Chapter 776 - Slug Club Banquet Ⅱ (1/2)

The golden doorknob leading to Professor Slughorn is turned and opened by Professor Mortimer. There is a hawk-like gaze as she motions for Rowan to step inside first, but Rowan pointedly shakes her head against the suggestion. ”After you, Professor,” Rowan politely replied with a gesture of her hand. ”It is only fitting that the eldest enters first.”

Professor Mortimer's lips curl with a hint of approval. ”Indeed, I shall,” she paused, ”That being said, Prefect Prince, I shall stick close to you for the duration of Slughorn's banquet. And do not think for a moment that I do this out of the goodness out of my heart, but rather my precious baby cousin requested this of me. Apparently, my baby cousin in years past used to guard thine maiden virtue, but with his ongoing courtship, he cannot act in the same manner as in the past. He has his courting partner to consider.”

”Then you have my belated gratitude, Professor Mortimer,” Rowan sincerely said bending her neck in a slight bow towards the elder cousin of Terry.

”Step lively, Prefect Prince,” Professor Mortimer crisply said before whirling away and plunging into the quarters of Professor Slughorn.

Not wanting to be left behind, Rowan hurriedly follows Professor Mortimer only slowing down enough shut the door behind her. The sound of music and many conversations fills the expanded office of Slughorn's office. The ceiling and walls this evening were dr.a.p.ed in emerald and blue hangings to look as they were inside an elegant vast tent. Golden ornate lamps pour off golden light to warm the room and create an outdoor sensation. Although smack dab in the center of the ceiling real fairies flutter about, each a speck of floating light.

Rowan shivers and firmly pulls her gaze away from the fairies on the ceiling. She had a perpetual dislike for the sharp-teethed buggers. And despite all these years, they still gave her the willies. Maybe, it was the way, they looked or moved, but she would never be fond of fairies.

The room was a bit crowded as most of the guests had already arrived. Yet the crowd seemed to unconsciously part ways to allow Professor Mortimer to easily pass through. Rowan picked up her pace to stick close to the fast-moving form of Professor Mortimer through the crowd.

In the corner of the Slughorn's office musicians played a tranquil melody, while a cloudy haze of pipe smoke hung over a group of elderly warlocks in deep conversation. Several house elves in neat little black uniforms make their way through the throng as they elegantly serve and carry silver platters of food. And though Rowan was starving, she had the feeling that the food would only taste like ash in her mouth. Any food for that matter.

”Ah, there you are, Prefect Prince,” Professor Slughorn exclaimed as he trotted over to them. Wearing a tasseled velvet hat with a matching smoke jacket, Professor Slughorn looked a bit like a round teddy bear plushie.

Professor Slughorn unexpectedly wilts at catching the angelic, but predatory figure standing just behind Prefect Prince. Professor Slughorn's pale-colored eyes tremble with shock and anxiously reaches up to pull on his walrus mustache. A tiny bead of sweat can be seen sprouting on top of his balding head. ”Er, Professor Mortimer, I did not see you there,” he apprehensively said reaching up to lightly dab at his forehead with a silk handkerchief. ”I thought you said that you had zero interest in attending,” his voice cracked and trailed off.

”Plans change, Professor Slughorn,” Professor Mortimer replied with an innocent smile on her face. ”And how could I possibly miss such a valuable opportunity to socialize?”

Professor Slughorn loudly gulps and fretfully shifts on his feet. ”Of course, there is no sense in missing such a valuable opportunity. If Prefect Prince would follow me, I would like to introduce you to several guests of mine-.”

”There is no need,” Professor Mortimer mercilessly interrupted. ”Prefect Prince was explicitly placed in my care for the duration of these social events.”

Professor Slughorn faces blanches with fear misunderstanding Professor Mortimer's words and associating them to one, Reginald Prince. Well, Rowan had been placed into Professor Mortimer's care by Terry Greengrass, Professor Mortimer's younger cousin. But Professor Slughorn had no way of knowing that.