"D'you think they're--" Lucas starts to say to Essie, wondering about the friends they haven't reconnected with, yet. But he loses his train of thought when a particularly gruff-looking auror walks right past them. He gawks, obviously awed and a little bit intimidated, inching a bit closer to his much smaller, much braver companion. Gosh, the lodge sure is crowded.

Once he has to crane his neck to follow the auror's path, his attention snaps away and he scans the sea of people in search of a particular set of faces. "They've got to be okay, right?"