Chapter 822 - Start of Winter Holidays Ⅱ (1/2)
With Remus still sputtering in shock, the Lupin family departs a bit noisily. They weren't the only ones as Olympia Branstone had long ago already departed with her parents including Pandora with her beloved Xeno's family and David Goldstein with his family. The only families remaining on the empty platform are that of the Prince, Abbott, and Evans families.
Mr. and Mrs. Abbott are both fair-haired with round faces and a bit plumb. A rather warm, jolly family. There is a seven-year-old girl with rosy cheeks and silky blonde hair pulled into piggy tails. She greatly resembled the yet unborn Hannah Abbott and considering their resemblance, the little girl was likely Hannah Abbott's paternal aunt.
”Andrew,” the little girl happily rushed out to her older brother.
”Anna,” Andrew teasingly said as he picked up the plumb girl in a tight hug with a huff, before setting her down..
”What did you bring me?” Anna Abbott asked with visible excitement on her round face.
”Here,” Andrew says as Anna lets out an excited squeak at seeing the box of sweets from Honeydukes.
”Look, mum and dad!” Anna squealed as she hurried off to show her doting parents.
Rowan's face grows pensive as they approach. She did not recall Hannah Abbott having an aunt. Then again, it was highly possible that Hannah was named after Anna Abbott. It highly suggested that Anna Abbott had been killed in an attack during the first wizarding war.
Rowan snorts at seeing Andrew's face goes all goofy at spotting the light-haired Petunia Evans. Tall and thin, Petunia Evan's pale eyes glittered with emotion as she pursed her pink glossy lips at her boyfriend. The couple seemingly entered their own rosy world causing Rowan to almost roll her eyes at her two friends.
Mr. Evans, a ginger-haired man with brown eyes nods his head at Severus, who stiffly nods his head back at Lily's father. It seemed the rumors were true that once a friend switches to a boyfriend, a father changes their view of the so-called friend. Mrs. Evans, a light-haired woman with emerald eyes smiles welcomingly at Severus and nudges her husband with her elbow reminding him to stop glaring at the poor boy. She had always thought Severus was a nice boy in his own way despite his perpetual frown.
Past the Evans couple, Rowan's face stiffens a bit at spotting the tall, slender figure of her grandfather, Reginald Prince. His expression was cold as he studied them suggesting his displeasure with Rowan. Rowan decides to tactfully focus her gaze on her grandfather's ċhėst as Lily hurries to greet her family with Nibby's owl cage in tow.
Rowan turns her gaze at Owny being towed behind Severus. Owny looks rather forlorn at being separated from his mate. Nibby had accepted Owny's as her mate but did not wish to lay eggs yet. The owl couple would wait to nest and hatch owlets until Lily and Severus's 7th year.
The Abbott couple and Evans couple excuse themselves with Petunia and Lily promising to each Andrew and his family at the presentation ball. The Abbott family would have the two girls in their care until their return after the presentation ball. It greatly put the Evans couple at ease and as did the Abbott couple at spending more time to learn about Petunia Evans their son's sweetheart. The Abbott couple did not oppose their sons' interest in a muggle as Petunia Evan's sister was a witch. There was a very good chance that any children born between the two would be magical. If not, well, they had squibs in the family. And, the Abbott's had never been troubled by that fact before especially now with innumerable employment opportunities available to squibs within the wizarding world.
The Abbotts and Evans family soon depart leaving Severus watching Lily's figure until she vanishes through the wall. Severus lets out a content sigh, before frowning and turning towards his grandfather at noticing the absence of a familiar presence. ”Where is Aunt Georgine, grandfather?” Severus asked with a nonchalant expression. He is most certainly not concerned about this Aunt! He was merely curious that's all!