Miles just felt numb. It was happening over again. Millicent's child had died at his hand (well, indirectly), and now he had that to add to his conscience.
Numb, and cold and not at all listening to Romilda. It took a moment to realise she was talking softly, and that for once she made sense. He merely nodded.
He didn't know how long he sat there, scrubbing his hands over his face as he tried to keep away the damn tears that were threatening. It could have been minutes, it could have been hours, but when he eventually looked up, it was to see Romilda staring at him oddly.
"Please don't tell anyone," he begged of her. He'd not normally ask such a thing of anyone, especially not a damn ghost. "I... if anyone finds out, I'll get questioned, then taken away and Liam will have to stay with Daphne, or his godfather, Draco. You don't want that, do you?"