Chapter 770 - Culling Aftermath Ⅺ (1/2)
As a child, Peregrine had not seen an issue in playing with the house elf children. However, now as an a.d.u.l.t, he understood that it was not a normal occurrence for pureblood households especially to the degree that his mother had permitted it. He now understood the reason for it, his mother had wished for him to bond with his half-sister, Tilly. In the end, he too had failed his childhood friend unknown half-sister, but he would not fail in protecting her son, his nephew.
With a determined expression, Peregrine pointedly asked his mother. ”Who else knows of Tilly's existence beyond the Rowle household?” He would protect Edwyn, no matter what the cost. For he was for better or for worse, a Mulciber.
”Livius Rowle should be the only one that knows of the secret, and perhaps his deceased son, Thorfinn. Not his wife through as he never trusted her piggy-like greed,” Meredith pursed her lips as she mused out loud. ”Though with the death of his son, he very may have begun to entrust his secrets to his only remaining child, his daughter, Euphemia Rowle.”
Meredith turned a sharp gaze onto her son. ”Do not make the mistake of underestimating the Rowle family,” she sternly warned her son. ”They are not a member of the sacred 28 families for no reason, and their penchant for cruelty and fanaticism is immeasurable. Should you attempt to bribe or even threaten them, they will cling to that weakness until they devour you whole in their stead.”
”Then what should be done, mother?” Peregrine flatly asked. ”A loose end like them will surely come to bite us in the end.”
”There is no need for such concerns, my son,” Meredith firmly disagreed. ”Tilly is dead, and none know of Edywn's birth except for the two of us and Beat. Beat will not betray Edwyn's secret for he too is the child's uncle. He understands only too well that Edwyn would not survive as a house elf as he is only a 1/3 house elf and lacks the required abilities of house elves beyond a natural talent for appariation. My grandson is a wizard and he will be raised as such.”
”But his ears-,” Peregrine protested.
”There are potions to fix such things,” Meredith confidently replied. ”However, I will leave it up to Edwyn to decide. I will not have my grandson feeling lesser than for simply having a different pair of ears.”
”And if someone asks,” Peregrine began to say only to be interrupted by his mother again.
”We will remind everyone of the half-goblin heiress that wed into their family over 500 years ago as part of the goblin treaties. Though rare, the pointed ear trait still appears every or so generations!” Meredith firmly retorted. ”As long as you acknowledge him, Peregrine as head of the Mulciber family, none will dare say otherwise.”
”I will, mother,” Peregrine resolutely answered. ”I would also like to speak to my betrothed, Rosie Greengrass in private regarding the subject.”
”The child is kind, I doubt she will be opposed,” Meredith opinioned, before adding, ”That being said, there is something else that I wish to ask of you.”
”What is it, mother?” Peregrine asked with some apprehension.
”Beat is rather subversive thanks to your father and brother,” Meredith quietly explained. ”I would send him to Hogwarts to be trained, but I will not separate him from Edwyn at this time, I do not believe it to be prudent. Therefore, I wish to request the acquirement of more house elves that are trained according to Hogwarts standards.”
”I very much wanted to suggest the same thing,” Peregrine replied with relief. ”Bee-bee has barely been able to keep the uptake of Mulciber Citadel all on his own. He could use a helping hand.”
”That is an excellent decision, my son,” Meredith replied. ”Now there is one more subject that I wish to speak about before your departure to Gringotts to reinstate your uncle Joffrey and his family, and the acknowledgment of Edwyn as a Mulciber.”
”Which is?” Peregrine asked with no bit of curiosity.