Chapter 388 - Declaration (2/2)
”But my grandfather might take this seriously,” Rowan warily answered. ”No offense, Boone, but just because I'm accepting of your lifestyle, I'm rather possessive. I wouldn't be able to stand to be sharing my spouse with anyone else no matter what their gender.”
”No offense taken,” Barrett said with a smile. ”So, is that a, yes?”
”Do I have to accompany you to that ridiculous tea shop within Hogsmeade?”
”Yes.”
”And do I have to do something nice for you on Valentine's Day?”
”What I mean is that would be nice, but no, I'll take care of that.”
”...It won't be anything embarrassing, will it?”
”No, just some flowers and chocolates.”
”No, on the flowers. Yes, on the chocolates.”
Rowan hesitates, but she still asks, ”How physical do I have to pretend with you? I mean, is it the occasional holding hands and peck on the cheek? Or is it I have to eat with you at lunch every single day?”
”More of the first one,” Barrett steadily replied. ”But I think, you should eat lunch with me every now and again.”
”Oh, good,” Rowan said in relief at hearing the simple terms. ”So, how do we go about doing this?” And this would ensure that she too be left alone by some of the foolhardier males that had begun to look at her as a female ever since the Yule Ball. That and she had no intention of being courted at this point in time. Hopefully, this would also buy her at least a year's worth of time at least. After that, she would deal with the situation, when it popped up again, and which it would without a shadow of a doubt.
”Easy enough, we just need to find Bertha Jorkins,” Barrett flashed her a confident smile. ”And I know just where she studies.”
Barrett offered his hand as Rowan warily takes it to find that his hands felt rather nice. ”I better not end up regretting this,” Rowan muttered under her breath to herself. Boone must have heard her because he gave her hand a comforting squeeze.
The two of them were given plenty of startled glances as they made their way through the stone, cold corridors. More than a couple of individuals burst into whispers as no doubt before the dinner the news would be all over the castle. Barrett slowly leads Rowan past one of the smaller study halls. Bertha Jorkins, who sat next to the door gasped as her mouth flopped open.
Certain that Jorkins had seen both of them, Barrett tugged her away as Rowan said, ”You do know that Severus will hate you, right?”
”I'm fairly certain that he will,” Barrett said with a smile that made Rowan's heart jump for a moment. ”I myself have two younger sisters and I already hate their first boyfriend. And they haven't even started Hogwarts yet!”
Rowan warily chuckles as Barrett finally lets of her hand. ”I'll see you later, love,” Barrett said with a twinkle in his eye, before making his way to the Ravenclaw tower.
Shaking her head, Rowan chuckled to herself as she made her way to the library. At least, that ought to cause Bertha Jorkins to choke on her spit. And that alone was worth it.