Chapter 169 - – Vault 113 (1/2)
Some days later at breakfast, Rowan casually broached the subject. ”Grandfather, may I be permitted to visit Gringotts?”
”Whatever for?” Reginald asked with an arched brow as he glanced over the cover of the Daily Prophet.
”Professor Flitwick assigned us to converse with a goblin,” Rowan truthfully answered. ”But as I have already finished most of my summer homework, I'd very much like to finish this final assignment and be done with it.”
”I want to go too!” Severus eagerly chimed in to only have his voice awkwardly break.
Rowan and Georgine loudly snicker as Reginald hides a smile as Severus begins to turn red in utter mortification. Reginald in pity of Severus and remembering puberty himself says, ”Have you finished your summer homework yet, Rowan?”
”Yes, grandfather,” Rowan retorted with a great deal of satisfaction. ”But Severus hasn't”
Severus glared mutinously at his twin sister but didn't dare speak for the moment lest his voice break again. It had been occurring more often as of late and was normal according to his grandfather all boys went through it. Still, it was rather vexing considering the fact that girls go through it as well to a lesser embarrassing degree.
”Still, I'm sure you can wait, Rowan until we go school shopping,” Reginald firmly declared to the satisfaction of Severus who smugly stared back at his twin.
”Oh, for heaven's sake, Reginald,” Georgine yawned from her side of the table. ”Allow the girl to have a bit of fun! All her friends have gone on trips this summer and she's been stuck at the manor all summer long not to mention the weeks of punishment she went through.
And besides, may I point out that our father let you frequent Diagon Alley all on your own. And unlike your ruffian self, Rowan tends to be rather calm and well mannered. She proved herself to be quite polite the other day when she accompanied me to see Dorea Potter.”
Reginald pursed his lips, before a resigned expression he said, ”I will allow it.” Rowan instantly perked up as Severus looked on dismay and glared over at his aunt Georgine, who smugly smirked back. ”However, I want you to only head over to Gringotts and then head right home.”
”Reginald,” Georgine forebodingly said as Reginald quickly amended his last words. ”You are permitted to tarry at one or two shops but no more. I'd like you home no later than four.”
”Thank you, grandfather!” Rowan said with delight as she leapt to her feet and ran over to plant a kiss on her grandfather's cheek. Reginald instantly beamed as in a rare sight Rowan ran over to give Aunt Georgine a quick hug as well.
”Get off, girl!” Georgine snapped with no real fire in her voice, but rather had a pleased sort of expression on her face. Rowan scurried off leaving a rather depressed Severus poking sulkily at his breakfast.
Rowan quickly changed into proper clothing, before grabbing the expanding pouch that had been gifted to her first Christmas. With care, she placed inside her Gringotts key as well as the envelope of Charlus Potter Jr. And finally, her wand and one of the mufflers from her trunk into the bag. It was the transfigured old Basilisk skin.
Assured that she had everything, Rowan hurried downstairs to see Reginald, Georgine, and the sulking figure of Severus in the hallway. ”Good it seems as though you have everything,” Reginald remarked.
”Yes, grandfather,” Rowan dutifully replied.
”Now then, it is quite easy to get to Diagon Alley,” Reginald explained. ”Simply use the Floo system and say, Diagon Alley. You'll pop out at one of the floo entrances located within Diagon Alley.”
There is a long moment of silence as both Severus and Rowan slowly turn to stare at Reginald. ”Grandfather, I thought you said, that we couldn't floo to Diagon Alley?” Rowan coldly said as Severus's eyes began to darkly gleam as well.
Reginald shivers at seeing the intense glare resembling that of his wife appear on his grandchildren's faces. Trying to ignore the cold shiver running down his spine, he hastily says, ”We haven't because both times we've had to meet the Evans couple. Had we not needed too; we would have simply floo'd there.”
Rowan and Severus appear to be unconvinced as a wicked gleam appears in Georgine's eyes. ”Children it is rather simple, brother enjoys driving that steel death trap. He says it makes him feel young again,” Georgine darkly cackled. The temperature in the hallway drastically plummets as both Rowan and Severus gaze icily at their grandfather as they recall their suffering from their rides from hell.