[Odhrán Ó Dálaigh]

Summer had come, but limbo continued endlessly. The aftermath of visiting Azkaban was far greater that Odhrán could have ever anticipated. His clinic remained closed, his magic was still recovering and some of the emotional blows he had suffered were still weighing heavily on his mind.

However, with his break from routine had come time to reflect. He'd come to the conclusion that if he kept everything he knew to himself and tried to solve his problems on his own, he wouldn't get very far. This was now bigger than him and there was more at stake than just his family name and reputation. He needed allies and fast.

One of the few people Odhrán knew that he considered both trustworthy and an asset was Pyxis Abercrombie. The other man only revealed himself slowly, but Odhrán was reasonably certain they held similar convictions. Maybe, they weren't a perfect match, but they had more in common than not. Perhaps, Abercrombie would be open to a lose cooperation.

As a first step, he'd invited Pyxis to his home in Arranmore. It was the first time things were getting this personal. Though they'd spent plenty of time together studying legillimency techniques it had never been just a social occasion. Odhrán felt somewhat apprehensive if Pyxis would even come and if this new dynamic would be welcome. Sure, Pyxis had visited him in hospital when he had been unwell, but Odhrán continued to have his doubts. The young Abercrombie could be so aloof and Odhrán didn't exactly make friends easily among his pureblood peers.

It had been ages since anybody had come by the house and the few elves remaining at Ard na Mara were certainly not used to entertaining. That last time had been when... Well, there was an unwelcome thought. The separation from his ex-girlfriend was still fresh on his mind. Nearly dying had changed his perspective on so many things including that relationship.

Though it made little sense, he found himself pacing up and down the foyer at Ard na Mara. Four o'clock was approaching and soon he would know more about the nature of their friendship. Was Pyxis all in? The letter he'd sent had been cryptic, suggesting there were some people they might want to discuss, but he hadn't dared to commit anything else to the page and compromise them both.

The fragrant citrus smell of punch romaine was starting to waft from the kitchen. Really, the elves had gone for that? It seemed dated to Odhrán's sensibilities, but maybe Pyxis would like it. The Abercrombies had a reputation for being quite traditional, but punch romaine, maybe that was just a step to far. He would have to wait and see.

[Pyxis Abercrombie]

If someone had told Pyxis several months ago he'd establish a close working relationship, and dare he say it friendship, with the owner of a medical practice in Knockturn Alley he'd have assumed they were drunk before quickly ending the conversation. However, after numerous encounters with the older wizard, the Abercrombie had developed a deep respect for the man. Odhrán was intelligent with a level of prestige one wouldn't expect of someone with such a dubious profession. Pyxis also appreciated the man's aloof and practical nature. The Abercrombie had never been one for dealing with unseemly displays of emotions. Not to mention the fact, on a more pragmatic level, his Legilimency skills had come on leaps and bounds under the healer's tuition. With his focus on using Legilimency to heal and connect rather than infiltrate with discretion he'd been able to learn a lot about the art not focused on by first his Grandfather and later his tutors in the Department of Mysteries.

Nonetheless, it had been a surprise when he received an invitation to visit his pseudo mentor in his home on the island of Aaranmore. At first he had considered coming up with an excuse to decline the invitation. It wouldn't have been too hard; a last minute emergency at work, a social function he simply couldn't miss at the bequest of his Cousin Farren, they all would have survived as believable albeit flimsy excuses. However, he'd decided against such avoidance techniques. Perhaps it would be good for him to risk becoming close to someone other his cousin. Especially now when she was at the beginning stages of a courtship with the O'Dwyer heir.

Besides, the contents of the letter had been too intriguing to ignore. Who were the people that Odhrán wanted to discuss further with him? Was the sinking feeling in his stomach Odhrán wanted to discuss the self-proclaimed Dark Lord and those who had chosen to follow him correct? And if so what exactly did the Irish man wish to discuss? Pyxis doubted it would be a recruitment exercise. Odhrán had seemed as disgusted with what they saw in the mind of one of his follower's victims as Pyxis had been. Could it have been a plea to stand against the man? Surely not! Odhrán didn't strike him as the type to follow the Gryffindor way of leaping into danger without consideration of the consequences. And besides Farren's mother and grandmother had thrown themselves behind the Dark Lord's cause. While Pyxis had no use in joining the mad man and his merry band of followers going against his family was unfathomable.

The Pureblood had managed to procure a Portkey from a contact in the Department of Magical Transportation. While he could have feasibly travelled the distance, it was thankfully not transatlantic, he had never been to the island before which made the destination portion of the magic decidedly more difficult.

It was for that reason he appeared roughly ten minutes from Odhrán's home with a silver pocket watch in hand. The wizard promptly cast several muggle repellent charms before making his way to the home of his acquaintance. The Purebloods eyes widened in shock when he first took in the sight of the overgrown shrubbery that covered the exterior. The Irish certainly had a peculiar way of doing things he thought with bemusement before he shook his head and continued the journey to the healer's home. At precisely four pm he was knocking the other man's door loudly.

When Odhrán himself answered, rather than an elf or a servant, he was somewhat surprised but didn't comment instead waiting for the other to invite himself. "Odhrán, thank you for inviting me" he greeted politely with a warm smile to emphasis the words. His smile widened as he took in a familiar scent. "Is that Punch Romaine? Why I can't even remember the last time I had it" he commented truthfully before his eyes took in the foyer while waiting on his friend to begin proceedings.

[Odhrán Ó Dálaigh]

"I would imagine around 1902 when it was last in fashion," Odhrán joked about the Punch Romaine. "You must excuse my elves and appalling manners. As I am sure you can piece together that I don't normally entertain guests or invite anybody out to Árainn Mhór. We're really not set up for it anymore, but it would have been preposterous to make you come all the way to castle Wenger in Bern just for a chat."

Odhrán gave a jovial smile. "Unless you fancy Switzerland some time. We do have good chocolate." He managed to do a pretty close impression of his uncle's Bern accent. "And at least one fountain per family member. All the fountains."

Merlin, this was strange. Odhrán rarely discussed the Swiss side of his family with anyone. He'd always felt predominantly Irish, but there was no denying that he was a Wenger just as much as an Ó Dálaigh. He'd pretty much given his hand away on that one when he had managed to secure a visit to Azkaban.

"Anyway, come this way." Odhrán indicated a direction and was quick to usher Pyxis out of the hall before it could inspire any uncomfortable questions. The furnishings, checkered, black and white marble floor and the Grecian busts and statues on display were as grand as in any pureblood home, but he imagined that there weren't a lot of places that featured as many portraits of former Unspeakables as Ard na Mara. Most prominent in the entrance hall was probably the portrait of Oisín Ó Dálaigh, a former head of department.

There was another copy of Oisín Ó Dálaigh in the ministry's main library. He didn't think many people noticed it, but if anyone had he wouldn't have put it past Pyxis and he was clever enough to understand the implication of such a link.

They passed through the library with its blue and gold painted star chart ceiling, celestial compasses and arithmancy instrumentation before settling in a spacious sitting room that had been made up with fresh peony flowers that complemented the dark walls and burgundy red and ebony furnishings. Everything in Ard na Mara was far grander than anyone would have cause to assume upon meeting Odhrán. His presence seemed strangely modest amidst the splendour, yet perfectly grounded.

The punch was finally served and Odhrán raised his glass in a vague attempt at politeness. He wasn't a creature of society and Pyxis knew that. There was no benefit in pretending.

"I am sure you're curious why I issued the invitation," Odhrán cut straight to the chase. "I've had my doubts if I should, but I've decided you can be trusted. I think you might suspect that I may know a thing or two about, well, a thing or two. Have you noticed what Winthrop in your department is up to lately? If you haven't, I suggest you give that one a close look." He flexed his legillimency for a moment with a saccharine little smile, letting the implication sink in. "I think he may be over-sharing the details of your classified operations. And he's probably after Bullstrode's job."