✧SLEEPOVER IN THE CLASSROOM✧

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Rabastan had realized a few days after, that if this new and unmistaken personality was going to get him Aria Roswell, he would need to honestly commit. And gosh darn it the bloke was good at making an effort.

He'd take the time to greet her in the morning, offer her a chance to sit at the Slytherin table...Though she had yet to accept it, but it was only because she usually aided the younger Ravenclaws with last-minute assignments.

Something he found out she did a lot of.

However, she did promise to join them for lunch. Which was making him giddy as he waited for her to finish talking with Professor McGonagal, but the adorable smile graced him as she realized he had been waiting for her.

"I'm sorry, but McGonagal wanted to speak to me after class."
"In trouble Ms.Roswell?" She shook her head, hugging her books once again to her chest, he realized it was partially to hide her form under a bulky Ravenclaw cloak but also so he wouldn't ask to carry her books.

Something that's denied countless times already.

"What could I have possibly done in Transfiguration?"
"Suppose you're right, fancy yourself Transfiguration?" He shouldn't have been all that shocked that she nodded her head excitedly.

"Of course, I applied to get my animagius license in the states."

"What?!"
"Hm, and it was my mistake in telling our professor, though she promised to help me get it transferred here if I do go through with it over the summer—If I'm accepted that is." Rabastan had little doubt that she wouldn't be accepted, so he had that letter to look forward to it'd seem.

"Is it alright if I sit with you...I don't want to cause any trouble with your—"
"Aria!" Regulus cheered, being rightly excited about her heading over to their designated area at the table, which was considered the back middle away from the professor's table.

"If I didn't know any better, I'd swear that Black fancies you." She swatted at him for such a comment and he responded with a playful grunt, though it caused a few to smirk.

Most of the Slytherin table had known about the feud between the two, though that didn't stop them from going to Aria for aid on assignments. Most of her tutoring sessions were outside what Slughorn would create as it came from out of the pocket of the students, as they would need to sign up through their parents...

Which Aria knew out of everything that it'd be awful to disappoint parents with failing grades.
It just took the stress away.

"I don't think anyone important will mind." He whispered into her ear, a very public display yet again as he wanted his intentions not to be just behind closed doors. But what this did promote is a target on Aria's back, that being Victoria Barns.

Which Avery elbowed McNair to catch the dark stare that she was giving Roswell.
"We'll figure it out." The two were silently plotting to themselves as his mate flirted endlessly with Aria just at his side, either wizard could see that perhaps she belonged here besides them in Slytherin robes.

It didn't feel wrong in any sense, but what did was the endless glaring that Barns was sending to Aria and Sirius sending to Rabastan...

Regulus was excited that his friend figured out the works and made nice with Aria, it made his life all the more easier and not guilty for betraying one for talking to the other.

He generally liked Aria, and Rabastan was a promenade friend in his life. Perhaps slightly forced by his parents now that his brother turned out to be a Gryffindor, but he supposed it was getting better now.

And then maybe he didn't have to be so secretive about his Ravenclaw friend to his family.

Regulus did have a slight worry that he'd be replaced, much like Sirius did when he found his mates. But even when Rabastan joined them for a studying group, he found that if he was being too distracting and flirtatious that she wasn't against booting him out as she was 'on the clock' and it was unfair for Regulus.

And although it didn't catch Regulus' notice, the game of footsie under the table was indeed public to those looking from around. And Sirius nor Remus were not taking it lightly.

Instead they went off to look for Fabian, but what was the bloke going to do that they couldn't? Sure she forgave them both, well more so Remus as she rightly didn't seek Sirius out for more than a few conversations out of the year.

Hell even Lily and Marlene knew Aria better than Sirius knew Aria.

And he'd be damned if Lestrange knew her better than he did. Which is what prompted the first of many check-ins with Regulus, though he was excited at first to finally speak more than a few parting words to his brother, it was clear what his intent was.

Regulus could agree that he didn't a hundred percent trust Rabastan with Aria, but he'd find out more in the Astronomy tower. Which now gave Sirius a better understand to his brother's relationship with the Ravenclaw, it was telling—But also made him jealous.

Both him and Remus, for clearly different reasons. But still!

What made all of Rabastan's plans difficult, was how damn busy Aria seemed to be. Besides prefect meetings, Quidditch practice and tutoring. He found out why she hadn't dated before, or saved it for the summer when she wasn't studying her arse off—And sweet Merlin sweet Salzar, could the girl study.

She studied standing up, studied walking, he wouldn't be surprised if she studied in her bloody sleep. And there was no discussing what it was she was researching, because every time it'd be different, and every time it'd be a different book.

The phrase 'oh I already finished that one' graced his ears more times than he could count.

But today he had a beautiful surprise, he had the epiphany that if he couldn't bring her to get a butterbeer, he'd bring one to her. Which caused him to purchase just a few bottles of the previous Hogsmead trip, one of which she was tutoring anyhow, so it didn't allow him to feel guilty in leaving her in the castle. But as he walked with his mates he realized how daunting it'd be having to stay within the castle the entire semester, though he knew first hand she was excited to go back to America...He wasn't.

Because Aidan is there.

The extent of their relationship was still unanswered, they owled one another but that was seemingly it. And from Regulus' knowledge the dumb bloke was still dating that other chit.

But that gave him hope that when she returned that she wouldn't come to the utter conclusion she was in love with Aidan the entire time.

However, the butterbeer was saved for later, as he promised he wouldn't be out in Hogsmead all afternoon. Instead he met her off on the pitch, something they both enjoyed immensely as it was always a sin to watch one another practice, but here Aria showed her concern and taught him ways to save himself if he were going to fall.

And it hit him again...She showed more concern than most.

He actually learned a lot, both about her teaching method and her time on the Quidditch team in America. It was more of a public league, but that didn't make it any less competitive.

The Aria that was outside on the pitch was clearly different than the one in the castle, she was more carefree, energetic and certainly wasn't afraid of any heights.

But the second she returned the castle he caught the sudden shift in posture, he was glad that she was starting to feel comfortable in his presence. Though he was working for her being relaxed wherever they were.

They worked up an appetite by the time dinner came around, and better yet he learned that she had the night in Slughorn's classroom again grading this weeks paper.

"Professors have homework too, you might have to do one assignment for each class. But each professor has to read each student's work, I get so bored with reading the same bloody thing half the time, but I enjoy seeing the creativity." She spoke so highly on the job that he hadn't a clue if she disliked it or not, though he assumed after a while it'd get tiresome. So hopefully he wasn't overstepping when he planned to join her just an hour into her allotted time.

Luckily nobody had a detention, and the only games that weekend was the Friday's match, Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs, even though Aria had an invitation to either upon winning. It wasn't her scene to enjoy another houses' win unless it was a good game and she played alongside them. Otherwise she wasn't in the mood to get drunk and let lose, especially when her roommates were out for any reason to get her to look foolish.

"Professor Roswell?" The gal looked up with her large glasses propped on her nose and she smiled once she realized it was him.
"Detention again Lestrange, I don't think I can help you this time." He shook his head and came forward, his hands at the buckle of his satchel. "Would you mind some company?" She shrugged, but her agreement always made him feel elated and that he was gaining her affection.

Even if her heart reminded her how many times the bloke broke her glasses, she learned to reconstruct them from close to nothing a few times.

"I thought you could use a bit of a pep up." She eyed him in suspicion as he joined her at her little work station, even bringing a chair to settle himself close by.

She shuffled a few stacks to give him a bit of room, but the two bottles of butterbeer caused her to laugh. "I don't think drinking while working is the best possible—"

"I promise you love, I've done my best work either drunk or heavily hungover." She highly doubted that but she watched him twist off the top and hand her the open bottle.

"I'm a mess when I drink."
"Then read the label darling." She chuckled at the sight of it being non-alcoholic, as he highly prepared both with that and some sweets from honeydukes.

Which allowed him to find one of Aria's weaknesses. Chocolate.

In the Orphanage, this was as good as currency. The only time Mrs.Blanchard passed it out was because it for cheap at the local market, usually because it was closed to expiration or because it was already expired.

Otherwise it was a small gift from her ballet instructor on holidays or on the general occasion she gave one to her. The old couple from the library were notorious for their sweets, but bringing them back meant the other children would look through her things and steal it.

Not like the headmistress would aid in that regard.

If anything, she'd give some to the youngest and be on her merry way. But the way her eyes lit up at the sight of it was caught by Rabastan, and so he smirked in victory.

Perhaps she was right, a date didn't have to be in Hogsmead.

"I believe I found your favorite?" She tried to deny it, but he sat back in his seat with a playful grin that wouldn't stop rising as he plopped one of the many chocolates in his mouth.

"I did buy them for us to share, but if you don't like it then I best finish it myself and get it out of your way." She looked unsure of the situations, she didn't care if it was the cheapest or the most expensive of things—Aria O'Hera Roswell hated gifts.

Even to this little of an extent.

"Don't want you buying things for me."
"Why not? I think you deserve a break once in a while." She shook her head, still feeling animate about receiving gifts. Sure she liked giving, she always did where-ever she was and even if she didn't have much to share.

But she did it anyway, that was one of the many reasons that Clemintine liked her. It reminded her of the morals her parented taught her, and that was why she was welcomed at the Bennet Manor if need be.

"I don't really like gifts."
"A gal who doesn't like gifts." He breathed out, not believing one single word coming from her mouth. But she shrugged in reaction and returned back towards the given worksheet.

They were the easiest to grade, but with the ending semester there'd be exams—Thus a loss of things for her to grade and then...No salary.

"Just a bitty bite?" He held the small square piece up to her, just a few inches from her mouth as she looked entirely out of place with what to do. And why was it that he acted the sweetest when she was at her most uncomfortable?

Rabastan watched in victory that the Ravenclaw had given in, and exactly the way he wanted her to. Without moving her hands she took it from his offered fingers, and though she attempted to make nothing about this sexual—Lestrange had other plans.

His thumb rubbed her plush lips down and she covered her mouth instantly as to not spit up the chocolate. "You sly bastard." She choked, trying to wash it down with butterbeer, but the bloke was chuckling to himself.

"Rightly having a moment darling."
"Yes, on a Saturday night grading papers. You want to have a moment?" He let out a solid confirmation as he plucked another chocolate from the box and ate it without issue.

"You are a very strange man." She whispered, and he smiled lightly as he heard a bit of an American phrasing coming from her. "You're not much different love, now if you were allergic to it then I'd understand."
"I just don't like gifts, from anyone." He still didn't understand the lot of it, but the obvious question wracked his mind.

"Don't tell me you hate Christmas then." Her mouth parted and then frowned, it wasn't that she didn't hate it. "I don't celebrate Christmas."
"What?" His gasp sounded as though he made up the bloody holiday himself and he'd been offended by such disgrace, but she just simply didn't celebrate it.

Those around her did, but coming from where she did—Christmas was a method of looting and the sorts. "Then what do you do for the holiday?" Thinking back to her first real Christmas, shared at both the Halliwell's and the Crawford's she decided the best portion of it wasn't the gifts—That she felt were all a bunch of pity presents anywho...But it was the food and the company she rather enjoyed.

"I spend it with my friends, my parents are busy." It wasn't technically a lie, per say, her biological parents could've been too busy for a child and decided adoption was the best course of action. But that was further down the theory list and she hadn't rightly thought of any news ones.

"But why don't you celebrate Christmas? Or Yule?" He realized that some older families celebrated Yule, but she shook her head and smiled.
"I follow a different version of Yule, it usually just entails a winter solstice and it's a time of festive sharing. But it involves food more than anything." He retracted what he was going to say next, having already ordered said gift a few days ago he wasn't going to go through the trouble and stop it.

It'd be too late by the time an owl went to the jeweler.

"Didn't realize that you fancy the gods and goddess." She showed off her rings again and smiled.

"It's helped me a lot, and of course it's popular off in Salem. It's a mix to what the witches during the Puritan trials had worshipped." All of it sounded rightly interesting, but this was not the time to be boasting about the enlightenment in finding something she connected so heavily to. However she stopped herself before she went into a full description and returned back to the paper, though it caught Rabastan's attention to try and through it as well.

"Gods, how do you manage to read that rubbish."
"I remember it's a first year's assignment and perhaps their first potion's class they've ever had. I think they did pretty well." Reading through it again he realized that the point of first year's assignments was to see if they grasped the concept while the much higher years needed to have more of a structure to their responses.

"Suppose that's why you're the professor then."
"I think it'd be nice to teach. Maybe younger years, or be a tutor at a small organization." It was admirable, he hadn't realized that there were people who went directly to said jobs, he always assumed that teaching was what one did after their professional career ended.

But Aria proved that wrong entirely.

The silence took over for a good while, he was doing his own sets of studies. And surely the influence of Aria seemed to be showing as he's been more aware in class, surely the professors were shocked the off chance they called on him and he answered correctly.

Serves them right for assuming that he wasn't paying attention.

"Isn't that due Monday?"
"Tuesday for us actually, we're a class behind."
"Hm, I heard about the lil explosion." Rabastan chuckled, the entire class had gained a lecture about cleaning the cauldrons with magic. And she laughed in hearing that Avery looked utterly guilty as he almost cause this accident without meaning too.

The poor witch had been horrified and received burns.

"I know, I had to make her a burn solvent. I didn't have any left upstairs."
"Have an arsenal then?" She nodded, explaining that she has one down on the pitch just in case one of her teammates gets hurt during a practice...Considering there is no adult supervision at all.

Come time to nine o'clock, Slughorn came in and took over from Aria's work. There wouldn't be all that much more for his this year, and thus he was being generous in taking over so she herself could get her own work done on time.

But no part of Aria was going to head to bed now, she was released almost an hour early and she was going to take advantage of it. "Where are you off to darling?"
"I was going to get some snacks from the kitchens and then go to my classroom, did you want to come with?" She was indeed getting used to his company, hell they spent the majority of the day together beside him going to Hogsmead until after lunch.

But he still agreed, perhaps it was a bit straight forward. But he wanted to find the good moment to kiss the gal, he deemed at every moment elsewhere hadn't been the right time. Though he also promised to act like a gentlemen, yet she didn't mind the flirtatious feeding the chocolate by his hand.

There was still a bit more and he wasn't against attempting it again, it wasn't as though she rejected the advance or shared her distaste.

Having unlocked the door with a quick flick of her wand, he realized that she was starting to lock the door. And when he noticed that her setup had been heavily altered, he couldn't help but feel a little saddened.

Though the couch was a grand addition.

"Had an upgrade darling?"
"Yeah, McGonagall knows that I this little set up. Sometimes she actually comes in here, apparently everyone comes to her too late into the semester to get a changed grade so she hides here. Though she comes through the window like Omen...Anyway she transfigured a few old chairs, and then I figured out a charm to fluff the pillows." The Ravenclaw had said all this while unhooking her house robe and throwing it over a nearby chair, all before plopping down, bouncing a tad bit.

Rabastan could've drooled right there and then in seeing her, having realized why she wears the cloak most of the day was because she was hiding.

"What was the reason for the door being locked?"
"Ah well, McGonagal gave it to me in front of Harper. And she knows where this place is, I already had the suspicion that she brought her shagging buddies in here...Just staying ahead of the game." He wondered silently if Aria ever brought that Gryffindor lad in here, but she seemed to keep her academic away from her social.

If it could be considered social.

He joined her on the couch, his own robe and tie finding its way off or loosened. And although Aria still had her jumper on, she did take off her shoes and tuck her legs under herself as she began working on her own assignment.

"Are you excited for the holiday at least? I can't imagine what you'll do when you don't have any studying or work to be done."
"I bar hop." She spoke without a missed beat, and he recoiled instantly. Turning to look at her with the highest bit of interest and wanting to know more, but she rose an eyebrow—Silently asking if he had fallen for that.

And he had.

"Bloody chit."
"There's a few Christmas parties, I don't mind the festivities for it. I do like caroling. What do you usually do?" His smile had rightly fallen for a moment, and he rubbed his hand against his chin as he thought for a moment.

"Nothing that special, I don't know which family is hosting the Christmas party this year. Thankfully McNair and Avery are invited as well."
"Suppose that's boring then...What about new years?" He shook his head, but suddenly the gal had shifted the book in her lap and leaned her head back on the cushion as she looked up the ceiling.

"My friends and I, we go to New York and watch the ball drop. It's a strange muggle tradition, I'll have to ask where it comes from. But it's beautiful." He had doubt on anything muggle related being beautiful as she said it is, but once she started to describe the lights and the magical essence in the air.

He realized that perhaps her not celebrating lead her to find more than the normal joys of it.

"I have to say I'm shocked, openly talking about being social and eating. It sounds like you're completely different in the states."
"They don't care that I'm a half-blood, most of them steam from the witches who were burned during the trials—They're a different type of royalty I guess you can call it." The two continued to talk, just about the most random of topics. Some questions had popped out of thin air that she wanted to know about him.

His favorite color, that didn't consist of green. His favorite animal, that wasn't a snake.

Some questions made him think, his favorite author, favorite quidditch team. All the above, but he hadn't prepared for was Aria falling asleep with the book in her lap.

She looked utterly breathtaking, her face related and her body cuddled as she attempted to stay awake to talk with him. Rabastan was truly surprised at what simply talking to this witch had done to him, but also that it made him feel so relaxed.

He didn't have to plaster on a public mask like the pureblood were usually tasked to do, but instead he was just talking to a gal. One of which was slummbering just inches away from him, he couldn't think of a time where he slept beside a witch innocently.

Actually, there was none to count. They all entailed something naughty, and although he could list about a dozen things he'd love to do on the top of his head, he simply looked about the room in search for a blanket. And sure enough, there were a few lying about.

The material he couldn't describe as anything he's come across before, it felt soft—Fuzzy. But he was sure it wasn't animal fur, with that he grabbed that and the one beside it.

Judging by the time and how exhausted he felt, he rightly didn't want to treck all the way down to his common room. However in right of trying to move about the room with a bundle of blankets. He kicked one of the many foot rests, only for the sofa to call upon all of them. Thus making the couch all the more reason to sleep on.

"I don't remember McGonagal doing me any favors like this." He grumbles, dropping the blankets down where he planned to sleep. Though as he was undressing his thick jumper and throwing it with his tie at a distance chair, he was startled by the sudden response of a cat.

And he could only thank Merlin that it wasn't McGonagal herself hearing what he'd say. "Come to join her have you?" He whispered, and the cat had almost nodded in response—Though he thought he was simply tired in thinking he saw something like that.

Soon enough he covered Aria's sleeping form with the blanket. And almost instantly had Omen joined her mum and cuddled further.

But looking away for one moment did he turn back to see that the couch reclined further. Offering a bed, now if Rabastan was at all knowledgeable about the muggle world, he'd know it was simply an enchanted futon.

Having said all that he was quite excited, with the charmed blanket being as warm as it is. The fireplace at a decent height and a beautiful gal sleeping beside him...He would've thought this would be the best nights sleep.

But the surprises continued to pop up.

With the last member of the room attempting to go to sleep, the room offered one last feature. The table in the center of the room, where most of Aria's stockpile of books laid in endless towers and a few open to a specific page. Was there a projector, illuminating the room's ceiling to appear like the astronomy tower.

It was indeed comfortable, but the bloke didn't want to fall asleep just yet. His mind was too wired into thinking about all he learned about Aria today, her work ethic, the way she trains—The way she flies.

Everything about her seemed so natural and authentic that he was trying hard to compare her to the version of her in America.
Did she still act the same?

He shifted his shoulder, taking another peek over towards Aria but was met with the wide yellow eyes of Omen. "I won't do anything, if that's what you're thinking." He whispered out into the open, and the feline simply blinked her eyes slowly before uncurling from her position and coming closer to him.

Rabastan chuckled lightly and scratched just behind the cat's ear in response. "See, I can be nice...I am sorry I dropped you." She opened her mouth to simulate a silent meow, but he got the gist of what she was getting at.

However what neither had excepted was Aria falling closer towards Rabastan, subconsciously moving towards his heat—Neither having ignored the sense that was radiating off the other, but it was accepted in silence.

But soon there was close to no room beside one another, and thus Rabastan took the initiative to wrap his arm around her. He could pretend tomorrow that she was cold, leaving only Omen and himself knowing the truth.

Yet the second her head rested onto his chest, his soul erupted—After weeks of small touches here and there, it was enough to stall his craving. But Merlin it felt like a fresh breath of air, the weight of Aria made him feel whole.

Never in his wildest dreams could he have predicted that Aria would feel so good in his embrace. He decided then and there that he would not give up on pursuing her.

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Date Posted: 03-15-2020

Time: 1:35

Words: 4777

It's been a hot minute, but I'm kinda back!
Hope you enjoy:)