“Not until now,” Effie echoed back at him, with a smaller, more honest smile just for him. She was being a little silly – for she had friends at the Ministry enough, and her work wasn’t so dreadful as she made it out to be, and she had avoided ludicrous patents tonight. But she had other, more selfish reasons to enjoy herself now – and some sliver of light of an escape route from it all, if Brooks gave her it.
“I promise I only have one question about work for you,” she said, mock-serious, “and it is that I hope even the Department of Mysteries is allowing its employees some time off over Christmas? Because my other question is when might I expect to see you next.”
She shot him another hopeful smile. Effie was supposed to visit her muggle family in Edinburgh on Christmas Eve, though she was well-accustomed to finding excuses to leave, and she was sure she could rely on her friends to occupy her through the holiday season otherwise, but the rest of the time she would be left to her own devices. Brooks was without family too, so she imagined his time would be spent similarly, and perhaps indeed he would be in need of some distraction. And she did not mean to monopolise his time, even if they were courting – she was always perfectly at ease spending her days alone – but she had grown fond of him, and of spending time in his company.
“I promise I only have one question about work for you,” she said, mock-serious, “and it is that I hope even the Department of Mysteries is allowing its employees some time off over Christmas? Because my other question is when might I expect to see you next.”
She shot him another hopeful smile. Effie was supposed to visit her muggle family in Edinburgh on Christmas Eve, though she was well-accustomed to finding excuses to leave, and she was sure she could rely on her friends to occupy her through the holiday season otherwise, but the rest of the time she would be left to her own devices. Brooks was without family too, so she imagined his time would be spent similarly, and perhaps indeed he would be in need of some distraction. And she did not mean to monopolise his time, even if they were courting – she was always perfectly at ease spending her days alone – but she had grown fond of him, and of spending time in his company.
