Somber Conversation Ⅱ

The night is beginning to cool after a long, hot summer's day. Many of the residents of Cokeworth are still awake enjoying the coolness of the evening. The shout of children still playing on the street can be heard. There are not many lights on except for the soft glow of a lamp offering the dimmerest light. Often the only light in the house is from the television.

A faint pop goes unnoticed as a tall, slender figure appears on the edge of Cokeworth. Many of the inhabitants do not notice his quiet passing except for a growling and frighted dogs along with a group of children. The group of children is frightened by the abrupt and terrifying appearance of a cloaked figure. The children flee home with sobs of fear. Not that the parents of the children are able to make out of their children's cries except for the words, the bogeyman.

Having been to the Evans residence on a prior occasion, Reginald Prince quickly arrives in front of a red, brick flat with a small front yard. There are carefully trimmed roses in full bloom. The perfume of the roses fills the evening breeze.

Briskly Reginald walked up the sidewalk before climbing the front cement steps. There is a flickering light emitted from inside. The inner door is open leaving only the screen door shut. A family of four sits on the couch watching a miserly man who owns a shop but is in love with a (spinster) nurse.

Certain that he was in the correct location, Reginald walked up the sidewalk and gravel, before climbing a few cement steps. There was a white light emitted from the front room and a bright yellow light upstairs. Content that he was not waking the Evans family from their sleep, he knocked loudly twice and waited.

A thin, tall, light-haired teenage girl hurriedly turns on the lamp on the stand. The light turns on as the Evans family squints through the screen. A tall, hooded figure stands in the doorway. The Evans couple stiffen, while Lily frowns at recognizing the cloak as that of belonging to the wizarding world.

Barefoot and wearing a thin set of pale yellow pajamas because of the heat, Petunia approaches the door. She recognized the figure standing on the porch as Mr. Prince, Rowan, and Severus's grandfather. After all, she had been the one to open the door and let him enter when he had come to invite them to the presentation ball of Rowan and Severus.

"Good evening, Mr. Prince," Petunia greeted the tall, slender elderly wizard as she unlocked the screen door to let him enter.

"And to you, Miss Evans," Reginald returned the greeting. "My apologies, I do not mean to impose so late this evening," he sincerely said as he removed his cloak upon entering. His stern features are revealed. His hair is mostly silver now with only bare traces of dark hair still visible. His dark eyes take in the Evans home.

The Evans home is a small home that holds a living room with a couch and two armchairs in front of the television. There is an old bookcase against one of the walls with a half-open wall that connects to a small kitchen. Down a small hallway are two doors, one leading to the guest bedroom with a tiny water closet, and the other leading to the laundry room. The three bedrooms of the Evans family are all upstairs.

Reginald's eyes linger on the fascinating muggle contraction in the shape of a box. From what he understood, it was called a tel-ie or telie-vizion. The Wizlink was almost completed along with the Magical Brain according to the Ministry of Magic, the release of artifacts would commence before Fall. He genuinely looked forward to the release date.

Seeing the gaze of Mr. Prince on the telly, Lily hurriedly grabs the remote control and shuts the telley off. Mrs. Evans nervously pats her tousled light-colored hair. Her light-colored eyes are filled with nerves and embarrassment. She had not been expecting visitors and looked rather frumpy in a floral nightgown as she prepared for bed.

Mr. Evans is a ginger-haired man with warm brown colored eyes. Sensing his wife's discomfort, he can only console her with a pat on the back. It wasn't as though he was in any better shape wearing blue cotton pajamas with vertical stripes.

"May I have a seat, Miss Evans?" Reginald courteously asked.

"Please sit, Mr. Prince!" Petunia gestured to the chair next to the window.

"Thank you, I am much obliged," Reginald answered as he set his cloak to rest on the back of the chair, before sitting down.

Petunia glanced at Lily as if trying to hint at something. Lily's emerald eyes met Petunia's as the two sisters communicated in silence. Understanding dawned in Lily's eyes, slightly flustered. "Er, would you like a glass of cool water, Mr. Prince?"

"No, I am fine, thank you," Reginald politely declined the offer.

Fidgeting, Petunia quickly glances at her parents, before sitting back down on the couch. The four Evans are a bit squeezed on the couch. Not that they usually noticed, but at the moment with the lingering summer heat, they felt a little too warm and a little too close together.

"Good evening," the Evans couple greeted the older man as Lily murmured her greetings as well.

Leaning a little forward, Lily's flaming red hair falls a little over her face to hide her embarrassment. Her hair is messy, and she is wearing a wrinkled set of lilac pajamas. She was mortified! What must Severus's grandfather surely think of her! Ug, this is the worst!

Mr. and Mrs. Evans did not know the reason for the late visit, but they would do their best to listen and be understanding. Even now, it was difficult for them to comprehend that magic existed. It still seemed like a dream when Lily received a letter from Hogwarts on her 11th birthday inviting her to attend a magical institution.

At the time, it seemed like an elaborate prank, but quickly they were doused with reality. Wizards and witches did exist! Along with all sorts of magical creatures!

Thankfully, Lily's childhood friends, Severus and Rowan (Snape) had guided them. And more importantly, continued to be friends with Lily and Petunia. Petunia had simply blossomed in the last few years and was even dating a wizard by the name of Andrew Abbott!

Mr. and Mrs. Evans had been worried at the start until they met Mr. Abbott and Mrs. Abbott, Andrew's paternal uncle and aunt. It was a relief to find the lad's family to be so sensible and kind. The two families were close friends now and it certainly helped to know a witch to help with problems around the house!