Chapter 777 - Slug Club Banquet Ⅲ (2/2)

A gleaming smile appears on Professor Mortimer's face revealing her very sharp teeth. ”Just a moment then, Professor Slughorn, Prefect Prince, and I have several items of interest which to go over in my office,” she firmly stated.

”Certainly, Professor Mortimer,” Professor Slughorn hastily said. ”I'll just leave the three of you alone,” before waddling away at full speed.

Professor Mortimer's grin widens dangerously. ”Murtagh Burke, I've heard of you, sir,” she pensively muttered. ”A brilliant alchemist by all accounts having gained a mastery under a French alchemist in his late twenties. And has since then made several promising discoveries in the field of medicine.”

”I am profoundly honored at the praise,” Murtagh Burke warmly said. ”It is not often enough that I am introduced in such a flattering manner.”

Professor Mortimer's face twitches and her smile fades away as she presses her lips into a thin line. ”It was a mere statement,” she pointedly retorted, ”but hearsay is rather treacherous unless it is verified with one's own eyes.”

Murtagh Burke does not seem to take offense at the jagged remark instead turns gaze past towards the slender, tall female figure standing behind the short form of Professor Mortimer. ”I have not yet had the p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e of being introduced,” he pointedly said.

Rowan to her surprise found that she was unable to pull her gaze from that of Murtagh Burke. His bright eyes easily penetrated deeper into her mind leaving Rowan stunned at how easily the wizard penetrated through her mind's defenses. With ease, he traversed through her mind peeking throughout the Hogwarts landscape that hid many memories in a single lapse of breath. What seemed like countless minutes and hours was in fact mere seconds.

Murtagh Burke's lips begin to curl upward in a faint smile of p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e. The granddaughter of the old Prince possessed innate strong mental defenses, but nothing of true measure. Her memories and emotions were easily found for one as proficient in the mind arts as he. There was nothing of significance to note beyond that the girl truly did possess an intellectual mind that spoke on the edge of genius. Though the younger brother seemed to be just as talented and infinitely far more powerful. The girl could easily be used to trap the twin brother and kill them both in one fell swoop. Still, it would be far better to trap both children to slay the old Prince. And the sister of the old Prince was far easier to kill and use as bait. Thereby tying all loose ends.

Satisfied and disappointed with the final product of so many of his enemy's lineages, Murtagh Burke begins to retreat from Rowan Prince's mind. He had found nothing of notice beyond that which he already knew. Although the girl did seem to possess at least some of the instincts of the Percussor's as she had sensed the identity of some of the vessels. Still, it was far from accurate as the girl had not sensed the identity of the hidden vessel closest to her.

Professor Mortimer abruptly stepped in front of Rowan and between Murtagh Burke breaking their visual contact. ”What is the meaning of this?” Professor Mortimer hissed certain that legilimency had just been illegally used upon the student in her charge.

Rowan let out a loud gasp as if she had been drowning as a fierce raging headache begins to loudly pulse in her ears. Feeling sickly and shocked, Rowan staggers forward and grabs onto the back of Professor Mortimer's robes feeling very nauseated. ”Professor, if you would,” she said through gritted teeth lest she throws up. ”Would you aid me to the infirmary? I am not feeling very well, I think it was something I ate.”

Murtagh Burke pleasant grin further widens at sensing the truth and lies in Rowan Prince's words. ”Forgive me,” he insincerely said, ”I shall not detain the two of you any longer. I am certain that we continue this conversation at another time.” Stepping aside in a gentlemanly fashion, he motions for the two of them to pass him by. In the background, the wails of a violin can be heard lamenting the premise of the death of a tragic hero. Yet most forget that the tragic song of a hero is the glorious musical rhapsody of another, the villain.