Her partner had been a toad[1], she was certain of it. Weeks of practicing, lessons from Aileen Reid that she would cherish forever, a dress that fit her perfectly--brought out the pale grey color of her eyes--her hair falling exactly as it should, and he ruins it by stepping on her toes while forgetting the turn. A graceful swan, she’d taken to the floor with all the poise and posture that a young lady her age should have possessed, but all of that for nothing while her partner simply couldn’t get his act together.

Their dance had been ruined, and in front of her parents too! Sophia wasn’t pleased, and pouted at the Ravenclaw table with her arms folded over her chest. How could he have been so stupid! It wasn’t muggle science! From this moment on she vowed to never depend upon a man for anything again, and in her flair of dramatics huffed; a fallen strand of her dark hair moving from her brow. Truly, this night couldn’t end fast enough.

Eyes the color of storm-clouds watched the room, eager for a distraction, and fell like rain upon her family. At least they appeared to be having a good time, and the sight of her mother smiling brought her own mood to shift slightly. She should go to them, but just felt like being alone for a little while to embrace this overflow of emotion. It would be good for her poetry later, and already she was starting to see sonnets come to life in the corner of her mind.

The Ravenclaw first year was starting to get a reputation for being far too on task for her age, she was practical and dependable--quick to answer and even faster to correct. Her emotions didn’t get the best of her when it came to her studies, but should one catch themselves in one of her debates--her quick wit and compassionate temper would make you feel as though you were wrong, even if you were right. And Sophia prided herself on that very task, knowing it would come in handy later when she took to following in her father’s footsteps. Perhaps, she could get the music to start again, and somehow work out a redo of their dance. However, that would require her touching another one of those sweaty palmed little boys to accompany her, but for a split second she pondered ways to get trick one of the older boys into being her partner.

1.	I'm leaving her partner open, if anyone wants to be said toad feel free.

Noah had been sitting at the Ravenclaw table fairly quietly for the evening, simply watching the ball and occasionally snacking on  the various food that was provided. He hadn't managed to ask anyone to come with him, though he felt that was fine. It was much more relaxing to simply watch for now rather than make a fool of himself with some girl, he thought. It seemed to be generally the same with most of the first years anyway.

His eyes occasionally wandered the table to the other Ravenclaws who either were taking a break or hadn't joined in the dancing tonight.  They lingered on Sophia for a moment, intrigued by the sour expression she wore. While he could understand disappointment in being at the table rather than the floor, he didn't see why that would lead to being actively negative. "You er... Alright?" he said, caught offguard by his own curiosity driven 'boldness' for a moment as he spoke.

Frank had a camera.  It was a bulky, box-like device with a lens and a flashbulb, and it was rather old.  Not nearly the latest model.  It wasn't his - borrowed from the library where one could sometimes manage to loan out such things.  And Frank was being a little terror with the camera.

A formal occasion was, perhaps, too much to ask of eleven- and twelve-year-old boys and girls.  Even with a great deal of preparation and training and warnings and a Great Hall crawling with chaperones, there was a great deal of laughing and joking about.  Frank snorted with amusement as he took a careful portrait of a friend posing with his head in a decorative bush.  The flash went off and there was a mechanical whir and click as the magical mechanisms inside adjusted themselves for another shot. 

Frank had is blond hair parted and combed and was dressed smartly like a miniature wizard in simple navy blue dress rubes, but he was no less the pre-pubescent boy he always was.  Talking nonstop and getting in the way.

He came upon Noah and Sophie sitting at a table and he held up the camera to his face.

"QUICK! Do something funny!" he ordered them, smiling behind the lens.

Lucas popped up between Noah and Sophia and made a ridiculous face, crossing his eyes, putting his index fingers in his cheeks and pulling them tight in opposite directions. He had to find something to entertain himself.

Lucas felt a little out of place at this ball. He did surprisingly well in the dance lessons, but he didn't want to. It wasn't his thing. It was way too formal and boring to him. He also felt kind of vulnerable. His pants only had two pockets so he couldn't carry around his typical arsenal of pranking tools. He had a few things he could play with, but nothing like what he carried in the pockets of his usual cargo pants. The pockets of his slacks were also tighter than his school pants and the pockets weren't as deep.

Up until this moment, he had been walking around analyzing the room. He hadn't found his target for the night yet and was beginning to get antsy. He kept his hands in his pockets, fiddling with the few candies he had that could be easily dissolved. He had been able to charm them to make the person's voice high and squeaky. He couldn't wait to drop one is someone's drink while they were on the dance floor. Jumping in someone else's picture was the only thing that intrigued him at the moment and gave him a little excitement.

Noah's words were met with a small scowl, though she did seem to relax at his concern. She might have been one of the only here at the table that wanted to truly be here, to enjoy her dress, the dancing, and watching the grown ups with small admiration. Yet, her housemates very much brought out the best in each other. And Frank, with his rather witty personality was quick to distract from her rather fowl mood.

"QUICK! Do something funny!" he ordered them, smiling behind the lens.

Sophia put her arm around Noah's shoulder to make a fish face, regretting the action instantly as it dawned on her that they would someday have this picture to look back on, but with all of the disappointment from her dance she was rather happy with Frank's attempt at breaking the scowl.

Ultimately very happy with where the hat sorted her, she understood very much why she fit, and even found little traits in all of the rest as to why they were placed where they were--all but Lucas of course. Though his little tinkering with charms, and finding new ways to ensure laughter certainly kept things entertaining.

Sophia made room for the light haired boy, Tinker Bell, and mused at what he might be hiding this time. She saw him scanning the room earlier, and went through great lengths to avoid him--also making sure he didn't go near her sister. She would box his ears if it meant humiliating Rowena.

"Set it up where you can be in the picture too Frank? If you are going to have something to blackmail us with later, you best be here as well." She challenged with a raise of her brows, using her best--Aileen Reid impression she could muster, and showing little emotion or jest.

Lucas plopped down in the seat between Sophia and Noah and  put his arms around both their shoulders. He smiled and looked back and forth at them, and then to Sophia. He wasn't going to pick on her tonight. He -did- love his pranks, but Sophia was one of his friends. He knew how much this night meant to her and all the planning and practicing she had done to make the night perfect for her. He wouldn't ruin it. Besides, there were plenty more people there to have fun with.

"Awe, come on Sophia. I wouldn't be too worried about a silly face for blackmail. I'm sure something will happen later that will be much more interesting. No one will even worry about that silly picture by the end of the night."

His smile indicated he had something up his sleeve. He wasn't quite sure what the prank of the night would be, but he had to pull something off. He would have it figured out by the end of the night so he wasn't too concerned with it.

"But Frank does need to join us," he said, more directed at Frank. "The photographer for the night is rarely in the pictures. No reason for that to happen tonight." He smiled.

The sudden contact threw the young Ravenclaw off, confusing him as he tried to think of something silly to do. He crossed his eyes, flashing his front teeth which was made much more ridiculous simply through the confused and rushed state he had suddenly found himself in.

Next, Lucas was down beside them, now his arm on his shoulders. Balls were a very touchy thing, it seemed, something that Noah was not at all used to. He grinned lightly, however, to mask his unfamiliarity with what seemed to be a social norm. "I could take the picture, if you'd like." he responded to Lucas's statement, "That way you all could be in it..."

Thales sighed as he looked at the ball around him. He imagined that the adults and teenagers were having fun with those slow dances, and that formal atmosphere, but he wasn't. He shifted slightly uncomfortable in his vests, and looked at Frank glad he was doing something interesting, something fun for a change in that night.
He smiled at Frank.

"Hey, Frank! Take a picture of mine, too, seems fun."

Thales put his wand on his nose, equilibrating it while showing his ton to the camera. After that was done, and he could be a little silly in that ball, he felt better about that night and approached Lucas, whispering to him so no one could hear them.

"Hey, Lucas, is it time for us to put in practice Project: Cherry?"

His smile grew significantly, upon the prospect of having a more exciting night.

The flash went off!  The camera caught Sophie making a fishie face with her arm around an awkward-looking Noah A.   And at the last minute Thales and Lucas had jumped in, Thales with his wand up his nose and Lucas pulling a face.

Giggling, Frank hunched over his camera to get it ready for another shot.  "Okay okay! Just a sec, I have to fix the thing..." he said in response to a proper group picture.  He wound a dial and checked the bulb and then turne don the spot looking for a place to set the camara so they could all get in the picture. 

"Uh... wait, no..." he tested it out on a table, but it was too far away, and too low to sit on a chair.  Then he had it.  "I know! Okay, okay, just watch okay?  Wait for it..."

He carefully drew his wand which was already in need of a good polish after only a few months.  He set the camera on a chair and backed up to be with the group.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" It was the fist spell they'd learned from crazy Professor Kesali and he'd been practicing it fervently. And it worked!  He felt a wiggle in the wand as the spell took effect and the camera rose shakily from the ground.  "Aaaaah!" he laughed nervousely as he raised it up .. up... up.... until it was at the right height.

Maybe someone wants to help him keep it steady? It's all wobbly and Frank hadn't planned out how he's going to push the button...

The flash hurt her eyes, but she did her best to keep them from closing. It would mess up the dusting of make up that she could sneak (even though it was mostly gone now). She smiled at her friends, happy to call them that, and amazed that they could see through her rather shut in personality. It was so much easier talking with the boys, reading quietly while they went on about fart jokes and chocolate toads. Their little pranks were far more entertaining than she cared to admit, and though she tried her best to not ask about whatever this 'cherry' was Sophia wanted very much to know.

"It might be in your best interest Lucas to inform me of anything you are planning on doing so that I can help get you out of trouble. Build your defense, Thales." She cracked a shy little smile, and watched as Frank did his best to keep the camera up. She could help, but her wand was somewhere...well...not anywhere her father would appreciate knowing.

"Oh don't let it fall." Sophia looked at Noah for help.

Noah looked to the camera after Sophia's command, reaching down into his own dress robes to withdraw his own wand, holding it aloft. "Winguardium leviosa!" he said quickly to try and aid in keeping the camera held. As per normal, he over exerted himself in the spell which caused the device to shake a bit from the added lift, however he was able to steady it and ease it into a proper position. "There... got it~" he said simply with a grin, simply following Frank's movements for now.

"So... what exactly are we doing for the picture, then?" he continued, looking to the others with a raised eyebrow, "And how are we going to operate the camera while it's up like this?"

Thales looked at Sophia, grinning. They weren't going to do anything that could get them in troble in that bar, at least, that wasn't part of the plan, but he saw no reason to deny it. Specially if it made the night a little more interesting.

"Ubi non accusator, ibi non judex, my dear Sophia! Say, in an entirely different note, have you ever heard of "the cherry test"?" said the grinning Thales.

Momentarily, he shifted his focus to the floating camera. It was an interesting idea, but how were they going to operate the camera in that state? If it was a muggle's camera, there would be a timer, but he didn't think this one had one of those. He looked at Frank and Noah.

"Hum, guys, wouldn't it be easier to, you know, take turns?" Thales asked, slightly worried.

He stared at the camera with a brow raised, hoping it wouldn't fall, but half-expecting that. It was a good idea, but the execution wasn't one of the best, and he didn't know any spells that would have the precision to push the button of the camera. Maybe there was a charm to activate mechanical or magical devices? He shrugged.

"Well, I suppose our little project will start when you are ready then, Lucas?" He shifted his focus from Lucas to Sophia. "I assure you there is no reason to worry"

The grin was still there.

Lucas rolled his eyes and got up. This whole camera thing was starting to become a distraction and -not- the good kind. Sure it would make for a distraction if they needed it, but they didn't need one right now. No one was having a good time. He got up, walked over to the camera, and snapped the shot. He didn't care too much for pictures anyway and he already had one done. Plus it was fun to have a picture of everyone looking so worried about the camera and what was going to happen.

"There! Crisis averted and photo snapped!"

He was ready to have some fun anyway and now that Thales was there, the fun could begin. He went and sat back down at the table with everyone after putting the camera down on the table. He put his arm back around Sophia's shoulder and grinned.

"Now, Miss Sophia. There is a particular test that is widely popular in the muggle world. They say you're an amazing kisser if you can tie a knot in a cherry stem. Thales and I were wanting to take a survey tonight and see who could do it anyway, so we brought some cherries with us. Would you like to try first? I can assure you, nothing will happen to ruin your lovely attire tonight."

The flash went off and Frank let his wand fall to this side. "Lucas! Hey! I wasn't ready!"  Frank could only guess what shot the camera had captured, but Frank knew he wasn't doing anything clever or funny.   Frank rolled his eyes and picked up his camera again to wind it and prepare it for another shot.

But Lucas was going on about cherry stems and kissing tests.  Frank cocked an eyebrow.  "That doesn't seem accurate.  What does tying a knot have to do with kissing?  And how can you even measure kissing? Tying a knot in a cherry stem can't be that hard." 

Lucas hadn't mentioned tying the cherry stem with your mouth, and so Frank was picturing tying it normally with your fingers.  Honestly, he didn't want to kiss anyone so what was the big deal? 

"Why do you want to do that, anyway, Lukey? Are you and Sophie getting maaaaaarried?" he laughed and raised his camera to his face and pointed it at Lucas and Sophie. 

"What a lovely couple! Jolly good!" he said in a voice like a radio announcer.  "C'mon! Let's see a kiss, eh?"

"Kiss?" Sophia squeaked, and her moon eyes widened. Oh no they were not talking about this at the Yule Ball.

"Gentlemen." Sophia stood, her arms folding in front of her like every literary heroine in all of her favorite novels, and spoke down to the boys in a very matter-of-fact voice, "I am certain you are all very aware of who my father is, and how close he is probably standing. There shall be no such kissing, nor any jokes of the sort. Mister Sellaphix, I would kindly remind you that it's not polite to tease about such things." Though she was flushing madly, but entertaining the idea of kissing any of these boys...well those years were not far.

"And Mister Trumble, it would be wise of you to count your stars that he has not overheard you. Now..." She took a deep breath, trying to still her blushing heart, "I know you better than to think you would ever stoop to trying to pressure one of your peers into such a thing without it biting back. Do the cherries tie your tongues in knots? If so. It would be wise of you to pick your prey from the weaker houses, and ones without high powered political parents like mine." With her nose in the air Sophia regarded Frank, and waited for him to reset the camera. And though Sophia scolded the little gaggle of Ravenclaw boys, she didn't try to talk them out of pulling one of their pranks--it gave her great practice for when she follows in her father's footsteps.