Hiraeth was boho. Andromeda looked for a flat here a long time ago. It was expensive. She heard the owners liked to have tea with every resident once a month. That was not Andie's thing. Landladies were best kept at arm's length. Andromeda did not even have tea with her mum. It was not her style. Her colleague Adon lived here apparently. But she was not here to see him. If she was in, Andromeda might not be let in. She had to try. The last time she had seen Hannah Bombay up close was six months ago. They had ruled her out of poisoning Wolfgang Storm. She had a huge motive but they had no evidence. Lots of people had motives back then. She had once been engaged to the deceased's son too. Life was not good to Hannah Bombay. Andromeda had not been very sympathetic before. But recently she empathised. She would never ever understand Hannah's life. But she could try.

Andromeda knocked firmly on the door of 3C and waited. She knew Hannah really hated aurors. Andie had decided not to wear her uniform. It would draw more attention. She wore her black leather jacket, jeans, boots and grey t-shirt. She looked like an ordinary visitor. She listened carefully for noise behind the door.

The knock at the door drew Hannah Bombay’s attention away from the notes she’d been writing for Almasy’s lapdog to take later that day about the body that was covered by a dust sheet on the table in the tiny spare room. She’d been instructed to find the cause of death; an easy task for a former magical examiner. The simply jobs, Hannah didn’t mind. She’d be happy left in the flat to simply find out what people had died. It took her back to the days of working at the ministry where most people had been too unnerved by the ‘Dead Doctor’ to come and speak to her.

It would have been a wonderful job if it wasn’t for the boss. If it wasn’t for the torture and branding and expectations of obedience… Hannah knew her plan. She just had to keep her head down until it was carried out.

But the knock. That took her by surprise. Normally her only visitor was Layton; the bastard that had stuck the extra brand on her leg for not staying still, the bruise on her jaw had only completely faded a few days ago. But he wasn’t expected until tomorrow. She had another day to finish the report.

Frowning, Hannah pulled on the jumper that was flung over the back of the chair. It was a long sleeved polo neck; high enough to cover the marks on her neck, long enough to cover those on her wrists.

When she did open the door slowly, Hannah’s frown became deeper upon recognising the witch darkening the step. It had been months since she’d been interrogated and held against her will under suspicion of poisoning Wolfgang Storm. This witch had been the typical unpleasant auror.

  She stared, not saying a word.

The door opened. Andromeda was relieved. She thought Hannah would not open the door. She was wearing a big turtle neck. Andie tried not to frown at all.
"Miss Bombay. Andromeda Gamp." She introduced herself. She did not expect the witch to remember her name. Or her even. "It is about your uncle." Andromeda looked sad. It looked a bit like she was going to break bad news. "May I come in?" She did not want to pick a fight with Hannah. She hoped Hannah might help them. She hoped Hannah had seen her uncle and told him to go away.

“I know who you are.” Hannah made it a priority to remember the names of people that made her life harder. While eager to forget the horrors back in September and her last incarceration at the ministry of magic, she wasn’t going to forget one of the aurors that felt the need to suspect her of murder. Her expression didn’t soften as she continued to glare while Auror Gamp asked if she could come in.

There was a desire to keep the auror uncomfortable on the doorstep; to disallow entry and demand a warrant before she’d consider talking about her uncle. Unfortunately, Hannah was more than aware that it would only make her relationship with the aurors worse and them more determined to cause her trouble. Besides, the neighbours didn’t need to know her business. Some had already decided they lived in the same building as a werewolf criminal. As if that wasn’t bad enough.

There was something in Gamp’s face that made the young witch frown.
“Is he dead?” She stepped back, allowing entry to the small flat.

Andromeda did not answer. She made sure she was inside before she spoke. Andromeda glanced around herself. She was checking for other people or danger. She did not know what to expect. "We have reason to believe he could be." Andromeda said seriously. She watched Hannah carefully. She did not have reason to suspect Hannah had heard from her uncle. She did not have reason to suspect Hannah would help her uncle. "Miss Bombay your uncle has tried to make contact with people." Andromeda swallowed. "Has Lawrence tried to make contact with you? Since he came out of Azkaban?" Andromeda asked calmly.

"We have reason to believe he could be."

It was hard to school her expression at the terrifying possibility. Lawrence wasn’t allowed to be dead. He was going to help her with getting out of the contract with Almasy. He was the only person she could trust to do it.

Had he been in contact since Azkaban? Hannah frowned, wondering just how uninformed the aurors were.
“Of course he has. I gave him a place to stay for a few weeks when he got out last year. He had nowhere else to live and I had no reason to believe he hadn’t turned himself around. He seemed genuine.” She gave a shrug. They were still stood near the door and the witch had no intention of inviting the auror to sit. That implied she was welcome. “I’ve not seen him since July when he saved me.”

Andromeda nodded. She had seen Hannah tell a truth. She had also answered the question willingly. Andromeda kept her expression the same. Next week she could be here again to tell Hannah that he was dead. That they had found his body.
"Has Lawrence tried to contact you since?" She asked Hannah. She did not blink. She watched very carefully.

“No, he hasn’t.” Hannah lied, not missing a beat. It was only a week that she’d last seen Lawrence, stood in her old flat asking for his help to very probably commit a crime. Such facts would certainly not be shared with the aurors. It was, however, difficult to hide some concern at the possibility of him being dead. That would mean her entire plan would fail. She needed desperately to find out.

“If he had, I would have contacted the aurors. I want him arrested as much as you do.” Crossing her arms nervously over her chest, Hannah frowned. “What happened? Why could he be dead?”

Hannah answered directly. Andromeda tried not to take face value. Families were loyal. They also turned on each other. When Hannah was in the fights her uncle had helped her escape. He had also helped organise the fights. Hannah said she wanted him arrested. Andromeda frowned. This did not fit the pattern. Musgrave liked to contact people. It was his pattern. And letters.

It would not hurt to tell her. The newspapers had found out.
"Musgrave attacked Miranda Storm." Andromeda said. She knew Hannah knew who Miranda was. "Her husband tried to fight him off. There was a lot of blood at the scene. It did not belong to either Storm." Andromeda blinked. She was still frowning. "Also Miranda Storm described your uncle in bad health beforehand." Andromeda stared at Hannah. "He was looking for a healer. You should be careful. He may come to you."

Lawrence hadn’t come to her. He knew how dangerous that would be. But to have attacked Miranda Elliot and for so much of his blood to have been left behind? Hannah was no genuinely worried. Despite trying to school her expression, the witch’s lip twitched, mild agitation revealing itself. But he was her uncle; she could worry for him.

“He won’t come to me, auror.” The younger witch said calmly. “I told him in July that he is dead to me. He organised the werewolf ring I was kidnapped for. He knows I wouldn’t help him but rather call the aurors. For all his crimes, he isn’t stupid.”

"That is what worries us." Andromeda said. She saw Hannah's expression but did not change hers. She had seen families show remorse over dead bodies. People they had disowned. Maybe one day she would do it to her own dad. "He organised it?" Andromeda asked. "You said Wolfgang Storm organised it. You said your uncle rescued you." Andromeda had a bad feeling. Musgrave did care for his niece. He had found Bombay's kidnappers two months after. Did you do that for people you were dead to? "If he has threatened you. I want to help you."

“My uncle was in charge of sourcing the muggles.” Hannah’s voice held mild exasperation. She hated the aurors with a passion now; Gamp’s presence was completely unwelcome. The questions were frustrating and yet Hannah couldn’t get the worry from her mind now that the possibility of Lawrence being dead and her plan failing was rearing its ugly head.
“He hasn’t threatened me and if he finds me, I shall contact you. But my uncle must know you’d speak to me so why would he be idiotic enough to come here?” Hannah made a move to open the door for Gamp. As far as was concerned, that was conversation over.

"Because you are family. His actions demonstrate he cares about you." Andromeda said. Hannah wanted her to leave. Andie understood. "And he is injured. You are a healer." Andromeda spoke softly. It was fruitless. But she would try. "Miss Bombay is my line of inquiry not obvious?"

The line of questioning was obvious, indeed. But that didn’t make Hannah eager to follow it. The auror, like so many of them, thought she was a criminal and responsible. As a dangerous werewolf, of course she would harbour her wanted uncle in secret.

“He was family before he betrayed the ministry back during the war. Now he is nothing to me.” she gripped the door. “If he gets in touch I promise I will come straight to you. But now, I have things to do.” Without a second thought, Hannah shut the door in the auror’s face. In the silence of her flat, Hannah leant back against the door and closed her eyes. Lawrence had to be ok. He’d promised her. He had to help her. He had to kill her.