Once upon a time Alice had loved gala’s like this. She’d loved nothing more than dressing up, putting on expensive and jewellery. To be honest, a big part of that Alice still loved. She loved being able to dress up, but big galas like this weren’t something she enjoyed that much anymore. Alice much preferred more informal, and cosy gatherings. To be honest the only time she really dressed up these days was when she went on date nights with Frank, and even then she preferred to be cuddled up on the couch with him.
She hadn’t really wanted to come to the Gala tonight. She still struggled with the whole celebration thing, especially when she knew Frank had lost his mother in all of this. Sure, it was great that they weren’t at war anymore, but it has cost a lot. But she was here, mostly because it was expected of them. Luckily Frank’s father was babysitting Neville. There weren’t a lot of people she trusted to babysit her little boy.
The brunette smiled at the familiar face as she took a sip of her champagne. “Beautiful Gala isn’t it?” Kind of anyway. But she could pretend right?
Location: Nott Estate Ballroom
Date: 18 October 1986
Starter: Open
It felt ridiculous to be here. Not just because of how insensitive the choice of venue seemed to be, but to be here. Celebrating, as if there truly was anything to celebrate. Poppy had intended to spend the night like most others- in her study with a glass of wine and a fat book to keep her company, but Poppy was sure that Minerva would’ve had her guts for garters if she sat another event out.
She stood in the corner, a glass of wine in her hand as she looked around the ornately decorated room. Ridiculous. She resolved to finish her drink, make a donation to St Mungo’s, and leave. To kill two birds with one stone, Poppy wandered over to the adjoining room where all of the silent auction pieces were held, and folded her arms as she perused them. She eventually found herself rather taken with a handsomely framed portrait of Janus Thickey, the wizard for whom the ward was named. She picked up the ornate quill next to the portrait and signed her bid on a piece of parchment, noticing another wix doing similar to the next item on the auction. She squinted at it, picking up her wine glass again and having another sip. “That’s definitely a fake,” She commented on the item in question, “I mean, all in the spirit of fundraising, sure. But it’s a fake.”
The Order of the Phoenix, still operating secretly with only a few members still in the know, have heard whispers of the Death Eaters being on the move once more. Concerned by these rumors and suspicious that there might be a plan to ambush the last event in the month’s celebrations, Minerva McGonagall forms a plan.
During the St. Mungo’s Remembrance Ball, conveniently held at the home of one of the most likely suspects for Death Eater ringleaders Elizabeth Nott, the remaining active members of the Order will sneak away and see if they can find any information hidden in Elizabeth Nott’s personal affairs.
With only five members still active, the group splits into two. Minerva and Sirius Black will search the downstairs, particularly any room that looks like it might be an office. Kingsley Shacklebolt, Marlene McKinnon, and Alastor Moody will search upstairs, seeing if they can find anything in the hostess’ private rooms.
No one else at the party is any the wiser about this plan, but that doesn’t mean that these five can sneak away completely unnoticed. It may be a large group, but Remus Lupin, Alice Longbottom, and Lucinda Talkalot have all taken note of at least one of the group’s absence or exit from the main ballroom. And they aren’t the only ones who have snuck away from the main event. Unbeknownst to the group of Order members, Emma Vanity and Sophia Burke are also lurking around upstairs, having a private conversation.
OOC DETAILS
Welcome to our first event update! This post reveals the various assignments that our dice maiden decided on and prepares us all for an upcoming plot drop with lots of fun and drama! If your character is directly mentioned, you’ll be getting a message from me with more information. If your character is not mentioned, it doesn’t mean that they haven’t noticed that something is awry! We’re all here at the same party, and before it’s all over, everyone will have a part to play!
Feel free to continue and being new threads that take place before this update, but you now may also begin threads that revolve around your characters’ involvement in this update! As always, reach out to the admin if you have any questions!
Alice had attended many galas as she had grown up. In fact her parents had held many. The Rosier’s had been pretty well known for throwing impressive galas. To be honest, whilst Alice did love getting to dress up in pretty dresses, she didn’t miss the galas. They had all been about people pleasing, and she hadn’t really enjoyed the company of many of the pureblood elite. This gala was different she supposed, but she didn’t want to be here for another reason. Alice put a smile on her face though. It was one night. She could do that.
She sipped at the champagne as she looked around for her husband. She had to admit it was nice to be out for once, and not have to think about getting home to Neville. Of course she loved her little boy, but it was nice to spend some time with Frank. When she saw Lucius in front of her, she almost turned around, but decided she needed to be a little social.
In all honesty the remembrance gala was something that Alice had not wanted to attend. Thinking about the war still was hard for Alice, and the past five years had not been easy. There were still many nights that she woke up with nightmares, and she still struggled to sleep when Frank wasn’t there. But she knew that she had to be there. Alice knew people would talk if the Longbottoms didn’t attend, and Frank and his father had already been through enough. She wouldn’t be the reason why they faced more burdens. The only good thing about the gala was that she was able to dress up, and wear some of her Rosier Jewels for once. The brunette was wary though. The gala was held in her cousin’s house, and she knew in any other circumstance she would not be welcome here.
She had her arm curled through Frank’s, and she just smiled up at her husband. Him being here definetly made things easier, and she was so glad that they had been able to leave Neville with his grandfather. “I hope Neville doesn’t cause too much trouble for your dad...” She mused, grinning at Frank. “It’s nice for them to spend some time together” Even if being away from him did make her more anxious. She was also looking forward to spending some quality time with Frank too, even if it was at this stupid gala.
Next up in this month of October festivities celebrating the fifth year anniversary of the end of the war, the Ministry for Magic is proud to announce that they are partnering with St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries to host a Remembrance Ball! Hosted in the stunning ballroom of the Nott Estate, the Remembrance Ball is a time for all adults of the wizarding world to come together and celebrate peace! The ball is also an opportunity to raise funds for those still suffering from the war who seek treatment at St. Mungo’s. There will be a silent auction going on throughout the night, and all proceeds of the auction and the tickets will go to the St. Mungo’s War Memorial Fund.
——— The Details
What — a ball held in remembrance of those who suffered during the war to raise funds for those still seeking treatment
Where — the Nott Estate Ballroom (home of Elizabeth Nott)
When — IC: October 18, 1986; OOC: July 6 - July 20 with plot drop happening halfway through
Trivia — the ballroom at the Nott Estate is rumored to be the biggest ballroom in a private residence in the world, boasting to be larger than even that of the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg!
——— OOC Details
Yay, another event, this one with a little more meat to it than our first ice breaking event! Held at the home of a known Death Eater’s wife, the ball has been the talk of the wizarding world for the last few weeks, and quite the heated discussion has surrounded its’ location! All adults of the wizarding world are invited to attend, so all characters have an excuse to be there!
There are some within the still-operating Order of the Phoenix (whose active members are Minerva McGonagall, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Marlene McKinnon, Alastor Moody, and Sirius Black) who think this might be the perfect opportunity to find out if those still suspected to be Death Eaters who walked free have anything unpleasant up their sleeves, and there might be a plan in motion to discover exactly that while they’re welcomed into the home of one Elizabeth Nott.
Most everyone else, though, has no idea of Elizabeth Nott’s true allegiances, and are just excited to get the chance to see this ballroom that’s been boasted about for years. And of course, there aren’t many opportunities for all of the adults of the wizarding world to gather peacefully in one place for an evening, so it’s sure to be an interesting event!
There will be a plot drop happening halfway through the event, so for this first week, threads should revolve around the first half of the night!
You are welcome to post threads that take place outside of this event, just label or tag them accordingly! For threads that take place during the event, please tag them alevent02 and 18 october 1986! Also, please don’t go past this in game date in any threads.
The plan of the Order of the Phoenix to infiltrate the Nott manor and try to discover if the Death Eaters are indeed once on the move was underway. Minerva McGonagall and Sirius Black searched the downstairs, stumbling into what looked like an office.
Marlene McKinnon, Alastor Moody, and Kingsley Shacklebolt went upstairs to search and found their way to the bedroom of Elizabeth Nott, where they began to snoop around for any information that they could find. Little did they know that little Liza Nott, the almost five-year-old daughter of Elizabeth, was asleep in her mother’s bed. Awoken by the arrival of three unfamiliar wizards in her mother’s room, Liza called out, startling Alastor, who is well known by now for his fast reflexes as an auror. He casts the Impedeminta curse, which throws the little girl into the headboard of the bed she is in. She screams.
Marlene, Alastor, and Kingsley barely have time to place a memory charm on the little girl so that she can’t rat them out before Liza’s screams attract the attention of one of the house elves, who quickly summons Elizabeth.
The party is thrown into chaos. The hostess’ four year old daughter has been attacked in her bed, and people are worried. Some begin to depart from the party, while others stay behind to watch the drama unfold. The Aurors in attendance at the party are called upon to investigate, and Marlene McKinnon and Kingsley Shacklebolt volunteer to question little Liza.
OOC Details
tomorrow, there will be a wrap up post officially ending the event, but feel free to begin new threads surrounding this plot drop.
even if your character wasn’t specifically mentioned, that doesn’t mean they can’t be a part of the action in some way. Does anyone see Marlene, Alastor, and Kingsley sneaking back downstairs after the girl was attacked? Does anyone stumble across Minerva and Sirius as they are searching Elizabeth’s office?
maybe your character wants to take things into their own hands and find out what really happened. maybe your character is terrified at the thought of an attack happening at a ministry event. It might remind a lot of people of the time when voldemort was in power. many witches and wizards are sure to be spooked by this turn of events.
events like this could really bring out the worst in people. parties, especially, seemed to inspire in some a temporary leave from their common sense and good manners. manners were especially important to orpheus.
for example, it was important to maintain one’s dignity and air of grace when in the presence of most of wizarding britain’s important figures. it was important to not embarrass oneself by acting in an undignified way.
and it was important not to punch anyone in the face.
that was, however, his first instinct upon nearly bumping into one severus snape out of the blue; he refrained from doing so, but only just. the auror couldn’t even form words for a moment, too stunned by the other man’s abrupt appearance. he hadn’t so much as thought of snape himself in well over a year, too caught up in his work, and would have preferred it stay that way. he was perfectly content not seeing snape ever again, really.
even if he still kept up with the man’s published work almost religiously. that was purely academic pursuit. and meeting him in person now was proving to orpheus that he was right to wish it stayed that way. swallowing something that felt bitter and unpleasant, he loosened his grip on his glass and took a step back as large as he was allowed by the crowd. yes, stepping back would be a good first step in continuing not to punch severus snape.
“ well done on that work with nux myristica, “ he said flatly, as it was inexplicably the first thing that came to mind. it wasn’t even snape’s most recent work, but for the life of him orpheus couldn’t remember what was. it seemed a silly detail to focus on right now. he didn’t even give the other man the chance to speak before adding, “ it would make a scene if i punched you right now. “
