Kapitel 69: Shared Conversation

Ignoring the icy ride back across the frozen lake, it had been rather nice to be back at Hogwarts. Reenergized, Rowan is able to resume her long hours of studying at the library and continue her research. She is not the only one as the fifth and seventh years also went return to their old routine. Come spring it would be judgment day; they would be forced to face the O.W.L.S. or N.E.W.T.S

The Hogwarts grounds are covered in piles of snow. Tracking in wet snow or mud is an everyday occurrence causing Flinch to be in a dark, furious yelling mood. As a result, on more than one occasion enchanted snowballs would regularly pelt his office. Naturally, the culprits are many including the Marauders. However, no suspects are ever punished as the practical jokes desisted after a stern warning from the four House Heads.

All too soon, Severus and Rowan's 12th birthday on January 9th passed remarkably unnoticed. Not that Severus and Rowan minded as they did not have many fond memories of their birthday. They instead preferred it that way.

The two of them had been rather clear on the subject with their grandparents and aunt members. As such the twins received a simple letter with packaged sweets from Grandfather Reginald, Grandmother Sirsa, and even Aunt Georgine wishing them a happy 12th birthday early in the morning. The twins are largely satisfied by simple, but thoughtful gifts. They set aside time before their first-class period to write a sincere, thank-you note to them.

The day passed by and soon it is evening as Rowan glanced up at the clock. She stretched at seeing the library would soon be closing. Gathering her notes, she shelved the archives, before waving goodbye to Madam Pince and making her way into the chilly depths of the dungeons.

With a half-frozen face, Rowan halts before a bare wall with a tiny carved serpent. "Twizzle," she said through clattering teeth. The stone wall swings open, and she rushes into the passageway toward the nearest fireplace in the common room.

Shivering Rowan warms her hands near the fireplace. Rubbing her hands together, she glances around to find the common room empty. At least, she thought so until she spots the flicker of light reflecting across pale, blond hair. Squinting her eyes, she can make out the pale-haired, feminine figure of Narcissa Black.

Double checking, Rowan searches for Lucius Malfoy but finds the common room is truly empty except for the two of them. Seeing that Narcissa Black has not even looked up once, she frowns. Thinking back, she recalls the untimely death of Bellatrix Lestrange.

Personally, it would be best to avoid Narcissa in her time of grief. Because no matter how much she disliked Narcissa, it did not change the fact that Narcissa genuinely mourned the death of her older sister, Bellatrix. Quietly moving through the common room towards the girl's dorms, a sharp voice from behind Rowan causes her to stop. "A word, Rowan Prince."

"Yes?" Rowan paused to turn and face the grief-stricken Narcissa Black.

Rising from her seat like a vengeful ghost, Narcissa strides across the common room halting before Rowan. The fireplace casts flickering shadows across Narcissa's face. "Prince, why did you have to go and say that?" She bitterly hissed in anger and pain.

"I apologize for any words I may have said in the past, Black, but I have never made light of your grief," Rowan frankly said.

"Why did you have to speak about the Dark-." Narcissa paused to correct herself, "about Tom Riddle!"

"Because it is the truth," Rowan solemnly answered. "I cannot allow for lies of one wizard to ruin the lives of countless others."

"But it did," Narcissa voice's faltered before gathering strength. "Because of you, my sister is dead!"

"The Daily Prophet said Bellatrix Lestrange caught Dragon Pox and died," Rowan feigned innocence."

"You!" Narcissa indignantly huffed causing her fists to clench so tightly together to dig red crescents into her palm.

"It was not Dragon Pox that killed Bellatrix, it was my father!" Narcissa blinks with horror and panic in the realization of what she had just revealed.

Rowan blinks in shock and understanding as she sees the turbulent emotions flash through Narcissa's blue eyes. Rowan could not provide words of comfort, but she could of understanding. Rowan's left-hand lifts her hair to reveal a gruesome scar on her scalp. Narcissa flinches at the sight, before Rowan's hair flops back down to cover the nasty scar.

"I know a thing or two about brutes," Rowan stiffly said unable to meet Narcissa's complicated gaze. "I can easily conclude how my words could have influenced and been the final kindling needed for a brute to have an excuse to viciously act. The spark turned into a blaze, killing Bellatrix as a result."

Raising her midnight, indigo-colored eyes, Rowan solemnly gazes back at Narcissa without flinching. "A violent brute will always have an excuse for his actions. Ultimately it is, they who commit terrible deeds without remorse."

Moisture pools in the corner of Narcissa's eyes, she presses her lips together to stifle her sorrow. "I-, I," Narcissa's voice falters and fails her for the first time in her life. Her emotions are a mess, she is full of hatred, anger, sorrow, and strangely relief.

Some part of Narcissa had always wanted to hear the words Rowan had just said. She, her mother, and her sisters were not to blame for Cygnus Black's actions. They are not the ones in the wrong rather her father (Cygnus) is.

Unwilling to be left behind by Rowan Prince's actions. Narcissa's trembling fingers tug her right robe sleeve up to her forearm. Across her upper forearm, there is a sharp jagged scar. There is a sad, knowing look of understanding that passes between them before Narcissa hurriedly tugs her sleeve back down.

Rowan's sharp eyes did not miss the recent bruising on Narcissa's arms. She would not comment on it. It is not her place to do so. The two nodded at each other in tact understanding that they will never speak about this evening again. Turning away, Rowan heads to the girl's dorms leaving Narcissa alone to continue mourning her loss.

Shivering Rowan arrives in their dorm only to find the girls still up. "What are you guys doing?" Rowan said through chattering teeth as she quickly put on her pajamas.

Under scores of thick blankets, Tiffany rather muffled replies, "We're just gossiping."

"About what?" Rowan mumbled as she dove into her own pile of blankets and made a small blanket igloo around herself.

Silva's blueish-gray eyes gleam in the darkness like a cats. "Naturally, scandal and intrigue!"

Rowan rolls her eyes as Silvia continues, "Apparently my father was able to successfully negotiate the release of an innocent prisoner imprisoned in Azkaban. The prisoners' memories were found tampered with and were found innocent of the crime of murdering an entire muggle family."

"Who was the convict?" Rowan curiously asked.

"Morfin Gaunt," Silvia half-shrugged. "But the most interesting bit of news is that the murderer is widely to be Gaunt's nephew and the son/grandson of the murdered muggles."

There is great approval in Rowan's eyes at the good bit of news!

"Any who, the poor man doesn't much have much longer to live. And father arranged for his last days to be spent in a warm place by the seashore," Silvia added.

"Well, it's the least that can be done," Bethanie huffed. "Imagine being imprisoned in Azkaban for a crime that you didn't commit!"

"But what of the murderer?" Tiffany inquisitively asked in dread as she shivered fearfully. "The murderous nephew still hasn't been caught, has he?"

"No, but there are now warrants out for his immediate arrest," Silvia cheerfully replied. "I'm sure, he will be caught in a jiffy."

"I suspect that won't come to be," Rowan truthfully remarked.

"And why is that?" Silvia arched her brow as Bethanie and Tiffany gazed back with equal curiosity.

"Well, the murderer is extraordinarily cunning," Rowan answered earning her dark looks from the girls.

"What I mean to say, just look at what he's done," Rowan pointed out. "First, not only did he murder his entire muggle family, but pinned the crime on his wizard uncle. To tamper with his uncle's memories, who by all accounts was a powerful, if not mad wizard, took some sincere power and skill. Does a person like that get easily caught? No, I fear that this is just the tip of the iceberg because people like that just don't know when to stop."

The dorm falls until Bethanie sternly says, "Well, that's enough gossip for now. We've got class tomorrow, off to bed everyone!" Silvia sighs in disappointment as Tiffany happily burrows into her cocoon with the rest of the girls doing the same. Nevertheless, it was a long night as all four girls pondered about said past events.