Bibbidi-Bobbidi-Boo [Open to All Needing Things for the Ball!]

[Nova Harte]

Nova hummed happily as she walked into the entrance hall area, setting up a folding table she'd brought down with her. She set up some sketch pads, pencils, and a tape measure. She also had a little curtain she'd brought for people who might not be comfortable with her measuring them in the open, but she figured this was the easiest place for her to access everyone.

She had set up notices around and passed it around via word of mouth that she would be out here today to take measurements and requests for anyone needing a suit or dress for the ball. She knew there was a limited amount of time before the ball, maybe a week and a half, but she just saw that as a challenge! She thrived on tight deadlines, especially on passion projects and this had been a project she'd started in her 5th year. What she was capable of then and now were monumentally different, and she couldn't wait for what people would request.

She hummed happily to herself, sketching based on some ideas in her head while she waited to see if anyone came to see her.

[Owen Fairchild]

Owen had noticed Nova’s signs around the castle and heard the chatter about her taking measurements for the ball. He wasn’t exactly the type to obsess over outfits, but he figured he should at least make an effort. The Winter Solstice Ball only came around once a year, and showing up in his usual slightly wrinkled robes probably wouldn’t cut it. Besides, he’d seen Nova’s work before—she was talented, and if anyone could make him look halfway decent, it’d be her.

Stepping into the entrance hall, he spotted her right away, sitting at her neatly arranged table with sketch pads, pencils, and a measuring tape at the ready. She looked completely in her element, already lost in a sketch, her quill moving quickly across the page. Owen took a moment before approaching, noting the curtain she’d set up for privacy, as well as the excited energy she always seemed to carry when working on something she loved.

“Hey, Nova,” he greeted, a lopsided grin forming as he rocked back on his heels. “Figured I’d stop by and see if you could work your magic. I need something decent for the ball—nothing too flashy, but, y’know… good.” He huffed a small laugh, rubbing the back of his neck. “I have no idea what I’m looking for, so I’m putting my trust in you. Got any ideas?”

[Nova Harte]

Nova was in the middle of doing some idle sketches, in her zone, whenever she heard a voice. She glanced up and grinned, "Heeeey, Owen!" she beamed, hopping off the stool she'd been sitting on, "You have come to the right gal, naturally," she put her hand on her chest, "Do you have a style in mind?" she picked up a few pages and set them on a table, "There's classic suits and robes," she indicated the drawings, "There's a little gothic flair, my speciality, but rarely others tastes," she giggled a little as she motioned to that drawing, "And then variations that are combinations, like a robe that looks like a mix of a robe and a suit jacket," she pointed to where she'd doodled it.

"I also take custom requests. If you can explain what it looks like, I can try and sketch it out, then we can go from there," she offered, then motioned to the swatches or fabrics she had, "That's when colors get involved," she laughed a little. She stepped back and looked at Owen, tapping her chin, "I think a classic tux will look really good on you," she nodded sagely, picturing it in her mind.

[Owen Fairchild]

Owen chuckled at Nova’s enthusiasm, watching as she hopped off her stool and laid out her designs. He leaned in slightly, scanning the sketches with interest. “You’ve really got this all figured out, huh?” he said, impressed but not surprised. He’d seen Nova throw herself into projects before—this was clearly something she loved. It gave him a warm and fuzzy feeling seeing her in her element.

His gaze drifted over the options, lingering for a moment on the gothic-inspired suit before shifting to the more classic styles. “I like the idea of something traditional, but I wouldn’t mind a little twist to make it interesting,” he mused, tapping a finger against his chin. “Maybe something like that robe-suit combo? It looks sharp but still a bit different.”

At her comment about the tux, he smirked. “You think so? I’ll take your word for it. What do you reckon—classic black, or should I shake things up with a colour?” He glanced at the fabric swatches, rubbing the back of his neck. “I’m not sure what actually suits me, so I’m trusting you here, oh fashion expert.” His grin was teasing, but there was genuine trust in his voice.

[Nova Harte]

Nova waved her hand at his first question, "Nah, this is just so super fun for me~ I get to try my hand at actual designs and execution! I don't usually get to do that for anyone but me!" she laughed a little.

Hearing his idea she tapped her sketching pencil to her chin, "Hold just a jiff, I have an idea," she said, picking up the bad and began to sketch like a mad woman, bringing the picture in her head to life on the page, grabbing a couple colored pencils and giving it a quick color in. Within 5 minutes, she turned it around and showed it to him, the side of her hand now yellow and black, "What about this?" she asked around the pencil between her teeth.

"A bit of classic, but a Huff can never go wrong with a bit of yellow and gold," she said with a grin, finally taking the pencil from her mouth and putting her behind her ear, "I think you'd *totally* kill it in this. You've got the perfect kind of frame for a bit of classy flair," she wiggled her fingers.

[Owen Fairchild]

Owen leaned over the table, eyes widening a little as Nova spun the sketch around for him to see. He let out a low whistle. “Blimey, you just whipped that up in five minutes?” He shook his head with a laugh, clearly impressed. “I can barely manage to draw a stick figure, and here you are designing an actual ball outfit on the spot.”

His gaze lingered on the sketch, taking in the sharp lines and the touches of yellow and gold. The Hufflepuff accents made him grin—it wasn’t too over the top, but just enough to stand out. “I really like it. Subtle, but still got that house pride baked in,” he said, tapping the page lightly with his finger.

At her comment about his frame, he let out another laugh, rubbing the back of his neck with a sheepish look. “Classy flair, huh? You’re making me sound way cooler than I actually am. But if you think I can pull this off, then I’m all in.” He glanced back at her with a crooked smile. “Guess that means you’ll need to drag me behind that curtain and get my measurements, yeah?”

[Nova Harte]

"I have base models already drawn throughout, so it's just designing around it," Nova waved her hand, "And when you draw enough, it comes to be second nature," she shrugged. Hearing that he liked it, she clapped her hands, "Fantastic!" she grinned. Hearing him dismiss himself, she tutted, then grinned again as he said he was all in. At his question she shook her head, "Not if you don't wanna right now, and I can get my little brother to help so it's not so awkward if that's a thing," she waggled her fingers a little, "But either way it won't take long. He's gotten good at helping me out even if he's got no interest in following in my footsteps. Helps him stay ahead in math or something," she waved her hand again.

[Owen Fairchild]

Owen let out a soft huff of amusement, shaking his head at her explanation. “Right, ‘second nature,’” he echoed, clearly not convinced it was that simple, but smiling all the same. “Still impressive, if you ask me.”

When she clapped, his grin widened a fraction, her enthusiasm infectious. But at her mention of bringing her brother in, he blinked once, then laughed, lifting his hands slightly in surrender. “Nah, it’s alright - I think I can survive a quick measuring without moral support,” he said lightly. “No need to recruit backup for me.”

He rocked back on his heels for a second before stepping a little closer to the setup, glancing toward the curtain and then back at her. There was a flicker of mild awkwardness, sure, but it didn’t stick around long. “If it doesn’t take long, we may as well get it done, yeah? I’d rather not leave it last minute and end up wearing something tragic.”

His eyes dropped briefly to the sketch again, a small, more genuine smile settling in. “Still can’t believe you just came up with that on the spot. I’m actually looking forward to seeing how it turns out.” He glanced back at her, brows lifting slightly. “Just… go easy on me if I fidget. Standing still’s not exactly my strong suit.”

[Nova Harte]

At his echo, she waved it off, "I always offer to let him do measurements for guys since some people are a bit shy about it," she shrugged before she turned to him as he came around to the curtain, "The curtain is really just so people don't stare while I'm getting measurements cause it's just more awkwardness," She grabbed a pad of paper and the measuring tape from the table before stepping into the curtained space, it was enough room it wasn't uncomfortably close, "I'll be quick!" she assured him when he talked about fidgeting, "Just hold your arms out, and spread your legs just a hair, I'll try to make getting the inseam as non-weird as possible," she said.

Once he was standing in the way she told him, she did, in fact, move quickly. Luckily, she snapped her fingers, and the measuring tape began to move with a charm, so she didn't have to hold it up while writing down measurements. The tape held itself up to each arm long enough for her to short-hand write down the numbers before shifting to the next spot, getting both arms, legs, both width and length, before moving to his body, getting similar measurements, walking in a circle around him as she followed the tape, which was seemingly following a set path. She also preferred the charm because then she didn't have to get into people's personal space to get what was sometimes very personal information.

After several minutes, the tape came to her neck, wrapping around like a necklace before going limp, "Perfect, see? Non-weird as possible," she spun the pencil, "Charms make everything so much easier. I should be able to get it to you with enough time to try it on, make sure I got it right, and make some changes," she smiled at him as she stuck the pencil back behind her ear, "Any questions or requests?" she asked him.