Hermia considered the procession carefuly, her mind flicking through the list of girls and their prospects. It was one thing to discuss marriage and matches in abstraction, but seeing girls she'd known for at least six years approach that threshold was a different matter entirely. With only a few exceptions, the idea of any of the seventh year girls accepting proposals seemed ridiculous. Then again, wasn't that the goal? Perhaps she should have taken more at lunch, Hermia certainly felt faint.

"I suppose that will depend on their connections." She offered cautiously. The last thing she wanted to do was be caught gossiping at such a time, but it was a fair question. "It is possible, though there are very few courtships or matches I've heard of before tonight." And courtships came first, unless a girl was already promised. Or her parents already knew her mind. If they knew her mind. If they cared. Oh, Merlin, what if your father didn't care? What if there were impending engagements and a girl wasn't even aware? No. No, absolutely not. "No, perhaps an expression of interest, but an engagement? That seems," Awful, insane, ridiculous, nightmare-inducing, "hasty."

"Do you have sisters, Mr. Echelon?" When did it get so warm in here?

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