Formalities

[Lilyanna Hope]

Lilyanna Hope never really liked formal occasions. If anything, they were just an excuse to dress up nice and socialise. Socialising was definitely not something the Slytherin was good at, but she nevertheless applied herself for the upcoming Yule Ball and had dressed quite appropriately even without putting in too much effort. She had arrived to the Great Hall with Tholomyes whom had politely asked her to join him not long before the occasion. She was never sure why he would want to ask her but was glad that she was actually going with someone this year as she felt like she fit in a bit more.

As the night began, Lilyanna found herself in the corner of the room, much too overwhelmed as more and more people turned up and the music became louder. Tholomyes was off doing his own thing now which didn't bother her much at all, and so she sat alone happily as she watched people enter through the doors, some alone and some not. It wasn't long before her mind began to wander and she began thinking about the last book she had read and how it had ended on such a cliffhanger. She wanted to be reading the next book of the series now, but all she could do was think about it as she tried to block out the sounds around her and just sit quietly.

 

[Diane Winters]

Diane had enjoyed herself at the Yule ball so far with her date Elysia, she hadn't planned on going to the ball with a date but she was too good to turn down when she asked. Elysia was off doing the rounds seeing friends so Diane went off to do the same. She caught sight of Lilyanna in the corner of the hall and made her way over to her. "Lilyanna!," Diane called over as she approached the girl. "What are you doing in the corner? It's a party," She knew Lilyanna wasn't the most social and lively of people but Diane hoped she could change that. She smiled at her friend as she took a seat next to her. "Where's your date?" She added having heard she had come with someone.

 

[Lilyanna Hope]

Lilyanna could feel her ears ringing as the song changed to an even louder one, but the Slytherin still sat there, contemplating whether or not she should get up and leave soon. But someone was walking over to her from in the crowd and so she continued to sit still. The person was quickly recognised as Diane and it made the girl feel slightly better knowing that someone actually wanted to talk to her. "Parties are tiring." Lilyanna replied simply as an excuse to not want to join the partygoers. "The longest dance party went for approximately 55 hours, which corresponds to just over 2 days, but the longest someone has ever went without sleeping was 18 or 19 days. Considering the large gap between 18 or 19 days and just over 2 days, you can say that partying is really tiring." Lilyanna hoped her excuse would be enough for Diane not to drag her onto the dancefloor. Getting tired was definitely not what Lilyanna wanted as she had such a big Christmas holiday ahead of her with her family and she was not going to let the stupid Yule Ball ruin that.

Diane's next question made Lilyanna raise an eyebrow. Who told her that she went to the ball with Tholomyes? Or did she happen to see the pair of them enter the Great Hall? Whatever it was, Lilyanna did not consider it a date at all. Tholomyes most likely asked Lilyanna because Emma wouldn't go with him and he didn't want to go alone, which was fine by her. The Slytherin just considered her going with Tholomyes as a polite gesture. "I don't know." she said, not really caring much either. Wherever he was, he was having fun and that was all that mattered.