Chapter 18 - Platform 9 ?’s (2/2)
Everyone babbles as cats' meow from their owner's arms and owls hoot form their cages. Through the indecipherable babble, Severus somehow manages to spot the ginger figure of Lily and that of her parents. Severus eagerly waves and by some unknown means of telepathy, Lily spots Severus and waves back. Severus rushes over with his trolley as Reginald quietly pushes Rowan's trolley and says, ”About your mother-.”
Rowan coldly interrupts, ”I know, she left us.”
Reginald eyes fill with sadness as he slowly says, ”It's not your or your brother's fault, she just simply said that she needed some time to clear her head.”
”Without us,” Rowan flatly retorted.
Reginald is quiet for a moment, before carefully replying, ”I had already suspected as much when you mother agreed to have your surnames changed to Prince and had us assigned as your guardians in the case of her absence.”
Glancing over at the cheerful form of Severus, Rowan says, ”Grandfather, please inform Severus at a later date, let's not ruin this day for him of all days.”
Reginald nods his head in agreement as the two quietly stand there for a moment. ”Do you think that at least she loved him, once?” Rowan suddenly inquired.
”I suspect very much so,” Reginald truthfully replied. ”For the first time in her life, Eileen fought us every step of the way, before finally eloping with Tobias Snape. Those two may not have been a good couple by any means, but I do promise you this, the two of you were born out of love.”
Rowan gently reaches for Reginald's hand and give it a tight squeeze. Rowan smiles gratefully at her grandfather in silent thanks as the train lets out a sharp whistle at the time. Rowan gives her grandfather one last hug, before hurrying over to Severus and Lily with her trolley.
Giving Lily some space to say goodbye to her parents, Rowan pulls Severus aside and says, ”Grandfather just told me that mother had to leave because she went on some urgent errand.”
”Really?” Severus said with some suspicion.
”Mm,” Rowan lied.
”Well, maybe, she'll come back feeling refreshed,” Severus solemnly said. Although a part of him felt that there was more to the story that wasn't being told. But even so, he didn't want to inquire further into the subject today of all days.
”Yeah,” Rowan ruefully said as she tousled Severus's hair causing him to glare.
Rowan's grin widens as they begin to toss their things onto the train, before climbing aboard. Seeing their actions, Lily hurries over as they aid Lily with her trunk and owl cage. Having successful boarded, the three of them head towards the back of the train to search for an empty compartment. After a careful search, they select a compartment towards the back, before tiredly settling down as they shove their trunks under their seats and carefully place the owl cages to hang overhead.
The train suddenly lets out a warning shriek as the last of the gaggle hurries to board the train, before the Hogwarts Express departs. Lily glances back one last time and waves goodbye as Rowan yawns and Severus rather shyly waves goodbye to their grandfather. With one last whistle, the train surges forward as the platform vanishes from view and the Hogwarts Express speeds up on its journey to Hogwarts.