Chapter 836 - Godparent Ceremony (1/2)
It was just past midnight when Rowan and Severus were each awakened. Their grandfather, Reginald already properly dressed awoke Severus, while Aunt Georgine awoke Rowan. The two of them had been awakened at the hour of their birth. Despite being half-asleep, the two of them were ushered into already prepared baths with various herbs and scents. The two of them had been carefully instructed to wash every crevice of their body before they could don on pure white robes. They had been instructed that they must remain bȧrėfoot for the remainder of the ceremony.
Not long after Rowan and Severus emerged from their respective baths and dried themselves, before dressing themselves. Having finished dressing, they were seated in front of a vanity mirror in their own bedroom. With care, Reginald and Georgine gently dried their hair, before brushing it. It was custom for the newborns to be personally dressed by their parents for the ceremony.
Since they were nearly of age, it would be inappropriate to dress them nor aid them in bathing. However, the hair ceremony could still be conducted as was the tradition since the ancient archaic days, when godparent ceremony occurred only once the child had at least reached the age of 5 years old. With children dying young, it had been deemed prudent not to hold godparent ceremonies until the age was older.
Rowan's sleek, shiny hair lays mostly straight except for a small wave that runs through it. Severus's hair is left much the same way before each of them has small flowers carefully woven into their hair. Each of the flowers represented the wishes of their closest kin happiness, strength, power, valor, cunning, joy, wealth, happiness, and more. By the time the weaving of the flowers had been completed Rowan was beginning to feel drowsy.
A faint smile appeared on Georgine's face as she stepped back to admire her work. Her face turns solemn, ”Remember that you are not to speak nor utter a single sound for the duration of the ceremony,” she sternly instructed her great-niece.
Rowan mutely nods her head, before Georgine takes a beautiful delicate lantern and reverently lights it. Georgine bows and murmurs, ”to lighten the path of the traveler,” before extending her right hand for Rowan to take.
The two females exit the bedroom and encounter Reginald leading Severus in the same manner. Severus makes a face at his twin sister before the two of them are led through the dark chateau. The only light in the passageways is the brightly lit lanterns held in Reginald and Georgine's hands. Barefoot, the lavish carpets are soft under Rowan and Severus's feet. At times, the carpet feels a little too soft and tickles the bottom of their feet. They hurriedly stifle any sort of sound and hurry forward, before they let out a squeak and stifled a giggle.
The doors to the main hall are shut, before opening before them. The great hall is vast and dark as they enter it. The floors are made of marble and are extremely cold under their feet. Rowan and Severus are unable to suppress shivers of cold that race through their bodies.
Soft sounds of others breathing can be heard in the dark chamber from their relatives, the Verninac family, and the few that had been invited were present. In the middle of the hall, they come to a halt as one by one the candles in the darkness light up like splendid flower blossoms unfurling their petals to reveal hundreds upon hundreds of floating candles.
Blinking rapidly at the sudden light, Rowan and Severus's eyes take a moment to adjust. They spot the Verninac family before their eyes go to the front. There standing at the forefront are their would-be godparents.
A pale-faced witch with blue veins running under her flesh. Her gray eyes are firm and somber on her old worn face, but there is a twinkle of mischief in them resembling that of Sirius's. Dorea Potter nee Black was only five years younger than their Aunt Georgine, but she looked dozens of years older. Then again, she had lost her husband and only child early on in one go. Standing at her side looking a bit awkward is a short, aged wizard with wispy hair, warm hazel eyes, and knobby knees. Fleamont Potter looked distinctly uncomfortable in formal dark velvet robes.
At the edge of the crowd stood the tall, thin figure of James Potter. Rowan scanned over the figure of James Potter. He looked much better than the last time she had seen him. There weren't so many dark eyeshadows under his hazel eyes and his untidy black hair looked as though it had recently been trimmed. He looked like he had regained at least two or three pounds and did not look as gaunt as before. Still, he was far too thin to be considered a healthy weight.