Archie sat at his cluttered desk, half a bottle of wine at his side; piles of books littered the surface, hiding him from view to anyone who would walk into the lounge. He looked down at the document before him and smiled sadly. He hoped it wouldn't come to this, but he had to be prepared, he had to know that they would be okay. Pushing his reading glasses up onto his head he sat still for a moment, gazing out of the window onto the street below.

Some children were running past on their way home from school, shoelaces undone and sweaters tied round their waists. He thought of Jude, wondering how soon he would be back from Hogwarts. He couldn't remember what time classes finished. Leaning his head on his hand he thought about how he would broach his subject with Jude and Marcus. He knew neither of them would be happy with it, they wouldn't want to even think about the possibility of it. But they had to.

Sighing slightly, he sat back in his chair, drawing his knees up to his chest. Pouring himself some more wine he lost himself in his thoughts. Waiting for the others to come home, so he could break them the news.