Judy chuckled.

"Oh, goodness, I seem to be collecting favors lately," she joked. It was something about the woman's nature that made people call on her, and now she was coming back into her own at Hogsmeade.

"You on the one hand, Greyfriar on the other. Give me another month at Hogwarts and I'll be set to overthrow the ministry."

Of course, she was joking about that; it was just nice to be helpful to such a range of people.

"In other words, you're very welcome."

Atticus' face froze in surprise at the mention of Headmaster Greyfriar. Could it be a coincidence? They did work together after all - both were educators at Hogwarts.

"Ah..." He said, setting his coffee cup down. "I see we've both met with Greyfriar recently." He remarked ominously, fidgeting in his seat slightly. He wouldn't outright reveal his hand, but he felt duty-bound to mention it at this point as a form of penance.

"Candidly, my change of heart is not solely due to your suggestion that I find more respectable employment." He began, picking up his coffee again so he had something to do with his hands. 

"I had a job involving the Headmaster a few weeks ago. I did what I could for him. My employer was not pleased." He said, avoiding Judy's eyes. "By the time the job came to me all I needed was the mildest excuse to change my ways and try to do good. I think things turned out alright, all things considered."

Cheerful only a moment ago, Judy now seemed to fall flat. She looked down at her coffee, then turned her eyes up to glare at Atticus, over the top of her glasses.

" You're kidding."

But unfortunately, she could tell he wasn't.

"What exactly was your role in this business, let's start there," she said, her voice at a near whisper as if to draw him in, and clearly filled with disappointment.

Loaning out her vacation home now seemed like much less of a good idea.

Atticus sighed in shame, wishing he had a cigarette to ease his anxiety. He shouldn't have said anything. Damn his conscience. He let the moment hang, trying to think of what to say.

"I acted as the intermediary between the blackmailer and Greyfriar." He began, leaning forward in spite of his discomfort. The volume of his voice matched Judy's. It was almost theatrical.

"I delivered the news. I bought him as much time as I could. Were it up to my client, Knox would've left the castle with me and never returned." He explained, waving his hands around slightly in emphasis. His nervous energy was peaking, so he stood up and began pacing. He held is hands behind his back and recited his story almost rhythmically.

"Instead, I was escorted out by an elf and he sought the advice of - whoever - and my client was left wanting and very unhappy. Things did not proceed as he planned and I have put myself at great personal risk to help the Headmaster." He said as he turned on his heel and began pacing the other way. "To be clear, I am happy with this - it was the right thing, the honorable thing." He concluded, stopping to stand still and look at Judy.

He sighed and sat back down, having made his confession. "I am fast with a wand - I think the the parchment I handed to you showed my progress in the Dueling Club as well. I am not concerned. My sole concern now is setting myself upon the new and nobler path I have chosen."

Judy continued to stare, as if something about Atticus would soon unveil itself and moral clarity would come to her.

"Well, it was me. I was the person he turned to. I told him the only way he gets out of this is by taking it head-on, by moving faster than whoever is employing you, and let's just say I know my politics about as well as anyone."

There was still no hiding how displeased she was with what she'd just found out, even in her pride at her strategy the disappointment was palpable.

"You will have to clean this stuff up. Unsettled scores are a dangerous thing to carry around. Whatever it takes, you're gonna have to untangle your entanglements."

Atticus nodded as some gaps were filled in for him. He did not know Greyfriar well enough to know who he'd speak to - other than perhaps Minerva McGonagall, for obvious reasons.

"Good to hear he was given sage advice. I think the time I bought him helped with this - though not much. It certainly doesn't absolve my part in this." He said with a hint of a shrug, sounding exhausted in spite of his caffeine fix.

"It's clean. As clean as it will get." He said adamantly, looking back up at the Judy. "Sometimes letting things simmer and cool is the best move." He explained, thinking back to his uncomfortable encounter with Romulus Wilde. "I only mentioned my speed with a wand as reassurance. I am going for Auror, after all." He added with a hint of pride.

"I know it's not a good thing to hear." He said as he relaxed  his shoulders and grabbed his plate again. "I'm not happy about it. It's done though."

"Perhaps you will need to let this thing burn out, but in general, when you can douse a fire, douse it; that's my recommendation."

Clearly, there wasn't much more to say about that. Atticus was still a young man in a hurry, with a past that might come back to haunt him, and that was just what it was.

"Is there anything more that you'd be willing to say about this whole Knox business? Who the blackmailer is, what they want, anything really?"

It was a little bit vindictive, but mostly a journalist's thirst for truth.

Atticus stared down at his mostly-eaten sandwich in contemplation. He nodded quietly to Judy's words as he took a final large bite and set his plate back down. The food was helping settle his nerves as the two moved on from the tense conversation at hand.

"I can't reveal the client - I will say if you gathered a list of the country's most sinister magical folk, he'd be on the list. Not a former Death Eater or anything - I wouldn't - but he's not a kind or especially admired man."

He turned his torso and cracked his back. It was loud, nearly like an apparition. He turned the other way and repeated the sound before relaxing his shoulders again and putting his right leg across his knee.

"They were related to someone whose wand was being held. I think their anger was sincere, though their vindictiveness and ire was rather... well." He said, shrugging and letting Judy gather the rest.

Judy sighed. This was about what she expected - no clear information, but not great signs.

"There's only so much baggage a man can carry."

She wasn't thinking about Atticus, surprisingly enough, but about Knox. He'd survived, even won the day, but at some point when you started taking on water you were doomed to sink.

"I think you can pull this off. You got a real shot."

Atticus shrugged helplessly. He frowned slightly, but nodded at Judy.

"It is what it is." He said quietly as he looked down at his hands. His leg still felt a bit of sting from Romulus' henchman's firecracker spell. A good reminder.

He stood up and finished his coffee in one large gulp. He pulled his wand out, flicked it silently and watched as his cup and plate were instantly clean and placed back on the table. The conversation had been short but somewhat tense and he did not want to overstay his welcome.

"I think I do. I am quite determined." He said with a smile as he looked back at Judy. "I think it appropriate to let these revelations marinate a few days before we proceed with the new plans for my revision" He added, cocking his head to the side. He knew this was a lot to take in, and she'd made the offer prior to his confession.

"You'll have my owl soon enough," replied Judy in her quiet tone, a little terse but not hostile. She'd need some time to think about this.

"The NFL season is picking up, and the Presidential debates stateside are starting Wednesdays, but I'll find the time."

She really meant that, she would find the 15 minutes in her busy schedule to write a letter of some kind.

Atticus nodded again and smiled warmly.

"Indeed. Please take your time, and no hard feelings if things don't work out. I think I am determined enough to be able to study just about anywhere with oxygen." He said as he put his wand away and started to turn towards the hallway.

"Enjoy the coffee and breakfast!" He gestured towards the table, "I appreciate you letting me drop in like this. I'll let myself out."

He strolled down the hallway to the front door and quietly exited the building. After a moment, a loud crack was heard and he vanished from the front step.

Left with so much to think about, Judy opted to punt. She knew this decision needed to stew, and so she'd at least enjoy her Saturday.

She made her way downstairs for a shower just as soon as Atticus was out the door, and after that was done, got right back to the sofa for some light reading.

Ultimately, she'd rescind her offer of the vacation home. It was too much under the circumstances, not something she was willing to give - not now, not yet.