Student: Tracey Davis
Prompt: Pageantry

Davis, Tracey

"I really shouldn't be here." Tracey gulped and looked around at the party. Every woman there, including herself, was dressed in an elegant evening gown and every man was wearing a suit. There were fine glasses of wine and food that was so fancy that Tracey didn't know the names of. People either dined at glorious round tables or danced to a classic waltz.

Pageantry. It was the only way to describe it. The glamorous spectacle of a Christmas Eve Ball was certainly an old tradition. But she was an unrespectable half-blood, who didn't belong at this high society event.

"Yes, you should," Theodore insisted, "Blaise invited you because you are a friend. And besides that, you are my date and you are not leaving me alone." He pushed her forward gently, causing her to trip on the hem of her sleek green dress. She just managed to grab onto Theodore's arm before she fell, and nervously fixed herself.

Tracey gave him a look that said 'I told you so' and stalked off to the wine table, muttering, "If I consume enough alcohol, maybe I won't remember how much of a fool I'm going to look like."

The night seemed to get progressively worse. She never said the right things, and even though the war was over, there was still some clear blood prejudice. Tracey was extremely jealous of her friend Elizabeth Runcorn, who flitted from person to person, leaving smiles wherever she went. She came up to Tracey's table about half-way through the night, looking tired.

"Talking to people can be so exhausting," Elizabeth sighed, "How have you been holding up?" She tried to ignore Theodore's chuckles and looked at Tracey's exasperated face.

"I don't understand any of this pure-blood nonsense. Why in the world do I have three forks? I only need one!" She glared briefly at the guilty silverware and continued, "None of the people here like me."

"Nonsense!" Elizabeth scoffed, "I've talked to many people who think you are quite witty."

Theodore chimed in. "Besides, when have you ever cared about what other people think?"

Tracey stared at each of them in turn and dramatically clunked her head to the table, trying to ignore the looks she was getting. "The pageantry is getting to my head."

I love Tracey. I hope you do too! Please review!
~SlytherLynn