Two nights ago, Elliot and Temerita had agreed to attempt to court. One day ago, Irvingly had been swallowed by a fog that vanished everything it touched. Elliot had spent most of the sixth entirely oblivious, waiting to hear from Temerita — only to hear the news from his father when Brandon returned from work at the Ministry. Then he had been racked by guilt, and tension headaches, and — fear.

He apparated to Hogsmeade on the seventh, and walked out of town to the encampment in pursuit of finding answers. He had not asked his father about Miss Reid's status; officially courting, or announcing a cross-class courtship, paled in urgency when compared to the fact that people were dead.

When he finally spotted her, relief filled his chest and she was shaking her fist. "Miss Reid!" Elliot called, with feeling.