Chapter 47: Planning a Party

"Guess that's it, then," Ben remarked to Claire as the Circle of Khanna celebrations in the Hog's Head Inn began to simmer down. "What'll we do now?"

"Well, we made this group to honor Rowan," Claire said. "And talking to Mad-Eye Moody made me realize that I should appreciate my time at Hogwarts, since we're not going to be here for very long."

"That's true," Ben admitted. "We're only one year away from graduating."

"So what better way to celebrate everything that's good about Hogwarts than with a party?" Claire suggested.

Ben nodded in approval of the idea, which made Claire feel more confident about it. So the next morning, she met up with Penny and Alanza in the courtyard to start planning the party.

"I guess you decided to take up your own suggestion to have some fun for a change with a party," Alanza smiled.

"Yeah, though it would make sense to do it now with the Statue Curse lifted and the Cursed Vaults permanently sealed," Penny added.

"Exactly," Claire said.

"Now we do need a vendor for this party, because I'm pretty sure we wouldn't be able to celebrate it at Hogwarts," Alanza thought out loud. Then she snapped her finger. "Of course! The Three Broomsticks!"

"Ah, that would be perfect!" Penny agreed.

"Same," replied Claire.

Then during Free Period, the three went down to Hogsmeade and entered the Three Broomsticks. Unfortunately, Madam Rosmerta was in a foul mood.

"Sorry, girls, but I don't have time to answer your questions," Rosmerta said as she frowned. "My usual barmaid is ill, and I have customers waiting on me."

As Rosmerta walked away, Claire said to Alanza. "I guess we won't be able to ask her about having our party here, then."

"But that only leaves the Hog's Head, and that place is filthy," Alanza said in disgust.

"If we help Madam Rosmerta, though, maybe we can still talk to her," Penny suggested.

"Ooh, I love that idea," Alanza responded.

So the three girls approached Rosmerta and asked to help her run the pub.

"You've helped me before, Claire, but why should I trust your friends?" Rosmerta said.

"Because you clearly need help, and we can do that," Claire said bluntly.

Rosmerta sighed. "I guess I shouldn't look a gift Abraxan in the mouth. All right, you three get to work on collecting empty glasses and cleaning up whatever Hagrid's left in my pub this time."

Claire, Penny, and Alanza wasted no time and immediately followed Rosmerta's instructions. Hagrid's dog Fang was present, though he kept having accidents which Penny cleaned up without complaining.

"Sorry abou' the mess," Hagrid apologized. "Fang gets nervous around crowds."

"I've cleaned up potions that are much grosser, so this is nothing," Penny insisted.

Meanwhile, Alanza finished bringing several empty glasses to the bar and wiped her sweaty brow. "I had no idea running a pub would be so tiring."

"As Penny said, this is nothing compared to what I've been through," Claire muttered as she went back through the crowd with a tray of refilled glasses of Butterbeer and Pumpkin Fizz.

Once things calmed down, Rosmerta approached Claire and the other girls.

"Thank you so much for helping out," Rosmerta said with a grateful smile. "I don't know how I can repay you."

"Well, we were going to ask you if we could host a party here at the Three Broomsticks," Claire spoke up. "It's to celebrate everything that's good about Hogwarts, since we're only a year away from graduating."

Rosmerta paused and said, "Yes, you may."

Claire smiled. "Thank you, Madam Rosmerta."

"Excelente (Excellent)!" Alanza remarked after Rosmerta walked away. "Now the best parties are usually frivolous and crazy. We need some pranks to liven things up!"

"I know just the kids to help me," Claire said.

She then left The Three Broomsticks and went into Zonko's. There, she found Fred and George and proceeded to tell them about the party. Naturally, they were excited to bring pranks to the party and immediately started brainstorming ideas.

"What about a swarm of Fanged Frisbees?" Fred suggested. "Ever-Bashing Boomerangs?"

"Maybe not pranks that are so destructive and more subtle ones like Belch Powder, which I once slipped into some drinks at the Three Broomsticks with Tulip," Claire said.

"Stink Pellets!" George cried.

"No, that would end a party quickly," Claire objected.

"You could clean the Butterbeer glasses with Frog Spawn Soap," George brought up. "That way, frogs could appear out of people's Butterbeer and surprise them."

"Now Whizzing Worms could be fun!" Bilton Bilmes chimed in. "They create worms when dropped into liquid."

"That sounds promising," Claire said. "Okay, so we'll add Belch Powder and Whizzing Worms to the Butterbeer."

"Don't forget Hiccough Sweets!" Fred brought up. "Those can be good for any occasion."

"Are you sure we can't throw in a swarm of Fanged Frisbees?" George asked.

"Pranks aren't going to be the only exciting thing at the party," Claire stated.

Fred looked confused. "What's more exciting than pranks?"

"Music!" Claire pronounced. "And for that, I'm going to talk to the Weird Sisters."

###

At the Training Sounds back at Hogwarts, Claire found the Weird Sisters practicing on their instruments. They seemed surprised when she approached them.

"Well, if it isn't the Hero of Hogwarts, here to grace us with her presence," Mryon commented. "So what's next in the tale of Claire Krystal?"

"I'm throwing a party at the Three Broomsticks to celebrate everything that's great about Hogwarts, and was hoping you guys could perform there," Claire said.

Orsino's face lit up. "We'd love to perform at the Three Broomsticks! Right, lads?"

"Course, as soon as we finish composing our new song," Kirley muttered.

"You're working on a new song?" Claire exclaimed.

"It'll be a tribute to your quest for the Cursed Vaults, which we've been working on for years," Myron explained. "Unfortunately, it lacks the intimacy of your personal struggle."

"Could I help?" Claire offered.

"Sure!" Myron agreed.

Thus, Claire and the Weird Sisters sat against the castle walls composing lyrics for the new song.

"Do you know what rhymes with 'avenge'? Stonehenge?" Orsino scratched his close-cut hair while passing a piece of parchment between him and the others.

When the paper was passed to Myron, he sang some of the lyrics out loud:

An ancient curse from history,

began this Hogwarts mystery!

Beyond the paint and gilded frame…

To be continued…