Neither Alfred nor Zelda were particularly keen on fancy parties, but they were both invested in supporting family. Between Katia's numerous children and the Fudges (who were technically related to Zelda, but over time had come to feel just as much like family to Alfred) there were multiple nervous teenagers to support, so here they were. Neither of them seemed entirely sure what they were supposed to do to support said nervous teenagers, though, other than being present and offering compliments on cue — so it was not surprising that Alfred was lurking near the refreshments table, checking his pocket watch to see how much longer the night went, when the commotion started.

He hadn't been the first to notice the animal, but he did look up quickly enough to spot the hedgehog before the spell hit it. He assumed the hedgehog — conjured or loosed in the Great Hall, he didn't know — was probably a prank on behalf of one of the students, and a fairly good one. It was likely to cause a bit of chaos without launching a proper disaster. The immediate magical reaction was a bit of an overreaction by the guests, he reckoned, but that was how society types were sometimes. He certainly wasn't quick enough with his wand to either add to or counter any of the magic. And then the hedgehog disappeared, replaced by a very disheveled looking gentleman.

Alfred hadn't the faintest what had just happened, but moved on instinct towards the man to offer him a hand up. Unfortunately not everyone seemed to have noticed the hedgehog was gone — while most of the crowd nearby had fallen into shocked silence, there was at least one spell still flying, and it hit unsuspecting Alfred in the shoulder.

---