Downcast Dancing Open FINISHED

Interacting with : Reducio @Emily Shephard

Outfit: Reducio

Notes: Reducio Speech: #3CB371 Thoughts: italics

When Hogwarts first started, Kaitlyn had explored the castle. At least, as much as the young first-year could. One of the rooms she was most amazed by was the ballroom. With its elegant glory, looking like it was ripped straight from one of the fancy posh magazines … or from the etiquette classes she took, from her muggle boarding school. Regardless, it looked regal and inviting, even without the glitz and glamour. Even with the lights off, it looked grand.

As such, Kaitlyn liked to visit the ballroom and practice dancing. Due to her hectic Hogwarts schedule, that usually meant only once a week, at most, for her to practice dancing. But that just led her to cherish every moment she could spend in its grandiose presence. It made her reminisce on how this same room held parties and dances for as long as one could imagine.

With a smile on her face, Kaitlyn approached the ballroom and let herself in. Before she could even step into the room, she saw a girl inside. Her cheeks flushed. ‘Oh, I hope I’m not intruding … It didn’t look like she was dancing … but, well, I’m going to feel awkward anyway. And it’s likely too late for me to turn around and run away as fast as possible.' She finished walking into the room.

“Um … Hi. Sorry f-for disrupting y-you. I c-came here to d-dance, but if y-you’re using i-it now, I c-can come b-back later,” Kaitlyn called out, waiting next to the door, one hand still on the doorknob.

Reducio

Note: 260 words

Encountering @Kaitlyn Connor

Upon hearing the sounds of voices and footsteps approaching the door to the ballroom Emily quickly buried her face into her sleeve and did her best to dry off most of the mess that was dripping down her cheeks. For a giant castle it seemed there weren't too many places to hide.

Emily took a few deep and silent breaths to calm herself, her chest heaving as she did so. Luckily she wasn't a sobbing mess but she was still struggling to contain herself more so than usual. Eventually she felt her body relax and she took a tissue to wipe down her nose a little bit.

"I-It's fine...! You can use it. I'll uh..." Emily trailed off quietly. She was still a little shaken over being involuntarily disturbed that she didn't really think ahead about how to get out of this awkward spiral. She willed herself to pull herself together before unintentionally marching to the door and opening it somewhat gently. She stiffened upon seeing a Slytherin student in her year standing at the door. The notion of someone who Emily was sure was in a few of her classes just made this moment much more awkward... It was if she was being mocked at this point.

"Sorry... Just pretend I'm not here," Emily said softly. At this rate, she was desperately wishing to just vanish out of sight for a little bit.

_{Word Count: 243}

Interacting with : Reducio @Emily Shephard

Outfit: Reducio

Notes: Reducio Speech: #3CB371 Thoughts: italics

Kaitlyn fully entered the ballroom, her blue eyes noticing the girl who was already in the ballroom. She appeared … sad. ‘Had she been crying? I think I see some tear marks … I hope everything’s all right. Do I just come right out and ask? No, no, that wouldn’t be proper or right of me to demand she answer something that made her sad. It appears she was in here for the quiet, which I don’t really blame her. It is nice and quiet in here a lot,’ she thought.

Kaitlyn gave the girl a small shy smile, attempting to think about what to say. Her introverted nature was telling her to run out of the room. But, she also wanted to help this girl. Clearly, something was amiss.

“I understand if y-you’d rather be left a-alone … and if you do, I can d-dance at the other far c-corner of the room to respect your p-privacy. I’m not h-here to make you m-miserable,” Kaitlyn spoke quietly, the stutter evident in her voice. But, the sad undertones bellied a reprieve from her normal inability to talk. “I’m h-here if you wish t-to talk … I’m a good l-listener, and I won’t j-judge you … if you w-want, that is,” she replied, her movements graceful as she stood off to the side, respecting this girl’s privacy.

Reducio

Note: 226 words

@Kaitlyn Connor @Emily Shephard
It was a fairly good day. Elisa was wandering along the corridors of the great Hogwarts castle, humming a tune lightly to herself. She had just gotten an O in Charms, and had finished all the homework ahead of time.

She thought it might be good to get to know the castle a little better, as she had nothing better to do except burry herself in a book, which she did fairly often. Maybe make a few friends along the way? she had thought. Herself a few weeks ago wouldn't have thought like that. Her past self would have grabbed the nearest book and read for hours straight, not caring, or rather too shy, to search for any friends. Hogwarts had quite opened her up.

Elisa stopped in front of the ballroom. It was unmistakably the one and only ballroom, although Elisa never actually went in it. She wondered if she should go inside and take a peek. After all, I don't think anybody's in there, she thought. Still, she carefully stepped inside, not wanting to interrupt anything if anybody was in there.

What she saw made her take a step back, unsure. There were two girls standing quite far away from each other, glancing at one another somewhat awkwardly and shyly. That scene was pretty strange for Elisa. She was usually the one who would be embarrassed in front of others, not the one witnessing and embarrassing moment for others. Nonetheless, seeing that the other two students were probably her age, she walked forward and said, "Uh... hi! She instantly regretted what she said. Maybe the two were having an argument! Maybe it was some really private matter they were discussing. She felt herself go red.

Meeting/Interacting with @Kaitlyn Connor @Elisa Wagner

Oh boy... Oh boy... Calm down... Breathe...

Emily swallowed when another Slytherin student appeared. Emily's eyes darted between the two girls frantically. This got much more awkward than it needed to be, and Emily could only blame herself for that. As far as she could see it, she was the one being suspicious with her cheeks still rosy from her little meltdown from earlier, now mixed in with embarrassment as both girls looked at her; one of them was just as shy as she was, and the other giving her a sad but sympathetic look as she spoke to her.

Emily bit the inside of her lip. This wasn't quite how she wanted this to go. They were both looking at her like she was wounded when really it was no big deal. Friendship groups and independence were such trivial matters in the grand scheme of things. It was all Emily could keep repeating in her head to wise up and appear somewhat normal. Besides, she was slowly feeling better after letting out a few tears anyway.

Emily took another deep breath and projected a shy but hopeful smile at both girls. She could still see their curious looks but she could tell it wasn't out of any bad judgement.

"Heh... Sorry about that. I'm fine. Just having... a pretty bad day today," she said confidently. "If you guys want to use the ballroom, please go ahead."

However it seemed all three of them had no intention to let this whole random encounter slide. At least not yet. Especially for Emily, who felt it was finally time to confront her insecurities and make proper connections with people who would be happy to spend time with her, rather than relying on random chance to keep her from being closed off.

_{Word Count: 310}

Interacting with : Reducio @Emily Shephard, @Elisa Wagner

Outfit: Reducio

Notes: Reducio Speech: #3CB371 Thoughts: italics

Kaitlyn flushed lightly when a girl walked into the ballroom, too. ‘Wow, I guess it’s popular in here today. I chose a bad time to come here. I hope neither of them mind if I dance.’

Kaitlyn gave this girl a shy smile, as well. “Hi,” she greeted her quietly. She fidgeted a little, feeling a little awkward with the two girls. ‘I’m not sure what to say. Social interactions are not my forte. But … I really should try here. After all, isn’t the whole point to make friends? And, I think all three of us may be shy, not that I mind, but that does mean that I should try harder.’

As the first girl she encountered spoke, Kaitlyn listened to the girl’s words. “I’m s-sorry you w-were having a b-bad day. I’ve h-had a few here a-already. I cried m-myself to sleep t-the first few d-days we were h-here,” she replied quietly. “So, um, my o-offer still stands if y-you feel like sharing, but o-only if you want to. I’m n-not going to force you or p-pressure you,” she added, sympathetically.

Kaitlyn closed her eyes briefly, slowing her beating heart. After a few moments, she opened her eyes and gave both girls a warmer smile. “My name is Kaitlyn … I came here to dance. Would both of you like to dance together?” She asked.

Reducio

Note: 228 words

Interacting with @Kaitlyn Connor @Elisa Wagner

Emily felt herself feel much more relaxed now, now to the point that she could smile more confidently without it feeling forced or out of the need to put a brave face on.

At the same time however, there was still this teeny tiny, yet strong, lingering feeling that it was out of sympathy that she was being offered to dance with these girls like this. Emily was used at this point to have met someone but to then rarely see them again, except for maybe during classes where small talk was prevalent. Then again, it wasn't the case with every student she met. She had at least one or two people who she could call a good friend. But Emily knew she had to do better than that. She wanted to be a good friend to others, to not be so dependent on just one person, but to not feel like such an outcast either.

Emily swallowed her fear and nodded, projecting a genuine smile of acceptance and gratitude. After all, there was still the one in a million chance against her insecurity that these girls really did want to get to know her a bit more. Even if it was for just this single moment. Emily's smile evolved into a relieved grin.

"I'd love to dance with you both," she said.

She held out her hands, one to each girl that stood either side of her, hoping they would take them. Emily needed the company, that was a fact. How this would progress was anyone's guess but at that moment, Emily just wanted to feel a part of a group nonetheless. And right now, opportunity wasn't knocking on her door... It was breaking it down.
_{Word Count: 299}

@Kaitlyn Connor @Emily Shephard


Elisa bit her lip. She knew a few dance steps, of course, and her mother had said that she danced beautifully. But mothers were mothers, and you couldn't believe everything they say about their children. Even if she did dance well, she wasn't so sure if she wanted to dance in front of others.

Why did you come here in the first place? A ballroom is a room to dance in! Elisa thought wearily. She wondered if she should make up an excuse and leave. Probably not. That would be rude, and the last thing Elisa wanted was for someone to think her as rude. Especially since the other two girls were already offering to dance.

"Sure. I- sure..." Elisa said hesitantly. As she didn't know what else to say, she asked if they should put on some music.

She practiced the few dance steps she knew in her head. One two three, one two three... Elisa recited, picturing her body dancing. Unconsciously, her feet shuffled from side to side, following the dance steps in her head. She went on for a few seconds until she realised what she was doing. She quickly stopped and looked up to see the other two girls staring at her. Her face turned scarlet.

"Uh... I- I was just... Practi- I mean, should we dance then?"

Interacting with : Reducio @Emily Shephard, @Elisa Wagner

Outfit: Reducio

Notes: Reducio Speech: #3CB371 Thoughts: italics

Despite feeling anxious, Kaitlyn gave both girls a bright smile. The first girl held out her hands, after agreeing to dance. She quickly took the girl’s hand and held it, then she offered her remaining hand to the second girl. Her hands were warm, despite her anxiety. A fact that she was thankful for. ‘I can’t believe I just asked two girls I don’t even know to dance. I’m glad I didn’t mess it up … I don’t want to mess this up. One seems upset, while the other seems just as shy as I feel. And I didn’t want to be rude to them by dancing by myself,’ she thought.

The second girl mentioned something about music and Kaitlyn shook her head. “I don’t know how to. I can’t play muggle music, and I don’t know how to charm instruments to play,” she admitted sheepishly. She smiled brightly at the second girl, who looked like she was practicing. ‘That looks adorable.’ The thought never crossed her mind that by offering to dance, she could be fueling anxiety.

“Don’t worry; neither of us will judge you by how you dance,” Kaitlyn responded softly and kindly. “Um, since there’s three of us, I’m thinking we spin around in a circle together. We can start nice and slow. Is that all right with both of you?” she offered, waiting for the second girl to take their hands. She didn’t want either of them to feel intimidated by her, but she also didn’t want to devolve to her normal inability to talk, either.

Reducio

Note: 260 words