Chapter 15

Landry lay awake in her bed that night, staring at the ceiling. She liked Miles. There was no trying to deny it. She had smelled for herself the solid magical evidence of it. It was a fact. Landry did not know how to feel. She was feeling rather sheepish about the fact that she hadn't realized it before today, as her heart had certainly given her plenty of opportunities to figure it out. It seemed so entirely obvious now, so entirely dominating over everything else in Landry's mind. But, above all, Landry felt worried. She had just gotten over Scorpius, was it really right to like someone else so quickly after that? "But," she thought to herself, "I'm not even sure anymore if I ever liked him how I should have." And it was true. Landry had never really taken the time to get to know Scorpius. She had never cared. In the year she had been his friend, Landry had never taken notice of anything about him besides the fact that she liked him. Sure, she noticed his eyes, hair, and smile, and she did with Miles, too. But with Miles, Landry knew that his favorite color was blue and that his favorite food was cinnamon toast. She knew that Miles was allergic to peanuts and that his middle name was Connor. Whenever he ate ice cream, he liked to use one of the tiny spoons used for free samples because it made it easier to avoid getting brain freeze. Miles was Landry's best friend. And it seemed that she had accidentally fallen in love with him. Scorpius had been a strange, surface deep obsession. Those feelings had still been completely valid, of course, but to Landry they seemed completely like nothing in comparison to what she felt for Miles.

The next day was Halloween, the day of the Masquerade ball. Landry, Miles, and Genevieve had already decided at breakfast the previous day that they would all three go together, as a friend group. Landry found herself to be quite excited, especially since she was going to get to wear her magical dress from Madame Malkin's. Landry had woken up late, for once, to the sound of Genevieve bursting into her dorm room, carrying a large bag of beauty supplies and a peach colored gown. "Wake up, sleepyhead!" Genevieve cried.

"What in the world? Gen, how did you get in here?" Landry questioned, rubbing the sleep from her eyes.

"All you have to do is answer a riddle and the knocker lets you in," Genevieve replied, setting all her things down on the end of Landry's bed. They were the only two in the room, luckily for Landry, as her friend bursting in would not have been popular among her roommates. "Now, let's get you ready for your big day!"

"My big day? What do you mean my big day?" asked Landry.

"Isn't it obvious? You and Miles! Tonight at the ball! It's bound to happen, what with you both in fancy clothes, under the moonlight in the greenhouse, with all the decorations up…" Genevieve sighed contentedly.

Landry rolled her eyes. "Oh my gosh, Genevieve, not this again! I literally just realized that I liked him yesterday. Give me time!"

"Landry, he likes you too, you know," Genevieve said.

Landry perked up a bit. "What? Did he tell you something?" she asked.

"Well, no, but I could tell! Yesterday at breakfast! It was obvious, he kept sneaking glances at you when you weren't looking!" Genevieve defended.

"That was probably because I had maple syrup on my nose," Landry said, disappointedly.

"Doubt me all you want, but I was right about you, wasn't I?" Genevieve replied.

Landry had no response for this. Genevieve had been able to tell that Landry liked Miles before she herself knew. "What time is it? Landry asked.

"Almost three o'clock," Genevieve replied. Landry sat straight up in her bed.

"Oh my gosh, I never sleep this late! The ball starts at six-thirty, I'd better start getting ready right away!" Landry exclaimed.

So the girls set to work, doing makeup and hair charms on each other to make sure they both looked just how they wanted. Genevieve put on her dress first. Floor length and flowy, Genevieve's peachy pink dress complemented her dark skin perfectly. With a sparkly tiara set on top of her dark auburn afro, Genevieve looked like a princess. Her mask was silver and glittery, and she held it up to her face, seeking Landry's approval. "You look incredible, Gen!" Landry exclaimed, adding one last glitter charm to her own face. "Now I'd better get dressed!"

Landry walked over to her wardrobe and pulled out her dress. Genevieve gave a confused expression, for the dress was in its anti-theft form, and looked rather terrible. "That's your dress?" questioned Genevieve in the kindest tone she could manage.

Landry laughed. "Just wait until you see it on…"

Landry disappeared into the bathroom, and a minute later, she emerged, the dress once again in its stunning rose gold state. Landry smiled as Genevieve's jaw dropped. "Wha…how?" Genevieve cried in confusion.

"A magician never reveals her secrets," giggled Landry.

"Landry, we're literally both witches. Why are you like this?" laughed Genevieve.

"I stopped asking myself that a long time ago. I've accepted it. You should, too." replied Landry.

The top half of Landry's brown hair had been styled into an artistically messy braid, while the rest was waved and fell down her back. The braid was tied with a shimmery ribbon that matched the dress. Her cheeks were highlighted with rosy glitter that seemed to shimmer along with the dress. Landry pulled the mask that Madame Malkin had made for her from the drawer of her bedside table. It was rose gold as well, and seemed to be made out of stars, all glistening as brightly as the girl who wore it. Genevieve laughed in a happy shock. "And you have doubts that Miles likes you…" Genevieve shook her head, exasperatedly.

Soon enough it was time for the ball. Miles, Landry, and Genevieve had arranged to meet right outside the Ravenclaw common room to walk down to the greenhouses together, and sure enough, when Landry and Genevieve exited the common room, there was Miles. He was wearing Madame Malkin's magical dream suit. For him it was dark, midnight blue, and seemed to have been woven through with shimmery thread that was a little bit too similar to the color of Landry's dress to have been coincidental. His mask matched Landry's own. Landry felt as though all the breath had been knocked out of her. Miles was holding two daffodils in his hand, and as the girls approached, he held one out to each of them. Landry felt a flash of red-hot jealousy sear through her at the fact that Miles had gotten a flower for Genevieve, too. When Miles wasn't looking, Genevieve whispered in Landry's ear. "Don't worry, mate, he only got me one to be nice. He hasn't taken his eyes off of you for a second."

Genevieve was right. Miles was also feeling breathless at the sight of Landry. He didn't think he had ever in his life seen anything so beautiful. But he had something else to think about that night, as well. "I've decided that I'm going to come out tonight," Miles announced. Landry gasped.

"Oh my goodness, really? Wow, good luck! I'm sure it will go wonderfully!" she said, wrapping him in a hug that lasted much longer than it should have.

Genevieve was confused. "Oh, are you LGBT+ too?" asked Genevieve. "I'm ace and aro."

"Yeah," replied Miles. "I'm trans. I've already started my transition, obviously, but I haven't yet come out to the school officially. But tonight I'm going to. At 8 o'clock, sharp."

"Oh wow! That's so cool, happy coming-out-o-ween!" Genevieve said.

Miles and Landry both laughed at Genevieve's terrible pun.

"Thanks," said Miles. "I've just decided that I'm ready to do this. Also, I'm quite sick of my teachers addressing me as just "Chester!" It makes it feel like they're always mad at me."

The three teenagers made their way down to the greenhouses. All of the students around them were dressed up as well, but Landry was still turning heads. Nothing could quite compare to her glorious magical ballgown. As they entered the first greenhouse, their jaws dropped in awe. The room was decorated with jack o'lanterns that had been charmed to float overhead. Moonlight shone into the greenhouse through the windowed walls and ceiling, and colored light twirled around them. There were long tables filled with themed treats, and it seemed that even the Hogwarts ghosts had been invited, as they were all floating around making small talk with the students. And as for the students, they all wore masks of varying colors and styles. The teachers were all there too, and were dressed accordingly. It was truly magical, but in a different way than what they produced with their wands.

"This is incredible," said Landry, astonished.

"Truly," Miles continued.

"Well, what are we standing around for? Let's party!" cried Genevieve, grabbing her friends by their wrists and dragging them onto the dance floor.

"No way," Landry gasped as the musical performer came into view. "That's Celestina Warbeck!"

"She's still alive?" gasped Miles. "My grandmother listened to her when she was our age!"

"She must be, like, a hundred and fifty!" observed Genevieve.

"But she still has the voice of an angel," Landry said.

The three friends danced around happily for a while, twirling around and singing along to Celestina's music. They were having a grand old time when suddenly, Landry bumped into someone. She turned around to apologize and was faced with none other than Albus and Scorpius. Landry stopped in her tracks. She had no idea what to say. The truth is, she had missed Albus and Scorpius a lot over the past couple of weeks. Whatever she said next would determine whether or not she lost them forever.

"We need to talk," said Landry.

"Agreed," said Albus and Scorpius simultaneously.

Landry turned to Genevieve and Miles. "Do you guys mind?" she asked.

"Not at all, Landry," said Miles comfortingly.

"We'll be here when you get back," said Genevieve.

Landry, Albus, and Scorpius left the greenhouse, and, without words, all three of them knew where to go. Once they arrived at the Room of Requirement, they sat down on those old, familiar beanbag chairs. Landry took a deep breath.