Rowena's Quill

For the next three days, Sophie tried to keep herself busy by planning lessons, but her mind and heart were with Rowan. Sometimes, she relived the happy moments - their conversation at the party, the feel of holding him while skating - but she also thought of their disastrous date at her house. The more she thought about it, the worse it seemed, and she worried that though he had asked her out again, she was on the verge of losing him.

She took extra care in getting ready for their next date, and had Pudders dress up her best robe with decoration that would fit the festive holiday. She even considered using love potion as a perfume, a trick she'd heard about in her school days, but she decided that even if it would work, it would be artificial love. She wanted the real thing: Rowan's willing and untainted heart.

The Leaky Cauldron was brimming with people when she apparated there, and though she scanned the crowd for several minutes, she did not spot Rowan.

"Perhaps he changed his mind," she thought in despair, but in the next instant she spotted him at a corner table. For a moment, she was elated, but then she saw he was not alone. As she walked toward his table, she could see that his companion was female. And as she got even closer, she recognized that it was Minerva McGonagall.

The two of them had drinks that were already half emptied, and they sat together in rapt conversation. Sophie stood motionless and watched. Minerva was a little closer to Rowan's age. Perhaps those few years made a difference to him. She was debating whether or not she should disapparate and leave them to each other when Rowan noticed her and waved her over.

"Sophie! Come sit down. You know Minerva McGonagall, don't you?"

"Of course we know each other, but it's been a while," answered Minerva. "I missed speaking to you at Professor Slughorn's party. How do you like teaching at Hogwarts?"

"Umm . . . very much," Sophie said vaguely, not sure what to make of the happy, casual tone each of them had taken. Perhaps Rowan didn't think they were serious enough that he should hide anything from her.

"Minerva's going to Trafalgar Square also," he told her.

"More business than pleasure for me, though. I'll be on duty."

"On duty?" asked Sophie weakly.

"Thousands of Muggles attend the celebration tonight," explained Rowan.

"And there are wizards who will attend, too, bent on harming them," Minerva finished.

"Such admirable work you do," said Sophie in spite of herself.

"Funny you should say that," said Rowan.

"I was just telling Rowan how little the Ministry suits me. I think I'd prefer to teach, like you do."

"She wants my job, too?" thought Sophie.

"It's unfortunate that the Auror department is so politicized," said Rowan, "but that's all throughout the Ministry, really. My department is an exception, because we must necessarily be objective, as should the Wizengamot. If not for Dumbledore, though, I fear the Wizengamot would be as politicized as everything else." He paused to sip his drink. "It would be a great loss to the Ministry if you left, Minerva."

"You are kind, Rowan. And in fact, I cannot leave. At the moment, I have no other prospects."

"Would you like a drink, Sophie, or should we get going?" asked Rowan.

"Let's get going."

All three stood up. "I should have known," thought Sophie bitterly.

The three of them left the pub and walked along Diagon Alley. Rowan and Minerva were still yammering on about Ministry politics, but Sophie remained silent. She knew there were press wizards who would have paid a fortune in bribes to hear this much Ministry dirt, but she could think only of her last date with Rowan. No wonder it had come to this. She was the tag-along on a group friendship date.

"Here we are," said Minerva when they reached the wall bordering Muggle London. "Good night."

"Oh," said Sophie, with relief, "so you're not coming with us?"

"I can't very well transform out there," said Minerva. Sophie felt a tinge of regret. She hadn't meant to get Minerva's dander up that way.

Minerva stepped back, tapped her wand to herself, and a great puff of smoke filled the air, causing Rowan and Sophie to cough. Minerva was completely concealed. When the smoke cleared, a cat with markings around its eyes stared up at Rowan and Sophie.

"Brava!" cried Rowan. "That was the first animagus transformation I've ever seen. How about you, Sophie?"

"Yes, mine, too," she said meekly. They might be losing Minerva's company, but she was certainly leaving with a bang. Sophie's Runes expertise paled in comparison to a show like that.

Rowan waved his own wand over the brick wall, opening a magical doorway for them. "Well, good luck to you, Minerva," he said. "I hope it's a peaceful night!"

The cat blinked and scampered away.

"After you," he said, turning to Sophie.

She savored that brief moment of chivalry until noticing that Minerva had gone first. They walked on together in silence.

"Nice clear night," Rowan remarked. "Have you warmed up your robes?"

"Yes," sighed Sophie. If she hadn't done it, she'd now be enjoying the warmth of his spell, much sweeter than what she cast for herself, but then, perhaps he preferred a stronger, more self-sufficient witch, a witch more like Minerva McGonagall.

"So when do you return to Hogwarts?" Rowan asked.

"In two days," Sophie answered, wondering if he was looking forward to her leaving.

"Well, I hope you've enjoyed your short visit to London."

"Yes. It was lovely being with home with Mother again."

For several minutes, they walked together in silence. Finally, Rowan spoke up.

"Is something bothering you, Sophie?"

"Why would you think that?"

"You're not usually this quiet."

"Me? What do I know about Ministry politics?"

"Count yourself lucky that you don't."

"Yes, I forgot. Minerva wishes she was teaching at Hogwarts, too."

"Sophie, what's gotten into you?"

She turned on him. "To me? What's gotten into you? One day you're turning on the charm, the next you're chatting up someone else. Why did you invite me out tonight, if you're so keen to see other witches?"

"Other witches? You don't mean . . . Oh, Sophie, don't tell me you're jealous of Minerva McGonagall!"

Sophie looked up at him and her eyes filled with tears.

"Look, there's a park," he said, pointing. "We need to sit down and talk."

Once they'd settled themselves in, Sophie wiped a few tears from her face and said, "The Muggles are looking at us again. Who sits in a park on a cold night like this?"

"Couples in love, that's who," said Rowan as a Muggle man and woman passed them by, hand in hand and oblivious to the world. Sophie stared at him.

"Don't tell me you haven't realized. Can I spell it out more plainly? Why do you think I went to Slughorn's party? I've never gone once in all the years he's invited me, but when I heard you were at Hogwarts . . . I remember what you were like, way back then at Lorelei's, intelligent, deep," he brought his hand up to her cheek and wiped away another tear, "passionate. I couldn't pass you by. I simply had to wait until you grew up."

"You make me feel as though I haven't," said Sophie, half-laughing through her tears.

"Don't worry. A little jealousy I can overlook. It's flattering, actually. But I want to assure you, you have every reason to trust me. I'll prove it if I have to. We can go back, find a wizard to Bond; I'll take the Unbreakable Vow."

Sophie gasped. "I wouldn't dare ask that! It would put your life at risk."

"There's no risk. I love you. There's nobody else."

Sophie's heart was pounding. Could he really mean it? It was all too good to be true. She studied his face with a steady gaze. His eyes met hers; he did not shy away. Her own image came to the fore, each representing a different memory. They were sitting together on the dock at Lorelei's, talking about the beyond; they were at Slughorn's party and he was teasing her about the mistletoe; she was serving him that awful food, and he appreciated all her effort.

"Oh, Rowan!" she cried. "I misjudged you so harshly!"

"Hush," he said, caressing her hair now. "I told you I was flattered. All that insecurity over my affections, and you see, you had them all along. Did you really think I'd care that you can't cook like a Muggle? I love you."

"Oh, Rowan!" she said, with happy tears filling her eyes this time. And at that moment, the full meaning of his offer to take the Unbreakable Vow dawned on her. Trembling, she said, "But in essence, you've just said you would . . ."

"Yes, I would. Would you?"

Sophie was so overcome she could not speak, and Rowan, who misunderstood her silence, immediately began to apologize. "I'm sorry. That was much too soon. I don't want to rush you. You need time to get to know me."

"No!" cried Sophie. "I mean yes! Yes, I'll marry you!"

She threw her arms around him. And then, like the Muggle couple sitting a few yards away, they fell into a long, passionate kiss.

They didn't make it to Trafalgar Square that night, but they celebrated quite happily on their own.