Chapter 540 - Prefect Notice

Days after the conversation with her grandfather, Rowan is in the study, before lunchtime, researching on how to use alchemy to combine a magical plant to produce said required desires. The in-depth analysis and research of Nicholas Flamel is absolutely fascinating and breathtaking brilliant. She had to give the old wizard his credit, he was a thousand times more brilliant then anyone she knew.

While she read, Severus and their grandfather, Reginald were amid experimenting on an alchemy formula. If it worked in combination with grandfather's lifetime research in potions. Grandfather aimed to create a better cure to the fatal disease known to all wizards, Dragon Pox. Not that the cure did not already exist, but it was imperfect and did not tend to work on the young or on the old. And better yet grandfather would like to be remembered in history for his own achievements causing Severus to be that much more confident in his own work.

Not that Rowan had not helped. She had already changed the Herbology portion for them to create a stronger and better result. Not that she could not help work on the chemical formula, but she had her own research to purse. But every now and then, she would rise from her chair and aid them in the chemical portion of the formula towards a new path. So far, they had not any success, but who knows, maybe the 666th experiment would be the charm.

Then again, Severus still had Felix Felicis potion that he had earned from Master Linneaus for his extraordinary brewing during the C.S.A.E potion exam. However, from the brief conversation with Severus and her grandfather, despite perhaps, being able to solve said issue the potion. The problem would be replicating the results as it was would quite literally be a fluke of luck. And therefore, there was no telling what exactly had caused the potion to be a success.

It was far better to work slowly and be able to categorize each step and be able to repeat the experiment than to never being able to again. That and it would irk Reginald and Severus to no end. They had their pride to think of.

A puff of smoke later was the confirmation, Rowan did not even glance up as she heard their combined frustrated sighs. Experiment number 666th was a failure as well. Well, there was always next time.

Dawn eagerly bursts in and waits as the adorable Ladley toddles in holding two thick letters from Hogwarts. Ladley flashes them his tiny baby elf teeth as Rowan and Severus instantly walk over to gently them from the excited house elf toddler. "Thank you," they both said in unison.

"Welcoome," Ladley proudly grinned as Rowan leaned over to briefly tickle him under his chin earning a happy giggle. Dawn happily popped away with her son and was going to give him a treat for being so well behaved! She was just so proud!

Rowan opens her envelope and peers inside and pulls out the letter. There was not anything to note other than needing to purchase the next book installment for Charms, The Standard Book of Spells, Grade 5 by Miranda Goshawk. She was about to toss the envelope away when she noticed that there was a second letter inside.

With a sickly feeling in her stomach, Rowan opens the second envelope as she hears Severus's cry of delight and surprise in the background.

"Dear Miss Prince,

We are pleased to inform you that you have been selected to serve as Prefect for Slytherin House. Your school record show that you have exhibited resourcefulness, ambition, and sheer cunning in the face of strenuous situations. The ambition and determination shown as well as leadership characteristics is exactly what the Slytherin house is lauded for.

We are absolutely certain that you will continue to be a model for your peers and will take your new responsibilities seriously. Enclosed please find your Prefects Badge, which should always be worn on your school robes along with your Apprenticeship badge. Congratulations!

Sincerely,

Horace Slughorn

Head of Slytherin House."

From inside the envelope, an emerald and silver badge with a large P superimposed on the Slytherin snake fell out onto the floor. Before anyone else has a chance to react, Rowan hurls the letter straight into the fire. The letter bursts into flames as she begins to let out a stream of curses that left Severus and Reginald gaping openly in sheer shock.

Finally, the stream of vile swearing dies off as Rowan stomps over to the fallen badge and glowers at it as she picks it up with disgust. "Not another word," Rowan growled as Severus decides to tactfully remain silent. He merely clutched his letter and Prefect badge tighter lest his twin sister do something crazy.

Slamming the door behind her, Severus and Reginald just stare at each other in sheer bewilderment. Not finding a single reason they both nod at each other in manly bond. Must be puberty or that time of the month gain. Then again, who could ever understand women?

Rowan stomped all the way upstairs before slamming the bedroom door shut. She almost hurls the badge across the room, before tossing it into her trunk and slamming the lid shut in sheer disgust. Did she look like an idiot! She knew that Dumbledore must have signed off on it or else Slughorn would have never picked her and Severus.

Not only were they continuing their apprenticesh.i.p.s, but they'd be taking the O.W.L.'s just like the rest of the students in the subjects that they still retained in order to verify their student mastery. But she would be taking three N.E.W.T exams as well! The three N.E.W.T level exams would be for Alchemy, Ancient Studies, and Advanced Arithmancy! When was she supposed to have the time to study between tutoring younger students and patrolling, and much less research her own personal matters?!

"This is exactly why I said it was child exploration! And free labor!" Rowan shrieked in frustration into her pillow, before slumping down limp.

Taking a deep breath Rowan calms herself and rubs her head. She would just have to make this work for herself just like she always had. Not that she had a choice at this point.

Rowan certainly was not Percy, who happily served as Prefect his 5th and 6th year only to be Head Boy in his 7th year. She had money and was not afraid to use it! She would bribe and threaten her way if she had too! And heavens help her if Slughorn tried to force the Prefect position for her sixth year too. She would even poison their head of house and get away with it too! And Dumbledore too, if that was just what it took!

Thankfully, she did not have to worry about being Head Girl. If all worked out, it should still be Lily and James-.

Yes, she had not forgotten the dream about James. And despite what her skepticism argued, she knew better than to ignore her dreams. Something had occurred and she would have to watch him. Whatever it was that had occurred, James was not necessarily himself anymore. Whatever that worrisome comment meant…...

Nor did she have the courage to write to him. She had tried to only discard the letters after the first sentence. It still, she did not dare ask Remus or Sirius or Peter, because ignorance is sometimes bliss. And she was a Slytherin after all and not a Gryffindor. Though the utter irony of that statement is that she technically was one too since Godric Gryffindor was her ancestor as well.