✧COMPLICATIONS AT ITS FINEST PT.2✧

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The days following the children's first days of Holiday, the manor remained warm and inviting. And of course, Aurora humored her to little potion masters in the making while Rabastan had taken the liberty of pushing either Ronan and Lori to the side of the law.

Imara was already off and away at the Scamander's Sanctuary, leaving early in the morning in the floo system and returning just after lunch.

Among the good came the bad, without a constant structor, the children found their freedom to wake up whenever they wanted to do whatever they wanted. And it was a rather difficult schedule to get used to, as Aurora wanted to enjoy the family time.

But always someone was absent from their meals together, which Aurora had make it mandatory for them to have dinner together. And it was damning to see how hard it was to get everyone around the table at a certain time.
Yet if she didn't, then this entire holiday would be left without some quality time.

Aurora wasn't above forcing it either, especially if they were spending a fair bit of coin for the twin's OWLs present on the entire family.

That wasn't the only thing fueling Mrs.Lestrange at the moment, her fondest moments was playing board games with her brothers at the dining room table. And she couldn't wait to do it once more, but with a crowd of their children around them.

And that was if all ended well.

Just the pain her heart implied that it wouldn't be so easy.

*

Romulus had felt ill, more than ill, really. He felt near curling over at the sight of the thick parcel from Hogwarts. It had been an accounted ten minutes since it had been delivered and he hardly moved from his sunken position by his bed.

He would love a drink from George or Fred at the moment, and as much as he felt bitter before and after their nagging to have a celebratory drink in their dorm, Romulus appreciated it.

Otherwise, he would turn into a bundle of nerves that would constantly threaten his lunch to come back up if he moved an inch.

With his breathing under control, he took the walk-off towards his mother's study and knocked—It wasn't too odd to hear silence on the other side, given that the Lupin situation was at large.

"Rabastan, you know the rules...No coming into Cassiopeia's study without—Romulus, my boy! How are you?" Romulus had sighed in relief that he didn't have to call upon his Opa, and he fell a few feet short away from his portrait.

"Not that well, I've got my OWL results. Bet Imara got hers as well." Romulus hadn't looked up to meet the eyes of his Opa, not wanting to showcase how much of a coward he truly is.

"You certainly are your mother's son...My little light was so worried she ran off at the first sight of it."

"R-really?" The young Ravenclaw had asked, and Orion nodded firmly.
"There is nothing to be scared about in sharing one's score, do you think you failed?"

"Not failed, but I don't think I did all that well on the Troll's portion of History of Magic."

"And what, pray tell, is a potion's master going to give a damn about the Troll wars? That subject isn't going to change, it hasn't changed since I took the class myself, mind you with the same professor!... Is your mother home?" The question couldn't have been asked at a better time as Aurora had come in with a handful of folders and documents that Romulus had felt like a deer in headlights.

"Oh, I'm sorry love. Were you waiting long? I know I said I'd be home before noon, but the Ministry is chaotic. I doubt your father will be home for dinner with what's happening over there." She dwelled, placing all her documents onto her table, and sighed down into her chair with relief.

"Mum?" The lad questioned, almost as if he was a first-year all over again—Worried about what his semester at Hogwarts would bring. And Aurora's eyes had softened as she smiled towards her son.

"You haven't called me 'mum' in a while..." She said with an ever-changing smile, and he sighed. "I thought you didn't mind when I called you 'mother'?" She shrugged her shoulders.

"It makes me sound much older than I am. Oh, hello father." She said in a greeting and Orion chuckled. "You are the furthest thing from being old, little light."

"I'm older than the version of you in the painting. Besides, my eldest are on their way to graduate soon—I'm not prepared." Romulus blinked, realizing that it was true, that he was going to be graduating in two more years.

So why did he feel so ill-prepared?

As he looked down at the parcel in his hands, it caught Aurora's attention and she smiled. "Tesla, could you get a kettle of tea and a few biscuits?" She called out, knowing that the order would be fulfilled in a few minutes as she walked around her desk and came towards her son.

"You know, no matter what you've gotten on those scores, you'll always be the bright lil lad who joined me in the labs the first chance he could...You know that, don't you?" She whispered, her eyes beaming with pride—Pride that Romulus didn't know if he deserved.

"But mum—"

"You inherited a lot of my personality, Romulus, but I wish you had your father's self-assurance. He didn't need anyone telling him how well he was doing, he knew—He knows. Now what we are going to do is rejuvenate with some tea and biscuits. Clear up our tears, and we're going to see once in for all how well you did." He wanted to nod but his hesitation remained, so Aurora had kissed his temple and pinched his cheeks.

"You're my son, my precious boy. You've made me proud since the day you were born and I know you've studied countless hours, please don't feel as though I'll judge you for those scores. The lack of confidence in yourself makes me worry about you." She claimed, gripping his shoulder to make him see reason.

And without much thought, Romulus had leaned into his mother's embrace. He hardly had to ask for his mother's affection as she was so willing to give—She was always a giver.

"NEWTs are going to kill me mum, I swear."

"Oh don't worry on that front, should I come in and proctor for the potion's exam?" With a bit of light laughter between them, Romulus held up the parcel and started to crack open the seal. Yet the hesitation is there once more, and Aurora eased her son's fingers and held it open.

There was only so much her words could do in a moment like this, so she waited for as long as he needed to and waited as his eyes hungry ate everything that was written down.

He turned up, eyes tearful, but his smile transcended all the worries a mother could have. "I did it." He whispered, and Aurora had come right beside him to read over his shoulder. She hadn't a doubt in her mind that Romulus wouldn't get anything under an Exceeds Excellent, but to see all O's was beautiful.

"I believe this deserves some chocolate cake." He hummed in delight, though his eyes continued to scan his professor's comments. He received praise from McGonagall, for his prefect duties, his head of house on his ability to persevere through the entire year. And of course, Snape, who Aurora couldn't be happier at the fact that Romulus would be aiding him in the coming years in a sort of internship.

"I hadn't been that smart in asking for an internship from Slughorn, that'll certainly help you get into any Potion's Academy."

"I think my last name will do that enough, don't you think?" Aurora nodded her head and swiped at his nose. "My credibility only goes so far, and who knows...Perhaps this werewolf issue will be my downfall, then you best change it to Black." She said with a smirk, and of course, the laughter from the portrait had them both grinning.

"He's taken after our family's side thus far, might as well join the ranks, son." Orion said with a growing grin, knowing full well he would get a scolding from his daughter.

But all was well in the Lestrange manor once more, and Romulus nearly toppled over at dinner to see Imara simply tear open the parcel with such ease.

"Blast, suppose I need to study up on my Transfiguration." Imara admired with a pout. But she still managed to earn an 'Exceeds expectations,' in both that subject and history of magic.

And it was still worthy of chocolate cake and the promised Quidditch tournament.

"You must be proud of them, the birds in this family are outranking me." Aurora had turned to her husband, hoping that he hadn't fallen into his own emotions. Though he had been awfully quiet at dinner, so she came forward and sat beside him on their bed.

"There is no such thing as outranking, love. They're still children."
"Still, I didn't think I ever outwitted my own father until I outlived him." Aurora leaned into him, coming to hold his hand as he needed the reassurance.

Perhaps Romulus wasn't all that different than his father after all.

"They still have their doubts, Romulus was having trouble opening his test results...He's still a child in that way." She beckoned him to see the reason, and while she didn't want to bring up his own OWLs, it was to be expected.

"They get their brains from you, all of them. Even my snakes."

"Are you saying that our families didn't have any ounce of brains in them? My Uncle was rather smart in his days, same with both our fathers...And from what I can recall, the last few Defense Against the Dark Arts professors were impressed by Ronan's work in dueling. They're ours." He hummed but smiled at the thought.

"We have a beautiful family." Was all he followed up on and Aurora chuckled. "Are you just coming to that conclusion?"

"No. I knew our children would have natural looks, Narcissa teased about it countless times." He had let his mind wander and attention drift, yet Rory had simply pulled him back by placing a hand on his cheek.

"Come back to me, love..." She whispered, and he pushed his head down towards hers. "I'm here. I'm here." But he wasn't and it was clear, and it worried Aurora beyond reason that something was bugging him to the point of no return.

As Aurora had curled into his hold, the two had remained awake but in complete silence. "What are we going to do when Lori graduates?" She questioned and Rabastan's body had shaken with a bit of laughter. "We'll downsize, get another pup."

"I want to get a pup now." She said with a pout. But Rabastan had little to no control over the funds, Aurora was the main provider right beside their inheritance that they decided not to touch.

Of course he had his own funds, and could purchase whatever he wished, but Aurora has made millions herself and provided for the family when he couldn't.

"All our children are in Hogwarts, perhaps we should..." Aurora had gasped and nodded eagerly, causing him to chuckle again. "Rory, you can get anything your heart pleases."

"No, I like making choices with you. You wouldn't mind a pup?"
"Not at all. Just when you allow them to sleep in my spot...that is when I start to have issues." Her laughter had bucked up his mood as he smiled, it was actions like this that he recalled the earlier years in the relationship.

Where worries was hardly what it is now.

"You know...Lori's away at McNair's, we should take this as the perfect opportunity to—" Rabastan didn't need to be told twice, his lips pushed forward to meet his wife's feverish display of want.

On the opposite end of the manor, Cara held a parchment in her hand. The urgency was there, as it was addressed to herself, but the signature of Padfoot had her guessing that there would be some telling news.

There wasn't, but it was good to know that he's made it this far since seeing him last, and she would forward his message he wanted to get out to Harry—Though it saddened her a bit to feel that Harry's parchment was a bit heavier than hers.

She had to remember, kindly, that Harry was the one without any family surrounding him. But shouldn't her uncle give care about his sister?

Cara couldn't recall if Sirius had said anything regarding her mother beside the fact that she held a similar appearance to one another.

Upon knocking at the door, Cara had nearly jumped out of her skin to see her brother opening the door. "Goddess, you couldn't warn me?" She hissed before pushing past, only to see him and Ronan in the middle of a chess game.

"Damnit Cara, I'm finally got Rom by the—"
"—The nothing, getting ahead of yourself Roe." The two brothers narrowed their eyes to one another and Cara squealed to see this in action. "Hey! You didn't play me before! You can't just jump to the crown!" Cara called out with her hands on her hip, as Cara still had second place right under Romulus.

"Just practice before I go up against you Cara...Who's owling you at this time of night anyhow?" Ronan questioned, eying it in suspicion. "Uncle Sirius." She offered up and either of her brothers hurried to read the parchment.

"Good to know he's alright." Ronan offered but Romulus scoffed. "Yeah, brilliant. At least has ink and quill to write us half a note." Cara frowned, she was rather peeved as well but it was still better than nothing.

And Cara held onto Harry's parchment and planned to give it to the family's owl in the morning. "Guess you have an excuse to owl Potter, aye?"

"I've been talking to him regardless, he's hoping to go to the world championship too. With the Weasley's." She informed and while that was news to Romulus, Ronan rightly didn't care as he looked back to the board before him.

"This important to wake mum over? Sure she's just reading in bed anyhow." Cara blinked, knowing that it was indeed a delicate topic. But her heart told her now and Romulus could see that his sister wouldn't get any sleep if she waited.

"I'm going to knock on the door, father won't question if I ask to talk to mum alone." There was a reason for that, especially when Aurora had been overjoyed and cried tears when Imara had received her menstrual cycle.

That was an area that Rabastan would stay the farthest away from if he could.

"Let's just finish the game, I'll walk you down." Cara smiled and turned to look at the board once again, but Ronan had felt confident in moving the piece. Yet Romulus hadn't bothered to sit back down as he finished the game in another move. "Checkmate, and I gave you three chances."

"Bloody sod off! That's bullshi—" A throat had cleared, and either three of the Lestrange children had turned to the portrait of their Opa. "I do believe that language isn't allowed in the manor, Ronan."

"Sorry Opa, thought I had this one." He said with a scowl still on his face, but then he huffed in seeing where he had his downfall.

"You get too excited Roe, you need to hide that you're in the lead—Otherwise you alert who you're playing to be cautious." Romulus hummed and looked back at the parchment in hand.

With that all well and done, the three siblings had made their way off to their parent's bedroom—Though Romulus stopped as he heard something he never wanted to hear.

"Second thought, Cara—How about we play a game of chess?" He questioned, steering his sister off in the other direction and she began to drag her feet. "What? Why? This is important to tell mum now, it's—"

"Rabastan...!" Ronan's eyes had gone wide, that paired with his gag reflex coming forward in hearing that coming from his parent's bedroom.

Cara had remained oblivious to what was happening as she tried to go back, though stopped entirely upon hearing her mother's voice. "Is mum alright?" She asked and either of the lads had hurried to drag her back to the study they were prior.

"Mother's just fine," Romulus said through gritted, he had no problems with his parents. He simply felt his mother was accepting of their father because she had to, not because she wanted to.

"Are you sure? She sounded ill, or perhaps it was the—"

"Nothing. Goddess sakes Cara, really?" Ronan cursed and that caused her to blush and pout. "Oi, you don't have to be rude, Roe. Mother's just—Reading with father." She blinked once again but didn't get the message as is.

"Is that what we're calling that? Reading?" Imara said with a brightened laugh, and Romulus sighed in relief. "Yes, for right now." Imara knew that her twin did not want to have the 'shagging talk,' right now. But if anything, she knew that she would probably be the one to talk about it, unless mother knew what was happening.

"So what mum's reading, Oh, father is probably disturbing her reading. He always does that to me." Cara said, walking off towards the chess game with a smile on her face as she waited for Romulus.

"Come on big brother, you can do this...Cara, mother and father weren't reading." Cara had turned up from the board and frowned. "What?"

"Mother and father were shagging and it's—"

"Imara Halsey Lestrange!" The four siblings had flinched at the violent booming of their Opa's voice, and Imara smirked at the portrait. "So sorry Opa, but it's better to be prepared and then fall confused when the time comes. Cara, what do you know about sex?" Either brother had recoiled and the youngest Ravenclaw had frowned.

"I'm not that daft, 'mara. It's when two people love each other and wish to have a child."
"Alright, you're correct. But now try and take out the book definition and tell me why one would have sex regardless of they want to have a child, I don't think Romulus wants a child right—" That had done it for sure.

"That's enough Imara, spreading lies is beneath you." He dictated, but that had surprised her.
"Surely you've snogged a—Oh." Imara hadn't been the only one who was shocked by the admission of the truth, as even Ronan had managed to snog a gal—Even if it went horribly wrong.

"This is highly inappropriate, especially in front of Opa...Cara, how about we play a game in my room instead." She nodded her head and said her goodnights to everyone around her before getting the board ready by the couch. "Hello Odin, come here love." She cooed, and Romulus sighed in relief at the idea that his sister's innocence was saved for another day.

"Do you think mum will be angry that Uncle Sirius hasn't given us a location?" Cara asked just as Romulus had taken a seat across from her. And her brother could only frown.

"I'm not sure, Cara. Mum's just come to terms with the fact that it's been Pettigrew this whole time, sure that can't be too easy on her—On any of them. We should owl Professor Lupin in the meantime, hopefully the last potion you've given him was enough. It'll be good to pass the time in ensuring that he's alright." Cara nodded, eager to get that done.

It would be simple to put together a package, the difficulty would fall more in tune with getting it past their parents without any suspicion of where a package would beheaded.

"At least we'll have a bit of fun with the tournament, loads of people from school are coming! Though I'm not sure Transylvania is going to make it."
"No matter, it's just going with the family is what's important, that and it'll be brilliant to see the tournament in person instead of over the radio as we've had to do this whole year, don't you think?" She grinned ear to ear, forgetting about the previous conversation of sex, and thank goodness that either was tired—Because Romulus couldn't get the idea out of his head.

Was Weasley shagging his sister?

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Date Posted: 10/23/2021

Time: 8:32

Words: 3475