After unlocking the Observatory just as the sun was going down that evening - it had been closed in preparation for the party so Hogwarts staff could do so without interruption - Airey set his bag down and summoned its contents with his wand. They had decided on modest decorations, just a few colorful streamers and balloons here and there, but this was on purpose so as not to distract from the GIANT piñata off to the right. Hanging on the wall beside it where the massive Missing poster of Pebbles once hung is a sign explaining the rules.

Quote:

Originally Posted by How to "hit" the piñata

You will not require the use of a bat, Beater's or otherwise, to play. Simply use your wand and cast the Stunning Spell ONLY towards it.

Prizes have been donated from Honeydukes and Zonko's Joke Shop.

OOC: you do not need to wait for anyone to tell you you've hit the piñata or what your prize is. Just have fun with this and be creative (within reason, of course ) The piñata will not explode or break into itty bitty pieces easily.

On the other side of the Observatory is a giant inflatable Twister set out with Cushioning Charms placed around the surrounding area to prevent any injuries.

Some tables with food and drink were positioned towards the entrance, all finger foods to help encourage mingling and celebrating. It had all been a mad dash to get done, but things had come together nicely. Save for a thing or two that would be delivered a little later on.

Now all that was left to do was wait for people to come. In the meantime....he was going to have a go at this Twister game...

Hogwarts had done brilliantly in the first round and it made sense that people would want to celebrate. It'd be sort of cool to have members of the other schools around as well. Ella had only met the one boy in The Three Broomsticks but he'd seemed nice enough. Besides, she liked meeting new people. Especially new people with fabulous hair. Just saying.

... ... ...

Only no people were here. No people except for one Professor Airey who seemed ready to tackle the Twister game. Ella smiled a little and wandered over, curious. "Ever play this before, Professor?" GRIN. Hai and stuff! "Oh and everything looks lovely!" Nodnod. Not bad at all.

Minerva walked into the observatory with a big smile. She couldn't be prouder of her friends and Hogwarts. They did a wonderful job and it was time to celebrate and have some fun. Looking around she couldn't believe she was like the second student and third person here. "Hey Captain." Captain Ella was there of course she was there to have some fun too right, but where was her boyfriend. Min looked around for her brother Alec, but nope he wasn't here.

She turned seeing Professor Flamsteed. "Hey professor this is really nice of you to have set this all up." Well him and the other professors. Oh twister and Pinata. She should have brought her beaters bat even though it said to use a spell. Well the bat would have been more fun. They could have blind folded and got really dizzy before trying to hit it, but the spell was fun too.

She figured she'd wait until more came for games though, so she made her way to the food.

It had been a few days since the end of the first round, but that wasn't dampening Annie's spirits! She was, naturally, elated for the success of her school, especially since this success clearly related back to her. She was so proud of them all, and so excited to attend this little tea party thing with tea and crumpets and mini cucumber sandwiches and streamers and MAAAAYBE a special dessert coming in later? Hmmmmm?

The redhead made a polite 'hem hem' sound as she entered the observatory, just to announce her presence in a way. She smiled at Flamsteed and Bishop and Wheatborn, then made a slow path around the room, taking in the decor and the games and whatnot.

"Well done!" she declared softly to no one in particular.

Airey was standing on top of the giant inflatable Twister game looking down at the Observatory and hardly believing that he had agreed to allow FOOD and DRINK in this sanctuary. It wasn't like the place was getting used properly anyway. Not with all the telescopes missing thanks to the goblins and Hogwarts' poor funding.

He didn't actually start playing the game the way it was supposed to be, not when it felt like a giant mattress under his feet. Giant mattress...bed...childhood memories wearing his cardboard-made space helmet...Oh yeah. He was TOTALLY going for an imaginary moonwalk - aka JUMPING TIME! It was nowhere near as enthralling as Mr. Tempus' pogo stick, but jumping in general was always fun.

In the middle of all his 'weeeeeeeeeeee's' and 'whoohoo's' came the voice of two students. "Helloooooooooooooo Miss Ella!" he waved just as he took another bounce. "I have not! But I bet I am doing it wr-----" And that was the sound of his feet coming out from under him and the astronomer falling on to his back. Hey, it sort of WAS like a mattress. Pretty comfy too. "Be sure to thank the rest of the staff when they arrive as well." Let that be a subliminal message of teamwork. TEAMWORK. Also know as what was going to help you lot get through the next round of tasks.

Oh. The Headmistress was here now. He should probably sit up, yes? "Evening, Headmistress," he greeted with a wave before turning back to the Hufflepuff Quidditch Captain. "Miss Ella, would you teach me how this game is played?" He had found it in Hogwarts storage and applied a few spells to make it inflatable.

Botros brightly walked inside the observatory, appreciating the beautiful decoration and the sky filled with stars above. A few of the Astronomical charts caught his eyes on the walls, he placed the few plates of food on the table, and stared at some before approaching the small group gathered farther ahead. Leaning forward on his cane, Ab offered the required greetings politely. "Good day, headmistress, professor." He waved at the Hufflepuff girls, "Good evening, ladies." When did they get so tall?

They were playing some muggle game? Botros' interest spiked, and hoped to Odin it was not a bouncing platform. The colorful circles were arranged in a pattern, it seemed, though. He paid attention to what the Quidditch captain would say about the game, he might be able to play too! If no bouncing was required. Or stretching. Or rolling. Or standing for too long.

Party! Tora had been so eager to get there that she was one of the first people to arrive, oh well, it just made the party longer! She spotted Professor Flamsteed next to a thing full of air. The layout of it looked vaguely familiar, was it a Muggle game? Growing up with her magical grandma, but going to public Muggle school until Hogwarts had exposed her to a mix of Muggle and magical board games, but this one looked modified. Was it the fact that it was an inflatable? Who cared! It looked bouncy! She ran over and was about to give a huge leap to jump on it when she stopped herself.

"Uhhh, will this break if I jump on it?" she asked worriedly, turning to the Professor. Wait, that was a stupid question, the Professor had probably reenforced it with magic or something, which brought up another (and another) question. "What game is this? It's Muggle, right? So Muggles play it on a bouncy thing normally? What's this spinning wheel for?" she asked in quick succession, sending the wheel spinning with a flick of her fingers. And so the rest of the very few people so far at the party didn't feel excluded, Tora turned from the game and the Professor and looked about the room.

There was Professor Botros, who she had noticed entering the turnstile, and, oh look! Minnie was here too! She gave a little wave in the direction of her favorite Prefect. Nearby was the Hufflepuff Captain, but Tora didn't know her by name so her eyes moved onto... the Headmistress! She smiled big at Headmistress Truebridge to show that she was greatly enjoying the party before she turned back to the Astronomy professor for (hopefully) his answers.

Well, it seemed like a nice set up for a party. Sort of? Kat noticed the inflatable thing that looked like a bouncy game. She didn't know the rules of it, nor did she know the name of the game. And a gigantic pinata. The Head Girl just staaaaaared at it for a while. Were they going to hit it and try cracking it open? Because Kat was game for that. Although it wasn't stated on the sign that held the rules, someone could've told her to bring her beater's bat just for the fun of it. "Place looks good," Kat said and smiled at Professor Flamsteed. Her Astronomy Professor got a thumbs up. Did he make all of this possible? Kat wasn't sure but since it was held in the Observatory, it made her think of it that way.

"Hey Ella, Min, Professor Botros, Headmistress," Kat greeted them all with a smile as well, even the Ravenclaw she didn't know (Tora). They all came here to celebrate too? That was cool. The more, the merrier. Wasn't that the famous saying? It seemed like it. So... were they waiting for more people to join or could they start cracking that pinata open?

... But priorities first, so that meant food. Kat took a drink and sipped from it.

Oh oh, a party!!! She needed some funny things to NOT think about her own problems, and this was a really good distraction! Not sure if it was allowed, but not really caring, she had her two rats with her, hidden inside her pocket but they were there, to company her and to eat some rat snacks she had brought with her. But because she knew that professor Flamsteed didn’t really liked rats, not that she understood what he didn’t liked about hem… she kept her rats hidden for a few minutes, to make sure that he wasn’t around to see them. “Stay hidden until I tell you that it’s safe, okay?” whispered Sonea to her two rats and she saw that her two little friends had understood her by the look in their eyes.

She stepped into the room where the party was held and… Oh, there were games and food! She liked it to play games, it was fun! With a wide smile, and forgetting that she had her own problems she ran almost forward and waved to nobody in special and greeted again, nobody in special, but loud enough for the others to hear her, “HELLLOOOO!” and she walked quickly over to the place where she could find the food, she was hungry!!!

Ella had to admit that the inflatable twister was a pretty brilliant game choice cause if people got bored of the gaming, they could start jumping instead. Way to go, Airey-face.

Speaking of, the blonde's green eyes widened considerably when the man fell over. "I...yeah. That's not quite how it's played, Professor."She was in the process of stifling giggles when Minnie arrived. Did she seem him fall too? Hehe. It was soft, the game board, so it totally wasn't mean to laugh. Totally. "Hey Min!" Grin.

Then the Headmistress and Botros arrived and Ella gaves smiles to them both, Botros' a little bigger because she loved the guy. Who didn't, right? "Hello Headmistress, Professor!"

Student leader!keeper!blonde buddy had arrived too. As well as some younger girls that Ella recognized from classes. They all got smiles from Ells but it seemed she had become the Twister spokesperson so she shuffled a bit before speaking up.

"Erm...well Twister is quite fun, actually. You simply need to use this spinner." And the blonde walked over to the large spinner, reaching out to give it a spin. "Wherever it stops, that's what you'll need to do. For example, this says 'Right Hand' and is on a red background." Nodnod. "That means you'd need to put your right hand on one of the red circles. It continues on like that until all your limbs are...occupied." Was that the right word or? "Oh! And you take turns spinning, yeah? That way several people can play at once." Cue sheepish smile and a shrug.

Wow, what a great spread this was. Just look at all the games they have here. Wade smiled as he arrived in the Observatory party. He was sure the other two schools would find this all amusing at the least. Especially that crazy piñata. Heh.

His smile brightened as he saw and waved at the current people inside before standing closer to them. "Hello Headmistress, Professor Flamsteed, Professor Botros. Kat, Captain Ella, Min." Wade didn't know the names of the younger Ravenclaw and Slytherin, though they got a smile just as bright from him. Surely more would be arriving soon.

Bronislava sauntered slowly into the observatory, her eyes flickering this way and that as she took in her surroundings. Not many people here yet, and none of them her classmates, but she knew at least Mischa would be along soon. Had she arrived early? Perhaps that would work to her advantage.

She recognized nearly no one, just the one girl she had met in Hogsmeade and the red-haired woman she knew to be the Headmistress of this school. But that could change. The Durmstrang girl took one of the tiny sandwiches and took a bite, hanging back a bit to take a few moments to observe.

Sophie didn't go to watch the weird-named competition between Hogwarts and the others schools, but no matter. She was glad Hogwarts had won and celebrating was always a nice thing to do, right? Right!

Not being able to stop thinking about all of the stuff she's been reading about in the library lately, Sophie walked around almost absent-mindedly. Her eyes were almost out of focus and she was almost pulling out her wand - but not reallyyyyy because wandlessmagicFTWandstuff - when she spotted a few people near a twister!

Oooohhh, twitster!! Brilliant! And Ella herself was close by! The fifth year smiled and made her way towards all ze people. "Hiya!" She greeted them happily, waving at everybody. There were LOADS of people, so Sophie chose not to greet them one by one. Hello fellow students! Hello, professors and Headmistress! And oh, there was an unknown young person there as well. Sophie waved at all of them - including the Durmstrang girl - and just stood there smiliiing and thinking of Charms and how awesome they all were.

This was the place Gaston had wished he had found all along whilst here. The stars was often where his happiness lay, or at least so when it came to subjects. Astronomy was by far his favorite.

Walking towards all the people the astronomy lover scanned the group of people looking for one thing in particular which was of course girls. He was wise though and he was not just looking for anyone. He had his mind set on what he had been thinking about whilst here.

Ahh. One of the Durm-girls. He headed her way and flashed his pearl white smile.

" 'ey, 'ey, 'ey." He continued to flash his smile and as he tugged at his coat and then took in the girls beautiful long hair. "Your 'air is naturally like zis?" He asked with a peek of interest.

Minerva had been looking at the food table when she heard Ella and looked over to Flamsteed who was flat on his back. Had he fallen? She tried to hide a giggle, but couldn't. [b] "That looks like fun." She was going to make her way over near it until she noticed some else enter the observatory oh Headmistress, well that was nice of her to join, but why wouldn't she. They were celebrating, right? Then Professor Botros it was nice to see them all coming to mingle with the students.

"Hello Headmistress, professor. Thank you for arranging this, it's very nice of you all to do." Yes she had her Flamy say about it wasn't just him. She took a sip of her drink. "Everyone did so well at the competition, I hope that the second round goes as nicely." Gulp that made her stomach turn with nerves a bit.

As others started coming in she smiled and watched, "SOPHIE" not meaning to say it so loud, but where had her younger badger friend been. She had been missing, yes or just hiding studying like Min this term. "Hey Tora, having a good time?" She smiled at the younger claw hoping whatever went on in the Irie room was past her and that boy and the girl was going to stay out of trouble for now on.

When Minerva turned she saw a lone girl enter and after a few seconds it hit her who it was. The Bronsomething girl. She walked over towards her, but not before another boy she didn't know started talking to her. "You know this is so nice to get to know people from other schools." Not something she had ever done before. "Broni you did really well on that first task. Everyone did a great job." She glanced at the boy, did he do a task too, if so she wasn't sure, but she was pretty distracted by her boyfriend being there, so maybe she had just missed him. "I'm Minerva, but call me Minnie." She said to the stranger boy. She hoped the Broni girl didn't mind if she said Broni, but the rest of her name was just to hard to remember.

"Hey I could introduce you to some people if you want. Some of my great friends are here already and they are super nice." She turned and the first person she saw was Wade "Kitty.. Come over here." She chuckled a bit, "Don't mind his nickname.. This is Wade he's the head boy this term and in Hufflepuff like myself." She smiled at Wade, "Wade this is Broni, I met her at Honeydukes and this is... " She hadn't gotten the boys name yet. So Mr. smiles what was your name? "Oh hey Kat..." She turned back to Broni and the boy, "This is Kat, she is the head girl and in Slytherin." Her and Broni had a conversation about the houses getting a long if she could remember.

Oh and look there was Sonea, she hadn't seen her all term. Remember the end of term feast with Forrest Min gave the girl a tight smile and small wave.

Keeping her observant eyes on her surroundings, Bronislava spotted the French boy as he walked in, her face devoid of much expression as he approached. She finished the rest of her little sandwich as she watched him, keeping the rest of her room in her peripheral vision. The Durmstrang girl turned a little more fully to face him as he addressed her. He was awfully friendly and she wondered if he had purposely sought her out, as her ever present internal guard would lead her to those thoughts. That did not mean she would be rude to him, quite the contrary, it just meant that she would be aware.

Her eyes first landed on the prominent smile on his face, then she lazily lifted her eyes to meet his, pausing for a moment before answering him. "Naturally like vhat?" she asked, lightly tossing a lock over her shoulder, innocently acting like she didn't know what he was getting at. "I use no Transfiguration spells if zhat is vhat you mean," she added, allowing the faintest of smiles to lay on her lips. A potion every once in a while, but what girl didn't use beauty potions on her hair?

She turned her head slightly as she caught a movement in her peripheral vision. The girl she had met at Hogsmeade and noticed when she walked in. Minerva was headed towards them. "Hello, Minerva," she greeted with a small smile. She rose a nearly imperceptible eyebrow when the girl had used a nickname typically reserved to those very close to her, but she supposed it was easier Anglicized that way for the Hogwarts students and wouldn't mind while she was here. It could serve its purpose. "Not vell enough," she said with a short chuckle. Her bit of laughter may have sounded humorous, but internally she was not happy about that little fact. "Congratulations to your school." See, should could play the good sport.

She nodded with a slightly bigger smile as the girl said she could introduce her. "Zhat vould be great." Perfect, actually. She needed to meet some of these students and it worked out nicely that she had already met one of the more helpful students here. Kitty? This girl, Minnie as she apparently liked to be called, really seemed to like her nicknames, but she simply smiled and said, "Hello, nice to meet you." Wade, was it? That name was familiar for good reason and she wondered if this boy would be as helpful and forthcoming as Minerva.

"And also nice to meet you, Kat," she added to the Slytherin girl as she was introduced. Perhaps she'd be getting to know her better as well, now that she'd be staying in their dorms. "Is zhat nickname for Katerina?" She had a good friend by that name at school, though she did not go by Kat. Not that it mattered, but she knew small talk was often essential.

Glitter Trousers had really botched up on this, yeah? He was a grown man and his party was reduced to a room full of games that all of the under ten kids at his home played when they were bored. Pfft. Ascanius was just being nasty for effect. Anything to put a damper on something Glitter Trousers wanted to accomplish.

With a casually bored expression- s'totally harder then it looks- Ascanius took up a spot in the corner of the Observatory and just loitered. Yep.

Just standing there and looking good doing it.

Adelaide entered the Observatory, looking for a professor to help West. She spotted one and quickly ran over, trying her best to look calm. Well, as calm as she possibly could after seeing her quidditch captain and friend knocked unconscious on the floor surrounded by a bunch of coins.

"Professor. We need someone out by the turnstiles. I have no idea what happened but when I got up here, West Odessa was lying unconscious on the floor. Someone's sitting with him." That came out of her mouth rather quickly. Hopefully they understood.

He had her attention, alright and that was all he wished for. He looked straight back into her brown eyes and then listened to her intently as she spoke. Gaston was winning so far, winning in his eyes but maybe it was too soon to say so. "Red, long and beautifool." He changed his tone to a soft charming one in hope she would fall for his charming 'spell'. "Aaah. So eet is natural. Eveedently you are quite fortunate." He looked at her up and down. "Yet not only wiz your 'air, your hair is just ze silver lining of your beauty eef you'd ask me." He continued along and smiled at her some more until someone else appeared to be walking their way.

Another talker, this did not look good. Gaston watched as the Hogwartian came towards him and the red head blabbering on. He continued smiling, not feeling the need to show that he was in actual fact not so pleased with this...or not yet at least. He wanted to be slightly alone with this Durmstrang girl. Get to her know her a little bit more, she seemed really attracting for some reasons .

Gaston along with his pearl white teeth looked towards this Minerva. "Eet is a pleasure to meet you, Madame." Pearl white smile, was still as pearl white as ever. He turned back to look at the Durm girl and then at to whom they were being introduced to. "...Gaston." He finished the sentence off for the talker and added a wink at her. Then he turned towards both the Heads of Hogwarts.

First he flashed his smile at the Head Boy. "Eet is a pleasure to meet you." He extended his hand for a shake ready to be firm and show him what was inside.

Then he looked towards the Head Girl. Another beauty, most of these girls were mind you even the talker. He winked at her and then left his palm out open in hope she would lay her hand on it for him to kiss. "And you too, Madame." She was very possibly next on his list.

The staffsies were throwing a BIG party for all the studentsies up in the big tower. After making all of the foods for the event, Algamus had organized the house elvies to bring up cupcake tower for the studensies pleasure, yesm. And the Headmistressie would be so proud of Algamus for his hard work. Cleanings and cookings and foods.

All the studentsies had to do was move. He was coming through with the cupcake tower, or the other house elvies were. Because Algamus was the bossman of the other house elvsies. Algamus was a good house elf. See how well he was in charge Headmistressie?

Grumpy face. The other house elvies needed to hurry up, yesm. They had foods things to do.

Oh heeeeeeey, head buddy. "Hey Wade," Kat greeted him with a nod. "You here to celebrate too?" Well, what else would they be doing here anyway? Wasn't he going to represent Hogwarts in the next round? At least that's what she heard. Could be wrong, but yeah. She was just trying to continue the conversation.

Looks like Min already got to know the Durmstrang and Beauxbatons students? Cool, I guess? "I see you've gotten to know the other students." But then the Slytherin turned to face the two... competitors.

This one... was from Durmstrang, wasn't it? "Pleasure to meet you too, Broni." That's what Kat remembered when Min was introducing them to the other Hogwarts students earlier. "No, actually, but close enough. It's short for Katrina." Minus the 'e'. Caterina was her nickname buddy/Slytherin ickle. She was Katrina. There was a difference, see? "And is Broni a nickname, too?" Because it did sound like a nickname, but she could be wrong.

Then to the Beauxbatons guy. Whoa. He just reminded her of Ascanius Stark. Like, seriously. If he just called her 'gorgeous' instead of 'Madame' then Kat would begin to question herself if Scanny had a brother from France. "Nice to meet you as well..." She didn't know his name. And... was she supposed to like, shake his hand or something? Kat didn't know, but it seemed like that. She laid her hand on his, expecting him to SHAKE IT. "I'm not sure if I've gotten your name yet, though." Names were important. She didn't wanna go 'hey you' if they ever got to see each other in the corridors.

AND HEY, A CUPCAKE TOWER.

He smiled only wider as the blonde bombshell lay her hand on his and just like that he lifted his hand to his mouth and gave it a soft kiss. It was just simple manners and his charm way of greeting someone he had not met of yet, and someone beautiful too that was.

"I am Gaston, Madame." He continued grinning and then he flicked his comb over just a little so that it shook slightly. "Are you 'aving a pleasant evening?" He asked making conversation. If she was next he needed to know her too.

Okaay. So he was a little late to the party. But he had had to climb up a lot of stairs. That was really not good. He was here now too. Hopefully Kat hadn't gotten too lonely, because he had told her that he'd meet her up here. Perhaps they should have some up together. At least he wouldn't have to go around and find her. It wouldn't be too hard though really. Because he would be able to tell his girlfriend anywhere.

It wasn't exactly Kay that caught her attention at first though. It was the boy that was kissing her hand. A boy was kissing his girlfriends hand. That did not go down well with him at all. He frowned a little, before making his way over to her. He was not a happy snake right now, but he did put a smile on for his girlfriend. "Hey KitKat." Annoying boy didn't get a greeting.

OKAY. So that wasn't a handshake... or anything Kat expected at all. The Head Girl blinked a few times. Oh right. French people did that, so she shouldn't be that surprised. That was their way of being respectful, right? Right? "Oh, uhm........." Was she even supposed to SAY anything? "Thanks, I guess." Yeah, that was good. Enough. Yeah, no more kissing on the hand please.

"Duly noted," Kat nodded. So, his name was Gaston. Maybe she should keep that in mind, yeah? Important information and all. "Yeah, I'm okay. How about you?" Geez, French people. So prim and proper. Is that really how they were? Not that it bothered Kat but, yeah okay... it was just different. 'Tis all.

AND A WILD BOYFRIEND APPEARS. "I'm glad you kept your word." About him going up here, you know? Cle didn't seem too enthusiastic about it earlier, especially since their common room, which was for Merlin's sake in the dungeons, was too far away. And plus, the Observatory was in the Astronomy tower. She couldn't even keep count of how many staircases she climbed up while going here.

"But hi," Kat grinned. Because KitKat. That was his nickname to her, only his. Nobody else called her that, right? She looked at Gaston, and then back to Cle. Oh uhm... okay? "This is Gaston from Beauxbatons." And that got Kat thinking though. "Weren't you from Beauxbatons too?" Curiosity. She was curious... and felt like she needed an answer.