✧REPERCUSSIONS AND PROJECTIONS✧

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Aurora had been attempting to get the manor ready for Regulus' stay, their mother and father were still away for a trip in Germany enjoying the freedom of having older children.

Currently she was just preparing Regulus' room by throwing the given pillows while mumbling a few phrases as that was the best type of studying, when she was productive in two senses.

"Knock, knock?" She turned her attention off towards Avery. 

"Oh Merlin what did Amelia do now?" Was she spoke, turning back to her task.

"Nothing, the Mrs is being summoned." That popped her attention straight away as she looked down to her dress. 

"Two minutes?" He hicked up his breath and she instantly ran out of the room.

"I really mean two minutes!" He chuckled, one thing about Aurora was that she actually meant the time she said. And good thing too, as this calling wasn't entirely a fair or honest one.

She came out with a warm cloak over her shoulders and continued off with Avery to the given location. And there Rabastan had been waiting with a grim face plastered over.

What the Dark Lord had noticed in Rabastan's mind, among other things, was the honesty his wife had shown him in sharing what had happened during the last meeting.

Curiosity had gotten the better of him, and so he dug further. Seeing Cassiopeia in such a state of bareness caused more of a reaction than what Bellatrix had ever offered, and this was an image.

A mere memory had gotten another bloody beat from this soulless beast.

"Ahh...Cassiopeia, so good of you to join us." 

"I'm sorry I'm late my Lord...Am I interrupting?" She flinched at her rudeness as this could result in a punishment.

"Not at all, we were just in the midst of discussing your latest vision." She struggled with the swallow as she continued to come closer and offer a proper bow.

 "It seems...That loyalties have come cross between two of my most faithful servants." Rabastan closed his eyes, hoping—Praying that no harm would come to his wife.

"Of course not my Lord, Rabastan has been at my side throughout the visions of our marriage. He knows not to share something of that extent." The Dark Lord continued to pace before the couple, but it was hopeless.
Mr.Lestrange knew what was going to be next.

"No...Not with the adorable conversation the two newlyweds found in...A bath was it?" Aurora felt naked, more than naked...But she wracked the conversation in her brain and she too prayed silently whether or not it was convincing in the light of a Death Eater than an Order member.

"Yes...He shared his mind with me, would you do the same...To prove your loyalty?" She straightened her chin and went straight ahead, out of all the years of managing to learn and protect her thoughts...Here she was.

It was finally being put to the test.

The Dark Lord took a rather affectionate hold to her cheek to settle her eyes in place. And though he had sought out the same conversation, he wanted her thoughts that followed in pursuit.

However the ones provided were false, jumbled with spur of the moment ideas to keep the dark lord interest alive in this area than others.

"Afraid your child will be one that you spoke of are you?" He caught it within a flash, and Aurora didn't break apart from the connection. 

"No my Lord. Not anymore." She retained herself from making the future promises, as she knew in her heart and soul that her child will have their own destiny.

"This is not to be mentioned...to anyone. Nor the blessing that your wife has received on being our beloved seer." Aurora swallowed once again, the struggle of the situation still wallowing in her stomach, especially when she had seen Voldemort's wand.

"Step aside Cassiopeia." Aurora instantly took to the offered side, but it was barely a warning as Rabastan had instantly taken a knee down in agony.

His yells of pain met Aurora's ears as she closed her eyes, allowing the tears to flow. Nothing of Dumbledore's teachings had proven to work here at this moment either as she watched the love of her life begging for trust.

"Crucio!" Her wand hand was twitching to enact, but this was not the time to be heroic. If the prophet she's foretold hinted anything, it is not her that will vanquish him.

A child will. A new generation.

"I will not fail you, my Lord...Neither will not my wife, we promise." Aurora bowned her head in submission once again as she spoke of a similar phrase though it was a kinder version.

"Prepare your birds Cassiopeia, I will be needing them for an important mission, our armies need to gain...Dismissed." With that Aurora hand instantly gone to her fallen husband and aid him to his feet.

It was a sick reality, just a few days had he had to do the same. But what was worse was the wondering eyes, causing Rabastan to fake his walk without a limp.

However Aurora took the chance in transporting them both back to the manor.
But she had been more direct, instead of just the foyer she went straight to the bathroom and stripped Rabastan clear of any clothes. 

As he soaked in the steaming tub Aurora searched the cabinets for the damn potion she had whipped up just for this occasion.

"Here, love...Take this." He yanked it out of her hold and downed its contents within the moment.
But once it started to spread through his body, he interlocked his fingers to hers in a sense of an apology.

Rabastan knew why he was punished, it was to ensure a reminder of what would happen if he went against the Dark Lord.
Voldemort wasn't above hurting women, but the look of pure agony that prominently took over Aurora's face was giving him another reason to fight.

"I'm alright. I swear it." She shook her head again, taking his hands and giving soft kisses across his knuckles. "Who did you tell?" 

"Not a soul Rory, I promise. If they ever find out about your abilities..." Aurora placed her forehead down to his head and sighed in defeat. She was blessed with a gift she did not want, but it took her out of the tortured punishment.

The Dark Lord managed two birds with one stone.

Literally.

That night he forced her to take a sleeping drought, knowing full well her final exam tomorrow would need her utmost attention. And to top it all of she wanted to miss it that morning to take care of her husband.

"Cassiopeia if you don't leave right now I am dragging you straight into the building myself!" Another flash pain struck across her face as she heard well enough. She nodded and went to grab her cloak.

Though he stopped her and took his natural place behind her, his head locking down on her shoulder. 

"You need to do this, with a clear mind Rory...This is your dream, yours, it has nothing to do with the Dark Lord or his actions. He knows our loyalty, now go...Become the youngest potion mistress in history." Her head issued back and it gave her enough support to kiss his cheek.

"...And when you return home..." His husk whisper just beside her ear had her shoulders hitch and a giggle commence.

All she would have to do is get through today, today and then the teachings in Salem within the few weeks to come.

Wishing her luck one more time did he watch with a smile that vanished the second her green flame had ceased. Cursing up a storm until he found his haven in his study.

His wife was afraid for their children being the ones to fulfill the prophecy, but he couldn't rightly believe it.

No, he wouldn't believe it.

He could rightly believe why Rory would believe it, she was the one with the riddle so what did it mean?

Why did she get it?

None of his mates questioned what it was about as it was more or less obvious with one glance, but what did shock him was the fact that Aurora returned home and didn't come straight away to show him her grades.

"Rory?" He had been informed by the elves if they should begin a celebratory early dinner for their masters and it was a struggling notion as he worried about the outcome.

Sitting beside her on the couch did he take a reach for the paper, slightly crumbled but never the less legible.

She passed.

Of course she passed, he never doubted her for a moment.

"Love, you did it." 

"I thought I'd be happier than this Raba, I don't think it was worth all the aggravation and—and going blind for—" He stopped her thoughts with a kiss, a quick and gentle kiss as he held her in place to receive his affection.

"You're about to conquer your dreams Aurora, this is the beginning of it...When you visit Salem you'll see, please love don't cry." It tore him to bits seeing his wife visibly saddened, had last night made her afraid of wanting something?

In truth, it had.

It wasn't common but they had lost a few Death Eaters quiet recently, from both Order and Aurors. But what was she to do if she lost Rabastan?
Mrs.Lestrange, childless and a widow.

"Why aren't you happy love?" Because I'm a liar and I've deceived you all. 

She sniffled and found the crook of his neck in finding comfort. 

"I can't control being a seer, and seeing you like that Raba..." He caught her cheeks into his hold to settle this once and for all. 

"Rory, he was being thorough, it's an important warning that you've shared with him. We rose more than we fell." She nodded, had she dodged the question?

Because that would be too much on her soul to lie further...

Rabastan knew she was far from being in the mood, so he humored her instead. The early dinner he had ordered was out in the charmed gazebo, where they could still get the sense of the outdoors and openness.

Reg would be coming in a few short days and it was that reminder that brought her spirits up, her brother was the key to her happiness, support...And he knew why, but he wanted to know more.

What happened in the Black manor usually stays in the Black manor, but what else lurked beyond Aurora's limited portion sizes?

He was going to interrogate the brother indefinitely, out of not wanting to bring it up with his wife and so on.

The only issue is that the day couldn't come fast enough, it wasn't that Aurora was mopping...Or perhaps something was indeed wrong, she just looked plainly out of it.

Not wanting to worry her own husband, she thought she felt rather ill. Granted it could be the stress finally getting to her, because after that conversation an hour following her exam she threw up.

Whatever came from breakfast, it came right back on up and she could barely entertain the thought of dinner had she not taken a potion to settle the nausea.

It should've clicked the next morning when it returned, or the morning following. But it stopped on the third day as it was pushed to the back of Aurora's mind when she arrived at platform 9 3/4 alongside her father.

They stood in the same spot in which they've claimed for the past seven years, and though it felt odd to be awaiting the oncoming train...It surely felt like an accomplishment. 

"Miss it?" Her father nudged at his daughter's growing smile.

"Of course, and I bet you'd say the same...Something about Hogwarts is a little timeless." Orion had chuckled at the notion of his little Ravenclaw being so optimistic and revolutionary, but it was nice to have pleasant company rather than his wife standing beside him.

The two always struck conversation with ease, and he was more than delighted to know that his daughter would be returning to Salem to teaching the kiddies oversea as a sort of capstone project.

All in due time just after the holidays, but the sight of Regulus gave Aurora a sense of ease. Even if he was dreading this holiday.

Neither Orion nor Rabastan had mentioned the growing involvement of the last Black heir to the cause around Aurora, as he was sure it'd be the final tick that sends her to have a heart attack.

So he would have to be cautious on mentioning it until the coward of a husband figures it out.

Though the tackle of a hug instantly sent either in a moment of settlement. 

"Hey Rory..." The young brother mumbled, causing her to smile brightly. It's been a fair amount of time since she saw her brother with her own eyes, it was more than disconnecting...Goddess was she struggling to keep her composure.

"I swear if you start bloody crying here I'm staying with father." Orion chuckled beside his children, though there was still a small tug that there should be a third body in the mix, Senior Black hadn't given the impression that he felt otherwise. His mind silently gave him a what if, in the sense of Sirius being a Slytherin...Would he have married his destined or persuaded to find another pureblood?

With Rabastan out for the afternoon, Aurora invited her father to join her and Regulus in eating lunch. And the three were at ease, Aurora's house was much like her bedroom at Grimmauld place in terms of coziness.

And she couldn't wait to show Reg the family den.

When their father had finally left the two for the evening the true fun began, Regulus had made quick friends with Loki and since Aurora was out all day...Leaving no time for her little pup she decided to bring her brother outside.

Prompting a snowball fight.

"Why did I expect anything less?" Regulus laughed fitfully along at his brother's taunt, even Rabastan had to admit that the Black heir was fitting into the name quite nicely.

He looked older, and surely after all that transpired at school, he defiantly felt it.

"The question is, what more would you expect?" A brow rose on Lestrange's end as it was Regulus who called back out. "Suppose you're right, how was this semester?" 

"Alright, though the Gryffindor couldn't get any more annoying. Turned out to be false." Aurora rolled her eyes, why they gossiped like gals were beyond her.

It turned out the day left her entirely restless, causing her to pass out on the couch as she couldn't entertain the likes of her brother for much longer. So much so that Regulus picked up her hand and dropped it, seeing the lack of response just shared how bloody tired the poor witch was.

"She's been doing that a lot lately, I'm going to set her into bed." 

"Then we'll talk?" Regulus question, and the master of the house nodded.

The small little mumbles of his wife called to him, tugging at his heart as he was about to learn more on the secrets his wife was keeping from her.

He redressed her in a nightgown and made sure the room was warm, creating a comfortable environment underneath the covers before returning back to the family room, a bottle of fire whiskey in hand to share with his brother.

But when he returned, the young lad was caught staring up to the projector that Rory had bought to aid to the room, and Rabastan chuckled at the sight. 

"Don't get tired of looking at it?" Regulus blinked for a second to study his own brother and shrugged.

He could never get tired of it, it was the one thing he worshiped since their childhood. 

"The way I see it Rabastan...It's one of the last good things I have with Rory..." That sparked an understanding from there, it was older than the necklace Rabastan had gifted to her for being admitted into Salem.

"I think Cissy or Andy got it for her birthday...We'd sneak into her room at night and set it up." He shared, and Rabastan offered up the glass, a silent push to continue the stories. 

"Never understood why Rory took such a quick liking to you, but I can see it now...You actually care for her." The husband narrowed his brow, had he not proven that before?
Had it not mattered until now?

"Of course I care for her. She's my wife. I know you haven't seen what love is that much Regulus, but surely you can see it when it's real." He had lashed out for a moment, causing him to drag both his hands down his face. It was bringing up a similar conversation back when Rory was blind.

"Reg I'm sorry I just...When Cissy came into the meeting that I day I thought—I thought she was caught up in the crossfire and that—" The boy ignored the change of scenery as he turned to his brother in law entirely. 

"You thought it was Sirius?" Rabastan gritted his teeth but nodded never the less.

"He might be a blood traitor but he wouldn't—" 

"He would Reg, or would you bet your life on it?... Do you think he'd hesitate?" The wide eyes of Regulus grew tremendously, what was so similar to the two males in the room were that they were the second heirs to their family fortune. Not the first. They both lacked that extra inch on their pedestal that either Sirius or Rodolphous had.

Or Rory for that matter.

"For me or her?...Because we both know that he would at least try for Rory. He tried to get her to run off the Potter's too." Now Aurora had never told him that, and it angered him to a point, but then why tell of an offer which she never accepted?

Or did she think about it?

"You helped her a lot, more than I ever could." Rabastan forced himself to look to the boy, freshly seventeen years old...The last Black child of this generation with any credibility.

Merlin, he couldn't even imagine that burden.

"Come on Reg, who was there at the house every day? Who set this up and stayed with her. I did what I could, but now I could do more. Will do more...Your mother—" Rabastan gritted his teeth and turned to look away for a split second.

This was his chance to properly ask, and so he downed the rest of the burning liquid and asked. "Is it true that your mother starved her?" It was a clear follow-through when Reg's face drained of any and all colors, causing him to drop his shoulders further.

"I'll admit I didn't understand what Sirius was going on about, but her friends and prefects told him...it's not that she wouldn't eat, she would, but it'd never be enough...And when we'd get home she'd just drink tea or something..." He paused as a memory soon washed strongly over him and he shuttered.

"Easter I think it was...Yeah, cause Sirius must've heard before we came back. Rory didn't eat all that much and it was noticeable, he kept making a big deal about it until he put some more food onto her plate...And father told her to keep on eating. I just remember what happened after that—" Rabastan had grown immensely invested into the story, something he hadn't heard at all, but clear hesitation flashed onto Regulus' face.

"You need to continue this Reg, don't pull your sister's move of starting a story and not finish it." He nodded, but his eyes did not connect to his brother, instead they drifted back up to the ceiling.

"Mother didn't like that Sirius messed with her eating habits and called it out on being disrespectful or whatever she claimed it, and course the dumbarse couldn't be quiet just this once. So father shot a curse his direction. Rory had begged father to stop and he did, but it was only after mother grabbed her by the hair and dragged her out of the room...Found out later that mother hit her on top of it..." The boy took a pause and reached for another douse of the drink and drained his glass again.

"...Sirius kept badgering father for allowing it to happen, so when you ask if he will hesitate...He will...Only for her." Rabastan stood up abruptly after the story had ended.
He hated it.
He despised the women before, but now?

Gods he fuming.

"That's just one of the many, so you can see why Rory hated it at home...Or you can see why Sirius left, damn idiot got himself locked up with the elf a few times." 

"Does Orion know?" Reg rose a quick brow and shook his head. "Father's oblivious, and he wronged her a few times before. Nobody in our family is a saint Rabastan." It was a rather dark moment for Rabastan to hear, sure his own parents were strict...But this? This was barbaric.

"Suppose now's the best time to talk about getting the mark when she's asleep?" Regulus nodded, though in the back of his mind he was silently begging for it never to happen.

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Date Posted: 08-25-19

Time: 9:38

Words: 3598