a/n - another spicy chapter coz im feeling generous

"Lust"

strong sexual desire

19 September 1997

The morning sun had barely risen, casting a pale light over the Ashryver Manor, when an ominous presence disturbed its tranquil grounds. Lucian stood on the grand staircase, his sharp eyes narrowing as a group of snatchers brazenly welcomed themselves into his home.

"You're trespassing on private property," Lucian commanded, his voice firm and unyielding, resonating through the foyer.

"We heard that you have been letting certain kinds of people through this Manor," one of the snatchers sneered, his tone dripping with accusation.

"Who I invite to my private property is my business. I've learned to mind my business over the years, and you should do the same," Lucian retorted, his words cold and calculated.

"Ashryver, you're not hiding anything, are you?" another snatcher challenged, stepping forward with a smirk.

"You are trespassing," Lucian enunciated each word with precision, taking a deliberate step forward. With a flick of his wrist, the snatchers were suddenly ejected from the manor, landing outside the gates with a forceful thud. "I will arrest you as I am an Auror, and you are nothing but hired wands."

"You are on our watchlist, Ashryver!" one of the snatchers spat, his voice quivering with a mix of anger and fear.

"You dare to threaten one of the oldest of the Sacred 29?!" Lucian's voice boomed through the fields, echoing all the way to the gates. The snatchers, visibly shaken, quickly apparated away.

"That was kind of hot," a voice purred from behind him.

Lucian turned, a smirk playing on his lips. "Oh really?"

"Really," Camille replied, her eyes twinkling with a mix of admiration and worry.

"Good morning, dear wife," Lucian greeted her, his tone softening as he approached.

"All this fuss so early in the morning," Camille sighed, her voice laced concern.

"You shouldn't be here, Cami," Lucian said, a note of urgency in his voice.

"I want to convince my husband to tender his resignation and come to France," Camille insisted, her voice breaking slightly.

"I can't," Lucian replied.

"Lucian, I need my husband alive. Our children, as grown-up as they are, need their father. I need you," Camille pleaded, tears welling in her eyes.

Lucian let out a deep exhale, closing the distance between them and resting his forehead against hers. "I am sorry, but I can't. There are people who need the Ashryver's presence. We have been here in every war; we can't disappear now."

Camille sighed, her shoulders shaking as tears streamed down her face. This war was more than just about the Ashryver's presence; it was about Lucian's need for revenge after losing his father, his sister, and the innocent smile of his daughter.

Even if it meant his demise, his family—his sweet girl—would get to live.

"At least Dad has me," a voice announced, and Corvus apparated onto the family's home grounds.

"And they have me," Angel added, peeking from behind her husband.

"Corvus," Camille breathed, relief flooding her voice as her oldest son ran into her arms. Lucian stepped forward, wiping away her tears with gentle hands. Angel wasn't left out either.

The family stood together in the morning light, a united front against the darkness encroaching on their world.

— | —

"Where's Dad?" Athena questioned, her frustration evident as she slammed her files shut. She was fed up with the endless stream of reports. Camille shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes as she sank into the chair across from her daughter. "Ma, when was the last time you slept?"

"Last night," Camille replied, her voice weary.

"I mean, actually slept properly."

"Baby, I should question you too," Camille countered, her gaze softening.

"You look worse than I do," Athena quipped, offering her mother her cup of coffee. She silently thanked whatever luck that had spared her the Ashryver family's notorious addiction to coffee.

"Who delivered this?" Camille asked, taking a cautious sip.

"Your second son. He brought me green tea too," Athena replied with a small smile.

"He knows you too well," Camille snorted, a brief moment of amusement breaking through her fatigue. With a flick of her wand, she summoned her own pile of paperwork. It only seemed to grow the longer she ignored it. Athena mumbled something, reminding her mother that she hadn't answered the original question.

"I can't sleep knowing your father is right smack in the middle of the war. Your brother too," Camille admitted, her voice cracking slightly.

"Corvus is back?" Athena's eyes widened in surprise.

"He said having more than one Ashryver around might make the Snatchers back off a bit—makes it easier to smuggle people out of the country. Thanks to you and the entire Bureau of Aurors, France has never been safer," Camille said, pride mingling with her worry.

"France is safer, but our HQ is not," Athena pointed out, her tone grim.

Camille sighed, her shoulders slumping under the weight of her responsibilities. "It's a never-ending battle, Athena. We're constantly trying to stay one step ahead. I just wish we could have a moment of peace."

Athena reached across the table, taking her mother's hand in hers. "We'll get through this, Ma. Together. We've always been stronger together."

Camille squeezed her daughter's hand, a glimmer of hope rekindling in her eyes. "I know, sweetheart. We just have to keep fighting. For Dad, for Corvus, for everyone."

Athena nodded, a determined look settling on her face. "We will. And we'll make sure they come home safe."

The two women sat in silence for a moment, drawing strength from each other. Despite the chaos and danger that surrounded them, they knew that as long as they had each other, they could face whatever came their way.

They were always there for one another, through thick and thin.

— | —

Fleur woke to the gentle patter of rain against the window, a sound that always brought her a quiet calm. Her gaze drifted to Athena, who was curled up beside her, breathing deeply in a rare moment of true rest. Fleur's heart swelled at the sight. Her wife was safe, home at last, and although sometimes bruised and battered, she was here. For Fleur, nothing else mattered.

There wasn't much she could do to pass the time these days. Benched for the sake of their child, she'd been scolded by Ludwig after her latest attempt to insist she was fine to play. Now her days consisted of waiting for Athena, who was gone by eight and only returned depending on her workload—sometimes at five in the evening, sometimes near midnight. It frustrated her to no end, but Fleur knew Athena never stayed late out of choice. She'd often tease that her wife was too lazy to willingly take overtime.

Slipping closer, Fleur reached out, pressing a soft kiss to Athena's neck, her lips brushing the warm skin. She lingered, letting her kisses turn into gentle, teasing nibbles along her wife's collarbone. A soft hum escaped Athena, her body stirring beneath the gentle touch as sleep began to slip away.

"Hello," Athena murmured, trying to turn to face Fleur, only to feel her wife's hands keeping her in place. Fleur chuckled, placing another gentle kiss on the freshly marked skin. "My love, what do you need?"

"I need you. And maybe some strawberries," Fleur whispered, fingers idly tracing patterns on Athena's clothed toned abs.

"Which one first?" Athena sighed, reaching over to switch on the lamp, casting a soft glow across the room. Fleur's eyes met hers, a glint in them as she made her choice clear.

"I want you to wear the strap," Fleur murmured, her voice low, a smirk tugging at her lips.

"Oh?" Athena smirked back, slipping out of bed and heading to the closet. "Anything else?"

"Can I be on top?" Fleur asked, biting her lip as she followed Athena's every movement with hungry eyes.

"Of course."

"And can you... lose the clothes?" she asked, voice teasing yet firm.

Athena chuckled, nodding as she placed the strap on the bed before slowly peeling off her shirt. Fleur's gaze softened as she took in the sight of her wife, wondering if it was possible to fall in love with her even more, or if it was simply the pregnancy hormones amplifying everything.

"Need any help?" Athena asked, raising a brow as she caught the look on Fleur's face.

"I have magic, remember?" Fleur smirked, giving a small flick of her fingers as her pajamas disappeared, leaving her bare. Athena snorted, unable to hide her amusement as she settled back onto the bed, watching her wife climb on top of her.

"Six months along, and the bump is barely showing," Fleur remarked, her hands drifting to her stomach as she settled herself, letting out a deep exhale—slowly sliding down the faux cock. Athena placed a hand over Fleur's, leaning up to press a gentle kiss to her lips. Fleur pushed Athena back to the pillows and the Captain just let her wife use her as she see fits.

"How long?"

"What?" Fleur gasped, leaning down as her hands pinned her wife's wrists to the bed. Thoughts blurred, and focus drifted as Athena's movements worked their magic.

"How long have you been needy?" Athena asked softly, feeling the guilt creeped in as she looked up at Fleur, forehead pressing against hers. Fleur squeezed her eyes shut, fighting to hold on just a little longer, though her body shuddered in response to every thrust.

"A while," Fleur managed, groaning as her body tightened around Athena.

Then, with a final cry, she came, Athena's name bursting from her lips, echoing through their bedroom. The imperturbable charm on the room held strong, sparing the other Weasleys in the safe house from any shock. Fleur collapsed, shuddering as she buried her face in Athena's neck, her rhythm slowing down.

"Good?" Athena whispered, lips brushing the tip of Fleur's ear. Fleur took her time catching her breath, savoring Athena's gentle kisses across her face and tangled silver-blonde hair. She chuckled, nodding, feeling warmth flood her chest as she lay back against the sheets.

With a flick of her wrist, Athena sent the strap-on soaring to the bathroom sink. She sat up, moving to slide out of bed, but Fleur caught her wrist.

"What's wrong, cherie?" Fleur asked softly, pulling her wife back down beside her. "Something's bothering you. I won't push—I learned that the hard way before." Her fingers tightened slightly, a silent reassurance. "But I think it's your turn."

Athena's lips parted, a soft laugh escaping as she took in Fleur's unwavering gaze, her amber eyes serious yet playful.

"You're not denying me this," Fleur murmured, smirking as she looked up at her wife. "Now—sit on my face."

— | —

20 September 1997

"Where on Earth did you go?" Fleur grumbled, entering the kitchen with a sigh that suggested she'd been searching longer than she liked.

"To get your strawberries?" Athena replied, though there was a slight hesitation in her voice, as if she wasn't entirely sure the strawberries had even made it into her bag.

"You remembered that?" Fleur asked, eyebrows lifting in surprise.

"Among other things," Athena said, a hint of a smirk tugging at the corners of her lips. She flipped a pancake on the skillet, the batter sizzling to a golden brown, and let it settle a little longer. "George, pancakes!"

"What?" came the groggy response from somewhere down the hall. "Can't you just ask Ginny?"

"Oh, I could," Athena replied, amused, "but do you want to be fully deaf?"

That seemed to do the trick. There was a shuffle of hurried footsteps before George came skidding into the kitchen, eyes half-closed, hair still mussed from sleep. Fleur's soft laugh rang out, earning him a flush of color as he tried to look fully alert.

"Can you cut up the strawberries for my wife?" Athena asked, giving him a look that didn't exactly invite refusal.

George grumbled something under his breath but went to work, grabbing the fresh strawberries Athena had retrieved and chopping them with a bit of gruff efficiency.

"Do you want smoothies?" Athena asked, looking over at Fleur with a bit of softness in her gaze.

"Yes, please," Fleur said, a dreamy look on her face as she thought of those smoothies. "I've missed those."

Athena smiled, already waving her wand as the fruit magically arranged itself on the counter. The knife moved on its own, slicing each piece into perfect cubes before they floated neatly into the blender. With a soft hum, the blender started up, mixing a vibrant, colorful concoction. Fleur's shoulders relaxed as she inhaled the fresh scent of the fruit, the quiet sounds of breakfast filling the air around them.

Athena gave her a careful, thoughtful look. "Anywhere hurting? Any discomfort?" she asked, studying her wife's face for the slightest sign of strain.

Fleur reached out, touching Athena's hand with a warm smile. "I'm fine, Darling. Really. But please, say I have you all weekend?"

Athena's eyes brightened, and she nodded. "Of course. Do you want to leave the safe house for a bit?"

"And go where, exactly?" Fleur asked, her eyebrows arching in curiosity.

"Anywhere we won't interrupt your bedtime," George said, his voice dropping slightly, a playful tone hinting at something more.

"You did put up the charm, right?" Athena asked, her smile vanishing as her cheeks flushed in alarm.

Fleur winced, her face showing the faintest trace of guilt. "Might've... slipped my mind," she admitted, giving Athena an apologetic smile.

Athena's face went red, realizing just what this meant for their housemates—her cousins. She stole a look at George, who was doing his best to pretend he hadn't heard anything, but his ears were a shade of pink to rival her own.

"Maybe," Athena said in a half-mortified, half-laughing voice, "I should just add another layer of charm next time."

George finally cracked a smile, tossing a chopped strawberry in her direction. "Yeah, that'd be helpful. I'd rather not experience another... reminder," he muttered with a smirk.

Fleur pressed a hand to her mouth, laughter spilling out as Athena ducked, the strawberry missing her by a few inches and landing with a soft splat on the counter. They exchanged a glance, the slight mortification and amusement shared between them.

"I think breakfast just got a bit safer," Athena said, giving Fleur's hand a squeeze. "Oh, I hate you so much."

"I love you so much too, Cherie."

— | —