Chapter 784 - Extended Invitation Ⅱ (1/2)
It was cold and dark and many of the inhabitants of the industrial town of Cokeworth were already in bed. A few windows show a faint nightlamp light or the blue light of a television set that was on and being watched. None noticed the faint echoing pop in the distance much less a cloaked figure making their way towards the nicer end of town. The sidewalks were clean and dry as the first snowfall had been rather light and had already melted leaving behind muddy patches of grass and frozen mud.
The cloaked figure of Reginald Prince makes his way through the sleepy, quiet town and arrives in front of rows of red-bricked homes with a small front yard in front of each flat. In rose bushes in front of the Evans homes are carefully preserved. The rose bushes have been trimmed for the winter, while the rose bush roots are carefully covered with moss compost to protect from the harsh winter cold. Although Reginald had never personally visited the Evans family home, Georgine had written the address down in her letter with a brief, but detailed description of the muggle home.
Certain that he was in the correct location, Reginald walked up the sidewalk and gravel, before climbing a few cement steps. There was a white light emitted from the front room and a bright yellow light upstairs. Content that he was not waking the Evans family from their sleep, he knocked loudly twice and waited.
A thin, tall, light-haired teenage girl with light-colored girl, who had been sitting on the couch watching Dr. Who lets out a loud snort at the knock. Petunia lowers the volume on the telly, and yells to her parents upstairs, ”Mum and Dad, there's someone at the door!”
”Open it, and see who it is, Tuney,” was the reply from her parents from upstairs.
Petunia was wearing striped pajamas and grumbles as she wraps her fluffy bed robe around her. Slipping on her fluffy night slippers, she walks to the door. Her parents liked to watch Emmerdale, a boring soap opera about farm life. She hated the show and very much preferred to watch Dr. Who. She could only watch her show later in the evening since she had to do her homework and chores in the latter part of the afternoon. Not to mention she had to study for a big Chem exam coming up at the end of next week.
Petunia opens the door irritably and is about snap at the visitor at the door, but the words die down in her mouth before they can get out. She lets out a weak gulp at the sight of the towering figure at the door. ”Can I help you, sir,” she weakly asked with a tinge of fear in her voice.
”Ah, you must be Petunia Evans,” the stranger said. ”My granddaughter, Rowan is quite fond of you, Miss Evans.”
Petunia realizes a bit at the reply. ”Um, would you happen to be Rowan and Severus's grandfather, sir?” She quietly asked with still a tone of uncertainty heard in her voice.
”That would be correct, Miss Evans. I am Reginald Prince,” he replied. ”Would your parents, Mr. and Mrs. Evans be home? There is a matter that I wish to discuss with them.”
”Certainly, sir!” Petunia hastily said as she stepped aside and permitted, the tall, slender wizard to enter their home.
The Evans home is a small home that held a living front in the front with a couch and two armchairs in front of the television. There is an old bookcase against one of the walls with a half-open wall that connects to a small kitchen. Down a small hallway are two doors, one leading to the guest bedroom with a tiny water closet, and the other leading to the laundry room. The three bedrooms of the Evans family are all upstairs.
Taking note of the small size of the home, Reginald Prince reaches up to remove the cowl of his cloak and reveals a slender man with stern features. His dark hair is silver-streaked before he turns a dark cool gaze towards the young girl. ”May I have a seat, Miss Evans?” He asked.
”Right away, sir!” Petunia hastily said as she rushed over to turn off the telly.
”No need,” Reginald replied looking intrigued at the muggle box contraction in front of him. From what he understood the Wiz Link would work in a similar fashion to show images and sounds. ”Fascinating,” he muttered as he stared at the muggle contraction with curiosity.
”It's a telly, I mean, telly for short, but it is called a television or T.V. as well,” Petunia replied as she fretfully shuffled on her feet uncertain of what to do or say. She had never heard much about Rowan's grandfather except that he was rather doting and loving. Although Lily had said after a visit after their first year that he was a bit cold and stern. She could clearly see that Lily had minced her description. The man was rather cold and very much frightening!