Ever since Rowan had come back from the shipwreck, both her parents had insisted that she take Mama's wand with her until they were able to purchase Ro a new one. Ro knew that as much as she protested, her mother wouldn't budge, which made her even more anxious to purchase a new wand so her mother wouldn't be left defenseless until Ro got home from work.

Throughout the next week, despite the fact that her mother had relinquished her wand, Ro discovered she had some difficulty casting spells that she normally wouldn't have any trouble with. It made it rather embarrassing, as she was usually quite good at practical magic. Every time she had to cast a spell, she could feel the wand's slight resistance, as if she were tracing through sand instead of air.

The day finally came when she received her pay. Though she knew how much she would be getting, there was a seed of regret that had planted itself in the pit of her stomach. It was confirmation of what she had to do.
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The pearl earring was small; a plump seed on a dainty silver post in the palm of her hand as she sat on her bed and stared at the wall as the sound of her siblings talking downstairs echoed throughout the house. Rowan pursed her lips as she glanced down at the lone pearl. The full pair of earrings were supposed to be Maisie's when she turned seventeen. Had been Rowan's grandmother's that she wore at her wedding. But now the pair had become a single earring through Rowan's carelessness. She had hoped to find it but couldn't for the life of her remember where she had left it. She'd asked everyone in the common room at the time when she'd realized it was missing, but no one had seen it.

Ever since then, she'd held onto it in hopes that she would perhaps be able to turn it into a different present for her sister. But instead, Maisie had told her to keep it as it was; that it would likely come in handy one day. And sure enough, when they had learned of how Rowan had lost her wand, her sister insisted that they sell the pearl earring to help with the household finances. There was still a chance they would find it, she had argued, but in the end, there was to be no such satisfaction. This was her fault she'd been so careless, she thought as she got up. And so, this problem was hers and hers alone to fix.
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Tears of rage prickled at the corners of her eyes as she stood in the nearly empty jewelry shop. Her pearl earring sat peacefully behind the counter, but Rowan had to fight the urge to duck under the counter and grab it again. She glared angrily at the three men in front of her.

The jeweler had promised her twice the price of what Rowan currently clutched in her hands. However, when she returned to trade before she knew it, the pearl was out of her hands and replaced with only half of their original agreement. Not nearly enough to count for anything. What was more is that no one else had accepted her offer of one measly pearl.

Except for this man; the one who regarded her with the most lecherous sweeping gaze as he stood in front of her, flanked by two other behemoths.

A glance outside told her the sun was quickly setting, and unless she could hold her own against three grown men, she was trapped. Rowan knew she was skilled with magic, but she was no auror; there was no way she would be able to get out of this with her mother's wand which still refused to cooperate with her. Her heart pounded in her chest, and she flinched as one of the large men stepped forward, his hand catching her chin and forcing it upwards and to the side. She fought hard to not recoil as he leaned in close. Whispered that unless she intended to offer up something else, then the pearl was theirs...unless she wanted to stay the night.

Ro's cheeks instantly burned in shame and she wrenched out of the man's grip, pulling her coat closer to her body. She should have brought someone along with her, she thought as she whirled around and burst out of the shop. As her feet hit the pavement, Rowan held back an anguished cry. Yes, she should have brought someone with her. Someone, anyone.
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She ran until she was as out of breath as she had been running on the shipwreck. Her legs carried her until she was back in Hogsmeade on her street bordering South Bartonburg and Pennyworth. There, she collapsed on a nearby bench, staring at the measly change in her hand. It would never be enough to cover the hole in their finances that a new wand would leave. Anger and shame swelled in her chest at having been taken for a fool. She absently swiped at her chin where the man had grabbed her and tucked inwards, shaking her head as if that would release the memory of standing in front of the three men. Her shoulders shook as the tears finally came. She threw the coins at the ground in anger and sobbed.

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