✧PROCTOR'S NAME LOOKS GOOD ON HER✧

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Returning back to Britain was...Difficult, part of Aria knew that this winter break was the last bit of calmness before the ever-living storm of NEWTS and new semester finals were upon her.

But it felt nice to go on the Hogwarts Express once more, if anything she wanted to experience this last bit of normalcy before diving into wild waters.

Michael and Eli were the ones to drop her off, was it to stop her from visiting the Black family? Perhaps. But also they wanted a peak in seeing just who Aria's family were and looked like.

"Merlin would you stop looking? They're over by the pillar." Aria said with her arms crossed over one another, and either wizard hurried to look over.

Was it an American trait for Eli to size up Orion. Yes it was.

Was it awful of Aria to scowl at her biological mother? Yes it was.

Was it an even better sly move for Eli to take his attention away from the Black family back to his daughter and give her an encouraging his to her temple.

"And I thought I was petty."
"Aria O'Hera Crawford, you watch that tone young lady." She snorted, her father surely didn't have a mean bone in his body. And this was just proof enough what a soft teddy bear her father really was.

"I want weekly owls Aria."
"Merlin sakes, everyone's asking for weekly owls. I'm about to start making you lot a newspaper." Michael snorted, course his sister would be fired up in returning to Hogwarts.

The eldest brother could tell the 7th years apart, and they were urging to get on the train and away from their parents. "You'll do great on your NEWTS bubbles, knock 'em dead." 

"And that's better than breaking a leg?" She said shaking her, but the teasing grin never left.

Nor did her sense of humor for American lingo.

"I'll promise to write as much as I can and yes I'll eat at least two times a day, get eight hours of sleep and eat a hearty breakfest? Can I go now? I never had to apperate on a moving target before and the train doesn't wait for everyone." Michael scoffed and pulled her in once more, only magnifying Aria's grey hair.

"Damnit Bubs, grey didn't go with my outfit!" Eli rolled his eyes before giving a sign to his son, it was time for her to go and she hurried along onto the train to find a compartment.

Though of course she simply just had to run into Lestrange. "Aria...Good holiday?" He sound rather breathless, and she wasn't one to flaunt anything—But perhaps it was a bit wrong of her to wear a jumper that said 'PROCTOR' on the back.

However her mind jumped to what happened this Holiday prior to returning to America.

"Er yeah, yeah it was. Last holiday I'll be enjoy for the next few years I guess." 

"Always have next Christmas—Or my mistake, next winter solstice." No. No she wouldn't.

"I suppose...And while I did say no gifts, thank you for—" 

"Of course, I thought you should have a few more things with Crawford engraved on it." Sure, but a potions travel case with her name engraved on it? He was going too far.

"No more gifts Lestrange." 

"I always did have knack for not listening to you, are you—" Whether it was the undecided notion of Sirius Black that he was going to reign hell on Rabastan because he was the perfect target in getting his anger out.

Though the anger was mostly directed to his parents, he would kindly settle for the bloke that broke his sister's heart.

"Siri! Did you have a good holiday?" She questioned, silently telling him that they agreed not to tell anyone. And if anyone didn't deserve to know the truth it was this Slytherin there before them.

"Best one yet," He smirked, causing Aria to roll her eyes and shake her head, but taking a step back. "I'll see you later Siri." Tilting her head in a method of escaping this madness.

"We still on the Astronomy tower love?" He said, though it was in due favor of making Lestrange mad, the girl shrugged before turning fully away.

And Sirius Orion Black never felt more proud of Aria when he saw Proctor's Ilvernmorny jumper on her—Featuring a solid number three on her back as she managed to weave through the train.

"Proctor's name looks good on her, don't you think?" Rabastan turned with a scowl, but scoffed all that same. "Better than yours." Lestrange tested, and Sirius gave him an all-knowing grin.

And if there was one thing that Rabastan hated more, was Sirius and that damn shit-eating grin.

"Oh, I don't know...Wouldn't mind if she had mine actually. Aria Black." More like Aurora Black.

"She doesn't fancy purebloods." 

"No. She doesn't fancy you, and who do you think Proctor is? Salem royalty, better watch your back Lestrange." Sirius winked before following off to where Aria had gone, and she smiled up towards him and scooted a bit as she was now sitting in-between both Remus and Sirius.

"Alright, what the hell is this bloody surprise the two of you have cooked up? I want to see my Lily flower before she changes into school robes, what did you call them Moony? Jens?" Aria inhaled her lips as she turned towards Remus, and the two giggled away at their lack of muggle terms.

"I thought you two were taking muggle studies?" She managed to say in between laughs, and James threw his arms over his chest and said that he is.
"It's Jeans, Prongs." Remus clarified, and Aria rolled her eyes before turning back to Sirius.

"Oh Merlin please don't tell me you're not dating, Wells—Ari I love you sweetheart but he's mine."

"Wow, how romantic. I didn't know you were taken Siri." She played along, and Sirius surely did not like this dramatic teasing when he was the center of the joke.

And Remus was starting to see Padfoot's expression starting crack.

"Shove it Ari." He said, budding his shoulder to hers and she smiled in pure bliss.

"Er...The surprise?"
"Right, this one had the crazed idea to drop off mine and Reg's presents at the manor." Aria knew allowed Sirius to tell the story was going to be a tedious lie.

"Oi that is not how it went!" She said shoving him with her shoulder now as payment, because now all the Gryffindors in the cart were staring at her like she was badshite crazy.

"Aria...What I Merlin's name possessed you to go to his house?" Remus breathed, heavily grading the fact that he was worried—More than worried. Scared.

"When I was adopted, dad went and got my lockbox. My biological father left me a goodbye letter, suppose they assumed I wasn't able to track them down had I been a squib so—"

"So that means this little witch is my sister!" Sirius cheered, and Aira slammed her palm against her forehead.

"And this idiot here is my lovely brother." It made him pout as he turned further towards Aria, it was so unbelievably surreal on how he hadn't noticed it before.

She looked—Well she looked like Andy and Narcissa in some ways, and then once in a while like Bella, when she's mad of course.

"You're—You found your family?"

"Yup, and no offense to Sirius but Walburga is a bitch." She said loud and proud, and Sirius was won over in a heartbeat. Letting his arm wrap around her shoulder and she fell in to cuddle to his side.

And rupture of pure warmth sparked, one that only managed when Aria would touch Rabastan. But now she found an alternative.

"You're siblings..." James said in a mumble, before his own smile grew.

The marauders cheered and felt the happiness radiate off either sibling. It was indeed a joyous time, and it was even better when Aria sat with Regulus in the prefect cart and tried her best to ignore Rabastan.

*

It was an interesting few weeks following the holidays, whatever the relationship between Aria and the Black brothers was starting to become apparent. Or perhaps Rabastan was over analyzing the situation, that's what his mates told him at the very least.

Lestrange had wanted to tell Aria how wonderful she looked at the Yule ball, but hadn't the chance before or on the train when they ran into one another. And however Proctor managed, he placed his claim loud and clear when she walked around. The only issue was when he spotted her with Sirius' Quidditch jumper that it truly started to aggravate him.

Aria had come to the realization that if she wanted to work on the wolfsbane potion, she needed to become accustom to a werewolf. And she tasked Sirius to help, and the bloke was all to happy to say yes to his sister. Even if that meant feeding her information about Remus' eating habits, though he had to admit the unhealthy dosage of chocolate after a moon would turn anyone's brow.

It started with simple questions, but Aria had surprised the lot of them by stalking out the Shrieking shack and spending the night with them as they tried to control Moony.

Padfoot was a little hesitant on that end, but it was only because the werewolf was accustom to three other animals. Not that Aria's Jaguar wasn't a perfect size to combination a werewolf, he just wasn't expecting the two to be so buddy buddy.

He almost felt jealous.

Yet those were the nights that Aria would join them in the Gryffindor dorm room, and while Lily and Marlene didn't have an issue with it and covered her from time to time. The bloody school of Hogwarts took it as a sign of Aria shagging one of the Marauders.

So perhaps the Gryffindor jumper wasn't the best idea to fight off those rumors.

Making Lestrange even more livid, while Regulus felt rather left out. And in an attempt to fix that, she would have sleepovers with just Regulus and a pile of smuggled in Chinese food.

"Ah, just the Ravenclaw I wanted to see." He cooed, having spotted her down the hall. Though she was reading one of the many bundles of parcels in her head, but shot him up a smile in greeting.

"Well I've been found, what can I do you, Lestrange?" Was he happy that her anger had simmered from the start of the school year to now? Yes. Though he'd catch a bit of sadness in her eyes once and a while, or stop herself from Raba—Which ultimately meant he was back to his surname.

"Someones in a good mood."
"I aced my exam, rather joyous high when half the class fails. Now, why is a snake seeking me out?"
"I can't check in to see how you're handling both schools?" It caused her to squint her eyes and perk her lips, all followed by a quick shake of her head.

"Try again."
"I might need help on my potions homework..."
"You might or you do?" He felt rather put out in asking for help, but they've been partnered up a few times in the past that it wasn't that odd.

He remained silent, which caused her to pull out the planner in her bag and sighed. "I only have tonight...Do you have it with you?"
"Er—Yeah. Really it's fine if you don't have the time Ari, it's—"
"Nonsense, if you need help I'll help you."

How could he have possibly violated the trust she had in him?

How could he hurt someone so kind?

"I appreciate it, really." She shrugged her shoulders and they continued off towards the classroom. Letting the bundle of papers fall onto the table in the center while she let her bag to the ground by her feet.

"Someones popular." He teased, getting out his folder and textbook as he made himself comfortable on the couch. "Yeah well I'm on a 'one letter per week agreement' for dad and Michael, everyone really."

"Perhaps it's because you're rather blunt in your letters." Aria scoffed and she turned over to the kettle and started to make a mug.

"Now you sound like Aidan."
"Suppose we share that in common as well." Now it caused her to laugh by her kitchen set up. "That's about it Lestrange, he's into muggle things."
"So he's like Black in that way then?" Rabastan said testing the boundaries, and she rolled her eyes.

"Are we here for potions or are you going to ask if I shagged it up with Sirius?" She said without fault, leaving Rabastan to grit his teeth. It was exactly on his mind and she simply smiled.

"Best tread carefully then." She said in a warning, meaning that it was off-topic. Meaning that there was some merit to it, wasn't there?

Was it hypocritical of him to think that since Aria was cheating then she should be as angry? Yes it was. Because she wasn't cheating, the only thing she was cheating in was tutoring others before herself.

They worked rather well together, though Aria knew he wasn't going to let his question go. It was all he could think about.

"Rabastan." She started, and he stopped writing instantly as he turned to look at her. 

"I did not sleep with Sirius, and I have no plans on sleeping with him. I'm with Aidan. Please stop shouting it in your heart, it's making me dizzy." His face had gone from placid to soft.

"I'm sorry love."
"Try again Lestrange."
"I'm sorry Aria." She hummed in agreement and turned away.

"Is that your method of coping with it? Thinking I did the same to make yourself feel better?"
"Aria I'm—"
"Sorry. I got that, but hearing that you think I'm cheating hurts too. Having to correct your nicknames for me sends me spiraling back to last year." He blinked at her, but she shook off the conversation and spoke about what to add to his paragraph before turning back to her own work.

"Sunshine?" Aria's face blushed automatically, but it was him simply reading the small sun necklace she had on. It was of a sunflower that would open up with the inscription 'you are my sunshine,' in between.

"That must be Proctor then."
"It was one of the Christmas presents he got me, yes."
"Anything else he—"
"We shagged too, and I wore a skimpy lace red piece for him. Is that what you want to hear Lestrange?" He swallowed, though his body immediately reacted to imagine that.

"Little too much skin in that one Lestrange, try again."
"Merlin you're a bloody witch today."
"And you're lacking on the head charms...Funny how you hide the important stuff but this is just free for it all." Aria didn't know she was going to go down that path today, but it was right there for the taking.

And before she knew it she yanked up his sleeve, but nothing was there expect skin. While Rabastan huffed a chuckle and covered it.

"That's what this is about."
"Please tell me you aren't stupid enough to actually believe that nonsense that bloke is spewing out." Rabastan stayed silent in his comments and returned back to the paper at hand, but it caused her to lean on her folded legs.

"You do..."
"And you my dear, have a new tattoo...How far up your thigh does it go darling?" He purred, causing her to settle her skirt and glare.

"You weren't meant to see that."
"And you aren't meant to question my decisions."
"Suppose I never did...or could." They were silent for the remained of the tutoring session, he knew once it was over he should get up and leave. And when he started to pack, Aria hadn't looked up from her own work.

So he nodded and made his way towards the door.

"Rabastan?" She called, and he stopped in his step but didn't turn to face her.

"Please...Be careful?" She questioned, and he turned over his shoulder to see the growing concern showcased all over her face and he nodded.

Seems like Aria Crawford still cared enough about him...Unfortunately, he had already signed his soul away months ago, just wasn't branded as of yet.

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Date Posted: 08-11-2020

Time: 3:13

Words: 2834

Author's Note: 
Here's the chapter, and I have to say I'm loving the name.

Funny story, but my friend is trying to sent me up with someone and I never laughed louder than when I was told his name.

Comment some guesses and I'll post the next chapter early if someone guesses it correctly. Here's a hint: He's a character in the Immer Rein Series. Otherwise I'll post another chapter by Thursday/Friday.

Good luck!