numbrelcharmandbrokeintoajog.whileitwastruethathefoundgreatreliefinsheddinghisverypublipersona,harryfoundthatbeingunderoverforsolongmadehimfesifhe’dlostpieesofhimself.asheapproahedtheashtyl,heheadedtowardstheservieentranebutalmostfelloverwhenaredblurranthroughhislegsandthrewhimoffbane.

“whatthe—”

akneazle,aat-likereaturewithdeepredmarkings,blinkedupathimandthendartedawaydownthestreet.harrythoughtitoddsuhananimalwouldbearoundtheservieentrane,letalonewanderingthestreets.itmusthavebeenlost.

harrymeanttoinquireatthemaindeskifanyguestshadmentionedhavingthepet,butvalentinegavehimalistoftasksassoonashesawharry.thenormallyhippermanwasdistrated.“we’vebeenshufflingguestsaround,hangingroomassigs,”heexpined.“it’sbeenahetim.”

hedealtwiththenoiseompintonthetenthfloorasbestheould,buttherewasn’tmuhtobedone.carefulnottooffend,heinsistedthatthevaationingoupleshouldteareahothertoshredswithintheonfinesoftheirsound-proofwardedroom.onhisrounds,hehekedonafewhouseelveshe’dtakenalikingto,andoneofthemmentionedthepenthousehadthedo-not-disturbcharmonforalmostanentireday.

“that’sodd,”harrysaid.

grimbienodded.“yes,sirs,andwehasn’tbeenabletoleanordelivernewitems.ourroutinesisallmessedup.messedup,yes.”

“i’lllookintoit,”harryassuredtheelf.hewenttotheliftandthenrealizedhe’dmispedhismasterspellkey.valentineseemedpreoupiedwhenharrytoldhimaboutthepenthouseandbarelyregisteredharry’sonfessionthathelostthespellkey.