章 1182: A possible visitor or two? Ⅳ

Much to Rowan and Severus' dismay, shortly thereafter they received a letter from Master Linnaeus informing them that he would be visiting them later that very afternoon rather than the next day. Still properly dressed in robes and wearing their apprenticeship badge on their outer robes, they wait in the front hall. Thankfully, the hall is cool or else they would be steaming in their robes.

The two of them are accompanied by their Aunt Georgine and their grandfather, Reginald, in the front hall. Thankfully, Rodrigo is otherwise occupied in the nursery playing with Laldey. Standing with his arms behind his back, their grandfather Reginald gazes at the hearth.

On the other hand, Georgine was sitting down and gazing at a painting catalog. She was rather interested lately in the work of a squib by the name of Richard Dadd, and his depictions of fairies and the supernatural. In some manner, it was comical considering what fairies looked like, yet she could not help being fascinated by the fictional fairies of the squib painter.

The hearth flared green, and Georgine set aside the tome. She rose to her feet and went to stand next to her brother. Stepping out of the hearth is a stern, scholarly-looking wizard. Master Emrys Linnaeus's robes are dark green with silver embroidered potion runes on his sleeve marking his status as a potion master. He bowed to the Prince family in a formal greeting before stepping aside to wait for his companion.

The entire Prince family returns the greeting before waiting for the companion of Master Linnaeus.

A toffee-skinned wizard emerges from the roaring green flames. The foreign wizard has a neatly trimmed white beard. His pagri (turban) and robes are all in white today. The man has pronounced lines and firm features with rugged hands that speak of his livelihood.

"Please allow me to introduce my companion," Master Linnaeus said. "This is Master Vaibhav Marwah of Mumbai India. He is a master Botanist and specialist in parseltongue."

Rowan blinks in surprise as does Severus. Reginald's gaze grows cold while Georgine merely purses her lips at Master Linnaeus. She could guess the identity of Master Linnaeus's guest, a parselmouth.

Before anyone can speak loud cursing can be heard from the satchel carried on Master Marwah's back. "Shesha got ash in her mouth, ptooey!" Something complained spitting out the ash from their mouth.

Upon not seeing anyone Rowan swiftly glanced around searching for the source of the voice. She freezes upon seeing a slender long sleek serpent emerge from the satchel. The cobra slithers up and over to rest on the shoulders of Master Marwah and curiously peeks at them all from the safety of her master's shoulder.

Flicking her dark tongue, Shesha hisses, "Smells of powerful magic, and death. The dead walk here. Dangerous." Instinctively, her hood flares out causing her head to rise and sway in the air. "Shesha likes the Hogwarts lair better. It has a warm nest," the cobra grumbled.

"Namaste," Vaibhav Marwah clasped his hands and greeted the Prince Household sending a glance at his magical familiar to minder her manners. Unhappily, Shesha folds her hood down and ducks down to hide behind her master's back. The serpent dejectedly mumbles to itself.

"Greetings," Reginald stepped forth placing himself between his family and the foreign parselmouth. "You did not speak of the identity of your guest, Master Linnaeus," he coldly chided the new Headmaster of Hogwarts.

"It was not my place to say," Master Linnaeus steadily responded without the least bit of hesitation.

Reginald looks unconvinced but does not pry further. The temperature abruptly plummets in the chamber. A glittering silver figure burst through the wall leaving some ectoplasm behind. The ghostly handsome visage of Sir Knight Prince is firmly clasped by his ghostly body. His eyes dart about before settling on the companion of Master Linnaeus.

In parseltongue, Sir Knight Prince spoke, "Why have you entered the nest of another, snake speaker? We have broken no mortal law, and you have no place here."

Shesha loudly squeaks and fearfully crawls back into the satchel. Her muffled hiss can be heard. "Death! Shesha told Master, but would Master listen, no? Now Shesha is going to end up a handbag!"

Rowan barely stops herself from laughing at the cobra's wild remarks. It wasn't the moment to make a sudden sound with all the tension in the room. She didn't want to be responsible for causing anything to occur.

"I mean no harm, ancient serpent speaker," Vaibhav Marwah reverently bowed to the ghostly apparition. "I have only come to speak and offer wisdom to a youngling."

Sir Knight prince intently peers at the foreign serpent speaker, before being satisfied. "Very well, foreign one, you may speak to the child of my house. However, know this foreign one that I will devour your soul should you even so much hint at treachery."

"I shall abide by thine rules, ancient one," Vaibhav Marwah bowed again to convey his sincerity.

Satisfied Sir Knight Prince arched his head to Reginald in signal that all was well. He walked through the wall from whence he came. Dawn was sure to stalk him in retaliation for leaving ectoplasm behind, but it came with the territory.

With the atmosphere more bearable, a muffled cobra voice can be heard saying, "Is the dead gone? Shesha certainly hopes so."

Vaibhav Marwah hums in reassurance to his familiar but does not speak. He waits for the hosts of Prince Manor to speak first.

Reginald's face is hard, but he is courteous. "If you will follow me, Master Linnaeus, we shall discuss the children's schedules."

"Pardon me for the interruption, grandfather," Rowan swiftly interjected. "I would instead like to visit in private with our guest. Severus can act in my stead and inform me of our class schedule."

Seeing the hesitation in her brother's demeanor, Georgine steps forward. "I shall chaperone our guest and Rowan, Reginald. Though I confess, that I will not understand a single word should they converse in parseltongue."

"Very well," Reginald aversely agreed, before gesturing to Master Linnaeus and Severus to follow him. The stern scholarly wizard easily does so while Severus keeps sending glances at Rowan over his shoulder. He mouthed at her to tell him everything once they had a chance!

"This way Master Marwah," Georgine coolly gestured to the foreign wizard to follow her.

"A pleasure," Vaibhav Marwah graciously muttered in an accented English. He followed the tall slender English witch and the young female snake speaker into an English cream-colored parlor room with dark colored furniture.

"Sit," Georgine gestured to an open chair, before taking a seat herself. "Tadbey," she called out.

A house elf wearing crips blue overalls and a white ironed shirt appears in the parlor. Tadbey is barefoot (with hairy toes) and has large ears full of hair. His spectacles hang elegantly over the tip of his long nose. "What does the Mistress Georgine require?" He asked in a monotone voice.

"Tea and food for our guest," Georgine gestured to the wizard from India.

"I see," Tadbey narrowed his eyes behind his spectacles to study the honored guest. More importantly, he stared at the serpent that was creeping out from the satchel and climbing over the shoulder of the wizard.

Without taking his eyes off the serpent, Tadbey mutters, "I will be right back," before vanishing in a hurried pop.

Relieved that the house elf had done as he was told without protest, Georgine sits back to wait. Rowan, like her aunt from under her eyelashes, studies the wizard. He certainly looked like a wizard from another country. She had often wondered what kind of magic may be practiced in India. She knew amulets and talismans were popular still along with magic that is mostly unused among European wizards and witches.

Far too quickly, Tadbey returned with an entire tea set. Right before them, he prepares masala chai. A masala chai is chai tea with milk and spices such as cardamon, cloves, cinnamon, and the occasional dash of nutmeg, black pepper or fennel. The tea leaves used are Assam (black team leaves) that are bolder in color and flavor while tea leaves like Darjeeling are more mellow. The richness of the masala chai paired well with tea cake, chocolate cookies, and an egg and cress sandwich.

Finished Tadbey excuses himself with a box before vanishing.