Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, I do not have any rights to Harry Potter and I do not make any money from writing these fics.
A/N: Written for the Procrastinators United Competition, the One Million Words Added Challenge, the Pairing Diversity Boot Camp Challenge, the 335 Pairing Bonanza Challenge, the If You Dare...Continued Challenge, the Disney-A-Thon Challenge, The animal challenge/comp, The wand challenge/comp.
Prompts: Theodore Nott/Eloise Midgen, Quail/s/ed, Capital City, Write about Eloise Midgen (Pumbaa), Write about a Slytherin (Fox), write about an unconfident or self-doubting character. (Black Walnut).
A Quail of a Courting Gift
Eloise stared with wide eyes at the moving package that had just been placed on her table by several strong owls. Silence swept through the Great Hall as everyone stopped what they were doing to see what the owls had brought Eloise.
Feeling everyone's questioning gaze on her and her mysterious package Eloise reached forwards towards the note that was safely tucked under one of the strings holding it together only to freeze when the box shook. Quickly withdrawing her hand Eloise stared at the box with fear filled eyes only for a soft bird like sound to come from the package.
"Whatever is in that box it is alive," the student next to Eloise commented, their soft voice echoed loudly in the dead silent Great Hall, "Whatever it is I really hope it can breath in that box."
"Those holes in it is not just for show stupid," another student called out, this time opposite Eloise, "They are air holes so whatever is in there can breath, besides whoever sent this package to Midgen went to great lengths to buy it because if you look at the stamp mark on the top of the package it says it is from Capital City!"
At the mention of Capital City gasps brought out among the students while the teachers shared surprised and worried looks. Capital City was a famous shopping alley for wizards and witches that had prices so high only the very rich could afford to buy something from the Capital City shopping alley. The shopping alley gained its name from thousands of wizards and witches of all types coming from all over the world to shop, it was the main shopping alley for those who could afford it, it was the Capital for the shopping alley's so it became known as Capital City.
"Is it safe to open it inside?" Eloise heard a student from another table ask worriedly, "We do not know what is inside that box? What if whatever is inside destroys the Great Hall?"
A few seconds later the soft scrapping sound of seats being pushed back told Eloise clearly that the teachers had heard and was coming over.
'I better read the note to find out who sent it to me before I get it taken off of me' Eloise thought as she quickly grabbed the note with her still out stretched arm 'I do not know why I want to know for, I bet that whoever sent this package is just bulling me, I bet it is a practical joke.'
Taking a deep breath to try and push aside the doubt that bounced about inside of her head Eloise quickly opened the letter and read it fast so she could read it all before the teachers could take it off of her.
To my dearest Eloise,
I know that this gift might come as a shock to you, especially with the stamp saying it is from Capital City, but I assure you that this gift comes from the purest intentions.
If I may be blunt with you as the time does not call for colourful words as I am sure the teachers will be making their way over to you by now I would like to give you, if you accept my request as I have already asked your family head and parents and gained a positive reply, the first of many courting gifts.
Please hear me out before you throw any thought of my love for you aside as a joke or an attempt to bully you. I dearly love you my dearest, I love how you are not perfect, those pimples on your face merely help to show off your true beauty that is inside of you, your self-doubting nature that is followed by all of your little quirks that others call stupidity or imperfections I only see the beauty of you in them.
I fear time is running out before the teachers arrive so I will finish this with just a few simple points. My first courting gift for you, if you accept, is a Quail, a small bird that is traditionally killed and eaten through if you so wish then keep it as a pet. If the teachers try and take it off of you just tell them that it is a courting gift from me and you wish for the Quail to be sent home to your parents, they cannot do anything but do as you request thanks to a law about courting gifts. My final two points are intertwined together, please ignore how everyone else treats you, ignore how they bully you and make hurtful comments about your pimples, you are the most beautiful being in the world. It is their own fault if they cannot see that.
I will be waiting for your reply, be it by owl, in person or a hit to the face.
Hoping the beautiful goddess that is you finds me worthy of courting you,
Theodore Nott.
As Eloise finished reading the letter she let out a loud gasp of shock and stood up, almost hitting the teachers who had just come to a stop next to her. Ignoring the teachers as they began to question her Eloise scanned the Great Hall until she spotted Theodore hiding in the shadows near her table.
"Why?" Eloise asked, her voice full of emotion only to shot Dumbledore a dark look when he tried to touch the box that contained her courting gift, "Headmaster, Professors, what is inside that box is a courting gift and I wish for it to be sent to my parents."
At Eloise's words whispers of shock and surprise broke out and the teachers looked at her with wide shocked eyes. Before anyone could saying anything through Theodore spoke, his voice ringing loud and clear throughout the Great Hall with just honesty and love that no one could say a single thing.
"Because I love you," Theodore said honestly, his eyes shining the emotions as he stared Eloise straight in the eye allowing her to see the truth he spoke, "I see the real you, the you who is hiding under that mask you are forced to wear because of everyone's bullying or teasing. I want to court you, I love you. Will you let me court you?"
"I do not need to think of a reply to your question," Eloise said causing everyone but Theodore to wince in pity, Theodore through grew a happy and relieved smile on his face, "Yes, my answer is yes with all my heart."
End.
