✧PAINFUL PARSLES✧

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"Oh that was bloody priceless, god I need to write her!" He cheered, running up the steps as Sirius Orion Black was over the moon happy. Literally, even Remus had made the joke. Promptly before anyone else did, but it was better than having Lily question why they made moon jokes.

He was slightly weary of it still, but he was coming to trust Lily on more than just a casual level. Course that was highly influenced by James and her's relationship, but that was more of the ladder.

"I haven't seen him that happy in awhile." Lily mumbled, and James nodded...Rather happy that this all came out the way it had.

"Wait...What'd he mean write her, we can just pass the note in—" She questioned, but she was soon interrupted. 

"Nah, first year Rory made this book that transfers messages. It was for me and Sirius, but he left it when he—"

"When I ditched that god awful house." Sirius spoke, interrupting his mate now too as he showed Lily the book. She even wrote a small thing in the bindings as well, making her smile that simply yet brilliant idea.

"Wait...You said first year?" Lily narrowed her eyes at the charms and protections the book already had on it, but Sirius just laughed. "Rory likes her projects, she made our rings you know." 

"Y-yeah, she made this for me." Sirius looked at it, and upon his eye contact saw that the Lily flower simply bloomed at attention.

"You alright Remus?" 

"Hm? Y-yeah, I just wanted to know why Lestrange called Rory a—" Sirius' face hardened, he knew damn well that Rory was already emotional the entire DADA class. Let alone after hearing the ending of their conversation.

"Because he's an arse that doesn't deserve her anyhow...Did you see his face?!" Remus shook his head, but it contagious on how wide his smile was that it had the whole group laughing about.

While the Maurders were laughing, the Death Eaters were in shambles. The three found safe haven in the common room as it was in public. But the state of their room was defiantly better than the curses that grazed them.

"We're fucked," McNair whispered, and Avery huffed in annoyance. 

"You're alright, Harper's never going to talk to me again...All because of his insensitive whatever. Honestly, could he really blame her for saying no? It wasn't an official mission." The three were circulating the conversation, and it was just their luck that the last and final Black child hear what had happened.

"What happened with Rory?" He innocently suggested, but he knew the game. Aurora and Sirius are his siblings after all, they were born for it.

"Er—Uh...Hey mate, did you find out when practice is?" His face hardened at the blatant attempt of ignoring the question.

"Fine, I'll ask Rory then." He shrugged, stepping aside and about to head for the door but alas McNair caught him by the back of his cloak and dragged him back.

"I'm only asking this once. What did he say." Snape even felt the need to bow his head in a different direction, he felt the dominance that the group had been lacking without Lestrange's presence and thus...They caved.

He didn't bother knocking, nor waiting. He simply took the strive into the bloody room, only to find it in a disarray. Obvious signs of curses being thrown at the walls, and had he not been prepared...He would've gotten hit as well.

"You bloody lied." The day could not get any worse for Rabastan, so much so that he looked up with tired eyes as he had been simply playing with the ring Aurora had gifted him that simple Christmas so long ago.

"You said you wouldn't hurt her and now look! Calling her a fowl name for what?!" 

"I asked her for—" Regulus took a demanding step forward, challenging him instantly.

"And she said no. Then you respect a no. You don't make her feel guilty for saying no. Bet you deserved it too." 

"And did you know she still feel pain in losing Sirius, but she's too damn concerned about your childish mind to even show a hint of emotion?" He countered, and Regulus glare darkened further.

"No bloody shite, has it taken you this long to figure it out that she missed him?! Merlin even father knows that!" Rabastan stilled, had he been so out of the loop? Once again he looked inconsiderate, and to top it all off the door to his dorm had been wide open...And none other than Dorcas continued in.

"Ask her to shag one year and now calling her a heartless bitch, I'm shocked she didn't leave you sooner Lestrange." 

"Get out." She stated that there was a prefect meeting scheduled in a few minutes and he regretted getting up so suddenly.

The tears luckily ran out a bit ago, and any trace was gone from his face as Regulus didn't question what he was doing. Or perhaps he didn't rightly care, whatever the case may be.

"To make matters even worse, you somehow still get the best out of it. Don't you?...You still get to marry her." Rabastan narrowed his eyes.

The fifth year was right, no matter what...Rory was still his.

"I hope she makes your life a living hell, and for what it's worth...You hurt I swear to—" 

"I didn't mean to hurt her, she wasn't meant to hear it." He attempted, but Regulus stood his grounds, something he was now deemed as Sirius had left the Black household.

"You shouldn't be saying nonsense in the first place, bloody coward you are. Bet my brother loved every minute of it too." He finished, finding his way out of the room and slammed the door to finalize the entire situation.

"Merlin Rory, I didn't mean it...Fuck." He stated, looking at the inscription once more as it held the two words that he needed a reminder of. Love Rory.

He treasured the thing, when he was stressed he twirled it around his finger...But now? Now it was just a reminder. He had talked ill of her, and heartless bitch wasn't all of it.

Granted he was drunk, but him using that excuse once again would simply cause a ruckus.

While Rabastan attempt to get Aurora's attention throughout the given prefect meeting, she had purposefully stayed behind. He knew prior that she was going to do it, but the conversation simply continued off as she was laughing with James and Lily.

"You alright?... Lestrange isn't bothering you?" Aurora shook her head politely and she shrugged at the thought. She knew he was listening in, his damnable cologne was his biggest weakness.

"No, but I think I'm just heading up to bed and—" 

"You can't miss dinner again." Aurora shrugged once more and she smirked.

"I'm not, my roommates and I are having a lil picnic. I don't know how Izzy got fire whiskey from but—" He gritted his teeth in the instant.

He did not want her drinking without him.

Nor did he want her drinking because of him.

"Rory that's not very—" Aurora simply gave James the sign that someone was in the hallway before she winked at either of them. "I'm free Mondays for that tutoring, unless it changes I'll tell you in advance!" She cheers, claiming her goodnights and continuing out of the room.

His lingering scent was still present, she just had a difficult time pointing out where. Only for him to instantly grab her and place a hand over her mouth.

In the instant she punched whomever it was, dead set in the stomach. It was an automatic reaction as he clutched it in pain. "Rightly deserved that." 

"Least we're in an agreement, a proper 'hey Aurora, mind talking in this here classroom...' Would've work just the same." 

"Yes, because you would've come willingly?" She shook her head and eyed him carefully.

She knew he had been crying, it was how irritated his eyes looked. That and the tears were a very loud scent to begin with. "Great chat then, I'm off." "You're not drinking." He simply explained, and that threw her for a laugh.

"Yeah? Well seems like from earlier today that wasn't your concern anymore Lestrange." 

"Cassiopeia...Don't make this any harder." Her eyes widened at the use of her formal name, it sounded so unnatural coming from his lips as she shook her head.

"Like I'll listen to that, besides...Harper squealed on me already, didn't she?" He let out a forced nod, guilt riding up on his aura. 

"So where in Merlin's name did you decide it was the best idea to call me a heartless bitch?! Because I can show you a heartless bitch." He didn't like the sound of that threat at all, her advances looked madly simpler to her cousin as she had him back up against one of the desks.

But it was instantly the lust that flared in her eyes that caught him off guard, and her kiss definitely caught him off guard.

He was enjoying every moment, craving her this closely since their argument as it hasn't been intimate since the Halloween ball.

He even managed to lift up one of her legs and wrap it around his waist to create some sort of pressure to his—Aurora knew his plan from the gettgo with that move. So her hand instinctively trailed down to his throbbing groin, causing her to smirk and itch a few kisses to his jawline and neck. 

"Next time..." She stated, all in-between the trail of kisses she had enacted, causing him to groan in frustration.

"...You decide to badmouth me..." He hummed in pleasure as her hand had managed somewhere in between his trousers and briefs to point of cupping his aroused member. Course fabric was still in it's place, but this wasn't meant to be the true second time either.

"...Remember this moment." She finalized, gripping her hand away and not bothering to give him any sort of relief or satisfaction.

She was close enough to hear his frustrated sigh, but realistically what was he meant to do? He kept fucking it up, and what was the point if she was meant to marry him...If she despised him then it wouldn't be the same.

Had he thought wrongly? Should he have gone to another gal to—No. Rory was his and his own love.

But at this moment he was truly just angry with all that transpired, but the fear soon set in. Regulus might not pose that much of a threat, but the rest of the Black family?

He needed to fix this entire situation before heading back to the holidays. And the only person that would even think of helping him, was Harper...

However as she and her gal friends weren't present for that given dinner. It was an obvious message that she chose against him once again and was drinking her little heart out.

He had done it for fun, yet he was worried that she was simply doing it to get back at him and settle her heart.

Not wanting to admit that if he heard that she called him a bastard behind his back and not a joking manner then he too would be angry.

As the gals were drinking and snacking, Harper made sure not to go overboard. She knew too much and claiming that she was going against her best friend then what would that say about her.

"What was the farthest you went with him Rory?" Izzy joked, and that caused the freshly broken up gal to cackle. 

"A handjob in the locker rooms..." Okay so perhaps Harper hadn't heard that from Avery, but she attempted to hold back a smile. Suppose Rabastan hadn't bragged.

That had been such a big risk in the royal pureblood rules, even the idea of too much skin would be wrongful. "And to think I was going to shag him before my wedding." She laughed, but that simply put everyone in silence.

"Y-you were?" Harper whispered, and Rory laughed again. "I love him enough, shouldn't that have been the point?" It was true, they couldn't deny that sex and shagging were for physical attraction.

"Yes it is. And we better be invited to the wedding!" Izzy slurred, completely disregarding the fact that Rabastan had a high chance being Aurora's groom. Course everyone just assumed it wasn't the case.

Unless it was the Slytherin's that found out on their own accords.

The night continued well on, the music blaring in their soundproof room had been a fantastic addition. As was the sweets and ability for Aurora's Patronus to come into the picture.

"What was the memory?" Harper asked, and suddenly it became a mix of it all as Aurora frowned. 

"We...We were at the Lestrange Manner during the summer. Me, Sirius, Reg and Rabastan...We were just playing chase in the garden." Although the girls didn't rightly understand how that could've been the memory, or they could...But out of everything?

It sprung as suspicious as Harper continued to take a load of mental notes, she hadn't drank all that much. Even Clementine was thoroughly hammered off in the corner of their bedroom.

*

Harper was on her way to the library for a study session she had planned with the rest of her Ravenclaws, there was a quiz in Transfiguration and everyone knew Rory was indeed the best.

Hopefully she'd get to ask the questions she needs to—

"My little Harp...Running away are we?" She turned around with a smile, but the second she saw Rabastan beside him as well, she felt the flare of guilt.

She knew too much on ether side and she looked away. "Ah, mate now you're making my life a living hell too." Amelia swatted at him for being rude and Lestrange simply shrugged.

"Is she alright?" The silence that lingered over the Ravenclaw ushered immense emotion to plague Rabastan's face as he came closer with more than enough questions. But she groaned into the air and gripped both the boy's wrists and found an empty closest.

"You can't keep asking Rabastan, it's wrong." He huffed in pure annoyance now. There had been so much hope, especially getting out of the public eye, but Avery look was a silent plea and so she too muttered under her breath.

"She's alright, or as alright as can be...Not like the rumors are doing you any favors anyhow." Lestrange narrowed his brow, his little Slytherin followers were quick in painting him in a brighter picture.

Claiming that he did more than just calling her fowl names. Gals soon swept up lies that they had slept with him, and Aurora was fit to believe anything at this moment.

"But you still know something?" 

"Of course I do, but Isabella is questioning my loyalty already. And Rory caught me red handed the night she told us about the whole ordeal." Avery leaned back against the desk, it was truly his girlfriend's choice whether or not she wanted to dwell into this territory.

"She still loves you if that's your biggest concern." 

"Well thank bloody fuck for that, right Avery? The girl I've been seeing for most of our time at Hogwarts loves me?" Harper was getting aggravated now as she shook her head.

"Being a whinny child isn't a good fit for you Lestrange, if you want to fix this then bloody fix it. She talked about how she was going to give herself up to you before her wedding, or what happened in the locker rooms?" Lestrange closed his eyes and bowed his head in silence.

"Oi, I didn't hear anything about the locker rooms." 

"You're not doing so well in my book either Avery, zip it. I'm sick of being caught in the middle. And if you don't fix this soon, we're in for a hell of a bloody year." She was a hundred percent right, Rabastan had been a bit selfish when it came to his girlfriend. Not realizing how much she impacted his day to day schedule, even now he felt the remembrance of going up to the library like Harper was and joined in on a study session.

Now his days were empty and alone.

"What would make it better?" 

"Guess you have to owl her, because she's not going to talk to you in person." He narrowed his eyes down to the Ravenclaw in confusion.

"She said it hurts too much." With that in mind now he dragged his hands down his face and nodded. 

"Alright, I'll go and write it now." She gave him a pity smile before leaning in to kiss Avery on the cheek.

"Can you at least ask her this question for that Transfiguration quiz?" Harper groaned at her boyfriend's stupidity, but agreed never the less as she hurried on out.

*

"How does it feel to be free princess?" Aurora groaned into the air, she was simply trying to teach the group the professor had asked to tutor and it was causing a very big impact in her lesson.

"Sirius I swear to all the deities I follow that I will throw you out this window." 

"I'll die happy knowing you're not with him anymore." Although she smiled for a moment, Lily did indeed see the pain that lingered, barely a second.

"Alright, so...Think of the time where you've never felt the most happiness, Lily...When you got your Hogwarts letter and found out about magic?" It was a decent example, but she failed to know the background of Snape being the first one to tell Lily about it.

So that memory was faulty.

Suddenly Remus had shocked all his pals as a forming of a wolf simply pranced around and around before stopping in front of Aurora. 

"REMMY YOU DID IT YOU DID IT!" She cheered, tackling him with a hug. He wasn't prepared for her to do that, but still managed to catch her as her arms wrapped around his tall frame.

"Is that a wolf?" Lily questioned, but before any of the boys could manage. Aurora threw her own cat out into the picture as the two very bright and powerful patrons' were chasing one another.

"Well, that's what it looks like." Sirius joked, but it caught Lily's attention again. 

"James..." She warned, but he shot her his famous smile. 

"Lily..." He attempted to taunt back, but Aurora simply eyed her brother and Remus very carefully before she dipped into Lily's mind.

"She knows..." Aurora whispered, letting her head fall before looking to her brother. 

"Apparently someone came up the Gryffindor common room drunk and as a dog? Funny. That sounds like someone I know." Sirius groaned and threw his arms up in the air. 

Claiming that it was faster up the steps than in human form.

But Lily was still focusing on James. Crossing over her arms before coming up to him with an even closer glare. "Would you like to tell me something?" She growled, and even Aurora had to admit it was very cute of her.

"Lily you know that isn't fair..." Ms.Black attempted, and she shook her head in defiance.

 "I know Remus is a werewolf, what I want to know is why the BLOODY FUCK YOU THREE THOUGHT IT WAS THE BRIGHT IDEA TO BECOME ANIMAGUSIS." The redhead defiantly had a spark of rage in her eye, but James relished in it all adoringly.

"Actually I—" The murderous tint that zoned in on Aurora as she attempted to speak silenced her in the second.

"Oi! Okay fine, we had the idea...But Rory helped us! She was one first." 

"Much to my dismay." Remus turned to the singled out Ravenclaw, which caused her to put her hands on her hips.

"Oh please, you like Salem more than you care to admit." 

"YOU'RE ONE TOO?!" Aurora groaned in the air as she showed her hands up. 

"You think these three could pull it off properly? James would still have hooves currently if it wasn't for me." Potter attempted to defend himself but the rest laughed, even Evan's snuck in a giggle or two.

"You all got off easy by the way, the change was painful." 

"...And you were alone." Remus reminded her, still uneasy about the whole thing. But as she smirked, her eyes switched to Salem's as a growl caught in his throat.

Attempting to regain his dignity he coughed a bit and held his hand to massage his throat.

"Whoa...Can you see all weird now?" Aurora simply blinked for a moment before she winked a single eye before making the swap to Salem.

"Oh Merlin! You're beautiful!" Lily shouted, going down to the floor to intake Aurora's head into her chest. Making sure to scratch behind the ears, and a fitful purr sounded out.

Sirius, always the jealous type. Soon fought out the attention in Lily's embrace with his sibling, thus starting a brawl. 

"Someone save me please," Remus whispered up into the air, but of course he couldn't help the smile creeping up on his face considering everyone he loves was right in front of him.

Minus his parents of course, but here he had the Marauders, Lily, and the ball of it all. Aurora.

His feelings for her never shifted, something about him was immensely attached, and part of him blamed it all on the fact that she was the first one to talk to him.

When he finally found the courage he looked back to the picture at hand, apparently Aurora had been curious about his Patronus, she tilted her head to the side and swatted at him. But of course the mutt was all too prepared to way his tail in a playful manner.

"Those two are rather cozy..." Lily whispered off to James, while Sirius shifted off to tackle his sister. It was this canine sense that he needed to play with a sibling. And there it was.

"Who? Rory and Remus? Course, there was a bad—" Salem shot her head back in the instant and growled in warning.

Course she was listening in, it had almost been a trigger. 

"Remmy doesn't need that reminder James." Remus' shoulders fell through as he looked terribly guilty in the instance. 

"That was Snape's fault Rory." That was not what she was getting at and she rose up her hand and pushed herself up beside Remus on the desk as he stood standing.

"Snape managed to get under the willow, we were in detention so Rory was alone, and..." 

"...Nasty git had Moony all crazy cause he's human." Sirius finished off the trail of thought that James was getting at. And Lily looked in complete and utter aw at the two sitting the closest to one another, but smiled brighter as Aurora leaned into Remus' shoulder.

"I attacked Moony to get Snape out, but that rightly didn't work in my favor. He left the door open too, everything else I—" 

"Let's just say we were dumbarses and assumed the worst." Aurora hummed in confirmation to what her brother had said, and Lily looked back towards James.

"Do I get to see what you turn into?" She questioned, and he nodded backing up a few steps before falling onto four plated hooves and sniffed Lily's side, nudging her for a pet.

"I really didn't know what to expect for anyone's animal, but they fit." She nodded along as she continued to pet the Stag right in front of her.

The rest of the time seemingly passed without much luck, or a very good portion of the group managed a noncorporal patronus and that was better than what they had done in class.

But it was an ease that at least one person had gotten it, it allowed Aurora not to feel like a failure, especially since she felt immensely bad for Sirius.

Perhaps telling him her favorite memory made him assume that his would involve her.

For James with was recent, when everyone in his friend group managed to get together for Christmas. He assumed it would've involved Lily, but as he had pulled aside Rory, she explained that it didn't always involve a significant other.

It was just more common than not.

For Sirius that was difficult as there was no gal he fancied like that, that space was reserved for his sister. Peter...Well he always had signs of a rat to begin with.

The others soon left, while Remus wanted to talk to Aurora before they turned in for the night. "I wanted to thank you for teaching me...Us. Even if it wasn't assigned I'm sure you would've helped anyhow." She shrugged before handing off his textbook that she read off of.

"Please Remmy, you were too easy to teach. Surprised you didn't get it during class." 

"Yes well, Pads and I were too busy seeing if yours was going to be Salem or not." She smiled brightly, and for the first time in a while it was soul on him.

"Are you doing alright, shame we can't do more than this...Behind closed doors." It was sharing of a sad grin on either side. She licked her lips and attempted to hide her watering eyes.

"I'm fine." 

"Sounds like a lie." He wasn't taunting, he was showing concern. But she shrugged. 

"Have to be right? Holiday is coming up already and I don't rightly know how to tell mother and father what happened." 

"Bet we can be of a little service?" He had tapped into the marauder side of things, that and he felt the need for revenge.

"That's what we need right? A war in school." She rolled her eyes, but the two seemingly continued the conversation for another hour and a half.

Both Aurora and Remus felt the weight of their shoulders lift after such a needed time to discuss...Everything really.

He missed her ramblings, her odd findings, her giggles, her smile.

It let Remus sleep peaceful, but unfortunately for her...Rabastan decided to write her a letter.

The happy high was not enough to put her to sleep for long, soon she was tossing and turning to the point of brainstorming what his apology would begin with.

Would he call her out? Would Harper's betrayal come in the form of what he knows to not...She groaned and ripped the damn the from under her pillow, threw on her glasses and pulled the wand out to have the light shine brightly to the given ink.

━━━━━▼━━━━━

Rory,

Feels like I'm always the one who ruins what we have, and for that I want to say that I'm sorry. The stress isn't an excuse to take it out on you.

I didn't want you to drink for the soul purpose of doing it saddened or in celebration, it pains me terribly to see you already doing better without me. But Harper told me a few things and I wish we would've discussed it further.

I shouldn't have asked that of you Rory, proving myself should not come above you. Nor before your feelings. I will gladly take every curse you could think of if it will mean you'll give me another chance.

Please think about it?

-Raba

Aurora inhaled, his points weren't wrong. He had been stressed, but this sense of betrayal is something wanted to stray from. Especially when it came to Death Eaters, this uncharted territory is becoming a struggle. If Rabastan doesn't even have her back...She's just going to be the lone bird in the sea of snakes.

Rabastan,

It's about 3 in the morning at the current moment an—

No. She could not start the letter like that. It would seem like she was clinging to stay away and wasn't strong enough to stay away. Better to just wait until tomorrow and send it anyhow.

━━━━━▼━━━━━

Rabastan,

It's nice to see you come to that conclusion AFTER I managed to get it through to you. You getting angry for a simple no is not only breaking the trust I had for you, but the respect as well.

I wasn't comfortable with the plan, and somehow that bit didn't register throughout any of it.

Do you know how stressful it is on my end? To be a female and now having to face comments like that from someone I want to trust. You calling me a heartless bitch hurt, but the conversation leading up to it hurts worse.

I don't care to know what you bloody spoke about. But just think back to it, is it anything you would say to me directly?

I am the only Ravenclaw in the sea of Slytherin in the meetings, I get weary eyes, untrusted hatred. Like his favoritism is actually a blessing.

I never told you why he's obsessed with me, and I was hoping to this summer. But what's the point if you don't bloody care or will use it against me.

I love you Rabastan Lestrange, I love you to the ends of the earth. And there was no part of me that was against doing what we planned this summer if it meant sharing our love further.

But maybe we do need a breather...Just for a bit, so you can gather your stress and properly serve him while I'll do what I do best.

Be a heartless bitch.

-Cassiopeia

_______

She had to force her teeth apart as it had made her rather anger, and there was no way shape or form she could tell if her was awake...Unless...

Reaching into her bag for a moment to unlock the map, searching with a quick spell to where Rabastan is. Though he was not in his dorms, and instead was in his common room. Perhaps he was sleeping? Brainstorming?

More likely that he couldn't sleep either.

No telling when the letter itself had been delivered, but she refused to accept the guilt creeping in her.

It was a grand idea to take a breather, if he was taking his stress out on her then what's the point in staying toxic? Giving him a proper chance to focus on the important things.

Morning came far too early for her as she groaned to the girls attempting to get ready in the morning, even attempting to say she's sick.

But the Black family were blessed with a healthy immune system, shockingly...With all the inbreeding.

Walking into the Grand Hall only made the letter in her pocket burn, wanting to be heard and delivered. But she didn't bother looking towards the Slytherin table, nor the Gryffindor one.

The divided sides just made it an even bigger struggle, because she did indeed to save herself and her husband. Merlin point her in the right direction.

"Harper, may I ask you favor?" She peeked up, wanting to prove her loyalty and she nodded desperately. Nobody wanted an angry Black child on their hands and so Aurora slid the letter.

"I'm heading to class early, can you give this to Lestrange." Her eyes grew wide at the task, simply leaving the paper there was enough before Aurora managed to get up and walk out of the buzzing hall.

Multiple pairs of eyes were staring after her, some in envy, some with hate.

But most were with concern.

Harper waited a moment to finish her pumpkin juice before she sat beside Avery with a kiss. "Merlin Rabastan, did you get any sleep?" His tired eyes looked on up and shook his head. 

"Didn't make it any better that Rory had to tutor the Gryffindors. How'd that go anyhow?" 

"Well enough I suppose, she said they were thick headed but nothing else of the sorts." Rabastan indeed was lost in his own thought that Harper had to kick him from under the table.

"If you have nothing of use then I suggest you—" Harper's dull eyes rolled up as she held the letter behind her head. 

"Whatever you wrote managed a response, don't be a git because I can withhold them." Harper was using the safety net of Aurora in hopes that it would calm him.

The boys knew first hand what he is capable of, and it was a wonder how Aurora didn't know about the muggleborn wizard who was in the infirmary right now, as Rabastan needed a few moments of anger.

It was a bigger mess than what anyone of the snakes let on to Avery's own little bird. But as he finished up the letter he groaned. 

"She went to class?" Harper nodded, noticing all too well that Lestrange did not eat anything from his plate and rushed to wherever Aurora had gone.

Apparently she had failed in getting to class on time as Professor McGonagall was discussing a possible leave interview with Mr.Otto another employer, which caused him to smile brightly as his lil Rory was making her dreams come true.

Without him...

"I have a practice today, but I'm free before if it works in you reschedule professor. I do have to owl my father before the—" 

"Mr.Otto and your father have been in discussion already...It's nice to see you smiling again Ms.Black." Aurora chuckled, but her professor's eyes landed on Lestrange as she threw a fake smile...All because her emotions had betrayed her for a solid moment.

Aurora looked to Rabastan in question and nodded in seeing the letter. 

"You want a break?" She closed her eyes and nodded. 

"I think it'll be good for us, we—" 

"Love it isn't...When your father hears about this?" She shrugged, no longer protecting him from her parents was giving him an automatic anxiety attack.

"You need to focus on your tasks, I'm in the way." 

"That's not true Rory. Not at all." She rolled her eyes and shrugged. 

"Look, Rabastan. I am not fighting you in any regard. But I am sticking by my words on how I feel in the circle. His favoritism is going to cause jealousy." 

"Do I get to know why there is that certain favoritism?" She shook her head and his shoulders fell further.

"It's not at all special, really, they've hyped it up more than it's worth...I'm not saying breaking connection Rabastan, we've been friends since we were two." 

"And we've been dating since fourth year...I've gone the last few days in constant confusion because I'm fighting against going to study sessions." She smiled softly up towards him in an effort in making this a better compromise.

"We can still study, and you're free to go and make those rumors true if you really want to." 

"Is my little Raven, are you jealous?" 

"No, but a few lads already took the courage to ask me to Hogsmeade." He growled, narrowing his eyes as he so desperately wanted to know who and what their plan was.

"Oh please, they were basically children. Personally I think they were just scared in going to Hogsmead for the first time...A few of them at least." He was still struggling to keep his composure.

"I can't simply see you as a friend." 

"Then don't blame me for the smallest of things that go wrong, I understand getting colder is apart of our world...I'm here." He shook his head, his aura dwindling every second this conversation continued.

"Not in the same way, but when we leave Hogwarts over the Holiday. How am I meant to protect you?" 

"Where's the trust that I'm asking you to build up?" The question lingered all too long, and the bustle of students that were coming their way were close to rounding the corner.

"We'll talk later alright, sort out what you need to." She leaned up for a moment and kissed his cheek before hurrying along to class. He trugged along after her, struggling to remember that Aurora no longer sat next to him in class.

Nor would she partner up with him in the classes.

But it was nice to see her vocally against Sirius, as he'd tease her about nothing to everything. Throwing small balls of paper back and forth.

This was the closest either could get in terms of sibling banter.

And as Rabstan watched from the back of classroom, he saw how much it drained his precious Ravenclaw. His empathy ruined him as it was nowhere near as it should be.

The two had their first study session, and it went rather well. Or so for her sake than his, he had to remind himself once again that they were not together. And ogling her, or touching her in any sense wouldn't look good on his behalf.

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Date Posted: 04-07-19

Time: 6:10

Words: 6211

I would like to dedicate this chapter to mrs_mikealson16  , thank you famfam for following this story from the beginning. I love your comments and support :) 

Hope you enjoy what I have in store ;)