Entry tags:

!status: complete, ^date: october 31 2003, character: adrian pucey, character: alicia spinnet, character: angelina johnson, character: bianca dunstan, character: cade warrington, character: cho chang, character: dean thomas, character: ernie macmillan, character: hannah abbott, character: harry potter, character: hermione granger, character: jayne dough, character: justin finch-fletchley, character: lavender brown, character: luna lovegood, character: melinda bobbin, character: percy weasley, character: ron weasley, character: seamus finnigan, character: theodore nott, character: tracey davis, character: zacharias smith, npc: kingsley shacklebolt, npc: pandora zurlo

Ministry Gala Event!
Characters: OPEN TO ALL. Please tag with your own character(s) when you comment/they arrive.
Setting: The Ministry Atrium, Level 8, beginning at 7 PM and running until midnight
Summary: It's the Halloween ministry gala/party! Come in costume (muggle or otherwise), in elegant wear, or in dress robes. The event begins at 7PM with refreshments, appetizers, finger foods and cocktails. Desserts are served later in the evening, but the cocktails remain available all night long. There is no full dinner, as it would be quite unwieldy with the amount of people expected to attend. The dance floor is open, a live band is playing, and the atmosphere is almost aggressively pleasant. For safety reasons, wands are being checked (surrendered) at the entrances. Unless your character is on-duty at the party, he or she will not have her wand on his/her person after entering.
Rating: Let's go with R for now, as there will be some dark occurrences later in the evening. We will update as necessary.

---

The event coordinators at the Ministry of Magic were in fine form in the hours leading up to the start of the gala. Everything had to be perfect, and not just in appearances. The atrium had been decorated in gold and silver, slightly reflective, to capture light and brighten the large, spacious room. The band was in place by 6:30, playing quiet music that set the mood. Off to either side, slightly out of the way, were two cocktail tables, fully stocked. There was also a number of wait staff who would be walking around with trays of red or white wine as well as champagne.

The attention to the decor was due to the head events coordinator, one Ismay Plimpton, who was an absolute perfectionist. With attention down to the very last detail, she was very nearly driving the Minister mad with her questions and comments, not to mention crucial changes. Her voice and general looks had Kingsley Shacklebolt nearly thinking her related to Delores Umbridge, if Ismay weren't so remarkably pleasant and likable.

With his assurance that everything was just fine, Ismay hurried off, gently but firmly reprimanding some poor chap setting candles afloat too low for her liking. The ceiling above twinkled like night stars, and between that, the candles, and the reflective decorations, the room was perfectly lit.

Everything was ready. All they needed now were the guests.