"And suppose you do meet him and his explanation does not satisfy you? Will you end up hating him forever? Don't you think it's better that you don't know?'' Jory wondered out aloud. ''And maybe I'll meet your mom sometime at King's Crossing.'' He smiled, "Thanks, you're a great friend too."

''She's nice. Is she an artist? I saw her with drawing stuff back at the pathways,'' Jory recalled "She was very pre-occupied there and that's where I got my opinion on her.'' he told Ari.

Jory was very glad he had magical abilities. Who knew a whole different world existed besides the Muggle world?
''Well, that's good. Who knows but maybe one of these days that absent mindedness may come in handy.''

Only now Jory realised that the music they'd been dancing to was still on.
"Do we have to dance anymore?" he asked Ari.

She had never thought about it that way, so Ari needed a few moments to reply. 'In my opinion, there can hardly be anything worse than not knowing. So yes, I still do want to meet him, whatever he might say.' Was that foolish? Or courageous?

'Sure, she always takes me there, so I guess you might see her if we get there around the same time. Or on Diagon Alley! When do you plan on going there this summer?' Ariadne asked Jory, hoping they would meet. She would even have liked to invite him to spend some time at her family's house in Yorkshire but she was too embarassed to say so aloud.

'Yes, Gwen is very talented at drawing. She even did a portrait of me, surprisingly accurate.' the girl recalled. Ari had forgotten all about the music until Jory asked her if they should continue. Well, that's why they were there in the first place. 'Are you sure you can? Is your foot ok? I promise to be more careful this time.' Ariadne said, sincerely.

Jory admired Ari's courage. "You've got nerves, Ari,'' Jory told her. ''If it were my dad I'm not sure I would have would wanted to see the man again.'' He was very sure of that.

Jory thought. "i think I will go the day after I get the book list but I will send you an owl to let you know. Do you plan on going any particular day? I would be nice to see her. I've hardly met any adult witches and wizards.''

''She did? I would like to see it, if you don't mind of course.'' While talking to Ari, Jory hadn't realised his foot felt totally normal. "Its all better,'' he reassured Ari. "I'm sure you will be.''

Jory prepared himself for another round of dancing and held out his hand for Ari.

Surprised, Ari raised an eyebrow. 'Really? I need to know him, he's my father, I must have inherited some personality traits from him, so he's a part of me as much as my mum is.' Ariadne argued. 'So, what are your parents like?' she wondered how a normal, happy family looked like.

'I don't know yet, but something like...the 20th of August? Definitely after my birthday, as my mum told me she won't buy me any presents beforehand and she'll let me get whatever I want on Diagon Alley afterwards.' The girl was already giddy about that. 'By the way, I have no idea when YOUR birthday is.' Ari realized.

'I'll show it to you sometime, but I don't have it now. Just make sure to remind me.' she promised. 'Okay, let's get through with this' Ariadne said, placing her hand on Jory's shoulder and starting to dance again, much more careful this time.

Jory honestly couldn't understand Ari's need to see her father but he let the matter drop. ''My parents are very caring. Both are understanding. They spend as much time as possible with Grace and me especially mom since dad's busy alot and sometimes even when he's home he has to leave if a high profile case. Hen dad's home we're usually playing cricket or having a cook out. Mom prefers hide and seek. And we've always have to have guards at the house 'cos dad made lots of enemies. Having guards drives my mom crazy. She thinks they invade our lives. Mom made dad teacher her how to use a gun so she's not one to mess with,'' Jory said thinking fondly of his parents.

Jory made a mental note of Ari's birthday. "Mine is December 27th. What do you plan on getting for your birthday?''

"I'll remind you,'' Jory said as he and Ari began their waltz Ari somewhat a little less relaxed than before.