It didn't take too long for him to spot her and vice versa. Alvin still felt a little weird about approaching her, doubly so with Sloane around, but he still didn't know what to think about this situation and everything that had happened since Sloane's disappearance last summer. It would be a lie to say his time with Miss Thompsett hadn't been part of what propelled him toward the ministry, but he couldn't tell if it was her specifically, or if maybe he'd just come to the realization that she represented what he should be working toward at this point in his life.

Alvin met her smile with one of his own. "Far more my speed than anything fancier, at any rate." He had never attended one of these regular balls in Hogsmeade, meant more for their class and a little more relaxed, but then again he'd been gone for a while and not in a position to socialize for even longer. It would be good practice for him. Once he was more established at the ministry, which he knew would take a little while, he would be in a place to take these things more seriously. Now the guise of supervising Sloane was good enough.

"I must admit, this is my first time. I forgot they are somewhat regular events." He'd been too caught up in his own life to really think about leaving the house for things like this.