Ophelia had finally gotten her visit from November, which she had been waiting on for longer than her friend realized. During the entire month of February, Ophelia had been too pregnant to do anything outside of the house, or to receive guests, which had left her with nothing to do except exchange letters and read Witch Weekly. Ophelia had been a social creature for years and the only thing sustaining her in isolation had been the company of her husband and the steady supply of gossip, so of course she had heard about the scandal in Nova's natal family as soon as it had been made public. Ever since, she'd been dying to pester her friend for details — but she was powerless to pester while she was still so pregnant, and after the delivery she had needed almost a week to feel properly recovered.

Now, though she still wasn't entirely at her best, she was feeling much more herself. She and Nova had been in the sitting room for about an hour and had exchanged all the necessary pleasantries. Tea and biscuits had been served. Baby Nicholas had been brought out and duly complimented, and he had then been returned to the care of a nurse. Now, finally, she could steer the conversation towards what she really wanted to talk about.

"But Nova, darling, how have you been faring the past few weeks? I heard, of course, about your brother," she said, tone all sympathy. Perhaps a little too much sympathy; she may have been laying it on a bit thick.

November Malfoy