The Annual Halloween Ball!

[` MISS SAMMY !]

PLEASE LIMIT YOUR POSTS TO 700 WORDS
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[DAHLIA YVETTE DE LUCA]

Princess was she not, so why pretend, or even masquerade as one for one night. The attire she had chosen was her, simply and completely, the long ruffles and bows that adorned the girls that milled around her in twos and threes, discussing loudly their excitement for the coming dance, did little for her except create a feeling of disgust that rested in the pit of her stomach when her eyes lingered over the fakery. Those that had chosen instead, to dress up in some cheap imitation of a muggles fancy dress were even worse, there was far too much pvc hanging around and far too many bunny ears sat atop girls with far too much skin hanging out for her to enjoy herself for the moment. If they wanted to spend the night uncomfortable, tottering around in heels they had no practice in wearing and pulled tight into corsets that just made their asses look huge, and floor length skirts that they were constantly tripping up over, then they could for all Dahlia cared. She of course was as comfortable as she always was, the white bodice she wore clung to her like a second skin and she moved with a liquid smoothness that she always did. As for the heels, she'd been poured into the footwear since she could remember, at times she toyed with the idea that she had taken her first steps in the shoes, after all, flat shoes hurt her feet after too long. So for Dahlia, a pair of cream high heels with cute little buttons were perfect.

All around her girls chatted like a crowd of excited monkeys, exclaiming and complimenting each other with a fakeness that she could detect from even where she was stood, it brought an amused smile to her mouth and she resisted the urge to let out a chuckle. Everyone shuffled slightly around her, making room for her as she cut through them, many giving her idle glances to inspect what she was wearing, though many, mostly males had an entirely different twinkle in their eyes, slight pride deepened her smile and she shook her long chocolately curls out behind her, running a hand through the locks before repositioning the mass of gold that was her natural hair. As she moved deeper through her classmates were eyes turned towards her from all directions, a mixture of distaste and jealousy from her enemies, and awe and lust from others, not that she showed any mind to any of it. There were few people around her that she would consider friends, acquaintances yes, but events like this and holidays were reserved for having fun with your friends, and she had a dark haired boy to locate.

A loud voice rung out through the crowds, an authoritative figure that all would recognize immediately as their Headmaster. At 5 minutes until 7, there were mostly only students milling around eagerly to be allowed inside, the adults would arrive momentarily after all as no matter if this little event was inside a school, it was still one of the years most important functions, a chance for all the wizarding community to mix and people such as Dahlia to see those that had graduated only the year before and she had sorely missed. Thankfully however, her sister who had returned to France only a few months before, had been unable able to attend.

Tilting her tanned face towards the flame haired man that was revealed as the heavy doors of the Great Hall opened, she felt the slight push of those around her, ready to advance inside and commence this night of merriment and no doubt, underage drinking.

[ASHLEY ELIZABETH RIDER]

As a student she always hated dressing up. She disliked the fact that a bunch of girls got all worked up about a bit of dancing. Now a days her vision had changed a bit on that. She did like to shop every now and then and it didn't happen that often you could go dress shopping. She had gone a few days earlier. Her dress wasn't bought in diagon ally or in any other magical shop. No this was a muggle dress.

Maybe there had been a good side to growing up with parents like hers. She did know all the good places. She took it out of the closet after she took a shower. She smiled at the red dress. It was beautiful, not to mention stylish and above those two it was extremely sexy. Maybe a tad revealing but hey she was an grown up woman.

The red dress had some golden accents. But it showed her legs of fantastically. She sat down to put on some high heels. She did not get how women wore them all day long. She found them terribly uncomfortable but then again if you want to be beautiful you have to suffer. She did her hair magically and so was her make up. Perfect combination, her dress from one or another muggle designer and her make up done magically. The best of two worlds.

Ashley was mildly exited for this. She normally didn't do dances but this time she went. Her hair was bound together which was probably the first time she'd wear it like that on hogwarts. Normally she just let it hung loose. She had a little bit of lip gloss on and because of that she took a purse with her. She had bought it together with the dress and it was good enough to put her wand in.

She had been in her office on the second floor preparing. She walked outside taking the staircase that lead to her class. She walked outside said class and she stood in the hall. Right now she was arguing with herself on if she should go or not. She had gone trough all this preparation and she wouldn't back down from it. She looked trough one of the windows. Since it was October it was dark outside.

Halloween had been her favorite holiday when she was a kid. Trick or treating with her father or mother was something she never had done, they were to busy, but she had done it with her friends though. If she hadn't some dinner party at that day. She nearly got a nostalgic feeling when she walked down the stair case. It was maybe a minute after seven and she knew most people would be inside.

She stood in the hall waiting for her date. And that thought did sound a little strange in her head. Of course she had boyfriends in the past but it was a little different this time. After all Nickolas was just like she was a professor. She nearly wondered how the students and of course the other teachers would react. The last group being a bit more important to her.

[MEISSA AURELIA RIDDLE]

The Halloween Ball. Just another commitment in the long list that required her attendance in place of the Minister of Magic. Long were the days when the Minister of his Undersecretary would come to such events, especially in times such as this when there was so much unease billowing out from the stone fortress that had been her former school. If she had had a choice in the matter Meissa would not be stood at the end of the Great Hall that had for so many years served as her Dining Hall, stood beside the very man that she knew would love nothing better than to tear her apart limb from limb and spill her pure red blood upon the stone paving before him. Surrounding her were many of the staff that she remembered from her time here, but there were some new faces here for her too, faces that she was used to see in school robes in the years above her.

It was, of course, required, for the Ministry's official representative to be early, to be there when the doors opened, seemingly united side by side with the Headmaster of the School as an attempt to squash any rumors of division that the Ministry were still trying to deny. The irony however, of a girl like Meissa Riddle uniting with the likes of Phenoix Rowan would not be missed by many in the crowd. Her double life was kept to a secret level that allowed her to keep her respect and her job, and allow her place of work to turn a blind eye, but there were many who were not fooled by her charade or simply knew her too well to know the slightly pinched smile that currently resided on her elegant lips was not genuine. It was a disgrace that she had been asked to become the spokesperson for the Ministry, surely there were those higher up that could have been given a job, whether the rumors were true or not, it was common knowledge the current Headmaster had a burning hatred for Meissa's father that out shone any in this room.

Shifting her weight slightly, ignoring the way the tight bodice of her dress caused her breath to catch in her slender throat every so often, she waited patiently for the doors to open fully. The movement of the magnificent wooden doors was slow and patience had rarely been something she could project successfully. Already there were students milling through the entrance, evidently about as willing to wait for the doors as Meissa was up on her podium.

There were a few she recognized from her own school years, though they had of course grown considerably and did not interest her. There were also a few adults already which surprised her, despite the invite saying prompt, many were late comers to events such as this. The smile on her face was becoming straining and she felt the twitch at the side of each lip that marked the muscles struggling to remain taut. All Meissa could hope was that those she was waited for hurried up. If she was going to be made to attend such a place, then she was going to make the most of it and make sure that this was going to be a Halloween Ball that no one in the British Isles would ever forget.

It was this thought that made her smile genuine finally.

[stebbins]

i am falling

i am fading

The letter had sat discarded on his coffee table--uncharacteristically unorganized as the rest of his mail was--for the longest time before he chanced another glance at it after work a day or two before the actual event he had been invited to. Geoffrey, again, had scowled at it and promptly forgone rereading it to take a shower. But it lingered in the back of his mind as he tried to busy himself with other things that could have easily been ignored if he were some insipid child just graduated from that ever-forbidding place, and finally, it refused to be ignored as it stared up from the glass top table that had begun to collect dust.

As Geoffrey stood in front of the magically altered closet, the expensive parchment lay irritably crumpled on his neatly made bedspread next to a simple black mask. He frowned to himself. The theme was so reminiscent of muggle festivities that it made his skin crawl… But then, it was Phoenix Rowan who had planned the whole charade, wasn’t it? Even thinking the man’s name made him anxious and jittery, but Geoffrey shook his head and pulled three hangers from his closet and set them on the bed.

When Meissa had mentioned the Halloween Ball at the Death Eater meeting, Geoffrey had thought it a joke. Everyone was invited? Surely it was just something to be had with the students and staff of Hogwarts and a few higher-ups in the Ministry… But as the meeting wore on, silent laughter faded to warring feelings of anxiety and irritability. Hogwarts had not been, as it had been for others, a safe haven and a welcome change to the monotony of home. Geoffrey had not been a fan of the way the school was headed after his second year when he actually gained his footing in the continually moving mass that was his class. He had gone home every holiday and been packed two nights before the last day with only the essentials left out for the following days. His memories were not grand ones.

Geoffrey had not planned on going back unless it was to watch it crumble.

Sighing, he changed quickly, not bothering to smooth his hair that had dried in a disheveled mess after his shower. The shirt was heavy enough to keep him warm against whatever chill October or the Great Hall may bring, but the ensemble was hardly complete without the jacket with sleeves that stopped five inches short of the shirt sleeves that hung passed his gloved fingers. Once the final details were in place--a thin ribbon acting as a makeshift tie and magically (and tastefully) done eyeliner--Geoffrey slipped on the shiny dress shoes, grabbed the mask, and without a second thought, disapparated to small village of Hogsmeade.

The walk up to the castle was like walking through a memory even as the cloying scents that drifted from the Hog’s Head and the Three Broomsticks made him want to stop off for a quick drink. Geoffrey had walked this street many times as a student, his parents all for letting their son venture out with his fellow students. It had been grand once upon a time, but now it was just a crossroads from point A to point B. Apparation was not allowed on the grounds of the grand castle that was rising up to meet him as he passed the gates flanked by gargoyles. A stupid rule that was only deemed necessary when he was once a student.

The heavy wood door to the entrance hall stood open, lit brightly from the inside by thousands of glowing candles. Geoffrey stopped at the bottom of the stone stairs and looked down at the mask clutched almost too tightly in his hand. Strange how he hadn’t noticed. With slightly shaking hands, he tied the satin ribbon round his head and fixed the mask to it’s proper place. Taking a deep, steadying breath, he ascended the stairs and let the noises of excited students and guests crash into him in an almost overwhelming wave. The night would be a long one, but surely one to remember.

tag everyone at the ball !
words 691
outfit here!
notes ---

['TWIGG' CHARITY MELISSA FLAMEL]

Ahh another Ball, another time to shine, wasn't that what girls were supposed to think of situations like this? There was definitely no mistaking the fact that Charity Flamel was a girl, despite her less than feminine name that had been given to her whilst she was a child. There were few who knew the origin of the name that had firmly become as associated with her as the one given to her at both, but she was more than happy to pass it on as a simple link to her love of Quidditch. It was much more embarrassing and actually quite worked if she was required to fabricate a complete story about it.

Admittedly her outfit was not suitable, but when had Twigg been suitable for anything? Let alone a classy party full of hundreds of influential people that would be scrutinizing her every movement and word. So here she was, stood atop the grand staircase of Hogwarts, dressed as... Father Christmas? Maybe it was the attention seeking child inside her that had inspired the costume, or maybe.. well there really wasn't another explanation that made any sense was there? Already people were looking in her direction, the majority gifting her with expressions of distaste and jealousy that flared from their peering eyes and fueled the grin on her face that curled the delicate lips of her face. There really hadn't been much option for her when it came to outfits, something classy simply wouldn't do, her numerous tattoos that covered almost all of her body had seen to that, try being a cute little fairy tale character when you had dead gypsy faces adorning your once tawny skin.

With a smirk she pushed through the crowd, enjoying the way many stepped away ahead of her to avoid any contact with the seventh year girl for fear that her infamous temper be brought down on her. There were few people of interest so far at the ball, from her position she could see Meissa before the Staff table, beside the very man that they planned to attack tonight, and the irony only deepened her amusement. Sweeping her gaze she made contact with a familiar figure only a few feet away, fellow Death Eater and former Slytherin, Geoffrey Stebbins stood close enough to throw a stick at, and with a small shrug she closed the distance between them. Flashing him a smile for greeting she gave a nod, Evening Geoffrey eyeing his costume her eyes danced with approval You look truly terrifying. Not that she could really comment.

[stebbins]

Hovering near the door, Geoffrey surveyed the heads he stood over. Despite what the invitation had said--dress is fancy--many students, it seemed, had failed to receive that memo. He chuckled to himself and shook his head lightly. So many young, vulnerable, influential, and not to mention beautiful things running around in nothing more than dressed up lingerie… Well, it was a veritable feast for young men such as himself. Geoffrey sighed. If his mind wasn’t otherwise attached anyway. The smirk slipped for a moment, only his eyes lit from the candles and eye candy that passed him in chattering droves. Damn.

At the far end of the Great Hall, beside a man feared by many with even the dirtiest of pure blood, Geoffrey saw Meissa in her elegant gown that was fit for a queen. He expected nothing less from a woman of such power. She stood rigidly beside the man who had made himself an enemy of his own free will, and Geoffrey wondered how she wore such a composed smile. Accomplished as he was at hiding behind a mask, so to speak, he would not have been able to stand so close to Phoenix Rowan without showing his anxiety. But then, that was why it was Meissa and Malleus taking top billing and not Geoffrey and someone else; not that he would ever dream of such a thing.

Geoffrey pressed forward with the crowd, only noticing a flicker of red before it was lost to his peripheral vision because of the necessary mask. His smile returned when he looked to the seventh year Slytherin who had taken up the space beside him. Christmas had never seemed so wonderful or exciting. Evening, Charity, he said with a brief nod of his head. How she had managed to slip into the little fabric that there was to her costume and not come tumbling out of it unceremoniously was beyond him, but the ways of women had always been a mystery to him. He smiled his thanks to her compliment and said, And you look truly… Sinful. I can’t recall Christmas ever being so visually interesting, but I’d hate to see the confusion on the little faces of the first year boys who undoubtedly have never imagined that giving holiday to be quite as exciting as your costume is making it tonight. In hindsight, better judgment probably would have advised against such a thing, but Geoffrey offered her his arm. Shall we join the festivities?

[VICTOIRE GABRIELLE WEASLEY]

Call her childish, call her vain, but Victoire had actually been excited to receive the invitation to the Hogwarts Ball. Of course, this excitement had less to do with the event itself than what mighthappen at the event, but it was something to look forward to all the same. Vee was rather conflicted about the whole ordeal--as a journalist, she wanted something big to happen, something that would make a wonderful story. As an Order member, on the other hand, she wanted the night to go smoothly, with no bumps, no fights. Of course this was highly unlikely. With members from all three groups attending the ball, 'peaceful' was probably the last thing it would be.

She wasn't technically reporting on the ball tonight, since she had taken the whole day off, but the Daily Prophet had given Victoire massive hints that they wanted to know what was going on. Vee was a good candidate for the job, because she was relatively subtle in comparison to many of the other reporters. She wasn't obnoxiously nosy, and she didn't make a habit of having people get angry with her. Her tactics were demure, and Victoire's boss seemed to like subtlety better than up-front nosiness for such an event. Although Victoire hadn't wanted to make this ball her job instead of simply an experience, she couldn't pass up the offer--the Daily Prophet had paid for her dress, her shoes, and her mask for the event, and Victoire wouldn't have been able to afford them on her own. Oh, yes, she was a sellout when it came to clothes. It was a weakness she really needed to work on.

She had to admit, she felt at home amongst the extravagant ballroom. The corset top of the black dress made her feel sexy, although she really didn’t have the hips to show it off, and the ruffles of the slit skirt made her feel just formal enough. The black heels she wore made her a good deal taller than many of the men in the room, but the intricate gold-and-black mask gave her the confidence of anonymity. There was no denying it--Victoire liked to dress up. Although her outfit might have been extravagant, her coiled hair added a feeling of simplicity.

So it was with confidence that Victoire strolled into the room, her icy kohl-rimmed eyes scanning those in attendance, trying to find a familiar face at the same time she was bookmarking figures that might be playing a part in any conflict to come. Already, there were Death Eaters and Order members present, and of course the head of Rowan’s army was here, being the Headmaster of Hogwarts. This potential for conflict, a serious matter indeed, contrasted horribly with the mix of costumes in the room. It made this dangerous potential seem almost humorous. The power of costumes. Victoire smiled to herself, taking a moment to adjust to the atmosphere before she made her rounds of the room.

[superstition]

"Hey Albus, are you coming mate?" Raising his gaze from his shisrt as he glanced at the closed door of his apartment, he made out the words of his neighbour asking him to hurry up. He stifled a laugh at the irony of the fact that he was being chased after in terms of tardiness. "Trust me, I'm coming! Give me a moment,"

[/color] he called out, and to his chagrin his friend replied - "That's what you always say." Laughing it off as he heard the familiar sound of disapparating, Albus turned back to the mirror, his fingers deftly tying the last of his tie in place. Surveying himself as he pulled the knot tight, he smiled at his appearance, feeling nothing short of satisfied. Quietly, he muttered a few incantations, and watched as his suit straightened itself. Ah, the wonders of magic and spending time with Grandmother Weasley. Bless her soul. Thank Merlin that when Albus had been younger, he had been such a mama's boy, and had stuck to the parentals no matter what he did. It apparently had done him a lot of good, given the amount of household spells he could boast in his repertoire.

Running a hand through his hair as he gave himself a last once over, he summoned his mask wordlessly from the inner part of his apartment. As the elegant silver object came into contact with his hand, Albus tightened his grip before making his way out of the apartment. Disapparating once he was able to with a crack, he arrived at the Apparaition point at Hogwarts with a soft pop, like many others. Giving a smile at the rest of the people who had arrived at the same time as he did, he slipped on the mask, putting on the final touches to the whole ensemble as he did so. When he was finally ready, he started to make his way up to the castle grounds, his feet light as he did so. It was a long walk, but it wasn’t a bad thing in the least. Albus relished in the ability to use his feet – being a wizard had its perks, but it was annoying to forever have to rely on magic to get anywhere – and soon enough he had made his way to the doors of the Great Hall, today temporarily charmed to act as a ballroom.

Nodding once to whoever was there to greet him, the male entered the room easily enough, his eyes alight as he smiled at the many faces there. It really wasn't the best disguise, for his green eyes were evident. They seemed to stand out against the silver, even more than normal if that was possible. Silently, he made his way to the punch bowl – irony, right? – as he waited for his date. If she decided to come, for he had been known to be ignored when it came to the idea of going out with him. Apparently, being a Potter wasn’t always a good thing, you know? Looking around, he caught sight of a familiar figure. Oh, no way. "Vic? Is that you?"[/color] he called out, standing behind the other as he tapped Victoire - or who he thought it was! - on the shoulder.

Outfit! The male’s version, obviously. :3

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[lucille]

LIKE A FLOWER BENDING IN THE BREEZE
bend with me, sway with ease,

the invitation had arrived some time ago, had been left, unopened, upon the small table in her flat above the store along with the other junk that regularly arrived by owl. she'd nearly discarded the envelope without a second glance, but had been halted upon seeing the fancy calligraphy on its back. intrigued, she'd gone about opening it and had immediately felt the wash of excitement. another ball. though it would probably be great fun, at first she wasn't sure whether she wanted to go. it was at hogwarts, and she had no interest in returning to her old school. no interest at all... until she had come up with her outfit. it would probably be considered cross-dressing, and she would probably cause a bit of a spectacle, but she wouldn't be caught dead at a ball in one of those floofy dresses that so many of her cousins were fond of. even the non-floofy dresses didn't interest her, as they tended to accentuate the lack of womanly curves upon her rather petite and thin body. this outfit, however, was one that she enjoyed immensly, some fun that she couldn't resist. top hat perched at a jaunty angle upon her carefully styled, short, red hair, her bright red mask clashing violently with said hair colour, makeup quite over-the-top; it was most definitely a lucy sort of outfit.

absently twirling her black cane, lucy stood by the side of the room, watching for faces she recognised. oh, certainly, she ought to know many of the people in this room, but it was difficult to identify each and every one of them as they passed by her position, masked as they all were. anyways, putting names to faces was never a particular skill of hers. she, on the other hand, would most likely be readily identifiable simply by the fact that no other would dress as she would at such an event. that, and her short, coppery hair, as unique and as noticeable as it was for most weasleys.

she was there to have fun. it was the number one rule that she lived by. but she was also there because she didn't trust headmaster rowan, nor anyone else at the party, if she were to be serious about it. but until something happened, this was a party, and lucy was going to have fun. now, if nothing happened, things would be incredibly boring, but as long as no fights broke out this could be an entertaining evening indeed. but first she wanted to find someone to talk to, and find where the food was. oh, and one couldn't forget drinks, either. she'd heard that alcoholic beverages were available, and she was curious to see how many students pretended to be of age in order to get some. smirking now, lucy sauntered around the perimetre of the room, her goal the food tables that she could just barely see.

TAG: ANYONE || STATUS: COMPLETE || WORD COUNT: FIVE HUNDRED
LYRICS: SWAY || NOTES: MASK! OUTFIT!

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[talie]

natalie had caught a glimpse of the great hall which had been transformed, supposedly and cliche enough, for a night of magic. natalie rolled her eyes and gagged at the thought. unfortunately, that gag had turned into the following step. her on her knees at one of the girls toilets. oh, i know what's been here, i don't want to put my face here, she muttered into the toilet. she had ran to the girl bathroom in nothing but a robe and had heard several whistles while she ran wildly through the corridor with her hand clapped to her mouth.

she finished shortly after thankfully, and took the longest way back to the dungeons. she wasn't looking forward to this evening, and that was probably obvious to everyone who passed her in the corridor. a scowl was plastered to her face. why was everyone so bloody excited about this dance, anyway? a night of drama, fighting, crying girls on the stairs, couples fooling around on the lawns.

after returning to her dormitory, natalie brushed her teeth, tongue, and tonsils roughly, scouring any bit of vomit that had been there. she felt disgusting and disgusted. she removed her robe, stepping into her dress, and fought with the zipper for a moment. she sat and slipped each of her feet into the shoes. finally, she slipped her earrings in, and tied her mask into her messy curls. she took a deep breath, running her hands down the silk fabric of her dress, and made sure that her legs were evenly tanned, toned, and lotioned before leaving her dormitory, her wand in a holster on her thigh.

let the fun begin, she said sarcastically, stepping into the great hall.

[MALLEUS MALEFICA]

----------
BOYS AND GIRLS OF EVERY AGE

WOULDN'T YOU LIKE TO SEE SOMETHING STRANGE?
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All Hallows Eve. This was by far Mal's favourite time of year, due to the fact that it was the only time of year Death was actually celebrated by every person on the globe. It wasn't like the celebration that took place at a wake, or the kind of celebration after the death of an enemy. No, on this night, almost everybody dressed up as something to be feared, something that would usually be considered a threat.

Unfortunately, however, this halloween, Malleus was heading to the one place he never wished to see again in his life, unless it was to walk upon the rubble of it's freshly leveled self. Although, as always, Hogwarts School Of Witchcraft And Wizardry was the one place everybody that mattered would be tonight, thus meaning the school was the perfect place to announce to return of the Death Eaters, and what they had in store for the wizarding world. Oh, what a surprise this would be!

As he approached the school, Malleus pulled out the wolf mask that he had bought at some muggle joke shop. It looked pretty realistic, which is part of the reason he had bought it. With a grin, he pulled it over his head, after adjusting his hair to make it fit more comfortably, twisting it back and forth until the eye holes were aligned perfectly. The mask fit like a glove, the material snug against his own skin. Secondly, using his abilities as a metamorphmagi, he began shifting his hands, the only visible part from beneath his suit. Thick, rough hair sprouted from the tops of his hands, and his nails grew longer, each ending in a sharp point. He couldn't see exactly, but he could only imagine how much like an actual wolf he looked.

Grinning beneath his mask, Mal finally entered the castle, rapidly making his way to dining hall, scanning the vast room for the one person he actually wanted to see. The hall, usually full from top to bottom with tables for mealtimes, was now virtually empty. All that stood in the hall now was a band for the music, a few tables with drinks and snacks, and of course, the guests who were attending the ball. Before long, his eyes fell upon the girl he was looking for. Meissa Riddle. She stood next to the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Phoenix Rowan, their latest threat. Were it not for the knowledge that she was here as a representative for the Ministry, Mal probably would've launched at Phoenix there and then, beginning the inevitable battle of power between his army, and the Death Eaters. As it were though, he simply had a little chuckle to himself at the fact that Meissa was here to give off a good impression for the Ministry, yet her date was one of the most notorious Death Eaters known to them, and their goal this evening was to make themselves known.

Taking her side, Malleus leaned in close. "Good evening, my love," He whispered in her ear, chuckling slightly, "How'd you like the disgui-- I mean costume." Were it not for the fact that he had a mask over his face, he would've taken this opportunity to stick out his tongue at her in the cheeky manner he saved only for her.

[jasper]

Halloween ball. Whatever had inspired the headmaster to think of organizing such an event and believing that it would pull through was beyond Jasper's understanding, but because he was a student still - not for long, though! - attendance was required by the Slytherin. As such, decked in his pirate gear - one of the redeeming features that Muggle folklore boasted, he was well prepared for the masquerade ball that was the highlight of the festivities. Well, one of the highlights, he corrected himself. The Death Eaters had their own fair share of things planned out, after all. A smirk decked on his lips as he strolled towards the newly decorated Great Hall, Jasper checked himself once over in the mirror that was conveniently located near the entrance, smirking in satisfaction as he twirled a lock of his long fake hair around his finger. He resembled that one character greatly - who was that again? Jack Sparrow, was it? Well, whatever the case, he certainly was able to pull off the look easily, what with the swagger being something he had cultivated over the years, and the grin easily achievable.

Oh yes, Dahlia would certainly not be able to find him.

Thanking god that his parents had been efficient with their delivery - they certainly did not reject their son's request when it first had been sent to them, no matter how odd it had been. As it stands, he had caught some Muggle films years before, digging up this old treasure from years ago that involved pirates and ships. It wasn't very Muggle like, at all, and it made a fitting costume. Because if anything, that captain of the ship certainly had some sass that Jasper himself was somewhat impressed by. One did not die and ome back - the trilogy of films had easily taken up his attention, and it was hard to get him to ignore that. His outfit was prefect, if only for the fact that the beard made him feel a little older than he truly wanted to be. But it was a prefect disguise.

And comfortable enough to duel in, if need be. Stepping into the Great Hall - finally making it, after lost last - he was greeted by a masquerade of people, all wearing different costumes and masks. Identities unknown, oh what a fitting way for the night to go. Little did all these people - with their smiles and laughter filling the air - know what truly awaited them tonight. Sliding over to meet with the girl that had just entered the hall, he smiled at her pleasantly. "Excuse me, Miss, but I had not know you'd actually grace us with your presence tonight,"

[/color] Jasper addressed Natalie, pulling at one of his fake locks of hair with great amusement. "And your date, love?"[/color]

Outfit here.

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[SELENE MIRELA LONGBOTTOM]

Formal events and Selene Longbottom rarely mixed very well, unfortunately though she had inherited her good looks and calm from her Mothers side, she had not completely missed out on genetic gifts from her father and bad luck and clumsiness seemed to be the front runners, despite her high pressure job. Once out of the hospital she had the potential to become a disaster and she was completely aware of the fact as she tottered on high heels that if she had no felt slightly nervous upon, she would have confidently worn. They were what always adorned her feet after all, but pressure made everything harder, and as the daughter of Neville Longbottom, a public favourite, it was expected of her to be the picture of charm and friendliness. Under her breath she muttered half a grumble Thank god I'm not a Potter whilst she flipped back dark curls that framed her delicate face on either side.

Speaking of Potters however, moments later, through the crowds of students giggling and laughing nervously about whether their dates would actually show, she spotted a face that would be recognizable behind any half assed mask that he could produced. Instantly the reaction was clear and a smile rose to her pink lips, the mask that barely covered her eyes could not disguise the flash of relief that passed through the chocolate orbs and she wasted little time in pushing her way through the masked youngsters who were crowded every corner outside the Hall, despite the entrance being open. Couldn't they just wait for their dates inside? Sheesh kids. When she was only a few feet away from her childhood friend, and what turned out to be another very familiar face, the smile widened into a grin, relief changing to excitement, maybe the ball she had dreaded so much would not be so bad after all.

OI POTTER! no one could suggest Selene was not ladylike! Or the epitome of etiquette could they? When she finally reached him she threw her arms wide and in lack for a better terms threw herself onto him in a hug they had shared for many years and totally forgotten to update for more serious, adult occasions. Grinning up at the man she had regarded as a protective older brother for so long she gifted him with a slight kiss on the cheek before disentangling herself and turning to Victoire. Hey Vee, fancy seeing you here? with a grin she stepped forward and gave the Weasley girl a slight hug, that no doubt she would expect, Selene had always been a touchy feely girl after all. Are you working tonight? it would just be Vic's luck to be forced to cover an event such as this.

[DAHLIA YVETTE DE LUCA]

The hall filled up around her which was to be expected, and through the sea of masked boys and girls, men and women, that were generally unrecognizable to her she could see a few of the older Order members that she had been spending more and more of time with recently. Even from here she could detect the unease running through their experienced bodies, how could they not feel such a way? Every important witch and wizard in the country was piled into one room, maybe not politically important, true, but the heads of each of the so called 'freedom fighting' organizations were squashed within these walls, whether the naive believed it or not. With a light sigh she felt her body being buffeted by the crowd, taking her along with the rhythm of their feet and the stream of people. So far her eyes hadn't picked up on anyone of interest, she wanted her friends, she would even stand for acquaintances, but all she could see at the moment were damned Slytherins, and a few adults that seemed less than savory to her eyes.

Watching the less than enthusiastic entry of Natalie Flint, one of the Slytherin Quidditch team, she pursed her lips, surely there was someone in this place that could hold a friendly conversation with her? She was half tempted to go and place herself beside her fellow Order members, she was eighteen after all, and a full member, she just had wanted to spend a little time to herself. As the swarm of Slytherins continued she saw a figure walk up to Natalie. Wait, all this was unimportant, where the hell was Jasper? The annoyed thought blasted through her with a surprising anger that she had allowed herself, once again to place faith in the boy that was so undeserving off it at times. It was hard to blame herself though, for the misplaced hope and she instead turned her eyes back to the crowd, hopping into a space between the Slytherin girl and the pirate as she idly turned in a circle. Dahlia positively hated that she was spending her time looking for him, it was so... degrading. With an angry exhalation she clutched the sequined surface of her purse and admitted defeat, that was, until a voice sounded low and familiar behind her.

Its funny how a mood could switch so quickly from neutral ground to anger, and as she turned quickly on the spot, eyes fixed on the ridiculous pirate that she had thought as nothing more than another desperate Slytherin boy, there was a definite tautness to her frame. Anger laced her voice as she shouted out, rather unceremoniously over the short distance and fixed herself in a rather cliche position, hands fixed firmly on the soft mounds of her hips. Oi Captain, maybe it was the fact that she had been ignored that fed the anger or maybe it was that he hadn't even bothered to look for her and had simply settled on his own kind. With no incentive to go over she waited, very impatiently, the entire fate of the evening balancing on this moment.