At first, Adon had been surprised when the locksmith he'd hired mid-January, Phil had showed up on his door, looking for all the world like a busty, raven-haired, tattoo-sleeved woman.

Mostly because Phil--Philomena, as it turned out--was most certainly that: a woman. And what a woman: worth every penny.  Within seconds, she'd flicked through every lock on his door, until finally, squatting as she inspected the door jamb, proclaimed everything sound.

"Nothing compromised," Phil asserted, on her knees as she looked up at him. "That why you called me over for? You have reason to doubt it?"

Adon didn't really want to answer that question right now.

“You can open it, though?”

“Well, yeah. But you know me. I can open just about anything.”

“That’s convenient. ‘Just about anything.’ You emboss those on your business cards? A legal disclaimer to cover your tracks for when you get shut out?”

“Har har,” Phil said, rising to her feet to bump him gruffly on the shoulder. “I already have been, Eleor. But that’s just because I don’t have the key to your heart.” She put the back of her hand to her forehead, making a show of swooning.

Adon watched, gobsmacked. “Uh…”

“Ugh. Adon. Gross. Chrissake! You’re hot and all but I’m not exactly desperate. Especially not with you all google-eyed for that girlfriend of yours.”

“Uh—Maiko Biladeau-Yukawa?”

“Uh—yes. Maiko Biladeau-Yukawa. The one I had the locks made special for.”

“Right.”

Phil squinted at him, sidelong. “What’s wrong with you? You call me over here, acting all weird like... Acting like you've got a stick up your ass--even more than usual, and asking dumb-a--" she stopped, eyes wide. "Holy shit!" she sucked in a breath. "You’ve been Obliviated.”

Adon cringed. He’d need to perform better before he went back to Level Two in a couple days. With a pinched smile, he continued. “…Something like that.”

"God! What the hell happened?"

Adon rested his shoulders against the wall, arms crossed. It was all he could do to be patient. "Trying to figure that out, Phil." It was important to steer this conversation, not lose sight of why he’d called her over. “Look. Did I mention anything particular about the locks? Requirements or specifications?”

“Sure. Though you were hardly particular. Wanted access for your mother, brother, sister-in-law, Maiko Biladeau-Yukawa… That’s your girlfriend, by the way. In case you forgot."

Adon felt a mounting sense of... well, frustration. He rolled his eyes.

"Too soon? Anyhow. It’s a longer list than I would have wanted, but you were insistent.” Phil looked at him under raised eyebrows. “I’m not sure if you’ve pieced this together yet, but you can be a pain-in-the-ass stubborn when you want to be. Which I think is all the time.”  She shrugged. “Anyhow, you were very specific. You can be kind of an asshat like that, too, you know. When you get an idea in your head—which, also: always. So, the way I had to do the locks was to tie it to the soul rather than the fingerprints. Mostly because you wanted to make sure no one under Imperio, Polyjuice, or Metamorph could get access. You always were a paranoid bastard.”

“You’re doing wonders for my self-esteem, Phil,” Adon said archly.  “I should invite you round more often. Must have been complicated, though, working it like that.”

“As I said: nothing I couldn’t manage. Cost you a small fortune, though.”  Phil gave him a once over. Slow. Lingering. Adon shifted uncomfortably. “A fortune, because I knew you could afford it. And a small one, because I give a friend discount.”

Adon frowned.

“Don’t get bitter, boy-o. I know I’m not your lady-love, but you could at least talk to me like a lady. Like I was saying. You’re whipped. The way that was done, Maiko’s going to always have access to your flat. Maybe even after those locks are replaced.”

“And I knew that?”

“Yep.”

Enough about Maiko. “So no one but those few people could have gotten access.”

“Yeah. It’s a bit redundant now, though. Who put the janus clausius on the frame? Is it coming from this?” Phil tapped the mezuzah[1] on the doorframe. 

“The what-the-what? Like… the legal term?”

“Janus clausus. It’s, uh… I mean, it’s the lock of all locks, in a way. A bit basic, and powerful—like a hammer. Not very nuanced, but this is a strong one. No one can come in uninvited…”

“Like… vampires?”

“Christ,” she sighed. “You’re watching Muggle movies again. Either that, or you’re so broken you can’t even wizard anymore.”

Adon shrugged. Then he saw it: that flicker of pity. His family had learned to tone that down. “Well... Thanks for checking it out." Adon's hand was going towards the handle. Phil swatted it away.

"Wait wait wait. Not so fast. Who did the janus?"

"...Dunno," Adon said. "I'm guessing Dree." He tapped the mezuzah.

"Your brother?" She could have seemed a bit more believing. Adon bristled slightly.

"Yeah. My brother. I know he acts like a ... boy scout, but I trust him. You're lucky he doesn't have the time to run you out of business."

Phil's hands moved up in slow surrender. "Geez. Sorry I asked. Was just impressed is all. See myself out, shall I?" she said, swinging the door open.

"Yeh--thanks."

The door closed quickly. Instantly, Adon heard the six locks click into place.

1.	A mezuzah is a piece of parchment in a metal casing, attached to the doorframe in most Jewish households.