Godparents of Rodrigo Prince Ⅲ

Slicing his own hand open, Reginald drips his blood onto the altar. "That which was unspoken has been pledged and cannot be unsaid," Reginald steadfastly declared. "The ties that bind are set in stone, so mote be."

A powerful surge of golden magic engulfs Andromeda, Lucius, and Rodrigo like a crashing ocean wave. Rodrigo whimpers unhappily and squeezes the hands of his godparents, or so according to his mother. Yet his eyes are wide in awe to see and feel the intertwining golden strings between the three of them.

Andromeda feels a heavy pressure on her stomach followed by a gentle soothing touch to her stomach. With absolute certainty, she knows the child will be born tonight or in the early morning hours. She lets out a tired sigh knowing it would be a very long day (and equally long night).

Lucius proudly permits the magic to intertwine between him and the child. He looked forward to the opportunity to mold the child. Though Rodrigo Prince would not be the Head of the Prince family as a member of the direct family, the child would wield great power in the future. It would be foolish to waste such a valuable opportunity. 

With a final burst of wind, the candles in the parlor flare like fireworks, before returning to their normal light. The presence of the sentient magic is all but gone. It is much easier to breathe again.

Lucius releases the child and hurriedly moves over to aid his sister-in-law to rest in a chair. Andromeda sits down exhausted and touches her bulging belly. The baby kicks fiercely as if excited. She sighs ruefully in her heart as she rubs her swollen stomach, "soon little one, soon."

Leaning down to clean her child's face, "You did very good, my little wyvern," Georgine hummed in pleasure, before pressing a kiss to her child's clean face.

"Yes, mommie," Rodrigo sniffed showing her his aching finger.

"There, there now," Georgine waved her fingers and the cut on her son's fingers vanished. "All better now."

"Mm," Rodrigo smiled very pleased at himself, before toddling over to Severus. "I am a big boy, Sev! I didn't cry!" The little boy proudly declared.

"Yes, you were very good," Severus mumbled as he healed his finger.

"See, Row!" Rodrigo shoved his healed hand at Rowan. "I did good!" The little boy eagerly huffed waiting to be praised.

"I can see that," Rowan drily replied having finished healing herself. She idly wondered where this child got such confidence. She and Severus were nothing like that when they were young! Then again, Aunt Georgine wasn't exactly humble or shy in any form or manner….

Reaching for their hands, Rodrigo leads Rowan and Severus away to show them his new hiding spot. It was really good even his mommie couldn't find him! He simply couldn't wait!

And though Rodrigo did not have any playmates (beyond Severus, Rowan, and little Laldey), but mommie had promised him soon. And mommie always kept her promises! Besides his little godbrother, Barnabas Avery was still a baby! But mommie said the baby would grow and he would need to take care of him. He would be a good big brother! He could hardly wait!

With Rodrigo in the care of Rowan and Severus, (more like it was their turn to babysit), Reginald vanishes all the blood from the room and destroys the items on the altar lest they be used against anyone. Approaching the two, he sincerely bows to them and says, "I am profoundly grateful and the Prince household expresses our sincere gratitude for the two of you accepting our request to be the godparents of Rodrigo."

"It was our pleasure," Andromeda winced in pain.

"Your child is coming," Georgine matter-of-factly stated upon seeing the acute discomfort on the younger witch's face. A trace of sadness passes through Georgine's eyes recalling the child that was never born. Her child. Still, she had a child of her own now, and that made all the difference.

As if an afterthought, Georgine said, "Please also deliver my belated congratulations to Bartimus Crouch and his wife, Bertha on the birth of their secondborn son, Lycoris."

"Yes, it was a rather difficult birth for Bertha, she went into labor early," Lucius murmured in reply trying to keep the concern out of his voice for his sister-in-law. "She is still recovering, but Lycoris was born as healthy as can be with a loud set of lungs on him according to Barty."

"I am most certain that is the case," Georgine muttered under her breath. Bertha was rather heavy in years to be having children, so it came as no surprise that the birth of the child had been extraordinarily difficult. Nor did it come as a surprise, Bertha went into labor early considering the fact that her son, Barty Crouch Jr. had been in Hogsmeade during the Giant attack.

Ignoring the conversation regarding the birth of Lycoris Crouch, Reginald furrows his brow and offers the pain-stricken Andromeda Tonks a hand. Andromeda tightly grasps the offered hand in confusion. "I shall have Tadbey return you home," Reginald kindly said as he permitted the pregnant witch to painfully squeeze his hand.

"NO," Andromeda gasped in pain, "we have been staying at Malfoy Manor, the child will be birthed there."

Reginald arched his brow at the statement but did not pry further. "Very well," he gently handed her to Lucius, who carefully grips his sister-in-law.

"Tadbey," Reginald called out as a loud pop was heard.

A house elf wearing crisp blue overalls and a white ironed shirt appears. His large ears have tufts of hair, and his bare feet are a bit hairy as well. Hanging elegantly on his long nose is a pair of spectacles.

"Yes, master?" Tadbey promptly inquired.

"Please carefully deliver Madam Tonks and Mr. Malfoy to Malfoy Manor," Reginald clearly instructed.

Tadbey's expression slightly softens at sensing the source of distress for the witch. "I shall take great care, sir," Tadbey earnestly responded, before striding over and carefully touching the witch and wizard. And with a pop, the trio vanished to Malfoy Manor.

"June 30th," Georgine abruptly said.

"What was that Georgine?"

"The child will be born past midnight, therefore June 30th."

"Ah yes, very likely so," Reginald agreed before a sincere smile graced his face. "I never thought to see this day come, Georgine, but congratulations."

Moisture wells up in Georgine's eyes as she rapidly blinks the unbidden tears away. "Neither did I, brother," she emotionally confessed.

Reginald wordlessly reaches over and grips his sister's hands (as if in a hug, the elder Prince family members didn't exactly do hugging). They stood there for a good while before they released each other's hands. Georgine wipes a careless tear that dared to escape with one hand.

"I suppose, I better go check on them," Georgine sniffed. "Rodrigo's been rather sly as of lately finding new hiding spots. I am certain that he is showing them off to Rowan and Severus."

Georgine rolled her eyes fondly. "As if we hadn't found all those spots as children, tch. Still, I play along and pretend I can't find him."

Reginald knowingly snorts and arches his brow at Georgine. "We both know the reason you pretend to do so is to have some quiet time to yourself."

A mischievous grin appears on Georgine's face in reply. "It does rather successfully keep Rodrigo quiet and out from under my feet for a time. We all need some time to ourselves."

"Ah, yes, some more than others," Reginald teased his sister.

"No need to point out my flaws, brother," Georgine slapped her brother on the arm without force. "Now that you reminded me, let us enjoy tea out in the gardens. You just reminded me that Rowan and Severus are to leave for the Black family summer home. I really won't have much peace to myself after that. I might as well make the most of it until then."

A rumbling chuckle escapes from Reginald, unable to keep the laughter away. The two of them laugh and for a moment they do not seem their age at all. Still chuckling among themselves, they make their way to the gardens to enjoy some tea. It was a special day, after all, they deserved to celebrate in peace.

Rowan and Severus were old enough to mind Rodrigo and they had many times before. Alas, Rowan and Severus would not be rescued for several hours. And not that they didn't care for Rodrigo, but he was a rather energetic toddler…