It was about midnight.

"Will she remember you?" asked Edmund Pevensie.

"She must. It's our best hope. Her house is nearest to Professor's old house. And I think we could trust her not to tell anyone about this. We just have to persuade her parents, somehow," came Peter Pevensie's reply.

They reached the house. Peter knocked softly on the door. It was a few minutes before it opened...and she stood there. Just like Peter remembered her, only older. Her soft brown hair fell loosely round her shoulders, her clear green eyes were as enchanting as ever.

"PETER!"

"Hi Laura," Peter grinned at her shock.

"Wh-what are you doing here...at this hour! It's almost midnight!"

"And it's pretty chilly, too!"

"Oh, yeah. I...uh...come in."

Peter and Edmund entered the house. Laura followed after shutting the door.

"So...what're you doing here at this hour?" she still couldn't believe it WAS him.

"I'll answer, I'll answer! Hold on! But I need to know first...where are your parents?"

Laura's face fell a little. "They're...away," came her answer, but her voice wasn't quite right. But Peter had no time to worry about that just then. There was important work for him and Edmund. "Away? Well...I think it's an advantage, really. It's not easy to concoct a believable story for grown-ups," he considered.

"Story?"

"Yes. Actually, we're here on a job, but...well...let's just say it's not something you can tell everyone about. That's one of the main reasons I...I mean, we...came here. I thought I could trust you to trust me. And not ask too many questions."

"You've changed," said Laura, after a pause. "You used to be a little more...tactical."

"Oh! I...well..." Peter had no answer. Edmund took over.

"Don't mind him. We've got some really important work and his mind is full of that! We'd tell you if we hadn't been forbidden from talking about it to anyone not knowing about it. Maybe we will be telling you, someday. But we can't do that now, sorry. Really sorry."

"That's OK. Never mind. You'll be staying the night, I suppose?" Her eyes were still on Peter.

"Yeah...there will be room, right?" it was Edmund who replied.

"You can have the two small guest rooms...Mum and Dad's room will be too cold. Have you had supper?"

"Of course! About an hour ago. And we wouldn't trouble for food even if we hadn't had it."

"It wouldn't be any trouble. Anyway, come, I'll show you the rooms."