Recuperation

The days passed quietly for Rowan as she mostly slept and rested in bed with the odd hour or two of reading in between. Her body thankfully wasn't as sore anymore, but her inner energy pathways were far from recovered and were very sensitive to magic. She would be lucky if she would be able to cast a spell by the time she returned to Hogwarts. Much less if she even dared to try to meditate or teleport even once, the existing damage would compile to permanently damage her core.

Waking up and bored of being in bed, Rowan raised her gaze to the new painting that hung directly across the wall. The witch version of Starry Night had been personally delivered by the goblins along with the requested financial ledger. Dawn had happily hung up the wall for Rowan on the wall.

Between resting and exhaustion, it had taken Rowan a good portion of time to even make sense of the ledger. She would need to restudy the ledger, but she had made a mental note of names listed on the ledger of sales. None of the listed names were associated with known Death Eaters or with the five names listed by Charlus Potter, (the son).

It was a bitter shame, really, but what could she do? Rowan was already lucky enough to be alive as it is. She shouldn't be greedy for more.

Rowan tiredly shuffled against her soft pillows and even winced once at a rather sore spot between her shoulder blades being poked at. She suppressed a sleepy yawn as she glanced over to the bookshelf and desk. Shortly after her return to Prince Manor, her grandparents, aunt, and Severus had gathered at her bed to help her open her Christmas gifts. Thankfully they had as she had been too tired halfway through her gifts to continue. Severus had graciously opened the rest of her gifts for her before he opened all of his own. Rowan had felt rather thankful for Severus doing so as she watched him open his own gifts.

Laying on her desk is one of her gifts, a round, silver bowl encrusted with jewels, runes, and unfamiliar rune pentagram symbols. The pensive is empty as it holds not a single drop of milky, cloud substance representing a memory. The chances of Rowan ever using the pensive are low as most of her memories can never be allowed out of her head.

Moving to the bookshelf, Rowan spots the newly gifted volumes neatly set and sorted therein. She drew her gaze back as she thought about the rest of her gifts. They were mostly minor gifts such as new clothing, gloves, etc. Nothing as expensive or spectacular as the pensive.

A soft creak of the door opening caused Rowan to glance in the direction of the door. Severus peeked his head inside her bedroom and said, "Oh, good, you're awake," and proceeded to enter her bedroom. He walked over to her side, before plopping onto the bed.

Laying next to Rowan, Severus glances at Rowan with a tiny frown. "Do you think you will be fine tomorrow? I mean, you look better but-," his voice trailed off as he took in her wane complexion.

"Possibly," Rowan drily rasped without much hope. "We are traveling on the Hogwarts Express, but I would be more worried about the following school day. In all honesty, I am not sure how well I will fare by climbing up and down the stairs to get to my classes."

"St. Mungo's should have already sent a note to Hogwarts explaining your condition and needs," Severus pensively murmured. "Or at least that's what grandfather and grandmother said."

"Mm," Rowan tiredly hummed as she closed her eyes.

"Are you sleepy?"

"No, I am just resting my eyes for a moment."

There is a pause of silence until Severus says, "Rowan, you'll let me know if you need help, won't you?"

"I will," Rowan faintly replied without opening her eyes.

"Oh, good." There is another lapse of silence until he asks again, "You promise?"

"I promise, Sev."

Seeing that Rowan was rather tired but didn't want to say so, Severus silently curls up on his side and studies the pale features of his twin sister. He must have been studying Rowan for a while, because before he knew its eyes began to close and that was the last he knew.

Severus must have dozed for a good while because it is until a gentle hand on his shoulder weakly shakes him awake. "Wake up, Severus, it's time for dinner."

Severus blinked and yawned as he hastily got up to reveal one side of his hair all smushed. Hiding a yawn, Rowan says, "You better get going, Sev."

"Alright," Severus yawned as he got out of bed. Pausing at the door he turns and says, "I'll be back in a bit."

"I'll look forward to seeing you again," Rowan said as she watched Severus slip out the door. Sitting up, she glances at her trunk and sighs in relief. She least hadn't unpacked when she got home and naturally didn't really need to repack. Beyond putting some new clothes inside the trunk along with her mokeskin pouch. (A mokeskin pouch cannot be opened by anyone except for the owner. There are exceptions such as the owner's death.)

Not long after Severus departed, Dawn apparated into Rowan's bedroom carrying a silver tray with a bowl of soup, two very large and soft rolls, and a small bowl of pudding to eat. "Thank you, Dawn," Rowan breathlessly said as she sat up and felt out of breath.

In all honesty, Rowan knew she was not going to fare very well upon her return to Hogwarts. She just hadn't wanted to overly worry Severus. Still, her mind is distracted by her stomach grumbling. She had lost her appetite and had not been hungry at all. Thankfully, it looked like her appetite was finally starting to return to her.

"You're welcome, little mistress," Dawn answered with a pleased smile as the sleepy figure of Laldey blew a bubble in his sleep curled on his mother's back.

"Dawn is happy to see that the young mistress is hungry again. Dawn was most worried, but now Dawn sees little mistress is all better. Dawn will be back later for the tray."

With a pop, Dawn left leaving Rowan to eat her meal. It was a rather good meal, to be honest. The soup was just right, and the rolls were warm and soft. Even the dessert tasted sublime. But then again, it is said that meals after near-death experiences always taste much better than before.

By the time Severus came back upstairs, Dawn had already taken the tray away leaving Rowan dozing in her bed again. Climbing onto the bed to sit next to her side, Severus pokes Rowan on her cheek. Her midnight-indigo eyes open in slits as she is rather drowsy.

"If you ever die on me, I'll never forgive you," Severus firmly emphasized.

Despite being half asleep, Rowan still heard and understood Severus. "Whatever makes you think that you'll outlive me?" Rowan sleepily half-jested.

Severus chokes and sputters, "As if! It's always the oldest twin that goes first!"

"I beg to differ."

"No, that is not the case at all!"

"I'm only older by fifteen minutes, Severus. In the grand scheme of things that's not even a single drop in the grand scheme of time."

"Still, you should go first. You're the older one."

"Fine, but if I do, you better die fifteen minutes later!"

"Are you cursing me to die?"

".... You started it."

Severus arrogantly stares down his nose at her and loftily says, "Well, I'm ending it."

Rowan merely rolls her eyes and closes her eyes again. "Rowan?" Severus says from her side.

"Yes, Severus?" Rowan yawned.

"Thanks," Severus quietly said as Rowan understood that simple word. He was grateful she had not gone and died on him.

Rowan merely reached over and tugged him down to lay next to her in reply. Snuggling closer, Severus closed his eyes as the two fell sound asleep. When their grandparents got up later to check on them, they found them both curled up around each other. With amused expressions, they took off Severus's shoes and tucked him into bed with Rowan. It was a tender moment for the length of time that it lasted.