It was a blisteringly hot June night and even Tamsin was beginning to feel the strain of making idle conversation with loose acquaintances while all around people drank champagne and became increasingly red in the face. Even the dancing had tailed off earlier than usual and instead people were spilling out through the doors into the cool night air.

Tamsin made her excuses, refilled her soda water from the softer end of the refreshment table, and slipped past a couple having an argument about one of the Ministery's newer policies on muggle relations. She rolled her eyes as she passed - it was boring enough when men talked of such things but that woman must be dullness itself to give a fig.

And then she saw him. A man destined to brighten her mood whenever she saw him, though it had been how many years now? Four? Since her endless mourning had kept her confined at least and was just as handsome as he had been at school. Probably more so now he had money of his own, she thought.

"Mr Humphrey-Mavis," she said formally, a smile growing on her lips. "Whatever brings you here of all places?" Because the other reason she had not seen him for so long, though she was reluctant to admit it, even to herself, was that away from the strange melting pot of Hogwarts there really was no reason for a man like him to seek out a girl like her, was there?