Being sixteen is all well and good in the Wizarding world. If you are a boy, that is. My family is Pureblood and only my brothers have been permitted to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. My parents are such traditionalists, I may have a wand, but I can only use it for appropriately suited feminine tasks for my class, which is not very many things.
Today was they day of my coming of age ball, the day after I'd become sixteen. I would be presented to the other wizarding Pure-blooded families as an eligible lady. I had other ideas, of course.
Today was also two days before my brothers were due to go back to Hogwarts after their summer holidays.
I was sat at my sewing table, carefully unpicking the stitches that held my pearly white ribbons in place. I had to replace them with golden ones to show that I was now of age, just as my Mother had forced me to. Latter, when I am being courted by a gentleman, I have to put on red ribbons and when I'm engaged and getting married I will have to have pale blue ones. After that any shade of blue or green or silver is acceptable. I hoped that I wouldn't have to sew the scarlet ribbons on any time soon.
I carefully took the ribbon from my dark night-sky blue dress and from the tops of my ivory elbow length gloves. I was halfway through attaching the new ribbons when there was a knock at my door. I picked up my wand from the desk and flicked it, the door behind me flying open, one of the few things I was allowed to do with it. I turned in my chair, my petty coats getting in my way; I cursed them internally. In the door way was my eldest brother, Maximilian. He was twenty one and worked at the Ministry of Magic as an Auror and had some less desirable activities outside of work. He had, as was the tradition of my family, been in Ravenclaw and had befriended all the Pureblooded people from all houses, including and especially Lucius Malfoy.
"Ivy, may I come in?" he said, stepping inside the room, "I see you are preparing, good thing, too."
"Oh come right in, why don't you," I muttered, turning back to my sewing.
"Mother and Father have high hopes of this evening," he said, trying to get me to turn back to him, "they hope you might find a Pureblooded Slytherin suitor."
"Yes," I said a little grumpily, "it is as Mother always has told me since I was eleven, 'One can only marry one's cousins so many times before the children go strange'. I do know this."
"Well, you do remember my good friend, Lucius?"
"The long haired, blond, creepy Slytherin Death Eater, sleazeball? Can not say I do," I replied, turning to him.
"There's no need to be sarky," he scolded, but he was smiling a little, "well, he's going to be at your ball tonight. Father thinks rather highly of him, you know."
"No, Max, I know where you're going with this. It will not happen, not in a million years," I told him rather sternly.
"Listen to me, Ivy," he said, anger just beneath the surface, "for once, just listen! Father approves of him and he is your best option right now, who else would take you on this quickly? Do you want to disappoint our parents? Do you? Do you want to dishonor all that our ancient family stands for?"
I pretended to think for a moment, then looked him directly in the eye.
"Yes," I said simply.
He stepped away from me, his eyes narrowing and rolling up his sleeves. I knew what was coming as he walked to the fire place where a long oak walking stick always rested to remind me of what would happen if I misbehaved. I stood as Max raised the stick and closed my eyes awaiting the first blow to fall. When it did not I opened my eyes to look at Max who had lowered the stick and was running his hand through his jet black hair. He put the stick back next to the fire place and came to stand in front of me, his face way too close to mine and it was getting redder by the second.
"I know our orders are to beat you if you say something or do something that dishonors the name of our great family, as you so often do," he hissed, "and do not think for a second that I have a weakness when it comes to beating you. It is only the fact it is your ball tonight and you need to be in prime condition."
"You make me sound like an animal," I snarled.
"If you wanted to be treated like one of us, then behave like a human!" he snapped.
He span on his heal and left the room without another word. I knew the truth about him, he couldn't beat me. He was closer to me than to any of our four younger brothers.
I sat back down and returned to my sewing with a sigh. Not for the first time I considered running away, but knew it would not do any good. I felt anticipation bubbling inside me as I awaited the ball.

"Announcing the arrival of Mistress Ivanna Courvetta Heredercuervo," shouted one of the man-servants to those gathered there.
I felt my nerves jingling away as I stepped onto the staircase, the cold marble of each step making me shiver. I kept my face passive as the masses turned to look at me. I felt the hatred of my name brewing inside me. Ivanna meaning 'God is gracious', which for my parents was true as my Mother had seemed barren for the five years after Max was born until I came along. Courvetta was keeping within the tradition, all females born into the family had to take the name, either as a first name or a second name, thankfully it was my middle name. From what I knew of my last name, Heredercuervo, was Spanish, despite that most of our family was rooted in Scotland, and was a mix of Spanish words, the original meaning was 'Heir of the Raven'.
When I reached the bottom of the stairs my father linked arms with me, holding me like a vice as he swept me through the crowds gathered there.
"You had better not embarrass me," he hissed in my ear, smiling at the guests, "at least you have the correct ribbons sewn on."
I said nothing as I was led through the prising eyes of the Pureblood families.
"I can not hear the heals on your shoes," he hissed to me.
"Yes," I murmured back, "quiet, aren't they?"
When we were at the centre of the room, polite conversations starting up around us, Maximilian came forwards, bowing to me and taking me for my first dance as the music started up. He span me around and leant forwards, enabling him to whisper in my ear.
"You are not wearing your shoes, are you?" he whispered.
"They give me terrible foot ache," I murmured back with a smile.
He groaned and then whispered again.
"Please tell me that you are wearing your petty coats?"
"They restrict my movement."
"Are you at least wearing stockings? Or do I not want to know the answer?"
"You don't want to know the answer."
"Ivy, if they see even a flash of ankle, they will know. And you know how not even a woman's ankle should be seen in polite company."
"I do know that," I murmured, stifling my laughter.
As we swept past Lucius, who was looking directly at me, a hungry look in his eye, I knew that my dress had slipped up, showing not just my ankle but half of my shin too. His eyes were now fixed on my skirts, then he looked up, trying to catch my eye, but I was pulled away into the crowds.
"You are not wearing your corset," said Max in my ear, "any man who dances with you will be able to feel that. I am surprised Father did not."
"It restricts my breathing and I can't stand it," I hissed back, "and beside that, Father wouldn't know, he pays no attention what so ever."
Max was about to retort when Lucius tapped on his shoulder, cutting into the dance. He took my hand and my waist and we glided away. I could feel his hand running up and down my side, then his consequential smile as he felt I wasn't wearing a corset. He span me a while longer and out through the great doors into the garden where he took my hand and led me deep into the garden. I looked backwards and saw my Mother standing at the doors with a smile that made her look like the devil, and to me, she was. Lucius took me around a corner and the light from the ball room was cut off. He took out his wand and lit it with the muttered words of 'Lumos'. I would have to remember that charm. Then he wrapped me in his arms, bringing me close to him.
"What are you doing!" I shrieked, pushing him, but he wouldn't budge.
"I saw how you showed me your leg," he said in a husky voice, "I know how you're not wearing a corset for me, I know you're not wearing any petty coats. I think you want me to make you wear red and blue ribbons."
"No, Lucius, I really do not. Get away from me! You slimy Death Eater! You and your kind disgust me! I would rather marry a Muggle!"
He pushed me away, anger covering his face, his cold eyes flashing. He raised his wand, pointing it at my chest.
"You will regret this, bitch," he snarled.
"Bring it on," I growled back, opening my arms wide.
"CRUCIO!" he screamed.
I felt the pain slice through me, my whole body on fire, but no scream of pain escaped my lips. My body jerked and thrashed, but no sound was pulled from me, I had to remain silent. I was practiced at it. Again and again he cursed me, until I was on the ground and moved no more, my body beaten and bloodied from being cut by the thorns and stones as I had thrashed around. I heard his feet move away as I slipped from consciousness. He was leaving me for dead on my evening.

I was woken up by someone gently calling my name, an old, soft voice. I sat up and looked about myself. It was very dark and rather cold out here, the stars above me twinkling down to the Earth. Beside me was a man dressed in a blue cloak covered in stars and a beard that tucked into his belt rather neatly. When he saw I was awake he smiled to me.
"Hello there, " he said to me, "you would be Ivanna Courvetta Heredercuervo. I'm so sorry I didn't come before, but this is a rare opportunity that has presented itself. Now, I believe you are sixteen?"
I nodded, still too confused to speak.
"Excellent. Now, I am Professor Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts. I've come to take you there."
I smiled so widely I thought my head might fall off. He stood and helped me up, smiling softly to me.
"Now, what you need to do is go inside, go directly up stairs, there will be a trunk on your bed. Pack it as quickly as you can and throw it from the window. Then come back down here and I'll get you out of here."
I nodded profusely and ran back towards the house, my feet getting cut on the stones. I edged around the light of the ball room windows and patio and went to the front door. I slipped inside, unnoticed as the guests were all in the ball room, I ran up a servants stair way and came into my room. As promised, there was a trunk on the bed. I grabbed all of my clothes and shoved them in the trunk, followed by all my worldly possessions which were few and space. I closed the lid with difficulty and dragged it to the widow, hurling it into the night, expecting it to fall with a thud and alert everyone to my disappearance. That is when the door opened and Max stepped in. He smiled a little when he saw me stood there, looking guilty.
"There you are! Everyone was wondering where you had gone. What are you doing up here?" he asked.
He looked around my room and saw the wardrobe door which was flung open and empty. My desk was barren and my draws were pulled open and emptied. Then he clocked onto what was happening.
"Are you running away?" he demanded.
"You can not stop me, Max. Ever since we were little we dreamed of going to Hogwarts, but I was never allowed to go! It broke my heart, Max! Please, I want to go to Hogwarts!"
"Ivy," he said gently, his face soft, "I can not defend you on this. If anyone asks I do not know about this. As much as I appear not to care, I do, greatly. Good luck, my lovely Ivy. Keep put of trouble."
"Thank you Max, thank you," I gasped, flinging my arms around him.
He returned the embrace and smiled. His face fell when he saw the mud on my dress and on my arms and cheek and the scratches and bruises forming on my arms.
"What happened to you?" he asked quietly.
"Lucius. He thought I had purposely flashed my leg at him and so he took me into the garden to claim me, but I refused and told him what I thought of him. He Crucio'd me into unconsciousness."
"Damn him," he growled.
"I love you, Max," I mumbled into his shoulder.
"And I you," he said, kissing the top of my head, "now get out of here, quickly!"
I ran to the door and out of the room, leaving Max standing there, forlorn, I wondered when I would see him again. If I would ever see him again.
I flitted down the stair case, my bleeding feet leaving bloody foot prints on the white marble. I ran from the front doors where I saw the man, Dumbledore, waiting for me, his arm outstretched and my trunk in his other hand.
"Ivanna!" came a shriek behind me.
I turned and saw my Mother and Father coming along the passageway.
"Where in the name of the heavens do you think you are going?!" bellowed my Father.
"Where have you been?" shrieked my Mother.
"You can not stop me, not any more!" I shouted at them and ran down the front steps, their angry shouts following me as my Fathers feet pounded towards me.
I was a few feet from Dumbledore and I stretched out my hand, tripping and falling forwards, catching hold of his arm and the last thing I saw before we disaperated was my Father's furious face as he didn't reached me in time.

What do you all think? Any good? ~Stripey