Chapter 780 - Slug Club Banquet Aftermath Ⅱ (1/2)
Still, Georgine certainly wasn't a Slytherin for nothing, (and was quite literally his descendant). Leaning back in her seat, she looks down her nose at the 5th year Gryffindor. ”And why should I accept such a request, Mr. Potter? I have more than enough to keep me plenty occupied with my position as Professor. In addition, there are plenty of others that have abundantly more free time and would be an equal position to serve as a professor.”
”Yes, but none are as talented as you are Professor,” James persuasively said. His time as an Auror had not been a waste. He'd learned to flatter with the best of them. ”Though Professor Flitwick is a talented dueler, he teaches speed and not the basics. It is not that I wish to discredit Professor Flitwick's teaching methods, but he does not teach students how to instinctively react and attack. Rather the duel ends after each student having only attacked once, but in very real situations, the bout will not simply just end there. The bout only ends when or the other is usually dead or captured.”
James paused to stare at Professor Prince firmly in her dark-colored eyes. ”I seek real experience rather than an unreliable speed function,” he clearly said. ”And for that, I believe that Professor Prince is best suited for the position.”
”I will not deny that I am pleased by your cunning flattery, Mr. Potter,” Georgine truthfully responded as she had felt flattered by the statement. ”But I have nothing to gain, Mr. Potter, for I am above all a Slytherin.”
”That is not true, Professor,” James firmly countered. ”You will be in a position to assess and teach the rising generation within wizarding society. Even more so forge strong bonds as a mentor to purebloods and those with the potential to rise high in society and even within the Ministry of Magic.”
Georgine hides an impressed gleam of p.l.e.a.s.u.r.e at the boy's statement and instead arches her brow at him. ”I will admit those are excellent benefits to have, but they are mere suppositions, Mr. Potter. A mere belief is not enough to cause me to make such a costly investment with no guarantee of future returns.”
”I thought as much that is why I am willing to be the principal escort of Rowan during the Winter Ball presentation,” James firmly said causing Georgine to reevaluate the boy before her. The boy might be a Gryffindor, but he was much more than that.
”And why should the honor of principal escort be given to you, Mr. Potter?” Georgine quietly remarked as she observed the boy for any sign of deception.
”I know that Severus has already invited Lily, and she has accepted,” James' voice broke a moment as pain, sadness, relief, and even resignation flashed across his hazel eyes. ”Severus will break all protocol by inviting Lily as his principal escort considering her birth as a muggleborn. Therefore, the masses must be appeased by Rowan taking a pureblood escort.
However, Rowan's choices are limited as most of her male friends are in open relationsh.i.p.s, and those that are not cannot be openly taken such as Sirius. Sirius's parents would undoubtedly see this as a possible opening and immediately move to betroth them both. And if I read it correctly, the Prince family does not possess any intent to tie the two houses in unison.”
”I am impressed Mr. Potter by your astute deductions,” Georgine sincerely complimented the boy with a small head nod on her part. ”Though are you certain that you will be able to live with the consequences of such a risqué move? Society will see that there, in fact, exists a relationship between the two of you, and it will that much harder for you or Rowan to seek an alternative partner in the future.”
”It is a risk that I am willing to take and one that Rowan would agree with as well,” James steadfastly answered. Though he didn't know Rowan as well as the rest of his friends from their interactions and blossoming friendship; he knew that there was no one in her heart at present.