Chapter Ten
Halloween
"I can't believe this is happening!" Adelaide shrieked ecstatically, bouncing on her bed.
Tahnee looked up from the mirror where she was applying make up.
"You'd better stop that now before you rip those robes," she advised.
Adelaide stopped. Her costume was complete. She was wearing the flowing black robes she and Harry had found. Right now the gigantic hood was down, but when they made their debut they were to be covering their faces. The Skin-Colouring Charm was finished and she had scared Tahnee witless when she had shown her.
"Where's Hermione? I haven't seen her since Hogsmeade?" Adelaide asked, looking around the room.
Pavarti was tending to her hair, which needed to be blackened as she was dressed up as the Muggle princess, Snow White.
"She's in the second bathroom. Kristen has locked himself up too it appears in the boys bathroom. They won't come out till everyone has left. Well, besides Harry, Ron, Ginny and all. So we'll have to enter late because of them," Tahnee clarified in a knowing voice.
"Wonder what they've dressed up as," Adelaide pondered out loud, watching Lavender Brown curl her blonde hair and put the finishing touches on her Goldilocks dress. She and Bryce were going as Goldilocks and the Baby Bear.
"Dunno. I'm amazed that Kristen has kept the secret. I knew Hermione could, but Kristen can't," Tahnee giggled, then adding as she finished her make up, "There we go! All done!"
Tahnee stood up and displayed her costume. She was wearing a very. Very short dress that exposed much cleavage. It was made out of a soft, thin material and coloured reddish pink. The bottom was laced and was held up by spaghetti straps. Her back was nearly completely bare. She had decided to hide the ridiculous hairstyle Adelaide had given her with a wig of sunny blonde hair tied up in a French bun. Her heels were tremendously high and made her look taller than she already was.
"What do you think?" Tahnee said sugar sweetly.
"Looks great," Adelaide answered truthfully. "That figure and bare skin will get a bunch of guys. If that doesn't, I don't know what will."
"Thanks."
"You, girls!" someone hollered from the Common Room.
"Which ones?!" Tahnee shrieked back at them.
"Adela, Tahnee, Ginny and Lavender!"
"Coming!"
Tahnee and Adelaide grabbed their things and stampeded down the stairs to find Harry, Colin Creevey, Ron, Bryce and Ginny already there. Ginny was reluctantly clinging to Colin's arm.
"Wow!" Ron breathed, looking at Tahnee.
"Better not look that way when Hermione comes down.
Ron was wearing some way-to-big Muggle jeans and a giant street wear shirt with the Fubu logo. Ginny was wearing a stunningly pretty summer dress and hat. Colin was in the same sort of thing except for a guy. Bryce was in a realistic bear costume and had added a cap to complete it. And Harry was wearing his Death costume.
"Hoods up, you reckon?" he said.
"Yeah. Scare the wits out of all the little first years."
The both put their hoods on over their heads so their faces couldn't be seen.
The Common Room slowly emptied until they were the only ones left.
"Hermione! Kristen! You can come out now! We're gonna be late!" Ron shouted.
Kristen was the first down. He was wearing a sixteenth century prince costume with real sword. He certainly looked genuine.
Hermione quietly entered the Common Room. And all they could do but gape was when she stood before them with a small, honeyed smile. Her dress was spectacular! No words could describe it. It was made of coloured silk. It extended right past her ankles and billowed along behind her. The sleeves were dragging and widened at her wrists. The silk was patterned and hugged her perfect figure. Her normally bushy brown hair was thinned and braided.
"Hermione… You're… You're beautiful," Ron gasped, staring.
She giggled in reply. "We should take the photo and leave as quick as we can. We can't be late."
Colin jumped up. "Right. Stand over there with your partner and I'll set up the photo. Harry and Adela should have their hoods down so you can see their faces. Like that. Great."
He sprinted over to the group and stood beside Ginny and they all grinned for the camera. CLICK. And the picture was taken.
"Make sure to make a copy for us all," Adelaide said as they wandered through the deserted halls.
"Okay. Well, we'll see you later," Colin said as they separated.
"Is that a real sword, Kristen?" Bryce asked enviously.
"Yep. I'll have to threaten Malfoy with it tonight," he replied delightedly.
When they entered the room of the Ball, everyone was seated at tables that seated about ten. Adelaide and Harry had their hoods drawn, ready to frighten anyone. Tahnee and Ron, who were in lead, both squealed and moaned in pain.
"What?" Harry inquired.
They turned to face them with squashed noses.
"What happened?" Hermione exclaimed astonishingly.
"There's some kind of really hard protection wall around them," Ron groaned. "It hurts lots when you walk into it."
"I presumed as much," Hermione said darkly, walking forward. "If it's the type of protection wall I think it is, it'll have a door."
Ron rolled his eyes as she began running her hands up along the sides of the wall.
"Aha!" she proclaimed triumphantly, turning an invisible door handle.
She opened the door and the walked in. The others' followed her grandly, and sat down at an empty table.
"This is so fun!" Adelaide squeaked merrily.
"It hasn't even started and she's excited," Ron said faintly.
"Well, it is quite an experience to attend the Ball, especially since it hasn't been held for years," Hermione said proficiently.
"Wonder where Dumbledore is?" Harry contemplated out loud.
"Dunno. Only McGonagall and Snape are here," Bryce said, gesturing to the two professors, who were talking somewhat ineptly to each other.
"Look at their costumes!" Tahnee giggled. "They didn't exactly put much effort into them."
McGonagall was dressed up as a cat. Her hair was in its usual strict bun on the top of her head. There were some furry, black cat ears up there too. She had transfigured her nose into a cute, kitty nose with long, delicate whiskers sticking out. She was wearing an ordinary black robe with a fuzzy cat tail stuck to the back.
Snape, which was not strange, had dressed up as his usual slimy self.
"Ah, so we are finally all present," Dumbledore said majestically.
Everyone turned to look at the Headmaster, who had entered so suddenly with Lupin, and laughed jovially.
His costume was absolutely uproarious. Anyone who didn't laugh would be considered some kind of freak.
Dumbledore was clothed in a vast hot pink gown. The material glimmered in the light like glitter. A thick, scarlet ribbon was tied up round his waist and gave the skirt of the dress an extra 'poof'. His lengthy white beard was plaited in two bits and was each held together by a mauve ribbon. He had apparently attempted to apply some make up, but used the wrong colours. A luxurious hat covered with lace, flowers and other girlie type things replaced his usual wizarding hat.
"I see you have noticed my costume. It does look gorgeously wonderful on me, doesn't it? Anyway, without further ado, I officially open the first Halloween Ball in twenty years! Enjoy!" Dumbledore said happily, taking a seat next to McGonagall.
Menus magically appeared before them. They each picked theirs up looking utterly confused, except for Hermione, Ron, Harry and Lavender.
"Oh. You don't know how these work, do you?" Hermione said. "All you've got to do is tell your plate what you want and it will appear."
It seemed funny telling a motionless plate what you wanted to eat, so they did it rather half-heartedly. But their food materialised nonetheless, smelling delicious and looking like a piece of fine art.
"Who makes this food?" Adelaide asked, sipping her scalding tomato soup.
"The house-elves," Harry answered.
Hermione inhaled moodily.
"What?" Kristen inquired, looking from Harry, to Ron, to Hermione.
"Hermione tried to start spew," Ron snorted, spraying his peas across the table.
Hermione sighed dramatically. "It's not spew, Ron! It's'."
"Spew?" Bryce said bewilderedly.
"It's Society for the Promotion of Elfish Welfare!" Hermione said crossly.
"Yeah. And lucky her parents managed to talk her out of it," Ron chortled, but instantly shut up when Hermione kicked him under the table.
"Adela, when is your team's first Quidditch match?" Harry said, swiftly changing the subject.
"Next week. That reminds me, I've got practise tomorrow. What about you're first game?" Adelaide responded, not missing a beat.
"This Saturday."
The conversation twisted and turned throughout the meal. Once finished eating, they waited impatiently for the teachers to complete eating and announce the actual Ball. For that, it didn't take too long.
"Ah, I see you ready to get down and boogie, as they say. Well, let the dancing begin!" the Headmaster hollered pompously.
And with a wave of his wand, the tables disappeared; a band entered and began playing and extravagant lights began glowing.
"Wow! This is fabulous!" Adelaide exclaimed.
Ron and Tahnee headed onto the dance floor as well as Hermione and Kristen. Lavender and Bryce just hung around the edges.
"You want to dance?" Harry requested.
"Sure. I'll give you warning though. I can't dance to save my life!" Adelaide laughed in reply.
"Good. Coz I can't dance either," Harry confessed, leading her by the hand towards the dance floor.
He stopped nearby Tahnee and Ron and Adelaide and Harry began dancing awkwardly around.
Adelaide sniggered. "This is weird! We're like the worst ever dancers!" she chuckled as people around them looked oddly at the pair.
"Tell me about it. Oh, hi Professor Dumbledore!" Harry said, nodding behind Adelaide to where Dumbledore and McGonagall were waltzing.
"Hello, Harry, Adelaide. Splendid costumes, you have. I do hope you're enjoying the night while it lasts," he greeted graciously.
"We are, Sir!" Adelaide piped with a wild grin. "We've never held a Ball like this at home with Millagen. You should try and convince him to do one. Everyone will love it!"
"Yes, they would wouldn't they?" Dumbledore agreed pleasantly. He then added in a quieter tone, "At nine thirty both of you are to be accompanied by Professor Snape elsewhere. You shall certainly come back once Lord Voldemort has left the Hogwarts grounds. But we have to take precautions. I've been talking to Tahnee and Ron a few minutes before. I see they noticed the shield the hard way." Dumbledore laughed.
"Sir, why both of us?" Harry asked. "Why not just me?"
Dumbledore sighed heavily. "Precautions, Harry, precautions."
And with that last comment, Dumbledore and McGonagall danced away into the crowd.
"How strange," Adelaide stated softly. "Wonder why I have to go with you and Snape?"
"Yeah. What's the time?"
Adelaide glanced at her watch under the folds of the robes.
"Eight thirty. One whole hour till Snape whisks us away," Adelaide said melancholy. "Joy."
Harry snorted. "You're really excited, aren't you?"
"Oh, yes," she replied sarcastically. "I'm holding my breath!"
"Snowball!" Dumbledore shouted gaily. "Everyone, please form a circle!"
The crowd moved to the outer edges of the room and formed a very rickety circle. Dumbledore, McGonagall, Snape and a few students, including Ron, stood in the middle. When the music began, they began dancing in pairs.
Ron clumsily dodging McGongall's feet as she led him round the dance floor.
"Look at him!" Adelaide cried, laughter tears in her eyes.
"He looks so ridiculous!" Harry yelled, holding a stitch in his side.
Sensing their teasing, Ron shot a hostile glare at them both, which only made them laugh harder.
When the music stopped, the pairs divided and chose someone from the outside to dance with. Ron instantaneously dragged Hermione onto the floor. Snape tried to slink into a shadowy corner, but Dumbledore yanked him back, putting him with a frightened Hufflepuff sixth year.
The game went on and most Slytherins tried to disappear into the darkness, but Dumbledore and McGonagall managed to place them with someone or rather from a different house.
"Mr Malfoy, what may I ask are you doing? Trying to escape the fun, are we?" Dumbledore said genially to the glaring blonde Slytherin.
Malfoy scowled in a rude manner and failed from tugging his arm away from the Headmaster's firm grasp.
"May I suggest perhaps dancing with Miss Weller here. She seems kind of lonely," Dumbledore suggested amiably, strolling over to where Adelaide was watching the dancers with amusement.
Adelaide was never ever going to dance with Malfoy if she could help it.
"Ah, Professor, I don't think that is such a good idea," she said unsteadily, shooting a glare at Malfoy.
"Why is that, Miss Weller?"
"Well, we don't exactly get along," Adelaide answered, stating the obvious.
"Surely just once song won't hurt?" Dumbledore incited, disappointment in his eyes.
Adelaide hesitated. Boy, was she feeling guilty.
"Uh, I dunno…"
"One dance. Then you may punch each others lights out," Dumbledore said, looking a little more pleased.
"I suppose…"
"I am gonna pull your gizzards out from your nose and tie them in a knot, I swear," Malfoy threatened in a scathing tone, purposely treading on her toes.
"Seems like a fairy tale compared to what I'll do to you after the Ball," Adelaide replied, just as scornful.
"You could have said you were ill or something. Anything but dancing with you!" Malfoy said.
People were staring at them both as they shot sneering comments at each other. But their attention was directed to another source as Ron talked loudly.
"Isn't it weird!" he was yelling to Hermione, Kristen and Tahnee, "That I went to the Ball with Tahnee right, and Hermione went with Kristen? I mean, Hermione and me like each other and Tahnee likes Kristen! I bet Kristen likes her too!"
Hermione and Kristen shot icy looks at Ron, but that was nothing compared to Tahnee.
"RONALD WEASLEY!" she screamed. "HOW DARE YOU!"
"What?" Ron asked helplessly, recoiling.
"This is what!"
Tahnee stepped right up to his face and gave him a powerful punch in the stomach. Ron cringed and backed into a chair and moaned.
"What is it with girls hitting me today?"
"Ron! She has a perfectly good reason to hit you! I would've done the same. You weren't exactly supposed to tell anybody! Then you go yell it out to the whole school!" Hermione lectured, towering over the redhead.
"Well, well," Malfoy said silkily. "So the Mudblood and the Weasel are finally together."
Adelaide glared. "Don't you dare do anything!"
She then marched away to find Harry, but not before giving the gross Malfoy a blood node.
"It's twenty past nine. We should find Snape," Adelaide said to Harry sadly.
"Yeah. Well, he's not that hard to find. He's coming this way," Harry groaned.
Adelaide swung round and sure enough the Potions Master was rapidly walking towards them.
"I hope you've decided to end your trouble-causing for the night. Trelawney's out cold because of your ludicrous costumes," Snape said mockingly.
"Did she?" Adelaide asked interestedly. "Pity we didn't see. We'd been looking forward to that bit."
"There's absolutely no time to drown yourselves in self pity. We've got to go on the Headmaster's orders, so follow me and keep up," he said shortly, sweeping through them, his robes flicking their ankles.
Harry and Adelaide glimpsed at each other and trailed after Snape.
He was hard to keep up with as he whisked through the halls at an amazing pace. They had to widen their strides and jog.
Back in the room of the Halloween Ball, Tahnee, Ron, Kristen and Hermione watched as their two friends ran after Snape into the darkness beyond the party. Bryce and Lavender were still dancing the night away.
"What is that about?" Ron said, turning his attention to the others'.
"Dunno. But they wouldn't have had a choice," Tahnee assured. "Adelaide would never follow that idiot if she had a choice.
Hermione raised her eyebrows at Ron as if to tell him something.
"What?" he asked, befuddled. "Do I have some dirt on my nose or something?"
Hermione rolled her eyes.
"Well, that was pretty much the first thing you ever said to me," he muttered.
She clasped his arm and hauled him a bit away.
"Remember?"
Ron gave her a confused look. "Remember what?"
"What Harry told us?"
Ron closed his eyes. "Harry told us… Harry told us… Harry told- Oh f***!"
"See! But why'd Adelaide go?"
"Er- Extra protection?"
"Do you have the feeling that they're keeping something from us?" Tahnee said, gazing at Ron and Hermione who were mumbling together about something.
"What? Yeah. But what?" Kristen responded indistinctly.
"Don't know. But I want to find out," Tahnee said slowly.
Abruptly, a deafening crash exploded from just outside. Terrified screams began, the music stopped and everybody backed away from the entrance.
"Ron!" Hermione whimpered, grasping his arm, her nails digging into his skin.
He enfolded in her a comforting hug.
"What was that?!" Tahnee gasped, stepping closer to Kristen.
"I have absolutely no idea."
CRASH!
"What the hell was that?!" Adelaide shrieked, instantly grabbing Harry's hand in fright. "Uh-sorry."
"It's okay," Harry said reassuringly. "It's him."
"You two! Hurry up if you don't want to be turned to crisp!" Snape demanded, obviously panicked.
"Calm down!" Dumbledore shouted.
The screams faltered a little, but never stopped completely. Dumbledore sighed and raised his wand. Rainbow sparks shot out and crackled loudly. That got their attention.
"Please move towards the back wall. We have a visitor. Lord Voldemort, it seems, has decided to visit. If you feel you can't watch, please close your eyes or turn towards the wall. I assure you, nobody will be getting hurt. Nobody. We have taken safety measures beforehand. Thank you."
It seemed that other professors had filtered in secretly and were standing at the front with their wands out, (or in Hagrid's case, umbrella) protectively.
The students immediately raced to the back wall and most cowered in the back. The curious ones peeked from behind their hands.
There was another thunderous bang and the door crashed in a cloud of plaster, wood and fiery red fire. Tahnee, Hermione, Ron and Kristen, who were near the front, stuck together in a close group, afraid to lose each other.
"Bryce!" Kristen snivelled frantically.
"I'm here," the voice of his twin answered.
Bryce crept forward and joined their tight knit cluster.
There was an enraged howl from outside and someone, or rather something, trudged on the broken door. The hideous figure glowered at everyone and everything and laughed evilly at the defending teachers. It had lustrous red eyes that chalk white skin that didn't look at all like skin at all. It had two slits for nostrils and a thin, paler line for a mouth. It was dressed in midnight robes and long, spindly fingers, clutching a wand.
Two people in black robes and masks to disguise themselves stood a little behind the 'it'.
"WHERE IS HE, DUMBLEDORE?!" Voldemort, the 'it', snarled in a fearsome, high-pitched voice that wreaked of evil.
"He's not here, Tom," Dumbledore replied evenly, his voice showing some inner power.
His eyes were glowing with anger as he stared Voldemort down. Voldemort, if possible, looked even scarier as the Headmaster used his former name.
"DUMBLEDORE! THAT REPUGNANT NAME IS NO MORE! GET THAT THROUGH YOUR RIDICULOUSLY THICK HEAD! NOW WHERE IS THE BOY?!" Voldemort fumed, raising his wand.
Hermione sobbed and buried her head into Ron's shirt.
"Ssh… Harry's fine. We're gonna be fine…" Ron calmed, not really believing it himself though.
"Kristen?" Tahnee whispered.
"Yeah?"
"Are we going to be okay?"
"If Dumbledore says so, I guess."
"I assure you, Tom, the boy is not here. Now you must leave! NOW!" Dumbledore commanded viciously, raising his wand threateningly.
That was most certainly all Voldemort was going to take. His wand, as if in slow motion, swept through the air cascading with poisonous green sparks and shot a spell at him. The spell was a sickening green and sped through the air. Hit then collided with the shield with a ear-splitting BANG! And rebounded and hit him square in the stomach. He didn't even flinch.
Screams erupted all over again and everybody began embracing each other in terror. Even the Slytherins.
"You'll pay for your petty protection's, Dumbledore! You'll pay…" Voldemort said in a furiously quiet voice.
And with a last glare, he swung round and headed out the door with his two Deatheaters.
"I hope he doesn't find Harry and Adelaide. I really do," Ron said shakily, collapsing to the floor with Hermione huddled in his lap.
Corridors and corridors away, Adelaide and Harry cringed as the heard the bangs and crashes of Voldemort leaving the room. But they didn't know that. Nor did they know that both they and Voldemort were heading the same way.
"Harry," Adelaide snuffled. "I'm scared."
"So am I, Adelaide, so am I."
"We're almost there," Snape said, speeding up.
They saw him hurdle round the corner and heard a muffled order. "Run! Now!"
"But-?" Adelaide began, racing up to catch up to him, but instantly halted.
It was Voldemort.
"Harry! Run! Go! Anywhere!" she whispered, pushing him away.
"But what about you?" he asked, clasping her wrist.
"Now's not the time to be noble, Harry! He wants you, not me!"
"But, Adelaide!"
"Now! I've got to get Snape!"
"Adelaide-?"
"NOW!"
Just as she yelled that last word, Voldemort rounded the corner with Snape bound and gagged floating helplessly behind him. Voldemort undoubtedly pleased with himself now that he found the boy.
Harry seized Adelaide's arm and turned to sprint away with her. She tried to follow, but tripped on the hem of her long robe and landed heavily on her knee.
"Go, Harry! I'll be fine," Adelaide said forcibly.
He hesitated, but sprinted away, probably trying to find a teacher.
"What'd you do that for, girl?!" Voldemort hissed, vulnerably watching his prey dodge the spells.
"Leave him alone!" Adelaide said more defiantly than she felt.
Voldemort laughed callously. "You've no power over me, girl!"
"I've got a name!"
Adelaide pressed her knee. It hurt lots. She wouldn't be able to get away. She wouldn't live, would she?
Voldemort advanced until he towered over her. He seemed to enjoying himself, even though his main prey had escaped. Perhaps she could distract him for a while? Until someone found her. She knew Harry was doing that.
"You laugh funny," she retorted.
She tried to giggle, but failed shoddily.
"Girl, you astound me with your wit in the face of Lord Voldemort," he snarled, kicking her in the stomach.
The sharp pointed shoes he was wearing stung her tummy more than ever. Adelaide tried not to let Him see her wipe a tear on her robe.
"Someone's full of himself," she mumbled, trying to cover up the odd moment.
"And someone's going to pay dearly for their rudeness in the face of a great wizard!"
"Great wizard? Someone's got the wrong idea!" Adelaide shot back, trying to ignore the stabbing pain in her knee and stomach.
"Shut up! Crucio!"
Voldemort raised his wand and performed the curse. It shot directly at her head and she ducked just in time. It singed the top of her head.
"Way too close," she muttered to herself.
He raised his wand again in fury, but dropped it. He spun round to face Dumbledore.
Adelaide admired the Headmaster. He stood firmly and impressively in the face of Voldemort. Rage and ferocity was evident in his piercing blue eyes and wrinkles. His wand was elevated above his head. His dazzling white hair glittered dramatically. He looked extremely impressive.
"Leave the Hogwarts premises, Tom. Now!" he said.
His voice was soft, but had a hidden fierceness and sense of power.
"You don't scare me, Dumbledore!" Voldemort yelled.
He swung his retrieved wand round and every statue in the hallway exploded into a fine dust, leaving them all covered. Voldemort marched grandly out, leaving Snape dangling a metre from the ground. Dumbledore must have felt He was really leaving, because he didn't follow the wizard.
Dumbledore unbound Snape and placed him on a conjured stretcher.
"Adelaide? The Hospital Wing for you," he said gently, lightly placing her on a second stretcher.
"Where's Harry?" she asked as he led strolled through the corridors.
"Safely tucked up in a bed in the Hospital Wing," Dumbledore assured.
"And the others?"
"Also in the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey seems to be working overtime tonight. But at least nobody has been hurt, save you and Professor Snape of course."
Adelaide finally relaxed slightly. Nobody was dead. Everybody was physically safe. Mentally however, who knew?
"Adelaide!" Harry cried as Dumbledore, Snape and her entered the full Hospital Wing.
Harry was sitting up in a bed with a thankful smile on his face.
"I thought Voldemort had done something!"
Adelaide shook her head.
"No. But I made him furious though. I kinda insulted him a bit and just dodged a curse."
"Wow. You better go see Tahnee and the others. She's been crying her eyes out. So has Hermione," Harry said, nodding towards the end of the Ward.
"Right. Better do that first."
Adelaide stepped off the floating stretcher and tested her leg with the bad knee. It hurt. So did her stomach.
"No, no, no, and no!"
Adelaide looked up to see who spoke. Madam Pomfrey was rushing at her.
"Not under any circumstances are you to walk until I've checked you over!" she insisted.
"But I need to see Tahnee!" Adelaide objected.
"Professor Dumbledore is informing them now about your situation. So you have no reason to strain yourself."
Adelaide looked helplessly at Harry who shrugged.
"Fine!" she said with a defeated sigh.
Madam Pomfrey guided her to an empty bed next to Harry and placed some curtains around her. She checked her thoroughly, gasping at her wounds. Adelaide's knee was a green-purple and looked very unhealthy. The kick Voldemort had given her did more damage than she thought. There was a large gash where he had kicked.
"Adelaide! We were so worried!" Tahnee bawled, tears falling freely.
"I'm perfectly fine except for a cut or two," Adelaide lied, putting on a bright smile.
The talked for a bit until Madam Pomfrey bustled over announcing that they all needed a good nights rest and sent Kristen, Bryce, Tahnee, Ron Hermione back to their beds.
Adelaide stared at the ceiling in deep thought for hours after all the lights were put out. But she finally drifted into a peaceful slumber for the night.