Part of her really did want to stay. To continue this verging on flirtatious banter for the rest of the night. The wine had relaxed her pleasantly and she enjoyed GraemeÔÇÖs company. But. They didnÔÇÖt exist in a fantasy universe. Both of them had jobs. Both of them had responsibilities. While Graeme had to go mark essays, Joanna had to complete paperwork, go over case files, and spend the night worrying about what was going on in the Hit Squad in her absence. But she had enough self control to not floo to the Ministry at midnight to quickly ÔÇÿcheck inÔÇÖ. They would never have confidence in themselves if she didnÔÇÖt have confidence in them first.
Joanna didnÔÇÖt have confidence in the night shift, but she was trying to hide that fact.
ÔÇ£No, youÔÇÖre right.ÔÇØ Joanna replied, slightly upset. ÔÇ£We should get going. I didnÔÇÖt even realise that weÔÇÖd been here this long!ÔÇØ She smiled cheekily, ÔÇ£donÔÇÖt want you to get in trouble from Filch for being out after curfew!ÔÇØ Of course Graeme wouldnÔÇÖt get into trouble because he was a grown up, but Mr Filch had always been prickly, and she could totally see him getting annoyed with the Professors as well as the students. Certainly he was another aspect of Hogwarts that Joanna certainly did not miss.
She insisted on paying half of the bill when it came. One, this was not a date, this was two friends catching up. Two, she was a grown up, independent woman who had a decent job and wage. Joanna certainly did not need anyone paying for her, man or not. In fact, she found it quite insulting that others would assume she would be glad for someone else to pay the bill. No, she certainly would not be. It was yet another example of ÔÇÿchivalryÔÇÖ than was actually just chauvinistic.
While Joanna did not have much with her beyond her bag, it contained some posters and flyers on Hit Squad recruitment that she had pretended to Graeme earlier she did not have. Therefore it would not be good for him to get near enough the bag to glimpse inside. So, she very carefully positioned it on the opposite side of her body to him as they made their way outside. He would return to the castle, she would apparate back to Audlem. She was around 95% sure that she was still sober enough to apparate. Maybe 90%.
Honestly, any option where she wasnÔÇÖt sober was too embarrassing to even contemplate however. She would either splinch herself and Graeme would have to help, or she would have to admit she actually needed to use a floo because she couldnÔÇÖt control what she drank. Neither was happening.
ÔÇ£Well, I guess IÔÇÖll see you soon. Lets not make it five years this time!ÔÇØ And they had made plans. A vague offer of dinner, and help with her patronus. Both would imply they were going to see each other very soon. Even if Joanna was still doubtful about dinner with his sister.
That should have been the time to apparate away, but she lingered. Should she? They had been vaguely leading up to it all night. But was it presumptuous? What if it had all been in her head?
Indecision weighed at her before Joanna finally leaned closer to Graeme and brushed a light kiss to the corner of his mouth. Without waiting for a reply or a reaction (even though that meant she would be up all night analysing absolutely every detail and worrying over his response), Joanna took a step back and turned on the spot to apparate away.
She didnÔÇÖt splinch. Thank Merlin.
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