"A bit, yeah," she laughed. Artifacts were, generally, more fragile than the bottom of a broomstick. And the warmer climates were just part of the territory. "I just returned from South America a few days ago," she explained. "It was summer there when I left." Coming from the moist heat of the jungle to snow was a shock unlike most others.

"Obviously, I haven't fully acclimated to being home just yet," Jo chuckled again at her own expense, her hands remaining perfectly still. "Hopefully will before I catch hypothermia."

  

“It all makes sense now,” Elias continued in amusement, as Jo mentioned it had been a mere few days. She was quite the adventurer, then - though it was a pity Hogsmeade, as a village, did not have anywhere hugely interesting to explore. It was a little quaint for that; though he wouldn’t call anywhere else home for the world.

“I fancy Scotland’s about as far from South America as you can get.” He remarked, clipping the last offending twig and eyeing the broomtail critically before finally freeing her from holding it. “Though I should apologise for putting you to work before you’ve so much as had a holiday,” he joked; he had better let her get on! “Are you here for long?”

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"Just about," she chuckled in response. Russia would be worse, she imagined, but it was more the principle than the actual place that mattered. Scotland in February was frigid, whereas Venezuela was not.

"It's not so much a holiday as it is a loss. My twin's husband passed away last month, so I've come home to support her, I guess." Truthfully, Jo was regretting the decision more with each passing day. It would've been far easier to ignore the letter and act as though they hadn't received it than to deal with the reality of a grieving widow. "I'll be home for however long she needs me, I suppose. His parents were visiting with her today, so I took it as an opportunity to escape."

  

“Oh, I’m so sorry,” Elias said, with undisguised ruefulness for assuming entirely wrong. “It was good of you to come all that way,” he remarked soberly; most good people would willingly make sacrifices for their families, but dropping everything halfway across the world to come support them was admirable even by those standards. Nevertheless, it had to be a lot to deal with; he would certainly prefer to bury himself in work than endure trying to be useful when it came to other people’s emotions in a tragedy, so when she mentioned an escape he glanced at her knowingly.

“Well, if you ever need another getaway while you’re here, you’re welcome to hide in the workshop,” Elias offered lightly, though he was serious enough. It was usually quiet enough here, and he suspected not somewhere anyone would come looking for anyone other than him. More than that, he knew the benefits of finding some space, or any work with which to keep busy. “Especially if you’re willing to provide free labour,” he added, joking now.

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She shrugged. Heading home was the most natural reaction after receiving such news, even if she wished she hadn't. "It's what you do for your family," Jo answered simply, not wishing to dwell further on the topic.

Having an escape from the gloomy nature of both the shop and her parents' home was a welcome reprieve. With an appreciative smile, Jo said, "you know, I just might have to take you up on that." Perhaps she would learn a new trade in the process, as well. It never hurt to possess a wide range of abilities. "I probably should be going, though. Does your shop happen to have a floo?"

  

“Just over there,” Elias offered, nodding over to a small jar of Floo Powder - probably with a slight covering of wood-dust at the top - on the mantel above the fireplace. “Anytime, Jo Smith. Thanks for the help.”

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