"Oh, there is no need for apologies. One should hardly dwell on those times at an event such as this." With the moment past, she allowed herself a few careful breaths to regain her composure before moving on to the rephrased question.

"It would be a joy to see them chosen for such an honor. Though I would worry. That much is unavoidable, even if I know it is of little use." One hand reached up to massage the back of her neck, and then she sunk back into the chair before taking another drink from her wineglass. "It's not a matter I've thought too deeply on, I will admit. More the voice on the Wireless that I would have listened to if there had not been a disaster demanding attention."

A quick shake of her head. Merlin, but that had been an unfortunate day. "With any luck I will be able to overhear the next task, at the least. It seems a shame to miss too much of it." A few hours of partial attention for an afternoon was hardly too much for an event this uncommon. Whether or not they planned to make it a more regular occurrence or not.

"With any luck I will be able to overhear the next task, at the least. It seems a shame to miss too much of it."

Ignan nodded, remembering the coverage in the Daily Prophet which had followed - handily suppressed with the Tournament news, perhaps, that there had been an incident in a Muggle street at the same time the task was in progress.

"They have repeated it late one night," Ignan replied thoughtfully, "When sleep doesn't come so easily, I sometimes switch it on just to hear some aimless chatter to distract my preoccupied thoughts. The next task might be one that can be witnessed by many, who knows. I only know we will be seeing the goblet again soon."

He leaned forward a little,
"What was it like to deal with Muggles afflicted by magic like that?" The Professor asked, "What did they think was happening to them?" 

"Perhaps they'll rebroadcast it at a better time once the next task comes around-ensure that we're all either caught up or reminded beforehand." Her voice sounded hopeful, though there might have been something tired behind it as well. Sleep was struggle enough without adding further noise into the mix.

She tilted her head back at the Deputy Headmaster's question, trying to pull out the details of those memories. That knock to her head hadn't made them any clearer, for certain. "They try to explain it in their own terms, usually. Allergies, hallucinations, sickness. Though with that event few of them had time to consider it before we were on the scene to handle it."

Her fingers tightened around her glass. "It's quite common for the Excuse Committee to study their reactions. We have to explain the matters in their terms as well, and some of their most recent technology has made obliviation more difficult under certain circumstances. Thus we've been dealing with a broader selection of issues than we were previously involved with." A quick picture, call, or email could create the most interesting of headaches if they weren't careful.

"It does sound fortunate that Muggles can make up their own assumptions on what is happening to them." Ignan replied thoughtfully, listening to Aisling describe the problems.

"Yes, with the increase in Muggle interaction for students here, I've had to try and learn something of the Muggle word of late. Tapendra's most useful, along with Althea Santucci, she teaches the subject. I won't be passing an OWL in that area any time soon." The white haired man gave a hint of a smile at the thought of him being presented with the paper.

"Doesn't the presence of magic interfere with their technology?" He asked. Everything he'd been led to believe so far had him imagining a spell could cause Muggle technology in a nearby radius to catch fire spontaneously.

An interest in the Muggle world wasn't quite what Aisling had expected, something which showed in small tic of an eyebrow. Her lips tugged upwards into a momentary smile, and her expression turned a bit more curious. "They sound like wonderful choices, and I'm glad to hear you have a bit of an interest in the Muggle world."

The music, a bit distant but still loud enough, swelled then began to fade. She wove her fingers together, skin pressed against the metal on her hand. "It seems that it must be quite difficult, having students with such differing backgrounds coming in."

It made her quite grateful for the instruction the girls had received. "But my only experience would be with coming into the school. My grades were somewhat depressing for my first year. Though that was some time ago, and it seems as if matters have much improved." 

"It seems that it must be quite difficult, having students with such differing backgrounds coming in."

"They're not so different, as they might think they are." Ignan replied with a slight, kind smile.

"But my only experience would be with coming into the school. My grades were somewhat depressing for my first year. Though that was some time ago, and it seems as if matters have much improved."

"We have more staff with Muggleborn backgrounds or half blood leanings. When I say 'we' of course, I mean Hogwarts." The Deputy Headmaster gestured with his hands gently around them. Sitting forward he looked across to Aisling with polite regard,

"Would you care to dance?"

"True, true. Though I expect that some of them would prefer not to admit it." Aisling could still remember the faces of some such students, the ones she'd avoided in halls. Faces later plastered on posters, the Prophet. Wanted, captured, dead. Rather sobering, then. "The school has rather changed for the better since I was last here. It is good to see such."

"Would you care to dance?"

"Yes." A graceful nod. "I would be most honored to do so." She waited for him a moment, then stood. The music had grown quiet in preparation for the next dance.

She was not yet tired, after all.

They stood and Professor Storm politely offered his arm to Mrs Knight. It had been pleasant to chat, but always difficult. He'd not missed that she'd been dancing throughout the evening, and was rather impressed with the way she did. He did take some pleasure in dancing, once he got past the irritation of being at a social event, but the Yule Ball had been one of the better ones - far better than that Valentine Dance...

"The honour is mine." The Deputy Headmaster assured the wife of the Head of the Wizengamot.

Together they headed back into the hall.


End