Flying without wings ((Noko+Ivy, Charlie))

[crane]

Gary still dind’t believe it. How exactly had he been talked into wearing tights? But Nokomis had finally agreed to go to the ball with him. As friends but still. But Nokomis had decided to go as Tinkerbell so Gary go tthe part of Peter Pan. A msall smile stretched across Gary’s lips. At least Peter Pan was better than him wearing Tinkerbell’s outfit. Gary honestly dind’t hink his legs looked good enough for him to be supporting a skirt.
Gary moved down to the Great Hall and nect to the statue of a knight where they had agreed to meet up with Nokomis. Gary smiled turning few of the small lavender bell-like blooms in his hand raising htem to try and catch the tender aroma. He was rather good at Herbology and madam Sprout had shown him how to get the blooms now and how to keep them fresh during the evening.

Stopping Gary smiled and shifted the green hat with a small feather on his head. His sisters had surely went all the way with his costume. Gary was wearing green pants that went up to his ankles, gren ankle-length shoes made of green cloth with their noses slightly turned upwards. The outfit was completed with a small triangular shaped red hat that kept slipping over one of his eyes and a lighter shade of green blouse. The sleeves reached Gary’s elbows are were cut off rather randomly like the hem of the blouse. Ont he whole Gary figured that he looked good enough.

Looking up Gary smiled as she caught just the moment when Nokomis was coming down the staircase. Smiling at the huflfepuff girl Gary walked forward to and handed her the flowers while smiling happily. “You look amazing. A true fairy by my side. Will you teach me how to fly too?“ Looking down at his own costume Gary smiled before winking at Nokomis. “Don’t mind the costume. Send a call of help to my sisters saying I had to accompany a great girl and that I was doomed if I don’t look nice enough background for her. This is what turned up 2 days later. Shall we go in?“ Gary offered Nokomis his arm easily while giving her one more friendly and warm smile.

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

She couldn't believe she had a date for the ball. A real date. She wasn't going with friends, or Ivy or someone from quidditch. She had actually been asked by a boy. It took her a while to decide on a costume, and once she did she wrote her mum, who immediately made her a Tinkerbell costume,which was quite nice really. Even thought she did wish it had straps on top and and a lot more length at the bottom. She never was the girlie type who wore cute shoes and short skirts. The only skirt she ever wrote was her school uniform, and at least that reached her knees, and she tried to change out of that the moment she was allowed to.

She had to have the other girls help her get ready. They wanted to curl her head and put it up. Something she had never learned to do. The best thing she could do with her hair was put it in pigtails for quidditch, and even then they were always crooked. But somehow they managed to get her hair perfect, and finished her off by sprinkling a light layer of glitter on her face and some shimmy green above her eyes. She felt very much unlike herself, but then that was suppose to be part of Halloween.

She hurried down the stairs, heading quickly toward the knight statue where she was spouse to meet Gary, thankful that she was wear flat slippers instead of the little heeled shoes her friends were trying to convince her to wear. She reached the bottom of the stairs and saw that Gary was already there, and she smiled brightly, and nervously walked toward him.
"Hi..." She barely managed to get out before he handed her flowers, throwing her a little off guard. She didn't expect him to have anything for her. ..or say such nice things about how she looked. She could feel the color rising in her cheeks, and she smiled up at him.
"Wow...thank you....you look great too." She smiled again, finding herself at a loss for words for a moment. "Yeah...lets go in."
They started walking in and it was then that she turn to him and responded to his question of it she would ask him to fly. She knew he was a reserve for Ravenclaw quidditch. "And as for flying, I think when you have your broom you don't need any help with your flying."

[crane]

Gary smiled happily and winked at Noko. "Fly with my broom? Why, I can surely do that even though my broom is a bit jumpy usually. But you're a fairy. Can you teach me to fly without using a broom or wings? Or a plane for that matter?"
Gary pushed open the door to the Great Hall and looked around the GReat Hall smiling happily at all the decorations the professors and house elves had put up. There were desks with food and music playing over the room. It really looked great. Especially with all the wonderful knights and pirates and ghosts and pirncesses and sorceresses and mermaids floating around and adding life to the room.

"It looks great don't you think so? The teachers always do an amazing job while decorating the room. Didn't you say you want to meet with some friends here? We can go and try to find them or go and get somethign to drink or eat or go dancing? Anything you want." Gary smiled happily at Nokomis twirling her around once as they started move into the Great Hall away from the door.

((Ivy and Charlie wanted to join this post and I had no objections. Perhpas Noko would fel a bit easier with some other of her friends here too. )

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

She giggled when he asked her tot each him to fly with out a broom. "Only if you think really happy thoughts." She giggled again before they slowed down and Gary pushed open the doors to the great hall. It looked so amazing!

"Yes, it looks beautiful!" She smiled and looked over at Gary who had asked her about what she wanted to do next. Her mind was blank for a moment, but she forced it back and focused. "Um...how about...we get a drink. Hopefully few will just find Ivy if we walk around...I don't really know where I would look for her."

It was then that Gary twirled her around, and very surprised she laughed, partly from being nervous, and partly because it was fun. She knew she should just relax, but she had never really had a date to anything before, and she kept thinking she was going to mess up somehow

[crane]

Gary smiled as Nokomis let out a burst of laughter and caught her again as she came out of the twirl. Helping the girl regain her balance again Gary held onto her elbow happily as they walked towards the refreshments table.
“It’s amazing how well the professors clean up the Great Hall in front of Christams and basically before every parties. It must have taken ages to get the pumpkins carved. Or maybe not ages but a few moments if magic was used.“ Gary smiled at Nokomis with his chocolate eyes twinkling merrily.

Managing to find two cups filled with pumpkin juice and he offered one charmed glass that looked like a jack-o-lantern to Nokomis. “I like the glasses. Pumpkin juice fits the occasion don’t you think? And I rather like the music. Do you prefer muggle or magical music? While magis helps a lot of things be better I think I prefer the music muggle makes. It just sounds more catchy with better tunes and more melodic tunes. But nothing can beat wizarding sports. Hope you don’t mind me asking but are you familiar with the muggle world as well? Myself I’m a muggle-born.“

Gary finished his drink and placed the goblet on the table again while grinning at Nokomis and taking her hand. Making an imitation of a rather formal bow with one of his legs placed to the front Gary grabbed his hat and made a sweeping movement in front to himself. “Is everything as my lady pleases?“

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

She watched him as he got them each a glass of pumpkin juice and smiled as a thank you. She would have said it, but she wasn't quite sure if the words would come out right. She wasn't sure she could manage to do anything quite right at the moment. She sipped at her drink and nodded as he talked about how wonderful everything looked. The Great Hall looked perfect, but then it always looked perfect for Halloween.

"Muggle music" she replied when Gary brought up the subject. "And I don't mind....I'm a muggle born too....well, not exactly I guess it just seems that way. I guess I'm really a half-blood, my fathers' a wizard, but I never met him until I started Hogwarts. My mum raised me, and shes a muggle."

She couldn't help but giggle a she took her hand and did his formal looking bow. He looked so cute when he did it. "Yes...everything is very much to my liking." She giggled again, stretching her arm out to set her own goblet down with out having to pull her hand away from his. "But what do we do now? Maybe um....maybe we could.....dance?"
She could feel heat rising in her cheeks after she said the work. She had never been much of a dancer. Give her a broom and everything just worked, but when she had to function on her own feet, things didn't come so easily.

[crane]

Gary smiled warmly at Nokomis stepping out of the way to let someone in a Carebear costume pass. Smiling happily at the back of the carebear Gary decided that everything was perfect. Good music, good food, good background and set up for the whole party. And better than all other things was his company. For once Gary didn’t fele tonguetied or stupid. Noko had the ability to make him feel as if he actually had something important to say even if he didn’t.
“I would adore to dance with you.“ Gary smiled at Nokomis while placing his silly hat back on top of his head and hoping that it would actually stay there this time. The hat had the bad habit of constantly slipping off his head.

Taking Nokomis’s hand after she had managed to put away her cup as well Gary led her to the dance-floor with a smile. “I must be the luckiest fellow out here today. Not only do I have a gorgeous date who is smart and funny and nice and friendly but who is also a great quidditch player. At the very least a whole lot better than me. Have you ever thought of playing professional?“ Gary twirled Nokomis happily catching her again as she came out of the graceful twirl. Laughing out of pure joy Gary raised his hand a moment to late. That silly green hat had flown off his head again. Shaking his head Gary tiwrled them both in a circle so they could both see where his hat flew off to.
“I don’t think Pter Pan was really the outfit for me. I’m afriad I don’t really do these pants much honour and appearantly my hat tries whole-heartedly to get away from me.“ Gary made a rather amused grimace at Nokomis leaving his hat to be on the floor rather near the refreshments table for now. He could get his hat back at any time. He might not get a chance to dance again with Nokomis for quiet a while.

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

Adore. He actually said that he would adore to dance with her. She had been ready for him to come up with an excuse not to dance with her, some reason why they should wait for someone else or go get something to eat, but instead he actually said that he would adore to dance with her and took her head and lead her out onto the open floor. She felt the color in her cheeks face, perhaps a bit too much as she suddenly remembered that she had never actually danced with anyone. She had never gone to a ball with a date before, she always just went with some friends, and now here she was with a date and she had asked him if she wanted to dance. She bit her lip, and hoped she could at least pretend that she knew what she was doing.

That started to dance and she looked down at her feet, trying carefully not to step on his toes. She was still staring down when he said he started telling her how lucky he was, and she looked up, not knowing what to say. He called her gorgeous and smart and funny. No one had ever called her any of those things before. When he mentioned quidditch she felt relieved, she could talk about quidditch, she knew about quidditch. "Well...um...its my dream...to play professionally...after I graduate."

After she answered he spun he out, and to her surprise her spin out and back in seemed effortless and graceful. Once back in she smiled, forgetting her worries from before when he complimented everything about her. She giggled for a moment, and they started spinning when they stopped, she laughed. "I like your costume. I think you make a good Peter Pan. Your hat just needs...it needs a fixing charm to make it stay...and for the pants...they look very good." The words came out before she realized it and after he eyes grew wide and she could feel the color rising in her cheeks again. She couldn't believe she just told him he looked good in his pants. "I'm the one who's really out of place...I mean...I...I um...I never really was the dresses and glitter type" she said, trying to cover up her previous comments.

[crane]

Gary leaned his head slightly against Noko’s as he laughed. A soft rubmling starting in his chest as his eyes twinkled in the lights of the Great Hall before he finally looked into Nokomis’s eyes again. “A fixing charm. Of course. Absolutely brilliant as I told you before. And you have nothing to worry about the dress. It’s the most gorgeous one I have ever seen and it’s most certainly the prettiest girl in the whole room wearing it.“ Gary smiled at Nokomis warmly without any hesitation in his eyes or voice about the truth in what he had just said. Gary was sure in his mind as well that Nokomis was gorgeous. With the big eyes, soft hair, slim build and absolutely adorable character. How could anyone not think of her as beautiful?

“And you are thinking about professional? Any special team you are already thinking off? Are starting your very own team? You must reserve tickets for me when you are playing for the World Cup.“ Gary smiled at Nokomis with true interest as he tiwrled her around once again. “Would this be a bad time to ask for you autograph? Before you go away and become all famous and forget about me?“ Gary winked at Nokomis cheerfully before dipping her as the dance came to an end. Raising a finger in a half-way gesture for Nokomis to wait for a moment. Turning around Gary jogged to where his hat had flown and brushing the hat off returned to Nokomis.

Placing the hat on his head Gary held it in place with one of his hands while smiling a bit shyly at Nokomis. “Would you mind doing the honours and casting the fixing charm before the hat decides to fall off again? And may I demand the next dance from you as well, my fair lady?“ Gary stood patiently holding his hat in place with his right hadn which was also his wand hand simply looking at Nokomis with slightly smiling eyes and lips. He didn’t have any doubts about letting Nokomis cast the charm on the hat to make sure it would stick to his head.

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

Her cheeks were on fire, or at least they felt like it when his head rested against hers and he started saying things like how brilliant and gorgeous she was. She didn't know what to say or do. She wasn't brilliant, and she defiantly wasn't gorgeous. She worked in class and got whatever marks she needed to barely pass, and she wasn't gorgeous. Cute maybe, some days at least, but she was far from beautiful or even pretty. There were girls at Hogwarts who were, they were the ones with long hair, and could walk in heels and always just looked perfect. She never looked perfect. Her hair was barely to her shoulders and instead of shiny glowing blonde, it was a dim brown and she never seemed to be able to do anything with it. She couldn't walk in heels and could hardly stay straight in the schools she was suppose to wear with her uniform, which was always wrinkled. She even changed of the dreaded skirt the first moment she possibly could, and preferred to stay in her faded jeans and worn sneakers.

Relieved the topic went back to quidditch. She didn't know how to talk to him when he called her beautiful, she wanted to hug him and tell him thank you and explain to him how wrong he was all at the same time.
"Actually...I want to play for the Irish...thats where I'm from...and there my favorite team" she said, feeling embarrassed as she said it. Only a few years before they were the best team in the world, and now she was talking like she was going to join the team. She laughed as he spun her out again, thankful for the moment to gather herself. "And I promise I wont forget you. I will get you the best seats in the stadium and autographs from the entire team." She couldn't help but laugh again, at the thought of actually being on the Irish team, and playing at the world cup. It seemed so overwhelming, but at the same time, she wanted it more than anything.

She smiled and watched him jog off and return with his hat, but when he asked her to do the spell her eyes grew wide. He was trusting her...with a fixing charm...and his head...what if she...charmed it right off his body! She bit her lip, and her eyes met his and she reached back for her wand which she had tucked into a pocket on her wings. That was another bad thing about dresses, there was no good place to put your wand.
Still biting her lip she pointed the wand at his hat and said the charm, her eyes closing as she did. She kept them close for a moment after, and finally peeked out of one, keeping the other closed tightly. Well...at least his head was still on his body and his hat was on his head.

[crane]

Gary laughed again quietly. “The whole team? Why that sounds absolutely perfect! I will be sure to remind you of this promise. And I’ll try to control myself, but when you’re playing at the Quidditch World Cup one day and see a lunatic jumpin up and down with at the stands while waving a huge banner iwth the words ’I have danced with Nokomis Astarra!’ then you know it’s me. Even though I might not have the banner for very long. All your other fans would just get so overly jealous of my luck that I would have to be locked away in Azkaban for my own protection as putting me in jail would be easier than putting everyone else in England to Azkaban.“

Gary smiled watching as Nokomis squezed her eyes closed while casting the fixing charm. “Closed eyes? Was in the threat of being bombarded with something by Peeves?“ Gary asked Nokomis with a slight smile as his eyes twinkled with laughter as he stepped forwrad again in order to gather Nokomis in his arms again as he guided them calmly overly the dance-floor.
“Have I said thank-you to you yet? I thought I was going to be forced to stick with some random person who I dind’t know or didn’t like while she kept tromping over my toes or someone who couldn’t speak a proper sentence. Instead my some pure stroke of luck you agreed to came with me and have made this one of the most memorable nights in Hogwarts.“ Gary winked at the fairy as he turned them both in order to avoid bumping into an other dancing-couple.

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

She laughed as he went on about what it would be like when she was at the World cup, and if she could have blushed anymore than she already was, she would have. She felt like she had done nothing but that since they got at the ball, but he used everything to compliment her, and she didn't know what to say back. She didn't think anyone would be jealous of him because he danced with her, even if she did ever get to play in the World Cup, but it was a nice thought at least, even if the idea of all of England wanting to dance with her was a bit comical.

After his hat was charmed to his head, he guided her back out to the dance floor. She felt more relaxed about dancing this time, at least their first dance she didn't trip or step on his toes or run into him or anything. She siled when he told her thank you, and that tonight was one of his best memories at Hogwarts. "Its going to be one of my favorite memories too" he replied smiling, then feeling her cheeks flush again. "You're wonderful." She wanted to list things out to him, about how handsome he was and how nice and how smart, but all that came out was wonderful. Her cheeks were still crimson and she let her head drop so her forehead rested on his shoulder while she tried to gather her thoughts.

[crane]

Gary smiled rubbing a soothing circle between Nokomis’s shoulder-blades as she leaned her forehead on his shoulder. “I’m glad you are enjoying the evening as well. Thought most of the pelasure is still undoubtedly mine. Perhpas we should repeat the experience sometimes.“ Gary thought about his words before chuckling quietly.
“Wait we might not be able to relive this experiment. I’m afraid Hogwarts wouldn’t want to host a new ball just for us. Even if you are going to be one of the school celebraties and most loved celebraty at that.“ Gary smiled not stopping dnacing even as the music silenced smiling down at the top of Nokomis’s head instead.
“We may have to think out something else. Perhaps we can go to Hogsmeade instead some time. At the very least the butterbeer is amazing. And steping into Three Broomsticks on an especially cold winter-day has it’s own certain charm.“

Gary smiled as music started up again this time however it was a muggle song. One of the favourites of one of his sisters ot me more precise. Singing along quietly Gary led Nokomis to the next dance without any pause.
“I've never seen you looking so lovely as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright
I've never seen so many men ask you if you wanted to dance
They're looking for a little romance
Given half a chance
And I've never seen that dress you're wearing
Or that highlights in your hair
That catch your eyes
I have been blind

The lady in green is dancing with me
Cheek to cheek
There's nobody here
It's just you and me
It's where I wanna be
But I hardly know this beauty by my side
I'll never forget the way you look tonight

I've never seen you looking so gorgeous as you did tonight
I've never seen you shine so bright you were amazing
I've never seen so many people want to be there by your side
And when you turned to me and smiled it took my breath away.”
Gary smiled a bit apologetically at Nokomis while leading them through a twirl. “Sorry. One of my sisters adores this song. And you can tell I’m feeling happy and content if I start singing. One of my numerous mistakes. That as well as my hair. I have been thinking about getting it cut since the beginning of summer. And obviously I still haven’t made it to the hair-dresser just yet. My friends are starting to threaten me to cut my hair at some night while I’m sleeping.”

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

Her forehead still resting on Gary's shoulder she let her eyes close as he rubbed her back. Everything was perfect right now, the music was perfect, and more importantly, Gary was perfect. It was like he said earlier, about being stuck with any random person, only she would have been with her friends. It wasn't that she didn't like her friends or want to be with them, but there was something different about having a real date. She was enjoying the moment enough that it took her a moment to realize that he just asked to do this again sometime. He was talking about Hogsmead, and her head shot up and her eyes were wide again, even if she was trying not to look so shocked. She never imagined she would ever have a date for anything let alone be asked out for a second one. "I umm...I would love to go to Hogsmead sometime..." was all she could managed to get out, even if there were other things she wished she could have said.

Slowly regaining herself she smiled at him, and the song changed. She hesitated for a moment, not sure what Gary planned to do not, but he immediately stepped into the next dance, and as soon as the lyrics started, he sang softly along with them. She let herself move slightly closer to him, and her chin tipped down slightly so she could watch her feet, carefully paying attention to where the landed. After how well everything was doing she didn’t want to step on his toes now. She wanted everything to stay just how it was right now. While she kept a close eye on her feet she listened to him sing, and part way through the song he replaced Lady in Red, with Lady in Green, and her cheeks flushed crimson again, and she smiled so wide it hurt. How did she ever get to be so lucky to be here with him?
When the song was over, he apologized, and she lifted her head to so she could look at him. Numerous mistakes, she repeated to herself smiling slightly as she did. She bit her lip for a moment, just watching him before she gathered up the words to speak. “I like your singing…and I like your hair.” If only he knew how perfect he was.

[crane]

Gary grinned widely gathering Nokomis in her arms and twirling her around in air for a moment, much like he did with his sisters when he saw them every holiday after going to Hogwarts before gently setting her feet back onto the ground. “What do you know? Lady Luck has not only smiled at me today, but she has also came down from where ever in heaven she walks and given me a hug. What else could explain such wonderful surprise as you agreeing to come to Hogsmeade with me? We can go whenever you wish or hate the time to spare for me.”

Gary felt his heart do a couple of extra beats as Nokomis looked at him for a moment. She didn’t laugh, she didn’t wink, she just wore that little secretive smile that didn’t give away her any thought. Under the gaze of those big eyes Gary suddenly felt better. Smarter, stronger, braver, nicer. It was curious really. How one little smile from an adorable girl could light up your day and make you feel so much better. Yet Nokomis was the first girl who managed to light up Gary’s day like this. He had heard others talking of their crushes and how they could make them feel special by only giving them one smile or glance. Yet Gary himself had never understood it. He had never understood it up to now.

“I’m glad.“ Gary told Nokomis sincerely at her words smiling lightly at the girl. “It’s a bit of a tradition. My sisters and mother all like to sing so there is always someone singing in my house, no matter what work is being done. I guess I kind of picked of the habit of singing quietly along with them, as I was the only lower tone of voice. The habit has kind of stuck I guess. And if you like my hair, then I’ll keep it this way.“ Gary smiled and nodded as to quarantee the promise. It was as easy as that. If Nokomis liked the hair like it was, then the hair was going to stay. Had Nokomis not liked the hair then Gary would have been forced to find his way to a hair-dresser sooner or later.

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

((soooo soooooo sleepy, but I couldn't leave Gary for the weekend with out a post! *huggles*))

She laughed as he spun her around, her arms wrapping around his neck as he spun her around, forgetting for the moment all of her embarrassment at whatever she might do. When he set her down again she left her arms there for a moment, he wasn't that much taller than her and they just seemed to feel so right resting there. "I can go anytime I guess....our next Hogsmead weekend maybe? I don't know when it is though."

She smiled when he said that his singing was a tradition. She didn't know anything about his family, but she could see it in her mind anyway, music playing softly in the background and people moving around a small house singing. Th picture just made her smile more. "I bet its nice. Mum mum sings sometimes, but not very often, and I don't sing at all." She smiled again, blushing for a moment. She never admitted to anyone that she couldn't sing, or not well at least. "Um...now many sisters to you have?" She said, trying to change the topic.

[crane]

((*huggle* Of course you couldn't leave me without the post. Noko and Gary are the sweetest after all!))

Gary felt Nokomis’s arms wrap around his neck as he spun her around. And the laughter he received as a reward for the impulsive did was sincere, joyous and so lovely in it’s simplicity. “Next Hogsmeade weekend sounds perfect. Meet me at the Great Hall that morning? Let me know at what time you wish to go.“ Gary smiled at Nokomis happily alreayd waiting forward the Hogsmeade weekend. With Nokomis coming with him it was bound to be better than great.

“Why don’t you sing? I’m sure you’d do great with singing. You are one of those over-talented people that seems to be the best at everything you try, even if you do change the topic. But I have 3 sisters. Janey, Shirley and Lindy. Janey is 17, Shirley is 15 and Lindy is still 10. I adore them all to pieces even if we do have some arguements from time to time. But all siblings seem to have disagreements from time to time so that shoulnd’t be much of a shock. Mom works as a doctor in a muggle hospital. Perhpas that is why I want to become a doctor one day too. I just have trouble deciding whether I want to help muggles who don’t have the aid of magic or whether I want to become a mediwizard. That really is the hardest problem. I just can’t decide at which profession I could be of more help.“ Gary leaned his forehead against Nokomis thinking about the choice standing in front of him in a couple of years.

[Charles Driscoll H7]

Charles didn’t feel like dressing up – but he had asked Ivy to the ball, and he was looking forward to spending the evening with her and Nokomis and that Ravenclaw boy he had yet to be introduced to. And so he looked without much interest at his reflection, pulled his sailor's hat a little lower down his head, but not so that it hid his fringe, which had grown so long it had reached his eyebrows. It was a four-piece costume, not too creative, but Charles thought he didn’t look too bad. He hadn’t asked Ivy what she was wearing – he wondered what his friend would decide to wear. After their conversation on the grounds Charles felt a lot closer to Ivy, for now he felt she had seen him at his worst, when so far only Kris and Mary had seen that side of him. Hopefully today would be just fun – like that time when they had been together at Hogsmeade, and Charles had seen Ivy happy and smiling like he never had before.

Moments later Charles was smiling. There was no way he couldn't feel excited when he arrived at the door of the Great Hall. The room was crowded but that didn’t mean he couldn’t see the lovely decorations and feel the warm atmosphere of the room and appreciate the costumes of everyone else. He could hear an entrancing melody and already people were starting to get onto the dancing floor. It was going to be a good evening after all, he decided. All he needed now was to find Ivy, and then maybe the others. He wanted to talk to her a bit first though – that was one of the things he was looking forward to the most.

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

The dance steps seemed to just come with out thought, and she started to forget all about watching her steps and thinking about where her feet went. Instead she was just dancing with Gary, and while her stomach was still filled with butterflies, all her worries about messing up seemed to be getting further and further away. She thought for a moment about his question about when they should meet for Hogsmead and she thought for a moment, biting her lip for a brief second before she said anything. "Maybe we could meet for breakfast...or brunch? We could meet for brunch and then go."

She smiled when he called her one of those over-talented people, and she could feel the heat in her cheeks, thought she did choke back a comment on how wrong he was until he was done. "I'm not that talented...I'm pretty good at Quidditch, but thats really it." She paused for a moment, and bit her lip again. "I just work hard."

She smiled at his family, thinking for a moment nice nice it would have been to have a larger family. All she had was her mum growing. She got to know her dad a bit since, but it still wasn't the same. "It must have been nice though...haveing sisters when you were growing up. And thats amazing that your mum is a doctor...and that you want to be one too. I mean...its just that I could never do that...and its...its great that you want to do that." She smiled again, thinking that she probably couldn't have made that sound worse, but at least it was honest. She bit her lip again, and glanced toward the door, wondering if Ivy and Charlie were here yet. They had talked about meeting here tonight.

[crane]

“Brunch it is.” Gary smiled at Nokomis guiding them past an other couple who was dancing rather energetically in the middle of the floor. While wearing frog-suits. Gary smiled at the couple appreciating the youth and joy. And the creativity of the costumes before he looked back at Nokomis. The king and queen frogs were looking great. Yet Gary still knew as a fact that Nokomis was the most tender and most charming girl in the room. “And that’s part of what is so admirable. I feel so lazy so often. Sometimes only fear of Snape keeps me going before some huge end of the year term. I don’t have a clue how I’ll pass with OWLs without getting a nervous-breakdown about 4 or 5 times per day. But you on the other hand are simply wholly amazing.”

The dance ended and Gary smiled at Noko moving on an instinct and giving Noko a chaste kiss on her cheek before leaning his forehead against hers for a slight moment. Raising up again Gary smiled at Nokomis standing still calmly as he waited for the next song to start. “I’m sure my sisters would simply adore you. I’m sure they will want to know all about the girl who agreed to come to the ball with me during Christmas break. Are you going home for Christmas?
But yes I want to be a doctor. I just feel as if I have to help the world somehow. I have been given so much. My family, the most gorgeous date for the ball, the knowledge that magic actually does exist.”

Music started up again and Gary smiled at Nokomis as they started dancing again to the music as Gary smilingly twirled a strand of Noko’s hair around his index finger and then watching as the strand of hair fell back into it’s place.