`a momentous event {Jeremy, open}

[Ebony Braedan]

Ebony rolled her eyes as Jeremy finally gave in, so long as he didn't have to try anything on? That was fair enough she supposed, "Come on then!" Ebony shook her head, this was going to be a lot of fun, searching for a dress and then hoping, that Jeremy would eventually want to search for some robes, if he didn't have any already. "After this time, I'm sure you'll want to go again" She insisted, as she walked along the corridor at an average pace. A smile worked its way onto her lips, "You've got to give an opinion no matter what right. If I hex you, it's your own fault" Ebony quickly added, she might not like what he said, but it was going to be the truth.

Walking through the foyer, students were walking with them or towards them, returning with many bags full of Merlin knows what. Others returning without holding anything, having obviously shrunk it for easy transportation. Pushing open the door to The Courtyard, Ebony dropped his hand from hers, her hand was getting awfully cold. Perhaps she should have worn gloves, passing a couple of seventh years, Ebony smiled giving a quick greeting.

"Where do you want to go first?" Ebony asked, she assumed that Jeremy might want to go somewhere, if not it would be straight to Fae's Robes of All Occasions. So long as Jeremy wouldn't try to stall, she would not be happy with that. The walk wasn't as long as it sounded to first years, from The Foyer, to The Courtyard, past Malfoy Fountain, instead of heading towards The Field, you carried straight on, on the path. From there, it was a carriage ride into Braedwell Moors, the carriages ran until 10pm. Just in case there were any stragglers.

Ebony tried to imagine what sort of dress she was interested in, most definitely something colourful, but she wasn't really fussed about the colour. So long as it wasn't black, or pink or brown. Those most definitely wouldn't suit her complexion. She wanted something different, that people wouldn't think of, Fae's Robes of All Occasions featured more than just a few robes. That would be the first place to look as soon as Jeremy gave his answer and once the carriage arrived.

[Jeremy Halpsen]

“Come on then!” Ebony said. She led him through the corridor, trying to convince him that he’d want to go again after this. Jeremy shook his head at that, and smirked when she mentioned hexing him. It would be his fault if she hexed him? Well that didn’t seem fair. But he had to have an opinion. Jeremy frowned. He didn’t have an opinion on a lot of things, especially when it came to girls and clothes. Shrugging, Jeremy figured he could come up with something that would please her.

When they reached the Courtyard, Ebony dropped his hand. Jeremy clenched his hands into fists, and released them. He did this a few times before folding his arms across his chest. He knew why she’d dropped his hand – it was too cold for her. Jeremy didn’t blame her for dropping his hand. When he told her (if he told her), he’d probably have to start wearing gloves while he was with her. He wasn’t used to having to wear gloves constantly, not many people touched him. Even when he and Nate would stuff around, Nate never commented on Jeremy’s cold skin. He’d accepted Jeremy’s ‘bad circulation’ story without any fuss.

“Where do you want to go first?” Ebony asked. Jeremy looked down at her. He didn’t particularly want to go anywhere, and he knew that Ebony wanted to get to Fae’s Robes For All Occasions as quick as possible. Jeremy shrugged, and shook his head. “Nowhere at the moment, let’s just get your girl shopping out of the way”, he said, smiling slightly.

[Ebony Braedan]

Ebony rolled her eyes, “Nowhere at the moment, let’s just get your girl shopping out of the way” she shrugged, "Ok" Spotting a carriage coming towards them, she glanced at Jeremy and folded her arms. As it came to a stop in front of her, the two house elves gave a shy smile, Ebony ignored them and quickly stepped onto the carriage. Leaning back into the black leather, she drew herself in, it was cold. Glancing up at the sky, she noticed the clouds were slowly clearing but the sun was struggling to come through, it was still cold. The mild temperature had dropped somewhat. "You know, I won't be that long" Ebony admitted, but she did want a nice dress, no matter how much time it took.

Rolling along on the cobblestones, she hardly noticed the elves urging the horse to continue as they past the trees and rode along the cobbled road. Ebony sighed, it was exciting going shopping with Jermey, considering that they had only met a few days ago and already he had asked her to the ball. She wanted to impress him with a beautiful dress, but she still wanted an opinion, it would be funny seeing his reaction.

The question she had wanted to ask was still in the back of her mind, calling her to ask him. It was a question everyone hated asking, because they usually didn't like what they heard. It was more like what she had thought earlier by the staircase, except feelings weren't really involved in the relationship she was thinking off. It was merely the binding of families nothing more, nothing less. Ebony was too curious.

The carriage began slowing down as they entered Braedwell Moors, a little shopping village that was absolutely perfect. They had the best quality products for great prices and it was in a beautiful place. Wizards and witches were going from shop to shop, searching for stationary supplies or some sweets from Miffy's it was Ebony's favourite place in Braedan. Once the carriage came to a stop, Ebony stood up and landed on the cobble stones. Turning her head from side to side, she was searching for Fae's Robes of All Occasions. Pouting as she couldn't find it, Ebony turned around when she heard a couple of witches laughing and talking with each other.

Sighing, Ebony began walking towards the shop, passing the witches who was staring at a dress in the shop window. The girls could be no more than in their fourth year, thesleek dress shown in the window, wouldn't suit one of them. It wasn't exactly something Ebony would go for, she wanted to be seen but not bounce back light in peoples faces. She smiled at Jeremy, then pushed the door to Fae's Robes of All Occasions open, now began the search for the perfect 'Welcome Back' dress.

[Jeremy Halpsen]

“You know, I won’t be that long”, Ebony said. Jeremy smiled as he followed her into the carriage. He glanced out the small window of the carriage, his eyes on the weak sunlight that was managing to cut through the clouds. The sun itself was struggling to make itself known, and Jeremy couldn’t help but frown at it. He couldn’t do much to stop it from coming out, but he was hoping they’d be in the shop before it finally did make its appearance.

As the carriage started moving along the cobblestones, Jeremy couldn’t help but notice that Ebony had fallen silent. She had a thoughtful look on her face, as if she wanted to ask him something, but couldn’t find the words to use. Jeremy couldn’t think of anything to say, so he turned his gaze back out the window. The carriage started to slow down, and within seconds, they were in Braedwell Moors. Jeremy hadn’t come to the village that much. Usually it was because the sun was out, and Jeremy didn’t feel like telling people he had ‘sensitive skin’. It helped that Nate didn’t often come to the village, either, and when he did, he usually respected the fact that Jeremy didn’t enjoy social gatherings that much.

As they walked, they passed a group of fourth year witches admiring a dress in the window. Jeremy couldn’t help but scoff. The girls were far too young to be looking at something like that, and he hoped somebody would knock some sense into them before they bought the dress and made themselves the subject of a drunk man’s fantasies. Ebony pushed open the door to Fae’s Robes of All Occasions, and smiled at Jeremy when she entered.

Jeremy almost groaned. There were rows upon rows of dresses, and a small side of the store had been dedicated to the male persuasion. Jeremy, feigning an interest in the store, wandered over to one of the racks, and pulled out a dress. He turned around, and held it up to show Ebony. “What about this one?” he asked, a smirk on his face.

[Ebony Braedan]

They had been pretty quiet for a while, it wasn't awkward for some reason. Just a comfortable silence. Ebony grinned as she heard Jeremy groan behind her, many rows of dresses, it was likely she would find a dress here. Jeremy walked over to one of the racks, she watched him for a second, before approaching another row and searching through the different colours. Ebony frowned, they were too over the top and puffy or completely the wrong colour. Hearing footsteps behind her, Ebony turned around, seeing Jeremy holding out a dress, "What about this one?" She grinned, "Yeah. It'd suit you. I didn't think you would be up for a dress too!"

Ebony turned back to the rack, searching through once more, so many different styles. The dress Jeremy had picked out was certainly nothing Ebony would be caught dead in and the smirk that she had caught on his face, he seemed to know that too. Stopping, Ebony pulled out a hanger, attached to it was a rather fancy navy dress. "Jeremy, is this too over the top?" She asked, it was pretty, with the silver swirling down but it seemed to be for more of a graduation dance than a little ball.

Ebony shook her head, ignoring Jeremy's reply as she turned around and searched another row. She was really in a mind of her own, flipping past a couple of dresses, she stared at another green dress before shaking her head and continuing down the long line. Ebony turned back to watch Jeremy, he was slowly flicking past a few dresses, the look on his face was absolutely priceless. He hardly looked interested in any of them, the enthusiasm was clearly lost on him and Jeremy looked too bewildered to know what she would go for.

Ebony shuddered as she spotted a light pink atrosity, she grimaced, taking a step down, she found a couple of royal blue dresses. They were more her style, Ebony smiled, as she looked over a one shouldered royal blue floor length dress. Sliding it out carefully, she walked over to Jeremy, "I'm going to try this one on, ok?"

Ebony walked to the back of the shop, walking past the open door, and to through to the fitting rooms. After a couple of minutes of tackling the zip on the dress, she found it fit perfectly. Grinning, Ebony smoothed it out, and walked out of the fitting rooms. She would obviously have to do something about her hair but this was the perfect colour and Ebony thought she was in love.

[Jeremy Halpsen]

“Yeah. It’d suit you. I didn’t think you would be up for a dress too!”

Jeremy laughed, and put the dress back on the rack. Of course he’d known Ebony wouldn’t have gone for that type of dress. For one thing, it looked like a wedding dress. And it was just plain hideous. Even Jeremy could see that. He wandered past a few rows of dresses as Ebony searched for her own dress. Every now and then, Jeremy would pull something out and look at it, and Ebony would do the same. Jeremy did nothing to hide the fact that he was bored. Every now and then, he’d let out a loud sigh, and he’d throw a bored look at Ebony. She didn’t seem to hear him, or just ignored him.

After a while, Ebony pulled out a dress and held it up to show him.“Jeremy, is this too over the top?” she asked. Jeremy didn’t even get a chance to respond before Ebony had shoved the dress back onto the shelf. He had the feeling she didn’t really care about his opinion, and so he just shrugged and kept glancing at dresses. Ebony had looked at a green dress, a light pink dress (which she had shuddered at, and the shop owner hadn’t appreciated it), and finally, she seemed to find the dress she wanted.

“I’m going to try this one on, ok?” she said, and walked to the fitting rooms. Jeremy glanced behind him when Ebony passed him, but said nothing as she entered the fitting rooms. He kept looking around at the dresses, occasionally going over to the men’s section of the store. The shop owner followed his every movement with narrowed eyes, as if she was suspicious of him. After a moment, Ebony stepped out of the fitting rooms, wearing the dress she’d picked out.

Jeremy looked at her, and sighed loudly. “Damn it, Ebony. I wanted to wear that one!” he complained, and stomped his foot lightly on the ground. After a moment, he grinned. “It looks good on you.”

[Ebony Braedan]

Ebony rolled her eyes as Jeremy stomped his foot. "Well. It looks alot better on me, anyway" She folded her arms, smiling at his compliment. "I think.." She glanced around the shop, "We're done?" Ebony asked Jeremy, fiddling with the seam of the dress, it fit well. She turned around and quickly stripped off the dress, emerging a couple of minutes later, fully clothed of course.

Brushing back her hair, she confidantly walked over to the shop owner, holding the dress up, careful not to drag it along the floor. "I'll take this" Ebony laid it out on the counter, waiting for the sum to be announced. How many sickles and galleons would it be? She hadn't looked for the price, it wasn't something Ebony was bothered about. "Forty-one galleons, one sickle and three knuts" Her eyes widened, it was a little expensive but she loved it. "How is your mother, Ebony?" The shop owner smiled, as she whirled her wand around the dress, wrapping it up neatly and shrinking the package.

"You can add it to my mothers account." The shop owner nodded, "She's busy as ever, with the start of the year" Ebony shrugged, picking up the palm-sized bag and popping it in the pocket of her robes. She asked, a little unsure as usual at the start of the term. Her mother was beginning to get a little annoyed with the amount of money Ebony spent in Fae's, even with her allowance. She was allowed one-hundred galleons each term as her allowance to spend in any shop of her choice. It was usually spent in Fae's.

"I'll be sure to say hello for you" Ebony took a step back from the counter, the woman smiled, "Goodbye Ebony!" She smiled back, turning around. Ebony felt a little bad for Jeremy, but now they would go where he wanted. "Where shall we go now?" Ebony asked, pulling the door open grinning as the sun made her blink for a couple of seconds. It was only quarter to four, they had plenty of time.

[Jeremy Halpsen]

“Well. It looks a lot better on me, anyway”, Ebony stated after rolling her eyes at his mock tantrum. She smiled at is compliment, and fiddled with the seam on the dress. “I think… we’re done.” Jeremy nodded, and waited while Ebony changed back into her normal clothes. She returned a few minutes later, and walked up to the counter to pay for the dress. As she placed the dress on the counter, the shop owner, who seemed to know Ebony, started asking questions abut her mother. Ebony answered all of her questions without hesitation. Jeremy just watched from his spot at the shop entrance. His eyes shifted nervously to the sky, and he frowned. The sun had managed to make somewhat of an appearance, and thought it was weak, there was sunlight.

The shop owner and Ebony seemed to be done talking. Ebony wandered over to Jeremy, and pulled the door open. The sunlight made her blink a few times, and she grinned. Jeremy, however, was not quite so pleased to see the sun. He swallowed deeply, and looked around the small village for the closest place to Fae’s. Apparently, that was the pub across the street – The Village Idiot. “Let’s go over there”, Jeremy said, nodding towards the pub. He grabbed Ebony’s forearm and practically dragged her across the street as quickly as he could. When they reached the other side, his skin had taken on a slightly burnt look.

Hoping Ebony wouldn’t notice or ask questions; Jeremy pulled open the door to the pub and walked inside. It was a dimly lit pub, which was good news for Jeremy, though he didn’t know how Ebony would feel about the environment. There was a man behind the bar, talking to a woman who was obviously drunk. Jeremy placed one hand gently on Ebony’s lower back, guiding her towards a booth towards the back of the pub. He waited until she was sitting before allowing himself to slip into the seat across from her. He pushed a menu towards her. “Hungry?” he asked, “My treat.”

[Ebony Braedan]

As soon as Jeremy stepped outside all of a sudden, they were emerged in light and he was dragging her by her arm -practically- into The Village Idiot. Ebony frowned at him, jerking her arm away as soon as they entered the pub. Instead, he put his hand on her back, guiding her towards the back of the pub. She noticed how red his skin was, like sun burn, Ebony gave him a weird look. Jeremy had a lot of problems. She quickly sat down in the booth, Jeremy shoving a menu at her.

"Ok?" Ebony took the menu from him, and stared at it for a couple of minutes. "I'll just have a firewhisky" She shrugged, she wasn't that hungry. "Thanks" Ebony didn't know whether the 'my treat' was a usual thing or because he felt like it, whenever Ebony had been out with boy-friends they had always paid anyway. "How about you?" She asked. Would he go for a firewhisky? Or something to eat. Some students were huddled around the bar, they were sixth or seventh years and the only students Johnny Depp would allow. The rest of the pub consisted of a couple of locals and some fourth and fifth years.

Ebony held out the menu for him, "I've heard the soup is good" She smirked, the potato and leek soup was something that alot of students loved, it kept you warm in the winter term and was only available from September through to December. She wasn't a big fan of soup anyway, it was gloopy water with vegetables shoved in for flavour. Nice. "Have you got dress robes?" Ebony asked.

[Jeremy Halpsen]

“I’ll just have a firewhiskey. Thanks.”

Jeremy frowned. He was hoping Ebony would want to eat something. With her eating, there’d be less time for conversation. He didn’t push the matter. She obviously wasn’t hungry. And at least with a drink, there’d be somewhat of a lag in conversation. “How about you?” she asked, “I’ve heard the soup is good.” Jeremy chuckled. He’d heard the same thing. The sixth and seventh years in Halpsen had nothing but good things to say about the food at The Village Idiot. Jeremy, on the other hand, was never really interested in what they had to say about anything that was in Braedwell Moors. The shopping village was too sunny for Jeremy – too out in the open. Hence why he avoided it as much as possible.

“I’m not hungry”, Jeremy replied as he flagged down a waiter. He placed Ebony’s order, and within seconds, Ebony had a firewhiskey in front of her. Jeremy handed the waiter a galleon, and the waiter left. Jeremy leaned forward slightly, resting his elbows on the table and his chin in his hands. Watching humans eat or drink was fascinating to him. Unknown to the humans, with every bite or sip they took of their meal or drink, they made a facial expression to show how they felt about the flavour. It was entertaining and intriguing for Jeremy to watch these facial expressions. It often got him wondering if vampires reacted the same way when they tasted different bloods.

“Have you got dress robes?” Ebony asked.

Jeremy smiled. “I’m pretty sure it’s a requirement of all purebloods that they have up-to-date dress robes for any and all events they might attend”, he said. Not that he attended many events. His vampirism stopped him from doing so, though even if he was a human, he still wouldn’t attend the pointless and boring events his mother was always throwing herself into.

[Ebony Braedan]

Ebony smiled at Jeremys laugh, it was a strange laugh. Not the normal type of everyday laugh you heard everyone do, but more of a little chuckle, almost as if he knew what you were talking about and had decided to mock you with it. She felt as if he were patronising her and that Ebony had to try to keep him in his sights, it was something she had never had to think about and now she did, Ebony didn't want to. It was irritating, having to think that she had to say things that perhaps he knew already just for the purpose of saying them because it was expected. She was drawing him out and covering the veil, and it was so difficult for her to reveal herself to him again.

As soon as she had replied to Jeremy, the firewhisky was in front of her. A good drink was what she needed, really, she just thought to much and she needed to calm down. Jeremy moved, resting his elbows on the table, Ebony holding the glass, her eyes partly on him cautiously. She took a long sip, relishing in the burn going down her throat, Ebony slowly shut her eyes for a second it was good. Ebony didn't know why Jeremy wasn't having something to drink, he was just being weird as usual, it was beginning to become a bit of a nuisance in her eyes.

Ebony was glad she had decided to make conversation, it was rather off-putting having someone watching you every so often as you drank your firewhiskey. He should have ordered something too, that way if there was the liklihood of ever being drunk - which she didn't think would happen, then at least she wouldn't look like the only twit. "Hmm. You might have wanted new ones" She shrugged, taking another sip from her glass, it was half-empty. Ebony licked her lips, pursing them slightly, "So? Where after this?" She tilted her head, watching his face. They had come for what she wanted, and Ebony didn't exactly want to go back since it was barely 4:45. Not even dark yet.

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