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So this was the Hogwarts Coming Out ball! Hesper wasn't sure whether she'd have her own Coming Out once she was of age, she'd never known her great aunt to host anything but the occasional tea party with an equally austere friend or two. The Hogwarts Coming Out ball might be the only one she got - for many students that would be the case, but not so for the upper class girls, amongst them she'd be an oddity. If she only had the one coming out, she would have to make the most of it if she wanted to get married in her first season - which she very much did. There was no other (sane) way she could escape her great aunt.

So far Hesper had done more studying of the seventh year girls' progress than any mixing or dancing of her own. A part of her felt like an imposter, like she shouldn't be there. She was in a room (mostly) full of adults and she suddenly felt immature in a way she hadn't even as a first year. What if a grown man asked her to dance? Should she accept? But how could she possbily refuse politely? Fortunately, this had yet to happen before Sirius found her and put all thoughts of awkward dances with strange men out of her head.

As she accepted the glass, she couldn't help wondering whether he'd sought her out intentionally or just happened upon her. She didn't dwell on the why of this direction of thought, she supposed it didn't really make a difference in the end. 'Enjoying' might be an overstatement... she mused wryly. But it's still early. Hesper glanced his way and tried to assess what his feelings were from the look on his face. How does it compare to last year? Last May she'd been eaten up with envy that all of her friends would be going without her and the ghost of that envy had been revived this week. She might be going with them this time, but she got the impression it wasn't as big of a deal as it was last year.

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Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes:

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Well it's all right for you, you don't have to worry about strangers asking you to dance! She meant to be mostly good-natured in her retort but there was an obvious defensiveness underlining her tone that caught her by surprise. Or no one asking you to dance. Embarrassed, she looked away to hide her face from him, pursing her lips ruefully as she did. Hesper stared at the nearest cluster of people and willed them to do something distracting so there would be something to distract Sirius. Not that I'm worried about that, I'm not, it's not my coming out. Why aren't you dancing? Hesper finally felt recovered enough to look at him again.

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Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes:

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For a moment all Hesper could do was stare at him as she processed the words that had just come out of his mouth. What was she supposed to say to that? He technically wasn't actually asking her if she wanted to dance, he was asking if she would want to if she did and what sort of question was that?! What sort of answer was he hoping to get from her? A 'no'? Did he want her to say no so he didn't feel bad for not wanting to, was that it? Or was he actually expecting her to say yes and- Well she couldn't possibly say yes... Could she?

If she answered the question truthfully... Hesper considered. She wouldn't mind dancing with Sirius if that's all it was. But it wasn't just a dance with Sirius, it would be a dance with Sirius in front of half the school and his father was probably around somewhere and nevermind the notable society folk scattered around. More importantly, what if she said yes and he didn't want to dance with her or he was only joking and he teased her for taking it too seriously?

Hesper bit her lip and forced a reply before too much time lapsed and it became an obvious hesitation. You can if you want to. She gave a barely perceptible shrug as she tried to seem like the epitome of nonchalance - as she did so she found herself questioning why she even needed to affect the nonchalance in the first place.

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Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes:

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Merlin, it was a waltz! Fortunately, Hesper was thoroughly drilled in her dancing but she didn't actually have much experience dancing for real and something about this exact situation was making her feel... nervous. Yes, she'd attended children's 'balls' occasionally but it wasn't like this, this was the real deal. This was the closest she'd ever gotten to the sort of life she could expect after Hogwarts.

She reached out and clasped his hand. Never in all her life had she appreciated the function of gloves more than she did in this moment for she was convinced her hands were starting to get clammy. It was ridiculous, it was only Sirius, not one of the intimidating society gentlemen milling around. He had been here last year though, had he waltzed with Flora? She couldn't remember if Flora had said anything about them dancing or not, but surely they had? They were surely going to be Head Boy and Girl together, they were close, they must've danced together. Probably they'd already danced that evening, if not they surely would.

I know what a waltz is. She'd intended it playfully but it fell awkwardly somewhere between teasing and defensive, although she'd had zero intention of snapping at him at all. Hesper bit her lip regretfully. Are you a waltzing expert then? she asked, finally finding the more jovial tone that she'd initially intended. Best to pretend it hadn't happened, she decided.

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Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes:

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Hesper broke into peals of laughter. What he'd said hadn't been that funny, but she'd been so tense a moment ago (not helped by his slight stumble) and suddenly it was all gone. You absolutely do not! She'd stopped laughing but she was smiling as though she might start laughing again at any moment. Hrmmm, on second thought, maybe you should go back to the quidditch pitch... She just managed to squash the impulse to stick her tongue out at him at the last second, much to her relief.

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Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes:

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Is that your birthday party plan? Testing everyone's waltz? Obviously she didn't believe that for a second but while they were apparently going to be rather whimsical...

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Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes:

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She couldn't help but to laugh again. Had he actually just winked?! I think there's something in your eye. She fought the urge to smile with mixed success. She blinked rapidly at him in what was supposed to be mockery, but realized too late that she was technically fluttering her eyelashes at him. She immediately stopped.

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Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes:

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Hesper felt heat rise to her cheeks as she felt self-conscious but then he was laughing and she couldn't help but to laugh with him, only laughing harder when he mimicked her. In that moment it seemed to her like the silliest thing she'd seen in her entire life. Sirius, stop-! She stopped abruptly to continue giggling. I can't dance- She got a few more words out but had to stop again for laughter.

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Outfit | Tag: Sirius Black | Notes: