Chapter 390 - Madam Puddifoot (1/2)
Not long after there was another Hogsmeade visit halfway through January. It was cold and wet, when Rowan left Hogwarts accompanied by her boyfriend, Barret Boone in a carriage headed towards Hogsmeade. The two of them were silent for a good while as they watched the falling snow whirl around them. ”Are you sure about this?” Rowan finally asked out loud.
”About what?” Barrett replied, either not knowing what she meant or feigning otherwise.
”Are you certain that you want me to be your pretend girlfriend?” Rowan slowly replied. ”In the long run, I think this might make things a bit more difficult for you in the future.”
And after being boyfriend and girlfriend for over a week, she had genuinely become concerned about him. Even if he had been the one to ask her, she didn't want to place him in a position where there was no turning back for him. He was young and could easily fall in love with another boy even if he wasn't from Hogwarts.
Unlike the previous years before there were roughly one hundred new students and half of them were males from Durmstrang and Beauxbatons. She just didn't want to have any regrets later in the far future, when he could have possibly found his next lover among these boys that would be leaving after the end of the spring school term. He wouldn't get another opportunity like that again.
”I'm certain,” Barret flashed her a gentle grin that caused Rowan to glance away lest her heart beat a tad faster. It should be a crime to smile like that!
”I'm just saying that you might want to actually use the time to find a girl that wouldn't mind your romantic transgressions with a male partner, while being married to her,” Rowan plainly suggested.
”And I will,” Barrett quietly answered. ”I'd just like a bit of time to heal for myself.”
Rowan doesn't press any further as they ride in silence all the rest of the way until the carriage rolls to a stop. Barrett got out first and courtesy offers her a gloved hand to help her down. Rowan accepts and neatly jumps down into the muddy snowy ground. Holding hands Barret leads her down a side road into a small tea shop.
Rowan is unable to hide her grimace at seeing the cramped, steamy little place that seems to be solely decorated with frills and bows. Barrett chuckles at seeing her expression and says, ”You must be the only girl at Hogwarts, who doesn't like it here.”
Rowan sneers at him as she stares in revulsion at the Valentine decorations. There were a number of golden cherubs that were hovering over each of the small circular tables. Occasionally one of them would throw pink confetti over the occupants. Sadly, enough to her dismay, there was only one seat available in front of the steamy window.
Barrett firmly drags her towards the empty table much to Rowan's dismay. Flopping down in sullen sulk, Rowan eyes the other couples in the shop. She spots Jean Delacour and Apolline in a corner staring soulfully into each other's eyes. They weren't the only one's, Pandora and Xeno were holding hands under the table, while Remus and Mary shyly stared at each other with bashful smiles.
”Traitors,” Rowan grumbled under her breath at seeing her friends. With a sneer, she glanced at the other couples and made a revolted expression at catching them kissing over the table.
Before Rowan can consider bolting away, Madam Puddifoot arrives, a stout young woman with a shiny black bun is an about ten years older than them. But still, she preferred to be called Madam rather than Miss as Madam Puddifoot believed that it gives her an air of seniority. ”What can I get you, m'dears?”
”A coffee, please,” Barrett replied before glancing at Rowan.
”Can I have a salted caramel latte?” Rowan asked.
”Latte?” Madam Puddifoot stared blankly at Rowan.
”How about a peppermint hot chocolate?” Rowan said with a sigh.
”Of course,” Madam Puddifoot said, before rushing off.
The two of them are quiet until Rowan says, ”So, what do you like to do for fun?