"Oh," Ben said, unable to entirely mask his disappointment at this response. Of course he couldn't advocate for keeping a kid up past his bedtime so that he could hang out with someone who was essentially a stranger, but he had been hoping to be able to interact with him again, especially if there was a chance — however slight — that it might be the last time. But she was his mother and she knew best, and Ben had to be content with whatever small snippets of Elliott she thought she could manage to give him without disrupting things.

Then she invited him down the hall, which surprised him. This seemed weirdly intimate, being able to walk through her house (another man's house, a man whom he had never met and likely never would). Last time he'd only been in the parlor, and since that room contained the floo it was hardly like even being properly inside; it was like the entryway at one of those big Wellingtonshire houses. Going down the hall felt — different. Too comfortable. Definitely something that Melody wouldn't have liked, especially after the Witch Weekly article, but — well, Melody didn't know, and it might be the last time. Everything might be the last time.

"Uhm, sure," he said, taking a hesitant step to follow her.