for a few days now.

"Evelyn? Darling are you alright?" The woman had shot up her head, this was not what she wanted her friend to catch her at. But it was too late, Aurora wandered into the master bedroom to find Evelyn crouched before the toilet.

"Oh sweetheart, I wished you owled me. I could've come with a brewed potion to stop nausea." Evelyn groaned as she couldn't look in the direction of her friend and little Cara.

"Was it the twins?" She croaked, the soon to be mum was starting to tear. It caused Rory to place Cara down to the middle of the bed with a stuffie and hurry along to her friend.

"Anyone who offers to babysit the twins is going to be expecting, Raba and I already made the bet. The twins simply confirmed it." Grabbing a washcloth and dousing it to become damp, did she aid Evie to get cleaned up.

"W-what are you doing?"
"I was going to set you up with Cara in the living room so I could brew you a potion." A thankful smile appeared on Evelyn's face as she was aided to her feet and led through the home.

The kitchen was beautiful, especially for the home. Evelyn took the favor of cooking when her husband was away. In the meantime Rory made her a cup of steaming tea, one of which would be easy to get the potion down, luckily all the ingredients for her special brew were stashed away in the pantry.

And Evelyn hadn't felt better since last night.

"I was pregnant with twins Evelyn, believe me when I say that I understand how you feel. In the morning I want you to get in the habit of taking the nausea potion I'll be sending you and drinking this specific brew." The woman sat and ate up each and every directive that the woman was spewing, it almost felt like she was getting a tutoring lesson in potions from where Evelyn sat.

But then the woman frowned to see the bags of toys. "I couldn't resist, and I swear I only got a few things." Mrs.McNair took one look into the bag of gifts and started to sniffle.

The idea of the little babe fitting into any of these small little jumpers and outfits hit a nerve of cuteness.

"There will be plenty more of that, but I drew this up during my break. You don't have to pick one, you can pick a few pieces off of—" Aurora had been abruptly pulled into another hug, the fifth one of the day that was unannounced.

But it wasn't at all unwanted.

"You'll help me?"
"Of course sweetheart, I helped Amelia and the rest. Why wouldn't I help you too?" The woman pouted, mumbling a few damning words of doubt on herself and their friendship.

But Rory knew it was mostly on her side, especially when it was her fault in not being around all the much anymore.

The two talked for countless hours, only until McNair had seemingly found himself coming in. Completely surprised by the fact that Rory had come and given company to his wife, but then a frown settled quickly.

"The twins told, didn't they?" Aurora didn't hide a smile, nodding along did she shrug. "They haven't told Rabastan yet, better hurry up McNair." She winked, knowing that her time here was put to an end now that the husband had returned home.

Waldon appreciated the privacy and the aid that relinquished his wife's worries. She shared all the plans that Rory was going to help with the babe. The room, how to use some of the future products that would be a lifesaver.

All of the above.

Rory returned home with a sleeping babe and a whirlwind of emotions to trail behind her, setting Cara into her bed and re-tucking all of the kiddos allowed her to go and check on her husband.

He took pride in aiding her with her work. It felt like a tightly nit family business. That he's helping her get her potion out there, his little fifth-year-self would be beaming at the idea.

Working alongside one another.

Better yet this coming Monday would they be attending a meeting together, seeing his wife in her element and in-action to talk to the committee was going to be difficult. Especially when he wouldn't be able to reward her until after all is set and done for the day.

*

A smile had been prominent on Mrs.Lestrange's face the entirety of the day, even entering her work office at the facility did she turn back to her husband.

This was the first days he had been able to visit. He took the grand tour of what Otto was renting to his pupil, but Rory insistent on paying him back with credit of aiding her through the process.

With him, she had little doubt she would've been a potion mistress at all.

"An assistant getting you lunch, I don't think you could higher than this."
"She's getting us lunch, and I could get much higher. Remember the apothecary?" He hummed in delight, but then started to a good look around the office, and his grin couldn't have popped any higher.

The pictures he had the children draw were framed all around the room, but what was featured on her desk was one of the many family portraits.

It was a serious moment before Romulus had started to giggle and move around. Both he and Halsey stood beside their mother as she held Cara, and Rabastan held Ronan in his arms.

A swell of pride rushed through him, as if he hadn't been beaming up enough as is.

"Mrs.Lestrange, Professor Hanson asked that you get this." Aurora had turned from her husband and hurried to the intern witch, Aurora had been excited that she was able to pick her staff.

And she went with more of a witch standard. Not dismissing anyone without a chance.

And her position in the paper skyrocketed.

The only downfall is that she only trusted a handful of people with the actual steps that the potion was conformed to be, and it was a stressful process.

But it was a grand time to employ people she knew from class, from her team. She trusted a few, but couldn't hire them all.

Zane had been her first choice, after all he did to aid her when she missed classes due to her blindness? It allowed him flexible hours so his wife could get the chance of a career.

Rabastan watched as he saw her writing her signature, a very valuable note in this building as it signed off next procedures and so forth.

Gods was he hypnotized at how beautiful his wife looked, happy and working.
Or more like happy to work.

"Thank you ma'am, here's tomorrow's schedule. And I cleared your weekend from any appointments and meetings."
"You're the best Lisa." She smiled, and not long after had the other witch arrived with takeout food.

Rory groaned the second the door closed and let the aroma of the food fill the air.

"Alright love?" Rabastan questioned, confused as to why she had made such a noise. Unknown to the rest, Aurora loved food. Though it was usually pushed back for other reasons such as reading and assignments.

Especially in Hogwarts.

"Tired. And behind schedule." Returning closer to her desk did she take one of the comfortable meeting chairs off to the side. Unzipping her boots did she allow her toes to wiggle underneath the table as she started unboxing the meals.

"Not that behind schedule, and you freed the weekend?" He smirked, looking down to her desk calendar and writing down the following counselor session with him and his own advisor.

Perhaps he should've studied potion laws in the coming years of being with Rory.

"I'm so tired when I come home to do much with the kiddos, starting to feel guilty that—"
"Love, you're building this world for them. Their mummy is going to be the one to cure Dragon poxs, when they grow up they'll follow your footsteps." The mother shook her head, deciding in that moment that she wanted her children to have a choice on their career.

"Then they'll have the choice, but I think we'll both be damned if they get anything lower than an O in potion exams." He relished in making his wife giggled, especially when there was no work being mentioned now at their small lunch break. Even now it took all the convincing in the world for him to give a foot massage, as it was 'inappropriate' work behavior.

"Technically I'm your employer."

"Yes, I suppose you are. I'm sleeping with my boss." She met him for a kiss, and hummed completely in delight as they began to ignore their food before them.

Granted an owl had prevented anything from happening, and from the type of bird did either notice the message from Otto.

Check the Daily Prophet, positive reviews. Publicity high.

Rabastan watched as she narrowed her eyes down to the parchment. "Raba, is there a copy of the Daily Prophet on my desk?" It rightly wasn't what he expected to hear but found his way over and moved everything aside carefully until he revealed the newspaper.

Of course his wife would be on the front page.

______

POTION MISTRESS PREPARING FOR NEWEST MEMBER OF THE FAMILY

______

Mrs.Cassiopeia Aurora Lestrange, holder of a second class Order of Merlin, has been spotted in Diagon Ally this weekend for a shopping spree. The rising potion mistress has been working in the shadows of a now collapsed project under Dareth Academy. However there is news that she is still working on side projects with the help of her partner, Otto Hanson. Together the two have high hopes in the potion world, the secrecy will remain until a personal statement is made. However, we managed to get a word, just after she left the 'little witches & wizards' shop.

"Lads, I am not answering any questions or comments." She said to our interviewers, "I'd appreciate it if you'd leave me and my daughter be. You've made her quite upset. Now excuse me, I'm late for an appointment."

What sort of appointment did Mrs.Lestrange attend? Just after she spent a fortune on baby goods. The owner did not disclose how much Mrs.Lestrange spent, but the youngest Lestrange heiress held close to her mum with a new stuffed bear in her grasp. The owner did share that the Mother of four would stop countless times throughout her pregnancies to purchase and place orders.

______

The article followed his wife's grades throughout Hogwarts and Dareth Academy, but with his lack of response, it caused Rory to shake as she peered off from his side.

Her held breath fell through as she hid in her husband's arm as she had assumed that Otto was just being overly positive. As it wasn't the first time he's done that.

"And?...Are you hiding something from me love? The paper found out before me?" Her chin propped up and she smiled, making sure that he caught her eye roll.

"I didn't know I was with child either, glad I know now." He chuckled at Aurora's humor in this situation, but he brought his arm firmly around his little wife.

"Otto said there's a positive reaction for the readers, guess they like a working mummy witch." He had to agree on that side of it, especially how she had been so polite to a rude paparazzi follower.

"You didn't mention this when you came home."
"I think I was fussing over Evelyn too much...Am I overstepping with them?" Her question was followed with a quick shake of his head. Rabastan acted as though he hadn't known, and his mate was relishing in the idea.

"Of course not love, McNair was happy that you're helping her. She's shy, doesn't want to ask too much from you." Rory pouted down and nodded, knowing full well that she would definitely need to plan accordingly. But then a smile flashed.

"I can plan a baby shower—later. And then you could take your mates out. Everyones a father and mother almost." She squealed and continued off towards the food and wrote down another idea.

◇──◇────◇────◇──◇

Date Posted: 11-29-19

Time: 11:11

Words: 5232

Alright, there's five more chapters after this one! Time is winding down...👀🥺