Chapter 894 - Pyre Ⅲ (2/2)

”Huh.”

”Same.”

Interrupting the unspoken conversation, Tadbey says, ”Master stated that it was important.”

”Fine, please tell grandfather, we're on our way, Tadbey,” Rowan replied causing Severus to groan before Tadbey vanishes to deliver the message.

”Ug, and I was so comfortable to boot,” Severus grumbled under his breath as Rowan hummed in agreement. It had been a rather nice day and now they were going to have to chat with their grandfather. What a bummer.

Striding through the corridors, Severus remarks, ”So, what do you think this about, Rowan? I mean I thought our presentation ball went rather well considering the circumstances.”

”So, did I,” Rowan replied with a shrug. ”But it's grandfather, who knows maybe we didn't correctly greet someone or ignored someone of importance.”

”That would explain it,” Severus sighed before they arrived at their grandfather's study. The oak study door is open as they walk in closing the door behind them as they do.

The fire warmly crackled in the fireplace in the chamber, but Rowan and Severus stiffen at seeing the somber appearance of their grandfather. They quickly sit down fearing the worst. Had their presentation ball failed due to being canceled? They didn't have to have another one, did they?!

”I have news for you, both,” Reginald solemnly said.

”Is that why you have been having Dawn hide the Daily Prophet from us?” Rowan arched her brow at her grandfather.

”In part,” Reginald replied looking older and now more his age. There are traces of shadows under his eyes deepening the crow's feet already present. ”Rowan and Severus,” he paused to gather his breath, ”it is my duty to inform you that in the giant attack at Mould-on-the-Would Eileen Filch perished with her family.”

Rowan's face goes completely blank almost devoid of emotion. She does not show her turbulent feelings that bubbled beneath a lake of ice. And for now, the frozen lake surface had yet to show any cracks.

”No, no, no,” Severus repeated loudly, before abruptly rising. His chair falls back onto the carpeted ground. ”This must be a joke, grandfather! A cruel one at that!”

”There were not sufficient remnants to be buried, their remains were part of the public pyre earlier in the afternoon,” Reginald continued to explain. ”I have already passed by the Filch family cottage and removed personal effects of Eileen and the child. I had Tadbey place the contents in the attic should you wish to see the personal effects.”

Severus onyx-colored eyes glance wildly about before he feels a firm, reassuring tug on his wrist. He harshly turns around to meet the midnight black indigo-colored eyes of his twin, Rowan. Severus's gazes soften down as the two of them communicate in silence.

Severus's dark onyx eyes had grown more bitter and older. And a single moment, he'd lost traces of his boyish innocence becoming that much more of a man. He had begun to grow up resembling much more the Severus Snape of another place and time.

Rowan's eyes fill with sorrow at the impossible transformation that occurs before her. She had always and only wished the best for Severus, but that was an impossible feat. And she could not stop the flow of time and life even if she could.

Severus's face grows colder while onyx eyes seem to grow darker. He gently tugs his wrist out of Rowan's grasp, before apologetically turning to their grandfather. ”I apologize, grandfather, I spoke out of turn,” he hoarsely croaked.

Reginald woodenly nods his head at his grandson. He presses his lips together uncertain for a moment, before saying, ”In the parlor under the Christmas Tree, I left the gift from Eileen for the two of you. The gifts had been previously wrapped and sat under the Christmas tree at the Filch family home. The two of you need not wait until Christmas Day to open them.”

”Thank you, grandfather,” Rowan quietly said. ”Might we be excused?”

”You may,” Reginald's face momentarily softened at that moment. For all his portrayed indifference for his disowned daughter, Eileen, he still had cared for his only child.. And his child's death was no less hurtful than that of his beloved, Sirsa.