The Great Hall looked fantastic in its simple decorations of all the house colours - lavish silver and gold, light blue and grass green, pastel yellow and bright, vibrant red - and the whole room was cleared of tables, which all lined the edges covered in cakes, sandwiches cut into triangles, sausage rolls, and various other party foods. The sky was pleasant, showing a beautiful dusky sky above the setting sun. Soft music was playing, the Hall was comfortably warm, and all in all it really did feel like Spring had sprung.

Rose looked around at her handiwork, delighted at how well the decorations looked and how good she felt about organising everything. Of course, Faith had done loads and loads of work, but seeing as she had a lesson last thing Rose had had to do all of the physical work - by herself. She was so determined to keep everything secret that she hadn't asked for any help. But the doors would open any minute, and she felt wonderful with her freshly dyed blonde hair and her beautifully brocaded white petticoat. Goldilocks.



[Can everyone please post a picture of how they're dressed/who they're dressed as? Cheers.]

Alex finished tying the red sash around his thin waist and turned to look at himself in the mirror. This would be the first time he would be in the same room as Gary since he was bitten. They hadn't spoken and Gary had taken to sleeping in other dormitories to avoid him. He turned to get a good look at his costume. As far as story book characters went, Aladdin was all he could think of. He had read more muggle stories than wizard ones, Beadle the Bard's stories had always scared him a little. He sighed as Issac coughed and spluttered, his features changing into those of a monkey, no longer a rat. Abu now sat on his bed, thoroughly confused. Alex chuckled, but suddenly gasped as a searing pain ran through his shoulder. The teeth marks were still there. Pulling the purple waistcoat over his bare chest, Alex then pulled up his white pajama pants. Satisfied he left his dorm to make his way down to the great hall. He hoped Gary would be there. Alex missed him. Issac scampered behind him, quickly jumping onto his shoulder to avoid walking any further than he had to.

Rose turned round to see the first guest enter quite shyly. "Alex!" she cried, and ran at him in a flaming comet of golden hair, throwing her arms around him. "I'm so glad you're here! I was beginning to think no one would come!" Since Gary had been strangely avoiding Alex, she'd grown quite close to him, and was delighted to see him here first, of all people. Now that she and Marcus were settled, she was less concerned about Sammael. In fact, she'd barely thought about him for days - only whilst telling Alex a story or two. "Would you care to dance with me?" she asked sweetly, moving her hands into a waltz position and wondering whether Alex liked her brand new hair or not. It made her feel a totally different person.

(lol all thanks to Photoshop )

The clock struck 7 meaning it was time for the ball with a reluctant sigh Edward came up the stairs from the dungeon, as he tired the last of his leather lace on hsi arm, he wore leather boots, leather trousers and top slightly baggy at that. to Himself he looked ridiculus, But Faith had insisted, after all the only reason he had come was for the sake of Face to ensure she didn't get to drunk, and that she was able to walk back home. As they had arraged to go back to their cottage to finish of the night hopefully sticking to the previous rule of 'no sex' so far they had gone a few weeks without it. Edward shook his head to clear his mind before he crossed the entrace hall and walked into the Great Hall, the decorations were as ever splendind, there were only a few people Rose being one, whom he recognised as Goldilocks, then theres was the boy, Alex whom he recognised as Aladdin. Faith was due to come by later, as for Rosalie she had too said that she was going to make an apparence, although she didn't tell Edward as whom, nor did she think it.

[Sucks to be you - I know who she's coming as.]

Rose turned again as Edward came in, and tried to stifle a snort at his costume. It was exactly how Faith had sketched, right down to the tiniest buckle and strap. It wasn't that the clothes themselves were funny, it was just his general expression and body language which just seemed to be saying, 'I hate this. I want to go home.' Not very heroic at all. "Good evening," she said in that same childishly sweet voice. Well, getting into character was fun, but she couldn't help laughing. "Edward... Do you even know who Robin Hood is?"

(lol i'm in hysterics though lol and oh god..I have an idea.. lol)

Edward caught Rose's expression and nodded as if to say 'I know' He then wondered over to the nearest table and sat down resting his ankle on his knee. "Good evening to you too" He replied with a tight lipped smile not enjoying it in the slightest, but he was trying, trying to lighten up, even a fraction. HE looked to Rose and smiled "Goldilocks?" He mused then nodded again. "Yes actually there have been various versions of him, a medival, Hero who shoots arrows steals from the rich gives to the poor, and various other things, I am really only acustomed to the 'old' Robin hood's"

Faith had just done her finishing touches to her outfit as she stumbled into the Ball, a look of amazement hit her as she looked around, pleased, amazed at the final design and plan on the hall. Rose had done such a good job without her help, but she was pleased to see her vision so complete and perfect. With her long blonde hair bouncing on her shoulders from which Rose had helped her, she tapped Edward on the shoulder and placed a soft kiss on his neck, "You look too good," She mumbled in his ear before smiling to Rose, "it's fantastic! Really!" Faith said as her smile never faded and she buzzed like an excited child. Smoothing down her small dress and pulling up her knee length white socks, she slipped her hand into Edward's, squeezing it, she wanted him to smile.

"Aww, thank you sweetie, Rose, you look gorgeous. I love your outfit and thank you for doing my hair, I owe you," Faith smiled happily as she saw Edward stiffen, he had done that before, only once in Italy, when they had first met, she smelt her shoulder but she smelt normal to herself. Did she smell bad? "Im going to get a drink," Faith added as she smiled to Edward and then Rose before turning on her high heel and walked slowly over the drinks table where she then poured herself a drink and rested it on her lips as she looked around at the outfits, she then looked down to herself, Alice in Wonderland, she liked it.

Edward nodded and let her go and get a drink, he flexed his jaw lightlyand tilted hsi head to the side as he cast his glance awya too, This night was going to prove harder, much harder then he had expected, Faith's scent still lingured and he still remained tense, If he could get through this night including the part with Faith sleeping in his bed, he may just be able to get through anything. To distract himself his hand moved to the arm of the chair where his fingers clenched realtivly hard against it's arm fractions of sawdust begun to fall way, leaving grooves in the wood where his finger tips were. Relax, You can do this, Carlisle is Immune to it, You cannot let this one night get in the way. He said silently over and over to himself.

Faith turned away from Edward so that she could lower her head, running her hand down her neck and felt the scar, the constant reminder of what she could have been until Edward got rid of the venom. If Edward was going to be as grumpy as he first was she might aswell have got up and walked out now, she looked to the door, it was tempting after all. She swayed on her heels lightly as she clutched her arms together, feeling rather alone as she then looked towards the drink and poured herself another, her eyes scanning the room to check for teachers before grabbing her wand from her sock and tapping the cup, letting Firewhiskey pour out the end into her drink, it was going to be a long night.

"You looked disgusted Edward, you were lucky I know how your like." Faith whispered back as she looked to him, "Do I not even get kisses now? You know this whole sex things really going to your head, I thought it was me but boy, was I wrong." She muttered, of course, Edward's idea of them not doing anything because of her safety, was nonsense to her and she didn't see why they did it but she had gone along with it, yet Edward was the one who had withdrawal symptoms. Chewing on her lip softly, she downed her drink and placed her cup on the side of the table, before holding his hand loosely, she loved his costume as she had already said to him, but her mind was buzzing and she doubt if she kept up like this that she would have a good time.

Faith gritted her teeth, she was so tempted to have another but she held her ground and looked away from Edward as she felt his hand on her scar, "Im starting to think this is just an excuse to stay away from me Edward," She muttered sternly as she cast her eyes over him, "Three days Edward and you haven't even kissed me, all this time and no, you hardly touched me, I was surprised that you held my hand for that long when I first came in, or that you're not even out of the door now." Faith spoke angrily as she felt her eyes welling up with tears, "It was a stupid mistake to come tonight," Faith breathed out harshly as she soon headed for the door, her blonde curls hiding the tears falling.

"I don't see why you could have even shown me a bit off affection, even to say something to me, just a simple I love you wasn't enough. Im getting tired of this Edward, tell me you love me," She whispered as she looked up to him, her eyes squinting through the tears as she bit on her lip, trying not to let the whimpers tremble of her lips, she wanted to look strong and yet her tears were failing her as she was soon to become an emotional wreck infront of him. "I don't know how many times I tell you, of course I remember, but I don't care, it was your instinct kicking in, I took that risk to be with you and the scar doesn't bother me at all."

Faith was satisfied, still annoyed but at least she knew he was telling the truth as she kissed him back, running her hand down the back of his neck before smiling into the kiss. She heard someone wolf-whistle as they passed, soon grabbing Edward's hands and placing them on her bum so that he would keep her short skirt down, "I love you too, Im sorry. It just hurt, you hardly came near me," She mumbled and rested her forehead on his as she kept on her tiptoes.

Professor Dumbledore entered quietly, the dozens of pupils all gathering in the Hall allowed him to try and sneak in. He loved the Balls, found them seriously entertaining. He walked through the crowd pasts the hoards of students all talking, dancing and yelling about how each others outfits were perfect and their own weren't. Albus was just wearing what he usually wore, but his hair was combed and his hat was flat, his robes also had more silver and the lining was gold. He looked around at what everyone was wearing and smiled, everyone seemed to be having fun.