One More for The Road.

[Sara Moon]

Sara strutted into the Great Hall. She looked good, and she knew it. Her dress had a cut-out back. She doubted Kate would approve, but she didn't care. It was Christmas. Her last Christmas in Hogwarts. She'd contacted the entire group, and they were going to meet up tonight. She was really looking forward to it. She'd taken hours to get ready, and she was happy with how she looked. She couldn't help thinking about how much she'd changed. She hadn't grown much veritcally. At 5'1" she'd never be able to tower over people, be intimidating, but she was far from helpless. Sara Moon was a very capable witch, and she knew it too. She walked over to the table, it was full of snacks, and she was craving something to eat, but she was trying to limit herself. She'd found that since puberty, she gained weight much more easily, and while she'd never be stick thin, she wanted to maintain her waist. Luckily for her, curvy suited her. She took up a small coffee-flavoured cupcake. They were her guilty pleasure at the moment. She adored them. This one was creamy, and the icing was so smooth. She ate it extremely slowly, as she wanted it to last.

She glanced around the room, watching excited First Years meeting up with each other. It was their first Yule Ball, and she had to look away. Leaving Hogwarts would be the hardest thing she ever did. She placed a hand on her hip, and let her hair fall in front of her face. She could still see people, some of whom she recognised, others, she didn't. Hogwarts was like a second home, though she would always love the manor. She'd been thinking about the manor a lot recently. She wasn't going to live there right away, but if she were to settle down, she'd like to live there. Her siblings would want it too though, and she didn't really think the fact that she was the eldest would matter. There was also the matter of the family business. She thought she could do some good work with it, but she needed some time before she could start living a sensible life. She wanted some fun first. She didn't think any of the other Moon's were interested in the business, but would the manor go with the business? She didn't want to think about it, not tonight of all nights. She wanted to pretend, just for tonight that everything was okay. She didn't want to think about how different her life was, how different she was. She just wanted to let herself be happy. She missed her friends, Stefan, Tara, they'd all been through so much together. She couldn't wait to see them. Sure, she saw them every day, but this was different. This was their last hurrah.

 

[Tara Sitara]

Tara was looking forward to the ball. she had seen the dress months ago when she was visiting home over the summer break on one of her few days off from the guptas. she had fallen n love with it. the rich fabric, the detailed embroidery, the vibrant colour and the bold cut. the problem with it was it was way above her class. where she stood in society. people like her sere meant to wear simple clothes. when she had gotten back to the guptas house she had been talking to meera about it and the girl had told her to buy it. even offered her a some money for it with the threat of buying it for her the next time she had visited india she passed the shop several times before she even had the nerve to go in. eventually she picked up the courage. the look on the keepers face clearly showed her distain, however at the glimpse of the euros she was holding it quickly changed. she left the shop twenty minutes later having bartered the dress down to two thirds of the price and some drawings of the french countryside and landmarks. it was a good deal.
she started getting ready early. taking time to wash her hair well, and then style it. then came the make up. she was an artist and she had the fine motor skills to be able to get it looking perfect. then came the moment she had waited months for, the dress had been hanging in a garment protector in her wardrobe since she had purchased it (other than a quick try on for meera who approved it). she hadn't wanted to take it out and try it in fear of ruining the moment. she put it on and instantly she felt like princess. there was a smile on her face that she wouldn't be able to move even if she tried as she made her way down to the great hall.
the room looked amazing. snow, sparkles, ice sculptures. it was like a fairytale. se looked around she was pretty sure kate was still in the dorm getting ready. but she didn't know about sara, or stefan, or Klaus who she had invited to join them a week ago as she knew he wasn't that social and thought he should enjoy the last ball. after a moment she saw Sara standing by the refreshment table. she made her way over to her through the crowd. soon she was close enough, she picked up a goblet of fruit punch from the drinks table as she passed "Sara. you look amazing" she said putting her free hand around her friend in a half hug. she knew sara was going though some things at the moment. but tonight was the ball and talking about them would just spoil the mood. "the decorators have outdone themselves this year, don't you think? she said small talk was what was required.

 

[Klaus Smile]

Klaus Smile was a seventh year. This year was his last year, and he was not looking forward to it. He did not know what he was going to do after graduation. Kennedy knew what he was going to do, and JazzyMae had a rich father on her side. She did not have to worry about what she wanted to do after she graduated. Klaus was never one to plan anything out. He was not organized. Klaus sat on his bed thinking. Tara had invited him to the Yule Ball, but he did not really want to go. He just wanted to sit in his loneliness. He did not know many of his fellow seventh years. He was not interested in them though. He just wanted to be by himself. Klaus did not understand why he always had to isolate himself. He always kept away from people. He was too much a freak to be worthy of hanging out with cool kids. Anyways, Tara had known those people since first year or something. They would feel like he was trying to invade their group or something. He shook his head and sighed. He got up from his bed and pulled out some clothes. He would feel bad if Tara was expecting him and he didn't show. She took the time to talk to him, so the least he could do was show his face. He got dressed and started to head down to the Great Hall. All the way down, Klaus was having difficult time putting in his watch. Had his wrists gotten fatter? Before, it had not been so difficult, and he had the help of JazzyMae who had small fingers.

Klaus reached the Great Hall. He was to busy with his watch to realize that he had already walked in. He glanced up and frowned. He was so under dressed. He looked around until he spotted Tara. He took a deep breath and calmly started to walk over to her and her friend. "Hey Tara." he said when he reached her. He held out his wrist and his watch to her. "Can you help me out?" he asked with an innocent smile. He looked over to the other girl and nodded as a greeting. Both of the girls' looked pretty. But, if he ever caught his sister wearing something like what the other girl was wearing, she would be, like, locked in her room.

 

[Kate Archer]

Since this was Kate's last Yule Ball, she had decided to put herself out there and pick something that she pretty eye catching. This dress was certainly eye catching and Kate loved it. She hadn't done anything much with her hair and she only had earings but she felt pretty good in her dress. She was looking forward to spending her last Yule Ball with her friends. She had been locked up in her own world recently and she wanted to get out there a little bit and enjoy her last Yule Ball and when she came back from the holidays her last term. After finally finishing up her make-up, Kate was ready . She got up and headed to the Great Hall. Kate was going to miss Hogwarts. It had been a big part of her life for the past seven years. A lot of things had happened in those past seven years. A lot of life changing things but also the small little things that make you smile and laugh. She tried not to think like that though. She wanted to enjoy the night. Kate knew Sara was probably wearing something she wouldn't approve of but after their talk at the beginning of the year , Kate had decided to let her sister do her own thing. Do whatever she had to do. Kate might not understand why Sara was doing this but Kate was going to take a step back and let her do whatever she liked. Her parents hadn't liked it when she had said that and when they went home for the holidays she was going to talk with them about everything. she had been keeping an eye on her little brother and sister and she was happy to say , they seemed to be doing well, which was reassuring.

Kate walked into the Great Hall and smiled at the beautiful decorations. They seemed to get more beautiful each year. The place was a buzz with energy. She smiled as she saw first years looking in awe at the place. She would keep an eye out for them all just in case anybody got ideas about trying to spice things up. Kate was glad people treated her the same even when she was Head Girl. She hadn't been sure what to expect but she was enjoying her new role. She started looking around for her friends familiar faces. It didn't take long to find them. One face she hadn't been expecting to see but she wasn't put off. "Hey Guys"she said smiling coming over to the group. Tara looked beautiful and Sara looked good in her choice of dress. Klaus who she knew from classes was looking well. One face which she had been most looking forward to hadn't arrived yet. She couldn't wait to see him. She missed him lots and she couldn't wait to dance with him. "Ye are all looking great"she said a wide, genuine smile on her face. She was so happy to be spending her last Yule Ball with her friends.

 

[Tara Sitara]

Tara saw someone noticeable enter the room. Klaus was not hard to miss. he was one of the tallest people in the school and often stood out like a sore thumb. she didn't think that he would come. he always seemed slightly self concious. "hey Klaus, it's great to see you. you look great" she said. his look was quite quirky but it suited him. she could see that he was having some problems with something on his wrist. "of course i can, " she said taking his watch and helping to fasten it. "Sara, you know klaus, klaus, this is Sara" she said introducing to them. she wasn't sure if they knew each other, obviously they had classes together, but not. just then she saw kate she was dressed in a very classy black and gold dress. that she personally preferred to saras. "you look really pretty" she said giving her friend a hug. this year they had all been so bus with their own things they hadn't had much chance to just hang out. she had been cooking and drawing, Sara had her quidditch and own rebellion and Kate well kate had head girl duties and music and quidditch. "Kate, klaus. klaus Kate" she said once again unsure if they knew each other. now there was just stefan left to arrive, at least thats all she could recall everyone. "it's been so long. since we have all hung out properly how have you all been?" she asked. glad to be hanging out with her friends both old and new.

 

[Sara Moon]

Sara laughed happily as Tara approached her, giving her a big hug. "You look amazing Tara, like a Princess!" she stepped back from her, grinning. She was going to have some fun tonight. Tara's dress was so beautiful. Sara immediately loved it, the part of her who had always loved fashion, was completely drawn to it. "You're dress is so beautiful." she smiled, and turned to face the newcomer. "Hi!" she smiled as Tara greeted him. "Cool jacket!" she felt really happy, as she slowly bit into her cupcake. The icing was so delicious, it was creamy, and she loved the flavour of coffee. "I know, right? The decorations are lovely, I'm really going to miss it." she sighed, looking around at the beautiful trees, icicles. She loved Christmas.

Then, Kate arrived. Stefan wan't with her, which was a bit weird, they were an adorable couple; "Hi Kate-that dress is gorgeous." she grinned, her sister looked good, she was at a healthier weight now, so...no...she was going to stop worrying, and thinking about other people. "Yeah, I'm easing a bit this year, working hard, but I've got a Co-Captain now, so there's less pressure from Quidditch. I'm a bit scared about the year ending to tell the truth." she answered Tara's question. She could tell that they saw her differently now, and she hoped Stefan would arrive soon. He always acted the same, treated her the same way. It was refreshing.