Chapter 473: Naming Ceremony Ⅲ
With the ceremony now over, the Avery couple hurry over to the new godparents of their grandson and take the bloodied weapons from them. Various house elves appear carrying bandages, blood replenishing potions, and healing potions. While the various adults are being tended to Rowan is carefully watching Kain Shafiq out of the corner of her eye. But she was not the only one, their grandfather was closely watching him as well.
Once everyone is finished being tended to Evan Avery gently reaches into the cradle and pulls out his still dozing son leaving the soiled blanket in the cradle to be burned into ashes by the house elves as is tradition. With a soft smile, he proudly presents his son to his official godparents. "Barnabas Avery, please meet your godmother, Georgine Irene Prince, and your godfather, Kain Shafiq."
The sleeping baby merely snuffles in his father's, before letting out a sleepy sigh. Georgine sniffs and says, "Well, not at all very surprising considering the circumstances." Before flashing Evan Avery, a sharp glance, "However, I shall not be around much for this upcoming year as I have temporarily taken a position at Hogwarts for a single year's worth of time."
"Yes, I am aware of that," Evan Avery murmured as he tucked a new clean blanket around his son. "And as he is only months old, I doubt the absence of his Godmother will be felt."
"Good," Georgine crisply said, before turning to eye the joint godparent, Kain Shafiq. "I thought you had left England for warmer climates, Shafiq," Georgine crisply declared as she carefully studied the tan wizard.
"I did," Kain Shafiq replied with a white glistening smile. "But my youngest and only son is set to start Hogwarts in the next upcoming year. As such preparations are under way to return to our native country of birth with our entire household. Therefore, my entire family including my unwed daughters will return to our home in the countryside by the end of the year."
Georgine merely sniffs as if rather annoyed by the news, but Kain Shafiq understood that the older Prince female disliked his wife's mother, his mother-in-law. Apparently the two witches had always been at each other's throats while attending Hogwarts. Rumor even had it that the two witches had gotten into a catfight that had involved violent hairpulling and clothes tearing. Either way, both women kept quite the distance from each other as possible.
Not wanting to further distress the older witch, Kain of his own accord says, "However, my in-laws will not be returning with us to England. They will continue to reside at their chateau."
"What joyous news," Georgine said with a cold gleam of satisfaction clearly visible in the depth of her eyes.
Knowing Georgine Prince's temperament, Mrs. (Agatha) Avery quickly says, "Please follow us into the dining room. A small celebratory dinner has been prepared by the house elves."
Normally there would be a great celebratory feast and many guests present, but the Prince's would not have attended otherwise. As such, Mrs. Avery had to console herself with what the fact that her grandson had gained a great advantage in that stead. And since, the entire Avery were still in mourning for the passing of poor Marceline even Mrs. Avery would not have truly desired such an event. Her daughter-in-law had more than amply performed her duty and was to be respected and honored for having given her life to birth, Barnabas Avery.
The Avery couple elegantly lead the way to the dining hall, while Evan Avery carefully hands his son to an older female house elf with a pug like nose, short bat-like ears, and almond like honey colored-eyes, Solia. Solia carefully accepts the infant, before apparating away with her precious cargo.
Rowan and Severus study Evan Avery in open astonishment at his gentle care of his son, and especially at his surprisingly kind treatment of his house elf. Appearances truly are deceiving at times. And despite haven been an arrogant brat, he was not completely rotten to the core. It was a bit startling realization to learn that Evan Avery had grown up and was possibly a decent wizard in the making.
Allowing the adults to pass him by, Evan Avery drops back to speak to the Prince twins, while Reginald ensures that he places himself next to his younger sister, Georgine. Evan Avery is silent for a moment, before saying, "I do not recall ever apologizing for calling your muggleborn friend, Lily, a Mudblood and other such crude names in our first year. That was extremely unkind of me, and rude. And though rather late, I would still like to express my sincerest apologizes for my actions that day. I was an arrogant child that should have thought before he spoke and acted."
Severus blinks at the grand gesture as such an act from a pureblood like Evan Avery was considered no light matter and frankly a rather unbelievable act to witness. Severus almost automatically replied with a churlish retort, but Evan Avery was truly trying to amend his previous actions. And if Severus were being honest with himself, it would be extremely hypocritical of him to dare to believe that he had never made such a terrible mistake in life. If his actions of last year were to anything to be judged by, they would have deemed him a far guiltier candidate.
After a tense moment, Severus tilts his head in open acknowledgement of the apology and murmurs, "We were only first years then, and we have grown since then."
Relief flashes through Evan Avery's eyes as he had done his best and had not dared to hope that Severus Prince would accept his apology. Thankfully, that was indeed the case. And now, he would not have to worry about the family of his son's Godmother being against his son.
Before Evan can make any more conversation, they had arrived in the dining room. Instead of the usual long dining table, a large circular one had been placed in the middle of the grand dining hall in order to better accommodate the guests. Quickly everyone takes a seat with the youths being seated together, while the adults on either side.
Rowan was stuck between Evan Avery and Severus, while their grandfather sat on Severus's side, and Mrs. Avery sat next to her son. The dining hall is full of chatter and a variety of topic's as dinner is served. Rowan brighten up just a tad bit at seeing the pot roast, and other delicious looking platters being brought forth by the house elves and served.
Soon the clinking of silverware can be heard as Reginald begins to converse quietly with Shafiq. They barely touch the topic of shipping shares as such delicate business would not be conversed at a dining table, but in private. Rather they chatter about Kain Shafiq's deceased father, whom had been good friends with Reginald. The two men chortle on about memories regarding the deceased wizard, while Georgine barely refrains from rolling her eyes.
After dinner, Georgine ensures that Rowan follows her and Mrs. Avery to the parlor room, while the men retire to the cigar room. After only a few minutes in the cigar room, Reginald and Shafiq excuse themselves, before retiring to a private room.
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