The Halloween Ball

[Gypsy]

The Halloween Ball
(This is just setting up the scenery, I'll post later; hope it's enough!)

As one enters the austere Great Hall on such a cold day like today's, they notice a bit of a hubbub coming from within. Then, one steps in and suddenly feels warm, in that special Hogwarts way. Great pumpkins grown from Hagrid's garden are placed as decorations in each corner, the fat gourds of autumn. Some are even made into jack-o-lanterns, fire flickering in their delicately trimmed eyes. The usual house banners have been changed into great streamers of black and orange, with smaller streamers across the walls. The stars upon the ceiling seem to be more tumultuous than usual; clouds sweep past the them in convulsions, a somewhat fitting addition to the decor. Bats are flying about the ceiling and enchanted candles hover, giving off their faint glow.

At the tables sit the students, their numbers slowly growing as students in their bewitching dress robes file into the hall. At the staff table sits some of the teachers and other staff, but they advance slowly, too. Each table is covered with sights pleasing to the eye. Their large centerpieces of gourds and fat candles give off a homely feel, as does the large feast that the house elves have set out on the long, wooden tables. All sorts of treats crowd the tables' surfaces; great roasts of meats, dinner puddings, and even vegetables, if that's your thing. And there is always the promise of desert, foreordained on those fine gilded plates.

[Carissa Young]

The headmistress glided gracefully into the Great Hall which was adorned with the large pumpkins that were the size of houses, grown every year by the gamekeeper, for Halloween. Leaves of all colors were strung around the ceiling while the bats fluttered around at random, going wherever they pleased. Every ghost that occupied Hogwarts was there, at the ball; talking merrily to each other. Even the gloomiest of gohsts looked some what happy. Peeves was busy scaring people and Noel couldn't help but to laugh. When it gets out of hand then I'll get the Barron. She decided as she passed the table of food especially made for ghosts. Noel tried not to crinkle her nose, but the smell was atrocious. Sighing Noel made her way toward Gypsy, one of the only people there.

Her long blonde hair cascading down her back adorned with a flower crown. Her halloween costum flowed past her feet. "Good evening Gypsy. I really love what you did here. I mean even Hagrid did a good job, I think that his pumpkins are bigger than last years. Don't you think?" Noel said sitting down at the head table. Her bright blue eyes scanning the halkl for other guests.
This is Noels costume
www.costumesinc.com/p9051/Renaissance-Maiden-Costume-Adult-Medieval-Costume-Renaissance-Themes.html

[Gypsy]

The Hufflepuff Head had always been one for tradition. She celebrated every holiday just so, and she loved getting together with people for special occasions, loved doing things the Hufflepuff way, which she was so excited when the holiday (which she had anticipated for almost a month) had finally arrived. Gypsy had planned out a trip to Diagon Alley, where she visited every clothing shop from Twilfit and Tattings to Madame Malkin's, finally settling on an untraditional gown ((above)). That was only the beginning of her enthusiasm. She had charmed her classrooms with bats and other Halloween paraphernalia, she had done up the Hufflepuff Commons with Hagrid's engorged gourds, and she had even graded tests in orange and black. She had even helped out with the Great Hall's decoration! Now, the day had finally come and Gypsy was, as they say, as giddy as a school girl, even more so than her own students.

She went to her room the afternoon of the thirty first, and emerged that night, satisfied after one last look in the mirror. Gypsy donned her simple gown, hair let down, auburn streaming down her face. She quickly stepped towards the Hallowed Hall, through the first floor hallways. She could feel the excitement escaping her into the air around her. It was infectious. Gypsy arrived at the Great Hall quite early, energy level probably too high for a professor. First, she peeked through the doorway, staring at the magical decorations that spilled off of the walls and tables. There is nothing like a Hogwarts Ball, she thought to herself. Quickly, she made her way over to the staff table, stopping to grab some punch. Behind her, she heard a familiar voice.

"Good evening Gypsy. I really love what you did here. I mean even Hagrid did a good job, I think that his pumpkins are bigger than last years. Don't you think?"

The Gryffindor Head of House made her way towards Gypsy, as she looked around the Hall for other ball attendees. It made Gypsy feel like hugging her; there was something wonderful about ceremonies, even if they were only parties. She grabbed her punch, making sure not to spill any, and took a few strides in her direction. People were starting to arrive in the Great Hall; her smile got wider.

"Hagrid always does an amazing job," Gypsy laughed, "And don't you go praising me for the Great Hall; there were other teachers involved!" She paused for a moment. "Your dress is really fun, by the way! Do you know if any of the other professors are coming?"

Gypsy's Dress

[Carissa Young]

Gypsy had a wonderful gown, it was undescribable. A wierd look seemed to have come over gypsy and she looked like she was going to linge at her. Carrisa laughed when Gypsy had said Hagrid always does an amazing job and don't you go praising me for the Great Hall; there were other teachers involved! Your dress is really fun, by the way! Do you know if any of the other professors are coming?" No matter how much Gypsy did for activity preperations, she always seemed to give others credit as well. Carrisa knew for a fact that Gypsy had done most, if not all, the work.

"You know Gypsy, it's not always good to give other people credit. I know that you did more than half of the work to get this ball ready, I did some of it too but not all of it. You seem to outdo yourself every year," She paused and got some punch and played with a strand of hair. Taking a sip of punch she set it down again. An orchestra had started to play some erresome music...Perfect Carrisa thought a smile crept up on her face. "So I was thinking about a christmas ball, or a Yule Ball..."
her voice lowered to a whisper so only Gypsy was able to hear. "I was thinking of have a Triwizard tournament you know. But of course I would have to get the Ministers permission first, once of course he comes back form his leave. So what do you say?" Her angel like voice returned back to it's regular volume as she said that.

[Orla Quirke]

The day was chilly, winter was coming. There were whispers all throughout the halls; the Halloween Ball was today. Now, Orla Quirke had never been one for dances, she was more of a bookworm, but something had told her to come to the dance tonight. Ha!, Orla laughed to herself, who was she kidding? Her mother had forced her to buy an ugly dress robe from Twilfit and Tattings. But she knew that although she had the choice to not attend the ball, she was going to go. So she had arrived back to her dorm as usual, hurrying through the cold corridors. She was all emotions; nervous, excited, annoyed. When she fell on her bed, she pondered all of her morals which told her just how dumb school dances were, but she trashed them all as she pulled on her silly dress.

She shook her hair in front of the mirror one last time and trod out of the Ravenclaw common room, wearing her dress somewhat awkwardly. Orla moved down the corridor swiftly, stepping evenly over the hard stone floor. The hallways were mostly empty; she figured that most of the students were at the ball or getting ready. Finally, she arrived at the Great Hall, nervous and hating herself for it. If she didn't even want to go, why was she so on-edge? She stuck her head into the Hall, anxiously. It was such a mistake to come, she thought to herself, but her mother's antagonizing voice infiltrated her mind, forcing her to walk into the oversized room.

Orla strode confidently into the Great Hall, despite her trembling insides. It was beautiful, it was magical. This hall brought back so many great memories that were making the fifth year way too emotional for her own good. She glanced up at the decorations around the ceiling and the flickering pumpkins placed around the Great Hall. She looked around, there wasn't anyone she really knew. She saw some of her professors in deep conversation. She was about to walk towards them, but realized she didn't want to disturb their whispering. Instead, she made her way towards the long wooden Ravenclaw table. She sat, hating social situations and all that came with them. She should have stayed in her room and read a book, she thought.

[Gypsy]

"You know Gypsy, it's not always good to give other people credit. I know that you did more than half of the work to get this ball ready, I did some of it too but not all of it. You seem to outdo yourself every year."

Gypsy only smiled, inwardly and outwardly. It was a Hufflepuff smile, blushing and almost too modest. She knew that she would annoy any Slytherins that she met. It was almost a curse, if you blew it up out of proportion. Gypsy had always been very humble, so much so that it made her seem like she was faking it. She was almost so nice that it made other people sick, and she couldn't help it. In the future, she would try to be less unassertive, but she knew that it wouldn't make a difference. She was a Hufflepuff, through and through.

As Carrissa stepped aside to get some punch, Gypsy had a chance to look around the room. A nervous Ravenclaw entered the room; she seemed almost in agony. The stream of students had slowed, and the chatter of the ballroom had picked up. The orchestra had begun an eerie jaunt, which fit the mood, exactly. It was all coming together, something which never ceased to make Gypsy happy. She fidgeted with her hands as Carrissa returned, punch in hand.

"So I was thinking about a Christmas Ball, or a Yule Ball...I was thinking of have a Triwizard Tournament you know. But of course, I would have to get the Minister's permission first, once, of course, he comes back from his leave--so what do you say?"

Gypsy leaned in close to hear the whispered proposition. Her heart jumped at the thought of a Yule Ball! It would be so magical, she thought. The frost on the window panes, the dancing flakes falling from the sky, the slowly dripping icicles. What a good idea she thought, as she turned her mind to the second half of the sentence. She had only remembered one Triwizard's Tournament, although she knew that there had been a lot before Voldemort's first reign of terror. Of course, it would bring school spirit and would be a lot of fun. She thought about it more, letting the idea stew in her juices. It might not be a good idea, being only one year after Voldemort's disappearance...

"We should definitely do the Yule Ball!]" Gypsy exclaimed. She lowered her voice to Carrissa's whisper as she continued her sentence, "I'm not sure about the Triwizard's Tournament, though...maybe we should wait a few terms, you know? Let the shock of last year's occurrences die down... Your call, though. If you get the Minister to agree," she paused, giving a meaningful glance at Carrissa, "I will definitely help you to arrange it."

[Brandi "Berri" Thomas]

As the Head of House for Ravenclaw, Brandi had always been a stickler for the rules but something about the holidays changed her. Instead of giving a two foot roll of parchment about the difference of lunar and solar eclipses, she just said that they must find a picture, or a spell, that showed either of the eclipses.

Brandi know glided down the stairs from the common room after putting on the new dress that she had pulled from the closet at her house that she had in fact worn to her first dance at Hogwarts. The dress was a shimmering mocha dress with sapphire jewlery accenting the dress.

Brandi entered the Great Hall and marveled at all the beautiful decorations. She was looking around in awe when she noticed a few students milling around the Hall. She also saw several of the teachers talking in the Hall also.