"It really is," Terry said thoughtfully. "It's quiet here, in a way it never is in the city, even in Diagon Alley." He sipped his tea thoughtfully.
"How's work going?" he asked casually, trying not to be obvious that he was really interested in if Michael had seen James recently, and how he was doing, and if he seemed happy and if he'd been eating enough. None of that was any of his business any longer, and he had no right to ask. Didn't stop him from wondering about it, or picturing James coming home from work, all grumpy and sleepy.
He pushed aside the biscuits, no longer hungry. "Why does it have to hurt so much?" he whispered, not looking up at Michael. "It shouldn't hurt this much, I think."