✧SUSPICIOUS ACTIVITY✧

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TWO MONTHS LATER:

It was a down pat work pattern, both Aurora and Rabastan had created a schedule so that they could work amicable and return home around the same time. The children could occupy themselves for hours on end, and usually it was Evelyn that would watch them a few times a week if she was asked or volunteered.

They did like their Auntie Evie, and she herself wanted to get used to being around children as she and Walden were trying for one.

A frown rendered on Aurora face as she worked, she and Amelia hadn't rightly made amends fully. Of course it started another argument, saying that she's forgiven Rabastan for much worse.

Avery apologized on behalf of his wife, because shocker to them all.
She's pregnant.

It was the middle ground that Aurora sent her potions to battle the symptoms, and to send Izzy post-pregnancy sap. It was a blessing that they had a friend who battled pregnancy a few times to prepare little milestones and changes throughout.

Unfortunately today was an off day and to continue to remain on schedule would she have to stay extra, not that she was all that worried. She was just slightly overworked and tired, Otto suggested that she herself take a break more often than the rest, but she saw that as special treatment and denied.

Her intermission had been at lunch, where she returned home to tell Rabastan that it would be a late day.
Hopefully by dinner they would recover what was lost.

"Ahh, see Roe. Mummy was just running a little late." Aurora hummed as she closed her eyes.

"Running late and running behind, set back at the labs." She kissed both of her boys cheeks before swiping Roe's nose.

"Everything alright?" A tired sigh released from her lungs as she nodded.

"Yeah, the research turned out to be a failure though. We have to revisit a few steps which takes a while, hopefully it's not that much overtime." He couldn't be all that disappointed, instead he leaned in and kissed her crown. Ignoring the ingestive burning that imprinted onto his wife.

Though it was her wrist that caught his attention, immediately caused him to put Ronan down and uncover her sleeve. "What is this?" An uncomfortable hiss rallied as the burn was still slightly fresh in terms of today, so she pulled away from his grip.

"Otto already babied me, I'm fine...Just a light burn, sap is already working its magic."

"Mummy is hurt? Mummy I put booboo in pocket." It was a small trick she started with her munchkins if they hurt themselves, and so she bent down to Roe and offered her arm.

He held out both his hands and put it into his pants pocket before kissing the bandage. Goddess she didn't want to leave.

"Oh Roe you make it so hard to leave...I just want to snuggle you sensibly."
"Snuggle!"

"Tonight, when I get home and shower." Rabastan watched with softened eyes as he watched the love of his life with his youngest son.

"Bath! Bath!"

"How about I take you in the pool Roe?" His father offered, and that seemed to settle what would happen after lunchtime.

"And? How is my wife doing figuring out dragon poxs?" She smiled brightly and nodded.

"Otto thinks we're close, it was enough to bring him out of retirement." Rabastan had to withhold an eye roll, the illness was in it's prime sure, but Lestrange had reason to believe he simply wanted to work beside his favorite student.

It was strange to think of how long the both of them had known Otto. Introduced durning their OWLS to now? Merlin. Turning close to six years now, course he would revive out of retirement if it meant Aurora beside him.

Rabastan was grateful that his wife had this opportunity, as it seemed like just yesterday that she was in the library of Hogwarts worrying her little head off about being able to work.

He made sure that the burn was dressed once again before allowing her to leave back to labs, he was excited to see actual progress to his wife.
Aurora Lestrange, second Order of Merlin.

But simply returning from the pool with his children as they were recharging with a collective nap, he had been surprised with what could be the worst bit of mail in his life.

Now he understood how Rory had made a scene in the great hall with her Uncle Alffie, it was enough to have his knees buckle and fall.

Loki had been close by and rushed to his side to make sure that he was alright, licking the tears that were streaming down the likes of his face already.

His mother died.
The funeral would be tomorrow.

Something was sickly wrong, he felt it in his gut. Working on autopilot had he called McNair, the wizard had answered the call far too quickly as he stride into his mate's manor and looked about.

Not in the snake den, or dining room. Must be in the study. The newly married man continued through only to still at how...thick the air was.

"Bass'? You alright mate?" He was far too unresponsive, and in the midst of it all had McNair panicked as he picked up the parcel that was beside his friend. It was known that Aurora took the job with her former professor, a potion accident was not at all what the family needed.

Was it an explosion?
No. But it wasn't much better.

"Bass'...Mate I'm sorry." The empathy was decent, but what the man needed was his wife, and sure enough McNair could accomplish that.

However he continued to read through the parcel and frowned.

Why would the funeral be tomorrow? That'd mean she died—

"I'll get Rory, she's at the academy still right?" The wizard hadn't replied and so he questioned an elf to get the proper location.

It was an extension of the academy yes, but it was a nightmare of a maze for him to get through. Only to find out that he had to request to see her, he hadn't realized how utterly private labs were.

Suppose they don't want anything leaked.

"Yes, I'm here for Aurora Lestrange."

"Ah, Mistress Lestrange is in lab 203, I'll retrieve her sir." He nodded and waited patiently, perhaps it'd be better to ask for privacy, as the place seemed to be bustling throughout.

"McNair? Is—Is everything alright? Is...Is it Raba or Evel—" The man had taken her by the shoulders and led her to a less crowded hallway. He took in her attire straight away, though her signature style was underneath, a lab cloak had been protecting her arms, as well as small pockets to assemble booklets, in addition. To a side belt filled with what he could only assume to the ingredients she needed at a moments time.

"It's his mother." Her eyes rose tenfold as she tried to digest all that had been shared. But every time she tried to open her mouth to say something it turned into a static of silence.

"How about you take me to Otto or whomever, I'll explain it and we'll head to your manor? How does that sound?" It was a delayed nod, but it was all the more strange to see how soft McNair had turned due to him being married.

It was safe to say that he worse his wedding band with pride.

He was led on almost autopilot as his friend walked through the maze, and before he knew it he was introduced to the team of wizards that looked to him oddly.

"Ah, Mister Lestrange it's so—" McNair shook his head, pulling the lad close and asked to where Otto might be. He took Mrs.Lestrange to sit down, but the poor woman was so close to tears that he worried that saying anything at all would cause her to fall apart.

McNair had taken all but two sentences before Otto knew what was happening, he sent the two home with a set of calming potions.

They would surely need to be used after what just occured, the permanent frown on his pupil's face was already causing him to grow guilty.

Her friend promised to escort her safety as well as keep him updated, Otto knew much more about Mrs.Lestrange than one would think. But in simply entering her home once again that made her feel shallow feeling of death.

Hadn't they been faced with enough?

McNair was thankful that his mate managed to get to a chair, but Rory rushing over to sit at the table in front of him. Her hands pulling his down and away from his face. Sweet Merlin was her mind in a whirlwind, it wasn't often that she picked up on people's emotions or thoughts, but her teachings were giving her a run as he was too open.

"McNair, I hate to ask anything more of you...But could you get Rodolphus? And perhaps Evelyn to watch the children just for a few—"

"Of course, we'll stay the night if it makes it easier?" She smiled and agreed at the idea to have the house occupied.

Clarissa Lestrange had passed, but now she was struggling to understand the sketchiness of the situation.

Why and how is the funeral tomorrow?

"Where is their father—" 

"Father isn't home." Aurora turned around to see her brother storming down the hallway, he too was in a fit of anger.

For someone who wreaked of death, one could assume they wouldn't be so affected by a close relative dying. But he had taken the little bit of comfort from his little sister, kissing her forehead and sighing further.

"Where is he?" He was silent, looking at McNair for a few moments before he understood that it was not for his ears.
"Roloph? What is going on? Why was the parcel sent today?" The two Lestrange sons were not proud of their father's actions, nor the way they treated their mother throughout the marriage...But there was nothing they themselves could do.

That was their father and still the head of the Lestrange title until his death.

"Has Rabastan told you...About the Selwyn's?" Aurora shook her head. "I figured it out on my own, your father was protective of Lydia, suppose Raba wanted to protect me." As she finished her thought her eyes blinked open, she began to step away as she shook her head.

"Please...Please tell me your father has more respect than to go to another woman's bed." He was blessed to see his sister grow angry, it made him relived that she thought the same.

"Where is he." She growled, almost moving to surpass and head straight to the Selwyn manor. However she hadn't gotten far as he gripped her shoulders tighter.

"Cassi, I urge you to be careful. He's—"

"I continued the Lestrange line, if he thinks he can see the children when acting like that? He's in store for another shock." Rodolphus took the task in telling Rabastan what was happening and when Clarissa had died.

As well as what Linda Selwyn had to do with all of this.

Rory was pacing outside her husband's study, but the second she heard shattered glass all promises to stay out had flown out the window.

"Raba please...I—"

"Aurora. Leave." A quick stab poked through her heart at how darkly Rabastan had spoken to her. She looked to see Rodolphus glance in her direction and then to the door, perhaps it was the smart choice to leave.

But however smart the Ravenclaw might be, she wouldn't listen to her gut. Instead when she caught his eyes, his red and swollen eyes that made it too easy to peek through to see his thoughts.

"You're wrong...I don't think of you any differently because of your father." Rodolphus gawked, and it was Rabastan to curled his fist.

"Get out of my head."
"I don't need to look, I can feel it outside the bloody door! Raba, you proved yourself time and time again. Your father being unfaithful is—"

"IT'S A DISGRACE!" Aurora flinched as another bottle of fire-whiskey had met their unfortunate end.

"Brother you heard it from her, this isn't about father...This is about mother."
"And our future step-mother." Anger blossomed and coursed through her veins as her hair turned grey at hearing it.

Linda was going to join the family.

"She might join the family, but that doesn't mean it forces your acceptance. Either of you."

"How about it takes away from our children, our name...Another son?" Aurora slammed her hands on the table as her point was not getting across.

"Rabastan you are not your father, you are not just a Lestrange. Linda is not replacing your mother, and Lydia is not replacing you." Rodolphus agreed with a grumble, he knew his little brother was attached to their mum.

But with this marriage, it would mean that Lydia would be claimed.
Lydia Lestrange.

"We are going to the funeral tomorrow and ignore your father, because anything he does to you, he does to our children. What would he look like in disowning the next generation?" The tactics were deep, Aurora had grown in power and popularity in birthing so many children so quickly.

Her job is done and now she would control her bloody household if it's the last thing she does.

She came to his side for a moment and planted a kiss to his cheek before whispering in his ear: He's a foolish man.

Rodolphus had smiled lightly as his sister left the room.

"Your wife is right, Bella and her hold more power than Linda ever will. She's—"

"I don't want to look at her or Lyida. Rory is already attached to our—Sister." Either turned sour at the mention of their half-sister, her impurity was giving damage to their image.

And Bella was certainly unhappy in hearing this dramatic twist.

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Date Posted: 11-14-19

Time: 10:20

Words: 2361