The doors into the Entrance Hall are propped open, allowing balmy night air into the castle along with the elaborately attired guests. The walls leading up the staircase and outside the Great Hall are festooned with garlands of flowers twined with gauzy fabric, neatly framing the enlarged yearbook photographs from bygone days.

Take a moment to examine the old photographs and look for your own, but don't miss the chance to shake hands with the current Prefects, Quidditch Captains, Head Girl, and Head Boy in the Receiving Line.

Preston had gone to meet Eleanor, worried about her traveling such a distance. Despite her health having been excellent the past year, he was conditioned to worry. And dote.

They entered the entrance hall together, his arm always offered. He gazed up ahead to the receiving line. Duty called. Patting her hand, he smiled. "I'll see you inside." And he headed to toward the receiving line to queue.

Eleanor alternatively loved and loathed her brother's protectiveness. This evening, so far, she found it sweet that he'd met her and escorted her. Her arm tucked lightly through his, her eyes scanned the entrance way. Her memories of Hogwarts were dim, clouded by her sudden withdrawal.

"Go, Pres. I can take care of myself," she smiled as she took back her arm. She was going to look at these pictures, some.

Nymphy walked up to the front door. He took and few breaths and was about to enter when the idea of fog appeared to him.

"Caliga!" he said, making a fine mist stream from his wand. When there was enough, he flew open the great doors and jumped in the Hall.


"I have arrived!" he declared. He noncalantly swept from the Entrance Hall and proceeded into the ball.

Josey was almost pale with nervousness. She felt completely out of place. Well, not completely, she was a student after all. As was everyone else. Well, except for some teachers. That was a little weird, but not very. She fingered her dress before walking into the entrance hall. When she realized what she was doing she dropped it, she needed to get rid of that habit. Well, at least she had stopped biting her nails. She looked around at the pictures before continuing into the ball. Well, not before giggling when someone entered, it was weird. But funny.

Carter stood in the hallway shifting his weight from foot to foot. He looked over to the clock. Marie should be here any second. Truthfully he was a bit nervous. This would be the biggest and most elegant date they'd been on before. Actually, it was one of a handful of dates they'd been on since Marie spent half the year tied to Destiny.

Jayden stood outside the castle with Jade. "Is it just me or does it feel a bit weird to be back?" he said looking over at his date. He smiled at her. "Shall we go in then?" he asked holding out his arm with his elbow bent to escort her.

Fia made her way into the Great Hall feeling slightly uncomfortable. She still had to get used to dressing this way, but she knew that was going to take a while no matter what. If it were up to her, she would have came barefoot as she knew the shoes she was wearing would more than hurt her feet by the end of the night. GAH! Heels!

Ellie stood outside the Great Hall. She'd stepped in for a moment, but was far more comfortable on the outside. She felt naked, wearing a sleeveless gold dress. She firmly believed that all garments should have sleeves, and this was very challenging for her. Worse yet, her blond hair was down and curled, ringlets surrounding her head.

"This is so wrong," she shook her head, curls bouncing off of her cheeks in the process. Ellie just felt so silly and uncomfortable. Why couldn't this dreadful clothing at least be comfortable? She awkwardly tugged at her hem and adjusted her straps. She was certain no one would even recognize her if she walked into the ballroom.

Stepping into the Entrance Hall for the first time in so many years Ari felt a wave of nostalgia overcome her until she shook it off, glancing down at her heels. Why did she have to wear these things; her feet were going to hurt later on when she began dancing. Hah. Lifting her head and moving a strand of brown hair from her face she noticed the pictures and started laughing. Nudging William she grinned, "Recognize that one?" she asked, pointing to the picture of a 17 year old Ari, bright pink highlights in her hair and a smirk on her face. Beside it was her best friend Vannah's picture and she grinned some more. They looked so young she thought, turning to look at the line up of professor, Quidditch Captain and Head Girl and Boy. "You can go off and do whatever Will, I'm going to go say hi to some people. Stay out of trouble." she warned, glaring at her younger cousin.

Pulling at his tie William scowled, impressed with how things looked. The decorating committee had done an awesome job he thought eyes roaming the pictures. "huh, where?" he asked as Ari pointed out a picture of herself during her time at school. "Oh my gravy, pink Ari? Seriously, what were you thinking!" he laughed undoing the button on his shirt taking a deep breath. Walking over to the picture he tilted his head shaking it. Nope he just couldn't picture his cousin with pink highlights, yet there was proof. Seeing her turn towards the line with all the big people he nodded, looking over to the seating area. "Sure thing; and I resent that last remark." he added as he tossed a wave over his shoulder as he walked towards the seating area.

Keeley skipped into the hall, rather wondering why she had come at all. It wasn't like she had a date or anything, but the temptation to see the fancy decorations and whoever the wizard band was, and most importantly, whether they had cupcakes had been too strong. But this whole ball thing might be fun, who knew? Too early to tell. And if it got terribly boring, she could always leave and go have ice cream in the kitchens with Emily. That'd be fun! She noticed some pictures hanging on the walls of people she didn't recognize and started to take a looksie.

Marie made her way to the Entrance Hall looking for Carter. She was feeling a bit nervous about this. Tonight would be the first time Carter seen her in a dress and heals and she had no idea how he would react to her all dressed up. Spotting him across the way looking very handsome in green she quickly made her way over to him. "Hi," she said before giving him a hug and a kiss. I hope you haven't been waiting too long."


Colby arrived at the Entrance Hall looking for Hadley. Not seeing her there yet he felt relieved that he wasn't late. Looking at his watch he realized he was a few minutes early. He looked around to see if he could find anyone he knew from when he was a student here. Nope, he didn't recognize anyone yet. He leaned against the wall and waited for Hadley to arrive. He had a feeling she would be running late, as usual.

William had been half way down to the seating area when he'd spotted Keeley. Grinning he glanced over to see Ari disappearing from his view and silently walked up behind Keeley, his eyes sparkling with mirth as he put his hand up to cover her eyes. "Guess who?" he asked in an imitation of a deep voice filled with laughter.

Carter was stunned as he saw the beautiful young lady coming up the stairs came toward him. Then she hugged and kissed him. Taking a few minutes to gather his senses he stammered. "H..Hey. You... you... You! You look beautiful." he said finally getting the words at. "No, I haven't been here long." he said. In actuality he didn't remember. All that was on his mind was his girlfriend in that red dress.

Oh yeah. Dance lessons were totally worth this.

Mina slowly made her way down into the Entrance Hall. She hadn't had the chance to catch up with Evan and talk about where they were meeting, but she figured the entrance would make sense. It really won't be all that difficult to find him there, considering everyone had to enter there. Standing at the top of the stairs, she glanced over the crowd for her 'date'.

Jade nodded as she looked up at the castle that was once home to her. "Beyond weird really," she replied as she looked back to him. He looked rather handsome tonight, but then again he was a very handsome guy. Smiling, she took his offered arm. "Do lead the way, kind sir."

Hadley was LATE!

She had forgotten to tell Colby that something like this would happen. It always did when she was excited about something, and she was UBER excited about this ball! Arriving at the entrance hall, she pulled her compact out of her bag and did a quick hair and makeup check. Perfect, of course.

Placing it back inside her bag, she looked around, trying to spot Colby. She chuckled at the thought of him being late, but knew that was not going to happen. "Colby!" she exclaimed making her way over to him. "Sorry I am late, I had a bit of trouble."

Like trying to find the right shoes to match her dress!

Tori arrived at the great hall in her favorite dress. Her shoes felt perfect. Her hair was just how she wanted it. So she didn't have a date. That didn't mean she couldn't dance, right?

"Where to first my fair lady?" Jayden asked walking toward the Great Hall with Jade. "The dance floor?" he suggested. "You look stunning tonight. Have I told you that yet?" he asked knowing full well he'd said it at least 10 times. He couldn't get over it. Jade had always looked very attractive to him. But there was something about tonight that was different. He felt very lucky that Jade was on his arm.

Somehow, coming back here made Mariska feel just the tiniest bit nostalgic. For certain, her life had been quite simpler when she had been a student here. She missed it at times.

Both good and bad memories began to surface in her mind, but soon she was distracted by how...little some of the students were. Had she been so young looking at one point? Surely not. She continued on and into the Great Hall, mildly curious as to who she might see tonight and slightly relieved to be on her own for a night.



Distractedly,Shoshannah tugged at the hem of her purple dress. It had come in a parcel, sent from her mother. The note within detailed her mother's wish that she, Shoshannah, have the "most normal" school experience possible and that included this dance. Apparently.

It wasn't that Sho was anti-dances. She was just...indifferent. So she'd donned the purple thing and worn some very, very low heels and...pulled her hair halfway up as a means of styling it. " Well. Here goes," she mumbled to herself as she made her way into the room where obvious festivities were expected to take place, if the decor was any indication.

Raven walked through the Entrance Hall, she was just pleased that there was finally an excuse to wear a dress since she had missed it; wearing robes got quite tiring and she had the chance to show off her own style. It appeared that Daniel hadn't shown up yet which wasn't exactly a disappointment since she had an idea he would take his time getting ready, at least it would give her some time to talk with a few of her friends as well as her partner in crime; that was incredibly important.

Walking through the Entrance Hall, Amanda looked around and grinned slightly at the fact that she was actually back at Hogwarts; after 4 years, she had so much happen but never forgot the one school that really started everything for her. It seemed that there was going to be some sort of big deal when people had heard she was coming though thanks to having her "date", she wasn't exactly concerned. She looked around at the decorations and raised her eyebrow a little bit, whoever had worked on them definitely did a good job.

Marie could feel her face starting to turn the same shade of red as her dress. "Thanks, I was hoping you would like the dress. I picked out red just for you." It was definatly different than the green she loved wearing but tonight she wanted to dress in a color she knew Carter liked.

She couldn't take her eyes off of him. "You look very..." handsome dashing "captivating," she said. Yes, she was the luckiest girl here tonight. She had the best looking date who just happened to be her boyfriend too.

Colby stood there patiently waiting for Hadley to arrive. He was used to her running a few minutes late so he was not worried that she would not show up. Watching the couples come through the door he stood up straight when he noticed her.

She looked stunning.

He started to head towards her and gave her a hug and a kiss once thry were together. "You look absolutely stunning," he said unable to take his eyes off of her. "Trouble, what kind of trouble? I hope it was nothing serious," he said.

Carter felt his cheeks heat. It was a good thing Marie was blushing too or he'd be even more embarrassed -- as if that were possible -- right now.

"I do like red." he said. "And thanks. Shall we head inside?" he asked her taking her hand.

Marie felt relieved that she had picked the right color to wear tonight. "Yes, let's go inside," she said as she took his hand. She was ready to show off her boyfriend to the world... or at least the world inside the Great Hall Ballroom.

Maddie stood nervously in the Entrance Hall, waiting for Timothy. She smoothed her robes, making sure they looked alright. She was still wearing the necklace Timothy had given her, and put her hand to her throat, feeling the cool silver.

Finally! Someone Tori knew. "Hey, Maddie. Your dress is lovely," she said.

Jade smiled brightly as Jayden lead her toward the Great Hall. "The dance floor sounds perfect," she replied as she looked up at him. "I believe so, but you flattery is never a bad thing to me," she blushed. Yes, he had told her a few times, but she liked to hear it from him. It was special coming from him, especially tonight. "You you look rather charming yourself, Mr. Monroe," she winked. She couldn't really get over how charming he looked to her in his suit. She did afterall, have a soft spot for a man in a suit, but he looked even more charming and handsome to her tonight.

Sammy walked into the entrance hall her http://www.sungboutiquela.com/images...babyblue_l.jpg dress blowing against her knees her little sister, Annabell http://www.exposay.com/celebrity-pho...als-1tE0kp.jpg at her side looking nervous. where is Jay? she thought looking around she didn't actually know anyone standing around she had seen them but never talked to them


i will fix the urls later