✧FLIGHTLESS BIRDS✧

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Wyatt knew that Aria promised to do something for today, so he didn't feel too discouraged when she didn't come down at her regular work time—If anything it made him feel relieved.

He was really excited to do something today, and in finally seeing her in a robe rubbing her eyes. He held up a hangover tonic and a cup of freshly brewed tea in greeting.

Wyatt smiled up to her and she simply kissed his temple and ran her hand through his hair. "You're really excited huh? I'm sorry, I needed a little more sleep. Besides, where we're going isn't open this early."
"You have something planned? Where are we going?" Aria let herself take a few sips in between the hangover tonic and hummed, passing off the newspaper and pointing to the newly opening Aquarium.

It was safe to say he was excited, course they decided to enjoy the rest of the morning—Granted neither were prepared for Rabastan to come through the fireplace, a bundle of fresh-baked biscuits in a basket with him.

"Are you tempting me with baked goods, Rabastan?"
"Mum said these were your favorite so uh...I don't think my elf knew who you are—were." Aria rose up from her seat and pulled out the chair beside her, all while heading to get Rabastan a cup of coffee to join them.

It was a perfect addition to their small breakfest, and it was a nice quiet morning. Though Wyatt was extremely excited that his foot wouldn't stop bouncing.

"Is Rabastan coming with us to the Aquarium?" Aria hadn't really thought about it, nor did she want to place that decision on Wyatt to feel guilty on.

"The what?" He questioned, and Wyatt threw up the flyer that advertised it in the newspaper.
"Blanchard always said if we were good and sold enough that we'd get to go, but we never got to—"
"It was a lie sweetheart, and we don't speak her name in this house."
"Sorry." Aria waved it off and ruffled his hair again, but Rabastan had looked shocked.

"What's an aquarium?"

"It's like a zoo but only animals in the water." He nodded to the badger's explanation and shrugged his shoulders. 

"If you'll have me, I'd be delighted to go. Don't have to be at the ministry today. And I had the feeling that you didn't get my letter." Aria didn't even think about checking the mail, not when they were enjoying a quiet morning between the two of them.

Now three.

"Is that alright?" Aria questioned and Wyatt looked like he was ready to burst if they waited any longer. "Do you want to invite a friend, Wyatt? I'm sure Jacob would love to come with." It was then he fell silent, and even Rabastan found himself frowning.

"Um...I don't think his mum will—"
"Here, why don't you get ready and I'll start cleaning up...Go tell his mum I'll pay for today. Sound good?"
"Mrs.Rhoads doesn't want—"
"Nope. I'm not hearing it and you won't either. It's summer. My treat." As Wyatt rose up from his seat and kissed her cheek.

"Thanks mum!" And Rabastan hardly even heard what the lad said had he not tried to pinpoint what made Aria smile as though she discovered another cure.

Then it hit him.

"Ari?" Rabastan said, and she turned to look up with him still in a daze of happiness.
"Hm? Sorry, what's up?" Rabastan looked to her and then back to the staircase.

"He called you mum?" And goddess had it been the worse time as Aria caused the dishes to fall out of her hands. Rabastan hurried to make sure that she hadn't cut her hand or stepped in the glass, course she grabbed the closest rag and started picking up the pieces.

"Aria?"
"It's fine. They were old plates anyway." He almost forgot this version of the Ravenclaw, the one who forgot what a wand could do.

So he bent down and firmly placed his hand over hers, stopping her next action as she looked at him frantically—Obviously confused as to why he stopped her from cleaning.

It didn't take much longer before the shards of glass had spun around in small tornado and clinked together to reshape the dishes she had in her hand.

"Thanks...Sometimes I forget about magic when Wyatt's always around." She said, as though she had to explain herself but realistically—Rabastan knew that Rory would always like to do things on her own without his help, her brother or father's help, and especially didn't want an Elf's help.

"He calls you mum?"
"Y-yeah...He doesn't say it all the time but it's really sweet and I'm not going to cry this time." She said in an attempt to promise herself, but the way she was shaking told Rabastan that's exactly what she was going to do.

"Love that's alright, I just wanted to know. It's fitting, isn't it? Crawford helped you, you're helping Wyatt?...Love, please don't cry."
"I can't help it, I love being a mum—His mum and I...I do stand behind the idea that age is just a number I just...It means a lot." She said, her eyes still burning massively at the will power she managed with.

"We can do something another day if...If you want?" He asked, realizing that perhaps the two wanted it to be themselves alone. "No, I like that he's finally coming around to inviting more people. You especially, I thought he was going to hate you."
"What? I can promise I've never done anything to him Aria."
"I know you haven't, but the first time he met you I punched you didn't I?"

A look of remembrance made her feel much better as she wiped the stray tears that managed to fall. "You're okay with it then? Being called mum?"
"Of course, I um...I actually told McNair about it back at Hogwarts, I don't think Wyatt even realized saying it then."

The mention of Hogwarts already threw him back two full years in the past, that this relationship was much more versed than his and her's.

"If it's a day with just you and him, please tell me...I wouldn't want to intrude on that." She nodded and while she didn't really exactly expect Rabastan to come and be invited by Wyatt himself.

"The only real concern I have is how you feel about going to a muggle tourist trap."
"It's muggle?"
"Wyatt wasn't wrong, we'd always be tempted with fun things like the carnival and everything but I think the money we saved up was just used on herself." Rabastan frowned and nodded, so perhaps Aria would need some help getting through today.

And that was exactly what he was here for. "I don't mind." 

"You might, you can't wear that." He turned down to his attire and frowned.
"Is something wrong with it?"
"Nothing, you look fantastic. But going to the aquarium you don't wear anything fancy. Goddess I wish you owned a pair of jeans." She groaned to the ceiling, but then she gasped.

"I think Michael left some clothes!" She shouted, and of course Wyatt called out that he was heading over to check on Jacob.

Rabastan didn't think there was any chaos in the house, but he followed Aria off towards the guest room and she threw a few things off towards the bed.

Merlin, the entirety of his life he was told that muggles were horrible and caused devastation. And here is he about to go into a tourist trap designed for muggles.

"Are you wearing jeans?" 

"Nope, I'm wearing a summer dress." She stated, leaving him without an explanation of how to put on any of this stuff.

But the few times he took off Aria's jeans he realized it wasn't all that difficult, and was actually pretty comfortable once he buckled his belt onto this pair and threw the shirt up and over.

The added touch was the leather jacket she added, and in seeing hers a few times before he was sure that Aria liked them on wizards. So of course he had to throw it on.

"Mrs.Rhoads, honestly, you always watch Wyatt when I'm off at work or just checking on him when I can't. Please, the boys should enjoy themselves without the worry. Let me say thank you." Rabastan had slowed down as he walked down the stairs, and sure enough he caught the backside of what Aria decided to wear today.

"Maybe there is a goddess..." He breathed out, when she said summer dress he truly had the wrong idea. Perhaps he needed to understand the different styles of everyone.

Though then again, the wand slot in this jacket was definitely added after. Perhaps it wasn't all that awful to add the simple things later.

"We'll just be going to the Aquarium and then maybe a lunch, promise." It was clear that the Rhoads family had a bit of a money issue, though he recalled that Mister Rhoads worked in the ministry...He found a sudden curiosity to find out in which department.

While the lads boasted about their excitement, Rabastan continued down the steps to catch Aria getting her purse at the ready and turned to him.

That smirk was enough to catch his eye, perhaps it was that boost of confidence that he needed that he hadn't lost the attraction she fell for before.

"Jacob, you know Lestrange right?" Then it became clear, Jacob Rhoads was a half-blood Slytherin. "Course, saved Slytherin from losing the house cup." The young lad said with a greeting smile, but Rabastan just continued to chuckle.

"Birds almost had us at the end."
"As if—Oh. Sorry Ari." The witch rolled her eyes and herded the house outside and out to the small alleyway to apparent to the closest safe zone Aria could remember, though it appeared to be similar to the first.

"Alright, I want you both to stick together and I swear to bloody god if one of you gets lost—"
"We won't!" They cheered in unison, though they managed to try and outpace each other while walking across the street. Though it caused Aria to grip Rabastan's hand as they missed the light.

"What?"
"It's the car's turn, they have the go-ahead, and believe me when I tell you, that can certainly kill a muggle if they get hit." He was bewildered, not only by the medical limitations of muggles but because a simple piece of machinery was designed to tell when cars and people could go and stop.

"It's efficient to say the least."
"How the bloody earth do you drive one of those things?"
"It isn't that hard, I promise. It's not the same as a broom mind you but it works. They're expensive though, much more than a broom." It interested him, but then he recalled seeing many a cars in Aria's neighborhood.

"You don't have a car?"
"There's no need, and I don't have a license here—American's drive differently." She spoke all while looking both ways across the street and joining the rather excited boys who couldn't stop talking about random animals.

There were some that Rabastan could recall. A penguin or a seal that he could perhaps place, but there was no need to learn such animals if you were a royal pureblood.

He did indeed watch Hera's transaction, in wonder how muggle's spent their money. Yet in seeing her have a credit card was certainly a different conversation for a later date.

Once inside the gated community, Rabastan saw the appeal. But he also saw the number of tourists who took the advantage of a summer's day.

"So this is what muggles are into? Caged beasts?"
"Well this one in particular is morally correct, America has it worse...By that I mean most of these animals are in rehabilitation programs, see? Most of these penguins were rescued because the ice caps were melting and they wouldn't have survived." Rabastan watched in pure awe at the little birds waddling around.

"Cold...Birds?"
"Penguins, they can't fly. They swim instead." She said pointing to one that was just about to dive into the water. It went like this for quite some time, especially when they came to the sharks and whales.

But it was the reptiles that Rabastan found himself immersed with. "I might have to take you to the zoo too."
"Is it like this?"
"Yes but more snakes for you to enjoy, though I have to admit I want an otter now." Aria mumbled the last bit under her breath and it caused Rabastan to chuckle.

"Sure Ghost will have no trouble sharing his space."
"If I get another pet Rabastan it'll never end." He didn't doubt that for a second, and better yet—The muggle restaurant attached to the aquarium had themed menus.

So was it really any surprise to anyone when the Slytherin ordered an alligator burger?

"Do you think it's real alligator?" He questioned and Aria tried not to spit up her ice tea. "No, alligator tastes like chicken anyhow."
"You've had that-that beast? Merlin."
"They're pretty popular in the states, and usually burgers are beef." He nodded along, entertaining the two lads as they shot back and forth on what they were expecting for next semester.

"Why don't you try out for the Quidditch team Wyatt? I'm sure the Hufflepuffs could use you as a Keeper."
"I haven't touched a broom in ages."
"Mine might be a little old for you to have, but we can stop at—"
"No...I want to buy it myself." Aria stopped herself in the moment, and it was rather difficult not to make a face when Rabastan placed a hand to her thigh.

Goddess why was her dress so thin?!

"Like mother like son?"
"Just drink your coke, Lestrange." She bit back, though when he moved away his hand from her thigh—Aria found herself almost pouting.

She certainly liked the attention she was receiving from him, and truthfully it hadn't changed since when she was an unknown blood status to now.

It only mattered on the end of his family and they want to have her in it. Course it did make her feel a little powerful and in control so truthfully there wasn't much of an issue.

While Rabastan might have been out of touch with the witches, he knew exactly what he was doing today. Or it was his brother's pointers in making a witch think about your lingering touch, all day he would rotate between holding her hand and not, being close to being at a distance.

And even now, the only issue was that Aria had things on her mind and the excitement of seeing these creatures might've distracted her from him.

But the last attempt took the cake for sure, so much so that Aria swipped a fry. "That is my potato wedge the last time I checked, Aria. You're the one who ordered fish."
"I don't know what you have against Salmon." She said enjoying her next bite.

"She makes great salmon, but it's saved for Fridays." The two Slytherins looked to one another in a slight bit of confusion. "Why Fridays?"
"We don't meat on Fridays, fish doesn't count." Jacob thankfully took the hit for that one in further curiosity, but Aria simply smiled.

"It's not always Salmon, it's a healthy choice and a religious one. But Wyatt's free to eat whatever he wants."
"I sometimes sneak a piece of jerky, but Aria said that it's like her fastings." It was adorable to see her blush at the fact that Wyatt was taking her religion seriously, but evidently, it was taking away the bigger picture of the religion that shunned them greatly.

And Rabastan couldn't fault her for that. For teaching her son her views.

When the group returned back to Aria's manor, the two boys hurried up to Wyatt's bedroom to go and hang out. Leaving Aria the chance to breathe without feeling the need to be responsible for three unexperienced wizards in the heart of muggle territory.

"And? Did you like the Aquarium, Lestrange?"
"I thought it was brilliant! The reptiles for sure, though I think that's a family trait ingrained into me." Her laughter set the pace for what they were doing now, but the way she moved around the kitchen reminded him of Erika from the Opera's performance, the way she mended dresses was the same as Aria in the kitchen or brewing—An art that was very much the same.

"Do you want some watermelon?" He had been surprised to see her cutting up the entire thing and separating half into either bowl. "If it's no trouble...?" Rabastan said with a smirk and it earned him a roll of her eyes.

"Boys! There's watermelon on the table! Don't leave it sitting here!" She shouted and thus Aria went off out onto the porch, an area where Rabastan had seen just yet. But Loki followed them out and started to enjoy the cooling summer's afternoon.

"You have a nice set up here Ari."
"That's because Uncle Alffie designed most of everything, it's not much of a yard but it's enough for this good boy." She said while giving Loki plenty of scratches underneath his muzzle before he went off towards Rabastan for the same.

Course he shed off the leather jacket just a bit ago, leaving him to fill out the borrowed shirt very well in Aria's opinion. Though she didn't allow herself to go any lower than the muscles on his arm, not when there was a tattoo that always made her stomach lopsided when she sees it.

The two relaxed outside until it was nearing dinner, and while Rabastan had wanted to stay for dinner he also didn't want to overstay his welcome nor upset his mother for not spending time with her either.

And he knew Aria was too kind to say it to his face that she wanted him to leave. However when he stopped at the fridge a smile erupted, Aria plastered Wyatt's Hogwarts grades. A very muggle thing to do, however it also allowed him to see the calendar that was there as well.

Her work scheduled looked bizarre compared to his, but that was probably because she had a switch between meetings, office, labs, and all the above it'd seem.

However when he caught a breaks he mentally wrote it down, however the invitation on the side caught his attention.

____

WE INVITE YOU TO SHARE OUR JOY
At the wedding of
LILY EVANS
And
JAMES POTTER
____

He didn't know what to feel after reading the invitation, it was just sitting here out in the open with a date attached and a location.

The informatics had been completely wrong, and he knew this was legit...Aria was—Is good friends with the almost Potters. The notepad on the counter was perfect for the occasion as he scribbled all the information onto it and stuffed it straight into his pocket.

"Your clothes are upstairs, I'm sure your parents might have a few things if you show up in that." She said, and while it wasn't the worse advice, he didn't know what would happen if his parents even found out if he looked at these types of clothes. He only ever shopped at the high-end wizarding line, his coats and cloaks always with animals.

When he finally left, Rabastan didn't hesitate to go to Avery. But no matter how many times he tried to play it off on an innocent way to protect Aria, all came up as future failures.

"Oh Merlin, where the bloody hell have you been? Left your own damn party?" Rabastan slammed the parchment into his mate's chest and went straight to his mate's secret stash of liquor in his room before knocking the cap off and downing a few gulps.

"What the hell is this?"

"Potter's wedding location, it was on Aria's fridge." Avery scrambled to flatten through the crinkles and then looked back to his friend.

"So you two fuck and it's better now or is she still a little—"
"Aria's a Black daughter. She found out her heritage." Rabastan watched numbly as his friend jumped from his desk seat now to flail his arm into the air.

"What?!"

"She was my betrothed before Claudette, Orion and Walburga thought she was a squib." The silence caused Rabastan to move his attention from the floor to his mate and then back to the rim of the bottle as he finished off the rest.

"I'll get you a new bottle, I need that delivered to the Dark Lord."
"And? How the hell am I going to explain that this is the Potter's wedding—With the time and place? What if this is a trap? A code?"

But it was clear that it would probably be the truth, Aria marked it on her calendar as well.

"You'd do this to her?"
"We're volunteering, I can't let her get hurt."
"Hurt?! The lost Black daughter that you were supposed to marry, you're letting her go to the wedding?!"
"I don't control her actions, we're friends and it's clear I'm not going to get that far if it's me reporting this find. I need her to trust me." Avery saw the conflict in his eyes, it flickered back and forth.

To uphold the one he sold his soul to, to the one who owned it all along.

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Date Posted: 11-02-2020

Time: 10:45

Words: 3601