Strands of lights were winding themselves around the porch posts. Hermione pointed her wand and the bulbs flickered to life, glowing orange and purple. She pulled her scarf tighter around her neck as the wind picked up. It carried smells of burning wood and dry leaves. Hermione retrieved her mug of tea from the banister and drank in it's comforting warmth.
"Lights, check. Cobwebs, check. Hanging bats, check. Jack o lanterns? Ah!"
Bobbing out the door were a dozen pumpkins, their carved faces grinning merrily as they paraded single file in midair. Draco brought up the rear with his wand directing their path.
"Right along here I think. That's it, two on each step. Perfect!" Hermione beamed.
The evening light directly illuminated the porch during it's last few moments of the day. Hermione and Draco stepped back to admire their work.
"What do you think?"
"Spooky, my knees are shaking," Draco teased.
Hermione nudged his shoulder with hers. With a casual flick of her wand, the jack o lanterns lit up just as the sun bid it's final farewell.
"Perfect timing. We better get dressed. Harry and Ginny will be here soon." Draco made a face. "It will be fun, really. Now inside, we don't want to be half dressed when they get here."
The mischievous grin that spread across Draco's face said he would like nothing better.
Hermione stood on the tiptoes of her boots and kissed Draco's nose. His face softened a bit.
"Come on, Darling," she said, leading him by the hand up the porch steps, "you'll have fun. I promise."
"Fun, right. Just know you owe me, Granger."
An hour later the doorbell rang. Hermione had bewitched it to play an eerie organ tune. Her heels clicked on the polished wood floor as she hurried to open the door.
"Harry! Ginny! It's so good to see you both!"
Hermione hugged each of them and took their coats. She invited them to sit while she made them a drink.
"Great costumes this year," Hermione said, handing them each a cup of her famous spiked cider.
"Thanks, Harry owed me one after last year. Prince Eric and Ariel had been his idea you know."
Harry raised his eyebrows as Ginny sipped her drink innocently.
"Right, anyway. Ginny has been planning our costumes since you gave her that book, Hermione."
"You make a very handsome Poe, darling." Ginny said, pinching his cheek.
"Well 'the Raven' is one of my favorites, good choice, Ginny," Hermione said, admiring her black feathered dress and beaked masquerade mask.
"Thanks, and you look great Hermione. Your hair was made for it! So does that make Draco-"
"Yes, it does," Draco said as he entered the room.
"Finally got your head bolted on right then, Draco?" Harry laughed.
"Harry, good to see you. Nice mustache," Draco replied.
Harry stopped laughing.
"Yes, yes, we all look ridiculous, that's the idea. Now let's go!" Ginny replied. "Frankenstein, Mrs. Frankenstein, after you."
"Actually, the doctor's name was Frankenstein. His creation was simply referred to as-"
"Let it go, love, you will have plenty of opportunities to correct people tonight," Draco said as he pulled the door closed behind them.