Wonderland Waltz 2026 Spring Ball

@Kylie Nguyen@Riley Bluescar
”Tina! It’s good to see you here. I was starting to think I was going to have to spend this night alone." Riley said, her smile growing. That also made my smile grow. Riley turned around to face me. Wow! You look lovely…” Riley said, studying my outfit. I blushed, it only had taken me about 2 months to figure out my outfit. Riley was wearing a cute black velvet dress that had a silver bow on it. She was also wearing cute Mary Jane high heals with pearl straps around the ankles. She also had a black velvet bow in her hair. "Riley! You look wonderful too! I love the bow!" said. "Took a little inspo from me huh?" I added with a joking smirk. ”If you’d like, we could go surprise Kylie! Riley said. "Oh you know what the answer is." I said. "Just let me get a boba first. Ooh! They have my favorite! Strawberry Slush with Tapioca! YOU HAVE to try it Riley!" I said, spotting the delicious drink. I looked across the courtyard to where Kylie was standing. She was also wearing a white bow. I'm just so good. All I need to do now is win spring queen and this would officially be the best day EVER. Then I said what we were both thinking. "Well, Riley, I don't exactly have a partner. I know, its really sad, but maybe we can dance together as roommates? If a good muggle dance song comes on Kylie and I could teach you some dances. If she knows them. If she doesn't I could teach you both! I learned it all from camp." I said, hoping that I wasn't jumping into the deep end.

Ava felt a tiny bit bad for making Arin wait so much. But she could swear that she decided to leave her dorm room on time, but then her dear little cat decided it was the best time to run around their dorm room, making a mess of the whole room. And if she left like this, her roommate would probably think something had happened to her. Thus, it took her twenty minutes to make it look less like it is a crime scene.

Ava ran down towards the courtyard. As soon as she entered, the view amazed her. The courtyard has turned into something that came straight out of a fantasy. Everything looked so on point with the theme. She wished she had waited to get the dres,s which would go with the theme, but her pink dress was so pretty she couldn't help but buy it before even looking at what the theme of the waltz was.

Her gaze went first towards the banquet tables, which had a bunch of appetisers and desserts. She would have made a beeline towards them if she hadn't noticed the Slytherin she forced to come. He was looking at the clock. She went towards him, hoping to sneak up on him.

"Hey!" She said from behind him, "I know I'm late! Sorry, sorry, sorry!" She started apologising before he could say anything. She knows how it feels to wait for someone when you didn't even want to come, and she felt so bad for him.

"How about we get something to drink?" The seer asked, hoping he wasn't too mad at her. She didn't even wait for him and made her way towards the 'Drink Me' table. She was a bit surprised to see butterbeer, but assumed since they are available,e she could drink it, right? "What would you like to have?" She asked the Slytherin. "By the way, you look nice," she said, noticing the suit he was wearing.

Reducio stats & ability: Stamina: [5] ⋆ Evasion: [7] ⋆ Strength: [4] ⋆ Wisdom: [6] ⋆ Arcane Power: [5] ⋆ Accuracy: [3] Seer

Reducio outfit:

Reducio action: rushing in & talking to @Arin Varen

Aamon arrived neither early nor fashionably late. While some wizards might claim that they arrived just when they intended to, that was not the case for Aamon. He simply arrived punctual enough to avoid commentary.

The courtyard had already begun to breathe; music threading through conversation, light catching on glass and silk and carefully curated smiles. It was the sort of place that expected presence. Expected poise. Expected people to want to be there.

And it was for that reason that Aamon did not fit. He had the attire and the name, but he lacked the poise and the desire so abundant in his peers. But Aamon entered anyway. Not because he wanted to, but because he should. Because not attending would raise more questions than attending ever would. Because expectations, unlike desire, did not require his consent or his participation, but his compliance made his life go smoother.

The Slytherin's posture was straight, a pose that was practiced into something that resembled confidence if people did not look too closely. Shoulders set, chin level, steps measured with just enough precision to imply intention rather than hesitation. It was a performance he had grown into, not one he had mastered.

However, the attire helped. Something his house elves picked out for him. A velveteen suit, a bit warm considering the weather in a deep, midnight blue. The suit spoke of wealth but was not ostentatious. The fine fabric caught the light in quiet shifts, threading between shadow and sheen as he moved. Silver embroidery traced along the cuffs and collar in restrained, intricate patterns, speaking to something old, something inherited, something that did not need explanation to be understood as expensive.

His dark hair had been combed back, mostly. There were still a few pieces that refused complete obedience, softening the sharpness of his features in a way he hadn't entirely accounted for. His expression, however, did not share that softness. He was here because he had to, not because he wanted to.

His mismatched eyes: one green, one blue, moved through the room with quiet awareness. Searching, noting, measuring. Taking in faces, positions, dynamics. That is until his eyes fell on [the next poster whomever they are]. They would do he wordlessly confided to only himself as he approached. "Would you be willing to give me this dance?" He smiled, or at least he pretended tom as he extended his hand.

Please note: I am asking the next poster to dance.

<sub>Noticing her friend Tina waving, she waved back along with saying a hi in the distance. Unfortunately she got swept away, it was unexpected and did caught her off guard. Angel got lost with the many people in the courtyard. Rustles of her dress flow through the night wind as it places on her hair softly. Looking like the stars among the night, she herself was ethereal and illuminated. Lost her way through finding her company, she overheard a boy talking to her, stopping her tracks. Second year? Definitely a year older.

"Oh, I apologize I did not catch you going my way." Angel said nervously

Quickly she did a little courtesy, a bit too much she'd admit but this was a ball. If anything she'd want to present herself as elegant and well polished. Worried a bit she straighten herself, with poise. Angel did not like bad impressions especially when it came to herself too, this ball was her first and she always wanted to be in one so extravagant, it can help her build a name a reputation that will help her in the years to come.

Noticing the boy, lowering his head, his eyes, his gaze met hers, offering his hand for a dance. Was she willing?

"Yes, I am willing to give you this dance." she said with a swiss in her voice. How will this play out?</sub>

Mathias Athanatos, the heir apparent of the renowned pureblooded family of Seers did not arrive quietly. He rarely did.

Where the courtyard buzzed with pastel frivolity and the soft chaos of first years dressed like storybook fantasies, his presence cut through it. The air shifted, not loudly, but enough that those paying attention felt it. A subtle tightening to the atmosphere, a quiet recalibration.

Mathias stepped through the archway dressed in deep violet velvet suit that was just shy of being ostentatious. The coat was tailored within an inch of perfection, high-collared and embroidered with dark, near-black filigree that only revealed itself when the light did not catch it, but rather was absorbed by it. Beneath it, a silk of the same hue, patterned in subtle brocade, cinched his frame. A black cravat sat neatly at his throat, pinned with something small and gold which was tasteful yet as everything else he owned, expensive.

Everything about him said control. His father had made the right call in naming him the heir apparent. Better him than the broken man, Vladimir. The mad dog, Gideon. The coward, Aamon. He had endeavored his whole life for this designation, to discard the sin that had been embossed on him since his birth: Pride. His name was more than a a warning, it was a promise to the world of what he would become. His name never lied. And now, everything about him said he knew exactly what he was doing.

His gaze swept the courtyard once before landing, inevitably, on her. Winnie Athanatos, his wife. She was the most lovely creature in this courtyard, something delicate and pristine. Something only he would ever possess. He had not seen her most of the day, women primped for far too long, but at least he could applaud the outcome.

Mathias started toward her, unhurried, carving a path through the crowd with the kind of quiet expectation that people would move and they did. Mostly. One did not.

For the next poster in this thread:
Perhaps they had chosen to remain in Mathias' path. Perhaps they failed to notice the tall, well-dressed man. Defiant or oblivious, it mattered not. Mathias didn't stop and the collision was minor but also intentional unless the student avoided the snake.

The impact was not wholly the intention. His suit far too fine to be sullied by the pedestrian masses. It was the table nearest the obstacle that was also impacted. Several glasses of punch and some sort of confection piled high. The confections tipped, the sweets bounding away. Glasses tipped, some fell and shattered. Sugary punch splashed across stone and fabric alike.

Mathias paused just long enough to look down (assumed, he is 6 foot 3) at them, expression flat, almost bored regardless of effective evasion. "Watch where you exist," he said coolly. Then, without waiting for a response, he continued to amble towards his young, still beautiful wife. The student, whomever they were dismissed, erased and irrelevant.

His pace slowed only in the last few steps, something in his expression shifting. His face had not become softer, just, different. "Waiting for me?" Matt asked, voice low, edged with quiet amusement as he came to stand beside her, gaze dragging briefly over her dress, taking in the pink, the softness, the deliberate contrast to everything he embodied. It suited her well. She portrayed the very image he wished her to. A softness that contradicted his sharp edges. That made him allegedly relatable, even sympathetic to the muggle condition.

"Dangerous habit," he announced with characteristic confidence. And then, without ceremony, without asking, he reached out, one hand attempting to settle briefly at her waist, grounding, claiming before he leaned down just enough to attempt to press a kiss to the top of Winnie's head. The act was not performative, nor was it for the crowd. It was an act that was just loud enough to say: mine.

Please Note: he is going to bump into the next poster (or attempt to).

Taylor did not enter the courtyard so much as arrive in alleged pieces that had not yet decided to fall apart. Her heels clicked sharply against the stone, the sound too urgent for someone dressed in soft blue and delicate embroidery. The Russian resembled carved ice. Girls like Taylor Athanatos should float, should smile and should be surrounded by friends. This witch did not. She cut through the space like a blade trying very hard to look like silk.

Her blonde curls were slightly out of place, just enough to seem accidental or harried. Like her hair had a wild streak that even a comb and hairspray could not tame. The jewel headband still held, but not perfectly. Her cheeks were flushed, her lips parted as if she had just escaped something she did not want to name. It was a part of the scene. A facet of the long game she was plating.

The Koldovstorian's icy blue eyes flickered across the room. She was not searching for a friend, she did not have those. Rather, she was measuring distance, mapping exits, identifying clusters of people thick enough to disappear into. Important people, loud people and of course witnesses of varied calibers and reliabilities. She needed them to play out this incident much like the last one. To create a pattern, to force a reaction and intervention.

Taylor's hand rose briefly to her throat, fingers brushing the pendant there like she needed grounding, like she was overwhelmed, shaken, fragile. It was a good performance. A practiced one.

The girl in blue slowed. Not fully enough to be seen as recovering from something, perhaps the physical exertion of her arrival. A soft laugh slipped from her lips at nothing in particular, light and airy and just a touch too breathless. She caught the eye of someone anyone (feel free to claim your eyes met hers) and offered a small, apologetic smile. It was the sort of smile that said: how silly of me, I'm quite alright, just a moment of nerves.

That was the point, it invited concern, perhaps a white knight's inquiry. It invited attention. It invited people to look at her. They did not need to know her name, they just needed to know the narrative that Taylor was developing. So, let them look.

Let them see the pale girl in blue, a little shaken, a little lost, entirely harmless. Let them see her standing very deliberately in the open, where she could not be quietly dragged away. Where no cousin, no matter how charming, how well-dressed, how dangerous, could touch her without an audience.

Her breath steadied, just slightly. Behind her ribs, something cold and old curled in quiet approval. Some monsters are not made, they are just waiting. Taylor's calculating gaze would eventually target a random Hogwarts student: @Paul Turner. She did not know the wizard, but that was actually to her advantage. [Feel free to walk away if you are not interested in interfacing.] she had no idea he was a Gryffindor, one of them wizarding white knights with a penchant for adventure and limited forward-thinking. How terribly convenient.

Taylor allowed her leg to turn, her ankle to twist. An awkward movement that was not intended to appear intentional. She just needed to stagger, to catch herself on something or better yet, someone. Her hand shot out, her fingers curling into the sleeve of the nearest student like it was instinct, like she might fall if she didn't. That would be Paul Turner (you're welcome to avoid her, in which case she would fall).

If she fell, she would internally celebrate the more dramatic option drawing attention to the fabricated scenario. She would make a small noise, not out of fear or surprise, but instead as an alert. She would find her bearings and stand again, approaching the stranger still. If she 'caught' herself, well, that was fine too. The scene would carry on regardless of the outcome. Her breath came uneven. Not exaggerated. No, Taylor was better than that, but the pattern was wrong enough to draw attention of third parties.

"I..." she started, voice catching in a soft, foreign hitch, her accent thickening as though stress had pulled it tighter around her words. "I am sorry, I..." Taylor paused, glancing over her shoulder as if she was being pursued. The look was not long enough to confirm anything, just enough to suggest something. It was all about the implication rather than the actual lie.

Taylor's grip tightened slightly if she had successfully gabbed hold of the boy's sleeve. "You… you help me, da?" she asked, quieter now, stepping closer—not invading, but seeking. "Please. I think..." she lowered her voice further as if she feared being overheard "...he is following me."

Greebo hopped up onto the gazebo where a younger boy had cast his green sparks and was now eating some kind of leaves. Colin favoured flowers, because Emmi said he needed more veg. He'd called over to Colin a moment before to compliment his spell casting. Colin smiled. "Keep yer wand ready, lad! Ye never ken when some monster will spawn into the Courtyard!"

Without even turning, he greeted his friend: "Olivia! I wondered ---" Colin turned as she approached. The sight that met his widening eyes was not the Olivia he knew! "Whoa! You look totally cute, mate!" Her hair was all piled up on her head and she wore a long dark red dress --- sleeveless Colin noted --- and some fancy gloves. "Rowr!!" he teased, certain that his friend would soon turn as red as her dress!

"Emmi's not here yet, so I'm free to engage in chaos until she applies the leash!" Colin winked. Emily Shephard certainly did have an effect on him. Twas like magic, really. She had a curious way of redirecting his energy. Much like AngelFyre did. "You know the Muggle saying, I'm sure! When the cats all sway, the mice go away!" Colin paused. "Or something like that anyway! Something about cats!"

Colin heard a disturbance at one of the nearby tables. Glass breaking. Voices muttering curses and imprecations at the idiot who upset the treat display. Colin turned. Not someone he knew, but someone he knew of. A fellow Slytherin. One of the Athanatos clan. He knew Vlad a little from the Pureblood Society, that short lived gathering of the cream of the wizarding world. Gideon was his year mate, but Colin didn't have much to do with him. He knew Aamon a little better. Poor kid. Colin wondered if he'd find a girl to snog with this year.

But the idiot in this case was Mathias. Didn't know him at all, though he'd heard that he actually got married last year. Colin had to admit that was impressive! Of course, he'd marry Emmi in a heartbeat, but the lass would probably have a heart attack if he asked her that question tonight! This Mathias was always one of the stuffy older students that Colin had pegged as too deep into some dark potions fumes for his own good. He certainly never spared a glance or a word for Colin, though there was only a year difference. Colin snorted at the minor ruckus. "Way to make an entrance! Well done that lad!" he muttered with a laugh.

He rolled his eyes before turning back to his conversation with Olivia. "Graceful as an erumpent that one!"

Actions: Exuberant magic!
Stats: Stamina: 7 | Evasion: 7 | Strength: 4 | Wisdom: 16 | Arcane Power: 9 | Accuracy: 13
Trunk: OwooOOo! || Spellbook: Incendio Tria!

Interacting: @Emily Shephard | @Olivia Williams || Mentions: @Paul Turner | @Mathias Athanatos

{ --- Post 1 --- } { --- Post 2 --- }

Reducio

Interaction: @Taylor Athanatos, @Colin McCoire

There were so many people in the courtyard tonight. Some of them he recognized from the lessons, others from the common room or the Great Hall. But there was also a bunch of people whom he heard speaking other languages than English. They must be the students from abroad. He thought. I'd love to get to know them! It must be cool to have someone who can visit you on holiday, and you can show your neighborhood to them!

"Keep yer wand ready, lad! Ye never ken when some monster will spawn into the Courtyard!"

As Colin called to him, he grinned in the direction of the gazebo, fisting his palm and touching his chest with it twice, then showing the peace gesture. "I will, don't worry! Just finished some salad, so I'm ready for anything! "

Paul chuckled, turning around slowly. Then, he noticed a blond girl in a beautiful, light blue dress with sparkles. She was looking at him, which was weird for he had no idea who she was. So he looked around and even turned to look behind himself, to get to know whether she wasn't looking at someone behind or next to him. But there was no one in his immediate surroundings.

Wait, have I met her already? I don't think so. She's definitely not a first-year. But perhaps, she's the one who took away all the earthworms from the courtyard! I should ask her!

"Hi-uh.. oh! Careful." Did he force out, as the girl nearly fell, catching on to him. He laid the plate from the hand with the wand onto the ground, then caught the girl's forearm to provide support and prevent her from falling. He also stood up from the swing quickly, so that he could assist with more strength.

"I am sorry, I..."

"Nah, don't worry about it. Had to learn to live around clumsiness. Took some time, but I'm immune now." Replied the boy, in a slightly cocky manner, gracing her with his crooked smile. "Are you okay though? Nothing broken, nothing twisted?"

"You… you help me, da?"

He finally noticed her accent. Whoa, she's a foreigner! So cool! My wishes come true! Thought the boy joyfully, a huge grin appearing on his face. "Whoa, you're not from 'ere, are ya? That's so cool! I've wanted to meet some foreigners! Where are ya from, if ya don't mind me asking?"

It wasn't until she spoke again that he realized she actually seemed a little off, stressed out, nervous or something... And you are talking at cross purposes, Paul. As always, heavens. Reproached his conscience. So he frowned in suspicion, especially when she stepped closer. He was still holding his wand, along with her forearm.

"Please. I think..." she lowered her voice further as if she feared being overheard "...he is following me."

So Paul straightened up his back, looking around to check their surroundings. He could see some Hogwarts students, some adults, but nothing extra. They all seemed to be engaged in their conversations and stuff.
"Uhm... who exactly is following you?" Asked the boy, genuinely interested. "Are you like... uhm, a wizarding celebrity, or something?" That's not likely, Paul. People would freak out if they saw her. But maybe, they live under a wizarding rock, just like him. Who knows?

Interacting with: Reducio @Bree Grey, @Milo Hartman

Mentions: Reducio @Olivia Williams, @Colin McCoire

Outfit: Reducio

OOC Note: Reducio Sorry for the end, I wanted to cause some drama

Stats: Reducio Spring Ball

Action: Reducio Casting the Mending Charm

Wc: Reducio 648 words

L A U R I E

This was it. The most awaited event in 2026 so far. THE Spring Ball. Laurie had taken about an hour to get ready for the ball, not really accustomed to getting up that early to do all the preparations. To make it worse, she was having a bad hair day, but it eventually did set after episodes of Laurie cursing. She didn’t really take that lightly. And the dress, Laurie had handmade. It took a lot of hours, and a lot of mistakes, but it actually turned out better than she expected. She didn’t really know she could do that kind of stuff, maybe she underestimated herself way too much. The dress was a light fluorescent green, with a belt made if silver pearls. Pretty. She had considered having purple as an alternative, but in the end she stuck with green, because it embodied her personality. If also didn’t tear like the purple one did. She had applied a bit of light makeup, knowing that if she applied even a tad bit more, she would absolutely ruin it like she did most things. Enough about the costume, that was boring now. She had actually found friends to go with. That wasn’t really a usual occurrence for her, so she should be pleased. Before entering the courtyard, she took a deep breath. This is not a day to be an introvert, she reminded herself. The words seemed unnatural. She didn’t know life outside of being one. The courtyard was decorated really well, it gave her a sensation of happiness. That was something she hadn't felt in a long, long time. Should she owl her aunt about this later? No, she’d just be bothering her. She looked around for familiar faces. There were many, but none Laurie had interacted with very much. Gosh, she had the social life of a snail. Or a slug, whichever’s was worse. She scanned the room for Bree. She wasn’t there yet, Milo was absent too. They would be coming soon enough, right? Right? Bree always came on time where was she now? She knew Bree must be preparing, she always managed to look spectacular. She couldn’t wait to see her. And Milo, even though they hadn’t interacted much, he was pretty nice! Oh wait, she sounded like a 4 year old. Never mind. She walked over to the corner, and saw a girl wearing a red dress with her hair tied in a bun. She was pretty. More than average pretty. The girl was talking to a guy in a shirt and a……kilt? She smiled a bit, before she remembered who she was. He seemed to be one of the older students. Wait a minute. She looked closer at the two, recognition dawning in her face. That was Olivia! Olivia Williams. The one and only. She was mesmerising. She looked at the guy, recognising him as Colin. She smiled as she remembered Olivia’s note in the library. She went and stood behind Olivia, and casually said, “Guess who.” No, that was so weird. What was she thinking? Suddenly, her head started throbbing, and her limbs felt as of they were about to give way. No, this couldn’t be happening right now, why did panic attacks have to happen at the worst moments? She picked up the nearest glass of water, downing it in one go. No, that made it worse. She then noticed that the glass had broken. She quietly whispered, “Reparo”, and sat down, hugging her knees to her chest. Where was Bree?

H O L M E S

Wc: 207

Interactions: Tina, Riley

Date: 19/04/26 Time: Around 7 pm

Mentions: Reducio @Riley Bluescar @Tina Carille @Kylie Nguyen @Mikaela Hendricks

OOC Note: N/A

Speech:#6397b0

Fawkes sighed as she walked towards the ball. Honestly, she wasn't planning on going for the ball. She loved dancing yes, but with no one to go with she didn't think it was worth going for it. However her dorm-mates clearly had other plans. They convinced her it would be fun going to the ball. She didn't know how they were able to convince her so easily but here she was, walking, to the ball.

She adjusted the ribbon in her hair and smoothed down her black dress. She fixed her glasses before walking in and glancing about for her dorm-mates. There were a lot of people in the area so it was hard to spot them. She did find them eventually though.

Tina! Riley! Fawkes walked up to them and greeted softly. She noticed Kylie also standing a little further away. It seems like they hadn't gone to meet her yet. Are yall going over to Kylie? She asked, pulling her sleeve down slightly and back into place. She noted the fact they had boba. Perhaps she would go get herself a cup a little later. Of course, her first agenda was to meet up with Kylie and then perhaps have a dance with the others.