Start of Winter Holidays Ⅳ

Without giving her grandfather room to interrupt, Rowan resumes speaking. "Though Giants may not be able to live in a regular-sized village due to their immense size that does not imply they cannot contribute to society. Giants are intelligent enough to follow directions to an extent. Taking into account their size and interest, they would be excellent at demolition, diggers, or various other construction-like jobs that involve flattening a road or foundation which would greatly appeal to them. There is also security to consider or for those giants that like to roam, they would be excellent freight delivery services. I believe that if giants are paid to do such jobs, they would be able to contribute to society."

"There is also the Gringotts aspect to consider. With the implementation of squib contractors, Gringotts has grown and expanded even into the muggle realm for trade. Provided there is a secrecy clause via squib contractors, Gringotts is certain to be popular with various secretive departments of the muggle government that officially do not exist. If not, there are always the options to serve as additional personal security forces, I am certain that Gringotts would be interested in hiring the smaller-sized Giants to guard the vaults," Rowan matter-of-factly declared with a steadfast glint in her gaze.

Reginald and his granddaughter gaze at each other solemnly without blinking until they are forced to blink. "I will deny that there may be some truth to your words, Rowan," he evenly said. "However, Giants possess great strength and have a certain immunity to the magic that it makes it a most difficult task when attempting to capture or subdue them."

"Then block the rook with multiple chess pieces," Rowan drily countered causing Reginald to blink with a spark of astonishment, before narrowing his eyes pensively to study his granddaughter.

Reginald does not speak for a moment, before saying, "Let us ignore the present topic and return to the subject at hand. Rowan, I do not so much blame you for your evading my question, but rather your lack of trust in me. I am the Head of the Prince household and I will see to it that every Prince family member is protected."

"We were not," Rowan quietly answered, "Severus nor I were protected as children, and it is a fact of life that you cannot deny, grandfather."

Reginald appears stunned at his granddaughter's words as if he had been painfully slapped across the face. A hint of a flush rushes down his pale cheeks, but he cannot dignify an appropriate answer, because there was none. The choices in life that can never be taken back are especially those that mark the course of another's life.

"Do not confuse my words, grandfather," Rowan quietly said as she observed her grandfather. "I do not blame you nor grandmother for ignoring our existence. I can even understand the reason for your anger and pain at your daughter's actions, but that does not change nor null the consequences of the decision that had been made."

Rowan's voice breaks for a moment and gazes down at the floor. "My father was not initially the cruel man that he became. I still remember a time when he loved us more than life itself, and even when he was at his worst, we could see glimpses of the man our father had once been. It was that which hurt us the most far more than any bruise ever could. It is that father, who we miss, the man, who seemed to return to us again towards the end of his life."

A sad smile crosses Rowan's face. "Father may not have become that man if the truth had been told to him by mother from the very start and if perchance even more so if father had been even grudgingly accepted into the family."

Rowan pauses to firmly say, "And I know that if mother had pleaded even once, you would have welcomed all of us in for you did when mother requested of it of you. So, for better or for worse, the Prince's tend to be a prideful lot, and mother nor I are no exception. It is a sad fact of life."

Reginald's Adam's apple trembles for a moment, before speaking in a hoarse voice, "Do you blame me, Rowan?"

"If I ever did, I certainly do not now," Rowan truthfully replied. "There exists no resentment between us, grandfather."

"Then why not trust in me?" Reginald pointedly inquired intently studying his granddaughter's face for any trace of lies.

Rowan makes a semi-bitter expression at her grandfather's question. "It is not you, grandfather, but rather I do not believe myself capable of fully trusting in anyone." She couldn't afford to do so.

"Not even your brother?"

"Especially him." It was the sad, and painful truth. Rowan would rather turn into the Devil than fail Severus. Maybe, once it had been because she had transmigrated with a task in mind. Yet over time, she became the Rowan of this world and Severus was her precious twin brother, and she would do everything in her power to protect him. It was a solemn promise, she had made.

Reginald lets out a sigh and most of the previous coldness leaves his face. He suddenly looks older much closer to his age. "I cannot change my past shortcomings," he confessed, "but I have sworn to do better with the two of you of that much I promise."

"I know, grandfather," Rowan admitted, "but I just cannot easily change my own shortcomings."

Reginald lets out a hoarse, bitter chuckle. "I cannot fault you there." Indeed, he could not. For his younger sister, Georgine had many times accused him of pride and his lack of trust in her countless times before. He could not deny the truth of his sister's words, but he had promised their mother to protect her, and he had done all that he could to fulfill that promise no matter what the cost.

Reginald's face becomes solemn again and clasps his hands before him. "Is there anything else that I must know regarding the various enemy entities that exist?"

"If and when the Giant's come, grandfather," Rowan slowly said. "Please accept and uphold the request negotiated by Gringotts and the Ministry of Magic."

Reginald's eyes narrow recalling his granddaughter's recent comment on pawns. Considering the implication, he slowly nods his head as suspicions formulate within his head. "You will want to ensure that it is a binding contract, Rowan."

"I will," Rowan firmly answered. "That is why I request that I be permitted to visit Gringotts this very afternoon. It is a pressing business that I must see to in Diagon Alley."

"Very well," Reginald said in permission. "However, wear a glamor, I do not trust Diagon Alley these days even if the press no longer concerned about their safety are able to traverse freely on the streets."

Rowan nods her head in acceptance and rises to leave, before pausing. "And grandfather," she slowly turned to say, "take care. It will move against the Prince's."

Reginald arches his brow in question, but Rowan shakes her head. "I do not know when, by who, nor what, I merely know that an attack will surely come."

"Mm, we shall see," Reginald placidly said, before gesturing for his granddaughter to leave him be to think.

Rowan paused again and turned to glance at her grandfather with more a glint of curiosity in her eyes. "I forgot to ask, grandfather, but, who did you select to be my primary escort?"

Reginald's lips twitch as if suppressing a smirk, before nonchalantly replying, "It will ruin the surprise."

Rowan's face darkens, before loudly closing the door after her. Reginald's lips twitch for a moment, before speaking to the air. What do you think, Sir Knight Prince?"

The flames in the hearth flicker as if a strong wind brushed by. The flames are left with a slight tinge of blue fire to them as do the candles in the chandelier hanging on high. The ghostly form of Sir Knight Prince can be seen passing through the shut door leading to the secret laboratory in the study. The handsome knight's head is carefully carried by his ghostly body.

Sir Knight Prince's face is unusually solemn as he replies, "The child told no lies which is rather perturbing, I must confess."

"I feared as much," Reginald said with a frown. "We will have to be further cautious in our movements." He paused and turned towards the ghost. "Do you have anything to add to that statement, Sir Knight Prince?"

"You have far more pressing concerns with the Presentation Ball in mere days' time," Sir Knight Prince said with a not so subtle gleeful smile.

"Don't remind me," Reginald groaned as he rubbed his head with one hand. He pointedly ignores the ghost before returning to sending out various correspondences.

Sir Knight Prince shrugs and floats through the door knowing full well that Dawn would be displeased if there was any ectoplasmic goo residue left behind. He simply couldn't help himself; he was a ghost! Still, he tactfully decided to find Laldey. Laldey called him, "geepa," and Dawn could hardly nag at him in front of her precious child. It was certainly not cowardly; it was merely cunning and self-preservation!