Chapter 296 - Disclosures (2/2)
”It's dead now.”
”What were you thinking? You could have died!”
Rowan doesn't react as Reginald says, ”The Basilisk skin that was you all along? That's why the goblins invited you to the auction!”
”And that is precisely, why I didn't say anything,” Rowan said with a tired sigh. ”You would have stopped me, grandfather. And it needed to be done.”
Taking a deep breath to calm himself, Reginald says, ”I assume that you destroyed the Basilisk so that this Lord Vold-.”
”Don't say his name!” Rowan hissed causing Reginald to pause. ”He has a rather nasty spell triggered to those that say his name. His real name is Tom Marvolo Riddle, a half-blood. Call him Riddle instead.”
”Riddle?” Reginald muttered as he furrowed his brows. ”Where have I heard that name before?” Reginald's eyes widen in shock as he recalls the name. ”Not the Gaunt muggle murderer?”
”Precisely,” Rowan drily said.
”So, he's been a monster ever since then,” Reginald mused out loud. ”And let me make an educated guess that girl that died, Myrtle Warren is somehow related to him as the Basilisk must have killed her.”
”Correct yet again,” Rowan lightly applauded her grandfather.
”Dear Merlin,” Reginald said as he rubbed his face. ”Is this what you have Moody and them doing all this time?”
”I can't say,” Rowan said. ”For the strands of fate will change even more.”
”Then I won't ask again,” Reginald clarified as he glanced at Rowan. ”So, did you at least get a pretty galleon from the goblins?”
”After a 15% commission, I earned 1,814,738 galleons and one knut,” Rowan grinned causing Reginald to let out a soft whistle.
”Well, it would seem that I no longer have to provide any pocket money for you,” Reginald teased at seeing the sudden gloomy expression on Rowan's face.
After a moment, Rowan finally seems to make up her mind. ”Grandfather, I was told by someone that I have Gellert Grindelwald's eyes. My eyes are like that of my muggle father, is there any truth to that?”
Seeing Reginald unable to respond, Rowan's eyes widen as she slowly says, ”You're afraid,” not able to believe the utter stillness in his eyes.
”I am afraid for you,” Reginald tightly said. ”You already carry three founder lines and the heritage of the Prince's. And all those are already heavy burdens to bear but even more so with their gifts included. And you, child, unlike your brother, already possess two of their gifts. And I fear that you may have inherited something of Gellert Grindelwald as well.”
”How in Merlin's name is that possible?!” Rowan bluntly said, before carefully adding, ”I thought that he did not have much interest in witches or muggle women, if the speculation is to be believed?”
”That I don't know. But what I do know is that his bloodline appeared three generations ago. Whether from regular means or not, I do not know.”
There is a pause until Rowan asks, ”Are you afraid that I and Severus will turn dark?”
”That is a concern, but no, that is not my main concern.”
”Then what is?”
”Wizards commonly begin to come into their power at age fifteen until they are finished by their 7th year. But I've already felt your power begin to crackle and ever since your grandmother's death as has your brother's. I fear that with the both of you already coming in so early into your powers that you may harm yourself or others in a moment of weakness, rage.”
Rowan is silent for a moment unable to dispute the truth of her grandfather's words. ”Then what should we do?”
”I would have originally wanted to wait until after your fourth year,” Reginald sadly said. ”But I fear that we must make post haste. I called in a favor and both of you will take the C.S.A.E., the comprehension student apprenticeship exam before the month of July is up. I will see both of you apprenticed before the summer is up.”
”I would like to argue and say that we don't have much time,” Rowan tiredly said. ”But with Severus being emotional as he is. I fear that you are right, and this is the best choice for us.
Though I must admit I am still a bit mad at you. I would have liked to have known that Sir Knight Prince was a parselmouth as well.”
”It wasn't my secret to tell,” Reginald said as Rowan frowned, but nodded her head in understanding.
”Shall I be the one to inform Severus, or will you?”
”No sense in worrying him even more. I'll just have him practice potions with me and pretend to test him on them.”
”I suppose that will have to do.”
”It will.”
Rowan nodded, before rising to her feet. ”Thank you, grandfather, for not asking.”
Reginald rises from his seat and bends down. He places a gentle kiss on the top of her forehead. ”I won't be a cause for burden,” Reginald said, before patting her gently on the head.
Reginald watches his granddaughter go with heavy eyes as he finally slumps back into his seat. This needed to work or else he feared what would occur upon their return to Hogwarts. There would be many who would seek ally with them, but an equal many who would hate them upon sight.
And all it would take was a single incident to doom them both. With that endeavor in mind, he quickly set out items, before summoning Dawn to bring Severus back down. Even if Severus hated him for the rest of the year. He would do what was best for them.