'Til death do us apart ((Invited people))

[cleo]

Cleo stepped into the spacious bedroom she had chosen for herself for tonight to prepare for her wedding. She was getting married today. And she would get a real golden ring on her finger, titulating her to be mrs. Cleo Graas. While Cleo didn’t care much for the title mrs. she couldn’t wait to change her last name. She had hated her father from the first time she had seen Elvis Cole and she had never cared for her grandparents either. As for her mother, well, she had died at birth. But now she got a second chance. A chance to build herself a family she would actually adore and do anything for. Cleo stepped to the window of the room and placing her hands on the window-sill leaned out of the window a little. They had decided on an open air wedding and it seemed as if heaven’s themselves approved of the marriage as the sky was absolutely spotless with the sun blazing down on the ground while a light breeze mixed the air just enough to avoid the weather getting suffocating. There were huge white tents set up none the less to offer shade to the guests and there was quite a number of those, even if they were set far enough from the castle that Cleo and Kris would be going there with a white carriage pulled by 4 white horses. About 200 guests would also be coming as Dana had estimated the last time she had whirled through the room but as Dana had said – you never knew who could show up unexpectantly.

Cleo turned away from the window and stepped to the mirror once again even if she knew that she looked impeccable. She had chosen a white dress that left her shoulders bare, while hugging her body tightly and perfectly until at the hips the skirt widened and fell elegantly to the ground. Delicate, hand-made lace flowers adorned the front of the dress until going downwards in a bit of angle creating lacy layers at the hem of the skirt-part. Matching white heels, even if the shows didn’t show from under the hem of the dress and a short veil falling down her back also in layers. Simple, elegant, completely feminine and very-very fitting for Cleo. Her flower bouquet was waiting on the mirror-stand as well. The Snow-white bouquet as it supposed to be called. White lilies and tiny white roses. Roses for love and respect, white lilies for purity, majesty, the heavenly feeling of being together. And Kris’s wedding present for Cleo. The small circlet decorated with pieces of diamonds that were holding her veil up and a matching diamond necklace and earrings as well as a bracelet that all went perfectly with Cleo’s dress. Not to mention the rather huge safety deposit box to a huge deposit of different colourful trinkets that according to Kris had once belonged to his female ancestors and now belonged to his wife. Cleo would still have to get to used to that attitude that she could actually afford anything that caught her eye from now on.

There was a knock on the door and Cleo touched her veil one last time before walking to the door and opening it. “It’s time to go, mrs, mister is waiting for you outside,” the butler told with a deep bow as Cleo opened the door. Straightening up the old servant smiled at Cleo, “And if you forgive the old man his bluntness, you look simply marvelous.” “Cleo. It’s Cleo,” Cleo told the butler before whirling around and fetching her flowers. Stepping out of the room Cleo gladly slipped her fingers into the crook of the butler’s elbow and allowed herself to be escorted down the staircases and out of the castle doors to the courtyard where Kris was already standing next to the carriage they were supposed to be taking. Cleo smiled widely as she almost ran forwards towards Kris placing a hand on his arm. Kris bowed and raised Cleo’s hand to his lips, gently kissing the knuckles. “You look breathtaking,” Kris murmured to Cleo as he turned to lift Cleo to the carriage. “How do you know, you can’t even see me,” Cleo replied turning her head a little as she settled down on a seat ad waited for Kris to sit next to her. “I can in my heart,” Kris murmured his reply and Cleo just smiled as the carriage started to move.

((Please, don't reply here until Kris and Dana have, both of who will do so tomorrow.
And because my describing skills aren't too good, here is a picture of Cleo's dress and her necklace. I presume you all know what lilies and roses look like.))

[kris]

The carriage started moving and Kris turned his head towards Cleo allowing a quick smile flash over his features. A grimace Kris didn’t allow himself too often, yet he smiled now at Cleo. He had whine a lot about the wedding preparations and having to go along for the shopping trips, yet he had wanted the wedding himself, hadn’t he? But he would be glad when the ceremony would end and he could officially declare Cleo his. He had done it before as well, but that was besides the point. They both allowed liberties to each other they didn’t to anyone else. Even if even Kris still received an occasional hex when he called Cleo Cleopatra r pharaoh. Some called it almost suicidal, but it took Cleo’s mind off school or stress or what someone had said in the hallways. So whatever worked, right? They would find a way to handle all their differences somehow. Kris just wanted the wedding to be over, even if it was bound to be rather nice considering the amount of money he had had to pay for it! Even if Kris had delegated all responsibilities to Cleo who had delegated them on to Dana, who had in the end dealt with the foods, where everyone was going to stay over-night, the tents, the entertainment. Well, everything pretty much. Yet Kris would have rather taken off with Cleo to just spend some time together the first moment possible. But she had requested the big wedding, so Kris would bare through it.

The carriage pulled to a stop and Kris looked up before standing and stepping down the carriage. His feet had barely touched the ground when Kris heard Cleo’s whisper. It was barely loud enough to reach his ears so the words were private. “I don’t want to go there,” Cleo had whispered and Kris turned leaning his arms lightly on the edge of the carriage. He wasn’t worried that Cleo would now say that she didn’t want to marry him. If she hadn’t wanted to, she would have told him at the castle or before. She wasn’t one to play with someone like this. “Do explain further,” Kris replied quietly as well and felt Cleo’s fingers slip between his as she united their hands. “I do want to marry you, but I don’t want the big wedding anymore. I know I asked for it and all, but I just… don’t want to. Couldn’t we just skip the guests part or get married on our own at some peace judge like those teenager runaways in Hollywood movies?” Cleo asked and Kris smirked. Had she read his mind? Kris didn’t mind getting away the least bit and the sincerity in Cleo’s voice told the same about the girl.

“We can do that. Come on,” Kris said as he took a step back and reached his arms out to Cleo. Sure, riding away on the horses might be more romantical, but it would also be over-doing it. Besides apparation would be much quicker and more effective. Turning his head Kris raised his voice a little as he called over his shoulder: “Take care of the party, Dana!” Cleo’s arms braided themselves around his neck and Kris wrapped his around Cleo’s was it twirling her around in air once as he concentrated and with a quiet crack the two disappeared.

[dana]

Dana closed the handcuffs of Kris’s dark-green silk blouse – he hadn’t agreed to a more traditional wear – for him before taking a step back and looking Kris over critically. She still couldn’t believe it that Kris had found the love of his life and was getting married at the age of 17! Then again if Dana knew anyone who deserved it, then it was Kris. Taking a step forward again Dana hugged Kris quickly hiding her smile on Kris’s shoulder as he rather uncharacteristically returned the gesture. “You look dashing. Or you will if you won’t go out to your dogs anymore today,” Dana told Kris after a few moments taking a step back again and watching as Kris smirked but nodded his head dutifully. That was enough for Dana as she smiled and walked towards the door to go and look over the field and tents where the celebration, dancing, feast and whatever else were supposed to be held. But first she would check her own appearance as well. Dana had decided on a white-green dress, because green was one of the wedding colours. Slipping into the main ballroom Dana glanced at herself form the mirrored wall. A simple cut for her dress, as Cleo was the star of the day and evening after all. Yet Dana’s was nice as well. A tight top of a dress that had a bit lower neck-line, while it seemed pieced together from a couple of strands of clothes on which small green flower-vines swirled. And the skirt was the same green colour, falling very simply up to Dana’s heels, not too wide, not too tight, just enough to allow dancing properly. Green heels, and green-white hairclips to top the outfit off. After making sure her hair were still where they had been placed Dana blew a kiss to her mirror reflection and closed her eyes in concentration. It was a long enough way form the castle to the field where the party was being held and she was in a hurry so Dana apparated. She had gotten her license to apparate about a month ago.

Dana had to personally checked everything. Everything was in perfect shape but she knew she wouldn’t get any peace until she had had checked everything one more time herself. Yet the house-elves were ready to serve the food at the first command, the musicians had already checked their instruments, the charms put around the tents by Ministry offcials earlier were still strong and there and the man who would go through the wedding ceremony was there, present and anxious to get on with it. Glancing at the clock of the musicians leader Dana decided that everything had gotten done and there would only be about an hour for Kris and Cleo to arrive. The ceremony was scheduled to take place precisely at 15.00. Meaning that the first guests were starting to arrive at the roofs set up. Smiling, exchanging hand-shakes and cheek-kisses and hugs Dana greeted relatives and different friends who had been invited both out of school and from Hogwarts. Mostly she left people to mingle by themselves as there was constantly someone new coming by that needed to be greeted now. Until 15 hours turned up just as Kris’s and Cleo’s carriage pulled to a stop. Both of them hated being late so their timing had been absolutely impeccable. With a smile Dana took a couple of steps forwards to take her seat in the front row – there weren’t any bridesmaids nor whatever the male equivalent was – yet at Kris’s call over his shoulder made Dana freeze. Handle the party? But why… Dana simply gaped as Kris twirled Cleo around understanding just a moment before they left what was going to happen. Not caring how childish it might have looked Dana stomped her foot on the ground: “Damn it, Kris! I can’t get married in your place!” Dana glanced skywards in exasperation as Kris apparated off just a second the last word left Dana’s lips. Dana turned on her heel for a moment made a grimace towards nothingness as luckily no one was standing that way before turning back to face the guests with a properly schooled smile on her face, the whole turn having taken only a couple of seconds.

“Young love,” Dana said pleasantly while spreading her arms a little, before gesturing towards the long tables, “However we have a marvelous feast prepared for us, a dance-floor and charming company and the whole evening and night to celebrate. So what more can I tell you, but that you all enjoy yourselves!” As Dana spoke the musicans started to play and the house-elves set the table with marvelous speed. The guests started to move slowly towards the tables with conversations and laughter sprouting up around Dana who sent a purely venomous glare towards the carriage where Kris and Cleo HAD been. The driver flinched under it, which didn’t make Dana feel any better. Yet, she was the hostess now – however unvoluntarily – so she would go and make sure everyone’s needs were met. Dana walked to the main table as well reaching over to pick up the champagne flute reserved for Kris and raised it: “Even though the couple whose wedding we are celebrating isn’t with us at the moment – a toast to them. May they find peace and happiness!” Dana raised the flute as her family-tree andother guests raised their flutes in toast as well before taking a sip. Water for her while guests drank champagne. And she had hoped she could get champagne today as well. Oh well, this was a small matter. Dana smiled and took a seat at the table enjoying the few previous moments she was allowed to people-gaze and get accustomed to her new role in the celebration.

((As I'm still as bad at describing things as I was yesterday, this is the top of Dana's dress , decide yourself what you want to eat and the cake looks like this and there are 3 cakes so everyone will get a slice.
And as Dana IC said - enjoy the party if you're invited and decide to come. )

[phaedra]

And here they were. Italy was fantastic Phaedra decided and silently congratulated herself on her choice of dress. It was a simple summer dress really, but it was light and Phaedra wasn’t too unbearably hot in it. And it was a pretty dress that suited her. A gentle peach colour that left her shoulders and back bare as the dress was held up with a strap going around Phaedra’s neck. And the skirt well more or less to her knees. More or less because the skirt was flowing being longer in some parts and shorter in some. It was light, summer-ish and pretty. It made Phaedra feel pretty and feminine which wasn’t a too regular occasion as auror-training didn’t really help you become a lady who always looked perfect. And well, Phaedra was no beauty either, but today she felt god. Turning her head Phaedra smiled upwards to Charlie brightly. She was also glad that Charlie was here. It might not be considered a date, but for Phaedra it meant a lot that she could spend time in his company.

Leaning one of her hands on Charlie’s arms Phaedra raised to her tiptoes to reach Charlie’s ear as she whispered: “A lot of Slytherins, but they even seem half-way tolerable today.” Grinnign a little Phaedra lowered herself on her shoes again – heels weren’t a regular footwear for her either – and then smiled happy, “Here they come. Kris and Cleo.” Phaedra flashed a quick smile at Charlie. She had introduced Charlie to Kris and Cleo earlier. Kris had luckily merely arched an eye-brow when Phaedra had said the name Weasley his only comment being ‘at least your family is known enough so I won’t have much trouble hunting you down with my hounds if you ever hurt my relative’. Phaedra had merely laughed and told Charlie not to take it too seriously but she had been glad to see that the two men had gotten on well enough. Both of them loved animals after all so the horses and all of Kris’s 36 dogs that had been there had been a good enough reason to start a conversation that had moved on to dragons, as both liked those creatures too. Kris even had the scars of dragon-claws running down his back. At least both had been polite to the other and not been too annoyed about each other. Maybe Hogwarts did boost house-rivalty on it’s own.

“I wouldn’t want this big of a wedding one day. Something small and simply with only family and the closest friends would be ideal in my opinion, but this suits them,” Phaedra commented quietly not even noticing fully that her hand was still resting on Charlie’s arm. Just as soon as she had said those words Kris and Cleo apparated off and just like everyone else Phaedra glanced at Dana bursting out laughing at her behaviour while quietly explaining to Charlie: “It’s not easy at all to make Dana loose her cool either. Even if she has quite a temper when she is pushed too far. I think I’ve once even seen a knife flying towards Kris in warning, even if those two are closer than most real brother and sister or best friends.” Phaedra took a champagne flute and joined with Dana’s toast before sitting down in a free seat and eating a bit, even if she was much to happy and had much too many butterflies flying in her stomach due to Charlie’s presence to eat properly. Noticing that Charlie wasn’t currently eating either Phaedra stood and reached out her hand towards him: “Come, I’ll introduce you to Dana too.” Both of her hands grasping Charlie’s behind her back Phaedra weaved around people managing to catch Dana on a moment when she was alone.

“Dana, you look great,” Phaedra said smiling at the younger girl who looked up at their approach from where she was sitting and smiled: “So do you, Phaedra. And you must be Charlie Weasly aka Cute-boy.” Dana told Charlie with a small grin before Phaedra had the opportunity to introduce Charlie while Dana continued after looking them both over with a quick glance, “Can’t argue with the nickname, so keep an eye on your man, Phaedra, will you? While you should take her to dance a little. When else do you get to dance with someone as great who looks just as pretty?” Dana said directing the last sentence to Charlie before someone else demanded her attention and Phaedra took a couple of steps back looking at Charlie with a smile, even if her cheeks were tinted slightly pink from embarrassment. “Sorry about that. French character and all that. But I’m glad you decided to come along today.”

[gaenor]

Gaenor stood quite near the front of where the ceremony was supposed to take place so he was much too far to hear the words being exchanged between Kris and Cleo. Yet being quite tall gave Gaenor the ability of still seeing Kris apparate them off. A smile present on his lips Gaenor glanced over at Dana a sharp burst of laughter escaping his mouth as he saw the stomp and the grimace on half-twirl before Dana slipped into the roll of a perfect hostess. “To them,” Gaenor quietly repeated the toast after Dana raising his right hand with the champagne glass high as everyone else before walking towards the seat reserved for him. Grandfather had also been invited – Kris was as polite as ever – yet now Gaenor was quite glad he hadn’t decided to come to the wedding. Grandfather was getting old and traveling was hard on him already. Besides being here along after having opted to not bring a date gave him the liberty to people-watch as much as he wished without no one hinting at him to dance or socialize when he wasn’t feeling up to it at the moment. Besides the food was delicious so joining in with the conversations swirling around him with only a couple of words form time to time as Gaenor enjoyed the treats. He made sure to eat his fill as Kris had surely ordered enough food to make sure that no guest would leave hungry, but Gaenor still kept an eye on exactly how much he hate. He didn’t want to over-eat besides he still wanted to share some dances later on. Maybe with the pretty brunette in the blue dress who was smiling shyly at him three seats down. Yes, he would most surely dance with that girl Gaenor decided as he returned the smile before dropping his napkin next to his plate and pushing his chair backwards a little stood.

Gaenor pushed his chair back under the table before picking up his champagne flute and calmly walking over to Dana choosing the moment when some girl in peach dress and a redhead man left her. “I haven’t seen you stomp before. It was quite an interesting sight,” Gaenor said from Dana’s back watching as the Ravenclaw jumped a little making the liquid in her own champagne flute splash around a little before Dana turned and scrunched up her nose slightly towards him while Gaenor continued without being bothered the least bit: “I even saw you taking Kris’s champagne flute instead of your own. You know, at the first couple of parties I always used to wonder how you and Kris can handle that much champagne. Until Kris one day let me taste the wine you drink. Everything cleared up after that.” Gaenor watched with a satisfied smile as Dana laughed and raised her champagne flute touching it’s edge to Gaenor’s: “Yes, still the same water. As the hostess I have to stay sober and at my sharpest.” Gaenor nodded and took a sip from from his champagne before placing the flute on a near-by table and holding out his hand for Dana: “You should wear Slytherin colours more often. But may I have this dance?”

Gaenor watched Dana put away her own drink as well before accepting his hand and Gaenor led Dana to the floor cleared for dancers where some couples were already swaying. Raising his arm Gaenor let Dana graceful twirl away from under it before settling in the position for the dance as Gaenor pulled her a little bit closer as the two started moving to the music at the precise same moment. Thanks to Dana who was a much better dance-partner than Gaenor himself was at leading. Smiling at the girl between his arms Gaenor twirled over the dance-floor with her, Dana’s green skirt swaying around both of their legs as they moved. They danced in an comfortable silence merely enjoying the moment of peace in the company of a close friend as well as the song and the swift grace. While Dana was better Gaenor wasn’t a bad dancer at all either. Dipping Dana low with the last accords of the song Gaenor smiled at her: “The dance was lovely as ever. And of course I won’t miss the chance to kiss a pretty girl either.” And with the sound of Dana’s laughter in his ears Gaenor kissed her on both cheeks, before pulling Dana upright once again and giving her a half-fledged hug with his right arm while dropping an almost brotherly kiss on Dana’s forehead, “But now tell me who’s that charming brunette in the blue dress?” “That much for charming me. You are already looking for other girls. I’m wounded,” Dana responded but glanced over anyway for a moment, “Very distant cousin. Mariela Luckon. Standing next to her father. Enjoy yourself.” Dana stood on her tiptoes for a moment pressing a kiss on the side of Gaenor’s chin before flashing him a smile and turning away. Gaenor observed the brunette for a few more moments before deciding to approach her a little bit later when there were less people around her and her father and instead walked over to a table once again picking up a new champagne flute and taking a sip as his eyes traveled over the people gathered here.

[hollow]

"But you said I could come!" Adrian winced and rubbed his temples gently, the sharp, high-pitched voice searing through him. He adored his sister and would die for her but right now, he just wanted her to disappear. Or at least be quiet. "I said no such thing," He snapped in response, brushing past his little sister gently, unable to hurt her even though he was furious with her. All he had heard for the last four hours were pleas to attend the wedding, demands that he take her, wails about not being able to attend, threats, bribes and now her latest form of torture. The high-pitched voice and an insistent tugging at his trousers. If there was a more annoying sound in all of the world then Adrian hadn't come across one. And with his parents love of traveling, a love that they had also passed onto their son, he had come across a lot of things. "No!" Adrian whirled around to face his sister, irritated by the constant whining and wailing. "You will not come and you will go back to your room or bother Mum and Dad for a while or go and play with some of your giggly little friends but you are not coming to the wedding! Nothing in the world could persuade me to take you. Nothing. Nothing!" Lita pouted and stomped away, leaving her brother filled with a sense of relief at getting rid of the pest and unaware of what would come next.

"Adrian Sean Hollows! Get down here this instant!" The enraged roar from his Mother had Adrian dropping his shoes and scrambling down the stairs, unusually undignified in his alarmed rush to see what he had done now. Wait. Adrian stopped and frowned thoughtfully. He hadn't done anything. Nothing that he could remember anyway. And he'd remember doing something wrong, if only to be ready to lie to get out of trouble. "Adrian!" On second thought, maybe it was best to see what his Mother wanted, Adrian decided with a half amused grimace. He tracked the voice to the sitting room and stood in the door uncertainly, observing the scene grimly. His Mother and Father, sitting together on one couch with Lita opposite them, smirking in silent satisfaction. No...this definitely did not bode well for Adrian and he had a good idea about what this meeting would be about. It was times like these that he really wished that he hadn't taught his sister to be such a good liar and actress. Though one generally meant being the other. One couldn't pull off a lie if they couldn't do the right facial expressions and actors had the talent to be good at lying. "She is going. Get over it. Now," the change in his Mum was astonishing as she stood up. Gone was the frown and scowl of before, replaced by a loving smile and an affectionate ruffle of his hair. "Go and get ready. But Adrian," she leaned in to give him a hug and whispered the last words into his ear, "she really wants to go, be nice to her and take care of her." Adrian sighed and nodded resignedly, spinning around on his heel and retrieving his shoes from his bedroom before returning to the sitting room and waiting for his sister. The pest. "Ready," Lita bounced into the room and spun around, the skirt of her red dress flaring out around her and forcing a reluctant smile from her older brother. "About time too." Adrian chuckled and stood up, pressing an affectionate kiss to his sisters hair before leading them both over to the fireplace and tossing in some floo powder.

Adrian lifted an eyebrow in amusement as the intended couple disappeared and stifled a chuckle at Dana's admirable attempt to excuse Kris and Cleo's absence. Still, he couldn't really blame them as he probably would have done the same had he been in their place and so he raised his champagne flute and lifted it to his lips, careful not to actually drink the liquid but taught to keep up the appearance of drinking. It wasn't that he didn't trust the Graas family to not have poisoned the drink but because champagne held absolutely no appeal for him whatsoever. His sister however, was obviously of a different mindset as she swiped the drink from her older brother and took a sip. Or not, as the partly hidden disgust on her face showed. "That's..." Lita's complaint was cut off by Adrian's warning glare. "Be polite, Litana. These people are my friends and housemates and you have to be respectful. Understood?" A sulky nod was his answer but it was enough to satisfy him. Lita would behave. Keeping a firm hand on his sisters shoulder, Adrian steered them toward a wall but had to pull his sister to the side sharply so she wouldn't crash into a girl whom Adrian distinctly recognized as Dana Coran. The new hostess. "I'm so sorry, Ms Dana." Adrian smiled in apology, nudging his sister discreetly so she would repeat the apology. "Yes, very sorry." Lita nodded shyly, not having the security that came with actually knowing who she was talking to as Adrian did. "Adrian and Litana Hollows." Adrian introduced himself and his sister politely, still keeping a hand on his sisters shoulder so she wouldn't wander away and get lost.

((Alright so I haven't mentioned the presents but darn it Dana, you made me search for them and so you will look at them and you will admire them. Understood? ;D So here look and admire. And the box is meant to be a sentimental thing, to put memento's and such in.))

[dana]

Dana chuckled quietly as she watched Gaenor leave her after the dance they shared. He was a fun guy and a good friend and the loud flirting from time to time most surely didn’t hurt either. But Dana didn’t feel any remorse to see Gaenor setting his sights on the girl he would most surely have hanging onto his arm for the rest of his evening. Flirty guys made the best friends cause they always knew just what to say or when to say nothing at all when you were insecure about your dress or looks or feeling down. Sometimes a loud whistle when you stepped out of the room worked wonders for a girls confidence. Told more than any words could. But today Dana knew she looked amazing and besides there were so many people here that Dana turned her attention away from Gaenor and snapped her fingers in a wordless summoning of an house-elf. The small creature appeared immediately handing Dana her slightly coloured champagne flute to keep everyone from understanding that the liquid in the glass was actually simple mineral water. That was the most Dana would allow herself to drink before she was back at the castle in the evening and could throw her heels off and her legs somewhere higher and just relax.

The moment Dana’s fingers grasped the champagne flute the house-elf was gone again. The creature had tons of work to do anyway, even though 6 more house-elves had been brought in to help with the wedding not to mention the human waiters and waitresses. Deciding to walk around a little bit and make sure no one was feeling lonely Dana turned and almost collided with a much younger girl. Dana bent slightly but luckily the girl was pulled to the side before the collision actually took place so both of them managed to keep their balance. Dana’s drink merely sloshed around in the glass dangerously for a moment but Dana was glad to see that not a drop spilled. Glancing up as the boy who had pulled the young girl to the side started talking Dana smiled pleasantly. Dana noticed the nudge to the girl but didn’t comment instead smiling happily and bowing her head as a sign that the apology was accepted: “No harm done really. And just Dana will suffice.” Dana smiled at the two looking them over as the boy introduced both again. Siblings here. Curious choice to bring one’s sister here, especially as the boy was quite young and Litana seemed so young that Dana found herself wondering if she even went to Hogwarts yet. The boy was a Slytherin though. The Hollows were purebloods, he wasn’t from Ravenclaw, and he wasn’t a relative so that only left the option of a Slytherin.

“It’s my pleasure. Dana Coran,” Dana replied with a smile, taking the champagne flute to her left hand before reaching out her right one to Adrian first and then to Litana to shake, “I hope you have found everything you wish? Maybe some cold drink for refreshments. Kris must have made a pact with the weather-lords to guarantee the cloudless sky for his wedding-day,” Dana didn’t offer the two champagne nor any other kind for alcohol. They were minors anyway! But there were plenty of non-alcoholic drinks present as well. Dana raised her own water to her lips taking a quick sip from it being grateful to the light breeze touching her neck and bare shoulders that made the warm day less suffocating.

[hollow]

"I really am sorry," Lita smiled again, ignoring the gentle warning glance from her brother. She wasn't stupid! She knew better than to insult the girl whom her brother had called Dana and who her training in the pureblood families identified as Dana Coran. Not that she would have insulted her anyway; this girl seemed nice and, while Lita wasn't exactly interested by pureblood politics, she knew that acquaintances in the other pure families were important."I'm not usually that clumsy, I promise. Crashing into people isn't really my idea of fun though I suppose that it's an amusing way to meet new people." Brown eyes, so much like her older brothers but less reserved in the presence of the older girl, twinkled with an innate sense of fun. Her shyness was quickly disappearing and being replaced with the more relaxed, secure personality that, as real as it may seem, was just yet another polite front. Having Adrian as an older brother had taught her that she should always be on her guard unless she wanted to be scolded. He wasn't hesitant about telling her the dangers that were spreading through their world but he still kept an protective eye on her.

Both siblings shook Dana's hand politely, Lita smiling in faint satisfaction as her guess to the girls identity was proved correct. "The Heavens must be smiling down on this match," Adrian grinned slightly. "How else could one explain such a wonderful sky and weather?" Adrian mentally sighed in relief when Dana didn't offer them any alcohol. It would have been rude to refuse but Adrian didn't really like champagne. Wine had a certain appeal but champagne was absolutely abhorrent to him. "I really hope that you don't protest to the presence of my sister. I wasn't going to bring her but the pest absolutely insisted and somehow got our parents onto her side." Adrian spared an affectionate glance for his younger sister and barely resisted the urge to ruffle her hair. Lita smiled proudly before changing the smile to an impish smirk and speaking. "Well, I wasn't going to miss the wedding that had my brother in such a state. He was scrambling around for weeks, searching for a present for them. I didn't see much of the couple but from the little I did see, they both looked amazing. Cleo and Kris, correct? Cleo looked absolutely beautiful and Kris looked so handsome. Anyway," Lita shrugged and smiled sheepishly, "I also wanted to meet a few of the people that I'd have to go to school with in September."

((Meh, not brilliant but it'll do for now. And you needn't worry about Lita's comment about Kris looking handsome - she didn't mean anything by it. Honest. ))

[dana]

Dana smiled at Litana watching how she seemed to relax a little. Which was only good as Dana didn’t really the girl to be afraid of her. She wasn’t that much of an old hag yet she hoped! “Really, no apology is necessary. And crashing into people is a bit cliché way of meeting people. Then again maybe I’m just saying that because I haven’t had the luck to crash and fall between the arms of a pretty gentleman that way, so don’t take me too seriously,” Dana told Litana with a smile before winking at her quickly and companion-ishly. And while Dana wasn’t spending her days sighing after a prince to come and sweep her off her feet and carry her away to a warm island Dana wouldn’t have fled from a pretty boy who would catch her either. Why make life harder on yourself by your own actions? Dana raised her glass towards Litana a little in a wordless salute but didn’t take a sip her attention returning to Adrian as he started speaking again.

Dana laughed a little again at Adrian’s words and shook her head a little: “While the weather is marvelous, I’m afraid Kris wouldn’t quite agree with your words. Quoting him: ‘Heaven doesn’t want him and Hell’s too afraid he’d take over’.” And Kris did use that sentence from time to time. And while Dana seriously doubted Kris was that extreme for both cases the statement usually shut people up which just might have been Kris’s purpose on a lot of cases. Smiling calmly Dana opened her mouth once again to wave away any still lingering worries Adrian might have about bringing his sister. The two seemed quite fond of each other. “And of course Litana was more than welcomed to come. Everyone were told to feel free to bring someone along after all. And I have gone to enough gatherings with Kris as well who almost counts as a brother. Almost.”

Cleo glanced towards where the carriage with which Kris and Cleo had came still stood while hiding the small scowl from her face. She had been planning on enjoying herself here today not hosting the party! Kris and Cleo were both going to hear about it and by the most perfect way get their revenge for taking off like this as well! “Cleo did look pretty, even though she was here for much too short of a time to let other people get a nice look at her dress and appreciate it,” Dana replied not showing any hint of the thoughts about pay-back to Kris twirling her mind, “There are a lot of Ravenclaws and naturally SLytherins here as well. Am I correct to guess that you’re aiming for one of those houses? Or haven’t you made up your mind yet?”

[Charlie Weasley]

Charlie had enjoyed the trip to Italy with Phaedra. Getting to spend more time with her made even the worse times good. He couldn't believe that he was attending a wedding though. He didn't mind the thought of attending it, but it was odd that he had agreed to attend something where there would be hardly anyone he knew. That didn't bother him as much as he had expected it too though.

Shortly after they arrived, he had met Kris; Phaedra's cousin. He seemed nice enough, but Charlie didn't plan on getting on his bad side. The two had managed to get along with simple conversation of animals, a topic that was hard to not get Charlie to talk about. He was amazed to find that Kris also carried scars from a dragon. That did give them a bit more in common. Charlie did take a small heed to Kris's warning, although he had no plans in ever hurting Phaedra. He cared too deeply for her, even though she was yet to know so. He laughed as she was given a warning by a girl whom had been introduced as Dana. There was no need for Phaedra to worry about him going anywhere, for he knew that no matter how pretty the other girls at the party appeared, none could compare to Phaedra in his eyes.

"You look lovely." Charlie had finally managed to get out after Dana had left the two to themselves. He had been searching for the proper words ever since he had spotted Phaedra that morning. Charlie, while looking nice, had settled on a simple outfit, entailing of a cream colored dress pull over shirt, and a pair of black slacks. He topped his out fit off with a soft blue lightweight over cloak, and a pair of black loafers. Charlie admitted that he rarely dressed up, so he had been glad when Phaedra had agreed to go shopping with him. He would have never been able to put together such a nice outfit by himself.

Charlie felt a bit too nervous to eat, so he decided to take Dana's suggestion. "Would you care to dance, sweet Kitten?" He asked offering his arm to escort her to the dance floor. Charlie was glad that he had learned to dance during school. It was one of the many things that he had kept in practice, even if it was just dancing around the living room with Ginny when he was home.

((Ginny, hope you didn't mind the mention))

[phaedra]

Phaedra watched Dana be whisked to the dance-floor by a quite handsome young man who most likely was just barely out of Hogwarts or graduating this year. Phaedra didn’t know him but she couldn’t help but admire the swift familiarity with what he and Dana danced together. Phaedra didn’t think that she would ever be quite that gracefully and she most surely wouldn’t be anywhere near being even in the competition while wearing a long skirt and high stiletto heels like Dana was. Sometimes being a woman was just that hard of a task tat it seemed fully impossible to be as graceful and beautiful as some others. Yet Phaedra felt her cheeks flush as warmth entered her stomach at Charlie’s simple words. She looked lovely. It was good to hear it from Charlie. Good to hear that Charlie approved of her outfit as he hadn’t commented on it before. Phaedra took a sip of her champagne to make sure her voice didn’t do any tricks like rising to unhearable heights before looking at Charlie and smiling at him softly. “And you look absolutely dashing as I already told you before, but thank you for the compliment.”

Phaedra laughed and shook her head a little, her hair - that was half-loose and half-put up with pins by the hair-dresser Dana had invited over earlier – swaying along with the movement, with one slightly curled strand falling before her face. “Are you sure you want to? I don’t have to wear high heels very often in my work none the less dance in them so I’m not sure at all I won’t step on your toes or collapse between your arms with twisted ankles at one point. So maybe a dance wouldn’t be quite as safe for you,” Phaedra told Charlie with her eyes laughing at him over her glass even if she was actually admitting the truth. She could be quite clumsy in everyday situations so parties and fancy clothes and shoes like these that unnerved her a little only made her genetical lack of grace come out even more. Yet Phaedra felt a new troupe of butterflies take off in her stomach at Charlie’s invitation – even if Dana had half blackmailed it out of him – so she put her glass down and smiled reaching a hand towards Charlie’s and letting their fingers clasp each other. “You’re a brave man Charlie Weasley,” Phaedra told with a small chuckle as she accepted Charlie’s hand that he was offering her and let herself be escorted to the dance-floor.

[Samantha Driscoll]

Love. Marriage. Socialising.

How little she knew about all of that. She was feeling very insecure and rather afraid of meeting all these people but she was not going to let Kris down. But all her fears were very much at the surface: her fear of being judged, her fear of being among the people who thought like her parents, her fear of having to explain herself and express herself honestly and clearly, the new her, the one that was still confused about so much around her and was only comfortable around very few people. She looked down at her brother and was very thankful for him at that moment. She wouldn’t have been able to make it here without him. Charles had even helped her to find the dress – Samantha had thought she would just wear something from her old wardrobe but Charles had insisted on her buying a new dress – and when Sam had point-blank refused to go to Hogsmeade to buy one he had brought her a catalogue from Gladrags Wizardwear – a shop Samantha would have refused to even just window-shop at – and Sam had chosen a simple but elegant black dress – nothing her mother would have approved of, and it was also a little on the wild side at least for the straight-laced Samantha, but she had liked it the minute she’d seen it and had imagined how she’d wear her hair and make-up to go with it. It was a backless dress with just a strap that she would wind around her neck to hold it up, and a full knee-length skirt. It was simple but elegant, and she liked how she looked in it even though it showed how pale and thin she had become. But at least she could no longer feel her ribs whenever she ran her hands down her chest and stomach and her face had filled out a little. She was no longer a walking skeleton.

And then love and marriage. She knew nothing of the love Kris and Cleo now knew and had – nor did she know how two people could decide they wanted to commit to each other, live with each other, grow old and have kids together. It was all very incomprehensible to her. But she was happy for Kris. If she knew anyone who deserved it then it was him. She was hoping they would get a chance to talk about this, the last time they had spoken had been on the grounds and since then they hadn’t got a chance. Samantha looked around and heard people whispering. Apparently Kris and Cleo had disappeared – how like Kris! Well now they could leave. There was no need for them to stay here. Relief rushed through her till she saw the look on Charles’ face. He knew exactly what she was thinking.
“He’s not here Charlie. Neither of us know anyone here. Let’s just leave,” she told him. She frowned when he refused. “A few minutes then, and then we’re leaving,” she said sullenly.

She was glad it was in the open air. Small blessings, the half-full part of the glass, whatever you called it, at least she was not going to be trapped inside a room, however big it was, with lots of people, she was still getting over her tendency to be agoraphobic and claustrophobic ever since she had left Azkaban. And she was right amidst the people who didn’t understand, who could never understand what she had done and the choices she was going to make from now on. Once entertaining these people had come easily to her, she had known what to do and say and how to act and she had perfected it so well it came to her effortlessly. She didn’t know how Charles looked so nonchalant about the whole affair. Well, they didn’t have to stay for long, he had promised her that. She was glad when he looked up at her and smiled before they went over to Dana and her guests. She held out her hand and smiled a small smile. “Congratulations,” she said. She was a little wary around Dana as she knew so little about her.

[Charles Driscoll H7]

He knew it was his turn to be the good and responsible brother and he had no trouble accepting that, it was something he had wanted to do for so long even though it was so difficult at times to understand Samantha and the things she did. He knew she was afraid of people and what they would think but he couldn’t understand how someone could go from one extreme to another, from taking so much care of their looks and then not caring what they would wear. But he’d seen her perk up a little when he brought that catalogue, and even though he hadn’t really liked the excessive eyeliner Samantha wore around her eyes he did like it that she seemed to be finding her own style. Every time she shivered or cowered away from doing something he tied to support her as much as he could. He knew that this person could so easily have been him. And that if it hadn’t been for her he might have been here, and that he might not have been the person he was now.

It was so typical of Kris to leave behind everyone and get married his own way. They should have half-expected it. Charles looked up at Samantha and knew she wanted to leave. But this was one of the very few chances he was going to get at making her mix with people and start talking to them again – and he wasn’t going to miss it. “It wouldn’t be polite not to at least greet Dana and congratulate her. And also, thought this isn’t my crowd, I’m sure I’ll find someone I’d like to talk to and you as well. I promise I won’t leave you Sam and we’ll go after a few minutes. But we haven’t come all this way to leave now. And at least you can drink,” he said with a smile as he looked up at her, smoothing down the jacket of his tuxedo as they headed towards Dana. Charles knew that everyone here was most probably a Slytherin and very wealthy – some of the women were just dripping with diamonds. But amidst this crowd was Mary – and there was always the chance he might meet someone he could talk to, or hopefully someone for Samantha. He was not going to decide they were all the same just because it looked like that. He smiled pleasantly at Dana and said “Congratulations” at the same time as Samantha. He didn’t know her that well but she’d always seemed like a nice person to him from the little he knew of her.

[hollow]

"Cliché, yes but aren't clichés supposed to be fun to live through?" Lita grinned, thoroughly relaxed in Dana's presence and even starting to enjoy the wedding. Well, with Cleo and Kris' disappearance it was more of a party than a wedding but it was fun nonetheless. She had been hoping to actually watch a wedding and had been rather disappointed at the quick departure of the engaged - and most likely married, by now - couple but she was still glad that she had manipulated her parents into letting her come with Adrian. Not that she called it manipulating of course, to her it was a simple case of getting her own way yet again. "I'm sure a handsome gentleman will catch you one day," Adrian grinned, smoothly picking up the conversation where his sister had fallen silent and casting a small, unnoticable glance toward his younger sister in concern but brushing her unusual silence aside easily. "And I'm certainly not volunteering myself for the job of sweeping you off your feet - sorry, Ms Dana but you're just slightly too old for me and I'm most definitely more immature than you." Adrian smiled impishly, ignoring his sisters quiet snicker and rolled eyes.

Adrian merely smirked at the quote, easily seeing how it could fit Kris from what he had hear about the boy, but Lita, unrestrained by the maturity thast wouldn't let Adrian laugh out loud, giggled cheerfully. After all, for a girl who had never seen Kris and hadn't heard anything about him except that quote, he would seem to be a fairly amusing man though slightly scary, if the quote was truly fitting. "See," Lita stuck her tongue out at her brother childishly. "I was welcomed. I told you that I wouldn't be a pest." Again, Adrian rolled his eyes but spared an affectionate smile for his adored sister. "You are a pest, Lita. Dana just doesn't know you well enough to have discovered that." Still, it was a relief to be assured that he actually hadn't made a mistake in allowing himself to be talked into bringing his sister. She might be a pest but she was his sister all the same, and life - or even a special event - without her wouldn't be the same.

"Hopefully Ravenclaw but Slytherin is naturally a choice. Merlin forbid that I leave out Slytherin," Lita rolled her eyes theatrically, earning herself a playful tap on the head from her brother for her cheekiness. Even Adrian knew better than to ruffle her hair and mess up the carefully curled locks of his sister. He had learned that lesson last year, at a cousins birthday party. Even the memory of the cold ice being poured down his shirt made him shudder slightly and take a small step away from his sister. Lita was dangerous when angered and he had learned that the hard way. Two more voices joined the conversation and both siblings turned to observe the newcomers curiously. Lita might not recognise the two new siblings but Adrian did; Samantha and Charles Driscoll. "Ms Samantha," Adrian inclined his head politely, adding on the 'Ms' that generally started off as a polite greeting and occasionally would turn into an affectionate nickname. Unlikely that it would happen this time however. "Charles, right?" He smiled again, discarding the ingrained prejudice of the houses for the night. His sister merely smiled shyly, sliding a step backward so she was half-shielded by her brothers body. New people were intimidating to the young girl and it took a while for her to warm up to them.

[dana]

Dana arched her eye-brow towards Adrian measuring him from up to toe for a moment easily pulling on a cold expression even if it wasn’t serious really. “Is that a polite way to call me old and withered? The ‘Ms’ title only adds to that.” Dana smiled a little bit to the two before her the smile reaching her eyes easily even despite her words. She wasn’t really insulted after all. All Slytherins seemed to excel in reading other people and their body-language and even small wavers of their voice now at Kris’s case. So Adrian shouldn’t have any problems with knowing that she was completely alright with the conversation. “I’d like to see a little sister who has never been called a pest,” Dana commented with a small smirk as she turned her eyes back to Lita and raised her glass towards her, “I’m a Ravenclaw myself and quite enjoy it. It’s a good house really, even though I was faced with much the same option. But I was only flattered when the Sorting Hat told me in my first year that I’d do very well in Slytherin too before placing me into Ravenclaw.”

Dana looked up as two more people approached recognizing the people in a heart-beat. Driscolls. Sam was one of Kris’s best friends and her brother was… just Sam’s brother Dana supposed not knowing anything more about the boy. Dana smiled calmly at both accepting Sam’s hand without a moment of hesitation as she smiled calmly at both: “Thank you, even though I wasn’t getting married here. If I get hold of Kris again I’ll skin him and feed him alive to ants.” Dana smiled calmly at the Driscolls once again as both were also staying in the castle itself. Dana perhaps hadn’t picked a black dress to wear at a wedding, but Sam had had difficult times besides she wasn’t the only one wearing that colour here. Yet it was obvious even now that while Charlie might have felt a little bit uncomfortable in his tuxedo then Sam wore her dress with subconscious carelessness and elegance. Admirable trait really. “At least the weather is good, even though Adrian here is trying to make me feel old and boring. I’m not helping either by talking of weather,” Dana stated catching Gaenor’s eyes over Cahrlie’s hsoudler. The older boy tilted his head nodding towards Dana in a silent question. Dana smiled and barely inclined her head a little in an agreement before smiling dazzlingly at everyone. Despite everything Dana was glad that Kris and Cleo were married now.

[gaenor]

Gaenor smiled a little as Dana answered positively to his question if she needed a little bit of help. And while Gaenor was quite sure Dana could have handled things on his own too he turned and left charming girls for later making his way over to the small group around Dana none the less. Even if he only knew Samantha out of that group. Quite the history the girl had Gaenor thought absent-mindedly following the line of her bare back and thinking that she could use gaining some weight as she looked almost like an anorexic now. “Good afternoon,” Gaenor said with a pleasant smile as his eyes took everyone in as he stepped around the Driscoll boy to stand between Dana and Samantha bowing slightly to Dana first, then to Samantha and then to the kid who was around too. “Samantha, it’s good to see you up and around once again. You have been hiding yourself lately. And I simply must requested being introduced to you, my young lady. I’m Gaenor Maydell.”

Straightening himself up again Gaenor’s eyes traveled to the two boys. One was the Driscoll boy the other seemed faintly familiar from the common room. Racking his brain for a moment Gaenor decided to go on a hunch: “Hollows, am I right? I think I remember you from the common room.” Gaenor shook the boys hand briefly before turning to the Driscoll. Wasn’t he a Huflfepuff? “And the younger Driscoll I believe? I’m afraid I haven’t introduced before to either of you two so you must pardon my lack of knowledge about your names,” Gaenor said to both boys shaking the Hufflepuffs hand briefly as well before taking hold of Dana’s elbow and gently pushing her a quarter of a step away while lifting Dana’s high heel from his leg at the same time. She had drilled it there the moment Gaenor had turned his eyes towards the Hufflepuff and Gaenor sent her an almost reproachful look. Did she really think Gaenor didn’t know her rules after being friends for years? Dana merely raised her glass and hid her smirk in there while taking a sip. “How awesome as this party is I still must admit that I feel tempted to take one of Kris’s horses and go to the mountains. The view and air there are simply breathtaking. Has any of you ever had any experience at horse-back riding? Or camping in the mountains?” Gaenor as conversationally from everyone.

[hollow]

"Ah now, Ms Dana. Would I ever insult such a wonderful young lady as yourself?" Adrian smiled teasingly, easily reading Dana's body language, just like a good Slytherin should be able to. And Lita had apparently caught onto the teasing almost as quickly as her older brother, judging by the quiet snicker. "And if 'Ms' makes you old then I must plead with you not to pass that small tidbit of information to Ms Mack. I'm quite sure that she'd curse me for inadvertantly calling her old when considering that she has argued with me over less." Adrian smiled easily, faintly fond of Mack despite their last meeting. Not that being given a crash course in conjunctions and their meaning when used properly in a sentence wasn't fascinating but Adrian could definitely think of better topics for conversation. How slow paints dries, for one. "Ravenclaw is definitely the house I really want to get into but Slytherin is also a good house. I'm not entirely sure that it's the right house for me though.." Lita shrugged, almost knowing that she wouldn't be placed into Slytherin but not wanting to burst her brothers bubble. he felt that he could protect her better if she was in Slytherin, and that was probably true, but Lita couldn't, and wouldn't, be something that she wasn't. And if that meant being a Ravenclaw rather than a Slytherin then so be it.

Adrians eyes glimmered with mischief as he opened his mouth. "If calling you Ms Dana makes you feel too old then I suppose that I'll just have to call you Ms Coran instead. Though once again, I plead with you not to tell anyone about your suspicions that I'm trying to make you feel old by calling you 'Ms'. For then I would have three females cursing me - you, Ms Mack and Ms Samantha - and I don't think that I could handle that. And if you insist upon making yourself sound older by talking about the weather then I'm afraid that I'll just have to call you Grandma." Adrian grinned and then grimaced with pain when Lita stood on his foot, obviously telling him to be quiet. "Brothers," Lita rolled her eyes in disgust but still slid backward to hide herself behind Adrian once more when yet another boy joined the group. Adrian smiled fondly, used to his sisters occasional shyness and him having to introduce her. Yet why Lita hadn't realised that there would be crowds at a wedding, he didn't know. "Yes, Adrian Hollows. And the apparently shy girl behind me is my sister, Lita." Another stifled grimace indicated that the 'shy girl' had taken offence and kicked her brothers ankle. "Horse-back riding?" Lita sidled out from behind her brother shyly, wary of the people surounding her but unable to resist talking about one of her favourite pastimes. Not that she'd be doing much talking really. Crowds were one thing that she didn't like but she'd forgotten to take that into account when begging her brother and parents to let her go to the wedding.

[dana]

Dana arched her eye-brows towards Adrian coldly, even if she was smiling at the same time deciding to respond to Lita first. “Ravenclaw is a good house. I was before pretty much the same choice when I went to Hogwarts, so I hope you will get into Ravenclaw, but we’ll see next September, won’t we? Seek me out one day if you get in Ravenclaw,” Dana replied with a fond smile to the younger girl, quite liking her personality with a mixture of spice and shyness in it. Someone to make note of, even at such young age Dana decided with a small smile before turning her eyes towards Adrian. “Ah, yes, brothers. I know exactly what you mean, Lita,” Dana replied as she reached out her hand and playfully, rather than actually woundingly slapping the top of Adrian’s head.

“Grandma? Now that translates badly, you little obnoxious pillock. You simply most understand that yourself are starting to turn from a rose-bud to a worn begonia if you carry on like that,” Dana responded with a slight smirk playing on her lips, feeling quite comfortable and relaxed in the Hollows company even as she took a step away only to return with a rose – lacking thorns though – that Dana stashed behind Adrian’s ear with a swift movement giving the boy a victorious grin: “Oh, don’t worry, I won’t tell Mackie-girl. But I’m not really to be blamed if I let it slip to Kris and he decides to offer her a chance to practice her aim with hexes, am I?”

Dana glanced towards Lita who seemed interest on Gaenor’s words and nodded lightly. “Kris has 9 horses in his stable. One is still just a foal, but he had 7 before and he bought a horse for Cleo in addition. So as long as you don’t ride on Cleo’s Firefly or Kris’s Winddancer, you are more than welcomed to go and take a tour with them as Gaenor already offered his escort to make sure no one would get lost around here,” Dana replied easily to Litana glancing calmly towards Sam and Charlie as well, “You are all more than welcomed to go for a ride if you want.”

[hollow]

"I'll be sure to seek you out," Lita promised. "But not too often since I'm sure you have better things to do than to look after a first year." All the same, Lita made a note to definitely seek out Dana. She was amusing and didn't act patronising, which most older people did. "Ms Dana, you wound me. You would strike a humble knight who only seeks to entertain and amuse his unadoring crowd in the hopes that they will soften their hearts and their glares." Adrian chuckled easily, ignoring his sister rolling her eyes with exaggerated disgust, and rubbed his head with a playful sniffle before raising his head to shoot a playful pout at Dana. She was entertaining, and friendly, enough that Adrian would overlook the slap as a friendly gesture.

Adrian smiled innocently, widening his eyes fractionally. "Translates badly? How could you ever even think that I would wish to insult you, Dana? Why, you're the new hostess and so have every right to throw me out. That would be simply disastrous! Even if my sister seems to thinks it funny," Adrian grinned and turned to Lita, ruffling her hair playfully and dodging the playful smack that she attempted to send his way. He knew that she'd wreak revenge on him later for messing up her hair - twice! - but it was still fun to see the look of utter outrage on her face. He tensed slightly as the rose touched his skin, fully expecting to feel the thorns pricking his skin, but relaxed as no pain shot through his system. " Oh no, Ms Dana I beg you. Don't let me become Ms Macks target practice. I'm sure that I wouldn't survive the experience."

Nine horses. Lita grinned in delight but glanced toward Gaenor unsurely. She didn't know him and she didn't even trust him the small amount that she had grown to trust Dana. Lita moved her hand to touch Adrians discreetly, conveying her concern with a quick glance. She could see the faint frown playing on her brothers face as he thought it over. Adrian smiled slightly and nodded his head gently to his sister, signalling that it was alright for her to go. He trusted Dana enough to trust her judgement about Gaenor. Besides, what was he going to do? Kidnap Lita and hold her to ransom during the party? "Excellent." Lita grinned easily, discarding her worry within seconds and smiling at Gaenor hopefully. "You'll come, won't you?" Adrian smirked playfully and added one last teasing remark before his sister disappeared, probably dragging Gaenor behind her. "Yes, go on. Be her knight in shining armour for a while." This time he wasn't quick enough to dodge the swift kick to his ankle from his irate sister.

((*shrugs* What can I say, you talking about knights in shining armour inspired me. And Gaenor as one made me laugh. Lord Gaenor, indeed. ))

[Samantha Driscoll]

Samantha wasn’t a Slytherin for nothing. True, she was redefining what that meant to her and was striving to break the stereotypical image people had of Slytherins and of her, but when she looked at Gaenor she used a skill she had long mastered and seemed to be the mark of a true Slytherin: her eyes betrayed none of her insecurities and her slow smile was confident and had a slight hint of playfulness. It was hard to do that; hard to do it when she didn’t feel like smiling inside, hard when she knew that Charles saw through it. She placed her hand on his shoulder and introduced him. She felt a rush of protectiveness run through her though she knew Charles was in no trouble, Dana wouldn’t allow it she was sure, but she just knew too well what older Slytherins were capable of saying and doing. “This is Charles,” she said. “I needed the time to catch up with studying,” she admitted to Gaenor. Well, admitting that hadn’t been so difficult. Usually she liked people to think her studies were the least of her worries and exams were a breeze for her.

Samantha listened to the others talk. “Ms Samantha is what my house-elves call me. If after knowing that you still want to do so, I most certainly won’t object,” said Samantha. She grinned down at the younger girl, who she perceived for some reason to be very different to Adrian. She didn’t imagine him being at all shy when he was just starting out at Hogwarts. She couldn’t think what she had been like then, it seemed like a day from another time. “You can call me Sam, though,” she said. She didn’t answer the question about horseback riding except with a slight shake of her head. She had never been allowed horses and for some reason had never been curious about them at all – even though she didn’t share her mother’s opinion that horseback riding was not for women. She also didn’t manage the stables they had back home, something she would have been sure to do before. She had never lost a chance before to wave their riches in everyone’s faces.