Valentine Day's party! (Plot people and everyone!)

[Cassandra Blackfire G7]

Cass turned around and attempted to flip his bangs up playfully. " Yes, mingling, or are you going to continue to be an antisocial Slytherin? I'm telling you, you picked the wrong girl to hang out with. I'm a social butterfly."

She continued pulling him over to the punch table where she saw Karissa. " How are you this evening. You've probably already guessed this is." She blushed underneath her mask.

[Chelle]

Kari smiled, seeing a small flush of pink peeking out from underneath Cass's mask. She courtsied in her medieval-ish dress.

"My name's Kari, and I'm guessing that you are Cass and Pyro." Kari looked at Pyro. He seemed nice, but he seemed as if he didn't want to be mingling at the party. "When I came here I thought there would be games. I've sung twice already, and other than that there isn't much to do. If James were here, well..." Kari drifted off into a kind of daze, remembering the last time she had seen her boyfriend.

[ChellaBelle]

James walked into the ballroom, gasping as his outfit changed into a white silk shirt and black pants. He listened to the music playing as he picked up a Zorro mask and tied it around his face. He headed around to the edge of the ballroom, where the snacks were. He spotted a girl in a princess-y red velvet ball gown.

"May I have this dance?" he bowed in front of the girl. She seemed slightly familiar, as if he had met her before. Her black mask made her look like a cat, with pointy black velvet ears. He straightened up and looked her in the eye. Crimson red hair, and green eyes much like his own.

James held out his arm for her to take, hoping he'd accept.

[Chelle]

Kari turned toward the strangely familiar guy standing in front of her.

"Of course," she said, taking his arm as he led her onto the dance floor.

"For some reason I think I've met you before," Kari said, as the boy twirled her around the dance floor.

[Copenhagen]

Justin winked at D.J., then said " DO'nt worry, I ca'nt dance either, but I'm learning every time I try." He grabbed her hand and led her to the dance floor, then said " Well, slow dance, or fast pacd dance?" He did'nt care which she would rather do, but he was better at slow dances. Looking around he sw some other people dancing to, but the actually knew what they were doing.

[DJMichaels]

D.J. laughed, but the laughter lowered to a small smile, "Would you hate me if I said slow dance?" She asked with a slight grin. Before he could answer however, she put her arms around his neck; listening to the music around her, "This really is the only type of dance I do, unless you count ballet for opera's and such, but I don't." D.J. said with a small smile, as she looked at Justin. She was having a good time, better than she thought she would have.

[versnowa]

Robin felt the quickening in Maria's breath and he wondered what could possibly be wrong. He listened to the sadness in her voice, biting his lip and wishing he had never asked the question. But how was he supposed to know about the wrongs her family had done to her or about her mother's tragic accident? His hand went to her hair and he stroked it softly, and he hugged her to him and patted her back, trying to soothe her. "So many things happen in life that we can never find an explanation for," he said quietly, in the tone he might use when talking to a child. "But you have to try and put that behind you Maria. You might not have your mother or your father anymore, but you have your friends, and all of them – us – are here for you and would do anything for you. You also have a whole future in front of you, and a hardworking person like you should just keep looking forward and never look back. Life's like that – it closes a door, but leaves a window open," he said.

He let Maria continue, wanting to take her to a table as he felt they should talk now and forget about dancing, but thought he would let her get it all off her chest first. "You should look at your sister and be grateful that that is not how you turned out Maria. You didn’t let the sadness in your life make you do the horrible things she has done and waste your life – you have continued on your way and have a bright future waiting for you out there. You're right, I am lucky, and I don’t know what I might have done had I led the life you did, because I don’t know if I have the courage or the motivation you obviously have. You’re a strong person Maria, always remember that," he said, thinking of his own family fondly and wondering what his life might have been like without them. "Let's go sit down, maybe have something to drink," he suggested, moving back to look at Maria's face and smiling.

[Mia]

Maria looked up at Robin as he tried to calm her down. He was saying such wise words, and she wondered where it came from. It would sound so lovely in a poem, and it would be a change from the sad and depressing poems that were normally written by her. Taking a deep breath Maria smiled and felt slightly better. Robin was right she had caring friends and was happy to make a friend such as him on this night. When Robin said that she had so much strength in her she seemed to blush. It was the kindest thing she ever heard in her life, epically from a boy she just met. "Thank you. You don't know how much of what you said means to me. You are a great and loyal friend. I appreciate people like you." she said with a faint smiled and sighed with relief as he asked to take a seat. Maria really wanted to talk to him more and get to know this one person who she never met before. Robin and Maria had been to Hogwarts for seven years now and this was her first time meting him. But Hogwarts was a large place, but still she never really noticed him.

Taking Robin's hand she led him through the crowds of dancing people. Making her way to a table she collected two cups of pumpkin juice and handed the second one to Robin with a smile, "Here you go." she said taking a seat in one of the tables provided. Taking a sip of the juice, Maria enjoyed the sweet substance that soothed her throat. Setting down the cup she looked at Robin who had taken a seat. "Now this night is not supposed to be about me, but the both of us. So tell me more about yourself. Like fears, strengths, past, desires, anything along those lines." Maria said smiling and opening her mouth again, "Also please call me Mia. Maria is okay but I like my friends to call me by my nick name."

[versnowa]

Robin sighed inwardly in relief as they took their seats and Maria got them some juice. The few awkward moments had passed. quot;Sure, Mia it is," he said, smiling at her. She asked him about himself, and though it was not a topic he was particularly keen on discussing he seized at the chance to keep their mood light and friendly. "Well, let's see… fears. I'm not really scared of anything, and I'm really good at pushing away any of my problems and worrying about them until I absolutely have to. Not exactly something I'm proud of, and I'm trying to work on it, but still at times I don’t face my problems immediately though now at least I realise it just complicates them. It's just my way of dealing with stress, though now I'm trying to differentiate between what it is important to worry about and what I just can’t change and should learn to live with. It's not easy for me to always know the difference. Another weakness I have is procrastinating; I always used to do that with my work, until our fifth year. That is the only time I remember working myself real hard and keeping my nose to the grindstone. That's one of the reasons I didn’t do too well last year. I needed a break after the OWLs, and the summer wasn't enough for me. This year I wish I hadn’t done that because I have to work twice as hard. I'm constantly asking sixth and seventh years about stuff we did last year so I can catch up," he said with an exasperated gesture. "So, what about you? What would your boggart transform into?" he said.

[Mia]

Maria rested her elbow on the table and pressed her check in her palm while listening to Robin. He had no fears and seemed to be a pretty good guy. A lot of people do procrastinate, and was a common thing in human nature. But the habit was not good, and nothing really benefited from the choice. "Well if you ever need and help you can just ask me. But don’t sweat it. Procasting is a common trait in people. And it's a good thing you stopped yourself." Maria said with a smile to make her new friend a little cheerier.

After Robin had finished he asked about herself more. Taking a deep breath she thought about the question over. "Well I have to say strength for me would be writing poetry. I guess you can me a poetic geek. But it’s just a way I can express myself through words. Everyone in life has a talent, and mines with words. What about you? What might be your special talent than playing Quidditch and Defense skills?" Maria asked, and than took a sip of her juice, and finished off with, "Okay now enough about the good stuff about me. One thing I am not really found of being too sweet. I can never lie or just try to say no, and when I do I feel quite guilty. I don’t know why but it’s just me. Strange huh?" Maria said with a grin and looked off into the crowds.

Many masked people were dancing to the fast and up beat song, the singers were singing. Others were just simply hanging around and talking. Smiling at the sight she turned back to Robin as he asked about a boggart. "Hmm.......I only faced one boggart in my fourth year. I guess I am just a little too scared of what might appear." Maria said turning slightly red. She did have quite a few fears and some could be quite weird. "One time I saw this scary movie called scream. It’s not really that old but it scared the wits out of me. But there’s this man who dresses up in a mask and dark robes and he calls his victim, it can be a girl or a boy. Well after he does she jumps through a window and slits their throat and tires there body on a tree so the parents can see." Maria said trying to explain the movie as cold shivers went up her back. She knew it was a fictional movie but it just scared her a little now. Maria than continued on after a little moments of silence, "The boggart than turned into the killer, and I freaked out. Ha yeah but now I know he is only a fictional character but still really scares me." Maria said looking the other way as she talked. She never really liked to admit her fears. Some where just plain crazy and weird. Turning back towards Robin she smiled, "What would your boggart turn into Mr. Versnowa? And also have you ever wondered what it would turn into if a person was afraid of death? I never really thought of that before....." She said with a questioning look.

[Copenhagen]

Justin listened to D.J. then suddenly, she put her arms around him. He felt himself blush, then he said " Well of course I do'nt mind this, in fact I like it this way." He started to dance, and as they danced, he said " Well this is fun, hope I do'nt screw up." He looked around at everybody, grinning, he was having fun, and for the first time in a while, not thinking about his parents. He really wished something else would happen, but maybe it would happen in a few moments.

[DJMichaels]

"So, Mr. Lionheart, tell me about yourself. That is. If you want to. I know some people don't like talking about their family or things like that." D.J. spoke with a sweet smile and she tilted her head slightly to the right, her eyes not leaving Justin's. She was starting to really like this guy, and this scared her more than imaginable. All the guys she flirted with, all of them she teased, she ended up liking this one. Of all the guys who she knew, who she grew up around, he was the one she liked. It wasn't a feeling D.J. was expecting, and she somehow held it under incredible control.

[Copenhagen]

Justin, lost in thought, was shaken out of it by D.J. Smiling, he decided to talk about his family. As he gathered his thoughts, he tried to catch D.J. off guard and spun her. He then said " Well, first off there's my dad. He's an okay guy, but sometimes he can be a blowhard. He's an auror, and when he went here, he was quidditch captain and seeker. Next is my mom, she's also an auror, but she's more of a laid back person." Then he thought of his brother and ginned, he then said, " Last, but deffinaely not least, is my brother. He is the seeker for a semi-pro quidditch team, he's also like my best friend. How 'bout you, what's your family like?"

[DJMichaels]

D.J. smiled as Justin spun her but, as he asked her about her family, her smile faded. D.J.'s family? Should she tell him? After all what had she to hide? D.J. took a deep breath, "Well, I was born into a wealthy pure-blooded family. My mother is a-well-a hated woman of all societies. She is more Slytherin than she is Gryffindor. My father is the same only, he can be kind. He doesn't judge on blood as my mother does though. I have a 6 year old sister named Lorelai, and she's practically my world. I try to keep her from the horrible life of the Michaels. I was classically trained in Opera singing since I could sing. And it's just grown worse from there." D.J. answered in a small voice, one she rarely used. She was one of those people who never really talked about her family. Never, "Either way, Cinderella ended up at the ball though, right?" She added with a small smile.

[versnowa]

"Thanks Mia. I might just take you up on that offer; I need really good grades if I want to get into training. Poetry? Wow, you must show me some of what you've written Mia. Well, other than Quidditch and Defence I also play the guitar. I like playing muggle music as well as magical," said Robin. Robin was a fan of many kinds of music, but his favourite type of music was jazz. He liked the way the strange combination of notes managed to produce a melody that was actually nice to listen or dance to. He smiled a little and looked Maria in the eye. "You should see what my brother and sister and I get up to sometimes. You see my brother plays the drums and my sister plays the trumpet, and when we feel like letting go we can produce a real racket. Fun for us but a real headache for my parents. We blame it on artistic temperament, but still don’t get away with it," he said. Robin was a real 'big brother' type of person and he was very protective of his family or friends. "That's not strange Mia. I've had enough of people who lie themselves blue in the face and don’t feel any kind of guilt. There's nothing wrong with being honest and straightforward, you just have to get used to the fact that not everybody's like you and take care," said Robin with a shrug.

Robin listened to Maria describe her boggart. It was very interesting to learn of people's deepest fears and the reasons behind why they feared what they did so much. Creatures like boggarts tested your courage, they taught you how to confront your fear and try and get rid of it. Professor Lupin had always chosen such challenging creatures to bring to class – they really learned something in his classes and that was Robin had both respected and like him immensely. "You know Mia; I'm not sure what it would be. Back when we were in our fourth year, first time I saw a boggart, I used to see a huge fire because when I was 9 our house caught on fire and I couldn't do any magic yet and the smoke from suffocated me and I couldn’t run away from the flames. It was rather a traumatic experience for a nine-year-old and not one I managed to forget easily. Until I worked with Professor Lupin I couldn't get over my fear. I had nightmares of that day several times, especially right after it happened," said Robin, fidgeting with the small vase on the table with a single carnation inside it. "Today I'm not sure what my boggart might be. Death does not particularly scare me, but perhaps death of those close to me does. Part of the reason why I want to become an Auror I suppose," he continued. "Perhaps it would turn into the actual situation you were afraid of dying in? Like the sea if you were afraid of death by drowning. We should look that up, it's an interesting question. Or we could Professor Nikolaeva, she should know."

"I had a lot of fun tonight," he said with a grin. "Let's leave now before everyone starts crowding the hallways. We'll thank Dana for the wonderful party first though," he said as he stood up.

[Mia]

"You play the guitar that’s really cool. I well recite a poem to you and you can play for me. That sounds like a done deal." Maria said with a smile and swooshed her drink around in its cup. Her full attention was on the boy next to her and listening about himself and past. A smile came to her face as he minion his brother and sister. He really did care about them and love them very much. "That does sound like a lot of fun. I can imagine it now Versnowa house of music." Maria said laughing softly at her joke. She liked to joke around but something inside of her stomach made her feel a little sick. Taking a sip of her pumpkin juice she than commented about Robin's love for Jazz music. "I love Jazz as well. There's a club near where I live. I go there to recite my poems and listen to the music. I agree with you that Jazz has all the combinations of feeling. Some sad and up beat that’s where I get my inspiration to write. I listen to Jazz music all the time in my room and just write away." Maria said looking out the window to see the dark shy. It was late at night but she really didn't mind. The girls dorms would always be full of all the girls snoring, tossing and turning, and even some talking late at night. Some times Maria missed sleeping in a room along and the snores from her grand father. It all ways made her feel safe and away from harms way.

Taking another drink of her juice she set the cup down and listened to Robin talk about his fear when he was a little boy. Fire and almost dieing, Maria could almost imagines a little boy calling out for his mother for help. Her face began to soften even more as she watched him fiddle around with the flower in its vase. The daisy looked young and along in its bottle of water. A few pedals dropped to the ground as she turned her head towards Robin and listened to him talk about Professor Lupin. "I have to admit I really did like his teaching styles. All seemed real and help people feel better about them. Not all classes consist of reading out of a text book and looking through slides. You have to go through it to actually get the feeling what might happen and Professor Lupin did a great job of that. I really did miss him..." Maria said looking back at the flower and not taking her eyes off the plant. Sighing, Maria listened to Robin explain her question a little. "My guess just from my heart and not from books would be that death can be different forms and determined on what the person is afraid of dieing the most. For me I guess it would have to be my mother dieing again in front of my eyes. It would probably be black smoke that can suffocate people around it. We really should research more on that and ask Professor Nikolaeva." Maria said looking away as she talked and pushing back the memories of her mother. She had to stay strong and not think about it at the moment. It would only make her in a depressed mood.

Robin stood up from the spot and she turned her head towards the clock. It read exactly 11 and almost time for everyone to leave. Yawning she stood up from her spot and stretched her arms into the air to loosen her cramped muscles. "Well I am glad you enjoyed yourself. I do have to admit I did as well. Tonight would probably be one of my favorite nights. Made a new friend that’s all grand to me." She said looking for Dana black hair. Maria never really met the girl but knew her from other students. Spotting her in the corner of the room talking to Kris, Maria linked arms with Robin and walked over towards Dana not even noticing what she was doing. "Hey Dana your party was really cool. You certainly know how to throw one. But the mask part that’s all confusing." she said trying to tug her off but nothing happen. Sighing in defeat she turned around and walked out of the door and was in her clothes before. Hugging herself she began, "I love not wearing that dress. Made me feel too much of a princess or something. Now I don't to start to have a big head now." Maria said with a smile and turned her head the other way as she walked down the corridor towards the Gryffindor tower. Her eyes began to drop with tiredness and she rubbed them lightly yarning for her bed.