Ted’s presence adds colour to the cottage that rivals the autumn landscape, and the stream of laughter that follows him drowns out the morning birdsong. And against all odds, Draco lets him in. He tells him bits of himself and his parents, things he’s never voiced, and through it all Ted’s calming demeanour acts like a salve. Draco often wonders how Ted does it, how he draws people towards him and how they end up revealing themselves as easily as discussing the weather.