"I took him on as my apprentice," Edward said. "Kept who he was a secret and asked Mike not to tell anyone."

  Fudge blinked, a bit taken aback. "You... took him as an apprehe son of Britain's prime minister?"

  Edward nodded. "Yes. He's talented, and I saw potential in him. Where he's from or what family he belongs to doesn't matter to me."

  Fudge could only gulp at Edward's straightforward fidence. He had nument, after all—no rules were broken.

  Edward then shared the usual background story they had now told many times to many people.

  Just as Edward fielling Fudge about Maverick, the Queen made it clear why he was here.

  "Help get the bistered a up his identity," Queen Elizabeth asked Fudge.

  Finally uanding why he had been called, Fudge's face quickly ged to one of fttery. He cleared his throat and offered a smooth smile. "Of course, for Speaker Garling's appre would be my pleasure."

  Being the politi, he quickly thought about how he could be from the situation. And what could be better than earning a favor from an Arch-Magus?

  Edward didn't mind; if it kept things quiet, all the better. Taking Maverick to the Ministry would only attrauch attention.

  "I'll have things ready by tomorrow," Fudge said. He paused, then asked, "Should I bring it here, Your Majesty?"

  The Queen looked to Michael. "Please send it to the Prime Minister's house."

  Fudge g Michael. "Very well. I'll make sure they are sent to your house, Mr. Prime Minister."

  Michael nodded. "Thank you, Minister."

  Ohe important discussions ed up, Fudge asked Maverick a few more questions about his future pns and his views on the try's magical unity. Maveriswered, choosing his words carefully to avoid further questions.

  Then they shifted to small talk, with Fudge sharing the test news from the British magical unity. The Queen, Michael, and Edward joined in, adding both official and unofficial stories, while Maverick mostly listened quietly

  The Queen's small ba ended soon after, and Fudge made his exit first, throwing in more fttery toward Edward and once again promising to hahe favor.

  Maverick saw the Minister's political side firsthand—the man didn't even try to hide his shamelessness, making it clear that he was doing a favor.

  Fortunately, Edward wasn't petty; he simply nodded, showing his experien handling people like Fudge without reag.

  After the Minister left, the Queen invited Maverick to return for a brief orientation with the Zero Squad before he began his travels.

  Maverick promised to return soon, after Edward and his family left for America at the end of the weekend.

  Then Edward, Michael, and Maverick said their farewells ahe pace. Just like when they arrived, they left quietly, without any sign they had evehere. By the time they got bae, it was nearly three o'clo the afternoon.

  As soon as the three of them ehey saw Silvia and Ariel sitting on the living room sofa with Isabel between them, engaged in a deep versation.

  "Ah... you're back," Ariel called out, standing up.

  Mavericed at Isabel and noticed her looking down, her cheeks slightly flushed.

  It was clear that Silvia had filled in the bnks for his mother, and the two women had likely gossiped about him to Isabel during his visit with the queen.

  "How did it go, meeting the English queen?" Silvia asked as she too stood up and walked over to them.

  "Good... better than expected," Edward replied.

  "She retty badass," Maverick said as he walked over to the sofa and sat down beside Isabel.

  Edward and Michael followed and took seats, while their wives moved o them.

  "Really? What happened?" Ariel asked, looking at her son.

  "Well..." Mavericed at his teacher. "She spoke to him without even fling. You know... the teacher is..." He paused, searg for the right word. "Famous for being..." He cleared his throat, already regretting bringing it up.

  Edward raised an eyebrow, curious to hear his student's take on his reputation.

  "Well... very powerful... frightening to a lot of people," Maverick mao say.

  "Is that how you think people see me as?" Edward asked with amusement.

  Everyone gave him a knowing smile, sensing his slight embarrassment.

  Cough.

  "That's not the point, teacher," Maverick said quickly, trying to hide his shyness. "She was just a regur human, but the way she talked even made me feel intimidated." He paused, remembering something. "Unlike her magical terpart, who was sweating buckets as soon as he id eyes on you."

  Edward chuckled. "Yes, Fudge is quite the character. Actually, I've never even spoken to him before this… no idea why he reacted that way."

  'Because you're the Golden Lion of America. The guy who took on Grindelwald, even when you were a rank lower back then,' Maverick thought, but held his tongue.

  "So, what did she want?" Ariel asked, gng at her husband.

  Michael scratched his head. He certainly wasn't about to spill everything. It was tough enough for him to accept the queen's arras for Maverick.

  Though the bes were impressive, especially since he would be doing very little most of the time, the risks were enormous wheime came.

  But he had accepted, because by now, he had some idea of how powerful his son might bee. His wife, however, he was sure, had no clue.

  "She just wanted him to work closely with me... you know, when it es to things reted to magic," Michael expined, downpying things as much as he could without ht lying.

  "Really?" Ariel raised an eyebrow, skeptical.

  "It's true," Edward chimed in, ing to Michael's rescue. "She just wanted him to work for the gover. But my student here did some impressive talking and pretty much made himself a free-loader."

  Silvia cocked her head, looking fused.

  "Well... he'll get paid, he just doesn't have to work much," Edward crified. "And he won't be w for ail he finishes his jourraveling the world."

  Ariel nodded, getting some idea of what had happened.

  Meanwhile, Mavericed at Isabel, leaned in, and whispered, "What's up? You look tense..."

  "I'm fine," she whispered back quickly, gng at him briefly.

  Silvia noticed the brief exge between her daughter and Maverick. She turo Ariel and winked before calling out, "Alright, since Maverick's business is done, why don't we all head out for a little fun?" She g her husband afterward.

  Ariel also looked at Michael.

  Edward and Michael exged a quice before making up their minds. "Nah," they both replied in unison.

  Michael then asked, "Let's go watch tonight's game. United's pying..."

  Edward thought for a moment. "Hmm... No-Maj sports... Sure, but there better be some betting involved..."

  Michael chuckled. "Of course." He then g his wife. "Sorry, honey... but take Maverid Isabel with you."

  Silvia's brow twitched, but Maverick cut in before she could respond. "I'll take Bel around Diagon Alley." He g Edward. "Teacher..."

  Edward raised his hand. "Just be careful..."

  Silvia and Ariel exged looks, sighed, then advised the same. "Be careful."

  They had initially po go together—do a little shopping and theo a restaurant, two families enjoying the day.

  Silvia had, in fact, told Maverick's mother about her daughter and Maverick's retionship, so Ariel suggested a ing—a little celebration, some fun around London. With the two families now being more closely ected, it seemed like a great idea.

  Unfortunately, their husbands had other pns. But this worked out just as well. Though they wouldn't all be together, everyone would still have some fun—just not in the same way.

  They quickly ged into casual clothes, except for Maverid Isabel, who wore their wizarding robes siheir destination was the heart of wizarding Britain.

  Michael's house had three cars—one for him, one for his wife, and one for Maverick. The wome first, while Edward and Michael weren't in a hurry sihe football game they po watch was ter that day.

  Not long after the women, Maverid Isabel also took a car and drove off, heading toward Charing Cross Road.

  —————————

  Author's Note:

  Just a quick update — up to Chapter 68 is already avaible on P AT r30n!

  PAT r30n [.] / RyanFic