Dress Robes and Disasters

15 December--

Every good romance I have ever read has featured three things:

1.) A beautiful damsel in distress. Preferably helpless and naive though that usually varies from story to story. She has to have a pair of fine eyes and a gorgeous body to boot.

2.) A brooding hero. He must be misunderstood until the very end when everyone realizes how perfect he is. Or else he must be a lovable prat. It also depends on the story, but there must be redemption and, of course, the gallant saving of the heroine.

3.) An exciting sword fight. Desirably between the hero and the villain. This particular component seems to be a must, though for purely gratuitous reasons.

And, thus, I realize why I could never be a heroine. For one, I am not beautiful. Acne (though everyone tells me it is better now, that's not saying much) and an askew nose (though my own fault, I admit) have seen to that. Secondly, I don't need saving, at least not yet or in the foreseeable future. Thirdly, I have yet to meet a hero, brooding or otherwise. And, finally, I don't know how to use a sword, and, besides, they make me nervous ever since a horrible accident involving a sword that I suffered when I was five.

At times like this, I wish I were a heroine of some sort. I'll never get asked to the Yule Ball as I am.

18 December--

Still off-center. There is absolutely no hope for me. My nose is sadly misplaced and my face is not improved for all my trying. Should I risk another spell? But then I might end up with no nose at all without any way to reattach it, which would not be a good thing.

I'm not going to the Yule Ball, or so I've told myself over and over. I even begged to come home this holiday, but my parents, though well meaning, told me to stay. "You're father has heard about the tournament at work so much, and the Yule Ball really seems to be the highlight. You might as well stay for the fun. Imagine! I just wish they had had something like that while I was at Hogwarts..." Yes. What fun.

But in all seriousness, I'm going to refuse to go, even though all fourth year and over are invited. I will sit in the dormitory if I have to, and write a letter home saying I had a good time. It's not as if I would enjoy myself if I actually went. It's not as if anyone will ask me. I overheard the following conversation today, though I tried my best to ignore it:

"So, who're you going to the Yule Ball with?"

"Haven't really given it any thought. What about you, mate?"

"I asked Susan Bones yesterday, but she's already going with someone else. We'd better get moving, or else one of us will be stuck with Eloise Midgen as a last resort."

Then I heard sniggering. "I would rather go alone, thanks. Can you imagine anyone would want to go with Eloise?"

Honestly, they must think I'm deaf or not even realize I'm there, though I think the latter would be much worse. Being invisible is horrible really. Oh well. There's always tomorrow, though I won't hold out hope.

20 December--Today I was talking to Hannah in our dormitory.

"Do you have a date yet, Eloise?" she asked in such a way that implied that she knew very well I didn't have one, but that I should ask her if she had a date because she was dying to tell everyone.

"No, not yet," I said simply, determined not to ask her if she had a date.

She paused for a few moments, clearly waiting for me to ask. "I do," she said quickly as if I had inquired. "Ernie Macmillan asked me this morning."

I laughed, but tried to stifle it quickly. "Oh, that's... nice," I finished lamely, pretending to be very interested in a loose string fraying from my pajamas so she couldn't see the expression on my face. I might not have a date, but I think I'd rather go alone than go with Ernie. He's always such a pompous git about everything.

Her best friend Susan chimed in. "I have a date too. Anthony Goldstein from Ravenclaw. He's very bright, and I was so pleased when he asked me. Although, there's nothing wrong with going alone," she added, looking at me. "If you did want a date, I'm sure I could find someone for you, Eloise, if I asked Anthony. He has a lot of friends in Ravenclaw...."

"No, that's quite all right. I'll find one for myself," I interrupted. I appreciated that she was offering, but it would have been a bit embarrassing for Susan to ask around for a pity date for me.

"Well, I'm getting tired," Hannah yawned. "Tomorrow we'll start planning our outfits and hair, Susan?"

"Yes, of course," Susan replied. "If you need any help too, Eloise, just ask."

"I'll manage on my own, but thanks anyway," I said, pulling the hangings around my bed shut. I think Susan might have been right though. There's nothing wrong with going alone.

Yet, it's easy for her to say. Both she and Hannah have dates....

22 December--

It's becoming absolutely unbearable to be in the dormitories, so I've been spending time in the library, getting suspicious looks from Madam Pince because I'm not really reading. One afternoon I had actually been sitting at a table for thirty minutes before I realized that the book was turned upside-down. There's too much to think about to concentrate on studying or reading. I still don't have a date. I have been avoiding the girls' dormitory because all anyone can talk about is the Yule Ball.

Girls have been running up and down the stairs, asking for advice from older girls, trying to find the perfect hairstyle and jewelry. Hannah spent two hours adding ribbons to her dress robes yesterday and made me sit and help her because I am better at sewing charms than she is, and I really would have felt bad refusing to help her. Hannah's dress is periwinkle blue and very frilly with the addition of so many ribbons. It is, quite frankly, a bit hideous now, though I would never tell her that.

Susan forced me to drag out my dress robes and inspected them shrewdly. They are very plain and cream colored. Susan offered to put some gold lining on them and Hannah kept insisting on adding ribbons, but I refused. I don't see why they would go to the trouble. I'm not going anyway.

23 December--

I'm outside now, though it's cold, because I'm desperate to avoid Hannah. She's been following me around, holding ribbons, asking where my dress robes are. She says that she's determined that I will not go to the Yule Ball with such simple dress robes, that it absolutely needs some decorations, because, as it is, it's not very pretty. Though if Hannah helped it would be much worse.

I feel like I should cross that out. It was a bit mean. After all, Hannah means well and is just trying to help. It's all this stress that's making me think of those things. I'm being pressured to go by Hannah and Susan. Yet, I'll look stupid without a date. I'm still a bit confused at this point. Maybe I can go and sneak away early?

25 December--

This morning, before I could leave the dormitory, I was cornered by Susan and Hannah, who were both brandishing make-up brushes and mascara at me. They managed, after much effort and use of Hilda's Hide-all powder, to cover up all my acne, though they could do nothing about my nose.

"Maybe we can do her hair up, so that it kind of hides it. Or at least makes it look more center," Hannah suggested while poking my nose tentatively with her wand.

"Yes, that's an idea," Susan said.

When they both turned to look at my robes, I tried to sneak out, but Hannah caught me. Then they forced me to stay and talk while they did their own make-up and hair.

"This is all very nice," I began quietly. "I mean you both offering to help. But... I really don't want to go."

"Don't be silly," Susan said quickly. Then they both began doing peculiar things to my hair, adding potions and trying to do spells to make it look nice. Even though I protested, they settled upon something odd and elaborate that covers half of my face and makes my head look like the side of a watermelon, and, in return, they won't touch my dress robes. I look strange.

Hannah and Susan are leaving. Ernie is waiting in the common room, and Susan is meeting Anthony in the entrance hall. They tried to make me leave with them, but I told them I'm just finishing this up, so I would meet them there. Minutes are passing by quickly since they left and I certainly didn't have any intention of going this morning, but now.... Part of me feels like I have to go, especially after Hannah and Susan did so much work to make me look, well, not pretty, but not horrible either. The other part of me, which keeps diminishing by the second, doesn't want to go because I'll look absolutely ridiculous so dressed up and without a date. Susan and Hannah will be busy with their dates, and I'll be alone. Hmm...

Perhaps I will slip down for a moment. Just a minute or two to see the Weird Sisters. I'll most likely be back in ten minutes at the most, so I will report everything in my diary then.