October 9th, 1999.

Kreacher pops in, two flasks of hangover potion in his hands. This wakes up Susan, who moans and squints at my face. "Hmm... Harry?"

"Hey."

She sits up. Too fast. She swoons, dry heaves a couple of times. "Oh, Merlin! Did we?"

I grab the potions from Kreacher, hand her one and upend the other. "I guess."

"Breakfast is ready in five minutes." Kreacher says. "And Mistress Bird is downstairs."

It takes a minute for the potion to clear my head a little. Once it does, I feel the little touch that tells me who 'Mistress Bird' is. Meanwhile, Susan is sitting up, hugging her knees with her face hidden by her head and muttering indistinctly to herself.

I touch her shoulder and she jumps half a foot, startled. "Sorry. I was just going to suggest you use my loo."

She shakes her head. "Hm."

"Suzy." She shakes her head again. "Listen to me. I don't remember it, and I gather you don't either. So, if you want it, it never happened, all right?" She lifts her head a little. "We were drunk, we came here and slept in separate rooms. It doesn't need to get awkward between us. Please." That last came out a little desperate, as well it should.

"We never talk about it, ever?" She sounds really vulnerable.

"Yeah."

"All right."

I turn my back and I listen as she gets up and walks to the loo, locking the door. I hear a quiet sob, and then the noise of water running. Then I look down and notice the small bloodstain on the bed sheet. That explains her strong reaction. I get angry with myself and sad for her. Susan is a wonderful person, and she certainly deserved much better.

I'm still feeling quite upset when I head downstairs after a quick shower. It becomes hard to hold onto it when I lay my eyes on Gabrielle. It's been a few weeks since I saw her last. She's wearing some kind of loose white shirt or dress, with a stylized fairy drawn in colorful glitter in front, over a light grey exercise top and bottom set, thick long socks bunched up at her ankles and ballet shoes. Her hair is on a tight braid, rolled and pinned to the top of her head with her wand. She hasn't changed physically yet, but she looks and feels grown-up.

It's still a surprise when I feel a slight haze of allure, and a spike of lust directed at me. My redheaded trouble upstairs takes a momentary backseat and I try to smile. "Well, it stirs."

"It does." She gives me a hard, unapologetic stare, followed by a grin. "It won't be long now. Maybe before Samhain next year." The change is expected before the sixteenth birthday.

"I'll be there, whenever it is," I reassure her. I've been told the change makes childbirth look like a walk in the park. I shudder.

She nods in silent acceptance. We became closer over the Summer. "What happened?"

I sit at the kitchen table and a plate with a bacon, grilled tomatoes and mushrooms, toast and fried eggs appears in front of me, together with a tall glass of orange juice and a steaming cup of tea. She sidles next to me and steals a mushroom. "Please have some," I tease her.

"Such a stingy little Magus..." she adds, talking with her mouth full, while stealing a piece of toast.

"I shagged Susan." She jumps up and looks sharply at me. She can tell I'm quite unhappy about it. "And don't let it out that I told you."

"She's here?"

"Yeah. She should be down any minute."

She mulls it over for a second. "There's more to this."

"Yup. We were both hurting last night. She had broken up with someone, badly, the previous evening and I got introduced to Gemma's new boyfriend during my lunch break. We worked some and then we went out for a moping party over drinks. We awoke here, naked. Neither one of us recalls how it happened. She's really broken up about it." I keep the blood stain to myself. Not mine to share.

"You're not very happy with it either. Why?"

"It's messy..." Susan arrives, dressed in one of Gemma's summer dresses. It's both too short and too tight for her. Neither Susan or I really pay much attention. She's too wrapped up in her own stuff, and I'm somewhat desenticized. I've spent many hours in the gym with Susan stretching, dripping sweat in tight clothes, and in various states of undress in the locker room. Someone else notices, though. A second burst of lust and allure from Gabrielle makes my tea go down the wrong way.

After I stop coughing, and Kreacher cleans up the mess and I manage to introduce them. "Susan Bones, my auror partner, meet Gabrielle Delacour, my..." I cast about for an appropriate word, without success.

"My..."

"His owner," she deadpans, extending her hand for a shake.

I nearly start coughing again. There is more than a little truth in her statement. "My owner," I concur in a strangled tone.

Susan makes a mistake. She takes it as childish nonsense. She shakes Gabrielle's hand with the tip of her fingers and dismisses her with a laugh. "You're very cute."

Gabrielle plops up in my lap and growls. "Cute is my puckered little arse, Red."

Susan is taken aback, shocked, and I laugh. "Gabrielle is Veela, and a fourth-year in Beuxbattons, Suzy."

"Oh." Susan first blushes and then seems to collect herself. "A fourth year? In that case, fuck you in that cute little place you mentioned, blondie." Both of them grin.

"I like her." Gabrielle informs me.

I reply in a dry tone. "I noticed."

October 31st, 1999

The basement of Number Twelve is a rectangular space, about a hundred feet by thirty, with stone walls, six thick supporting columns, flooring in a pattern of square stone plaques of varying shades and size and ten-foot-high ceilings. It's much older than the rest of the house, some of it dating back to long before the Blacks existed as such. There are four small windows, flush against the ceiling, two in each short side, and four magical lamps in each of the long sides, that only light up when someone is around. I first came down here, about a month after the Battle of Hogwarts, unlocking a discrete door next to the kitchen and climbing down a rickety spiral staircase. There were brick dividing walls, splitting the space into half a dozen pieces. There was also plenty of mud, rotting junk, animal bones, magical pests, cockroaches, rats, a nest of snakes and a horrible overall stench. Kreacher and I worked hard for a week just to clear the place, then another week to repair and reinforce the walls, floor and ceiling, to make sure the house foundations were sound and that there was proper drainage and air circulation.

It was a backbreaking job, but, despite the Dursleys, I enjoy hard hands-on work and I really needed the distraction at the time.

Since then, I've made a corner of the large room into a magical workshop, with a couple of deep well-protected stasis armoires for storage of books, supplies and unfinished projects, a pair of large tables with stone tops and a small loo behind a curtain. The remainder is basically a gym, with free weights, punching bag, a stationary bicycle, a twenty-by-twenty mat and a spell area with a couple of training dummies.

It's mid-morning on Samhain, and I'm in the middle of a punishing session with free weights. Trying to keep from brooding too much. Eighteen years. I can't avoid feeling uneasy, despite my vague belief that the curse on the date died with Riddle. Kreacher pops next to me. "Madam Bonesy wishes to see you, Master."

I stop the motion at the highest point for a moment. "Please, ask her to come, and direct her here. Also, bring tea." Kreacher bows and departs.

Susan has been a little distant since that night. Also, we were assigned three new aurors to train back in July, and we've split the job in a way that we don't spend much time working side-by-side. I'm pleased with the perspective to see her outside work.

Kreacher brings in a little table with the tea and Susan shows up at the stairs a moment later. She's formally dressed, with fancy dark green robes and brown dragon leather boots. Coming closer, I can see she looks tense and guarded. I conjure a pair of chairs and vanish the cloth I was using to wipe sweat from my face. "Hello, Suzy. Nice of you to drop by." I open with a smile and point to the chair. "Tea?"

She nods, stiffly, sits and looks around. "Nice set up." I serve her a cup, black, two lumps and a plain one for myself.

"Thanks." I wait for a moment, letting her take in the place and settle her attention back to me. "What can I do for you?"

"I'm sorry to drop in like this..."

"Please! You know you're welcome anytime."

She breathes in and out. "Harry, I'm pregnant."

I stare at her, my brain frozen for a moment. My lips move without conscious thought. "You're pregnant."

A small smile. "That's what I said. Do you need me to spell it?"

I'm still in shock, and my muggleness takes over for a moment. "Are you keeping it?" I don't doubt for a second that it's mine.

She frowns, annoyed. "What do you mean?"

I realize my mistake and I feel the an abyss opening between us. I lift my hands, truly scared. "Wait." She sneers. "It's what you call my 'muggleness'. Please, just listen." I launch into a brief explanation of termination rights and the Abortion Act. She listens patiently, but with a growing look of revulsion.

At the end of the explanation, she shakes her head. "This is disgusting. It's bloody murder, Harry. Why would any mother contemplate..."

I interrupt her rant with a raised hand. "I basically agree with you, Suzy." I'm also truly relieved by her response.

She raises her voice a little "Then why did you ask?" She closes her mouth abruptly and the wheels in her head spin for a bit. "Not asking would be presumptuous, wouldn't it?" She's very sharp.

I nod. "I'm here for you and the baby." It's horrible timing and the wrong witch, but I'll take family in any way it comes. "You're going to be a great mum, Suzy. And I would be a real father, if you let me..."

She shakes her head and looks very unhappy. "Harry, stop."

"Please!""

She gets up, her eyes moist. "Listen to me! There's a lot more to this than you know, apparently."

"Then tell me."

She presses her lips together, as if trying to keep her words in. "I can't. Is there anyone raised as a traditional pureblood that you trust?"

"Yes. You, Neville and Andromeda Tonks."

"Tonks?"

"She's Narcissa Malfoy's older sister. Kicked out of the Black family for marrying a muggleborn. She's also my godson's grandmother and an honorary aunt to me."

She turns around and walks towards the stairs. "Talk to her."

I stare as she leaves without looking back. Maybe I was wrong, and the Samhain's curse is still on. Or maybe this is the year when the curse begins to turn into a blessing. Time will tell.

=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=o=

Andromeda's home is a nice two-story house in a middle-class neighborhood outside Birmingham. It's a muggle home, with TV and internet, and therefore, lightly warded. Anti-apparition, ill-intent warning and a bit of protection. I wear an amulet tied to the wards, and, once we know about it, Andromeda and I can handle a lot of trouble.

I come, at least once a week, to spend a few hours with Teddy. Occasionally, he spends the night at Number Twelve, to give Andromeda a break. He's nineteen months old, an active, adventurous, affectionate toddler that requires constant watching. A treasure, left behind by love and tragedy. I arrive just in time to give him his lunch, while Andromeda putters about in the kitchen. It's a bowl with ground lamb, rice and pureed carrots, a fairly hefty serving, which he is happy both to eat and to play with it.

"Toti, zooom..." For some mysterious reason, I'm Toti.. Zoom means another pretend-broom spoonful, right now.

"...and here comes Angelina carrying the quaffle, she dodges, fakes to the right and she shoots!" A spoonful enters a small mouth. "She scores! Ten points to Gryffindor!"

He slaps the high chair top and yells. "Gyffindor!" A small shower of food comes out.

Andromeda snickers. "That tears it. You've corrupted him."

I grin. "His father was a Gryff."

Andromeda fakes a huge sigh. "I know. Can't account for taste."

"Don't knock it. They were a great couple."

Suddenly, Andromeda looks ten years older. "If you say so..." She isn't a great fan of Moony.

"Sorry. I shouldn't have brought it up."

"It's fine Harry." She glances at Teddy. "We need to talk about them." She caresses the little boy's head, who immediately turns his black hair sky blue. We laugh, and Teddy gets a little annoyed. More slapping on the high chair top. "Toti, Toti! Zooom."

I give him a little more food with quiddich. Then I catch Andromeda's eyes. "I need a little help, Andy,"

"Anything in my power, Harry. You know that."

Andromeda takes Teddy away for a bath and nap time, while I clean up and prepare our lunch. A fragrant lamb stew over wild rice, with warmed-up homemade bread. Andromeda is a potion's mistress. She got pregnant during her sixth year, and got married during the summer. Got her NEWTS at the Ministry, a year before her classmates, and spent the next eleven years as a wife and mother. Then she started brewing for St. Mungo's, found an apprenticeship, and finished her mastery a few years later. She was still working there during the war, but took leave to help her daughter with the baby. She did not go back, but she's been brewing custom healing potions from her basement for the past year. It's not surprising that a potion's mistress is a better-than-fair cook as well.

She is strong, loving, and a little closed off. I have the feeling that Andromeda and her chaotic, wonderful daughter didn't get along quite as well as they should. I fear she might have a bit of trouble with her marauder grandson as well.

She comes back an hour later and we sit down to eat. "So, what can I do for you?"

I try to gather some courage. This is not going to be easy. "Do you who Susan Bones is?"

She frowns. "Yes. Last of the Bones and your auror partner. What about her?"

Gryffindors charge ahead. "We got drunk one night. Things happened. And she is pregnant."

She gets up, pale. Her anger comes out in whispered sibilants. "Stupid. Both of you."

She looks at me, lips pressed together in a thin line, eyes flashing. I look down. "I agree."

"You're sure it's yours."

"Yes."

"What kind of relationship you two have?"

"We're friends and partners, professionally and politically. I never kissed her, as far as I remember."

"Did you want to?"

"No." I shake my head. "She's very attractive, mind you, but there is no spark. At least from my side."

"What about from her side?"

"It might be different."

"Did she try to seduce you?"

"No. She's too much of a straight shooter for that. But, there's been signs."

"Overt?" I nod. Andromeda thinks for a second. "This is complicated for you, but a true disaster for her. I assume you'd assume paternity."

"That's what I told her. I asked to help raising the child." Andromeda snickers. "What?"

"In the absence of a contract, and as long as you wish it, the child is yours to raise. She has no rights whatsoever. She's the one that should be asking."

"Fuck. It's like us, then? Godfathers trump grandmothers?"

"That's right." She sighs. "It gets worse. If the child is male, you become Regent of House Bones the moment he is born. Even if he later dies or turns out to be a squib, she still loses control of her House. She can only marry with your approval."

"And if the baby is a girl?"

"Then it's murkier. In the end, it's up to the 'mot. They would probably give you the Regency anyways, until your daughter's firstborn son comes of age. The Geezers don't like female heads-of-house."

"What if I don't assume paternity?"

"Then the child is a bastard with a presumed muggle parent. It can inherit the vaults but not the seat, which is assigned to another family. And the woman herself becomes a social pariah. She would probably lose her job. It's the muggle eighteenth century, Harry."

There is a long silence. Andromeda watches me serenely while I mull, both angry and frustrated. "What are the alternatives? Marrying her?"

Andromeda raises an eyebrow. "Would you want to?"

"I could do worse." Thinking Ginny.

"Marrying her effectively ends the Bones line. Her children would be Potter or Black. Or you could take the Bones name, ending the Potter line. Black might be continued through Draco."

"Not Teddy?"

"Werewolf half-breed and a bastard. Their marriage was illegal."

"So, there is nothing to be done?"

She steeples her hands and smiles. "Yes there is. Have you ever heard of a 'line continuation contract'?"

November 27th, 1999

I look at Neville, looking rather spiffy in fancy robes, and happy as a cat after a dish of cream. "It just snowballed, Nev," I whine. We're sitting in an office at the ground floor of the Ministry.

"And what did you expect?"

"I don't know. I quiet room at Gringotts, maybe?"

"Well... They couldn't just let it pass. You and Suzy..."

"I know." I look at the floor. "I just don't understand how it could grow this much."

"Once Kingsley got a hold of it, it had to." Neville grins. "It is a State occasion, after all."

I open my mouth to say something rude, but a quick knock stops me. Arthur pokes his head in. "It's time, boys."

Before we leave, Neville pulls me closer and whispers. "I have a message from Hannah. Be good to her. Or else."

I nod. "Tell Hannah I promise do my best."

There's a dais in the place where the old fountain stood and a sea of chairs in front of it, packed with people. One thousand and nine chairs, to be exact, which just happens to be the thirteenth, thirteenth prime. Don't ask me to explain. It seems that magic likes prime numbers. I feel Gabrielle's presence, a little knot of excitement and worry, sitting next to her mother and father in the third row. I meet her eyes and something inside me unwinds. She smiles and I smile back. Kingsley and Andromeda are at the dais, both looking pleased.

"Hello, Harry, Neville." Kingsley gives a shallow bow towards us and Andromeda curtsies.

"Kingsley, Andy." Both Neville and I return the bow and curtsy with a deeper one. We wait, all thousand-and-something pairs of eyes focused on us. I hold onto Gabrielle's gaze and warm regard like a lifeline. From the other side of the dais, Susan and Hannah appear. Susan is wearing a long silk dress, plain white, cloth sandals and a minutely embroidered vest with what appears to be Futhark runes hanging loosely on her shoulders. Her auburn hair is braided and arranged in a knot at the nape of her neck. Proud and gorgeous, a true magical princess. There's a definite feel of magic coming from the vest. A small smile is on her lips, but it doesn't reach her eyes. My anxiety ratchets up a notch or two.

We line up behind a small table, where a parchment scroll and a black quill lie. Kingsley steps up to the edge of the dais and casts a sonorus on himself. "The Ministry of Magic of Britain welcomes you. We are here today to witness a historical event. Two heroes of our world, defenders of the people of this nation and last scions of ancient magical houses, come together to celebrate their allegiance. They come forward, dedicated to the preservation of their precious bloodlines, proving their respect to our highest, and most cherished traditions." He takes a step back. "Come forward."

Susan and I step forward and stand in front of him, facing each other. I cast a sonorus on myself. "I Harry James Potter-Black, humbly request to be accepted as Consort to House Bones, and I pledge my wand and my blood to the protection and glory of House Bones, so mote it be."

Now Susan casts the spell. "I, Susan Amelia Bones, on behalf of my House, accept you offer and pledge my wand and my blood in honor of my Consort's House, so mote it be,"

I step forward. "I seal it with a kiss." I kiss her briefly on the lips.

Susan steps back. "With a kiss it is sealed." She completes. The audience claps and we move to sign the contract, me first, then Susan, and then Andromeda, Neville and Hannah as witnesses. Finally Kingsley applies the Ministry seal and the contract glows briefly and disappears. One copy for the Black vault, one for the Bones and one for the Ministry's archives.

Soon the thousand and nine chairs were gone, there were long tables with food and drink. Endless insincere congratulations, false smiles, posturing...

A thin brunette in a tight dark green dress. The ugly duckling from school grew into a slightly anorexic, but fine-looking specimen. "Pansy Parkinson."

The sneer hasn't changed. "It's Nott now."

"Theo?" Susan asks. Pansy nods and Susan clucks. "My sympathies."

I snort. "Suzy!" Pansy appears to take it in stride.

Susan places a hand lightly in my arm. "Pansy is neither evil nor a fool."

"Well, thank you, Bones." A small smile and a glint in her eyes. "Congratulations, I suppose."

"Thank you, dear." Susan looks around. "Is your husband with you?" Theo escaped Azkaban with a very plausible 'it was take the mark or die' defense, probably true too. Suzy would flay him with a dull spoon if she could. Me? I'd just toss him through the veil.

"No." Pansy clearly wants something. "I just wanted to suggest that you keep an eye on him."

That captures our interest. "Can you be more precise?" I ask.

"Perhaps." She looks around. "But not here." She turns around and leaves.

I snicker. "What?" Susan asks.

"How things change." She raises an eyebrow. "She looks better coming than going now." Susan hits me with a hard elbow on the ribs. "Ow!"

"Be nice." She snickers too. "I wasn't aware you are an arse man."

"I'm a leg man, mostly. But something of an arse, too."

"I'll say."

"You don't have to worry. You've got it all."

"The contract is signed. You don't need to butter me up."

"Now, that's a thought." Susan mulls it over for a moment, then turns bright red.

After most people have left, Gabrielle finds us. "Congratulations, you two." I take my wand out and cast a muffliato around us.

Then her hand finds mine and we both sigh. Susan frowns. "What is it with you two?"

"It's a Potter-Black family secret." I reply, aware that she's entitled to know now.

"Then it's a Bones family secret too."

"Well, we are magically bound, in some way. Or magically bonding, I guess. It seems to be an ongoing thing."

She mulls it over, while Gabrielle sidles up closer to me. "A veela bond? Caused by saving her life?"

Gabrielle giggles and replies. "That's a writer's fancy. There is no such thing.".

"What is it, then?"

"We have no idea. I think Gabrielle's family knows something, maybe. They seem awfully accepting."

"And you two just go with it? Like that?"

"It's kept me sane, Suzy. It makes both of us happy." I shrug. "Trust magic, everybody says. In this case, it's real easy."

"And what do you get out of it, blondie?"

Gabrielle smiles at her most mischievous. "I get Harry!" I smile too, and Susan straightens up as if stung. "I'll let you borrow him, though."

"It's not like you could do anything about it." Susan sounds offended.

Something twists inside me. "Suzy..."

"What?"

"Do you think this would happen if Gabrielle didn't agree?"

"Well..." She takes a long look at the two of us. "At least it's good to know where things stand, isn't it?"

"You're my friend and my partner, Suzy. Now more than ever."

She raises her voice. "What about her?" Pointing at Gabrielle. "What is she?"

Gabrielle and I shrug. "She's a part of me and I'm a part of her. Take it as you wish." Gabrielle just nods. In this she feels as I do, and we're both very happy with it.

A long silence follows. Gabrielle breaks it. "Where are you two going now?"

"A week in a tropical island."

"Hm." Gabrielle pouts.

"You're jealous?" Susan asks, still a bit angry.

"It's envy, not jealousy," I explain. Gabrielle gives me a dirty look.

"Well, I'm sorry, dear." Smug redhead.

"She's mostly envious of me." I grin and get another dirty look. "It's not easy being Veela."

Gabrielle pokes me on the side. Hard. I flinch. "Their temper is legendary too."

"Grr..." I pull her close and kiss her forehead. Her feigned irritation disappears.

Susan finally processes what I said. She looks at Gabrielle, thrown off a little. "Really?"

"Why not? Have you looked at yourself?" A little smug too.

Susan shakes her head, off-balance. "I'm not into witches." She's almost apologizing. Silly Puff.

"I know that." Gabrielle replies. "I can't really help it. It's the stupid hormones." Both Susan and I snicker. "What? I spend half my time lusting after both doorknobs and keyholes! It's too bloody distracting."

"Patience..."

"Fuck you, Magus." She shakes her head and grins. "Yeah, I'm envious and frustrated. So what? I'm also happy for you two."

"Thank you." Susan smiles.

Gabrielle turns to me. "Just promise me something."

"What?"

"Ride her hard." I frown. "The wench clearly needs it."

Susan opens and closes her mouth, blushing furiously. It looks like Gabrielle nailed it. I begin to revise my plans for the week.

December 2nd, 1999.

I'm just about done putting dinner together when Susan walks in from the beach, bag on her shoulder, wearing a smile and a slight full body tan. There is no sign of pregnancy yet. Ample breasts with just a touch of sag, tight stomach with lots of hard muscle under the skin, a marked waist and long, long legs, strong and shapely. Her hair is wet, falling down to her waist and more strawberry blonde than her usual auburn. A year of auror action-team training helps you survive on the field and just happens to look very nice too.

"Hey, gorgeous. Just sit. I'll be with you in a moment."

She picks up a turquoise dress from the floor and puts it on. My eyes linger as she wiggles into it. It always surprises me how sexy a woman may be with the right clothes. "Take your time." She says, aware of my ogling.

I check the oven. The fish smells wonderful and will be done in a few minutes. I bring a couple of salad plates to the table, open the wine and pour it. It's just a generic California white, but fits nicely with the food.

We both sip and try the salad. Silence wears easily. Susan sets her glass down and looks at me. "We need to talk."

"Then we talk."

"This consort thing can be anything, Harry. From a straight business arrangement to a marriage in all but name."

"I know."

"So? What is it?"

"Something in between?" She looks disappointed. "You want more."

"Don't you?"

"You're a dear friend, Suzy. And these past few days have been very enjoyable."

"But..."

"I'm not in love with you. I'm not sure I'll ever be."

"How do you know that?"

"I've been in love. No, that's a lie. I am in love. I know how it feels. And I'm not talking about Gabrielle."

"Who then? Ginny?"

I shake my head. "Irrelevant. She's with someone else."

"I see." She presses her lips together. "I suspect love has many faces. And we are too young to really know about it."

"I agree." I just can't see that crazy spark appearing where none exists. But what do I know?

"I'd like to continue this. I mean, friends and lovers, if that's what is on the table. At least until the contract is finished." That means until the birth of our second child A couple of years, maybe more. It makes sense.

"That's fine, Suzy. And no strings. Find romance, if you can."

"Is this about Gabrielle?"

"Yes. And no. She'll mature sometime soon. And I'll do whatever she wants."

Susan laughs. "Whipped."

"You have no idea."

December 13th, 1999

It's snowing a bit, and the muggle neighborhood in Newcastle is pretty deserted. We are working in a group of five, taking turns following Theodore Nott. Tonight, Terry Boot and I have been tracking him through an illegal portkey trace and a couple of apparitions. We arrive at the empty, tree-lined street just in time to see Theo walk into a muggle pub.

A couple of days after we came back from our honeymoon, we met with Pansy, who told us Theodore has been purchasing old family wands for a month or so, using his junior death eater contacts and quite a bit of gold. This is not illegal, but it's very suspicious.

A revelio charm shows about ten people inside the pub. Terry, disillusioned, takes a quick peek through a window, and sees Theo sitting by himself. Trusting a rough disguise, Terry follows him a few minutes later and stations himself at the bar, nursing a pint. I wait outside. A couple of people come in and out, and half an hour later, a tall individual with a hat and a dark coat gets in and sits in front of Theo. They talk for about five minutes, Theo hands this unknown person a package and leaves. Five minutes later the unknown individual leaves as well.

I never caught his face, but Terry did. And when I see the guy's face in the office's pensieve, I can't avoid an evil cackle. Geoffrey Sirkis. Gemma's lovely boyfriend.