Melody's trunks were packed. The few personal effects that remained in her bedroom were duplicates that she could just as easily live without should she need to leave in a moment's notice. A perfume bottle, a hair brush, all simple things that she could ultimately live without if she must. Her trunks were shrunken to toy miniatures, tucked into a freshly created pocket underneath her skirts. If the authorities came for her she would have to run quick, apparate to the random spot just outside of muggle London. From there, she would change into her maid's outfit and fade into the streets. Or so she hoped.

In truth, she didn't imagine Ben would agree to informing the authorities without at least giving her ample warning. However, Aldous and Roman were loose cannons. Both elder brothers were highly respected within the ministry, and if push came to shove they would sooner use their respective powers to ruin her completely. The Crouch family protected their own, Melody had come to learn, and in this circumstance she was entirely not a Crouch.

Her loitering in the parlor was for looks only, not for any desire to speak to Ben. The weeks between Christmas and now left an electrified tension crackling throughout their house. Melody wouldn't be the first to break this silence and, unsurprisingly, she hadn't had to.

It was obvious from the way he brought up the elephant in the room that Ben was at the very least tipsy, meaning Melody would have to navigate this conversation whilst remaining painfully sober. "This?" She echoed with a raised brow. This could mean too many different things in this circumstance, divorce or talking to name the biggest two contenders.