Chapter 24 - HSWF Pt.2

Serena was kneeling down beside the ornate bed, leaning her upper body on the mattress, holding the hand of the frail-looking woman lying on it. The room was dimly lit, the warmth of the fireplace dancing upon the ancient tapestries and portraits that adorned the walls.

"Look at you," the woman murmured, her voice a husky whisper. She smoothed Serena's black hair with a gesture that was both loving and sad. "Such a beautiful child you are," she said, her blue eyes glistening with unshed tears. 

"More beautiful than Eileen described. Look at that hair, and those lips... just like a Prince."

Serena could feel herself blush under the scrutiny, her cheeks warming up as she lowered her gaze. She wasn't used to such warmth, such affection. It was strange, but not unwelcome. "Thank you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.

But then the woman's expression turned somber, her hand pausing on Serena's cheek. She studied her granddaughter with a keen eye, her brow furrowing. "But you're so thin, dear. Thinner than you should be at your age."

Serena squirmed under her gaze, feeling a sudden wave of self-consciousness. No one had ever commented on her size before, at least not in such a concerned way.

The woman turned her attention to Eileen, her eyes flashing with reproach. "Eileen, why is the girl so thin? Have you not been taking proper care of her?"

Eileen's gaze turned icy, and she opened her mouth to retort, her lips curling into a scowl. But before she could speak, a stern voice rang out, silencing her.

"Eileen," the voice came from the handsome old man who had greeted them at the door.

"Do not start."

He turned his attention to Serena. "I believe we should have introduced ourselves properly before delving into such matters."

He straightened his back, standing tall and authoritative. "I am Wilfred Prince, your grandfather, and this," he gestured to the woman on the bed, "is your grandmother, Gwendoline Prince. From today, you are a part of this family, our family. And we will make sure you are taken care of, as you should have been."

The room fell silent, the gravity of his words sinking in. Serena looked from her grandmother to her grandfather, then to her mother, whose face was a mask of stubborn defiance. But beneath it all, Serena could see the flicker of something else—fear, perhaps, or regret.

Serena swallowed, she was a Prince, part of a family she had never known. In her past life, her mother had told him that the Prince line was gone. That they were the only ones left alive. And now, you're telling her that it wasn't true? Although the discovery was overwhelming, she felt a small part of her glimmer with hope. Maybe she could find the love and acceptance she had been craving all her life in this place. 

Severus was a very lonely person. More so when Lily Evans ended their friendship. 

Severus' much envy of other people's relationships with their families and friends turned him into a bitter person. Always pessimistic, cynical, and cold. He made all the wrong choices and ended up regretting it. This time, this life, he didn't want to die feeling alone. 

Gwendoline patted Serena's hand gently, her gaze softening. "You must be tired from your journey, dear," she said, her eyes trailing over Serena's school robes and the luggage that still stood beside her. "Why don't you go freshen up and change your clothes? We can continue our talk later."

Wilfred took that as a cue, his stern features softening slightly. "Nitty!" he called out.

There was a sudden pop, and a small house-elf appeared. She was dressed in a clean, neat pillowcase, her eyes wide and curious as she looked at Serena. Her ears perked up at the sight of her, and she gave a little bow, excitement evident in her voice.

"Nitty is at your service, Miss Serena!" she said, her tone cheerful. "Nitty will show you to your room!"

Her grandmother turned her attention to Eileen. "Eileen," she said, her voice firm, "we need to have our long overdue talk."

Eileen looked like she wanted to argue, but one look from her father silenced her. She gave a curt nod, her lips pressed into a thin line. Serena felt a pang of apprehension but chose to follow Nitty out of the room, leaving the three adults behind.

As Nitty led her through the grand corridors of the mansion, Serena couldn't help but feel a sense of awe. The mansion was beautiful, filled with history and grandeur. The walls seemed to come alive. She could feel eyes on her, and when she turned her gaze, she was met with the eyes of countless portraits.

They were all watching her, faces ranging from stern to curious, all framed in gilded gold that matched the opulence of the mansion.

"Are you the last heir?" asked a man in an elaborate green robe, his eyes sharp and calculating. His tone was cold, almost accusatory, and Serena blinked in surprise.

"Is that Eileen's child?" another voice cut in. It came from a woman draped in silk and pearls, her lips twisted in a smirk. "I never thought she'd end up with a half-blood."

Serena frowned, she had known she'd meet her Prince ancestors in this mansion, but she hadn't expected to be met with such scrutiny and derision. 

Suddenly, a new voice echoed through the corridor, silencing the others. "Enough!" it commanded, and Serena turned to see a portrait of a beautiful woman. She was clad in elaborate armor, a sword at her side, her hair flowing freely around her shoulders. But it wasn't her attire that demanded attention, rather, it was her eyes – they were filled with fire and determination, demanding respect and attention.

"You should all be ashamed of yourselves," the woman admonished, her gaze sweeping over the other portraits. "This is our family, our kin. Treat her with the respect she deserves."

The portraits fell silent, their faces a mix of surprise and guilt. The woman turned to Serena, her expression softening. "I apologize for their rudeness, dear child," she said. "My name is Adalina Prince, one of your ancestors. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Serena was taken aback by this show of support. She looked at the woman – Adalina – stunned. "Thank you," she managed to say. "It's nice to meet you too, Adalina."

With that, she continued down the corridor, her heart a little lighter. She was brought to a room that was spacious and elegantly decorated, with a window that overlooked the mansion's gardens.

"Nitty has prepared the room for Miss Serena," the elf said, her eyes gleaming with pride. "Nitty hopes Miss Serena likes it."

The room was a luxurious space fit for a princess, adorned with the family crest of a the Prince's.

The opulent navy blue damask wallpaper sets the backdrop, while a sparkling crystal chandelier casts a warm and enchanting glow. A plush four-poster bed, adorned with golden accents and embroidered navy blue bedding, becomes the centerpiece of regality.

A regal vanity table, complete with an ornate mirror and golden details, invites the princess to indulge in her beauty routine. A cozy sitting area, featuring an upholstered navy blue velvet armchair with golden trimmings.

Throughout the room, golden accents and decorative elements enhance a royal atmosphere. Gilded picture frames of magical beasts were on display, intricate crown-shaped wall sconces provide soft lighting, and a plush navy blue rug adorns the polished marbled floor.

The windows, dressed in voluminous navy blue velvet curtains with golden tassels, allow the right amount of natural light to filter in.

Serena was momentarily blinded with the image of money. Clearly, they were very rich. 

She turned to looked at Nitty, her brows furrowed. "Where exactly are we, Nitty?" she asked.

Nitty gave a small bow, her ears twitching. "We are in the main household and Manor of the Princes, Miss Serena," she explained. "We are on the very edge of Cardiff."

Serena's eyes widened slightly. Cardiff. She was in Wales, miles away from where she had spent most of her life.

"Miss Serena," Nitty continued, her eyes sparkling with excitement, "this room has been prepared especially for you. Master Wilfred asked me to make sure everything was perfect. It's been such a long time since we had a young one in these walls. We're all very happy you're here."

Serena looked around the room again, taking in the elegant furnishings and the spectacular view from the window. It was a world away from anything she had known.

"I was told about a year ago that you would be coming," Nitty continued, her voice softening. "When we received a letter from Mistress Eileen, Master Wilfred was very shocked."

Serena felt a lump in her throat. A year ago? That was around the time Eileen had started disappearing more frequently. To think that Eileen had been planning this all along, without bothering to tell her...

She felt a pang of betrayal. Eileen had never mentioned anything about her family or her past. And yet, she had brought Serena here, to the Prince family Manor, without any explanation. Back when she was Severus Snape, Eileen never brought him here.

Why? Why did she lie? How could she?

The realization hit her hard. She was alone in this new place, without any idea of what to expect. But as she looked around her new room, she knew she had no choice but to adapt.

"Is there anyone else living here?"

Nitty shook her head, her ears drooping slightly. "No, Miss Serena. Master Wilfred and Mistress Gwendoline are the only ones. They only had Mistress Eileen, and she... she ran away 18 years ago."

She was about to ask more when Nitty suddenly perked up.

"Master Wilfred is calling for Nitty," she said quickly. "If Miss Serena needs anything, she can call for Yuru. He's another house elf working here." Before Serena could respond, Nitty disappeared with a pop, leaving Serena alone in the room.

She moved towards the window, peering outside. She noted, with a bit of relief, that there were no peacocks strutting about like the ones at the Malfoy Manor. She was admiring the sunset when she saw something that made her pause. 

A bowtruckle was perched by her window, waving at her.

"What the...?" she muttered to herself. She watched in amusement as the bowtruckle motioned for her to open the window. She couldn't help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. Aren't they supposed to be shy? After thinking for a bit, she obliged, opening the window and watching as the bowtruckle jumped onto her, clutching her robes and climbing up onto her shoulder.

The bowtruckle gave her a triumphant smile, making itself comfortable. Serena stared at it before shrugging. She was too tired to argue with a bowtruckle.

"Fine, stay there if you want," she told it, walking towards the washroom. She had had a long day, and she still had so much to process. For now, she just wanted to wash up and rest. She closed the door behind her, leaving the bowtruckle on her shoulder.

Whatever came next, she would deal with it after her shower.