✧THE AFTERMATH✧

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Clearly, all was not well in Grimmauld Place, not when Regulus admitted to his father being caught by a rebounded curse. Meaning that he was feeling a small fraction of what Sirius was suffering through.

After being given the okay that he doesn't have a concussion, they were able to apparent to the guest room together. Yet Rhea hadn't given a damn about the bed and instead went straight to the bath and tried to get it as warm as possible.

Keeping Sirius' body temperate even was very important in battling the symptoms of this type of curse. Not to mention that staying in the cellar for Merlin knows how long had made him dirty and dusty.

So Rhea opted for a bath, one that Alphard didn't hesitate to strip the lad from everything except his briefs. "Merlin, that cellar must've been nasty."

"I doubt ours is any better. Is Orion getting him clothes?" Alphard nodded, doing his best to hold up his nephew so that Rhea could scrub off the sweat, dirt, and blood. But she smirked upon seeing a few scattered tattoos across his body.

"Don't suppose he got those during the holiday, hm?" Rhea smirked, and Alphard shook his head. No, but then again, they had allowed Sirius to have a sleepover last Holiday. So it was a bit of a possibility.

Alphard had taken a step back, metaphorically speaking, to gauge on all that happened this very night. Having gone to bed worrying about his sister and her retaliation was one thing, but living through it so soon after was heart-wrenching.

And to her own sons and husband!

All for Rhea having a child?

His sister was so hot and cold with the rules that he never bothered to listen to her. Was this the payback?

Yet a smile blossomed on his face, through it all, Rhea had proved herself worthy to be a Black wife—Even if the others didn't agree. The fact that she didn't hesitate and gathered very powerful spells to counteract the curse, only to think outside the box—Speaking literally in the term.

But seeing her care for Sirius, and turning on this mode that Alphard could only describe as healer mode. She didn't deviate her attention from Sirius for more than a few seconds.

Making sure he was not in pain and was comfortable.

After getting him scrubbed down, it was getting harder for the young lad to sit up straight—Much less without the help of Alphard. "Go set up his bed, Rhea. I'll get him dressed." She hesitated, and for good reason.

"I need to wrap the burns."

"And you will, but let the boy have some dignity left tonight." She had made a face, one he couldn't identify all that well before she left the room. Though Alphard caught that she left the door open a smidge for a shout to be heard.

With the scuffling in the other room going about, the low whispers had caused Alphard to stop his movements.

"How do you think he's doing? He was locked in the cellar, for goodness sakes, Orion! He could've died!"
"I understand. Don't you think I feel just as much hatred toward Walburga than you do! That's my son, damnit!"
"And yet you were off with Corin? I didn't find her so you could ignore your children. That wasn't part of the arrangement."

"You act as though I did it!"

"No, you left. That's just as—"

"If I had known she would pull something like this, don't you think I wouldn't have left?!" Alphard could only imagine what type of face Rhea had made in spite of it all.

"Yet we're all surprised at this point? Truly? She disrupted my family dinner and made me rethink my entire life up until this point. And you don't think she would move to the next person in the manor? Much less Sirius?!" The logic was there, sure, but Orion hadn't really thought of his sons in that moment.

He wanted comfort and sought it.

"Sirius said something incriminating. She snapped." Rhea twitched for a moment, and Orion began to rub his eyes. They were more than tired and wanted nothing more than for today to be over.

But it didn't seem like it was going to happen anytime soon.

Yet the conversation had been interrupted as Alphard was whispering words of encouragement to Sirius, who was limping towards the bed with the help of his Uncle by his side. Yet Orion had hurried to the other side, while Rhea opened up the covers to settle him in properly.

He was hardly fit enough to be moving, so it made sense that he plopped without much grace. "He said he wished you were his mother instead." Rhea's Healer attitude had cracked as she stilled her next planned movement, and Alphard huffed towards his brother as he tried to reach towards his wife.

But she flinched away.

"This is my fault...." Orion could have groaned, his admission to the truth hadn't been to shift the blame, but of course, Rhea wouldn't take it any other way.

"Love, this isn't your fault. Not at all."

"If I just stayed silent at what happened at the party then none of this—"

"Then you would be miserable. She'll get another few weeks onto her sentence. This is unacceptable, Orion." The bloke could only nod, though his gaze flickered back towards Rhea.

"Corin—"

"Not now." Rhea hissed, not wanting to admit to the fact that she had helped her friend's father find a—What would Corin be called now? A friend? A friend that happens to be a witch.

A very attractive friend?

"Can it just be the new year already?" Rhea groaned, wiping off the sweat and perhaps a tear or two, off her face. "Almost there..." Alphard whispered, watching with admiration as she wrapped the bandages over Sirius' wounds.

Even Orion had credited her for such a fine job.

Regulus, who had been waiting outside the door, held a permanent frown. One that Rhea had tried to nick up with pulling the corner of his mouth with her finger. "Keep frowning like that, and it'll lock into place forever. And I can tell you, witches like a mysterious lad, but not when he can't smile." That had caused the boy to crack a small grin, especially when her accusing gaze had met Alphard's.

"You liked the mysterious tension, Rhea. Don't deny it."

"Tonight, I won't. No, I'm in need of a nap. Orion, there's a guest room right there if you want to stay...Reg, let's get you back in bed." With that, Rhea wrapped an arm around the lad and led him away toward his room.

While Orion was left in the hall beside his brother.

"What do we do?"

"Wait for the morning. Would you like to tell Walburga that Rhea got Sirius out of the cellar? I have a feeling that would be a grand beat of her pride. Perhaps reach out to Durella, and get a clearer sense of what's happened." Orion nodded and nicked his head towards the guest room. "I'll be staying the night. Thank you, again, brother. I don't know what would've happened if—"

"Let's not think about all that, lets just admit that Rhea is a blessing instead of listing your wife's...habits." With the final words, Alphard was now left in the hallway and didn't know what to do with himself either.

Sleep was out of the question.

His nephew was alive, but just barely, given how shallow his breathing had turned. And damnit, that would have been a near possible explanation to a Healer at the hospital.

Maverick! He would owl Maverick in the morning—Though it was the day after the holiday, would he be working?

"Reg's asleep—Are you alright?" She whispered, the hallway candles starting to grow dimmer as she walked closer to her husband. "Should we call Maverick in the morning?"
"Already have a parcel prepped. He should be home for the Holidays anyhow. Most Healers don't have the time for luxurious vacations."
"Whyever not? I hear a Healer's pay is something to talk about."
"Says the man who made how much this term alone?"

"Besides a lawyer, what other occupation could earn you that type of steady income?"

"Okay fine, but it's well worth it with the schooling and the stress they carry. Now let's go to bed. My hands haven't been able to stop shaking since I heard what's happened." Alphard hadn't hesitated to take hold of both hands and kissed them calm, only settling for another quick kiss to her temple.

The night proved to be a long one, even with the rest of the house having fallen asleep at nearly morning, it seemed to drag along by the time they started to head to bed.

Alphard had tried to coax Rhea into closing her eyes, but her mind would not shut off by any means. And so he had taken matters into his own hands and given her a tonic, one that would gently put her to sleep. And since her body craved it, she had been talked into taking a single dose, hoping it wouldn't put her out of commission for too long.

But he was just thankful it was for a few hours.

It was a damn outrage, and Alphard didn't know where to start.

No, he did. And it was to make sure Sirius was alright before taking proper actions towards the lad's mother, but damnit—He wished he didn't keep resulting back towards giving a blessing to the divorce.

Rhea was right in keeping Corin's name out of the conversation near the children. Knowing Sirius, he would blab the first chance he got—And then there would be true hell to be paid once Walburga learns of the origin of the entire idea.

The anger seemed to rise tenfold once he caught Orion by Sirius' side. "I need to talk to you." The elder of the two whispered, and Orion rose to his feet, but not without taking another gentle look over towards his son before ducking out of the room.

"What is it?"
"Best we go to my study and have a cup of coffee. I doubt today will be really worth the cheer of the Holidays, but we need to do this." He nodded, and thus, the two walked in silence toward the study. One that immediately blasted with warmth as he caught the fireplace already roaring to life.

They didn't head to the desk, as this wasn't formal. This was rather barbaric to even think of. "If...And I say that word as loosely as possible...If I grant you the blessing of getting a divorce, what is your plan after that?" Orion, who was battling only a good two hours of sleep, had nearly felt reborn after hearing such a thing.

"W-what would I do?"

"Yes."

"Besides throw a damn party?" Alphard tried to hold his smirk, the playful attitude was well-needed and so he excused it as it did sound brash. "I realize that there is only so much I can take from that woman before divorce is in order."

"Then she'd fall under Durella, wouldn't she? And be disgraced by the entire wizarding families. It sounds rather perfect to me."

"And yourself?"

"Ah, well...I feel rather fond of Corin, though I'm not sure how that would go considering she was a lady of Eve's Garden."

"Nobody has to know that portion. We can pay Eve's Garden a fee. Sure loads of blokes marry their mistresses at any given day."

"She isn't my mistress, Alphard."
"Companion, then. She's your companion. And with the track Walburga is headed, perhaps a wife—If she accepts." Orion blinked, he wasn't sure if he made the right impression to the Hufflepuff on being husband material.

Wealthy? Yes.

Kind? Yes.

Caring? Yes.

But that was it, and perhaps a mixture of humor in there as well. But Orion was doubting just how much Corin would have feelings for him, and didn't want to rush things.

"No, not a wife. Not for a while. I get why you wanted to wait with Rhea now. You didn't want to go into something so quickly. And I realize if it weren't for circumstance, you would have followed your gut then." Alphard smirked, realizing that his brother was going down the right path.

"Corin is starting to learn the proper ideals as well, and I wouldn't mind a kinder witch becoming the stepmother of my nephews." Orion snorted. "You wouldn't mind? I almost choked when she asked how the lads were doing."

"Would I mind a kinder witch to come into the family? Really? Has that what it's all come to?" The question had really driven home for the two gentlemen trying to relax in the study, however, they were kindly interrupted by Rhea—Who was rubbing her eyes with nothing more than her nightgown and a robe loosely tied.

"It is not even eight in the morning."

"We're plotting, love. Would you like some coffee?" He questioned, all with ease as she found the will to head over to his seat and curl into his side. "I wasn't invited to plot?"

"You're always invited to plot, but we haven't done much plotting. Have we, Orion?"

"No, we're trying to decide if Corin is a good fit for the Black family." Rhea moved away from her husband for a moment and frowned. "You...You can't just decide that, Orion. I don't think Corin wants to get married."

"Neither did you, and I take it it's worked well."

"This is horrible plotting, especially since you know how in dept she feels to you, to the three of us. I wouldn't bring it up." That was rather true, and once her words had been spoken, it made the utmost sense.

"And excuse me, but that is my friend you're trying to a marriage with. I would like to know the details instead of being left to sleep." She said, tugging at Alphard's tied hair, and he groaned.

While Orion was left to laugh into his next sip of coffee. "Alphard was asking what I would do if I was given a blessing to divorce Walburga."

"You need a blessing? How does that work?"

"I'm the eldest. I get to decide a few good things with my title. Starting with who is burned off the tapestry, looking at marriage arrangements, and so forth. Divorce is a tricky subject, which is why I wish Radolphous wasn't such a slimy git, but he won't be helping."

Rhea followed along with ease, but then a thought boiled in. If Alphard was in charge of both marriage arrangements and who was burned off the tapestry, how was it that Andromeda was still a forsaken name?

"So you need some dirt on Walburga? I can testify."

"I'm sure you have a whole lot of shite piled up on Walburga. No, we need something that is much more solid and concrete."

"Is cursing her son and locking him away not enough?" She hissed, and Alphard shook his head. "Not according to the law. There's a difference between the Noble House statute and the laws created by the Ministry. It's tricky work." Rhea groaned and stuffed her head into her husband's chest.

"Thinking is hard." She grumbled, and Alphard simply patted her on the back.

"I don't think Orion has had the pleasure of speaking with you on less than eight hours of sleep, love." She glared, but it wasn't anything menacing—Making Orion laugh.

"Enough flirting, gah. I've had it up with here with you two. Can we get back on deciding how I can divorce my wife?"

"Well, I can start by taking away your sons. That's the first step towards making a loud enough taunt towards Walburga, it's accepted in the Noble families legacy and the Ministry will keep an eye on the situation from there." It had been a good plan in Alphard's head, but Orion had gone entirely pale.

"Y-you want to take my children?"

"Not in that sense, Orion. You are a fit parent, Walburga isn't. I'll make note of that and all of it for the Ministry to document. It's like my marriage to Rhea. We needed to make things slightly public and not out our plans. Besides, Walburga is away in Germany. The lads are back at Hogwarts, and you'd be free to visit them regardless. It would be the perfect reason for Walburga not to be allowed in the manor." Rhea had seen the hardship all over Orion's face and she shook her head.

"Alfie, those boys are all Orion has." It was true. Half the time, Orion didn't care much for Walburga or doing the work he was doing around the company. It was his boys—His lads—His sons, that he loved for.

In his own way.

"They would be safer here, Rhea. Don't you agree?"

"I do, but we need to think of another way. Regulus is scared out of his mind. What happens when we tell him he can't live with his father anymore?" While thinking about the children's sake, it really mattered what the children thought as well.

Orion knew Sirius would be all for it, especially after last night's fiasco.

In the end, the three came up with the plan to diligently come up with a better way to pull the rug out from Walburga's feet. Otherwise, she would remain a tirant towards the family.

And Alphard was damn near close to banishing her altogether if it weren't for the sliver of a chance that she could revert back to the girl he once remembered to be his younger sister.

If he didn't have such fond memories, then perhaps her actions would have crossed the line ages ago—But damnit, he was too sensible. Especially when he heard that Sirius would be alright, that there was no damage other than the mental one.

Rhea had catered to the boys wonderfully, and smirked towards Orion every now and then as though something were to pop out from over his shoulder to scare him—And it had, but it came in the form of Cory.

Who, by the lad's knowledge, is Rhea's friend. So they were given the kinder version of themselves. Which was such an easy lie to dwell in, and when Rhea and Corin would go back and forth about the study.

"That's brilliant, Rhea! When does your semester start?"

"In a few weeks, but I promise I'll still keep to owls, even with the exams coming soon. And if not, Alphard can certainly pop in." Her husband snorted, and she smiled just as wide.

"I haven't picked up one of those textbooks since I helped you clear up your desk, Rhea. I'm not sure if you lads should trust me." Orion rolled his eyes, and Corin offered to owl them as well if they needed help in Herbology.

"That's very kind of you, Corin."

"Course. All goes well. Perhaps I'll be shadowing Madam Sprout next year." She smiled, and that upped Orion's feelings thus far, especially when she gushed about the idea of spending time with children.

Which was perfect.

Even better, Rhea's greenhouse was now in the very capable hands of Corin Simmons, which was utterly perfect, as there was plenty of room for Corin's interest to fill the rest.

To say the day ended better than it started, was an understatement.

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Date Posted: 09/18/22

Time: 12:30

Words: 3218