She absolutely had him for a minute there. No way in hell Ben was turning down an invitation to stay the night with her (his mind had jumped to wondering what sort of undergarments a woman like her might be wearing — certainly something sexy, if she worked at a vaudeville place, right?) He wasn't planning to pay extra money to spend the night in a room full of sweaty, drunk men, though. He only grew more disappointed as she spoke of catching snitches literally. Maybe his flirting throughout the night hadn't gone quite as well as he'd thought, or maybe she was just a step ahead of him and playing hard to get. Either way, it seemed clear that he'd plateaued for the day.

"I think I'll manage my way home," he said, keeping his tone jovial despite his disappointment. "Nothing in Hogsmeade is more dangerous than what I've come across in foreign crypts, I'll wager," he joked, referencing his career as a freelance Cursebreaker. Had he told her about that while they were playing? He couldn't recall now, but he supposed it didn't matter. She'd know now, at any rate.