Chapter 4, Daragon residence
*obviously the Daragon family speaks French between themselves. I'll write it in English so everyone can understand their conversations.
My siblings would always try to come home a week before I started school so we could pass some time together after the summer ball held every 25th of august. It was held at a different house every year, this year it was at Blaise's house! I couldn't wait.
It was a hot summer day, we had the elves set up lounging chairs near the lake for the six of us. I was the youngest of two sisters and one brother. My sisters were nothing like me, very smart and mature. My brother and I had more in common, we were more easy going. My sisters were married and my brother was... well he wasn't ready to settle down.
After hearing Oliver was a successful Quidditch player my mother judged it safe to tell my father of 'his interest in me' as she's call it. She seemed surprised when he didn't get mad at me... What was she up to? I thought she was trying to protect me from his anger. Then again she'd always ask me about Draco and if I was writing him and how I probably should go visit him and how we should invite him and his mother over for supper... She obviously liked him more than I did. Then again she might just be obsessed with marriage, when Blaise and I first met she wouldn't stop bothering and joking about him and myself going out. She would tease me saying I'm not easy to please like my sisters, so I should grab what I can get. I still can't tell if she was joking or if she was serious...
A big shadow passed over me a couple times to interrupt my tanning time. This big shadow was by far the biggest owl I've ever seen. It ungracefully dropped a letter in my lap and pecked at my toes.
''Those are not food you stupid bird!'' I threw my sunglasses at it, the bird only tried to eat those too.
''Poor thing! Ellie be nice to this beautiful little owl!'' My sister gave it some bread. She then told the bird how I didn't mean to insult it and such. She was an animal lover, as you can see.
''Who's the letter from?'' My older brother asked, ignoring my sister's care for the dumb bird.
I had almost forgotten about the letter, I checked it and it was from Oliver! I was starting to worry he'd never write me, it had been a week since our last rendez-vous. My mother seemed very interested in my letter, even my father was looking at me waiting for an answer.
''Err... Its from Oliver...'' The letter was burning in my hands, I wanted to read right now but I wanted to read it in privacy. Of course my mother was impatiently curious to find out what he had said too.
''Look at her blush!'' My brother laughed at me, ''and err is not a word.''
''Lazarus Daragon be nice to your sister!'' My mother scolded him, ''Well honey aren't you going to read it?''
''No.'' I answered before she could even finish. My father laughed at this, he knew I had a problem with speaking before thinking.
''Ellie, don't talk like that to your mother, you shouldn't hide things from us.'' He took a more serious look now, but knew my mother was being nosey.
I held in a groan of annoyance, I knew I could refuse but they would punish me. My parents weren't harsh and cruel like some pureblooded parents, but they got their point across. After my two perfect sisters they were probably in shock of my brothers behavior, so I found them to be more strict with me. They were big on the old customs. Acting like a lady was very important, predominatly in front of others.
I carefully opened the letter, scared of what I'd find inside.
''Dear Ellisabeth,
I apologise for writting only now, I've been very busy with Quidditch-
''Excuses...'' My brother muttered, he received a very nasty glare from my mother and myself as well. I cleared my throat and continued:
''As the season is almost over, our coach has been brutal on us and our training hours are so long I litteraly do nothing else but eat sleep and play Quidditch. Anyways enough about me, I hope you've been alright. Your friend Blaise sent me an invitation to a Summer ball. He made sure to tell me you were HIS date for the night. I was thinking about stealing you away during the night. I would like to check with you if you wouldn't mind me going, if so please let me know.
Hopeful to see you very soon,
Oliver Wood''
''Oh Ellie he sounds so nice and genuine!'' One of my sisters said. How could she tell from a letter?...
No one spoke as I was deep in thought. Wood is a pureblood line, but not very wealthy or supportive of the Dark Lord, which isn't very impressive. If I bring this boy to the party I'm sure he won't get ignored, but he is well underneath the Daragons. Although I liked him I didn't want to disapoint my father, who will only tell me to do as I please then reprimand me if it wasn't the 'right' thing to do. I decided that if I chose my words carefully I could make it work. I let out a 'hmph' sound and hoped it'd be enough for my comment on the letter. Surely, it wasn't.
''So?'' My mother asked, impatient.
''I will tell him he can go to the event if he chooses, no need for my approval.'' I looked over to my father to try and read his reaction. When I saw him frown I quickly added, ''and that I look forward to seeing him there.'' Although my father's frown disapeared his face was left blank of expression. I hoped it was a good kind of no emotion reaction.
''Well better get to it sissy, because the ball is tomorrow,'' Sarah said sweetly...
''TOMORROW?'' I almost fainted.
''You were unaware?'' My father eyed me suspiciously for no reason.
''When you're on vacation you don't keep track of time!'' I answered.
Seeing my horrified face my sister she guessed the reason for my panic: ''you... don't have a dress.'' her eyes widened also.
I shot straight up and bolted for the house leaving my letter and my laughing family behind me. I went straight to my room and odered a house elf to help me find a dress suitable for the event. After 30 minutes of going through almost every dress I had I decided I would have to go to Madams Malkins... And then it struck me. The greatest idea I had ever had. I wrote as fast as I could three letters: one to Oliver, one to Blaise to growl at him for writting to Oliver and one to Gregory, Madam Malkins employee, to find me the most beautiful dress suitable for the event he could put his hand on.
I trusted Gregory, even though he had not written back today I imagined it was because he was hard at work. Blaise and Oliver hadn't written back either, but I knew Blaise and his mother were busy organising the event and figured Oliver was busy training... I really wanted to see Oliver, but I had a feeling tomorrow night wasn't the best time. I ignored it and realised it was getting late, and I had a big day tomorrow. I went to bed confident that everything would go perfectly tomorrow.
I was awoken by a nervous house elf knocking at my door. I ignored him a while longer to see if I could sleep even though the soft knocking on my door. Negative.
''What do you want?!'' I asked half angry half sleepy.
''Miss, so sorry to wake you m-miss...'' he came in and cringed when I got up and took my wand, ''ma-master Daragon instructed Heedy to wake you miss... There's a g-guest awaiting you d-downstairs miss...'' Heedy stayed a while longer, probably in case of further instructions.
''Get out.'' a soft pop and it was gone.
I usually didn't try to be cruel to the house elves... but they usually didn't wake me up at 7 am neither. I pulled my sandy blonde hair in a pony tail and washed my face. I then threw on a dark skirt with the first top I could put my hand on and went downstairs. I first saw a pile of long slim dress bags then a stringy man talking nervously with my mother as my father watched his every move.
''GRÉGOIRE!'' I shouted, not caring if I woke anyone of my siblings. I ran to him and more importantly to the pile of dresses.
''So you do know this man,'' my father spoke uninterested, he headed towards the kitchen as my mother explained:
''Your father thought he was another of your admirers, honey,'' She smiled sweetly and followed my father.
''First off I'm so sorry for waking you so early without warning, but I only have so much time until tonight!'' He apoligised as he inspected what I was wearing with a frown. I looked down and figured he was probably confused on how I thought a bright orange long sleeve shirt and a dark green skirt was a good match.
''I'm not a morning person,'' was all I said to explain my outfit, ''so did you find anything?''
His scary fashionista smile brightened his face once again and I showed him to my room so I could start trying on dresses.
Zabini Residence, August 25th
''So let me get this right,'' Draco Malfoy and Blaise Zabini were conversing in Blaise's room while his mother worked on the party tonight, ''you wrote to Wood to invite him at your party?'' Draco said every word slowly trying to wrap his mind around Blaise's actions as he sat down on a big desk chair.
''Yes,'' Blaise answered simply.
''I thought you agreed that Wood is no good for her?'' He squinted his eyes at Blaise, still not quite sure of his motives.
''You're so daft Malfoy... stop being jealous of Wood and see the bigger picture here!'' Blaise explained once again his plan, ''If Ellie really likes him then let them be, anyways I honestly think she just likes his attention, he's nice and genuine.''
''Oh please,'' Draco mused, ''I would never touch a girl with worthless blood such as Wood...''
''Anyways I don't care what she does as long she comes down the stairs with me and makes me look good...'' Blaise tried to change the subject, they were talking about Ellisabeth for the last ten minutes. ''Have you found a date mate?''
''I have to take my mother, father won't be coming.'' Draco passed a hand in his hair. ''Thank god, if not I would be bringing Pansy...'' He shudered at the thought.
''Is she still bugging you?'' Blaise asked him.
''Its pathetic really...'' Draco ended that conversation. He couldn't even stand the thought of Pansy Parkinson, let alone her being his date.