Thanks MickChick125 for reviewing chapter 1 of "A Soft Light in Darkness"! I always get excited when I get an email from FanFiction saying someone review my story. It makes me smile and get motivated! Here's another chapter for you all! PS: George and Fred both get crushes on Mackenzie in this chapter, but since Fred is in an on/off relationship with Angelina Johnson, I think George might be a candidate from her affections; but only to make Ron jealous ;)
A month had passed since that Potions class and Ron hadn't seen much of Mackenzie, other than hallway passes and glances. Now it was the most entertaining time of the year in Hogwarts - Halloween. Dumbledore had announced at breakfast that a special treat was being prepared for the evening in light of the events of last year, much to the noticeable chagrin of Professor Umbridge, the newest Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher.
"Students, as you all know tomorrow is Halloween. As a special event in light of last year's tragic events, Hogwarts will be hosting a Halloween Ball!" Dumbledore announced, and the entirety of the Great Hall roared with approval. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled as he smiled. McGonagall looked pleased as she noticed Umbridge's face turn downward into a scowl. The other teachers, apart from the ever-annoyed Snape, seemed content with the idea. "Tomorrow at 7:00 sharp, the ball will be held in the Great Hall. Please, feel free to dress up however you may feel, but please keep your behaviour in check! You may now be dismissed." The students scrambled from their tables and hurried back to their respective houses.
Ron sat in an armchair in the Gryffindor common room by the fire, along with Harry, Hermione, his sister Ginny, twin brothers Fred and George, Neville Longbottom, and Parvati Patil. They were all daring one another to try Fred and George's joke candies. Thus far, Neville was out for the count after a Fainting Fancies, Parvati was ineffectively containing a nosebleed while watching over him, and Canary-Ginny sat perched on Hermione's finger, tweeting madly.
"C'mon Harry, have at it!" George heckled, thrusting a candy into Harry's face, which he recognized as Ton-Tongue Toffee; the same candy that almost killed his cousin Dudley earlier in the summer.
"No way George! After what happened to Dudley? I'd rather eat the Nosebleed Nougat!" Harry scoffed while laughing. Fred and George exchanged glances before jumping up, singing "Harry Potter's chicken !", and chuckling and acting like chickens; much to everyone else's amusement. Harry rolled his eyes and Ginny flew to his shoulder to twitter mockingly in his ear. As everyone laughed with entertainment, Ron heard a knock on the door.
"I'll go see who's there." Ron called and ran to the portrait. It swung open to reveal Mackenzie, dressed in a knee length, long-sleeved black dress, white striped stocking, and a pointed hat. Ron looked a little stunned, but noted how good she did look.
"Like it?" Mackenzie beamed, posing in a witchy manner. Ron chuckled and nodded. "It's my costume for the ball tomorrow." Ron laughed.
"You look like the Wicked Witch of the West from the muggle movie." Ron mocked playfully.
"Good! I was aiming for that!" Mackenzie clapped her hands happily.
"But you can't be here just to show me a costume, now can you?" Ron asked, with playful suspicion. Mackenzie got her usual wicked look in her eyes and shrugged innocently. Ron cocked and eyebrow and Mackenzie snickered.
"I'm actually here to see my sister. My parents sent her a costume with our owl and I need to give it to her." Mackenzie held up a thick, flat parcel wrapped in brown paper.
"You have a sister in Gryffindor?" Ron asked, slightly surprised. Mackenzie nodded.
"Moriah Douglas? Long blonde hair, brown eyes, skinny little thing?" Mackenzie inquired. Ron shook his head.
"My sister might know her, though." Ron suggested.
"Excellent, may I come in?" Ron looked at Mackenzie as if she had three heads.
"Other house students aren't supposed to enter the other houses! You'll get the riot act if you come in!" Ron exclaimed. Mackenzie scoffed and laughed.
"Bah, it's for five minutes. I'm sure your friends won't mind much. Your brothers have been following me around, asking where I got my Singeing Smoke Cloud dust from!" Ron looked worried, wondering how his friends would feel if he brought someone, especially a Slytherin, into their house. He shook his head and hoped he wouldn't regret it.
"Come in." Mackenzie skipped up and Ron grabbed her hand to pull her in. He led her, while still holding her hand, into the common room. It took but a few seconds for everyone to realize Ron had returned. With a non-house member.
"Hiya Mackenzie!" the twins said in unison, while everyone else stared. At this point, the Canary Cream had worn off Ginny; causing her to tumble to the floor from the edge of the couch back, and dramatically pop up.
"Guys, you know Mackenzie Douglas? She's in Slytherin." Ron said nervously. Hermione and Harry didn't look concerned, Neville didn't know what to think, and Parvati seemed to just stare at Mackenzie narrowly. But Mackenzie stood boldly and smiled politely.
"Hello again everyone!" Mackenzie beamed. Neville relaxed a bit and nodded and waved politely, patting his girlfriend's leg to calm her down a bit.
"Hello again, Mackenzie! Wonderful to see you." Harry said cheerfully.
"You're Moriah's sister!" Ginny exclaimed, hurrying over.
"Yeah. Can you take me to her? I have a package from our parents to give her." Ginny nodded and started for the stairs.
"Wait, she can't just go up there!" Hermione protested, jumping up and scrurrying over. Mackenzie tensed ever so slightly as Hermione drew her wand. "At least let me put a Disillusionment Charm over her." Mackenzie relaxed again and Hermione tapped her. Quickly, Mackenzie's person disappeared and blending in with her surroundings. Ginny turned and led Mackenzie up the stairs to the second floor. Once gone, everyone turned to Ron.
"Are you mad, Ronald!? Bringing a Slytherin into Gryffindor Tower?" Parvati scolded him. Ron looked down sheepishly.
"Guys, calm down. Mackenzie's actually unlike most Slytherins." George commented as he perched himself on the couch back.
"Yeah, she's actually half-blood you know?" Fred said, Parvati looked shocked. "Her father's Alastair Douglas, the Head of our father's department. His wife's muggle-born."
"Also, she regularly pranks her own housemates." Hermione said with a sneer.
Harry then added "She doesn't believe in any of the pure blood nonsense. The only reason she's in Slytherin is because apparently, she's known for being witty, sly, and a prankster." Parvati looked a bit ashamed.
"She's actually pretty cool." Neville noted quietly."She did teach me how to use dragon eggshells to make Fanged Geraniums grow faster. She said her mother taught her that."
"I suppose I jumped to conclusions." Parvati sighed, and soon Ginny returned with the still-invisible Mackenzie. Hermione released the Disillusionment charm and Ron escorted Mackenzie out.
"It seems you're accepted amongst my friends." Ron commented. Mackenzie turned and smiled widely.
"Really? I was hoping they would be okay with me. Hermione and Harry don't seem to mind me. But the other girl, Parvati, didn't like me much."
"That'll change. We're all a bit iffy when it comes to Slytherins." Ron explained and Mackenzie nodded.
"Well, I'll be off. Save a dance for me tomorrow?" Mackenzie asked slyly. Ron flushed red.
"Erm- alright." Ron mumbled nervously. Mackenzie grinned.
"Great, see you tomorrow!" Mackenzie said cheerfully. As she turned to walk off, the Fat Lady swung open and Fred and George came tumbling out.
"Oi! Mackenzie! You can't leave without telling us what's in that Singeing Smoke Cloud dust of yours!" Fred and George yelled in unison. Mackenzie sighed and with a slight chuckle, underhand threw a small drawstring pouch to George. He caught it mid-air.
"It's my own recipe. You boys can figure out what it's made of!" Mackenzie snickered as the two hurriedly opened the bag and examined the iridescent black-blue powder. "It's activated when someone steps on a small heap of it. Don't waste it!" Mackenzie turned on her heel and marched off towards the Dungeons. Her blonde curls swished behind her and Ron stood mesmerized
"Blimey, she's something else." George said dreamily. "I wonder if she'd go to Madame Puddifoot's with me next weekend?"
"Oi! What if I wanted to take her?" Fred quipped with a hint of jealousy.
"Tough luck mate!" George taunted. Ron's jealousy boiled over.
"Hey! Neither one of you is taking her to Madame Puddifoot's!" Ron growled, glaring at his brothers. The twins faces lit up like Christmas.
"RON WEASLEY FANCIES MACKENZIE DOUGLAS!" The twins hollered together, running back inside the tower.
"I do not fancy her!" Ron shouted after them, the Fat Lady swinging shut behind him. She laughed to herself and sighed.
"Pretty girls always cause trouble."
