The yearly galas were always highly anticipated in the Murrey home. The early mornings began with a flurry of movement. Fluffy sparkling fabrics piled high on top of the house elves as they rushed from room to room. The clatter of makeup supplies toppling over on trays as they get whisked down the halls. Tabitha relished in the movement and the luxury of it all.

The approach to the venue, however, was always Tabitha's favorite part. The dress that had been chosen out for her was a light mauve with a soft sleek top and a frilly tulle skirt that bounced and shimmered with each step. Her hair was up in a complicated braid that had taken far too long to be pinned perfectly into place with dozens of sparkling clips wove in. And lastly, she had finally (finally!) convinced her mother to let her wear some makeup, so there was a sparkling blush lightly dotting her cheeks and a slivery eyeshadow to complete the look. She may not have been wearing a crown, but Tabitha certainly felt like royalty.

As the Murrey's scaled the steps to the gala, Tabitha fell in line with Jessabelle, "It will be so pretty inside, we're going to have a wonderful time," Tabitha's quietly muttered words seemed to soothe the jitters that her seven-year-old sister had clearly been dealing with. It would be her first gala not at home, though it was Tabitha's sixth or seventh.

Once they reached the entrance, Tabitha's parents were the first to be announced and they strode in side by side. Edison, her older brother, went next. Tabitha after him, as the middle child. Jessabelle would be last, but Tabitha was quickly swept up in the excitement, and her attention was tugged away, as she was welcomed into the room. The room was perfectly set, the proper amount of opulence that made that excited energy wash over Tabitha.

As much as she yearned to be set free from her parents to seek out the other girls her age and admire their dresses and talk eagerly of their lives ahead of them, she had to do her duties and stick with her parents for the numerous painful introductions. She kept the pleasant smile on her face and her back straight as she joined with her parents who had already found another family to greet. There was always an intricate dance to how her parents spoke at these sort of arrangements, and Tabitha learned to tolerate it for long enough that their attention was drawn otherwise and she could sneak away. Much like Edison already managed to.

"Congratulations to your Esme. Tabitha received her letter around the same time, as well," Tabitha felt the squeeze of her mothers hand wrapped around her arm and Tabitha smiled and nodded, unsure if there was a cue to say anything-- it was usually best to stay quiet, anyhow.

When the other girl, who Tabitha assumed was Esme, stepped forward to introduce herself, Tabitha's mother's hand dropped from her shoulder and Tabitha knew she was almost free to do as she pleased. Tabitha took Esme's hand with an equally polite smile. "It is nice to meet you as well. This place is gorgeous,"

By the manner that Esme already seemed to speak, Tabitha knew she had to match that tone. She was a bit out of experience compared to some of the others at events whom she had met who, apparently, had tutors specifically for prepping for these events. Maybe, after tonight, Tabitha would finally ask her mother for one. The last thing she wanted was to have a social blunder that stuck to her reputation. Though now wasn't the time to worry about such things, it was time to enjoy a pleasant night.

@Esme Hestridge

Tabitha came to the conclusion that this girl, Esme, was particularly difficult to read. She knew that she didn't have the same skills as her mother or her aunt when it came to determining someone's intent or emotions, but Esme proved to be exceptionally difficult to know anything about. She had that same practiced grace that Tabitha had seen in plenty of other Pureblood children. But there was not much showing through the cracks. There was an element to the way that Esme looked Tabitha over that she wasn't sure was genuinely getting to know her or some sort of critic about some facet of Tabitha's appearance. Her own nervousness slipped as she ran her hands along the tulle of her skirt once before clasping them in front of her once more.

Thankfully the moment of appraisal was short lived as Tabitha's compliment on the space seemed to lift Esme's mood. It hadn't been an empty compliment. The place was, indeed, incredible. Though Tabitha couldn't recall any event which she had attended that hadn't been incredible.

When Esme's gaze returned to Tabitha, she internally scrambled for one of the conversation topics that her mother had briefed her with. The location, the nature of the event, moments in life to be proud of, moments in life to look forward to. Those were the safest. Before Tabitha could blurt out something off topic, Esme returned the attention to her attire.

"Oh, thank you," A bright smile worked it's way to overshadow the polite one she had donned. She gave a small dip, not quite a curtsey, to show how the fabric seemed to bounce and shimmer in the light at once. She seemed to delight in it with a childlike honesty.

Before she got too caught up in herself, Tabitha gave Esme's outfit a look over as well, "I love the color of your dress. . . and the shimmer," The last part seemed to be a rushed add-on, feeling that the compliment wasn't good enough. Her attention as then brought to the pendant around her neck and Tabitha touched her own collarbone, "And your necklace, it's beautiful,"

Esme's mother stepped in for a moment and Tabitha quickly stopped talking. Her polite attitude resumed full force with that small measured smile. When Esme started walking, Tabitha was quick to follow. Tabitha saw the grace and poise that Esme strode with and attempted to mimic it, though she didn't nearly have that same effortlessness about it.

Tabitha took the drink and gave it a smell and a quick taste, smiling her gratitude.

"I am very excited," Tabitha returned the phrase, these were topics she had practiced many times. "I'm not sure. I think it would be fun to be sorted into Gryffindor with my brother. Though I am sure it would be nice to get a break from him, as well," Her gaze drifted over the other guests, wondering what group he had found for himself. He was always so much better at making friends than she was.

"I would love to see the Hufflepuff Common Room, though," That seemed to be an afterthought. Though, by the not decisive nature of her replies, it was likely she had already known that was something she could say, "What about you?"

@Esme Hestridge