Chapter 743 - Ug…. (1/2)
The morning after Rowan visited with Hagrid, she had awoken incredibly sore to the point that she had teleported near the infirmary rather than walking all the way there. Thankfully, Madam Pomfrey did not ask Rowan as to the reason why she was so badly sore. Although, the infirmary matron did give Rowan some skeptical glances and may have subtly handed her a book on safe e.r.o.t.i.c practices.
Rowan's ears turned bright pink and she hastily fled from the infirmary without even thanking Madam Pomfrey. But how could she, when the matron thought that Rowan had gotten hurt while EXPERIMENTING! The sheer mortification that Rowan was uncertain if she'd able to live the moment down much less face Madam Pomfrey ever again with a straight face.
The rest of the weekend passed in a busy blur filled with piles and piles of homework, prefect duties, and much more. Before she knew it, it was the following week and at long last Saturday. Saturday morning found Rowan still sleeping in until eight o'clock. Tired from a long week, she felt that she had at least earned a few hours of sleeping in. And she knew others might argue that eight o'clock was still early, but for her, that was rather late considering the fact that she had Prefect duties to perform.
Letting out a loud yawn, Rowan stumbled out of bed and blurrily headed towards the shower with the articles of clothing including towels she had already set out the night before. Bethanie and Sylvia quietly greeted her from the edge of their beds where they sat drying their hair with their wands having already taken an early bath or shower. After taking a short trip to the loo, Rowan paid no mind to Tiffany, who was bathing in the bathtub with a stream of bubbles, before stepping inside to take a warm shower.
Feeling much more awake, Rowan emerged from the shower and returned to the shared dorm room. Already dressed, she sat down at the edge of her bed to dry her hair with her wand. Since the four girls shared a dorm including a bathroom over the years, they'd grown comfortable enough with each other to show their bodies. None of them ever asked about the scars on Rowan's t.h.i.g.hs nor much less the addition of bruises on Bethanie's arms or body after the summer or winter holidays. It was an unspoken subject between them much like the s.e.n.s.i.t.i.v.e subject of Tiffany's title as being a Bride of Death or calling attention to Sylvia's rather small (flat) c.h.e.s.t as it made the girls feel rather self-conscious.
Not feeling much of anything, Rowan simply does not bother putting her up nor braiding it. Leaving her hair down in a rare fashion, she merely tugs on her warm robes before they venture out into the chill of the dungeons to make their way to the Great Hall. Tiffany and Bethanie chatter about, while Sylvia much like Rowan remains silent as they are not much of a morning person.
The Great Hall is full of chatter despite the stormy clouds seen on the enchanted ceiling promising a fierce storm. Only half of the house tables were full as students kept trickling in having slept in late. Severus and Terry were already eating, when the four girls arrived, and in fact were on their second serving of a full English breakfast.
Sneering Rowan turned her nose up at their breakfast and instead opted for a stack of pancakes with plenty of syrup, berries, and whipped cream, and a large mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream. Severus and Terry both snorted at Rowan's choice and muttered something about, ”Sugar,” under their breaths. Sylvia paid them no mind as she opted for a full English breakfast, while Tiffany and Bethanie opted for honey buttered toast and porridge accompanied by plenty of berries and honey.
For a time, the only sound heard between the six of them is the sound of chewing and that of utensils. Their brunch is interrupted by the loud flapping of hundreds of owls making their way into the Great Hall. Several owls appear to be in a rather poor state having pushed themselves to the limits to arrive before the storm. The tired owls immediately drop their letters and packages with the rightful owners, before fluttering away to the tower to rest.
Terry eagerly reaches for his usual copy of the Daily Prophet and begins to read. Terry lets out a delighted cry of joy as Rowan with resignation looks up from her food. ”Why do you even bother to read that trash?” She grumbled, before taking a bit of her food.
”It keeps me, well, informed,” Terry primly replied with a roll of his eyes. Before expectantly waiting for someone to ask him, what the Daily Prophet had said.