June 26th, 1894 — Hogsmeade Memorial Ballroom
Misses & Matrons Exhibition of Spellcraft

This was certain a motlier crew than the matrons competition that morning, Fitzroy thought has he moved to make his welcome. The reason, he thought, was quite obvious: unlike the matrons, the misses were all in want of a husband. For some, showing off magical skill would be something of a mating dance. For others, entering the competition was their only ticket to enter the ball the next evening due to thier low social standing—to use whatever other graces they might possess to attract a husband.

"A warm welcome to our judges, our audience, and, of course, some of the loveliest young ladies I've ever been fortunate enough to encounter," the wizard began brightly, fliriting coming rather as naturally to him as breathing. "The aim of this afternoon is to afford you an opportunity to showcase your magical skill. While I have little doubt that many of you are quite accomplished in the areas of charms, transfiguration, illusion, and conjuration, only one of you can be best a rose among not thorns, but certainly the more common daisies."

Metaphor was not exactly his gift, but Fitz felt rather proud of that one.

"Your first cast will be a charm of your choosing. Best of luck, ladies!"

With that, Fitz stepped aside, leaving the competitors (and a series of small props for their use) to their business.

Your character has 72 hours to post their charm casting, after which the round will be scored. If everyone posts, the lowest-scoring six will be eleminated.
Callista Adebayo Cecelia Stuart-Lane Chastity Bentley Daesyn Mackenzie Divona Dodderidge Emma Flitwick Harmony Gambol Hermia Bonaccord Ida Chang Idris Oakby Iphigenia Adebayo Jessamine Parkinson Juniper Edevane Lorelei Owens Lycoris Dempsey Matilda Farris Octavia Fawley Persephone Broadmoor Philomena Sprout Shalott Dempsey Sisse Thompsett Titania Applegate Wilhelmina Bain Willa Kensington

  

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— graphics by lady ❤ —

She had already resolved not to cast her patronus yet. It simply wouldn't do to show off too much, too quickly, Mina reasoned, as she cast a Dissilusionment Charm upon herself.

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beauty by MJ

One would expect Harmony Gambol to be accustomed to eyes upon her, after the disaster that was her family's fall from grace. This, however, was different, and the redhead had to keep reminding herself about the five galleons she could win each time someone gave her a look that clearly questioned her presence, her participation, her existence. Being seventeen did allow her to participate legally, but as a student not at all out in society, Fran knew she was not welcome in this space, suspected everyone would see her as desperate at best, desperate and reaching and pathetic at worst.

That was fine. They could think as they liked, and she would not allow it to bother her much. What the Ravenclaw would do is show that she was every bit as capable as the rest of them, if not moreso. After all, there was at least one lady here who had, knowingly or otherwise, availed of her services in the past.

With all the confidence that Franny could muster, and not as much as she might have hoped, the seventeen-year-old stepped forward. Charms had always come more easily to her than anything else. She held out her right hand, palm up, and then, with the wand in her left, cast bluebell flames into her open palm.

  

CiCi wanted to win. She didn't need the money — in fact, if she did win, she planned to donate it, probably to St. Mungo's — but she felt she had something to prove. So, she focused on the happiest memory of her life (so far) and attempted to cast her Patronus Charm, hoping her tiger would manifest.

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beauty by MJ

It had not taken Minnie much thought when she first signed up for the competition; a chance to show off her magical skills, especially in two magical areas she was very much gifted and well-practiced in. While she may have signed up just because she wanted the glory of winning something, of showing off, and maybe one last little purely educational thing before she truly entered the Season as a fresh debutante, she easily persuaded her parents that it was about attracting a husband and showing him that she would make a capable wife. If only she didn't feel so nervous as she stood among the other young ladies who had the same ideas and had come out to compete; she smiled and waved to Mattie, a polite nod to Miss Ravenswood, tried her best not to make a face at Miss Flitwick, and she mentally noted that the elder Miss Adebayo was a lot prettier than her sister, in her not so humble opinion.

Jessamine took deep, calming breaths, reminding herself to think of it like she was back at school, in her class, showing off for her professors, and not in the middle of a competition where there was a whole audience and judges. When it was her turn to choose a charm to show off, she decided to go with something that was practical, but impressive all the same; with a flick of her wand, using the props she'd need to show off the effect of the spell she had chose, she cast the Impervius Charm.

The following 2 users Like Jessamine Parkinson's post:2 users Like Jessamine Parkinson's post
   Aldous Crouch, Matilda Farris

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Even though she and Ida were currently going through a rough patch in their friendship, June decided to stand next to her simply because she knew her. She wasn’t here to find a husband, there was simply not a need when she knew Thaddeus would be her end game as long as she was patient enough, but rather was here to show off her magical skills. Hopefully he was here to witness what she was capable of. It didn’t stop the nerves from fluttering inside her stomach.

June let a small breath, and turned toward the props on the table before deciding that the Herbivicus Charm was the way to go; with a flick of her wand, she cast the spell, hoping for a large variety of blooms.

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Wearing this covered with a smart robe.

Daesyn did badly in the dueling competition that had mostly been entered by men, she had figured afterwards that fighting and duelling were thoroughly different affairs and she was damn good at fighting.

But for today, shebwas surrounded by ladies, a few she recognised vaguely from her time at school, others she recognised from the recent coming out ball. They all looked lovely she supposed.

Several other ladies had cast their Patronus, it was one that Daesyn had mastered quickly at school so she joined them, whipping her want out. "Expecto Patronum" she called, hoping to be greeted by the amazing sight of her red kite

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"Good luck," she murmured to her sister, giving Callista's hand one last, affectionate squeeze before moving to stand about as far from the elder Adebayo as she could get. Iphigenia loved her sister, but was also resolved to win.

She was not the only young lady to cast a patronus, but knew that the corporeal hyena she had accomplished in time for her N.E.W.T. examinations would, if properly executed, certainly stand out from the crowd. Standing out had always been something the fresh debutante had relished, so long as she was not out too far.

The following 1 user Likes Iphigenia Adebayo's post:1 user Likes Iphigenia Adebayo's post
   Callista Adebayo

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— mj makes pretty things ✨ —

Willa had pinned exactly no hopes on being the — rose among daisies, was that what the Ministry fellow had said? — she was merely hoping not to make too much of a spectacle of herself, perhaps persist to the second or even third round if she was really fortunate, and not to set anything on fire (though it seemed some young ladies were already doing just that — hopefully intentionally).

Looking at what others were doing would only make her nerves worse, she decided — but it was difficult to shut out the impressive displays taking place all around her. Willa took out her own wand and produced a tennis ball from a well-hidden pocket in her skirts. She had practiced this at home, wanting to control as many variables as possible. She tossed the ball into the air and cast arresto momentum to slow its descent to a crawl.

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Gorgeous Set by Bee <3

Ida did not give much thought to signing up when the opportunity arose at Flint Institute, and this was a mistake. It was only now, eying some of the ladies in their decorous fineries, that she understood most were here to find a suitor at best, or were starved for attention at worst. Some weren’t even Hogwarts graduates yet, which irked her most of all– what sort of fair play contest is this? (It wasn’t. It was all a cute show for the men, wasn’t it?)

If only this competition could be won for having a worthy educational cause alone. If someone academic had organized this event then that would count for something, especially since Ida simply needed the money to print her future publication.

Perhaps because this competition no longer felt like a serious one then, Ida could not help her quiet (but no less unladylike) snort of amusement over Mister Prewett’s elaborate metaphor. This was the sort of thing she and June might have a good furtive giggle about, but they were not on those terms anymore. Still, after what felt like the millionth Patronus, Ida could appreciate her (former?) friend’s wit in conjuring Prewett his bouquet of flowers in response. This inspired her weather-modifying charm, meant to cast a bright warm sun in the dark chamber with a refreshing breeze she hoped might topple over some of the more obnoxious hairdos.

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stefanie made this beautiful set <3

Lycoris had no delusions of grandeur but she was hoping to have a fun time. She cast avis, the bird-conjuring charm and aimed to conjure a small flock of pretty doves.

  

This. Was a terrible idea. The worst her mother had proposed in quite some time, in fact, but Titania understood it. She needed to make a splash, and do so as quickly as possible. Do so while she could still go a day or two without a hefty dose of laudanum... So Titania had to make this count, even if her wand had been unreliable of late. Keep it simple. Make it flashy. Titania took a deep, steadying breath and ignored the phantom hand wrapped around her wrist as she whispered Colovaria and waved her wand gently over her dress. Muted grey to a rich wine red would make enough of a statement to begin.

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Emma took a deep breath as she stood with the rest of the misses, her wand clenched tightly in her hand. The bright lights of the hall, the expectant eyes of the judges, and the murmur of the audience seemed to blur together in a dizzying haze. She felt a flutter of nervousness in her stomach, knowing she needed to focus. She had prepared so much for this moment. Yet, she kept wandering, distracted by thoughts of her friends and family cheering her on from the crowd.

"Focus, Emma," she whispered to herself, pushing a stray lock of hair behind her ear. She glanced down at the silk scarf she had chosen for her demonstration, its deep blue fabric shimmering under the lights. She had practiced this charm countless times, and it always brought a smile to her face.

She lifted her wand. "Geminio Lapinus," she incanted softly, her voice steady and clear. A gentle, sparkling light emitted from her wand, enveloping the scarf. She hoped the fabric would ripple and twist, taking on a new shape. Where a pair of long ears would emerge, followed by a twitching nose and bright, curious eyes. The scarf would look like it was draped over a rabbit that was hopping around the stage.

  

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MJ Did Beautiful things!

Patronuses looked to be two a knut, so Mattie swiftly tossed that idea out in favour of a jug as a prop and a variation of an Aqua Eructo charm, wherein small balls of water would leap up from the jug and erupt one after the other into droplets, in mimicry of a choreographed firework display. Gently enough not to get any of her opponents wet beside her, naturally.

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Callista knew she would only get worse at this as she went on, if she made it past the first round at all – but she would happily cheer Genia on through the transfiguration rounds, sure her sister was in with a chance. (She was quietly relieved not to be competing against their grandmother; no doubt she would have put them all to shame.)

Deep in concentration – this felt like a school exam, NEWTs all over again – she summoned over the waiting bowl of fruit and set about making the fruit (a set of apples, oranges, bananas and pears) dance out the motions of a quadrille.

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Phyri had brought her own beetle, just in case there was not one conveniently waiting amongst the props.

Charms was not her strongest suit, but she would rather like to make it through to the conjuration rounds, where she could have more fun. So – going for something that would be simple but hopefully effective, she set the shiny black beetle down in front of her and cast an engorgement charm on it, holding the spell resolutely – she would let it keep growing until someone stopped her, hopefully not until it was at least the size of a horse.

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a sublime set by Lady! <3