Chapter 850 - Presentation Ball Ⅴ (1/2)
The waltz comes to an end before they can speak, they and the dancers halt briefly to applaud the rest of the dancers along with the crowd. A few seconds later the orchestra strikes up with Rowan and James dance together for a second waltz. A second waltz implied that there is possible interest, and a third or a fourth waltz only confirmed a strong genuine interest. There would be rumors afloat with their second waltz, but it would keep the would-be suitors off Rowan's back which she did not mind at all. She was used to rumors and she could far more easily put up with them than a young man, who simply couldn't take a hint.
Rowan wasn't the only one as she spotted the figure of Severus and Lily joining the dancing crowd. She sighs and quietly says, ”When we turn right don't flinch just keep looking ahead, James.”
James's hand instinctively tightens around Rowan as they turn right, and he spots Lily dragging Severus onto the ballroom away from two very enchanting witches. The light-haired witch had tan skin with fine features, while the dark-haired witch had pale skin and poised features. They were as lovely as the day and the night, and they had a throng of suitors surrounding them.
Avoiding the subject of his agony, James gazes past Severus and Lily at the two enchanting witches. ”And they are?” He deliberately asked.
”I believe they are Kain Shafiq's two unwed daughters,” Rowan wryly replied. ”However, it is a lost cause, Aunt Georgine dislikes Shafiq's mother-in-law, his wife's mother. The two of them never got along in Hogwarts and I am certain that Aunt Georgine would rather see Severus wed Lily than ever allow herself to be related to that woman.”
”And besides,” Rowan sadly confessed as she gazed into James's hazel eyes, ”Severus has only ever had Lily in his eyes since we were children. He has ALWAYS loved her. And Severus is even more stubborn than even me. He will never change his mind once his mind is made up. A dreadful fault to have inherited from Godric Gryffindor, I must admit.”
James's hand tightens around Rowan's waist and hand, before painfully glancing away. After a moment, he hoarsely answers, ”I know.”
Rowan knows there is nothing that she can say to comfort James and instead remains silent. They remain silent for the rest of the waltz before the waltz ends. The crowd begins to applaud, but instead, James finds himself being dragged away by Rowan. ”Wait, where are we going?” James protested, but not really as he allowed himself to be pulled through the applauding throng.
”For a breath of fresh air,” Rowan replied over her shoulder, before leading James out through the adjacent ballroom doors into the open gardens. Some in the crowd watch them disappear with interest through the ballroom patio doors out into the gardens.
Among those is the figure of Andrew and Petunia, who had been part of the dancers. ”What is it my Pet?” Andrew adoringly said to his lovely girlfriend.
”My dear Drew,” Petunia explained as she craned her neck in the direction that Rowan and that Potter boy had disappeared too. ”I do believe that those two might be more friends.”
”Rowan and James?” Andrew blurted out in shock. ”Impossible! They've been friends since their first year!”
Petunia arched her brow at her boyfriend. ”Explain Lily and Severus then.”
”Er,” Andrew flushed in embarrassment. ”It's just, well, it would be strange since Rowan knows that James still likes Lily, and I don't think she would ever select someone who's emotionally compromised. I think she has too much pride to be anyone's second choice.”
”Yet, Rowan trusts that Potter boy,” Petunia countered. ”Your words might be true for anyone else, but Rowan rarely trusts in anyone.” Andrew opens his mouth to protest, but Petunia continues, ”Not like this, Drew. No matter how much she trusts you, she doesn't trust you as much as Potter. And besides, whether Potter admits or not, he trusts Rowan plenty.”
Andrew thoughtfully falls silent, before making a clever expression. ”Your words do make sense; Pet. Would you care to waltz?” He said changing the subject.