Chapter 474 - Naming Ceremony Ⅳ (2/2)

Grinding his teeth, Reginald knew that he had fallen into Shafiq's trap. ”No, but no more than fifteen minutes,” Reginald said as he stormed into the cigar room. ”And in the hallway!” Before slamming the door shut behind him in anger causing the other integrates in the cigar room to stare at him as he went over and sat down in a huff.

”And what can I do for you, Miss Prince,” Shafiq curiously asked as he truly was curious. He had never met the Prince child nor should there be any reason for the child to wish to meet with him. It was a beguiling curiosity that piqued his interest.

”Sir, as an extra credit project for Professor Slughorn, I have been following up on the lives of former Slug Club members,” Rowan smoothly replied with her usual practiced answer. ”I was hoping that you might be able to answer some questions for me, sir.”

”Well as long as they are not too embarrassing,” Shafiq said with a wink.

”Of course,” Rowan replied carefully looking him in the eye, before looking away with a frown. She did not feel any trace of legilimency nor any other emotion. Was this a trick or was he truly not related to Charlus Potter's list?

”Sir, I am aware that you are a former Hufflepuff,” Rowan carefully said, before asking, ”However, I am told that you did not get along with Tom Marvolo Riddle, the Slytherin Prefect, and Head Boy. Is that true?”

Shafiq's eyes flash for a moment, before he slowly answers, ”I did not like him that much is true. But we never truly interacted beyond the scope of old Sluggy's club. We were in different years, he and I. And I did not have any interest in his and his friends.”

”In that case, if I may ask, why did you dislike Prefect Riddle, sir?”

”I simply did, there is no great reason why. We never fought nor were odds with each other. I merely disliked him, and that was that.”

”Thank you, sir,” Rowan replied, not entirely convinced by the answer. ”And what of Linnus Gamp and Murtaugh Burke?”

Shafiq shrugs and says, ”Linnus Gamp was a rather loud Gryffindor, but a good chap, while Murtaugh Burke was a brilliant Ravenclaw. Neither of us were friends with each other including Riddle. And despite Burke and Riddle being in the library constantly, they were never seen working together that I can recall.

And the only one of us in Riddle's same year was that of Linnus Gamp, and he and Riddle positively disliked each other. They had fought as first years, and ever since then, the two of them could not stand the sight of each other. That and Gamp was the only one who protested that boy, Hagrid's expulsion as they were friends.”

”Friends?” Rowan blinked in surprise.

”Oh, yes,” Shafiq said with a thin grin. ”Since Gamp was an older Gryffindor, he took Hagrid under his wing, and even took him all over Hogsmeade and showed him the Hogs Head Pub. Not that we approved mind you, seeing as he was only a third year. And Hagrid would have followed Gamp anywhere as the boy openly trusted the older Gryffindor.”

Rowan furrowed her brow at learning such news. Could it have been all an act? She wondered to herself. Although Riddle was a brilliant actor, the dislike and loathing between the two men could not be faked for such a long period of time. Sooner or later the act would have to fall. Then again, she could be wrong.