He was expected to be at balls. So when the invitation for tonight had come he had not thought twice about attending or not. His family expected him to be here and he was not about to let them down, he had not let them down before and he was not about to start now. Sure there were some activities of his that were questionable but they were none the wiser to them and that was how they were going to remain. He didn’t want to let anything slip up with his arrangements with the women whom he bedded, that was for him and the women to deal with and handle, no one else needed to interfere or worse, know about it. He was here to not show face only but also to keep up with his betrothed.

Mikhael may be a pureblood male but he was of a generation that showed greater care for the spouses, or future spouses. That was not to say that his father did no love his mother, he was sure that the man did but then again he didn’t see it as much as he saw it in his friend's when they showed their wives some attention. Still he and Amelia Aziza Travers were still a way off from them marrying so he didn’t know what kind of husband he would make just yet but he would treat her with respect as she was going into this at such a young age and he knew this could not be easy for her. He knew that being so young and engaged was no ideal and he would blame her for being uncertain or scared. If his sister, Reyna had been engaged so young, when she was a teenager then he would be weary of her to be husband but as it was Mikhael seemed no one watching him but Blaise Zabini. This he was thankful for.

He noticed that the girl was a little taller today, had their height difference been so noticeable at the wedding? Well they were expected to dance tonight, this was a ball after all and that was one thing that was a definite tonight. She was right it was proper for them to arrive separately, conversely him escorting here would ensure she had safe trip over. He was an Auror after all. ”Thank you, you are too kind” he couldn’t help but agree with her. Mikhael was aware of good he looked and that was without the many girls telling him. He just knew and he had to remember that he could no longer ‘pay any attention’ tonight any witch who tried to flirt with him. He was here with Amelia and he was constantly reminding himself of that.

The disparity with their ages soon became evident when whom he supposed was one of her friends came bounding over. He almost arched his brow as he was addressed as ‘Mr’ instead of ‘Lord’. Surely if Amelia had told her of her engagement, she would have mentioned that he had a title. It was only a eleven year age difference too. He would hate to think what it would be like if the age difference was greater. He nodded as he was introduced to the blonde haired witch,@lily . Well knowing that she was the daughter of Lady Greengrass would make sense but who was her father….. Mikhael was not to speed on some marriages or relationships, pat or present given his time abroad. ”It is nice to meet you as well Miss Greengrass...as Miss Amelia has said she is my fiancée and I'm pleased to meet her friends…” he glanced at Amelia to make sure he understood correctly and the two of them were indeed friends. He could have assumed by the way the blonde girl greet his fiancée but he had to be sure. No doubt some time down the track hey friends would be at their manor once their marriage was finalised and he had to be sure he knew who these friends were. ”Be assured, I have only her best interests at heart” He nodded trying not to sound offended that the girl would think otherwise.

Mikhael instinctively took a step towards Amelia and kept his hands behind his back as his gaze landed on Victoire Molly Weasley and someone who he knew well enough, the Lord Rosier. They didn’t speak much but they knew each other well enough. Recently his mother had told Mikhael of their engagement, so it was nice to see them here as a couple. He took the other man’s hand and shook and gave a respectful nod. ”Good for see you Rosier….its been a long time” he smiled before turning to Victoire. ”I trust you are enjoying your internship at St Mungo’s Miss Delacour?” Thankfully in his time as and Auror in the U.K. He had not found himself there as a patient.

He felt someone looking at him but he didn’t scope out who it was. He had a feeling it would be @shi and it would not be proper for them to even make eye contact tonight. Their arrangement was secret and it was to remain that way and he had no doubt that it would not please her husband if he caught the two of them. Mikhael cleared his throat discreetly and wondered if @darthlumiya would be here tonight or not, then he spotted his cousin and nodded to her.

Lily loved society occasions. There was nothing which she adored more than looking around and knowing the name of everyone in the room- and not only their names, but their lineage, their relatives, how closely she was related to them and, in many cases, what their jobs were- not that this last really mattered. Purebloods were purebloods, whatever job they happened to be doing, and the only time that it was really worth noting was when they held a high Ministry position, in which case, they were higher up the mental shortlist. Which was the phrase that her mother used- Lily herself had no mental shortlist, since she had no intention of marrying anyone any time soon- or, in fact, at any time at all. If she were to marry a man, then she would have to take his name and recognise his authority, and Lily never recognised any authority at all if she could help it. She was her own woman with her own agenda, and if she were to marry any pureblood man worth the name, then she would immediately become part of his agenda. The blow would not be so crippling as to render her plans impossible, but it would most certainly throw a considerable spanner in the works.

And another thing; she would, probably, lose her title. It was difficult to say, but she thought that that would most probably be the case. Lily could not afford to lose the power and prestige of being The Lady Greengrass, and she would certainly prefer it if her funds were at her own disposal rather than having them vanish into the vaults of whichever family she married into, never to be seen again. Because that, she had no doubt, was what would happen. Some might have called the blonde's view of society weddings jaundiced, but those who had been through them would have been more likely to call them accurate. They were arranged for two reasons, which were interchangeable. Money and power. Which was somewhat irritating for the blonde, because she would have a sufficiency of both whenever her mother finally got around to shuffling off this mortal coil- unless she was married first. That was the eventuality which had to be avoided.

There was a tradeoff in this equation, of course; the Greengrass line would die with Lily. Still, she was not overly concerned with this. Of course, she was very proud of the long and immaculate lineage which she had behind her, but her mother, fool that she was, had besmirched that and the Greengrass reputation. She had not married but she had had children, and by doing so, she had ensured that there was no point in the continuance of the line. Lily's blood was pure and this was accepted by a vast majority, but there were some who whispered in the shadows, and she was determined that she would never bear any children whose heritage might be doubtful. There would be no point in such an undertaking, and so the death of the Greengrass line might as well be now, with their reputation mostly intact, as in a hundred years. And this, of course, gave Lily the benefit of doing whatever she liked without the risk of descendants being ashamed of her.

"A pleasure to meet you as well, my lord." the blonde responded to Mikhael Albert Travers, giving him a gentle smile. "I look forward to making your further acquaintance." She stole a glance at Amelia Aziza Travers, tracing her eyes swiftly up and down her friend and appreciating the girl's figure. Merlin, if things had been different. "Looking wonderful tonight, Amelia." she complimented.

Outfit

Caerus thought that these parties were… normally boring, but there wasn’t really a choice as far as going to it was concerned. He wasn’t the eldest son, so it was Ophion that had to deal with the politics of balls like this one, but he still had to go. Merlin forbid he had somewhere else he wanted to be. That simply wouldn’t be acceptable in the slightest, and that was fine. He brought a flask, and he’d brought along a date. Someone that wasn’t annoying, and didn’t expect a ring afterwards. He didn’t like taking just anyone to things like this, because there were too many expectations. People started to think that it bloody meant something that he asked them to go with him. It was why he thought that it was absolutely absurd that Remy had gone with Bones instead of waiting for him to ask her. He knew that she hadn’t had an invitation of her own, and that she wouldn’t miss something like this, but really, he thought that Slytherin must have had a moment of temporary insanity and forgot that he was the best sort of date for these sorts of parties. He didn’t expect anything of her either, he brought his own flask if they didn’t want to bother with the bar, and if no one else caught their eyes at the ball, then they could amuse themselves afterwards.

Being friends that used to shag regularly could come in handy, after all, particularly since she stayed at his house over the holidays. But she was just his friend too. Caerus didn’t let her stay with him over Christmas with any expectations that he was going to shag her at some point during them. She was his friend, and her alternative was going back to the orphanage, which was just not an option in his opinion. There was plenty of room at the manor, and his parents didn’t mind. His mother had been a bit suspicious because they were at that age and she was a halfblood, and she didn’t want any halfblood babies born out of wedlock because she let her son invite his friend over to stay for an entire holiday. But Remy was very good at charming people when she wanted to, and now he thought that his mother liked her more than she liked him. Rhea too, but that wasn’t all that surprising. The fact was, Remy had to have had a moment of insanity to think that she wouldn’t have gotten an invite from one of the Notts, at least. Even if Caerus wanted to take someone else, he was sure that Ophion would have let her be his plus one. Rhea couldn’t go yet, much to her disappointment, but Remy could have easily gotten in without having to deal with a Bones.

But she hadn’t, so at the very least, he’d been there to open the door when the Hufflepuff had gotten there, and waited until he’d gotten his point across, and they had left, to go and get his own date. She was now chattering away with some other girls in her house at school, and he was looking for @remington. She was just about one of the only people he could deal with at parties like these, at least until he found @lasimir and @petrova. They were likely to be here soon, if they weren’t already. Finally, he saw Rem. It wasn’t difficult to spot her out when she’d gotten ready at his house, and he knew what she was wearing. Red. At a Christmas party, that wasn’t uncommon, but he still found her easy enough to spot out just about anywhere. She was with Athazaz Acanthus Bones, with Amelia Aziza Travers, and Mikhael Albert Travers, and more, but for now he only wanted to steal Remy for a minute, so they could take advantage of his more potent alcohol before the night’s festivities continued. He headed over in their direction, grinning easily once he’d reached them. “Evening everyone. Quite sorry to interrupt, but I was wondering if I could steal Rem for a moment?” His gaze moved to Bones first—she was his date after all, but then moved to Remy.

SEND A BLUDGER AT MY FACE ANY DAY

dress

Her hair was down. Her hair was never down, never-never, but this was a fancy occasion she had to look the part of, her mother said, so Demelza had let it down, let it gnaw at her, because-- well. Everyone said beauty was pain, right? Her back was numbed with a cream she'd had applied, and she had it with her for when she'd feel her back being irritated more, or she started bleeding.

Anyway. Hopefully the redness and irritations could cover the scars that her hair had left. Maybe she'd find whatever damned player had hexed her hair, but she doubted it. Irritatingly enough, she reflected, she'd probably slept with them one night. Fucker.

She gave a semi-nervous smile to @ladywatson. "It's not too late to back out, right? I mean--oh, shit." The door was opening, and it was way too late now. Well, her mother had always said to thank the host and hostess for inviting you, so that was what she was going to do. Show that just because she was a semi-alcoholic Quidditch player who couldn't (honestly can't, Mum, you know it's the curse's fault!) keep her hair up, or according to some, keep her legs cl-- well, that was quite another story she didn't need to go to. What was considered attractive in the younger players was sad in the older.

Well, the hostess seemed free? to be met, which was good? Braver in Harpy green (most absolutely not Slytherin, Mother) than she mostly had been in Gryffindor scarlet, she approached her, made a wobbly bow (shit, was it supposed to be a curtsy? fuck, she didn't know this kind of stuff, but was it supposed to be for a skirt/dress/woman thing? who knew? she was a Beater, maybe that made the difference? but she wasn't quite butch, damn it, because she'd been told not to dress like she wanted to), trying to control her pounding chest because LestrangeLestrangeLestrange, she was going to be so dead.

"Thank you for the invitation very much." She could do this, okay, she could. She'd learned, had to. Press were always shit at twisting words and expressions, so with the sort of smile she'd given interviewers she reached out to shake @andi 's hand. "It's a pleasure, Lady Lestrange."

Monroe was not one to avoid social events and this one was more than important. Of course she had her boss here tonight and her family here too. Thankfully Eleanor had said to her that she was free to enjoy herself tonight and she was going to seize that, without going overboard of course. Monroe knew that for a number of reasons she had to maintain self control tonight. She of course would have @leo there to help her. The two of them were friends and Monroe was fine with that given that she had her own ‘romantic conquests’ to keep herself occupied with. Monroe had met Leo a few months ago and the two of them had just clicked they kept in regular contact and went out drinking a few times. She knew that he didn’t have a strong opinion when it came to Death Eaters since he focused so much on his dancing and that was perfect for her. She would never have to bother about him making comments about Eleanor or about the Death Eaters as a whole. It would save her from having to defend the people she worked for. She didn’t want to have to resort to doing that. She was thankful for having a job. She knew her appearance fooled many into thinking that someone who looked like her didn’t hold a political job but that was exactly what she did and she was proud of how fast she had risen to become assistant to the head to a department head.

Righty so she felt like she should be proud of who she was was and what she did for living. If her parents didn’t accept her (of her brother) that was their loss. She was amazed when their older siblings had sided with them. It was not an easy thing to do and she was happy to have them on her side. She appreciated it a lot, just like she appreciated Leo being her date for tonight. She found it really nice of him to charm his bow tie to change to match the colour of her dress. She had mentioned to him that her dress was red but couldn't find (at the time) how to describe the exact shade so she was grateful he had thought of that with his outfit. He of course looked handsome tonight and understanbly he would given that he was a trained dancer and she knew how much effort they put into their appearance. It was the same way that Monroe made sure she looked presentable each day for work as well tonight. She of course recognised many people as she and Leo entered the ballroom. ”Don’t worry your pretty head, Leo, I will make sure to find you for a few dances” she winked. She didn’t honestly mind that he was going to dance with another witch, she would probably dance with someone else too. Monroe wondered if the with she had met the other night was going to be here. The dark haired beauty was definitely memorable and Monroe had had plenty of fun with her. Sending her gaze around the vast room she saw @ampi and caught her eye almost immediately and smirked before she saw @eleanor and Roma Avery Warrington. She gave both older witches a polite nod before looking back to Leo. ”So shall we start the night off with some drinks?”

Going to balls and other social functions of this scale was something that Alessia had imagined that she would be attending with her husband one day. As it turned out though the husband she had had for less than a year had other plans and now she found herself divorced and pregnant. She supposed if she had not conceived then it would not be so bad but he literally thrown in everything on their child too. She would have attempted to make it work with @felix but he had told her that he told her that they were too busy for each other. However she had learned at the Theroux wedding that she had downright been lied to. It had been evident on the night that something was going on with her now ex-husband and Theodora Lillian Mountbatten. She was not blind, nor was she stupid. Sure she had experience her few moments of ‘baby brain’ but when it came to more serious matters she knew what she saw and she was certain she was not the only one who saw it too. If he wanted to parade around the fact he was now with her then so be it. She was going keep the interests of her child as her number one priority. Her mother had done that with her and her brothers and Monroe had decided that in the end with being the child of divorced parents, their baby would come first. If Felix had other ideas than so be it, it was his choice. She only hoped that he would not cast aside Theodora one day like he had her.

She knew she would see the couple here tonight. It was a given. Felix would never miss an opportunity to rub shoulders those higher in the ministry to further his career. No doubt his date would be Theodora and Alessia would just handle that with courage and determination and hold her head high the entire time. She was master of knowing how to act in different situations after all. Tonight would be any different and he could try and show off his date but she would not be bothered. If she was in the least bit trouble then she would wait until she was back in the guest wing at the Slughorn Manor to cry her heart out. She did feel like she was worthless but any woman would after going through a divorce their ex husband had initiated. Alessia was glad to have her friends @natalya and @alaric again with her tonight just like she had had at the wedding. She had not caused any drama then and definitely would not do so tonight. If people thought she would they were dreaming and she would buy them all tickets to a drama play at the Palace theatre. People were so expecting her to be dramatic where Felix was concerned and yes, she was upset and angry but she had been brought up with class and she was going to display that class everywhere she went.

Coming tonight she had found it somewhat difficult to find a gown that she had liked until she had come across the dress she was wearing in magazine her Nonna had sent from Italy. She had it made by the designer at KA designs, who she was on friendly terms with and given that she was pregnant too she knew how to accommodate for that in a gown. Alessia always felt uncomfortable travelling while pregnant because it was just that, uncomfortable. However she had managed to make it here as gracefully as possible and not cursed too much. However, it wouldn’t have mattered too much since only Al or Nat would have heard her they would not have cared much. However, if it had been her mother, that would be a different story.

Alessia had admired the beautifully lit hallway on the way to the ballroom. Had she been able to host a ball in her own manor, she would have to have some beautiful arrangement of lights too. However she had chosen not to take up Windrush as it was going to be pleasant for her living in a place her husband had built for her and their life when they clearly weren’t together anymore. Given that she was six months pregnant she was eating more than normal and her baby must have sensed there was food nearby because she could feel them shifting about. Looking over she saw the table that held the refreshments and also who was nearby the table. ”Nat, fancy coming with me to grab a bite to eat?” he asked her friend as she kept her eye on the couple before she glanced at the blonde witch. When her friend agreed they made their way over and she did not glance at all in Felix’s direction as she picked up a few pastries from the table and placed them in her plate.

And In The End, I'll Do It All Again; I think You're My Best Friends

outfit

They were three again (four, really, but she'd always been Seeker-selfish, eyes focused on the Snitch) and with three, Natalya knew they could take on the world. When she'd told @alessia that she'd convince Alaric to escort them both, and pleaded with @alaric to do so, it had been Hogwarts days again, of the Prefects and later Heads with their Quidditch Captain. The Silver three, who had been pulled together in a House many had hated.

She'd insisted beforehand that she be on one side of Alessia. It had been extremely important, as Alessia was Natalya's best female friend, and they had once been sisters-in-law, Natalya stepmother to Less's nephew. Who cared what people would think, Natalya escorted to the last ball by her former husband, the Parkinson wedding by a male best friend, and part of Alessia's escort this time? That she was in a bloody harem, maybe.

Either way, she was a divorcée, and as a half-blood, she had more freedoms than others might. She had the responsibility to the Pyrites name, but what must come first was that she not have any difficulties or besmirch the Selwyn name, as she had borrowed that name for five years, as any shame she earned would turn onto Lessie and maybe even Alaric. While that certainly did make what she was doing with a . . . certain someone almost awkward, she was discreet and careful. Better her than someone who would use what was happening for power, gold, secrets, or blackmail. Natalya didn't care for that in that particular case.

In other cases, though-- no, she'd sworn to be on good behavior. It had been a condition of Less's that she do so. She let herself slip from Alaric with a quick joke that she'd behave, and followed Alessia to the refreshments, making sure to be on a side to half-block Less from @felix the philandering son of a banshee who dared break her best friend's heart for such selfish reasons. It wasn't very successful, she knew, but it was enough to make her feel like she was doing something in being protective of both Less and her son's (yes, son! he sometimes called her Mum for the sake of Viviane/Nynaeve/Nimue's Name!) cousin.

The Dress

An invite arriving in her in-tray from Lady @andi hadn't been an occurrence Lorelei had ever foreseen happening in her life. For one, she had never met the older woman who had recently married Lord Rodolphus Azazel Lestrange nor the latter in person or through any other channel let alone had reason to make the list for such a grand scale ball. Accepting hadn't been a conscious choice as much as a given. Declining either person's request was a rebuke she couldn't afford to make in even the most dire of circumstances, so it had fallen upon her already impending workload to actually find someone to attend with. She had gone solo to Donna's wedding mere weeks ago and had found herself standing alone for most of the night, so this time she was looking forward to actually having someone's company for the duration of the event.

Then @rylan had fallen in her lap, so to speak. She recognised the man formerly from somewhere- Lufkin or just in general- and after a lengthy chat she had found her companion for the night's festivities. Much to Alex's chagrin, who apparently imagined she'd have found someone else to attend with for whatever reason. Her brother was never the most straightforward of person and being cryptic was a forte of his that tended to be the most bothersome thorn in her side on a daily basis. Lorelei envied those who saw their siblings on a week-to-week or even monthly schedule for it hadn't been a feature of her life since the older Wizard had been in Hogwarts. Ever since they had both graduated, she hadn't been able to get rid of him. It was nice and all that he seemed to care enough to drop by so often but other than appearing like a doormat, she hadn't seen much in way of reward for actually putting up with his antics. How his friend Adrien put up with him...

But less of that for now. The man who's arm she was on for the night was enough to hold her attention until they went their separate ways upon the night's conclusion, depending on how well things went. Rylan was a good-looking bloke who could dress quite sharply when he wanted to, and his banter and conversation were not just pleasant but fairly humorous too. As far as choices were concerned she was confident in and glad of her own. Her green dress swept slightly behind her on the flagstones of the castle floor as the pair emerged into the ballroom, then she allowed Rylan to make the decision of where they were going next. Arriving slightly tardy was something she hated with a fiery passion, but the fastening of her dress had eluded even her experienced fingers for a long enough time to warrant the fact they just weren't going to make it here on the dot. Turning her head to the side, her dark tresses framed her face as she shot the man a smile. "And now? We should probably pay our respects to our hosts sooner rather than later..." Her eyes broke contact for a second to dart over to where the aforemention couple were, and her back straightened as her expression slipped slightly. Such a demanding feeling seemed to radiate from them. "...However if you would prefer to speak to someone else first or grab a drink, I'll be glad for that too."

Plus A Tie But ~Hey

Balancing his copious studies, career, family, responsibilities and social life was a precarious thing indeed, yet it was something had came as naturally to him as breathing; allowing that he wasn't bothered and disturbed overly by meager things that neither warranted his attention or called for him to give a response to. Like with everything in this life however there was, naturally, exceptions to the rules he lived his life by. His immediate family, was one. If his Mum's wanted or expected something of him, it came to fruition almost immediately depending on the situation and circumstances. With Loraine he did his best as he always had, and she was one of the few who could pull him from just about anything even for just a conversation. With Julie... he always kept an eye on his brother regardless, so there was no actual effort really required there. Outside of that circle, things became increasingly grey to the point he'd merit blanking a person if he deemed their intent towards him lower than whatever activity occupied him.

This ball... he had his doubts, but kept them closed away from even his family lest it find himself mistaken. Knowing they were attending called for Ivan to as well, and escorting his cousin @blanche had seemingly been on the cards before the topic had been broached. This didn't bother him. Little did. Unfortunately, for both of them however, once he had readied himself he had become distracted with other things while the French Witch prepared and as such now they were running behind schedule. In truth he was a little shamed at allowing the night to slip his mind in favour of his studies, and once Blanche had finally pulled him from them he found himself a little perturbed. Not to mention a little irked that she hadn't pulled him from them the minute she was ready, even though the responsibility fell on his shoulders rather than her's. A quick straighten of his attire served, then he had apparated them both immediately to the LeStrange Castle before another moment went past to further darken his reputation and mood.

Turning his head enough to show respect of the fact that she was addressing him, his eyes continued to roam across the company of the ballroom to see who they had congregated with. The blank look on his face took on a cold edge but unless a person knew him as well as his relatives did, the change would have went over their heads. "Let us both hope that no one here is especially gifted in noting your line of sight and reading lips, lest it cause a stir," He replied musingly, his lips thinning a little as his own gaze alighted upon @keaton as well, "But to answer your question, yes it is. I can only imagine our host's ideals for our night; we won't need to stray top near, to put your concerns at rest." Catching where her eyes went next, he tightened his arm slightly around her hand and pointedly lead her away from the younger crowd as he resumed looking for certain, far more important people. They would of course see Lady @andi and Lord Rodolphus Azazel Lestrange soon.

Then his expressionless mask broke as he finally smiled upon seeing his family, and he nodded. "..Jules looks like he's enjoying himself too much, but both of my Mum's look lovely tonight and as I missed them leaving I'd like to speak to them soon. They're fairly close to each other however so... Darling Julie first. Then I can see my sister too." @eleanor and Roma Avery Warrington looked as lovely as he always remembered them being, and he felt a swell of pride at them as he subtly pulled on Blanche to head over to his youngest sibling. @loraine looked nice as well standing next to his Uncle @fernando , but he hadn't expected any less. And of course, it was always nice to see Jules fitted into a suit. As well as missing certain people...

Catching up two glasses from a passing tray, he handed one carefully to the witch by his side and came to a smooth halt beside him the younger Wizard and his date. "Evening, again. Everything going well so far?" He asked him, his eyes pointedly telling not to mention the lateness of his arrival, before his attention extended to the others. Greeting Anastasia, he then turned to @shi and @carrow with a polite smile. "Nice to see you again, it's been a while." He addressed the former, greeting her properly before turning to Lance. This one... he hadn't really met truly. As such, he had yet to make an opinion of him, and as his hand reached out, he made sure Blanche was by no means anywhere behind him as much as firmly beside him. "And you, Lance. Have you met our cousin, Blance, before?"

Honestly he wasn't entirely sure. His mind tended to focus less on introductions these days. Especially now as he was entirely sure his parents had noticed his lateness, and as such, others likely had as well. Embarrassment wasn't a regular thing that he experienced simply because he was usually far better organised, so this situation was one in which he found himself not just at odds with, but slightly uncomfortable as well.

Suit

Another grand event within weeks of the last... the accumulating stress of the monotony that had fallen the last few months was beginning to lift considerably from his shoulders. This time he had a mate-date for the night in the lovely form of Flora Megaera Carrow , and he walked with easy confidence and a smile as he navigated the crowds with her on his arm. He knew her twin @hestia would be milling around somewhere nearby, likely with the man he'd recently met called @gerald , but for now they were mingling with others. He had a good feeling about this ball. Not for any particular reason other than having the people he enjoyed being around all in one place where the conversation and laughter would flow as easily as the champagne. Rodolphus Azazel Lestrange was a man he had a great amount of respect for, so to be walking his hall's was an honour. As for @andi ... well he had yet to actually speak to the Witch properly save for a few snatches here and there and had hoped he'd achieve that tonight. If there was one thing he loved doing, it was socialising and branching out. Especially safe in the knowledge that there was no one here to upset him.

And even if there was, there were enough people here for him to use as human shields so he could elude them for the entirety of the ball with ease. All in all, he was already having a great time.

"A drink for the lady before we dive into seeing all of our friends?" He asked warmly, handing one to her from a server and taking one for himself. Oh the choices. @eleanor and Roma Avery Warrington were not all that far away with their daughter @loraine , and @fernando for a start. Their hosts seemed a tad busy with other people for the moment but he was determined to head over there within the next ten minutes. @lucian was no doubt also in attendance but he had yet to actually see his friend... though he had spied @carlisle on his way in, so he knew at least one of the lads was here. @juliusavery was also missing although his son @felix was there, looking positively lovesick. Then a few people moved and he spotted @thorfinn as well. That was pretty much a decider in itself.

"Shall we? I'm sure Hestia will find us soon enough." He asked, gesturing towards the group before stepping in their direction. Considering the mass of people there, he wouldn't be at all surprised to bump into a fair few of his students as well. He could only wonder which ones it would be this time round. Glancing at his watch, he frowned as he looked back up. He didn't see @flint... how... odd.