Chapter 378 - Heartache (2/2)
Rowan understood why, the purebloods were dying off and it was seen as a crime not to reproduce. Why even Dumbledore kept silent about it. He never openly acknowledged that he was bent that way so to speak. It was only through very mild suggestions that the conclusion was drawn.
”I love him,” Barrett whispered softly. ”But he's a Travers and he's expected to marry a girl his parents already picked out for him. I told him that we could always continue to see each other even when we're married. Plenty of other such couples do so as they keep their families and lovers separate. But the bloody honorable snake won't betray his betrothal vows. He'll be loyal to a woman he doesn't love until the day he or she dies first!” Barrett loudly sniffed as his eyes filled with tears.
Rowan gently pats him on the back and says, ”What you're suggesting is something that Traver's can't live with. Why must he be forced to throw away his ideal? Is that not what makes him and what you love about him in the first place.”
”I know,” Barrett mumbled from between his hands that were covering his face. ”But I don't want to let him go.”
”I'm not going to say that foolish phrase, that it is better to have loved than to have never loved at all,” Rowan firmly said. ”But rather, if he doesn't change his mind, what will you do then?”
”I don't know,” Barrett said as the bell rang. Barrett glances up at the closed door as if lost and unsure of what to do next.
Rowan shrugs and says, ”I can stand to be late to class for just one day. I think it's much more important, what we're talking about.”
Barrett gives her a weak smile as she takes out a clean silk hankie for him to wipe his face dry. ”If you would allow it, I'd like to tell you a story,” Rowan softly said, before muttering the Muffalito spell.
Barrett dries his face as Rowan stands up and subconsciously wraps her arms around herself. ”My father and mother once loved each other so much that my mother ran away from her
pureblood family to marry a mere muggle man or so we that,” Rowan solemnly recounted the tale.
”My father was a good man when we were young but all that began to change when he discovered our magic. He began to change as he drank more and losing his job at that time certainly didn't help either. By the end of it, we were eleven years old and our mother finally had to leave him as our father had become physically violent.”
Rowan stared Barrett straight in the eyes as she says, ”I don't know much about love, but what I do know is that love can twist into horrible, terrible things. I can assure you that if you continue down this forced path, there will come a day when all that is left is hate. And when that day comes, will you still be glad that you forced him in the end?”
Barrett smiles a heartbreaking smile at her and says, ”I won't…... I guess that's my answer, huh?”
”Yes,” Rowan quietly affirmed, before offering him a hand to aid him back up to his feet.
Barrett gratefully took her hand as he said, ”Thanks, Prince.”
Rowan nods before opening the door to leave. ”Hey Prince,” Barrett called out to her.
Turning around Rowan blankly stares at him as he says, ”You have a date to the Yule ball yet?”
”No, why?” Rowan asked in utter bewilderment.
”Because I need a new one,” Barrett weakly croaked.
”Sure, I'd be honored,” Rowan softly replied as Barrett nodded his thanks. Closing the door behind her, she made her way up to the DADA classroom. The moment she stepped in through the door, Professor Lye said, ”Miss Prince, you are late! Sit down immediately and ten points from Slytherin!”
Rowan sat down with a shrug. It was worth it. For a wise man once said, ”Because even in winter, the cold isn't always bitter, and not every day is cruel.” And even Rowan had a heart.