The ball was going well, or so he thought. No one had seemed to make too much of a mess, and the over crowded room seemed to flow well through the many dancers. The food was well balanced, and he managed to not spill a single drink yet! However, the Charms Professor hadn’t spent much of his time truly enjoying the refreshments as one should, and spent too much time perhaps keeping an eye on his students.

The first and second years danced their dance perfectly, and now slipped into the socializing well. On every head he could almost count, and in the mix of fabrics he thought they looked wonderful—pleased.

Professor Santucci[1] had been a wonderful help to the stitching of many of those garments, and to their long night of sewing many of them came in dresses that they otherwise wouldn’t have had. It pleased him to see such happy faces, but after his conversation with Madame Knight it had left his heart feeling empty. Aisling had been so pleased with her daughters, the pride she felt a wonderful refreshing compared to so many other parents. However, it made him want a child of his own more than ever, but he counted his stars each night that at least he had his students.

This was when he saw her, the little wallflower of butterfly words and sunlit blushes. The silent and shy, Sybil looked rather bursting at the seams with her nervous habits, and just overall looked overwhelmed. It broke his heart, though caused his pale thin lips to curve into that warm smile that he was known for.

Oh this wouldn’t do at all…

1.	Painting the Roses Red