"Coffee. Water."
"Thank you."
Bruce thanked her and took the glass.
"Rowling, Bruce isn't just a Harry Potter fan," Christopher said with a smile. "He's written a new novel that's strongly connected to that world, and it's genuinely excellent."
"Oh?"
Once he had her attention, Christopher opened his briefcase and handed over the freshly rebound manuscript.
"Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them?"
The moment she saw the title, surprise flashed across Rowling's face.
Of course it did.
She knew that title better than anyone. In her world, it was a Hogwarts textbook, one that could be found in almost every wizarding household.
Bruce gave her an apologetic smile.
"I'm sorry, Ms. Rowling. I loved your concept for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them so much that after I finished the book, I ended up using the title as well. If that bothers you, I can change it."
Rowling shook her head without saying much.
Her attention had already been pulled into the manuscript.
In the future, the film adaptation of Fantastic Beasts would earn more than eight hundred million dollars worldwide. And under Bruce's more detailed prose, the story still had all the charm it needed.
More importantly, Rowling herself would one day be the producer behind that story.
Even though that was still years away, the strength of the material was already there, and it was more than enough to grip the woman who had built the Harry Potter universe in the first place.
Bruce and Christopher exchanged a glance and wisely kept quiet.
Neither of them disturbed her.
It wasn't until three hours later, when the front door opened, that the silence finally broke.
A middle-aged white man with a calm, bookish air stepped inside.
"Joanne?... Christopher, you're here?"
He hung up his coat, smiling as he walked over.
"Neil, you're back."
Christopher stood to greet him, and the two men embraced briefly.
Then Christopher gestured toward Bruce.
"This is Bruce, a very talented American writer. He came all the way here with me to visit Joanne."
"Professor Murray, nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too."
Bruce shook his hand.
Coming from the future, he already knew Rowling had remarried. He just hadn't known who the man was. Now it was obvious.
Neil Murray.
An anesthetist and professor connected to the University of Exeter.
As far as Bruce knew, the two of them were living together at the moment but weren't married yet, which was hardly unusual in the West.
Neil glanced toward Rowling, who was still lost in the manuscript.
"She's that absorbed?"
Before Christopher could answer, Rowling spoke first.
"Neil, just give me a moment. I'm almost done."
Neil smiled and nodded.
Then he motioned to the sitting area nearby.
"Why don't we talk over there?"
Bruce and Christopher both agreed and moved with him to a round table in the adjoining reception space.
"Neil, I brought a top Bordeaux this time," Christopher said cheerfully. "We're going to open it properly with dinner."
"Top Bordeaux?" Neil looked amused. "Don't tell me it's Château d'Yquem."
Because they were close friends, Christopher didn't even bother pretending to be scandalized. He just rolled his eyes.
"Even if I had the money, I still couldn't get hold of Château d'Yquem."
He wasn't joking.
Anyone who knew anything about Bordeaux wines knew the name. Château d'Yquem stood alone, with a reputation so lofty it seemed to belong as much to legend as to wine.
Then Christopher grinned.
"But when you and Joanne finally get married, I'll do my best to get a bottle and bring it as a wedding gift."
"Then I'll thank you in advance."
After that, Neil turned his attention back to Bruce.
As host, he clearly had no intention of ignoring his guest.
"So, Bruce, you're from the States?"
"I am."
"It's impressive," Neil said. "You're still very young, and yet Christopher speaks about you like an established writer already."
That was polite understatement. If Bruce had managed to interest Christopher and hold Joanne's attention for three straight hours, that was already proof enough.
Bruce smiled modestly.
"I still have a lot to learn. Compared to Ms. Rowling, I'm nowhere near that level yet."
Even with all the changes in his life, some things hadn't gone anywhere.
Humility, for one.
And in a situation like this, it worked in his favor.
Just as Neil was about to continue, Rowling finally approached with the manuscript in hand.
"Bruce," she said, looking genuinely pleased, "you've written a very good novel."
Talent was still the surest way to earn respect from people like her.
Bruce gave a small nod.
"You're too kind. I borrowed a lot of ideas from Harry Potter along the way..."
"No," Rowling said, cutting him off. "I haven't finished it yet, but the story is set in the early twentieth century. Aside from a few familiar terms, this is very clearly its own fantasy novel."
Then she glanced at Christopher.
"If you want him to help get it published, there's no need to come to me for authorization."
That was what she thought this was about.
She assumed Christopher had brought Bruce here to get her blessing so the book could move forward without trouble.
Neither Bruce nor Christopher corrected the misunderstanding.
"Joanne," Christopher said smoothly, "it's not only about the publishing. Bruce also has a few questions about the sequel material and wanted to ask your thoughts."
The future sequels to Fantastic Beasts were, in truth, only Bruce's excuse for getting closer to her. He already knew the rough direction of at least the next two installments from memory. At the moment, though, the manuscript's real value was that it gave him a reason to meet Rowling in person and start building goodwill.
Christopher continued.
"And he also has some interesting thoughts on Book Five of Harry Potter, and maybe even where the story could go after that. He hoped to exchange ideas with you."
That got her full attention.
After reading Fantastic Beasts, Rowling had no trouble believing Bruce was capable of offering ideas worth hearing.
She was about to respond when Neil gently interrupted.
"Darling, it's already half past six. As hosts, we really shouldn't let our guests starve. I'm sure there'll be plenty of time for literary discussion afterward."
Christopher immediately backed him up.
"He's right. I'm starving."
Rowling hesitated for a moment, then nodded.
"All right. Dinner first."
With Christopher there to keep the conversation moving, Bruce gradually became more familiar with both Rowling and Neil over the course of the meal.
And during dinner, every now and then, Bruce would casually mention a thought or two about where Harry Potter might go next. Each time he did, Rowling's interest sharpened again.
By the time the meal ended, the evening had gone as well as Bruce could have hoped.
They didn't leave until around nine.
On the drive back to the hotel, Christopher grinned and held up a hand.
Bruce met it with a quick slap.
"Day one was a success," Christopher said. "Now the question is whether you can push it further and make Joanne genuinely invested."
Bruce smiled.
"Haven't we already found common ground?"
Christopher chuckled.
"That we have. Still, be careful. Don't give Neil any reason to get jealous, or we'll end up ruining the whole thing."
"Don't worry. I know where the line is."
Then Bruce thought for a moment and added,
"Actually, just to be safe, you should find someone to pose as my girlfriend and introduce her to them in public. That'll make Neil a lot less suspicious."
Christopher considered it, then nodded.
"Leave that to me."