He needed her to let him go. He couldn't verbalize this, because of everything he still felt for her, but he needed her to let him go. The longer he was here, the more dangerous it was for him — because it became more likely, with each passing moment, that he was going to fall back into things with her. He wasn't even sure she'd take him back, but — he couldn't try. Not with his family the way they were, not with his lack of finances.

Finally she let go of him and Noble sighed. His shirt felt damp where she had sobbed into it.

He took a step back, latched his bag. "I'll apparate us there," he said, offering her his hand.

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