✧AN HONEST ATTEMPT OF RELAXATION✧

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Aurora hadn't been one to sleep peacefully in long while, but after soothing a broken heart and a tortured soul. The idea of finding the bed occupied behind her and a warmth that made her mind go haywire, it was indeed what brought a soft glimmer of hope into her eyes.

All she would have to do is release Rabastan.

And instead, she was greeted with a goofy grin that rallied against her own little Lorelei's toothless smile. "Goodmorning." She greeted, though she couldn't manage such a wide set of happiness as he had.

He knew she was in a rut and took her for not an early rise on the chance of having children.

"It is a good morning, I thought it was a dream that you joined me in here last night." Hey eyes fluttered and a slight blush tinted her cheeks as it had been a while that a man attempted to flirt with her, so she hid away in her pillow with her eyes peeking out.

"You tease me."
"I tease you? No I think you have it the other way around sweetheart. Coming in here in the middle of the night, demanding me like that." He couldn't keep his smile contained and she pushed forward to hide herself with his chest now.

"Is this wrong Aidan?" She whispered, a thick swallow being stuck between her throat as she propped herself up to look at him. "What is?"

           "To have feelings for you when I still love my husband?" She questioned, and although it was everything he could ask for...He knew deep down that Aurora would always house feelings for that man as he was the father of her children and her first love.

"In record of reading far too many books recommended by my sister, I think it's perfectly fine to love another. I know he will hold your heart, but I have a chance to claim the rest. Besides, if you manage to love again...Then I've succeeded." He managed a small kiss to her lips and claimed he wanted to get breakfast started, leaving her to get ready for the day...However she had been left with this odd feeling.

How much did she really love Rabastan if she already started building feelings for another?

The question festered in the back of her head as she went to her bedroom, only to miss her father's relieved sigh. It wasn't that he wanted to see his daughter move from a wizard's room, but it was indeed a step up into leaving Lestrange behind.

She joined him by locking her chin onto his shoulder and wrapping her hands around his waist, it wasn't the first time she had done this...And just thinking about the future made her believe that she would indeed not let this be the last.

"After breakfast I think I should go and talk to the priestess..." Aurora offered as Aidan found himself halfway done with his breakfast. "Rory you don't have to go straight away to—"

"I'm not doing anything more than discussing it with them and how to go about getting it." Necessary action needed to be done, and she could only hope that the bastard had seen her patronus while he was enjoying himself in Bella.

Aidan distracted her forming scowl with a gesturing kiss to her cheek, then her own lips. And before either knew it, they had managed to grow slowly more intimate. But right before they reached their peek, the small bell on the door singled that someone was coming over.

"Rory! Someone wanted to see you this morning!" Regulus cheered, his babe rightly in his arms with such care and comfort that it caused a smile to reform.

While Aidan seemingly went back to flipping some pancakes.

Regulus hadn't realized that Aidan was minding his own business over the stove, but when Saro's found his place in his aunt's arms he made his way over to the counter, leaned against it with his arms crossed.

"Morning." He offered, but Aidan knew what type of approach this was. And he smirked when he looked up to see the overprotective brother acting like this once again.

"Are you working today?" Regulus shook his head and Rory came over to save the poor American bloke.

"Good, can you watch the munchkins? I wanted to talk to the priestess."
"What?" Phoebe had indeed come at the wrong time, but a weight she didn't know she had finally risen without much of a second sentence to the conversation.

Rory wouldn't go directly to the priestess for any reason but an annulment.

"Oh! I have a present for you both!" She cheered, and Aidan found himself shaking his head back at the small feast he was created by hand and by magic.

"Phoebe, tea or coffee?"
"Grey earl if there is any left," Regulus smirked as the brits were indeed taking over the love of tea within the family, but Aurora gawked at Phoebe's joke. "Rude."

"You'd think I swore at her the way she handles her tea." Rory rolled her eyes as she held Saros closer.

"Yes, but I know how Americans treat good tea."
"Damnit Rory that was before the 1800s!"
"It was perfectly good tea!" She cheered, handing back Saros to his mummy before she hurried out to get the gift.

Regulus had tried to weed out a few hints from his sister, but she was as tight as a zipper. And Aidan wasn't providing anything close to a hint as he was above the aspect that he knew something Reg didn't.

Or that's what the young Black heir thought anyway.

"What could she possibly be painting that could take that long?" Phoebe muttered under her breath, and Aidan continued to sip his coffee. Having been the only one to drink it on this side of the property, and before long Rory returned with the large canvas as she placed it on her stand.

She came over to her brother and kissed his cheek. "I meant to have it done before Saros came..."
"That's alright, I'm sure it's wonderful." Phoebe came closer and was unaware of what the picture featured as she was just staring at her husband coming into tears.

"Rory..." Reg gasped, and she smiled in victory with a silently kiss to her temple from Aidan.

"See...Nothing to be worried about." He cooed, and Rory watched in a mistaken excitement as she watched her brother fawn over the likes of Saros on the family tree.

"When Saros gets a sibling I'll add them on, I left room on the tree for—"
"AURORA!" Rory held her hands up in defense and an amused grin.

"Please Pheebs, do you only want one little munchkin?" Regulus turned his gaze for a moment, he wasn't sure on the answer, but now he was completely second-guessing his wife's desires.

"I—I mean no...But he's still so young."
"All I'm saying is I left plenty of room." Aidan snorted in the background.

"Think you're pushing them a bit hard sweetheart, come on...Breakfast is set." He simmered the conversation, but that didn't stop Regulus from thanking his sister with a smothering hug.

"Can I get Lorelei?" He beamed, and Rory agreed as she gave Phoebe a moment to settle the high chairs for the impending babies.
"Oh yes yes darling shsh, look there's your mummy. She's right there, come now it's uncle Reggie." Aurora rolled her eyes.
"It's pointless Reg, she's teething." Regulus pouted as he always took a loud offense to the children crying in his mists.

Breakfest soon was overrun by the exciting crowd of children who wanted to play with the babies who rightly didn't want anything to do with them.

"Ah ah! Your mummy has a few errands to run, how about we all go to the park!" Regulus was indeed living up to his goal in wanting to be the cool uncle and on either side of the family had he accomplished that.

Even if Elizabeth wanted her children studying.

"Come now Liz, they'll have enough when they start in the fall." It was Aurora's voice against hers as she sent the most kids in the capable hands of Regulus in Phoebe, even adding Paige, Lorelei and Saros to the mix.
Nine children.

Aidan had walked her to the Sanctuary and gave her a motivational kiss to her temple. "Today isn't about making the choice sunshine, just knowing your options will be enough." She held onto his hand squeezed it, she wanted him to know how much he affected her ability to keep moving on.

Of course there was the children, but they didn't push her academically.

And Aurora needed this academical stature in her life, the Ravenclaw in her thrived in that faction.

Rory soon found herself in the lofted ceiling of the Sanctuary and was greeted by one of the many witches that tended to it in their spare time, and they guided her to the priestess. The same one who had welcomed Aurora with open arms, and it was indeed a blessing not having to repeat the story.

"I understand your hesitation child, but an annulment is granted when there is a reason. And you have them and beyond, you have every right to continue with the following steps." Aurora choked on her thought after seeing the parchment, it horrified her, it ripped her soul in two...And it caused the priestess to frown.

"Let me see you hand." Aurora placed both in front of the elder witch and after reading the lines on her palms it was clear to the woman that an annulment wasn't in her future.

"You cannot accept it, why?"
"My children." Understanding washed over and it began a conversation on the little munchkins enjoying the park, not knowing what their mummy was doing.

"Your youngest is coming up on a year old, do you plan on giving her a blessing ceremony?" Complete and utter shock washed over the young mother.

"I hadn't realized that was a thing." She muttered to herself, feeling like a second failure all over again.
"Not to worry, we have different types all over the country, your oldest are five...There is no age limit." A sigh of relief instigated the guilt in that regard, but it was still there.

Especially when she mentioned her growing relationship with Mr.Proctor.

"Are you seeking approval or a denial? Would whatever I say changes things between you and Mr.Proctor."
"It's wrong to start loving someone after everything that happened at home, but he makes me happy. And safe, and he hasn't abandoned me. He's persistent in being kind and I can't say that Rabastan wasn't the same, but our love was childish. Our love was build on the foundation that he is and always will be a Death Eater." Tears settled the debate, and Piper did not need anymore of the story to know that Aurora would abandon her husband. But perhaps there is something she could do.

"Couples who don't want an annulment of the soul look for other alternatives, and in your case it would not be recommended considering the two of you are soul mates—Yes, your soul is beaten and torn to feel his betrayal from this great a distance. Let me see your engagement ring." Aurora followed in the task, and the woman waved her wand over the band, causing the crystal to shine an obnoxious yellow before silencing.

"What—What has—"
"Your soul and his has been silenced from another, it is a placement before an annulment. Considering the distance between the two it's the best option. An annulment is for two people who come to an agreement to end the relationship, this would be barely on one side as you aren't fully committed." Aurora's shoulders shrunk, but she felt rather better in feeling her soul undisturbed by Rabastan's torture and betrayal.

"Mr.Proctor is a kind man Mrs.Lestrange, let him treat you. And owl me about your children, we can bless them all together." Aurora cried her dozen mumbles of appreciation, and although she left completely better than when she arrived.

She still didn't want to return home just yet, instead she relished the idea of being connected but muted. She could feel him deep in her heart, but she had to dig. It wasn't completely active it'd seem...

Would she feel it if he passed? Would she find out from an Owl?

The questions only made her sick to her stomach, she walked aimlessly through a small muggle town, the tourists completely infatuated with the idea of witchcraft and the horrors that happened in this town. And while those in the magical community worshipped it to the ends of their days, these muggles walked carelessly in the graves of her ancestors.

And yet muggles were still treated differently than her homeland, she watched the different shifts in Aurors as they guarded the resting place. Even going so far as to clean the area and making sure its spotless, and it caused Aurora to offer a smile and a nod.

It wasn't the first time she had entered these grounds, but she found the grave of Aidan's family line. She looked both ways for a moment and allowed a small white reef to sprout from her wand.

She allowed a moment or two in front of a forgotten family member, though it was indeed in good shape...Or rather it looked that way until she tilted her head—The magic had a bit of age to it.

The graves were in beautiful condition as they were up to keep, while for muggles they were allowed to fade.

"John Proctor was born in Suffolk, England. When he was just three years old, his parents brought their family to America. They sailed from London, England on April 12th,1635 on a ship called the Susan and Ellen...Initial accusations were aimed at Proctor's third wife, Elizabeth. When he began to defend her and vocally express his disbelief in the accusers, fingers were then pointed at him as well. Although Abigail Williams was John Proctor's chief accuser, he was also named by Mary Walcott, who stated he tried to choke her and by his former servant Mary Warren on April 21..."

"Look, it's one of those sympathizers." Aurora didn't have to turn her gaze to know an elder muggle had spoken, and she met the frown of one of the many Auror's in the area.

"I believe even in the christian religion that saying anything ill on someone's grave will lead to bad karma." She smiled politely, raising her feet to see the entire tour group's eyes on her now.

"What did you just say to me?" The woman fired back, full in an American accent that made Rory grown even further. "Do you wear that cross on your neck as a symbol of your religion or because it's a pretty precedent...And if it's the ladder, let me share you a verse... "Do to others as you would have them do to you." (Luke 6:31) So unless you'd like me to walk on your grave with the same attitude, I suggest you follow this actual historical story on American history, Ma'am." Aurora might have missed it, but the tour guide had indeed been fighting back a grin.

The half blood was simply conducting these tours as a summer job in between Ilvermorny and flickered his own gaze to Auros...And he too frowned as the two made their way over to her.

Out of all the people they stopped, she was his indeed his favorite.

"Ma'am...We're going to have to write—" She dulled her eyes as she turned to see the young Aurors. This was indeed the basic level starting tasks for them as they were indeed freshly graduating from the academy.

"Hm, right then. When do you need?"
"Identification and wand." She perked her lips and thanked the gods that Aidan made her take her purse, how he knew she'd get into trouble was beyond her at the moment.

"Y-you're Aurora Lestrange?" The boy buckled, and she was downright confused to the look the young lad was giving her.
"I don't have another American identification but if you need my Brit—" He shook his head and held out his hand. "Gods bless you ma'am, you saved my ma's life." Aurora had been completely taken back by the sudden shift in conversation.

"Of course darling, spend near a year trying to crack it." She smiled softly to her hard work, would it truly get her out of a ticket.

Her eyes widened at the sudden tear of paper as she slightly flinched at the sound. "Dude what are you doing?"
"Captain is going to hang me upside down if I give her a ticket!" Aurora was stuck in a predicament and shook her head.

"No darling, I don't want you getting in trouble for me."
"But we won't be getting in trouble, and besides...You didn't outright say anything wrong." Aurora let out a troubled sigh, and she looked to the second Auror who indeed look out of place.

"I rather your Captain decide that hun." She offered, and the two didn't mind the break of taking the young woman to their boss.

It wasn't that fair either, it was in the alleyway of one of the many stores that solid the rejects of the wizarding world. All the unchangeable crystals that found their way into them, as if the muggles would know that they were second-hand dumping grounds.

Rory caught the strange glances between her and two escorting her that followed from since the moment they entered.

"Seems like Jackson got a babe this time, maybe I should've patrolled the cemetery today." Aurora smirked at the Auora, it wasn't that she laughed at the law force here. But there was an extreme difference between her ministry and theirs.

They didn't have Death Eaters to capture, and Grindwarld hardly counted all those years ago.

"Jackson, what's that bloke's name off in the corner making googly eyes my way. I'd like to write a complaint." The newbies suddenly drew their shoulders up in fear of their veteran coworkers being threatened by this woman, and that hyped up her attention tenfold.

"Think you heard me wrong ma'am."
"Ah, and a lair." She rolled her eyes and continued to the following to the captain's office, but was stopped the calling of Jackson's superior.

"Just a comment at the cemetery Lennox."
"A comment? That's a ticket, not a meeting with the Cap. What'd she really do?" Aurora snickered.

"Ah, judgement of character. What do you think I did Lennox?" To be fair, Aurora had a line of crimes under her belt. But Aurora tilted her head down and continued off without another word to Lennox.

"Sir, there was a small argument in the cemetery. And I was going to pass it off but she insisted to come talk with you." There was a crowd forming, and so the Captain had slammed the door closed with a whip of his wand.

Noting harshly that the woman did not flinch in the slightest.

"You don't have the levels to clear any one of anything, even a misdemenor." He swipped, and Aurora offered up her credentials and her wand.

The captain chuckled as he read through the half-written report before settling it with his hands. "Mrs.Lestrange, a pleasure to meet you."
"Under the circumstances I doubt it's truly a pleasure sir, what's the fine for—"
"A fine? Ha! As if I could throw a misdemeanor you way. What is a No-Maj going to do?" The captain continued to laugh, as the two had written what she said to the muggle.

He couldn't stop rereading it.

"What brings you to this part of Salem?"
"Exploring, though I should stay far from those muggle tourist gatherings." The two young Aurors smiled at the term she used, it was indeed a foreign word for them.

"Muggles. Right. Haven't heard that in a while. You run into any trouble Ma'am, you call on me. Helped a good number of people in these parts, and I hear you're on the Salem Committee."

"You're correct, I was visiting Proctor's grave. He was trialed and accused, the school should allow wizards as well." It wasn't that she needed to pitch the idea anymore, it was already in the works and ready to start this coming semester.

"Damn good thing you're doing for a newcomer, Jackson, walk her out...Remember what I said, ma'am. Anything at all." It was an extremely beautiful thing to know that people hadn't seen her as Rabastan Lestrange's wife.

Or Wife of a Death Eater.

In America she was her own person, and as she was returning down the street back to the cemetery for the lads to continue their shift. Aurora peeked down at her ring.

She would be free from the obligations of a Death Eaters wife...Perhaps everyone around her was right, taking a break would be ideal.

*

"What do you bloody mean you're taking the children for a week?!" She screamed, and Regulus sighed in his hands once again. As if the first four times would've been enough to explain what was happening.

"You. Vacation. One week. What part is so damn confusing Aurora?!"
"The fact that a vacation should be made by the person who is going! Not being dictated by someone else!" She shouted back, and Regulus groaned to the ceiling.

"Gods please—"
"The gods aren't helping you Regulus, what are you up to?" He sighed lowly before having to yank at his locks roughly. "Is it so hard for you to go on vacation Aurora, merlin it's seven days."

"But why?!" Her stubbornness was surely showing now, and Aidan had finally walked out with two suitcases.

"Because when the fall semester comes up we are going to be working. Does that answer your question?" She scowled at Aidan and he shrugged as he hadn't rightly done anything.

"Do you want to pack or does Phoebe have to?"
"I don't want to go!"

"That's not an option love, when was the last time you went on a vacation?" Regulus' question made the room silent as Aurora looked down to her feet.

She's never had a vacation.

Aidan stared at her, wanting to hear that she went somewhere, anywhere for herself. And when she opened her mouth for a moment, Regulus called her out.

"Germany and France do not count Aurora." Her lips aligned as she shook her head.

"You've never had a vacation?"

"I came to Salem that summer for—" Aidan would've arranged this weeks ago had he know this was the truth.

"Sweetheart that was an academic trip, you really haven't had a vacation before?" Regulus closed his eyes in regret, it was entirely the truth. And it wasn't like he was the best tour guide in this instant.

"Scratch that, we're going for two weeks."
"We? Two weeks?! You two are ganging up on me! That's not fair!" She shrieked, and Aidan simply kissed her cheek.

"I never claimed I was fair, but let this be a fun vacation. You said you wanted to go to Arizona? Or New York, you don't have to worry about the children." Aurora looked terribly out of place having to be demanded to do something like this.

"But Lorelei is too young."
"And you'd say that if she was two. Sweetheart, do something for yourself for once in your life." Regulus had taken another stab to the chest, when has Rory done anything for herself.

The only thing he could list off the top of his head was her playing Quidditch. But did that even count? He didn't play for himself. He played to play.

"Two weeks, and if anything is wrong I'll send a patronus. You're a fireplace away Rory." She turned her gaze off to Aidan in a sense of pointing fingers.

"This was your idea."
"Hm, because you haven't left Mass since the ministry wanted to talk to you. Now pack, we're leaving tomorrow morning." Fear wracked into her mind as she thought Romulus was going to protest.

But the lad was completely fine, especially when he made sure that Aidan was going to watch out for their mum. His trust in the wizard was on good judgment.

Though Ronan did not like him. Because he wasn't papa.

Rory spent the night with her children alone as she promised to get the goodies from her trip, and although they asked if they could join. She just distracted them with a kiss on the cheek and claimed that Loki and Nymeria needed to be looked after.

"And Omen?"
"Of course, Omen too. Maybe she'll go and cuddle with Lorelei again." The kiddos giggled and squirmed, and it was breathtakingly astonishing in having to pull Aurora away from her herd of children.

Aidan felt partially bad in taking her without much of a warning, but after a few hours without looking over her shoulder for the babes, it rendered the to have a wonderful time.

It wasn't that her honeymoon didn't count as a vacation, it had in her mind. But her and Rabastan hadn't left the house to venture out, and so she decided that once the kids were older she wanted to travel a little with them.

This was indeed a pet up from her slamming her foot down on the ground in protest of the trip, and although she felt a little uncomfortable with Aidan's presence. The two fell into sync not long after their arrival in Florida.

Then Arizona, then California, Washington, Philadelphia...The magical communities differ from each other in every region they visited, the rules held differently. But Aidan knew exactly what would interest her, some muggle museums that laid rest of the facts of dinosaurs. As Rory remembers kindly recalled asking Aidan is one of the few letters they shared throughout their time at Hogwarts and Ilvermorny.

But Aurora favored the most, was the beach.

The closest beach she had ever been to was the small pockets of sand near lakes, and it was clear evidence to her not wanting to leave that caused Aidan to smile even brighter.

The company was entertaining as ever, it was horrible for her to compare him to Rabastan every now and again, but by the first week she stopped.

He is not Rabastan.

Rabastan is the one who cheated. Not Aidan.

And even in that, whatever hotel room they stayed at. He always asked for two separate beds, not implying anything at all. And even though they slept side by side a few nights, he still never sought out what she thought he would.

He never imposed himself.

The two weeks flew by and Aurora realized that it was needed. Her body demanded a break, to experience the world away from the contents of a book.

When Aurora returned, Regulus had seen the happiness radiate off right beside the taness of her skin. The woman was exhausted when she returned, but Aidan made sure to report all that was needed and relayed that she definitely needed to go to the beach again.

Romulus had snuck into his mummy's bed, much like Cara had with Regulus and Phoebe that caused Rory to laugh as she snuggled the lil girl.

"How was everything here Rommy?" She whispered half-awake and the babe kissed his mum's cheek. "Lori missed you a lot, and Ronan didn't know where you were." She should have to make sure that she spent extra time with the kiddos, so she nudged Romulus to go and get Ronan to cuddle as well.

Ronan had little opportunity to that, and since she fell asleep so early on her children so Ronan curled out rightly on top of his mummy as Romulus had.

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Date Posted: 01-17-20

Time: 3:04

Words: 4771

The priestess has spoken! No divorce for Madam Lestrange. 

I had a lot of fun writing this chapter:)
What are your thoughts on this chapter and the last?

Silencing the soul will stop the dementor attacks from transferring to Aurora's and gives her an overall break from feeling everything Rabastan is feeling. And what everyone is scared/worried for is if he finally dies...As it's unknown what would happen Rory if that happens.

But we all know better.