Closed Fluttering Flowers

[Emma van Houten]

Emma had tried her best to create a beautiful and dramatic outfit for this event. It wasn't every day that she had a date to the ball, especially not one she didn't really know that well. Simon Thorne was a Slytherin in the year above her, and Emma hoped he knew how to have fun. She had agreed to meet him outside the great hall, and Emma waited there as other couples moved past her into the hall. She straightened her skirt, and then fidgeted with the flowers in her hair a bit. She would have to find a photographer for Accio quickly, before the flowers got all messed up from dancing. Assuming Simon wanted to dance. But if he didn't, Emma would just find someone else to dance with. The blind date idea was fun in theory, but if her date was boring Emma would find other ways to enjoy herself.

 

[Simon Thorne]

Simon was trying not to let his usual sour mood affect tonight. He had to at least try to have a good time, if only to keep up his proper Social Chair appearances. He hadn't put too much thought into his wardrobe tonight and settled for trousers and a nice jacket. As he entered the Great Hall he scanned the room trying to find Emma. He had learned just enough about her to find her in a crowd, and when he finally spotted her he stopped short still a fair distance away. She was wearing a bright purple dressed with a huge head piece full of flowers. Simon had hoped to simply blend into the background tonight, but that was not likely to happen. He wondered if the universe was playing some kind of joke on him as he approached her with a charming smile. "You look...amazing." he said smoothly, as he held out his hand for her to take. "You know not very many people could pull off such a bold look." he said, and watched her closely as he tried to get a better sense of her.

 

[Emma van Houten]

Emma had looked up who Simon Thorne was in the yearbook, and recognized him as he approached her. She grinned and waved at him as he approached. Emma puffed up with pride as he said she looked amazing, immediately taking a liking to the boy. "Oh, thanks." She said as if it was no big deal. She then took his hand and grinned at his next compliment. "Thanks!" She said again, adjusting the flower crown on her head. "I hope it won't fall off when we dance." She said, starting to pull him into the great hall in her excitement. "Oh, you also look nice, by the way. Do you like dancing?" She asked him, looking behind her as she excitedly started making her way into the great hall.

 

[Simon Thorne]

Simon relaxed a little as she seemed to genuinely warm to him. Thankfully no one had gotten to her first to tell her how awful he was. He kept his face neutral as she raised concerns about her flower frown falling off. “Yes, that would be unfortunate.” he said sincerely. "It really...completes the look." he added with a smile. So far so good, it had been a while since he had tried to be this charming and while he wished some mysterious gust of wind would take those ridiculous flowers away never to be seen again, he managed to keep those comments to himself. Simon raised his eyebrows as she took his hand and before he could kiss it politely she was pulling him into the Great Hall. “Thank you.” he said with a shaky laugh, appreciating the compliment even though it seemed like an afterthought. He considered her question, while he didn't hate dancing he wouldn't claim it was a favorite past time either. He was about to say as much when he spotted Knox greeting another boy across the hall. Was that his date or a friend? A million questions ran through his mind but he couldn't dwell on any of them with his own date pulling him a long. He noticed their body language, their nervousness. It was definitely a date. Simon knew he had no right to be jealous but that wasn't going to stop him. "I love to dance." he blurted out with an excited smile, and for the first time that evening glad Emma was wearing the most ridiculous dress at the ball.

 

[Emma van Houten]

Emma was so excited about tonight, that it was difficult for her to focus and remember her date was a stranger and that she should probably take it easy with him. But he liked her outfit and her flowers, and that was a good sign, right? She looked around as they headed through the great hall, trying to spot her sister or one of her friends. She saw Nicole with Eric, and waved in their direction, though she didn't really think they noticed. She wasn't sure what to think about Nicole's choice of boyfriend, but at least she looked pretty happy. She'd have to talk to her later to hear more about her date. Simon seemed a little distracted as well, and Emma wondered if he was looking for someone specific in the crowd. But then he said he loved to dance, and Emma grinned. "Let's go!" She said, leading him to the dance floor happily.

 

[Simon Thorne]

Simon couldn’t help but laugh at her excitement as she dragged him along to the dance floor. He looked around and was distressed to see that they were one of the only couples dancing so early in the night but he was willing to use that to his advantage now. That’s what he wanted right? To prove to Knox and his dorky date that he was having a great time. Simon bowed playfully in front of Emma, before taking her hand and placing his other hand on her back. He held her close and started to lead. He kept things simple not knowing how well she could dance. “So Emma, where are you from?” he asked, sounding a bit stiff yet refused to take his eyes off her. Mostly because he worried he would spot someone he knew and his carefully constructed confidence would be shattered. But was curious, her accent was distinctly not from New Zealand. Besides if this was supposed to be a date of some kind he figured he should at least try to get to know her.

 

[Emma van Houten]

Emma was surprised and delighted when Simon bowed to her, like a prince in a fairy tale. He then started to lead her in a dance, and Emma followed his lead happily. They were certainly at the center of attention, exactly what Emma liked. She wondered if Nicole had spotted her yet, she wanted to talk to her friend later. She might know a bit more about Simon, being in the same house as him. But she was with Eric Holland, and Emma couldn't really pretend she approved of that. She hoped the boy was treating her nicely. "I'm from the Netherlands." She told him, wondering if he was curious about her accent. She had gotten that before, and was used to it by now. "What about you?" She asked him, as he didn't have a strictly New Zealand accent either.

 

[Simon Thorne]

Simon found himself staring at the flowers on Emma’s head and had to snap to attention when she asked him the same question. “I grew up in London.” he said with a fond smile. “I actually transferred from Hogwarts Scotland.” he explained in case she didn’t know, not that she had any reason too. When he first arrived at this school he was convinced everyone could tell he was new, but realistically he realized not everyone had their eyes on him. Simon was impressed she wasn’t a terrible dancer and he was truly in danger of enjoying himself, when he noticed a commotion and turned just in time to watch Minnie punch Blake Irons. He let out a chuckle. “I’m glad we’re having a better time than them.” he said, nodding to where a professor was now scolding the not so happy couple. They might not be the center of attention anymore but at least he wasn’t in danger of getting punched in the face. Yet.