Welcome to Gaia! ::

Oh thankyou, thankyou. That is so very generous and kind. And it is wonderful to see Professor Sprout back to normal again.

The Great Hall doors open and Prof. Flitwick walks in, looking much more relaxed, and with a bounce in his step.

I've left the ladies and err...a special consultant watching the Charm. All wings and feathers at this point, still immensely touchy, but coming along nicely.

He sighs, helps himself to the cinnamon nuts and accepts a cherry syrup and soda with a Father Christmas paperhat umbrella from a house elf.

This is a rather delicate matter, he continues, and I didn't want to be thought sexist. We're nicely balanced, but will shortly need a special kind of essence to infuse the Charm. Several of this specific kind of essence, but how to reward you? For you see we need a combination of thought and essence.
Ah! ::he brightens:: I think I have just the thing!

What we need is a feminine essence - girl or woman will do- who has done something heroic or brave. Several essences in ornaments of this type are needed AND we need you to write a short reminder of what this particular essence did that was heroic and/or brave. I anticipate we'll need these essences rather late, probably late in the evening, but you can bring them earlier, and then enjoy the Yule Ball.

If you haven't been keeping a suitable ornament safely, perhaps that will give you time to go to AccioFunds who may have one or two left in the Gringotts vault. I owled her to look and see if some of the essences left could possibly fulfill our needs. And to help your first years, who may still be a bit confused about the whole process. Do not PM LadyHealingHands with this matter; she is assisting us and will not be available.

You can't share your ornaments with a member of your house, they are tuned to you. But AccioFunds does have a few ornaments that should work, once they have your live thoughts attached, and you may feel free to gift a housemate with one that is suitable for the housemate to write the deed(s).

But remember, the ornament needs the live merging of your individual recall of the feminine's heroic or brave deed with the ornament's essence for it to be useful to us. And since it will be late, and I'm not sure who will be coming here to the Ball to gather them, please say your House name in your post when you bring an ornament that fits what I've said.

To summarize, we need
1. An ornament essence of a girl or woman who has done something heroic and/or brave. (Large or small deed, it doesn't matter)
2. A short summary from you on what this lass did that was heroic or brave in your own words.
3. Tell us the name of House you are in.
Thank you!

He turns to leave.

Oh, the reward?
Well, the House that sends in the most ornaments, one ornament only per person with the above 3 requirements, will get 10 points. To thank you all, because most likely, we will need every thought-and heroic feminine-merged ornament we can get, why everyone who brings us a qualified ornament will be in a raffle for a Korora penguin! (Including mods and Haven Heads of House)!

Your number will be the order you post your suitable ornament with your description of the essence of the heroic or brave deed.

Please, enjoy the festivities, but do (Accio) those ornaments! I must head back now....::he hurries away::

Alas, I seem to be quite the late partier. I've missed so much! What a shame.

At any rate, I'm afraid I don't have an ornament that falls under the necessities listed by Professor Flitwick. I apologize!
EDIT:
Hurrah, I have received more ornaments! The one I have chosen to fit the specifications is...

Nymphadora Tonks, for her tremendous show of bravery in the Battle at Hogwarts. Also, as an Auror, she constantly shows her courage and plays the heroine. Even her relationship with Remus Lupin was dangerous, and she risked it all for their love. R.I.P. Tonks! You live in our hearts forever.

And, finally, I am a Hufflepuff. =D

Hermione Granger!

On countless occasions Hermione has shown her true Gryffindor colors through her wit, and intelligence and willingness to stand up for herself and her friends.

In the third book, it is Hermione who is dilligently trying to assist Hagrid in protecting Buckbeak. She searches for any information on hippogriffs so that she can put Hagrid's worrying to a rest, and then it is later in that very novel that she and Harry rescue both Buckbeak and Sirius at the aid of her time turner.

In the fourth book Hermione works very hard to aid Harry in his championship, and it is she who discovers Rita Skeeter's dirty little secret...which comes in handy in the following novels.

In the fifth she undertakes S.P.E.W in the concern for the house elves.

In the seventh book she goes with harry and stays by his side, not swaying under the horcrux's weight, and being loyal to Harry even when times were tough. She worked her hardest, and while helping harry, she helped the muggles and influenced witches and wizards at the ministry.

Throughout many a lengthy and harsh potions class she aided Nevil when he couldn't quite make the potion, she was always helping her friends, and being a true Gryffindor. If it hadn't been for Hermione and her braveness, so much of the color, texture and brilliance of the books would be lost! Hermione is my hero!

My house: Ravenclaw!!

McGonagall comes in, looking annoyed.

"Mr. Malfoy, I cannot transfigure you back if you insist on clinging to my ankle."

She looks around the transformed Great Hall. "Well it's Sunday and still early.
I suppose students are wrapping gifts from Hogsmeade, and will be back dancing and carousing shortly."

She transfigures the white ferret. "Do not worry, Mr. Malfoy, though you may be seeing more Hippogryffs soon...it's merely their essence!" The last is said to Draco's back as he flees the room.

Minerva gathers the heroic women and girls infused with their deeds ornaments. "My, 6 more...that's a total of 7...nearly enough!"

She spots AccioFunds chatting with the house elves and hertasi.
"Accio, the preparation for the Charm is going well. Prof. Flitwick sent me to say we will be adding these ornaments later tonight or possibly Christmas Eve, but we'll need a total of at least nine -two more- and more than that would be better. The ornaments can be duplicates, for example, more Molly Weasley, and goodness knows any girl in Dumbledore's Army qualifies, but each ornament needs to be accompanied by a short statement of one or more deeds of bravery or heroism told in the words of the ornament keeper.

We'll hold the Korora penguin until we have enough. Hopefully soon. Keeping that bird on ice and fed with fresh fish is nearly a full time job in itself.

Professor Flitwick also sent me to tell the students as they come in that erm..feathers and talons are needed at this point, so any ornaments with a feathered creature are needed now."

She gestures with her wand, and a sparkly wreath flies off the wall and forms a second pine bough pile-nest with a sign: FEATHERED ESSENCES HERE: owl, hippogryff, phoenix, etc appears.

"We need the first one as soon as possible," Minerva continues, "so the first person to bring an ornament with a feathered creature's essence will be gifted...." ::she consults a list:: "Dear me, a black & white Father Christmas hat...from Gaia, made of cowhide, called a Santa hat. All the other donators, including the first, we'll put in a raffle... for a Gold BFF heart pendant and chain. Do remember to conduct yourself with dignity while you're enjoying the Ball!"

Prof. McGonagall cuddles Empress Cat's two white kittens for a moment, then hurries off.