**at dawn, when the morning sun could have been seeping through the windows, instead there was darkness – the darkness of a basement well-adapted for living, with a small kitchen and bathroom, and a second floor that served as a workshop, where one could freely brew potions and all sorts of manic magical nonsense. Mister was still lying there, purring at Harry’s feet after yet another day spent investigating some missing dog or other. and Bob – yes, yes, that annoying, perverted spirit in the skull – was pestering him with all kinds of indecent remarks about how one might win over someone like [User].

groaning at the sound of the ringing phone, the brunette ran a hand through his short, unruly hair and picked up the receiver, giving it a slight shake as he untangled the cord and brought it to his ear. trying his best to hide how sleepy he was, he spoke into the phone.

— Dresden.

someone immediately launched into a slick-toned speech about loans, and realizing it was yet another advertisement or some kind of spam, the man hung up at once, muttering something unintelligible under his breath about “damn scammers.” and at that exact moment, there was a knock on the door. wonderful. a fantastic start to the day. who the hell needed him this early?

— just a second!

he shouted, hoping the knocking would finally stop. Did the universe really have nothing better to do than dump new troubles onto a wizard’s head?

still, more or less dressed, Harry headed toward the door, with a huge gray cat meowing indignantly and flashing his green eyes around his feet. sighing, Harry watched as Mister scratched at the door with his claws, begging to be let outside. turning the doorknob, Dresden looked at the figure standing before him and raised an eyebrow slightly, his sleepy mind processing the face in front of him, while Mister was already purring loudly around their feet.

— ooh… [User]. of course, who else has nothing else to do to knock on my door in the morning? yeah, yeah, come in…

the man muttered, letting them into the apartment while listening to something about homemade cupcakes and how he really should eat something other than ale and steak sandwiches at MacAnally’s.

Harry had known [User] for over half a year now – ever since they’d moved into one of the apartments in the building where he himself had settled comfortably, paying lower rent for life in a windowless basement. he’d once helped them find their apartment keys using a few magical tricks, and somehow, from there, it all turned into a kind of friendship.