Brooks wasn't enough of a fan of most of his colleagues to want to spend extra time with them, especially when his department was not exactly allowed to talk shop outside of their offices in the basement. He too had been trapped in a pointless conversation, when Effie sidled up to him. He warmed instantly, passing her a reserved smile, chuckling quietly at her comments.

"It would be my utmost pleasure." He held out his arm to her and excused himself from the current conversation, relieved to have a realistic escape from the monotony. Brooks had never been very good at hearing about the woes of the other departments; he was always too wrapped up in his own work to give much thought to what the rest of the ministry was up to; save for Effie's department. He didn't mind hearing about her days. "It is quite strange to socialize with colleagues outside of work." He wouldn't do it if he could avoid it. This always seemed like a function he wasn't really allowed to skip out on.

He stood before her as the music queued up, bowing slightly. "Your dress is lovely." A good color for her. "I do hope that's not what they expect you to wear in the Floo if you haven't quite left work yet?" He teased lightly, still getting used to getting back into the swing of such intimacies.