Claire almost considers asking if he's gone as a bat for the party, but even an idiot would realize that might be in bad taste, and she has no desire to have her legs turned to jelly or something possibly more horrifying but less threatening.

She tries to speak before he does, but Severus manages to get there first, and before she can respond to his addressing her - was that a greeting? - he's speaking again and commenting on the outfit she looks over, glancing down so that the thick, bright red braids of yarn slip over her shoulders and hang over her chest. If she ever thought that he looked ridiculous in all his black, sweeping cloaks, this might be enough to make her consider otherwise from now on.

"There's a party," she finds herself saying, conversationally. Enough of a pause comes after her voice fades away that someone observing might be under the impression she's about to ask him if he's going as well, but she doesn't bother. "I'm Raggedy Anne. Sadly without an Andy, but I'm a modern woman. I can go to a costume party on my own."