Chapter 244 - Sticky Charms (2/2)
Rowan arches an eyebrow at those words in disbelief and shivers as she tries to not recall the lecture with Madam Pomfrey. Shaking her head and clearing her mind of such perturbing thoughts, Rowan instead says, ”Then you should have told him or even better yet shared one or two of your products. It's not like either of you can't afford it.”
Sirius and James flush as Lupin shakes his head knowingly. He would have offered sooner but he didn't want to embarrass Peter. At least, Rowan had saved him the trouble of doing so.
Before James or Sirius can protest, Lupin kindly interjects, ”I'll share with you, Peter. Mum likes to send me all-natural, non-scented stuff as most scents can be a bit overpowering for my nose. And I have a bunch of extra stuff as she worries, you know.”
”Thanks,” Pettigrew brightly replied causing Rowan to glower at him. He was nowhere near as grateful to her as he was to Lupin.
Sirius and James merely huff in annoyance at Rowan, before pointedly ignoring her as they all get back to work. Rowan merely sneers back at them in reply, before resuming from where she left off. They are silent for some time before; Lupin stands up in excitement causing his chair to slide back with a loud screech echoing through the library.
Wincing Rowan stares at Lupin, who hastily sits back down as Madam Pince emerges from the shelves. The dark-haired librarian eyes them with distrustful eyes. ”Well?” Madam Pince impatiently asked as she tapped her foot against the floor.
Lupin swallows rather drily causing his slender Adam's apple to bob up and down. Before Lupin can think of a reply, Rowan smoothly lies, ”Lupin is frightened of spiders, Madam Pince. He jumped back in fright but kept from screaming as he wishes to obey the rules of silence in place.”
Somewhat mollified by Rowan's answer, Madam Pince says, ”Yes, well, be a tad quieter next time, Mr. Lupin.”
Madam Pince quickly disappeared between the shelves muttering to herself, ”A fearsome thing, spiders-.”
Lupin lets out a breath as Pettigrew nods his head in approval. Sirius beams happily his annoyance with her already long forgotten. ”Good one, Rowan!” Sirius cheerfully said.
Rowan sniffs at the remark as James flashes Rowan a smile. Rowan ignores their actions as Lupin says, ”Thanks, Rowan.”
”I was merely attempting to finish our search, Remus,” Rowan grumbled. ”I'd have to do it all alone otherwise.”
Lupin doesn't try to thank her anymore knowing that Rowan wouldn't accept it his words. She wasn't much for flattery. And had a bad tendency to try to minimalize her actions.
Quickly changing the subject, Rowan instead asks, ”Well, did you find it?”
”Yes!” Lupin brightly answered. ”The charm should work neatly and protect the mandrake leaf from food, water, and other things that might end up in one's mouth.”
”Excellent,” Rowan said as she closed the book she was reading with a snap as she held out her hand for Lupin to hand her the book.
Lupin carefully does so as Rowan memorizes the spell for a minute or two, before handing the book back to Lupin. saying, ”I'll be heading off now. It's best I inform, Severus immediately,” Rowan plainly stated as she gathered her things. And without waiting as so much as for a reply or goodbyes, she marched off and vanished between the bookshelves.
Lupin's lips twitch with a smile as Pettigrew mutters under his breath, ”Just typical.”
Sirius and James merely blink at each other as they convey the same message to each other with their expressions. ”Girls. Who'd ever get them?”
However, being used to Rowan's at times cold or rather brusque nature, Sirius and James immediately excitedly turn to the book on the table. Lupin carefully moves it to the middle as James, Sirius, and Pettigrew all cram their necks around the book to study the charm. It'd be a bit uncomfortable to use and just plain weird at first, but it'd do the job nicely. And in the end, it would be well worth all their efforts in order to become animagus.