The Hogwarts Ball!

Briony had been preparing for this ball from the moment she was made Headmistress of Hogwarts, she had wished that there would be something like this when she was a child, it would have been good fun and it would have helped her settle in a little more.

The Great Hall's four tables had been moves away to the sides of the room and she had placed a large discoball in the center of the ceiling, it shot off beams of light into the darkened atmosphere, mini ones has been set in the walls where the torches used to be to add more light.

The staff table was full of food, every type of party food you could imagine, and a bowl of punch for the students, and an alcoholic bowl for the adults, it was enchanted so that only over 18's could take the liquid from them.

It was ready for the students and staff to come in and Briony herself was dressed up to the nines, her hair was half up in a bun, half down her back, even sleeker than normal and she had bought her dress from Italy, biting her lip she waited for them to arrive, when the Hall was full, she felt a swell of pride and stood up to gaze at the students and staff filling the hall.

"Hello Students and Staff! Welcome to Hogwarts! I have never been one for speeches so, here it is, this is the start of a new era here at Hogwarts, new staff and new students means that we will be stronger both as a school and as a nation, but enough of that, let's get to it. Lets party."

And as Briony winked, the music began to play, a mix of muggle and magical.

(OOC: )

Freya had spent the last four-and-a-half hours getting ready. Everything from showering to doing her make up to her hair. Once the blond had finished her hair that was pulled back into a bun with a few strands of hair trailing down her back in loose curls, a few pieces of hair near both ears still hanging down.

Her emerald hues travelled to the mirror she was sitting in front of and sighed. She couldn't help but to be disappointed. When Jake had told her it was a date, she actually thought it was a date. Even though she was twenty-four, she barely had any experience with dating, so of course she thought he meant it was a date.

She stood up slowly and looked once more in the mirror at her rather expensive dress. It had cost her around five-hundred Galleons to buy even if she had worn it in a photo shoot she;d done during her Muggle modelling career. It was an elegant black dress. The back was open uptill her mid-back, a tight band around her waist.

Freya waited by the doors that lead into the Great Hall. For some reason, she had always been one to be a few minutes early. Watching as the Entrance Hall fill up, she hadn't spotted Jake or Michael and his wife anywehere. Well, as she thought about it, she didn't know what Michael's wife would look like, but there was a high chance she'd be with her husband.

(ooc: )

Jake stood uncomfortably in front of the mirror, taking a swig of Firewhisky. How he'd agreed to go to this stupid ball, he had no idea. He must have been drunk. He wore a suit, for crying out loud! It was very uncomfortable for him...

It was almost painful, how uncomfortable the suit was for him, but he had agreed to go, so he had to go. With a sigh, he left his office, wondering what Freya would be wearing. It wasn't like she was ugly to begin with, so he had to prepare himself for a truly beautiful sight. He knew that women made themselves look even more beautiful for special occasions, after all.

As he reached the Great Hall, he found that, indeed, Freya had managed to make herself look even more beautiful than she usually was. She was almost radiant. A smile appeared on his face when he saw her, and suddenly the suit wasn't so uncomfortable anymore.

"Hi," he said as he reached Freya. "You look beautiful."

(OOC: )

"Hi, you look beautiful." Jake told Freya once he reached her. A smile couldn't help but to be formed as a slight blush appeared on her cheeks, making her makeup look slightly more pink.

"Thank you," she said as she walked slightly closer to him, "you look quite handsome." Indeed he did. She had never seen him look so handsome before. In the days she awaited the ball the she had been looking forward to, she tried to picture what Jake would look like in a suit. The pictures of him were quite nice, but she had never expected him to end up looking this nice. The smile on her pink lips just never seemed to go away.

The blond was quite happy that Jake had agreed to go with her, when she asked, she couldn't help but to feel as if he were to be uninterested in this sort of thing. But he did agree and she were grateful for it, she just hoped he didn't mind going with someone who was his height in the heels so was wearing, after all, she was an inch or two taller than the average man in the United Kingdom.

"Have you seen Michael or.." she paused for a moment to remember her co-worker's wife's name, "Samantha? I'm quite excited to meet his wife."

Charlotte was excited, although she didn't have a date she was going to hat was her first proper party and she had stayed up all night making her dress, yes, she made her own because she didn't want anyone to come with the same dress that she had.

It had taken a long time but it was worth it, passing the two Professors in the hall she couldn't help but gasp a little and look up at Professor Littlefield, she was so pretty tonight.

Biting her lip she realised that she didn't quite look that nice, she had straightened her hair out, made it layered and gradually getting longer from the back front, of course it was still white, her eyes still red, she kept her peircings in but she had added a large amount of kohl eyeliner under her eyes, and she had painted her lips a shade of red.

The most notable thing, she supposed, would be the fact she had ages about 7 years, so she was now 18. Charlotte giggled, wondering if anyone would notice it was her.

Looking around for Cobie she noticed he wasn't there yet so she loitered around for a moment, not wanting to interrupt the couples.

Darren entered the Great Hall, and looked around. The atmosphere was just nice, though he thought that more could be done to the music. Sure, he was alone. But really, he didn't care. With his hair combed to the side, he looked around and picked up, weirdly, a glass of BUTTERBEER, and he stood at the side.

Airen entered the ball. To be honest he was shy. After all, his clothing looked like it was made for Halloween, but that is all his parents left him. Oh well, may as well make the most of it. The hall was magnifico. He wandered around, he saw Charlotte looking for some one. He also saw a Ravenclaw by the beverages. He walked to a wall, and leaned on it.

OOC: Profile pic is my outfit

Valentina didn't really know anyone here, she had been entirely too busy to mix and mingle much on the train on the way here, all she had done was business things but they were mostly done now and hopefully she would find some people to hang around with.

Her hair had been smoothed down and Valentina had used some of her companies finest cosmetics to make herself look flawless.

Walking onto the dancefloor she peered around hopelessly for a while before spotting Darren, a boy she had met once before and walked quickly over to him away from the couples dancing on the floor, biting her lip she smiled softly.

"Hello Darren, are you well?"

(OOC: )

Darren heard his name and turned around and had to control himself from exclaiming in surprise at the sight of Valentina.

"Why hello! You look wonderful!" He awed, his mouth slightly agape, before he regained his composure and smiled.

"Yes, I am indeed well. How about you?"

Valentina bit her lip as she saw him open his mouth a little, in surprise? Or did she really look that different from normal? She hoped that it might be a combination of both, she was happy to see him again, a friendly face and what not.

"Hello, it's lovely to see you, your suit looks fantastic! What make is it?"

With a nod Valentina smiled happily and she bit her lip once more, Darren really did look nice in his suit with his hair done properly.

"Im great thank you very much, doesn't it look great in here?"

Lolita was so excited, she had been looking forward to the ball, it was her chance to really out do herself and make sure that she looked great, in order to make some impression on the seemingly non plussed Frank, hopefully she would be able to do that tonight.

Deciding to move down to the hall Lolita felt her curled blonde hair waft around her face as she checked the bobble holding it in a lose pony tail.

With that she pursed her lipglossed lips, checked her eyeliner and blue eyeshadow before wandering down to the hall, it looked amazing! It was totally transformed. It was beautiful on so many levels and she waited by the entrance, for Frank.

Hoping that he would come soon Lolita smiled softly at anyone who looked her way while she waited.

(OOC: )

Katrina sighed as she cautiously desended the steps leading down to the Great Hall. She was late for tonight's event and she hoped that the Headmistress was in a good mood. She had spent the last four hours getting ready. Her hair was done in loose ringlets that cascaded down her back like a golden water fall and secured back on the sides by two diamond hair pins. Katrina was never much for dancing and most of the time preferred to avoid social functions due to her telepathy but tonight it was mandatory for the staff to show up so she did. Rubbing her temples due to the onslaught of a headache she paused before the doors to the Great Hall and listened to the music that was blaring loudly. She didn't have a date tonight because the one man she would ever want to go with was dead. Her husband had been a terrific dancer. Shaking her head Katrina forced the thoughts of her husband Trey out of her mind and pushed open the doors. Looking around she was pleasently amazed at the lengths the Headmistress had gone to to make this a very special event. Slowly she made her way through the Great Hall and over to the refreshment table marked for adults to help herself to some punch. If she was going to be here all night she would need something to quell the voices from the minds of the students and staff members that were rocketing around in her head. Taking a long gulp from her glass of punch she sighed. This was going to be a VERY long night.

Richard had wanted to go to a ball with Briony since after their first dance at their wedding. She was an amazing dancer after all. And it was an excuse to she her wearing a lovely dress of some kind. Of course he didn't know what she was wearing for this ball but he knew that it was most likely going to be a good dress for her. She did have a lovely sense of style after all.

When he had first seen her in her dress he'd thought that she'd turned into some kind of gothic angel but a quite check had proved to him that she hadn't grown wings over night. He himself had dressed for the occassion, wearing an expensive muggle suit that he'd had for quite some time now. Thankfully his body hadn't changed over the last five years so it was still comfortably snug on him. He even had a black chocker on that symbolised how Briony owned his heart.

After her welcoming speech he smiled happily as he moved up to her and took her hands, kissing them gently,

"Ah the ball is off to a wonderful beginning my dear."

Cobie walked into the hall, adjusting his tie as he did so. He had decided that he'd use his younger form for tonight. After all, the Adult Cobalt didn't have any lady friends to take to the ball and he, the Younger Cobie, had to take his Char to the ball and give her a night she wouldn't soon forget. Smiling happily as he saw her, and her beautiful dress, Cobie made his way over to her from behind. He wrapped his arms around her and held her tightly to him as he chuckled happily,

"What's a beautiful girl like you doing all alone at a ball?" he asked her with a small smirk, "You waiting for a dashing young man to ask you to dance?"

He chuckled and spun her slowly around to face him, grinning as he did so,

"Well I'm afraid you'll have to make do with little old me..." he grinned, "That alright by you?"

Remy, dressed in his white tux came down into the Great Hall, which was decorated wonderfully. He didn't have a date but he was suppose to keep a close eye on Yasmine, that girl couldn't be trusted in a room where alcohol might exist.

He passed by Lolita, who looked simply amazing! And who seemed to be waiting for someone -- her date probably. He gave her a friendly "Bonjour."

The Headmistress wasn't too far away, and Remy reminded himself to ask her if he could play his guitar later on.

Grabbing a glass of punch from the adults table, Remy waited for his friend to arrive.

Yasmine dressed herself in an orange cheongsam dress -- one of her favorite dresses from China! And done her hair in it's usual bun except that she also added a chopstick. She was going to meet Remy down in the Great Hall, party pooper always has to ruin her fun.

The Great Hall looked fantastic! The Headmistress really went all out tonight. And right at the refreshments was the man I was looking for, seemingly guarding any potential alcohol from me, as if they'd have any hard-core liqour.

"Evening Remy, am I allowed to have punch?" I teased, trying to ignore how he looked. Why did I never notice how fine he looked?

Airen watched all the interaction with a mixture of curiosity and awe. He made mental notes of all the interactions. He got thirsty, so he walked over to the student refreshments. Not being one for punch, he settled for a glass of water. It soothed his dry throat. He wanted to go say hi to Charlotte, but she seemed to be dancing with her father. Airen didn't know why he scared him, but he did. He saw a Slytherin girl and a Ravenclaw boy talking nearby him, but he let them be.

He went to stand off to the side of the dance floor. The music was good, but he rather preferred those in his head. He lightly hummed a tune to a song that had no words as he watched Charlotte dance with her dad. He looked down at his clothes. Maybe it wasn't so bad. It wasn't very flashy or fancy. It was just an old style.

Willow's stomach was full of butterflies, this was her first ever ball and she couldn't help but feel nervous as she dressed in her white and gold dress. She normally didn't wear anything fancy, but this dress was a gift from her godmother and Willow couldn't deny that it was beautiful. She finished putting her hair up with a few strands dangling down.

Entering the Great Hall she was amazed at how it was transformed, tonight was surely going to be unforgettable!

Willow stood by the students table, and grabbed a glass of butterbeer, she didn't have a date tonight but she didn't need one to have a good time.

Sean and Claire, his wife, were a touch late for the ball, mostly because Claire'd had to floo from Wicklow and had needed a bit of time to get ready. They walked in just after the Headmistress' speech. Sean was dressed all in black, with Claire in a pale gray floor-length gown. Together, they headed for the knot of adults near the food table.

"Hello everyone." Sean said. "The Hall looks quite lovely, Headmistress."


((ooc - because I am a dork and can't quite figure out how to do images ... Sean is in Snape's usual get-up. Links to pics of both outfits below))
Sean's OutfitClaire's outfit

Angel had no idea why he decided to go to the ball, it was has bad as his stepmother's parties -- which he despised with a passion -- and simply a waste of his time.

Despite this Angel found himself dressed in a black tux with his hair slicked back. A waste of time it may be, but this was how he was supposed to kick start the school year.

Angel kept himself busy keeping away from chattering staff and students alike, at least the music was decent. He was just helping himself to a butterbeer when he saw her -- Willow Winters the girl he met on the train -- and good god did she look heavenly...

"Trust me, all I did was just walk into a shop and ask for one. I have no idea what it is actually... What do you think?" Darren asked, looking down at his suit.

"Sure does... But I rather have a dance item along with some better music..." He frowned at the music selection, but he shrugged and drank from his Butterbeer.

"Tell me, how did the model issue go?"

"Are you sure you don't want to go?" Frank asked his son as he wandered around the Hospital Wing. Junior was sitting on one of the beds, surrounded by books. His nose was currently buried in Hogwarts, A History. He gave a wave, and Frank took that as a sign that he didn't want to go. "You lucky brat..."

Frank felt extremely uncomfortable in his new suit. It was gray with a white open-collar shirt. With one last sigh, Frank left the Hospital Wing and made his way down to the Great Hall, feeling more and more uncomfortable with each step.

As he reached the entrance to the Hall, he found Lolita waiting for him. He smiled as he approached. Even Frank had to admit that she looked beautiful, and so he voiced it. "Hello, my dear," he spoke when he reached Lolita. "You look great."

Lolita turned as she heard Franks voice and she smiled widely, she was happy that he had turned up and he looked so lovely in his suit, the style she had recommended in fact, which made her feel even more happy with her choice.

"Hello Frank," Lolita said with a blush "Thank you, I do try."

With that she gestured around the hall with a large smile on her face, the Headmistress really had gone all out and it showed, the Hall was virtually unreckognisable from the way it had been this morning when she had come from breakfast.

"You look very handsome today, I love your suit, what do you think of the hall?"

Lolita meant forward and pecked Franks lips, smiling as she drew away.

Charlotte turned around when she felt someone grasp hold of her hips, for a moment she thought it might be Air being a little more forward than normal but no, when she turned around it was her father, no, more precise, Cobie, the younger version of himself.

Biting her lip Charlotte smiled and hugged Cobie briefly before pecking him on the cheek, drawing away she appreciated him in his suit for a moment.

"You look very nice today Cobie, you look good in a suit."

Smiling happily Charlotte cast her eyes around the hall, she spotted Air on his own and frowned a little, motioning for Cobie to stay where he was she ran over to him and smiled, stopping just before him and she gestured over to Cobie.

"Hey, Air, you want to come over and talk to us, I don't want to see you on your own, you can dance with me if you'd like?"

Briony grinned a little as Richard came up to her, he did after all look good in a suit it just took her a while to be able to get him into one without him moaning and complaining, it appeared that most of the men here tonight thought this way about suits.

Ah well, they all look nice and that's what matters.

With that she pecked Richard on the cheek slightly and hugged him for a moment, she wasn't used to displaying such affection in front of other people and it made her just a little uncomfortable, it wasn't that she was in a mood with him, she just knew that she wouldn't like being too romantic.

"Thank you Richard, you don't look bad yourself tonight, you should wear suits more often you know how I like them."

Winking a litte Briony moved over to the alcohol and took up a glass sipping it softly and relaxing a little, everyone seemed to be having a good time.

"So, will we be dancing tonight? If so, should we mingle first or just screw formalities and do what we want. I know which option I would prefer."