Chapter 365 - Sendoff (1/2)
The view of the picturesque snow-covered cottages caused Rowan to shake her thoughts away to better appreciate the view. The Christmas decorations had yet to go up, but there was no doubt that they would be going up soon enough. The smoke from the chimneys made interesting little zigzag trails in the sky from the wind.
Making sure to pull her cloak around her, Rowan hurried down the cobbled streets and made her way into the back of the Hogs Head Inn. The goats happily bleated at her, but she didn't even get to knock the door, when mid-way the door opened in her face.
The long wiry, gray-haired man, Aberforth Dumbledore stared rather cross at her. His deep blue eyes were rather cross from behind his spectacles as his gray beard and hair remained trim ever since last time. Even his apron was now periodically washed as was cleaner than it had ever been before.
”I had to declare another cleaning day, because of you,” Aberforth impatiently barked as he moved aside to let her in.
Rowan makes her way up the stairs to where Alphard is already sitting in the main living room. She freezes at seeing the corpse warmed over like death. It was a miracle that he was still walking about looking like that. He should be resting somewhere in a warm bed!
Alphard Black, who had been dozing tiredly opened his eyes at hearing the creak of the floorboards. He sleepily blinked at the fire and glanced around before placing himself. Before him was the old bookshelf and the rest of the old furniture. The only clean spot in the entire room is the painting of the girl on the mantelpiece, Ariana Dumbledore with chest-length golden hair neatly pulled back as her bright blue eyes stare straight ahead all the while cradling a book in her arms.
”Ah, there you are,” Alphard said at spotting the concerned face of Rowan. ”I've got a bit of news for you.”
Rowan makes a sad face as Aberforth stands in the doorway. ”Hurry up and drink your cider!” Aberforth barked. ”You look like death warmed over!”
Alphard lets out a hacking laugh, before taking a sip of the warm cider to warm his body. ”I found a clue for you, Rowan,” Alphard rasped. ”Though in the end, it still proved nothing.”
”About what?” Rowan asked as she carefully leaned against the bookshelf.
”Linus Gamp still cannot be taken off the list,” Alphard tiredly said. ”I spoke to Dolohov and he confirmed that Gamp and Riddle did not get along. It can only be Burke or Shafiq. But I'm afraid to say that there would have been ample opportunity for there to have been a connection via the Slug Club.”
”Thank you,” Rowan truthfully said as she was one step closer to finding out what she needed to now. But the closer she got the more dangerous it became.
”And I am sorry,” Alphard said earning a startled look from Rowan.
”For what?”
”I personally met with Dolohov to acquire the information....and he did kill your father after all.”
A loud crackle can be heard from the fireplace as the silence grow longer. Finally, Rowan says, ”I know, grandfather wrote to me a letter about the identity of our father's murderer. I didn't tell, Severus because of his Gryffindor tendency of being rather emotional. This is not completely ironic since we are in fact Godric Gryffindor's direct descendants, but still, it is most unsightly since he was sorted into Slytherin.”
”Will you kill him?” Alphard bluntly asked.
”If I am given the chance, yes,” Rowan honestly replied. ”But I think that he'll die before I ever get a chance too, but then again, that might be wistful thinking on my part.”
Alphard slowly nods his head as he turns to stare at Aberforth. ”I've already spoken to our spy, Crow, he knows what to expect once I'm gone,” Alphard said as Rowan's face tightened with grief.
”Aye, I know,” Aberforth grumbled as he crossed his arms over his chest. ”Albus is also starting to pick up things on his end. Sooner or later, the order will also be fully involved.”
”Yes, that is exactly what we're hoping for,” Alphard said as he leaned back in the armchair. ”We're the shadows to the order's light for, and a shadow fades away into mist without anyone knowing better.”
Something about Alphard's last words jarred something inside of Rowan. Frowning after a long pause, she slowly says, ”Alphard, you're not planning on dying, are you?”