Chapter 21 -- Halloween Feast and Old Friends
Rowan rose and left the office without another word to him. She made her way past the gargoyle, lost in thought. Wondering how she could not have realized that her children made the rest of the prophesy. She sat at the head of the great stair case, so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't hear the footsteps until she heard the voice of Draco address her.
"So, I guess you've heard?" Rowan looked at him blankly "My father has just been released from Azkaban. He will be here in a little while to sort you and the rest of this poor excuse for a school out."
"I await his arrival with a light heart, Draco dear, please show him to my quarters when he arrives so I might deal with it as soon as possible." There was no fear in her voice as he expected. There is was no hint of intimidation. She simply was not impressed. He glared at her as she walked away holding her head high.
The six teenagers were laughing as Ron tried to play Hagrid's flute. Harry said that his sounded just like it. After a few minutes, Mason couldn't take it any more. He took the flute from Ron and began to play. Within seconds, the room filled with a haunting music, it sounded very Phantom of the Opera-ish.
"Too depressing" Rowan yelled. He grinned and began to play "Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy from Company B" they clapped as the music lifted their hearts. She once again thanked God for his talent and gift.
Madison pulled Ron up and began to teach him how to swing dance. One of Rowan's guy friends had taught them years before. As Ron got the hang of it, she pulled Hermione up and taught her as well. Mason stopped after the third or fourth song and said "water". Madison handed him a glass and he drank it dry.
Rowan turned on her CD player and put in a big band CD that Mason's jazz band had recorded the year before. It took a while, but finally all six were dancing and flipping to the music; the laughter filling the room almost as much as the music.
Grinning, he said "Not bad Bobby, didn't know you could teach that." Madison informed him that she could do anything.
When the excitement died down, the six sat on the couches, catching their breath and laughing. Just as they had decided it was time to get ready to go to the Halloween Feast; the door burst open. There stood Draco Malfoy. He entered the room and once again, when the eight of them were together, the very foundation of Hogwart's shook. They looked to one another as the door slammed shut. "It's okay. I'll explain later."
Draco turned to her, "You won't be here later. My father is here to see you." Rowan looked at him for a moment then crossed the room and opened the door. There, in the hallway, stood Lucius Malfoy. She invited him inside her quarters.
Harry, Ginny, Hermione and Ron stood with wands raised toward the man. Rowan positioned herself between the children and the man who was there to threaten her life. She turned slightly to be sure the kids were all behind her.
"Luke," Draco did a double take at the casual use of his father's first name, "please feel free to come in. I understand you are just getting home. I do hope it was not an inconvenience to come see me today," the smirk on her face evident as she moved closer to him.
He looked in her eyes. There was a flash of recognition as he stared. "Rowan? Rowan Cowan?"
"It's Black, but yes, it's me… the one and only. How have you been Luke?" Harry and Ron exchanged dark looks, "I didn't realize that you were the same one that reared the git who likes to throw your name around like you're still big man on campus."
Lucius growled at his son. "I haven't seen you in at least twenty years."
"Twenty-seven to be exact," she took his arm and walked with him past the children who stood gawking at the couple who walked toward the living area, "I can still remember the first summer your grandparents brought you to Texas. Do you remember how sunburned we both got? Grandparents talking and ignoring us." Both adults laughed out loud at the memories. "Can I get you something to drink?"
Lucius sat down in a comfortable chair. Rowan turned to see seven sets of eyes wide with wonderment looking back at her. She told the kids to go get ready for the feast, Draco included, and she would see them there. As she finished he asked, "So Rowan, why are you here?"
"I am here to teach the kids how to survive without using magic in case your dark lord actually defeats Harry at some point." She stated matter of fact. "Narcissa is doing well?"
He nodded his head, seemingly lost in thought. After a few moments of silence, he looked up into her eyes again. "I have missed our time together when we were children. It was so easy then."
"But we all grow up and make choices. From what I have seen of your son, he's not making good ones. And you seem to be pushing him in the direction he's going."
Luke sighed. "It is all easy, knowing who and what was right. I'm really in too deep in now. My wife wants the power. I enjoy being the bully and people being afraid of me."
She raised her eyebrow at him. "Luke, you do know that I have no longer have any magical powers?"
"I had wondered... well, no, honestly, I haven't thought about you in years. But I can believe that you are a squib with all you have lived through with your all but brief marriage to my wife's cousin."
"Do you know that my grandparents met your grandparents on a long cruise." She eyed him "No magic Luke. None. But understand this. My grandparents were good people. Your grandparents adored them. No magic and they were still close friends for fifty years. Can you tell me why your 'leader' wants to kill people like my grandparents?"
He laughed. "No, I really can't. Although Narcissa believes that anyone who is not a pure-blood witch or wizard has no right to be on this earth wasting space that could be taken up with our children." He stopped only for a split second before continuing, "You know, our time together was short when we were young. As much fun as we were allowed to have together, I doubt you will like the grown up version of me. Sometimes I don't like it much either. Your children, they are Sirius'?" She shook her head no, not ready for anyone to know the whole story just yet. "Do they have magic?"
"Nope, and if they did, I'd have it bound. They don't need it to be good people. They just need to live life as it comes and make choices they can live with. Something you should teach your son."
He stood to leave. She watched him; remembering the scrawny blonde kid with the always burned nose running around her grandparents' back yard with a water hose chasing her. She could almost hear him squealing with delight as he got her clothes wet. "Give Narcissa a hug for me Luke. I will miss the man you should have been." Lucius Malfoy nodded before he swept from the room, never looking back.
The Halloween feast had the usual fun of food. Once every one was finished eating, Dumbledore swept his hand and the tables vanished. A stage popped up out of thin air. A group of black ripped robed women entered. The Weird Sisters were going to play. After the first few songs, Madison handed the lead singer a note. She smiled and talked to the group for a moment before motioning for Mason to get on stage. He would play drums while the drummer played the trumpet. "This one is for Professor Dumbledore" and the 40's music rang through the hall.
Ginny was excited as Harry grabbed her hand and headed to the center of the hall. Ron grabbed Hermione and followed suit. Rowan watched as the two couples began the swing dance Madison taught them this afternoon. Dumbledore stood and left the head table, motioned to Madison to meet him, they began to dance. The headmaster moved like a twenty year old American Airman on leave. They flowed effortlessly as the jumps, rolls, and steps seemed to take on a life of their own.
When the song ended, Madison slid into a graceful curtsey as Dumbledore bowed. Looking over at the other two couples, Harry was holding Ginny laughing and smiling. Ron was holding Hermione cradling her. Everyone was either stunned into silence or clapping hysterically. The headmaster whispered something in her sixteen year old daughter's ear. She gracefully nodded her head.
During one very Muggle country song, Remis asked Rowan to dance. She joined him for the slow tune. As they waltzed across the dance floor, he leaned in close to her. "Do you remember teaching me to do this in our fourth year?" He could feel her nod into his shoulder as he laughed, "I was terrible. I wanted so badly to impress you that year. I stepped on your toes. But thankfully, you never gave up on me. It was, what, almost fifth year before I could actually not count the steps out loud?" he heard her laugh as the song ended and he dipped her into a low back bend. When he helped her back up, Mason and Madison were clapping loudly.
"Imagine what they will do when we two-step later?" She laughed to her old friend; and they did. Waiting until Mason convinced the Weird Sisters to play another Muggle song; Rowan rose and asked Remis to dance. Severus watched them with narrowed eyes as they walked to the dance floor hand in hand.
He remembered their history from their own days at Hogwart's. Watching her closely, he began to let him mind wander to their Seventh year Halloween dance when she had agreed to go with him. It had ended badly, thanks to the mutt and the werewolf, but found a smile on his face thinking of holding her in his arms so many years ago.
The song was fast, but definitely country as they began. He turned her with a grace she would not have believed all those years ago. Twists, turns, and steps were all part of the show they put on for the students. She was having much more fun with him this time than the last time they spoke, and for a split second, she forgot her love for her husband.
As the night went on, Mason either danced with any number of young witches or played a different instrument in the band. Madison danced with everyone. She even got to dance with Harry and Ron. She fast danced with Neville, Dean, and Seamus. Her toes were stepped on my Crabbe and Goyle. Theodore Knott and Blaise Zabini danced well enough to dance with twice.
Madison's crowning glory was the last dance of the night. A slow rhythmic number which had her asking Draco onto the floor. She absolutely glowed as he took her in his arms. He knew how to dance and was glad to have a partner who knew how as well. They danced, smiling and relaxing from the day's excitement. She drew him closer, her arms resting around his waist. He found comfort as she laid her head against his chest. He was just over two meters tall, and fit her tall frame perfectly. He could smell her hair; it was calming with his arms around her shoulders, giving him a feeling of completeness that he hadn't ever felt before. It seemed as though they were the only two in the room.
The same song found Rowan stopping Severus as he was trying to sneak out of the hall. Grabbing his hand, she urged him gently onto the dance floor. She held him until he physically agreed to dance with her. She moved in very close to him as they swayed their way around the hall. She could feel his pulse increase as the song continued. She was impressed with his dance ability; he knew what he was doing as he held her close. She noticed his cloak smelled of flowers and honeysuckle, no doubt some new potion. She breathed in the scent of him. He whispered in her ear words that made her blush, she was lost in his underlying charm. When the song ended he bowed to her as she curtsied to him.
Draco, however, just held on to Madison; swaying to music found only in his head and heart; taking in the scent that was Madison, finding a completeness that he had never thought possible. His eyes were closed as he hummed tunelessly against her blonde hair, smiling all the while. The great hall emptied except for the quartet, Mason, Dumbledore, Remis, Rowan, Snape, and a few Slytherins; who watched as Draco continued to dance with Madison.
Finally, Mason walked up and tapped him on the shoulder. "Dude, the dance is over. Let her go." Draco looked to Mason then to Madison. He abruptly pulled away from her and hastily left the great hall followed by his Slytherin friends. Madison just winked at Mason with no explanation.
Rowan whispered something in Remus' ear and with a smile he walked away. Her children watched him leave without her. When she winked at Madison, she turned away and reached for Severus' neck. Leaning down, he allowed her to whisper something in his ear. With a smile he left the room as well.
Several hours later, three professors lay sprawled out on her bed. The room sealing itself against visitors. When sleep overtook them, it was Remus sandwiched between the other two, sleeping contently in the space provided. All three used glamours the next morning to hide the bite marks clearly visible when they woke.
