They’d gotten to the Diagon Alley entrance. Vera brought out her wand and tapped the appropriate bricks. As the wall shifted before them, she stowed her wand away. “Congratulations,” she said, genuinely delighted to hear about Sera’s children. She wondered if her own had unknowingly already interacted with them before. “My step children are already out of Hogwarts by now.” She responded in turn, finding it easier to carry on the conversation as they went. Unlike Theo, she could never stay angry for too long, even if some confusion lingered about what had happened between her and Sera.

“Theodore is the sponsor of the Chudley Cannons and Cecily is now out doing the season.” Though Cecily was far more involved with her brother’s career than she let on to the public. “And I have two children with my late husband. Nathaniel and Selene. Nate just got into Hufflepuff and Selene will be starting Hogwarts soon.” At that realization, she tried not to tear up too much. Time flew by too quickly.