✧NEW ARRANGEMENTS✧

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The adverse effects of said sexual potions always came with a rather rush of memories, and that is exactly how Rhea had woken up to that very morning.

And no, they hadn't stayed in the bedroom, as was the plan. No.

Instead, Rhea had risen from her rested position on Alphard's bare chest to take in the living area. The fire was offering a good portion of heat, but upon looking around, and catching the multiple pillows and blankets they were laying on top of, clearly, they had managed well and remained comfortable.

So Rhea had returned back to the comfortable position beside her husband and snuggled beneath the blanket. Yet this movement had started to rouse her husband as he too started to feel the rush of remembrance. "Rhea? Love?'

"Hm?" She mumbled in reply, just realizing that her throat felt rather raw, all things considering. "Just making sure, never know that—" Upon seeing the pointed look from his little wife that had made him stop his sentence with a bit of light laughter.

"You best be joking."

"Of course, truly. The potion is attracted to itself, remember?"

"I believe it did a lot more than that. Merlin, we're downstairs. The elves are getting our breakfast ready just over there now." Alphard had turned his head with a rather gaining grin as he rolled his shoulders.

"So they are."

"You're not concerned?"

"Not at all. Who is going to interrupt us?" Rhea hummed once more closing her eyes, hoping for another moment or two of rest. But of course Alphard had begun to turn to her. "How are you feeling?"

"Could use a nap, bit achy. But nothings broke." She claimed, and a playful smile had countered as smiled down to her.

"Unfortunately, it isn't wise to take it too often, but we'll certainly be trying again, yes?"

"Most definitely." She cheered, clutching the blanket tighter to her chest as she was starting to feel rather chilly now that he had leaned to sit up.

"I've called for a closed office, perhaps we can enjoy it on our lonesome?" She nodded into the pillow, urging him to join her yet again—But he had another idea. One that included worshiping and reminding her just how much he adores her.

Upon lifting the blanket, Rhea had been instantly introduced to the cold and hissed at the first sign of her blanket leaving. Only for it to return and her husband to settle a gentle amount of weight on her.

His lips pressed against the better part of her breasts as she wrapped her arms around him to speak her approval without using the words, and yet all of it had failed as an elf had skidded into the room.

"Good Master! Master Black come through the fireplace!" The string of curses had continued to leave Alphard's mouth as he stood forward and took the lone blanket remaining on the couch and walked out of the room, though he hardly had the chance.

"Ah, so you are alive." Orion greeted, but hesitated to speak any further after taking in his brother's appearance. "Very brave of you, Orion. To come into my manor and—"

"And check on you, as you asked? Perhaps that potion has taken a chunk of your memory. Good morning, Rhea...Or should I say afternoon?" Rhea was currently clutching the better part of the blanket over her chest and soothed out her obvious sign of bedhead before greeting Orion as politely as possible.

"So lively you two are this fine day, I'll take my leave for now, but remember—Tomorrow is the day things will be taking off!" Rhea huffed and waved off to her brother-in-law, trying to keep the fact that she was feeling a little bothered that he managed to capture more of her nudeness than she was comfortable with.

Even with Alphard blocking her.

Thankfully the rest of the day hadn't offered any other types of interruptions, and the two had enjoyed the better part of the afternoon and evening in their library. Making use of the room in its entirety, but all Rhea could end up thinking of just how brilliant it would be to sit here with a future child of theirs, studying their son or daughter's newest interests.

Come morning, however, they were a full swing of a mess—Or Alphard and Orion were. Rhea had managed to avoid the better part of her product and was moving fluently, since she calculated and worked further in towards possible faults and thus, saved herself from scrambling last moment.

"Damnit, how is it your wife manages better than we do? We've been in the game for longer than she's been alive!" Orion said, throwing the parchment down in front of him and throwing another gulp of whiskey down his throat.

"Can't fault her for being thorough. Perhaps we can take it into consideration for the next time—"

"Perfect wife and perfect business partner," Orion grumbled, but Alphard knew that he meant it in the most harmless of ways. "Curious, should we ask her for a hand? She's already asked if—"
"No, we need to do this ourselves."

"You know Rhea wouldn't gloat, she isn't like that." Orion's eyes had flickered up for a moment and then nodded. Had he been worried that she would react with callous as Walburga would?
Most likely.

As men in their world didn't ask witches for favors or help so lightly.

Alphard had risen to his feet and taken the better part of his work, knowing his wife would favor working in her study instead. Yet a bit of clatter had caught both wizards' attention, their heads snapping towards the bookcase.

"Did you hear that?" The eldest heir questioned, and Orion waved his hand, leaving the two to take the few steps forward. And without a moment of warning, Alphard had cast a spell in an attempt to save his Hogwarts memorably from crashing down to the floor after the small bit of knocking and movement had returned.

"What the bloody hell is that?"

"Not sure, but it's behind my archives." It was a rather valuable piece of journaling, and he placed back his and Rhea's badges into their correct places and thus, earned the attention of the small critter to appear behind the books.

"A Niffler!" Orion identified, and Alphard had nearly been blindsided. How in the hell did a Niffler appear in his manor?

"A Niffler? Are you certain? It looked, well, it looked colorful?"

"Hm, it must be young then." Orion had walked forward, knowing full well that Nifflers weren't harmful. And after a bit of cooing and clicking, he managed to greet the little fellow—Or better yet, his suit cuffs had attracted the little devil.

"If it's young enough then—" Orion's eyes had widened in both the reveal, but also seeing another colorful youngling swinging back and forth on Alphard's light figure's golden cord.

"Damnit, I have an infestation."

"Doubt it's serious, brother. Surely Rhea would know what to do, did she take Magical Creatures?" Alphard frowned and tried to think back on her NEWT scores and nodded.

"Yes, it was on her final test results. Come, we'll ask her—Perhaps she could figure out just how old these two fellows are." Alphard wasn't as gentle as Orion was in handling the ball of fluff, but he wasn't planning to walk all throughout the manor in an attempt to find his wife.

She wasn't in her study, the library, or her art room.

"Betty! Where is my wife?" The elf had popped in and stared up to her master in question, sensing her mistress in the other room—But Alphard hadn't known of this new location of his wife.

"Thank you, Betty, please continue your chores." She bowed her head as both Alphard and Orion had entered the once empty room. Yet the two blokes had nearly knocked into one another in seeing just what Rhea had done to this random room.

"What the—"

"Well brother, I doubt you have to worry. She's built a whole sanctuary." Orion said while Rhea had looked as though she was on trial to be sent to Azkaban as she sat right in the center of the makeshift sanctuary with Sterling in her lap.

Alphard didn't know whether to be furious or impressed by her sudden actions, but clearly, she was in the midst of reading to this flock of Nifflers.

Yet before she could explain herself, she caught that either Orion or her husband held two of the niglets in their grasp. "Oh gods, I thought I enchanted the door!" She scrambled up to her feet and turned up around, doing a rather quick headcount before stepping out and offering her hands.

"You have to prop up their head when they're sitting up, love. They're all beak at this point in their lives...Yes, that good, Orion." The bloke had felt rather pleased with hearing a praise while Alphard was still silent as ever, especially when Rhea had simply returned the young Nifflers back into the pen.

"Rhea, what the bloody hell is going on?" She pouted and looked down at Sterling, knowing full well that being caught only meant one thing—That the small Niffler family would have to leave.

"Tell me you didn't buy—"

"Of course I didn't buy them, they came in with a library shipment. Sterling here was nearly bleeding to death and I...Well, it was fairly obvious she was pregnant." Orion had turned to look at his brother, truthfully he hadn't seen the harm in having them here and flourishing, but he shook those thoughts away as they were more or less in catering.

"Rhea, we have far too many priceless items for them to find attractive."

"They haven't disturbed anyone, and look how sweet Sterling is." She had picked up the mother of the bunch with ease, and cradled her like a child as she offered her up. And it was at that moment that Orion knew what was happening here.

No wonder Rhea's desire for a child settled, she was focusing her attention elsewhere.

"How long have you been holding them in here?" Now that certainly lost him Rhea's gaze as she turned away. "Rhea...?"

"Near the end of the summer Holiday." She offered, and the anger was starting to settle on his face outright. "I couldn't possibly give her up! You know what they do to Nifflers. She would've been euthanized by that morning." The mere thought had sent Rhea to tears and he frowned, were Nifflers considered that much of a pest?

"I would have never ask you to sentence it to—"

"Sterling."

"—Sentence Sterling to her death." Her lip wobbled as she continued to sooth the newly made mama Niffler. "But you won't let me keep her."

"This is no place for them, Rhea. They're in an old extension, for goodness sakes. Not to mention that you've never told me about all this." And he wondered just how she managed to hide such construction or project, and a silent tear had escaped her face.

"Alfie—"

"It isn't possible, Rhea." It was a rather brilliant talent of hers where she could cry without any sort of noise coming from her person, and so she turned away and fallen down into the clutter of Nifflers—All of who had swarmed her with care in affection.

"Rhea—"

"Please go, Alphard. I understand." Clearly, her attachment was much more than he prepared for, and so he bowed his head, leaving Orion to stand idly by. Wondering how he could aid them, how he could act as a mediator to stop the possible argument from sparking.

"Rhea, sweetheart, he truly means—"

"I don't need to be coddled, Orion. And I certainly don't want to hear it over again." A sniffle had escaped her as she turned back to settle Sterling into her lap and cater to the small squeaks passing back and forth.

Orion had taken to leaving the room, though it took a rather bit of effort as he wanted—needed to help Rhea.

But Alphard was a much more pressing matter as he was pacing back and forth, nawing on the better part of his thumb trying to reign in his thoughts. "What did she say?"

"Nothing. I've been given the boot as well. Granted, you could've offered a bit more of a warmer shoulder. Rather protective of those little babes, isn't she."

"I'm a bloody idiot, is what! But you have to understand, Orion. We have far too many precious valuables to keep safe, and a family of Nifflers here? I might as well give it all of them before they try and claim it themselves."

"Well, you certainly didn't sound supportive of finding a safer option. It sounds as though you're preparing a death sentence. You know how witches are to younglings. These are her younglings. It sounds like she's been with them since their birth." Of course, Rhea would feel attached, the bond was too strong to separate without hurt feelings.

"Anything else I should know, Orion? Or are you going to sit there and rejoice that she praised you and scowled at me?"

"I'm not her husband. In technicality, I'm her brother, and perhaps even a friend, so to speak, given how much we see one another...Would you like me to talk to her more?"
"I cannot play the good and the bad, you understand why I can't have those little creatures here." Orion knew exactly why, an entire family would undoubtedly start to cause trouble no matter how many charms are put in its place.

"Perhaps it's time to give her a pet that'll be much more attainable."

"Yes, a kitten would—No, a mutt." With Alphard trying to determine the better decision for the two, Orion had been the one to raise the white flag in order to ask Rhea for help.

Once again, she had proved to be an informative business partner as she retained the information from previous debriefings that which meant an easier time to catch her up on what's happened since.

Alphard had attempted to be himself, but clearly, there was enough tension in the room to be cut with the thinnest of blades that even Orion was starting to feel it and tried to excuse himself twice.

But the desperate look of Rhea not wanting to be left alone to talk about it had guilt-tripped him from doing so, leaving Alphard being the one to head to the office and settle the matter.

"You know...He is right, not being able to keep them." Rhea closed her eyes, trying to clear up the clutter from her husband's desk and distract herself. "I know. It was just nice for the time I had with them."

"Do they have names?" She nodded, feeling the rather heated tear starting to build up in her eyes. Rhea knew it wouldn't do well to argue. "Yes."
"Would you introduce me?" It was sweet, what he was trying to do. But Rhea shook her head and tried to keep up with her task, up until he held her wrist and stopped her.

"Orion—"

"Alphard isn't heartless, he won't have them euthanized."
"I know. It still hurts." He nodded, wrapping an arm around her and walking in return to the Niffler Sanctuary. And he had to admit, upon first glance, that they were absolutely adorable playing upon themselves while the mother—Sterling, seemed to be just minding her business.

"Their affinity seems to be just kicking in, it's rather brilliant to see and not read about. But they're so sweet and pure that it was nice to come here after a day and sit with them."

"Merlin, Alphard needs to get you with child—Sorry, lost in my thoughts."

"I hope that isn't what you've told him to rectify this—Damnit it, Orion! That's not how emotions work." She hissed, taking the fluent step over the crafted fence and ushering her hellos.

What she didn't expect, was that Orion had come in right beside her to knee down.

"This is Sterling. She has a few scars that wouldn't heal—But the rest were easy to manage." Rhea claimed, holding her up into the air before settling her just under her neck.

"Usually, Nifflers have three or four children at a time. This is Opal, Sapphire, Lapis, and Spinel." She offered, and Orion was nearly blown away at the fact that they had turned and looked towards her at the calling of their names.

"May I hold one?" A genuine smile had appeared her face as she picked the easier of the bunch. "Opal is very sweet and gentle, they all are. Though Spinel has been known to use his beak and nip a bit, but once he gets used to you, he'll settle." Opal was not, in fact, the same one that escaped.

Seems as though the two males of the bunch had been more adventurous than their sisters. But as he pulled the little creature closer to his chest, he hummed and soothed the squirming babe.

"You know...I used to live in a manor, similar to Grimmauld Place. Very close to the muggle community, and I would sometimes explore when my parents were out. It was just Lucretia and I, and our nanny elf." Rhea had turned up from playing with others while Sterling dutifully watched.

"Tell me it wasn't as ancient."

"More or less, we use it as a moralization and keep the much more priceless Black tokens there. Anyhow, we wandered the streets when we were bored—Gawking at the muggles and such. But one afternoon, I found a small kitten. It was clear that she was living in the alley. She was filthy and would sneeze every other moment. I felt helpless and did what I could, with the help of my elf. We cleaned her up and brought her back to life. She was the sweetest little thing that I—I wanted to keep her. I didn't think anything of it, so I kept her in my room. Lucretia adored her as well, but mother—" Orion had stopped his movement in Opal's fur and Rhea had caught the strike of the bad memory starting to form.

"The point is, I wasn't allowed to keep her. Even after all that, but I would keep food out for her and give her an old shoe box to live in. Thinking that was enough. But one day she didn't come to collect her dinner." Rhea's mouth had felt dry, and the tears from earlier had soon come forward as she couldn't bare to hear what happened.

"A muggle vehicle ran her over, and I thought—'I could've prevented this,' but mother always concluded that I only prevented the enviable."
"No, Orion, I'm sure that she knew you did what you could."
"As will Sterling and her littler, but I promise that Alphard will not throw them back into the alley like my mother did with Nala. He'll find suitable accommodations. And I have a feeling he is doing that as we speak." Rhea had sniffled, cursing herself for being so emotional.

"A Niffler isn't the pet for you. And I think the bastard is a wee bit jealous of the attention being divided, but you didn't hear that from me." She had laughed again, but upon the next few tears, the rest of the litter had caught her crying and thus, acted accordingly.

"This isn't the first time I've cried beside them, I think they're used to my nonsense."

"It's not nonsense. Not at all, but you need to speak with Alphard; make the accommodations yourself if necessary." That had been the award-winning piece of advice as she nodded. "I take it Walburga would have a few cross words with me if she knew I was holding Nifflers in her brother's home." She laughed, and Orion had joined in with her.

"She'd have my head if she knew I was thinking of adopting them, or just—Well, any pet really."

"I take it you wanted a pet as well?"

"Hm, but between my parents and my lovely wife, that wasn't a choice. Though I'm hoping that if all works out, perhaps I will get another friendly creature like Nala." Rhea's smile had taken a bit of time to growl, but realistically, Orion was not the scary devil she had been made out to believe.

"Why are you being so kind? This is most likely the silliest thing you've had to deal with."

"Well, besides the fact that you're the sweetest witch I know, your heart is too pure to be broken over something like this."

"I think I put much into them, I knew it was only temporary. But I liked being able to care for someone, maybe you're right. They're just filling my want for a future child." Orion chuckled as he leaned back against one of the wooden columns.
"That what I was theorizing. You know, I was ecstatic when Walburga had told me she was pregnant with Sirius, followed by Regulus. You'll have your chance soon." She needed, but it was clear that the way that she was holding Sterling was in the same way a mother would a child.

"I told Alphard that I didn't want a nanny for the babe, I think I startled him."

"You don't want a nanny? Whyever not?"

"I want to be the one the child sees the most, myself or Alphard. I've spent plenty of time with my nanny, the first was old and bitter—Until she was replaced, and she wasn't entirely kind, but she was gentle. My point is, I rather have had my mother taking care of me than a stranger to the family." Orion nodded, wondering how that would work with everything.

But he kept his mouth quiet about her going to study healing.

What if that was no longer her dream?

"Well, perhaps maybe not my mother. But a mother figure of some sort. That would have been brilliant."

"I've seen it first handed, my parents were rather ignorant to my sister and her accomplishments."

"I am happy that she's escaped—To a point. I think she's happy as a Prewett, not as well off, but sometimes that doesn't amount to happiness." Orion frowned, and she caught that he was holding onto Opal just a bit tighter than prior. "What do you mean?"

Rhea had realized that she spoke out of turn and shook her head. "Nothing, I'm just babbling—"

"Rhea, this is my sister that we are speaking about. What do you mean?" Her shoulders dropped and she looked down to the flicks of hay that was stuck to her dress. "Just that they are holding back on their spending, using her dowery wisely—"
"Her dowery?!" His shout had caused her to hush him quickly, as it caused Opal to squawk uncomfortably.

Though it was rather adorable to catch him try to sooth the baby niffler to feel better, something that Opal openly accepted.

"Why didn't she say anything before? I would've helped her."

"More than likely because of Walburga and her stepping into everyone's business."

"Merlin, Walburga has no say over Lucretia, she never did. Lucretia is the second eldest right beneath Alphard."

"I know that! I looked at the Black family tree, thank you. But that still doesn't stop Walburga from doing what she pleases." Orion bobbed his head, realizing that his wife was as ruthless as ever.

"I cannot speak too ill of my wife, but I agree. How do you propose I could help her then? She wouldn't take funds openly, would she?" And from there, Rhea had attempted to help Orion come up with a solution to figure out how to aid Lucretia and her family's ailments.

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Date Posted: 06/14/22

Time: 11:44

Words: 3975