✧HAPPY BIRTHDAY PT.1✧

❦❦❦|♕♕♕

◊━━━━━✥━━━━━◊

***

After a luxury shower and masking her worries with lotions and oils, she slipped into dress in question. One peek for Avery's opinion had caught for an instance yes and the intent of her not needing a gift at all.

She hardly bothered with her hair, it always had a beautiful texture after it was wet and dried properly. With her morals having flown out the window, she continued off to her floo system and called out to manage to Clarissa's study.

It was a better choice as she needed to look herself over one last time and make sure no ash had caught in her attire. That and she wanted to drop of her gift in Rabastan's room, which smelled heavenly of the cologne she'd gifted him so many years ago.

Gaining the last bit of courage she continued off and away downstairs, taking one of the many back staircases that she had a vague remembrance of running down it.

In finally managing to sneak into the party, she scanned the area and found the nearest glass of wine from one of the dozens of waiters. It was a bad habit to drink alone at home before said event and thus, this was her first sip of today.

Lingering in the corner she managed to catch Avery and his date—His betrothed. And easy enough, he too found himself looking in her directly.

His almost engagement had followed him on his arm and Aria greeted them with a smile. "Elsa, this is the gal that's been driving my best mate crazy—Aria, this is Elsa." It was pure German culture in the wizarding world to let out a bow to someone who held a strong political power in their society, and Aria had both.

"You look very beautiful today, Ms.Crawford." The accent was there for sure, but she said it with such confidence that Aria couldn't help it. "Oh Liebes, du sights wunderschön aus." [Oh love, you look gorgeous.] The level of comfort had thrown Elsa for a loop as she let out a blessed squeal.

They passed back and forth in German, while Avery was just a few words behind in translation—And while he was happy that his date had suddenly come out of her shell on Aria's account, he pointed off in the direction of Rabastan.

"I suppose Clarissa took the gambling night as pure inspiration?"
"Oh 'Bas loved that party regardless, I might have to do the same once mine comes around. Now get going." He claimed with a nick of his head, though Elsa had earned a polite kiss to the cheek.

"I would love to continue this conversation, I would invite you over for tea but I'm not sure how my schedule looks at the moment." Avery snorted, and Elsa understood considering the bloke beside her just endured it for the past few days.

With a parting comment, she had followed the direction as to where Avery had set her course, and when she did spot him. He had cheered at his good fortune in a spin or a roll, she couldn't tell from there.

"Good goddess give me strength to go through with this night without remorse." She prayed lightly, coming up right beside him and snaking her arm through his.
"I take it you're having a good time?" Was all Aria could manage without thinking properly in terms of a greeting.

It was clear he didn't know who it was as he didn't waste a moment in moving away. "Not interested."
"Ah, well then have a good birthday, Raba." She grinned, catching him spitting back into his drink and turning to her for the first time in a week.

"Aria—You came..." He couldn't believe his eyes, here she was—Looking like a pure goddess off a cover shoot that he couldn't even be bothered with the game anymore.

He simply picked up his glass and walked away from the gents he had been playing with. "I didn't mean to interrupt your game, by all means, keep playing."
"Your glass is near empty and this is the first proper date we've had in awhile in public. I plan to cater you—Adore you this whole night."
"I won't complain, but that was my plan for me to act on your behalf. It's your birthday after all." He hummed. "It is...And my birthday gift?"
"It's bad luck you open it up during a party. But I had an elf take it to your bedroom."
"No. I wanted to know why you dove down to save me, that's all I wanted for today—Besides you coming of course. And I'm sorry for the way I acted, father said that Dolohov wouldn't be a problem anymore and I was free to take you today." The way Rabastan was rambling caused her to move aside his hair just a tad to see that he did have his fair share of something to drink.

"You've certainly enjoyed yourself so far, would you like to go and play some cards?" His eyes widened and she was once again brought to a table, then another, and then stood as Rabastan's lucky dice blower—Which was far too easy to act as.

She leaned forward and perked her lips towards his offered hands but made sure her eyes connected up towards him. It was slowly and surely infuriating him to no end, but it was certainly driving her own body mad.

"...And work? I heard from Avery that you were busy."
"Yes, and I've taken him under my wing at the facility. He's done marvelous work, I suggested he gets the minimum degree because frankly, he's best supervising and directing everyone. I didn't think I needed one of those."
"Avery's working for you—That damnable—Why hasn't he told me?"
"Well I asked him to help me this week so I can make it today." Rabastan looked beyond guilty at the thought, how much did she truly move around to be able to manage.

"Are you busy tomorrow?"
"Unfortunately, but I'm free Tuesday. Let me take you to dinner, as an apology for not making it for the entire party."
"How about I take you to dinner and as an apology you dance with me?" She couldn't help but place her glass down and offer her ready hand, she gripped the bottom of her dress and followed his eagerness.

It was nearing midnight, and some of the crowd had dwindled, but not enough for her plan to truly work. "Perhaps we should tell the Dark Lord if our relationship builds, you know?"

"Is that something you want?"
"Do pureblood royals date without being betrothed?" Rabastan perked his lips together to a moment of thought. "I suppose, but then that leaves a few months before the rest of them are expecting a betrothed. How about we're 'entertaining the idea'?" Aria hummed for a moment and nodded.

"I wish it wasn't so difficult."
"But we've managed so far, haven't we? We've managed to be left to our own devices. If wasn't for your father's guilt, he could've had the power to just bring you back and marry you off."
"Oh but he won't, because I might go to Azkaban for a murder on my wedding night." Rabastan bit his lip in an attempt to stop his laughter.

Though she said it in such a way that he was worried.

"I'd wager you'd need a good lawyer in that defense?"
"Oh the best." She said with another playful smile, these lingering touches were almost as intoxicating as her perfume.

"Tonight...If you really want to know why I saved you that day, I'll tell you. But I cannot take up all the birthday boy's time. Go mingle about with your father or something."
"Nonsense, tell me now." She let out another smirk.

"Demanding, but no. Patience—And it's not your birthday much longer, is it?" She questioned, leaving him with a wink before she walked off and went straight to Avery.

Who's date had gone off to the loo.

"And? Has the bloke proven himself? I saw you two on the dance floor—A few dances?"
"I think they replayed the same song a few times to trick us, but yes. He's tipsy and very sweet. What did you say to him?"
"In the continuation of what his father had said, that witches like you have a limit and if he were to continue to talk to you like that, you'd stop giving him chances like you are. And while I didn't mention Scamander, I lead him to believe that perhaps—"
"Perhaps nothing. We don't talk about Scamander." He nodded outright, clearly it was still a sour topic.

And she deserved to smile the entirety to this night.

"May I have a piece of advice?" She questioned, and the fellow nodded. But she gripped the glass from his lips and that certainly startled him. "Sorry, I don't want you to choke. What's the kindest way to ask a bloke to his bedroom?" Avery's eyes lingered to his glass and he scoffed.

"Thank bloody fuck you took that away from me, I would've curled up on the floor after that. Er, I guess say to meet him upstairs? Can't make it obvious with this crowd, though your father and mother usually turn in about ten minutes."
"Oh I knew that, I'm going to say my 'goodnights' to them first."
"Ah smart, yeah I think you'd make his night—Though don't think you have to—"
"Birthday sex is wonderful, perhaps you need a reminder with Elsa." She said with a wink and than strutted her way forward towards her father.

His disappointed gaze caused her to roll her eyes. "I hear if you frown for more than a few moments, it becomes permanent."
"What in Merlin's name are you wearing?"
"Oh, this is Rabastan's karma. Though I've arrived late and am leaving early, I have a meeting in the morning."
"I am glad you aren't shaping your schedule to fit this bloke, cocky as ever. And I don't say that fondly." She sighed and shook her head.

"I've never been that way, and he knows by now that my work is more important than his party." They didn't talk much longer, not when Aria was eyeing the clock and left a parting kiss to her father's cheek.

She returned back to where Rabastan was stationed beside Avery and McNair now, and of course the gentle smirk played on one of them as he knew how this was going to play out.

"Ah, there's your date 'bas!" McNair claimed, he was certainly drunk as could be.
"Hmm, yes shout it to the world McNair. Hopefully we don't have to deal with that tomorrow. I'm sorry but it's getting fairly late for me, I have to get going." It was clear that the disappointment lingered on his face and thus she leaned forward for a polite kiss to his cheek.

"Or...You could meet me in your bedroom for your birthday present. Once my parents leave?" She questioned, and leaving one last kiss she managed to say her goodbyes to either other bloke and leave towards the main exit.

Rabastan felt the world stop, it was as if Orion decided to remain the extra hour out of spite. "I swear to Merlin himself, if he doesn't leave in—"
"Hold yourself mate, this is a test. Mr.Black isn't as daft as Denault's family." That was certainly true, and thus Avery did something straight out of Aria's book, he spoke on what his weekend entailed at Aria's side.

Boasting what she had him doing and how he found it so interesting and he felt damn infuriated that he hadn't bothered before to go this direction.

"Alright, well...Cheers mate, Happy Birthday. Go enjoy your witch." He sighed in utter relief—especially as he downed the rest of his drink and hurried out of the room.

There was hardly a need to stay now, not when the exactable time had passed. Instead Rabastan had taken the side staircase two at a time in a pure rush, he didn't care if she just wanted to talk as to why he'd been saved that faithful day.

He'd invite her over to stay the night regardless.

Stopping mid-action in ripping the door open had been a thankful draw back, but he had caught Aria's smile in the room filled with candles.

She certainly made the effort and used the time wisely as she waited.

"Sorry love, your father—"
"Oh I believe you, it's alright. Gave me enough time to convince the elves to sneak me up some wine from downstairs." She said, holding up the said glass she had to bite down her bit of laughter in seeing how eager he was to spend time with her.

His wine sloshed a bit, but Aria hardly payed any mind to it. Not when her eyes looked between his and smiled. "Happy Birthday Rabastan." She said in a slight whisper, their slight glass click had been rightly adorable as he joined her right alongside her on his bed.

His bed.

"I didn't know any better, you had this planned. Didn't you?"
"It was going to be my idea before, or at least I would've invited you to my manor and this would've happened there. But you were very sweet tonight so I moved it up." She said with a slight shrug, though this gave him the perfect view of her breasts in her gown.

"I wanted to tell you, tonights earnings are being donated to your facility—No, don't you dare shake your head at me. It's made everyone much more at ease that it's going to a better pocket than their own."
"You didn't have to do that Raba. It's not my birthday." She rolled his eyes, as if she would've allowed him then.

"That, and Avery's been boasting on the job you've temporarily given him."
"I think he's earned to be called more than temporary, I'm going to ask him later if he wants to stay on the team." He Rabastan nodded along, but then Aria had twisted her body around and pulled a wrapped present—How had he missed it?

"Really...I would've just accepted—"
"Words don't count as a gift." She deemed, and thus she leaned back just a tad to watch him rip open the package.

Much like an energetic child.

He quickly chuckled in seeing the beautiful silver chain and the Norse symbol on the charm. "Merlin love, this must've cost of fortune."
"Not at all, I made it and brought to the high priestess the last time I was in Norway this summer." He couldn't help himself, it looked beautiful—Strong.

And he recalled the stories that each of the symbols represented, that and he knew that Aria had a soft spot when he wore things of her religion and beyond.

He received a few other things, but he could hardly focus on the new cologne or the figure of Ghost that Aria had made.

"This might sound rather strange...I don't remember much since it has been a few years, but I just felt as if I was the one falling. I must've picked up on your fear or something, my chest was screaming at me to do something and so I dove—It only felt better when I knew you were safe on the ground." It was strange, but not that indifference to what he expected.

"You hurt your wrist too, that's why mine hurt just as much if not more."
"I never told you that..."
"You didn't have to." She said with a light smile before having another sip of wine.

It was a light conversation from there on, but the tension was easily caught. Especially when Rabastan continued to smooth out his dress pants as though she couldn't see hi cock starting to make an appearance.

In the record of their tipsy endeavors, Aria managed to spill a bit of wine on her dress—Causing her a bit of panic to try and brush it off.
"Oh drat, may I use your restroom for a moment." He didn't hesitate to take her glass from her and offer up the door, their drunken minds had forgotten the use of magic.

Or not in Aria's mind as she simply cleared off the wine moments into the bathroom as she ran the water from the sink. From there she allowed the dress of her's to fall down to the ground and pulled the silk robe that hardly covered up his true surprise.

"Love? You alright?" She quickly shut off the sink and called back.
"Course, forgot I had a wand for a moment." Her small bit of laughter had bought her a moment to ruffle up her hair as she tied the knot to secure said robe.

Rabastan had to hold himself back from going to help her, it was a simple wine stain and there was no need for two sets of hands to fix the dress.

Though the dress had been magnificent, and if he couldn't help but let a beg that he'd just get the chance to take it off.

Even if it meant she'd just be going into his tunic for the night. "I did want to invite you to stay the night. Course we'll have to hide from my parents, that'd be rather—" He hadn't heard of Aria's returned back into his bedroom, but he did soak up the perfect sight of Aria leaned against his wall. No longer in the dress he was imagining.

"I'd love to stay over." She claimed, coming over towards him and going straight to stand in between his parted legs.

"Aria—Don't—Don't feel like you have to do anything in the sort, I'd enjoy you just spending the night just the same." Her hands started to drag down his chest with a tilted head.

"Really?...Then you'll tell me to stop, will you?" She questioned, letting her hands travel down further than his stomach but skipping back to his thighs. Brushing the back of her to trace upwards. His hand had gripped steady to her wrist for a moment as it was growing dangerously close to his cock, but then adjusted to her waist to draw her in closer.

"You told me you didn't want to have any regrets..." He dwelled, though his hold on her remained firm. "Then no marriage proposals, this is just you and me...Celebrating your birthday, yeah? There's no remorse in that." All Rabastan had gotten from that was that she too wanted to.

That's all he needed.

His arms snaked further up her back as he moved to the edge of the bed. "And this outfit of yours?"

"Happy Birthday, love." She repeated, bending down to kiss his forehead before connecting her's down to press against his.

◇──◇────◇────◇──◇

Date Posted: 04-10-2021

Time: 10:49

Words:  3206

Author's Note:
Warning to all my Immer readers, the enitre series is getting new covers soon! (If I ever manage to finish the one I'm working on for Immer Ende)
I always get blind-sighted when authors change their covers out of the blue so I'm hoping people read author notes:)

Anyway, happy reading💕