"You're welcome and thank you," Melody said. "I'm Melody Lovegood." She was glad that the woman had answered her back. Although she wasn't really sure what to do now. Should she just go back to her table? Just leaving her standing there would be rude. Besides she had decided she wanted to socialize. Or at least that she wanted to tell the woman that she liked her dress but still don't want to be rude.

"Err,do you want to sit down? I already choose a table before you got here." She wondered if she should have mentioned that last part. She wasn't the best at social things.

"It's nice to meet you, Melody," she said with a smile there now. She was surprised when Melody asked to sit with her but she didn't mind it for sure right now. Standing here alone wasn't not fun at all but talking with someone was. "Sure we can go a sit there, I don't have table yet, I haven't choosed any yet," she said honestly there now with a smile too. It was good to know people here better. So Michelle decided to start with this young woman now, who was named as Melody. "You are student right?" She asked now there.

Jaycie:

Jaycie hummed distractedly to herself. She hadn't planned on coming to the Welcoming Ball, but like the last few years gone by, she'd been duped into it by her mother. She didn't know why she'd thought it would be different this year and she would get to stay home. No, her mother had once again surprised her with a homemade, one-of-a-kind dress that she'd instantly fallen in love with. Her mother knew that every time she made a dress especially, Jaycie would take any opportunity to flaunt it, despite herself. Also, she kept getting the feeling that this was her mother's way of making her socialise.

So Jay slipped on her dress and shoes, and then twirled half of her blonde locks back into a semi up-do that would sit nicely around her mask. Her makeup was light and neutral, of course, and she wore a string of pearls around her neck. Finally, she sat her mask upon her face and blinked, eyelashes uncomfortably brushing the mask's eye holes. It was a short stroll down to the ballroom, and when she arrived Jaycie's jaw dropped. In the two years that she'd attended MAE so far, she'd never once seen the hall so immaculate. It looked like gods lived there.

A grin crept onto her features and she flitted into the room, sticking to the outskirts so as to avoid contact with people, all the while admiring the beauty surrounding her.

Spoiler:

Caelum stared in the mirror for a long while as he fiddled with his bow tie.  This was it - his last year at MAE.  He wasn't sure how to feel, because he certainly would enjoy being able to step into his field after so many years of training for it, but he was reluctant to leave the school behind.  Most of it was because he would miss the familiarity of school, the distance from his parents, and seeing his sister all the time, but a small part of not wanting to leave the prestigious academy to which he had found himself at home was because then he wouldn't have much of an excuse to see Jay anymore.

And really, it was his last chance to capture her attention.  A wistful sigh breathed past dry lips as the blond fiddled with the bow tie, re-adjusting it over and over until he was perfectly content with it.  He'd dated other girls, naturally, and he'd quite liked all of them, but in the end Jaycie was, ironically simply perfection.  There was not a freckle out of place on her cheeks, nor a blemish on her skin that made her unappealing, and if there was he doubted he would notice regardless.  The golden-haired, soft-hearted friend of his sister's had always had a piece of Cae's heart for herself, though he knew she was unaware.

He parted the crowd with ease, moving through the room and towards the edging to keep from being jostled over-much by those around.  It was difficult to pick out friend or foe amongst the sea of elaborate masks, but it was all too easy to recognise those golden locks which seemed to be fashioned from the rays of the sun itself.  A smile lit up his lips instantaneously, and subconsciously.  He found himself gravitating towards the blonde who looked breathtakingly gorgeous in a dress that complimented every aspect of her aesthetic, and he found that by the time he'd reached her, his mouth was dry.

Clearing his throat, Cae tapped on the petite blonde's shoulder.  "Jaycie," he greeted.

(OOC: sorry I didn't reply earlier. Do you mean they've already gotten to the table by now there?)
"Yes, I am?" Melody said as they sat down. "You're a professor right?" Michelle looked like she might be the right age to be a professor, she could be an older student though. Although she could have gotten her age wrong. People mistook Melody for younger than she really was sometimes. She supposed it might be because she was a bit short for her age.
"I'm studying Potioneering," Melody added. She sipped her wine as she waited for Michelle to say something. It was still too bitter of course. Really this could have been brilliant wine but she just wouldn't be able to appreciate it.

Aqua's outfit

Aqua did like the parties but not so much balls but she did go to them too if there was one. When she heard that there was welcoming masguerade ball. Then she really wanted to go there now. She did get herself dress and then even mask. Jewellery she had already. She needed even high heels, these she barrowed from her sister actually. She smiled with a smile when she checked herself out from mirror in her dorm room. She did live in dorms. It was cheaper at the moment.

She soon walked into the Great Hall and saw there many people who she didn't know yet. She thought maybe she could make friends here now even. She smiled and looked around. It was very nice here and she liked what was done with these place and also so far she thought that the castle was very beautiful place. She loved here very much. She hoped to have here much fun and so on. She walked around and then sat down to one ooen table there and wondered with who she should go talk first.

Dress, Mask

Elspeth was never one for socializing or partying, so when she heard that there was to be a ball at the beginning of the school year, she almost declined. Sure, dressing up for the occasion would be fun, and the place surely will look breathtaking, but she only agreed in the prospect of there being some alcoholic beverages at the refreshments table. And, of course, that was where she headed immediately upon entering the Great Hall. She saw a couple of people standing by the refreshments table, including one boy who had spilled punch all over his front (How careless of him, she thought), but she paid them no mind. Instead, she grabbed the nearest champagne and poured herself a glass, not even hesitating.

mask & outfit

Parker had attended balls when he was in Hogwarts, but nothing like this. He didn’t really like the idea of masquerades, especially considering the fact that this one was supposed to be a welcoming ball. If your face was half-covered with a mask, how were you supposed to make friends or network, or whatever it was people normally did at balls? He figured it was just a long standing tradition that no one really bothered to question. And it wasn’t like these kind of events were for people like him anyway, so what did it matter…

He started getting ready rather late, dressing slowly, being sure to take his time. He wore a suit that a close friend of his grandmother’s gave to him - one of the nicest articles of clothing he’d ever owned. And while it was nice, it was so unlike him. It felt like too much… even though there were probably going to be a ton of people dressed much more formally. Parker styled his hair, realizing he needed to get a trim sometime soon.

Making his way over to the main castle and ball room, he was filled with overwhelming uncertainty and nervousness. Putting on his simple mask, he tried to swallow down the large knot in his throat and take a few deep breaths. He didn’t know what to expect...or who to expect… and he really didn’t want to screw things up this time.

Parker looked around as he slowly entered into the grand hall. Absolutely taken by it’s enormity and exquisite detail, he didn’t take much notice in all the people around him nor did he pay much attention to the fact that the event was already in full swing and divided up into conversing groups. “Oh, wow...”

Mask - Dress - Shoes

Pyxis was used to networking, socializing, extravagant balls, and the likes.  It all came hand-and-hand with the pureblood lifestyle.  By the time she'd reached her seventh year of Hogwarts, she'd grown tired of them.  Being a typically expressive individual, she was unwilling to hide behind a facade of "Darling, you look stunning!"'s, polite handshakes, and lifeless smiles.  At least this was a ball that wasn't filled to the brim with the rich, and the snobbish, and her father wouldn't be hovering by her to see if she would pick out an adequately rich suitor for herself... Right?

The ex-Slytherin donned her snake mask, aware of the fact that she was very much embracing the mascot of her previous house with such a thing, and embracing the colours of her old house, too.  Perhaps a fellow Slytherin would seek her out, and she'd have someone to speak with?  She didn't seem to know anyone at Merlins' Academy, though, she'd never had that many friends either.

A loner?  Not particularly, but simply the type to push people away on accident with her violent temper, mood swings, and her snooty personality.  She had a bit of a superiority complex despite her best efforts not to.  Maybe, away from the influence of her father, maybe with her age, maybe she could grow up finally?  Or at least spend less time around Slytherin's who pretended to be your best friend, but truly were not.

Slytherin had been brutal, or at least, the aspects of the house that she'd been exposed to.  She picked up the skirt of her dress to avoid tripping over it as she made her way into the hall, unimpressed by the extravagance of it.  She'd seen better.  Her eyes fixated on her dress, she just barely managed to avoid bumping into someone, though her side was knocked by them.  She stumbled a few steps and bumped into the front of someone who she would later realise she knew, though for the moment she was too busy grabbing his arm to stop herself from falling to really care who it was.  "Watch yourself," she tossed over her shoulder at the person who'd knocked her, who immediately scampered off at the dark look in her eyes.  She turned a much more apologetic expression towards this person, her mask askew.

Airen had hoped he had not offended the girl with his costume comment, and he inwardly sighed in relief when she didn't react negatively. He couldn't help but smile a little at her comment on what a masquerade was to her. To be honest, he couldn't fault her logic. "Touché" he said, glad that he seemed to be in the clear. He felt a small tingling on his right hand. He knew what that meant. Subtly putting both hands in his lap, he gently massaged his right hand until the tingling subsided. Relieved when the feeling didn't last long, he set his hands back on the table.

Airen listened intently as the girl told him her view on balls and masquerades. He smirked a little when she was talking about not knowing fully was due to the mask. "Makes sense, you get to experiment with different personality traits on yourself," he agreed, swirling the water in his glass pensively. Airen then asked her, "Besides the costumes, why else do you like masquerades over balls?"

Fighting to suppress a smile at her faraway look when she spoke about potions, Airen followed her gaze out the window. The night looked peaceful, and Airen hoped there would be many similar nights in his time here. Airen looked back at her as she kept explaining what she thought of potions. When she finished and began apologizing, Airen shook his head and held up a hand, staying her apology. "There's no need to be sorry. You studying what you love, I get it," he finished with a sincere tone. After she asked him why he chose Auror, the young man leaned back in his chair and adopted a pensive look. He mulled over his words carefully. "I guess...that...well, I guess I just want to do something good for people. It's a pretty simple reason, but it's the best I got," Airen finished, rubbing the back of his neck subconsciously. He chuckled as he remembered another reason. "I guess it also has to do with the fact that my life up until now has been fairly simple and easy, so I wanted some action and a challenge."

A warm smile lingered on Jaycie's face. It was safe to say she was well and truly entranced by the glory of the party sprawling before her. She hovered near a towering pillar and watched the ball and all the beauty swimming around her, her hands clasped neatly behind her back as if she thought the second she touched something, the illusion would break. Because, truthfully, the place looked and felt like a dream. And so she stood, gazing out over the enchanting ball.

This was by far the nicest welcoming ball she'd attended since starting at Merlin's Academy, and something told her it had to do with the change in Headmasters. The extravagance of the party piqued her interest in the example of what the year was to bring. It could mean any number of delightful or terrifying changes; Jay knew all too well the slippery nature of attractive things. She wondered if-

"Oh!" Jaycie exclaimed as someone tapped on her shoulder, pulling her out of her headspace. She whirled to face them, relief flooding her when she recognised Caelum, despite his elaborate mask. Jaycie smiled. "Hello, Caelum," she said, her voice soft as always. "Enjoying the ball?"

Caelum's grin was immediate, despite the fact that he'd juts startled her a little - she was easily spooked by the most innocent of social interaction, but she'd grown accustomed to him over the years, and he'd grown accustomed to the way that she always jumped a little when he greeted her, especially if she was outside surrounded by birds. She was often outside surrounded by birds, as if she were a part of nature itself.

That wasn't so hard to believe, considering he'd always thought her hair was fashioned from golden drops of the sun, and her skin was glazed over with the lightest coating of snow itself. Those cherry red lips had to be derived from the fruit, perhaps glazed over with it, or drizzled in it, and those eyes of hers - they were indescribably warm, soft, and doe-like. Her eyes were his favourite part of her. Well, that, and the sweetness of her personality, the infectious nature of her shy smile. He always felt gifted whenever he spied it on her gentle features.

He blinked himself out if his ridiculous stupor and shook his head, always one to lose himself to distracted thoughts when it came to her beauty.

Warmth fluttered through him at the fact that she recognised him without missing a beat, despite the mask that covered a decent amount of his facial features. She was intuitive like that, though, so he wasn't all that surprised. "I only just got here, but yes," he grinned in that irritatingly goofy manner of his. She always brought out a less-commonly seen side of him, one that was clumsy and foolish, and said all of the wrong things sometimes. Sigh. And he'd always been so good with every woman outside of her. "You look really-" Amazing, stunning, breath-taking, kissable, Goddess-like... "-Pretty." Ah, yes, of all the exciting adjectives he'd gone with one of the lesser ones so as to maintain his cool and calm facade. Excellent idea, Caelum.

Michelle did nood at her question. "Yes I'm ptofessor. I teach healings one subject," she said there now with smile. She nodded when she said he did learn potioneering. "Oh that's good subject. Few years ago I did learn here healing. I worked for as Healer too and now since this year I decided to teach it here, the healing," she said there now. She hoped that her first year will go good. She never really imagined to be professor before bit here she is now. She did sogh one more time. "You are in what year?" She asked that now.

Dress - Mask - Shoes - Hair - Necklace

The balls at Merlin's were her favourite part of the year, truth be told.  Not only did she enjoy the brilliant opportunity to socialize with those she didn't know all that well before disappearing to spend the time dancing with her friends and her brother, but any chance for Alcyone to dress up and be complimented on her attire?  Though she hated that she was even so vain to want such a thing from others, she delighted in the attention that she would get from a few as they gave her the once-over.  Even her brother squeezing her arm and playfully telling her she looked gorgeous made her glow with pride.  She would never understand where this incessant need to have others think she was pretty came from.

She'd been at the ball for a little while now and had already mingled with all of her friends from the years prior, and then the one's who came before Merlin's Academy - though, as to Jaycie and Caelum's current locations, she was completely unaware.  Not that she needed to spend a lot of time with them right this moment, but she would like to locate her best friend and her brother at some point.  Although, they could use alone time together, she thought to herself with an amused twitch of her lips.

She very nearly crashed into someone standing by the punch bowl, though she managed to catch herself in time with a yelp of surprise.  "Oh, sorry!  I nearly spilled punch all of you," she chuckled, smiling kindly at him.  Her eyes dropped to the state of his bow tie.  "Your tie's come loose, did you know?" She asked.

[Yes, Alcy is talking to Adriano. xD]

(OOC: I felt like I should point out that you have some spelling mistakes)

"First year," Melody said. Looks like Michelle isn't going to be my professor, Melody thought. "Do you miss it? Being a healer, I mean?" Melody wondered if she should have said that, maybe it was too personal. She wasn't usually this up front. Maybe the ball had somehow loosened her tongue, although she couldn't understand why if that was the case.

She had heard that it was a tough profession, being a Healer or a muggle doctor. Still it would have been her second choice after Potioneering. Partly because she wasn't sure if she was tough enough to be an Auror or a Dragon Trainer. Curse-breaker might have been her third choice because she wasn't bad with spells, she could even do wandless magic and do magic without talking, a skill which many struggled with.

Melody ate her food as she waited for Michelle's answer. She glanced around the Hall. It was really filling in with people now and it looked like nearly everyone had found someone to talk to.

Alcyone felt guilt flush through her like a tidal wave when she saw his cheeks darken with her pointing out his tie, and she was quick to cover up her stumble. Her lips parted to apologise and say that she hadn't meant to blurt things out like that, that she often said without thinking, but there was very suddenly a face full of brunette in front of her. Dark, rippling locks of hair shut off her view of the male she'd nearly spilled punch on, and she took a step back immediately. Um, what? Her head cocked to the side as the woman responded for him, turning her head to the side to give Alcyone a cool 'back off' stare.

About to assume that this woman was his girlfriend, Alcy lifted her hands to reassure her that she'd just been trying to be friendly - really, Alcyone didn't flirt, and she wasn't the type to think about romance all that much so much as friendship - when she noticed the look of slight panic and alarm on the other male's features. Her brow furrowed. "Don't talk down to me, kid." Alcy replied, knowing immediately that the brunette was younger than her. S he had that "I'm a freshman at college so I'm now a big kid and can do what I want" vibe. There was also the stench of Slytherin about her actions.

She could be Gryffindor, too, it wasn't unlike Gryffindor's to behave in a similar manner. Strange how the two houses that seemed to be despise each other were so alike when it came to negativity. With a raised eyebrow, she watched as the brunette whisked the poor thing away. He looked alarmed beyond reason as he was dragged off, but the two of them disappeared into the crowd before she really had time to protest to it. Turning about, she nearly crashed into another human being, her eyes immediately lifting in surprise, away from the smartly dressed frame to meet familiar, warm eyes.

A smile split the slightly confused and mostly dark look that had overtaken her features at the sight of him. Even if his mask covered a considerable more amount of his face than hers did for her (she'd chosen it on purpose so that it revealed as much as possible), she knew it was him from his hair. She was good with people, especially since she noticed so much about appearance. She could probably tell from his chin that it was Humphrey. He looked... Very handsome. "No need to apologise, Master Williams. It wasn't your fault," she returned with a bright grin. Hesitation gripped at her for a moment, but the offer of spending time with Humphrey and meeting more people was too tempting to resist.

Cae and Jay could use some quality time together anyways, if they'd managed to locate one another in this extravagant hall. "I'd love to," she took his extended arm.