May 31, 1892 - Hogwarts Great Hall - COB Ball

The evening had, for the most part, been delightful but now Ani was discovering the downside of her first ball. She was tired. Her feet ached. And she really wished she could just slip into a corner and gossip with Hermia and Clem for a moment. But the three of them had been flitting through the room on their own all evening and had yet to be able to slip away. Was this what it would always be like from here on out?

Ani stopped by the refreshments table for some pumpkin juice in the hopes it might at least make her feel mildly more awake. Or if not awake, perhaps less hot. The room was hot. Someone ought to have considered a cooling charm. Or was there one and she was just even warmer than normal? Ani wasn't sure.

Glass of pumpkin juice in hand, Ani heard a voice and turned. But she had spun too fast and the world seemed to spin about her. Next thing Ani knew half the glass of pumpkin juice was on a gentleman's jacket and she was blinking back black spots as she tried to remain standing. Is this what it was like to swoon? She wondered barely seeing the man's face through the dots swarming her vision.

Basil Foxwood

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   Basil Foxwood

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Basil’s evening had so far been going rather well, all things considered. Balls were certainly not his favorite of events, but as his duty as Transfiguration Professor required both chaperoning and preparation of students for the real world, he made a special effort each year to socialize with the newest class of incoming debutants and finishing gentlemen. It was his duty as both educator and functioning upperclass member of society to make sure they were prepared for what came next - even if for most it was ballrooms and frivolity.

It was with this thought in mind that Basil approached one Ms. Anandhita Pomfrey. He had every intention of asking her for dance however he didn’t seem to get the chance. Pumpkin juice splattered all over the front of his jacket as he accidentally startled her and Basil couldn’t help thinking of the irony in it. He’d toppled the young lady earlier in the term and now she was getting her revenge. It seemed fair.

“Getting your revenge for my fall earlier this term, Ms. Pompfrey?” The gentleman teased, tugging his wand from his jacket pocket. It was an easy enough clean-up job and Basil hoped she wouldn’t think so much of it. “You have good taste at least,” he added gently. “Pumpkin is my favorite.”

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@"Anandhita Pomfrey"

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He was saying something, Ani realized as she blinked rapidly, trying to disburse the dots in her eyes. But when they did and she realized what he was saying she wished she had fainted after all. Her cheeks turned a dark red and the back of her neck felt even hotter than before. "Oh! Professor Foxwood! I'm so sorry!" Although the man seemed much less flustered than she did, easily cleaning his vest as if nothing had happened.

And then he was.... trying to make her feel better? Ani realized in surprise. Well he was her professor she supposed that was fair. But after the incident on the stairs she really had tried to avoid him, not even wanting to consider what he thought of her after such a dramatically embarassing moment. She gave him a weak smile, "Not much a revenge then." She managed unable to meet his gaze, or even to look at his face. Her eyes, now that her vision had mostly cleared, were firmly on his vest where the pumpkin juice had been a moment earlier.

  

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Basil chuckled at Miss Pompfrey’s flustered response and held up his hand in what he hoped was a reassuring manner. “Please,” he said gently. “Do not trouble yourself with an apology. Nothing happened, see?” He gestured delicately at his waistcoat where not a speck of pumpkin juice was to be seen. If a teasing smile tickled his lips then it was only to make her feel better.

“Instead,” he continued. “Why don’t we concern ourselves with more pressing matters.” Basil offered the lady his hand. “Might you have a place on your dance card for me?” He hoped she might say yes, even if the thought of being stepped on through and through was not the most appealing. Idly Basil wondered what would become of this particular debutant once she was outside of these protective walls. Miss Pompfrey was neither the most graceful nor the most elegant. Perhaps she would find a gentleman suitor that could see past all those things. He hoped so; she was a rather nice girl, and she’d tried hard in his classes.

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@"Anandhita Pomfrey"

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It did truly seem as if nothing had happened by the looks of his vest, had Ani herself not known what she had done she might have believed him. But still, this was her first night as a lady and already she had done a botched job of it. She dared to look up at his face and for a moment he looked just like Stan when Stan teased her. Which was perhaps why she did not indulge in her desire to run away from her professor when he asked for her dance card. After all, it was as if he were giving her a second chance.

Before she could second guess herself Ani placed her hand in his and nodded, "On the condition we might start anew?" She asked in a hopeful voice, grateful that her skin hid the blush of her cheeks. Really, pink cheeks and a yellow dress would not have looked good together.

  

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Basil grinned openly when the young lady acquiesced they start anew. He rather liked Ms. Pompfrey and wished her only the best in her first season. She was a sweet girl, one that would hopefully make a favorable match by societal standards and live a happy life. “Undoubtedly,” he replied, gently.

As Basil accepted her hand and maneuvered them to the dance floor, he was careful with his own touch, only just barely holding her as lightly as possible. It was respectable enough for professors to dance with their students at the coming out ball, but it didn’t make their relationship any different really. She was still the same sweet little Hufflepuff he remembered answering questions in class. As the music started, Basil was grateful it was a slow, easy sort of step. These types of dances provided much more room for fluent conversation than something more uppity like a polka.

“So,” he started. “Do you have anything interesting planned for this first season?” He inquired. It was only polite to show interest in a lady’s prospects after all.

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@"Anandhita Pomfrey"

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A small part of her relaxed as he agreed not to hold it over her. In fact he was almost as gentle as an older brother when one's younger sister was crying. She wondered as he led her toward the dance floor.

The music started and Ani began to move in time the steps coming naturally from years in etiquette classes. "I'm afraid it's nothing more interesting than the normal social season." Ani admitted, albeit she was looking forward to the social scene but she was sure her professor would think that terribly uninteresting - after all, didn't most men?

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   Basil Foxwood

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Basil nodded easily at the girl’s response. He’d expected as much. “Well it should be interesting, and new,” he managed to reply - and without a single ounce of judgement or irony!

“I’m sure you will have a splendid time and make a wonderful impression,” he continued. “Just try not to spill pumpkin juice on your suitors until at least the third dance.” Basil offered the girl a lopsided little smile even as he teased. He hadn’t meant to bring the little incident up again, really, but... what else was he supposed to say about her season? It wasn’t like there was anything intelligent at all he could offer in terms of advice when it came to men or… well, any of it!

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@"Anandhita Pomfrey"

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Ani smiled, it was interesting and new to her. But she doubted that any eligible man of society felt the same. From her impression of Stan she rather thought they all dreaded these balls, it surprised her that Professor Foxwood thought differently. But then perhaps he didn't and was only trying to settle her own nerves. "I certainly hope it will be." She agreed easily.

A smile had spread over his features until he mentioned the pumpkin juice. Her cheeks reddened again, but she was determined to put this (like the dreadful stair incident) behind her. "And here I thought we'd agreed to forget it." Ani attempted bravely. It was odd to tease her professor. Granted it was also odd to spill pumpkin juice on him and have him see her knickers because she'd fallen down the stairs, so perhaps it shouldn't be as odd as she thought. "You don't think after the second would be appropriate?" She added, because if she was going to be daring then perhaps she should be daring enough to quip back at him.

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   Basil Foxwood

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Basil was surprised, and infinitely amused, to find his former student teasing him. It hadn’t seemed like Ms. Anandhita to be so forward, but he found he didn’t mind it. They were… societal peers now, he supposed, even if it was incredibly uncomfortable to think about it. Either way, this was the type of behavior he hoped she might employ; the wallflowers never did seem to make much progress.

Offering her an amused little grin, Basil couldn’t quite bring himself to be sheepish. “I apologize,” the gentleman replied, less than apologetically. “You’re right, the second dance seems rather more fitting.” If he chuckled at her, it wasn’t meant rudely. The song was slowly coming to an end and, despite the brunette’s penchant to dislike societal obligation, he found he hadn’t actually hated that dance as much as he’d expected. None of the former-student dances were ever too terrible, he was glad to say. It was a nice gesture, usually with the understanding that it was only meant as a final adieu. There was a lot less pressure on it that way, for both parties.

Releasing Ms. Pomfrey and bowing to her as was due, Basil offered the girl his hand and made to lead her off the floor. He was sure she had many more exciting dances to get to this evening and was not of the mind to be holding her up.

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@"Anandhita Pomfrey"

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Thankfully Professor Foxwood didn't seem taken aback by her comment, indeed, the look he gave her was just like Stan's when she surprised him. It was gratifying. "I shall remember that then." She told him with mock seriousness as they completed the final steps of the dance.

Ani swept her former professor a curtsey surprised to find that despite her earlier mortification she had actually enjoyed the dance. She accepted his arm and allowed him to lead her from the floor. As they melded back into the crowd Ani turned to him with a genuine smile. "Thank you for the dance." And not making the whole experience with the juice a terribly embarrassing incident after the fact. It was still mortifying but she wasn't going to spend her entire evening fretting over it now.

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   Basil Foxwood

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