[Great Hall] The Tournament Ball (For All)

[Loren Hayes]

Loren nodded and smiled in farewell as Ian went to assist a lonely looking Jac. Loren's bad mood and focus on Dax was probably ruining Ian's night anyway, and she would rather he had a good time dancing then have to stand next to her awkwardly, listening to the sounds of her fuming. For a few moments she watched Ian and Jac talk before wandering into the crowds of couples, disappearing. She sighed heavily, taking a gulp of her drink - mango and rum this time - and began to bob her head to the music in an attempt to feign a good time.

Dax and Girty was still swirling around together, Girty seemingly having the job of holding Dax up he was so limp looking. He's such a baby! Loren thought scathingly as she began to tap her foot. I should be the one falling about in heart break. He's the boy, for Merlin's sake! Why can't I be the selfish one? Loren knew it was time to put Dax out of his misery. She had avoided him for weeks, letting him stew in his bubble of worry and loneliness. She was ruined with guilt, of course - how couldn't she be? Like most girls, all her life she had day dreamed over someone whose love for her would be unyieldingly, true and steadfast, and now that she actually had that person, she was torturing him!

'Wish me luck,' she declared to a drunk Slytherin seventh year who was draped over an empty table. Weaving her way through the crowd, Loren came to stand directly in line with where Girty was dragging Dax like a mop across the floor. 'Dax!' she shouted over the music, waving her arms slightly to gain his attention. 'Dax, please come here!' she said with an apologetic look on her face.

[Ella Malfoy]

Ella looked at her delicate crystal watch on her wrist. She had been here for 20 minutes and yet it seemed like hours. But, she didnt expect the time to fly when she knew the time would most likely be a drag. She wanted to go back to her old school, everyone knew her and she had tons of friends, not to mention she left her boyfriend and had to break up with him. But that wasn't the saddest part, she had broken hearts before.


But now being here, not even getting a glance her way, where nobody knew her, it felt like torture. She fidgeted a bit, how could her parents do this to her? sending her in the MIDDLE of the year? It seemed just so stupid. She might have been actually having fun right now.
'I wonder what my frends are doing right now?' She wondered with a sigh.

[Mozess Mirari]

She nodded, "I expected no more. Just don't pull any funny business and we'll be just fine," she said with a smirk. She herself was no fantastic dancer by any means. In fact, she'd taken a crash course in waltzing via owl only a few days before to make sure she didn't make a total fool of herself. Something she did know how to do though, was make a spectacle of one thing while keeping herself far out of the picture. That was exactly what this situation called for. Letting Zach's ego take over, then as soon as the dance was done make a speedy exit.

She watched as the Gryffindor Champion, and her accomplice in mischief, arrived in a lovely red dress and sent her a small wave, then reterned her attention to dancing. There would be plenty of time to chat once this first dance was out of the way.

Still stepping very lightly as she moved, Mozess slowly changed her placement as they danced, giving spectators a better view of the Slytherin Champion, who she couldn't help noticing seemed a good deal calmer now. She counted the beats of the music in her head, 'One, two, three... One, two, three...' she nodded slowly. She dipped and ducked and swerved, using very basic steps, but trying to make them all look very complicated and elegant, kicking her skirt out to make very small steps look dramatic.

The music started slowing down, much to her relief, and she decided it was high time to end this. "Okay, when I say, take two quick steps, followed by one long step to your right, then do the same thing on the left and we should end up back here." She'd seen this step done on the cover of 'Ballroom Monthly' [she had been quite surprised that the wizarding community had such a magazine], and it seemed simple enough, but it still gave a lovely elegant effect that she thought it would be a nice way to end their turn around the dance floor.

'One, two, three... two, two, three... three, two, three,' she counted mentally. She nodded at Zachary, "Okay... now."

[Jac Shaw]

Jac watched the dance floor with less then any enthusiasm. She sighed heavily and she spotted Zachary & Mozess dancing together. A small smile wiped her lips and a slight twinkle sparkled in her eye.

Suddenly, a voice pulled her towards herself. She then noticed Ian sitting across from her, holding out an inviting hand. Jac smiled, almost gratefully, and reached for his hand. "Well, you know me," she said softly, "can't keep hold of that whistling pocket watch of mine." She giggled at herself and took Ian's hand in her cold one.

[Dax Simmons]

Dax looked nervously around and Girty went around meting and greeting people. He was able to just about managed a smile when Grace turned up. She was looking very nice this evening but before he could eve comment Bog had took her away and was dancing with her. Slowly looking back round at Girty he knew that she would want to continue dancing. He was about to start to lead her off again when he heard a familiar voice above the music. It was Loren.

Dax heart stopped and so did his legs. It took a huge tug from Girty to getting moving again but by then his mind was else where. As he watched Loren call him over, Dax knew he had to go to her, he was being summoned. Breaking free of Girty, Dax slowly made his way across the dance floor, bumping into many people along the way.

He was soon standing opposite Loren, and to his surprise he actually felt relaxed. Slowly Dax began to talk and he managed it with out stuttering once.
“Loren, I am glad you called me over. Everyone who knows me has said that we need to talk, and for once I agree.”

[swishandflick]

Adrienne entered the ball wearing a silky set of green dress robes. They flared out at her waist, creating a ballroom gown look, before resting at her feet and showing just the tips of her black shoes.

She noticed that most students were already in their usual pairs, either dancing or chatting, and sighed heavily. She had only made an appearance at the ball to show Slytherin support, and was sorely regretting it.

Sitting down at one of the tables, she tapped her fingernail on the table cloth and waited for something interesting to happen.

[Professor Dia Hubbles]

Dia entered into the exquisitely decorated Great Hall just behind a seventh year she recognized, though only just for she look so much older in her silky green dress robes. As Dia observed the other students, that thought was th prevailing one.

Dia waltzed through the crowds, smiling at all she saw, and headed towards the table with refreshments adorned on top of it. Her dress was a gryffin red and her hair was straightened especially for the occasion. As Dia reached the refreshments table, she noticed two professors had already arrived, one, a Prof Starsmore, being rather drunk and Prof Vickers trying his hardest to help the poor debouched man. Dia took a glass of pumpkin juice and walked towards them.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" she said, indicating the Hall with her gaze and arm. "Pity you won't remember it in the morning, Mr Starsmore." She spoke with concern in her voice and etched into her forehead. She took a sip of her juice, slightly embarrassed at her forwardness, then she looked around trying to pretend she had not done what she had just done.

[Loren Hayes]

Loren stifled a frown. 'You don't need their permission for everything, you know. If you felt like talking to me then you just should have. It's been weeks since I said all that rubbish in the owlry...' For a moment the Ravenclaw stood still, looking at various parts of Dax's face with a thoughtful, sad expression. Dax was sweet, but he certainly could have done with a little more backbone. He had the heart, he just didn't have the guts...

Without saying anything Loren looped her arm through his, standing at his side. He seemed to tense, but as Loren gently tugged him along so that he was now walking with her he seemed to relax. He's probably so confused, she thought with bitter amusement. One minute I'm ignoring him, the next I'm dragging him around a party with me. 'I'm sorry, really. I've been horrible to you.' She said at last, looking at him. 'I didn't really know who Sophie was before, but I understand now. I'm sorry I made you feel so guilty.'

The Hufflepuff still could not muster the strength to say anything, and Loren laughed openly, shaking her head. She grasped his hand tightly, squeezing it. 'Griffin got your tongue?'

[spidermonkey]

Still a quiet figue in alone Deianira was enjoying herself. She felt calm watching the others swirl and twirl and laugh. Like watching bwautiful fish in a tank she was watching beautiful people in a world of bliss. Reaching a pale hand over she picked up glass of pumpkin juice and sipped it wondering...... if she should... Taking another sip she set down the glass and stood up slowly. Deianira walked onto the ball room floor and just started to dance. Dancing she felt better the lace on her dress didn't itch as much when she twirled. She felt graceful just dancing alone in a crowd where no one noticed her.

[Dax Simmons]

Dax could not say anything. He had focused so hard on not chocking up and stuttering that he had totally forgotten that he would actually need to talk again. His situation was not helped when Loren actually touched him. She linked arms with him and started to lead him away. She then started to mumble about what had happened. Dax thought he knew where the conversation was going but for not the first time in his life Dax was mistaken.

As she apologised Dax froze on the spot. She was sorry. No words could describe the mixed emotions that flooded through his body. Trying to keep his complexion cool on the outside was very hard.

“Oh well I accept your apology then.”

He could not mange much of a reply, he did not know what to say, he did not know how Loren would reacted. She had the habit of flying off on one and Dax knew he could not risk getting her angry again.

[Ella Malfoy]

Ella decided to busy herself by walking over to the refreshment table. Possibly getting a drink, it would be better than just standing there.
She walked over and her dress felt silky smooth as it rubbed against her thighs as she walked. She couldn't stop thinking about her parents.

'How could they send me in the middle of the year and FORCE me to go to this ball? I dont know a soul here! She had never been this angry at well- atleast her mother.
She came to the refreshment table and got some punch, not aware of her surroundings. She tried keeping a normal face but on the inside she was upset and angered.
She never wanted to leave her old school...and just because her ancestor, the famous 'Draco Malfoy' had went there, she suddenly had to transfer!
What could they have been thinking?
She shifted her weight frm one foot to the other. Eager for a distraction so she would not be so angry.

[Dean Winchester]

Dean grinned at Emilia mischeviously, trying ot hid his clear enjoument of the fact that he actually did know how to dance, and was hoping that no one else would find out. "Ya" he said, grinning and laughing "I think I got that" and he started, spinning around in circles and stepping around, avoiding Emilia's feet with gracefull persistion ((sp? )). "My grandparents made me take dance lessons. Now look, they're finally paying off." he laughed at the almost awed look on Emilia's face.

[Ashlee Van Dort]

<sup>Ashlee entered the ball looking a tad bit unsure of herself. She knew she'd have no date, considering the circumstances of her relationship, but still put herself in the position to be ridiculed by the other students.

She wore her hair up in a messy bun and wore a simple yet elegant baby pink dress. She walked over to an empty spot and took a seat. She sighed as she watched the students mingle with eachother, something she never had the time to do when she was a student. She continued to look around with saddened eyes.</sup>

[Loren Hayes]

Loren's eyes narrowed just a little. Swine, she thought strongly.

Takings a quiet, deep breath, Loren calmed herself down a little, the missing chunk of pride in her chest slowly healing over. Although she stilled believed that it was Dax who should be offering the final apology - he did wrong her, after all - she knew that by the morning his selfish response would have slid off her like water of a grindylow's back and to retaliate now would just set the two of them back another couple of weeks, and quitely frankly, she was exhausted.

For a few moments she looked at him expectantly, wondering if he was just going to stare at her stupidly all night or if he were actually going to start acting like a real person...

[Dax Simmons]

Dax moved his gaze from Loren to the floor. The silence was getting longer and longer and the tension between the two was getting greater. Knowing something needed to be done, and that he should actually try to prove himself to Loren, Dax reached forward and took her by the hand.

Leading her away from the middle of the hall, Dax finally stopped as the reached a relatively quite area. A few Hufflepuff second years were sitting there but with a quick glare from Dax they scurried away to the opposite side of the hall. Taking a deep breath, Dax turned to face Loren With a small cough to clear his throat he knew what he had to say.

“Loren, I know that I can not take back anything I have done, but if I could I would. You are the world to me and I have hated myself for causing you pain. All I want you to know is that if you want a friendship or more I will always be here for you. Always.”

Dax longed to tell her more, but he knew he could not push it too far. At the present moment in time he was overjoyed that Loren was talking to him.