Chapter 842 - Prepping Ⅳ (1/2)
They all quietly sit down in the foyer in the chairs as Louise happily takes over the conversation and begins to chat with Fleamont. With Fleamont otherwise engaged, Dorea and Georgine quietly converse, while James sits by himself and waits quietly. Truth be told, James felt rather odd with his current appearance. He'd never imagined himself with longer hair, but it was strangely convenient as his unruly hair for once could be tamed in some form. He had hardly recognized himself in the mirror as his reflection didn't seem to remotely resemble himself.
Excluding the clothing, his thin face looked far sharper giving him a more somber look than he would have ever imagined in his youth. His dark, black-rimmed spectacles had been changed to thin round silver spectacles that made his hazel eyes appear far larger and brighter than they really were. James had always known he had was relatively good-looking, but his current appearance showcased a previously undiscovered aspect of intelligence and a solemnity. He truly was a different person from the youth that he had remembered for he had been foolishly naïve and would have never possessed the gravity that he emitted at present. For he had been naïve and most cruel in the worst of fashions.
James is pulled out of his stupor by the rustling sound of clothes. He glances about to see his dad standing up along with everyone else in the hall. He hurriedly stands and turns to gaze in the direction that they are staring at. It was Severus Prince.
The tall, thin, handsome figure of Severus can be seen at the top of the winding stairs. His dark hair is elegantly pulled back to frame his face. His clothes and robes are similarly cut to those of James except in the colors of the Prince family crest. The outer robes are bluish with silver embroidery and a silver embroidered wyvern on the back of his outer robes. Pinned on his ċhėst is a similar wyvern broach to that of James, but Severus turns slightly to the side to extend a white-gloved hand.
James glances past Severus to blink in surprise. Rowan's long raven hair is pulled up in a beautiful updo pinned with silver hairpins that are encrusted at the end with beautiful sapphire gems. Her gown is silver and glistens beautifully in the light with tasteful blue embroidery. Her slender body shows exceptional curves most painfully forged via a tight corset that caused her ċhėst to appear much ample than it is.
Rowan looks elegant and sophisticated despite her surprisingly high neckline that only reveals a bit of her collarbone but hides the scar on her left shoulder. She had on light makeup to give her a softer demure and add a touch of color to her face. The tasteful, golden, thin spectacles only caused her midnight indigo, black eyes to appear that more vivid and bright. At that moment, there was something simply breathtaking about her. It was not finite like the beauty of Tiffany nor Bethanie, but something that could not be concretely pinned. Is a blooming rose more or less beautiful than that of the setting sun? There is an infinite amount of beauty in the world and not all are concrete as others but are no less astounding.
Rowan's lips press into a frown before accepting Severus's gloved hand to descend down the stairs. They gracefully descend down the winding stairs with Rowan nearly tripping at catching sight of James. For a moment, she had hardly recognized him, and her breath became stuck in her throat. She let out a loud breath and hid her embarrassment at being thus startled except that the tip of her ears turned a light pink.
Severus crisply bows to James and aloofly says, ”I expect for Rowan to be properly escorted, Prongs,” he added with a firm pointed stare down his nose in stern emphasis.
Rowan rolls her eyes at Severus and pulls her gloved hand from his grasp. ”I am certain that I can take care of myself,” she chided her twin. ”Run along to the floo, I am certain that Lily will be arriving shortly if she is not already here.”
Severus flinches before sniffing loudly and eagerly storming away to the floo hearth. His Lily was bound to look like a goddess. A lopsided smile appeared on his face as he vanished further down the hallway.
Rowan tsk-tsk's before turning her attention to James. ”Well, you certainly look different, James,” she truthfully remarked, ”but it's not a bad look on you. I rather like your new spectacles.” She had been sincere in her remarks because the new spectacles did not remind her of the yet unborn Potter.
James blinks self-consciously for a moment before his lips twitch with a bit of shy smile. ”Thanks, Rowan,” he quietly said, before running a hand through his hair. ”I must admit, the biggest shock though is the fact that my hair can be tamed.”
”Well, I am sincere when I say that this style looks good on you, James,” Rowan honestly commented. ”You should keep your hair that length,” she paused in thought. ”Though you may have to actually brush your hair every morning lest it becomes a rat nest.”
”Thanks for reminding me,” James said with a touch of sarcasm. ”But, since my hair's neat for once, I might just keep it.” And he would because it would serve as one less reminder of the past. At least in this manner, he could stand to look at himself.