A yule ball of their own.

[Cassandra Zhefarovich]

It was once again the night of the Yule ball. Up until this year she hadn't even considered going and this year ws not much different, seeing as she ultimately ended up skipping once more. She didn't see much point in it, she had no friends here so really nobody to talk to, granted that was a lack of trying on her part. The only person she had really gotten to know was Josiah and no matter how good looking he was and the odd feeling of fondness she held for him he was still staff, Cassandra didn't think she would risk getting caught no matter who it was. Not that he felt that way about her anymore anyways, aside from that first meeting she never detected anything other than friendship from the man.

While everyone else was packed into the cworded great hall Cassandra was prowling the abandoned dungeons, everyone had long since left to go to the ball and any other skippers really wouldn't choose to spend their nights down in the dungeons so far into the belly of the school that natural light was no longer an option, these seemed to be older as they were lighted by magically flaming torches casting an omnious shadow on the wall. She got a book out of her bag and read in the new atmosphere, what else was there to do?

 

[Josiah Hansen]

The clomp of Josiah's shined black leaher shoes echoed in the empty corridor leading from the library. He was on his way to chaperone the Yule Ball with Onyx and the other staff of Hogwarts New Zealand. He'd hoped to be able to get Jude in for the ball as a guest of two staff members, but he still hadn't heard from the headmaster. Hopefully Onyx could go and get him in the midst of the festivities. She might be able to smuggle him in as a student.

However, upon his arrival to the doors he was told they were already overflowing with chaperones, and a young man like himself must have other plans for the night, Go ahead and have the night off. He frowned as the staff memebr handed him a bottle of firewhiskey and said 'Happy Christmas' before sending him on his way. He uncorked it and took a sip, deciding to go down to the dungeons and drink the night away. He wondered sorrowfully if any of the younger lads had asked Cassie to the Ball. He'd hoped to at least catch a glimpse of her in the crowd.. Maybe if he'd been brave - or foolish - enough he might have asked her for a dance himself.

By the time he got to the dungeons his entire body was humming from the hot liquid coursing through his veins. He was far from drunk, and decided to put the bottle away, at least until he actually got to the dark dungeons where he could sit in peace and talk with the occupant ghosts.

He slipped the bottle into his black jacket pocket and caught a glimpse of himself in a mirror leaned against a wall. He rana hand through his always tousled shaggy black hair, and scanned his eyes quickly over the suit jacket he'd donned over a black button up shirt and black trousers. He thought of Johnny Cash witha smalls mirk before walking on int the dungeon whistling a tune. Medieval torches lined the walls and he started when he saw the very girl that constantly occupied his mind, seated in a corner of the room, her dark angel's face lit eerily by the torchlight.

"Hello m'lday. And how are we this evening?" he asked casually, confidently. The liquor had given him a bit more prid ein himself than he was used to having.

 

[Cassandra Zhefarovich]

Cassandra closed the book in her hands which she had really been staring at more than reading, watching the shadows cast by the odd flickering torch flames dance across the yellow looking pages. Was this even a library book? It looked too old then again back at Hogwarts Scotland there had been books much older than the one she was holding on it's ancient shelves. But she looked and it wasn't, this school was newer and as such had newer copies of older books. Except maybe in the retricted section.

She dropped the old book back in her bag and put her hand up to her mouth to cover up a yawn. She was kind of tired, maybe a trip back up to her dorm to sleep while her roommates loud snoring didn't shatter her eardrums. She was sure to out in an abandoned classroom with her boyfriend somewhere until dawn so she could atleast have one night in peace. Oh how she hated the fact that there weren't more dowms in the Slytherin house. With that thought in mind she turned and began to walk back the direction she had came from, the thin heels on her black ankle boots clicking against the unever stony floor.

She admitted she was bit dressed up, even for her standards wearing long sweeping emerald green skirt that reached her ankles along with a shiny silver V necked shirt that looked nice against her pale skin and brought out the silver color of her eyes. Not that she had planned this, the only person she felt the need to impress was off limits due to blood and status at the school. But she felt that keeping her appearance polished at all times help keep an air of sophistication and class of which she had grown accustomed.

She had barely taken a few steps in the direction of the Slytherin common room when a familiar voice addressed her. A bit startled her head snapped over to the sourse of the voice and saw Josiah, the one person she had made any sort of real bond with at the school. With all of the black he was wearing and his dark hair one wouldn't have noticed him looming in the shadows where the torch light barely shone enough to see anything but his face which was clearly visible do to the brilliant whiteness of his skin similar to her own.

She noticed right away that there seemed to be a bit more color to his face and he seemed more confident. But she didn't bother herself trying to think of a reason why as she probably knew he had had a drink or two, but he didn't look much intoxicated so Cassandra took a few steps closer to the flushed man in the all black suit, it looked like he had been at the ball. She wondered for a moment why he had left but once again didn't pay it any mind as she took his hand and pulled him a foot or two out of the shadows.

She was aware of the lessened distance between them as he finally came to a halt about a half an arms legnth away from her. She didn't feel the need to let go of his hand but her grip was loose, he could get free easily if he wanted to. "Good evening yourself, and Might I ask what brings you down to the snakes lair while everyones enjoying the festivities?" she asked a small grin setting on her face. She gave his hand a small squeeze before letting go of it letting her arm rest at her side mirroring her other.

 

[Josiah Hansen]

"Haha, why the hopes of seeing you of course, my dear." he said, placing a hand on her hip and pulling her boldly closer. He smiled down at her in the dim, flickering light,"Shh. We can have our own party down here. Away from all the bustle and bows upstairs. Besides, you can hear the music echoing in these stone walls, can't you?" he spoke so softly, sweetly. Adoration shone in his eyes as he twirled her once before bringing her back against his side. He interlaced his fingers with hers and bade her rest her head on his shoulder as they danced.

"Ah, this is much better than being up there or getting drunk as a skunk in the library, in my opinion." he murmered into her raven tresses, humming along to the quiet ballad as he gently swayed them about the room.

"You look gorgeous tonight. But then you're positivelly beauitful everytime I see you." he said, pulling away slightly and divering his gaze from hers with a tinge of red creeping up form his collar to his cheeks.

 

[Kailey Harrington]

[Damn it Ignore this >_<]

 

[Cassandra Zhefarovich]

Cassandra observed as Josiah started to talk, pulling her towards him. It was from this distance what she saw the bump of a Firewhiskey bottle in his jacket pocket, her suspicions had been confirmed. But in the dim light of the dungeons she could tell his eyes weren't glassy or bloodshot. She heard and saw tthat he wasn't clurring or stumbling. If he wanted to be a little 'friendlier' than usual then by all means she wass going to let him. He was quite good looking and while a bit shyer than she'd like most of the time things between them just always seemed to work.

He started to pull her around in what she realized to be an attempt at dancing. Seeing no harm in it she let him lead her around the darkened dungeons, laying her head on his shoulder. They had grown close over several late night chats in the library so this wasn't too out of the ordinary. If she strained her ears she could hear the music from above but she didn't bother. The music really wasn't needed much anyways. "I would return the compliment but you kind of blend in with all that black. It works though." she said Her voice showing she would have shrugged it she could have.

They swayed soundlesly around the dungeons for a few more minutes, not really caring that this wasn't exactly what most people would call a romantic setting. Cassandra just preferrdd the dungeons to the blaring brightness that wa sure to be in the over decorated great hall. She lifted her head and almost immediately their eyes locked, Silver on Hazel. Acting on impulse for once in her life Cassandra closed the gap between them and kissed him. Not caring about his postition as staff at the school, or his age, or even the fact that she didn't know how tainted by muggles his blood was. In that moment it didn't matter much.