Hearing Antonin's Voice Directed At Her She Couldn't Help But Smile, Clearly Pleased. He Was A Very Handsome

Serra was at ease at any party she set foot in and the fact that this was a huge event in her honor, she was thriving. She could spend every day being showered with gifts and attention, it was quite lovely. "Well if you insist, I am sure the other drinks will also be excellent." Her parents would settle for nothing but the best, spare no expense in making sure the party was as perfect as it could be. If only she knew why. "I am having a wonderful time, what about you?" Serra was practically glowing with excitement at the prospect of all the gifts she was getting to open. Her birthday was her favorite day of the year. Impatient she smiled up at him. "Can I open it now?"

There was nothing he enjoyed more than events of the like, people spending way too much money on whatever excuse they could come up with, resulting in the perfect environment to hang out with a respectable crowd, get business done and never once miss on the fun. This occasion involved a pretty witch and Evan was indeed a gentleman, making his way towards the birthday girl, a nonchalant grin plastered on his lips. "I'm more inclined to try the brandy, darling. I trust you're having a good time?" The wizard wondered, taking her hand to place a kiss on top of it. "Happy birthday, love, brought you a gift." He offered with a wink of his eye.

"I do not like dancing with someone who does not how to do so. A man is expected to lead during the dance, but I will not be dancing with someone that has no rhythm or two left feet. It makes me look bad." Serra explained, figuring he would understand as he was a capable dancer himself. "Perhaps another time when I am wearing a shorter dress where I can move my legs more freely." The prospect of dancing with him again was exciting, she always enjoyed dancing with someone skilled. It was the only way it was fun.

"I love talking about myself. I'm amazing." Serra grinned. "I do not trust people who act demure and shy. If you do not recognise your qualities how do you expect someone else to do so? I think insecurity is quite embarrassing." She didn't realise how harsh her words sounded, her tone matter of fact. She'd never been insecure. "I am sure Leta will have no problem creating matching outfits for us."

At his question she paused, thinking for a moment. "I like transfiguration. And potions, depending on the ingredients. What about you?"

"Thank you. dancing with you proves my taste beyond a doubt already, but I’m glad you approve. I like to surround myself with capable people, yourself included. Knowing your background I almost want to try for a lift, but I’m not sure if your dress was made with that in mind and I don’t want to scandalize you when everything seems to be going so well.” He squeezed her hand trying to make up for it by keeping her as the center of attention, it wasn’t a hard thing she was bubbly, but in a fun way.  “I’m glad that you can keep a secret, and don’t mind talking about yourself.  False modesty and insecurity are unbecoming.  Yes it’s a date, we’ll have to arrange the shopping.  I’m curious what kind of dress you will help me pick out, perhaps I’ll let you pick out a matching outfit for me, could be fun.” It was easy to just float there discussing wardrobe and possible encounters listening, it felt easy, the nicer side of these kinds of things when everything fell into place. “What about magic, do you have any specialties, I’m sure a woman of your many talents must have a favorite?”

The Great Gatsby (2013) dir. Baz Luhrmann | Promising Young Woman (2020) dir. Emerald Fennell

"Well I shall visit you here more often then." Serra decided. It is not as if she had a job that occupied her time so she knew she had plenty and keeping busy in a dress shop was much more fun than it was in her father's store. People kept asking her about certain items as if she cared or listened to her father explaining what it was when it was brought it. Her eyes lit up when she saw the fabric Leta had brought, glad that the blonde had understood her vision. "I like the sparkling one the best, but I do think it needs to be slightly darker, if it is too light it could wash me out as I am quite fair."

“Oh, hush. There is no need to announce yourself if you intend to come visit me here.” Besides that, Leta wouldn’t have demanded such a thing, especially not outside her own home. There, yes, perhaps there it would have been nice to receive a warning ahead of time. This way it had simply been a pleasant surprise, one that the blonde welcome.

With a flick of her wand the curtain between the front of the shop and the back they were now in vanished. The witch listened, nodding occasionally as she prepared some tea and moved through the rows of fabric before returning with a few different types of fabric, among them a shimmer blue, one charmed to hold constellations, one sparkling bright enough to be mistaken for stars. “What about these? If need be, I will simply create a fabric that matches what you need.” If Serra wished to walk among the stars in a dress, she would make it so. - @serraborgin

@themalcolmparkinson

what are you majoring in?

Disappointing my parents

Serra sits down all poise and elegance, the diamond tennis bracelet Antonin had gotten her for her birthday teamed with necklace Malcolm had sent her for her birthday a couple of years ago. "It is truly a shame, but I do understand, Paris is lovely this time of year. You missed a lot, I came into the party single and ended it engaged. To Malcolm." Her parents had done it that way on purpose, she could not cause a scene in public after all.

"Well when you put it that way, I don't mind the company," Davina replied, gesturing to the open seat. She glanced at Serra from across the table. "I'm sorry I missed your birthday. I was in Paris," Davina lied. She hadn't attended because it was gauche to attend a party without a gift. "I hope that it was everything that you could have wanted. I would love to hear all the gossip, though, so sit and tell me everything."

While she enjoyed being showered in gifts, she was known to be proud and hold a grudge. He hadn't just hurt her feelings, he'd hurt her reputation. Nowdays, not many people knew what happened between them in Hogwarts, too many years had passed, but this wasn't something she could forgive and forget. Being in his office? Presumably alone with him? Yeah that wasn't happening. Serra chuckled humorlessly, shaking her head. "No thanks. There are very few places I'd like to be in less." How did he have the nerve to try flirting with her now? She was glad she didn't share a last name with her cousins, at least there was that. "I won't be home." Not for him anyways. It wasn't lost on her that he hadn't told her when he planned on stopping by. "It is. Don't hold your breath for a party invite."

Malcolm knew that she was at least enjoying her gifts that he sent over the years because he never received anything like a cease and desist. Even if she had sent one, he probably would have ignored it. It was one of his favorite pastimes, and it made him smile, wondering if she would be wearing it and what she would think. The imagination wasn't so much of a bane of his existence, quite the opposite, as she was wearing one of the said presents now. Malcolm tried to let his face remain stoic so not to seem too proud. There had been times he wondered what he would say to her again, but none of those ideas seemed inspiring now. "I agree. Perhaps you would like to come by my office and test that theory," he said openly, his lips twisting into a familiar grin. Even with years separating them, he managed to slip back into their camaraderie as if nothing had changed. Except, everything had. Two different people were standing there than the ones they left behind. "I'm sure they're working out how to get the stain out," he said both in the literal sense and not. "I was hoping to call on you at your home after your trip. It's your birthday soon is it not?"

@alaraselwyn