Chapter 99 - Quality Quidditch Supplies (1/2)
The two girls approach the shop where brooms and Quidditch team uniforms are hung in the front glass window. Stopping a few feet away, the girls study the boys with their noses pressed against the window in awe. Causing Rowan to once more grimace at the lack of hygiene in the wizarding world.
”Well, we're here,” Lily lamely said.
”I know,” Rowan grumbled.
”Well, you first.”
”Me? Does it look like I want to step into that testosterone infested shop?! Besides you're Severus's best friend.”
”And you're his twin!”
”Touché.”
”Either way someone has to go and get them.”
”Yes, but grandfather explicitly told us to stick together.”
”You're just stalling, Rowan.”
”Maybe, but I do notice that your Gryffindor tendencies have suddenly gone awry.”
”Is that supposed to be an insult, because it's not. I'm much more than just a dumb old Gryffindor!”
A loud snicker is heard in reply as Lily glares and crosses her arms at Rowan. ”Fine, we'll go together,” Rowan said with a roll of her eyes. And so, with clear and utter reluctance the two girls stepped into the foreign domain.
It didn't even take them a minute to spot the tallboy and even taller man discussing the finer things in life. Controlling herself, Rowan approaches from behind and says, ”You do know what time it is, don't you, grandfather?”
”A quarter till five,” Reginald automatically replied without thinking. Suddenly, he pales as he turns around to find his granddaughter wearing a smile that eerily resembled that of his wife when she was most vexed.
”We've finished our foraging some time ago, I presume that both of you have as well?” Rowan steely asked.
Reginald holds back the instinct to flinch. ”I admit we got a bit carried away,” Reginald admitted with some trepidation.
”Yes, most definitely,” Severus said in agreement at seeing the look on his twin's face.
”Good, then hurry up and pay for them,” Rowan said through near gritted teeth. The two males hastily grabbed the broom and various other Quidditch items as they beat a hasty retreat towards the counter.
Observing with a smile, Lily says, ”My dad does the same thing when he comes home late from a football match.”
”Males,” Rowan grunted under her breath as Lily says, ”You know there are female fans too, right? That's just being stereotypical.”
”Yes, yes,” Rowan dismissively said as they heard the door open behind them.
”I'm getting the best broom there is!” A familiar voice said from behind them.
”Not, if I get there first!” Another familiar boy's voice said.
Rowan's back stiffens with dread as Lily comments, ”Oh, it's James and Sirius.”
Forcing herself to turn around, Rowan gloomily spots the troublesome duo standing before the most expensive brooms in the place. It would figure that with her luck, she would run into the dynamic duo. Holding her breath, she purposefully turns to face her grandfather. Maybe if she ignored them, they'd be too dazed to notice her....
Sirius turns and instantly spot the two girls and elbows James in the ribs. ”What!” James snapped as Sirius gestured over with his eyes. James glances in the direction and instantly meets Lily's eyes, who smiles back. James grins back and hurries over leaving Sirius trailing behind.
”Evans, what a plea-zure to see you,” James joked.
”Potter!” Lily rolled her eyes in exasperation.
”I'm just joking,” James said as Rowan continued to ignore them.
”C'mon don't be so stiff, Rowan,” Sirius said as he slapped Rowan playfully across her back.
Rowan winces from the brutal slap, before glancing over at the two of them. ”Yes, it is so nice to see the both of you,” Rowan drawled.
”I knew you'd miss us,” Sirius proudly proclaimed with a knowing grin.
Barely avoiding rolling her eyes, Rowan asks, ”And just where are both of your parents that they left the two of you wild beasts on the loose?”
”Same can be asked about you,” James smirked.
Rowan huffs but doesn't reply as Lily explains, ”We're here with Rowan's grandfather.”
Frowning James with some concern asks, ”Is there something wrong with your parents, Lily?”
”No, they're fine. But since I'll be staying the last two weeks of summer with the twins, my parents thought it be best I shop with them,” Lily replied.
”That's good,” James said with a warm smile causing Lily to grin back.
Failing to see the mood, Sirius whines, ”So, how come you didn't invite us?”
”Lily's a childhood friend, the both of you are not,” Rowan brutally answered.
”Ouch,” Sirius winced. ”But Severus and I are friends too!”
”Next year then,” Rowan briskly replied.
”Fine, but that's a promise!” Sirius boldly declared.
”I didn't promise anything,” Rowan grumbled back to no avail as Sirius chanted, ”Next year! Next year!”
Before Rowan can shut Sirius up, the door slamming open causes them all to turn to see a scowling dark-haired woman with sharp attractive features and the black family gray eyes. ”There you are, we've been looking everywhere,” Walburga Black snapped as her husband from behind her frowns at his eldest son, whilst the small blank-faced figure of Regulus can be seen peeking from behind them.
Sirius wilts right before their eyes as he says, ”Sorry, but I best be going, my mother's calling me.”
Walburga Black is about to bark again, when her husband, Orion steps out from behind her. ”Sirius introduce us,” Orion steely said as his gray eyes icily scanned them over.
”Yes, father,” Sirius said through gritted teeth. ”James Potter, a Gryffindor,” Sirius added as if to rub it in.
”Yes, a pureblood,” Orion remarked before his eyes swept over to Lily.