Chapter 93 - Grass Snake (1/2)
The day is rather sunny as Rowan yawns lazily in the cool shade and leans further up against the comfortable tree nook. Glancing away from her book, she gazes over at Severus, who is re-reading Lily's letter for the hundredth time. Rolling her eyes in annoyance, she says, ”Sev, you must have read that letter a thousand times. Just hurry up and reply back already!”
”I'm thinking of an appropriate response!” Severus snapped as he glared over at his twin sister.
”It's not that complicated of response,” Rowan yawned. ”Besides you've already finished your summer homework and know the answer to every single of her questions. Stop being such a ninny and get on with it.” Severus grumbles something about odious sisters under his breath and stomps away.
”Stupid two-legged! You almost stepped on me!” Said an angry voice.
Rowan automatically startles and glances around to see no one standing nearby.
”May you break one of your flimsy legs, two-legged!” The angry voice cursed again.
With eyes darting around, Rowan doesn't spot anyone and begins to suddenly question her own sanity. ”Have I been out in the sun too long? Maybe I should go lie down inside,” Rowan warily thought to herself.
Still hearing the grumbling from nearby and against her own common sense, Rowan decided to find the source. Slowly climbing onto her feet, she steps in the direction of the sound. The grumbling grows louder until she spots a common olive-green grass snake slithering nearby. Upon noticing her nearby, the grass snake crossly hisses, ”And here comes another one! Go away! Leave me alone!”
Staring in utter bewilderment at the snake, Rowan glances around once more to make sure no one is nearby, but all she sees is the hissing grass snake from before muttering about stupid two-legged, disturbing sun-bathing time. Somewhat queasily, Rowan weakly slumps to the ground as her mind attempts to wrap itself around the impossibility occurring before her.
”Touched any weird mysterious artifacts lately? No. Touched any snakelike artifacts? No. Touched any dark artifacts? No. Went and explored somewhere I shouldn't? Yes. Questioning my own sanity? Yes.” Rowan privately thought to herself as she rather lightheaded got back onto her feet. Making sure that the snake had slithered away, she somewhat in a daze crossed the neatly trimmed grounds and somehow managed to make it back to her bedroom without walking into a wall.
Rowan laid on the bed for some time, before finally pulling herself together. Though a most unexpected complication, it was something she could most certainly work with. Climbing to her feet, she stops to wash her somewhat pale face, before heading out to get some answers. Her immediate first stop is the attic, where Sir Knight Prince is engaged in a wizarding chess match against his ghostly body.
The handsome young ghost in the prime of his youth grins happily at seeing her. ”Up for another match, Rowan?”
Rowan shakes her head and casually says, ”I was looking at the family tree and I noticed that during the 10th Century, we not only changed our original surname to Prince but migrated over to France for a time, before returning several generations later. That wouldn't have had anything to do with Salazar Slytherin, now would it?”
The main ghost body of Sir Knight Prince flinches as his eyes wildly dart around. ”No, no, ah, we moved because most of the family died in battle and the last male heir was in danger from enemies at the time. As such, France was deemed as a suitable place to dwell in until the family had grown again,” Sir Knight Prince somewhat honestly replied.
Staring down her nose, Rowan retorts, ”Yes, but that does not mean that we are not related to Salazar Slytherin, now does it?”
”Well, you just look at the time?” Sir Knight Prince stammered. ”I best be going, I promised Reginald that I would have a chat with him.” Not even waiting for a reply, Sir Knight Prince's main body grabs him, before fleeing from the room and through the wall.
Frowning at not having gotten a response, Rowan heads off to her next destination, an elegantly furnished parlor in light blues and beige colors. As usual, Aunt Georgine sits at the bench of the grand pianoforte as the keyboards play on their own, while Sirsa Prince embroiders.
Aunt Georgine is the first to spot her in the doorway and instantly stops playing. ”To what do we ow this unexpected visit?” Georgine sarcastically murmured.
Sirsa glances up in surprise before worry crosses her eyes. ”Is there something wrong, Rowan?”
”No grandmother, but I do have a question,” Rowan solemnly replied as she took a seat before them.
”A question for us? Oh goody,” Georgine deadpanned.
Sirsa gives Georgine a warning look, before saying, ”Well child, what is it?” Seeing Rowan taking a moment to compose her thoughts, Sirsa hesitantly says, ”Is this about your becoming a young woman? I was informed by Madam Pomfrey and had Dawn order all the necessary items. Is there anything missing?”
Rowan's ears turn red in embarrassment as she exclaims, ”No, grandmother, everything is fine!”