All Board! Ⅵ

They all hurry inside before stomping their feet clean of snow. Their breaths can still faintly be seen, they shiver violently and hurry into the Great Hall. The Great Hall is filled with golden plates and goblets that gleam under the candlelight of hundreds upon hundreds of floating candles in midair. Rowan and Severus easily spot Tiffany, who is sitting between Bethanie and Silvia. Terry is sitting right across from the girls and motions next to him their two saved seats.

The Prefects are the last to arrive as they hurry to sit down with their waiting friends at each house table. Mostly cold and tired, Rowan nor Severus feel much of an appetite except for the desire for something warm. Rowan and Severus happily remove their winter cloak and sit down next to their friends.

The Bloody Baron, who is sitting some distance away coolly glances at them. The pearly, white, transparent Bloody Baron pensively gaze at them, before turning away. As usual, his gaze returns to the Travers. Even after all this time, not a single Slytherin house member had the guts to ask what Travers that he had done that had so seriously irked the Bloody Barron including Professor Mortimer. Even the most foolhardy and reckless ghosts of Hogwarts did not have the audacity to inquire about the Bloody Baron's personal business.

Rowan and Severus did not even have time to chat with their friends when Professor Dumbledore rises to his feet. His sweeping silver hair and beard gleam in the candlelight reflected further by the roaring winter storm on the enchanted ceiling. His magnificent deep emerald robes are embroidered with ancient runes. His child-like blue eyes twinkle from behind his half-moon spectacles.

"I am certain that all of you are hungry this evening," Professor Dumbledore said. "So, let us feast and then we shall speak!

The ravenous students instantly dig into the food that magically appears on the plates. Rowan immediately heads towards the vegetable masala curry to warm up. She slowly eats recuperating her energy after being out in the cold for so long. The chatter of students fills the air until even the last of the deserts is cleared away leaving the dishes sparkling clean.

Headmaster Albus Dumbledore rises to his feet and waits until silence reigns in the Great Hall. "Now I am certain that you are all tired and sleepy," he said with a knowing look as several first year's stifle sleepy yawns. "However, there are matters at hand that must be addressed. I am sad to be the bearer of bad news, but Professor Prince has resigned and returned to care for her son at Prince Manor. We all wish her well in her future endeavors."

There are murmurs of disappointment and surprise on several students' faces. Polite applause fills the Great Hall, and the whispers quickly die down as Dumbledore continues, "That being said, I am pleased to welcome a new addition to our staff, Professor Bob Ogden, the former Head of Magical Law Enforcement." A short, plumb wizard with enormous thick glasses rises to his feet with a spark in his eyes rises from the staff table at the announcement.

Gasps of shock and surprise fill the Great Hall. Rowan wasn't the only one thrown for a loop as James showed much of the same surprise. Still, Rowan couldn't help but credit Dumbledore for his excellent move. It truly was a good one and at least this time, they would have more than a decent Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Not that her aunt hadn't been a good professor, but she was well now gone.

The applause dies down and Professor Dumbledore resumes speaking. "Now, I wish to address the matter of the Giant attacks," all trace of laughter vanishes as the Great Hall fills with an unusual solemn air.

"There are those among us who have lost loved ones. There will also be those that will fear for their friends and families in the days to come. I ask that in the hard days to come that the four houses of Hogwarts stand united in caring for each other. That is my humble bequest," Dumbledore sincerely requested causing the students' applause to wildly fill the Great Hall.

Dumbledore motions to be silent and says, "Now off to bed for tomorrow is a new day." And it would be a school day much to the dismay of the returning students. Stifling groans, they hurry away back to their respective houses being efficiently herded by the Prefects.

Professor Mortimer led the way to open the entrance to the Slytherin quarters. Rowan and Severus followed trailing after the last of the students into the chilly dungeons, before entering through the open inner stone passageway. They quietly greet their head of house, who says, "The password is Fides." Considering that the word meant loyalty, faith, trust, and thus, it was a very ironic password to have for their house.

The common room at first glance is rough stone walls and ceilings that hold elegant green lanterns aglow. A warm fire crackles under an elaborately carved mantelpiece with several skulls. An elegant area filled with luxury leather chairs and sofas, and luxury carved tables with marble gob stone boards for playing or simply for studying are skillfully placed throughout the common area. Stylish cupboards hold items for common use such as quills and so forth, while grand tapestries hang as decorations demonstrating valiant Medieval Slytherins. The window-like areas that reveal the outside lake are covered by thick velvet curtains to keep the chill of the lake at bay. the occasional fish darts past.

The common room is thankfully empty though the snack table in the corner of the room has been raided as there are trails of crumbs leading up both stairs to the boy and girls' dormitories. Rowan tiredly says, "Well, it looks like we can tuck in early today."

"That's good," Severus muttered barely stifling a yawn.

Rowan waves goodbye to Severus, before pausing and glancing over her shoulder. "Severus."

"Hmm," Severus tiredly replied.

Rowan hesitates, before saying, "Sleep well."

Severus blinks before flashing a small smile at his twin. "I'll try," he earnestly said, before moving towards the boy's dormitories.

Rowan arrives at her shared dorm loudly yawning. She hadn't even stepped into the room when Tiffany eagerly grabs Rowan by the sleeve and drags her to the bed. Tiffany's face was full of color and excitement that Rowan hadn't seen their first years before Tiffany's engagement to Vasco Vespucci. It was a quality that she had missed about her friend.

Tiffany looked lovely as always and shakes her short strawberry blond bobbed hair in excitement. "How did you and James Potter become engaged? Is it true that you have been having a hidden romance all along?" She expectantly asked.

Rowan drily replies, "That would come as a great shock even to me."

"Told you," Sylvia said with great satisfaction. Her blueish gray eyes sparkle as she brushes out her dark sleek hair. "Rowan's been with us most of the time. When would she have time to spark a romance, especially with our O.W.L.'s this year and her Prefect and not mention tutoring duties?"

"It could happen!" Tiffany exclaimed, before flushing a lovely shade of pink. "I mean, Sirius and I-." She squeaked before burying her face into her pillow to hide her face.

"Of course, it could, Tiffany," Bethanie warmly said sending Sylvia a reproachful look. Even in doing so, Bethanie looked enchanting with her auburn long, wavy hair hanging in waves over her shoulders. She was a great beauty right out of the picture books.

"Still, you have my most sincere congratulations, Rowan," Bethanie sincerely said. "I wish you and James the best."

"Thanks, Bethanie," Rowan politely said trying to accept the sincere congratulations from her friend.

Tiffany finally comes up for air and says, "Forgive my asking again, but despite the announcement of a Marital alliance is this truly a political betrothal? I mean, the two of you have been friends since our first year. Do you truly not have any feelings for each other, Rowan?"

"Not really," Rowan said though a portion of her wanted to hesitate. "James and I have always been friends," which was true.

"Ah, but are you friends now?" Sylvia's blue-gray eyes bore into Rowan. "Can you say the same about the current James? He certainly looks far more serious and acts more mature. And isn't that an attractive point for you, Rowan?"

Rowan opens her mouth to deny Sylvia's words when her words falter in her throat for a second. She couldn't deny that aesthetically she found the version of James from the presentation ball pleasing to her eye. And she rather liked his mature outlook, but that did not mean she was attracted to him…or did it?

Uncertain how to respond, Rowan remains silent, but thankfully Bethanie comes through. "Enough, Sylvia!" Bethanie chided her. "Rowan is tired after a long day patrolling the Hogwarts Express now is not the time nor place to have her questioning an existing friendship. And need I remind you; we gave you plenty of space with Terry and did not prod you into anything despite knowing that you both mutually liked each other!"

Sylvia has the grace to look embarrassed, before tossing her brush onto the vanity dresser. "Fine," she huffed jumping on the bed and loudly pulling the bed curtains around her bed. "Goodnight!"

Tiffany stifles a giggle and a knowing look. "Goodnight, everyone," before also closing her bedcurtains and curling up to sleep.

"Don't let them bother you," Bethanie kindly said. "They mean well, and they just want to see you happy." And they truly did because as purebloods, they knew better than anyone how unhappy a political marriage can be.

"Goodnight," Bethanie said, and Rowan muttered the same back.

Too tired to dwell on the subject, Rowan hurriedly changes into her pajamas before climbing into bed. She had a very long day, and she was utterly exhausted. "Minutus," she barely remembered to say, before her glasses shrink and fly to ear like a small earing. She was snuffling loudly in sleep before she knew it, but in her hurry, she had forgotten to remove her betrothal ring. The betrothal ring glittered silently through the night and through every single night after that.