Ford hadn't been expecting that line Lestrange had written about atmosphere of unsettling, empty manors, hence his question about whether the other man was expecting to be frightened. These sorts of things were intended to scare people, of course, but they were designed by Muggles and for Muggles, so that wasn't always the effect they had on him. Particularly since he dealt with spirits in a professional capacity, some of the antics that happened in the supposedly-haunted houses were too ridiculous for him to take them seriously, and they ended up being silly. Ford thought it was a good time, regardless, but since Lestrange had written I would love to be scared he was nervous that this manor in Derry wouldn't live up to expectations. He was excited about tonight, too. As he'd already written, he was looking forward to getting away from the crowded Bartonburg house, even if it was just for a night, but his excitement was more than that. Of the three options he'd presented, this one was the most involved, and it was a little thrilling that Lestrange had chosen it. Was that silly of him? The other man had already indicated he wanted to do something like this, and they'd gotten on well the last time they'd spoken at the club, so it wasn't out of left field. But there was a difference between getting along with someone well enough to go out and do something with them for a few hours, and getting on well enough with someone that you wanted to spend all night with them in a secluded manor in Ireland, wasn't there? Or was he reading too much into this?

In any case, between the nerves and the anticipation his skin was practically itching by the time he arrived at the Three Broomsticks that evening. He hadn't told his siblings exactly where he was going, only vaguely that he had an evening engagement and intended to stay out, which sort of added to the excitement — like it was a secret, although there was no reason it had to be. He had a shoulder bag with everything he would need for the night and the next day, so that he could go straight from the manor to the Ministry. He was loitering in the entryway, wondering whether he ought to take a seat at a table or at the bar, whether to order a drink or just wait, when Lestrange arrived.

"Hi," he said brightly. "Do you want to get a drink, or do you want to just go? They're going to have dinner ready for us when we get there," he explained. Then, with a slight chuckle, "But I didn't ask about drinks."

Cassius Lestrange