𝔳𝔬𝔩𝔲𝔪𝔢 𝔦𝔦, 𝖈𝖍𝖆𝖕𝖙𝖊𝖗 𝖝𝖎𝖎

the wild brunch

Brunch was held the following week to welcome Rodolphus and Rabastan to the Black Family Summer Estate in Surrey.

To say Lyra was over the moon was an understatement. She would be surrounded by her brothers for the remainder of the summer after a prolonged strain in their relationship caused by their workaholic ways. Not only were they staying, but so was Bellatrix, Narcissa, and Lucius.

Such an amount of people in one house, despite the house in question being a sprawling countryside manor, meant that Sirius had no opportunities to ambush the Lestrange girl. Between her brothers, her sister-in-laws, and Regulus, her time was spread thin.

Until it came to family affairs - those were a different story. Everyone was present for every meal; a minimum of three times a day they would all get together, eat, and talk. Staying true to himself, Sirius would hardly ever speak, although he had taken up a new past-time as opposed to staring blankly at his plate: staring at Lyra.

His gaze was suffocating. The brunette found it difficult to function whilst being watched the entire time. She'd be aware of how her mouth moved when she spoke, and the position of her elbows as she ate, until suddenly her cheeks would be heating up in embarrassment and Regulus would wonder why she was so flushed.

Today's brunch was no exception.

They were sat in the conservatory around a circular white oak table. The usual bouquets of floral arrangements had been replaced with jugs of drinks in an effort to cool down from the warm summer rays beaming down through the glass windows and walls. Rather than full meals, there were grazing platters over-flowing with finger food, each one as grand as the next.

Lyra bit into a strawberry; the sour tang spurted over her tongue, past her pink lips, so her tongue darted out to salvage the perfection that was her makeup. Sirius' enticing grey eyes watched it all happen, and he couldn't help the tightness that tented in his trousers.

His uncle's voice brought him back to reality and far away from the fantasies brewing in his head like a wild storm. He cleared his throat, hazarding a glance at Regulus.

''How was France, Orion?'' Cygnus asked, pouring himself a cup of tea. ''All is well back at our ancestral home, I hope?''

Walburga silenced her husband with a single look, her lips snaking into a smile. ''There was an issue with one of the house elves, but I took care of it - he won't be troubling us any longer.''

''That's what I like to hear,'' Druella smirked, tapping her nails against the tablecloth. ''We had a similar situation at home a few days ago. Luckily, Bella was visiting, so I didn't have to get my hands dirty.''

Bellatrix puffed her chin out proudly. Lyra's stomach churned at their insinuations. Whilst what happened wasn't explicit, there was no doubt in her mind that either of the house-elves the Black women spoke of had met their demise.

Rabastan nodded his head approvingly at his brother's wife. ''She has the right ideas, Rodolphus, doesn't she? It's a shame she cannot produce life as easily as she can take it.''

The elder Lestrange brother pursed his lips, raising a thick brow at the comment. ''Certainly, brother,'' he replied dryly.

Orion coughed into his croissant, catching the attention of all and changing the subject. The brothers settled back into their seats, hands where everyone could see them.

''I trust the children behaved?'' He asked Cygnus.

''Oh, yes. They were a delight.''

The Black man hadn't bothered to explain that they hadn't done exactly what they were supposed to. They had sent their daughters, which should've been satisfactory, but Orion and Walburga kept their children on a tighter leash than Cygnus and Druella did.

That wasn't to say that Bellatrix, Narcissa, and the forgotten Andromeda could do as they pleased - of course they couldn't. However, they were bestowed more freedom at a younger age due to the fact that Druella had molded them into perfect pure-blood princesses early on (well, almost). As such, they were trusted.

Regulus was similar in that sense. There was no doubt in his parent's minds that he was the rightful heir to the family fortune, yet with a brother like his close by, they did everything in their power to ensure their younger son didn't stray from the path set out for him. Engaging him was only the first part of their plan.

''Well, they know the consequences if you would've said otherwise,'' Walburga mused, glancing at her elder son.

''I do, indeed,'' Sirius started, speaking for the first time in a while. He turned to his cousin, failing to hide the mischief creeping into his expression. ''Tell us, Bella, when are you going to bestow me with a little niece or nephew?''

Druella hummed approvingly, also turning to the Lestrange woman. ''Yes, Bella. Your father and I would like to know, too. Will we be seeing a grand-baby any time soon?''

Bellatrix seemed highly displeased at the change in conversation. She shuffled in her seat, uncomfortable in the tight corset wrapped around her waist, whilst Rodolphus remained void of any emotion.

''You might be, but not from Bella,'' Narcissa smiled, placing her hand onto Lucius'. ''We've decided we're going to start trying.''

''Oh, wonderful!'' Cygnus exclaimed.

''Perhaps this will give Lyra an opportunity to gain some experience,'' Walburga added, glancing over at her future daughter-in-law. ''She can always babysit, it's not good to leave newborns with the house-elves.''

''She'll be more than welcome to,'' the Malfoy man assured. ''How many are you planning for, Regulus?''

The Black boy looked rather abashed at the question. After all, he was only now going into his fifth year. He side-eyed the pure-blood girl beside him, shrugging. ''I haven't thought about it yet,'' he admitted.

''Well, how many would you like, Lyra?'' Druella asked.

''Probably one or two,'' she answered, setting her fork down delicately.

''Yes, you shouldn't really have more than you need,'' Walburga agreed. ''There's no point in ruining a slim figure.''

''She's still young, I wouldn't worry about it,'' Rabastan decided. ''I haven't had the chance to ask, but how was school this year, sister?''

''It was fine,'' the brunette. ''Stressful due to our OWL exams, of course, but I put the work in, so they'll be alright.''

''Ah, yes - OWL's!'' Orion remembered, looking Sirius straight in the eye as though he had forgotten he had another son. ''How were they, boy?''

Sirius bristled in his seat. ''Fine,'' he replied shortly, swilling the white wine in his glass.

''Did you have your careers appointments?'' Rabastan asked.

''Sirius would've had his with that old bat, McGonagall,'' Lucius scoffed, shaking his head. ''Lyra's lucky to have had Slughorn.''

''Yes, I had mine with his.''

''And? What did you decide?''

This was the moment the Lestrange girl had been dreading since her session with Slughorn. In their society, work was no place for a woman. The only job she was meant to have was that of a wife or a mother.

''Well, we spoke about my subjects and interests, and settled on either Curse-Breaking or Magizoology.''

Rodolphus and Rabastan looked at their sister as if she'd grown two heads. They shared an undecipherable expression, silently communicating with their eyes. Cygnus, Orion, and Lucius raised their brows whilst Walburga and Druella shook their heads in disappointment. Narcissa and Bellatrix stayed quiet, Regulus stiffened in his seat, and Sirius watched the entire thing with worry clouding his eyes. Lyra's breath became bated as her eldest brother began to speak.

''That won't be necessary,'' he gritted out, as Rabastan nodded in agreement. ''You know very well careers aren't for women, sister. To suggest otherwise is absurd.''

''Unless you wish to stoop to the level of filthy half-bloods and Mudbloods. We've raised you to be better than that, Lyra, haven't we?''

Sirius scoffed, drawing the attention of everyone at the table. ''I don't see the big deal,'' he shrugged. ''She can have a job whilst completing her awfully important duties of being a mother and wife, can't she?''

''Be quiet, boy,'' Orion chastised.

''Ultimately, that will be up to Regulus,'' their mother clipped. ''He's going to be her husband, not you, Sirius.''

The pure-blood witch silently begged for her fiance to do something, or at the very least say something. To her disappointment, a word didn't utter past his lips, and he kept his head bowed down.

''Precisely,'' Lucius agreed. ''If she really wishes to make something more of herself, there's always other options. Might you recall, we've got a family business.''

That was the first Lyra had heard of that. Bellatrix bristled in her seat beside Rabastan, who once again shared a look with Rodolphus.

''She's far too young, Lucius,'' Narcissa interrupted.

''Oh, nonsense,'' Bellatrix laughed. ''If you ask me, she'd fit right in.''

''Family business?'' Lyra repeated. ''What sort of family business?''

''Nothing for you to worry about just yet,'' Rodolphus replied. ''Once you're of age, we'll revisit the matter.''

''Listen to your wife, Rodolphus,'' Rabastan quipped. ''I see no harm in introducing the girl early on. As Lucius put it, it is the family business, after all.''

''If you could even call it that,'' Sirius snorted, leaning back in his chair. ''I'd say ❛crime❜ would be much more fitting.''

The brunette was momentarily distracted; she watched as the elder Black boy's arms flexed against the restraints of his dress shirt, and the veins flexing in his hands whilst he gripped the edge of the table. She regained her composure, turning to Regulus.

''You never mentioned this.''

''That's because it's dangerous,'' he explained briefly. ''Unpredictable, too. Besides, it's not something that you're meant to mention. Not out in the open, at least. Not yet.''

She ignored his pathetic explanation, turning to the older adults. ''Are you all involved in this so-called family business, too?''

''Oh, Merlin, no!'' Druella laughed.

''We observe from the sidelines,'' Cygnus informed her. ''They have our support, but we aren't . . . members.''

''We simply support the cause and agree with the aims,'' Walburga hummed, turning to her husband. ''I think we shall adjourn to the grounds, it's fine weather. Wouldn't you agree, Orion?''

''Yes, lets.''

The ❛family business❜ wasn't mentioned for the rest of the day.

Outside in the grounds, the men began a game of Quidditch as the Lyra, Bellatrix, and Narcissa sat on the sidelines, safely tucked away in the shade with a pot of tea between them. Walburga and Druella had gone off to Diagon Alley for some shopping, so the younger girls were left to chat freely whilst the others played.

''So, if you could change one rule of Quidditch, what would it be?'' Narcissa asked, twirling the stalk of a daisy between her manicured fingers.

''Everyone gets a brick,'' Bellatrix began. ''What you do with it is up to you.

''If the keeper makes more than thirty saves and their team still loses, they're allowed to chase the teammates around with a dagger,'' the Lestrange girl joked.

''Well, I'd say give the ball holes and fill it with wasps,'' Narcissa laughed.

''I've got to admit, Quidditch is the last thing on my mind after that wild brunch.''

''Yes, it was rather interesting,'' the blonde agreed.

''Don't mention this to your brothers,'' the curly-haired woman started, turning to her sister-in-law. ''But do you really not know of the family business?''

Lyra shook her head. ''It's the first I've heard of it,'' she admitted.

Bellatrix laughed at her naivety; she found it rather endearing. If there was anyone who was going to clue her in on this, it would be her. The Lestrange woman's thirst for the Dark Lord and hunger for power overrided any respect she had for her husband's wishes.

''Bella, don't,'' Narcissa warned.

''Hush, Cissy. It's important she hears it from us, and not the twisted version from half-bloods like that fool, Dumbledore. What is it you wish to know, Lyra Selene.''

''Well, I know enough that it isn't the source of our family fortunes. So, what is it? What are the aims and the causes that Walburga spoke of?''

As Bellatrix opened her mouth to reply, Regulus and Sirius walked over with brooms in their hands. They were both completely soaked in sweat, yet only one of them managed to draw the attention of Lyra's eyes and the lust of her gaze.

''Alright, ladies?''

''Peachy,'' Bellatrix spat. ''Don't you have Quidditch to play, Sirius? Or perhaps another past-time that besmirches our family name?''

''Nope, it's the summer holidays,'' he grinned. ''I've got more than enough time for that back at Hogwarts.''

Regulus sat on the arm of Lyra's chair, pouring himself a drink. ''Are we interrupting something?''

''Actually-''

''Yes-''

''No, nothing at all,'' Narcissa hummed, cutting of her sister and future cousin-in-law. ''Come, Bella, there's a dress upstairs that Rodolphus asked me to show you.''

The curly-haired woman rolled her eyes, standing up and reluctantly following after the blonde. Now, Lyra, Sirius, and Regulus were left alone, an air of awkwardness blanketing them; it was stifling, even more so than the summer heat.

The elder brother allowed himself to finally take a good look at the brunette. She was clad in a bright white sundress, which had a pink flower pattern scattered all over it. Her hair fell in soft ringlets, framing his face, and he had little shame as his grey irises raked over the dips in her waist, trailing upwards . . .

''Sirius,'' Regulus coughed, glancing pointedly at his brother. ''Do you mind?''

''What?'' He huffed, feigning offence. ''Can't I spend some quality time with my little brother and his wife-to-be?''

''No, not right now. We have matters to discuss, don't we, Lyra?''

The Lestrange girl nodded; she'd do anything just about now to rid herself of Sirius' infectious presence.

''In that case, I'll leave the happy couple to it.''

He stalked off, but not in Orion, Cygnus, and Lucius' direction. He seemed to be going to the orangery, or rather beyond it, to the same place Lyra had caught him smoking at last year. The brunette batted any and all thoughts to do with Sirius away, staring expectantly at Regulus.

''You aren't pleased,'' he observed. ''Is it the subject of your career? Because trust me, Lyra, if you wish to have one, I have no objections-''

''It's not that,'' she sighed, struggling with her lace parasol. He jumped to her aid, brushing her hand away and holding it over her head. ''It's all this talk of the ❛family business❜. Why did I not know anything about it sooner, and why haven't you told me?''

Regulus pursed his lips as a dark expression cast over his face. ''As I said, it's dangerous. I don't want you getting hurt. And Narcissa and Rodolphus are right - you're too young.''

''You're younger than me, Regulus,'' she pointed out, crossing her arms over her chest. ''Contrary to popular belief, I'm not some porcelain doll who will shatter at the slightest thing. I don't . . . I just don't want to be lied to.''

He sighed, glancing over to the grounds where his father and uncle where. They were paying the young pair no attention, themselves having a heated argument about who's broom was better and why.

''I can't tell you much, but I'll tell you some. Once I do, you have to promise to not ask questions, and especially not mention this to anyone.''

After much deliberation, she met his eyes, huffing. ''Fine.''

''It's not a business,'' he muttered. ''It's a group. Pure-bloods only. I'm not a member myself, not yet. Rodolphus, Rabastan, and Lucius are, and from what I heard Bellatrix is on her way to becoming one, too. I'm afraid that's all I can say.''

''But she's a woman. I thought it was dangerous.''

''You know Bella as well as I do - she thrives on danger, much like Rabastan. Now, can we change the subject, please?''

''I suppose so,'' Lyra agreed. The information she had been given was nowhere near to as much as she'd wanted, but it'd make do - for now, at least. The pure-blood cleared her throat, deepening her voice into an imitation of Lucius' drawl. ''So, how many are you planning for, Regulus?''