Chapter 114 - Trouble in Paradise ? ? (1/2)
Rowan couldn't quite understand just why she was so very angry as she made her way up to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom. Halfway there she paused in a rather brightly lit corridor and sighs. If she was completely honest with herself, maybe, just maybe it was because she was more than a bit fond of the four idiots. And that Sirius's thoughtless remark, just maybe might have pricked at her heart more than should have under any other of circumstances.
Staring out onto the green lawn, Rowan doesn't see the figure steadily approaching behind her. ”Trouble in paradise?” A familiar warm voice said causing that strange fluttering again in Rowan's stomach.
Rowan turns away from the window to see the 6th year, a dark-eyed young man with curly dark. Over the summer S.R. Wilkes had grown taller as his shoulders filled out more becoming more of a man than a boy. ”I take it, I came at a bad time?” Wilkes teased with a glittering smile.
”You could say that,” Rowan murmured as she leaned back to rest against the window frame.
”So, what are you going to do that pompous, Gryffindor? Do you want some aid in getting your revenge?” Wilkes kindly offered.
”No, I'd rather not be that petty,” Rowan declined as she turned her head to the side.
”Then you're going to forgive him?” Wilkes said with some speculation in his gaze.
”Eventually,” Rowan said with a faint twitch of her lips.
”Oh, I get it, you're going to make him grovel. Tch, you, conniving girl, you certainly know where to hit a Gryffindor, right in their arrogant pride,” Wilkes cackled as Rowan struggled not to smile.
Rowan snorts, ”I prefer the word cunning myself.”
”You're certainly are,” Wilkes said as he leaned close enough for Rowan to smell his crisp smelling body wash.
”You've grown,” Wilkes teased as he placed his hand over her head.
”Yes, well,” Rowan said as she moved her head to the side avoiding his hand. ”You've grown taller as well.”
The two stared at each other for only a second when the moment is broken by Lupin calling out, ”Rowan?”
”Well, I best be going now, I've got a class to get too,” Wilkes said, before turning away and darting down the corridor.
Rowan gazes at his retreating back for a moment, before turning in the direction of Lupin's yelling. ”I'm over here, Lupin, stop yelling!” Rowan called out.
A scrambling of footsteps can be heard as Lupin turns the corner and gasped, ”There you are!” Lupin breathlessly trots over with Pettigrew in tow. ”I'm so sorry about Sirius. I certainly don't think that about you or the rest of the Slytherins. Well, maybe, some, but they're bullies.”
Rowan chuckles slowly at Lupin's last words. ”Idiot, of course, I don't blame you. You are no more capable of controlling Sirius Black's mouth than trying to tame a kneazle. In fact, I think you might have better luck with the kneazle in the end.”
Glancing over at Pettigrew, Rowan arches an eyebrow in surprise. Seeing Rowan's expression, Pettigrew sniffs and says, ”Let's not pretend that we like each other very much because we don't! But just because I don't like you that doesn't mean you aren't important to the rest of the gang. And besides, I'd never say something like that you, I mean. My mother taught me manners.”
A rare slow smile appears on Rowan's face as she leans over and places a gentle kiss on Lupin's cheek. Lupin flushes as Pettigrew gapes in utter shock. In disbelief, Lupin reaches over to touch his cheek in wonder as Rowan says, ”Thank you, my gallant knight, in shining armor.”
Pettigrew snorts under his breath, ”Figures.”
But before he can speak another word, Rowan places an unexpected kiss on his cheek. Pettigrew's mouth flop opens as Lupin gapes in sheer shock and surprise. ”Thank you for being so brave, Pettigrew. I know it couldn't have been easy for you to stand up to James and Sirius,” Rowan honestly said.