Chapter 849 - Presentation Ball Ⅳ (1/2)
Before James can formulate any further suspicions, David interjects, ”Oh how rude of me! Please allow me to introduce my betrothed, Layla LaFoix.”
The pretty young witch answers in her crisp English native voice, ”It is an honor to meet you, Miss Prince. My betrothed has told me much about you.”
”Oh?” Rowan blinked with a bit of surprise and curiously glances at David.
”What?” David innocently shrugged. ”I may have exaggerated the virtues of your intellect and the merits of having you as a stimulating conversation partner, Rowan.”
Rowan shakes her head at David, before turning towards his betrothed. ”Miss LaFoix, I am unfamiliar with you. Might I presume that you in fact attend Durmstrang or Beauxbatons is that correct?”
”Durmstrang,” Layla LaFoix truthfully replied. ”My mother is from the old continent and though we reside on the Isles, mother truly wished for at least one of her children to attend her dear old alma mater. Father did not relent with my brothers until with me, so hence, I attend Durmstrang instead of Hogwarts.”
”Yes, I heard that there will be massive changes after the start of the new year when classes resume once more,” Rowan commented. ”Durmstrang is to have a new Headmistress if I am not mistaken.”
”That is indeed the case,” Layla candidly explained. ”We are all quite excited as new courses of teaching will be added including wizarding etiquette for the muggleborn and muggle studies for the first and second years. It has been such a successful course at Hogwarts that the Board of Durmstrang also wishes to implement the same course. Rumor has it that Beauxbatons may be considering the same thing.”
”Well, I wish Durmstrang and Beauxbatons good fortune then,” Rowan sincerely said, ”however, we have tarried long enough, and there are still many guests left to greet.”
”We will not take any further of your time. Until Hogwarts, Rowan, and Potter,” David said with a nod of his head, before departing arm and arm with his betrothed.
Rowan stares silently at David Goldstein's retreating figure. He was a distant cousin of Newt Scamander's wife, Tina Goldstein. The Goldstein's by all accounts had a Jewish wizard heritage. And she had at times seen a hint or two that might suggest that David Goldstein's family still practiced Judaism.
It would certainly explain why David Goldstein already had a fiancé. And it was rather curious how Layla LaFoix referred to the old continent as the old country. With the Nazi regime rampant in Europe, it would not have been surprising to see that even Jewish wizards would have fled abroad such as the UK. And would certainly explain why Layla's mother had requested to at least have one of her children return and attend her old alma mater.
Nor it was out of the question to believe that wizards could practice religion. There was a very good reason why the Weasley's were called blood traitors even prior to Voldemort. There are more than ample clues to suggest that the Weasley's sided with Christianity in ages past especially the fact that they celebrated Christmas and modern muggleborn traditions rather than Yule and wizarding traditions despite being purebloods. And it would certainly explain the main reason why the Malfoy's hated the Weasley's in ages past.
James stares inquisitively at the retreating form of the Ravenclaw Perfect and that of Rowan, who remains gazing after David Goldstein's back. ”Do you like David Goldstein?” He quietly asked in a low tone of voice only sufficient for Rowan to hear and not be overheard by anyone else in the ballroom.
”Define like,” Rowan murmured plainly raising her own eyes to meet James's own. ”Yes, I like his character and I rather enjoy his company. I even think he is rather dashing, but I am not attracted to him if that is what you are inquiring.” She paused and smiled a bit sadly.
”Unfortunately, I could never be with someone like him,” Rowan lamely admitted out loud. For they could never understand her nor her them. He would expect things of her that she was simply not capable of giving nor granting.