✧CONGRATULATIONS MR. CRAWFORD✧

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Aria spent the better part of the day in her bedroom and refused to come out or even unlock the door to anyone. Erika had finally been told about the issue, yet in front of her mother who laughed and called it orphanage anguish and that Aria wanted to be the center of attention for once.

That was one of the many things that Aria heard from her bedroom.

Usually she would unpack, but after hearing the awful things she decided she might as well bloody leave now. Call a cab and deal with the bloody consequences later.

If anyone knew better downstairs is that Aria liked silence, that being the center of attention was one of her worst nightmares. And yet...Nobody understood, and now she feared that perhaps that since the Bayes were joining the family that it was them that were convince Eli and Christine to stop the adoption process.

"Sweetheart? The party started, will you open the door?" She waved her hand and heard the sudden clink of Eli testing it out. But what he saw was entirely not what he prepared for.

Not only was her suitcase not unpacked, but her hair was already a silver.

"Aria it isn't—"
"They don't like me." She spoke, her eyes downcast to her book as she didn't dare look up to Eli. He shook his head and came further towards her.

"Bubbles that isn't true."
"So it must be my Orphanage anguish right? Or my need to be the center of attention. Forget it, I knew I shouldn't have come." He didn't take into account that her legitimate abilities would be this uncontrolled, but with the number of people downstairs and around, it should've been expected.

"When was I going to hear that I have evil blood?" That had been the final straw as he came to sit down at her bedside, but even then she hadn't looked up to make eye contact.

"They're an old generation sweetheart, they don't know what they're saying. There isn't an evil bone in your body. You know that, we know that."
"So why wasn't I able to hold a conversation with any of the Bayes, this is the same thing I get at Hogwarts but at least I'm treated in the bloody middle." Aria had long run out of tears, and thus she closed the book in her hands to look at Eli fully.

"You aren't evil, they don't know what they're talking about. You're my daughter."

"But I'm not! I'm the orphan student you took pity on. I didn't need Erika's parents to share their thoughts with that, I could read it on her the first time I met her. I don't belong here either."

"But you do, and I'm sorry for the mess this has caused you. It will work out. Later—"

"Later isn't sealed in stone, my entire life nothing has been settled." He hated seeing her like this, so self-destructive and so damn hard on herself that he felt like he was failing her.

That he wasn't doing enough.

"What can I do sweetheart? Tell me."

"Take me to the ministry tomorrow?" He nodded, his hands overlapping hers. And for a brief moment she wished that it was Rabastan here instead.

But how was she meant to tell him the truth?
She couldn't, not without admitting to a whole long list of other things.

"Why don't you stick with Emma and Simone, they'll—"
"They're bridesmaids...It's fine." It wasn't fine, as he had to remind them twice that Aria needed a place to sit as well. Twice!

Perhaps he was being too lenient with their comments about Aria, especially when she's heard most if not all of it. And the vents were surely not aiding any of it as he heard every single word from the foyer.

"If there's any trouble, you come and find me...I won't have this disrespect anymore." She hadn't given a word of agreement, anything more than her eyes fluttering closed as the vents started to pick up a new conversation

"Rachel and Zoe met that girl, you know the one, the one that Eli Crawford picked up in England."
"Bless the man for taking mercy on someone so lowborn—"
"That's just it, she was found because of her Salem invitation. Can you believe it was wasted on someone like her? Rumor is that she's a bastard child." Eli couldn't believe his ears, this is what she was listening to this entire time, but amplify that just a hundred times worse with much more inner thoughts to combat what they were saying.

He couldn't even look at his daughter, telling her it was alright and that it was an old generation. But he was completely wrong, that was Erika's mother, he recognized her voice after being near her the past few days.

"...I think it's best if I go now." She whispered out, turning from her bed and grabbing both her suitcase and Omen in her arms as she moved her attention away...The two were still talking to one another, gossiping as though Aria was a celebrity and that the whole world was talking about something uncovered.

"Erika was the one who told me, the adoption papers were withheld and paused at least a dozen times. Maybe he's changed his mind about it, I would too. She just reeks of bad omens."

Aria had to relay in her mind that it wasn't true, that none of it was true as she made her way into the hall and out the backway. But of course she found herself settled at her favorite tree on the grounds, one she and Elizabeth would climb and hideaway in for hours on end.

And then Michael would come and tell them dinners ready, he'd even catch them with a giant leap of faith that always felt trustworthy and damning that she really couldn't imagine anything scarier than that.

"Ms? Are you alright?" The lad asked, and she laughed—It was fitfully humorous for someone to ask that question right now. "About the fifth person who's asked me that today."

"Well that doesn't sound good." She turned over to see him and smiled, the accent was briefly heard but she recognized it instantly.

"Are you English then?"
"Born, but not raised. You?"
"Mum's born here, but I've traveled a lot...Randal." Aria sniffled gently before reaching out her hand into his before shaking it.

"Aria...Though I do warn you, I have some bad blood in me apparently. Apparently I'm too evil for that household."
"The Crawfords? They're the nicest bunch I've ever met."
"N-no, the Bayes." He breathed in through his teeth and nodded about, his hand motioning in a gesture to see if it was alright for him to join her.

Thus she scooted aside and patted down for him to do just that.

"Yeah, father said as much. Though mum made him suck up the courage to come and attend. He doesn't like parties."
"Well, then I'd get along with your father too...Do you attend Ilvermorny?"
"Private tutors, we're traveling so much that I bring most of my assignments with me. Though I do hope to visit Hogwarts, I hear it's beautiful." Aria nodded smiling in hearing a comment about her school.

"My mistake love, just assume about everyone here attends Ilvermorny. Not that I know, I only ever entered in twice."
"Then I have you beat at four." The two shared a laugh, and for Aria it was strange that she found at ease with this stranger that was meant to attend the party.

Though she didn't question his attendance or what he was doing outside.

"Are you family with the Bayes?"
"Er, no. Family friends of the Crawfords...Though I myself am late as I was trying to administer some eyedrops to my Niffler. He's gotten an awful eye infection."
"You have a Niffler?" The excitement radiated off the girl that it surprised the lights out of Randal that he could only nod.

"He's a handful, but I'm worried that his eye infection can leave him blind."
"What type of eye drops are you giving him? It's hard to diagnose what could cause an eye infection."
"Hm, father says it was due to some rusty metal. He was abandoned, couldn't leave him behind." And thus the two continued to discuss the best approach for the Niffler, and she even wrote down a few suggestions of her own.

But sadly, Randal needed to make an appearance or else his mother was going to get mad. "Headed off somewhere?"
"Well I was on route to run away, but I was distracted by a Niffler related conversation."
"Guilty, let me get that darling." She smiled in thanks, while Omen found her usual spot on her mum's shoulder.

"I do appreciate this, t-the eyedrops I mean."
"Well I'm not a healer, or a creature's healer mind you. But at the very least it should stop him from going blind until you find something else." The two managed into the house and she went to go and return the suitcase and Omen up the steps while Randal waited for her.

"Think we'll be noticed? It's been a decent hour."
"Technically I've left and here I am returning."
"Kicked out were you?"
"No, like I said. I was on route to run away."
"Should I know why before we settle in the tent?" She perked her lips, but the sudden interlocking of his hands to hers gave her some confidence as he led her through the backyard and into the obnoxious tent.

"The bride's parents dislike me."
"Truly? Well, I think father claimed a back table. You're welcome to join us." She smiled and nodded, knowing that the families of the bride and groom would be in the front.

So perhaps it'd be best to be out of sight and out of mind.

Randal couldn't miss the sudden frown that appeared on her face as they watched the bride and groom dance at the front dance floor. "Randal where hell have you been?!"
"Oh, mum...This is Aria, we were talking about a better solution for eyedrops for Dennis." The girl watched in immediate humor as the woman held her head in her hands. But never the less took the moment to greet Aria with a display of welcome.

"This wouldn't be the same Aria that Eli is looking for the past hour would it?"
"Er—" Randal had looked towards his friend in question, their diagnostic was rather straight forward and there was no room for small talk. But it didn't amiss that there was something wrong with Aria from the beginning.

And then her claiming to want to run away.

"Yes...I should go and find him, I'm sure he thought I left—"
"No need." Randal's father chuckled his hand waving in the air for a moment. Which gave Eli direct location to Aria in a moment's time, something she was clearly not ready for at all.

"Thank the gods, Aria, please don't do that again."
"Okay." She whispered, realizing that her departure has left him utterly distraught. But then with his move to the back of the party tent gave ample eyes to turn to her.

"Thank you Mr.Scamander for finding her."
"That was my son's doing. You are more than welcomed to join Aria." Perhaps it was Randal's mother who was instigating that her son has someone to socialize with this party, or how clearly displaced the girl was and offer her a safe space away from the crowd.

But the woman could read it ever so clearly.

"T-thank you," Aria whispered out, and thus Eli leaned in down to her ear to whisper something of private—That they were going to discuss this utter nonsense in private without the attendance of guests.

The kiss on the forehead however was what confused Randal, although he wasn't entirely familiar with the Crawford family. He was entirely taken by surprise to see him so comforting to the girl he befriended.

But as he left, Aria took one of the seats and turned to Randal with wide eyes.
"So...Scamander? I feel partly cheated on that end."
"Pardon me but there wasn't much room to mention it, Crawford."
"Not a Crawford." After realizing who else was at the table, the famous couple of Tina and Newt Scamander—Aria felt highly uncomfortable.

Her idol was just across from her, his son beside her.

The fates were playing a horrible prank on her, they must be.

"Dear, why don't you get us a few drinks for us with your father?" Tina pushed, and it gave Aria the benefit of a doubt to take a second to gather her thoughts on several accounts.
"Randal takes after his dad, he usually forgets to add his last name when introducing himself to others."
"I wish I could've been more prepared to meet my childhood Idol—I mean the author of my favorite book." Her blush was prominent as she tried to wish herself elsewhere, but Tina was used to all types of people saying things about her husband that she switched seats and told her it was alright.

And that Newt was open to all fans, big or small. But what Aria didn't explain was that it was the introduction of Magical creatures that brought her to the wizarding world first.

She read the Salem packets back and forth until she memorized the likes of the summaries. But when she arrived at Salem it was the creatures she took interest right beside potions.

When the two wizards did return, Tina caught that she returned into a shy nature and spoke quietly to Randal. Of course Newt was more occupied with trying to prepare himself with a conversation elsewhere, it was his wife that mentioned that he had a fan at the table.
She was just worried on being a bother about it.

"Have you seen Aria?... The Crawford Orphan. Erika said she's run back to England." Newt turned in confusion, as had Tina. But Randal hadn't dared to listen further as he smiled to Aria.

"Hey, don't listen to them yeah? They don't know what's—"
"Neither do you."
"Think I've learned awhile ago that we shouldn't take anything at face value. But I'm open to listening to the truth." And so Aria purged, which was easy as Newt and Tina had left to go and enjoy themselves elsewhere—But mostly it was Tina who pushed her husband away from the table as Randal was too much like his father and was rather unsociable.

This was his first made friend in awhile.

After all was said and done, Randal was completely and utterly unease with those around him.
"I thought the Bayes were at least a little friendly."
"Well I didn't get that approach, Eli even heard Erika's mother talking ill of me. And my friend said I'd regret it if I didn't come, but now I regret coming at all."
"Don't think that's the case love, if you hadn't come I wouldn't have been able to meet you." She smiled at the sweet lad, and what surprised her the most was that he asked if she wanted to dance.

And she most certainly did.

The two joined the dozen of couples and he was completely a gentleman—But also informed her of a random fact about Thestrals to cover up his lack of communication skills, which caused her to laugh.
"I did know that actually, if my heart wasn't taken by potions I would find myself in Magical Creatures."
"You should talk to my dad, I swear he isn't as scary as you might think."
"It's not that, he must be tired of it. I don't want to bother him."
"Please, when I tell him about the new idea for eye drops you might not get him to stop talking." He was extremely persuasive, but in seeing Mrs.Bayes speaking with Randal's parents she felt highly discouraged.

As did he but there was a part of him that needed to fix this for her, and thus he came over. However what Aria had forgotten was Erika's siblings, her sisters for that part.

Danelle was the same age as herself, and Randal as well. So she wasn't surprised to walk into the introduction that was laced with intent.

"Ah, Mrs.Bayes, I would you like you to meet my son Randal and his date." He knew what his mother was doing, it was quite obvious. But in seeing his father enjoy his squirming he gripped Aria's hand further. "Don't tease him darling...Randal, this is Danelle Bayes." 

"It's nice to meet you both." Aria attempted to stop herself from showing any emotion, but the only outlet was her nails digging into her free hand.

"How did the two of you meet?"
"Oh ages ago, isn't that right love."
"Well don't make it sound so long ago love." It didn't occur to either Bayes' witches that this was the Crawford Orphane herself, all Mrs.Bayes could see was the missed opportunity to play her daughter into a respectable name.

"Did you meet in Hogwarts?"
"Not at all, this one goes to Hogwarts. I tend to travel which brings a load of tutors." Tina did indeed have a slightly stern comment that it was experience that was his school. But then Mrs.Baye's attention turned to Aria herself.

"If you attend Hogwarts, you must know about the little witch the Crawfords have adopted?"
"Oh?"
"Yes it's quite a charity story, you see the girl was pitied on by the family and it's been a mess ever since. Doesn't a clue where her heritage lies, but I bet it's with those evil folks. You know the ones, they call themselves Death Eaters." Aria thought if she spoke she'd give too much away, so she nodded and held onto Randal just a tad tighter.

Tina commended the girl immensely, she would've lost her mind within the first question this brass woman spoke of. "Erika, my daughter the bride? She looks beautiful tonight, doesn't she? Yes she told me all about the aura's that girl gave." Oh did she now?

"That sounds mildly judgmental..."
"Not at all, she's still sulking in her room having a tantrum. I'm no expert but that Orphanage didn't do her any favors...Nor is she as beautiful as these girls." It was sick, it was twisted. That the two were so conceded that they couldn't even recognize Aria when she was standing right in front of them.

And she's met them on Holiday just a month before!

"I couldn't possibly have that filth at my daughter's wedding, she deserves so much more than that." Newt saw the pain starting to fester, one he knew all too well.
"Oh pardon me, dear come with me. Let me get you something to drink." With that Randal was led away from the scene with his mother, the Scamander family had promised to watch out Aria and that was exactly what they were going to do.

But also report what happened.

"There are only a few times I ever want to socialize, I find that creatures are so much easier to deal with than people."
"Except bowtruckles...Isn't that what you wrote? That their social structure is similar to our own?" The gal questioned, downing the drink in just a few gulps that it worried Newt to see how much it was hurting her to be here.

"Yes...That's right." Tina warned him that she was shy and reclusive, as it was clear she wasn't one for confrontation. Something she teased was similar to her own boys.

"Usually people are rather loud and obnoxious when they come to meet me."
"Sorry to disappoint—?"
"Not at all, it's entirely refreshing. Pickett agrees as well." The light in the witch's eyes returned and so he nicked his head to the little creature and thus the little fellow took a chance.

"I'm sorry sir, but after everything that's happened today...I feel like it's being overshadowed."
"Not if you let it, and if it's any word of recollection she was entirely out of line."
"I'm surprised my hair didn't change color." Newt smiled once again, his hand resting on her shoulder as he looked her directly in the eye.

"If there's one thing I've learned, the most vicious creatures on this earth are humans, even to their own kind."
"But I didn't prompt a thing, and they've pushed it to make it seem like I'm this ungrateful Orphan. Because of her I missed my brother's wedding." He sighed, and though he was about to say something, it was Pickett that had tickled her and caused her to giggle.

Score one for Picket.

"It's not much Aria, but a crowd like this before my name was known was nothing more than being just the brother of a war hero. I hear you aspire to be a potion mistress?"
"Yeah?"
"Take pride in that, that these people are the ones you'll be helping later. And that they'll find their previous accusations wrong...The first time meeting Tina she thought I was writing an extermination guide."
"Thank you Mr.Scammander, coming from you, it really means a lot...Magical Creatures were the first subject I really learned when I found out about Magic." And from there, the two spent the next hour talking before Tina chided her husband for taking away their son's date.

Even if Randal made it clear in private that she wasn't his date.

What Michael didn't realize was that there was a boy flirting with his sister, so he made his way strategically over towards her after quite some time.

"Babe where are you going? My grandparents want to take pictures with us."
"In a sec." He chimed back, the day had been so hectic he hadn't been able to see Aria at all. Neither did he catch how upset she was other than before as Simone and the rest of his siblings were attempting to rectify it, while Eli was going to have a family meeting the next day on such a topic.

Aria deserved to know, as did Michael about the whole thing.

"That's the Scamander boy mom was talking to Danelle about, she thought they'd make an adorable pair. Too bad he's taken." Just hearing that made his blood boil further, even when she looked so damn happy he couldn't contain the brotherly protection.

"Ah, congratulations on the happy couple." Randal smiled to the two, while Aria held onto her 'date' as she smiled at them but didn't dare look Michael in the eyes.

"Sincerest congratulations." She smiled, and Erika had squealed—Something she'd never done in Aria's presence...Show any emotion.

"Thank you, we're sorry for not opening the reception to all guest. We wanted to keep it intimate and family only." Aria flashed her attention to Michael, but he looked to his new wife in complete awe. "Hun that's—"
"You go to Hogwarts right? What house are you in?"
"Ravenclaw...This one though swears he's a Hufflepuff but I beg to differ." Randal scoffed to the side, after a few glasses of what could hold the same amount as butterbeer, the two were obviously all the more comfortable with one another.

One that Tina was happy with. Her son deserved a kind friend.

"What house is your sister in? I'm sure you know her."
"That depends, I usually stay within my house and friend group...What's her name?" Michael had been caught blindsided, he was stuck with so much bliss and excitement that it felt like all of this was crashing so abruptly that he couldn't manage another word.

"Aria..." He whispered out, his voice bleeding with regret as he could clearly see how the day's turn of events was changing her.
"Aria Roswell...She doesn't have the Crawford name."
"Lovely...You know darling, I think your mum is calling us over. Excuse us." She managed well enough in an even voice, not that Erika was noticing anything at all.

But Michael jumped at the opportunity and caught up with them in just a few steps—Leaving his bride behind him to talk to another couple.

"Aria I'm so—"
"Don't bother. I'll be gone before you decide to notice again...Congratulations Mr.Crawford." Randal continued to weave her through the crowd and soothe her worries in a much more private setting.

The pure ignorance of the Bayes was starting to prove true as the Scamanders were absolutely disgusted by the behavior shown. Nothing that they heard warranted for such hate and judgment to be placed on such a bright young witch.

Newt was a great judge of character, as was his son. And Tina was a well-trained Auror and used the same tactics as either.

"They were kind enough until I mentioned my name, like it's tainted."
"It's not tainted, I think it's a nice name." Aira was glad she mentioned that she had feelings for a lad at Hogwarts, as she would've seen that comment as entirely flirtatious. But now it was such a sweet sign of friendship that she thought he reminded her of Wes.

Newt even offered to escort her to Hogwarts, though she didn't want to bother him with such an issue. She'd figure it all out tomorrow, as when the party was winding down she excused herself out and away.

Though she traded addresses with Randal, and kissed his cheek as a sign of thank you. "Tell me how your Niffler does yeah? A Niffler without his affinity for shiny object doesn't sound like a Niffler to me."
"We should make plans this summer, and do bear with me...I'm not the best penpal." She smiled once again, and regained control of her hair's shades itching to turn grey as he kissed her cheek.

The lad was too sweet for his own good. But then again, the same could be said about her.

Without the Scamander family protecting her she decided to head off to bed. Her agitation had translated into pure exhaustion that she didn't have a moment to process today's events before she fell to sleep with Omen curling up protectively at her side.

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Date Posted: 04-05-2020

Time: 10:43

Words: 4414

Randel is (Hopefully) going to be a reoccurring character, but to make the timelines somewhat believable he's going to be a lil older than Aria. Not by much, just two years or so.