Chapter One; Parties, Candy, Costumes, and Pranks

I'm back! Just like I said I would be! I'm starting to post this story now in hopes that I'll be able to finish this Next Doctor "episode" in time for Halloween. So, happy Halloween everybody! Happy hauntings, stay safe, and I hope you get lots of candy! (either by trick-or-treating or buying a bag like me) Hope you enjoy this latest edition to the Next Doctor series!

Cassie raced off the school bus and said goodbye to all of her friends before she started making her way up the gigantic hill in front of her. It had been a brisk autumn day, and normally (since it was Friday and she didn't have any homework) she would be playing outside in a pile of leaves with her older sister Jane.

However this year she had been at Hogwarts since she was a muggleborn witch. She still got to have her Halloween fun and trick-or-treat at the castle, but although Cassie was happy for her, it just wasn't the same without her. Her father and (pseudo) aunt and uncle had been busy decorating the house for Halloween. As she ran onto the front porch, she passed a voice activated green and purple witch that rocked on her rocking chair and cackled with laughter.

Cassie was getting used to this by now, so it no longer shocked her like it used to when she had gotten home from school. As she opened the door Shadow was there to greet her, jumping up on her and wagging his tail as usual. The Doctor grabbed ahold of his collar and pulled him off of her.

"Shadow no, down boy." He told him.

"Oh come on Daddy, he just wants to say hullo to me." Cassie said.

"Yes, well he can do that just as well with all four paws on the floor." He told her. "So, how was school?" he asked her as she started scratching the playful pooch behind the ears while he panted happily.

"It was great! Our teacher told us that next week we will be going on a fieldtrip to the pumpkin patch, and the week after that we will be having our annual Halloween party! She said that we will be playing games, having a costume contest, and we're even allowed to bake something for it!" she told him as he just simply grinned at her.

"That's great news sweetheart, do you have any idea what you want to be for Halloween?" he asked.

"Yes, it just so happens that I was thinking about being Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, since we're having our school play next month." She said.

"That's a great idea honey." He told her while smiling warmly at her. "You know I'm sorry but Peter's going to have to take you trick-or-treating this year." He said.

"Why can't you take me?" she asked him. "You've always taken me trick-or-treating ever since I was a little kid." She said.

"I know, and I'm really sorry but I have my own Halloween party to go to. Clara invited me to hers and she's going to be my date." He explained. "Speaking of which, you haven't by any chance seen your brother lately?" he questioned.

"No, why?" she questioned him back.

"He never got off the school bus, and I'm starting to worry about him. He's a sweet boy, but your mother always said that Halloween brings out the worst in him." He replied.

"Yeah, I know." Cassie began before she heaved a heavy sad sigh. "Jane and I didn't like it when he played that trick on us last year. Every time we see his fake snake inside the basement we still always freak out about it." She explained. "If only there was some way to teach him a lesson." She added.

"Well, just because someone does something mean to you, doesn't mean that you have to too." Her father began.

"I know." She said as she breathed another deep and heavy sigh before he gave a sly grin at her.

"But if you happen to think of anything let me know, I want to get it on camera." He told her with a wink as she giggled.

"Alright Daddy, I will." She assured him.

"Now, why don't you say that you go and toss your backpack down on top of your bed and we'll go out shopping for your costume?" he suggested.

"Yay!" Cassie exclaimed excitedly while leaping up into the air and throwing her fists over her head. "But what about Peter?" she asked him.

"Uncle Mickey, Aunt Martha, and Shadow will be here waiting for him in case he comes back. Now go ahead and get ready." He told her as he smiled at her while he watched her rush up the stairs. He was about to go and find Mickey and Martha and let them know they were leaving and to keep an eye out for his son, when all of a sudden he burst through the door.

"Hey Dad." He said before The Doctor quickly whirled around to look at him.

"Where the hell have you been!?" The Doctor yelled before raising his wrist and glancing down at his watch. "School let out a few hours ago, and there's no practice today." He said.

"I'm sorry Dad, Miss Oswald kept me after school." He told him as his father suddenly rolled his eyes at him.

"Again!? What did you do this time!?" he exclaimed.

"Well, I sort of, might of left a fake spider in her macaroni and cheese today at lunch today." He told him.

"Oh, Peter!" he scolded. "You know how much Clara hates spiders!" he cried as Peter grinned.

"I know." He said.

"First of all, it isn't funny, and second of all one of these days somebody is going to teach you a lesson about pulling pranks on people!" The Doctor exclaimed as Peter's grin faded.

"But Dad, it wasn't my fault! CJ dared me to do it!" he protested.

"That still doesn't make it right, and if you don't stop causing trouble at school you're going to wind up suspended again and you won't be able to make the Boy Scout camp out next weekend!" he told him before he took a deep breath. "Are we clear?" he asked him before Peter breathed a heavy sigh himself.

"Yes Dad." He said before Cassie ran back downstairs.

"Good, I'm taking your sister out to get her Halloween costume, and I'll probably end up getting mine too." He told him.

"Aren't you a little old for trick-or-treating?" Peter asked him.

"Nope!" The Doctor replied with a grin. "Because I'm not going trick-or-treating this year, I'm going to a Halloween party at your teacher's house, which means that you're in charge of taking your little sister out instead." He told him as Peter simply just rolled his eyes. "Now I'll be back in a little bit, and stay here and try to stay out of trouble." He told him before Peter watched him lift Cassie up inside his arms and carry her out the door.