Disclaimer: I don't own the characters and such, just borrowing from JK Rowling.

A/N: I wanted to thank all of you for your reviews. I love reading them, and getting feedback of what you think of the story. I also want to give a special thanks to the few of you whom have given me constructive critism. I really do appreciate it. Thank you for being bold enough to let me know of the mistakes I make so I can correct them for future chapters. :) Hugs to everyone. Now read the story. LOL. Happy Reading.

Chapter 10:

The Halloween Party

Halloween this year was on a Saturday, so McGonagall was only too happy to allow the students a casual party with dancing, and snacks. But she had made it a requirement that everyone who attends must wear a costume. The girls agreed to this, and let everyone know that it was set by the Head Mistress, NO Costume, No Party. The girls had put a lot of time and effort into making it just right. Hermione, Ginny, and Pansy had put in more time than anyone. Seeing as how it was their idea, and they wanted it to come off without a hitch.

Its the afternoon of the party and the girls where putting the finishing touches on the Great Hall. They would hide the decorations with an illusion charm, and then after everyone had cleared the Hall after dinner, Hermione would take it down. The girls wanted their hard work to be a surprise to everyone.

"Hermione, do you think the headless scarecrow should go here in this corner with the skeletons or there by the DJ's table?" Pansy asked. She was really becoming quite nice since she and Ron got together. Yes they were actually an item now, not just part of the ministries works. They had decided they really did like each other, and that the Ministry knew what it was doing after all. Same for so many of the other couples around, except for Hermoine and Draco.

It was almost like before but instead of Hermione going off crying after one of their heated arguements, they snogged right there. Draco usually initiated this, but it left them both breathless, and it helped them to forget what they were fighting about in the first place. But more often then not, the two teenagers were caught in the act by one professor or another. Quite embarassing for Hermione, Draco really didn't mind it so much.

"Um, how about by the DJ's table. That would be good. What do you think Ginny?" Hermione asking for the younger girl's imput.

"That's fine. If you need help moving it Pansy, just give me a moment to finish hanging the blood covered pumpkins." Ginny magicked the pumpkins in place where she wanted them and went to help Pansy.

Hermoine was busying herself with covering the walls with cobwebs and fake spiders. Ron's gonna hate this, she thought to herself. Then shrugged, oh well it is Halloween. He will get over it. What she figured would make the biggest hit, would be the gigantic cauldron that was suspended in air. When the party commenced it would spew glittery confetti every ten minutes giving the whole Great Hall a sense of ambiance. The trick to it was it would disappear before landing on the students or the floor, so there wouldn't be a mess.

Having finished their final touches the girls stood at the entrance to the Hall, and surveyed their works. The were quite happy with how things looked.

Ginny had taken pumpkins and enchanted them to hang, they had fake blood running down. Hermione and her webs and spiders. Pansy had the idea to create a small graveyard filled with a tree that had skeletons hanging from it, along with cobwebs crawling (yes crawling) all over the headstones, tree and skeletons. She had enchanted the webs to move, giving it an extremely creepy effect. They had lined tables to have the snacks with fake rats and snakes that were enchanted to wrap themselves around students hands as they reached in for treats. There was to be a fog charm placed on the floor, that would be the last touch.

Ginny asked,"Should I put the fog in, before we set the illusion charm?"

Pansy nodded yes, and Hermione answered, "Yes. I'm sure we have everything in place. You place the fog, and I will set the illusion charm."

Both girls did what they had agreeed. Pansy turned to both, "We make a really great team. I'm sure this will go down in Hogwarts history as the BEST Halloween shin-dig ever!"

This made all three girls laugh heartily. They turned to go about their business until it was time for the party.

Hermione had some studying in the Library to do, Pansy said she needed to go meet Ron and make sure he had his costume for the party, and Ginny was going to put the finishing touches on hers. The three of them had decided not to say what the others were going to wear. Everyone had been keeping it pretty much to themselves. Hermione knew no one would wear something close to hers. Instead of buying it from a cataloge, she had made it herself. But for now she had studying to do.

After dinner everyone had an hour to get ready for the party. The younger students first through third years were having their own party in the Dungeons with Professor Slughorn. "I so love throwing parties for the kiddies" he had exclaimed when McGonagall had mentioned it.

The Great Hall was all abuzz about where the decorations where, and hadn't the girls been working on it all morning? The students didn't know anything about the decorations or anything, just that they must wear a costume to attend, and that music and snacks would be provided.

After finishing her dinner, Hermione excused herself to get ready. She needed a shower after all the preparations and studying she had done that day.

She had just stepped out of the shower and was putting her hair in a mass of knots and tangles. She had fake snakes she would weave through the mess when she was finished. She was to be Medusa. An old muggle Greek Goddess, she was said to have caused anyone who gazed upon her face to turn to stone. She was a Gorgon, her hair was made of snakes, but that was the only ugly feature about her, from the hair down she was said to have been beautiful, which would cause someone to look her full in the face. Hermoine had made a long flowing Grecian dress to pull the outfit off. It was long and white, it was tight fitting in the bodice, and was gathered just under her breasts, with a golden rope, to flow in lots of lots of white silk. She had sandals adorned in gold, that strapped up her calves to just below the knee. She did her make-up carefully, and then sprayed a glitter all over her arms, cleavage and what she hoped was her exposed back. Deeming herself complete she looked down to see that it was just a few moments until the party was to begin. So she started making her way to the Great Hall.

On her way down, Hermoine came across quite a few of her classmates all dressed up. She had come across Harry and Luna. She was quite surprised at their costumes. Harry was a pirate, and looked every bit the part. She supposed Luna was supposed to be a bar wench or something of that nature. Who knew it was Luna after all.

Ron was flanked by Pansy. He was dressed as Frankenstein, and Pansy his bride. Hermione made a mental note to ask how they both knew about the muggle monster. But she would do that later.

Ginny looked simply brilliant. She was dressed to the nines as an Angel with Blaise dressed like the Devil. It was quite the opposite in reality. Ginny scared people she didnt even know, and Blaise was really kind hearted once you go to know him. When Ginny saw Hermoine smiling and giggling to herself about her own little joke, Ginny's smile broadened. They really did look wonderful.

That is when it hit Hermione, almost everyone here gathering the to entrance to the Great Hall was with a date. OH Shit! I didn't get a date! Boy aren't I going to look stupid! Hermoine screamed to herself.

"Well no sense worrying about it now." She said aloud to herself.

She proceeded to the doors of the Great Hall. And raised both hands to get everyone's attention.

Once she had it, she spoke, "Now I want all of you to have a great time tonight. Enjoy yourselves, dance, eat, and just plain have fun. Sometime tonight please stop and thank your hostesses, Miss Pansy Parkinson, and Miss Ginerva Weasley. Without them there is no way I could have pulled this off. So make sure you let them know you appreciate all their hard work. Now let's go Party!"

Hermione had removed the illusion charm when she turned toward the Great Hall doors to throw them open. When she got them open and everyone started filing in, she heard gasps and oohs and ahs. She'd completely forgotten she didn't have a date. She was very proud of herself, Pansy, and Ginny at that moment. Wizards and Witches weren't easy to awe.

The DJ immediately began the music when Hermoine threw open the doors, which made it that much better. Several students were making their way to the snacks while others stared in awe at the decorations. She decided to get some punch when she felt fingers wrap around her arm.

She looked up to see Malfoy had grabbed hold of her. Not roughly mind you.

"Hello, Draco." She said before taking a good look at him. It was now her turn to stare in awe. He was dressed in a Grecian Toga, had a crown of leaves on his head, and was wearing sandals very much like she was.

"Um, what are you wearing?" she asked innocently.

"Well I figured since my mate was coming as a Grecian Goddess, albiet one that turns people to stone. I may as well compliment her costume with a Greek one of my own." Was all he replied. Hermione hadn't told anyone what she had planned and wanted to know how he knew.

"Why you sneaky little snake. How on earth did you find out what I was wearing? I didn't tell a soul!" She demanded of him.

He smirked at her, "House-elves do clean up after everyone in the castle. And Dobby cleans your dorm as well as mine. It didn't take much to get him to tell me, once he knew what I was planning. Do you really mind? Had you planned on coming here with someone else?" He questioned.

She was dumbfounded. Draco Malfoy had went out of his way to find out what she was wearing so he could dress the like. "Well, uh, no I didn't have a date. It didn't occur to me that I may need one until I saw everyone paired off together."

"Well my dear Hermoine, will you allow me to be your date this evening?" He bowed to her.

She was so dumbfounded by his actions, and thoughtfulness all she could do was nod her head. Seeing her responce he held out an arm for her. She wrapped hers around it. "Shall we get some punch?" He asked.

"Yes. Yes, of course." And he lead her through the mingling couples to the punch bowl across the room.

There were a few teachers amongst the students to chaperone. (A/N: I hope you didn't think I would leave this mischievious students on their own.) McGonagall among them, as well as Hagrid, Professor Flitwick, Madam Hooch, and Madam Pomfrey. They were all dressed alike as skeletons. This looked quite silly on Hagrid but he didn't seem to mind.

McGonagall stepped up to the DJ, spoke to him, and the music stopped.

"Please give me your attenion." She waited for everyone to stop and turn, quieting as they did so. "I just wanted to thank you all for coming, and wearing costumes as I asked. It brings myself and the other professors great joy to see you all enjoying yourselves. I know Miss Granger has already asked that you thank the Hostesses of tonights event, but I wanted to make sure they got a formal thank you." The students nodded to her.

She continued. "If it weren't for the wonderful girls coming to me with the idea, this party wouldn't have come together this evening. They saw to everything. So please to thank them. And I have a surprise. The professors and I have decided to award the best dressed couple a prize for this evening. There are now ballets on the tables." The students looked around and sure enough scattered here and there on the tables were pieces of parchment and ink bottles with quills. "You are to write on them whom you think should win. After you have done so the parchment will disappear, and the results will be tallied and announced before the nights end. Please enjoy yourselves. But within reason mind you. Thats is all. Have Fun."

And with that the music started again and everyone went back to mingling.

Hermione and Draco had sat at one of the tables arranged for those who wanted to sit and eat their snacks, and Harry, Luna, Ron, Pansy, Ginny and Blaise approached.

They all sat down and the first to speak was Ron.

"Bloody hell, Hermoine. Did you have to go and use some many damn spiders. I mean, yeah they give the room a great effect but hell!"

All Hermoine could do was laugh. She had expected him to say something at one point or another. She laughed harder when she noticed he kept looking around at the walls as if waiting for the spiders to come to life. "They are fake Ron. None are coming to get you." This just earned her a look of "Yeah Right" from him.

"So, I thought you weren't telling anyone what your costume was?" Ginny seemed a little miffed that Hermoine would tell Draco what she was wearing and not her.

Hermione glared at Draco and then turned to Ginny, "Well you see I didn't tell anyone. But Malfoy decided to bribe my favorite House-elf into telling him. I don't mind that he did, but if he wanted to be my date, he should have just asked."

Pansy spoke up, "You mean Draco bribed someone into telling him what you would be wearing so he could come dressed the like? Are you serious?"

Hermione nodded in responce. Not quite sure why Pansy seemed so shocked he would do so. And then Pansy kept talking. "But Draco doesn't do anything without a reason behind it."

Draco spoke up then, "Do you mind not speaking about me as if I weren't sitting right here. And I do so do things without an alterior motive. Thank you very much Parkinson."

Blaise snorted at this, which earned him a glare from Draco, "No you don't mate. You may have changed, but I can guarantee there's a reason you came dressed like ya did. And I can also guarantee you hated having to admit you tricked a house-elf into telling you."

"Oh will you nosey sods just bugger off. I just - well I just - oh bloody hell. To the devil with yous." And Draco got up and left the table.

"What's the matter with Draco?" Luna ask absent-mindedly. "He has a lovely costume. It compliments Hermoine's wonderfully. Although I must say, did you forget to brush your hair, or did the nargles steal it as well?"

This caused laughter around the table. Hermoine blushed, and smiled at the same time. "No Luna, I'm supposed to be the Greek Goddess Medusa. She was a Gorgon, and her hair was made of snakes. Anyone who looked upon her would turn to stone. The beauty of her body and face drew them to her, but it wasn't to be helped, they would turn to stone once they looked upon her."

Luna looked wistful, "Oh, I see. Well then you did wonderful. I was wondering why you had a mass of live snakes in your hair."

Everyone turned to Hermione's head, and gasps where heard round the table. "What is wrong with you all? They aren't real. They are fake rubber snakes."

Harry started shaking his head, the others had backed away from the table. "Harry what is it? What is the matter with you people?"

"Hermoine, don't move." Harry said this with such authority, Hermione froze.

"What?-I don't-"

"Shhhh. Don't move, don't say a word. Someone go and get McGonagall and Hagrid." Harry spoke to them.

Ginny ran to do Harry's bidding, and he told Hermione, "Somehow in the time we've been sitting here, the rubber snakes you put in your hair came to life. Don't move. They don't seem to want to hurt anyone, but they are slithering around a bit. And Hermione could feel it. She wanted to grab at her scalp.

"Who would do such a thing, Harry?" Ron asked from behind him.

"I dunno, but we have to get them to stop wiggling around and get them out of her hair." Harry replied.

Just then McGonagall and Hagrid approached.

"Oh my!" exclaimed McGonagall.

"Blimey, 'Ermione. 'ow did you get snakes in yur 'air?" Hagrid asked in surprise.

"Not matter how they got there. They weren't moving earlier and now they are. Someone has cast a charm on the fake snakes to come alive." Harry responded.

McGonagall raised her wand. "Now Hermione stay still as you are. I will immobilize them. Hagrid please get something to put them in. So we can dispose of them properly."

Hagrid went to get something and McGonagall started waving her wand and saying "Immobulious". The snakes stopped moving immediately. "Now Potter, I need someone to help get them from her hair."

"No, I'll do it Professor." Everyone turned to see Malfoy standing there. He looked horrified, but was willing to help all the same.

She nodded to him. "Well that's fine, whomever. Just start removing them carefully. I do hope Hagrid returns soon with a container to put them in."

As if she talked him up, Hagrid came strolling over with a large wicker basket in his hands. "This should 'old em, til I can get rid of 'em." He set the basket on the table.

Many of the students had started to gather around. Watching as the snakes were removed from Hermoine's hair. She on the other hand was mortified. She hated being the center of attention, but that's all she was at the moment. Also knowing that she would be the talk of the school for the next couple of days didn't help much.

After having removed all the snakes from Hermoine's hair, Hagrid immediately locked the basket and started out the doors with it. McGonagall turned and saw all the students were watching. "Go back to what you were doing. Nothing more to see here." When no one moved. "I believe I said to go. The situation has been taken care of, NOW SCOOT!"

Everyone started moving away slowly.

"Hermione are you okay?" Harry was asking.

She was crying now. "Yes, Harry I'm fine, but I think I'll go lie down. Don't feel much like partying now."

He nodded in responce. Ginny gave her a comforting hug as she turned to leave.

Malfoy put an arm around her shoulders, and whispered to her, "Mind if I join you? Won't me much of a party without you." She just nodded as if to say it was fine.

As they exited, Hermione tucked into Malfoy's arm, everyone stared.

Man she hated being the center of attention.

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So what do you think? Was this ok? I will try to update again soon. The idea for the costumes came to me outta no where, and the snakes in her hair. well that just sorta popped on the screen and I ran with it. Whats a Harry Potter fic without a little drama.

Im sure you all have ?s. Who made the snakes real? Will they find out? Does Draco decide to meet his biological father? How are things really going with the other couples? MTC. just stay tuned. Thank you all for sticking with me. and I hope I can keep you all interested!. Happy Reading!