Miles was back at the manor after his trip to Paris with Lettie. He'd only stopped in for a short time with Daphne, thanking her for looking after Liam. He'd promised to take her out the following weekend to thank her properly for that. He was grinning at the thought of that when a familiar owl flew into the room.
He had been listening to the incessant 'adventures of Liam and Nigel', which were rather entertaining, when he read the message.
He swore loudly, causing Liam to giggle. Rosie was dead? How the fuck had that happened?
He scribbled a quick reply to attach to the bird's leg, looking at his son and his happy and smiling face. More bad news. Fuck.
When he said he thought they should go and visit Millicent and Ella, the smile on Liam's face widened even more. He didn't say anything, but already had a sense of just how this was going to hurt his son.
He'd already been through one tantrum because he'd told Liam he couldn't go and see Rosmerta. Running a hand through the boy's hair as he carried him, he grabbed a broom as they apparated to the outskirts of Hogsmeade.
He'd fly with the boy the rest of the way to town, and let him have a few more moments of childhood innocence.