Chapter 183 - The Black Brothers (2/2)

”What was that?” Sirius eagerly asked.

”My aunt's peacock, Fidel,” Severus proudly answered as they walked up the gravel path to the front white granite steps.

The grand front doors swing open to reveal the elegant, wealthy interior filled with lavish ornaments. Waiting inside the great hall are the two figures of Sirsa and Georgine Prince. The sturdy figure of Sirsa takes a step forward and says, ”Welcome to Prince Manor. The Prince family is honored to host the Black's once more within these halls.”

”We the Blacks are honored at the Prince's most graciousness,” Sirius instantly said to the utter astonishment of Rowan and Severus. Who knew that Sirius even knew manners in the first place? Sirsa nods her head in approval as Georgine purses her lips in slight disappointment.

Pulling herself to her full height, Georgine stares down her long nose at them. ”Keep them occupied and out of my side of the manor,” Georgine grumbled with a sniff, before turning on her heels and walking away. Neither Sirius nor Regulus reacted as they'd heard worse comments made about them.

”Let Tadbey, show them to their rooms than the four of you may go off to play out on the grounds for a bit before lunch,” Sirsa said, before turning away to return to her parlor.

”This way, please,” Tadbey said as he led the two boys to a hallway down from where Rowan and Severus stayed in that held two beds. Sirius eagerly jumped up and down on his bed as Regulus murmured in an obvious apparition of the tasteful décor.

”I'll be going now,” Tadbey said and without leave rushed away.

”What a strange house elf,” Sirius said out loud.

”Why?” Rowan asked.

”Well, he calls himself, I, and doesn't squeak like the rest of them,” Sirius said.

”And why should he?” Rowan said with a frown. ”He is a free house elf.”

”What?!” Sirius said in utter shock as the insane statement. ”But house elves love to serve!”

”He may enjoy serving, but he very much likes his own personal freedom,” Rowan said with a frown. ”Nor is he a slave and is entitled to enjoy his hard-earned wages.”

”Well, I think it's wonderful,” Regulus said with a bit of awe in his eyes. ”But I don't think Kreacher would like that very much. But maybe, he'd like some nicer looking clothes.”

”I think Kreacher might be too of a traditionalist,” Rowan hastily explained. ”Our house elves aren't freed by clothes. But maybe, leaving some coins around and suggesting he properly dresses himself. The Hogwarts male house elves still wear tea towels under their proper upper clothing.”

”I didn't know Hogwarts had house elves like that,” Regulus said in awe.

”C'mon now!” Severus impatiently interrupted. ”Let's go have some fun!” Sirius eagerly bound after Severus as they two ran down the hall.

Glancing over at Regulus, Rowan says, ”Do you want to go outside for a bit or read some books?”

”I'd like to look around for a bit, if you don't mind,” Regulus admitted out loud.

”That's perfectly alright,” Rowan said, before showing Regulus the grounds. And it was rather enjoyable too as he marveled over all the sights. Which made Rowan feel a bit sad at seeing his happy gaze. She wondered if much of Sirius's energy wasn't because he had been cooped up inside a dark, gloomy house. While Regulus's bookish-self emerged from finding nothing better to do but read. And that certainly did explain why an eleven-year-old boy had known and wanted to learn about occlumency.