Chapter 168 - A Will and Key (1/2)
Glancing about, Rowan slowly wanders up the staircase to the rooms above. Frowning she mutters to herself, ”Now where could Charlus Potter Jr.'s room be?” She simply couldn't go about breaking down every single door as she wasn't allowed to use a wand.
Pondering this question, she slowly walks down the hallway glancing at each door for some sort of divine sign. Passing past one of the last doors in the corridor, Rowan paused and takes a step back. There carved under the latch is a small symbol that of a circle inside of a triangle that has a line straight through the middle, the Deathly Hallows.
Carefully trying the lock, Rowan finds to her utter surprise that the door is unlocked. With a bit of wariness, she pushes the door open as a soft whine is heard as the door swings open. Slowly stepping inside she finds that there is nothing amiss about the guest bedroom. It certainly wasn't Charlus Potter Jr.'s bedroom, but rather a guest room.
It could just be a coincidence, but there were no such things as coincidences in life. Still, Rowan took a closer at the guest room. There was nothing under the bed nor in the drawers or the closet. She even went as far as to check the bedroom furniture for false drawers and looking behind the furniture including the bedroom paintings. With a tired sigh, she is finally forced to give up after checking even under the carpet.
Closing the door behind her, Rowan was about to turn back before spotting the symbol again on the lower corner of the grandfather clock in the middle of the hallway. Following in the direction of the symbol, she went further and further into the home until she arrived at a full-length mirror in the hallway. Glancing around the back of the mirror, she didn't see anything as she frowned at her reflection in the spotless glass.
”Maybe, the trail starts here instead,” Rowan softly concluded out loud before seeing something flicker in the reflection like water. Turning rather still, she leans forward for a closer look but doesn't see anything amiss. About to dismiss the flickering in her reflection as a figment of her imagination, she sees the ripple again.
Recalling a certain mirror back at Hogwarts, she takes a deep breath before stretching out her hand. Rowan almost pulls away at seeing her hand touch a dry water-like surface. Stretching her hand further in, she feels something like an envelope. Pulling her hand back out, she finds a perfectly sealed envelope with the Potter crest and the initials, C.P.JR.
Glancing about, Rowan leans back against the wall and cracks open the seal. Pulling the letter out from inside, she reads,
”To whoever that finds this,
I, Charlus Potter Jr., being of sound and body bequeath the entire contents of vault #113 to them. This is an officially signed will and has been recorded with the goblins as well. May luck be on your side. And may you fare better than I.
Sincerely,
Charlus Potter Jr.
Witnessed by Dulag, Goblin Lawyer of Gringotts.
Witnessed by Bogrod, Goblin Clerk of Gringotts.
Witnessed by Gornuk, Goblin Employee of Gringotts.”
Glancing inside, Rowan does indeed see a shiny golden key for a vault. Smiling slightly in approval she says, ”Clever, clever, boy. But not clever enough as the monster from underneath the bed got you in the end.”
Carefully folding the will back up she tucks the letter into the envelope with the key and carefully seals it shut with the wax. Tucking the letter safely into her pocket, she returns downstairs to search for the library. To her delight, the Potter library was quite vast and held a variety of books. Glancing about Rowan searched for a title or two of interest and quickly sat down for a read. Her peace didn't last very long as the old house elf popped out before her.
”Madam Potter requests the guest's presence in the parlor!” Pookey stared at Rowan as if asking her why she hadn't left yet. With a sigh, she closed the book shut and headed back to the parlor. And things were just getting good too.
Rowan returned to the parlor to find both women gasping with laughter. ”Madame Potter?” Rowan loudly said as Dorea wiped the tears of mirth out of her eyes as Georgine tried not to laugh only to fail miserably with a rather loud snort.