✧MIRRORING A MURDERER✧

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TWO YEARS LATER

Romulus had a few reasons to be upset that the summer was coming to an end, more so than that—It was as if every damn year, the one person that his mother told him to look out for decides to either run towards danger or ignore the rules.

He didn't complain to his mother, otherwise it would look like he's unable to do what she asked. But truthfully, how the hell was he meant to know that a basilisk was prowling their halls last year, or that he'd go and fight a troll in the prior than that.

Thankfully Cara had befriended those Gryffindors in her year—Which was easy considering Imara was best mates with the Weasely's twin in their own year.

The only issue is that he had to worry about Ronan, who slept all the way in the dungeons and hardly had time to study together with how the Ravenclaw and Slytherin practices lined up. Not to mention how traumatized the Lestrange's were the previous dueling club with Lockheart as a professor.

Romulus could only hope that this semester would at least bring a suitable Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, or else he was most certainly going to consider his uncle's suggestion on transferring to Ilvernmorny.

To make matters even worse, he'd have OWLS this year—His mother already quizzed them to the point where Imara screamed out of the library.

"I rather gouge my eyes out with a rusty bloody spoon than hear about rat's tails being boiled down to whatever—I'll just fail potions!" That did not pass over well, as it turns out, their mother forbade anyone to fail her beloved subject.

And to be frank, it would look mighty ridiculous to have a world-renowned potion's mistress for a mother and not know basic potions?

Though then again, Romulus was on his way to earning an internship at one of his mother's facilities the following summer and he couldn't bloody wait. Imara was a little less excited, but half of it would be spent there while the other was at a chosen destination that Scamander helped set up.

His thoughts were startled when he caught his mum peeking into his room, and a small smile appeared on his face—She saw it she could come in.

"Feeling better mum?" He asked, and she laughed in turning off towards the curtains and pulling them aside. As though he didn't have enough light.

"Alright as can be, the Auror's are coming once a week until they deem us 'not an accomplice,' bloody idiots." She cursed with a roll of her eyes, but his mum turned back to look at her eldest with her finger up in the air. "That isn't something I want repeated, you respect any Auror unless they give you reason not to."
"Yes mum, wasn't planning on it. Didn't you hear Lori? She wants to be an Auror." He said with a smirk, causing his mother to groan.

"Hopefully not, and weren't you packed last night? I would've helped if—"
"Just double checking, I'll be down in a bit for breakfast."
"Take your time, Imara isn't up yet." Aurora said with a final kiss to his temple to see herself out.

He had almost half the mind to ask her for help, but he knew Lori would most likely have forgotten to pack something important—Thus taking up most of the morning.

Meow!

"Yes Odin, we're going back...And this year Thor will be coming. Won't that be grand?" The blind feline had mutely meowed once more to his partner at the mention of Lori's cat and Rommy chuckled in placing his last sweater inside.

His broom wouldn't be packed, he usually carried it onto the train—Which usually caused the gals to swoon as Imara deemed, but his father supported it none the less.

The mere thought caused Romulus to almost trip over Sterling, who had been camping out of his bedroom. With that in mind, he came over to knock at his twin's door—earning him an unamused yell, followed by the door unlocking with an aggravated
"What?!" That signaled for a grand morning.

"Well it's currently eight, mother wants to have breakfast soon... As does this lil bugger." Romulus gestured to Sterling down to his feet. Imara bent down and scooped up the little fellow instantly to cuddle him. Apologizing profusely before shutting the door in her brother's face.

"I'll be down in a few!" Imara yelled, and he hadn't any doubt in that. Imara was usually good at time management, it was himself that couldn't be bothered to look at clock. Earning him a charming watch from his parents—Though father did give pass down the family heirloom of a pocket watch that he adored.

The Lestrange family creast was beautifully inscribed that he almost felt it was too intricate to be considered a watch.  

Even now he was dressed with it attached to his inner vest. The elves added his suitcase down to the pile, right alongside the pet's travel packs. He stopped by to place his broom to lean beside it, and he smirked to see his brother's matching his model.

"Ah, good morning Romulus. Hopefully you got some rest last night?" Rabastan dwelled and Romulus rolled his eyes.
"Yes, father...I'm not a lad anymore that I can't handle the first day of school."

Aurora snorted quietly into her tea, it was surely teen anguish that was brought forth to the table. Their eldest wasn't usually outspoken unless something angered or peeved him, though that was extremely rare. This made the mother at the table smile, to see that he took his spot beside his father.
Better yet Imara had hurried in, skidding her heels to sit beside her brother in time.

"Goodmorning darling, how did you sleep?"
"Would've loved another hour, but I need to finish packing up Sterling's things." Aurora bobbed her head along as she eyed her other munchkins coming into the room as well..

Cara had come over right away to give her mother a settling kiss on the cheek and plopped down with one empty seat remaining as Ronan gave a gentle nod to his parents.
"Roe, are you ready for this season?" Rabastan bustled, trying to get the children active their last moments at home—But like most of the children, they hated the morning.

"Of course, it'll be brilliant—Then next year Lori can join the pitch." Speaking of the youngest Lestrange, she came forward all prepared. And Aurora shook her head at the sight, reaching to hold her husband's hand as yes, Lorelei decided to wear her mummy's mascara.

The light affair had tiptoed over the sore topic that graced their newspapers during the summer, the idea of a killer on the loose, wasn't making for a proper conversation. And their father made it off-topic in the presence of their mother, unless of course they had a question—Then it'd be answered by him.

Aurora on the other hand had been an awful mess at the idea of her brother escaping Azkaban, as though all the trauma and remembrance of the years fresh out of Hogwarts returned to her.

The morning's drop off at King's station was delaying the inevitable, but there would certainly be an issue to deal with once the children were out of harm's way, from both the law or their Uncle.

Romulus knew the most of the situation, right beside Imara as it wasn't difficult to sneak the papers—Even better, their best friends would do most of the work if that.

To put it into simpler terms, Sirius Black had escaped his cell from Azkaban and only god knows what the hell he was up to.

Romulus recalled that his mother had been the first to read the paper that faithful morning before the rest, and it didn't take long for their father to understand why she locked herself in the bathroom with the only words were in order to the elves, which consisted of nothing more than a fill-up of wine.

To be fair, Romulus didn't know his own opinion on the matter, from his uncle—Regulus, the bloke's own brother, said that Sirius is innocent. But that does not explain what the hell his motivation is now, and it frightened the Lestrange family.

But it most certainly scared Rabastan out of all them.

Yes, Rabastan thought himself a dead man.
He recalled the years he faced in Azkaban, and right beside cursing the Gryffindor scum for actually escaping, he didn't know what level of sanity Black had left.

But that was enough to know that the house was on lockdown and thus, the Lestrange family hadn't ventured out—Unless it was to other countries.

Rabastan had insisted that they head to France for the duration of the summer, and Romulus was just thankful that his best mate, Lennox, could join them.

The only fear he had, besides babysitting Potter, was the fact that his face looked like a mirror picture of an escaped convict and goddess he was going to get shite for it.
He just knew it.

Like in previous years, it took two trips of either parent to gather everything with all the luggage—But nothing stopped Aurora Lestrange when she was set on a mission, and instead managed everything and set each child with their own cart for their suitcase and supplies.

He smiled back towards his parents as his father was keeping a very tight hold on his mother, while he himself had been the first through the platform's brick wall. They followed in order with their parents just on the other side to delude the tension, course it was always funny to see father interact with muggles beside him.

Last year, a muggle had asked his father a question on where a certain train was, which had Aurora step up and pointed him in the direction of someone who could actually help. It seemed to always happen either dropping off the children or picking them up, and this time his grim face suggested the same.

"Merlin have me, what is with muggles and—"
"The fanciest man they've ever seen is a train conductor love. No worries, I think you look handsome." The underlining issue was what he had worn, now up to proper fashion that's not outdated, however after a kiss on the cheek, he shot towards her.

Had that been an insult or a compliment?

"Oi, Rory that was—" She winked off in his direction as she held onto Lori's hand. She'd been quite nervous the days leading up to the departure and now the gal had been a shivering mess.

Clearly, this travel was much more intense than Salem had prepared her for, or the fact that she could return to her uncle's on the weekend.

While at Hogwarts she had the security of her older siblings, and sure that was all well and fine. But Lori adored her uncle Reggie.

Romulus had taken one last look down to his attire, catching sight of the prefect's badge both her and Imara had been chosen for this very summer. Flitwick had basically assured him the month following their last month of 4th year, and now he had the responsibility in keeping together his own band of Ravenclaws, while Imara controlled her flock on the other side of the dormitories.

Hopefully this year wouldn't be too chaotic where he'd lose focus on a subject or quidditch. He'd just need a gentle reminder of looking for Harry Potter and all will be well.

"Alright, if you've forgotten anything no worries. Owl me and I'll sort through it, yes?" Rory offered her children, causing Romulus to smirk as he eyed the train once more. He was wondering if his mates were already onboard or stuck saying goodbye to—

"Aurors! He's here! Sirius Black is here!!"

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Date Posted: 01-09-2021

Time:  10:24

Words: 2008