Chapter 97 - Florean Fortescue Ice Cream Parlor (1/2)
As usual, Rowan and Severus weakly exit the enchanted vehicle as they wait on unsteady feet to gain their bearings. ”Severus!” The familiar voice of Lily called out!
Severus gulped down any feeling of vomit as Lily happily ran over and waved to her parents. Mr. Evans, a ginger man with brown eyes drags a school trunk behind him, while Mrs. Evans, a dark-haired woman with emerald eyes carries an empty owl cage in her arms. ”Where's Nibby?” Severus croaked.
”I sent her over to your place, she should be there by now,” Lily explained.
Straightening up, Rowan idly remarks, ”And where's Petunia?”
Lily's face slightly falters as she says, ”Tuney wasn't feeling very well and stayed home.”
Seeing Lily's face, Rowan doesn't press for more as the Reginald extends his hand to greet the Evans couple. ”Thank you for having Lily over,” Mr. Evans said.
”We are sorry for the trouble,” Mrs. Evans added.
”It is no trouble at all,” Reginald graciously declared, before leading them over to the vehicle's trunk. With ease, the Evans slide the trunk and owl cage into the enchanted trunk, before Reginald locks the vehicle.
”A pleasure to see you again, Mr. and Mrs.'s Evans,” Severus sincerely said as the Evans couple stopped before them.
”Likewise, Severus,” the Evans couple replied, before glancing over at Rowan. ”You as well, Rowan.”
”Thank you,” Rowan stiffly replied as the Evans couple hid a smile at seeing her slightly green-tinted visage.
”Then we will take our leave, Mr. Prince and leave Lily, in your care,” Mr. Evans said as Mrs. Evans warmly embraced her daughter in a hug goodbye.
”Promise to write, Lily-bear,” Mrs. Evans whispered into her daughter's ear as Lily hummed in reply.
”I will ensure that she is properly returned in the same state,” Reginald promised to Mr. Evan's relief. Mr. Evans reaches over and lovingly pats Lily on the hand, before reaching over for his wife's hand and walking back to their own car.
”Well, then shall we go, children?” Reginald asked as they all nodded their heads in reply. The three children follow after Reginald's long strides as Lily only pauses to glance back and wave at her parents, before running back to catch up.
With practiced ease and confidence, Reginald leads the children through the Leaky Cauldron and back out towards the alley. Tapping his wand on the bricks, three up and two across the entrance of Diagon Alley appears. Having seen this the year before, the children don't stop to gape and closely follow behind Reginald into Diagon Alley. Lily and Severus slightly gape in awe, but in a much more restrained manner as this was their second visit after all.
With the sun shining brightly overhead, Reginald promptly leads the children to the grand snow-white building in the distance. ”We'll first exchange, Miss Evan's money and then head off,” Reginald explained.
As per usual, goblins stand in uniform before the burnished bronze doors. Lily and Severus study the grand marble hall as they head over to the place of currency exchange. Gringotts is busy as goblins bow and escort patrons, while hundreds of goblins sit on high stools behind counters, scribble in ledgers, weighing coins, examining precious stones, and much, much more.
The three children remain behind with Reginald until they are called up by a free gobbling. ”Currency exchange for Miss Evans,” Reginald firmly said as he held out a small pouch filled with cash.
”Of course, Mr. Prince,” the goblin politely said, before taking the money and carefully calculating it out.
”Huh,” Rowan thought to herself as she recalled how briskly the Evans couple were treated the year before. ”It does seem as though there is some selective preference after all.”