Chapter 5 – Doing Things the Magical Way
When the students awoke on a late October morning, the school seemed much more magical than it had all year. Not magical in the sense of doing things that normally can't be done, but magical in a different sense.
In a Halloween sense.
For that's what had happened to Hogwarts. With only a week remaining until Halloween, the school had transformed itself into a large, dark, seemingly abandoned castle, which somehow still had a very clean, brand new effect. The ghosts were more present than ever, and the armor seemed to move through the hallways, switching with this set or that one every hour without really switching at all. Portraits were not hung where they belonged, and even Filch did not complain when things were moved from one spot to another, as long as the students weren't the ones moving things.
Come dinner that day, the current headmaster of Hogwarts Sacheverell Rydon stood up to make an announcement. The thin ex-auror smiled brightly to everyone in the Great Hall, knowing that no one had skipped dinner that night. He had many of the qualities the late Dumbledore possessed, and utilized them in much the same way. After all, it was his likeness to the older wizard which had appointed him his current job.
"Due to a large popularity vote on behalf of the seventh years, who for several years wished for a ball that all could enjoy…"
Rydon was cut off as most upperclassmen in the school cheered. Whoops of joy echoed within the Great Hall, and the headmaster just smiled. Soon the students quieted, though talk could still be heard amongst the tables.
"As I was saying," the tall headmaster continued. "The seventh years have long awaited a ball that all years could attend. Thanks to a generous donation by Mr. Gimbee's family, Hogwarts will, this year, be hosting a Halloween masked ball for years one through seven."
And once again, the Great Hall's noise volume rose above the norm, and even the somber Slytherins were loud enough for a few dozen babies.
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A small envelope was placed in front of Aiden as Transfiguration class began. Professor McGonagall did not smile. She walked away as sternly as she had walked up, calling the class to order. The young boy was afraid to open the envelope, knowing its contents. Beside him, Jayden was pulling out parchment and a quill. Having noticed the letter, the boy reached across the seeker to open it.
"Ahh, lucky! You have detention with Hagrid. Why couldn't I get detention with Hagrid?" Jayden exclaimed rather loudly. Upon the stares of the class, and the professor, he lowered his voice. "I wonder what kind of detention you have to do."
The seeker frowned as he pulled out his own quill and ink. "I'm not sure. What class does he teach? It's probably something in that range." Aiden dipped his quill into the ink, writing on Jayden's parchment.
"Sometimes I wonder about you." Jayden laughed quietly as he pulled out another sheet of parchment. "Getting detention, stealing parchment, staying up late to study; It's almost like you're an actual student and not… human." Jayden quickly scribbled down what the teacher was saying, looking off his friend's paper for the words he'd missed.
"Since when have students been anything but human? Your logic almost makes me worry about you." Aiden chuckled to himself, making sure not to miss a word of the lecture. He moved his paper a little more to the right to make it easier to see for his rather deaf friend.
"Then we can worry about each other together. Hah, now we just need detention together…" the youth trailed off.
"Oh, not more of that again, please. I have enough detention as it is." Aiden re-dipped his quill, glancing up at the professor before he continued writing.
"…is the theory. I think Gryffindor would appreciate the knowledge of where the next point loss is coming from. Potter, Abbot. Ten points each. I'd appreciate it if the only voice in this room during a lecture was mine."
Both Gryffindors remained silent for the rest of the class.
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By lunch time, Jayden hadn't given up his complaints about detention.
"Did you notice how they went easy on you? Your detention isn't even until after the ball. I mean, how much better can that be?"
"Ooh, Aiden got detention? Who's he serving it with?" Kaylee plopped down across the boys at the Gryffindor table, piling food onto her plate.
"Hagrid. Hey, what class does he teach, anyway?" Aiden was, although dreading detention, in a relatively good mood. Jayden's complaints just seemed more ridiculous as the minutes passed, and the seeker found he couldn't help but laugh at them.
"That's right, you wouldn't know, would you? He's the Care of Magical Creatures professor, as well as the Gameskeeper. You guys take that class in third for the first time. Ahh, the memories blast-ended skrewts have…" Kaylee giggled, putting another forkful of whatever had been on her plate into her mouth.
"We take Gameskeeper classes in third year?" Jayden's mouth hung open, horrified at the thought.
"No. Jayden…" Aiden couldn't help but laugh, though he leaned back when Kaylee began laughing as well. "Merlin, Kaylee. That's disgusting. I can't even tell what used to be on your plate. Why do you have to mix your food?"
Said redhead swallowed before answering. "Habit from the family, I guess." She resumed piling food on her plate again, mixing it in a very Ronald Weasley fashion.
"Some things are only passed down through blood, I guess." Aiden stuck his fork in his mashed potatoes, deciding he no longer wanted to eat his still identifiable food. Looking beside him to the rather quiet best friend, he found Jayden eating much the same way Kaylee was. No wonder he's quiet… the raven haired youth thought to himself.
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The school buzzed with news of the ball. Girls flocked together, making it no easier to ask one to the ball. Two Gryffindors were found on the dreary Thursday waiting in the hallways for any girl they could ask.
"I don't see why we need dates anyway. It's just a ball. And a masked one, at that." Aiden was complaining to his friend as another group of giggling girls walked past.
"Would you really want to show up stag? Everyone's gonna have someone. I heard that even your dad had someone at his Yule Ball." Jayden turned around to face the raven-haired youth. "Or are you saying you'd rather your dad had a better dating reputation than you?"
Aiden scoffed. "I was born, wasn't I? I'm eleven. Why would I need a better rep now?" He stared at the floor, pretending not to glance at all the girls. The news of the dance only made they stick together more. Because of that, there seemed to be so many more girls at Hogwarts than there really was.
"Why do they always travel in packs? How do you get one alone to ask them?" Jayden turned towards his friend at a loss. "Geez. Maybe we'll both just go stag."
"There's always Kaylee if you really need someone. She knows just about every girl in this school." Aiden sighed, picking at very visible dust on his robes.
"Ahh, whatever. We'll just have to be amazing at the dance. Steal all the girls." Jayden laughed rather loudly, gaining weird looks from those around him. When the boy blushed, most of the girls pointed at him, covered their mouths, and giggled like there wouldn't be a tomorrow.
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Finally, the day for the ball had arrived. Jayden, dressed in a typical vampire outfit, had managed to convince Kaylee to be his date. Kaylee, in her very, very seductive vampiress outfit, had only agreed after her previous date ended up cursed for some very ill placed words regarding his view on vampires.
Aiden donned an elegant cloak, decorated wizard's cap, and a very non-wandish wand. He had gone with a simple wizard outfit, pulled together by old clothes that used to fit his red-haired cousin.
"So lame, Aiden. You're a wizard already. Do something fancy." Kaylee sat down in front of said Gryffindor, crossing her legs and wearing a very arrogant expression. "You know, something…sexy."
Jayden sat down next to his date, smiling. "You're a wizard everyday. Be something different." He looked at his watch, noting the time. "If you want to get there as the doors open, we have to leave in three minutes."
"Thanks for your concern, guys, but I'm not really into fancy. Nor… vampires. I'll do the undead another year." Aiden stood, making his way to the portrait hole. "We might as well leave now, right?"
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Once inside the ball, students had become difficult to distinguish between the various creatures at the ball. Centaurs from the forest had been invited, and quite a few had actually shown. Vampires frowned at the poor attempts to mimic their kind, though their moods improved once the firewhisky was brought out. Ghosts floated above everyone, chatting away happily about one topic or another. Aiden found it almost overwhelming.
Looking at the costumes, he realized just how lame his actually was. There were students dressed as gargoyles, animals, vampires, two legged merfolk, demons, and there was even a Lady Godiva who was currently being told to put clothes on.
Aiden sighed, turning towards the quickly filling chairs around several tables that had been laid out. The seeker had gone to the party stag, and although most students were wearing masks, he had neglected to bring one. This was becoming a very lonely dance for the Gryffindor seeker.
A figure sat down in the chair next to him. "A lot, isn't it? It's been hard to navigate, with so many people around."
Aiden looked at the male sitting next to him, turning to get a better view. Balendin was smiling at him through a very well done bat costume. His ears, nose, and eyes had been morphed, as well as his teeth. He had an incredibly bat-like look, and it almost scared the Gryffindor how well the costume fit. "You look really good. Defiantly very batish."
"Thanks. Mat did it. That boy was born for transfiguration, I swear." The Ravenclaw laughed, his face full of joy despite the contorted appearance. "He said he'd stay with me here, with so many people around. But when all those girls walked up, I just couldn't stay."
Aiden looked around, attempting to spot the Slytherin. Finally, he saw the other seeker, surrounded by girls wearing all different designs of costume. The thin boy had dressed much like a dark-haired Veela, clothes and make-up well placed to give a bird-like appearance. It almost seemed as if he would screech at you should you upset him. The boy was smirking as usual, most likely flirting.
"He seems… happy?" Aiden shook his head, weary at the thought of the Slytherin seeker. "I know this will seem dumb, but how did you know it was a bunch of girls?"
"Perfume. Waayyyy too much perfume." Balendin laughed again, still smiling. "I'm lucky I found someone away from the crowds. All the smells were getting to me. Took forever for me to pick out one I recognized."
"Recognized? Mine?" Aiden continued upon the confirmation from the Ravenclaw. "What exactly do I smell like?"
"Metal, I guess. Gold. Though there are some days when you're in a really good mood, and you smell like cookies. Faintly, but it's there." The Ravenclaw appeared to look out over the crowd, his sightless eyes evaluating each student they fell upon. "Don't get me wrong; I don't normally go around smelling people. I just happen to sit behind you in History of Magic. I can smell it whether I want to or not."
"Wow. Gold. Hah. That's amusing." Aiden found himself already improving in mood. A smile formed on his face as he spotted Jayden flirting with one of the many cat girls. Spotting his date a few seconds later, Aiden realized that although the skimpy outfit was not much like a vampire, the vampires seemed to like it well enough. All the students seemed to be happy either on the dance floor or sitting with their friends at the tables.
"Hey, do you want anything to eat or drink? There's Firewhisky somewhere here."
"As appealing as that may be, I think I'll stick with Butterbeer. Alcohol messes with my senses." The Ravenclaw had a perpetual smile on his face, and the simple happiness seemed to seep through to the lonely Gryffindor.
"Two 'Butterbeers it is." The youth got up, wandering towards the refreshment table. Taking two goblets filled with the familiar drink, he headed back, waving to the other students whom had waved to him.
His seat was occupied when he returned. The smile on his face quickly became a scowl, and he set the Butterbeer down in front of Balendin before sitting on the other side of the Ravenclaw.
"Hello, Potter." Mat smirked as he watched the crowd dancing.
"Thanks, Potter." Balendin picked up the goblet, drinking from its contents. After carefully placing it back down, he leaned towards the Slytherin, talking quietly. "Had your fill of women for the night, pretty boy?"
With a glace towards the Gryffindor, "More than some, that's for sure." He stretched, reaching his arms out over his head. "It's still early, but I think I'm done. There's not much interesting here. Besides, teachers are everywhere. You can't do anything here."
"I suppose so. Are you ready to call it a night, though?" The Ravenclaw was still wearing that smile, despite the prick he was conversing with.
"Not by far." The thin boy stood. He started towards the doors to the Great Hall, waving behind him was he walked out. "Later, golden boy Potter. Enjoy your uneventful night!"
Balendin followed Mat out, saying a quick goodbye to the raven-haired boy before leaving. Aiden was left alone again, and rather bored yet again.
Crossing his arms on his chest, he watched the students dance. He half thought to leave as well, calling the night early. Sighing, he stood, ready to make his way out the large double doors.
That's when a small speck of sparkly green caught his eye. Turing to look, he took in one of the best sights he had seen all night. Standing at the edge of a rather large crowd of girls was a faerie, though judging by the outfit she was only a student. Everything about her seemed to sparkle green, from the eye shadow and green highlights in her hair to the fluttering wings on her back, and all the way down to her pointed shoes. Her smile was, perhaps, the best part of her costume. Her lips were glossed over, and her smile was genuine. Aiden couldn't help but smile while watching her.
"She's a Ravenclaw. Second year, if you wanted to know."
The boy jumped. He was reluctant to look away, already knowing the girl who spoke beside him was Kaylee. The second year Ravenclaw was a very stunning sight, and the seeker doubted his cousin would care if he looked or not. As long as he wasn't drooling.
"I'll introduce you to her tomorrow. Her name's Elizabeth. Lucky for you, she's currently unattached."
Aiden felt his heart do a little leap of joy. Elizabeth…He liked the sound of it. It flowed nicely, and sounded regal. The name sounded as pretty as the boy found the owner to be.
"I'd like that, if you could introduce us." Aiden was smiling again, all thoughts from earlier that day gone. He had found a girl he decided he really liked, and he's going to actually meet her tomorrow. Tonight was beginning to actually payoff in his mind.
"Around lunch, then. Make yourself easy to find." Kaylee smiled as she turned away, ready to return to the dance floor. "And stop drooling, you silly boy."
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Aiden smiled to himself that night, having changed into night clothes and lain down on his bed. The night was defiantly not uneventful. Well, maybe it was, in most senses of the word, but as long as it had meaning, it was enough for the boy.
And boy, did Elizabeth give it meaning.