PadfootsMoony-you're making me blush! I am not worthy! Thanks for the ego-boosting and sincere review!
Anyway. . . without further ado. . . chapter five.
"Have the wedding arrangements been made, Helga?" Rowena asked tiredly.
"Not yet, madam. Lord Slytherin has to sign the papers thy father hast provided for him to sign. "Slytherin might be living here a good four or five years before he marries thee."
"But I'll be an old maid by then!" Rowena complained. "I mean, I would rather not marry Lord Slytherin, but I'd rather marry him than be an old maid! I don't know very many girls that are nineteen years old and haven't borne a son or daughter!"
"Not everyone is bound to be married before they turn sixteen and are bound to be grandmothers when they are in their third decade. I'm eighteen and I have yet to find a husband. All in due time, my lady, all in due time thy fate shall come to pass. I don't believe thou wilt marry Lord Slytherin."
"Forgive me, dear Helga. I did not realize to whom I was talking. I am going mad without intellectual stimulation. I can only read a book so many times before I have it memorized. I'm about ready to create some more spells."
"Thou hast created spells? Dost thou not know the penalty of witchcraft? I know thou hast a Gift, but it's not wise or prudent to display it so."
"I'm not displaying it, Helga. I only use it on rodents and insects that make their way into my chambers. I've come up with some good ones. Wouldst thou like to see?"
"Art thou sure that not one soul shall see?"
"Not unless another one possessing the Gift levitates outside my chamber window. I'm the only one who knows that spell." Rowena grinned with childish satisfaction. "Wouldst thou like to see?"
"Now that thou hast aroused mine curiosity, I suppose so."
Rowena produced what looked to Helga like some kind of a smooth twig of about a foot long. "Was ist das?" Helga asked, forgetting to use English.
"A wand," Rowena whispered. "A man called Ollivander was staying at the castle disguised as a wandering minstrel, and he showed me his wands. He knew of the Gift I possessed and sought to help me gain control over it."
"How did he know?"
"I cannot say. I am sure, though, that he used some kind of magic to sense other Gifted people."
"Thou must not say that word!" Helga whispered, almost tearfully. "What if someone heard thee?"
"No one will hear me, dear Helga. I have come up with a spell to keep sound from escaping this chamber. Now, wilt thou let me show you my spell?"
"Yes, madam," Helga said in quiet awe, her large blue eyes wide. She had never known her mistress to be so daring. But, she did know what madness ennui creates, and what a cruel mistress it could be.
Rowena shot Helga a quick mischievous grin of a child showing off for a friend before diving under her bed. She returned, her glossy raven hair matte with dust and holding a red velvet box. She revealed by opening it a large beetle within. She grinned and set it on the floor, and, pointing her wand at the bug commanded, "Imperio!" The beetle froze in its tracks.
"What does the spell do? Freeze it?" Helga asked quietly.
"No. The spell makes me able to control its action---its movements. I could make this beetle crawl into my father's soup if I wished it to."
"It's not right, madam, to control a living being in such a way! What if someone found out about that spell and performed it on a person?" Helga, a timid, God-fearing creature, saw the ultimate evil that could come of this spell.
"Dear Lord," Rowena breathed. She quickly ended the spell. "I never thought of that. That spell was to be used to train animals, such as horses. I never thought it could be used on a person. What if my father found out about this spell and mastered it? He could force me to marry Lord Slytherin! He could force anyone to do anything!"
Unbeknownst to the Helga and Rowena, the beetle scurried to the window and flew away, towards the tower in which Lord Slytherin was staying.