Disclaimer: I forgot to mention that I don't own Harry Potter in the first chapter. Do you think J.K. Rowling will sue me? I hope not.
The first snowfall came on the first of December. Young students went out to romp in the snow, while the older ones watched from the windows, hands wrapped around steaming cups of hot chocolate. Christmas decorations went up everywhere. Suits of armor began their yearly Christmas caroling and an aroma of peace enveloped the castle.
However, pureblood society was getting nervous. Any day, the invitations to the Annual Windsor Christmas Ball would arrive. It would be the height of dishonor to not receive one, as all of pureblood society would be there. They wouldn't have to wait long.
At breakfast the next morning, the huge, ornate doors to the Great Hall swung open. Young teens entered, wearing green velvet outfits and bearing red velvet pillows. On the pillows were the objects of interest. Small scrolls of parchment adorned with a silver seal and bow were placed atop the velvety surface.
The couriers noticeably were heading toward the Slytherin table, although a few headed to where the Ravenclaws were eating. Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors were sadly neglected, even those that were pureblood came from too blood traitorous of families to receive an invitation.
"This is only the first wave," Ellyn whispered to Ginny, "meant only for the most high and respected members of society. Yours may come late, after classes, maybe even at dinner."
"What about Harry?" Ginny questioned, trying not to sound too curious.
"After you, probably. He isn't pureblood, so Mother would have wanted to wait to invite him. Not that he'll know he's being insulted, of course." Ellyn sniggered.
"Are you sure he'll get one? I don't want to accept if there isn't going to be anyone to talk to," Ginny asked nervously.
"I'll be there, silly," Ellyn answered. "Even though I probably won't be able to talk with you very much. I have to dance with every guy there. One of the many drawbacks of being the hostess' daughter." Ginny looked sympathetic.
The Great Hall was clearing out, and both girls got up to head to class. It was going to be a long day.
"Miss Ginevra Weasley?" Ellyn and Ginny were on their way to Defense when one of the couriers approached them. "I have a note here for you, with the compliments of Lord and Lady Everett Windsor," he said, offering the parchment on the velvet pillow. She took it gingerly.
"Lord and Lady Everett Windsor wish to cordially invite you to the Annual Windsor Christmas Ball. The party will be held on the twenty-fourth night of December beginning at six-o'clock." Ginny read aloud. "Wow."
"May I tell the Windsor family your answer, miss?" the courier prompted politely.
"Yes. You may tell them that..." she gulped and looked at Ellyn, who smiled encouragingly. "You may tell them that I would be most pleased to attend such a wonderful gala, and that I will see them on the night of the twenty-fourth."
"Yes, miss. Have a wonderful afternoon." The courier bowed to both girls before turning and taking his leave. As he walked away, Ginny's face began to fall.
"What have I done?" she whispered, mortified, to Ellyn. "I can't talk like that to everyone all night! I'll kill myself!"
Hermione walked up just soon enough to hear this last. "You know, Ginny, there are people you can see for when you have these feelings. They don't have to dominate you."
"That's not what I was talking about! I was talking about...about..." Ginny looked up and saw the twinkle in Hermione's eyes. "Why you...you...You heard everything, didn't you!"
Hermione giggled. "I heard some, then filled in what I missed. So, you're going to the Windsor Ball, huh."
"Yes, I don't know what got into me to say yes. Wait, yes I do! It was HER fault!" Ginny joked, pointing her finger at Ellyn.
"My fault? Innocent little me?" Ellyn asked, putting on her saddest face.
"Yes, all your fault. You made me do it!" Ginny's face showed false anger. She ginned slightly, unable to keep up the guise.
"I suppose it's also my fault that we're late for class, right?" Ellyn asked with a long-suffering sigh.
"What? Oh, great, that's just great. Yes, it's your fault, everything's your fault. Snape's going to kill us and it will be your fault! We'll never see the light of day again, we're going to spend so much time in that Defense classroom doing detention—" Ginny started ranting as they took off down the hall, leaving Hermione behind.
"Um, Gin? I think you might be overreacting just a lit—"
"I am NOT overreacting, Ellyn Windsor! Snape will kill us! He will, you watch! He'll..." and so it continued.
The two girls left Defense intact, with only ten points removed from each of them. "I don't suppose 'sorry' would cut it?" Ginny asked, smiling sheepishly.
Ellyn looked over at her. "It's okay. You're just stressed. But Doctor Ellyn knows how to make you better. Seeing the guy of your dreams make a fool of himself in front of a pureblood courier ought to do it, right?" Ginny smiled rather wickedly and turned to the middle of the entrance hall where Harry was walking to dinner with Ron and Hermione.
"Mr. Harry James Potter, sir?" asked a rather frightened looking courier. When Harry turned, the boy went on. "I have a note here for you, with the compliments of Lord and Lady Everett Windsor."
"Thanks," Harry said as he took it and skimmed it. When he finished, he handed it to Ron and Hermione to read.
"Could I convey your answer to Mr. and Mrs. Windsor?" the boy timidly asked.
"Er..." Hermione tapped Harry on the shoulder and whispered to him before he could finish his answer. She pointed over towards Ellyn and Ginny. When he looked, Ellyn drew her finger across her throat in an 'If You Do This You're Dead' signal.
"Sir? Can I convey your answer?" the boy prompted. Harry shrugged Hermione off his shoulder.
"Sure, it sounds like fun. I'll go," Harry nodded to the courier before turning to head toward dinner. Hermione looked over at Ellyn and Ginny with raised eyebrows.
"He is so dead," Ellyn said simply. "I almost feel bad for the guy. I mean, he has no idea what he's getting into."
"Maybe you should tell him," Ginny suggested.
Ellyn smiled. "That'll be an interesting conversation," she informed Ginny resignedly.
"Hey, Harry," Ellyn said, sitting down. Harry looked slightly startled at the abrupt greeting by this only vaguely familiar girl.
"Er, hi....er...Emily?" Harry tried, looking nervous.
"Ellyn. Ellyn Windsor. Recognize the name?" Ellyn asked him.
"Sure, you're that girl...who...er...got it." Harry told her. "You were in the DA last year, right?" Ellyn nodded. "I knew it! Wait...Windsor...that pureblood party?"
"I figured you'd get there eventually," Ellyn sighed. "Tell me, Harry," she added amicably, "Did you or did you not see me telling you not to agree to go?" She asked, blue-hazel eyes flashing dangerously.
"Yeah, I did, Hermione pointed you out to me. The party sounded like fun, so I agreed. End of story," Harry told her. Across the table, Hermione's head fell into her hand in exasperation.
"Yeah, I pretty much got that part," Ellyn informed him dryly. "You don't have any idea what you are getting into, do you?"
"Should I?"
"YES! You should," Ellyn told him.
"Care to enlighten me?" Harry prompted.
"Gladly," Ellyn's face turned dark and almost threatening. "You're about to go into the snake pit."
"Sorry?" Ron interjected. Hermione leaned over to whisper in his ear. He began to look decidedly uncomfortable.
"You're going to be expected to know how to shake hands, ask ladies to dance, diplomatically foist off all the girls who are going to be thrust upon you," Ellyn told him. "You know how to do that?"
"Er..."
"I didn't think so," she told him, swinging her slender legs off the bench and stalking toward the doors where Ginny waited.
The girls walked toward the Gryffindor Common Room, solemnly. Eventually Ginny racked up her courage to ask. "I'm going to guess it did not go well," she hazarded. Stonily, Ellyn nodded, telling Ginny all she needed to know.
The girls noticed a ringing voice coming through the halls from behind them. They ignored it. As it became clear that whoever was shouting was calling Ellyn's name, she turned to look. Seeing messy black hair coming up the stairs, she began to walk faster. "Come on, Ginny," she said.
"Hey, Ellyn! Ellyn! ELLYN!" Harry called, louder and louder. "Ginny!" he finally called.
Ginny stiffened, grabbing Ellyn's arm and coming to a complete halt. She whirled around. "Hey, Harry," she said breathlessly.
"Hey Ginny. Look, Ellyn I have to talk to you," Harry said earnestly.
"So talk," Ellyn told him, already looking impatient. She swept her long blonde hair behind her shoulder.
"I was thinking about what you said..." Harry told her. "You know, all that stuff about how I had to behave and how I didn't know any of it?"
"Yeah...so?"
"Well I was kind of hoping..." Harry began, stopping.
"Spit it out, Harry, I've got homework," Ellyn told him.
"I was hoping you could teach me," Harry's voice was unsure. He wrung his hands nervously in front of him.
"Teach you how to be a pureblood in three weeks...hmmmmm," Ellyn mused. "All right, I'll give it a shot. Meet me in the Room of Requirement, tomorrow, right after class. We've got work to do."
"This I have got to see," Ginny muttered as the girls left Harry there.
Thanks to you all for reading! Remember: Reviews are an author's sustenance! I need encouragement, people! Drop me a note! Tell me what I need to fix, or what you liked. General is good, specific is better!
Now, to answer your questions...
Q: Can you describe Ellyn?
A: If you didn't catch any of my descriptions in this chapter, she's slender, blonde, and has blue-hazel eyes. I know, very 'Barbie-doll,' but that's the way I wanted it: the 'perfect' image of a pureblood with a far more complex mind.
I love you all! Don't forget to show me you want me to continue! Review!
~Boston