Oliver Kent paced in loops at the corner of Bedfordbury and New Row in London, his heart in his throat. Down the way, he could see the sign for the Leaky Cauldron moving quietly, as though caught in a quiet breeze, though he couldn't feel any air. He stared at the Cauldron sign and rubbed his forehead, frustrated with himself, muttering under his breath.

"Ollie?"

Oliver whipped about in surprise, not used to anyone calling him that, his eyes lit upon the shocking sight of his youngest sibling, Eli Odair.

Eli wore a satchel about his shoulder, torn jeans and a band t-shirt. His hair was shoulder length and his face pimpled, a pair of brow-line glasses. He was twenty-three - turned so that very day, 1 September 1994 - though he looked younger, more like a teenager. "It really is you," he stammered in surprise, stepping closer, blinking rapidly as he walked up, hands nervously clutching onto the strap of his bag. "I can't believe it. What're you doing 'round here?" He glanced at the Leaky Cauldron sign, "You coming to see Mum and Dad?" he asked hopefully.

Oliver swallowed nervously.

Eli's eyes lit up, "Are you coming for my birthday? Did they plan a surprise? Mum was really insistent I come 'round today instead of goin' out - are you why?"

"No, she - I haven't talked to Meg - I mean mum, I haven't --" Oliver stammered stupidly. The excitement melted off Eli's face, and Oliver continued, "I'm only - I was just --" he paused, not wanting Eli's excitement to fall any further out. "I just wanted to wish you a happy birthday is all. It's nothing to do with - with mum and dad."

Eli studied Oliver a long moment, then said, "How'd you know I'd be 'round?"

"I - I hoped is all." Oliver flushed. "Got lucky."

Eli slid his hands up and a down the shoulder strap of his satchel and glanced 'round the narrow roads where they stood. "I heard about the World Cup, what happened there and everything, the whole - you know... the - the death eater attacks."

"Yeah it was pretty bad," Oliver muttered.

"But you're alright, though. And Victor Krum, yeah?"

"Yeah," Oliver answered, "I think Krum had already left off by the time the attacks happened, honestly."

Eli nodded.

Oliver hesitated. "Was there... anything... you know ....else... about me in the Prophet?"

"No?" Eli asked, confused, then, "Why? Should there have been?"

"No," Oliver answered too quickly. He hurried to change the subject. "So - so um, obviously mum and dad must be alright. I know they had a - um - a booth there." He stared at his feet.

"Yeah, they had one," Eli answered. "But Michael was running it. Dad's been under the weather and --"

"What's wrong with Jasper?" Oliver asked quickly, looking up, "I mean - I mean dad?"

Eli stared at Oliver, one eyebrow raised, "Just a cold, you know. Common stuff." He paused, "I mean if you came 'round more you'd know that's all."

"And everyone else? Nate? Kevin? The twins?"

"They're alright. Twins are at Hogwarts, just left this morning..." Eli shrugged. "Kevin's on holiday with his family, think they went to Italy or something and Nate's always busy 'round the hospital, you know." Eli paused, then added, "I mean, my studies are going great also... and of course Michael's been Dad's little apprentice, hasn't he?"

Oliver said, "What're you studying?"

"Child protection law."

"Good on you," Oliver said sincerely.

"I mean it isn't famous sportsplayer like some of us, but it'll do," Eli answered.

"No, it's really good, much better than famous sportsplayer, honestly. I'm proud of you."

"Thanks."

"Are you still staying with mum and dad or got d'ya have another place?"

"Well." Eli diverted his eyes and watched as a woman with grey hair ducked into the Leaky Cauldron. "I'm not technically s'posed to live at home anymore - you know, an adult muggle living on Diagon Alley, it's kind of unheard of, isn't it? But Dad got special clearance from Tom so I can get through the barrier at least 'til I graduate. Nate and Kev aren't allowed through anymore. Statute of secrecy bullcrap and all that, technicality type stuff..." He paused, "You're still at your place, of course."

"Of course. I couldn't leave Colin behind, and..."

"Yes, well, Colin's not actually there, so -" Eli said, a bit sharper than he meant to. He flushed and bit his lips, looking away.

Silence stretched between them, far longer than it ought to have done, and Oliver felt a sinking feeling in the very pit of his stomach. He couldn't look Eli in the eyes - not that he reckoned Eil was trying to make eye contact anyway, probably he was avoiding Oliver's eyes as resolutely as Oliver was avoiding his. And why not? Oliver muttered, "I should go. I - Happy Birthday, Eli, I'm really glad I got to see you and --"

"Please come home with me, just for a bit, just for a few minutes - just - just long enough to see Yertle and say hi to mum and dad, just a few minutes," Eli cut in, begging. "Please. For me. For my birthday. As a present to me. You do owe me several presents by now, you know. Please?"

Oliver flushed and murmured, "I can't. I'm sorry."

"I've not asked you for anything for years, please. I'm begging you for this."

Meg Odair was cleaning up the apartment over the ice cream parlor, scourgifying the carpets and setting the mop to wring it self out over the bucket in the kitchen. She levitated Yertle the Turtle, who had more than quadrupled in size in the time she'd known him, and swept the carpet beneath the carpet he'd been sunbathing on as light poured through the front windows. Jasper was asleep on the couch, his nose red from having blown it so many times in the past forty-eight hours, and Meg disappeared all the dozens of used tissues from the bin beside the sofa with a sigh and refilled the glass on the low table beside him with fresh water. She left a little vial of Pepper Up Potion beside it, hoping that it would help him shake the illness.

She was just lowering Yertle back to the carpet when the front door's locks clicked, the key turning in it's mechanism behind her, and she turned 'round, "Is that my sweet birthday b--" she stopped mid-word.

Eli stood in the entry, but in the door frame stood Oliver.

"Oliver!" she gasped, running forward. Yertle dropped to the carpet - luckily he hadn't been high off the ground to begin with so he wasn't hurt at all as he landed - and Eli jumped out of the way as Meg embraced Oliver tightly, her arms hugging onto him and pulling his head down to her mouth to deposit a good deal of kisses on his head and forehead, not even noticing that he'd stiffened slightly, too busy with the tears falling from her eyes. "You're here, you're here, you're really here! At last!"

"Hi mum," Oliver said.