Chapter 296 - Disclosures (1/2)
Rowan and Severus blink to find themselves on the green grassy lawn instead of 7th Meadow Lane. Seeing the twins puzzled look Georgine says, ”Your grandfather was worried about anything happening to the two of you if we kept apparating in the forest. With the aid of Sir Knight Prince, he adjusted the wards for the Prince heirs to be able to directly apparate and from disparate from the front lawns.”
”Well that's convenient,” Rowan remarked as Georgine's lips twitched into a faint smile.
”Come along, your grandfather is eagerly awaiting the both of you inside,” Georgine said as she led them across the green lawns. ”He needs to have a private word with both of you in the study.”
”Uh-oh,” Severus said causing both Georgine and Rowan to stare at him.
Severus sheepishly glances away and says, ”I might have taken a few of grandfathers' books out of the study.”
”Though that does merit punishment that is not the reason for your summons,” Georgine drily said knowing full well that her brother loved his precious books.
The great front doors open as Dawn still a bit red-eyed says, ”Dawn welcomes Miss Georgine, and the young master and mistress. Please let Dawn take your travel bags for the Master has requested the young master mistress's presence.”
”Thank you, Dawn,” Both Severus and Rowan said in unison as Dawn took their bags with a smile and popped away.
Georgine left the two of them in the hallway as she said over her shoulder, ”Don't worry, Reginald won't bite. Probably.” With lips twitching with mirth she turned the corner and retreated to her own personal quarters for the day. She needed a nap and shouldn't have woken so early.
The two of them enter their grandfather's study to find his study as usual. Open books are strewn across the room with an assortment of potions, which Severus and Reginald were both working on.
In the corner of the room is a neat pile of books, which Rowan has claimed as her own. Seeing their grandfather calmly waiting for them with his hands rest on his stomach caused them to stare. Something must be wrong as grandfather never greeted them like this.
Glancing up, Reginald says, ”How was your breath of fresh air? I hope that you enjoyed yourselves at the Evans home.”
”It was nice,” Severus confessed as he wryly took a seat across their grandfather.
”And you, Rowan?”
”I enjoyed the sounds of the town,” Rowan softly said. ”I hadn't realized how much I missed them.”
Reginald slowly nods his head and says, ”I'm sure you're both curious as to why I have summoned you.”
Seeing Severus wince and Rowan remains still as Reginald says, ”I have a family secret to confess that which the entire wizarding world is now aware of.” And so, Reginald explains the truth behind the Prince family and that of their ancestry.
Severus sputters in shock except for Rowan causing Reginald to say, ”You don't seem to be in shock.”
”James Potter sent Lily a copy of the Daily Prophet this morning,” Rowan plainly explained. ”There's not much to be shocked about.”
Severus chokes and points at Rowan. ”And why didn't you say anything?”
Flashing a wolfish smile, Rowan replies, ”Because you didn't ask.”
Severus begins to flush in anger as Rowan says, ”I was also told that we carry the blood of Godric Gryffindor and Helga Hufflepuff through our muggle father. I suppose he's actually a squib, isn't he grandfather?”
Severus whirls around to stare at his grandfather as Reginald slowly nods his head. ”Yes, he is a squib descended via the maternal lines from Godric Gryffindor and through the paternal lines from Helga Hufflepuff.”
Reginald doesn't ask the obvious question while Severus is in the room as Severus shouts, ”Does everyone keep secrets from me?!”
”It's only human nature, Severus, don't be so ignorant,” Rowan chastised him.
Severus opens and closes his mouth, before saying, ”I'm going for a walk!” And slamming the door behind him as he stomps out of the study.
”Well, that went well,” Rowan honestly commented given Severus's temperament.
”And how did you learn that, Rowan?” Reginald finally asked.
”A snake told me,” Rowan answered back.
”A snake?”
”Yes.”
”What kind of snake?”
”A very long-lived snake.”
”At Hogwarts?”
”Yes.”
Reginald's eyes widen as he connects the pieces together. ”Don't tell me that the rumors about the Chamber of Secrets are real after all?!”
”It was,” Rowan sheepishly confessed without glancing at her grandfather.
”Was it a Basilisk?” Reginald pointedly hissed as he leaned forward instantly making the connection in his mind.