a starlight night — open

[Katherine Dankworth]

"The Honourable Dankwroth House
Cordially Invites You
To a Grand Ball in Celebration of the Season

On the Evening of
Tuesday, the Twenty-Ninth of August
At Nine O’Clock

The Venue: Blackthorn Hall, Countryside
A Night of Splendour and Grace Awaits.

Dress Code:
Formal Attire with Silver Elegance Encouraged

Kindly RSVP by Owl
No Later Than the Twenty-Second of August"

The sun had just set, and Blackthorn Hall was bubbling with expectation, last minute errands, and nervous servants that knew that was the most important moment of the year for their master, William Dankworth III, who awaited on the entrance, ready to greet his guests. He wasn’t very thrilled, though, because even if he was very good at pretending it, he wasn’t a man who enjoyed these kinds of gatherings. Especially at this moment in history, where lesser families had managed to become powerful enough to get an invite to a party that for decades was hosted only for a small group of worthy people. Still, no muggleborn wizards, nor blood traitors, had been invited personally. Even if he wanted to expand his connections, and of course, his wealth, he had his limits, and wasn’t about to completely break them.

The ballroom was completely decorated and exuded luxury, with flying silver candles lighting the roof, emulating the night sky and expensive bouquets of peonies —Katherine’s favorite flowers, because William Dankworth surely wanted to appear as a dedicated father, at least in public— were placed all around the tables. A group of musicians was put in the center of the room, and had started playing an enchanting melody to receive the arriving guests. They were glasses full of different juices, lemonade, mulled mead, fire whisky, and elf-made wine. The tables were filled with plates with the most delicious appetizers, from cheese fondues to delicate pasties. And in the air there was something like a silver glitter, giving the ballroom a foggy, almost mystic, appearance that made everything so much more amazing. William Dankworth had, of course, thought about almost every detail.

Katherine, on her part, was waiting besides her father, to greet everyone with a polite smile that seemed improper for her for those who really knew her. She was wearing a sleek, floor-length, satin emerald green dress, with a bias cut and a simple yet dramatic open back, and a piece of jewelry in her neck that turned heads. A beautiful, incredibly expensive, necklace, with a halo of what seemed to be diamonds, and a teardrop shaped emerald at the center. As for her hair, she was wearing her hair wavy, tied into a low bun, bringing most of the attention to her face, and her necklace. Her father had chosen the piece, a family heirloom that she wasn’t normally allowed to touch, he wanted his daughter to display wealth, as the party was mostly a business deal. She thought, —humble as she was— she looked prettier than even, and she probably was right. That night, she was glowing, maybe helped by the fact that she wasn't with her usual sour expresion on her face.

Everyone who got an invitation started to arrive, and both of the Dankworths gave them a falsely warm salutation, as one servant offered to take the cloaks off the guests. And with that, the night began.

— Admin approved event.
— Every pureblood character gets an invitation. They are also allowed to bring a plus one, or their families, with no blood status requirement for them.
— The party is starlight themed, the guests are encouraged to wear silver.

[Oliver Min]

Silver - such an odd choice for a dress code.

"What exactly does silver elegance mean?" Oliver had asked aloud, holding the invitation in his hands. "Hell if I know. Let your mother figure it out," said his father. And she did. Coming from a family of (almost) exclusively Slytherins meant they had many such outfits with green and silver, and that was what he had ended up wearing. A simple black shirt and slacks, with a dark green coat with silver buttons and cuff links. Olivia fussed over her husband and son, though mainly the latter, ensuring that every piece of clothing was in place, that his hair was slicked back, not a strand out of place, that the silver pin on his lapel wasn't crooked. She repeated to him the manners expected in a pureblood formal event, which he parrotted back to her until she was satisfied.

Oliver complained and wondered if all such events were as tiresome, and his father confirmed that it was, and told him he should get used to it sooner rather than later. Oliver nodded. Fourteen was old enough to start making connections, Charles had said, announcing a day earlier that he would take his son instead of his wife as the plus one. He had grown four inches over the summer, almost matching his father in height, his voice no longer sounded cracked and nasal, he knew the basic steps to most ballroom dances, he knew enough to mingle with Britain's wizarding elite. He was ready.

Punctuality was a quality to be admired, so they made haste to the party. No such thing as fashionably late, just late, his father had said, apparating them in front of Blackthorn Hall. Taking one last moment to fix his tie and steel his nerves, Oliver then followed Charles into the extravagant mansion, squinting at the light inside. Why was the ballroom so glittery? He made no such comments as he met the hosts however. "William, lovely party, my friend," his father started, shrugging off his coat to the house elf and putting on an easy smile, "listen, we must talk soon about a new shipment of wand cores we're importing from Mandalay, perhaps over tea at Illume?"

As the adults talked, Oliver turned to Katherine, taking a quick moment to give her a once over, as was only proper. No doubt she spent many hours choosing the look. He liked the dress and the bun, but his eyes were drawn most to the egregiously large necklace, a mess of diamonds and emerald. It was so outward and beautiful that it circled back to being ugly. It demanded too much attention, overtook everything. Subtlety was an art, and the Dankworths, bless their hearts, did not grasp it in the slightest.

Katherine was also unnaturally polite and warm, which he thought was hilarious.

"Katherine," Oliver greeted coolly, extending his hand so that he may take her own and kiss her knuckles. "How was summer camp? Hope it wasn't too much trouble dealing with the mudbloods." He had been spared that tragic fate, as his family vacationed for the summer back in the Rakhine Coasts.

There was a line, so he moved quickly, greeting her father with a nod also before he moved off to the food tables, examining the many finger foods, and swiping a glass of wine, which was then taken by his father. "Behave," he reminded him before he walked off. Oliver stared at his back, clicked his tongue and settled for water and a treacle tart.

[Karina Ivansko]

Karina was excited for this event. Pureblood events were so much fun. With lots of games and power.

She even brought Vlad along.

The woman had taken her favourite green ornate ball gown and transfigured it with a radiant silver. She had picked some ornate jewelry too.

She waltzed up to the host of the event. With a thin smile. His display of wealth was fairly transparent. "William." Karina said as she extended her hand to him. "I guess this is nice enough. I mean for a middling event. I've been to many fancier events over the years of course with much more influential people."

Yes, that was a total power play. She was totally concealing the fact that she was impressed (which she was. This place was stunning, especially in contrast to her parents' place in Hackney). But if Karina wanted power, she needed to play this game. It was a very pureblood thing, to overestimate the impressiveness of what else she had done. To show off.

"But I don't have anything fancier tonight, so here I am."

Purebloods needed to master the whole power game thing. She had gained experiance at Yourburough in the whole art of power games.

Karina's thin smile grew even thinner.

"My name is Karina Ivansko. Wizengamont member and Headmistress of Hogwarts."

[Frederick Larson]

His watch had gotten more airtime than ever before, as Red Larson stood with his back against the wall and checked yet again what the time was.

"This is dragging.." He mumbled to his older sister, who had a baby on her hip and careful eyes watching her elder children dance with their cousins and father nearby. The trio were on child-watch whilst the matriarch and patriarch of the Larson's went mingling on their behalf. His brother, Sam, had accompanied his wife to gather some drinks for the rest of them. Red hoped he would be included as an adult tonight, he wasn't far off 18 anyways.

Rachael tugged at his suit, straightening it with a look of 'stand up straight' that had him rolling his eyes and doing what he was told. They had followed the theme by wearing silver. The males wore silver ties, cufflinks and belt buckles with their black suits whilst the women wore various silver dresses, paired with jewellery pieces that only came out for these types of events.

They certainly looked the part, even if they didn't usually act so prim and proper at home.

Red's eyes scanned the crowd, looking for a familiar face to escape to. He couldn't help but avoid eye contact as he watched his Headmistress enter the hall. She most likely wouldn't recognise him individually, not being in Slytherin and all, but it still felt much like being caught with his pants down to see her outside of Hogwart's walls.

The childish conception that she lived there had been shattered. It was always odd seeing teachers outside of school.

As his hand was pulled downwards, pairing with a wave of small arms that was one of his young nieces demanding she be picked up, Red began to plot ways that he could pull a sickie and get out of here.

[Cordelia Von Stein]

Cordelia stood in her bedroom, the invitation to the Dankworths' ball laid out on her vanity, the crisp parchment edged with silver gleaming faintly in the soft candlelight. Her hair, a stormy blue streaked with silver, mirrored her inner turmoil. Attending a grand ball hosted by the formidable William Dankworth III was nerve-wracking enough, but wanting to make a good impression—especially for Katherine’s sake—turned it into a monumental challenge.

She’d spent hours deliberating over whether to go. Her usual confidence felt distant, eclipsed by the weight of expectation and the reality that this was no ordinary gathering. The Dankworths were as old and proud a family as her own, and every detail mattered. More than that, Katherine would be there, watching, perhaps even judging. Cordelia wanted to be worthy of standing by her side, even in the smallest way.

For the first time, she found herself reaching out to her grandfather, Reginald Von Stein. His advice was something she usually avoided like a curse—he was sharp, exacting, and more than a little intimidating—but if anyone understood the politics of these gatherings, it was him. Who knew this girl she had only met over summer would change her resolve so much? She stepped into his study where he often held court, her heels clicking softly against the marble floors.

“Grandfather,” she began, her voice more tentative than she liked. True it was odd for her to address him in that way rather than just by his first name, but she hoped it would soften his resolve a bit. Reginald glanced up from his armchair, his piercing grey eyes immediately fixing on her. “I… I’ve received an invitation to the Dankworths’ ball.” She gestured to the parchment she carried. “I want to attend, but I need your advice.”

Reginald’s thin brows arched slightly, and he set down his glass of elf-made wine. “The Dankworths, you say? William Dankworth is no fool, and his standards are as high as his ambition. A challenging crowd for someone… unseasoned. Why the sudden interest in such events?”

Cordelia hesitated, her now pink-tinged hair betraying her nerves. “I just… think it’s important. The connections. And I want to make a good impression, for Kate....” The name slipped out before she could stop it, and she immediately regretted it under her grandfather’s scrutinizing gaze.

Reginald’s lips quirked into a knowing smirk. “Ah. For Katherine. I see.” He leaned back in his chair, steepling his fingers giving her a knowing look. Cordelia did not give up that she hoped to be more than a friend to Katherine to her grandfather as she knew if she did he would forbid her going at all. “Very well. If you wish to impress the Dankworths, and her father in particular, you must be flawless—your attire, your etiquette, your composure. Every detail matters. William respects strength and refinement, but he abhors pretension. Be confident, but not arrogant. Understood?”

Cordelia nodded, her determination hardening. “Understood.”

The Night of the Ball

When the night of the ball arrived, Cordelia stood at the entrance to Blackthorn Hall, her nerves barely hidden behind a poised exterior. She wore a deep sapphire gown, its fitted bodice and flowing skirt adorned with intricate silver embroidery that shimmered like starlight. Her hair was styled into an elegant updo, streaked with silver that complemented her ensemble. Around her neck hung a delicate family heirloom—an understated diamond pendant that Reginald himself had selected, his final stamp of approval for the night.

As the servant took her cloak, she stepped into the dazzling ballroom. The golden-silver lighting reflected off the jewels, the silver mist in the air adding to the magic of the moment. She spotted Katherine immediately, standing beside her father in her striking emerald dress, a vision of poise and beauty that made Cordelia’s heart race. For a brief moment, her hair flashed pink again, but she quickly willed it back to its polished silver.

She approached the Dankworths, her heart pounding as she prepared to greet them. “Mr. Dankworth, Miss Dankworth,” she said with a respectful nod, her voice steady and warm. “Thank you for hosting such a magnificent evening. Blackthorn Hall is truly breathtaking.”

Her eyes flickered to Katherine, just for a moment, her words lingering unspoken: I hope I’m good enough to be here—with you.

[Katherine Dankworth]

William was incredibly uncomfortable in the eerie ballroom, making an effort to not be constantly trying to clean the silver dust that fell into his shirt. He’d rather prefer something much more sober, even boring, like all the things he planned, but he had let Katherine and the Housekeeper to plan something much more spectacular. He was, though, stopping himself to yell at his daughter then and there, a thing he did often when they were in private, but knew he couldn’t do in front of all these important people.

The firsts ones to arrive were Charles Min and his son, Oliver. He greeted them both and then walked a little apart from the kids to discuss business with the formidable man. Katherine, on her side, was stuck with Oliver, whom she knew didn’t like her, and she didn’t quite like him either. But she had to be polite to everyone who crossed those doors, so she smiled gently at the boy. “Summer Camp was a nightmare. Some filthy kids stole my books. You should actually consider yourself pretty lucky you weren’t stuck there. Anyways, have a good night.”


Katherine had put on her fixed smile just when Karina Ivansko showed up. Her father, who had excused himself to Oliver to come back and greet the rest of the guests, raised his eyebrows at the woman's statement. Even if he didn’t know her personally, he was well aware of her ways. Katherine, on the other hand, was just completely starstruck.

“Good evening, Karina. Glad you like it.” He said, in a rather dry tone, usual to him, as she took the woman’s hand and kissed her knuckles as a sign of respect. “And I suppose you already know my daughter, Katherine.”

“It’s such a pleasure to finally meet you personally, Headmistress.” Katherine had to make an effort to not just blurt out the words, and sound more like her normal self —at least, when she felt like it—, cool and polite at the same time. “I’m actually planning on doing an independent study, which I think you’d really enjoy. And good evening, Vlad. How are you doing’”

She smiled again towards the kid, wishing she had only Karina so her attention could focus on her. But she knew that ignoring her child wouldn’t gain her any points with the Headmistress, so she focused on being especially nice to Vlad. But she was the most eager to talk to the headmistress, hoping she would take interest in her and her investigations.


Then the Larsons arrived, and William offered them the same cool politeness he had shown previously. He complimented the mother’s dress, and personally offered a drink to the father, as well as saying hello to all the children, even though he didn’t really like anyone who was above the age of twenty six. Katherine recognized Frederick from the castle, though she didn’t really remember his name. So she went to say hello, offering him and his siblings a beaming smile while her father took care of the adults. “How are you liking the ballroom? I wouldn’t mind going to the dance floor later, if you join me. My name is Katherine, by the way.”


The last person she saw entering was Cordelia. Katherine let her father speak, who thanked her for the compliments, then took Cordelia by the hand and walked with her towards a big door. Her smile seemed more genuine this time, as she guided Cordelia to the moonlit terrace. “Thank Merlin you’re here. I was starting to feel nervous. And you look really, really beautiful, by the way.” And she meant it, looking quite dazzled the moment Cordie entered the room, or maybe just relieved she wasn’t going to be alone. “I have to come back in a minute to greet more people or my father will get incredibly mad. But I’ll look for you once the ball has really started.”

[Cordelia Von Stein]

Cordelia returned Katherine's smile warmly, her green eyes sparkling under the moonlight. She gave Katherine's hand a gentle squeeze. "Katherine, you don’t have to thank Merlin—I’m here because I promised I would be. You’ll never have to face anything alone as long as I’m around, remember? So don’t let your nerves get the best of you. And thank you—you look stunning, too. Like a proper star of the evening."

She leaned in slightly, lowering her voice conspiratorially. "Now go charm those guests before your father gets that look on his face. I’ll be here when you’re done."

As Katherine departed, Cordelia lingered on the terrace for a moment, watching her friend disappear into the crowd. Turning back towards the grand hall, she caught sight of a tall, familiar figure—Vlad Ivansko. Her eyes widened in surprise and delight. Was that really the same boy she used to know? He seemed to have grown at least a foot taller, his broad shoulders hinting at his rapid transformation.

Cordelia waved enthusiastically as she approached. "Vlad! Is that really you? Merlin’s beard, you’ve grown so much! Hogwarts better be ready for you—you’ll be towering over half the professors!"

She smiled warmly at Karina Ivansko, giving her a respectful nod. "Good evening, Headmistress. It’s wonderful to see you again. I imagine you must be so proud of Vlad starting at Hogwarts. You must have quite the stories from your time as professor and now Headmistress!!" Cordelia’s voice was polite but filled with genuine curiosity as she balanced addressing them both with equal charm.

[Cassius Ellwood-Luxe]

His retinue trailed along behind him, as though Cassius knew what, substantially, they were doing there.

There had been very few dealings with the Dankworths in Cassius' memory, likely since his grandfather's time, in the decade or two before the war. He had hardly made the acquaintance of any of their house, let alone reopened business handlings, whatever that might have entailed in a modern sense.

But an invitation was an invitation, his grandmother reminded him, and it wouldn't do to refuse a summons to an event at the scale that this one promised, especially if he-- as the face of the family, she loved to remind him-- wanted Ellwood-Luxe to remain a respected monolith, a time-tested mainstay of old blood.

It had been some time since the last real public show of the breadth of his house's reach. Cassius had had enough of spectacle early in his life, and it wasn't much to his taste to show force.

But now seemed as good a time as any for a substantial reminder. Bellestorm in office and an event like this...

Cassius was no fool. He could read the winds, see the tides shifting backward to a more conservative time. He'd railed against that to his-- to his family's-- own detriment, and any step backward for society where purebloods were concerned was a knife in the gut of all the work he'd done through the years.

No fewer-- and probably more, as he hadn't bothered counting-- than twenty individuals followed Cassius as he led them to the receiving line. He'd bid them wear ceremonial garb where they could, especially the heads of the cadet households, though the wives and children were more or less exempt to ordinary formal dress. Cassius himself wore long, heavy, burgundy damask robes, simply outfitted with golden cording and black belting at the waist, from which hung the ring of keys that symbolized his station as head of family. The family's coat of arms was embroidered over the left side of his chest, simple, lacking the marks of differencing that the heads of cadets would be wearing on their identical ceremonial cloaks.

(the ceremonial garb was something Eve loved to tease him over. It was stuffy and too warm to wear for long periods, but Merlin if it didn't make a statement--)

At the head of the line, Cassius motioned to his retinue to pause, and they fanned out just a little behind him. He let a moment pass as he allowed the full effect of their presence be felt before Cassius inclined his head to William Dankworth III, head of the Dankworth family.

"I am Cassius Atellus Ellwood-Luxe," he said. "Wizengamot member and Head of the Ellwood-Luxe family. We are honored by your invitation to your beautiful home."

"Allow me to introduce my mother, Cassiopeia, my grandmother, Aderyn, and my wife, Eve-- mistresses of Disgleirio by-the-sea."

He gestured to them in turn, and they each nodded to their host.

"Here also are my daughter, Keira, and son, Amycus. It is a pleasure to acquaint my family with yours. I shall allow the heads of the seven cadets to introduce themselves and their issue at their own pace."

Here, Cassius allowed himself a little smile. Dankworth would be occupied for some time with his relations at this rate.

Cassius bowed, hand over his heart, and nodded to those immediately around him, moving off into the room, offering his arm out to his mother. He turned just a smidge to aim the slightest smirk at Marius, who was immediately behind him as head of the second cadet.

[Katherine Dankworth]

William and Katherine had walked towards the entrance once more, as the servants had announced the arrival of a big party of people, the Ellwood-Luxe family, nonetheless. William didn’t really like Cassius, though. He thought he was too much of a liberal, making unnecessary changes to the well oiled machinery of pureblood families, and couldn’t help being cold towards him and his family. Nevertheless, it wasn’t much of a difference, as William was never warm to anyone, not even his own daughter.

“Welcome, Cassius. I’m glad your family could make it.” He offered his hand to the head of the family, pushing Katherine a little bit towards them so he could present her. “This is my daughter Katherine. Why don’t you go with her? Cassius and I have things to discuss.”

He was referring to the youngsters, Caius and Jack, but Katherine, who initially was going to offer one of her polite, fixed smiles, stopped in her tracks as soon as she saw who was holding Caius’ arm. She went a little pale, and the words failed to get out of her mouth. William was quick to notice, and he excused himself for a second, grabbing Katherine’s wrist with more strength than he should’ve had and whispering in her ear, acting like everything was perfectly fine towards Cassius, the smile not abandoning his face as he spoke. “I don’t know what this is about, and I don’t really care. But compose yourself, Katherine. For once, stop being such a disappointment.”

Katherine felt the tears fill her eyes, but she looked straight towards the lights in the roof. It was a trick that always helped her control herself when she felt like she was about to cry. After a second, she composed herself once more and walked towards the Ellwood-Luxe family, as William resumed his conversation about businesses with the patriarch. “I am really sorry. Good evening, Caius…. Rocío. And I assume you’re Jack. Nice to meet you.”

She was doing everything in her power to avoid exploding then and there, but instead, she had a better idea. It was easy to notice Caius and his cousin didn’t get along. And the cousin seemed the completely opposite of Caius, dumb and probably easy to manipulate. So the opportunity was clear as day. If Caius didn’t, at least a little, felt like she did, it shouldn’t matter, right? Not that she cared at the moment. Rocío’s presence at her own ball had made her feel weirdly betrayed by a boy who didn’t even know she liked him, and didn’t really owe her anything.

“Where have you been hiding? I can’t believe I didn’t notice such a handsome guy around Hogwarts.” She said softly, grabbing Jack by the arm as she guided the three guests towards the terrace. Something in her words was different this time, even if she didn’t really notice it, it wasn’t really difficult for a girl with her heritage to be attractive, even hypnotic. After complimenting him, she looked quickly at Caius, curious to see how his face looked like now she was openly flirting with his so hated cousin right in front of him, without an ounce of subtlety.

[Brutus Razi]

He’d just graduated so he thought with the exception of things he could take Kora to he’d thought he’d be done with balls.  The catch was at the same time he’d just graduated and apparently his grandfather’s brother was now Head of the Razi family.  How long that would last was anyone’s guess as the amount of security he hid behind said something.

It was a role he’d never want.  Though as he had never been even suspected of a crime yet he was the one cleaned up in a nice set of black wizarding robes with tasteful silver accents for the ball.  There was no way even if silver was encouraged he’d show up looking like a disco ball.

He was here for business, and that was it.

After all, he couldn’t invite his own girlfriend Kora due to her being a halfblood.  Something that his parents could overlook if he kept it quiet and didn’t stupidly flaunt it as being as low on the totem pole it might go unnoticed especially now he'd graduated.   

As he entered he paid his respects to Katherine’s father attempting to offer the man a handshake.  Then he greeted Katherine politely and complemented the necklace she was wearing.  Though he didn’t linger by the pair as he had no real attachment to them beyond a friendship with Katherine.

He made his way through the event seeing Cordelia and making his way over to her and Vlad.  With a smile he said “ Good evening.  So what house are we guessing for Vlad here?  We all know Hufflepuff is the best. “ 

A lie.  There was no way he was going to say any house he didn’t get in, even if Slytherin was better, was actually the best.

[Caius Ellwood-Luxe]

At least he didn't have to wear the sodding garb.

Simpler black dress robes would suffice for him, the ward of a lesser cadet, despite the technicalities of his station. Jack walked in front of him, beside his father, behind Uncle Cassius. Caius resisted every urge to step on the hem of Jack's stupid trailing burgundy damask robes, proceeding slowly, arm bent to allow for the illusion of escorting Rocío like the well-bred gentleman he was supposed to be.

He'd wanted her to come, of course, despite her initial distaste for it. All he'd had to do was tell Aunt June. Once Aunt June had gotten even the barest wind that Caius had a friend, a girl, who needed a place to stay between camp and school, who had never been to a ball before, there was very little stopping her from going overboard, and dragging her to her wardrobe to find a gown that would suit her.

So Caius found himself with a red cravat to match Rocío's violently crimson gown-- Aunt June's addition to his ensemble-- and here they were, processing en masse to be received per household, Rocío as their honored guest, Muggleborn or not.

And red was her color, he had to admit.

"All we have to do is get past the introductions bit," he murmured to her, taking a step forward as Jack did. "and then we can go see what there is to eat. There's usually good drinks at these, and better food--"

Caius could see Katherine peek around the more important members of his house, craning in her subtle way. Caius ducked a little, trying to let himself be hidden behind his mass of relatives before he had to speak with Kate, but to little avail: Uncle Cassius had begun to move off, and Caius heard Uncle Marius clear his throat to begin his introductions, but Dankworth himself had a different idea of the course of the evening. He spoke softly to his daughter, ushering her toward Caius and Rocío and Jack, no doubt shunting off the children to let the adults converse in peace.

Caius found himself actually relieved, for a moment. He hated reception lines, could never remember how to bow, didn't particularly like being introduced as ward of the second cadet, as though he'd never had his own place in the order of things. Uncle Marius seemed annoyed to be ignored, but Caius let himself be led away; even if it was Katherine doing the leading.

Jack, for his part, wore the robes well enough. He didn't drag his feet, didn't slouch. Caius watched his cousin's eyebrows shoot up practically into his hairline as Katherine seized his arm, hanging off it like they'd known each other for ages.

Caius couldn't keep the sourness from his face, couldn't stop himself from snidely remarking, "Jack's only recently begun wearing his big boy pants, so it's really no surprise you've never met."

[Kora Burke]

Kora was not one for events like this, especially when it was strictly for Purebloods. However she managed to find a floor-length emerald green gown that she was able to add silver snake shapes to, because she was a proud Slytherin afterall. No jewels hung around her neck, no, instead her albino snake Lilith was there, draped loosely in a circle, snoozing and totally unaware of their surroundings because of the sleeping potion she had given her.

Still, the seventh year couldn’t help but to be somewhat struck by the luxuriousness of her surroundings. She went over the things Tigran had told her, how to walk, how to talk, and how to greet the host and his daughter, in hopes to pass them by without them asking who the girl on Tigran Razi’s arm was. (Nevermind that the snake around her neck might cause a reaction too, but oh well.)

She nodded at the host while Tigran greeted the man, then leaned over to him. “I am going to get a drink,” she said, not really caring to stay at the door longer than she had to.

Finally free of the less interesting Razi, in her opinion anyways, Kora scanned the room as she made her way in further. She was only focused on one thing and that was finding that redheaded man she had found herself in love with. Hopelessly. It was sickening really, but she missed him like crazy after not seeing him since the beginning of summer.

Finally, she spotted his red hair in the distance. A smirk crossed her lips as crossed the room and then approached him from behind. She leaned over to his ear, her hands firmly on his shoulders so she didn’t fall over.

“Tigran is a really dull date,” she whispered and then smiled.

_{ooc: powerplays approved by player <3}

[Tigran Razi]

It had been years since he’d been to a formal party and worn dress robes which he transfigured to look better and add silver accents.  Back then his grandfather had him summoned to refresh his memory on things.  Lessons that came in handy as he passed the knowledge combined with a few experiences he had in the past onto Kora. 

He wished he’d managed to get Brutus to pay such attention to him when he tried to invite his cousin to dinner where he was staying prior.  His cousin had zero training for this as no one ever expected him to ever go to something like this.  The Razi family was very divided by class and the only reason he got educated in both sides was because his grandfather had been the Head of the Razi family putting him in the higher class, but his parents were squibs dropping him to the lower class in the hierarchy in the Razi family.

He started the introductions at the door with whomever greeted them when they got there with a slightly nodded head and the expected greetings.  Though he attempted to work through them as fast as possible as it felt foreign emphasizing his name was Tigran Razi with the emphasis on Razi said with a pride that had been trained into him.  Plus with Kora on his arm he held a certain nervousness for both the introductions and the evening.

Thankfully, they’d gotten past the introductions. 

It didn’t take long for Kora to mention getting a drink which if this were him really dating her should have been him.  He recognized it for what it was and whispered “ Never fill the cup, three quarters at most. “ giving her one last piece of advice before he watched her go towards Brutus.

A Brutus that was regrettably standing by Cordie meaning he couldn’t just follow. 

For all the training for these events this was the first one he attended since his grandfather's death a bit over two years prior.  He found himself a spot along the wall to just observe like he used to.  He hoped Brutus would handle this situation with a level of composure that at least kept things solid with Kora.  As the rest of his extended family was in enough chaos the fact that Kora was at least a halfblood might go unnoticed for a while - due to bigger problems.

[Lillian St. Clair]

Lillian was there.

It was hard to pinpoint exactly where she had come from. It was as if she had always been there or, maybe, hadn't yet arrived. Or she had stood in line. She wasn't even sure why she was even here, and then she saw the envelope with the invitation in her hand.

Right, yes, she had been invited. Probably by mistake because, in the end, not many people spared thoughts for Lillian St. Clair, the last (save for her daughter, who had 'taken' 'ill' and couldn't be there) in a long, long line of Seers. She almost never left the Windswept Cottage up in Scotland, except to get cakes and go to a certain nightclub.

Yet she was here. Curious - to her.

She wore what she always did, except a little fancier. A tight black dress with a black hairband in her white hair - the latter was how she met the dress code. There were advantages to being the weird one and that was people expected strangeness.

"Lillian St. Clair." She said when she was at the front of the receiving line to the hosts as she handed off her coat. "It appears I am here." Still, once again, she sounded as if she were surprised by this fact.

Though, maybe she had been here already. This ball had already happened, or would happen again. Time, for most people, ran in a single stream, whereas Lillian was pretty aware of the fact it was more like a floodplain.

"Hopefully that's a good thing."

[Rocío Valdés]

Rocío Valdés, despite what everyone and their abuelita might think, was not out of her element. At the end of the day, this was just another game, and if there was one thing Rocío knew how to do, it was play. Having Caius offer her—mostly force her—to stay with him during the less-than-comfy purgatory between camp and school? That part had been new. So was his crazy-ass tía launching herself at Rocío with half a department store’s worth of clothes.

Not that Rocío was complaining. After some strategic tailoring (because what was with all the extra fabric?), Caius’s aunt hadn’t done too bad. Her hair was pulled up, loose strands brushing against her cheek; just enough mess to look effortless, but not accidental. The gown was crimson silk that hugged her curves perfectly, but she’d still taken a few liberties with it—carved out the sides to flash her hips, dropped the neckline because this wasn’t some sad little muggle prom. This looked more like a war, and Rocío never showed up unarmed.

If anything, for Caius’s sake.

Rocío played her role with apparent ease, her arm looped through his like it belonged there (and honestly, that was the part of this whole circus she didn’t mind). She nodded along to his words, dark eyes narrowing on his cousin, taking notes on the interaction in the Ellwood-Luxe family. Jack was something Rocío knew well, knew how to handle. But Rocío didn’t touch Jack Ellwood-Luxe, and wouldn’t, unless she got tired of seeing that smug look usually on his face.

Caius cutting himself off caught her attention. She felt the faint shift in his body, enough to make her tilt her head, dark eyes finding what—or who—had caused it. Her lips, painted darker than her dress, curved into something sharp, dangerous.

Her grip on Caius’s arm tightened—part comfort, part get ready—as her gaze snapped to Katherine. “Cabróna.”

Rocío nearly laughed at the exchanges, but kept the amusement confined to her smirk. Instead, she tilted her head, dark eyes dragging slowly, deliberately, up and down Katherine, then over to Jack, calculating, already unimpressed. She took her time before her gaze landed back on Katherine.

“I don’t know, Caius.” Her voice was too casual, almost thoughtful as she leaned into him, familiar. “I think the training wheels will do her some good.”

Her eyes flicked back to Jack, and the corner of her mouth tugged up again.

“Both of them.”


abuelita - grandma/granny
tía - aunt

[Eugene Prothero]

Eugene Prothero was, by no means, an extrovert.

But it was easy to put on a show when there was real pride in your steps, when meticulous planning had slipped you perfectly into the role of Head of Family since nineteen and you'd spent over thirty years building this - the Prothero empire was built to last and they raised each other up.

For those who had gone to school with him, the display might have been odd, for he had been a boy in the background, quiet and thought through in everything he did.

But Eugene Prothero had aged well. For he'd had a good life, surrounding himself with the people that he loved - and with those that loved him. That was one of the perks to owning your own island, of keeping your family in your Castle, many of which never moved even as they got married and had children of their own.

And he moved with grace, black suit tailored to perfection, the deep purple of his tie stark against the shimmering silver of the shirt underneath, intricate, woven with a black pattern of little birds. On his arm shone the true diamond that was his daughter.

"This is Eugene Harmon Prothero, Head of the Prothero Family and member of the Wizengamot," said Eugene, a smile on his face and a twinkle in his eye. "And these are my sons, Harmon and Cephas," he continued, gesturing to the two men in their early twenties that followed behind. While his heir was more of the serious sort the younger, Cephas, ever the social butterfly, presented himself with a smile of undying charm.

"And my daughter, Pretoria," said Eugene, doing a circle motion with his free hand in signal for her to take a spin and encouraging her with a bright, white smile, before letting her go so he could properly greet the hosts.

"Mr. Dankworth," said Eugene then, offering his hand to shake the other man's.

"And Miss Dankworth - you look absolutely stunning," reaching for her hand to offer it a gentle kiss - if she'd allow.* He knew so very well the spot that daughters cold hold in the hearts of their fathers.

And however false the warmth of the Dankworths, his radiated true in that moment, when faced with people who thought and believed and relished the same things as himself. Remaining in their vicinity, as he allowed for the rest of the Family to spill into the crowd and do their thing.

To find himself not without company.

"Mr. Ellwood-Luxe," he greeted, but it was with a smile that did not quite reach his eyes.

"And Eve."

The three of them were old schoolmates, back when he'd transferred from Durmstrang to teach his cousin Florence, now his wife, the ways of the pureblood. Eve Hallows had been his housemate. But if there was any common ground, if there were any similarities between them, Eugene did not show any signs of recognising them. On the contrary, he found them to be radically different - they'd taken vastly different turns in their roads, carved out starkly different paths.

(Better a pretender than a traitor.)

By this point, the Ellwood-Luxes were no better than the Undergroves. And judging by the entourage, Cassius was feeling threatened.

Good.

(They could dig their own grave.)

---
*Permission to greet Katherine before she went off with Jack.

[Lorelei Kensington]

Lorelei wasn't often invited to attend these things alongside her parents, not unless they were hosted in the very halls of Kensington Manor. Her parents preferred to keep her where they could control her. Where they could parade her in front of guests then send her off to her room before the servants brought out the amuse-bouches.

And yet, to her greatest surprise, when the invitation had come, Abernathy Kensington had turned to her and said, "You might as well come along." He'd also added that while she was at Hogwarts, they might as well ensure she made the right sort of friends, and insisted she not make a spectacle of herself.

(Really, when had she ever?)

"Thank you for hosting us," she said to the elder Dankworths as the Kensingtons made their entrance. They looked just as regal as their home, each one, much like her adoptive parents, the perfect image of upper crust pureblood society. For her part, Lorelei wore a shimmery cream gown, with a sweetheart neckline and a tight fit that perfectly accentuated her curves. Always one to revel in an occasion to show off, Lorelei felt both confident and beautiful as she stepped into Blackthorn Hall. Perhaps she'd dressed closer to gold than silver, but the glitter enmeshed with the fabric came close enough to satisfy the Kensingtons. This color had always suited her better anyway.

Claiming a glass of lemonade, she turned to observe the partygoers milling about the grand estate.

She saw her immediately. There, impossible to miss, impossible to ignore, vibrant and more breathtakingly beautiful than anyone else in the crowd. Without even checking that her parents were busy with their own acquaintances (though, by now, they surely were) Lorelei crossed the space between them in an instant.

"I didn't expect to see you here." She said to Rocío as she wrapped her arm around Rocío's waist. To outsiders, a makeshift hug between two friends. To Lorelei, nowhere near close enough.

Enthralled as she was, it took her a moment to notice the people around them. Caius, at Rocío's other side, and Katherine and another boy she believed to be another Ellewood-Luxe. Lorelei couldn't imagine anything that had been said before her arrival had been pleasant, which could only mean her arrival was timely.

"Good evening, Caius," She said to her friend before turning to Katherine with a pleasant smile—one meant to diffuse whatever tensions were surely building. "Katherine, thank you for hosting us. Your home is lovely." And, finally, to the other boy. "I don't believe we've met. I'm Lorelei."

[Matilda Nordstrom-Davin]

This was a test.

The first test her Grandmother gave her was shopping in London. They went to a few clothing boutiques. A shoe shop where Allegra bought 6 different pairs of kitten heels. All made Matilda want to cry in pain. They visited Diagon Alley where they repurchased all of Matilda’s supplies since her Father destroyed them all after his blow up earlier in the summer. Thank Merlin she had her wand. They stopped at a cafe and a bookstore as well. Her test was to be perfect. SO EASY. Ugh

*Keep your back straight, Good posture at all times
*Don’t walk to fast
*Don’t speak unless someone asks you a direct question
*Don’t give your opinion about anything (clothes and shoes included)
*Don’t smile.
*If there is a time where a smile is appropriate you can turn your lips up, but show no teeth.
*Keep your hair in a tight bun at all times
*No wrinkles

And the list went on and on. This was the ultimate test. Matilda wasn’t completely sure what this was, other than a party. A Pureblood party. She wasn’t allowed to ask questions, so she was just along for the ride. If she passed this test, It was back to Hogwarts at the beginning of the term. If she made too many mistakes, it would either be Beauxbaton or staying at the family estate with her Grandparents.

Hogwarts was by far the best option of the three. So, perfect she would be.

***************************************************************

This was by far the most nervous Matilda had ever been. There was a good chance she would recognize some of the people at the party, all of which would have questions about why her name was different and why she was suddenly Pureblood. Telling the truth, that her father is a squib, was out of the question. That would also be against the rules.

As they arrived at the party, Allegra walked in first looking as regal as ever. She wore a long silver gown that flowed like water over her skin. Adorned with more jewelry than Matilda had even seen. Her long red hair was out in Hollywood style waves, and she carried a small silver clutch, magicked to hold everything she may need.

Matilda, much to her horror, was in a structured white dress that fell to her knees and silver kitten heels. The shoulders were adorned with small white flowers and a long train went down to the floor. It was tight to her body and suffocating. There was a small silver floral comb decorating her hair, that was in her grandmothers preferred bun.

When the doors opened and they walked inside, Matilda kept her expression neutral, but pleasant. Two steps behind her Grandmother at all times, Matilda waited quietly in line to say hello to the hosts.

Allegra got to the front of the line and extended her hand to the host. “Mr. Dankworth, so honored to meet you. Allegra Nordstrom. You may know my Husband, Bertram Charles Nordstrom, he recently retired from the Ministry in Sweden, where our family estate is located.” Allegra moved aside a step and looked over her shoulder to Matilda.

“And this is my granddaughter, Matilda Nordstrom. She is going into her 2nd year at Hogwarts in the Gryffindor house.” Matilda smiled softly, and nodded her head to the man. It didn’t go unnoticed that she left Davin off in her introduction, causing Matilda to squeeze her hands in anger.

After the awkward introductions Allegra went around the room greeting people she knew from her many social events. Matilda, always the perfect shadow, walked behind and said nothing. At this point she didn’t even remember what her voice sounded like.

Allegra noticed someone across the room, her eyes going bright. Turning towards Matilda Allegra gave her an appraising look. “I have someone I need to speak to. You will stay here. You will not talk unless someone approaches you and asks you a question. You will be pleasant. You will be mindful. Don’t make me regret this.” Her voice held a note of anger and disdain. Matilda nodded and took a step back, blending more into the wall. There she stood, with her hands behind her back, vacant yet pleasant expression on her face and watched. Maybe, just maybe, by some miracle, no one would approach her.

[Keller Myles Battersea]

“How do I look?”

“Mar is gnáth, tá tú go hálainn, a ghrá.”

“Even after fifty-one years?” She asked, brow raised in inquiry.

“You are as beautiful now as the first time we met.” He quirked a brow and smiled. “And that’s final.”

Clara chuckled.

=================

An invitation to an event such as this wasn’t a Battersea thing. Normally a representative—politically adept and savvy—would be sent. And with permission from the revered Family Patriarch backroom deals would be made and boons collected. The very notion of a Battersea of high status stepping forth from their vaunted Halls of Knowledge and Secrecy to socialize when they could be reading, compiling research, or engaging in scholarly debate was an event to be recorded by scholars everywhere.

Grandfather and Grandmother were perfectly happy to remain home. In the words of the wily old man, Keller was ceremonially given the title of Family Head, meaning he could attend this function. The grandson had looked back at his grandfather with pursed lips, before chuckling. If the Patriarch and the Matriarch wished him to go and his wife wished him to go, then there was little to protest about. However, he wouldn’t be going alone.

While all of his children and most of his grandchildren were busy, there was someone who wasn’t and seemed most eager to attend. Gráinne Máiréad Battersea, the daughter of his eldest son Nicholas and wife Aisling specifically requested to be there. Keller suspected there was something afoot, but didn’t pry. For all he knew the redhead had several friends that would be in attendance.

Silver elegance was the theme and silver elegance they would have.

Though more proper and formal than usual, his attire appeared perfectly normal—for a Battersea at least—Edwardian upper class in nature with a dark purple vest with silvery vine-like patterning. He had no desire to take the spotlight from his wife in her gown of deep purple with its silver floral patterning across the bodice, matching gloves, and a silver festoon necklace of purple sapphires with diamond accents.

Arguably though, it was his granddaughter—in Keller’s opinion—that stole the show from the both of them. Tall, lithe, and graceful, Gráinne was dressed in a royal blue-blue sleeveless silk-chiffon gown with a flattering V-neckline, The intricate sequined lace details were done in silver sequins descending elegantly halfway down the dress. Around the young woman’s neck was a silvery festoon necklace of diamonds and sapphires, matching earrings, and a jeweled silver comb holding her long red hair in place. Even the judiciously used makeup accentuated the fine angular features of her face.
   
Keller turned his attention to William Dankworth III and warmly nodded. Though present, the Irish lilt in his undertones only seemed to enhance his words further. “I am Keller Myles Battersea, Head of the Battersea Family, Master Scholar of the Line, and Member of the Wizengamot.” He glanced over with the warmest smile. “This is my wife, Clara, and my granddaughter, Gráinne. We thank you for the invitation.”

The mask of warmth though not unnoticed, could be ignored. After exchanging handshakes, it seemed his granddaughter had advanced while he took everything around him in. Others of the Wizengamot appeared to be here as well—Cassius and Eugene—he knew the names and was well aware of the families. He wasn’t accustomed to this, but for this time—and this night—he would acclimate.   

OOC:
1.   Lit. As always, you are beautiful, my love.
2.     Gráinne Máiréad Battersea for reference: https://hogwarts-school.net/wiki/index.php/Gr%C3%A1inne_M%C3%A1ir%C3%A9ad_Battersea
3.     Dress reference without modification: http://imgur.com/I2WMqBA
4.     Necklace: https://i.imgur.com/B6RAZ3X.jpg