Chapter 134 - – Er, expecting? (1/2)
Perhaps, Rowan was starting to gain a stomach of steel because she found that she wasn't quite as green or as sick as she thought she would be on the trip home. Feeling a bit cheered up at that prospect that she energetically scrambled up the steps as she appreciated Dawn's handy work.
Great trails of mistletoe and holly wreaths hang from every corner enchanted to form wondrous shapes or tell a children's tale. Wearing holiday livery, Dawn happily greets them at the front door. ”Welcome home, young master and mistress!” Before happily pushing a mug of warm cider and a soft roll into their hands.
”Thank you, Dawn,” Rowan said as Severus merely grunted still feeling quite queasy. ”You really outdid yourself, Dawn,” Rowan added at seeing the inside of Prince manor as she took a sip of her cider and a bite of her roll.
As usual, the halls are impeccably decorated with tinsel toe, strings of holly, and hundreds of delicate glowing decorations. Although the decorations were slightly different this year in comparison from last year, the great pine trees were solely decorated with pinecones, red berries, tiny glowing like fruit with garlands of popcorn, and burning gold pillar candles enchanted not to burn the tree.
There were baskets of clove spiced fruit, small pots of poinsettias, and so much more. In addition, there was a lot more greenery than before ivy, oak, laurel, bayberry, blessed thistle, pine, sage, and yellow cedar.
Sniffing the air, Rowan quickly detected a warm, spicy like scent reminiscent of cinnamon or ginner snaps, frankincense oil. Blinking Rowan blinks around and turns to her grandfather, who hands over the twins' trunks to Dawn. ”Do you like it?” Reginald chuckled at seeing Rowan's curious face and Severus's still green face.
”Is it for Yule?” Rowan curiously asked.
”Mm, yes,” Reginald said with a smile. ”Not many still practice the old traditions except for the pureblood families.”
”Ah,” Rowan said in understanding. ”Well, it's a shame, it does seem quite lovely.”
”It is,” Reginald said with a twinkle with his eye. ”Don't misunderstand, I don't mind Christmas as such as it is still a time for witches and wizards to gather together. But I still very much enjoy the twelve days of Wassail.”
”You would brother,” Georgine's sharp voice can be heard from behind. ”It's in the blood given what a drunken wastrel our father was.” Rowan blinks in interest at suddenly hearing about their great-grandfather. Even Severus looks up looking pale rather than green.
Eying the children, Georgine huffs, ”Ye gods and little fishes, brother! At the rate these two are growing, we'll soon be in the poorhouse!”
”That's exactly what I said,” Reginald chuckled earning a swift glare from the twins.
”Well, off you go you two,” Georgine said with a wave of her hand. ”You're to bathe and make yourselves presentable for dinner.” Rowan and Severus shoot their grandfather and aunt one final glare, before leaving with their warm mugs and rolls in hand.
With the children safely out of sight, Georgine says, ”Well, any changes?”
”They both seem fine, but I have heard rumors that Professor Adric seems unusually interested in the pair of them.”
”That could mean anything, Reginald.”
”I know, but still, it makes me more than a trifle uneasy at having an unknown teacher be so very interested in them.”
”Well, they are superb dueler's if the letters are to be true and it is in their blood. The Prince's aren't exactly weak, to say the least.”
”No, we most certainly are not,” Reginald said, before turning towards his sister with a gleam of interest. ”You will never guess who I came across?”
”Who?” Georgine asked with an arched eyebrow.
”Orion Black.”
”What about the brat?”
”He rather politely inquired whether you would be attending the Malfoy official betrothal ball?”
”Strange, we're hardly friends. And why is that?”
”Apparently there are old friends who wish to see you.”
”Tch, as if I would ever deem to call them friends. We were only in the same house for seven godda*n awful years!”
”Yes, well, nevertheless will you be attending?”
Georgine sniffs and says, ”I might as well get my jollies whilst as I still can. I'm sure they've grown fat and old to have a good laugh at.”
Reginald nods his head and says, ”I'll inform, Sirsa. Though she wanted to attend, I think it best that one of us remain behind with the children.”
”I'd rather it be you, brother,” Georgine smirked, before turning away and departing for her own rooms. Reginald shakes his head and sighs as he makes his way to his own study. He'd have plenty of time to tell his wife. Or it was simply putting off the inevitable. Either way, he wasn't going to complain.
Later washed and dressed, Rowan sits on Severus's bed as she watches him pick out a jumper. ”You know, they're all the same just in different colors,” Rowan commented at his indecision.
”I know!” Severus snapped as he finally picked one just to spite his twin.