Waiting in the Wings

[Meredith Cadwallader]

10 June 1885

Dearest Ellory,

How is your summer going? I hope it's been more eventful than mine, so far -- Father seems to show so little interest in hosting or even attending anything, I'm often left to my own devices. Of course, since we're not technically "out", it's not as though I could go to anything, anyway.

I do have some good news, though: Father has decided not to go to the trouble of arranging a coming out ball for me, and has proposed sending me to your mother's school instead! I never thought his laziness would work out for me, but this time it has. Of course I said yes -- being reunited with you and Virginie sounds far more appealing than having a half-baked ball. Perhaps by the time I am finished, Father will have remarried? At least then I would have someone at home who might take an interest in throwing a good one!

Yours,
Meredith

  

[Ellory Pendergast]

June 10th, 1885

Dearest Meredith,

Oh thank Merlin for writing me, it's been ten days and I am already so bored! The terrible weather last week didn't help either. I couldn't even go out for a walk! At least it seems to be getting better this week, because if I had to spend another week locked at home I'd probably jump off a window and you'd never see me again. (I wouldn't actually.) We are not allowed to attend almost anything, as you said. I'm not allowed to even attend Rosalind's ball! Which I suppose is a good thing, I'm still kind of bitter over our ball being cancelled so I'm not sure how happy I'd manage to seem during her second ball.

Your news make me very, very happy! I thought that you were going to come out this summer, like Miss Fontaine. I'm glad you aren't, though! You, me and Virginie are going to have so much fun at the school! It'll be just like old times! But with better rooms and with more pretty dresses and luncheons and things.

I hope for your sake that your father remarries, but only to someone nice! And older than you. I always feel bad of girls whose stepmothers are the same age as them. Same for the stepmothers! It must be so awkward being in such a situation. But I'm sure that your father will pick someone lovely and you'll be friends and she'll host you a great coming out ball.

If the weather continues to be good, we should meet sometime. Me, you and Virginie! At Diagon Alley, now that we can finally go there as often as we want!

Ellory

[Meredith Cadwallader]

11 June 1885

Dearest Ellory,

Between you and me, I'm almost glad I'm not coming out this year. At least at the school ball, we'd be coming out with all of our friends -- we wouldn't have to be the star of the show, so to speak. I'm sure that probably sounds ridiculous, but the idea of having everyone watching me all night makes me so nervous! What if I did something awful, like fall down the stairs or spill champagne all over myself? I'd never be able to live it down, especially not at my own ball. It really is too bad that you can't even go to your sister's ball, but you can always come visit me and Virginie in Wales instead, if your mother would allow it!

Anyway, at least with finishing school we'll have a year to prepare for our first real season. And I'm sure it will be plenty of fun! I read once that finishing schools sometimes have little poltergeists haunting them. Nothing like Peeves, of course, (can you imagine the chaos?) but enough to slam doors and move things and the like. I wonder if one has taken up residence at your mother's school yet? It might still be too new to have attracted one, but wouldn't that be fun? We could even try to talk to it!

I do hope you're right about Father. Perhaps now that I'm old enough to be out and about, he will be more inclined to be social. I don't see him becoming particularly interested in someone our age -- I can't fathom what any of our classmates would have in common with him! Maybe he'll meet a nice widow. She'd have children of her own, so she would know all about such things already, and maybe I would even get a new sister out of it. It would be perfect. But I suppose we'll just have to wait and see.

We should definitely meet soon! Rhys has already nearly driven me up the wall with his talk of becoming prefect and all that nonsense -- as if someone as arrogant as him would ever stand a chance of getting a badge. Then again, Miss Baudelaire was a Slytherin prefect. Perhaps being insufferable is part of the job description for them?

Yours,
Meredith

  

[Ellory Pendergast]

June 12, 1885

Dearest Meredith,

You have a point, but the possibility of embarrassing yourself is so much worse when it concerns your own private ball! It'd be such a waste, too, if it was for it to be a failure. At least Hogwarts paid the expenses for its ball. Not that we struggle to throw our balls, but still. If we're going to waste tremendous amounts of money, we could at least do it for a successful cause!

I doubt that Mother would allow a poltergeist to survive at her school. Any poor poltergeist that tried to make her school its home would probably be scared off by her! I bet that if she was the Headmistress at Hogwarts Peeves would be long gone. So I suppose it's a good thing she isn't the Headmistress, because, despite everything, I have a small fondness for him. I certainly do not begrudge the times boring classes would be cancelled because of him!

I'm sure that he'll find a nice widow. Someone old enough to be a proper maternal figure to you but still young enough for you to become friends!

Ellory