There was only so much one could do with magic to clothing before it started to look like it really did need a wash, but it was the last thing on Johann's mind as he raised his hand to the front door to use the knocker. He glanced left and right as his pale fingers rapped. This was a Muggle street, and this house appeared to Muggles, but hopefully on the grand list of 'places he could be' it was ranked below the top 100, next to Thailand, which was considerably warmer than the Pepper's front doorstep.

"I'll get it," Ambrose announced, busy drying up from dinner in the kitchen at the back of the house. His brother Tim had his hands fully submerged in dish water while their father was stacking dishes back into the cupboard. A knock at the front door was a rarity for the three, especially unannounced, and everyone from Jehovah's Witnesses to charity collectors were treated with fascination by the wizarding family.

As Ambrose made his way from the kitchen into the hallway and past the bottom of the stairs that led up from just inside the front door, his father migrated towards the kitchen doorway to overhear the exchange at the front door, equally curious.

Twisting the lock by hand, Ambrose pulled open the door to the summer evening air, and his face flooded with recognition.
"Hey," he greeted with a grin, "Come in, didn't know you were coming over, but Dad's here." He stepped back into the hallway, opening the red front door wider as he did, revealing the caller on the doorstep to Francis who stepped into the kitchen doorway proper - Ambrose's tea towel over his shoulder.

Whereas Ambrose was very gracious in receiving him, Francis Pepper looked decidedly cautious - his lips were pressed into a thin line and his expression darkened.

Johann stepped inside, casting one last glance behind him up and down the street before Ambrose pushed closed the door behind him, shutting out the noise of a passing car. There was a lingering sell of spaghetti bolognese in the house.
"Hi, Ambrose, thanks." Johann greeted, managing a smile though it was not as bright as his usual. "You grown another six inches? Missed you at Gabrielle's birthday." Johann remarked, noticing the Gryffindor's difference in height since he'd last bumped into them. Ambrose looked much more mature, and was growing into his limbs. "How was South East Asia?"

"Wicked," Ambrose managed with an excited expression before his father interrupted.
"Ambrose, son, sorry, don't mean to interrupt, but Tim's running out of space on the draining board." Francis extended the tea towel back to his teenage son. "I promise you can tell him all about it as soon as that's done." Surprised, Ambrose looked to his father, back to Johann, and then to the tea towel, and obeyed grudgingly. As he re-entered the kitchen, Francis closed the door behind him, and nodded to the front room to Johann's right.

Johann swallowed, lowered his head and made his way into the room, unsurprised when Francis closed both doors - the one to the hall, and the one to the dining room at the back of the house beside the kitchen, his wand making short work of muffliato.

"What are you doing here? Gabrielle's not here tonight." Francis hissed, having read the papers, and heard through the Ministry about what had happened. Johann swallowed and licked his lips, his throat suddenly feeling dry.
"I need you to tell level two I'm here."
"Bloody right I do, Johann." Johann sank down onto the sofa, looking out the front window which was covered by a lace curtain to obscure a casual glance from the street into the room from outside. Another car was passing the house, but from inside Johann could barely hear it. He couldn't hear the sounds of the two younger Peppers washing up in the kitchen because of the charms.
"Don't mention anything to those two, I'll explain when they're gone," Francis insisted, jabbing a finger in the direction of the kitchen behind him. "Stay put. You're lucky she isn't here."

The charms were lifted from the doors, and Francis vanished back into the hallway. Johann could hear the sounds of the plates being put away and muffled words of the three Pepper wizards. Francis had changed his tone, and was sounding a little more upbeat and carefree. Johann exhaled a breath he'd been holding in his lungs, and lay his coat over the arm of the sofa.

Ambrose appeared in the doorway, seized a photo album from a nearby shelf that held a row of them, and flung himself down on the sofa beside Johann with a great grin.
"Wicked, then?" Johann asked Ambrose, perking up as he realised he was observed.
"You have no idea." Ambrose replied, flipping open the photo album and thrusting it at Johann.
"Oh I might." Johann smiled, his trembling hands receiving the album, resting it on his knees, "But tell me all about it."