A Birth day

"Thank you,' Michael said. "You look lovely, and I haven't even seen the dress yet. Khaat is always happy to help a friend. And, just between us, most of the jewels you see tonight will either be paste or they will be rented. Very few of these socialites own their own jewelry. So you will be in very good company, and, actually, better than most."

Simone followed Aria down, and as Simone was coming down the stairs, Michael handed Aria a beautiful corsage, but hers was made from enchanted roses that were a lovely pale sage green color and shimmered with a very soft light. There were white flowers surrounding the green roses, and the white flowers glistened like opals to draw more attention to the mystical roses. "For you," Michael said, handing the corsage to her.

"Those would be perfect in your hair," Simone said.

"We'll be there with a bit of time to spare, but that will give us time to do our own security check of the facility before Marcus arrives with Khaat or before David and Ruby arrive with Angus," Michael said.

Aria smiled and nodded " that's good" she said then she saw the corsage and smiled as Simone said it will look good with her hair " its perfect" she said and noted how it shimmered " thank you Michael " she said as she gently slipped it into her hair on her right side letting the flowers compliment how her hair was styled and she smiled as she listened to him talk " that will give me time to check out the area too" she said with a smile.

Ruby chuckled and shook her head " always on guard, perfect for Marcus" she said to Angus as Jessie chuckled too.

"I remember some one else who was all business at her first ball and now look at her, like she's done it all her life." he said to Ruby who just chuckled and nodded  her head at his words.

"would love to see you in a suit next time" she said and Jessie recoiled at her words

"oh no, sorry, I'll leave this all to you" he said and chuckled still.

"Besides," Angus said. "Its just as important to me, if not more, that our kids spend time with their Uncle Jessie and his family."

"Shall we go?" Michael asked Aria, offering her his arm, as he drew his wand to apparate them to the ballroom. He looked at the others. "We'll see you in an hour or so."

After Michael and Aria left, Marcus went over to Angus and double checked that the magic wrap was holding and that his sling was adjusted properly.

"Now, I've made an addition to your sling for tonight," Marcus told him. "See these two loops on the inside, above your arm? Its where your wand goes. Like this." He slid the wand inside, putting the handle in first, so that if Angus drew it, he would be drawing out the tip first. That was because of the clip that was now fastened in the top. "You're not going to be able to draw a wand at your ankle, and it would be awkward for you to have it inside your suitcoat. This will be easier."

"I agree," Angus said. "Thanks for thinking of it."

"Oh, I almost forgot. Here, Ruby. I got something for you." He handed her what looked like a diamond tennis bracelet except for one oval in the center. "It's a watch. Tape the oval diamond, and you'll be able to see a clock behind it. You're going to need one to help Angus keep a close eye on the time. Make sure David knows exactly how much potion time Angus has left or you lot will wish you had a wheelchair for him. Watch your energy, Angus. Don't overdo. If you do, the potion will wear off sooner. Trust me. I've had occasion to use it once myself. When it's done, it'll be just like a muggle pulling a plug on a lamp. No juice."

"I've never used a muggle lamp, so that means absolutely nothing to me," Angus said.

Aria walked over to Michael and took his arm smiling " see you guys later" she said and ported out with Michael.

Ruby walked over to Angus and Marcus watching as he placed the sling on Angus arm then showed him how to place his wand. Ruby looked at what Marcus had for her and slipped it on she lightly tapped the Dimond and she could see the time " hum its set right too , thank you" she said to Marcus with a smile. then showed Angus making sure is watch and her own were in perfect sync with each other.

Aria looked around the area once they arrived and smiled at how grand it was.

Michael could see that the security was already tight, and the men that were in charge of the detail knew that this bloke from Department of Mysteries going to be making his own security check. They were rather pish toshing it, until some of the other aurors told them to stuff it. They knew Michael, and they knew Michael's abilities to keep things tight and secure. Michael saw some of the looks he and Aria were getting, and he knew it was because they didn't think Aria had entirely earned her way into this level of a VIP security detail.

"You stuff it, or I'll stuff you," Michael told one of them that seemed ready to give someone some lip. Michael was jumping the man's case before the man had a chance to pop off at anybody. "You give me one syllable, and I'll turn you into an anchovy, and I understand they're doing some sort of pizza canape tonight. If I do that, the closest you'll get to the ball will be on a serving tray." A ripple of silence ran through the security teams. "Let's make our check. Some of it is outside. We can check your cloak at the cloak room on the way back in," he told Aria quietly. "You tell me if you see anyone or anything out of place."

An hour later, Marcus left on time to go get Khaat to take her to the ball, and just as he left to get Khaat, David arrived.

"You're both looking great," David told them, in his own crisply pressed tux. "I'm ready to go whenever you are."

"No time like the present," Angus said. He took the first dose of potion and left the vial behind on the overbed table. He stood to his feet and took hold of his new walking stick. "Shall we?" he asked Ruby.

Michael and Aria finished their checks, and Michael escorted Aria to the ballroom. It was all done in red, with red decorations, red tablecloths, red lights. Michael chose a table near the press table but where they could keep the entire ball in full view, and he got a drink for himself and Aria so they wouldn't look out of place. The place was filling up fast, mostly with reporters and photographers at first so they could take pictures of the society elite in their formal wear.

Khaat and Marcus were fully aware that part of the hubbub was because everyone wanted to see what she was going to wear, and Rita Skeeter was right there at the front of the pack. They had expected that.

"Hold on," Michael said quietly to Aria. "Its time for me to go greet Ms. Skeeter." He made his way to the front of the room and pushed his way through the press pool, purposely jarring Rita's photographer, and the photographer jostled Rita, who dropped her notepad and her quill as well. Michael reached down, picked up the pad and the quill and handed it back to her, showering Rita and the photographer with apologies. Rita called him a clod, and Michael appeared to look appropriately chagrined.

When it was Khaat's and Marcus's turn and they were announced, they made their way into the room. Every eye was on Khaat and Marcus, and the flashbulbs were blinding. Marcus was used to it, but for Khaat, she never liked those first few seconds where she couldn't see because of all the camera flashes. Marcus always made her stop and wait a few seconds for the commotion to calm down, and it allowed the press to get their pictures. As they were getting their pictures, he happened to glance over and saw Michael first. Then he saw Aria in the soft pale sage dress with the diamond and jade jewelry. He wasn't in the place to be able to say anything or to take even half a step from Khaat. Instead, he smiled at her and gave her a wink. That was about all he was going to be able to do at the moment, but he wanted her to know that he noticed and he very much approved.

Aria looked to Michael and nodded as he walked her over to the others in the detail. She listened to them and grew angry but Michael spoke first once he was done she leaned closer to the man who spoke and spoke softly to him " if Michael doesn't I will, understand" she said simply before turning to face Michael and smiling as she walked with him. " sure and thank you for that" she said to him. "That bunch seem to not think a woman can't do this job as affective as a man." she told him as they walked around the outside of the ball room.

Once done they checked her cloak in revealing her dress a Satin V-Neck Spaghetti Formal Dress with Ruching in Modern Sheath Style and her glitter light green matching shoes that sparkled as she walked. She heard him mention getting a table and then got two drinks , she could not help but chuckle at the mocktails since she was working but wanted to look as if she was part of the party. " thank you it looks good" she said as she looked around the room.

Seeing Khaat and Marcus walk in she glanced over at him smiling as she saw his wink and smile. This gave her confidence to smile back at him admiring his hansom figure that he was stood next to Khaat but she knew she would talk to him once the ball was over or when Brian and Khaat joined each other to tell him how hansom she thought he looked. She heard Michael excuse himself and then moments later return she looked at him and chuckled " all done?" she asked " if this works we have to frame that quill" she said softly to him.

Ruby looked at Angus and smiled to him walking over to take his arm " lets" she said and chuckled as she let him port her to the venue.

"It isn't a matter of that. Your anatomy has nothing to do with it," Michael told her quietly. "In a security detail, you never get to the VIP jobs unless you've paid your dues to be there, and by that I mean you have to have done job after job after job on smaller security details, climbing the ladder in their team, earning your right to be there. You earned your dues in your department by doing one investigation after another, but, in their eyes, you weren't on their team. You don't have security detail experience like they have, and you're not even with the ministry anymore. So, according to them, you hopped over all of them, and they have put in the years and the jobs. They see it as they're being shown immense disrespect to get a top slot on a VIP job. So far as they're concerned, for all they need to know is that you're on this detail because I put you here. End of story. They'll eventually accept it because, to some limited sense, they do know I have done the jobs. They'll come around sooner or later."

When Michael came back to her, he wanted to laugh. "She thinks I'm a real clod," Michael had to stifle a laugh. "So of course she noticed nothing, and neither did anyone else because they were entirely too busy focused on her ranting and raving like she always does. It went better than I could have hoped. I have her quill in my pocket. She's such an idjit, always has been."

When Ruby and Angus got to the party, Angus waned to be seated not far from the press, and David arranged it without much trouble. Rita was trying desperately to get closer to Khaat to get an interview, and Marcus was doing his job by keeping Rita at bay. That was only fueling the fire, but Marcus did know his job.

'"I'll give her about another ten minutes, and if she doesn't get her interview, she's just going to start making shit up as she goes along," Michael told Aria softly. "And then the fireworks really will begin."

Aria listened to Michael and sighed nodding " guess I should get use to that" she said " but thanks all the same " she added then she laughed hearing what Rita thought of Michael and how she didn't even notice him switch the quills " well she defiantly is an idiot" she said with a chuckle as she looked around the room spotting several people and Marcus with Khaat then she saw Angus and ruby walk in " Angus and ruby are here" she said softly to him.

Aria looked at Michael and chuckled " oh that will be fun , a Rita balloon" she chuckled as she watched.

Ruby walked to the check in and handed over her coat smiling to Angus as she looked around the room " Marcus is doing amazingly well" she said retaking Angus arm with a smile. " you think Michaels done the switch yet?" she asked softly a she smiled to Khaat as her and Marcus passed by them.

"I've seen Marcus protect her before," Michael told Aria, "and I've learned a lot just by watching how he works. Watch where his focus is. He's using all his senses. See how he stepped sort of in front of her? He let them have their pictures until they pressed too close, and then he stepped in front of her, but also about a half step to her left. That's deliberate to let them see her without pushing even closer. But did you see what else he did when he stepped in front? He reached behind and took her left hand and put it on his waist. That's a practiced move between them. When she has his hand on his waist, it pulls her tight to him so he can shield her, and it keeps him well informed on exactly where she is. And it leaves both of his hands free to defend her if it comes to it. What I've noticed is that they've developed a whole language of nonverbals so they can communicate at all times. It's well rehearsed, and I think it's why he's so successful with her. If he has to move or apparate with her, he will cue her about that, and most often, that's a very subtle nonverbal cue. He does not ever want the press to anticipate that he might buggar out with her because they might try to block him from doing it. But, that little movement with her hand on his waist, Rita always, always misreads and stupidly calls it a public display of affection. Wizardly reall should be able to put some brain cells into the empty skull space of hers." Michael signaled a waiter, and he sent over a tray of drinks to Angus and Ruby.

"Oh, I'm sure Michael's taken care of things by now," Angus said to Ruby. "That's Marcus in his element. It's where he's at his best. Let's go sit." Angus headed over, deliberately, to a table near the press area, which was not where most of the society elite wanted to sit anyway. it was, for most people, the least desirable table. Angus chose it deliberately, though, in case the prank for Rita Skeeter went off the rails. Angus wanted to keep control of it. Just as David was helping Angus to a seat, a waiter arrived with a tray of drinks.

"Your drinks are compliments of the gentleman in the corner," the waiter said, gesturing towards Michael. Angus turned and saw Michael and Aria. Angus lifted his glass as a toast to Michael to thank him for the drinks, and Michael merely lifted his own glass as a 'you're welcome' reply. Angus hadn't even gotten a sip off his drink when he heard a loud shriek from the press area. He turned and looked and saw Rita was ballooning up and starting to lift off the ground.

"Well, that didn't take long," Angus cast a quick glance at Ruby. "She started to lie almost straight off, didn't she?" Angus glanced towards Robert, and it made him laugh because he saw Robert turning his back so he could pretend not to see the calamity that was starting for Rita because someone would expect him to interfere. People were panicking. Aurors were rushing over, trying to fire spells at Rita to puncture her to bring her back down, but she just kept floating upward, getting bigger and bigger and now she was floating towards the door. If she got outside, Angus wasn't sure who would be able to catch up with her.

"You know, she probably should shut it because the more lies she spews the bigger she gets," Angus told Ruby. One of the auror shouted for someone to get a rope quickly. "Oh alright. Enough fun, I suppose," Angus said, taking off his bracelet. "I might have one," Angus called to one of the aurors, waving the bracelet.

"He's got a rope!" one of the aurors called, pointing at Angus.

"Well, catch her, Man, quick!" someone shouted, panicking. Roping a moving target was not going to be as easy as it looked. Angus changed the rope into a lasso, and he took a couple circles in the air to get some momentum going with the rope before trying to catch her with it. And on the first two tries, he missed--deliberately. He caught her the third try, lassoing her around her ankle.

By now, the pressure on Robert was becoming intense for him to do something, Robert finally walked over, pretending not to notice at first who owned the rope, and he followed it to Angus. Angus handed Robert the rope, and Robert guided Rita outside with the rope. Robert warned everyone to stand back but, of course, they ignored him. He fired a puncturing spell at Rita, and she popped like a balloon. And like every good balloon when it popped, she was tossed back and forth across the night sky with a loud, somewhat obscene deflating sound of a gigantic farting balloon that mixed with her own screams while everyone within radius was showered with a disgusting looking green slime.

"Oh, look at that," Michael told Aria very quietly. "I daresay that likely wasn't part of the spell. That slime that she was filled with was the evidence of all the filth and lies she's told over the years instead of good clean air. You know, though, the tragedy of it is that people like her never learn. The best we can hope for is that some of the public take her columns less seriously. If it accomplishes that, then it was well worth it. Give me half a tick. I'll be right back."

Michael got up and left Aria for a moment going over to where Rita's quill and pad were laying, forgotten by everyone else. He picked them up and handed them to one of Rita's colleagues who was surprised by the kind gesture and thanked Michael profusely for returning it to the Quibbler staff. Then he returned to Aria and sat down.

"She has her own quill back again," Michael told Aria. "It seemed to me a better thing than letting the jinxed quill stay in circulation."

Aria watched Marcus and how he moved and watched his eyes and face , she saw him move in front of Khaat and how khaat placed her hand on his waist to tell him where she was in his proximity. " I agree, and I do watch him closely" she told him.

Turning when Michael did she saw Angus raise his glass and smiled she smiled back to them then looked over to where the press were when she heard an awful noise.

Ruby nodded to Angus and followed him to a table and sat down with David. When the waiter brought over drinks from Michael she smiled and raised her glass to them she heard the noise but listened to Angus covering her mouth so not to show she was laughing at Rita's misfortune.
"awe do you have to , I was enjoying the show" she said giggling as she could se Aria doing the same " well I do hope it teaches her some manners, doubtful though, now she's as inflated as her ego" Ruby said and watched as Angus deliberately missed the inflated Rita making her laugh but when he caught her on the third try she watched Robert walk over looking some what oblivious and take the lasso.

Aria watched what had happened and watched Marcus and how he handles moving Khaat to safety away from the paparazzi in the room. She heard Michael and saw him stand she also watched out the corner of her eye as he switched the quills back for her normal one.

Ruby saw the green goo that came out of Rita once Robert popped her and cringed " eww , well she is disgusting , now it just shows" she said shivering at the sight of the green goo.