✧DEBATING THE INVITATION✧

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With the aftermath of the Dark Lord still brewing in the background, Aria and Rabastan had yet to speak after that morning. If anything, Aria was still a bit peeved that he had asked her to marry him. Then another part of her was still dazed at the idea of being engaged for an allowed amount of time, and with confirming all this with Avery, it was the truth.

The bloke had gotten excited, and sure it aided Aria's position in thinking that perhaps this whole marriage bit wasn't just an act. She even repeated Rabastan's words of being 'selfish' and Avery certainly agreed.

At the current moment, it was becoming utterly difficult to maintain this 'double side' persona, and at most times if she wasn't at work. She was irritable, making her the worst company to be around—Which meant she simply dismissed any and all visitors and truly only ever owled those said friends.

So when she had received a owl of an invitation—She spat out her first cup of coffee in pure damnation, she didn't realize that this would be the night that the Order's plan would come to play.

No part of her wanted to betray the other, but when it held the prospect of muggles possibly being hurt? How else was she supposed to react, all she really had to do was get him a bit drunk—Which wasn't all that difficult.

He was turning nineteen after all, so that was most likely going to occur whether she fueled the temptation. In addition to it all, she'd need to catch his attention. And sure she did always have some of it, she needed more than just some.

Being the birthday boy meant high levels of attention, and since it was public knowledge that his betrothal was canceled on the whims of their side. It left him an eligible bachelor for future gals, meaning that their parents would engage in conversation on their behalf and basically advertise their daughter as best they could.

Aria had a dress that was saved for a witch weekly photoshoot but had failed to actually use it at the time, and with her intention to gain information from his head—She needed to gauge his every sense. Sure she didn't agree with everything about the Order, but she was willing to risk it now.

The only issue is if she had the time to go out and about, especially when she was on the verge of tears at the current moment at her dining room table.

Her hair had changed from blue to green to the rest of the colors of the rainbow, she swore she wouldn't let the disappointment of failure betray her, but it was difficult in seeing the amount of money she owed without any progress to the said project of Wolfsbane.

"Mistress Ari! Guest come through fireplace." That caused Aria to stall her next signature as she sighed. "Who is it?"
"Master Rabastan!" Of bloody course it was.

After agreeing to it, she already sighed in seeing his happy and bubbly attitude for this afternoon. Though she was sure he had a reason, he had a streak of good cases both in and out of the country. So she gave the best attempt at a smile in his direction, though it was hardly noticed as he came over-eager to give her a kiss.

"I'm sorry I just dropped by love, but I haven't seen you in god knows how long." It was true, if she had been in the country he was out. And vise versa, just hers weren't always in the realm of work.

One had been for Germany and her healer's treatment, so perhaps that was another addition to her sour mood.

"No worries, we both have our lives to sort through. And thank you for the flowers." She grinned and lightly took the flower to dip down to level with her nose.

"Are you feeling alright?" He questioned and she perked her lips, she knew that it wasn't really a sight to be in a lounge robe with her hair up in a bun. But she didn't need his opinion to— "You said you weren't feeling your best in your owls..."
"Oh, no it's been a rough few weeks. That and the labs haven't proven to be working out as well as I've hoped." She honestly admited, and that certainly caused her eyes to threaten to come and he instantly pulled up the seat next to her.

"No love, don't cry...It'll all work out soon, I promise it will. Just like it did with the Dragon Poxs, you met your mistakes and conjured it."
"But I wasn't losing money, I wasn't providing for countless people that rely on me." Truthfully he didn't understand that side of the business, his father was in charge of all those underneath and he hadn't a clue when he himself would take over the firm.

But it wasn't anytime soon.

"What has Otto said about all this?"
"That it's just a bump in the road, but I can't force him to support me anymore than he has."
"Could I offer my—"
"No. I wouldn't ever ask you to help me pay for bills Rabastan." He sighed, nicking his head to the obvious bill in the corner and she sighed but agreed for him to take a peek.

He hadn't realized that so much goes into the potion process, but there were a good few dozen of people looking from a signed check from Ms.Crawford, along with funding the trails, night shift, protection, trials, paying the test subjects and giving them housing in support of agreeing with being a basic test dummy.

"Ari...Merlin, this is—"
"One month's bill, it's started to skyrocket I know." While it did shock him, the means for funds weren't all that difficult to grasp.

He was an aspiring lawyer after all, with ties to an important and rich family. So no part of him would understand that in Aria's mind, that this was a loss. That needing to obtain a loan was a loss.

"A loan? Merlin are you mad? Didn't you just—"
"I touched enough of that money, I bought my manor, put funds away for Wyatt. But I have other bills, gods I'm sorry I should be ranting." He leaned down further to kiss her once more and she hummed.

"Why do I have a feeling you've come here with a purpose?" The sly smile start to rise, and while Aria had attempted to trickle into his head—He had just come out and spoken his thoughts.

"I was hoping that you would be my date for my birthday?" As enduring as that sounded, she squeezed her eyes shut and sighed. "I don't know if I can come yet Raba, I'm sorry I just—I'm trying to move things around before then but—"
"But you rather do that than attend my party. I understand." The tension had suddenly turned a different direction and Aria sighed.

"I'm sorry, but it's not just me I need to think about—"
"You know my father wanted me to take another date, another family friend and I said that I wanted to take you. But now I've come up empty-handed and have to take—"
"There's only so many times I'll apologies for me not being able to go, Rabastan. And if you let me finished I would say I can't attend the whole event. But seeing as how you'd rather take your father's choice than by all means. I'll tell my assistant that it's free." It was in a Slytherin's nature to exploit any piece of detail in their opponent's life, that's why he made such a brilliant lawyer.

But the issue here being that Aria was not apart of the courtroom, yet he still a choice to act the same way.

"Grand, I'll be sure to show her a brilliant night." Aria turned her head back towards her work, attempting not to allow his words to hurt her. It's what she wanted after all, to find someone else. And as it turns out, his father was abiding the taunts already.

"You have nothing to say?"
"To your bait? Oh, I have a million things I could say, that start and end with either Aidan or Randal. But I won't because frankly, I don't like seeing you at your worst and it's already halfway there. So before I blow up from the amount of stress and coffee in my system, please go." Whatever other hateful things he ushered had only ended as she began to cry, he hadn't even asked why she was home.

That her healer prescribed her a break from the labs and crowded offices as she was open to any sickness at the moment. Rabastan's party just managed in the timezone where she should be alright, and better yet she still had a few cramps to the procedure she went through.

His failure to see half the issue only saddened her further, and after a bit of self-loathing she finally managed to pick up her quill again and continue further. She deserved a peaceful night, but of course that was not in the plans for today.

"If you're here to apologize you can stick it right up your arse and—" She stopped when she caught sight of Avery with disheveled hair and a guilty expression.

"What happened?"
"He threw a small tantrum because I might not be able to attend his party."
"He said as much, you are entitled to a break once in a while." She shook her head and laughed.

"I'm not supposed to be in crowds at the moment, Avery. I just came back from a procedure a few days ago. That's why I'm working from home."
"And you can't tell him because he doesn't know that you're ill. Fuck."
"And you're doing a brilliant job of being the lil voice in my ear." She said with a light smile, clearly she had been doing a bit of her own crying. Which wasn't far off to what Rabastan was doing himself.

"Suppose the 'sorry' won't do much in this regard?"
"What'd he tell you that happened? Because I'm still trying to figure out what the hell happened in his head when I tried to tell him I might not be able to attend the full party." Avery bit at his lips, it was difficult to try and remedy this from where he sat across from sobbing and already drunken bloke.

And his silence wasn't all to telling.

"Then I hope he has fun with whatever gal his father has lined up for him."
"There is no gal, Aria, Merlin he was lying—"
"But how am I suppose to know that? Because all I know is that the contract of marrying the bastard is still up for grabs and if I don't act soon enough he's allowed to entertain whomever he wishes. So no, Avery, I don't know when to take it as a taunt or his brash bit of anger turns into a reality." Yes, it's safe to say that Rabastan certainly fucked up.

"He thinks you're not coming at all now..."
"Well wouldn't that be the perfect punishment?"
"Aria, it's his birthday. You can't not attend." Her shoulders slouched and she managed to gain through her faulty breath.

"From what I've gathered, it's optional, and the state of my almost company is already at the brim of my sanity...You're a smart lad, Avery. Tell me what I'm doing wrong." She questioned with her head leaning backwards to look at him properly.

"Potions isn't my first choice anymore, Crawford."
"But you were right under Severus if I remember, and I'm not about to ask that arse for help."
"You—You want my help?" She looked around slightly nervous on asking for anything by Rabastan's best mate, but the bloke shrugged.

"I'd be alright to do it, pretty bored myself. And perhaps it'd get my mind off of my almost betrothed."
"Oh I can certainly give you enough tasks, I think a new pair of eyes would be brilliant." He said his agreements and sat down beside her, looking through her notes and coming to actually smile at the idea of being introduced to his favorite subject back at Hogwarts.

Sure he had to ask a few quesitons, but she flawlessly responded outright to what their last few trials had gone through. And while Avery had no doubt that his help probably wouldn't be in range of the final product of Wolfsbane, he still enjoyed himself tremendously.

Or would've, had the sudden reveal of McNair come into his view. "What the bloody hell is all this?! For the last hour I've been trying to sober up the most stubborn bloke I've ever met and you two are just—Working...?" Clearly it surprised him, but Aria closed her eyes and huffed.

"To run you up to speed, Avery has agreed to help me so hopefully I can make it to the bastard's party. But your stubborn mate is a moody brat and thus, I'm still debating if I should even bother."
"How about we'll tell him no and you show up regardless?" Avery said with an excited grin.

"Now that...I can stand behind." She said, inviting the two lads to dinner as it wasn't the best for her to be all alone in the huge manor by herself.

Truthfully, had Rabastan not been an absolute dickhead then perhaps she would've extended the handoff towards him as well. Yet another fellow had walked through the fireplace, and everyone had turned ridgid at the idea of Rabastan going against everyone's advice and trying to go and apologies.

"Why is it...That my son decides to be an utter mockery of our name and I come to find you two here?" Aria patted her napkin to her lips and rose from her seat.
"Come join us Mister Lestrange, my elves prepared a beautiful garlic roasted chicken and potatoes." She offered one of the many seats and he promptly took the one across from her while either Avery and McNair had shifted uncomfortably.

"I want an explanation." Aria huffed and looked directly to Radolphous.
"I tried to tell Rabastan that I don't think I can make his full party and he was undoubtedly rude. Avery's convinced me that I should still try and attend the party, and he's offered his help at my labs so I can make it at a decent time." With that explanation, Radolphous had sighed and took a serving of the meal before him.

"That explains why he's piss drunk in my foyer." Aria snorted into her next sip and hummed.
"Bet that makes you feel better for crying all bloody afternoon Ari."

"Oh shush, that wasn't something I wanted to share. And I had plenty to cry about." Avery remained quiet as Aria dared him to speak up again, but he remained quiet.

"So you're going to show up later, is that correct?"
"Yes. And he'll think I won't be coming at all." She rephrased and Radolphous sighed.
"Very well, I'll try to remain silent on this front of yours. Though I wouldn't blame you if you didn't bother to show up at all." Aria shrugged her shoulders, the bloke had an outburst that he's already suffering for.

With a full house, Aria was prepared to take on the week—Especially with Avery at her side to aid her. And while it sounded odd at first, it was thrilling.

She was sure that she's never seen the bloke smile as much as he had.

The only issue is, the week had left ether more than exhausted, and thus—If Avery hadn't been the one to actually leave Rabastan's party to go and make sure Aria was awake, he was sure that she would've slept through the entire event.

"Merlin, I'm up! Don't let him get suspicious now."
"Hm, and let me just say there is no lady friend on his arm. Better get there before he does indeed find someone else for the night." Aria snorted, no, Sirius had reiterated the desperation in the last few days, it was damning and left an impression to see how worried he was in asking.

But she knew that he would've have asked if he wasn't desperate.

It was time to get to work.

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Date Posted: 03-27-2021

Time: 11:24

Words: 2762