Chapter 658 - Patrolling Ⅹ (1/2)

Ignoring the silence on Professor Zephyros' part, Rowan went on recounting the tale. However, Professor Zephyros intently listened attempting to find a lie, but to his displeasure, he found that everything being spoken by Prefect Prince was the truth even with his discerning ability. But the truth is subjective, and not all truths are that which they appear to originally be.

”But it must be all balderdash as there is no other mention about such a thing being in any other historical record including A History of Hogwarts by Bathilda Bagshot,” Rowan mused out loud. ”I presume it is merely a tall tale like that of Salazar Slytherin's, Chamber of Secrets. And as his descendants, the Prince family has never been aware that the fictional tale is real nor has grandfather never mentioned such a secret to Severus and me. And I am certain that Grandfather would have never kept such a matter of importance especially concerning our heritage.”

Rowan blinks as if awakening from a trance and turns her head to bow in a rueful fashion. ”Pardon me, sir, I did not mean to ramble,” she muttered with her eyes downcast and seemingly contrite. ”But I do so become vexed upon hearing the jaded whispers regarding the so-called, Chamber of Secrets, and the misrepresentation of our ancestor even until this day.”

Professor Zephyros' expression loses its steely glint and returns to its normal dreamy visage. ”That is perfectly understandable, Perfect Prince,” suppressing a yawn as though tired, he adds, ”My apologies, Prefect Prince, but it would appear that I am much more tired than I originally believed myself to be.”

”No, I should be the one asking for your pardon, Professor,” Rowan generously said. ”I shall not take up any of your time. Please allow me to go ahead and you may leisurely continue with your observations of the night sky.”

”Then I would find myself very much obliged,” Professor Zephyros replied as Rowan Prince tilts her head at him, before walking forward and all too soon disappears around a dark bend. Her footsteps can be heard a bit longer as they crush tree leaves underfoot, before growing faint and utterly fading away.

The figure of Professor Zephyros remains still and standing there until a cool voice erupts from his throat. ”That conversation was rather perturbing, Zephyros. And though the Prince girl did not lie, I still am not convinced.”

”No, Rowan is far too busy with her Prefect duties to suspect otherwise,” interjected, the youthful voice of a young female witch. The second youngest out of them, their second youngest appendage as a very young vessel had been acquired at the beginning of the school year. ”And Severus has been avoiding Lily and Lily has been quiet on the subject itself. A youthful disagreement, but neither of their pride will permit them to bow their heads in a sincere apology.”

”Mm, can she be converted?” Pensively said a witch with a soothing voice.

”We have yet to try,” said the dream voice of Professor Zephyros. ”But the muggleborn girl fulfills all of the requirements for a vessel, we need only act.”

”Mm, but she is at Hogwarts,” rebuked a witch with a shrill voice. ”A ceremony is required; moreover, the elder female Prince is present. She is sensitive to ward magic; she will certainly sense any attempt to weaken the Hogwarts barriers.”

”Then we shall wait and see,” declared the frigid voice of the primary host. ”We have time, and the muggleborn witch possesses no means which to protect herself.”

”No,” interjected the voice of the young female witch. ”The Prince women's actions caused the wards of Hogwarts to be sealed. There are no more cracks to exploit, and there can only be three of us present at any time. And that is rapidly changing as we speak for the wards have begun repairing themselves ever since the Hunter's moon. The cracks in the wards are healing so rapidly that one of us soon in the nearby future may even be forced to leave leaving only two vessels behind.”

”Then we shall wait until the time she graduates from Hogwarts,” whispered a chorus of voices in unison.

A witch with a poisoned honeyed voice interjected with a cackle, ”The puppet returns within three nights time. The puppet will do that which we require and force the reluctant vessel to accept us and become our latest appendage.”

”A valuable appendage,” chided the witch with a shrill voice. ”But the transitioning vessel has been quite stubborn, and we have been forced to send another fragment to convert him. We have had a great measure of success, and soon, he shall become one with us.”

”One,” the voices eerily chorused.

”What have we seen?” Interrupted, a cool voice.

”Sagittarius runs before Capricornus, the traveler comes and as does the archer,” Professor Zephyros dreamily muttered, before frowning. ”But I saw the appearance of a Grim residing at the bottom of my afternoon teacup. We best tread with care for Death is near and will seek any advantage to cause us harm.”

”We watch,” they said in unison as the dreamy gaze of Professor Zephyros returns.

Letting a loud sleepy yawn, Professor Zephyros dreamily blinks again. ”Mm, it's time for bed,” he mused to himself, before beginning to walk down the path.