Chapter 445 - Groan (2/2)

”Later today,” Severus snorted in obvious displeasure. ”Despite everything that has occurred, Igor Karkaroff did in fact return first with the cup, and therefore is the champion of the Triwizard Tournament. It should have been rightly presented to you, Rowan instead!”

”I did not want such a dubious honor to begin with,” Rowan truthfully said with a shudder. And then pointedly glanced at Severus as if to say, ”You should know better than anyone exactly who is to blame for this mess!”

Severus has the grace to look guilty for a brief second, before a smirk flashes on his face. ”But believe me no one is pleased about it except for Karkaroff. Even his headmaster seems to be ashamed including the rest of the Durmstrang students that are avoiding him. Trust me, he won himself no favors,” Severus explained with a smirk.

”That and Pizarro has been planning to react the event from Karkaroff's first year during the Triwizard Tournament. Everyone is pretending that they know nothing about her plans including Professor Slughorn,” Severus perversely add, before shivering with dread. ”But she's somehow managed to convince Terry to aid her in plotting.”

Rowan violently shivers and then winces in pain as that jarred her aching left shoulder. Trying not to whimper, she grunts, ”Well that is rather disturbing imagine. But hopefully those two won't go to far.” Yeah right...It was Terry, they were talking about.

Changing the subject, Rowan takes another bit of food, and mumbles, ”So, grandfather lay out your punishment yet?”

Severus wilts and winces as he confesses, ”I'm pretty sure, I'm grounded. And I'm to be worked to the bone like a slave, or at least that's what Aunt Georgine said.”

”Mm, we'll he won't beat you or starve you. So, you'll live.”

”Yeah, I will.”

”Anyone stop by yet?”

”Most of our friends and a few others as well. Last night's attack didn't get around, and everyone still thinks it was a prank with the Triwizard cup. Professor Dumbledore and the rest of the professors haven't bothered to correct them nor will they, I think. Aunt Georgine said that they're trying to keep everything under wraps for the moment, and that Professor Lye has been declared dead from a heart attack.”

”I suppose that's the best course of action really. No sense in causing panic among the students and parents.”

”I know, but I can't believe that Aunt Georgine will be here next year,” Severus sulkily said as he crossed his arms over his chest in an unruly fashion.

”She's not that bad,” Rowan mumbled. ”And besides, she'll keep you on your toes.”

”That's exactly what I'm afraid of,” Severus grumbled as Rowan licked her plate clean. ”Ew, that's disgusting.”

”I was starving, I had a very long night,” Rowan huffed as she put the tray to the side and wiped her face clean.

Severus looks away and clears his throat. ”Sorry, I should have never entered your name into the Triwizard Cup in the first place. It was utterly foolish of me.”

”Like I said before actions speak louder than words,” Rowan glanced at him as she ruffled his hair. ”Just don't ever do that again.”

Severus leans into the caress, before pulling away with blotchy red spots on his face. ”Anyway, Grandfather said, I'm to stick next to you, come wind or snow.”

”Ha ha ha, very funny,” Rowan grumbled as she fluffed the pillow behind her, before finding another comfortable position again.

Not long after their friends began to trickle in to visit her. Rowan got plenty of sweets which she happily ate until Severus hid them away from her. Apparently too many sweets were bad for her. As if she hadn't seen him eating a third of her sweets right alongside her.

Though Severus had a very interesting reaction, when Barret Boone stopped by. The entire period Severus glared at Rowan's boyfriend. Thankfully, Barrett was merely brief and left before Severus pulled out his wand and hexed him. And knowing Severus, Rowan was certain he would have.

For Severus was still in denial about his whole overprotective sister complex. But aye, it happens. It wasn't though Rowan was entirely innocent either. She'd slit the throat of anyone who harmed Severus. And if that wasn't scarier, she didn't know what was.