Rejections, Contracts, and a Hand Extended
House Bones — A Door Closed
The letters arrived at House Bones like they had everywhere else.
Marriage offers.
Alliance proposals.
Thinly veiled attempts to cling to relevance.
Amelia Bones didn't even blink.
She read them once.
Then rejected them all.
Formally. Publicly. Cleanly.
"House Bones declines," she said coolly in the Wizengamot chamber. "We are not interested."
That was enough.
House Malfoy.
House Nott.
House Carrow.
House Flint.
All withdrew.
They knew better than to pressure a house with real authority—and a woman who could end careers with a sentence.
Borgin & Burkes — Business in Shadows
Knockturn Alley was alive with whispers as Keith stepped into Borgin & Burkes.
Borgin himself straightened immediately.
"Lord Runcandel," he said respectfully. "The shipment is ready."
Keith inspected the crates.
"One hundred Berserker Potions," Borgin continued. "And I've deposited last year's payment directly into your Gringotts vault."
Keith nodded.
Borgin hesitated—then smiled thinly.
"The price has increased," he said. "One hundred thousand galleons per bottle."
"As expected," Keith replied calmly.
"And as per our contract," Borgin added quickly, "I've revealed nothing. Many families asked. I told them nothing."
Keith inclined his head once.
"Good."
The deal concluded, Keith turned to leave.
Knockturn Alley — Something Wrong
Just outside, his attention caught on raised voices.
A dark wizard stood in the alley, gripping a woman by the arm.
"Ten thousand galleons," the man sneered, spotting Keith. "Good price."
Keith stopped.
Looked.
The woman was tanned, exhausted—but her eyes were sharp, unbroken.
Again? Keith thought faintly.
Another face that shouldn't be here.
He shook his head once and stepped forward.
He paid.
The dark wizard grinned, took the galleons, and vanished without a word.
Keith crouched in front of the woman.
"You're free," he said simply. "Go. Live well."
She stared at him, stunned.
"…I don't have anywhere to go," she said quietly. "I have wealth—but no one. Everyone only ever wanted my beauty. Or my body."
Keith extended his hand.
"Then don't be alone," he said. "Come with me."
Her hand trembled as she took his.
Warmth.
The first she'd felt in years.
"My name is Serafina Zabini," she said softly.
Keith paused.
"…Zabini?"
He looked at her carefully.
"Do you know a Blaise Zabini?"
She shook her head.
"No. But my first husband…" she hesitated. "When I was pregnant, he said if the child was a boy… he wanted the name Blaise."
Keith went still.
"And your husband?" he asked.
Her voice softened with old grief.
"He died ten years ago. On a mission with Rudolf Lestrange. Neither returned."
Keith nodded slowly.
Everything connected.
"I'm sorry," he said genuinely.
She squeezed his hand.
And for the first time in a decade—
She felt safe.
Departure
They left Knockturn Alley together.
No drama.
No speeches.
Just a quiet exit.
As the wards of Runcandel Mansion opened before them, Keith glanced at her.
"You can stay," he said. "As long as you wish."
Serafina smiled—small, real, grateful.
"Thank you," she whispered.
And somewhere deep within the tangled politics of Britain—
Another thread quietly changed direction.