I'm sorry I haven't updated in a long time, but I have an interesting chapter to make up for it. Thanks for the reviews from last chapter. :)
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"It's your fault she's dead!" The red haired witch declared angrily as I barely dodged a hex thrown at me, "If it weren't for you she'd still be alive!"
A shooting pain went through my hand and I looked down to see my palm sliced deeply and blood gushing out from it.
"Rigel!"
I turned my head to try and find who it was that called me but I couldn't as I seemed to be suddenly tumbling down a jagged steep hill. Someone shouted my name again as I bashed against large black rocks and then my field of view went black.
I opened my eyes to bright flashes of light, and I looked down to see my feet now firmly planted on the ground at Hogwarts. Screams filled the air as I looked about the courtyard. To my right I saw Harry chasing after dark clothed figures and I tried to scream out to him, however no sound escaped my lips. I tried to run out to him but my feet would not move. Someone bumped into me roughly and I turned my head to see a cloaked figure standing beside me. Only their mouth was visible from under their hood and I could feel myself go hollow at the sickening smile they gave me. The hood slowly fell back and the face of my mother greeted me hauntingly. I screamed and this time sound screeched from my lips.
"Rigel," She called me softly and I screamed louder as I tried and get away from her sweetly sick expression.
"Rigel!" She said louder and grabbed onto my arm.
"Rigel!"
My eyes snapped open and my hand came up defensively, hitting something solid in the process. A grunt sounded from beside me as I frantically tried to escape from the sheets wound against my body.
"Rigel stop it!" A rough voice commanded and I felt hands try and push my shoulders back against the bed.
I froze suddenly as I realized where I was. My heart thudded inside my chest roughly and I blinked as I looked into darkness to make out Oliver's face.
His hold on me loosened as I went still and I took in deep gasps of air, trying to focus on my surroundings. I felt Wood's hand move up to brush the hair of my sweaty forehead but a sudden wave of sickness rose inside of me. I struggled to detangle myself from the sheets and Oliver before running out of the room and down the hallway to the bathroom. I pushed the door open roughly and emptied what little was in my stomach into the toilet bowl. The light flickered on as Oliver must have come in and he held my hair back as I continued to vomit. I coughed thickly when I had finished and hazily flushed the toilet. My heart had slowed down a bit but I continued to breathe in deeply. I turned to look at Oliver's concerned face and saw a small red mark outlined on the side of his temple.
"Did I hit you?" I questioned him softly, my voice coming out dry.
He shook his head in response but he was probably only doing it to make me feel better. I didn't respond to him and then ran a hand through my brown locks, "I'm going to go get a glass of water and rinse my mouth out."
I moved past him and went towards the kitchen. He followed me in as I got a glass from the cupboard and filled it with water.
"What was the dream about?"
At first I considered saying that I didn't remember it but decided I might as well tell him.
"Zosma," I said first, thinking back to the dream about my aunt, "Her cutting my hand."
Even now as I held my glass, I felt the year old scar stinging mentally on my palm.
"Then Hogwarts and the Death Eaters." I told him, then pausing slightly, "And my Mum."
I looked to him as I took a sip of the water and swished it in my mouth before the sink. His brows were furrowed and he was frowning towards me. I spit out into the sink and grabbed a tea towel to wipe my mouth on.
"You've only started having these dreams about a month ago, Rig." He told me slowly, "I can't help but feel something has changed with you."
"I'm just stressed, Oliver." I said, carefully lifting myself onto the counter and resting my head against a cupboard door, closing my eyes softly.
He seemed to see that I didn't have the energy to argue so he left it be.
"Well, I'm going to take a shower," He said after a moment of silence, "We have to be at the Tonks' is a couple hours. Did you want to stay here instead?"
I shook my head, "No, I'm fine, I'll go with you."
"Then at least go back to bed for another hour." He told me and I opened my eyes to look back to him.
"I'd rather not move." I commented, feeling quite content staying still on the countertop.
He came closer towards me, "Come on, I can carry you."
I narrowed my eyes at him, "I don't need to be carried."
"You also don't need to be a bloody mule all the time," He responded.
"You don't need to be a gentlemen all the time, it's not like I'm a lady."
"You could try to act like one." He smirked lightly.
My gaze went flat. Well fine, if he's going to be like that then he can carry my body all over bloody England.
"Fine, turn around," I told him.
He did as ordered and I hopped onto his back, my arms going around his neck as his went under my knees to hold me in place. Years of Quidditch truly did work for someone's body and Oliver was still as muscular as ever. We easily moved out of the kitchen and I rested my chin on his shoulder as we walked down the hallway.
"I wonder if normal people in a relationship do this." I pondered casually, my gaze blank.
"I love you too, Rig."
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"I'm sure that's not what he meant, Dory." I said tiredly as I rubbed my temple.
"What else could he have meant, Rigel?!" Tonks demanded as she paced around the kitchen, "He wants me to move back in with mum!"
"This is Remus Lupin," I told her pushing off the wall I was leaning against and walking towards her, "He wouldn't just abandon you."
"Well he is!" She said, her hair a bright red as her emotions got a hold of her, "He always was reluctant to be in a relationship with me, now that we're having a baby he's getting cold feet and walking away!"
"Now that's not fair." I interrupted her quickly.
Her chest rose and fell as she looked back towards me, her hair turned back to normal, "You're right, it's not."
Tears welled in her eyes suddenly and she sank slowly towards the ground, sitting on the floor like a lost child. I let out a soft sigh as I watched the emotional women before me and then walked to stand beside her. I look down and saw her shoulders shaking softly. I carefully sat down beside her, the two of us sitting on the floor in the middle of the kitchen. I put my arm around her shoulder and she looked to me blearily, "He's really distant."
"Maybe you're misunderstanding him," I tried softly, "You're pregnant, you're hormones are going to be out of whack aren't they?"
She shook her head and gave a small hiccup, "No. It's not that. I know it's not."
"Then what, Dory?" I questioned.
"He's guilty." She sniffed, bringing her hand up to wipe at her eyes.
"About what?" I asked, confused.
"He's scared the baby might be a werewolf."
Oh.
I didn't know Remus Lupin all that well. He had always been more like an uncle to more than anything, his marriage to my sister like figure was a bit awkward, but nevertheless, I knew him enough to know that something like this would definitely bother him. He was too nice of a person to inflict any type of harm to anyone. When he accidently broke my wrist in seventh year when he was in werewolf form, he could barely look me in the eye for over a week.
I looked back to my cousin and gave her shoulder a tight squeeze, "How 'bout I talk to him? Try and figure this thing out?"
Her head snapped back to me, "Would you?"
I gave her a smile, "Of course."
Her arms flew around me and I let out a small choke from her tight grip. I panted her back lightly. Stressed seemed to ease off her at my words, unfortunately for me, I gained it.
I stayed at Remus and Dory's house for most of the day, I had gone to Andromeda and Ted's that morning with Oliver, but all I was needed for was to record the events of my last stakeout to give to Kingsley and since I didn't need to be at the Tonks' to do that, I went to Dory's as she was home alone for the day.
The sound of the door creaking open met my ears over the soft noises of the television. Dory's head rested against my shoulder as she slept peacefully beside me on the couch, a blanket wrapped around the two of us. She shifted slightly as the door closed back shut and I watched Remus walk into the living room. I gave a slight wave with my hand and he nodded in response, his gaze shifting to look at his wife. He must have sensed my staring as he quickly looked back to me, "Rigel, I need to have a word with you."
I frowned at his look. I carefully pushed the blanket off of myself and slowly nudged Dory so she was instead resting against the couch instead of me. She was always a heavy sleeper so she barely flinched. I got up from my place and followed Remus into the empty kitchen
"What's up?" I questioned him.
He looked tired as usual, though I had no idea whether it had to do with the war or his monthly occurrences.
"I didn't want to say anything to Tonks before the morning," He said, "But I knew you would want to know right away."
"You're scaring me Remus," I responded, "Is it about Harry? Has he been found yet?"
"No, it's not about Harry, Ron, or Hermione." He said quickly, "It's about Ted."
I frowned.
"Ted has been summoned to the Muggleborn registration trial." He finally told me, "Arthur informed us today."
I guess it was bound to happen sooner or later. We all kind of suspected it. It was just a matter of time.
"And what is he planning on doing?" I questioned.
"Going into hiding." Remus answered, his hand resting on my shoulder in a comforting way, "Rigel, your friend, Findell, she's been called too."
My eyes snapped back up to his, "Maggie?"
"There was a list of names that Arthur showed us," Remus explained, "I noticed hers and thought I should tell you."
I nodded in thanks and brought my arms about myself, "I'll talk to her tomorrow and warn her."
Maggie Findell was one of my oldest friends from Hogwarts. She wasn't a part of the Order as Oliver and I were, but she supported the cause. I suppose it's my fault for her hesitation in the Order. Ever since seventh year I had started to keep secrets from her to try and protect her, such as my father being innocent and a war starting. I thought it was a good idea at the time as she tended to make mountains out of even the tiniest molehills, but her reaction when I finally told her the truth, proved that I thought wrong.
"Rigel?"
I snapped back to attention as Remus looked at me concerned.
"Will you be alright?" He asked.
"I'm fine." I told him quickly, "I've just got a hundred things running through my mind."
He nodded as if he understood, "Well go home and get some rest. I told Oliver I would send you when I got back, he's at your apartment now."
I thought about talking to Remus now about Dory, but it just didn't seem like the right moment. We were both exhausted and in no mood to communicate much farther.
"Alright," I agreed, "Thanks again Remus. I'll talk to you tomorrow morning most likely."
He gave yet another brief nod and I left the kitchen, grabbing my cloak on my way to the door.
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I apparated carefully onto the front step of Grimmauld and let out a sigh as I looked at the dreary looking place. I came here every so often to just think by myself. It was empty, save for Kreacher, as Dad moved out and got his own flat as soon as he was free, and I didn't want to live there alone with a deranged elf. I unlocked the door and opened it quietly, hoping that I wouldn't wake my grandmother. I shut the door behind me and stood there for a moment frowning. Usually some sort of trap of Moody's would pop out when I came in. This time it didn't.
I kept my wand raised as I moved slowly down the hallway, my ears listening for any unusual sounds. A small creak sounded from the drawing room door a few feet in front of me. I eased quietly towards it, expecting to maybe find Kreacher, but instead a wand swiftly jutted out in front of me and pointed towards my head. My own wand came up just as fast as I froze.
"Rigel?"
I blinked, "Harry?"
I could barely make out his face in the darkness, "What did I tell you after the spider incident?"
He blinked a couple times before registering that I was quizzing him.
"That if Ron or I ever involved you with spiders or flying cars again, you'd petrify us yourself." He responded, "When did we first meet?"
"On the Quidditch Pitch," I answered with a wry smile and then pulled the kid into a hug, "You git, you've had us all worried. Where are the other two ruffians?"
"Up here," Hermione's voice replied from the staircase across from me and I looked to see a redhead standing beside her.
We gathered together in the library and I immediately started asking them questions, "What happened to you guys after the wedding?"
"We had leave," Hermione spoke, "If Harry stayed it would only make things worse. Besides, we all sort of knew that we would have to leave sooner or later."
I frowned, "Why?"
The three of them looked at each other and grimaced.
"We can't tell you that, Rigel." Harry said finally, "All we can say is that Dumbledore has left us a mission."
A mission? I looked at their serious faces slowly, "You're really not going to tell me anything?"
They all shook their heads.
Great.
"Can I at least let everyone know you're alright?" I questioned.
Harry looked as if he was thinking about it for a minute, "Just don't let anyone know where we are. You need to keep this meeting a secret."
"Don't you think this 'mission' of yours would go by a lot smoother if you had the Order behind you?" I asked them.
"I need to do this on my own." Harry replied firmly.
"And what they for," I asked dryly, looking to the other two, "Moral support?"
"We're helping because Harry needs us." Hermione injected quickly.
There was no point in arguing with them, "Fine, whatever. Just tell me if you guys have been safe."
"We've been fine, just a few mishaps." Ron answered this time.
Mishaps? Never mind, I don't want to know.
"Okay," I said, "And what are you guys doing here? Aren't you worried about Kreacher? He doesn't have the best track record of keeping secrets."
"Sirius told Kreacher last time to obey my commands," Harry replied, "So he should be safe enough to be around."
"I'll talk to him before I leave too then," I responded, "Just to make sure."
We continued to talk a bit, but they wouldn't tell me much so I ended up just informing them about what's been going on with the Order. It was starting to get late so I decided I should get home before Oliver came looking for me. But I wanted to get my uncle's old journal from upstairs first. After having the dream about Zosma and my Mum, I wanted to go through the book again to try and figure out the past.
I bid the trio good-bye and went up the stairs swiftly, grabbed the leather bound journal, and came back down.
"What's that?" Harry questioned as I made my way to the hallway.
"An old journal." I told him as I made my way towards the door.
I gave a short wave goodbye as I opened the door but his eyes suddenly widened.
"Rigel, wait!" He cried out, rushing towards me and all but snatching the journal from my hand.
"What the hell, Harry?" I demanded as he looked over the cover of the book.
"R.A.B." He muttered under his breath, looking at the initials written on the front, and then calling for Ron and Hermione to come down.
"Yeah, you're point?" I questioned as the other two came down the stairs.
"What's your middle name?" He questioned, his green eyes snapping towards mine.
"Auriga…" I said slowly, becoming unnerved by his odd behaviour.
The kid was odd in general but still…
Hermione was looking from me to the initials written on the book with wide eyes, "You're R.A.B? Rigel Auriga Black?"
"Yes, but-" I started only to be interrupted.
"But how's that possible?" She questioned Harry hurriedly, "She only would have been a child back then! Besides, what would she know about horcruxes?"
Sounded almost like an insult.
"Well maybe-" Ron began and I rolled my eyes at the three in annoyance.
"Will you lot stuff it already?!" I demanded sharply and they quieted, "This book isn't mine, it's Regulus'. Now what is your problem with R.A.B.?"
"Sirius' brother." Hermione whispered, quickly looking to Ron and Harry.
Suddenly all three of them were scrambling for the stairs that would lead to my uncle's room.
"What in the world…" I muttered as I watched them.
"We can't explain!" Hermione called over her shoulder, "Thanks though!"
I rolled my eyes again. They were all rather odd. I shook my head slowly as I left Grimmauld and apparated home. But the word 'Horcrux' kept repeating in the back of my mind.
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I told Dad and the others about me seeing Harry and the others 'somewhere'. Of course Dad was relentless in asking me all that I knew, wanting to know exactly where I had seen them, but I just told him that Harry forbade me to say anything. The days passed on though and work with the Order kept all of our minds busy. I barely had any time to myself but when I did manage a few hours of free time, I went to see Maggie.
"This whole Muggleborn registration thing is stupid," Maggie told me heatedly, "I mean, sure, my parents are muggles, but why should I have to prove I'm a real witch? I went to Hogwarts! Do they honestly think a muggle would be able to get into Hogwarts?! And besides, I've heard rumors that the trials aren't fair and that old frog face is in charge of them."
"Umbridge you mean?" I clarified, though I didn't really have to guess.
"Yes," She responded, sinking down into a chair beside me, "I just don't know what to do. I mean, if I go there's a good chance I'll be thrown in Azkaban or killed, but if I hide the same consequences apply, only this time I'll be in control."
"Where would you go?" I asked her, my brows furrowing.
She shrugged softly, "Haven't really thought that far in advance. I don't really have anywhere to go. It seems that there are not many places to hide anymore. And what about my mum? With dad still missing I couldn't just leave her."
"What date do you have to register by?" I asked softly.
"I have three weeks." She responded glumly.
Three weeks wasn't that long to plan, but still, enough time to figure something out.
"We'll figure something out." I voiced my thoughts, "Ted has already gone into hiding as well. I'm sure we can figure something for you."
She simply nodded in return, a worried expression on her pretty face.
I put my hand on her shoulder and gave her a gentle squeeze of assurance, "We'll figure it out."
I arrived back home late that night as after visiting with Maggie I had gone to the Weasley's to work on Order business. I could see that Wood had been waiting up for me.
I frowned at his expression as I came through the door and I gently kicked my shoes off on the mat.
"You look upset," I commented lightly as I stepped into the apartment and took a step to where he was leaning against the table.
"You told me you wouldn't be long." He stated, his brown eyes looking me over.
"I stayed late at the Weasley's," I told him in response, "I got caught up in work."
He stood up straight, "There's a war out there Rigel, you could have flooed me or sent a message, I was worried."
"I'm sorry," I told him tiredly as I moved into the kitchen.
He followed behind me as I opened the fridge and took out a container of leftover food. I hadn't thrown up in the past two days and now I was starving.
I pulled open a drawer and fished out a fork and then turned back to look at his silent form.
He had that questioning look on his face again. He always had it when he was trying to puzzle me together. I wished he would just stay out of it.
Finally I let out a sigh as I stared down at my cold food, "Are we going to argue now or can it wait until the morning?"
My grey eyes looked back to his slowly and I frowned at his expression.
"What's happening Rigel?" He questioned me, "You keep avoiding me and there's obviously something bothering you. You've been sick for weeks now and I know you're not sleeping."
I guess we were going to argue now.
"Why do you always assume that I'm hiding something?" I asked, setting the container down, my appetite slowly fading.
"Because you usually are!" He stated exasperatedly.
"And you just can't let me be?" I demanded; my own frustration mounting as he became more inquisitive.
"Not when it's affecting you the way that it is." He stated, taking a step closer.
"There's a war going on Oliver!" I declared angrily, "I'm worried, everyone is!"
"I know you Rigel." He said back, "It's not just that."
My jaw clenched, "And you know everything about me, don't you?"
His eyes turned puzzled all of a sudden and I almost felt ashamed for what I said but I was too wound up to stop myself.
I let out an angry breath and pushed past him out of the kitchen, "Just leave me alone, Wood."
He didn't follow after me as I made my way to the bedroom. I shut the door behind me and sat heavily down on the bed.
My emotions felt so conflicted. There was so much going on and I just couldn't bring myself to talk to Wood about it. It was as if I felt spiteful towards him and in a way I did resent him a bit.
He never seemed to have any secrets because he never had anything to hide. And I envied that.
I pulled off my jumper and clothes and put on my night clothing.
I crawled under the covers of the bed and just laid there thinking. I wanted to go back out and apologize but I felt too lost in my emotions to face him.
I laid there for what seemed like hours but Oliver never came into the room.
Eventually I drifted off in an exhausted sleep.
When I awoke the next morning Oliver's side of the bed remained untouched. I got up quietly and as I left the room to go to the bathroom I realised that Oliver wasn't even in the apartment. I found a small note on the table saying that he had gone to the Burrow and I noticed that the couch looked like it had been slept on. I tried to put it from my mind and entered the bathroom. I shut the door behind me and then turned to look at my reflection in the mirror. My brown hair fell down my shoulders in soft messy waves and my grey eyes had small circles below them from lack of sleep and too much stress.
I brought my hand up to my forehead and pushed the hair from my temple, revealing the scar on the corner of my face from my injury a year ago. I let go of my hair and let it fall back in place, covering up the blemish.
I knew I wasn't as pretty as used to be. Maybe if there wasn't so much going on I would look better, but I was too tired and busy to really work with my appearance. With a war going on I didn't really see the point.
I let out a sigh and grabbed the edge of the mirror, swinging it open to reveal the cabinet behind it. I reached for the container of cotton swabs and then reached my fingers inside to pull out the small object I had hidden within it.
I took it in my hand and then slowly sat down on the floor, leaning against the side wall of the tub behind me. I rested my wrists on bent knees and stared blankly at the door across from me.
There was more to my secrets than just Harry, Tonks, and the war. Those I could deal with easily after everything I've gone through in my life. There was a bigger part to my problems though that me hide from Wood. What had been making me have nightmares about my own mother.
I had been suspicious for a while and I finally decided to seek out an answer.
I looked down at the object in my hands and just stared at it, wondering how such a small object could change my life so fast.
I was too numb and confused to feel anything so I dropped the object in the waste basket beside me and let out a slow breath as I wrapped my arms across my frame.
Positive.
A single word that's meaning meant so much.
There was no other simpler way to say it.
I was pregnant.
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I've been planning this for a while so I'm excited that it's finally happened. :)
Reviewer questions:
MuggleCreator: I'll see if I can incorporate some flashbacks, should help fill in some gaps.
Tiffyrose: No, don't worry, I love Oliver and Rigel together. :)
