#*yule ball

She wasn’t one to take ages getting ready. Her hair was better a day or two after a wash anyway and her outfit was quick and easy to throw on. It meant she was in the common room earlier than most, sat on the arm of one of the sofas, chewing on the edge of her thumbnail. She felt nervous, though she wasn’t exactly sure why. Yes, it was a little strange and intimidating that she had a date with Peter Pettigrew. An older man, as her brother had teased her when she met with her siblings in Hogsmeade over the weekend. One of the infamous Marauders.

The cards had told her it was right. They had said yes. She must just feel nervous because it was rather public for a first date and, well, because it felt pretty serious to see that Wheel of Fortune card in Peter’s hand. Not only did it mean yes in matters of the heart but it meant change, it meant fate. It meant so many possibilities and Brie was enamoured by the idea.

She looked up every time somebody descended the boys’ staircase and remained on her perch as the room filled up with excitable students and pre-drinks. Finally, it was the boy she had been waiting for who appeared and she beckoned him over with a wave and a “Hi.” She stumbled a little as she stood up too quickly for the heels on her feet and her cheeks went pink but she felt a buzz of excitement now he was there.

DIRK CRESSWELL at the Yule Ball

In an attempt to not look too muggle, Dirk has opted for simple, classic dress robes for the Yule Ball along with the few pieces of jewellery he owns.

Brianne sat for a moment with some of Peter’s friends and found herself momentarily without her date by her side as he went for-- something. It had been too loud to actually hear him properly across the music so Brie had smiled and nodded as if she knew exactly what he had said. She turned to face Sirius, leaning closer to speak. “So! Sirius. Has Peter said anything about me? Does he actually like me? And how far do you think he’ll be expecting us to go tonight?” It was the hardest thing about going on a date with somebody you didn’t know so well and she knew that the drunker she got the harder she would find it to read the mood, so it would be a good idea to know what to expect. Who better to ask than one of his best friends?

The biggest downside to attending the ball with someone he didn’t want around his friends was less time with said friends for himself. They had been careful, entering in such a way it wasn’t obvious they were together, eating side by side but to those not in the know it might have appeared to be a mere accident they ended up next to each other. Once the ball was in full swing it was easier, both to flirt and to spend time with his friends. Or it would be if he could find any of them.

He saw Mary first and while of all the Gryffindors their year only Florence was he less close to, Mary was in the Order and for Remus that meant he should be getting to know her better. He told himself he would go over and have a normal conversation, not make it obvious she wasn’t the person he had been looking for. “Mary! Having fun? You haven’t seen Sirius, have you?” Damn it.

BRIANNE FRAZER at the Yule Ball

Not one for long dresses and very much taking the ball as her birthday party (because, did she mention, it’s her birthday), Brie has opted for more of a party dress and, of course, a birthday sash.

One of the Aurors had started talking to her and after a little conversation Brie had sweet-talked the man into getting her a coffee. Really, it was strange that caffeine was so much harder to get a hold of in the ball than alcohol but Brie had persevered until she had a drink in each hand: double espresso in one, and whiskey in the other. “So, now,” she said, striking up a conversation with the person stood nearest to her, “the only question is which do I drink first? Or do I turn it into an Irish coffee?” Though, perhaps when it was pure coffee and pure whiskey, no mixers or milk or water, mixing them together would be a bad idea. Her face lit up in recognition when she realised who she had found herself talking to. “Oh! You’re here with Wendy, right? I love Wendy, she’s great.”

She had reached that level of tipsy where everybody got a hello and whoever responded with more than a smile was told about how special today was as she was now twenty. She had forgotten that she was wearing a birthday sash which announced the fact but it had also twisted around so the words were now more over her shoulder than across her body. “Gideon!” She bounced up to the familiar face, dancing to whatever blur of music was now playing, though her moves didn’t particularly match the beat or the tone of the song. “Are you having the best time ever? Oh! Guess what!”

He had cast a privacy spell around himself to sit in the corner of the room and quickly check the Map. It was more complicated than he had hoped, though, to find anything out of the ordinary. So many names overlapped each other on the Great Hall it was impossible to read them. There were groups — couples, really — split off in various alcoves nearby or walking through the grounds and others in their common rooms and dormitories already but Remus ignored those. All in all, nothing he was going to fret over but something to be aware of all the same.

And there was his date, just outside the Great Hall, alone. Possibly getting some innocent fresh air but Remus was with him for a reason.

The Map was tucked into a hidden inside pocket in his jacket when he stepped out the Great Hall and his eyes fell on Walden Macnair. “There you are,” he said, as if he had been looking for him. “It’s getting a bit crowded in there, isn’t it? I wondered if you fancied a walk.” He indicated to the Grand Staircase. While there had been some students outside, there had also been Aurors there and enough people he hoped they would keep each other safe. It was those in quiet wings of the castle who concerned him more.