Chapter 71 - Birthday? (2/2)

Terry cackles as he takes Severus's king, before saying, ”And did you give her anything?”

”Just the usual gift, a small trinket,” Severus dully replied being a sore loser.

Terry shakes his head and mutters under his breath, ”No wonder, Rowan looks at you with such pitying eyes. Even I feel that's too weak of a move.”

Sighing, Terry leans over and says, ”Don't worry, even if you get dumped one day in the future, I'll make sure to set you up with one of my cousins, they're real beauties.”

”No thanks,” Severus flatly retorted.

”It's alright, mate, I've got your back,” Terry said with an exaggerated wink, which only caused Severus to roll his eyes in exasperation.

”Let's go get dinner,” Severus gruffly said as he changed the subject and rose to his feet.

Terry loudly grins causing to Severus to growl under his breath, ”I think I prefer Sirius.” That merely makes the Cheshire grin on Terry's face to get wider as they head to the Great Hall. Either way, this wouldn't be the first time nor the last time.

Elsewhere in the girl's dorm, Rowan studies her few notes while huddling under a warm fur quilt, a gift from Aunt Georgine from Christmas, who frostily said, ”Those blasted dorm rooms are iceboxes.” Which was true and for which Rowan was profoundly grateful for the very thick quilt.

Back from an early dinner, the other three girls blink in surprise at finding Rowan in the dorm room. ”Well, that's unexpected. So, what brings you here to our lovely dwelling?” Silvia teasingly said.

”I sleep here too, you know,” Rowan huffed.

”I only jest,” Silvia muttered. ”Jeez, what has your panties all up in a wad?”

”Nothing,” Rowan grumbled as she put her notes away.

The three girls share a look as Bethanie says, ”Well, we thought as much so we saved you a few rolls and a slice of ham to make a ham roll.”

Rowan lets out a groan and thinks to herself, ”I want vegetable masala, sushi, Peking duck! Just one such meal would be nice!”

”Not hungry?” Bethanie worriedly asked as Rowan numbly took the rolls.

”No, I just don't have much an appetite this evening,” Rowan sagely answered. ”But thanks, anyway,” before taking a bite of the soft rolls.

”Well, just in case, make sure to at least have a snack,” Bethanie suggested.

”She knows, Bethanie,” Tiffany interrupted.

”I know that, but it can't hurt to remind her,” Bethanie commented as she curled up inside the thick, warm blanket. ”Brr, I hate this lasted weather.”

”I think we all do,” Silvia drily said from her own bed. ”And we just had to get stuck in Slytherin, who happens to reside in the dungeons.”

”So, do the Hufflepuffs,” Tiffany chimed in.

”The lucky ones are the Ravenclaws and Gryffindors,” Rowan growled. ”They've got their cozy towers.”

”But during the warm months, we are the ones, who are better off,” Bethanie commented.

”Maybe, but I'd rather face the heat than be frozen all during winter,” Silvia muttered.

”That's definitely true,” Tiffany said in agreement.

After that, the room becomes quiet as the four girls did their homework or in Rowan's case, reviewed all her notes looking for connections and anything she might have missed. Nevertheless, it soon became time for bed and the girls curled up for the night.