Chapter 383 - Yule Ball Ⅲ (2/2)
They found themselves surrounded by bushes winding, ornamental paths; and large stone statues. They merely just walked under the moonlight in silence enjoying the rare spot of summer in the middle of winter. They came across a fountain where couples were sitting on craved benches, but they moved on. Several times they passed couples pressed close together in the shadows.
Finally, they stopped at a bench a good way's away and sat down. They merely enjoyed the silence as the faint sound of music from inside could be heard wafting through the air. They sat there in silence for a good while, before Barrett says, ”Sorry, I didn't mean to ruin your night.”
”I beg to differ,” Rowan firmly replied. ”I've vastly been enjoying myself. Even this is nice.”
Barrett slowly chuckled at hearing the honesty in her voice. The chuckle dies off as he sadly says, ”I've done a good job of pretending nothing has changed. But tonight, really stabbed it in the heart for me. He's gone.”
”Then remember him how he used to be,” Rowan said as she firmly stared at the fairy lights lest one of the nasty buggers get any other ideas! ”He's your first love and I don't think there's anything wrong with remembering that.”
”You're awfully open-minded, Prince,” Barrett declared.
”Well, I was raised in the muggle world for the first eleven years of my life,” Rowan grumbled. ”I don't tend to see the wizarding world in the exact same as the rest of the pureblood Slytherins.”
”I suppose not,” Barrett concluded. The silence grows again until he says, ”Do you think, I'll get over him?”
”That or you'll probably commit a dramatic suicide in the future,” Rowan deadpanned.
Barrett chokes with laugher and wheezes, ”I doubt that. I'm a bit too stubborn for that.”
”As I said, you'll live.”
”Yes, I'll live.”
As if having gotten something off his chest, Barrett rises and offers her his hand again. ”Shall we return?”
”Why ever not?” Rowan smiled and accepted his offered hand.
The two of them made their way inside, where they danced on and off again until midnight. Everyone gave the Weird Sisters one last, loud round of applause and started to wend their way into the entrance hall. Barrett escorted Rowan to the edge of the staircase leading the way to the dungeons. ”Thank you I had a lovely time,” Rowan earnestly said.
”So, did I,” Barrett said, and with an impish look in his eyes. He leaned over and gently brushed his lips against hers.
Rowan just gaped at him as Barrett whispered, ”For luck on my next fork in life.”
Rowan snapped her mouth shut blushing bright red as her heart pounded ridiculously in her chest. Not able to think of a reply, Rowan fled down to the dungeons leaving Barrett chuckling behind her. More than one person witnessed the kiss and come the next morning it would be all over the school.
But for the moment, Rowan didn't care. She'd been kissed by a cute boy even if he was bent! And because even Rowan was still a girl at heart.