He looked almost hurt, and she didn’t know why – she was trying to be considerate to him. To take care of herself, and let him have some freedom left. Did men even like dancing, really? They certainly did it, when they were courting and looking to marry – but most older couples seemed to only dance when the men were dragged out by their wives. Ford had suggested it to prove a point to society, that was all – and though she genuinely liked to dance, there was no chance she could enjoy herself in a dance that he was trapped in for appearances’ sake.

But she felt a pang at his face and that oh, and blinked rapidly, trying to quell – some emotion. “I – just need a little air before we dance,” she said decisively. She would give herself time to pull herself together without all of society watching, and then she would face the rest of the night, and dance as many times as he wanted to in perfect good humour. “See the grounds, for a bit. You can come too, if you’d like to,” she allowed quickly, feeling obliged to give him the choice; but at least she knew the Hogwarts grounds as well as anyone else, and he wouldn’t need to worry that she would get into a state in the coatroom this time – “but I’m sure I’ll be fine.”

At least the Coming Out Ball came around every year, and invitations were not exclusive. It would surely be a better time next year.

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