"What's the good word, Evelyn, daring?" Rowen announced as he walked into Rowena's classroom where he was instructed to meet Evelyn with her new and improved potion.
"Rowen," Rowena peered up at him and he laughed as he nodded to her.
"I don't actually mean that," He told Rowena as he neared her desk and stood before her. "Eve told me to meet her here. I asked her for a little favor." He explained but Rowena didn't respond. She was grading papers, but Rowen didn't mind. He simply looked around the classroom as he waited for Evelyn to arrive.
"You should be careful with the heart of a girl, Rowen." Rowena spoke when he had turned away from her. He turned back to her t see she was peering up at him. She slowly got to her feet and lead him into her office located just behind her classroom.
"I don't know what you're talking about," Rowen replied, though he knew in the back of his mind exactly what she was referring to.
"Rowen," Rowena turned back to him as she poured herself a cup of tea. She offered some to Rowen but he declined. After she took a sip she spoke again. "Something tells me you know exactly what I'm talking about. No, you aren't exactly the string of broken hearts that Logan is," She started, referring to Logan Slytherin, Victoria's older brother, "but you have your string of girls just as he does."
"At least you trust me with Evelyn. I wouldn't trust Logan around her at all." Rowen put in, but he had a feeling witty remarks and light humor wasn't going t get him out of the conversation he didn't want to have.
"As true as that may be," She responded. "You're chasing a girl you'll never have, my dear." She warned him with a straight face and Rowen only stared back at her. "And you're making her want something she'll never have."
"I don't know who you're talking about." Rowen replied, his voice no longer the chipper voice it'd been moments before.
"You know very well, Rowen." She told him as she took a seat behind her desk. "I trust your father told you how you got your name."
"I'm named after you." He responded.
"I saved your mother when she was pregnant with you." Rowena added. "And your father named you for me. I've always loved you Rowen. You're the son I never had, and your Evelyn's brother, as far as I'm concerned, and I'd hate to see you hurt in the end because you wanted somebody that could never be yours."
"But you don't know that." He replied as he sat down across from her, admitting for the first time what Victoria was to him. "We heard our fathers talking once about us. They even suggested a marriage."
"No, Rowen. Salazar would never let the Slytherin line turn into the Gryffindor line. He would never let his daughter's children have your name. He's too proud, he's too power hungry. As powerful as those children would be, they would be useless to him if their names were Gryffindor." Rowena told him everything Victoria had said, though for some reason he believed it when Rowena told him.
"But he doesn't treat her the same as Jocelyn or Logan. She's not as prized to him, as tragic as it may be."
"No, he doesn't, Rowen, you're right. You're perfectly right, and that's because Victoria is her mother's daughter. He doesn't see himself in her the way he see himself in Jocelyn or Logan. But so long as her name is Slytherin, it doesn't matter. Love her as you may, Rowen, but you'll never have her, and I hate to be the one to tell you. I'm afraid your father simply doesn't have the heart to save you from yourself." She told him, her voice slowly becoming softer and softer and Rowen's face become more and more defeated.
"Does anybody get to choose their future?" Rowen asked softly as he looked up at Rowena.
"Yes, but it takes more than anything you can imagine, Rowen." She told him. "One day, you should have your father talk to Victoria about her mother. Perhaps that might sway her to what I know you're thinking."
"You can't know what I'm thinking," Rowen smiled at her and she smiled back.
"You may have all the Gryffindor courage that it takes, but she needs passion and courage as well, Rowen."
"So, you think there's a chance."
"Rowen, there's always a chance, if you can bear the pain that comes before the happiness you seek."
"Mother!" Evelyn's voice called out from the front classroom. Rowen turned towards the door before he looked back to Rowena.
"Go ahead." She told him. He nodded before he rose to his feet. She expected him to go towards the door, but he came around her desk and put his arms around her shoulders from behind. "Rowen," She laughed as she reached up to rub his muscular arm with one hand.
"You were always my favorite." He told her and she laughed again.
"Run along, Rowen." She told him and he released her from the embrace. He started towards the door but stopped when she spoke again. "And stop using that line on my daughter, Rowen."
"No promises," Rowen replied laughing as he left the office and shut the door behind him. He walked down the stairs to meet Evelyn who was watching him as he exited her mother's office.
"Did she scold you for whatever you said when you came in?" Evelyn laughed as Rowen neared her.
"Perhaps," He responded, though his attention was on the small vile she held in her hand. "How did my little potions master like the challenge?" He changed the subject, bringing a smile to her face.
"It was rather simple, really." She answered with a shrug of her shoulders. "Here is the final potion I made," She said as she reached out and handed him the vile. Rowen held the vile in his hand, curling his fingers over the rounded glass, before he looked up at her again. "And this is the final set of instructions I came up with." She added, handing him a small piece of parchment.
"Have I ever told you that you're my favorite?" He asked and Evelyn laughed, rolling her eyes.
"Rowen," Rowena's voice called from the top of the stairs that lead into her office. "Don't forget what I told you."
"I won't." Rowen promised as he looked up at her. He nodded to her and she smiled back before Rowen put a brotherly kiss on Evelyn's cheek. "Thank you." He told her before he left the classroom.
He was heading towards the Gryffindor tower but stopped when he saw Victoria at the edge of the lake, much like the way he'd found her before. He slipped the vile into the inside pocket of his robes before sliding the piece of parchment into the pocket as well. When he reached her, everything was perfectly hidden from her eyes.
"Hello, Rowe." She smiled up at him until he took a seat beside her. He smiled back before he turned out to the lake, watching as the sun reflected off of the clear surface.
"Your birthday is coming," he commented.
"How did you know?" She asked, turning to him. He turned back to her and laughed.
"How could I not know?" He replied and she laughed. "We were only forced to every birthday for about ten different kids when we were younger. Did you think that for some reason the day escaped me? Do you not remember mine, Riah?"
"Of course I remember what day it is, Rowe." She replied with an amused smile. "I suppose I figured you only went because you were forced. I never thought you really paid attention."
"I always paid attention."
"You're more caring than people give you credit for, you know." Victoria told him with a slight smile on her lips. Rowen stared back at her, watching as her hair lightened slightly when the sunlight bounced from it. Though he'd spent some quality time with the opposite sex, he'd never stared at a girl the way he was staring at Victoria.
"What would you like for your birthday, Riah?" He asked her, but he regretted it because she turned away to look at the lake.
"Nothing, really." She answered.
"Riah, that's not very fair. How am I supposed to get you something if there's nothing you'd like to have?"
"What's not fair is that you're insisting that you need to get me something, when I did not get you something for your birthday."
"You can get me something next year if it'll make you feel better." He offered but Victoria only sighed. "Come on, Riah. It's your birthday and you deserve something. Even a little something."
"There's nothing." She insisted, and Rowen groaned as he laid back on the grass.
"Fine," He conceded and she smiled down at him. "I'll just have to guess."
"Rowen," She laughed as she turned to face him. Her legs were crossed and she was facing him as he laid down on the grass. They simply looked at one another, both oblivious as to how they appeared to any onlookers who might have spotted them at the edge of the lake. "You have grass in your hair now." She told him, reaching out to pull the blade of grass from his dark red hair.
"Thank you," he replied and she simply nodded with a slight smile on her face. "You do realize I'm going to get you something no matter what you say, so you might as well just tell me to avoid receiving something you don't like."
"In that case," She responded, laughing again. "I supposed I'd rather have something that you gave me, instead of something that I want."
"Fair enough," Rowen accepted her terms as he sat up, but still leaned back against his arms. She was still sitting to the side of him facing her. As they found themselves in another locked gaze, they did not realize a third party was making their way towards them.
"Victoria," A male voice caught her attention, leaving Rowen feeling only slightly rejected, but only because it wasn't Logan's voice. As the two turned and peered up, they found themselves looking up at a rather angry looking Malfoy boy. Just from the look on his face beneath his blonde locks, Rowen could see the jealousy he was trying to hide; jealousy Rowen knew he'd experience should he ever find Victoria with another boy, especially in the manner the Malfoy boy had found them in.
"Darius," Victoria looked up at him briefly before she glanced to Rowen, who simply peered out at the lake while the two Slytherins interacted, silently hoping it wouldn't last longer than a mere moment. "Is there something you need?"
Rowen tried not to listen, but the sweet melodic sound of her voice only drew him into the conversation even more. He focused on a rock in the center of the lake, but no matter what he did, he knew he'd hear every last word spoken between Victoria and the Malfoy boy.
"Well, I know every year the families of the founders have a rather large Christmas Ball." Darius spoke about the tradition that all four family participated in every year. That particular year, the Ball was to take place in the Slytherin manor.
"Yes, it's in only a month and a few weeks time." Victoria told him the truth whereas Rowen would've lied and told him it was canceled so long as he had hopes of attending, especially with Victoria.
"I was merely curious if perhaps I could attend with you," He said the words Rowen had been expecting. He must've groaned aloud, because Victoria turned towards him. He knew she would've noticed how uncomfortable he'd suddenly become, especially with another boy, still a child in his sixteen years, wanting to be in her company more that Rowen would've been comfortable with.
"I don't know, Darius." She responded. "I'll think about it."
"Of course." He replied before he made his exit, not once acknowledging the Gryffindor boy who'd had her attention first.
"Sorry, Rowe," Victoria apologized as she turned back to him, and he gave up on trying to hide his true emotions. "I had no idea that was going to happen." She laughed.
"How could it not?" he replied. "You've certainly changed over the last year. So has your sister."
"Yes, that may be, but Jocelyn has had attention for much longer than I."
"Maybe," Rowen sat up straight, leaning towards her slightly, only mere inches from how close they'd been the night before, however this time in a very public manner. "But you have more respectable attention and company."
"Such as yourself, I'm assuming." Victoria laughed and Rowen smiled at how something as simply as a smile or a laugh made her even more desirable.
"Well, if that's the first thing that comes to your mind, I certainly won't object." Rowen laughed, and Victoria smiled even more at him and his witty remarks. When the laughter died out, Rowen spoke with more seriousness. "I only mean the company your sister keeps usually only consists of the boys who only want a few things from her, before they move on to their next goal. You, however, tend to attract the attention of those who want a lot more than a few moments and a few nights."
"And in which of those categories might you fall under?" She replied, wishing they were alone in his haven where he could sit as close as he wanted and she could show exactly how nervous she was at hearing his answer.
"I should like to think you already know that answer." Rowen answer, and Victoria nodded in response. "Come, I want to show you something." He changed the subject as he rose to his feet and took one step back to reach down in order to help her to her feet. She'd gotten only half way off the ground when Rowen faintly heard the sound of a chanted spell. He hadn't bothered to turn because before he had time to react, he watched Victoria fly back into the icy waters of the lake, the green smoke of the spell disappearing as she sunk deeper into the water.
Rowen faintly heard the commotion growing around them, but he'd dived into the waters voluntarily, swimming downward to find Victoria's hand. He felt his body stinging from the cold, but he pushed the thought to the back of his mind. As he continued, swimming faster and faster, his thinking became more and more blurry, the cold only becoming worse and intensifying the pins and needles feeling throughout his body.
After what he thought was hours, he found a small, sinking hand reached up and took hold. With whatever little strength was left he pulled up until he held Victoria's small frame in his arms, surprised to find her eyes open and staring into his eyes. The cold had affected each of them, but somehow Rowen found enough clear space in his mind to comprehend the kiss he'd placed on her lips. He momentarily stopped kicking and simply kissed her lips, relieved to feel movement of her icy lips.
As soon as the kiss had started, it ended and he kicked up once again, with what very little strength was left in his nearly frozen body. He kicked and kicked, feeling her body struggle with his as she kicked as well, but the cause felt hopeless to both. It wasn't until they caught sight of the sun's rays bouncing off the water's surface did Rowen finally find enough strength within him to pull her to the top, only to be greeted by his father at the water's edge.