He gripped her elbow no tighter than was socially acceptable, lest the young woman find herself the unfortunate victim of Hogsmeade's gossip mill. (The only thing worse than the gossip mill here was the one at Hogwarts, and even as a professor he was glad to be rid of it for a few weeks.)

"It's a pleasure to meet you Miss Jones, though I must admit I wish we'd met under less... chilly circumstances," he said, smiling down at her. "My name is Nigel Vane." She was young, but recognized no Josie Jones from his class rosters.

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