Ford sensed that the mood had shifted; they seemed to be having a different conversation now than the one that he'd started. Verity didn't seem very interested in having it at all, if the way she was staring at the kettle was any indication. Ford frowned at her but left her be while he turned his attention to the tea tray. The spell he knew was a good one, but slow — he had to trace out each of the breaks with the tip of his wand to knit them back together. When he'd finished the pieces he had on the counter he looked back towards her, to see that she was still staring with determination at the kettle.

"Verity," he said, back to the cautious tone from the beginning. He wasn't sure he understood where she was, which meant they were back to bite or bolt territory.

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