Still, Georgine certainly wasn't a Slytherin for nothing, (and was quite literally his descendant). Leaning back in her seat, she looks down her nose at the 5th year Gryffindor. "And why should I accept such a request, Mr. Potter? I have more than enough to keep me plenty occupied with my position as Professor. In addition, there are plenty of others that have abundantly more free time and would be an equal position to serve as a professor."
"Yes, but none are as talented as you are Professor," James persuasively said. His time as an Auror had not been a waste. He'd learned to flatter with the best of them. "Though Professor Flitwick is a talented dueler, he teaches speed and not the basics. It is not that I wish to discredit Professor Flitwick's teaching methods, but he does not teach students how to instinctively react and attack. Rather the duel ends after each student having only attacked once, but in very real situations, the bout will not simply just end there. The bout only ends when or the other is usually dead or captured."
James paused to stare at Professor Prince firmly in her dark-colored eyes. "I seek real experience rather than an unreliable speed function," he clearly said. "And for that, I believe that Professor Prince is best suited for the position."
"I will not deny that I am pleased by your cunning flattery, Mr. Potter," Georgine truthfully responded as she had felt flattered by the statement. "But I have nothing to gain, Mr. Potter, for I am above all a Slytherin."
"That is not true, Professor," James firmly countered. "You will be in a position to assess and teach the rising generation within wizarding society. Even more so forge strong bonds as a mentor to purebloods and those with the potential to rise high in society and even within the Ministry of Magic."
Georgine hides an impressed gleam of pleasure at the boy's statement and instead arches her brow at him. "I will admit those are excellent benefits to have, but they are mere suppositions, Mr. Potter. A mere belief is not enough to cause me to make such a costly investment with no guarantee of future returns."
"I thought as much that is why I am willing to be the principal escort of Rowan during the Winter Ball presentation," James firmly said causing Georgine to reevaluate the boy before her. The boy might be a Gryffindor, but he was much more than that.
"And why should the honor of principal escort be given to you, Mr. Potter?" Georgine quietly remarked as she observed the boy for any sign of deception.
"I know that Severus has already invited Lily, and she has accepted," James' voice broke a moment as pain, sadness, relief, and even resignation flashed across his hazel eyes. "Severus will break all protocol by inviting Lily as his principal escort considering her birth as a muggleborn. Therefore, the masses must be appeased by Rowan taking a pureblood escort.
However, Rowan's choices are limited as most of her male friends are in open relationships, and those that are not cannot be openly taken such as Sirius. Sirius's parents would undoubtedly see this as a possible opening and immediately move to betroth them both. And if I read it correctly, the Prince family does not possess any intent to tie the two houses in unison."
"I am impressed Mr. Potter by your astute deductions," Georgine sincerely complimented the boy with a small head nod on her part. "Though are you certain that you will be able to live with the consequences of such a risqué move? Society will see that there, in fact, exists a relationship between the two of you, and it will that much harder for you or Rowan to seek an alternative partner in the future."
"It is a risk that I am willing to take and one that Rowan would agree with as well," James steadfastly answered. Though he didn't know Rowan as well as the rest of his friends from their interactions and blossoming friendship; he knew that there was no one in her heart at present.
"Well, it would not be considered inappropriate considering that your father will be their Godfather," Georgine said out loud as if giving the boy a way out, before sharping gazing at him. "I will accept your proposal and write to my brother. However, I expect for my great-niece to be properly escorted, Mr. Potter. Her debut into society must be impeccable."
"I have every intention of taking my duties seriously, Professor Prince," James gravely replied with a determined expression. He would do anything to change the future even including putting his pride away and selling himself to the highest bidder.
"Very well, we shall discuss the details of the club later in the week, Mr. Potter," Georgine said as she hid a smug grin. She had killed two birds with one stone. Her great-niece would have a proper escort, and she had tied them further together. If anything were to come of it, the presentation ball would serve to further bind them or separate them.
"Thank you, Professor," James sincerely replied with blatant relief on his face. He clenched his fists together with determination. He would change everything.
"Off with you, Mr. Potter," Georgine dismissed the boy, who hurriedly departed with a bow and firmly closed the door behind him.
Reaching for her quill, Georgine had much to write to her older brother, Reginald especially the fact that Severus intended to bring Lily Evans to the presentation ball as his principal escort. Her brother best be prepared for the backlash that was certain to occur.
Georgine pensively thought about the pretty red-headed muggleborn witch with emerald eyes. She had met the girl along with her family, who had shown them kindness without any expectation of repayment. It was a rare offering to the Prince family as a whole, but one that she and her brother felt they were indebted to and needed to repay.
Not to mention the fact that Lily Evans was the childhood friend of her great-niece and nephew. No, her great-niece, Rowan had warned her of Severus's affections for their childhood playmate. Ordinarily, it would have been easy to disappear the muggleborn witch, and her entire family, but both twins held the Evans family in fond appreciation.
Lily Evans was no pureblood, but she was not half-bad for a muggleborn witch. That was as much as a compliment that Georgine could ever give. There would be some backlash, but it was far more important to preserve the family lineage. They could not afford to lose Severus, and nor would Rowan nor Reginald bear it. Her great-nephew, Severus Prince would be permitted to marry Lily Evans. And wizarding society would come to accept it, if they wished to ever attach themselves to the Prince family, they always did.
With a resolute expression, Georgine began to write a long letter to her brother including a list of things to do. Among them was speaking to the Evans couple regarding their attendance at the presentation ball, and the appropriate apparel being prepared. There were only mere weeks left and an entire ball wardrobe needed to be created! Everything must be perfect!
And she was certain that her great-nephew had yet written to her brother with the news as Reginald had not mentioned anything in the letter that had just arrived that morning. Not that she could disapprove of her great-nephew's actions as it showed more a healthy sense of self-preservation. It was most Slytherin-like, and she most vehemently approved.
Though, if Georgine Prince would have paused in writing her letter, she would have seen a centaur emerging from the edge of the woods with a woven satchel hanging at his human/horse side. And further away a lonely carriage rolls up the stone path and past the magnificent wrought iron gates flanked with stone columns topped with winged boars. But both unlikely callers would be introduced by Professor Dumbledore on the morrow during breakfast, but that is a tale for another time.