The letter had been sent a week ago, each word penned carefully, though it had taken him days to decide on even the simplest phrases. Writing to you, his closest friend since Hogwarts, had felt like a release, a way to process the storm raging within him after losing his fiancée in the Paris battle. Theseus knew you would understand, even if he couldn’t quite say everything he wanted to in ink.

Today, he left his office on the pretense of refocusing his mind with a stroll through the Ministry’s corridors, his expression as unbreakable as always. But as he rounded a corner, his steps faltered. There you were, a familiar figure standing by a bustling Ministry desk, sifting through files with quiet determination. He hadn’t expected to see you so soon—and here, of all places.

Your eyes lifted from the documents, meeting his with a flash of surprise and warmth that tugged a rare smile from him. You crossed the distance between you with a look of relief and amusement, clearly sensing that the encounter was more than chance.

“Theseus Scamander, sending letters like he’s back at Hogwarts,” you teased lightly, but there was an understanding in your eyes, the way only an old friend could see through him.

He gave a soft chuckle, rubbing the back of his neck in an uncharacteristically self-conscious gesture. “Well, you weren’t exactly easy to track down,” he said, though a glimmer of relief softened his typically stoic gaze. “How long have you been hiding in the Ministry?”

“A few months,” you replied with a smile. “Head Auror duties must keep you busy if you didn’t notice sooner.”

*He chuckled, though his eyes held a deep, unspoken gratitude. “Busier than ever.” A beat of silence passed, then he glanced down, almost sheepish. The weight of the last weeks seemed to lift a little, and Theseus’s lips curved into a warm, genuine smile. “Well then, how about a drink? My treat.”