It was a fairly common occurrence for the matrons of the four houses to take tea together and swap war stories so Connie felt fairly sure that Mrs Bennett would accept her invitation without too much question. Admittedly the younger woman might find it odd that their Hufflepuff and Gryffindor counterparts were notably absent but by then it would be too late for her to avoid Connie's curiosity.

Professor Sleptov had been clear enough but Connie wanted to hear it from the horse's mouth, so to speak, and, if she was able, to use it for-

Which was where her thought process ended. What did she want to get from this? A confirmation of dirt on somebody that she would probably never use because she found gossip particularly distasteful and she liked both of the parties involved? It didn't hurt to know things just in case of course but still, what would she do with it - tell the Headmaster? Hardly.

"I...I spoke to Professor Sleptov the other day," she said, trying to maintain an even voice as she kept her voice steady and poured the tea, perhaps exaggerating the extent of the stilted conversation. "He...erm... I know," she said lamely, stirring in sugar she didn't even take purely for something to occupy her hands. "Or at least I think I do."

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MJ made me beautiful