✧THIS RAVENCLAW DOESN'T LIKE FLOWERS✧

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***

Though Eli wished he could bring his daughter, or even enjoy the weekend with her staying here. In doing that it would place her behind her schedule and he knew how important it was to keep ahead and work with that potion's professor of hers.

However what he wasn't prepared for was to see Aidan in her bed, and as he opened his mouth to wake her up to get ready for the day—Was suddenly turned to backtrack and pretend that he never saw that in the first place.

"Is Ari up?"
"No...No she looks dead to the world, she probably needs another hour." Eli attempted to draw his son away, but Michael was all to happy to wake up his little sister.

To tell her he was a free man.

"Bubbles wake—OH, ABSOLUTELY FUCKING NOT!" He roared, and Aria turned to peek an eye open while Aidan fell off the other side.

"Could you act any more guilty—And you, do you really want to point fingers mister?" Eli smirked as Aria controlled the room, the two wizards at her utter command in fear of everything.

"Will apology pancakes and a package of sweets each week work?"
"Now it just sounds like you're buying my love." Aidan was rubbing his head as he turned up and around to lean over the bed while he sat on the floor. "Would that work for me?"
"No. I'm leaving today, I think?" That was Eli's time to wager in, saying that it would be best if she got up for the day.

And made it a heavy point for Aidan to head back to Ilvermorny, though he made it a clear point he didn't want to catch Aidan in Aria's bed again.

The couch in her room was too close as is, though it was Chrissy's utterly reminder that their youngest kept a promise to the gods and goddesses. She wouldn't be foolish enough to do so, not when Aidan's ring was no longer on her finger.

With all that said and done, and a parting—chaste kiss to Aria, the gal was on her way to meet with the Scamanders at the MACUSA.

Randal was more than happy to hold her suitcase though she chided him for being gentlemanlike when it wasn't needed. "Hopefully Dennis didn't mind the change in company, but he'll adore you. Sure of it." And that he did, though with the arrival a day too late to their home, Newt and Tina agreed that traveling at night wouldn't be worth it.

Aria still seemed to be recovering from the mess that the Bayes and Crawfords were involved, which led to her spending one final night before arriving at Hogwarts.

It was truly a breath of fresh air returning to Hogwarts, and she could relish in the cold Scotland breeze as much as she liked. But Newt urged her inside. "Merlin, I don't recall liking the cold weather all that much."
"Why not? I'm sure there's plenty of magical creatures in the tippy top that the North has to offer the world."
"At this rate you and I are going to end up on an expedition by the summer."
"I'm sure Mrs.Scam—I mean Tina thinks I'm a grand influence then...Do tell Randal I'll try and keep up with the letters." The elder smiled down at the gal and held her shoulder tightly.

"My philosophy, and you'd do good to listen to it you stubborn Ravenclaw...Is that worrying means you suffer twice."
"But then if the outcome is worth it then it doesn't matter in the end, does it?" Newt smirked, she was truly as Eli said. A stubborn Ravenclaw.

"Well think of others, Eli worries for and he's a dear friend of mine. Though I haven't much time for anyone these past few decades."
"Yes sir." And that was the end of the conversation henceforth, if anything Aria wanted was a peaceful embrace with her bed.

And with this weekend still for her to relax in, though when she turned a few corners in hopes of getting a small nap. She was met with a sight for her sore eyes, and she couldn't control herself when she spotted Regulus.

"Oh sweet Diana and Crone. I've missed you." Aria squealed, wrapping her arms around the young Slytherin who all but close to giving in to the weight she passed through to him.

"Well Merlin why make it sound like you were gone for a whole year?" Aria pulled away and the two lads straightened their backs in seeing the pattering of bruises still peppered around her temple and cheek.

"Who in the bloody hell did that?" Rabastan growled, and she smiled at him as well.
"Nobody important. My brother's gotten a divorce. Now if you excuse me, I think I'm in need of proper night's sleep where the clocks aren't wrong." Regulus attempted to pull her back to the group, but it was Rabastan's tug that twirled her around.

"I do recall being tempted with some sweets in compensation, though I'll trade mine in for an explanation on what that is."
"Erika thought it a good idea to use an unlawful on me, don't worry though—I've got her back just as swift and much cleaner." The two Slytherins looked to one another in confusion, the evidence was clear on her face. Especially if the injury wasn't healing with any remedies she's come to know.

"Unlawful?"
"Suppose the translation would be an unforgivable curse, though American's have their own list of them." Rabastan hadn't thought—In his most wildest of dreams—that Aria would be condemned to the same life as he would be, and even worse was it off in another country.

"Y-you said divorce?" Regulus questioned, sharing a look between the two that was ignored as Rabastan and Aria couldn't dare tear their eyes off one another. "I thought he just got married this Sunday?"
"Yes well, she's carrying another lad's babe. Pat myself on the back for figuring that one out." Lestrange was still in an ounce of shock at the injury that shined prominently on her face.

Her sweet porcelain skin.

Aria smiled to the both of them and shrugged, could a witch not sort of and investigate? "Right then, I'll see you both later then?"
"Can we at least bring you to the infirmary?"

"I promise it's not that bad, I have some solvent my brother made for me before I left and I just put some on before I arrived. I'm fine."
"Your definition of fine is vastly different than mine." He was quick to make such a judgment and thus prompted a rather unplanned and certainly unpredictable action from Aria herself.

Regulus watched with widened saucers as she leaned in to kiss Rabastan's cheek.

"Thank you, for all of it Raba." Either had been stunned, and what Aria couldn't figure out for the life of her what could've prompted such a headache in the time she walked away from the two to the walk up to the Ravenclaw tower...

But Rabastan laid awake that Friday evening with such a lingering thought. Aria had given him a nickname, and even Regulus had teased him that perhaps she was winding down on finally going out on a date with him.

Yet it wasn't that, it was the combination of a kiss and that damnable nickname. Not that he didn't love it, it made his heart swoon further to the moon after she paired it with a kiss.

"Raba!"

 It was paired with an ear-piercing screech of giggles that he couldn't place any of it together. And what was even more troubling was that Regulus had similar thoughts as well. Not that he voiced them out loud...But he found it mildly curious.

Nobody he remembered could fit that image.

Neither he nor Lestrange can remember.

*

Was she expecting eight parcels? No, and what was more embarrassing was that aside from Michael and Eli's final words on the court order and such, it was nice to hear from Randal. Though that did not settle for Rabastan to see so many wizards sending owls her way.

Especially Aidan's.

"Yeah, the arse was throwing pebbles at my window."
"What was he doing at your window?" She rolled her eyes and took another piece of her buttered toast as she was coeared to sit with the Slytherin table.

Meaning that it was Rabastan and his mates, with the addition of Regulus. "He heard I was in town and wanted to check up on me, he's studying to be a healer so he recommended me another potion that helped me sleep." Avery eyed Aria, and for the most part she was telling the truth—Though Avery thought it was clear that they did more than just him healing.

Perhaps Rabastan was naive, or he held too much trust in Aria to think she would sleep with someone in the wake of everything that happened to shag her old boyfriend.

"I doubt she'd have the time, did you see the bruise on her face?"
"So? Sure you've fucked plenty of witches with your quidditch injuries."
"But Aria wouldn't, she had enough on her plate to..." He felt misplaced, and Regulus frowned with his arms crossing his chest as Aria had left the table for an accounted two minutes and already they were talking ill of her.

"Proctor is still dating that other gal, and you know she doesn't have his ring on anymore. So before you point bloody fingers at her Lestrange, your the one who's made Barns target her and I recall you bedding her just the other—" Rabastan's expression glared instantly, he thought he was being discreet but realistically it wasn't much different than before.

"Tread careful Regulus...Threatening me—"

"It's only threatening because you know what it'd mean if she found out." McNair nodded his head, the little Black son was starting to gain his backbone. Though in the honor of a gal friend was suspicious sure, but it was enough for Rabastan to see reason, though in the sense of blackmail was not an area that he himself was used to on this end.

But if Aria did find out...She'd be hurt, more than that...She'd never speak to him again. As it was one of the first promises she had made when they did start talking as friends.

In spite of all of this, there was a match to be had, and it was difficult to ignore the Gryffindor's obsessive need to remind everyone that there was a match.

"Sorry about that, Clem couldn't get all my assignments that I need to make up. She said I had to talk to Professor McGonagall...What'd I miss?" Her voice was such an angelic tune that it made McNair smirk.

"You know darling, I seem to have lost track of the conversation...Bas, what were we talking about?" Rabastan knew he had to be careful, if she suspected anything there was no telling what Aria could and couldn't pick up.

Thankfully she was distracted with buttering her toast again to really pay attention to the conversation around her. "Nothing important, just talking about the nitwits at the other end of the hall."
"Hm, they're a rowdy bunch. But it's funny to see the Hufflepuffs get riled up too. I hear they're subbing in their new chaser because the previous one didn't do all that well." The three lads were slightly shocked at the sudden shift in conversation, but Regulus smiled and followed up that he heard a rumor of the same thing.

"A gal who knows Quidditch...Huh, I never thought I'd get to see the day."
"That's quite bigoted, and from you last year's stats Lestrange had gotten more intercepts and more goals than you did," Black smirked to Avery, his slightly sexist comment would get him absolutely nowhere.

Especially when she looked so prepared to attack him.

"Not meaning to offend you Roswell, it's was just—"
"A sexist reminder that I wear a skirt instead of trousers, yes, I'm aware." For one reason or another, the other lads were enjoying the ever-living hell out of Aria drag their mate across the ground.

And not only was he afraid of what Rabastan and Regulus would do if he hurt the witch's feelings. He was immense—Perhaps even more afraid of what Aria would do to him.

"My apologies."
"Apology accepted." She smiled, and perhaps it would just start with the comments on different gender. But at least she was being vocal about her distastes and not just sitting there to take them.

She was nothing like Claudette.

Rabastan realized this long ago, that the two witches were drastically across the board. The only difference that Claudette had over Aria was that she was well versed in the acts of the bedroom.

He didn't want to assume everything, but Aria didn't seem like the witch to be entirely knowledgeable of what happens behind closed doors.

Though she did pick up on his hint way back when in History of Magic...

So time will tell.

"Oi, why does his apology pass?"
"Do you have something to apologize for too Lestrange?... Because I don't recall you ever saying sorry." That was true, at one point or another she drew back all that happened prior—Not that it was completely forgotten but it was a ready reminder of her promise to never speak to him again if he messes up.

But what does concern her was the fact that he was being awfully silent for some time. "Sounds suspicious..." Aria's brows rose, it was far too easy to read that he was hiding something. So she perked her lips.

"Suppose I'll take my leave then."
"Wait Aria—" He had gotten up along with her, but it was so sudden and so public that many eyes darted towards her.

And what was even worse was the fact that Sirius didn't waste any time to make his way to the two. "Rabastan, I can't control it...Please go." She ushered out, turning her head slightly to the side but knew that if she looked at him fully that she would indeed fill in all the blanks that he had left open.

"Wells...You alright love?" Relief flooded her as she nodded, hurrying off to the lavatory as she couldn't withhold the feeling any longer. Her hair was beginning to tingle and burn until a breath finally sanctioned for it to release.

"Don't suppose you'll tell me what that was all about?... But I'll find out soon enough."
"Did you know she was a Legitimate?" Sirius laughed, nodding his head along. Yet he only knew from Remus accidentally sharing with him.

"If you think you know Ari, best remember that my mates and I were always there to watch what you've done to her."
"And then rectified the situation, don't suppose it was just Snape you targeted." His attention to detail was fashionably lacking, and no matter how much Aria claimed she wasn't as close with the Gryffindor bunch, it was still much larger than all he knew about her.

"I might not be her best friend, but at least I can say she trusts me a lot more than she does you." "And did you hear why she traveled to America? That her brother's seeking a divorce because—" Either of the two let a rather high pitched yelp that wasn't as masculine as Aria was prepared for. But it was easy enough to grip their earlobe and yank them down for her to gain proper eye level.

"That wasn't something I wanted to pass along Lestrange, and you shouldn't flaunt our friendship. Both of you are arseholes." Twenty four hours, Rabastan had managed to be in her good graces for a total of twenty-four—hell, it hadn't even been that. She was back for less than that and away for much longer.

He blew it, and Barns didn't have to be the failing piece.

"Merlin Roswell, I didn't say a word."
"And I'll make you a gold medal later for it, now is this measuring contest over? I'm not in the mood for a feud." Perhaps it was because it was the first time Sirius had taken a look at her properly, but he stared in awe at the partially healed peppering of her skin and stilled.

Turning self-conscious, she pulled up the hood of her robe. Not that she was wearing the uniform under it but she didn't want to unpack her clothes this morning. Sirius already caught that her hair's tips were hidden underneath, more or less in preparation and cation in case it decides to reshow.

But now the hood covered the side of her face as she felt mildly uncomfortable with the attention it was getting. "Is that what you were hiding? You told your mates?" His lips parted, her accusation was entirely right but not in the sense of what gave him discomfort.

"What I tell you isn't for you to share...Gods, is it even a wonder why I don't talk to you about anything important?! And you! Merlin it's like you're both children." She stomped off, not in any way calling for attention for either of them to follow and thus Sirius smirked.

"Her calling me a child is the least of her insults she's thrown, seems like you have some apologizing Lestrange. He's a tip, mate, she favors flowers." It was a lie.
But at least it'd bid Aria some time before he'd have to deal with the bloke.

The game wasn't set for another hour and a half, and it gave Rabastan plenty of time to get a bouquet of flowers, all lavish and beautiful. Something that his mother would surely fawn over his efforts to apologize to a witch, but then he thought that his brother would see to the mess he's made for fancying a gal this deeply.

He was on his way from the herbology greenhouse, though a familiar voice graced his ears. Course in a fit of anger Aria would go busy herself, on a Saturday no less, with her missed assignments.

"Ms.Roswell I will not repeat myself, you are exempt from all work previously missed."
"I just don't understand the reason why, professor that isn't fair." Rabastan bit back a smile, she was fighting to be given homework.

"I received word from Mr.Crawford, the headmaster and I agree that after all the occurred, you are exempt from all classes."
"But I've already done the Potions and Herbology." She pouted, trying to run a calming hand through her hair. Only to show signs of her grey streaks.

"Working yourself to the bone, Ms.Roswell, will not aid a recovery. And for gods sakes, enjoy the weekend."
"Yes ma'am." It was very American...Or that's what Rabastan thought of her response. But in seeing her retreating form for a second time he sighed.

Only Aria would be so distraught over not being able to do the assignments. But then a previous conversation hit him rather quickly.

"I've heard that it's because you're attempting to compensate for something you can't have, is it true?"

Trying to place the conversation was he lost in the side hallway close near Transfiguration. The back of thumb started to knee into his forehead in an attempt to sort his obsessive thoughts.

"What are you compensating for darling...?" He whispered out into the open, what did Aria O'Hera Roswell not have?
What was she trying compensating with wanting homework?

Was it to prove herself?

To establish a record to be able to get into the potion world?

Get in favor with the Professors?

He already knew that the professors all adored her, and although the potion world was competitive he honestly doubted that anyone could wrangle a better record than she does...So was it proving herself?

Yes.

Yes it was.

Aria hadn't had proper education since she stepped into the beautiful gates of Salem, and she'd be damned if she was going to miss a single assignment.

It was such a Ravenclaw trait to need information, but it tied in with the lack of education in her children—Or not any that she remembers at the very least, all of it was related to magic that there was no point in keeping her studies.

Thus it left her with little teachings, only her mannerism spoke of a proper upbringing, another reason why Mrs. Blanchard was suspicious and so quick to damn her to the worst treatment.

All completely unwarranted, as it was all superstition.

Even if it was correct.

In the midst of all this Rabastan had caught the music blaring in given hallway, perhaps she needed to dance to get the anger out of her. Whatever it was, he had given her another moment or two to get her barring together before knocking on her door.

"Rabastan go away!" She called out, and he closed his eyes. How was it that she knew it was him? Didn't she say Black and Lupin knew about this room? In collection with the other Gryffindors, Clem and Slytherin's Black?

"How did you know it was me?"
"Because Omen is looking at the door and by the sound of your knock. Please go."

"I am sorry love, Regulus and I were discussing it and they had only heard part of the story."

"My life isn't a story Lestrange, that wasn't your right to share with your mates. Any of what I tell you. That isn't fair."

"No, and I do wish I could have this conversation with you instead of this god awful door."

She threw a quick spell to the door and it unlocked the charm to lift for a moment as Rabastans strolled right on in. And low and behold he was not prepared for Aria's leg to be pointed to the sky.

Although he hadn't a strong interest, like Sirius he had attended a dozen or so recitals in accompany of his mother and whoever else.

Claudette for example.

But to see her in such a compromising position be as formal as this was causing him to lose any and all courage he had when the door was blocking his view of this.

Just seeing her beautiful legs extend and fold back to the ground, he was just thankful that her back was turned to him. There would be no doubt his thoughts could manage to transfer to hers, he attempted to chide himself in thinking so inappropriately.

Aria was a proper witch with morals and demanded respect, he needed to start acting right.

However in seeing her in such a different outfit was giving him a difficult time. Especially when her thin skirt was a different color than the bodice she was sporting.

"Sweet Salzar put me out of my misery."
"Oh I'll be glad to. I told you what happened as it was a polite curtesy, not so you could gossip with your mates."
"It wasn't gossip, Merlin Aria they care for you too. They've told Barns to piss off and they stop Lockheart from coming near you when I'm not there to scare him off."

"Fine. There's some merit to it, but you should've told me. It sounds awfully sketchy you turning silent when I returned to the table." He nodded, agreeing with the fact that he had overstepped a boundary.

In an attempt to rectify the situation he presented her with the boutique, it had been hiding behind his back the majority of the conversation.

She looked rightly shocked, but then her hands rested on her hips already in an accusing manner. "You plucked these innocent flowers for an apology? Merlin you monster!" He gawked, how was it that the one gal he decided to fancy properly was not at all like a lady he expected to have to please.

Doesn't like gifts and now doesn't like flowers?

"You are the most difficult gal in the world to please..."
"Not into gifts and doesn't want harmless flowers being ripped from their beds? I take it I am the easiest to settle. I'll gladly take tea as a gift, now bring them over here before they die." She called out, and he realized that not only did her classroom act as a suitable kitchen, a brewing stand, a growing library—But now she had plants all about.

"Darling I'm beginning to lose sight of what your interests are."
"Good, then we're one and the same...Now promise me Lestrange, you aren't to share my business with your snake friends." He nodded, and then she pointed off to his sorted bouquet that returned to its natural health. All due to her gentle touch and nurturing methods.

"And leave the innocent plants out of apologies, I want a growing flower, not a plucked one."

"Knew I shouldn't have listened to fucking Black." Aria turned to look at Rabastan and smirked.

"Well obviously you listened to the wrong one, Regulus knows not to get me flowers."
"What is he doing getting you flowers?" Rabastan was far too set on acting as a knight in armor, especially when it transferred to this type of response.

"A harmless thank you, he got me seeds for a rare herb. Slightly illegal but it was such a beautiful gesture."
"Seeds...As a gift?"
"Well what the hell am I going to do with Chocolate when it's gone in under an hour, it's really quiet—" Her voice was suddenly pushed into a squeal as Rabastan grabbed her fitfully into his arms. His hand resting at the low dimple of her back. Though he needed to turn it into a fist as to appease himself to not give in to grabbing her arse.

Something told him that she wouldn't find that all that flirtatious.

"...A waste." She mumbled, and although Rabastan knew that leaning in for a kiss just after being in a slight feud would do him no good. He pulled a strain of hair that was in her line of sight and pushed it behind her ear.

"And what is a book once you've read it?"
"Are you telling me you don't read a book twice through? You really are a monster Lestrange." He chuckled, of course she would call him out for lacking the patience of re-reading a book.

But then after hearing her words, she began to underline that the author would always give subtle hints to push the reader to understand the ending—Or the end goal.

And if you've read it twice through it means it was interesting enough to capture your attention again—Even when the ending was known.

After their discussion on books, Aria claimed she wanted to go and see the game. So Rabastan offered to escort her, all while saying 'like a proper knight in shining armor' which drew her to believe that he didn't know what a knight in shining armor was.

Not like he would have to read muggle literature or understand the lifestyle that came with the time period.

Merlin for someone so educated in the world of magic he could be so daft about everything else around him.

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Date Posted: 04-10-2020

Time: 12:22

Words: 4600

I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy! My test came back negative (thank Merlin!) and I'm feeling great! Little stir crazy from being cooped up in the house but otherwise it wasn't much different than my normal.

Besides commuting to and from school every Monday/Wednesday/Friday.

What are you all up to?