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

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

She smiled when he agreed to brunch the first Hogsmead weekend they had after this. She was rather sure that they didn't have once coming up until after their winter holiday, which was a long time away, but at least it meant that they had something planned for when they got back. She hated the thought that after the ball she and Gary might go to their separate houses and other than brief passing in the halls, never do anything together again.

She saw Gary look around at the other people for a moment, and she giggled whens he saw him looking in the direction of a couple dressed in giant frog suites. She couldn't help but giggle. "The frogs there are Dillion Moore and Jordon Cortes. Dillion is one of our beaters and Jordan is our keeper." She giggled again, thinking about the pair. They were perfect together, and they always had been.

She looked back at Gary just in time to catch the last bit of his comment, and she blushed, not knowing how else to respond. The song then winded down and stopped, and for a brief moment they stood, waiting for the next one. She was lost in her own thoughts for a moment, thinking about how amazing this evening was, and how wonderful her date was, when suddenly he kissed her cheek. She almost didn't realize what had happened until after when his forehead pressed against hers. She didn't know what to do or say, and while she felt like she could clothes her eyes, they grew wide, and the spot on her cheek where he had kissed her burned, and she knew her cheeks must be crimson. She couldn't move but wasn't sure if she could stand up all at the same moment, and her hands clutched his shoulders to keep herself form falling. He was saying something...some words she wasn't hearing. She caught something about Christmas and home maybe, but she wasn't quite sure. "What? Oh um...Christmas? Yeah...I'm going home...to Ireland...with my mum...."

[crane]

Gary laughed quietly throwing one more glance at he couple of royal frogs over his shoulder. “The costumes are very original most certainly. And they play their parts perfectly. Are they always so happy? It must make the quidditch practices rather interesting.” Gary smiled at Noko happily watching with a bit of waryness as her cheeks coloured crimson and she clutched his shoulders. Had he offended Noko in some way? That had most certainly not been Gary’s wish. Feeling just a bit helpless Gary half-raised his hand brushing Noko’s cheek a bit worriedly. But as the girl didn’t say anything about the kiss Gary let the topic go without commenting either.

“Ireland? I have heard that Ireland looks absolutely amazing with it’s green hills. I’m just sorry I won’’t be able to have an surprising run-in with you somewhere in London as I live in the suburbs of it. Do you have some special plans or traditions with your mother for Christmas? Or are you just going to enjoy yourself and do whatever might feel nice? Both ways have their bonuses I suppose. Or what do you think?” Gary smiled to Noko, still hoping against hope that she wasn’t mad at him for the slight brush of his lips over her cheek.

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

She had to giggle when he asked if they were always happy. They were more than just happy, but then they were almost more than just happy. She didn’t think she ever saw Dillion sad, or not enjoying himself. “Yes, they are always like that. Dillion especially thinks everything is very fun. It’s probably a good thing there is only one of him though, I don’t think I could keep two of them inline for a practice.” She giggled again and looked back at Gary. It wasn’t long after that he touched her cheek and tipped her head so she leaned into it before she even realized what she was doing. After a moment her cheeks flushed again, and she looked over at Gary. She wondered what he was thinking. She thought he was probably thinking how silly she was, hardly being able to think after he kissed her cheek and now her face was all red again, but somehow, she couldn’t help it.

She smiled and nodded at his comment about Ireland. “Yeah, its really beautiful…you should see it sometime.” She bit her lip when he said that he lived right outside London, it was very far from Killeen, the town that she lived in. “Um…well, normally its just my mum and I, but my Dads actually going to come for Christmas this year, so things are going to be really different.” She wanted to tell him all the strange things she and her mum did, but she somehow couldn’t get them to sound right in her head. Normally she and her mum got up at midnight exactly to rush to the tree and rip open their presents while still in their PJs, and then spent most of the wee hours of the morning cooking before they changed into fancy dresses, and her grandmum and pop came over and they had a huge meal together. “But um…what about you? What do you do for Christmas?”

[crane]

“In line? I’m sure you can handle everything in your way and make everyone behave. Perhaps you could even succeed in teaching Crabbe and Goyle to read? Now that would be equal achievement to one of the world wonders.” Gary smiled widely at Noko gladly she didn’t seem upset anymore. She had turned her head and leaned into his touch on her cheek just a moment ago. Perhaps this meant that she wasn’t overly angry at Gary for kissing her cheek previously. Perhaps he should ask his mom later on about it. Mom was a girl too so perhaps she could decide more accurately whether or not Nokomis was upset with him.

“Sounds like fun. I’m sure your father adores you. How could anyone not this darling Lady in Green?” Nokomis asked about his own Christmas later on and Gary chuckled lightly thinking back at home. “Christmas is usually a rather messy deal. It starts in the morning when we all go to take some food out for the birds first thing in the morning and after that we come home and mom makes pancakes. The whole day is spent together laughing and playing board-games or doing anything imaginable. Whatever sounds good I suppose and then after dinner we open presents. It usually ends up so that the whole living-room and kitchen – they are built together, with a stand between them – is littered with wrapping-paper and ribbons. It’s fun. Time for family and doing whatever we feel might be fun. WE will all be decorating the Christmas Tree together when I get back too. That’s always fun. Christmas is one of my favourite holidays really.”

Gary smiled at Nokomis twirling her around in air for a moment after taking hold of her waist as he winked at her, feeling rather cheerful. "We were all invited to Meyghan's house for the New Years however. Meyghan is an older Ravenclaw if you know her by a chance. I think his father and my mother are somewhat interested in each other. I like the guy, it just a bit weird for me to see my mother acting as a girl, you know. What about you? Do you have any plans? Or would you want to come along as well? I'm sure my sisters would be dying to meet you."

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

She laughed when he said that she may even be able to teach Crabbe and Goyle, who she knew from quidditch. They were Slytherins, and rather scary ones at that. They were the ones that always did the dirty work, so it suited them to play beaters. It was also known that they weren’t exactly the smarter students at Hogwarts. “I’m not sure anyone can teach those two to read.” She giggled again, thinking for a moment that she would be the last person to be a good teacher when it came to books and knowledge. She managed to go alright in her lessons, but she wasn’t one of the smart kids. She was good at quidditch, and just worked to not fall too far behind in the rest of life.

She smiled when he told her that he was sure that her father adored her. It was complicated because she didn’t know her at all before she started at Hogwarts, but at least she knew him now, and they were slowly getting closer. She smiled again when he told her what his Christmas was like. “That sounds so great. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays too.” She laughed when he twirled her around again, and giggled when she stopped and put one of her hands on his arm to balance herself. He stayed talking about New Years, and when he asked if she had plans and asked if she wanted to come her eyes grew wide again, despite how much she wished they would stop doing that. “New Years….with you? Well um…I mean I don’t have plans…and I don’t know…I mean I would have to ask my mum, I don’t really do anything for New Years….” She knew that she was making no sense, it was almost as if she could hear herself talking but she had no control over what she was saying. Finally she stopped herself. She stopped dancing she stopped talking, she stopped everything, and let her head fall forward again to Gary’s shoulder. She closed her eyes and took a breath, trying to make her mind function at least somewhat clearly. “If my mum says its okay, I would really like to come along.”

[crane]

Gary smiled down at Nokomis as she laughed as he twirled her. She really was an amazing girl. Smart, funny, sweet, kind, graceful and simply indescribable. Gary suddenly found himself silently wondering how he had became as lucky as to get Nokomis to agree to come with her to the ball. Thinking back at their first meeting when he had asked Nokomis out on a sudden impulse and how she had dropped her books Gary laughed quietly. Hugging Nokomis closer Gary smiled on top of her head resting on his shoulder while he spoke quietly into her ear, not wanting to break the moment.
“I’m glad you wouldn’t mind coming. I’ll owl you… or phone you or somehow I’ll find contact with you and let you know more precisely about the party. I just hope your mother allows you to come. I’d love to spend the evening with you.”

Gary smiled again as they swayed on the dance-floor in time to the music: “I was just thinking about our first meeting. And if I hadn’t been almost late to Divination in which I’m simply completely helpless actually and sit next to this charming girl, I wouldn’t have a date tonight. Perhaps I would have even been unfortunate enough to miss out meeting one of the nicest and most charming person I have ever known. I really don’t know how to thank you or Lady Luck enough for this chance to be able to get to know you a bit.”

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

She laughed as she twirled around, and once she finally stopped spinning she couldn't stop for a few more moments. She couldn't hold back her smile when he started whispering to her, and she bit her lip to make herself stay quiet. She just wanted him to stay just like that, so close he had to whisper. They kept dancing, more slowly, step by step, and his arms were hugging her close. It was perfect. He was perfect. Everything was perfect.

She smiled when he talked about New Years again. "I'm sure my mum will let me go if I asked." Still smiling she rested her cheek against his shoulder, thankfully the song had switch to a slow one, which seemed to make it just happy. "I'm the one who should be saying thank you. Tonight is just...wonderful....and you have been so wonderful." She bit her lip again for a moment, and stood up straight again so that she looked at him. She swallowed hard, and then leaned forward, placing a sweet kiss on his cheek just as he had done to her earlier that night.

[crane]

“Well, I tried to make a fairy feel at home in the midst of angels.” Gary pulled his head back slightly as he playfully pouted a little at Noko. He really had tried to make her feel good and happy and try to make sure she didn’t regret coming with Gary instead of her friends. As Noko offered thanks that wasn’t really needed Gary simply smiled at her. Appearantly he had at least somewhat succeeded in his mission. Noko didn’t seem to be regretting the way they had spent most of the night dancing away. Gary’s eyes were lit with happiness as his mouth spread into a wide smile over his face as he couldn’t completely even believe that Noko had actually kissed his cheek. How could he be so lucky? How could a fairy not mind the company of a simple boy like he was? Placing a hand on his cheek for a moment as if to make sure the kiss would stay there Gary grinned brightly at Nokomis.

“See? Now I could even go flying without a broom or without wings. Just reach out over the fence to pick up some stars for the nicest fairy around and go for a walk on the Milky Way.” Gary smiled at Nokomis tenderly giving her a big hug. Glancing up at the Great Halls ceiling Gary smiled a the twinkling stars that looked back at him from there. “Hey, Noko look! It’s a shooting star! Make a wish!” Gary let Nokomis pull back a little as he pointed out the line the shooting star drew onto sky and therefore also onto the ceiling while smiling. Gary watched the comet for a few moments before smiling at Nokomis holding his arm around her slender waist while he observed her.

[Ivy Tunstall]

Biting her lower lip in concentration, Ivy performed a simple charm with her wand to move her hair. It shot up, round... far too fast for her to do anything with it. Whoops. She'd overshot the mark a little there. She gave a small sigh and then tried again. This time the results were satisfactory; her hair curling round at the side, finishing high up where the sides met in the middle, cascading down from a high position. She used another charm to hold it there, and then searched around the pile of hairclips, necklaces, bracelets and bobbles everyone had deposited on Lacey's bed to share in order to find something that would hold it up more permanently. She quickly picked out a butterfly clip, large enough to hold all the hair she needed it to keep in place, light and dark green fake jewel things making it sparkle in the firelight of the small dormitory hearth. That in place, she was ready to go.

Having decided to go as a wood elf, dressed in a tan skirt that went just past knee level and a khaki green T-shirt with a nice cut which she'd charmed some trails of autumn leaves to, Ivy hadn't thought too much over making her appearance special. She'd been more excited about the fact that Nokomis had a date. Everyone had, she thought. They'd got quite carried away with making her look nice for this dashing Ravenclaw chap. She'd looked wonderful, too. Ivy hoped she'd be already enjoying her evening; and that the Ravenclaw had made just as much effort to be in character as Noko had. Ivy was going with a friend, Charles Driscoll. She'd been glad to accept - Charles was a friend she could feel comfortable with without needing to worry at all. And since Noko had a date, it would be great to have some good company so that her friend could have her own space.

It didn't take her too long to get down to the Great Hall - she'd decided very firmly against wearing high heels of any kind, especially since she was already fairly tall, and so was able to make rather quick progress - and after the initial crush at the doors which try as they might (the space stretched by magic as far and further than the structure of the castle would allow) were still a bottleneck for all of the students wanting to get into the Ball at the same time, she was into the festively decorated space, faced with lots of food, a dancing floor, and a live band. It took Ivy a little while to find Charles - there were an awful lot of people there not thinking about the other people about them but merely about themselves and Ivy could feel herself getting flustered and slightly spacially challenged as she often did when trying to get through a busy corridor where no one seemed to be watching where they were going. Finally, however, she spotted him, and giving him a wave and a smile in case he went off somewhere trying to find her, she made her way over - doing her very best not to trip over any of the food tables as she did so. "Charles," she said happily in greeting as she reached him, thinking that he looked a lot more like the Charles she knew - excited with nice little things - than the one she'd talked to not so long ago. "I'm glad I didn't come as a mermaid," she commented, having decided what he'd come as quickly. "Ash did but I'd rather not force you onto the rocks or wherever." Ivy gave him another smile, feeling happy that she had a chance to have some fun for once.

[Nokomis Astarra H5]

She couldn't believe she actually did it. She kissed him, well his cheek, but still it was a kiss. He had of course kissed her first, well her cheek first, but she did it too. Just the thought made her blush, and for a moment she wondered if it was okay. What if it was some sort of mistake when he kissed her cheek and he didn't want her to kiss his back, but now she did it and there was no turning back. She bit his lip and watched for some sort of reaction, and thing that made sense. He smiled widely and touched his cheek, and she could;'t help but smile back. That had to be a good sign.

He moved after a moment and looked up at the ceiling, which was scattered with stars, and she stood, now beside him, resting one of her arms on his shoulder and leaning her head against it. It was odd, she didn't really mean to stand that way, just somehow, she ended up doing it. It just felt so perfect. As she looked up and watched the shooting start that he pointed to, she bit her lip and tried to think of something to wish for. She couldn't think of anything--everything was too perfect to think of anything else that she could want. "I um...Well... I guess...I wish that Hufflepuff would win the House Cup."

[crane]

Gary smiled as he closed his eyes making a silent wish before reopening his eyes again and following the shooting star with a quiet smile. The small movement came so naturally to him as Gary leaned his cheek slightly against Noko’s head. The small shift had been so logical and such a natural reaction that Gary didn’t even notice what he was doing until a few moments later when the comet had practically left the sky. Feeling a light blush rising to his cheeks Gary hoped Noko hadn’t minded the small gesture as he raised his head again.

“Your wish is closest to coming true right now if you look at the house points.” Gary said with a small smile as he tapped Noko’s nose for a moment. “I’m sure you are an irreplaceable asset to Hufflepuff earning points. But I’m not telling you my wish. Maybe it’s just a silly prejudice but I don’t want to risk my wish not coming true.” Gary smiled and lowered his face a little to whisper into Noko’s ear. “But maybe I will tell you my wish one day when it has came true.” Smiling at Noko Garypulled her back into dancing position wrapping his arms around Noko’s waist as they started swaying to the music once again.

[Charles Driscoll H7]

Where was she? A call from behind him answered that. It seemed as if everything had faded or came to a stop for a few moments as Ivy made her way to him and Charles stared at her costume and face and hair, taking everything in. Ivy hadn’t used much make-up, in fact Charles thought she might have used none at all though he knew there were all sorts of enchantments and charms these days that looked very natural. He was blown away by her costume. It was not fancy, and you could tell that many people had probably spent much more time in preparation for the ball, but it was original and Charles liked the way she'd done everything. He wished very much that he had a camera with him so he could have captured that moment when he first saw her, but with a small smile of satisfaction he realised that it would reside in his memory for a very long time anyway. The light from the candles in the hall made Ivy's her hair shine as much as the jewels she had in her hair, and Charles felt a very strange feeling in his chest when their eyes met and she came to him. The minute she arrived he took her hand in his and he found that he couldn’t stop smiling.

"I'm sure you’d have looked very pretty if you had," he said, "but I much prefer this costume Ivy, and not only because I'm here as a sailor. It's just – it's everything I - " he wanted to say "like about you" but he didn’t want to make her feel uncomfortable. "What I mean to say is, it's different than most and I like its originality," he said finally. Ivy looked relaxed and Charles was happy about that for he was feeling the same way. People had made such a fuss about the ball, but Charles thought to himself that he hadn’t made much of a fuss and that he was probably going to have as much if not more fun than everyone here. He felt that fate was going to favour him today. "You know I'd like some time with just you before we find Nokomis and that guy she's coming with," he said, having to talk right into her ear because of the crowd. He led her to the dance floor, having to stop for a few moments while some rather broad shouldered muscular seventh year Slytherin led an equally large female in the same direction and blocked the way of the two small fourth years. "Who's this bloke Nokomis' coming with anyway?" he asked. He was still smiling. It'd been so long since he'd looked forward to something.

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy smiled back at Charles as he took her hand, mostly undisturbed by a small unexplained flutter in her chest which passed within a moment as she met his eyes, hers filled with an intensity of sudden happiness where usually the expression was temperate and mild. He was replying to her comment about not having come as a mermaid, and she looked at him curiously as she waited for him to finish his sentence. She smiled as he offered another one which was frank but yet friendly at the same time, as she'd expect of Charles. She surveyed her costume momentarily. Truth be told, she hadn't thought much about how it worked together; she'd decided what colours would go, got everything neat and then set off for the Ball. Yes, she thought now with a good deal of amusement as she glanced at the dazzling and funny costumes other girls older and younger had on around her. She supposed it was different that most. Ivy didn't say anything - she knew it wasn't what Charles had meant and she didn't mind being different... she was who she was - but she gave him a smile which contained a glimmer of rare mischief, and squeezed his hand almost imperceptibly since he had taken hold of hers.

"I'd like that too," she replied to his suggesting they spend some time just with each other, raising her voice a little so that he could hear her. Everyone else was very noisy. She was probably just adding to the din; Charles' solution had been much better. But they were going to have some fun, she was sure. Charles always made her smile at other times anyway. She wasn't sure whether he contrived to or was just extremely talented at making other people feel happier, but there were times last year when she'd been glad he'd brought a small laugh out of her. Ivy followed his lead, not bothering to wonder where they were going but instead regarding him thoughtfully. For him making her feel unhappy about things 'at home' couldn't be an issue, because he still didn't know much about it. He knew about... Samantha. But not so much eles. Not so much home life. School was a better place to focus on, anyway. School, and general interests. Happier things. Still, she did wonder what would happen if she did tell him at some point for some reason. Would he still be able to cheer her up so carelessly?

Ivy's thoughts were interrupted by Charles talking, and that reminded her that now was not the time or place to be thinking about anything even near bordering on gloomy. She was going to have fun! Charles would always be Charles - there were just parts of him she didn't know so well. Like that part which had looked so angry at her the other day. Ivy smiled at Charles quietly. The less she saw of that, the better. She valued him as a friend. She gave the seventh year Slytherin students of gargantuan proportions a cautious glance, biting her lip in thought as she tried to remember the exact name of the fellow Noko was off with at this very moment. "Um... well it's Gary." she said, perfectly sure of this first detail, if nothing else. "Gary... Cray... Crate... no - that's worse than if he were a crayfish."

Ivy looked at Charles apologetically - really she wasn't up to it if she was talking that kind of nonsense. "Um... Cray... Cray... no, I'm sorry." she said, laughing out loud at her own hopelessness and still grinning even though she contained herself soon enough. "Well, it's something like that sound, anyway," she explained, "but I can't remember precisely. It's Gary, anyhow. Ravenclaw chap." Ivy smiled happily at Charles, not embarassed by her poor performance. It hardly mattered. She looked with more dramatised apprehension at the dance floor, and then back to Charles with a genuine questioning look in her eyes.

((Okay, I'm trying, I'm trying. I'm sorry I haven't done much to move the post on, but I'm afraid I'm leaving it up to you because it was late when I was writing this and it's the best I can do. Oh - and Ivy and Charles are fourth years. Not third years. *huggle*))

[Charles Driscoll H7]

Did she give his hand a little squeeze when he held hers? He must have imagined it he decided but he couldn’t quite explain why he'd felt so elated in the moment when he thought she'd done that. But he certainly hadn’t imagined the mischievous smile that lit up her face and it certainly filled him with an equal joy to think he was the reason behind it. It was so different from that usual reserved look in her eyes - and certainly when she was with Nokomis or with him he felt she wasn't as shy as she usually was – but Charles had found himself wondering about her more often these days and if there were other secrets he didn’t know about other than the unfortunate incident with Samantha. To Charles, one of the most terrible blows life had dealt him was that his own sister should be the one to hurt his close friend in that way - but it had also finally made him fully comprehend just how far down the road of evil Samantha had been, and in a way it made him justify why she had gone to Azkaban, though he still put most of the blame on his parents.

"We're bound to meet him anyway, aren’t we? We need to get to know him if Nokomis is keen on him. You’re not one to let people get away with hurting your friends, are you?" said Charles with a mischievous look in his eyes, remembering what had happened last year between Kiyla and Payton. He'd been surprised by Ivy's strong reaction, but proud of her as well. You often met a person who you liked very much at first and then got closer too and found out you didn’t like very much, but it seemed to be the complete opposite with Ivy. The more he knew about her and got closer her to he realised how much he admired her. There was nothing Charles valued in his life more than the support of friends.

There was finally a space for them to dance. Charles wasn't able to recognise the music they were going to dance to and looked at Ivy to see if she did and smiled in amusement at the look in her eyes. "I'm not a great dancer Ivy," he said standing in front of her and slowly beginning to sway. "I mean I do know a few basic steps," he said, and slowly twirled Ivy so her back was against his chest, "and I'm not tone-deaf," he said, slowly twirling her again so she was back in her original position. "And I know you certainly aren’t as well," he said, careful not to tread on her toes as he continued to dance with her. It was strange how he felt he just couldn’t be worried about anything today when just a few hours before the dance he hadn't been feeling very enthusiastic about the evening.

((Edited. And I hope it’s OK that Charles knew about the Ivy/Payton thing, it just seemed to add more substance to the post.))

[Ivy Tunstall]

Ivy smiled and nodded at Charles' comment on the Ravenclaw. It was true; they would be meeting him. And it hopefully wouldn't matter that she didn't know his name... he'd have to introduce himself after all. He didn't know that Nokomis had spent a good deal of time thinking about the upcoming Ball like Ivy had been able to notice. She didn't look like that when she was thinking about Quidditch or homework, after all. But no, as far as the Ravenclaw would know he would be a stranger to her. He was, too - she couldn't remember his name - but a stranger she had thought about before meeting. Ivy tended to share some of the emotions of her close friends - if they were sad, she was sad; if they were apprehensive but excited she was too. "Yup, we'll meet him," she confirmed to Charles, although they both of them knew that already. It was more to cover for her moment of contemplation, thoughts going unsaid because Charles would surely be able to understand their direction.

It had happened so quickly as a result of his last sentence that Ivy had barely time to register it, not time to control it. It was a spontaneous reaction; she flashed him a look that lasted only a split-second, half amusement and acknowledgement that she knew what he was talking about, half embarrassment and reprehension. She blushed slightly at having done so; her 'looks' were not things that had happened very often for a while. Usually only with family... that explained the rarity... although she had on occasion ended up making a teacher apologise for something merely through what her eyes were communicating. It probably was just an indicator of the fact she felt relaxed at the moment with Charlie that a part of her usually well underneath the surface had let slip. But Payton... she cast her mind back to this time last year, and then to a Saturday not so long ago. He had helped her realise some important things then, even though he might well not know himself he had.
"Mmm," she said, still in the process of thinking. "No, I'm not, but Gary sounds like a nice guy and I'm sure it'll be fine..." Ivy glanced anxiously at Charles for a moment. She'd hardly said much about Payton at the time, but she supposed it wasn't impossible that he might have picked up on it somehow. "But Payton... he shouldn't've... he should have... well, known better. I would have thought he would. Have known better. I don't know."

Ivy smiled at Charles as they moved onto the dance floor, knowing she made little sense. If Payton could understand how angry, upset and lost she'd been feeling not long ago, how could he have been so insensitive towards Kiyla, who he must have kiled much better than her? Ivy couldn't comprehend it, really she couldn't. But tonight was a night they were going to have fun on, and there was no need to be comtemplating been-and-gones. She allowed Charles to twirl her for a while, remaining fairly passive as she listened to what he was saying. Slow dancing was not a skill she possessed. She could actually dance quite well as far as Latin dancing was concerned, though she felt a bit shy about showing that. It was a long time since she'd danced at all. She couldn't actually see her feet when she looked down but she soon found herself taking to it and gathered enough confidence to be able to think about other things a little too. Ivy gradually allowed herself to relax again and smiled brightly at Charles as a result of what he'd just said. She took a firmer grip on his hand and twirled herself round fully a couple of times in quick succession, not wanting to change the style of dancing Charles had decided upon but preferring to be slightly more energetic. She used a couple of half turns in time with the music and then left it back to Charlie again, smiling again at him once she was facing him.

"Improvisation is as much as I can manage," she admitted. There were some types of dancing she could do; other than that she lacked knowledge entirely. This was pretty much one of them. But she did always try to have a go. "Do you know who the band are?" she asked, looking over to where they were playing on a raised platform on the other side of the dance floor, their music amplified magically to the rest of the room. "I'm not very good with wizard bands; The music of one world is generally enough to follow for me." Ivy always enjoyed listening to songs and music she knew well already; the anticipation made her appreciate it more. But that meant that the songs she often knew well were older. Was Charles like that too? Was it just natural, or her being boring? Ivy didn't much care; she was focusing on the moment and the dancing, absorbed so that there were no worries but just getting her feet in the right place and in time to the music, whatever it was. And that was a good thing. Ivy smiled at Charles again as that song ended and a number of seconds passed before the music struck up again.

((Okies, I'm having trouble moving the post forward here, I'm afraid so I've just done the best I can. Sorry It's okay that he knew, sure. *huggle* And I hope it's okay that she thought of him as Charlie a couple of times or so... I'm not entirely sure what he's supposed to be called now. ))

((NB: If anyone's wondering why this has popped up here, it's because we rather overran from the Halloween Ball and this is here so we can carry on. That doesn't mean balls happen in the Great Hall all the time!))

[Charles Driscoll H7]

For a moment he saw something he was sure he’d never seen before and he felt a rush of feelings inside him the most overwhelming being a triumphant happiness. They’d shared a moment in which a glance had been exchanged that had created a new bond between them when she let her guard down about something they’d never discussed before, and didn’t discuss now, but the conversation was unneeded, as he and she had both communicated and understood what the other had to say. Charles had never had that with anyone before as his history was so different than most people, and he’d always had trouble discussing and relaying his feelings about anything relating to his family, and it was really quite something to know that a glance could say so much. They moved onto another topic, the word improvisation brining a certain type of music to mind.

"I'd never listened to music from either world really till I came to Hogwarts and then it was mostly in the holidays – behind my parents back though. There was hardly ever any music at our house that I can remember and I never went to the balls they went to or the restaurants or any of those other places where I might have heard anything – and when I did go I was always focused on the feeling that they were making me doing something against my will, forcing it down my throat,” he said, not bitterly, for there was no room for bitterness right now. “Improvisation reminds me of something. I once listened to a – what’s the word – oh yes – jazzy piece of music – The Entertainer – loved that I must say. I think I like that kind of music – and when I read a little about the subject, and how it was so different from anything before it, breaking most of the rules people tended to stick to before that, that - that, well, let’s say it struck a chord inside me,” he said. “Then I tried listening to all sorts of different things, difficult as it was to find the chance sometimes, and I discovered a treasure I had never known, small things like nursery rhymes and lullabies and yet they were wonderful – I understand why there is a thing like musical therapy - and like you once told me – music has a power of its own,” he said, smiling as he remembered. “Some people just don’t give themselves a chance,” he continued.

“As for music in the magical world, I just know whatever’s popular – don’t like must of the stuff that’s out nowadays though. They seem to forget the real purpose behind the music, concentrate too much on what’s going to sell, and forget sometimes that art should be for the sake of it and nothing else. At least that’s my opinion. A lot of people talk about progress and new trends and yet they’re too afraid to really do that, try something new I mean, and prefer the safety of whatever they’ve tried before,” he said. “Have you ever done something you thought you could never do?” he asked her, asking the question as soon as the thought wandered into his head. He was feeling very much at peace with the world.

((Charles is Charlie to anyone who knows him. He'd be quite shocked if he found out Ivy thought of him as anything else.))