✧PLAN IS A GO✧

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Their parents decide to send them each a bit more money this coming time, not that they could go to Hogsmeade just yet. But there was a sort of ordering owl, and Sirius was big on ordering pranking items from the catalog while Rory would ask one of the older students to get her a new book.

The money felt heavy in the pockets of the children, and although Sirius was indeed given an allowance, it was never enough to rival Aurora's. And yet here he sat with his mate with at least a given fifty galleons in a velvet pouch, mirroring Aurora who would more or less keep this money until the end of Hogwarts.

Entering the returning feast, Aurora felt rather slumped. Her father had ordered some sort of paste to have the bruise heal faster than whatever other creation she was researching, but in reality, it just meant that the evidence vanished sooner. The only salience was when she had hope in helping Remus with his problem.

It wasn't so much a problem rather than a small inkling of a monthly span of time. It never changed her perception of him, if anything it brought things into a clearer light. So one day after Transfiguration had the young Ms.Black come to the front table to ask her professor a question.

"Professor? I had a question about animagus'..." She began, and that intrigued the elder witch due to her own ability to do so. "What seems to be the question Ms.Black? Straying so far off the syllabus it makes me have wonder what you're diving into." The girl giggled innocently, a trait she had learned from her wretch mother, appear dumb but act smart.

"Well it started with reading about some creatures, so I was wondering if another animal could detect the difference between another animal to an animagus." Professor McGonagall had tilted her head for a moment, thinking of the possibilities.

"It's a bit of a trade secret Ms.Black that once in animal form you can manage a sort of link communication. If I were to shift I can talk to Mrs.Norris the same as I talk to you." That sparked a smile into the girl's face, and whether it be a relief in the deputy mistress' as it was her and Flitwick's duty to watch out of those two, especially so soon after returning from vacations.

"So dark creatures wouldn't suspect anything?" The women shook her head in confirmation. Thus cracking the smallest joke of her wanting to talk to the Hippogriff or any other animal in the offered care of Magical Creatures classes. Luckily it was an easy scapegoat for Aurora's interest to have them coexist within one another.

As Sirius and his mates were rounding the corner to see her smiling to herself, loud enough to brighten up the boy's mood as well. "Good class Rory?" That piked up the girl's inner thoughts for a moment and she smiled to the boys. "Oh no, there's a surprise quiz...Or maybe that was just for us. See you at lunch?" She questioned, continuing off without even waiting for a response.

The group was rather confused as to what the girl was so interested in, but for Sirius it felt like a breath of fresh air to even see her acting normal. "She alright?" James questioned, and it had the Black brother scoff. 

"You kiddin' mate? She's always like that. Reading mess if I've ever seen one. Almost in competition with you Remus." Sirius teased, but Remus had been smirking ever since the brightness of her aura graced him that morning.

Just in time to feel the raging lunar effects coming into play.

However they had soon seen the likes of Rabastan Lestrange and his gang of Slytherins. Sirius couldn't help but feel that he had said something to his sister to make her so gitery, thus planting the seed of pranking the Slytherins in an up and coming sanction.

Yet Rory was doing more than just the simplistic of things at the moment, a mere second year studying the art of shifting into an animal. She needed to be careful, cautious...The threat of staying an animal permanently was something she did not want to have to tell her mother.

So it was countless hours, countless cups of coffee in the morning. Luckily one of the half-blooded Ravenclaws had provided a coffee machine charmed by Flitwick himself to aid those in his class. More so for the seventh years, but it blessed Aurora to get the added workload to be understood.

Aurora even had a deal with the librarian that if she were to get a pass from both the deputy as well as her head of house to sign it would she be able to take out a few books. And it just made it all the more hilarious that one of her older friends had gifted her a restricted section pass. 

Of course she allowed Remus to borrow it a few times but it was quite the thrill of finding books one might normally never be able to check out without it. These were the steps of preparation of when the two siblings would be forced to go back home, at least they would be able to take the pressure off of Regulus when it was time.

Surprisingly it had been their father, chatting up Mr.Lestrange just at the meeting point for the lot of them. It suddenly turned into a combined celebration dinner at the manner, however it was a thankful celebration as Walburga Black was preoccupied with other things.

More so with Mrs.Lestrange and celebrating with tea at the Black manner. They were raving at the idea of their eldest graduating so that they could be focusing on a wedding rather than the little dumb excepts in witch weekly.

Although Sirius found it dull, it was nice to see Regulus out in the open as well. And Cassiopeia adored the outdoor gardens of the Lestrange manner, she'd sit by the tree and read. Usually he'd sit with her but Rabastan had beaten him to the punch. He was beside her at this very moment, making her laugh and smile.

"Mother was saying a whole lot of things about him the last few days...What do you think it's about?" He pondered out loud. Sirius, being only the given 13 years of age didn't exactly suspect marriage being the prime celebration at the moment but shrugged never the less.

"They get cheerful at the strangest things Reg, he had a good game against Ravenclaw, probably boasted it to his father or something in the sort." He said, swallowing to the ice tea handed to him by the elf.

Over by the tree that was giving a mix of ample light as well as shade held all the more laughter under it's belt as Rory giggled at Rabastan's taunting. "You know I never see you over the summer, only for your birthday...Perhaps this year we could change that." The idea of being underneath the tree sparked in her head to the fullest.

She never minded his company, in reality, she adored him as one of the many male friends in her life.

"Could we keep it to me coming to your house Raba, it's dreary at—" 

"You mean the lovely elf heads? Whatever could you mean?" She swatted him once again, the boy had looked to her with the same intensity his parents had wanted of him.

This entire visitation had been to get the two together, closer, the new generations were testing the likelihood of pureblood relations that wouldn't be just based solely on blood compatibility. The trial and error of their ways was to spark at least a few children out of this forming couple, and they were going to be right in that regard.

***

Cassiopeia had a very eventful summer, it was one thing to get everything together from Slughorn's cabinets prior to departure. But here she was, swirling around the soaking mandrake leaf. Something that she would have to hold in her mouth for at least a month, but the good thing is she had a couple. Knowing full well if the moon does not show in the faithful month she'd have to restart. Which happened during the summer.

Bummed by the lack of progress, it was nice to have a calming atmosphere in the Black home. Most of which were their parents being insanely busy with matters none of the children understood.

But it made for a finally calm household, Cassi and her siblings found it pleasurable to play the countless board games, to enjoy a silent film on the projector that Cissy wanted Rory to have for her birthday.

They had even allowed Narcissa to take her younger cousins to go and get their supplies for Hogwarts that year. Already onto their third while Regulus onto his first.

She was proud of them, and decided that they were allowed free range to whatever gift they could want at the moment. With that Sirius and Regulus went straight to the sports shops, though Rory asked if they could get her some gloves, thus separating their path. Narcissa wanted her to have something personal, even though the idea of books were great and all. Cissy was more focused on finding the girl's sense of style, she always wore what her mother told her out of duty.

Yet here she was staring confusingly at the surrounding fabrics and plans. "Mrs.Malfoy, a pleasure to see you this afternoon how are you?" Rory had to make a double take on that, sure the wedding had already been a few weeks ago but it was confusing never the less.

"Very well thank you, this is my cousin Cassiopeia Black...She is looking to have a custom-made dress, isn't that right darling?" The girl had been blindsided, she honestly didn't know what to expect from the girl, but it defiantly came through as being a different sort of gift. 

"Why of course! Come Ms.Black why don't I take you to the drawing table and we can sketch you something." Rory had been taken right then and there to a table, being asked all types of questions of favorite color, past designs, school, personalities. Any and all forms that could transpire into a dress.

And that's when it happened. A book had been placed at the end of the table, and when Aurora propped it open for a moment she smiled. "Is this what you're drawing?" She questioned, and the women nodded. "We sell those in the front dear, drawer are you?" Aurora's brow rose and she politely shook her head. "No, but it looks interesting." She spoke, continuing to read while the women sketched out options for the dress.

So when the final reveal was shown the girl's jaw dropped. "Circi they're beautiful..." She whispered, focusing strongly on the second one, the women beamed and motioned to the book.

"I started learning on that there book, with a little practicing I bet I'll start seeing you with ideas of your own." She smiled and adored the idea, seeing Narcissa and picking up one of the newer books. Her cousin groaned at the idea of the girl finding the one book in the store but then saw that it was a designer template to find her creative outlet. So it was added to the placed order considering even Narcissa had two to buy.

When the group of cousins returned Sirius scoffed at the idea of the girl buying a book with her freedom. But it also came with the plate of her needing something to sketch with, so when it came time to drop the kids off Narcissa returned and sent her only female cousin the given gift of markers and stencils that Cissy had seen the designers use.

By the next morning the package had shown and Rory found a smile on her face, going about to draw and practice her own work as one of the first things about fashion was to find a style.

Even if she started a bit cartoony, it became easier to control her movement properly, it was something at the very least to get to stop obsessing over the given leaves.

***

When the day finally came for Regulus to go on the platform 9 3/4 as a student, he was a buckle of smiles as well as the rest of his family. Sirius was undoubtedly hesitant as at any bad thing could suddenly turn the positive aura. But nothing had, Cassiopeia assumed that it was the sense that Regulus would finally give the Slytherin house into the Black family name.

"No foolish behavior Sirius." Orion had ordered, all while bringing Cassi into a kiss. 

"Yes father, and I'll watch out for these two." Walburga suppressed the urge to smack him upside the head and curtly nodded.

The three soon found themselves into the set train, Sirius kissed Rory's cheek and went off to find his mates. "Come on, let's go find Rabastan." She spoke, and that brightened the boys face. Yet it was a very pleasant surprise on the youngest Lestrange boy to find her searching for him.

And the added bonus of sticking around the entirety of the trip. To his mates, Aurora was off limits, but the second she went to the loo to change and offered to show her brother the same the comments began.

"She's fit isn't she?" Avery started, snickering right because McClair who hummed in agreement. 

"Her arse—" Rabastan had slammed his book closed and glared at his two friends.

"Aurora is off limits, I need not remind you of that." He spoke, calmly and clearly but in reality, all he wanted was to knock a bit of muggle sense into them with a clear-cut punch to the gut.

"Off limits to all or just to us?" McClair joked, but that had his head tilt all the further, a trait he had picked up from Bellatrix mind you.

His sister in law.

"Should I remind you of who she is related to?" That nicked a sore spot in either one of their childish hearts, however the second Rory returned sporting her school skirt and the blouse that blessed the boys with the pure sight of her hips and breasts. 

Rabastan found himself at the crossfire.

"To just you two." He counted, and Rory sat beside Rabastan once more confused at what the conversation was prior but didn't ask. Mostly because she doubted she'd get the answer or the truth.

Finally arriving to Hogwarts had Aurora walked in with her Slytherin friends, paying a decent smile to Severus Snape before taking her seat with her back facing the rest of them.

"I take it our mate fancies himself a Black?" 

"Same boat as his brother then, perhaps this one will fancy him back." The two continued to buckle and sneer before the glare once again silenced them both, but it caught Severus' glance.

"She's in need of a potions partner for a side project she's working on, Rabastan, perhaps you could lend her a hand." Severus offered, seeing as how he was originally paired with her when it came to Slughorn's biddings. But that had earned him the spot, giving up his entitlement for the moment to bring Rabastan and her closer. 

"See there gents, Snape knows a winning side." He cheered, both causing a small gleam of a smile.

Just the beginning of Severus' mishaps.

And like all could've predicted, Regulus Articus Black had been deemed Slytherin after all of five seconds beneath the hat, as he found his footing to sit to his back to the Ravenclaw table. Smiling off to Rory before Rabastan had taken the liberty in offering him a seat.

Earning another set of points in Aurora's eyes as she beamed to the entire lot of them.

"She still wears that necklace you gave her then?" Avery questioned, only this time in the presence of her own brother. 

"Who? Rory?... She really loves the necklace, Siri took it from her once and hid it and she threw a fit." Rabastan had let his jaw drop at the small story that the little first year had revealed, his eyes sparkling as it meant something. The necklace meant something more to her as it meant something more in giving it to her.

"Think little Regulus is pulling your strings mate." The boy frowned and disagreed within the instant. "Am not. I can ask her right—" Rabastan had clamped his hand onto the boy's shoulder and shook his head.

"I believe you, dig in...The first night is always a lil odd." Reg took the advice before him and tucked in a hearty meal, all while checking to see if Aurora had been doing the same.

Whatever mother had told her was still sinking into her bones and it hurt both of her siblings to see her doing it to herself now, especially when father did nothing in the sorts of aiding the situation.

Yet tonight it wasn't even about that, at the current moment her attention was more so to her ill stricken friend. She had ordered a very beautiful watch and claimed that due to their new class of Astronomy and Divination that a watch with the tellings of the moon would aid her in the class.

Truthfully it helped to keep track of his changes, and for Aurora to do the same. The leaves needed another solid attempt, which meant for her to shrink one and place it under her tongue.

It was a trick that she didn't rightly know if it would work or not, however as she wished her brother a goodnight, it was the sudden inkling of Sirius starting to feel jealous once again.

James must've picked up on it because he threw his arm over his shoulder and started spewing random nonsense about their upcoming season and classes.

Remus had followed behind but was in a mess of agony of his bones shifting was becoming an issue, he'd had to shift at home this summer and although his parents were at his beckoning call. They wanted him to stay for a bit longer, however Remus knew that seeing Aurora would up his spirits, yet here he was. Only getting the weakest glance of her...Tomorrow served as a better condemner and that is what he needed, the numbing responder of it all.

Following the new rhythm of classes did the youngest Black heir actually see the hype in what Hogwarts brought. Aurora, now onto her fifth year of actual schooling had always told him of the joys of it, and yes there were a lot. But something about having to sit in an actual classroom was starting to dull in the boys mind.

He adored DADA of course, and potions as his sister probably prepared him for the next two years in the sorts. That and he stole her notes.

Both Black son's had been at fault with that, and they took it as a secret both were willing to commit to. She had always put so much effort into everything, it was easier than going to the library.

However while Rabastan had been showing Regulus around, properties of being a third year and friend of the family did they stop at the library. "And here...Is where you will always end up find your sister." Regulus chuckled and gazed around, and just like that had his eyes planted themselves to the lone Ravenclaw with the dozens of papers off and around, as well as the given books propped up at her disposal. 

"No matter what you do she'll jump in reaction." Regulus gave a knowing nod as he already knew what to do.

It was a trick that Sirius had managed, all it took was two hands to go over her eyes to stop her from seeing anything. "Siri stop that our charms paper is due—" She turned around to see two other boys green primings instead of red. "Oh Circi have me if you're going to start doing that too Reg." Was all she muster, turning back to the loads of work before both the boys joined her.

She smiled up to Rabastan but didn't say much of anything to a response, so he didn't take it too much to heart all things considering, she never said much while doing her work so he found himself content with discussion the charms essay that he too has to complete. Even though Regulus knew it wasn't due for another day or so for his fellow Slytherin, he knew that he liked Aurora's company as much as he does.

However the girl was trapped with the two boys now, she wanted to make some progress on her Animagus status but it hadn't worked. It was the roadblock of the century as she couldn't predict when the full moon would show or in this case not have clouds in the way.

Using up so many leaves and the amount of stress on a little 3rd year was starting to dwell on her, and Quidditch season hasn't started yet either.

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Date Posted: 01-25-19

Time: 10:56

Words: 3596