Chapter 45 - Hallows Eve Aftermath (2/2)
With a cheerful smile, Rowan motions Severus to follow her back to the common room area as Severus says, ”You know they'll eventually figure it was you.”
”Maybe or maybe not,” Rowan cheerfully said. Severus rolls his eyes as they enter the common room area and find that the common room area is almost empty except for a few figures, who are snoring and passed out on the couches.
Rowan as usual eyes the green like windows as schools of fish passed by with watchful eyes. ”Did I mention that I don't like fish life?” Rowan commented.
”Yes, on a regular daily basis,” Severus drily said. ”I'm going back to bed to lie down for a bit.”
”Alright then, see you later,” Rowan replied as she grabs her tabloid from under her arm. Severus heads upstairs as Rowan begins to read the Daily Prophet. Nothing of interest is on the front page or the next as she skimmed through the moving images and news articles. Hearing footsteps, Rowan glanced up to see the Slytherin Head Boy, Lucius Malfoy. Doing her best to hide her smirk, she lowers the tabloids and coolly says, ”It looks like I won our bet.”
”Yes, it would seem so,” Lucius truthfully said as he took the opposing seat across from her.
The two are quiet for a moment as Lucius says, ”But what I don't understand is how such a cunning witch such as yourself ever became friends with Mudblood Evans and those insipid Gryffindor's.”
Rowan kept a poker face and coolly answered, ”Isn't it best to hide in plain sight?”
Lucius blinked in surprise before coldly laughing. ”Well, you certainly are the embodiment of the Slytherin values, both cunning and sly.”
The two study each other for a moment before Lucius gets up and says, ”I will hold my end of our bargain and disband our impromptu meetings including forbidding any talk of joining Tom Riddle as I shall use your persuasive argument to aid me in my endeavor. However, I must point out that more than a few fervent Slytherins will remain loyal to his cause and may continue to seek out ways to join him.”
”And are one of those loyal followers, you and Narcissa?” Rowan pointedly inquired.
”I for one will not-,” Lucius frankly declared. ”-Nor will Narcissa.” Lucius briskly nods to her, before rather elegantly striding out of the common room area.
Rowan watches his figure vanish to only feel an unsettling feeling of being watched. She glanced up to only find a giant squid-like eye staring at her from the lake window causing her to shiver in horror. Crossly, she flips the squid the bird through the enchanted glass as the squid suddenly squirts ink and vanishes into the inky cloud.
Sniffing to herself, Rowan sighs just a bit in relief in realization thought at least one step of the journey had been successfully completed. The attack had failed, and the brainwashing of future Death Eaters had stopped for the moment. It was a good start and that was enough for the moment.