Chapter 7 - Return Ⅱ (2/2)
Severus eyes bulge in shock as he paused and rather disgruntled murmurs, ”You're right, now that I think of it.” Squinting his eyes at Rowan, Severus tries to imagine the image and utterly fails. ”Now that I think of it you might not look good in one.”
Rowan proudly gazes back and shamelessly replies, ”Nope.”
Severus' eyes gleam with mischief, but before he can tease Rowan, Dawn, the house-elf appears in the doorway and squeakily says, ”The master is requesting the youngling's presence in his study.”
Rowan and Severus glance at each other in dubious silence, before being led to the study room. The two of them enter to find open books with a fascinating assortment of potions and such strewn across various worktables. Rowan studies the books on the wall in fascination, while Severus' eyes gleam as he eyes the potions on the table. ”I presume that Rowan is on the left and Severus on the right, am I correct?” Reginald Prince remarked from his seat at his desk.
The twins turn to gaze at Reginald Prince, who looks up from his open manuscript on his desk. ”That is correct, sir,” Rowan and Severus replied in unison.
Reginald Prince nods his head slowly and says, ”Hmm, the two of you are a fine pair of twins.” He reaches to a side drawer and pulls out an engraved can that pops open. ”Care for a sweet?” Reginald politely asked as he offers honey-colored toffees to the twins.
Rowan politely takes one for herself and Severus, before handing the can back to Reginald. ”Thank you, sir,” the twins politely chimed back.
Reginald gestures that it is fine as he puts the canned sweets away. Clearing his throat, Reginald bluntly says, ”Please excuse my wife and my younger sister, Georgine, but it was an utterly devastating blow to both of them when Eileen ran off with that man.”
”It's a wonder to me too,” Rowan mused out loud. ”He's not even a tad bit charming or good looking. What do you think, Sev?”
Severus shrugs and sarcastically says, ”I'm only a child, what do I know of the affairs of the heart?” Rowan snickers causing Severus to fiercely glare back.
”Yes, well, no matter,” Reginald murmured. ”The three of you are here now and will stay where you belong.” Rowan and Severus blink with shock at being so warmly received. They hadn't thought their grandfather would be so open, but apparently, that was the case. Maybe, their stay wouldn't be so bad, after all.
”The two of you may freely enter the study and read any the books you like, I only ask that you promise to not enact any of the magic contents found within,” Reginald carefully instructed.
”Of course! Because if that were not the case, I would already be dead given how many curses and hexes, Sev knows,” Rowan wryly stated as Severus had often snuck into their parent's room to read the hidden spell books of their mother hidden under their parent's bed.
Severus glares at Rowan and stiffly says, ”Well some of us like to be prepared!”
Rowan rolls her eyes in reply causing Reginald to hide a twinkling gleam of warmth. ”Well, one can never be too prepared. But if I may, I would like to make a couple of recommendations,” Reginald suggested as he moves over to the bookshelf and begins to pull out several books.
By the time breakfast is to be served, Rowan and Severus quietly read in some rather luxurious, comfortable leather chairs. All the while, Reginald in the background tinkers around with his various ongoing experiments. Strangely enough, the three of them are left alone to their own devices and are not interrupted. Dawn, the house-elf kindly leaves a cart of warm food charmed to stay warm at the door for whenever they get hungry.
On the other hand, the three Prince women were left alone at the seated table in the dining hall for brunch, which only served to augment the already chilly, awkward air between them. To be perfectly honest, it was a most terrible meal.