Chapter 518 - Hereditary Ⅲ

The ghostly figure of Sir Knight Prince's body carefully picks up Sir Knight Prince, (the head), before striding through the hallways towards his descendant's study. Not that he could not walk through walls, but Dawn did tend to narrow her eyes at him an accusatory fashion for leaving ectoplasmic goo every time he crossed through several solid walls. Of course, the more solid walls he passed through the worse the ectoplasmic goo became until it became a thick gooey trail.

Sir Knight Prince's winces when recalling the passive aggressive manner, Dawn would follow him for days until he kicked the terrible habit again. Not that Sirsa had protested much back when she was alive. Rather she approved of Dawn's actions and openly permitted it.

And frankly it is more than a little unnerving to have a house elf popping up out of nowhere and following one's ghostly self. When was a ghost to have a little bit of peace and quiet! More the fools, they who said that the afterlife is not tiring!

Still Sir Knight Prince passed through the solid oak door of Reginald's study. The hidden laboratory door is firmly closed shut no doubt with Reginald inside. Sitting down to wait, he calmly studies the study of the present head of the Prince family. With each generation the study changes to match the personality of the Prince Head.

Sir Knight Prince shivers unconsciously recalling how cold and dark the study had been with Reginald's father, Rancor was in charge. It was a dark time, which he did not like to recall. It is also tragically during that same time that Dawn became an orphan. Rancor did not have any patience with anyone including his house elves. With Reginald and Georgine still young, Sir Knight Prince had done the only thing he could do and hid the house elf child from Rancor's wrath. And after the massacre, Rancor did not kill the house elf child as there would be no more house elves to maintain Prince manor.

As such, Sir Knight Prince taught the house elf child all that he could to protect the child. It was the only request that the previous house elves had requested of him for all their years of service. That and upon spotting the rogue house elf that regularly snuck into Prince Manor to see the now grown house elf child, he did separate the couple. But rather suggested to Reginald that he permit the union despite the other house elf being a rogue, master less house elf. And so, it had been done.

Sir Knight Prince lips twitch into a fond smile as he recalls what little Ladley fondly calls him, "Geepa." He had never had any children of his own, but still the idea that the tiny house elf child saw him in that manner filled him with an almost long forgotten warmth.

Sir Knight Prince is startled out from his thoughts as he sees Reginald emerge from the hidden lab all the way muttering to himself as he slams the door shut behind him. Sir Knight Prince loudly clears his throat causing Reginald to merely glance up at him, before walking over to one of the various worktables in the study. There is an assortment of potions and manuscripts strewn across the worktable.

With his back turned towards Sir Knight Prince, Reginald asks, "Well, what is it?"

"Begin teaching them how to duel," Sir Knight Prince bluntly requested.

Whirling around, Reginald frowns as he eyes the ancient ghost. "Why?" Reginald suspiciously asked through narrowed eyes.

"Rowan has been almost killed on three separate occasions," Sir Knight Prince carefully replied. "She has only survived in thanks to sheer serendipity luck. And she is a Slytherin, our luck always runs out sooner rather than later. That and it is only a matter of time until Severus is attacked as well. You cannot keep postponing it, Reginald."

Reginald lips curl as he argues, "They already have enough on their plate as it is."

"Did you forget the Malfoy Wedding?!" Sir Knight Prince pointedly said. "The children froze! If not for Georgine, they could have potentially died or even been severely hurt! Not to mention Pyrites and Rowan!"

"I know!" Reginald roared with anger, before his voice falters and he softly says, "I know that, but they are all that I have left."

Sir Knight Prince inclines his head as if in apology, before solemnly retorting, "That may very well be the case, Reginald. But they will come for them, and this time there will be no one around to protect them. And we both know that she is moving in the shadows already much like Merlin did. And we both know exactly how that tragic tale ended for our forefather."

Sighing as if rather tired and feeling his age, Reginald rubs his face with one hand, before relenting. "Very well, but I will not teach Severus our ways. His powers have yet to awaken."

"You will hear no arguments from me," Sir Knight Prince instantly replied.

Nodding his head, Reginald straightens up and says, "Go and get them. Have them meet me in the training room."

"Of course," Sir Knight Prince replied, before departing via the closed door leaving behind a thin trail of ectoplasm. Dawn would certainly scowl the ghost rather fiercely later in the evening.

Left all alone, Reginald walks over to his desk, and slumps down in his seat just for a moment. "How I miss you, Sirsa," Reginald softly said. "You always knew what to say at times like these."

Letting out a resigned sigh, Reginald hurries to his feet and departs. He still had a family left to protect, and he could not allow himself to wallow in his grief no matter how much he would like to at times. With a firm purpose in mind, Reginald only halts once to dress himself in an old worn dueling uniform before arriving in the training area.

The room is largely bare showcasing scorched walls from countless hexes. The gray stone floor is enchanted with permanent cushioning charms to prevent the breaking of bones, but not that of bruises. It was a room that had seen countless of generations and if luck held for countless of more generations still yet to come.