Unexpected Hogsmeade Patrol Ⅴ

Past the various shops including the post office, Rowan leads James to a tiny shop that held an array of items in its windows, Dervish and Banges. "Here?" James curiously asked studying the small, but clean window display.

"What you thought I was going to take you to, Spintwitches Sporting Needs?" Rowan arched her brow in sarcasm. "How utterly predictable."

A snort escapes from James unable to hide a rueful grin, before allowing himself to be pulled inside the shop. Past the blue door, a tiny bell musically rings announcing their presence. The small shop is entirely empty at this early hour. The wooden floors are polished and the air smells of old parchment and pine. Articles are neatly placed throughout the shop with neat little handwritten notes explaining what the items for sale are.

There are some easily identifiable items in the glass cases such as sneakoscope or a bright red eraser, a Revealer intended to reveal hidden writings. Curious now, James peers through the shop as well. Oh, he knew the shop existed, but he had never actually ever entered the shop during his time at Hogwarts. It was a rather quaint shop truth be told.

"Ah, welcome again, young lady," a smooth voice drawing the attention of Rowan and James.

An older silver-haired man with a stylish mustache and a goatee greets them. "How might Banges, the proprietor of this humble shop best serve two of you on this fine morning?

"I seek a gift that will bring protection," Rowan clearly answered. "One that offers a clear mind and steady hand."

"I have just the thing," Banges knowingly said, before walking over to a closed glass case warded against theft. He removes a bronze key from his person and unlocks the case. He reaches for a sealed wooden box, before placing the box on the counter.

"Please," Banges gestured at Rowan.

Rowan moves forward and opens the case to find an elegant dark dragon hide sheath with the engraving of roaring dragons. How fitting considering that Wyverns are the symbol of the Prince household. With a practiced move, she removes the dagger from its sheath and holds it out into the light.

The blade is watery with wavy light and dark patterns that spiral across the glittering, beautiful metal signaling that it is Damascus Steel. Damascus Steel is valued for maintaining a sharp edge yet being hard and flexible. Weapons formed from Damascus steel are vastly superior to any weapon forged from iron. The sharpest sword and blades in the world are forged from this steel. The entire purpose of this blade is to cut flesh be it human or not.

The helm of the blade is made from mixed gold and silver. There are small, encrusted emeralds and rubies forming flaming dragons. It is without a doubt a beautiful, crafted dagger.

Rowan holds out the blade on one finger to test the dagger's balance and finds that it balances perfectly. "My sincerest compliments to the craftsman," she sincerely said. "It's rare to find this kind of craftsman outside of the goblin craftsman circle."

"A mere trinket," Bangles waved off with his hand.

Suppressing a smile, Rowan reaches into her pocket and pulls out an unused piece of parchment. She drops the parchment directly onto the edge of the dagger and the blade slices through the entire piece of parchment. She lets out a soft whistle impressed as the sliced parchment in half flutters onto the ground.

Bangles frowns at seeing the parchment litter his sparkling clean floor. Still, the client's demands must always be fulfilled. But he would certainly be charging the client an extra fee, a cleaning fee.

"I will take it," Rowan said in satisfaction, before motioning to James to come over.

James warily came over as Rowan places the blade directly in his hand, before expertly wrapping his hand around the hilt. "This sort of dagger fits directly in your boot," Rowan instructed, before showing him how to slash and parry with the dagger, before handing the sheathed dagger to him.

"The dagger should fit comfortably in your boot but be sharp enough to cut through rope or flesh," Rowan approvingly declared.

James furrows his brow and searches Rowan's face. "Why do you think, I'll be in danger?"

"Considering the giant attacks, one should never be too cautious, James," Rowan flatly answered, before turning away to pay for the dagger.

James holds the dagger with mixed feelings in hand but is unable to counter the statement. His mother was dead and only he and his father were left. He carefully bends down and sheathes the blade, before slipping it into his boot. He twists his foot around and finds that the dagger fits perfectly. There is sufficient room to easily pull it out, but it is tight enough that the dagger will not move about and give him a blister.

The remaining owner of Dervish and Banges, Banges methodically rings Rowan up causing her to wince slightly at the cost. She may have hesitated just a second too long, before handing over the payment. This action only made Banges that more cheerful to accept the payment and thank her for her cheerfully patronage. "Please do come again," he said before retreating into the back of his shop to count his newfound wealth.

This was the last time, Rowan internally vowed. Next time, she was going to buy James a quidditch kit. It was far cheaper!

Still, Rowan couldn't fully regret the purchase at seeing James's face. "Thanks, Rowan," he sincerely said

Before Rowan can reply, the shouts of students yelling and running towards the sweet shop can be heard. All traces of humor vanish from her face as she turns around and sends a scalding look at the approaching horde. Instantly, the stampede comes to a squealing stop. The students rather meekly move past her, before rushing towards the shops in a quieter manner.

"Kids, these days have no sense of manners," Rowan grumbles under her breath to James' vast amusement.

James is always a step behind Rowan remaining alert during their patrol of Hogsmeade. Rowan docks house points to students trying to climb a statue in the village and assigns detentions to those trying out their purchases from Zonko's on unsuspecting passerby's. Most of the morning passes in this manner as they traverse the cobbled streets of Hogsmeade.

At some point, they spot Peter and Quyen holding hands and heading into Scrivenshaft's Quill shop. The couple liked to buy matching feathered quills, (another witless victim falling prey to so-called romantic pyramid schemes). Rowan greets the two of them in passing, before Peter and Quyen hand in hand all the while flirting before Peter rather gallantly opens the door for Quyen, who happily presses a kiss to her boyfriend's face in thanks.

The faint smile on Rowan's face fades away at their kiss. Ug, public affection. She hides a shiver turning away from them to face James.

Having misinterpreted Rowan's expression as wistful, James uncomfortably asks, "Would you like to hold hands, Rowan?"

"What?" Rowan said in utter bewilderment staring warily at James' extended hand.

A creeping red flush creeps up James's face, who hastily pulls his hand back and stuffs it back into his robes. "Sorry, I must have misunderstood."

Rowan furrows her brow at James' reaction. "We are betrothed," she slowly said, "I suppose if that is what you want James then we can hold hands."

"No!" James exclaimed in panic. "It was an accident, really!" Yet the more he explained the more awkward the situation became until he fell silent cursing himself for reading the entire situation wrongly. He should have just kept his big mouth shut.

Rowan looks unconvinced by the response but does not push James further. He was a startling red and she did not wish to further embarrass him. Shrugging, she returns to patrolling the streets with a much quieter and subdued James in tow.

In the distance, Pandora is holding hands with Xeno, her boyfriend, who excitedly describes his latest conspiracy. Pandora seemed to be paying attention considering that she ignored the two boys who ran into each other causing the glittering powder to explode and fall upon them. Love truly is blind and likely deaf as well…