Noxley Gala 2026
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"I took a deep breath and listened to the old brag of my heart. |
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Gazing into the mirror, Rosaline saw her reflection; a faint smile tugged at the corners of her lips. She wore a pristine new white gown, ruffled with white lace, with an eye-catching bow in the middle decorating her waistline. The two-tiered dress flowed gracefully to the ground. She was almost worried that she could not pull off this gown. She loved it at first glance. Because of the coming summer social season and her growing height, her grandmother, Thelma, had ordered new gowns and attire from the familiar designer. She toyed with the comet-shaped earrings and the necklace and cast one last glance at the mirror. Pretty, perhaps. Knock, knock. “How long do you plan to keep staring at that mirror?” Rosaline turned back with a sheepish smile. It was her cousin Rowen, the second child of her uncle Sidney. He leaned on the doorframe casually, already in his formal suit. “As long as I’d like to,” Rosaline grinned naughtily. “Rosa, you look beautiful enough. Don’t worry about anything,” Rowen arched his right brow and said. “Also, may I take you to our destination?” He reached his hand to her. As soon as Rosaline laid her hand on his, he dragged her out of the room, running along the corridor of the Wrenford manor. “Hey! I’m on my heels!” Rosaline protested, giggling, holding up her white dress. “It’s your fault that we are running late!” Rowen’s words echoed in the house. The delicate invitation. Rosaline recalled the memories from prior days. It wasn’t rare that the Wrenfords received invitations to various events, but it was uncommon that they decided to attend one. Deep in the velvet armchair, Rosaline was rereading Pride and Prejudice. Again, her parents were busy at work, so she had to stay in the Wrenford Manor. She liked it here too, but the house in London was more like her home. Lonely, in a way. Thelma sat straight on another couch in the drawing room, opening letters with a small envelope slitter. “Noxley gala.” The two words cut through the room. Rosaline perked up immediately, putting her book aside. Thelma enunciated the title of the invitation as if the action were calculated and turned to Cillian, Rosaline’s other uncle, and asked, “When’s the last time we visited the Noxleys?” Cillian mused, “I’m not too sure. We met at the last gala, I think.” The silence lingered. Thelma noticed Rosaline’s enthusiasm, setting the invitation on the marble table. Rosaline debated whether to inquire or not, hesitating. Thelma opened her lips and almost demanded, “Cillian, why don’t you bring Rosa and Rowen, maybe Cedric, together to the gala?" Thelma’s sharp gaze shifted from Cillian to Rosaline. “Wear one of those new gowns to it. You’ve grown pretty fast, just like your mother.” Just like that, Rosaline was at the front door of the Noxley estate now. Arm in arm with Rowen, Rosaline walked elegantly in low heels, accompanied by Cillian and her other cousin Cedric. The four of them represented the Wrenfords. The burden mostly fell on her uncle and cousins’ shoulders because they carried the name, not her. Yet it was always a bit odd to her that she was the Wrenford girl, not just Rosaline Everhart, on such pureblood occasions. She knew very well that Everhart wouldn’t mean anything to the wizarding society. Nonetheless, it was the name she bore. Lost in thoughts, Rosaline didn’t realize they had entered the ballroom. Music flowed in the air; beautiful notes flew from the piano, like freeing birds. Before she spotted Leo, she saw the Yans first. They weren’t totally strangers with them. In her memories, she had even been to their house. But, as she intended to move towards them, she could sense Cillian tensing up, face serious. They still came nearer to the Yan family. Greetings and social smiles. It felt different, though she couldn’t pinpoint the exact thing that went wrong for them. “It has been ages since our last meeting, am I right, Mr. Yan?” Cillian broke the silence between them, facing Jin Kai. Rosaline was dumbfounded by the tension and signaled Erast from the side with her eyes. She decided it might be best for her to not interrupt with the adults. Rowen and Cedric seemed to be on the same page with her. They dispersed to find their friends. In such gatherings, for the two of them, it was as if fish were in the water. She retreated to a corner, conversing with Erast. "Hello, my favorite Hufflepuff prefect, how’s your summer been? I already miss Hogwarts.” With a bright smile, the standard expression when she was with her friends, she quickly noticed the other familiar figure in the room, Leo Noxley. It was him playing the piano. “I’ll catch up with you later! Let me greet the host of the gala first.” Almost soundless, Rosaline drew nearer to the back of Leo. Flushing a rosy pink, she recalled something from earlier this summer. Leo was immersed in the music. She tapped Leo’s shoulder, almost like a habit, or a hobby to her now. “Would you like to play a duet with me, Mr. Noxley?” Holding her dress up charmingly, she curtsied with a smile gentle like the blooming lilac. | re | |
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Noxley Gala 2026
The ceiling had now begun to bore the girl. While there wasn’t much for her to do at the party anyway, she’d grown to the long levels of ridiculousness and had even felt a sense of contempt at her grandparents for bringing her. All of the other teens and children at the party looked star struck, amazed to be there, as if it was a fairytale ball. But the Peterson girl was nothing but bored out of her mind. Ignoring her grandmother’s request to stay by her side, she made her way back to the table she had seated herself at originally. Her dress was blue, milky and sky colored, and stood out strikingly on her pale shoulders. It was lovely really, a dress the girls grandmother had worn herself as a child. She’d been gracious in passing it on to Jrue, who now wore it in style.
Approaching the table again it had been apparent that there was now another person standing there, who was being rushed at by a familiar face. At last! Jrue clutched her hands to her chest, grinning at her table. It was such a lovely face, the one she had recognized. There was no way she’d ever be able to forget that one. Dido Bleaklane- they’d met on one of the Hufflepuff’s nail painting escapades. She was so sweet, Jrue recalled, and she couldn’t wait to speak with the- Slytherin? Ravenclaw? She couldn’t remember. The girl lifted the dress around her ankles and booked it around the table, almost running into the girl.
“Dido-! Oh it’s so lovely to see you here! I almost figured I wouldn’t see anyone from school over the Holiday! God you are just as lovely as I remembered! I mean, it wasn’t that long ago, but I hardly saw you the rest of the year! Do you know the Noxleys? I recognize the name, but I can’t quite put my finger on it. Wow- just- Mmh!” With a final squeal, Jrue finally took a breath, wrapping her arms around the girl in front of her. She didn’t even care if it was inappropriate, at least there was a face she knew. Releasing the hug, she picked up her friends hand, observing her nails. “You really do have some of the cleanest nails I’ve ever seen! I am quite jealous.” Dropping the girls hand, she took a brief step back, made aware again that there was another person at the table. Jrue realized just how cheeky she had seemed. “Pardon me- is this a friend? I don’t recognize you from Hogwarts-“ Her face warmed, but she ignored it, smiling either way.
441/200
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Noxley Gala 2026
I was shocked when I heard my name, particularly when it wasn’t from my grandma or aunt. I turned around, it time to see a girl with wavy hair. I recognised her, but couldn’t remember who she was, until she said her name, and that she was from the ball.
Banner by Tes Cadell
“My year has been good. What about yours?”
Before waiting for her answer, I turned to my Uncle.
“Me and Dido met briefly at the spring ball. At least, before the place set on fire.” I smiled, remembering how successful the ball had been, until then.
“Are you sitting here too?” My uncle enquired.
I stood up.
“I’m going to get some juice. I’ll see you in a second, Dido.”
I walked towards the table with the drinks on, followed by my uncle. I got a cup of the juice, and so did Uncle Thomas.
“So, you made a friend during the Spring Ball. Your grandma will be proud.”
I glared at him briefly, before looking around the room.
“Where are they?”
He looked around the room too, before shrugging.
“Probably socialising. Making valuable connections.”
We looked at each other, laughing slightly. We shared the same beliefs about events - they were a waste of time!
@Dido Bleaklane Open to others!
Cinder Blaze Mirada Johnson
Je suis comme un dragon : dangereuse, fougueuse et magnifique.
Moonlight Dreams!
Noxley Gala 2026
2) whoo!
3) I wasn't quite sure when Cinder left in respect to Jrue's arrival so gave it my best guess- please yell/message/owl at me if that's wrong!!
Stamina: 5
Evasion: 8
Strength: 5
Wisdom: 8
Arcane Power: 5
Accuracy: 9
@Jrue Peterson
The sheer relief Dido felt at seeing Cinder, someone she had actually exchanged more than a couple words with, was night and day compared to the despair in the car only seconds before. The girl’s hair was up in a beautiful tight plait and, gently bringing her hand to her own dark, somewhat uninspiring hair, Dido let out a small sigh of jealousy. It wasn’t cruel jealousy, nor anything like what she had felt towards… towards others before. It was a soft sensation of admiration almost. Perhaps Dido could stay in touch with Cinder after the gala- they hadn’t had another chance to speak after the Spring ball had gone so badly. Perhaps Cinder could teach her how to tie her hair so prettily.
Dido grinned as the Beauxbâtons girl introduced her to a gentleman she was with, presumably her father, and, after deciding that her the double kiss on the cheeks her aunt had described as “expected at these events” wouldn’t appear, extended a hand for a handshake and cheerfully added, “How do you do,” in the way of a default greeting rather than a heartfelt question. She nodded in response to the man’s question, confirming that she was apparently to sit at their table but, as she considered asking Cinder a question, she suddenly heard footsteps behind her. Spinning around quickly, for she wasn’t quite at ease in the setting, Dido was met with the smiling face of a girl she recognised from Hogwarts… Jrue!
As quickly as she had arrived, Jrue began to speak and, while the Hufflepuff talked, Dido could only gaze at the girl and smile at her words. She beamed when Jrue called her lovely, unable to really thank her through the girl’s speech, bobbed her head in gratitude. Did she really? Jrue looked beautiful. She wore a gorgeous blue dress and just seemed… so grown-up in it. Or perhaps, it was just the girl’s seemingly endless confidence. Dido was cheered to notice that Jrue’s hair, though lighter and longer, was similarly curled to her own and, taking it as proof the girl was probably not lying, continue to listen. When Jrue finished speaking, instead of a gap for Dido to answer in, she found herself wrapped in a hug. A gasp of joy bubbled up inside Dido, matching the girl before hers excitement and, without even thinking, Dido embraced the taller child. But what was she doing? She didn’t know Jrue. They had probably met a couple of times and only really shared one substantial conversation where- Oh no. No. No, she hadn’t… had she..
Dido had told Jrue she was a Ravenclaw. Of course. Of course, the one friendly face, besides that of a girl she had spent more time fighting a fire with than talking to, was one of the students she whom she had spoken about her house to. Everything from the conversation in the car to… that encounter pushed its to the forefront of Dido’s memory. She shut her eyes tightly for a moment, hoping to hold the tears back. She gripped onto Jrue slightly tighter than the brevity of the hug would have entitled and took a deep breath before, finally, taking a small step backwards.
Blinking back tears as Jrue complimented her nails, she mustered the same joy she had felt only second before from Jrue’s infectious smile and, laughing slightly, said, “Thank you so much!” she continued, gesturing to Jrue’s dress and hair, “You look amazing as well, of course.”
Then, glancing around to make sure her aunt and uncle were no where near, Dido lowered her voice and added conspiratorially, “To be honest, I’m not sure I’m even really meant to be here- I think the Noxley’s think I’m my aunt’s daughter!”
By then, Dido had completely forgotten the girl and corresponding family who were still standing behind until Jrue herself made a point to ask who they were. Dido turned to introduce the two but, as she opened her mouth to speak, Cinder was beginning to walk away and mentioned going to grab some drinks, alongside her uncle. Dido smiled somewhat awkwardly at an elderly woman she could only assume to be Cinder’s grandmother sitting beside another, younger woman before turning back to Jrue with slightly widened eyes and a “please don’t talk to the adults” sort of smile. “That’s Cinder. She’s from Beauxbâtons? And she was at the Spring Ball…” Dido trailed off. What could she say? What should she say? She felt the sting of her nail against the pad of her thumb as her hands fidgeted in her sleeves.
Finally, an idea occurred to her and, hoping that the prefect wasn’t too terribly attached to the “rules” of such events (which she assumed not given Jrue’s apparent willingness to waste time in the bathrooms rather than doing homework like some students Dido knew), she grinned mischievously.
“I… don’t suppose you want to have a poke around the house? I mean- a place like this is certain to have something interesting.”
Grin faltering slightly as Dido realised her own excitement was betraying her, she backtracked and finished with a weak, “It’s all fine if you don’t want to. We could get some more drinks instead?”
-Dido Bleaklane |