✧OLD FRIEND TURNED ASSISTANCE✧

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"Raba...Raba?" Aurora nudged him, she simply wanted him to get another blanket as she was too cold. Unfortunately she left her wand in the bathroom and his was too far for her to reach.

A pop from an elf would wake him up anyhow, and then it would turn into a whole conversation on how she doesn't ask him to do things.

She rolled her eyes again, nudging him one final time before turning to the opposite end. Instead she took the longer process of raising from her position and going to the closet to retrieve such an object.

As well as stopping in the bathroom to grab a glass of water before returning to settle back into bed. But the struggle of attempting to find the perfect position alongside the long pillow Clarissa had gifted for nights like this didn't prove to be helpful.

However, what shocked Aurora the most was the sudden shift in her stomach that stilled her. Tears suddenly sprouted in her eyes as her hands felt up and down in an attempt to predict the given movements.

"Raba...Rabastan." She hissed, Merlin he was missing it. 

"Hm huh? What?" Sleep featured heavily in his voice as he tried to rub his eyes to wake up further.

"Is everything alright...Did you have a nightmare love?" He caught the fact that she was crying, but she reached for his hand and placed it down onto her stomach. Shifting about as she awaiting the little babe to shift again.

"Rory he's going to start getting bigger, yes I know that—" He instantly stopped talking as he felt exactly what she was trying to tell him. 

"Are you alright? Does it hurt?" She shook her head, it was strange...But it a very good way.

"He's moving around...I think I woke him up." Rabastan's eyes glistened as he clung to every word, leaning up did he leave a kiss to her stomach and rub it affectionately.

"Did mummy wake you up son?... Hey, are you back talking me already lad?" Aurora rubbed her watery eyes as she began to enjoy this entertainment.

Rabastan versus a fetus was indeed hilarious.

"Hmm...Yeah, that one was defiantly backtalk." She squirmed a bit and it was obvious that it turned her to be uncomfortable.

"Should I run the bath?" She shook her head, being far too tired for such an act that she threw the new blanket over her shoulder and hummed.

"No, little Romulus better go to sleep soon or he's not getting any reading tomorrow." He still had a hold on his wife's stomach, and a growing smirk rallied as he indeed felt the lack of movement now.

"Ravenclaw."
"He could still like reading in Slytherin." She watched his brow raise and she rolled her eyes in spite.

"Fine, fine...I guess I'll take that new piano now." He chuckled, allowing his wife to settle first before he forming around her.

If she was cold he was going to do everything his power to warm her up, even if that meant charming the blanket.

"Thank you, my wand's all the way—" 

"In your study?" She pointed to the nightstand beside her, managing to grab it on the pitstop of the bathroom.

A flinch caused him to open his eyes, and he watched as her hand tried to settle the baby back to sleep. "Mum said I was a kicker, I think this is my karma..." She whispered, but a smile still prominate on her expression.

"Little fellow lost his book reading hm?" 

"Papa's right..." She mumbled, exhausting taking her even when the baby was shifting in Rabastan's hold.

He stayed awake for a while, just grasping the fact that Aurora is his wife, pregnant with his child. Merlin if he could just go back and tell his fifth-year self that this was the outcome, then there would've been so much less worrying.

Granted he did have to get up early the next morning for a meeting, a legal one this time. They were more frequent but it allowed him to stay within the country for both the Death Eaters and his wife.

When he returned his wife was enjoying the heated gazebo outside, but an elf informed him that she skipped breakfast and he sighed.

First-hand knowledge of what her morning was like did he ordered her a few slices of toast and some fruit. He'd bring it over in a bit.

When it was indeed prepared a grin popped on her face, but the second she smelled the food she gagged. "Raba I can't—" Even toast?
Thinking on the spot did he eliminate the smell of toasted bread and butter and it caused her gag reflects to retract as she stared up to him in aw.

"I think I'm losing my touch." 

"Rory, come now...You have a million things on your mind." Taking a bite of a grape did she narrowed her eyes to him.

"Your son happens to like that song." 

"Ah, so he'll be playing an instrument as well?" She perked her lips and she shrugged. 

"I think he's going to do everything just to prove everyone making bets on him wrong." He stayed in her company until she had finished her given plate and two cups of tea.

She has a scheduled appointment to check on the health of the lil babe in a few days and either were excited, the potion was only a little telling on the gender, but no matter if they be a boy or a girl.
Either parent was still excited.

Some days Rabastan simply wanted the baby to come, his wife was suffering but in his mind, he simply wanted to hold the child.

The attachment Aurora already had as he caught her constantly talking to the little bugger. Whether it be bugger, lad, your son, demon or anything in between, it all portrayed her attitude of the day.

She was no longer involved in the meetings, the strain was far too much and the Dark Lord wanted his seer more involved with her visions than anything else.

Today was different, minding the odd cravings aside, he caught her looking at her stomach in the mirror. Her form from the backside was the same, but the front showed a woman in her 27th week.

"There's my beautiful wife...How about we—" 

"Beautiful? I look like a bloody whale." He blinked, shocked entirely. Yesterday he was sure that she would eat everything in sight, and now she was worried about her growing weight?

"Rory that's not—" 

"Raba look at me." He continued forward, his chin settling down onto her shoulder as his hands settled on either side of her tum. "I see my beautiful wife, carrying my child." 

"I'm fat." She disagreed, and he kissed her cheek in disregard to her comment.

"Heavy, with my child...You're producing another life Rory, it's beautiful." He kissed her cheek once more and hummed just beside her ear. "When the little fellow is running around the manner, think you'll beg for him to be back." A smile cracked, the factor of her emotions was one of her biggest downfalls, though he did blame this outburst on Walburga for enforcing a strict image for her daughter to follow.

But lately, her mother was on her side more than a few times, making him understand how it was a win-lose battle.

"Your breasts...Are wonderful, if I might add." She gawked at the mirror and wiggled in his hold.

"They aren't for you, Rabastan, they're to feed—" He hummed, he could enjoy the sight from here just fine.

"I have some work to get done, father will be coming over in a bit." At the current moment Aurora and her father were not on speaking terms, he tried apologizing and even Rabastan told her the truth of the conversation.

Which made it worse as she seemed incapable of being responsible, but no, her father blamed Rabastan for not keeping his promise.

It was entirely pulling, the witch who commented on her being barren hurt but now her father saying it's too early is damning even more as it sounds neither of them are responsible enough to continue.

As if Bella had the capabilities of raising a child. Merlin save them all.

Speaking of Bella, the elf had come to inform the master of the house of two other visitors.

"Ah brother! Working are we?" She cackled, and her father in law groaned at the sight. There was no doubt that they were a family, but he was supportive of his younger son and his wife finding their own way into the world with their own careers.

Cassiopeia especially as was indeed a bright little birdie.

"Hm, you should try it sometime before you drain our vault from impulsive purchases." Senior Lestrange had chuckled and tisked his eldest daughter.

While the odd one out stood more than out of place. "And who's the gentlemen behind you Bella?" She looked over her shoulder and smirked.

"Severus Snape sir." He quickly jumped at the amount of attention he was gaining. 

"Ah, one of Rabastan's dormmates. Course. A pleasure to meet you." His father was fairly polite, which had him theorize that he forgot Snape's blood status.

"We're here for your little wife, the Dark Lord has a task." That peeked up Rabastan's interest. "I don't have to warn you again Bellatrix about—" 

"Yes yes, she'll be completely intact. That is why Snape is here." Senior Lestrange was a scary wizard himself and he was still in his prime.

Even if his son was about to have a child.

"Make sure she's completely prepared for whatever it is she is about to do Bellatrix. That is my grandson and your nephew." He warned darkly, and they both tilted their head in a bowing manner and hurried along into Aurora's study.

"Come in?" She questioned, knowing already that it was not Rabastan behind the door due to the knock. Raising to sit up did a soft smile look off to her cousin.

"Oh Cassi, Cissy was right. You're glowing!" Rory rolled her eyes, it was basically another way of saying 'you're heavy' as Aurora soon found out.

"Hm, the little lad is active today too...Anything I can help with?" Personally she was bored and a task would be brilliant, and Bellatrix explained what the Dark Lord was asking.

And Severus was here as her caster.

"Rest easy Cassi, those pesky Gryffindors won't get anywhere near you." Rising to her feet had she kissed her cousin before she departed. Leaving the two former friends to stand alone.

Obvious one sporting a higher rank than the other.

"Madam Lestrange." 

"Merlin Severus, please." She rolled her eyes completely taken back by his damnable politeness. "Please?" He acted confused. 

"Suppose I can be an arse and call payback for calling me freak, but I do think we've come farther than that. And farther than you calling me by a title." Severus' stoic posture never faltered and she chuckled.

"Very well, two offensive and a defense spell...Shouldn't be too difficult." She spoke, walking over towards her bookshelf that specialized in just that. And although Severus attempted to aid her in this regard, he seemingly turned distracted by gazing at her vast collection of potion books, manuals, grimoires, and encyclopedias.

"Find something you like?" 

"There are eight in existence." He cracked, holding the book as though it were a child. But she smiled, recalling previous years of potion class and exceeding beyond Slughorns teachings.

"I am fairly attached, but this is a task for more than one day...While I research you can read whatever you wish. Caster." She smiled and walking off in return to her seat.

"Severus, could you grab Harlow's guide to—" 

"Ever hear of magic? I'm here to cater to spellcasting not  do an elf's work." She smiled as she pointed to her wand at the desk.

"I'll give you the benefit that you don't know much about pregnant witches Severus, but my magic is far too out of bounds to properly handle a simple charm to summon a book. The last time it happened the entire shelf fell down and Rabastan...Well, let's say my husband was a worry wort for the rest of the day." The banter was familiar, as though the days of Lily being unable to make their decided time to meet in the library.

It reminder Aurora of those days, those simpler days.

They worked amicably, but she was correct. The single day was not enough, and so when Snape was to report to the Dark Lord she simply said a week's time.

There rightly wasn't a need for new spells, but the Dark Lord was turning antsy in wanting to one-up the Order. Especially if they were targeting his seer.

In turn Bellatrix and her husband, beside Rabastan were the given few that knew her status. But now it was spread knowledge as it became clear as to why she was important to the cause.

Within that time Regulus was set to return home as well, Easter had snuck up to the family and it had the uncomfortable reconnection of father and daughter to wait at the train station together.

Though the father tried, the daughter couldn't get her hormones in order.
Even if she tried.

So they were talking absentmindedly as though there was nothing wrong, but he was walking on thin ice. However her smile widened as the Hogwarts express finally stopped at the platform.

When Regulus had tackled his sister with a forceful hug, he flinched at how big her stomach had already grown. Being close to four and a half months pregnant did show a great deal.

"Easy does it now Regulus, that's your nephew in there." Aurora rolled her eyes and playfully swatted at her father. 

"Everyone claims he's a he, but we still have wait...It's so good to see you." She cheered, her glowing aura shined even brighter as she moved again for a hug. Missing him entirely through these given months.

Their father had placed his hand onto Aurora's back and led them both through the crowd.

The young mother to be was gaining attention any time she was at the platform or in public, more or less by the younger classmates that she had befriended.

For some, it was strange to see a girl so young already married and pregnant, but that was a showcasing of the difference in each society in the wizarding world.

When the three Blacks—Or two Blacks and now Mrs.Lestrange had returned to Grimmauld Place, Walburga rushed to her daughter's side in constant dotting.

"Cassi dear, please rest your feet. It isn't safe for you to be on your feet so often." Regulus attempted to hide his expression but his father chuckled, as well as his own sister.

"Rabastan's worse Reg, believe me." She cheered, but never the less following her mother's orders as she took the given tea that Kreacher had presented her.

Oh the elf had been over the moon that he would take her order over the manor's masters, and it had tickled her more than anything.

That elves held pregnant witches above all else.

Regulus obviously saw a different side in their mother as Aurora turned obnoxiously pampered with piles and plates of food. But she looked rather sick in looking at it, so much so that she excused herself for a few moments before returning back.

"Are you alright dear?" She nodded, explaining that it probably was the Floo network that made her stomach flip around.

Regulus was indeed going to stay at this manor as his parents suggest to give his sister and Rabastan some privacy, and he could tell how annoyed Rory was starting to get with all the pampering.

Easter was an easy afar, eating food and celebrating the wrong religion. At least Aurora had been in easy health, because some mornings Rabastan did not want her leaving bed.

Yet Aurora prided herself in being productive, especially when it came to the child's bedroom.

One of which she had sketched a large tree in the middle of the wall, painting it in her free time when her husband was away at work.

It gave her some relaxation, as did the meditating. It was crucial that her heartbeat is leveled and everything is tamed when delivering the baby. 

Giving birth didn't worry her at all, it worried Rabastan to the ends of the earth.

Because some wounds magic couldn't heal, and although the healers have been upgraded in dealing with childbirth...it still didn't rid the given percentage that dies every year.

Though that was when Severus had already come for the day, granted Easter had been a quick holiday and overlooked as it added another few days to the time needed to get back to the Dark Lord.

"Madam Lestrange did you get—" 

"For Merlin sakes Severus we've gone to school for seven years and you've been at my husband's side for how many raids or meetings? Can I at least get a Cassiopeia if you truly wish to be formal?" She groaned from her resting place, wincing a small bit as her stomach was inevitably getting larger.

"Are you alright?" She nodded and looked up to Severus, confused at what his views truly are considering he too had been friends with Lily Evan—Now Potter. But considered all the same.

"Now you just sound like my husband." She groaned, rising up to her feet again to grab another reference. 

"Simple question of worry Lestrange, course it's probably due to the fact that you never give him a reasonable answer that he keeps asking." She turned back to look at him and she smirked.

Although it was her surname, it was close enough. But that is what she was craving, someone to just talk to her like she's normal. Not step around her because of the swell of her stomach.

"He wanted me to stop taking the stairs Severus, I wasn't even two months pregnant at the time." She scoffed, and for a moment there, the man had seen the student from his year. However deep down he was still insanely averted to know how powerful of witch she is.

Pregnant or not.

"Yes well, again, surely he is worried for you and his unborn child. Simple worries." She rolled her eyes and continued the teachings of spells, as well as the blocks if the Order members correctly figure it out.

Considering the two of them were in the grade and these were former friends, Aurora felt that blocks were necessary to learn.

"Severus...If I ask a question, would you be honest with me?" She questioned, having Severus look up from the given book to see Mrs.Lestrange looking out the window to see the growing garden.

"Depends...What is your question?" She hummed for a moment but didn't move her gaze. 

"He's angry, isn't he? Because I'm with child." Yet Severus' first thoughts were for Rabastan himself, but the loving smile that he's witnessed on multiple occasions changed his opinion.

"The Dark Lord has seen a change in view Lestrange...But if I may?" That earned him a glance, sighing entirely to close the space between the two. 

"It's easier to keep one tamed with more family members in the line of fire...Or to hang over someone's head." This theory had her gulp and nod in understanding.

"Your cousin has already voiced your role being that of a young wife's duty, besides your...Illness was what worried the majority of the following. Surprised me that you yourself don't know your own position." She hummed again and nodded.

"Course not, I'm a little wife in a big manor with nothing to occupy herself with other than my mistress degree." Her dry humor sparked a rather deep chuckle in his throat and expanded.

"Funny. Some would think that, some otherwise." 

"And what do you think, Severus?" She turned once again, only to see that he's closed more than the remaining bit of space to her, hanging over her ear to saw a low: "You're more than a simple wife Aurora, the Dark Lord still holds key to that...If you wish to stay out of the war, follow through with this plan of yours." She chuckled and then nodded again.

"Perhaps today's meeting is at an end, good day Lestrange." 

"Good day to you Snape." She nodded, but as he was walking out she called to him once more.

"If there is anything you need Severus, come to me...I've known Lucius a long while. And if there is anything I've learned, is that he tallies even the simplest of favors and overtime demands the world." He nods and continues to leave.

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Date Posted: 09-04-19

Time: 10:11

Words: 3544

I know I said Mondays and Fridays but I found some time, and honestly this is just a fluff chapter with pregnant lil moments between Mummy Rory and Papa Raba:)