Chapter 409 - Revelation of 3rd Task (2/2)
”There will be obstacles,” Amundsen said with a bounce. ”Professor Kettleburn and Hagrid are providing a number of creatures. Then there will be spells that must be broken…...and all sorts of things, you know. Now, the champions who are leading on points will get a head start into the maze.”
”Mr. Delacour and Miss Prince, will both enter at the same time followed by Mr. Karkaroff.” Igor Kararoff snorts at the indignity of it all and begins to sulk.
”Very well…if you haven't got any questions, we'll go back up to the castle, shall we, it's a bit windy….”
Jean Delacour and Rowan chatted, before each of them, split up and went their different ways. Delacour towards Hagrid's cabin and Rowan back to the castle. Suddenly, she stopped and stared in the direction of the Forbidden Forest. ”Is something the matter Miss Prince?” Amundsen asked from a short distance from behind her.
”Nothing,” Rowan lied as she made her way back to across the grounds. But still, the feeling didn't go away. Whatever it was, it was something dangerous. She didn't dare to close her eyes to view her mapscape until inside the castle. But by the time she did she found nothing strange lurking in the forest.
Rowan almost half convinced herself it was all in the head if not for feeling the traces of cold sweat on the back of her neck. Whatever it was, it truly had frightened her. Rather than heading back to the common room she instead walked all the way up to the Owlery. It was still a very good cardio.
Once there in the circular stone room, Rowan penned a quick letter to her grandfather requesting that he and Aunt Georgine please attend the final task. She didn't mean to jot it down, but she did. She said, ”I think there's someone or something watching me, grandfather. It frightens me.”
Rowan almost scribbled the line out, but something forced her not to. In the end, she quickly sealed the letter shut and put her things away into her schoolbag. The owls are hooting as they come awake and flutter their feathers. Gingerly crossing the straw full of owl droppings and regurgitated skeletons of mice and moles, she searches for Owyn. But given that he's a huge Great Horned Owl it wasn't that hard to miss him as he was perched next to Nibby, Lily's female owl.
”Good boy,” Rowan said as she rubbed his smooth beak as he gently nipped her fingers. ”I've got something for you to deliver to grandfather.”
Owny being the sweet owl that he lets out a soft hoot as he stretches his leg for Rowan to tie her letter too. Carefully doing so, Owny gives one last hoot, before spreading his wings and flying out into the cool night sky.
Nibby lets out a loud hoot causing Rowan to chuckle and say, ”All right, a scratch for you too. You're a good girl.”
Nibby closes her yellow eyes in pleasure as Rowan scratches Nibby under her chin. Feeling a bit like a tease, she says, ”So, when are Severus and I going to be owlet grandparents? I thought you and Owny are a nesting couple?”
Nibby lets out a hoot in embarrassment as she flutters her wings around her. ”Ah, that soon, aye. Shall I prepare a proper nest for you both?” Rowan further teased causing Nibby to loudly hoot at her in protest.
”Ah my mistake, you're taking things slow, I see,” Rowan sagely said. ”Of course, Owny would do a proper courtship. He's a gentleman after all.”
Nibby decides to ignore Rowan and turns away to flutter into the night. Still chuckling to herself, Rowan makes her way downstairs. She had to admit that it'd been fun to tease the poor owl. But hey, all Slytherins have a bit of a mean streak. Admittedly some miles longer than others.