Dedalus Diggle

A soft laugh huffed out at Dedalus’s response to her assessment, shaking her head slightly. “That’s just it, Dedalus darling,” she returned, amusement clear on her features. “You’re far from boring. And Ministry men? They tend to be some of the most interesting type. At least, in my opinion. I’m a bit out of the norm for my preference toward the government type, I suppose.”

"I think you are a bit out of the norm, certainly," Dedalus laughed. It was true that the Ministry wasn't always all work and no play, particularly if you were in an office with far less paperwork than his,but still the stereotype stood. "But... thank you? I suppose it helps that the Minister helps fund the Prophet..."

Semi formal, pleasant, professional - Dedalus was quite well spoken, he mused silently, taking the name into account and committing it to memory. Taking the hand that was offered to him and shaking it firmly, Severus offered him a small smile and a nod at the next question. “It’s nice to meet you as well, Dedalus. Ah, it’s always nice to be out of the castle, really. Normally I’d forego something like this, stick to the dungeons and work on something for school, but… I’m glad I came out. It’s a nice night so far.”

Dedalus nodded, having felt a similar inclination while he himself was in school. It wasn't that Dedalus didn't like being social, he'd just always found something to be incredibly interested in, and spent his free time looking into it. And with his certain level of social ineptitude, his housemates had always found it far too entertaining when he was included; all in good fun, yet still a bit awkward for him. "In the dungeons? Like, the potions classroom or your common room?" he asked mildly. "Personally I liked potions alright but I was far more interested in Defense." Then he took a deep breath and said in agreement, "it's a lovely night, yes. Hopefully it stays that way."

"Essentially. Wonders of the Department, when events with students happen, even if you’re not a parent you get to be for an evening. Reminds me why I don’t have children." Letting out a chuckle of his own, decidedly more smooth than he thought it would be, he sipped from his drink lazily, nodding slightly at the lie. He knew it wasn’t true, most likely - Dedalus seemed to turn up around him far, far too much to simply be there for pleasure - but he wasn’t going to push that, not when he wore another face. "I’ll definitely let you know, mate. Should be a pretty easy night, though. Most of ‘em’re already more relaxed from the drinks they’ve had."

"Ah, yes. I can't imagine having a kid right now..." he agreed with a light laugh. Really Dedalus with children was laughable more because he had zero luck with women than his prospective abilities as a parent, but that was beside the point. "Yeah," he agreed, "more likely that you'll find them scattered about the trail back to the castle puking than getting into too much trouble. Oh, to be young and not know your limits," he added jokingly, markedly more at ease with the present conversation that he usually was. 

Don’t you want to say hello?

"Erhmm... sure. Hello, Mrs. Lestrange."

Antonin doubted strongly that Dedalus was here simply for the social aspect of the party. No, this man seemed the sort to be entrusted with keeping an eye on the little ones that milled about, especially as he had been one that had run upon Antonin not once, but twice in the last few weeks. Surely they wouldn’t think Antonin would show his face so carelessly though, silly Ministry men. Chuckling softly, more at the implication of safety than at the question that the other offered, Antonin shook his head. “Something about those two things together is quite juxtaposing, innit mate? I’m keeping an eye on the students is all. They called me in to help get the little ones back to the castle safe if I spot them drinking. They’re anticipating a lot of underage drinking tonight, so they want them kept safe and all.”

"So you're a glorified babysitter?" Dedalus laughed, shaking his head with amusement. He wasn't too personally concerned about the students drinking, they'd drank when he was in the same place and he knew it wouldn't've changed now; no, he was more concerned with the adults. "I'm just here to enjoy the party, myself," he lied smoothly. Though he wasn't used to lying much, he knew his purposes with the Order were much too important to let slip. "Though I suppose if you need a hand with some rowdy kids, give me a shout, yeah?"

"Ah, the crowd’s big, I don’t blame you for the clumsiness, mate," Severus returned, offering him a small smile and leaning back against the bar where he’d settled. He thought that perhaps the older man looked a touch familiar - one of the mentors who had been about the school, perhaps? Nodding at the question, he crossed his hands in front of him, resting them against his stomach. "A Slytherin, Sixth Year. Severus Snape," he offered as an introduction. "Maybe I’ve seen you about the school?"

"Well nice to meet you, Severus," Dedalus replied with a nod, giving the boy the usual touch of semi formal pleasantry that he'd become accustomed to giving students. "You probably have, I'm one of the mentors- Dedalus Diggle," he explained, offering his hand to shake. "Happy to be out of the castle for the holiday?"

"I suppose it’s a good thing I don’t plan on digging too much tonight, then, hmm? Seeing as you won’t be drinking enough to give a good hint and all. I suppose I’ll have to content myself with the company being good." Coy, light, and a bit of a tease; Rita wasn’t one for company without purpose normally, but she supposed Dedalus wasn’t terrible company to be had, at least. "As to my impression… I suppose it’s just in how straight-laced you appear to be. Youthful, intelligent, but not one who likes to be out of control. And as liquor robs the mind of control bit by bit, that seems something a man like you wouldn’t be interested in."

"I'd say that's definitely a good thing," he laughed, slightly surprised. She could've excused herself the moment he'd revealed that he wouldn't be giving her a story, yet she seemed to be content enough to at least chat for a bit longer. Maybe Dedalus wasn't as completely socially inept as he thought he was. "You're not wrong," he admitted with a shrug, "though at least you didn't say the reason was that I'm just some boring Ministry man."

Remus smiled and looked around. “It’s a rather crazy party isn’t it?” He sipped his drink and looked back at Dedalus. “I must say that reading about an event can be rather satisfying too.” He grinned “I mean, you never know what they might write about the party and all. But I get what you mean.”

"It is, yeah. Hopefully it all stays just good fun- drunk people tend to be more inclined to getting into fights," Dig agreed, looking around as well. Then he nodded, "Oh I'm looking forward to what Rita ends up writing, it's surely going to be much more interesting than what actually happens.. but it'll be nice to have actually been here so that I know what's truth and what's.... exaggeration," he agreed.

Remus smiled and nodded. “Yeah I’m a student, sixth year.” He smiled ‘Nice to meet you Dedalus, I’m Remus Lupin.” He sipped his drink and wiped his hand on his jeans when he noticed a few splatters on it. “Came to join the Halloween party?”

"Nice to meet you too, Remus," Dedalus smiled. It was always nice to find someone pleasant; those Slytherin boys had the reputation of being rather hateful even towards their assigned mentors, and it could get rather annoying. "I did, I suppose. For once I wanted to be in attendance rather than reading about it in the paper." His words meant more than just the party, however- if something happened, Dig was determined to be there and to try and put a stop to it before anyone got seriously hurt. 

Dedalus’s face was, of course, recognizable, and though their last conversation had been less than fun, tonight’s atmosphere was decidedly lighter than the earlier had been. Perhaps it shouldn’t have surprised her, for that reason, that his tone was so conversational. Leaning easily against the bar, Rita shot him a dazzling smile, a more genuine one than her norm for an evening like this. “What can I say, Dedalus, I quite like the atmosphere it provides. Nothing like a little liquor to loosen lips, you know.” Admission that she was seeking a tip, if she could get one - may as well be honest, after all. “I’m a touch surprised to see you in attendance, though. You don’t seem the party-going type.”

Dedalus refrained from rolling his eyes as she talked about liquor and how it made finding out everyone's dirty little secrets that much easier; it was a party, and even if she had an agenda other than getting intoxicated, much like himself, surely she also had the added benefit of possibly having fun tonight. "And what gave you that impression?" he asked with amusement, for once a bit curious about how others saw him. "But I don't really drink, so unfortunately my lips won't be loosened much."

Not for the first time, Severus was glad that his wits were quick, for when the body collided into his own, he had time to reach out a hand and steady the glass before it spilled on the dress robes he couldn’t afford to replace and could hardly afford to own at all. “It’s alright, it’s crowded,” he returned quietly, making certain Dedalus was steady before letting go of the glass. “Sorry, just. Not sure how much you’ve had to drink, didn’t want to have you accidentally spilling it in case you’ve had a lot.”

Dedalus was mildly impressed at the boy before him's fast reflexes, seeing as he'd caught his glass before it'd had chance to tip onto him. He couldn't be older than a student, and his face was familiar in a vague way, Dedalus had probably seen him in passing at the school. He nodded in thanks, taking back the weight of the cup into his own hand and even taking a small drink. "It's my first one, actually," he told the younger boy, "I'm not much of a drinker- just apparently a bit clumsy. Are you a student?"

It would be his luck that the Ministry official that struck up a conversation with him would be Dedalus Diggle. Dedalus Diggle, the man that had practically stalked his life as of late, turning up at every turn, he swore. At least this time - much to his satisfaction - he was disguised, able to keep himself out of sight and behind a face that was friendly rather than villainous. Just for the moment. Offering up a smile and holding out his hand in greeting, Antonin nodded his head. “Evening, Dedalus,” he offered. “I’m surprised to see you out here tonight. Didn’t think you were the partying type, mate.”

Dedalus shook the other man's hand with a smile, he had no reason to suspect that this harmless face was actually a mask for the murderer he was looking for. And it wasn't like he and Frank were particularly close, no, just the occasional bit of small chat in the elevator. He shrugged a shoulder at the comment before replying truthfully, "I'm not, really. But I like music and food, and it's Halloween." He could hardly tell him that though the social aspect of his visit to the pub was nice, he was actually keeping an eye on things. But everything had been going so well thus far that he needn't be worried at the moment. "Are you? the partying type? Department of Intoxicating Substances and all?"

Alecto smirked, rolling her eyes. “Is that really what you’re focussing on? - Of course I do; you’re the little weirdo who was in the year between myself and my brother at school.”

Dedalus couldn't hide his look of exasperation at her childish insult, "There was an entire year of student between your brother and yourself, it's not hard to imagine my surprise." He also thought her calling him 'little' was absolutely laughable- he was thin, but he was over 6' tall, easily towering over the redhead.