Needing only help made Ben's predicament seem far less disastrous than it was. Had Aldous known his brother had eloped against his will, he would have had the pair divorced posthaste without any care for Miss Finch—he could not yet stomach thinking of the young witch as Mrs. Crouch—or her well-being. But he was the honourable sort, and other than evidentially being as thick as his brother, had done nothing that would allow him to treat her in such a fashion.

The couple needed a place to live. Merlin knew that Ben could not bring his wife to Excalibur (and his membership there was ticking closer towards its conclusion each day). But a house required a household, and a household required money, and money required a job that wasn't just drinking spirits with wealthy sponsors. Unfortunately, Reuben had married the one woman that ensured Aldous could not give him a job.

He remained quiet as he pondered. He also could not harbour the couple for the same reason, and was not certain Gaius would welcome the...impromptu couple in the Malfoy home.

"You've done it this time, Reuben," Aldous sighed. Though still angry, he felt rather...defeated, too. "This may...this may be beyond my power to remedy."