✧A BREATHLESS NIGHT✧

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She held on tightly to Rodolphous, even after they had appeared at the Malfoy Manor. It was as pretentious and horrific as she remembered it to be from the previous altercation that happened here.

Still in her gown from the party, she had a bit of trouble keeping up with him, especially when he didn't have the heels on and glided up the staircase as if it were nothing.

"Do you plan on tripping me down the stairs before the meeting, Rolph?"
"Of course not, I think there's a fine line of people who'd like to punish me in retaliation for accidentally killing you." She hummed before sighing in relief at finally managing the last of the stairs.

Now came the truly difficult part, getting out of this bine unscathed and entirely unphased by what is at stake.

"Are you joining in too?" He nodded and offered the door to allow her entry, course she was met with the long line of masked Death Eaters that almost froze at the sight. Fortunately Rodolphous acted quick enough and escorted into the center properly.

"Ms.Crawford, I'm delighted that you could attend this evening's meeting." Her eyes scanned over the crowd, wondering which could be Rabastan and the lot of them. But once she caught her escort placing his own mask and standing at attention, she realized that she very well would be alone in the equation.

"Of course, the escort this time was very lovely...You see how that worked? I won't fight unless you give me a reason to." The laughter that followed from the self-proclaimed Dark Lord caused Rabastan to shiver.

"May I ask what this is about?"
"Curious bird, as always...The majority of your guests that had attended had plenty of things to say about you." She turned back to the rest of them and smiled.

"All good things I hope." The few chuckles found had piqued Aria's interest, but it was difficult to pinpoint them through the crowd of faceless cloaked men. "Good and rather interesting amongst the rest. What is your friendship with the Lestranges?" She perked her lips and shrugged.

"Which one are we referring to, my lawyer or his son's?"
"Either." He was truly trying to find the end of that given question and she hummed.

"I won't pretend to know the eldest son all that well, besides the escort and few appearances when I was meeting with Senior Lestrange. Rabastan was a fling in Hogwarts, I've only been in contact with him recently after his father became my lawyer." It had been the perfectly structured lie and for the most part, the Dark Lord wasn't at all interested in the love relationship between Rabastan and Aria.

Thankfully.

It was simply the allocation of being friends, having a connection an open invitation to get into contact with her easier.

"There are others in high places, that could get your Apocothacary on the map...Isn't that what you're trying for now? To expand?"
"Of course, but my ambitions aren't at the whim or charity of anyone else. I don't need funding."
"No, but you need support. And these gentlemen beside you are willing to do just that." There was no question about whether or not they truly thought that way, it was clear they didn't.

They'd listen blinding at that, but then she thought for a moment—She thought like a Slytherin.

How could she use this to her advantage?

"Not just funding, Ms.Crawford, support. There are many varieties, isn't that right?" The general consensus of a yes had crossed around the room in an echo. But that still didn't phase as her as convinced.

"Unfortunately, my Lord, and with all due respect. I don't find this all fair. You want my support from the general public, or in other words, you want my face. Isn't that right?" He nodded without hesitation, though it followed with a chuckle.

"Fountain of Angels...You're familiar with it?" Her eyes went wide in the instance, and Rabastan almost cursed under his mask in hearing the name of the orphanage where she was left to essentially never return and never find her family again.

"Familiar isn't the right word, it's in the past...So I ask you this, how was Wool's—" That was not the right choice of action as the Dark Lord had turned furious in under the five-minute mark of her arrival.

She held her ground and tilted her head as he towered over her. "We're the same, could've been born into greatness—and we're already there. We did that on our own, my lord." There wasn't much malice in the witch's heart, but her patience was starting to gain further.

He turned his attention to ether of her eyes, the window to the soul. But they'd offer no suggestion of secrets, even when she kept contact with him—Her head was locked.

"Tempting, but I like my secrets—My lord." She said with a head tilt that only enraged him further. However the second his wand had gestured out, Avery had to hold Rabastan back. But in the face of danger, Aria had yet to flinch.

With no one in her general corner, she still remained that calculation Ravenclaw that she was born to be. And Avery begged that she kept a level head.

"How dare you speak that way in my presence, have you not seen the power that I obtain?" Aria blinked for a moment, before humming along.
"Of course, but that is the totality of what you and your group of Death Eaters have managed. Your voice has gathered many supporters and many opposed. You can't kill me, or else the world will probably fall in line with the opposed." Avery sighed in utter relief. "...That, and you probably would've done it already. I've been told I have quite the chatty mouth on me...By more than a few people in this room." She says, though that didn't mean her heart wasn't beating a hundred miles a minute.

And it certainly sped up further when she was graced with the chilling smirk of this generation's evil dictator. "Speaking of those you are fond of, perhaps we should put that to the test. Your date for this evening...Let us see if you truly are as smart as they come."

"Oh that won't be necessary, he's the third from the side over that way. He has little tic in his left hand every once in a while." Rabastan was thankful that his mask hid the entire of his face as his jaw dropped outright.

The Dark Lord had wanted to put her title down, but of course she managed to persevere through it even before he had even thought of the task. "Who else was in your class...?"

"Oh, McNair and Lestrange? They're right beside Avery, Rabastan in the center, and McNair right beside him. I believe that's Dolohov off in that direction too, oh and Malfoy." It startled the lot of them that Aria had so simply plucked them out.

"Owl me, my Lord. If you're interested in a healer, but I won't offer much else." That was a start, and the Dark Lord took that as a win. He nodded his head and bid her a goodnight, though the only issue was that he had called upon Lestrange to escort her home.

Yet not the brother who had brought her here to begin with.

"I'm afraid my boyfriend wouldn't like me bringing over a wizard, my Lord." She tempted, but it was in service of being generous and so she found herself escorted off and away.

Rabastan was used to her manor by now, the living room in it's entirety—Yet when he threw off his mask to the couch and single handedly allowed the rope of his robe to fall.

Aria found herself in a rant of being unprepared, however Rabastan stalled her in the instance as he came over in full force with his hands coming to pull her closer into the hug.

Every part of her body conformed to his demanding attention, and in another step he wrapped his arms underneath her thighs and propped her up.

All in an attempt to pin her against the wall and get better leverage.

He hadn't planned for this night to end this way, but the enthusiastic moans had reverted any and all though in his mind. "B-bedroom." Aria managed to whisper through their rushed breaths. But Rabastan had thought about his moves very carefully, his intent having been planned out ages ago.

He just never thought they'd been enacted now.

"Raba—Bed—"
"I need you now, Aria." His voice was firm and straight to the point, causing her to suck in a breath. Thankfully she had been the one to apparent them swiftly to her bedroom, though Rabastan didn't hesitate in pinning her to the bed just a moment after being brought in.

Her dress had started to bunch up to her thigh now, inviting him to sit directly in between them and giving perfect access to her sweetened spot.

Perhaps it was brash, but once his hand had insinuated a touch, Aria had started to fall straight into his trap. "What do you want, Aria?" He said, his touch becoming faint the longer his question was left unanswered.

"Y-you...I want you Rabastan, but—" 

"But?" He question, his thoughts almost halting after her sudden hesitation. And the soon onset of tears caused him to backtrack. "Love, talk to me...What—"

"I want you Raba, I truly do. But I can't do this back and forth, and I can't just shag you and try and pretend that it's normal in the morning. My heart can't do that." She croaked, her tears leaking faintly from her eyes but never trailing down to her cheeks.

"Then I have the perfect thing...Patience." While his cock throbbed and almost disagreed with his next course of action, he didn't need to get his mind off the impending threat of the Dark Lord. And he knew very well that this would get her mind of anything—Everything.

He hadn't moved her panties and made an experimental lick through them, causing her to already wither at the idea he was already insinuating.

The purrs up above caused him to retaliate and continue his approach in settling between her thighs, even going as far as to prop her legs over his shoulders to stop them from closing.

The first release had been a rush of waves coursing through her, but the tempo did not stop entirely—It only slowed down for her to catch her breath.

With the hold on her waist restraining her down, the only action she could do was massage his temple and pull at his hair when he managed a new spot. It wasn't hard for another release to ensure, and then another.

Rabastan felt himself grow on a high, especially when Aria breathlessly begged him to stop. Her body was shivering at how much pleasure was bottling up that she shook with along with the final moan into the air.

It was then that Rabastan had taken the liberty to move away completely, his lips holding a slick coat of Aria's pleasure. He gently kissed the inside of her thighs as he pulled them from his shoulders and position her kindly back down.

Removing his wand from his inner coat, he undressed her to the bare necessities—Though he removed her soaked panties and threw them onto the floor. Same with his dress robes, though he specifically managed to give his tunic up for Aria to wear.

"Raba?" She said in a pure daze, though he simply kissed her forehead and hummed beside her.

"Rest love, I'm going to take a quick shower." Her eyes fluttered slowly, she was hardly awake.

With her now tucked in, he went ahead and found his own pleasure. He wouldn't subject Aria to a quick tussle if her heart wasn't in it, and to be completely fair. Rabastan didn't think he was ether, he didn't really know what took over him.

Was it the stress of tonight?

How he had to watch his mate escort her around as hostess?

Whatever had taken over his mind was silently starting to fade, and thank the gods—Because he was looking forward to falling asleep beside her that night.

Especially after the days of no contact.

Aria had woken up first, having risen early the previous days left her fitted to do the same today. Even if last night had been tiring...Last night.

She didn't need much time in gathering what happened, not when Rabastan had slept with a small smile on his face. It was as if all the pressure in the world had vanished, but Aria was just thankful that the Dark Lord had taken the mere offer of a healer in exchange for not being bothered for now.

Their souls were illuminating, almost as loudly as the sun peeking through the curtained windows.

However, Aria's thoughts had transcended and caused her to smirk—That would be the perfect surprise for what happened last night, and so she wiggled out of his tight hold and managed just to hover over his waist to reveal his cock.

It greeted her instantly, and after a settle rub with her fist—It leaked just a tad, giving her the go-ahead to wrap her lips around the rim.

Her pattern was one she used to tease him with all the time, and while she tried to concentrate on pleasing him—She couldn't help but recall the last time they'd done this back at Hogwarts...It seemed like forever ago.

Rabastan had woken up from his dream rather peeved, however when he felt the beautiful hollowed cheeks of his beloved little Ravenclaw sucking his cock.

He withheld himself from running the moments to early, but damnit he was weak—Everything about her would make his guards lower, and there was nothing he craved more than her.

It wasn't long after he had awoke that his groans turned audible and the witch under the covers had been blessed by white snow at the back of her throat.

With him getting his breathing in order up above, Aria had emerged just above him and peeked out from the covers with a grin on her face. "Goodmorning." She said, speaking as though they were passing one another in the hallways at Hogwarts.

After another two breaths, Rabastan had pulled her forward by the borrowed tunic and kissed her, roughly. There was no amount of disbelief that she could feel under his affection, and that was exactly what she wanted.

"It's more than just a good morning, kitten." He said, brushing the hair from her face and just staring hopelessly into her eyes. And the worst possible thing could've come tumbling out of his mouth. "Marry me."

It hadn't come out as a question like he had intended—Actually it wasn't intended at all, he wished it remained a thought. But Aria was so used to this question floating around that she simply smiled.

"And this...Is why I won't have sex with you, Rabastan." She said, her fingers tapping away at his chest as though he were her personal piano.
"That came out all wrong." He said with a groan, his hands leaving her back to go forth and hide his shame. Though she simply laughed along.

"Well yeah, not even a ring to go along with the words. I'm highly—"
"You don't think I had a ring made?" Now that certainly was not what she wanted to hear ether, but it dawned on her.

"Rabastan, when on earth did you have a ring made for me?"
"Ages ago, rather beautiful work, designed it myself." He said with a loud grin. Knowing his words would spark her curiosity and thus, adding to a bit of leverage.

"You're not going to show me anytime soon...Are you?"
"Not unless the first time you see it is on this finger right here. Otherwise it's remaining hidden and tucked away, course it still needs your father's blessings as well." She began to shake her head, not doubting the fact that wasn't lying, but she remained silent on the matter and closed her eyes.

"Are you busy today?" She nodded, and thus he sighed. "Owl me then?"
"By busy, I meant I plan to stay in bed all day, but if you want to go then by all means..." It was pure temptation, he knew that and she knew it as well.

"I'm staying as long as you'll have me, I'll just have to owl my mum so she knows I'm not hungover and lost." She snorted into her shoulder and smiled towards him, he couldn't get enough of the morning glow on her face.

"It could always be like this...You know? Waking up in each others arms, pleasing each other. Just have lazy days."
"I can't afford that many more lazy days Rabastan, I have a potion to create."
"And I'll be rooting on the sidelines for you." The silence grew, but one of the first real conversations he had with her was that if you were comfortable enough in some's comfort to be silent and lost in thought, then it truly was a building relationship.

Thus, he remained quiet.

"Marry me." He whispered, and Aria turned to look at him again. His eyes weren't all the way open and she smirked in his semi-sleeping form. "One day, Lestrange." His eyes popped open and thus she rolled her own.

"Course you decide to wake up now."
"I was awake, and I've made the vow of asking you every day until the time comes."
"It's lost the meaning already Rabastan, and no offense but it almost ruined the mood." He pouted in hearing that. So he curled his hold on her all the tighter to earn himself a mew.

"Then I'll plan a proper proposal, a real one. Where I get down on my knee and serenade you and all the love I hold for you—I'll present my ring and you'll give me an answer." The anxiety was well lit on her face and he attempted to settle it with a kiss.

"Don't give me that look, kitten. We can be engaged for a while you know, most couples wait a year—Usually the bride will want the wedding to be perfect."
"A year? It isn't odd?"
"Not at all, this is a union between two very important families and they need to make their statement to the world. Show off their wealth and show off that they're eager to provide another generation." She hated the honesty, it was hurting the chances of waiting the year—But perhaps that would be alright. To just be his fiance.

Yet Avery's words had struck her right then and there, that she could enjoy the last few years as his wife and have a husband beside her death bed.

Was it selfish? She didn't know, she'd need to ask Avery when she got the chance.

"The Dark Lord would—"
"Forget him, just for right now...I warned you that I already would wait for marriage. We could easily start to integrate our relationship."
"Not when Dolohov has suspicions about my blood, and the Dark Lord will be searching for my family—He's already hinted at that ages ago." This wasn't at all right, Aria in his tunic in the safety of their bed...She couldn't possibly be bringing his Master to the conversation.

The way that his eyes harded, Aria knew that this was not at all what he had in mind. And so she sighed outloud and hid away in his chest. "I'm sorry, I didn't realize you didn't want to talk about it...How about you tell me what the process is?"
"The process? What do you mean? Of a wedding...? Well I guess our families are very traditional in the sense of sticking with the small customs. Not seeing one another until the alter, writing vows, a glorious party. It's all a must."
"And the vows itself?"
"The handfasting? We combine our souls for all eternity." She rolled her eyes and gestured up to her inner wrist tattoo.

"That was about the only part I knew of Raba, besides...There's much more to think about."
"Like what? Let me ease your mind Aria."
"I just finished building this house."
"And? I think it's wonderful, I wouldn't make you sell it."
"But you also wouldn't live in here with me either, would you?" It was rather unheard of for the wife's family to be the one to gift them a manor.

"I guess it's a lil backwards, did you know where you would've lived after getting married?"
"Yes, the summer house—The one with the Willow tree. I would've inherited that one." Aria's lips parted and her face had turned rather disappointed.

"Nothing about our relationship is traditional, Ari. We could live here the entirety of the year."
"But I like that manor, it's gorgeous." He grinned lightly and hummed along, but another overlaying factor was obviously bothering her.

"Talk to me kitten."
"And Wyatt? Where does he fit in all this?"
"Funny enough I talked to the lad already, he's not looking for a father and I'm certainly in no position to be that for him. He'll live with us when he's not at Hogwarts. We'll fund his way throughout whatever education and choice he makes after graduation." It earned him another point in the back of her mind, and for once it was clear.

That she was actually considering it.

"And work—?"
"I will gladly travel on tour with you across the entire globe the next potion release Aria." She nodded, the tension settling in the silence with ease. So he pinched her chin upwards to look at her.

"Did you think I was going to lock you in my bedroom when I finally do get the ring on your finger?"
"Or get tired of me, either or." His mouth parted but it was too late, Aria had tears in her eyes at the thought and he groaned.

"Kitten—"
"I wasn't enough before...Who's to say in a few years we're bored of each other?" At first the idea of this being a one-sided comment had angered him, to think that Aria was already believing that he couldn't be the one to keep her pleased and entertained.

But no, he had it all wrong.

Aria though that he was going to grow tired of her, and by history's standards he still had a whole summer to be forgiven for. Even if she did forgive him, that layer of doubt still festered strongly in her.

"I have not sought out anyone since that final night in Eve's garden—And I only did so because I needed to get the taste of Harper out of my system...I don't blame you for thinking so ill of me or stopping our lovemaking, but I can promise you, darling. We'll never get bored of one another. And for some reason I do seek others, I give you full permission to castrate me before divorcing me." She shook her head and sniffled.

"I don't believe in divorce."
"Ah, so you're in it until the end. How about this? Then I suppose you'll have to give me my own medicine, won't you?" Her laughed sounded rough, as though it agitated her throat.

"You're saying that if I catch you with another gal, you're allowing me to go seek the affections of a man to level the playing field?" She questioned and he sighed.
"I think that's enough for me never to even look at another gal again, Aria...I can't fathom you with anyone else, believe me—I'm a selfish bastard. I want you for myself. To see you this way, in my shirt, completely open..." She hummed along and began to wipe her eyes.

"I want that too Rabastan, but we have a lot more pressing things that need our attention."

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Date Posted: 03-13-2021

Time: 8:35

Words: 4049

✨Well Aria, I hate to break it to you, but fate (AKA Me😚) Is going to be turning your life upside down and around to make it your first priority✨