-UndoubtedlyYours-

-Chapter♚♛NinetyFive-

✧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.