This is such an impressive story, and truly the essence of what makes Beholder such an amazing treasure. You have taken two characters whose dull thuggishness borders on the cartoon in canon and make them into believable, all-to-human people with whom we can empathize, something that is not easy to do. You also showed the dark underbelly of the wizarding world with devastating insight, all the more powerful for the way you underplay it. Brilliantly characterized, beautifully written - thank you for sharing it, Mystery Author!