The Ministerial Ball

Jess laughed and tapped his nose. "Say no more Matt, we don't want to give the little secret away now do we?" he said with a smile. He then softened and shrugged. "I know how you feel," he said, tapping his chest, "they think it was magical in some way, or coated in some weird potion, either way it hurts," he said with a slight wince.

"And hello everyone," he said enthusiastically. "Welcome to the ball. I hope it's all to everyone's liking," he said with a grin and a nonchalant shrug. "We've redesigned the place, as you can see." he said with a chuckle, and a broad gesture around the place. "Hope you all have fun," he said, grabbing a cup and scooping up some champagne.

Willow listened to their conversation laughing at the appropriate times and nodding. She wasn't really listening though, she had zoned out very far... "Oh hi, Jess! How are you?" Willow asked suddenly out of her little daze.

Matt grinned and Jess and nodded, "I suppose so..." he said laughing. He then followed Jess and grabbed a cup and scooped up a glass of champaign. "I better not catch either of you three drinkin!" he said laughing and drinking his own. "Anyway Jess, when are we announcing the Minister anyway?" he asked.

Abbey laughed. "I assure you, I won't be drinking!" she said. Abbey grabbed a drink off the table that looked like something non-alcholic. She took a small sip from it and smiled at it's wonderful and fruity taste; punch.

"Jess, this ball is really lovely." she observed. Abbey looked around again at all the beautiful and majestic decorations. "You guys really have outdone yourselves this time." Abbey couldn't believe how much she was enjoying herself when about a seventh of the people who were still going to come hadn't even shown up yet.

"Ok fine daddy got me and you win!"said Sophia annoyed with her arms still crossed for she knew her farther always got her back no matter what. "So are you with anyone tonight daddy?"Sophia asked her farther curiously. Sophia couldn't take it if her farther was with someoneelse when she didn't know if her mother was dead or alive. Sophia really hoped her friend Johnathan would show up so he could talk to him or possibly dance with him. Sophia wasn't sure if anyone knew about her crush on him or not, she wasn't even sure her own farther nkows but he did seem to have a way of knowing things which annoyed Sophia at times. Sophia laughed at Abbey. "Sorry Abbs, not many people knew I did and I still think they don't!"said Sophia laughing. Sophia groaned when her farther said he better not catch her drinking. "Aw come on Daddy, I'm at age!"said Sophia pouting at him for she knew he will give in sometimes.

"You definately won't be finding ME drinking! My craziness is pure and natural!" Willow laughed at her own words, though they were defiantely true. "Isn't that right, Abbey?" She asked, backing up herself with someones else's thoughts.

"Alright Alright Soph, you are of age!" he said grinning. He avoided answering the question simply by going "Mmmmmmmmm! Can't wait for dinner!" very loudly. He laughed and Willow and Abbey and winked at them, "Careful Abbs, last time someone spiked the bunch!" he said joking.

"It's alright Sophia, it's just a secret I didn't expect!" she said giggling. Abbey drank some more punch and laughed as Sophia pouted to try to get Matt to give into her; she knew he would. He was a sucker when it came to that kind of stuff.

Abbey nodded at Willow. "Of course! Though I have always wanted to try champagne..." she said trailing off. As if she actually would though. Abbey was only thirteen, and if anyone caught her just trying it she would still probaly get in alot of trouble.

Abbey then looked down at the red liquid she was holding in her hand, and chuckled at Matt's joke. "Well, by ten we'll probaly know if it's been spiked again!" she said laughing.

Willow snatched the cup from Abbey playfully and set it down on a small table to the side. She looked back at Abbey. "Just to be careful..." She said smiling and then laughed. "I don't want to have to drag you out of here and miss the whole party 'cause you drank some spiked punch!"

Abbey picked up the punch again and said, "Here, if it is spiked, at least we'll both be dragged out together!" Abbey sipped at the punch and laughed. She knew the punch wasn't really spiked, but Abbey still couldn't help wondering what would happen if it did.

"So, does anyone know what's being served food-wise?" she asked. Abbey hoped she wasn't being rude, but her stomach was growling. She shrugged it off, knowing that they probaly wouldn't start serving the food until more people arrived for the ball.