Fic title: A Halloween Ritual
Author: DBZ Vegeta
Summary: The night of the honored dead… Halloween. What happens when a Halloween ritual causes two unlikely people together.
Rating: PG
Disclaimer: This story is based on characters and situations created and owned by JK Rowling, various publishers including but not limited to Bloomsbury Books, Scholastic Books and Raincoast Books, and Warner Bros., Inc. No money is being made and no copyright or trademark infringement is intended.

Part 1 – The Ritual

Flickering lights danced across the room, coming from the hundreds of candles floating mid air. The soft sound of whispers filled the Great Hall, as students stood in groups of three and four. They all turned as the doors to the Hall opened with a grand sweep. Faces turned in anticipation, nervous first years huddled together behind the older students as the processional of spirits floated serenely down the center of the Hall. As they passed, student and staff bowed in honor of those that had passed before them.

The spirits continued their journey along the open path, some nodding and smiling as they passed their still living family members. They swept forward towards the stone alter placed on the raised dais that normally held the staff table. As the last spirit reached the platform, a shimmering wave of light filled the room bringing for the long tables of each house. Decorated in black, the tables held place cards for the student and their dearly departed visitor.

Each student silently made their way to their respective seat standing until the Headmaster, resplendent in robes of midnight blue, wave a hand gesturing them to sit.

Neither noise nor word rose from the assembled as students and teachers took their seats, only the Headmaster remained standing. With another gesture of his hand the doors once again opened and this time a small group in a diamond formation walked in, each carrying a lit candle. With silent measured steps they walked the length of the Hall to stop and turn as one back to face the assembly.

Harry Potter, at the head of the group, stepped forward conscious of all eyes upon him for this solemn event. His head raised as his voice rang out over the room.

"Outside of time in a place not of this earth, I raise the temple of the Old Ones. As our ancestors before us, we gather as one in honor of the Goddess and the God, to celebrate this Samhain night. Samhain, the third and final harvest, is a time for change and a time to look to the future. Tonight we honor the memories of our ancestors, we hold this feast in their honor and invite them to share their ancient knowledge, preserving the great web that stretches through many generation of wizarding families," he intoned, before he stepped away from the group and turned to step up to the alter. He smiled slightly as he acknowledged the approval in the faces of the spirits gather as he dipped his candle to light one long white taper, his voice ringing out again.

"I light the night which they have made, so that we may continue to bask in the light of their wisdom."

He stepped back from the table as Draco Malfoy stepped forward, his blonde hair shimmering in the candlelight. He stopped at the edge of the table and bowed slightly to the spirits before reaching forward to light one long black taper.

"I light the Path that they have set, may darkness flee from before their light," he said, his voice easily carrying throughout the hall. He also stepped back, to stand at Harry's side as he watched Professor Severus Snape walked forward, his black robes flaring behind him.

Professor Snape stepped up to the stone alter, leaning over to light the long red taper before walking counterclockwise about the alter three times as he recited his part of the ritual, "I cleanse this light, driving out the impurities of the dark." He stopped and faced the front of the hall, "I invite the elements. I cast the hedge of Samhain between our worlds. Be thou the halo of the Goddess and a protection against all negativity; positive energy flow in the name of the God. I call to the hallow Spirits of this space. Old ones we welcome you with open arms."

He then stepped back to stand behind the other two student as Professor Minerva McGonagall stepped forward her hair, for once loosened from it tight constrictors, flowed in a wave down her back as she turned and faced the stone alter. She picked up a pair of small stone bowls from the edge in one hand and dipped the fingers of her free hand into the bowl containing a crystallized white substance.

"May your cleansing give us roots and protection for the year to come," she recited, pinching a bit of the salt and spreading in wide sweep across the top of the alter and the lit candles. Her fingers moved to the other bowl, containing a mix of water and pure oils repeating the sweeping gesture as she had with the salt, "May our offering bring light to our dark world."

She gently returned the two bowls to the table before reaching for the four slim sticks of incense burning near the center. She gathered them to her and stepped forward, placing one in each of the other participant's hands. Together their turned and slowly walked back the length of the hall, they voiced combined as they finished the ceremony.

"We cleanse this Hall with Air and Spirit, so that we all may be within its love and the unity of mind and spirit. So mote be it."

The doors closed softly behind the group as they left the room.

To Be Continued --