✧A LOSS OF BALANCE✧

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Aurora found herself in the oddest of places, a smile on her face and a relaxed face as she leaned against the cool exposed castle rock. For the first time in a while was there nothing for her to do, her eyes demanded a break from reading. 

Her hands still ached from all the note taking...perhaps she could catch up on some sleep?

She had all the options in the world, and it made it all the better as Regulus came running out into the courtyard with a bright smile. 

"Rory you were right! The potions practical was so simple!" She smiled, nodding as she was feeling the bliss of it all at the moment.

"Are you packed?" She questioned, and he shook his head. "Was going to do some now and some after dinner, I need to empty out my locker too." A very devious smile emerged.

"I could use a fly, want to join?" Merlin did he love it when she asked, from his experience gals didn't rightly like sports all that much. But his sister was an active contender, playing and dominating the field whenever she was on it.

Even if she was a Holy HeadHarpy fan, all could be forgiven as they went along towards the field.

She had to borrow a jumper, but she's been seen wearing Rabastan's from time to time that it wasn't that much of a difference in Regulus' eyes.

He had seen how from the time of her start at Hogwarts their parents stopped forcing green down her throat, but still sought to it to incorporate silver into the mix.

Aurora took the time to show him a few moves to try, and now that she was mere hours from graduating he wouldn't be able to use them against her. Anyone could agree that she should win the best player award at the 7th year graduation.

He then began to wonder what other sorts of awards she would be given, her house award sure. Potions, Alchemy...The list would go on and on.

He now realized why she was out and about like this, the poor girl needed a break. And he was going to ensure that Rabastan abides by that, without the plan of bombarding her with a proposal.

After the entire 'Heartless bitch' issue, he was worried that Rory would be stuck in a marriage that she didn't want.

Rabastan, on the other hand, had a little plan of his own. His mates...But mostly Dorcas, inspired him to have the idea of finding an unused room and making it into a romantic dinner. The elves were prepping a feast right now on top of their duties to the rest of the school to prepare a meal.

He knew what his little bird liked to eat, suggesting multiple things and it became clear that they knew Aurora themselves as well.

The room was littered with candles, incense that was borrowed from Dorcas as she claimed the room smelled terrible.

Avery provided the wine.

McNair went off in search for her.

And out of all of the bloody tasks, McNair could not find her for the life of him. It was his turn to enlist the birds to find Ms.Black but she disappeared on after her exam, and since she was talking to the proctors for so long she warned them prior that it wouldn't be worth it to wait.

Regulus soon came into the common room, sporting his sport duffle and broom in hand. He looked mighty happy that Rabastan eyed him curiously. 

"That looks like a man who concurred his potion OWL." It took Reg by surprise and it grew further.

"Think I got some of Rory's genius. But we were out on the pitch for about two hours, she taught me her special dive." Rabastan couldn't even be mad at that, she craved the pitch. And vowed that he would make a pitch on their property for her to utilize, he hummed in realization.

"How did she seem after the exam?" 

"Happy actually, I think she's actually sticking to not touching a book for the next week the way she was looking." Rabastan gleamed at the idea, she needed—no. Deserved a time away from academics.

"Happen to see where she went?" 

"Laying out in the grass by the Black Lake...You're—You're not asking now are you?" It took all of five seconds for Rabastan to put the pieces together. "I'm not meant to know just yet Reg, but I'll give you a fair enough warning...I'm not prepared in the slightest." The elder of the two didn't know if he should feel offended that Regulus breathed a sigh of relief.

"Just...She looks so calm right now. Go see for yourself." He issued, making up for the questionable expression. Though soon enough he continued off towards the Black Lake, seeing her skipping stones looked both innocent and adorable by the simple game of throwing the stone the farthest.

She was wearing her brother's Slytherin Jersey, which didn't change much considering they both shared the number 3 as well as their last name.

Aurora was still wearing her formal skirt, but he didn't know what to make of the dirt and tears in her stockings.

Staying silent he managed to gather enough patience to arrive right beside her, his hands in his pockets as this is the Rory he wanted to see after finals.

"I take it that your exams went alright?" Instead of a jump, she smiled off in his direction. The wind was in control of her hair no matter how many times she tried to settle the long locks behind her ear.

"Can we not talk about school? Or work or classes and exams." She questioned, and he so easily wrapped his arm to hook at her waist.

"This doesn't sound like you Rory...But I'll happy obliged." She snuggled further into his hold, his height made it very easy to comply with hers as he leaned his head further down onto hers. 

"...On one condition?" He battled her wiggling figure and only responded with a firmer hold.

"I thought you'd be proud of my sudden choice." 

"Oh I am love, I am. But it's so unlike you that I planned a little surprise." Her brow rose, but she was entirely taken back by his decision in treating her.

"What? Nono...You don't have to—" 

"Is that a rejection?" He eyed her curiously in the fact that she had denied it. But guilt spread across her face, and so it a begging kiss of forgiveness as he started to reign in his smug smirk.

"You didn't make it all that easy to find you, little bird." She giggled into his chest, adoring the warmth that radiated off him and his clothes. He was always warm, while she was always cold.

After a bit of coaxing to finally come inside, she wasn't surprised to be lead somewhere completely random. Or into a room completely decorated for the occasion.

"Ra...Raba what on earth?" She breathed, his eyes adoring his reaction. Course he was living for it, but he couldn't wait to do this every waking moment. To treat her like a princess.

The two sat the table to eat their meal, and after they settled on the conjured sofa to cuddle and enjoy some elf wine.

Tomorrow would be their final day, and by Friday afternoon they already would be at their respective houses. He truly wondered how long Aurora would last without her books, not that she didn't have any other hobbies.

But if she went off to Otto's labs, then was it a break?

Instead it was getting rather heated as he was suffocating himself in the crook of Rory's as he wanted some sort of splotchy mark for her to remember this moment by.

But it was getting harder and harder for him to control his cock from scaring her like that last few times. Usually, he was left to stop, but the jarring instance was the fact that Rory reached her hand to squeeze his throbbing member.

Aurora's face was already red, but it was a debate on whether or not she wants to give him a blow or handjob. 

"Rory...Don't, if you feel uncomfortable, don't..." She was confused, embarrassed even as he denied her.

"You...You don't want me to—?" Rabastan had to look directly in the eyes, but he had recognized the will to please so easily. He's seen it before in her eyes, but he shook his head. His hand curving under her chin and around her ears to not allow her a moment to hide.

"Sweet Merlin do I want that Aurora, but if I cannot please you in the way that I want. Then I don't deserve it." Her swollen lips parted for a moment, but her blush increased tenfold as she didn't know where to look now.

"I don't...I don't know how—" His smirk rallied as he shook his head. 

"Then do I have permission to show you?" She bit her lip at this temptation, she had joined the order and in the same day timespan was she about to advance her relationship.

But wouldn't this be good practice? How was she meant to feel comfortable with a stranger with this sort of thing if she couldn't even allow Rabastan to...Perform? 

If that was the right word for an instance like this.

He already knew she was scared, it was written all over her face. But her offering only to freak wasn't what he wanted on their wedding night. Calm and relax, and this wasn't it.

"Breath Rory...it's me, just me." His breath was back on her neck, hot as ever as he lowered his attack further down her chest. Opening up the crack of her blouse just a tad more than normal.

But that wasn't his main quest.

He wanted his little bird to experience an orgasm.

Conflicted on asking whether or not she's had one before or not wasn't exactly conversation material, especially in school. But with Rory finally calming down, he tended him prepared for how he was going about this.

So his hand slowly crept down between her legs, minding the fact that her skirt was thick and damning that didn't work the way that he hoped.

Thus, he slipped under the damn fabric straight to the source. Her panties and pantyhose shielded from most of it, however the second any pressure came to her sensitive numb she squeezed her legs together and bit her lip.

"See darling, feels good?" She sucked in her breath and forced herself to enjoy this growing urge deep in her stomach.

"...I could go further...With nothing in the way. No knickers blocking my finger against—" Her movement to plant her head against his chest as her inner thighs made it all the more difficult for him to really get to touch her.

His free hand to push her fighting thighs to the side in the attempt of his middle finger to properly made the gesture. "Raba—I—" 

"Hmm, it's meant to feel good love...See?" Just as he was starting to flood her with his voice just beside her ear. Nipping at her neck once again as she started to agree with the thrust of her hips forward to his touch. With a swirling motion starting to settle her past anything she's even imagined in terms of throbbing and passion.

Rabastan Lestrange rallied in this feeling, to properly treat his future little wife in all the ways he knows how. And as he continued to add to the pattern, whether going faster or slower...It was teasing her never the less.

But like everything in their world, they were interrupted with a knock.

"I am going to bloody kill whoever—" She was the one who told him to go. Fixing her position and clenching her legs to relieve the want and need his hand to resume his spot.

It was hushed voices at the door, but he slammed it shut. Having her both jump and distracted to who was there.

"What is it?" He held up the parcel to her, and she instantly recognized the handwriting of the Dark Lord as she ripped it open.

The way she stood up was bizarre and an obvious sign of frustration. Of course, Rabastan thought, the second she found peace and happiness the Dark Lord comes into play.

It was only a matter of time that he would be gifted the mark. But her timeline was up for chance in all regards.

"What is it love?" Her eyes continued to scan the contents of the letter. She was meant to check a certain object that was hidden in Hogwarts.

This confused her. Why would she be tasked with something like this?

The Dark claimed that it was her mission, and that she would be rewarded on her own behalf...Which she didn't want anything with the Dark Lord, especially in terms of benefits.

Should she tell Dumbledore?

What about the man right in front of her that wanted an answer, she looked up to him and closed her eyes. "The Dark Lord gave me a task, I don't know how long it'll take but—" 

"Do you want help Rory?" She eyed the letter once again, with the silent lingering further he understood that he couldn't tell her.

"Meet me after?" His eyes withheld hers and she smiled, rising to her feet and giving him another kiss on the lips to seal the promise. 

"I can meet you in your common room?... I just don't know how long this will take." He hummed, tucking her hair behind her ear as she nodded once more to hurry along to her destination.

The room of requirements.

After reaching a certain point she was beyond curious as to what this object is that means so much to the Dark Lord. Why would he hide it here...Out of all places?

That is when she felt the presence off behind her, it spooked her the point of gazing behind. In hopes of catching the body to the eyes.

Her nose failed her in this instance, not even the smell of sweat or the sound of a looming heart beat betrayed whomever it was following her.

However, the transparent follower quickly made haste to the entrance location as she caught on ahead of her mother's precious little Ravenclaw.

Aurora stood still, in the essence of getting caught did she greet one of her favorite ghosts in the castle. Helena Ravenclaw, only to be met with the fiery temper and angry eyes.

"My mother's trusted you with so much...Now you seek the same as the wizard did before you." Aurora shook her head with ease, reaching out to the ghost with an empty hand.

"I talked with your mother, she—She helped me, Helena...She showed me a better path." This angered the grey lady as she dove forward, nose to nose now did her mouth unhinge so unworldly that it led a shiver down her spine.

"What you seek has been defiled by dark magic!" She shrieked, and Aurora felt her heart shatter and break at the sight of her houses' legacy being angry with her.

"I only wish to have a look of what the Dark Lord talks about...I want no more harm to come to it, your...I promised your mother that I—" Aurora didn't need to speak any further than that as she pulled up the gifted necklace Rowena had offered the young Ravenclaw.

The ghost backed off in the instant, it was the surest sign of trust any Ravenclaw could ever ask of...

The pairing necklace to the Ravenclaw diadem.

"Helena...What do you mean he defiled it? What has become of this object?" The grey lady stared absentmindedly to the witch before directing her attention to where the door to the room of requirements would be conjured.

Before long it revealed itself, and the ghost had gone through.

Hurrying along did Aurora follow in pursuit of the ghost, casting a few weary glances to know if any bystanders might have heard of this conversation. But none were present.

The ghost of Helena was standing idly by as she waited for Aurora to level beside her. "What you crave is something valuable to every Ravenclaw...My mothers to be precise." The live witch looked down to the necklace and tried to recall all that Rowena had said... "Wear it in doubt...." Had been one of them.

Hurryingly putting the necklace over her head did she grasp the pendant firmly before allowing her senses to take full control.

Before long the grey lady grinned at the familiar calling the diadem would give to members of the Ravenclaw house wearing the necklace.

Aurora blindly followed through the large piles of the oddest things. "Helena...Is this the true room of requirements?" 

"Indeed. Things come, and then they go...Somethings have been lost but never found." Her vagueness washed over her with a reliving gesture. Merlin had she been upset moment prior.

Almost tripping over a book did she smile at the lost potions book laying by her feet. It was an older edition sure, but the smile on her face was not at all missed by the grey lady.

"Nobody will miss what they've already lost." The airy breath of a gentle push instigated her to pick up the book and hold it to her chest.

It happened quite a few times, the room wanted to gift Aurora all that she could want. And after being a regular in the room, she was already piled high with an array of potions books to dark arts.

And once the week ban of books was up, she would have a very good sense of reading.

"What would the Dark Lord want with your mother's diadem?" Aurora whispered, but the ghost stayed silent. Perhaps the women herself did not know, but tracking it through this jungle of misplaced chairs and piles high of cold sofas and furniture was beginning to make her feel claustrophobic in this maze.

But that's when she paused, the buzzing sensation of the Ravenclaw necklace gave off of locating the pairing jewelry. It meant that she was close!

Spinning around in search of it, was she in the general facility, so pulling out her wand did she illuminate a large light from her wand...It made the already transparent ghost even less visible than before, but the sound of her coming closer behind Aurora was both a blessing and a curse.

She wanted Helena's approval as much as her mother's, but it was difficult considering the predicament she is already in.

It was a sudden stop that alarmed the ghost, and just before the grey lady was meant to speak...Aurora hurriedly opened a very nice wooden carved box that was hidden under a small sheet.

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"Helena...Wasn't this hidden away in the woods? Why...Why is it here?" Guilt ranged on her face, something the little witch didn't rightly think was possible for such an emotion. It was a little myth that Helena had hidden it away somewhere deep in the woods...But here it was.

"Cassiopeia...My little...Ravenclaw...A tiara said to grant wisdom to the wearer...Lost for centuries, before I returned it to it's rightly place in Hogwarts." The chilling voice of the Dark Lord filled her mind as she looked hopped away from the object.

Her eyes glanced every which way, she wasn't prepared to see the Dark Lord. But her instant defense was to uphold her shields. "The Dark Lord knows not to trust, why are you here little one?" Addie stilled, confused as to why the voice didn't know her task.

"My Lord...You asked me to find—To check...Have I found the wrong item?" She whispered back, her eyes dancing between the tiara, the note, and Helena.

From guilt turned disgusted as she shook her head, had she heard the voice as well?

With the lack of response did she reread the task once more, he never said to move it or deliver it...So what should she do?

As her mind jumbled for an answer, the long string of forgotten phrases all relied on one's ears who've learned parsle tongue. It was calling to her, enchanting as ever as her fingers touched the fine silver that Rowena Ravenclaw herself wore in the times she was alive and well.

Looking for an allowance from Helena to put it on her head was signified by a simple nod. The most prized possession of her house, in her hands and now resting above her head.

What the young girl had witnessed was a young male, a wizard no doubt as his wand was on the defense as he searched endlessly through the trees above him in search...But for what?

Aurora could only assume the tiara was showing how it had been found, but who was that? 

Had the Dark Lord stole it from this man?

When she was suddenly yanked from the viewing she felt the painful endurance of what could only be her soul strangling with that of the combination of Voldemorts.

Though she did not know much about Horcruxes', the young girl fell to her knees at the pain. 

"My...My Lord?" She hissed, coughing up blood...Much like the unfortunate soul in Albanian.

The lack of response only dignified that she was done. However when the liquid leaking from her eyes felt irritating to her skin, but seeing the blood drenching her fingers...She flinched.

Her white sleeves rashed at the fact that her tears were bloody, coating the white blouse with the torture she received.

"It cannot be destroyed." Aurora placed her hands to the cold stone before her as she attempted to rise to her feet once more. "No...Not by me." 

"Then who?" The wrasp of her voice was in agony, she needed to write to the Dark Lord.

"Someone meant to stop the Dark Lord, it's valuable to him...I can't say what—I don't know what...Promise you'll protect it?" She looked towards the ghost in desperation, her hand wrapped around the blue diadem around her neck as she started to take it off.

"Whoever it's meant for...will this guide them?" The nod continued once more, and a sad smile erupted. "Then all is not lost, it can be found when the time comes...Thank you Helena, watch for the Ravenclaw younglings." Although she hadn't outright said it, the women smiled.

Helena had no doubt that this young witch would birth future Ravenclaws as well. "Of course, may we meet again." The familiarity between mother and daughter warmed her heart, the two were silent this time around as she hurried to her common room and ignored everyone that came up to her.

Whether in thanks, concern or whatever.

She ignored them all as hurried into her dorm room and hiding away in the bathroom. She didn't even bother taking off her blouse or undergarments as the cold water sputtered above her.

Her eyes still irritated from the drainage, what had happened?

Time must've lost her as Clementine was turning impatience and started banging at the door. But it was a blessing as she turned the water off, regretting her choice of not undressing at all, her clothes stuck to her like a sticky second skin.

She started to drop them to the floor, flicking her wand to dry them quickly before grabbing her towel robe and hurrying out of the bathroom for Clem to use herself.

"Oh...Sorry Rory I didn't mean to hurry you—Are you alright?" She shook her head as she sat on her bed in an attempt to feel any part of comfort but everything just felt cold.

Now she didn't blame Sirius for leaving, if that was the outcome of every curse then what's the point? If her mother had managed to do the same, she would've gotten up and left.

"Can you wake me up in a bit?... I just need to rest my eyes." Clementine didn't question it, she grabbed a pair of pajama's so she could get dressed. The girl didn't rightly care that she bare underneath without any panties as she was too exhausted to care.

She'd write the letter in a bit.

*

"Rory...Rory! AURORA!" The once peaceful and sleeping Ravenclaw suddenly turned is a gasping, all paired with a distraught expression had Harper instantly turned guilty.

"...It's dinner and Rabastan's looking for you, something about meeting up with him after...Something? He didn't say much, are you alright?" Aurora shook her head and rubbed her hands down her face in an attempt to wake up.

"I have to send a letter...Five minutes?" Harper knew she needed a moment and thus handed her the needed materials.

While Ms.Black summoned her robes so that she wouldn't be singled out for not being dressed accordingly. Personally if she hadn't promised to see Rabastan, she would've slept through dinner.

One of her last dinners.

The poor girl didn't look forward in going home, and as she quickly summarized her experience to the room of requirements to find a beautiful piece of jewelry...

Otherwise she hurried along with her flock and sat down with them with a small smile forming off to Rabastan.

He analyzed her carefully, which she felt. But he was much too shocked at how numb she appeared.

"Mate? What—Oh...What happened?" Avery spoke, but then his attention turned to what Lestrange had been looking towards. This sparked Regulus' interest as he turned around.

The knowing frown finally sparked Rabastan's interest, he knew. "What is it?" 

"Well...Suppose it finally hit her that we're going home...Recall what happened last time we were home?" Both men sitting across from him couldn't help their jaws from dropping.

"Fuck." Rabastan cursed, after it all...How could he have been so blind her fears?

He didn't allow her to leave the grand hall without him. Instead he pulled her off to the courtyard, looking as though she needed some fresh air and separation from wondering eyes.

"I suppose asking if you're alright is a pretty bloated question at the moment...What could I do to make it better?" He whispered, his eyes begging and pleading with her to speak. Merlin he would do anything to avoid another moment of her depressed appearance.

All in the timespan of a few hours, she suddenly look dreary and unwell. Was she ill? Did she fail the Dark Lord's task?

These questions continued to spiral until he felt her head resting against his shoulder, her attempt at relaxing and utterly failing.

"You shouldn't be crying love, we finished Hogwarts...We're through. You'll be going to school in the fall again if you'll think you'll miss the classroom." 

"It's...It's everything Rabastan..." She whispered, her hand reaching into her robe and handing a the letter in response to the Dark Lord's request.
So she did manage to complete it?

"...My mother for one thing, she's been excited about this summer for a year now...I'm...I'm scared." He hated it, with every fiber of his being he hated seeing her shiver with negative anticipation.

"Whatever it is...I'm sure you'll be able to handle it. If you could handle an Alchemy NEWT you can surely survivor your mother." A shadow of a smile appeared on her face as she looked up to him, he was relieved that he had said the right thing without outing himself and what he knows.

"How about this, we can go to a game over the summer? Dinner?... And I can just bet that Salem wants you to return now that you've graduated." How he had managed to up her spirits was what returned the light into her eyes, she hummed and leaned further into his hold. "But...You hate the Holy Head Harpies." 

"I do, but if by chance it gets you less scared of this summer...Then I'll gladly suck it up." Soon her arms wrapped around him further, and thank you kiss directed to his neck.

Unfortunately it sprung a flash flood of memories to what they were doing in the empty classroom.

"It's...You don't regret what happened today in the—" Her eyes flashed open in the instant as a blush crept up on her lips. The mere mention returned the fuzzy warmth back into her stomach as she shook her head.

Sighing in relief once again had her roll his eyes. "It felt good Raba...Strange but good." 

"We can always revisit it." He winked, which caused another small kiss to be given at his jawline.

This summer...Was indeed going to be the best.

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Date Posted: 04-16-19

Time: 10:18

Words: 4830

Final chapter tomorrow:)