The Mad Queens Dance Pv

There were only a few days left before the Fall Ball and for once Elsian had actually put effort into getting ready for it rather than waiting until the last minute. A true miracle! Surely an omen that the world was going to end, and this ball would go down in a mess of flames and possible invasion of some horrible magical beast. But omens and possible jinxing due to Elsian finally being semi responsible with time management everyone should have been very proud of the sleepy boy.

Said efforts and significant cut back on napping between classes and sleeping in had resulted in the Gryffindor finishing his very totally not late, and very well thought out invitation asking a certain Mad Queen to go with him!

5 days before the ball. Honestly, it had to be a record or something.

…Ok it was 3 days before the ball but that was STILL a huge deal for Elsian.

In fact, it was the very reason he’d dragged himself to breakfast at all. The boy had been quite content to come last minute or simply skip any other day, but he’d wanted to make sure Queenie actually got the package. There would be no hilarious switcheroo on his watch. No, that would be too much effort to deal with and he was already at his effort limit. Well, that…and he also wanted to see his friend's reaction. It was always a 50/50 whether or not she’d laugh or get that look on her face, the one she made when she was thinking about something, planning. Queenie was smart after all.

Of course, it’d be a lie to say this was all just to be nice. Inviting Logan this way that is.

No no, Elsian had been sure to only leave vague hints that he was the one to send this invite, very careful to leave his friend with at least a few doubts. Why? A game! Everyone liked games, a challenge, one to go with this year's theme. He’d thought it a fun idea, a little mystery where they’d need to race to find the other first. One might think it in his favor, but Logan was clever, far cleverer than him, the boy wouldn’t be surprised if she found him at the dance first, but he did hope to try and win the hunt.

In fact-

Speak of the feathery devils.

Elsian fought back a grin, turning to the conversation at hand at his table. Something about hair. Hair and outfits for the ball, it wasn’t hard to look interested in the conversation when a girl described how she was gonna try and make a swan out of her hair. But it was a battle to not simply stare at Logan from across different tables when the ‘invitation’ was finally dropped off by a school owl.

Package

Reducio

Delivered by an owl, like any other mail, a box wrapped in simple brown paper and plain twine; it was a rather bland thing at first glance.

Said package was on the smaller side, there would be no grand brooms or large gifts from this mysterious gift, for that's what it was. A mystery.

Dropped off with the smallest of thumps and no tag or writing to show who had sent it, suspicious some would say, perfectly normal for others with forgetful loved ones, no matter one's suspicions or thoughts however it would remain a mystery perhaps until opened; the only hint a single tag tied to the twine on red paper with the name Logan Baird written in black ink and a silly doodle of a crown.

Simply part the twine and the paper would fall away to reveal a shiny black box with deep red ribbon pulled tight in a large bow. Little bits of black and red tissue paper stick out between the top of the box where it pops outward lightly, as if something is pressing against it. Only the red bow holds it at bay.

Slip off the bow and-

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POP!

Bits of black and crimson confetti showered the immediate area outside the box with the pop of the boxes top, a light shower of neon green glitter, eerie and toxic looking flying alongside the confetti like a brief cloud of something poisonous. Parting the dark paper, flying up and held down only by the thin red ribbon tied around each stick and spelled to the bottom of the box were the culprits of the box popping open. Simple, flat lollipops, toxic green and shimmering red.

Despite the colors, it was anyone's guess what the flavor of each candy was. Open plucking one off the ribbon and unwrapping it, it would become evident colors were not an indicator of flavor.

But these were not the only things in the box. Individually wrapped and held closed by black ribbon were 2 caramel apples tucked in between paper in the middle of the box. One a sour green and the other a ruby red, both dipped in caramel dyed an inky black. The sticks for each looked to be strong gray twigs from a tree, long dried and clean, one couldn’t be sure if they were real or just decorated that way, but the final look was eerie either way.

Both equally delicious, but one of the 2 had a little surprise. Paper, black and thin could be uncoiled from the stick, red ink on the paper.


A note.

‘A dance at the ball is what I ask. Yet I pose a challenge, a hunt in fact, the winner shall be the first to find the other!’

‘But fairer still are you Mad Queen, not even rags can hide beauty or grace from me, So a hint. Find or steal the copy of this gift, in plain sight it will be, no mirror will be needed for thee.’

Another glance around the box would reveal…a walnut? No, a fake. A box to be opened with a bracelet inside, a simple thin golden chain with star charms.

But one had to wonder, was it the walnut or the stars that was the hint? Another trick maybe?