It’s been six years since the class of ‘98 graduated from Hogwarts. It’s also been six years since Aurora Rosier has been seen, as she practically disappeared after graduation. It was rumored that she married Cormac McLaggen because she had gotten pregnant by him but since no one has seen her, no one has been able to confirm said rumor. That is, until one late September day, when someone burst into the fourth floor of the Ministry, which holds The Department of Magical Law Enforcement, the Aurors office.
The person stands up, stumbling out of the Floo, with a young girl clinging onto her. Theodore Nott notices the noise first and raises his wand, before he realizes who is kneeling in front of him. “Aurora!”, he screams, running to her side. “Guys! I need help!”, he yells, as Draco Malfoy and Ron Weasley run towards him.
“Merlin, what happened to her?”, Ron asks, casting diagnostic spells over her and the child. Draco turns towards the girl, who looks too small for her possible age, “Darling, can you tell me what happened?”, he asks, as gently as possible. The young girl takes a second to think before she replies, “...Daddy got mad again.”, she whispers, clutching to her mother’s top. This statement causes the three grown men to freeze, as Harry Potter, Blaise Zabini, and James Potter, the current Head Auror, finally join them.
“Merlin’s Beard, is that Aurora?”, Harry asks. “Yeah, and she's hurt, bad.”, Ron replies, “Multiple contusions, hairline fractures, improperly healed broken bones…I think she’s been abused.” This makes everyone freeze again, before James takes over, heading into Auror mode. “Right, someone send a Patronus to Mungo’s, let them know we’re on the way, once she’s stable, we’ll get her statement about tonight’s events.” Everyone nods, before Ron sends a Patronus to his wife, Lavender, who’s a Healer at St. Mungo’s.
“Has anyone tried talking to the child yet?”, Blaise asks, finally noticing the young girl and…, “Bloody hell, she’s pregnant.”, Blaise mumbles, noticing Aurora’s very big pregnancy belly. Draco also notices her pregnant belly, “I asked her what happened, all she said was, ‘Daddy got mad again’.”, he turns to the young girl again, “Honey, can you tell me your name, and how old you are?” The young girl, who looks exactly like her mother, nods her head, “I’m Saige, I’m six.” Saige replies.
Everyone nods their head at the new information, “Alright, Saige, what can you tell me about your dad?” Draco asks, as he was always more comfortable talking with young children. Saige freezes at this, needing a minute to calm down before she replies, “...he gets mean when he drinks the smelly juice…it makes him yell at Momma and throw things…he’s scary when he does that.” Blaise and Theodore understand what she means when she says “smelly juice”, as they also had alcoholic fathers, and unfortunately had to suffer similar things growing up.
“Does your dad hit you too? Or just your Momma?”, Draco, unfortunately, has to ask. “...Just Momma, he tries to hit me but Momma takes the hits instead.” Saige replies, a bit hesitant, causing everyone to see red for a second. “What’s your dad’s name, Saige?”, Blaise speaks up after a moment. “...Cormac McLaggen.” Saige whispers, like saying the name will make him magically appear. Everyone lets out a low growl, before Theo notices something on Saige’s arm. “Saige, you said your dad doesn’t hit you, right?” Saige nods her head, letting Theo know he can continue, “...so why is there a glamour over your arm?”
This makes everyone, including Saige and her mother, freeze, before Blaise waves his wand around, “Finite Incantatem”, he mumbles, causing the glamours that cover Saige and Aurora to drop, revealing multiple bruises, contusions, and red marks. “Bloody hell, this is worse than we thought.”, Ron says, noticing the looks of pure anger on the former Slytherin’s faces. They were the closest friends to Aurora back at Hogwarts, so seeing their friend, and her daughter, so injured, they can’t stop seeing red.
James takes over, clearing his throat before he speaks up, “Right, Blaise, Theo, take Aurora and Saige to St. Mungo’s, Ron, Harry, Draco, you three are going to come with me, it’s time to pay Mr. McLaggen a visit.” Everyone nods their heads, as Blaise and Theo help Aurora to her feet, leading her and Saige to the Floo, before Blaise throws down a handful of Floo powder and the four disappear to St. Mungo’s.
The four of them walk into the emergency department, being greeted by Lavender Weasley. “Oh dear, alright, follow me, we have a private room set up for them to use.” Theo and Blaise nod their heads, following Lavender to a small, private room located in a quiet hallway. “Set her on the table, and I’ll start my examination.” Lavender then grabs a few pregnancy safe pain potions, before she turns to face Aurora. “Hi love, been a while, your daughter is beautiful. Now, these potions will help with the pain without hurting the baby, can you take them for me?” Aurora silently nods her head, before she quickly throws back the potions.
Lavender nods her head, before she hands Saige a pain potion as well, one meant for small children. “I know this won’t taste very nice, but if it’s alright with your Momma, I’ll get you some pumpkin juice after you drink this, sounds fair?” Lavender asks, watching Saige’s face light up, before she nods her head and drinks the pain potion. “Ugh, may I have the pumpkin juice now?” Saige asks, looking at her mother. Aurora nods her head, and Theo leaves the room, going to get Saige a bottle of pumpkin juice.
“Now then, while Auror Nott goes to get Saige her juice, I have a few questions for you, Aurora. Can you tell me what happened tonight?” Lavender uses her Healer voice, though you can tell she’s struggling, having to be professional while being forced to see her friend so hurt. “...Cormac came home from practice, said he had a bad day…I was making dinner, but I guess he didn’t want what I was making…he grabbed a bottle of Firewhiskey and drank half the bottle in a few minutes…I asked him to slow down, so he could eat…that was the wrong thing to say, because he threw the bottle at me, hitting me in the back…Saige screamed when she saw it and Cormac turned towards her…I had to stop him, I couldn’t let him hurt her again…so I hit him with a wandless Stupify, grabbed Saige and Floo’d to the DMLE.”
Lavender sucks a deep breath in, thankful her husband had got help with his anger after his time at Hogwarts before he joined the Aurors, while Blaise had to take a few deep breaths, wanting so badly to hunt Cormac down and make him pay for everything he did to Aurora and Saige. “Okay, that’s good…but you didn’t get all these injuries just tonight…darling, how long has he been hurting you both?”, Lavender asks, as she writes everything down in a medical file to give to Blaise for the Auror’s report. “...no…he’s been hurting me since we got married…and hurting Saige in little ways since she was four.” Aurora mumbles, as Saige climbs into her lap.
“...alright, that’s all we need right now, how about we check on baby?”, Lavender offers, hoping to lessen the heavy feeling in the air. Aurora nods her head, as Lavender waves her wand and mutters a spell, making an ultrasound appear in the air, as Saige’s face lights up. “My baby!”, she giggles, making Lavender and even Blaise giggle as well. Theo walks back into the room then, “Sorry, got lost, but I found- OH! Are we checking on the baby?”, he asks, handing Saige her bottle of pumpkin juice. Lavender nods her head, “Good news, baby girl is measuring healthy and right on track, she should be here any day now so I’d like to admit Aurora into the maternity ward until she gives birth.” Lavender says, more towards Theo and Blaise than to Aurora.
The Aurors nod their heads, “That’s a good idea, extra stress may upset her or cause harm to the baby.” Theo adds, remembering what it was like when his wife, Luna, was pregnant with their son, Aries. Lavender nods her head, impressed at Theo’s knowledge of pregnancies. “Alright, Aurora, let’s get you settled in a room, don’t worry, we can Transfigure a small cot into the room for Saige.” Aurora nods her head again, too exhausted to talk right now, as she lets Lavender lead her, Saige and the two Aurors to the maternity ward.
Lavender leads her inside a room on the maternity ward, the walls are a soft off-white, the bed is large, comfortable, and Aurora notices a small cot has already been placed next to her bed for Saige to sleep in. Lavender helps Aurora into the small bathroom connected to the room, “There’s a dressing gown for you to change into after you shower, a nurse already took Saige to our children’s ward next door to clean her up and get her some fresh clothes.” Aurora nods her head at Lavender’s words, before she hears the door shut, giving her some privacy for the first time tonight.
Aurora turns the water on to a comfortable setting, before peeling off her dirty clothes, stepping into the shower and washing her hair and body. After a few minutes, she turns the water off, using a soft towel to dry off before Aurora pulls the dressing gown on. Aurora then walked back into the hospital room, seeing Saige sitting on the small cot, her hair and body clean, she was now wearing a small, baby pink nightgown. “Hi Momma! Mrs. Lavender braided my hair, see?” Saige turns her head, and Aurora sees that her long, dirty blonde hair is indeed braided in a single, straight braid down the center of her head.
“Beautiful, darling, but now, it’s time to lay down.”, Aurora carefully walks to Saige’s small cot, tucking her in with the small, white blanket. “Okay, goodnight Momma, love you.”, Saige mumbles, instantly falling asleep. Aurora kisses the top of her head, before she carefully climbs into her own bed, pulling her blanket up over herself, and quickly finding herself falling asleep.
A few floors above, in Lavender’s office, the six Auror’s and Lavender are sitting around her office, discussing the case. “It’s clear this abuse has been going on for years.”, Lavender says, handing each Auror a copy of Aurora’s and Saige’s medical files. “Bloody hell, Lav, this is just from your observation tonight?”, Ron asks, shock and horror on his face at the thick file his wife handed him. “I’m afraid so, love, this is all from tonight’s observation and the small diagnostic I ran. Thankfully, the baby is alright, she’s measuring healthy, and could arrive any day now. I went ahead and admitted Aurora into the maternity ward.” Lavender adds, giving the Aurors a small sense of relief. “Well, Cormac basically admitted to everything when we arrested him, makes the paperwork easy.” Harry adds.
Blaise just stays silent, reading through the file, grateful his best friend already sent the bastard to Azkaban, otherwise he would have sent him to Merlin himself. “Blaise, mate, you alright?”, Theo asks, knowing all about his friend’s fondness for the only Rosier daughter. “...I just can’t believe we didn’t know about this.”, he whispers. Draco and Theo moved closer to their lifelong friend, “She’s safe now, her and Saige, and all we can do is support her, and her girls. Help her get back on her feet.” Draco adds.
“And who knows, maybe you’ll finally get your head out of your arse and ask her out.”, Theo teases with a smirk, barely avoiding the hand coming up to smack him. “OI!”, he says, making everyone in the room let out a soft chuckle. “Shut up, Nott.”, Blaise grumbles, as a blush crosses his cheeks. “I’m serious, Blaise! Give her a few months, now that she’s newly divorced, and shoot your shot!”, Theo encourages. Blaise just shakes his head with another chuckle, before turning his attention back to the other’s in the office.
“Anyway, since spousal abuse is grounds for an instant lifetime trip to Azkaban, and an automatic divorce AND grants total custody to the other parent, Aurora is considered a free witch.”, James reiterated, as everyone else nods along to his statement. “Right, and as soon as she gives birth and is settled, she’ll be free to leave.”, Lavender adds along, “but where will she go after she’s released from here? She can’t possibly go back to her old flat, that’s just not right.” This catches everyone’s attention, “Unfortunately, I can’t take her, Hermione and mine’s flat is too small.” Draco says. “Us too, Pansy is getting ready to go on maternity soon, I don’t want to overwhelm her.” Harry adds.
Ron and Lavender are already out, their townhouse is full enough with their twins and young daughter, and Theo and Luna’s flat is barely big enough for them and their son. “That leaves Blaise.” James says, making everyone turn towards the Zabini heir. “...fine, but only because Zabini Manor is too big for just me.” Blaise agrees, causing Theo to let out another smug laugh. “Alright, that’s enough for tonight, Lavender, can you send us an update in the morning? It’s getting late, and I’m sure we’d all like to get home to our families.” James says, dismissing everyone to finally head home.
Since Blaise didn’t want to spend another night in the very large Zabini Manor by himself, he decides to stay the night in Aurora and Saige’s room, gently opening the door. He notices the two girls asleep in their beds, Saige’s hair braided back, her mothers dirty blonde hair sprawled around her like a halo on her pillow. Blaise settles into a surprisingly comfortable chair at Aurora’s bedside, watching her chest rise and fall with even breaths. “...I’m sorry I couldn’t save you…but I promise…no one will hurt my girls ever again.” Blaise whispers to the quiet room. He turns his head, watching Saige sleeping on her small cot, clutching a small Knezeale stuffie one of the nurses gave her. “...don’t worry, princess, I’ll keep you, your Momma, and your new baby safe, now and always.”
Saige seems to relax more at his whispered words, cuddling the stuffie tighter. Blaise lets a small smile cross his face, watching his girls sleep comfortably, knowing their cause of pain and torment is sitting in Azkaban, rotting away. He finally allows himself to relax enough to close his eyes, falling asleep at Aurora’s side.
Aurora wakes up to whispers the next morning, grumbling, thinking it’s a nurse or two come to check on her. She cracks an eye open, and sees something she’d never thought she’d get to see, her daughter sitting on Blaise Zabini’s lap, giggling something into his ear. Aurora notices the soft smile on his face, something very few people get to see. “...what’s so funny, Saige?”, Aurora chuckles, watching her daughter smile for the first time in a long time.
“Momma! Mr. Blaise said we can stay at his big house after the baby is here!”, Saige says, surprising Aurora. “Really? We can stay at Zabini Manor, Blaise?”, Aurora asks, as her lifelong friend gives her a soft smile and a nod. “Of course, it’s too big for just me, so I really don’t mind. Plus, it’s much more comfortable than your old flat.” Blaise adds, absentmindedly running a careful hand through Saige’s hair. “...thank you, technically, Rosier Manor is mine but…I let my dad’s keep it when I got married, so thank you, truly.”
“Of course, ‘Rora, anything for you guys.” Blaise says, with a small blush on his cheeks, one that Aurora instantly notices. She gives him a soft smile back, before she feels a pain in her stomach. “Ah, B-Blaise, something’s wrong.” Blaise notices the look of pain on her face, and sends a Patronus for Lavender. “Don’t worry, love, help is coming.” He places Saige on her small cot, as Lavender hurries inside the room with a Labor and Delivery Healer.
Lavender waves her wand, casting a few diagnostic spells, “Looks like baby has decided to make her appearance, your water must have broken last night and we hadn’t realized. Let’s get you comfy.” Lavender and the other Healer help Aurora sit up, as Blaise moves the small cot out of the way, keeping Saige occupied. “Right, you’re about seven centimeters dilated already, so she’ll probably be coming in an hour or so.” Lavender says to Aurora and her fellow Healer, “Blaise, could you send an update to everyone else? I’m afraid I’ll be a bit busy the next few hours.”
Blaise gives Lavender a nod, sending another Patronus to Draco, updating him on the situation. “...what is your memory? You know, the one you use to conjure your Patronus?” Aurora asks in a soft voice. “Heh, you’ll laugh…remember in fourth year, when you agreed to go to the Yule Ball with me? That night, after everything was done and we had been sent back to our dorms, I remember you let me walk you to your dorm room…and you kissed me cheek before you hurried inside your room. That memory is the one I’ve been using for years…because of it’s importance.”
Aurora is surprised, “What importance?”, she asks, watching Blaise hold Saige in his lap, summoning small sparks and wispy animals to keep her occupied. “...it was the day I fell in love with you…and I’ve loved you everyday since.” Blaise replies. Aurora is shocked, she always had a small crush on Blaise that became more as time went on, but after that fateful night with Cormac when she got pregnant, she decided to forget her feelings so her daughter could have both her parents. How she wish she had a Time Turner and could change everything she had done.
“...I didn’t know, Blaise, I- AH!”, Aurora says, before she is cut off by a big contraction. Lavender and the other Healer rush to her bedside, casting more diagnostic spells. “Seems like baby is impatient, it’s time to push already, Aurora.” Lavender says, as she helps get Aurora ready to start giving birth. “N-no, I’m not, I can’t”, she pleads, as she feels someone hold her hand. “It’s okay, love, I’m here, I’ll always be here now.” She hears Blaise say to her, letting her squeeze his hand with every new pain and contraction.
A few pushes later, Lily Ann Rosier is welcomed into the world, born at six pounds even, she is born completely healthy. Blaise can’t help but fall in love with his girl all over again. “...I love you, Aurora, I know you just got divorced just last night but-”, Blaise gets cut off by Aurora kissing him. “...I love you too, Blaise…me and the girls love you very much.” Blaise can’t help but let a huge smile cross his face, as he takes in the beautiful sight in front of him, Aurora, his girl, holding her daughters close to her.
He leans back against the wall, watching his new family. He can’t help but be grateful for Cormac’s mistakes, because it finally allows him to truly love his girl. And for his new Patronus memory.