Samuel St.John-Black. Aldous had thought him fine enough (for an American) until the ill-fated elopement. Since his brother ran off with Mr. St.John-Black's fiance, however, the wizard had done his best to evade the liaison, offloading any necessary appointments onto his assistant head. Evading awkwardness, after all, was the great English pastime, and Aldous was particularly adept at it.

Like Reuben's good behaviour and Aldous' ability to properly use both legs, however, all good things had to come to an end eventually, and the latest trade deal upon the table seemed unlikely to negotiate itself.

Thus, Aldous found himself in a small but comfortable meeting room, checking his pocketwatch for the eighth time in as many minutes as the hands ticked nearer and nearer to the American's arrival.