Talli stared up at the ceiling. It had been painted pink after she had turned seven and requested of it. Pink with a blue scheme seemed unfitting now. She'd have to see about getting it redone. Grey maybe.
Yeah, grey could work… it would certainly match how she had been feeling lately.
"Tallistar…?"
Talli rolled onto her side, facing away from the door. She didn't feel like talking to Daddy. She knew what he was going to want to discuss, and Talli wasn't interested in what he had to say.
She wasn't going to change her mind either!
"Your teacher gave me a note; you haven't been to the last two dance club meetings; why not?"
"I don't feel like dancing," Talli mumbled.
"Aren't you the lead in the upcoming show?"
She didn't answer him, ignoring the question.
"You cannot just leave your clubmates hanging like that," Daddy said, sitting on her bed. "You have a responsibility."
"Not anymore. I'm dropping out."
"I don't think that's a good idea. You love dancing, princess."
"No, I don't. I don't like anything anymore. It's all just going to be taken away anyway, so there's no point!"
"Tallistar…" he drawled, pitying her. "That's not true..."
"But it is," she whispered sadly. "I'm not going back! You can try making me, but I'll just sit there and do nothing and look silly doing it!"
Daddy sighed. "I really wish you would reconsider. The show won't be the same without your beauty and grace."
"Well, wishes don't come true, Daddy!" Talli said, burying her face into her pillow, ready to cry.
How many times had she wished that she could be magical just like her family?
Everyday and everynight since she had found out that she was a Squib.
*/*
"She'll perk up when she gets to talk to Scorpius again," Hermione assured Draco. "Talli's just in a mood right now. It's only been a month, she will grow out of it."
"I don't know." Draco was full of doubt. "Without Scorpius, she doesn't seem to want to do anything. Not even watch her favourite telly program. She and Lily even got into a fight—"
"They did?" That snagged Hermione's attention. Those girls never fought.
She chewed her lip in worry. "Do you think Talli should talk to someone?"
"What, like an Analyzer?"
Hermione nodded. "What do you think of it?"
He shrugged, undecided. "Isn't it too soon?"
"Perhaps…?" She wasn't sure what to do either.
"Well, let's give it until Christmas. That should be enough time to make the decision, yes?" Draco suggested, not wanting to rush into something that they weren't sure about.
"And in the meantime?"
"We'll try to distract her as much as possible. Halloween is coming up, maybe there's a haunted house we can go to."
"I didn't know Talli was into haunted houses…"
"It's worth a shot. I don't know what else to do. She's shutting us out."
Hermione nodded. "I suppose I can see about taking some time off. Things are slowing down a little at the Ministry, and Narcissa could always fill in for me if someone needs something with Freedom Fighters."
"I think that would be best," Draco concurred.
*/*
Talli had been so upset when the mirror didn't ring Saturday night that she had almost sent him a Howler— their mother stopped her from doing it, much to Scorpius's relief. Getting a Howler would be embarrassing, but even more so if it came from his little sister.
Father and Mother understood Scorpius's letter he had written them, but Talli was just a child; a lonely, little girl who missed her brother. Scorpius didn't want to cause anyone pain, especially Talli.
Addressing Simon about the mirror had done him no good. Simon had denied having it completely.
"Why would you think that I would want your mirror. How vain do you think I am?"
"It's not that type of mirror, and you know it. Have you seen it or not?"
"Are you're accusing me of swiping it?!" Simon snapped, jumping up from his bed and balling up a fist, threatening Scorpius with it. "I'm really getting tired of you, sunshine. You can't blame me when your perfect, little world unfolds grief around you. You've been sheltered for far too long."
Scorpius swallowed down a forming lump in his throat, able to feel Simon's chest rising and falling because of how close he was. Simon was a few inches taller than Scorpius, and his arms were thicker too. Scorpius had never been punched before, and he surely didn't want this to be his first hit to his face.
"No, I wasn't accusing you of taking it. I simply asked if you have seen it. I asked the others about it also. I wasn't singling you out whatsoever."
Simon backed away, lowering his fist, though his hand was still clenched into a tight ball. "No," he said, looking past Scorpius. "I do not know where your precious mirror is at. Now leave me alone!"
Scorpius knew he was lying, if only he could prove it. He helplessly watched Simon grab his bag of school books and walk out of the dormitory.
Scorpius sat down. His chest felt heavy. He wanted to cry.
"Scorpius…?"
Scorpius quickly wiped his nose, sniffing quietly. "Yes?" he asked, hiding his face. He didn't want Dallas to see that he had been very close to weeping.
"I was wondering if you could suggest a good book that thoroughly covers the Devil's Snare. You seem to know your way around the library."
"Oh, that's easy. 'Five Plants That Will Literally Take Your Breath Away' by Glenda Riverbee covers everything you'll ever need to know about it and the Nilla Tree."
"Great, thanks mate, you're the best— everything alright?" he asked a moment later, noticing that Scorpius hadn't look up at all.
"Yes," Scorpius answered quietly. "Everything is fine."
Except that I just want to scream…!
And blubber like a little child!
The next night after Scorpius had confronted Simon, he was shaken awake.
"Oi!" Edgar whispered to not wake the others. "Scorpius…!"
"What?" he moaned tiredly, rubbing his eyes to keep himself from drifting back to sleep.
"I just saw Simon down in the common room. I think he may have your mirror."
Scorpius flew out of bed, his blood instantly pumping with anger.
"Wait!" Edgar hurried after him as he ran out of the dormitory in his pajamas and all. "Scorpius, I'm not for certain it's yours…!"
Scorpius stopped at the end of the hall, breathing as slowly and as quietly as he could, peeping into the dimly lit common room. He had never known it could be so quiet, but it was obviously possible when most of his housemates were sawing logs.
Simon sat at a table, fiddling with something, whispering and grunting to himself. Scorpius inched into the room to get a closer look. He wanted to catch Simon in the act. He needed to be sure that he had his mirror without first accusing him of it.
But Scorpius knew he had it. He could feel it. He would bet his life in it.
"Come on…!" Simon whispered frustratingly. "Work, you stupid thing…!"
Scorpius had to get within touching distance before he saw the mirror clearly enough to recognize it as his own. By now, his anger had simmered down, but he was still upset to have something stolen from him, and then be lied to about it.
"So you do have it…!" Scorpius finally accused him, rightfully so.
Simon jumped at the sudden noise, and when he did, the mirror slipped out of his hands. Scorpius was never going to forget the horrible 'tink' sound that the mirror had made when it had hit the ground. He was certain if Simon had slugged him right in the gut that he would have felt exactly the same.
Hurt. Shocked. Devastated. Angry. Defeated. Betrayed.
He felt it all; every last one of them, all at the same time.
Without a word, Scorpius bent down, assessing the damage, gathering up the pieces carefully into his hands.
"I don't understand…!" he said, struggling to keep from shouting out— or maybe it was to keep from crying; he actually didn't know which one he would have done if he had allowed himself to breakdown. "I wouldn't do this to you…! I would never, ever do this—"
"It's just a ruddy mirror," Simon grumbled. "No need to cry over it."
"That mirror means a lot to Scorpius!" Edgar growled, getting into his face. "How dare you take it from him, lie about it to his face, and then have the nerve to brush it off like it's nothing! I ought to—"
Scorpius hastily climbed up to his feet, seeing Edgar pull his sleeve back up to his elbow. "Don't hit him," Scorpius said, gripping Edgar's upper arm. "It'll do no good."
Edgar shrugged out of Scorpius's hold. "He could use a good pounding though!"
Simon took off running, heading toward the door that would lead him out of the common room and into the forbidden part of the castle due to curfew rules.
"If he gets caught, he'll be in trouble!"
Edgar tilted his head, considering the thought. "Oh well. He deserves it. Maybe Filch will catch him."
"That's not nice, and you know it."
"Yeah…" Edgar admitted. "You're right…"
"I don't know what I'm going to do…" Scorpius said sadly, piecing the glass of the mirror into the plastic mold of it. There were four pieces to it now. "I don't think it's going to work anymore, and if it did, I'm sure my father will know it's broken…"
"You could always tell your parents what happened."
Scorpius shook his head. "My parents don't need to know about this. It's a petty issue to their own problems, and it'll just cause them to worry… or worse…"
"Worse?"
"Father would surely attempt to pull some strings; he's very protective, and Merlin only knows what would happen if my grandfather found out."
"What's the most that could happen?"
"Simon could get expelled."
"Well, after he hurt you, I'm all for it!" Edgar lifted his chin up.
"He needs to be here. He needs to be here with us."
"Us?" Edgar gave him an odd look. "But look what he's done to your mirror…!"
Scorpius stared down at the mirror, and his chest clenched up at the sight of its damage. "Yes, but he didn't mean to," he said firmly, forcing himself to focus on that alone— even though he desperately wanted to voice that he felt Edgar was right. "It was an accident."
"Well, he still lied to you about taking it!"
Scorpius nodded in agreement. "People don't always do the right thing, but there's usually a good explanation to why they do what they do."
Edgar hopelessly tossed his head back, knowing he just lost the argument. "You're going to forgive him, aren't you? Just like that?"
"Just like that," Scorpius announced with a small smile.
Edgar groaned. "You should have let me slug him though!"
"There are other ways to fight besides using physical methods."
"Yes, but my way gives you instant gratification!"
"Well, your way isn't always the right way. In fact, it often makes matters worse."
The following morning, Edgar had an epiphany, something he didn't often get, but when he did get them, they were grand..
"Holy fish tails!" he gasped out, dropping his spoon into his unfinished cereal. "I should have thought of this sooner!" He got up from the bench and snatched Scorpius by the back of his robes. "Come on!"
Scorpius hadn't been all too hungry anyway, so he followed his friend to the Ravenclaw table, wondering what could put Edgar in such a state.
He stopped when he got to Molly and tapped her shoulder. "Hey, Mol—"
"I'm eating, go away," she said and snickered at a girl who was laughing her head off over something that the boys had missed.
"Please! This is important! It's for Scorpius!"
Molly spun around to face the boys. "Well, why didn't you say so!" She smiled at Scorpius, and he smiled back.
"Getting along okay?" she asked, directing the question at Scorpius, ignoring her little cousin.
"Yes," he quickly answered, noticing that a few others had stopped their socializing to watch their exchange. He gave them a tiny wave.
"Want to make a quick few Galleons?" Edgar went straight to the point.
"I guess so." Molly shrugged indifferently. "What do you need?"
"Scorpius has an item that needs mending—"
"And you thought of me!" She grinned, pleased with this. "Of course…! Who else can fix things as good as I can?"
"Exactly. So will you look at it?"
Molly thought on it with a hum. "Alright, I'll do it, but you owe me a favour after this, kay?" She extended her hand out to her cousin.
"Sure, no problem." They did a simple shake before Molly said she'd meet them during lunch to look over Scorpius's mirror.
"Do you really think she can fix it?" Scorpius asked.
"I've seen her fix lots of things, if anyone can, she can."
And Edgar's faith in his cousin did not go wrong. Molly only had to take one look at the mirror, and she knew what to do. "Easy breezy!" she said cheerfully, holding it out to Scorpius after a wave of her wand. He looked at it in awe. It was like it was brand new! Shiny and spotless without so much as a crack!
"Thanks so much, Molly! You have no idea what this means to me! If you need anything, you let me know!" He gave her a tight hug, earning a few 'awws' from the nearby Ravenclaw girls.
"Anytime, Scorpius. Be more careful next time with it, kay?"
He nodded, still amazed that she had been able to fix it.
"So you got it repaired," Simon noted when they returned to the their house table with it.
"No thanks to you," Edgar muttered.
"Why did you want it, Simon?" Scorpius asked, hoping to get down to the bottom of his reasonings.
"I didn't."
"So that's why you nicked it, huh?" Warren asked, glaring at him.
"You could have just asked me," Scorpius told Simon. "I would have let you look at it if you wanted. Is there someone you would like to talk to back home? Maybe my father can make you a pair too."
"Who do you think you are, the Messiah?!"
Scorpius dropped his eyes down to his plate of untouched food. "No… I would never think that…"
"Then stop trying to act like it! Butt out of my ruddy life already, would you! You're like an annoying fly, and no matter how much you swat at it, it keeps coming back!"
"Maybe he's just trying to figure out why you're such a bloody warthog!" Edgar shot out.
"And maybe it's none of his business!" Simon hissed.
"You make it his business when you steal his belongings," Dallas pointed out.
"And break them!" Edgar added.
"Is there something wrong here?" Adrian Derrick, one of their prefects, came up.
"No," the boys answered in unison.
"I'd suggest that if you're going to have a fight, that you do not do it in front of the entire school!"
The group took a look around, feeling uneasy, noticing that quite a few people were looking at them.
"That is not how we act," Adrian continued disapprovingly. "Not at all. We are much more civilized than that, aren't we, men?"
They nodded.
"I should hope so. Sirota, I want to speak with you after the meal." Adrian returned to his seat, but not before giving them all an extremely firm look. One that could easily compete with the Headmistress's.
*/*
"I saw your fight."
"Everyone saw the fight," Scorpius grumbled.
"Don't think that you're the only group to fight with his roommates."
"You fought with yours too?" Scorpius asked Albus, shocked by the news.
"And we also got chewed out for it," Albus informed with a smile. "No one can get along all the time. Not even Hufflepuffs."
"But we're not Hufflepuffs," Scorpius said.
"No, we're not," Albus agreed. "And if the other houses knew we fought amongst ourselves just as much as they did, we'd have nothing on them."
"So it's a manipulation trick?"
"If you want to call it that, yes."
"Is that why our table is quiet a lot of times?"
"If you got nothing nice to say, don't say anything at all."
"I never knew we fought so much… It's kind of… saddening."
Albus looped an arm around Scorpius's shoulders. "But we're always there when you need us the most."
Scorpius smiled. Albus had always been like a big brother to him, standing up for Scorpius even though he really never needed it. He was proud to have been sorted into the same house as him.
"Adrian is talking to Sirota now," Albus informed.
"Is he in trouble?"
"Nah, Sirota just needs some tips." Albus got up then, getting ready to join a group of his friends. "Make sure Edgar brushes his teeth, alright?" Albus said. "He has always hated doing that; can't have him going around with a mouth full of rotting teeth! Everyone might think we're training to be Death Eaters!" He laughed at his joke and gave Scorpius a wave goodbye.
*/*
"I'm sorry for taking your mirror and breaking it."
Scorpius couldn't believe what he had just heard. Simon had approached him(something he never did) and spoke to him (something he never initiated first) and actually apologized (something Scorpius never thought he'd ever be capable of)!
"It's alright, Simon." Scorpius watched the boy sit next to him, and he closed the library book he was reading, heavily interested in what else Simon had to say.
"How is it possible for you to be so… nice all the time? It must drive you insane?"
"It's extremely exhausting," Scorpius admitted with a sigh.
"Why do you do it then?"
"Would you rather I go down the corridors, barking orders and bullying people around? Is it better to shut everyone out of my life and growl insults at them like some irritated troll?"
"I see your point."
"I was hoping you would."
"How do you do it? How can you just… forgive someone who has hurt you?"
Scorpius studied Simon closely, realizing that he was asking him some much needed advice.
"You don't learn it overnight, and it isn't easy. Once, my sister broke my favourite soup bowl. It was blue, and I ate everything out of it, but when she was six, she accidently knocked it off the table while she was twirling around in her new dress. I was so mad at her." Scorpius took a deep breath, remembering that so well. "But she didn't mean to do it, she was just excited to show me what Grandmother had bought her. It took me days before I even talked to her though, I was that upset."
Simon nodded. He thought on it before he made to stand up and leave.
"Wait." Scorpius leaned over, placing his hand over Simon's. The amulet at his chest grew warm, almost hot. He looked the boy dead in the eye.
And suddenly he knew.
He knew why Simon was the way he was with people.
Scorpius released him abruptly, looking down at the cover of the book in front of him. "Can I tell you something?" he hastily asked as Simon began to silently walk away. He stood up, ready to stop him if he didn't respond.
Simon turned around slowly. He gave Scorpius a nod. "What…?"
Scorpius looked around. There were too many people in the library to say what he wanted. "In private?"
"What? You have a secret?" Simon grinned some, as if he was catching on to something. "Are you gay or something? That would explain a lot of what you do."
"No, it's not that..!" Scorpius rolled his eyes. "I've never told anyone this, not even my sister."
"But you're not gay?" Simon was confused. "Alright," he said slowly when Scorpius shook his head. "Let's find a more secluded place then…"
"You can't tell anyone," Scorpius stressed when they were alone.
"Just spit it out already, sunshine!"
"No, I want you to know how important this is! It's my life, my everything, I'm trusting you with it."
Simon suddenly went serious. "Why would you trust me with something so important? After the way I have treated you?"
Scorpius unearthed his amulet from where he had it tucked under his shirt. "It's important to know when you're needed, and I need you."
Simon raised an eyebrow. "Did you get knocked over the head or something?" He looked down at the amulet, seeing it light up. "That's a fine piece of treasure you got there," he said, admiring it.
"It has healing powers," Scorpius whispered. "And it's chosen me to extract them."
"Sure it did. You're nuttier than I thought!" Simon made to exit the unused classroom they had slipped into, but Scorpius stopped him.
"I need you to help me, it picked you. Out of everyone, it wants you!" The amulet was flashing now. Quick pulses of bright green emerald light.
Simon narrowed his eyes. "You're playing me! It's a trick!"
"Look at it! It's beating for you, Simon. It wants you to help. People need you. Sick, tortured and lost people need your help!"
Simon's eyes grew wide as he stared at the amulet. His hands began to shake. "No one could possibly ever need me!" he insisted.
"I do." Scorpius took the amulet off and set it in Simon's hand. Simon gasped for air as if he had just emerged from a pool of water. "Your dad needs you, Simon. He needs us."
"He's gone! My dad is gone!" Simon shrieked. "He abandoned me and made broken promises!" He pulled away from Scorpius, tears dripping out of his eyes. "He didn't want me anymore!"
"No! He does! He will! You'll see! We'll find him, and you won't have to stay at that home anymore!"
"Don't," Simon pleaded. "Don't do that!"
"Do what?"
"This isn't some bloody story with a happy ending, Scorpius!" he shouted. "This is real! My dad's never coming back, and when I return to the Morgans, I'll be nothing but an evil sorcerer to them!"
"But you won't have to go back! If you trust me, if you trust the amulet, you'll never have to go back there! We'll find your dad, trust me! You just need a little faith!"
Simon shook his head. "I don't trust no one! And I don't hope for anything!"
"It's time to change then," Scorpius told him. "Because you're no longer in the Muggle world. You're a wizard, and unexplainable things happen all the time. Things we still can't even begin to understand. I know you're used to the Muggle life, but you're not a Muggle, Simon, and together, we're going to make the world better. I can't do this without you. Please, please help me?"
Simon wiped his nose with the sleeve of his shirt like a young child would. "Do you really believe all that?"
Scorpius nodded and took the amulet back. "Since before I could remember, I've been using this amulet to guide me. It's almost like my Jiminy Cricket."
Simon snorted. "Scorpius, that isn't the amulet's doing! You're like Jiminy Cricket himself. You're the school's moral compass!"
Scorpius smiled. "I will change the world."
"And you really want me there to help you do it?" Simon asked doubtfully. "I'm nothing like you…"
"That could be why you're needed. Maybe the amulet knows I need a… tough guy as a partner."
"Tough guy, huh?"
"Yes," Scorpius said firmly, putting the amulet back on. "I need a tough guy. I need someone who is not all sunshine and rainbows. Someone who has had no one but himself to rely on. Someone who hasn't had a perfect life like myself."
"Someone who is damaged," Simon summarized quietly.
"Someone who is healing," Scorpius corrected him. He held out his hand for Simon to take. "Are you with me, tough guy?"
Simon shifted his eyes from Scorpius's hand to the amulet a few times before finally making his decision.
"Sure thing, sunshine," he said, a smile pulling to the corner of his lips as he took Scorpius's hand and gave it a squeeze.
The amulet's light then went out, and it was cold again.
"Tell me more about this intriguing object," Simon requested, eyeing it over.
*/*
"This is Simon," Scorpius announced as they stepped into their dormitory. "And he's our fellow house mate; our friend."
The other three boys gave Scorpius strange looks. "Something wrong, Scorpius?" Warren asked. "You feeling alright?"
"Yeah, what happened?" Edgar watched as Scorpius placed an arm around Simon.
"He's one of us," Scorpius told them. "He has been so since the day we were sorted, and he'll always be one of us. And do you know why that is?"
"Uh…" Dallas didn't know what to say, stunned that Simon was allowing Scorpius to touch him. "Did you guys get into someone's secret stash of potions?"
"No," Scorpius laughed. "What's that even mean?"
"It means—"
"Don't," Edgar cut off Warren. "He's much too innocent to know about any of that yet."
"With all the books he reads, he should know about potions that affect one's mind and their ability to make judgment calls."
"You're getting off the subject here," Scorpius sang out, growing impatient as Simon slipped out of his hold and unloaded his bag onto his bed. "Simon is one of us, because we are Slytherins, and Slytherins stick together."
"Unless if you're some villain who plans to dominate the world, attempting to kill babies in the process," Edgar said, speaking about Lord Voldemort. "I don't swing that way, sorry mate."
"Nah, me neither," Warren chimed.
"So it's settled then?" Scorpius asked. "To brotherhood?" He raised his wand up in a pledging gesture.
"Oh, fish tails!" Edgar groaned. "Must we?"
Scorpius grinned. "Oh, you must! Come on; wands up, men!"
One by one, each of the first year Slytherin boys pointed their wands up at the ceiling.
"To brotherhood!"
AN: A reviewer pointed out that I had the wrong age difference between Scorpius and Talli. They were right, so in the first chapter, I changed it from seven to ten (Scorpius was born in July, where Talli was born the following May).
So "Let There Be No More Curse" was nominated in the Facebook group "Dramione Fanfiction Forum (18+)" and won an award! That's pretty cool, huh?! :) I am sooo happy right now! You can see the image associated with my award on my profile, there's a link to the image there.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter!
Review Responses:
BelleBelles: Welcome to the new story! I purposely left you readers hanging on Scorpius's sorting; I wanted to prolong the reveal for as long as I could, hehe.
dragonjun: Nope, you didn't miss it! **evil grin**
To the Guest: Why, thank you! :)
Andree 07: Simon is... well, you'll have to read to know **winks* I wanted to introduce a short character; nothing like a short person's temper, hehe. How patiently DID you wait anyway? 0.o
gus'hazelgrace: Take a guess! **shifts eyes**
lsmd1994: You didn't overlook his sorting, I'm just so freaking cruel. :P
ssdawning: Scorpius is... SUCH a sweet kid.
bludgerwombat: No, because I didn't tell you yet, hehe.
Princess of Mirkwood2: I write as fast as I can. Glad you're enjoying the read!
Irianna Marie: You didn't miss it! Chapter One didn't expose it! :D
twilightlover427: Thanks! :)
tmtcltb: Oh, Scorpius just is so persistent when it comes to helping others! And yes, Talli's not taking his absence well at all.
chapou69: Ah ha! The first reader to notice that I didn't disclose his sorting yet! And yes, I have been planning this all along! "I am totally going to make them wait, muahaha!" No really, I was in giggles over it. I even told my grandma and she was like, "For such a sweet person, you have such a dark side to you!"
tinkerbelldetention101: Well, I really needed to, because I still have much more to cover, and it involved Scorpius more than anyone. It was only right to start a fresh story for him.
Dracohermionealways: You'll have to read to find out. I post no spoilers, hehehe :)
StrongHermione: Holy fish tails, your eyes must have been so tired after all that reading! Wow... so happy my story kept you entertained for two days (you know, it's supposed to last longer than that, right? Hehehe).
Roseweasley85: Me neither! That's a little ways off though. Unfortunately.
Green Eyed Lana Lee: Oooh, the speculations... How I love to read the speculations! Hehehe :) As for Scorpius being tired... well, we'll have to see what that's about...
Jedi SteelWolf: I am gonna fix that after I upload the new chapter. Thanks for pointing that out! :)
tanithlipsky: Thank you :)
Mila Pink: Oh, yes, I left that tidbit of information out on purpose. :) I actually wanted to see how long I could write it without exposing it. I have decided that I could have written quite a bit before I would have to, but I saved you all the agony of suspense :D
papaslittlecj: Nope, you didn't miss it, hehehe. Not yet!
HanScorp: No, no. Don't jump the gun on "Scolily". While I DO like Scolily, there are no pairings set in stone yet. I listed Lily because she is the only canon character (besides Scorpius) who appeared in the first chapter, and I DO plan on having her appear in the later chapters. As for your question: you shall not pull spoilers out from my hat, nope!
Tessica1: Aww, thank you! :)
Firnlambe: Yeah, yeah, I know... Else you'll all meet up and find me and burn my house down. I know the drill!
silversorbet: This fic will stretch WAY beyond the 'epilogue' in LTBNMC, no worries with that! It'll actually lead up to the scene in Anne Marie Green (possibly further).
Sarah H: You're so welcome, and thanks for reading!
