Chapter 705 - Rachel Grimond Ⅲ

Having arrived at the Great Hall, Rowan slumped down next to Severus and Terry with her tired face only slightly perking up at the sight of the delicious food. Piling her plate high with a variety of foods, she numbly begins to eat as Terry says, "Well, that's it. I think you and Severus should just quit being Prefects. You're both running yourselves ragged and the month of November has just gotten started!"

"Tell me about it," Rowan grunted, before stuffing her mouthful with food.

Tiffany shakes her strawberry blond hair and says, "Remus and Lily have it worse. I heard it straight from Mary and Willa's mouth, but Lily was almost in tears after the second-year's attempted to sneak out and fly during the middle of the night. Apparently, the lack of sleep almost every single night is really starting to get to her."

Severus's eyes instantly filled with concern, but suddenly he winces in pain as Rowan had stomped on his foot. Severus glares at her as he moves his throbbing foot, while Rowan innocently blinks back as she chews her food. Still, it had worked, Severus wasn't thinking about Lily anymore, but rather revenge.

Swallowing rather loudly, Rowan wipes her mouth clean and says, "On that note, all the fifth, sixth, and seventh years are having a house meeting today at nine with Professor Slughorn. Spread the word around."

"Why?" Severus sharply asked his twin sister as he had the acute feeling that his twin sister knew much more than she was telling. It wasn't so much as a twin thing as a sibling thing.

"Who knows," Rowan lied with a shrug. "It's Professor Slughorn."

Despite Rowan's answer, Severus did not look convinced, but he didn't ask again. Seated next to Terry, Silvia shakes her head at Rowan's response all the while holding hands with Terry underneath the dining table. Strangely enough, the couple was oddly romantic in the strangest of ways. Then again, they had known each other for several years and liked each other for almost equally as long.

On the other hand, Bethanie was notably missing including Regulus. With a little bit of aid from Sirius, Regulus had made his way down into the kitchen with a picnic basket. He'd planned a romantic meal with just the two of them by the lake before the weather truly turned cold. The cool even shared a cloak as the lovely couple watched the sunset beyond the horizon and enjoyed a delicious meal.

Rowan shakes her head and quickly finishes up dinner all the while listening to the chatter around her. Finished, she excuses herself and makes her way to Professor Babbling's quarters. She hadn't seen the professor at the staff table and safely concluded that Professor Babbling probably was still in her office.

Rowan is about to turn the corner when she spots Professor Slughorn's bulk making his way down the hallway. Retreating a few steps back, she waits as his large bulk disappears down the other hallway. He seemed in a cheerful mood from the looks of it, the conversation had been successful. Then again, maybe, it was a premature guess.

Once Professor Slughorn's heavy footsteps had faded away, she rounded the corner of the hall. She swiftly heads down the hall towards the office door of Professor Babbling. Raising her hand, she firmly knocks on the door twice, before waiting to hear a reply from inside. "Enter," Professor Babbling's voice loudly said from the other side of the door.

Pushing the door open, Rowan enters the office of Professor Babbling, before closing the door afterward. Professor Babbling quill is marking third-year essays, while Rowan patiently waits as she studies the Professor's office. It was a rather simple office filled with countless books and ancient rune volumes. There isn't much to say of decorations beyond a crimson and gold, Gryffindor banner hanging in the background, and various hand-painted ancient runes depicted in their original scenery.

After some time, Professor Babbling's quill stops moving and sets her feathered quill into its holder. Glancing up, her brown, and blue eyes flash as she leans back into her seat. "How can I help you this evening, Prefect Prince? Let us be swift and candid, Prefect Prince. I have a stack of essays to grade-," she gestured pointedly to the stack of third-year essays piled precariously on top of her desk.

"-That and I highly doubt that the reason to you darkening my door is due to requiring assistant with your Ancient Runes homework."

"Your inference would be correct, Professor," Rowan plainly replied. 'I have come to speak to you about Wendy Dobbs, and the two other second-year girls' detentions that I assigned."

"I thought as much," Professor Babbling sighed, before leaning back in her seat. "Very well, Prefect Prince, I shall hear you out. Might I learn the reason as for their detentions?"

"Bullying, Professor," Rowan solemnly explained. "And though Miss Grimond is a second-year Slytherin as well, she is in fact, a transfer student."

Professor Babbling rubs her forehead in understanding. "I presume that you wish for me to punish them harshly?"

"No," Rowan crisply replied causing Professor Babbling to blink in shock.

Professor Babbling carefully studies the raven-haired young woman with midnight black indigo-colored eyes. "Then what exactly are you requesting of me, Prefect Prince?"

"Then do need to be punished, but a regular detention will serve them just fine," Rowan replied. "Rather I know that Professor Slughorn has already come to see you, and brag about his great idea. I will request that the same be implemented in Gryffindor which will cause Professor Flitwick, and Professor Sprout to follow in your footsteps."

Professor Babbling presses her lips together in thought, before slowly saying, "You're afraid that there might be other such isolated incidents not just in Slytherin, but in the other three houses as well."

"That is a brilliant deduction, Professor," Rowan murmured in approval. "I'm afraid with the abnormal influx of students this year, it won't be possible to keep out an eye for such incidents with just the Prefects and the staff members. It will require more than just a few of us to prevent any severe issues from occurring. And since it was only just recently noticed, it is safe to assume that it is a present ongoing problem for all of the four houses."

Professor Babbling taps her finger against her desk in thought, before at lasting saying, "I can see the merit behind such a plan. Very well, Prefect Prince, I will convince my lions by forcing them to compete with the Slytherins. That ought to keep my more opinionated Gryffindors in check."

"Thank you, Professor," Rowan sincerely said as that was one less thing off her chest and made her way out of the office.

That and it might even help Lily and Lupin as there would be a bunch of older years looking out for the younger years. Then again, the older years could always turn a blind eye. With Gryffindor, one never simply knew. And even if it couldn't tame the worst of the offenders at least it would serve to protect those in need of such protection.