✧A WIFE'S TALE✧

♕♕♕

◊━━━━━✥━━━━━◊

***

━━━━━▼━━━━━

━━━━━▲━━━━━

***

There was one single Lestrange that was sporting a rather bright face, and that was Senior Lestrange.

Rabastan held a seldom expression, watching like a hawk to all those who were laughing and celebrating. This was the dark world of their society.

Someone dies, another remarries.

Had Aurora died when giving birth to the twins he would've been forced to the altar, his children would've been given a step-mother. Would they have been pushed aside while that imaginary woman birthed more children?

Would he have more children?

"Sulking is not going to make it better," Aurora whispered, trading her full glass for his empty one of champaign. "A step-mother. Rory a sister is one, a new—"

"I never said you have to talk to her, Lydia is innocent. An aunt to our children just as much as—" Rodolphous had wandered closer to his siblings and scoffed at the two discussing the fundamentals of their new little sister.

"Not just as much. She's half."
"That half is enough for her to gain the name. Honestly, I cannot believe you two." She wiggled her way out of her husband's hold and went off to cater to the children, they were all dressed for the occasion.

Halsey even acting as flower girl for their grandfather right beside Lydia.

The involvement meant everything to Senior Lestrange.

"If I didn't know any better, your wife must be with child or—"
"Neither. I have already heard her complaints on how we aren't grateful for a sibling when she...She doesn't have any more." Rodolphous hadn't look to it that way, not at all.

But of course the sensible one in the family would.

"Shit."
"Hm, and Bella's antics are still driving her up the wall. Where is your wife?" Rabastan knew of course where she was, on a mission to be excused from this horrid event. But none too easy was it known the sexual relationship Bella had with the Dark Lord.

"Perhaps you would make do with some bastard children if it meant having some of your own." Rabastan joked, and it had been the settling notion in Rodolph's mind that perhaps his little brother is right.

"Do you think Cassi would carry my—" Rabastand had choked on his polite sip of fire whiskey only to silently curse out his brother.

"We're not having any more children."
"I didn't say you yourself, I meant myself and—" The dark and possessive eyes silenced Rodolphous and his next thought.

"Four children, suppose two sons are enough to continue the line anyhow...Only issue is if one of them is a Ravenclaw."
"That's not an issue at all, Rory still has Slytherin traits in her."
"As well as Gryffindor." Rabastan scoffed once again, perhaps he too was having enough of this celebration.

That and the company wasn't at all entertaining.

"The Lestrange family has always been Slytherin."
"So has the Blacks, but Sirius went his direction and Aurora followed her Uncle Alfred. I will not fault my children for following their mother to her Hogwarts house." Rodolphous knew Aurora had a stronghold over him, but he didn't think it sunk this deep.

"Having your wife defend you and repeating her words?" Rabastan rolled his eyes and continued a more gentle sip that actually made it's way down his throat.

"Remind me again...Where is Bella?" Rodolphous gritted his teeth, truth be told it wasn't always like this between the middle Lestrange couple.

They favored each other for a small bit, until Bellatrix realized where she would rather devote her time and effort to. "Working for our cause, unlike your wife."

"She's lost a brother to the cause, threatened while pregnant by that bastard who wanted to turn her in because of the cause. We do not need more." The eldest shook his head. "Who else could infiltrate the order, to find out where—"

"The Dark Lord has patience with our spy, not another word. And nothing to Aurora." Rabastan spoke, leaving his brother much like Rory had just moments ago.

Rory, though a decent distance in the field away with a bumbling child in hand learned one aspect. One that stilled her to the bone.

There's a spy within the order.

Panic set in quicker than she could've imagined, so much so that it worried little Romulus. "Mummy, sit down?" She listened to the small child and was embraced with a hug.

Rory felt sick, utterly sick at the idea of someone...Someone trusted in the Order is giving details.

She cannot go back to the meetings, she'll have to tell Dumbledore and—

Her stomach overtook her causing her to place down Romulus and seek refuge in a bathroom. Course it caught the attention of her brother, who was all too eager to follow her in search of what was wrong.

For three agonizing minutes had she thrown up the contents of whatever food she ate at the reception, granted she was lucky to not have eaten that much considering it was all before her now.

Cleaning herself up did she fit her appearance all before taking the turn out of the lady's loo.

"I thought the taste of the chicken seemed off, do you agree sister?" She jumped, a sheep smile casting over her face as she shrugged to his attention to detail.

"I didn't have the chicken."
"With child then? Seems my brother can't help himself..." Aurora leaned against the wall and shook her head.

"Not that it's any of your concern, Rodolpous. But I am not having any more children."
"Why not, you're the perfect mother right to next to my own...Perhaps with a different brother?" She wasn't even surprised at this point, it'd seen like all the desperate wizards will come to her for nothing more than this.

"Not even with a different brother, like I told Malfoy. I'm not having another man's child." He only meant it in a slight jest, knowing what that the possibility of her saying yes would be slim...But hearing her honesty admit that another wizard asking sounded...Treacherous.

"Lucius asked?!" Aurora planted her hands forward and locked onto the center of her brother's dress robes to stop his obsessive yelling. "The day you saved me from Maximus, he stopped by an hour or two before."
"You think he sent the bastard as punishment then?" Rory stilled for a moment, searching for the right answer on this theory but then decided against it.

Shaking her head in disagreement.

"No...They don't correlate, he was being an arse." Rodolphous didn't like the odds, nor did he favor seeing his sister in this sort of state.

"What will it take for you to carry my child?" It was an immense power in her hands as she started to think, causing a smirk to raise far too easily. "Come back with a proposal, otherwise we can find someone else to carry your child if you crave one so badly. Brother."

Instead he escorted her back to her husband and claimed that all of them should make their departure soon. More so in a hint of Rory making a segway that she isn't feeling her best, though it never came.

The idea of a traitor never left her mind, but it did indeed spark up the given patronus for Dumbledore to be on the lookout as well as sending an owl to Snape.

Aurora did not sleep that night, instead she focused on a side project.

Especially when the full moon was taunting her just to the left, Rabastan was surprised she stayed all that long either.

All that twisting and turning, surely an idea sprung upon her.

Although exhaustion was one of the reasons he stayed within the bed, he couldn't just leave his wife in the state she was in...But his presence hadn't helped, nor had the kids the next few days later.

His concern went straight to his brother, ultimately having Rodolph share the fact that Aurora was ill at the wedding. And one idea caught into Rabastan Lestrange's attention.

She must be pregnant.

He felt rather proud in being able to point it out this time around, but it left him in a world of contemplation. Causing a drift between the married couple as either didn't want to come out and say it personally.

Realistically it was a drastic shift in careers, Rabastan was busy on all fronts. Both Death Eater to the Legal side of the wizarding world.

And Rory had her own issues to deal with, her brother and Remus both were ignoring her.

Was it out of malicious or was it because they busy?

It wasn't until two weeks later that Rabastan had enough of the silence, his wife still hadn't returned back to normal. Or his definition of normal at the very least, but she was struggling at the idea of how bloody fucked she is if the spy knows about her.

Wouldn't that have been a big-ticket item to share with the Dark Lord?

Her conversations with Dumbledore weren't out of a pure whim, but his concern for either Remus and Sirius were giving each other a hard run for being traitor. All this was in a whirlwind of circling around, there was little to nothing Aurora could do but wait for her untimely demise...

And wait for Rabastan to be at the offensive end of the wand.

She hadn't heard him sneak into the green room, but she caught sight of him through the reflective material of the basins holding her fresh saplings.

"Merlin Rabastan!" He sighed, he was going to attempt to try that technique he learned their third year. Actually Regulus had taught him it, to wrap hands around her eyes and allow her to figure out who it was.

"My apologies Aurora, simply avoiding your fragile heart...Are you alright? Snape owled off potions for you." She chuckled, he was defiantly the biggest worry wart out of the bunch of husbands.

"They're fertilizer, his students were brewing them. Suppose Herbology didn't need them all." She smiled, especially as she picked up the box that Daisy had trailed in with.

"Do you need any help Rory, I'm sure my 6th year Herbology is good for something."
"What did you get in your OWLs?" He scoffed, was he truly going to be criticized by his own wife in their home?

"I'm kidding, if Amelia wasn't such a mess I would've partnered with you." She spoke, and the two began to work amicably beside one another to feed the growing sprouts, it was indeed a calming activity.

And it did extinguish his previous suspicious on why she was hiding away in here.

"Rodolphous said you were ill at my father's wedding." She stopped her movement far too easily as he smiled lightly, perhaps after the third pregnancy he would be easier to identify his wife's symptoms.

"It was just stress, the board wanted to see an update on our potion and we didn't have much to offer." It didn't sound like Otto and the team were progressing all that much, but he had hope that there would be a breakthrough sooner or later.

"And the healer?"
"It was just the start of a cold Raba, honestly. I'm a big girl." He wouldn't take that for an answer, instead he wrapped his arms around her waist and rocked her gently in tune with his lips to her neck.

"You could tell me anything love, anything at all..." She responded well, overlapping her arms and kissed his cheek when she had the opportunity.

"The twins are growing up too quickly, I...I don't like it." This was partly the truth, or what she could vocalize. The twins were going to start lessons soon, it was only fair that they get a sort of schedule going.

Every Tuesday through Thursday, as decided by both Rabastan and Aurora a good while ago...Once they turn three would this preschool start, learning the basics on how to read and write.

Their father was excited of course, it was a pureblood facility and it was just the beginning of their education. But now he could start to see why their mum was having second thoughts.

"Wait until they come home reading to you love. We won't have enough room in the manor when all of them start reading." A smile crept on her face, but this wasn't what Rabastan wanted.

He wanted to know the truth.

"Rory...Are you with child?" He was careful with the way he spoke, adding an extra grip to her tum in hopes of being both cautious and supportive.

"Why? Am I getting heavy?" She questioned, and that was surely not what he was getting at. All of which started a rambling of the highest degree, Merlin was he going to be in the doghouse.

"Sweet goddess above, I told you about every pregnancy within a week after I found out. You mister, have some explaining to do." She rolled her eyes at the fact that it was his brother that he listened to and looked at the wrong signals.

"Your brother. Your brother?! The man who hasn't been able to tell my pregnancy when I was two months pregnant. Yes, let's listen to him." He threw up another apology before earning a light smack upside the head.

"Aurora I'm sorry I didn't—"
"You know I'm taking the potion, arsehole." She took the brink of her nose in hand as she held her hand up in damnation.

"Yes, I'm an arsehole. And a Bastard. And a git. I'm sorry kitten."
"Do you want another child?" Her question rang through in his mind.

No, he didn't want another child. But after thinking about it for the past few days he was warming up to the idea.

"You do...Raba I thought we agreed on four."
"We did. We are, I'm just saying that I wouldn't have hated the idea of you being with child." She truly couldn't be angry, and the stress was making him identify symptoms from pregnancy. Nor could she fault him for adoring another child.

"Your seed isn't that magical to overtake my potion, Lestrange." He gawked at her, but her innocent smile with telling indeed.

"Now...I'm going to go and take out my rage on your brother. Ten minutes?"
"Take all the time that you need love, would you take a pizza as an apology?" Her grin and acceptance was shared as a small kiss landed on his cheek before heading out to grab her traveling cloak.

"Daisy? Prepare Rory's favorite pizza, and that bubbly beverage." If the elf could've risen a brow she would've, however she went ahead and informed the rest of the kitchen staff to prepare their master and mistress their meal.

As well as get something prepped for the children.

They had gone from feeding two to now feeding two adults and four children.

On the opposite end of the spectrum had Rodolphous been having a fresh glass of fire whiskey, not even caring that it was a few hours until dinner was close.

Instead his elf had been the smallest of any warning to know that Cassiopeia was on her way up. Granted she could've entered by aparenting straight to his little man cave.

"Ah sister! Wish to share the good news with me? Or is your husband short behind?"

"I'm not pregnant Rodolphous, I said I was done having children...And now you've made him think five children is the better number." He truly hadn't meant any ill notion to come between his siblings, instead he offered up his glass and she downed it within a few gulps.

He was pleasantly surprised to see how she handled it, most gals weren't like Bella in the sense they could drink it like water.

But instead she plopped down onto the couch beside him with the threat of tears in her eyes. "Darlin' no, I didn't mean to—" Aurora looked for comfort in the strangest of places, her children, her husband, and friends.

However she needed to look to Rodolphous as a replacement of Sirius, this was the game she needed to play...Part of her did see the man as a brother, especially after all this family nonsense and struggle to actually be a Lestrange.

"Alright, but I swear if you mention this to anyone I get Halsey for the weekend." She sniffled lightly and smiled.
"She's almost three, soon...But you'll have to take Romulus as well, they're too fond of the other's company." She mumbled, wiping one eye clear as she chuckled about.

"Not a problem, that'll give me a sense of accomplishment wouldn't it? Pretend I have children." Her mouth parted, sadness echoing from each word he spoke.

"Roldoph I—"
"Bella isn't a fit mother, I know. It's been the ongoing joke for a decade. But that didn't mean I...I remember the first time I saw the twins, thought that since she was interested too that it'd help but it didn't." He watched his sister's face contort as she digest all that he said and he sighed before she could respond properly.

"Why didn't you talk to me, we could've found a surrogate and—"
"And what would father think of—" Rory rolled her eyes as she smirked.

"Your father just claimed what was a bastard child all her life, are you seriously suggesting that having another woman carry your child would cause any grief to the line?" He shook his head slowly, the firewhiskey taking claim to his actions as it had a rising effect to his movement.

"Maybe...Maybe later, in a few years. If you still feel the same, I—I'll carry your child." She said in a moment of weakness, the empathy working in the wizard's favor...

But it was worth it. In seeing the brightest smile to ever grace the man's face in such a long time. "You will?"
"You aren't bedding me Rodolphous, it's simply a potion that I would take." His pout was well-rehearsed, but he was already asking far too much as it that he hadn't bothered for more.

"Pushing it...And not until Cara is a little older." Even in this what-if universe, it had him shower her cheek with a mindful set of kisses. One coming far too close to her lips that she tapped his nose in defense.

"Down boy, and that's if my fertility count is—"

"If my brother could get you with-child in two goes I'm sure that my seed will not be an issue." She gawked at her brother, what had Rabastan told him?!
"He told you?" She breathed, and it was indeed going to give the young brother a difficult time now that he speaks far too much.

"A bit, in the beginning, it was boasting and tips on getting Bella with-child. He's withheld me from it all."
"As if I thought you two would talk about anything else." The brother took another order of fire whiskey, while Rory ordered a bit of tea.

The two talked amicably for another few minutes as Rory sipped her tea.
"D-did you want the child related to Bella?"
"I believe our child would look beautiful and sane, much more than yours and Malfoys." A distasteful noise followed after what he had said, her sour face still showing through.

"That is not for telling your brother, neither is this conversation. Not until much later."
"It'd be wise to look for a surrogate then, I'm not getting any younger." She hummed, thinking of the idea for a moment and how she would duplicate an egg from her own body.

"The child would live with you of course, no point in taking a babe from their mum...I remember Rabastan when he was a little lad. Merlin did he hate father, course then man would only ever come out of his nook when he was bored with Linda." It caused a brow to raise from his sister on two accounts.

Was Rodolphous just having a child to have a child?
And what the hell was their father up to with Linda that was so damn mesmerizing?

"Did he really ignored Raba like that?"
"Father was usually busy with work, and everything else was with Linda. Forgot about us for a bit, and mum was always scared to put her foot down."
She wasn't scared, she was under the family curse.

"That's isn't on mum, after the twins I couldn't think straight either. After any of the babes were born really."
"Haven't had it any easier sister, best get back to my brother before he pouts and whines." She swatted at her brother, but not before giving him a light kiss on his cheek.

"We'll figure it out, I promise." He leveled one last smile out before escorting her downstairs to apparent back to her own manor.

It left the wizard feeling warm inside, something he hasn't felt in a long while.

Cassiopeia was indeed a sweet gal, she was always witty and easy to please. Though he rightly didn't make an effort to talk to the former Black heir, he was more than glad that she joined their family.

Not that this family was any easier to deal with, but at least now she could defend herself without the constant saying of her mother in the back of her head.

Rory yawned fitfully as she was never one to drink firewhiskey, nor was she used to getting as drunk as she had just.

"Daisy, could you get me a hangover tonic?" She whispered, it wasn't that she wanted to hide the fact that she was drinking, she didn't want the image of drinking with his brother to come to light.

With the potion now intercepting the effects of her grew gulps of booze, was she indeed enjoy the likes of the steaming hot shower that was raining down above her.

Times like this would she take her time, and since dinner wasn't for another hour then she could indeed take her time.

Not as much as a bath but enough to get the aches and quakes out of her system.

Her hums were the perfect distraction as Rabastan had snuck into the steam infested room and undressed, he wasn't surprised by the temperature, but now he could wrap his palms around her eyes and shield her from being terrified.

And the only way she ever truly identified someone when they did this, was by the rings and where they were placed.

"Curious to find you here." She mumbled, her face entirely wet as he was just being introduced to her soothing method.

"I wanted to apologies, thoroughly." It hadn't escaped her noticed that he started to lose his towering height over her, there wasn't much room for debate before Rabastan arched her leg to wrap around his shoulder as it called for a better position.

There was little to no warning before Rory had to grip the wall in reaction to her skilled husband, sweet Diana, it threw her in a loop to when he first attempted this.

Both had grown to find their partners preferences, but this was just to get her prepared...

She had lost her ability to process as fast as she usually could, especially after feeling the internal bliss that he managed. Rabastan had steady his wife against the stone wall, either leg parted just for him as she held around his neck then to the shelf.

The clatter of bottles hadn't broken, it had once proved to be a mood ruiner as broke glass would lay just below them. But now they were enchanted to be unbreaking, and goddess forbids it happens again.

"Please forgive me kitten..." It was far too easy to torture him, he acted like a lost puppy one moment and then an absolute god in bed after hearing that she accepted.

"But your last strike?" Fear wracked his mind as he shook his head. His lips attempting to push to hers, only for her to move away.

"Giving tips to your brother?"
"Nothing in detail love, I swear to it. Solemnly swear." Her grin cracked, little did her husband know that was Sirius' and his gang's motto in Hogwarts. But it was all the more worth in accepting him now.

"Nobody...nobody is going to get a detail of you love." She hummed in a second acceptance, especially now that he was finally allowed to listen to his second head.

His cock following the familiar pattern of his wife, and he had barely given her any attention before she finished...But it wouldn't only be the first one this shower's enjoyment.

His wife whimpered in his hold after, and so he took the initiative to clean her. "Reminds me that first morning of our honeymoon."
"Where my wife was too sore?" She narrowed her eyes as he saw it in a different version, but yes...She was indeed sore after their first few times.

"Yes, and when you took care of me after." Rabastan wondered if his own mates laid with their wives after, or took care of them like he did his own wife.

Turning the water off caught Rory's attention as the water wasn't giving her enough warmth. So he grabbed her robe before managing to wrap a towel around his waist and around his shoulder.

"Do you think four is the right choice?"
"Rory, kitten I don't want you to overthink this. Cara's almost a year old, and if we don't stop here...What number would we stop with?" He was being entirely honest as Rory adored the babes, and then on a higher note, she would never disregard either.

Four was difficult enough without playing favorites or too much time with one while three others wanted attention as well.

"The elves should be done with dinner soon...Are you ready for your pizza?"
"With extra cheese?" He scoffed as he started to dry his hair. "Of course."
"And mushrooms?"

"Merlin, married almost four years and no trust?" She scrunched her nose at the thought.

"Four years...It—It doesn't feel that long." She remembered kindly that two of those years Regulus was still in school, and then this year had been all too unforgiving with death after death.

"Should I take offense to that or—?" She swatted him again and he chuckled in dodging her antics.
"We've been together since fourth year." Seven years. It made sense as their relationship had finally reached longer in marriage than their dating had.

Emotion rallied higher than normal as he wrapped his arms around her waist to pick her up and twirl her around. "I think this deserves a night out on the patio when the munchkins are in bed." It earned him another smile, and he was indeed glad that he finished his work while she was out yelling at his brother...

Which reminded him.

"And? How was my brother?"
"Day drinking in his study, I think he needs to find a hobby Raba. At least you have your work, he looks bored." Now it was his turn to act confused, merlin what did she mean?

"Bored? My brother's bored?"
"Raba if I was doing homework or out what would you do?" He thought for a moment and shrugged.

"Guess go see my mates or play with—Ah, I see what you're getting at."
"I'm just worried about him, and other than the time where he tried to put his own input on our parenting...He's relatively good with the munchkins." Rabastan shrugged at the idea, but then smiled.

"Bella isn't going to agree to it."
"What if she isn't the one to carry the child." His eyes grew tenfold with that full sentence within the air now.

"Absolutely not."
"I don't think my body can handle another pregnancy. We couldn't just pay a witch to carry the babe?" He thought for a moment and sighed.

"And what of the babe? They'd have Bella as a mother."
"They'd have enough cousins." Rabastan groaned into the air.

"Aurora he has his interests for five minutes and then moves on."
"He was brooding." Now it was his turn to roll his eyes, and it only prompted her to cross her arms.

"Love, that's just my brother. Why don't we talk about this after dinner, dry, and after you eat something. You haven't eaten much of anything for the past few days. Don't think I haven't noticed."
"And the three bottles of fire whiskey in the bin? Don't think I haven't noticed either." How was she able to do that?

How?!

She kissed the air up towards her husband and continued off towards the closet. "Our daughter stole my shoes again! I think I'll have to charm the lock, this one isn't working!" She huffed, her favorites were indeed taken, how did Halsey even know?

"But she just wants to dress like her mummy, I'll buy you new shoes love." Tilting her head did she look to her husband her hands coming to unfasten the robe's strains. And all too easily did she keep eye contact with her husband, watching him in pure amusement to fail to do the same.

The mirror behind her gave the cutting edge of her arse, and he could only salivate further.

"I believe it'll be chilly tonight, what do you think?" She purred, he stumbled with his response as she turned around to grab a nightly brasier and gown. The 3/4 sleeve would prove perfect for the late spring chill if they were going to spend some time outside.

However, she had little no preparation before her husband had her lightly pinned against the wall. "Before I lose any and all sense love, please, get dressed."

"But what's the fun in that?" Rabastan had just barely gotten a second taste of her neck when the elf popped into the room to alert that dinner was set at the table and the babes were on their way there.

"Later."
"Yes yes fine, you've worked me to an appetite Rabastan." Was she giving him a compliment to get out of his hold, indeed she was. And it worked perfectly, he even hurried to get dressed himself as he caught up with her in the hallway.

When arriving at the dinner table did Aurora smile to see that Romulus was trying to help Roe to his booster seat, only for her to scoop in to aid.

"Hold on Rommy, Cara and Roe need it cut into bits before they can eat." Halsey stopped red-handed and looked to her father, having been entirely caught for taking a bite before everyone is seated.

But Rabastan smiled and shook his head, motioning to be silent that she hadn't waited. He was very lenient on the manners at the table, though he understood why as it showed how they were at home and how they taught rules.

Roe had watched in awe as his father cut up his little pieces of pizza, and he couldn't wait another moment when shoving one in his mouth.

"Come on lad, almost done." The second son looked up to his mummy as he was still chewing the piece with it in his hand. Almost sucking on it, it took only one tilted gaze to stop his movement and put it back to the place.

"Mummy can we see Auntie Evie?" The clatter that soon started caused Aurora to chuckle.

"I'll owl her tomorrow munchkins, eat." She waved her hand and the children more or less lunged down to the cheesy goodness before them.

"Mummy did you and papa go in the pool?" Rabastan had coughed into his bite, and he had to grab the napkin on his lap and catch his breath.

"No Halsey, we took a shower before dinner. Which reminders me, it's bath night tomorrow." He watched his wife sing, and a cheer rallied at the idea of having bath time, though Rory did it herself back then...Having to bathe four of them became far too difficult without the help of one elf beside her.

"Is that..."

"The bubbly drink you had while pregnant? I didn't have the name for it, just remembered you liked it before...What are you doing?" She took the pitched off the table and placed it beside her and Rabastan as she leaned closer to him.

"It's an American beverage made by a squib." Rabastan blinked a few times, it caught him off guard yes but what was he meant to do?

"And you drank it pregnant?"
"Elizabeth sent it, if their royalty can drink it...I think it should pass the test when needed, just...Perhaps not the children?" It surprised him that she spoke like this, especially at the table and so close to the children.

But in Aurora's mind she was going to bloody hang if anyone knew that she was giving her children soda. A muggle invention.

"If you believe they shouldn't have it they won't."
"I remember hearing about it in Salem...I think Liz is with child, she's been requesting a few snacks." He chuckled as he shook his head.

"We should visit them, and I can meet this witch for myself. Get a name to the face." Aurora had to withhold her heart bursting at the seams when hearing him say that, but she denied it.

"Maybe when the children are older Raba, they live on a Hippogriff farm and...Yes Halsey I swear when we visit you could ride one." It was the second time he was taken off guard.

"A Hippogriff farm, interesting...And you'd let our daughter ride one?"
"By the time we visit she'll be at least five, and I rode one when I was nine."

"Aurora..." She smiled at his warning glare.

"I rode with a saddle if it makes any of it any better, it's not any more dangerous than riding a broom. And from what you said before, I was a brilliant flyer."

"Was, when was the last time you were on a broom?" It struck a nerve, he knew it did after watching her face the way it did.

Truth be told she hadn't gone on a broom since that practice that he himself had dragged her to attend. Or was it with Regulus after NEWTS?

It was with Regulus.

"How about we fly tomorrow, it'll be good for you to get some air and—" He lost his wife to her own indooming thoughts, and he was lucky that the children weren't able to understand their conversation all that much to really see the reaction.

"Mummy?" She sniffled, and it only caused Cara to reach out her arms in the seat beside her mum. For the rest of dinner had she remained silent, mumbling a few things to Cara, but when Rabastan tried she just looked at him through her lashes and called it another attempt.

When dinner was over did Aurora claim to need a few minutes, especially after it was two close calls during one sitting at dinner.

Note to self, do not mention Elizabeth.

They were surely going to strike a mess when they go to Salem for Halsey's education. She had high hopes and bets with Elizabeth that their children would follow their mother's intelligence enough to—

"Rory...?" Rabastan had waited on account for ten minutes until he traveled down to the gazebo to find his wife. However Omen managed to find her mum, she clearly did and presented her best efforts in comforting her.

"I didn't mean to offend you love, you've been so busy and the last thing you'd think about now is riding a broom." He thought he was being offensive...So how was she supposed to ruin the night and claim otherwise?

"It's not that Raba, I...The last time I was on, I flew with Reg." Rabastan had lost control of his jaw as he came barreling down with emotion, wrapping an arm around his wife and shushing her. All while trying to hide the fact that he too was showing emotion.

"When was this?"
"A-after NEWTS, before our date in the empty classroom...He said I looked like I needed a joyride, seemed like both of you always knew that look." Her husband soon suffocated her with his embrace, and after tonight she was far too exhausted to continue what they started in her closet.

Her being so out of practice caused her to curl up and fall asleep in his hold all too easily, but what made him truly uncomfortable was that she fell asleep with tears still promenade on her cheek.

After Rabastan had settled his wife into bed, redressing her into something comfortable and under the covers did he go to the last person he could ask for advice...It was Orion.

The sweet smell of his wife's study gave off a remembrance from her bedroom at her parent's house, somewhere where she doubts she stepped foot into since she moved here with him.

"Suppose you talked to your wife then...?" Rabastan narrowed his brows at his deceased father in law as it took him by surprised.

"Cassi spent far too much time in her study, so either it was in avoidance or you were away." 
"Neither sir, I...I thought she was with child—Yes I know, I made the foolish decision to—" 

"Has she kicked you out of the bedroom then?" Orion chuckled, though his own wife never pulled a stunt like that he didn't put it past his own daughter.

"We were discussing Elizabeth and her family in America, and I didn't know that she rode Hippogriffs when she stayed with them for the weekend...I carelessly mentioned that she hadn't ridden a broom in however long, I didn't know that the last time was with Reg." Orion bit the inside of cheek, Rabastan indeed noticed as the father leaned back to his drawn chair.

"Thinking she's with child and mentioning Regulus? Where is she now?"
"Sleeping, the munchkins were a mess at dinner." Either wizard were at a loss at the moment, and Orion finally stood from his seat and turned around...Rabastan knew he was screwed.

"Distract her from Regulus, she has come too far from her brother to retract the acceptance. Take her and the kids somewhere for the day, out of the house. I cannot see my little light wither."

"I failed the three of you, I promised to protect him when we were out on missions...Sir when Rory—When she saw him—" The father was still in a mist of understand what was plausible to say in front of the unknown Death Eater.

"What month is it?"
"Beginning of June sir, we were talking about our fourth—"

"Surprise her, please Rabastan she claims that the Dragon Pox's progress is falling behind. They're going to scrap the team if they cannot crack it." Rabastan now fell back to the seat below him, shit.

"She didn't tell me."

"Do you think she tells me? She plans out loud, she mumbles and I pretend to be asleep. Don't mention this to her, she'll be heartbroken on top of everything else." If a painting couldn't be tired, then how was Orion's sigh so telling to his being.

The two continued to talk, but their most common ground is and will ever be Aurora.

*

For the first time in a while, had Rabastan been the one to wake up alone. He didn't even have the idea of being able to serve breakfast in bed like he had planned with Orion, damn.

So instead he asked one of the elves to serve her breakfast, until the Elf said that mistress was brewing. And everyone in the room knew what that meant.

No food in the lab room. He believed even the children knew, sweet merlin forgive him as he handed her a biscuit one day in double labs, she bloody flipped.

He ventured down to the dungeon where his wife ventured off to, only to cover his nose from the fumes to see her just by the four brewing cauldrons.

A mask promenade on her face.

"Sweet Salazar, what is that—" Aurora rushed to he side and pushed a mask over his face as well.

"It's toxic at this stage Raba." Of course it is.

"I see why you shower and have work clothes, you're even sporting your smocks." She blinked behind her thick frames, and she could already tell that the fumes were making him dizzy.

"Raba, you're not used to a brewing room anymore...Go get some fresh air, these are almost done to simmer on their own." He was being kicked on, on account that he lacked the strength to stay. "You're sure this is safe?"

"Absolutely, but I cannot account for that fuzzy feeling your managing right now. That's something that's built up." He nodded and told her to meet him for lunch, poking her nose from outside the mask and wishing her luck for the rest of the morning.

The elves kept him in the loop every damn time she left her study to when she ventured downstairs to the lab.

It was close to lunch, and he doubted that Rory had a moment with the children at all today. So for the second attempt did he come and knock at the door, only for a lack of answer to follow through with another knock.

"Come in!" He could've sworn that he heard Orion mumble the word please in following the allowance into the study, and sweet merlin he should've come here before the lab.

Thinking of his father in laws words last night of the project being scrapped and move onto another. And either knew that Rory stuck to an idea until the very end.

Chaos did not label what her room had turned to, and Orion had a front-row audience to his daughter's madness. Not that Aurora looked as though she heard anything at all, there were three chalkboards now featured into the room, her desk completely packed to the brim with stacks of books and loose parchment that she had to station herself on the floor and continued to write every meticulous thought that followed before she rose up and copied it to the board.

She didn't even bother using the rag to erase, she used her sleeve against the chalk causing him to flinch at the scraping sound.

"So was it a tornado, hurricane or monsoon that's taken my wife?" He's never been ignored—No he defiantly has, but to this existent?

"She said I was breathing too loudly for her, perhaps you can knock some sense into her and take that charm off her...DON'T TOUCH HER DESK!" Orion himself was close to ripping out the pastel lines that made up his hair, gods did the late father look like a damn mess.

Rabastan jerked his hand back at the man's raise in voice, one of which the painting apologized. "Breathing too loudly?"
"Yes yes I know, and since I'm two dimensional I need you to be firm. She hasn't eaten at all." The husband itched his brow as he waited for the witch to stop her writing, but then he too got distracted on all that was before him.

"What is this nonsense?"
"The science of potion-making that wasn't bothered to be shared at Hogwarts, or that's what Cassi said before I was put on silence. Had I known there were so many damn conversions and mathematics then..." Rabastan hadn't known much else on what his wife was doing either.

The master of the house sighed and waved his wand gently to his wife to allow her audio functions to return, and she huffed as she knew what happened.

"I was just getting somewhere."
"Rory, write down the thought and step away. You know better than to fester until it comes." She mumbled an offensive curse as she continued to draw up an equation, sweet merlin what did he marry?

"Rory...Aurora. AURORA!" She turned around with a dirty glare. "What Rabastan, I'm trying to—"

"To work yes, but in the process you're giving me and your father a heart attack. Your brain's fried from this morning brewing. I want you to eat." She stared at him for a few moments and turned back. "I'm not hungry."

"Bullshite Aurora, you're too thin, you're working yourself to the bone without a moment to breathe. Literally. Now get your arse in the shower and then downstairs—"

"Raba please just two more—"

"NOW!" She flinched, but at least it had been finally broken through her skull that she needed to get something to eat.

Which caused her to drop her piece of chalk, throw off her lab coat and hurry off to the bedroom to get rid of the potion smell.

It wasn't even that quick of a shower as she knew she was being monitored, and Rabastan waited in their room at the armrest by the fireplace.

She was silent and he knew well enough that she was acting like a child who was sent to her room. Has he truly not rose his voice before? Surely he has.

Their arguments were usually on his end and what he did, but she remembered kindly now when she spoke to that Lupin man. But Rory has never done anything wrong to make him angry, it was he who had the last strike. Though he'd be damned if his wife rots away in front of the chalkboard.

"Evelyn and McNair have asked to host the twins for a night, think it's a hint that someone might be with child." The man cooed right as he rose to meet up to his wife, she was simply buttoning the front of her lounge dress, and didn't bother to stop him when he took over.

"I don't like yelling at you kitten, but you need to eat. If I see one rib pointing out I am putting you on five meals a day." She nodded, but part of it was due to her last pregnancy, Cara was...Well all of them induced a level of stress on his wife, but it was indeed the last one that imprinted on her.

Though he didn't predict her hair to turn her soft grey.
"Sweetheart, this isn't Hogwarts where others will push you to eat. I am pushing you to eat, we can even talk about what you've figured out." She leaned into him, her body close to limp. She was about twenty minutes from a nap from the way she was acting, perhaps the sandwiches a brilliant idea...However he watched his wife ask for a cup of coffee and it indeed fell back on the progress.

"What time did you wake up this morning?"
"About five." It was the first words she spoke since they left her study, she ate calmly and carefully. And just when she was about finished with the plate, he took it upon himself to pile a bit more on.

Earning him another glare.

"Am I that bad company that my wife doesn't wish to dine with me?" Her mouth parted, surely that was one direction to take it. And she pouted once realizing he was joking with her.

"Arsehole." He grinned in victory, especially after seeing Rory take a bit more of the side salad. Merlin she could eat everything before her and order more, he didn't care. Not at this point.

Why had he only just now noticed how thin she was getting?

"You have the habit of falling down a rabbit hole."
"Did you just make a muggle fairy tale reference?...Y-you've read Alice and Wonderland?" She stared, and he grinned even further. If there was one way to get his wife in attention, this was surely it.

"Not particularly, but that was your favorite read when we were in the Slytherin common room. When you would already have the assignments finished." A soft smile rallied on her tired face, her cheeks rising up further after every second.

"It drove me up the wall you know, thinking every time we'd do it together and then you'd claim it's already done."
"We had separate classes, I couldn't possibly keep it for a day." He watched her take another hefty bite of her sandwich and pick at her sides a bit.

The color was starting to come back, and she was responding to the conversation better than before. Sweet merlin was he scared before.

"So, it's almost two. I don't care what you're in the middle of, but we're eating at six." She nodded and smiled, placing her napkin down in front of her before rising to standing beside her husband.

"Thank you." It earned him a kiss to his cheek, but her watch soon started to flash. Seems like her potions downstairs are in need of attending.

"Six o'clock." She agreed and hurried down to the room in question, the amount of strain that came with his wife's motivation was damning.

But she kept to her word, returning to the table with freshly washed hair and aided all the babes when they needed it. Otherwise it was simply Cara that received all her mum's attention.

She listened intently to the munchkins on what they did today, and Romulus was all too happy to share to his mum that he made his drawing paper catch on fire.

Though his father laughed, his mom sighed into her hands.

"That sounds Slytherin." The young heir hadn't said a word other than changing his hair into the proper color of his father's house.

Earning him a solid clap.

"Mummy, can you read the Loki story?"

"I'm afraid I can't sweetheart, I have to finish up some work, but before I go to bed I'll make sure you're all tucked in." The young girl wiggled in her seat and ran off to go and play after being dismissed with her brother.

It was up to Rabastan to take Ronan and Cara, and he knew the look she was giving both himself and the kids.

"Don't love, how many times have I left for you to not have the time to work?...Go. Before your potions burn." She nodded and sprung along, the only issue was that she hadn't been given a bedtime.

And with the ordered cup of coffee was surely going to have her stay awake the entire night, sweet merlin was this an intense game a babying his wife.

Reminding her to eat wasn't easy when she hadn't been brewing as a career yet, he wondered if all the spouses dealt with this...

He'd have to ask Rose the next time they come for dinner.

◇──◇────◇────◇──◇

Date Posted: 11-22-19

Time: 10:16

Words: 8520

Family problems and trying to give myself a break from schoolwork. 
Talk about Stress. Stress. And more Stress.

I usually like chapters to be no longer than 4000-5000 words, but there was no good place to end it and the next chapter is already hectic.

So enjoy this extra extra long chapter lovelies:)