The Great Hall was no longer the Great Hall. It resembled nothing of its former self after the house elves and Emma had finished decorating it. The once clear, blue, sky ceiling was no a white heaven of snow, that actually fell from the ceiling to the ground. Of course this was magically enhanced, fake snow, but students would still enjoy the scenery. The grounds, like the ceiling, were white, covered in an extremely thin layer of “snow”. Though the room would seem to be hard on a person’s eyes, it wasn’t, in fact it was just as beautiful as the Hogwarts Ground on a morning after a night’s snowfall.

The regular house tables had been replaced with 20 smaller, silver tables that could seat up to 4 people. The tables were also covered with a clear tablecloth with silver snowflakes stitched onto it. The buffet would quickly become several students favorite part of the night because to get food, all you would have to do is stand in front of the empty covered dish and focus on the type of food you wanted. You would then open the lid and find that food. After taking a portion of the food, you would then re-cover the plate so it would be ready for the next person.

The gargoyles that guarded the Great Hall entrance had silver wreaths hung on their necks to their displeasure, and the statues of each houses animal had been decorated and dressed for the night’s display. The mighty Gryffindor lion had a Santa hat placed on its head, and a red with white snowflakes scarf tied around its neck. The brilliant Ravenclaw raven had blue ski goggles, and ski’s on its feet. The welcoming Huffelpuff badger had yellow and silver boots and a silver sweater. Finally, your eyes would come to the Mischievous Slytherin Snake which was sporting a reindeer antlers headband and a red Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer for our muggle friends who knew the classic story of Santa’s famous Reindeer.

The dance floor was in front of teachers table/upper level which had become the stage for the band to perform. The dance floor was silver and would change colors from silver to red to blue to yellow to green and back to silver. The music would be played by the famous PumpkinHeads which offered a variety of music from muggle music to witchcraft music. Students could request any music to be played by writing down the name of the song and the singer on a piece of parchment on top of a small table, much like the ones that students would eat at, beside the stage.

The main purpose of the dance was for students, ghosts and teachers to relax, and un-wind from the stressfull holiday season.

Professor Rogue - Headmaster

Rogue stepped into the Great Hall, smitten by the appearance. Had it really been that long since he'd been in here? He felt as though he'd been trapped in his office for months and was just now getting back into things. Immediatly the Christmas atmosphere took over and falling snow that disappearned before it hit the floor, glittered down.

He couldn't help looking at the buffet table. Chocolae brownies sat on the latter in of the table and he knew he'd have to try one.

"Emma," Rogue said, still looking around in awe. "Excellent, simply excellent. You did a FANTASTIC job with decorating. Did it take you long to complete?"

Ankaa wandered into the Great Hall, mesmerised by the sight of all the sparkling snow and silver furniture. She held out her hand to catch some of the falling flakes. As they landed on her bare hand, she felt a little tingle of warmth. She continued to meander through the tables and in the general direction of the buffet tables, her eyes fixed to the ceiling.

She jumped as she walked into someone, and dragged her eyes back to earth

"Oh sorry Professor, I guess I didn't see you there. This room is amazing isn't it?"

She then turned to see Emma also stood there

"Hi there Em, is this all your doing? You're so good with decorations and things."

CJ stepped through the doors of the hall from the direction of the Ice Rink where she had been setting up a stand. She glanced around just in time to see Ankaa crash into someone. She paused for a fraction of a second then walked over. "Hello Ankaa, Professor, Emma." She said smiling at each of them. "This looks amazing!" She added to Emma as a fake snowflake landed on her nose and CJ went crosseyed for a few seconds trying to keep it in sight, then brushing it off and looking around the room again.

Melie rushed down the stairs from Gryffindor Tower, she was supposed to be meeting Liam there for the dance, and skidded to a halt outside the doors for the Great Hall, she didn't want to look rushed when she entered, just in case Liam was there already. She took a breath and then walked through the doors. She stopped short when she saw what the room looked like. She couldn't believe how beautiful it was. She stood there and turned in a circle looking at it mesmerised. She put her hand out trying to catch a snowflake when she heard someone talking. She blushed slightly at how odd she must have looked and then turned and saw a small cluster of people.
"Hi guys," Melie said to them and then turned to Emma, gushing. "Emma you did an amazing job, I'm at a loss for words! It's going to be a great dance I think."

As Emilie entered the Great Hall she was momentarily confused, thinking that somehow she'd ended up outside. But she quickly realized that the Great Hall had just been decorated. It looked amazing. She looked around and saw Emma, Melie, CJ, Ankaa, and the Headmaster. She walked over to them, "Hey guys. Mind if I hang out with you?" she asked, "By the way Emma, this looks amazing." she said.

Logan entered the great halls just as he was adjusting the buttons on the sleeve of his dress robes. His mother had re-tailored an old pair of his fathers, but they still looked brand new with royal blue thread. Glancing around at the decorations, he wondered momentarily if he had wandered off to the courtyard instead. Instantly shaking off this thought, Logan looked around for Emilie. He walked down to where he saw a group of girls. He smiled at them, and then saw a dark haired girl, otherwise known as his girlfriend. He pulled a white rose out of his jacket. "Emilie, you're looking radiant, love." Logan smiled. "As are the rest of you of course."

Emilie smiled as Logan joined them. "Hey hun." she said, taking the white rose from him and tucking it behind her ear. She blushed when he complimented her, "You're looking rather handsome yourself." she said, looking him up and down and taking his hand.

He grinned at her compliment. "Well of course, I mean, it is me we're talking about. I do thank you though." He could pull off a gentleman's end to a rather cocky proclamation if he so desired. Looking around at the dance floor, Logan felt himself fidgeting around, hoping to get on to it soon. "Well, shall we christen this dance floor, love?" He gave her a short bow, just like from the old movies his mother would watch back at home. He smiled.

Nakutro walks into the great hall and sneaks up on cara then after alittle concentration blows a smoke heart past her that then turns to snow. "Hey hun" he says smiling as he gets next to her "Cool isn't it?"

He puts an arm around her "We enjoying ourselves?" he asks given it was hypothetical "Cause I am."

Scarlett was running a little late to the dance. It had taken more time than she thought it would to put together an outfit for this occation. She had finally decided on silver fishnets over black tights, a knee length silver sequined skirt and the white off the shoulder sweater that she had gotten for Christmas. To accessorize she wore only the locket that Michael had given her.

When she entered the great hall she was delighted by the snow falling. Before this winter Scarlett had not seen much actual snow and she was enchanted by it. She crossed to where Melie was standing and greeted her. "I bet you are having a ball in here with all this winteryness."

Melie turned when she heard someone talking to her, and saw Scarett walking up to her.
"Yea I am! I love it, all the snow and its not even cold either! Couldn't get much better than that really!" Melie said excitedly. "I love what youre wearing Scarlett!" Melie exclaimed, looking down at her own outfit, a white flowing chiffon dress, that went just above her knees, that had an empire waist with a black satin ribbon, and black strappy sandals.

Emma smiled warmingly towards Rogue, "Oh this. It wasn't much! The house elves actually should get a lot of the credit since they are the ones behind the scenes helping with the food and they helped me set up!" she said with a cute shrug. "I just want everyone to enjoy themselves!" she added as Ankaa walked up next to her. "Thanks!" she said in response to Ankaa's comment, and to everyone elses comments when they joined her.

She grinned as Logan complimented everyone on how they look. Emma was wearing a dress that had taken her forever to find and eventually she had to go to a small muggle shop in Paris to get it. It was a black dress with a lace overlay ( http://www.net-a-porter.com/product/28289 ). She had her light brown hair pulled back into a French Twist with a gold clip and she was wearing simple gold jewelery.

She watched as Emilie and Logan went to dance. Turning to Scarlett and Melie she said, "You guys look awesome and I am glad you like the room Melie, I thought of you as I was decorating it!"

Mark had been so busy over the Christmas period he had warn himself out and fallen asleep whilst preparing for the winter dance. Luckily he woke up and realised that he had only missed the start, he would make it well before all the fun started. He quickly finished changing into his dress robes and ran down to the entrance to the great hall.
He quickly brushed himself off before reaching over and opening the doors to the beauitifully decorated great hall. He saw a large group of his friends gathering nearby and walked up to them. He approached the group from behind Emma and when he was up close he leaned over her shoulder and kissed her. "Hey guys" he said to the group before returning his gaze to his girlfriend. "Hey you. Im sure you've heard it a hundred times already tonight but you've done an amazing job!" he said with a smile as he let his eyes wander around the room. "Oh and when you've got a minute i've got a little something for you." he said in reference to the christmas present he had been saving to give her untill tonite.

Sabrina walked into the greta hall grinning. She had been so excited for this dance, she had been waiting so patiently. But she had nobody to dance with yet...
she took in the beautiful sights and sat down at a table, gazing at the ceiling, awaiting for more people to arrive.

Emma stiffened slightly when someone came up behind her, but relaxed when she realized who it was. "Thanks!" she said brightly, "And I think its been a few less than one hunderd!" she said jokingly. Turning around to him, she listened as he told her he had something for her. "Oh I think we can find a time, because I have something for you too!" she said, showing slightly a box that was wrapped in silver that she was holding in her hands.

CJ started slightly as Nakutro came up behind her, and a smoke heart floated past her. She stared in amazement at the last few snowflakes, then she looked sideways at Nakutro. "Wow, that was..." She trailed off then smiled affectionately at him. When he asked "we enjoying ourselves?" she gave a very faint laugh. "Definately." she replied, giving him another smile. She couldn't think of anything else to say, so she simply stood there watching the snowflakes falling from the ceiling.

Mark looked down at the box in Emma's hand and smiled. "I guess now is as good a time as any." he said before looking over to the rest of the group. "Don't mind if i steal this beauitiful young lady away from you for afew minutes do you?" he asked them with a grin, then without waiting for an answer he took Emma by the hand and led her off to an area they would be alone. "I know it's abit late but this just seemed like the best time to give it to you." he said as he held out his present. It too was in a little box wrapped in silver. "Great minds think a like eh?" he said with a smile as he placed the box in her hand and leaned in and gave her an affectionate kiss on the lips. "Merry Christmas." he whispered as he moved back.
Inside the box he had given her was a silver necklace on the end of which was a small pendant. It was a lion and raven locked in an embrace to signify the two houses they were from.

Nakutro smiles and out of the blue licks her neck and presents a gift "Here this might come of use to you" he says and puts the box in her hands it would feel rather light sorta like it was empty but something slid around in it to show it wasn't

CJ looked down at the box he handed her, wich she noted was rather light, and for a minute, she didn't move. Then, after looking back up at Nakutro, she moved a few steps away from the rest of the group, motioning for Nakutro to do the same. CJ smiled and then opened the box. Her eyes lit up and danced happily when she saw the ring. She wanted to say something, but the right words wouldn't come. She hoped he could tell what she was thinking, like he usually could.

Nakutro followed her and smiles "Sorry if it seems big but put it on and the snakes will consume each other until they do or it was to small then they will release each other until they fit" he says and smiles showing he had one as well "We can contact each other in an emergency with these, you say my name i say yours." he says and smiles at her "They also as a little bonus amp you magics power abit." he says and then hugs her knowing she needed it.

“That dress is adorable,” Scarlett said to Melie. Just then Mark arrived and Scarlett could see a red crease on his forehead, probably from his pillowcase. Before she could say anything about it, he whisked Emma into a corner to exchange their gifts.

The music was playing a peppy up beat song and Scarlett wanted to dance. “Hey girls,” she said, “Let’s hit the dance floor!” issuing a general invitation to anyone who didn’t feel like just standing around.

Liam ran down one of Hogwarts many staircases, late as usual. The Winter Wonderland Dance was probably already underway, but he was working on getting down there as fast as he could. He bounced off a wall at the bottom of the stair case because he was trying to fix the silver cuff links on his dress robes, a nice shade of forest green. He still had on his regular accessories, for the moment anyways. He was probably going to ditch the goggles at the dance, Mel would probably hate the fact that he was wearing them. Thinking, and deciding not to be a pain in the arse, he took them off and stashed them in the pockets of the jeans he was wearing under the robes. He ran his fingers through his hair, getting the semi-messy look that he always wore. He even changed the color of his hair to a dark, almost black color with green highlights.

He went through the doors of the Great Hall, and spotted Melie instantly. She looked like a vision of Heaven or something equally poetic that he just couldn't conjure up. He walked up behind her and put his arm around her, kissing her on the cheek. He wasn't even wearing Quidditch gloves. He smiled at her.

"Evenin' love, sorry I'm late. Have I missed anything? Besides how beautiful you look anyways." He almost bit his tongue at the bad pick-up line, but he chuckled. Melie would love him anyways. He hoped anyways, he thought, almost laughing.

Melie had been excited when she saw Mark come into the room, she hadn't spent anytime with him in ages but before she even had the chance to say hello he had dragged Emma off to give her her Christmas present. Melie turned back to Scarlett who had commented on her dress.
"Oh thanks Scarlett! It's actually supposed to be floor length but I had it altered because it was too stuffy for the dance," Melie said looking down at the dress. When she had seen it she snatched it up instantly, it had been love at first sight really.
Seconds later Melie felt someone walk up to her and put their arms around her waist and kiss her on the cheek. She turned and saw Liam there in his dress robes, saying an awful pick up line.
"Not much is going on, everyone is just arriving." Melie said, hopeing she didn't sound annoyed, but she was, he had promised to be on time tonight, but he was there, thats all that mattered really. "You look nice."

Great, thought Scarlett crossly upon seeing Liam, now Melie will be too busy to dance with me. She sighed and offered Liam a rather lame smile. “Hey,” she said in greeting. She didn’t begrudge Melie her beau by any means. She was usually very happy to see Liam, but tonight… Scarlett thought back to the last ball that she had attended and she remembered Leo’s un-enthusiasm. Scarlett got it now. Scarlett thought she might actually go looking for Leo.

Emilie smiled up at Logan when he asked her to dance, "I would love to." she said, still smiling. "Do you know how to dance?" she asked. She knew a little bit from experiences back home in Sydney, but she doubted that she remembered enough.

Khai walked into the dance in white beach pants and a light blue shirt, which clashed nicely with his blue eyes. HE smiled as he walked around looking for Sabrina. He saw her and walked over grinning. "G'day pretty sheila" eh said kissing her hand.

Emma nodded at Mark's comment about now being as good as a time as ever. She was about to say a quick "Be right back" to the group, but instead stopped because she was surprised at the sudden turn in direction from Mark. He lead her over to a far corner of the room. Finally, regrouping herself she exchanged presents with him. Inside the box she had given him was a package of chocolate mistletoe and cookies from her store, and a silver picture frame with a picture of both of them in it. It was a picture of them standing together at the top of the Effilel Tower, smiling and waving at the camera. Mark's hand was wrapped around her waist, and the sun was setting behind them.

"I wanted to get you something to do with quidtich, but I didn't know what since you own the whole store. So I decided to give you something a little more memorable, and I have a similar picture in my dorm, there is an enchantment on them that will allow us to communicate back to each other. All of you have to do is talk into it, and the other person will see the words you said written across the frame!" she said sweetly, as she began to open her gift.

She gasped softly in surprise at the beautiful necklace. "Oh Mark! Thankyou, its perfect!" she said, kissing him on the lips gently. Then she put the necklace on, and looked up at him. "Merry Christmas!" she said softly.

"Hi. " she kissed his cheeck and smiled. "You look good" She giggled.

Melie gave a small smile to Scarlett her face fell when she saw Liam show up. Melie knew that Scarlett must feel lonely since Michael wasn't around much these days. She decided that she would go and sit with Scarlett and have some butterbeer before dancing with Liam, she wanted to spend sometime with her friend and she knew that Liam would understand and would probably join them.
"Why don't we sit and have something to drink before we dance," Melie said to Scarlett and walked to the nearby table that had all kinds of drinks on it, and Melie took a bottle of butterbeer and sat down at a nearby silver table, hoping that Scarlett would join her.

Cassie paced in her Slytherin dorm muttering incoherently to herself. She was horribly nervous, a feeling she never really experianced before. Sure she had been nervous for competitions but this was different nervous. She hastily smoothed the hem of her dress taking one last glance in the mirror. She made her way out of the Slytherin dorms and up to the Entrance Hall. She heard one of her favorite songs, "I'll Be" by Edward McCain, and sighed. She pushed open the doors and walked in.

She smiled at everyone as she walked in. Her hair was in a small updo with a few curls cascading down. She wore a white dress with a white lace overlay. It had a sky blue lace belt around the waist and it came up above her knees. Her eyes were accented with a light sparkle eyeshadow and mascare and her lips were a light gloss. She waved to a Slytherin friend of hers who had walked in. She saw a few of her freinds and their boyfriends/girlfriends. She saw Sabrina and Khai and nodded. She went at sat down at an empty table and waited forthe dance to be over.

As "I'll be" came on Sabrina did aswas acccustomed and wrapped her arms gently aound Khai's neck and began to sway to the music. "Thanks for being my date..." she smiled up at him affectionately.
"I like your outfit too by the way," she gave a flirty giggle.

Cassie remembered this song and smiled. She lifted one hand up to balalnce her chin on her palm, but soon got bored so went to get a glass of punch. She took out a small flask of firewhiskey and dumped it in the punch and magiced it to be untraceable. She took a small cup and a sip thn went back to sit at her table.

Khai was laughing as they made their way to the dance floor. She grinned cheekily at Sabrina and responded "Thanks" quietly. "You look lovely yourself" he added. As he wrapped his arms around Sabrina he saw Cassie enter, look at him and nod. He returned the gesture and remained focused on Sabrina.

Sabrina smiled up at Khai, her face going red...
"So... have you already had your first kiss?" she decided to dig a bit and find some history. She leaned her face in closer to his.

Khai's smile faded a bit and he looked sentimental. "yeah...yeah i did" he whispered softly, wrapping his arms tighter around her waist, occaisionally shooting her a cheerful grin.

Sabrina saw Khai look a bit off for a minutes before getting pulled in closer as ANOTHER slow song_her favorite one, When your gone by Avril Lavigne_came on.
"Me too. Ooh! I know! what's your favorite... color?" she giggled sweetly. His grins and smiles made her slightly dizzy.
She slowly took one hand off of him and began to run her fingers through the back of his hair distractedly.

Khai looked thoughtful for a second, "Probably blue. Color of the ocean, my eyes and the sky on a perfect day" he said. "And you madam. What color strikes your fancy"

Sabrina giggle donce more. "Purple... I don't care what kind! as long as it is purple." she motioned towadrs her dress she was wearing by looking down at it.
"See?" she laughed.

Khai chuckled. "Yes I see and may I say you look ravishing in purple" he added grinning at her, his blue eyes sparkling.