imperturbatus | EVENT: Valentine's Dance! February 13th

Dinner in the great hall was not only early, but fairly short. Everyone had to be out of the hall by six so that preparations for the party could be made, and when everyone was allowed back in at the start of the party it had transformed entirely.

The large tables normally used for meals now lined two sides of the great hall, holding a great variety of finger foods, drinks, and desserts that would continuously refill throughout the night. The ceiling above still reflected the night sky, but along its edges and throughout the walls were balloons, ribbons, and flowers of vast variety, with the most numerous of the flowers being white, pink, and red roses. All of of the flowers seemed to be emitting just enough light to effectively illuminate the Great Hall, giving it a - for lack of better term - rosey feel. At one corner near where the staff table normally stood was a group of string instruments, charmed into playing a selection of classical dance music as soon as the first students not involved with set-up stepped into the hall.

That was when Tamaki Suoh, a sixth year student and primary organizer of the dance, appeared at the front of the hall, smiling wide and dressed in an ivory-white tuxedo. He waved his wand briefly before he spoke, his voice magically projected with a charm so that he could be heard above any din that might happen with everyone's arrival.

"Welcome, everyone! I'm pleased to present you with our Hogwarts Valentine's Dance, and I hope you enjoy your time here tonight! Feel free to eat, drink, dance, and be merry in a break from studies and winter cold! Also keep in mind the Dance King and Queen contest, which can be anonymously voted for by you, the students, for the final spotlight dance at midnight tonight, as well as a prize of house points to the winners! Now, let the party begin!"

Prompt 1: Desserts, Drinks, and Wallflowers
Perhaps you're taking a break, enjoying the spread, and watching the other students dancing at various paces in different styles on the floor. Maybe you don't intend to go out onto the floor at all, because the chairs at the sides of the hall are just too comfortable or because you don't want to look like that idiot on the left. You know the one. Either way, congregating at the hors d'oeuvres can be a perfectly acceptable way to pass the night.

Prompt 2: Shut up and Dance
It is a dance party, after all! Grab a partner, whether it's ballroom dancing or just doing your own thing! Granted, the latter might get you some funny looks, but who cares as long as you're having fun? The smell of flowers is quite invigorating, the stars of the enchanted ceiling are above, and there's nothing more important than you and whoever your partner is, whether you know them intimately or have only met them for the first time tonight.

Prompt 3: A Breath of Fresh Air
Maybe the party is a little overwhelming, and you need to step away further from the hall than just sitting near the walls. Although no one is really supposed to leave the dance area for an extended period, who will know if you decide to use the loo as an excuse to get away for a few minutes? Maybe you just want to be somewhere more private, either by yourself or with someone else. Be careful not to get caught though, or it might be detention for you!

Prompt 4: "Love" is in the air?
Uh oh! We have no idea who, but someone seems to have spiked one of the punch bowls with a love potion! This potion is scentless and tasteless, and because the punch bowl is huge (and ever refilling) the effects are, thankfully, greatly weakened in comparison to a normal love potion. This little bit of mischief might result in some of the student body (or even some of the faculty) being a little more openly affectionate than usual with the first person they meet for the night, so a little bit of caution might be necessary. At least it's not at full potency!

Prompt 5: A moment in time that lasts forever!
A professional photographer has been hired to take pictures of students throughout the night! Although it might not be the last memory of the school year, it could be a night you want to cherish forever even if it’s just in a photograph! Is a photo an embarrassing moment or a precious time captured on a special slip of paper?

Prompt 6: Write your own Love Story!
Come up with your own prompts and have a ball AT the ball!

OoC: A note, there will be separate threads for Dance King/Queen contest sign-ups, as well as a contest for best-dressed and an attendance register that will be used to award a door prize drawn by lottery! The prizes are as follows; 50 House Points to 1st place, 25 to 2nd place, and 10 to 3rd place in their respective contests, and a 20 galleon gift receipt for Honeydukes (courtesy of Tamaki pulling some strings with the owner) as a door prize!

There will be a thread below for students to vote on Dance King/Queen, and the best dressed will be decided by members of staff specifically. RNG will be used to determine the door prize. Alright, have fun guys!

A NOTE ABOUT DANCE KING/QUEEN: Although the titles are gendered, who can be entered into each category is not! A boy can be the queen, a girl can be the king, and any combination can happen. The only limitation is that there will be two winners selected from the entrants in the contest!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Michiko fidgeted with her dress for a moment, making sure that she wouldn't trip over it during the time.]

It would be a pleasure to dance with you.

[She held out her hand, taking his own.]

[ No matter how many times he did it, he never got tired of the classic waltz. He was calm in leading her onto the floor, making sure she was comfortable with him before they began. ]

I'm sorry I didn't ask earlier in Hogsmeade, but how are you adjusting? I heard that you transferred into Hogwarts like I did, and I know it can be hard.

[She calmly held his hand as he lead the way before the dance. She was just glad she was a pretty quick learner, which made sense to why she was put in Ravenclaw. Learning was a part of that house after all.]

I'm adjusting fine. I'm actually enjoying it, here. It's better than being at home all the time and having to teach myself things.

[What she usually got taught by others was what a woman should do in her family, which she did not appreciate when she learnt of what she could be learning.]

Well, teaching yourself and learning is all well and good, but it can't all be about learning every day. It's also a student's job to have fun while they're young, isn't it? To live life to the fullest while we're in our prime.

But what if learning something new was fun for them?

[because it was for her anyway, even though she could be doing other things.]

I'm not saying it can't be. But it can't all be text books -- there's a big world out there, and if you really want to learn about it you have to experience it yourself, don't you?

I guess so, but that is what I am trying to do. But even at school you are limited.

[She knew holidays counted at times one didn't have to be here, but she had no idea when that would be.]

I would love to experience so many things I didn't when I was back home, but... no way of actually doing them.

[ He was listening, taking in a small breath as she talked about her home. ]

Why wouldn't you be able to...?

Well... the obvious would be we're in school and apart from town there isn't much for miles.

[And after school she had not a single clue where to go to even get home since she had no idea where she lived was... It was quite confusing. However as she thought things over, her dances steps were getting a little better once she was getting the hang of it.]

Though... I guess once school is done... I can follow my dreams. Do you have a dream?

That is true, and once you learn how to apparate you can go anywhere in the world. As for my dream...

Well, there are several things I could do. I know I'm attractive enough to be a model, though I was also thinking of opening an animal sanctuary in north France. Maybe I could give acting a try in the muggle world and become a famous star that way!

That is a lot of possible dreams you have. All of which I could see you doing given your nature. Though, I guess that is just from talking to you and what I was seen of course.

My dream is to help people who need it. Like a doctor or a nurse. I mean I've spent my life learning how to treat and help animals and I felt good about doing that, so I would like to expand that to people.

Is that right? I think that's a wonderful dream to have.

[ The smile he wore for her was bright and warm, genuine as they continued to dance and converse. ]

I think you should go for it. The world needs more people like you in it.

[She nodded, making note that the song was going to end soon.]

I'm planning to more so now that I'm not at home. My father would not have allowed it. He expects certain things, after all and that was not one.

I see... His feelings on the matter are important too, but ultimately isn't what you want to do with your life your own choice?

[ He couldn't entirely hide the sadness in his expression, because even with those words he understood what it was like to have to bow to the whims of family. It happened on too frequent a basis for him, these days.

When the song ended he let go of her, bowing to her once again. ]

Thank you for our dance, Michiko. It was wonderful to have you as a dance partner tonight, and to receive your lovely gift.

[That she could agree with at least. But if she had stayed she knew she would of had little to no choice to anything.]

It is, but... where I came from woman having a choice in anything was non existent.

[She moved to smile slightly.]

No, thank you for the dance. It was fun.

[ That sounded pretty terrible, and it's shown nakedly on his face. Still, he met her smile with his own in an attempt to be reassuring, silently glad that it was no longer the case for Michiko there. ]

You're welcome to it any time. I'd love to dance with you again.

[She nodded slightly, pausing if only for a moment before moving to curtsy.]

Then I will see you again, I am sure. Until then I think I will grab something to eat.

Of course, please go on and enjoy yourself. I'll be looking forward to seeing you again.

EVENT: Valentine's Dance! February 13th

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