The Grand New Years Ball

"Shut up." She said.

She closed her eyes when she was suddenly twirled again. Her free hand even immediately when on his shoulder when she stopped spinning.

"Jesus how many times are you going to do that?" She asked, before looking up at him and hearing his question. Though the question seemed to have hit her in a way. And a part of her wanted to just tell him there was nothing he could do..

"I don't really enjoy stuff.. Remember?" She asked. "It's a challenge to make me enjoy stuff. But.. you knew that."

"I know everything, and don't question it. Which means that I know a way to make you enjoy the evening... I just don't know I know it yet," he said with a shrug. "Haven't you at least tried drinking?"

"Oh, yes, I suppose that is true," Penelope pursed her lips in response to Brie's comment about how it would be different if all the Ravenclaws left. Penelope sighed and looked down at the ground, still twisting her fingers about in an attempt to keep herself busy. Penelope lifted her head as Brie spoke once more.

"Yeah, it had such a horrible taste to it," Penelope shivered. Alcohol wasn't her thing, though she was told once that she had gotten drunk at a party in the Room of Requirements once. She was sure that had been interesting... and probably Michael was to blame for bringing her. In either case, she didn't do much drinking... maybe once a year.

"Oh, I wouldn't doubt it. If someone could sneak alcohol into here, were there are professors all around, I'm sure they'll be able to sneak them into the common rooms," Penelope shook her head. Rule breaking also wasn't her thing. She was a goody-two-shoes... or, if you will, a superhero.

Penelope watched Brie, she was definitely not has happy as she had been when she walked over here... or at least, not how she had appeared to be. She bit her own lip in response, that nervous habit of hers. "O-okay," Penelope offered her a small smile. "Perhaps I shall see you later then?"

"I've only been drinking the spiked punch. So yeah I have been trying drinking. But it isn't strong enough." She stated as she really wished it was Vivienne's alcohol that was in the punch.

"Though this ball is just suckish, kind of hard to have fun either way."

"Well, strangely enough I have had the wonderful company of a young Gryffindor girl with plenty of alcohol," he said. "Well, paint stripper. I'm sure that's what it is, whatever she says. See, they're not so bad"

Todd suppressed a sigh; he wished he could do something to improve Brie's mood. Of course, he knew some of what was bothering her - but the bruise on her neck proved that her father had done some fresh new damage, and he'd have to ask her about it in detail later. Just thinking about that guy made his jaw clench. "If you're sure," he murmured, offering a small smile. "It was great to see you again, though." And it was - he hadn't seen his friends since the short visit at Jim's house, so he was kind of glad to be back in school. Even if some friends didn't seem so glad themselves. His eyes flicked briefly to Penny; at least they'd all gotten along well so far, right?

''I'm anything but sweet...'' He laughed. As he looked at her. He gently lifted her from the ground and set her down again. ''You're very light..Maybe you should gain some weight.'' He smirked wickedly. As he brushed through her hair before letting go. ''I think we've danced enough now..'' He wasn't a type to dance allot. He wasn't all too good at it either.

She couldn't help but to giggle in delight when Sinbad lifted her up. She made a pouty face when he commented on her weight. She slapped his arm playfully. "Oh please Sinbad! If I gain weight I will become a fatty, and then you will leave me for someone skinnier and prettier." She took his hand as they walked out of the dance floor.

"I don't want alcohol from a Gryffindork." She stated. "For the a thousandth time.. I do not like Gryffindorks. I will never be friends with them.. I rather sit in ash then be friends with them." She said, before she just calmed down and looked away from him.

Inside it was hurting Juliette that she was acting like this. But she was just too frustrated with everything going on. To be honest she would've probably have more fun if she was drunk. Though she did not show any of this on her face.

"I rather the hidden alcohol in the Slytherin common room.." She muttered low, only for Ambrose to hear.

"And what did a Gryffindor ever do to you?" he asked, arching an eyebrow. He sighed. "Ah, Slytherin Common Room and your promise of partying. Rather looking forward to it myself," he said, twirling her once more. "It's what I would like to call a little more.. secluded. And with you lovely Vipers I think I shall enjoy it very much"

Juliette just looked at him.

"I just don't like them." She said, before just smirking at the next things he said. "Because it is secluded." She stated, before rolling her eyes at his comment on The Vipers. Before she thought about how many times she had rolled her eyes.

"I think I broke my record for the most eye rolls."

Vanessa spotted a few students, and teachers, that she recognised. Amongst them were several of the Slytherins, most of whom she was fairly familiar with by now. She also noted John, who she wasn't looking for intentionally (she'd willingly swear upon her own tombstone on that) but she'd found regardless. He was talking to the twiggiest bloke she'd ever laid eyes on. She didn't know the guy. At all. She knew he was a teacher here, for she'd seen him in the corridors on occasion, although she had no idea who he was or what he taught.

She decided to bother the two, and swept down so she was behind Twiggy, and flashed a grin at John. "Who's the stick insect?" She asked loudly, wondering if the aforementioned 'stick insect' would jump. That would be amusing, and really she needed some amusement because this ball was horrendously dull.

"I hadn't noticed at all. Though now you mention it..." He trailed off, laughing. "I would have thought after all these years you were gonna get used to me. We sleep just across the corridor from each other, you should be used to this day and night"

Penelope bit her lip once more. She cast her eyes downward for a moment before glancing back at the refreshment table. It was really too bad that the punch was spiked, she was becoming parched. Perhaps there were other non alcohol tainted beverages and she scanned her eyes for a pumpkin juice. When she spotted one, she gently reached out to grab it before bringing it to her lips and sipping it cautiously. Good, it wasn't spiked. A wave of relief fell over her.

Things stated to grow awkwardly quiet and it made Penelope squirm a bit. She parted her lips slightly, trying to think of a good, not lame, conversation starter. However, nothing good came to mind. She let out a sigh before putting on a smile and glancing at Todd. "So, Todd, how have you been?" She asked. She realized she had yet to ask him, and she felt immediately guilty for not doing so.

John grinned when Vanessa came down behind Ed. He chuckled a bit, knowing that she was probably attempting to frighten the poor guy. "Vanessa, this is Ed Once Ler. We went to school together; he's going to be teaching astronomy here," John told her, his grin continuing. "Ed, this is Vanessa Corvus, known for scaring anyone she can." John teased lightly.

"So, Corvus, have you caused any mayhem yet today?" John asked, quirking one of his eyebrows.

"Heh.. I'm use to your flirting ways. Use to seeing you flirt with anything that moves." She said with a tilt of her head and a smirk. "So technically I am use to you." She said as she was proud of being a smart ass.

Her head lifted up when she heard the song change into another slow song.

"They could play better music then this."

"I woo everything that moves, woo. Merlin, Juliette, it's like you don't know me at all!" He shook his head. "No, they can't play better music than this. Probably some selection the staff made up on the spot- it can only lead to good things"

Todd's grin returned, though perhaps less than before, and he considered her question. "I'm pretty good. Made some new friends this year - as you saw - so that's a feat in itself. Did some thinking, some learning. Had a cool dream once. Saw a funny-looking cloud the other day," he said, a smirk crawling its way onto his face. "And you?" He nearly had to bite his tongue to keep from tacking on 'B.G.' at the end. Honestly, it was a habit that was going to be hard to lose.

The thing was, he was pretty sure he liked the fact that, once upon a time, he'd had a nickname for her that only he used, since no one else would have gotten it anyway.

Juliette just rolled her eyes before just looking away again. She then saw Aileen smirking at them, which made her make a little face at her friend. A face she only did to Aileen when she wanted to shut up.

She turned back to look at Ambrose when he spoke about the music.

"I guess." She said.

Ed jumped when he suddenly heard a voice behind him. It sounded young, like a student. But when he spun around, he found himself face-to-face with one of Hogwarts' ghosts instead. "Um...hi?" he offered, feeling like stick insect wasn't the worst nickname he had ever acquired. Although John seemed pretty familiar with her. Maybe he was just used to her? Everyone got used to the ghosts when they were around Hogwarts enough. It looked like Ed would have to get used to them again after being away from the school for so long.

Ambrose turned his head slightly toward the crowd.

"Who were you looking at? It's like you're... socialising or something?" he said, sounding aghast

Penelope smiled, nodding as she took a sip of her pumpkin juice. She let out a light laugh, holding her free hand in front of her mouth so as to not spit out her drink unattractively. "Haha, a funny looking cloud, huh?" She mused. "Well, that's good. Brie seems really nice and I can't wait to meet the others."

Penelope then gave him a one sided shrug. "Oh, well, you know... not having a head full of blanks is very nice... though, not everything has..." Penelope trailed off, her smile fell for a moment and she cast her eyes downward again. She did this often, when trying to think or if embarrassed, the latter more frequently. She looked back up, another smile on her face. "But, I love being back here, a lot more than I thought I would. I thought it might be scary here without Michael, but it's not so bad."

Juliette's eyes widened a little, before softening as she sighed.

"I was telling Aileen to shut up and stop smirking at us." She stated.

He genuinely did think she'd like his friends - Brie and Jim were bound to be accepting of her, and he figured she'd have loads of other friends in no time anyway - though there was always her shyness to consider, but that was often one of the most endearing qualities to her.

Todd nodded, knowing exactly what she meant ."Well, I think you're doing spectacular. You're not, like, huddled in a corner, so that's a good sign, right?" He could easily recall her brother and how extremely protective he'd been. He kind of missed the guy. "Your dress looks great, by the way. I'll have to borrow it some day," he added with a wink.

"Smirking at us? Lord, I feel as if you ladies can't keep your eyes off of me tonight. It's wonderful"