Chapter 146 - Snowdrop (2/2)

James snorted and kept silent for a moment, before finally speaking the minute they were out. ”Sheesh, I wasn't even that loud,” James huffed.

A bit curious, Rowan asked, ”Did any of you give any of the girls anything for Valentine's day?”

”Ew, no!” Pettigrew said with a disgusted face. ”The girls are annoying!”

Sirius shrugged and said, ”I did, however, get some chocolates. What about you, James?”

”Same,” James cockily replied with a grin. ”I even got some love letters too.” Sirius looks a bit envious at that as Pettigrew violently shudders.

Glancing over at Lupin, Rowan blinks at seeing Lupin look a touched embarrassed. ”And who did you give a gift too, Lupin?” Rowan said with a knowing glance.

The other three boys' openly gape at Lupin, who shyly says, ”I gave Mary, a chocolate bar. But it's only because she always shares her sweets with me. I thought it might be nice to gift her something back.”

”Well, color me impressed,” Rowan honestly said. ”Who knew you'd be the smoothest one out of the bunch, Lupin.”

”Wait, I'm smooth!” James indignantly protested as Sirius chimed in, ”Me too!”

Rowan merely arches her eyebrow in response as if that says it all. Turning to gaze back at Lupin, Rowan carefully eyes him and sees that he is being sincere. Maybe, there will be something there in the future. After all, originally maybe there was something there that wasn't allowed to flourish due to his condition. For his sake, she could always hope for the best if not there was always that girl waiting for him in the future. Come to think of it was Dora Tonks even born yet?

Shuddering, Rowan says, ”Well, that was nice of you, Remus. I'm sure, Mary liked it.”

”Lily and Willa said that was nice of me,” Lupin innocently said causing James to blink a bit that and furrow his brow.

Being kind as usual, Lupin politely asked, ”Did you get anyone anything, Rowan?”

”No, I did not,” Rowan firmly declared as Lupin noticed her glancing at her bag.

”Are you sure?” Lupin further pried with some evident interest in his eyes.

Ignoring the question, Rowan said, ”Did you know that your father came to Hogwarts, Remus?”

”Really, when?” Lupin blinked in surprise not having been told nor seen his father.

”Professor Kettleburn invited him at the beginning of February as a special guest given that he is a world-renowned authority on apparitions,” Rowan tactfully said.

”Really, dad didn't say anything in his last letter,” Lupin said with a frown.

”I'm sure, he just forgot,” Rowan said not regretting at all changing the subject to such a delicate one.

”Must have slipped his mind,” Lupin admitted as he relaxed. ”It happens all the time when he's busy with research.”

”Your dad's famous, Remy?” Pettigrew said in utter astonishment as James and Sirius shrugged.

”Mm, a bit in the apparition community,” Lupin said with a bit of embarrassment.

”That's incredible,” Pettigrew said with some awe as Sirius began to fidget. ”C'mon, we better hurry down or the best bits of dinner will be gone!” Starving as only teenage boys can be the boys hurried down as Rowan at a much more leisurely pace walked to the Great Hall. Because honestly speaking even if the food ran out, she could always visit the kitchens.