Nighttime Antics

[Alexander Archer]

Checking himself over in the mirror, his jaw was set as he tilted his head up slightly, observing the job he’d done on shaving. Having spent at least forty-five minutes carefully tracing a wet razor over his skin, he was quite happy with the results. Lowering his chin to look at himself square, he straightened his jacket and, with a flicker of a smile, left the quarters adjoining his office and headed down towards the ballroom.

Dressed in all black formal pants and a long-sleeved white shirt with black buttons, the latter was covered by a solid black button up vest and, on top of that, a wrist-length black coat with one pocket over the left breast. To top the whole thing off, he had a small black bowtie around his neck and running beneath the white collar of his shirt. His polished black shoes were reserved for formal occasions such as this and since they hadn’t seen any fun in some time he’d decided to go for them over the other pair that he’d also deemed suitable. His hair in its usual uncontrolled state, he had actually put some effort into it. One side was smoothed down and the remainder of his crop of dirty blonde, or debatably brown, hair had been artfully gelled into some design or another.

Assigned to help out throughout the night and generally keep an eye on things, he made his way quickly down the stairwells and through the hallways, the sound of his shoes indicating their ease of slipping into any formal occasion. Soon to be found trailing his way through the ground floor corridors, he entered the ballroom and looked around with bright eyes. He remembered attending his own balls at Hogwarts and, smiling at the memory, started making his way through the students already assembled on the dancefloor.

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[Keaira O'Connell]

The last ball in which Keaira attended she had spent hours preparing herself so that when she finally made her way down the stairs to the main entrance of the castle each person would turn their heads, and wonder who the magnificent blue faerie that stood before them was. That however, was when she had her beloved Alessandro to wittiness the magnificence that she beheld that night. For this occasion she had merely given herself enough time to bathe, dress, pin her hair back, and don her favorite lip stain. Keaira had only recently decided that she would attend the ball, if for no other sake than to uphold her prefect duties. After the short time it had taken her to get dressed and ready, Keaira secured her wand using a simple strapping method to her leg with things being as they were there was no need to be caught unaware.

Checking herself in the mirror before leaving the prefects bathroom she smiled at the way the dress hugged her body, and then flared out around her upper thigh. The black velvet clung to her upper body, decorative ribbon lacing traveled from the top of the dress down across her butt, to her mid thigh crossing over the intricately designed red silk that was underneath. Thin spaghetti straps held the entire dress up, here a slight problem was displayed. As Keaira looked at her reflection, she noted that she could not attend the ball with the pair of scars that she held on her chest. The wound on her left, a token from years ago, the wound on her right a small gift from the Mage. It was times like these that Keaira had to thank the men and women that had decided to pursue a career in beautifying magic. For a few hours, Keaira O'Connell would no longer hold the scars that she had acquired, thanks to the wonders of Valkin's Vanishing Cream. It was designed to save youngsters from problems like pimples right before a date, but for Keaira it would allow her the freedom to wear clothing she enjoyed without revealing her scars to those around her. A few more moments spent applying the cream and she was ready. A satisfied smile crept across her face as she watch the scars, fade and then meld in to the color of the rest of her skin. For tonight she would be free.

Her hair was pulled gently away from her face, with the help of two small red butterfly clips with enchanted winds that fluttered. With things as such, she felt certain that she could attend the ball. Making her way down the stairs to the ballroom Keaira felt the longing for her sweet Alessandro well up with in her. Sooner or later he would come around, and things would go back to normal. Or at least she hoped that they would. The foyer seemed to be packed with students all dressed for the occasion as they should be, but Keaira was not in the mood to be stuck in a conversation with some one whom she held no interest with. That being the case Keaira skirted around the students that had gathered about and headed for someone who she felt would at least be entertaining to speak with.

Making her way across the ballroom to the dance floor, she spied Professor Archer. As good a choice as any, she thought to herself as she adjusted her path slightly. A quick nod of acknowledgment was sent to various students as she passed them, notably Dylan, who seemed like he was leaving for some reason, and Susan, who had chosen quite the adorable little dress. Smiling as she went, Keaira approached the professor as he looked out the students.

"Good evening Professor Archer, and Merry Christmas, how has the evening been treating you? I must say I miss sharing my late evenings with you as the Astronomy professor, pray tell, what prompted the change in career?"

[Alexander Archer]

Smiling lightly at the frequent friendly waves sent his way and the few students who actually stopped to send out a greeting of some kind, he saw that the larger percentage of students currently threatening to fill the hall seemed to be having a good time. He noticed a few tears as overly-emotional young girls rushed outside to the balcony, and some sullen looking members of the student body sitting alone and staring gloomily out at the happily dancing crowd, but in general most people appeared to be having fun.

He also spied a few other professors here and there, keeping an eye on things or else joining in the fun himself, and he was glad that for tonight most of the dreadful events happening around the school were seemingly forgotten. Straightening his shoulders in a noticeable effort to improve his posture and appearance for the night, he held them back a way and raised his chin to look out straight at the crowd before him.

Through the passing waves of bright colours, starkly beautiful whites, and somber but well adorned blacks, he saw the approach of black and a deep, dark red coming directly for him. Recognising one of the Slytherin prefects, his smile grew and his eyes creased happily as she came ever closer and greeted him. “Good evening to you too, Miss O’Connell,” he returned gaily, admiring her clothing for the night and the way she carried herself. “You look lovely,” he said contentedly, smiling in particular at the dress she adorned.

Glad she too was smiling, he had almost forgotten the whole reason for the dance. With the doom and gloom surrounding Hogwarts at present and his own close encounters with it, the usual Christmas spirit had dwindled within him considerably. Of course, he hadn’t shown that to many people. Most had observed him to be as happy as usual, spreading the apparently infectious joyous spirit of the holiday like he usually did.

Drawn by her questions, his smile remained. “I felt it necessary for you all to have a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor. Astronomy, as much as I love it, will do little in the times to come,” he said, his voice lowered significantly. Raising it once more, a small twinkle in his eye, he continued. “You’re enjoying the lessons, I hope?” he asked, truly hopeful and his voice betraying it.

[Keaira O'Connell]

It impressed Keaira beyond measure to see the joy that was upon Archers face. After all, she had only greeted him, and wished him a Merry Christmas. She couldn't help but sparkle as she listened to his words of greeting in return. Even if she did not have her Alessandro with her to enjoy the night there was no need for her to pout about through it all.

"Why thank you Professor Archer, to be honest, I wasn't going to come to the ball originally, however, as a prefect, I felt I should. Although, I'm not sure what amount of fun can be had here."

Keaira's smile faded slightly as she thought of the last ball, there had been fun then, but also danger. Alessandro had made the evening well worth the time she had put in to preparing for it. The only small problem was the pestering of a mind intrusion. A mild annoyance, that was easily overshadowed, what with the way Alessandro whispered in to her ear, or the way he spun her about the dance floor. Then there was the final bit of the night, when the music faded, and they were left under the night's sky all alone. Where they whispered their good nights, and their lips met for the first time. It was a lovely affair, and it had left her wanting more of it, only to be deprived by Alessandro's parents.

As Alex answered her question Keaira found that she was pulled away from her thoughts. It struck her a bit odd that he would mention that Astronomy would do them little in the times to come. What did he know about what they might be facing in the future, and why would he be worried about their ability to handle it, unless he was on their side. It made her wonder what it was that he knew about the situation that they faced every day. As she thought more on it, she realized that she would have to approach him on another night about it.

"Oh I do enjoy the lessons, I must say I find that having us practice on each other is a great idea. It allows us to actually know what it is that that we are doing. I find it far more effective in getting us to remember it as well. I only hope that the lessons continue to be as knowledgeable for our futures, as they have been. So Professor Archer, are you here because you are required, or simply because you want to?"

[Alexander Archer]

“Not going to come?” he questioned rhetorically in response to her admittance of doubts about attending the ball. “Well, I for one am glad that your prefectorial duties resulted in your attendance, Miss O’Connell,” he said with a smile. “I’m sure there’s plenty of fun to go around, it’s Christmas Eve, afterall, and everyone seems to be in high spirits,” he said, unable to contain the joy, as he spoke, that he himself felt around the festive season.

Not quite perceptive enough, or rather too enthusiastic in watching a couple dancing rather exuberantly nearby, he missed the faded smile on the Slytherin prefect’s face and only fully returned his attention to her when she spoke once more. Smiling happily at her response, he was glad to finally have a student’s take on the way he conducted his lessons. He was always eager to see what they themselves thought about it and if they enjoyed it; if they didn’t, they wouldn’t be likely to learn anything, and it rather defeated the whole reason Alex became a teacher to begin with.

“I’m glad you think so,” he said approvingly, a broad smile evident on his features and happiness creeping into his eyes. “I like to keep some of the work practical without disregarding the need for theoretical…” he explained in a light tone of voice, casting his eyes around once more to the elegantly dressed young men and women of the student body. He was drawn however, once more, by her final question. “Ah… I fear that my reasoning is similar to yours, Miss O’Connell. However, what fun would sitting up in your dorm be when you knew something like this was going on? It only allows one time to realise you’re alone,” he commented, hanging a slight extra meaning onto the statement that was altogether personal.

Recalling that she’d come unwillingly to the ball and that the first person she appeared to have talked to was him, he wondered whether or not she was waiting for someone to arrive or simply waiting for them to return from the table running along one wall of the hall, drinks in hand. She wasn’t standing beside the entrance, however, eagerly awaiting the face of a lover to appear in the doorway; instead, she was some distance away, speaking to one of her professors. Wondering why but not about to intrude, he perceived that asking if she had a partner for the night might not be entirely prudent.

[Keaira O'Connell]

Plenty of fun to go around, well that might be the case for someone who didn't have to put her life on the line practically ever other day. A night of festivities may be a welcoming treat for people who did not realize the dangers of what surrounded them. However, for Keaira, this night as merely another opportunity for the Mage to attack them when they were distracted. A night when their high spirits would be all the Mage needed to catch them unaware, and do major damage to them. There was a reason that she carried her wand with her this night, and that hidden within the silk folds of her skirt a small bag, made of the same material was easily accessible.

"As much fun as the night might bring I must admit, that without Alessandro here it all seems lacking. And pales in comparison to the Halloween Masquerade"

Keaira let her eyes wander for a moment as she thought of what she had intended the night to be before she had decided that it would be best to be here.Her original plans for the night involved patrolling the area, keeping alert for any signs of an attack. However, she realized that if there was to be an attack it would most likely occur at the ball, not the 5th floor corridor. So she had come, even though she knew she would be alone.

"I'm glad that you enjoyed my commenting on your class. I find that I enjoy most of my classes, although Professor Lochrest talks a bit more about social things then he does charms, and I feel that on such occasions his class is a bit of a waste of time. Sometimes I wonder if I will have to prepare myself for half of my OWLS, what with the continuous rotation of new professors throughout the year. At least I won't have to worry about Defense Against the Darko Arts."

Keaira's lips pulled down slightly as Archer mentioned that being up in her dorms would only allow her to realize that she was alone. She oddly enough thought it funny, even though her face did not portray that at all. Had she chosen to spend the night patrolling she could have easily been spending the time with Zane, he was also alone. Here however, she had the constant reminder that she was alone. Each time a pair took each others hands and spun about the dance floor she realized with such heart break that she would not be one of those girls who held all they needed in the palm of their hands tonight. Couples were gathered about in every section of the ballroom. Holding hands, or holding each other, it made her long for Alessandro's touch even more.

"I must disagree professor. If I were to be sitting up in my dorm I could surely bury my feelings of being alone into the class work and homework that I have, after all, there is a lot I need to learn for some of my classes, and no professor to teach me. Besides being here is simply a constant reminder that you do not have some one to hold you the way that they hold each other."

Her hand swept out in a gesture to the many happily embracing and dancing couples about the room, with her final statement. She knew what it was like to be one of them. To have nothing on her mind except for the person that was mere inches away from you. It was difficult to imagine being more downcast in her dorm, when there were so many things to keep her distracted there. As she looked about the ball room her eyes fell upon the various decorations that adorned the area. Twelve Christmas trees were spread about the place, each decorated differently. One of them stood out in her mind as she looked about them. The tree had red and green lights zooming through its branches and needles. It took her several seconds to be able to discern the identity of the moving lights to be fairies. Her realizations brought a smile back to her features once more.

"You know, you guys did a great job decorating this year. Who ever thought of the red and green fairies to decorate the tree over there, was pretty smart. It looks great."

[Alexander Archer]

Attempting to tread carefully as Keaira expressed her views on the reality of being without a partner probably not for a lack of interest in her, but rather for a lack of presence for the person she wished to attend it with, he smiled ruefully as he thought back to the Masquerade. “It seems we’re missing a lot more people this time around,” he noted in a subdued voice, looking around and finding many of his students absent. Catching sight of a flurry of white closer to the entrance, he saw two people making a hurried departure from the ball and wondered if perhaps the boy in front had been angered by his partner somehow, and she was following to try and ease his feelings.

Slightly saddened by what must be bad feelings shared by various students about the hall, he turned back to the centre of the dance floor to see many still happily enjoying themselves, blissfully unaware or uncaring about the dangers lurking outside the castle. Smiling sadly at their lack of knowledge, he privately found himself slightly angry at the Headmistress for allowing them to be so deprived of the information that could save their lives. Certainly, they would have less disappearances if everyone were to be put on their guard; it might make for a tense school environment, but at least they could be around to experience it.

He gave a genuine little grin as she talked about Professor Lochrest and his inordinate ability to be largely useless in his vocation. “Ah, well, you never know,” he said, referring to her comment that she could be assured in a Defence Against the Dark Arts professor for the remainder of the year at the very least. He fully intended on continuing, of course, but he wasn’t foolish enough to think that he was invulnerable to what lurked within the forest, and indeed within the castle walls themselves. He had already come so close to danger within the Forbidden Forest as he had patrolled, and he knew it could happen again at any time.

As his small attempt at consolation was heartily rejected and he took it in his stride, thinking on her last sentence and he supposed she was right, really; he himself half hoped and half feared having someone to hold him that way, to look at him that way. Emitting the smallest of sighs, one that would be barely perceptible to the untrained ear or eye, he simply held out hope that that might change one day soon. His mind turning away from such thoughts and to the decorations of the hall as she broached that very subject, he gave a small smile and admired the decorations on the various Christmas trees dotted around the ballroom. “Ah, yes, I always like the fairy tree,” he said jovially. Of course, they had had one such tree every year in which he had been present at a Christmas ball when he himself had attended the school.

Spying a couple nearby that were waving their wands about and looking threateningly towards each other; the male of the two with another woman hanging just behind him, he saw the large possibility for trouble and thought perhaps he’d best prevent such a thing. “Well, try to have a good night, Miss O’Connell,” he said in a happy tone, his eyes still focused on the dangerous little gathering beside the door that lead out onto the balcony. Casting off a bright smile to her, he nodded before departing in his intended direction.

[Keaira O'Connell]

It struck Keaira profoundly when Professor Archer commented on the amount of people that had been missing since the last ball alone. Keaira had been keenly aware of many of the students that she had seen during the last such occasion, but were now missing from the halls. Some of them were never going to return to the school, ever again. Such was the way that death prevented them from returning. Wishing to keep her own night as far from such thoughts of death as possible, she turned her eyes toward the object that Professor Archer had spotted.

On the night of the Masquerade, Keaira had followed Alessandro in a similar manor, chasing after him when he fled due to a mental shock wave. The night had been stressful, and Keaira had unintentionally, sent a mental wave out, that had hit Alessandro with some force, causing adverse effects. He had made a hurried exit, and she had followed him to the balcony, to apologize, and spend the remainder of the night with in each others arms.

Distracted from her thoughts by Archers response she allowed the slight frown she wore to slip away. Although times like these were hard to predict she felt that should things continue as they were, she will have already gained far more from his classes than from any of her other OWL classes. Thus giving her a clear advantage in Defense Against The Dark Arts. Locking his comment that was less than reassuring away for future evaluation, Keaira nodded slightly.

With the conversation shifting away to the scenery Keaira knew that it would short be coming to a close. Although the night was still young, her time at the ball would shortly be over. There were other things she could still use the night for. As Professor Archers eyes drifted off once again to the other students in the ball room, Keaira followed them. Noticing the same pair that he did, she nodded to him as he bid her farewell, and prepared to intervene.

"Have a good night yourself Professor Archer, I look forward to your next class."

After his departure, Keaira decided to turn toward an outer door that would lead to the gardens that were accessible during this evening. Some fresh night air would do her good. As she left the ballroom, and stepped out under the star spotted sky, her head hung low. depression was never a trait that plagued her as she lived out her life thus far. Now however, being alone at a night with such festivities, she felt the distinct heartbreaking that one could associate with loneliness. Sitting on a bench that adorned the garden walk way she let a low sigh escape her lips as she looked up at the sky. Wondering if Alessandro was safe, and maybe looking at the same stars she felt a warm trail of tears flow from her eyes.