Claire looked around. Oh, God. She didn't know anyone here! Groooooan. But still, she was going to make the best of it. She hung out on the edge of the dance floor, a little creeped out by all the ghosts. She only came because Nearly-Headless Nick was so nice helping her find her classes. Standing there, Claire couldn't help but sing along to the music, even when they're originally weren't words.

Knees brought up to her chin and hands wrapped around her legs, Ryden stared glumly at the dance floor. Her eyes followed Orlando's movements tirelessly, and whenever he came into contact with the awful Gryffindor girl she felt a flame of anger well up inside her. She was so focused she hardly noticed as the ghost of honor arrived, much less the one who took of his head. At any other circumstance that would have made Ryden vomit, but she hardly spared it a look now.

Too much awesome. GOSH. He wasn't even TRYING to mellow it down. The fifth year's nails dug into her palms as she fought the urge to scream with frustration. She had never honestly had a best friend like Orlando seemed to have with this monstrosity, but she'd SEEN friends and how they acted around each other and THIS just seemed MORE than that.

Oh no. Had he told her about Ryden? Merlin, he probably had. Gah, she could just SEE them sitting in their quaint little common room - not even on a different FLOOR from hers - and talking ALL ABOUT Ryden and her difficult life. He probably thought that the girl would understand, but Ryden didn't want her pity. She didn't want ANYONE'S pity. Then again, she doubted if the girl would pity, should she hear. She'd probably pretend she cared, then go spread a horrible rumour around or something.

But no - spreading rumours would require people to actually know who Ryden is. And apart from the eventful Astronomy lesson last term, she'd kind of kept under the radar as far as she knew. Heck, before this year began, Orlando had been the ONLY person she'd exchanged more than twenty words with. And that included the teachers.

How pathetic was she? Knowing only her boyfriend. A boyfriend who, clearly, was not missing her one tiny little bit. She could see from his expression - he was always happy. It was part of why Ryden had started liking him. Orlando Renaldi was happy, no matter what. Clearly, that meant more than she'd thought.

Ryden was snatched out of her thoughts as Orlando brought Evil!Gryffie girl closer and put his hand around her waist, while the other went to hold her hand. And then the girl responded, effectively bringing them very close together. The blonde had been sure she'd NEVER cry over boys, but MERLIN, she was so close now.

It was when the Slytherin first year fainted that she lost it. THEY DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE. THAT GIRL DIDN'T SPARE THE TINY THING A GLANCE. Fisting her hands, Ryden jumped out of the shadows and strode over to their little group, fury etched everywhere on her.

... But what was she going to say?

To spare herself the headache, she knelt instead by the side of the girl who had passed out. "Not that you CARE, or anything," she said LOUDLY, so that both Orlando and Queen Mean could hear clearly, "but you two need to snap out of it and help this girl wake up. It's only DECENT, something I do not believe you are too familiar with."

And WHY, for MERLIN'S SAKE, were her hands SHAKING?

"Well let me help distract you JaiJai.." Super Cassie pout. She was his best bud, he SHOULD let HER make HIM feel better. She was not taking no for an answer, not when he was so obviously bummed out. She wasn't going to ask him why though..because..welll she knew.

She took both his hand and started pulling him towards the center."Just for a little bit okay? Remember when we used to dance when we were younger?" yeah before all the teen angst and dramz started.

She beamed at him when he said she looked good." Twice in one night? I'm on a roll, thank you...you look good too." She looked over her shoulder at Marilyn and Jon."Marilyn is over there dancing with Jon."

...

What the heck was she on about?!?! And why was she shouting like a mad person at a PARTY?! And not just ANY party. The party for Sir Nicholas de Mimsy- Porpington. Thank you VERY much. The girl was bad out of order and needed to cool her jets. Shooting the girl a look of disdain she was puzzled... Lexi was not sure who the girl was to be perfectly honest about it... she looked vaguely familiar, but that was about it. Quirking her eyebrow she looked down and EEEEEP!

Letting go of Orlando she rushed to Harlow's side and frowned. "Well wouldn't it have been prudent to attempt to help her yourself as opposed to shouting at us about something that was not our fault?" Lexi asked in a cross tone. "If you aren't helping then move back and give her some air, please." Feh.

Renverate would NOT work since she had not been petrified... so Lexi brushed Harlow's hair off of her forehead and cooed at her, "Harlow honey. It's okay... come on wake up." Sighing she took out her wand and conjured a swatch of cloth and promptly cast Aguamenti to dampen it a bit. Then she pressed the damp cloth to her little friend's forehead.

She paid no mind to the ridiculous blonde girl who had shouted for some unknown reason... her main focus was on helping Harlow. She had NOT heard the TINY thump over the music and her back HAPPENED to be to her when she fainted. So the lunatic blonde one had NO reason to be upset with her so far as SHE knew. HMPH for LIFE crazy person.

"I laugh all the time!" Ashley said, sounding a little offended. He wasn't, really. He'd just heard way too many times that he was cold and boring, and didn't have a sense of humor. So he didn't often have a reason to laugh, and so he didn't do it all of the time. That didn't mean he couldn't! Just to prove that point, he also stuck out his tongue a little, very briefly. Alright, yeah, that wasn't something he did all too much. Really, he couldn't remember the last time he had.

Blinking again, he then shut his eyes tightly, again a very brief moment, hoping they would still be purple when he opened them. No one else had noticed so far, and he didn't want to have to start explaining now. "Anyway, I was going to try the food over there earlier, but I thought it would be rude," he said, the words bringing a slight smile to his face. "I mean, as far as I know, the ghosts can't eat our food, so what will they do if I eat all of theirs?"
He was guessing on that one, but it made sense, based on the things he had been told and the things he'd read. And it sounded like a good reason for him not to touch it, so he could pretend it wasn't because of how gross it all was.

He wanted to smile too but couldn't. Jai allowed Cassie to pull him unto the dance floor but didn't move."Cass, I'm really not in the mood. Please, I..." he said. But Jai knew she wouldn't stop until she saw some change.

So, he went along and started swaying a bit to the music. "Ok, one dance, then I'm done." he said.

He started moving a little more along with the music.

"Thanks. I try." he said with a slight smirk. He looked over her shoulder to where she nodded. "Nice. Where's the boyfriend?"

"Mommy," she murmured as he eyes fluttered open. It took her awhile to focus on the face floating around her face. Harlow didn't recognize the blonde girl in front of her. "You're not my mommy." she told the girl with a small smile.

SHE WAS ON THE FILTHY FLOOR IN A WHITE ROBE!

She rested back on the floor to keep the room from spinning, but it wasn't easy just laying on the floor. She wanted to rush off to the showers and the laundry rooms, but the damp cloth against her forehead from Lexi's hand was helping with the throbbing.

Harlow reached out and grabbed Lexi's hand to help her stand up. She looked around trying to remember why she had fainted. The memory slammed back into her head and she squeaked and attached herself to Lexi, "He pulled his head off," she said in a panicked voice.

The sound of chains was heard before his presence was even felt. Floating into the room, the Bloody Baron made his entrance. He said nothing as he floated through the dance floor glaring at everyone.

Rafe came in rather casually. He didn't know what to expect. It wasn't everyday that you were invited to a Death Day party. Rafe actually was thinking back and he could remember attending this his first year. That was crazy. There was a mob started or something like that from what he could remember.

But, that was besides the point. Ever since he danced with Marilyn he couldn't get it out of his head. He was actually secretly practicing to perfect his ballroom dancing skills. Rafe had a feeling he might need to use them in the future. He didn't stop at the waltz, but tried other dances like the samba, salsa, tango and Viennese Waltz.

Now, to find someone to practice these dancing skills with...

Ah, there was Marilyn...and she was dancing with another guy. Dang it! Rafe tried to get a closer look, and they guy looked really awkward and kind of uncomfortable, hopefully that would be an opening for Rafe to step in.

He walked right up to the guy and tapped the younger fella on the shoulder. "Excuse me, but do you mind if I cut in?" Rafe raised an eyebrow. Please let this not be awkward.

Maddy found this funny.
haha, she giggles as the bloddy ghost glared at everyone as he floated through. Way to liven it up. "greetings barron".

"well it is a death day party" replied Maddy. swaying to the ghostly music. She began humming along, it was a bit hypnotising.

Marilyn smirked at him, feeling totally accomplished. It was nice to know she hadn't lost her touch...It hadn't been hard at all to get this younger Slytherin to do what she wanted.

Maybe sometimes being nice was all it took...

Cassie had spotted...Jai? looking upset and had went to him. Her friend was just compassionate like that. Giving Jon a look, she grabbed his other hand and continued to dance with him...

When someone's voice rang out over the eerie tones of the band, Marilyn froze.

Why Why WHY?

Her eyes snapped to meet his instinctively. "Absolutely not. I'm dancing with my fellow Slytherin right now...You'll just have to dance with someone else..."

Turning her attention back to Jon, she sighed. Rafe was persistent, the blonde would give him that...It was coming to a point, though.

'I didn't say you didn't! I just feel happy because I made you laugh!' Rose bounced. She stuck her tongue out at him 'Aw, I'm leading you astray!' she teased.

'Aw, they were a pretty colour! Why are they purple?' Rose asked as she tried to look into his eyes. Pretty difficult if they have their eyes closed... She remembered them though! 'Bright purple...' she murmured to herself. She shook her head. 'Very pretty colour, anyway, I'm stuck with blue...' she sighed.

'The Ghosts can't eat any food, not even their own!' Rose said sadly. She didn't know how she knew all this... She did like chatting with the Ghosts, though, that could be why, they must have said it to her at one point! 'So, you could eat it, not sure if you'd like to, but they do have cake!' Rose said, her bright blue eyes twinkling. This was the twinkle she got on many occasions:
1. Quidditch.
2. Happiness.
3. Person she likes.
4. Hyperness!
Okay, four occasions, so what!?

When Raven saw many students danced, she met the Slytherin ghost, Bloody Baron

"Sounds cool, I've never met Bloody Baron before." said her.


"Why don't you came with Grey Lady?" asked Raven.

Ashley really didn't want to talk about his eyes at the moment. They usually went completely unnoticed, and so he didn't have to worry about it too much. Now he was going to be self-conscious and worried all of the time. Concentrating on purple, purple, purple, he just smiled, shaking his head a little. Just because it bothered him didn't mean he had to let it show.
"Blue is really nice too!" he said, actually taking a moment to look at them. He was right, though. But he looked away quickly, concentrating hard on purple.

"They can't eat the food, but I think they like to look at it. Or... something?" That he wasn't too sure of. He had actually been told what was up with the whole food situation as well, but that had slipped his mind at the moment. And either way, he really wasn't serious about wanting to eat the food, so he had to think of whatever excuse he could to get out of that and still look cool. Alright, not cool. He never looked cool. But at least he could try not to look stupid.
"You seem to really be into cake," he couldn't help but observe.

Just suddenly he heard the chain sounds, turning to see where they were coming from. That wasn't hard to figure out, though, and he watched the Baron float along, about to greet him when he noticed the glare. Even so, he spoke anyway, to be polite. "Good evening, Baron," he said, inching closer to Rose to nudge her a little, in case she hadn't noticed. Alright, he just thought it was really cool.

Dancing. Smiling. Partying.

Yeah, something most Hogwarts students don't do on a normal basis. Parties should be held more often in school. But then again, everyone would just be completely bored of studying and more professor would deduct points.

Jonathan stopped dancing when a guy came up to them. Jonathan seen him try-out for quidditch this term. he was quite good and really fast. Jonathan loves quidditch that's all.

"Uhmmm sure" Jonathan said. The more the merrier right?

...But out from nowhere Jonathan didn't notice that Marilyn herself stopped dancing too. From the looks of it, she knows the guy. Well, obviously they should know each other. He's from the same year as her right?

Speaking of which, Jonathan should also know his own batch. Seriously, he doesn't that many people besides from the Slytherin and a couple of people from other house. Weird.

Blink.

No???? Did she just disagree? Jonathan's head looked at her and back at the guy. "I-it's o-okay. Really" Jonathan said.

Yes yes she knew all that. He was not in the mood, he was all mopey and wanted to find a corner to curl up in. She got it the first time but did he not get that she was going to change that? Jeez boys could be so thick. But he had let her take him to the dance floor which meant she was making progress, booyah.

He was dancing!!! How exciting! She pulled him in closer to her and started doing the dead man waltz properly this time instead of the silly dancing she had been doing with Marilyn and Jon.

Cassie chuckled."I suppose you get a B+ for trying." She turned her head slightly so she could see where Jai was looking." Where's who's boyfriend? Mine or Marilyn's?"

Elsie walked into the party for Nearly Headless Nick. Who knew a goast could throw such a good party, everyone seemed to be having a great time. Elsie looked around and only recognised one person. Raven who she had met at the library earlier this week. She walked over and noticed Raven was talking to a Goast.
"Hey Raven! Remember me?" Elsie smiled at them. "Having a good time? This party looks awesome!"

"Oh, Hi Elsie!" greeted Raven to the gryffindor girl. "Yeah, I enjoy the band. Sounds cool the death skeleton can play the musical band just like now " said her. Noticed that Elsie was alone. Raven asked her.

"By the way, Are you alone here?"

Elsie was suddenly worried. Was it weird to be here alone? "Some of my friends are meeting me later, I was just so impatient I wanted to come a check it out early." And she was really happy she did. The place looked amazing, and Raven was right the band was alright. Better then she expected! "What about you? Did you come alone?"Elsie said looking around, trying to see anyone that she might be here with.
"Hey how did your Quidditch Tryouts end up going?" Elsie asked remembering their last conversation in the library.

"Oh yeah, I supposed to be alone. But I met my friend here at the bowling arena." said Raven calm. Oh yeah, she remembered Elsie, Maddy and her was talking about quidditch tryouts at the library. The tryouts? She have done her best performance at the first tryout and missed the second one because she had terrible flu (until now!) she was afraid she couldn't join the next.

"The tryouts? Not bad, but I miss today and maybe tomorrow because I still had terrible flu. Huatchii!"

It was Halloween which meant it was Nearly Headless Nick's deathday which meant it was Fee's birthday which meant he needed to find that gurl. Hugo walked into an area where a... Skeleton band was playing. He should dance with Fee here since... He kinda didn't at that lesson. HE DIDN'T KNOW SHE WAS THERE So now he was on a quest to find his girlfriend and spend some more time with her.

Marilyn looked at Jon and then looked to Rafe again. She desperately did NOT want to dance with him for a second time. Being close to this particular Gryffindor would only cause problems...The blonde knew. It was just best for her to keep distance between them.

After all, she was trying to make things work with another Gryffindor at the moment.

Her heart gave a painful jolt at the thought...and she knew it was showing on her face.

Oh well...

"I don't want to dance with Rafe, Jonathan..."

...And she didn't expect to see the Baron this quick. "Haven't seen you in a while, Sir. How was your summer?" greets Aiden who apparently added her sarcastic question.

"Bless you!" Elsie said to what she assumed to be a sneeze, though with the music playing she was not exactly sure. "I hope you feel better!" Elsie said sympathetically. And she really meant it! She absolutely hated being sick, it meant she had to be boring and stay inside all day. And for Elsie there was nothing worse than being bored!

"That's good! I was a little off my game, I was surprised at how good everyone was! I'm going to try my absolute hardest next time though! I really want to make the team!" she said. Though she was preparing herself for disappointment, she knew it would be nearly impossible for her at the moment but she knew she would eventually make the team, even is it wasn't this year! "What position did you try out for? I'm tring out for chaser, my next try out is tomorrow."

"Thanks." answered Raven. She didn't know will she join tomorrow. She was not very healthy.

"I am also try to be a chaser. I think I'm not too bad, I often played it with my brother at backyard. Huatchi!" She was sneezing again. Maybe because she liked to spend her boredom at the lake? Dunno exactly.