Presentation Ball Ⅲ

The two of them continued to traverse the floor greeting guests not excluding the Gertrude Fowl and Hortense Sicca. They were accompanied by their betrothed, Vern Crabbe and Gil Goyle. Rowan politely greeted them but did not linger a second longer than considered a proper courtesy. Not that the feeling was not mutual as neither Gertrude nor Hortense and their fiancés liked Rowan Prince. Still, much like Rowan, they kept a polite pretense as this was not the time nor place to show their obvious dislike for each other.

Although Rowan did take the time to pointedly greet Quyen Crowley and her parents. Quyen looked rather pale with her dark sausage curls pulled up and her slightly thick eyebrows furrowed. She looked rather nice in her beige gown, but there was a sullen air around her. No doubt, she did not want to be there and would rather much be with her boyfriend, Peter.

Rowan hides a smile at Quyen's expression that is filled with relief at spotting Rowan. It would never do for Quyen to learn that Rowan had grown fond of her especially during the past school semester not that she would ever tell Quyen! That and Quyen was Peter's sweetheart, and Rowan really did have a soft spot for Wormtail. If she was honest, it had all started when Peter had the courage to stand up for her against Sirius alongside Remus.

Maybe under any other circumstance, Rowan might have grown to have stronger feelings for Peter or even Remus than that of simply friends. However, she also understood that she would never feel that way about them. Not from a lack of opportunities, but rather that her character made it impossible for her. She would have ended destroying Peter and Remus in the end, and sometimes things are simply better left as they are.

Tugging James towards the Crowley family, James takes the hint and leads the way. Mr. Crowley was a rather large wizard with thick eyebrows, while Mrs. Crowley looked like a fat sausage stuffed into a tight dress. She looked rather unpleasant usually scowling, but at present had a fake smile on her face. Her dark hair resembled that of her daughter, Quyen.

In a false warm voice, Mrs. Crowley says, "Congratulations on your presentation, Miss Prince." She paused and briefly glanced at her daughter. "I am certain that you have already met with my daughter, Quyen."

"Yes, we are friends," Rowan matter-of-factly stated causing Quyen to blink in shock before a small shy smile appeared on Quyen's face in gratitude.

Quyen knew that Rowan and she weren't very good friends, but they were friends of sorts now. She would never admit it, but she found Rowan's character rather refreshing. Even more so, when she saw Rowan being a good friend to Peter Pettigrew, Quyen's boyfriend. She at times wished she had more courage and kindness as a 1st-year student at Hogwarts, but she had been anxious to meet her parent's expectations. The past couldn't be undone, but she was proud to say she had, at last, made one or two good friends, but most importantly of all had met her sweetheart, dear Peter Pettigrew.

Quyen flushed prettily at the last thought, while the Mr. and Mrs. Crowley were eying the two girls as if uncertain if one was of them was lying. They normally would have taken their daughter's flush as embarrassment or even anger, but that did not seem the case in this instance. Paying their daughter, no mind, the couple returns their gaze to Rowan Prince.

"Naturally," Mrs. Crowley murmured with badly feigned warmth, "the two of you must continue to be friends." She strongly emphasized the last part as if trying to bait or catch Rowan in a lie.

Mrs. Crowley did not believe Rowan Prince's words, she knew that her progeny was a rather worthless child, who held no further use than extending their family power via marriage. With her daughter slowly coming of age, it was time for the Crowley couple to betroth their daughter to the highest bidder. Mrs. Crowley carefully put that thought away in the back of her mind, but it would not be forgotten.

A cold, polite smile on Rowan's face appears to counter the disbelieving expression on Mrs. Crowley's face. In a firm tone of voice with great sincerity, Rowan replies, "Why of course, I will continue to be friends. I will make it a point to ensure my friend's wellbeing and happiness."

Now Rowan might not have liked Quyen very much in the past, but she wasn't blind. She could easily see often Quyen blustered and reacted harshly as a defensive mechanism. It was much like how Severus had been in the past (and in an entirely another timeline). And though the Crowley couple might be physically abusive to Quyen that does not mean that negligence or apathy is not just as damaging as being physically beaten. Abuse is restricted to only one single form but rather can take on a multitude of forms.

Rowan Prince's response caused Mrs. Crowley's lips to press into a thin line at being responded in this manner. However, Mrs. Crowley could not express displeasure considering that she was a guest. And even more, so considering exactly who the head of the Prince was. There was a very good reason why none of the pureblood families including enemies trod lightly around Reginald Prince.

"Excuse us, Miss Prince and Mr. Potter," Mrs. Crowley stiffly said, before departing hurriedly with her husband in two. Quyen shrugging her shoulders at them as if in apology and flashed them a brief smile, before hurrying after her parents. If she was lucky, her parents would want to leave the presentation ball soon as a direct result.

Seeing the Crowley couple hurrying away, James has a bemused expression, before glancing over at Rowan. "Do you want to take a break?" He worriedly asked. "We have been on our feet over an hour without rest."

"A bit longer and then we can sit down to rest," Rowan grimaced shuffling forward on her aching feet.

The two of them begin to move again when they are approached by David Goldstein. The Ravenclaw Prefect looked handsome with his straight blond hair loosely hanging over his shoulders. His light brown eyes light up as he approaches them but surprisingly, he is accompanied by an unknown lovely blond with a dazzling smile.

"Congratulations on your presentation, Rowan," David sincerely greeted the Slytherin Prefect, before adding in a polite afterthought, "and to you, Potter."

"Thank you, David," Rowan replied with a small, sincere smile as James politely nodded his head back at the Ravenclaw Prefect.

Glancing back and forth between Rowan and the Ravenclaw, James privately arched his brow at the smile of Rowan directed at the Ravenclaw. Did Rowan have the slightest bit of feelings towards David Goldstein. Then again, Rowan was an intellectual girl, it would come as no surprise to him if she was attracted to the studious Ravenclaw.