Bella is thinking of the other registries, too – muggleborn and half-blood, anyone who might have an address in the area – but she isn't particularly optimistic. There doesn't appear to be anything else amiss about them, either, and when she checks, her wand is still, or perhaps again, in its sheath.

She is a friend of the most simple solution, and it ties in with the family way: if it's not going well, just lie about it. And if lying is made exceptionally difficult because it is Rodolphus Lestrange you're trying to lie to, just pretend nothing is wrong and hope it doesn't catch his interest. But she'll take a better plan, once they're sober and can properly talk about it.

"I would much, much rather lose it to the ether than have to explain how it ended up on a muggle street during a disciplinary hearing," she says lightly, as she follows him into the alley, briefly looking over her shoulder to make sure no-one is watching. "We should be clear."