Chapter 734 - Frost Moon (2/2)
Fawkes sitting on his golden perch lets out a small little screech in reply. He did look very well, but rather dreadful with his feathers hanging limp and dreary. His passing would come soon and then rebirth. For that was what all phoenixes did.
”Oh, well, if you change your mind simply squawk, Fawkes,” Dumbledore cheerfully told his Phoenix with a twinkle in his child-like blue eyes.
For a time, the only sound heard in the Headmaster's office is the sound of munching on snacks and the sipping of tea. Chewing and sipping at her snacks, Rowan observes Dumbledore from underneath her eyelashes. Dumbledore had been absurdly cheerful as of late, it was as though he had been gifted a precious treasure. Ordinarily, she would have put it out of mind, but Dumbledore's energetic cheeriness was really starting to grate on her nerves. And no matter, what others might think, she was no Scrooge! Not that she would ever admit to it out loud.
Wiping his lips clean, Dumbledore sees that his apprentices nearly finished eating. ”Seeing that the two of you are so tired, I thought that we try something more relaxing this evening. I believe the two of you already know the way-.”
Dumbledore is unable to finish his sentence as he is loudly interrupted by the sound of Rowan and Severus chocking. Red, and breathless, after a while through watery eyes, and a hoarse voice, Severus asks, ”I'm sorry, Dumbledore, sir. I think I may have heard wrongly, but did you wish for us to visit the pool located in the Headmaster's personal quarters?”
”That is exactly correct!” Dumbledore beamed with a twinkle in his child-like blue eyes that glittered behind half-moon spectacles.
Rowan's face must have twitched and revealed her inner thoughts because Dumbledore eyes lose some of their sparkle. ”Oh, well, I suppose we could always return to the usual coursework if that is not to your p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e, my dear apprentices.”
”No, no,” Severus hastily protested sending a fierce scowl in his twin sister's direction. ”No need, Dumbledore, we were just caught unprepared by the offer.”
”Excellent,” Dumbledore exclaimed as he energetically rose to his feet and motioned for them to follow him.
Rowan lets out a loud sigh despite Severus glaring at her. She already knew how this would end with Victorian era swimsuits. The sailor's top with matching knee length pantaloons wouldn't be too bad. However, it was seeing Severus and Dumbledore in striped, prisoner-like swimwear is what disturbed her. Her eyes would need some time to recover after the absurd sight. Still, in the end she supposed it was a kindness, if not painful at least. It was the thought that counted…...