She wasn't leaving. She was spinning around and sitting down with a flourish, and clearly irritated with him, but she had not yet disapparated with her house elf. Elliot was relieved, and dropped himself into an armchair. With the two of them sitting, this almost — not quite, but almost — felt normal.

"Miss Reid," Elliot said carefully. That didn't sound right. "Temerita."

He swallowed. "What do you mean?"

He had hoped, he had thoughts — but he did not quite understand her.