Rennervate, why hadn't he thought of that? Ford was useless in a crisis, he was beginning to realize, or at least in any type of crisis that called for magical intervention. This was being chased around an observatory by Billy Darrow and not being able to remember a simple disarming spell all over again, because when Noble was unconscious the only thing Ford's mind was capable of holding on to for more than half a second was panic. Even Verity's suggestion would have been better, although he wasn't sure if they would have been able to actually use an awakening potion if Noble wasn't conscious to drink it — what would they do, pour it down his throat and hope he didn't choke to death on it before he woke up?

But nevermind. Noble was coming to, and he was giving Ford a look, and Ford understood it even if his hands were still shaking too much for him to think properly.

"Mama, take Verity and Grace upstairs," he said, with more confidence than he was feeling, because what he was feeling was still along the lines of holy fuck! what just happened! If he had been a debutante he likely would have reacted with about the same degree of composure as Grace had, but he wasn't a girl and he didn't have the luxury of being able to fall to pieces — he had to be the person who was in charge, even when he felt entirely overwhelmed by the prospect. But getting Verity and Grace and Mama upstairs would be a start, and then he could ask Noble what had happened and he could figure out what to do from there, and...

Oh, fuck, Lestrange was still here. Ford had entirely forgotten about him, and he gave his friend a sort of helpless look now, at an absolute loss for what to say.