Harry grinned as he gazed at his image in the mirror. Hermione had helped him curl his hair and dust it with white powder, and also used it to lighten his skin. He had used a spell to grow a mustache and goatee, using special wax to shape it just right. Deep red make-up had been painted almost all the way around his neck. The rented pale grey doublet and breeches finished off his costume.
"You look just like Nearly Headless-Nick," Hermione said with satisfaction. She had even ordered him disposable muggle contact lenses to wear for the night instead of his glasses. He hardly even recognized himself.
"Too bad there's no way to really look partially decapitated," Ron added. He was dressed head to toe in a Chudley Cannons uniform, the dark brown Keeper shields covering up some of the bright orange fabric. It wasn't that different that his normal Gryffindor uniform, except for the jersey.
"As long as I can have a break from being Harry Potter for a night, that's enough for me." Harry chuckled back, glancing down at a dog-eared paper on the table.
DESPERATELY SEEKING SEEKERS
Now that Lord Voldemort has been defeated, will dishy Harry Potter be turning his attention back to love?
Looking at his past romantic interests, we have spotted an interesting similarity. Quidditch beauties Cho Chang and Ginny Weasley were both playing as Seekers when they caught Harry's eye. Is that his type?
Sources say that things have fizzled with GW (perhaps because she's a Chaser now?).
But with seven Quidditch teams at Hogwarts this year, Harry has a many options. Ravenclaw Su Li, or the girls from the junior teams, Gryffindor Romilda Vane or even Ravenclaw Gabrielle Delacour, recently transferred from Beauxbatons school in France. All Seekers, and all single...
The Oracle will be keeping a close eye on what develops!
-Nevermind your Ps and Qs, The All-Knowing, All-Seeing Oracle is your first source of juicy Hogwarts gossip! -
As things had settled into normal routines at Hogwarts, somebody had decided to stir things up with a daily gossip newsletter, called The Oracle. Anonymously, of course. It was mostly false news and outlandish rumors, but featured Harry's name far too often.
"That new story will die down soon. Just ignore it." Running a brush through her straight blond hair, Hermione looked almost as unrecognizable as Harry did. She had transfigured her curly, dark hair for the night, and was wearing a rented mermaid costume. It consisted of a narrow skirt made out of shiny teal fabric, that split near her ankles and swooped out to a large fish tail suspended at her side by a string from her wrist. She wore bold make-up and a fancy headpiece made out of seashells.
Ron was looking at her disapprovingly though. "Are you really going to wear that?"
She gave him an exasperated look. "Why wouldn't I?"
Harry could only smirk to himself at their bickering. It was a little refreshing hearing it, like all the years they'd been at school together. Much more familiar than seeing them cuddling and stealing kisses.
"You are showing a lot of skin," Ron waved a hand over her upper body.
The top part of the costume was a small corset in fabric that matched the skirt, and it left her stomach, shoulders and arms bare. Her small breasts were completely covered, so Harry didn't think it was showing more than any typical bathing suit would, but he wisely kept out of their argument.
They kept it up all the way down the stairs to the Great Hall, where they were all left speechless by the decorations. Carved pumpkins glowing with candles inside floated above their heads, giving off a flickering golden glow. Live bats swooped over the tables and Hogwarts ghosts were sitting at a special table of honor at the far end of the hall.
Instead of a sit down feast like they had in the past, McGonagall had changed it to a costume party with an elaborate buffet of food and drinks. Harry, Ron and Hermione went to get food immediately, feeling hungry.
Most people recognized Ron right away, but did second glances at Hermione and Harry. They had fun seeing all the other student's costumes as well.
"You look gorgeous, Hermione," Pavarti sighed, giving her a look that reminded Harry of the Yule Ball back in fourth year. She stepped nearer, exclaiming over the blond hair and make-up. Hermione was just as admiring of her costume as a Hindu goddess, with a magenta sari and elaborate jewelry.
Ron stood awkwardly off to the side as the girls talked, and Harry shot him a laughing glance. "Well, I'm going to get more food. Catch up with you later."
It was kind of nice to work his way through the crowd on his own, nibbling on his dinner. As the ball had come closer, Harry had considered asking a date, but he was glad that he hadn't. There was no one he had romantic feelings for now.
It was also amusing having people admire his costume, recognizing it as Nearly-Headless Nick, but not recognizing it was Harry. It was almost like being in a muggle area. Funny how covering up his scar and not wearing glasses made such a difference.
Eventually, a band was up on the stage, belting out music that made most of the students grab a partner and head to the dance floor. Harry hung back, watching Ron and Hermione dancing. Luna was with Neville, and Ginny was dancing with Dean.
The lights were low in the great hall, and Harry enjoyed looking around the room. This was his last year here, and he was determined to enjoy every minute of it. Try to have as normal a year as any student, not trying to solve big mysteries just to stay alive. Studying hard for all his NEWT exams, and figuring out what he wanted for the future. Having time to relax and have fun like tonight.
There was another student standing on their own not far from Harry, and he found his eyes being drawn to him again and again. He was slim and a bit taller than Harry, dressed like a vampire. His dress robes were elegant, but of an older style. His skin was powdered like Harry's to be pale, and dark makeup surrounded his eyes. His hair was jet black, styled into a tall pompadour.
"Great costume! Have you shown it to Nick yet?" Terry stopped by to say, accompanied by Justin and Ernie.
Harry was pulled out of his perusal of the vampire, and smiled back at them. They were dressed like dementors, but it wasn't at all scary since they didn't have their hoods up.
He let them pull him over to the ghost's table, and Nick was quite impressed with Harry's costume. The only critique was that he should wear a bigger ruff around his neck.
During October, Professor McGonagall had brought in several paranormal experts. They had gone over the castle and the grounds, with the intention of assisting anyone who had died during the Battle of Hogwarts to go on to the 'next place' if they chose to. As one of the most haunted places in Britain, they had also encountered the older Hogwarts ghosts and offered the same service to them.
Harry's costume was a tribute to the Gryffindor's ghost, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington. After much deliberation, he had chosen to move on. Many other ghosts had made this decision as well, including Moaning Myrtle and Professor Binns, and the ghosts had been given this special table of honour for a final feast. They were going to the other side at midnight.
When Ernie tugged him away, they ended up in a dark corner. Justin glanced around quickly and passed Harry a silver flask. "It's fire whiskey."
"We've been discretely sharing it with all the Eighth Years," Terry confided, as Harry took a quick swig of the alcohol.
By the time he parted ways with them, Harry was half-drunk. Grabbing Susan Bones' hand, he tugged her towards the dance floor. "Come on," he slurred with a grin.
He had always like her calm no-nonsense attitude during DA meetings, and had gotten to know her even better since she had joined the Gryffindor team. Terry had obviously been slipping her some whiskey as well, as she was a bit wobbly at times as they danced, and had to grab his shoulder to keep from falling.
He stayed on the dance floor after that, dancing with Hannah, Padma, and Luna. Thirsty, he found Justin and had some more fire whiskey.
It was hitting him hard, and he realized he'd probably had too much. Waving goodbye to slow dancing Ron and Hermione, Harry headed back to his dorm.
After going up a couple flights of stairs, he took a wrong turn, and was a little too drunk to find his way back. Turning a corner, he saw a large window with a view down to the lake, and the boy dressed like a vampire sitting on the wide window sill, gazing downwards.
Drawn closer like a magnet, Harry was soon at his side. He had found his glance going often back to this boy all night, sometimes talking with friends, but often on his own. His curiosity had increased as the night went on. Here was his last chance to identify him.
The moment the vampire looked up at Harry, he recognized the blue-grey eyes, despite the dark eye make-up, paler skin and dark hair. Draco Malfoy.
Perhaps he had adopted some of the vampires' ways, because Harry felt mesmerized by his gaze as Draco stood. "Potter," he said, contempt in his tone, as always.
It wasn't that surprising that Draco had recognized him so easily. There was always an awareness between them, even across the great hall at meals. He often seemed to feel Draco's eyes on him, and always felt the urge to look back. No wonder he had been so fascinated by the mysterious vampire at the dance.
Draco must have had his share of fire whiskey as well, as he swayed on his feet a little. Harry instinctively reached out to brace him, a hand on his upper arm. Even through the layers of clothing, the contact seemed to send sparks through him, and he froze, meeting Draco's eyes again.
Seeming just as still, Draco glanced down at Harry's hand on his arm, but didn't shake it off. Instead, he seemed to sway closer still, and his other hand came up to clasp Harry's shoulder. His mouth found Harry's, and pressed in for a long, firm kiss.
Shock was the first response, and Harry's head reeled as he tried to grips with the fact that Draco Malfoy was kissing him. But within seconds, he was leaning into it, his hand sliding up to cup the back of Draco's neck.
Draco let out a bit of a moan, kissing along Harry's jaw to his ear. It felt fantastic, and he tilted his head to the side to give him better access as he pulled Draco against him. Wanting more.
Compared to the sweet, gentle kisses he'd shared with Cho and Ginny, these were hot and passionate. Harry moved back to kiss Draco again, open mouthed, his tongue slipping inside. He felt a sharp jolt of pain, and pulled back, his hand going to his mouth.
"You bit me," Harry gasped, seeing the spot of blood on his fingers and tasting copper.
Draco shook his head. "Sorry, just part of my costume," he smirked a little, and Harry could see his incisors were a bit longer and sharper than normal ones. Vampire teeth.
Pulling out his wand, Draco pointed it towards his mouth and muttered a quick spell. When he smiled at Harry again, his teeth were normal. "Perhaps I should have left them alone. Gryffindors like a bit of danger, don't they?"
With a small growl, Harry kissed him again, his hands going into his thick black hair. Draco kissed him back just as enthusiastically, his hands sliding down Harry's back in a way that made him wish he wasn't wearing the thick fabric of his costume.
A noise nearby had them springing apart, a little breathless. Mrs. Norris, Finch's annoying cat, had come around the corner and gave a loud meow at seeing students where they didn't belong.
"Shit," Harry gasped, looking around. "We better run for it. Split up so we don't get caught or identified." Maybe the dark hallway and the costumes would help them get away with this.
Draco nodded, and was gone down the hallway in a flash. Harry headed down a different one; taking the stairs so fast he almost tripped. He felt very sober now, the adrenaline overriding the booze.
He ended up going into a boy's washroom a couple flights down, and took off the ruff and doublet. The breeches didn't look that strange on their own, paired with his undershirt. He washed off the make-up, and rinsed the powder out of his hair, then used a drying spell. By the time he slipped out, he looked mostly normal, his costume bunched under one arm. He made it back to the dorm without attention.
It was only when he was in bed that he realized he was still wearing the contacts. He slipped them out and put them on the bedside table, glad they were disposable.
As he was about to drift off to sleep, he heard someone else closing the door softly. Peeking out the crack in his bed curtains, Harry saw Draco creeping over to his bed. He hung up his costume in the nearby wardrobe, stripping down to his underwear.
All the Eighth Year boys just slept in their underwear, except Neville, who wore striped pajamas. Seeing Draco in the dim moonlight slipping into his bed reminded Harry what had just happened.
Had he actually made out with Draco Malfoy? His rival, his school enemy? Was it just because they had been both been drinking?
His tongue still felt a little sore, and when he reached up to probe at it, felt the mustache and goatee. Chuckling to himself, he grabbed his wand to get rid of them.
The ridiculousness of the whole situation hit him then. Their first kiss had been half-drunk, with Harry sporting fifteenth century facial hair, and Draco with vampire fangs.
And despite all that, it had been as hot as hell and he just wanted more.
...
-The Oracle's slogan "Nevermind your Ps and Qs..." is a reference to the old saying "Mind your Ps and Qs" , that basically means to behave well and don't give offence. The Oracle plans to behave quite badly and gives lots of offense, having much more fresh, juicy gossip about Hogwarts than the P (Prophet) or the Q (Quibbler).
-Hermione's mermaid costume might have been inspired by a muggle movie she saw. 1990's Mermaids starring Cher, and Winona Ryder and Christini Ricci as her daughters. It's nothing like the merpeople in the lake.
