Events
.
The day had been boring.
In the morning, the sweets Draco had received were not that good. Taeni had a little theory about how the perfect Narcisa Malfoy was so busy getting ready for her Halloween Party that forgot to plan her son's gifts better.
The letter she got from her sister was different from what she was expecting. It said her father was still on a travel and that soon she will get an interesting story. That beside the dry message from Minhyun was everything.
Aron was waiting some news from America that didn't come.
Breakfast cereal tasted weird.
History class was a real challenge… To not fall asleep. Taeni could see how Draco kept shaking his head trying to get away the sleep some desks away from where they sat.
But things changed at Charms class…
Taeni and Aron had heard Gryffindor first years were having problems some time ago. They heard Susan Bones saying the big deal was all about that racing broom the guy had received.
The fact they weren't talking each other was obvious and people were enjoying just by watching.
Whilst Professor Flitwick told the last indications to make a levitation charm, most of the eyes were focused over the team of Hermione Granger, the bookworm with savage hair, that was frowning at the time with her lips in a thin line, and Ronald Weasley, one of the many redheads whose face was the same color than his hair.
After a few tries, Aron looked full of frustration the white feather on the table. Professor had walked by and had congratulate him for his 'pretty wrist move', but he made nothing magical with it. Taeni, his teammate, had tried many ways to pronounce the conjure with no results.
Then everyone heard Granger. "You're saying it all wrong." Of course, that was not directed to the Ravenclaw girl. The Weasley was redder if that was possible. "It is Wi-gar-dium levi-o-sa, pronouncing gar clearer and longer."
No one avoided looking at her when the boy asked for a demonstration.
Next thing they knew was the girl's feather was floating above their heads and Professor was fast showing his approval.
Aron couldn't help but laugh at her friend after it was over.
Taeni got in bad mood and promised herself to practice the charm and be ready for next class. The boy didn't doubt she would.
...
The crying scared Taeni.
She thought she made a mistake again. Did she entered to Myrtle's again?
No. She remembered to herself that some meters from there people started to gather in the Great Hall. It was not the second floor.
"Hello?" The girl asked doubtful to the doors of the bathstall. "Is someone here?"
The answer was clear. Whoever was crying there now was trying unfruitfully to keep silent.
Taeni looked around to be sure no one could see her. Then she looked down the doors of the stall.
Bingo! There they were! Third door. The girl stood firmly in front of it and insisted. "I know you are here. I just want to be sure you are alright." It was evident they weren't. The cry got louder. "Do you want me to call a Professor?"
"No, please no!" The voice full of horror was absolutely familiar to Taeni.
"Granger?" Echo hit those old walls and then everything went to silence. There was not doubts, it was the girl she didn't like.
Suddenly, the sound of the door unlocking surprised Taeni. Her hair was messier than usual, her face was red and her eyes swollen, but mostly she seemed very sad.
"Go ahead." Hermione said. Tears falling down her cheeks. "Laugh at me. You think I'm unbearable too."
"That never crossed my mind." Taeni lied. She shook her head making the pony tail she made for the occasion to wave. "They had been bothering you." It was not a question. She knew only few of her housemates didn't hate the girl whose knowledge was a match for them. Surely, it was the same for the rest of first year.
"I think they're right." Hermione spoke hopeless. Her tears never stopped.
Taeni wanted to say something to cheer her up but they heard steps by the door. The other looked at her full of fear, Hermione took her by the arm and made her into the compartment locking the door.
The Ravenclaw tried to protest but girls' voices filled the room, so the Gryffindor girl mumbled. "I don't want them to see me like this again."
Taeni, spying the newcomers by a little space between the door and the walls, could recognized Lavender Brown and Pavarti Patil, both students of the same year and house than Hermione. They were her classmates and they would get worried and would want to help the girl who, at her back, was trying to clean the tears away and figure out the best way to jump on the sink in case someone else looked below the door of the stall again.
A tap was turned off in the instant Hermione breathed again.
"Granger, are you still here?" The voice of Pavarti came out along the giggle of Lavender. What a bunch of…! Taeni decided to go out, she would claim to be the only there and would say some things that could make Draco Malfoy proud. She would make them cry, but...
"Yes, I'm sorry." The trembling voice of the girl was heard before the Ravenclaw could act.
"Told you." Mumbled the Gryffindor twin to her best friend. Sadly the acoustic of some bathrooms could be envied by many theaters. Everyone heard her.
"Granger, do you want to come with us? They called us for the banquet." The way Lavender said that made evident that invitation came from moral obligation and not kindness.
"Yes." Answered Hermione with weak voice. "I'll go in a moment, you can go ahead."
She didn't need to say it twice. The other girls, after a dry 'then, we'll see you there', left whispering to each other.
Once they were left alone again, Taeni went out the stall, leaving the door open. "They are very sympathetic, aren't they?" Though her sarcasm didn't make smile the girl who was back to crying. "Is this fault of that Weasley?" The way her cries got louder was enough of an answer.
"It is not my intention to be like this." She said with her hands in her face.
"Like what?, Smart?" And boastful, the girl with blue badge thought. She let away those words. "Hermione, it is fine, everyone is different and if the rest can not accept it, that's their bloody problem."
The girl with brown thick hair had an expression full of surprise as she heard Taeni talk. That was almost the first time someone called her first name since she was in Hogwarts.
"Also, do not give a Weasley's opinion that much importance." The girl remembered how her sister and herself were victims of cruel jokes from those crazy twins in some party years ago. Surely the young brother was like them. "The judgment of some members of that family is questionable."
Hermione's laugh made her smile. "Probably you're right."
"I am." Taeni looked ar the door thinking they were waiting for her. "You know? Aron said he was starving. Come with us and see if everything they say about the deserts of this day are true."
Maybe it was the thought of a unknown boy that may find her hateful accompanying her or the fact she saw her looks in the mirror. "Why don'tyou go ahead?" Hermione said looking Taeni at the eyes. "I'll wash my face and go after you."
The other girl doubted a little. "Are you sure?" But looking her affirmative gesture and making sure the Gryffindor was calmer, she agreed. "Fine. I will wait for you. Even if we can not sit together we can find a way to talk. I'll introduce you to my friends." Taeni supposed they wouldn't be capable to get close to Slytherin table or Minhyun's sister that night. Maybe she could talk Aron out to make some concessions. That was what she was doing anyways. Sharing a bathstall with a daughter of muggles. "Do not take long." Asked as she left and looked back at the girl who was walking to a wash.
Taeni sighed. Draco's father was right, Weasleys were a misfit family.
...
"Fighting again?"
Taeni didn't give it a second thought at Aron's question. "Yes." The girl didn't softened the frown and tried to burn with his eyes the boy she had in front.
"Merlin! Didn't you made up yesterday? You two are like an old married couple!"
Realizing Terry, who was sitting next to Aron, was laughing and noticing her friend's eyes were only on her, she finally understood. "AAh! Are you talking about me?!"
"Who else? Every time you sit giving him your back means you and paper face are mad." Explained the boy whilst deciding if he wanted anothe candy or wanted to try pumpkin cake.
Oh. That was it. Taeni turned to Slytherin table that was behind them. Immediately she crossed sight with Draco who frowned (definitely he thought they were mad at each other, even if he didn't know why) and found whatever Pansy was saying very interesting.
It was true recently they fought every now and then: 'Why don't you stop acting like a bloody toddler?', 'There is a world besides quidditch!', 'why don't you write a letter to mother so she will stop bothering?', 'Stop your obsession over that Harry Potter!'. The girl didn't worried, waited a little admiring the soft pink on the cheeks of his blond friend, and when he looked at her again, she smiled and waved at him. That made Draco confused, but he waved his hand back. That settle things.
Taeni looked at Aron then. "It is not what you think. We are sitting like this because I'm waiting for someone." The girl turned back to the group of red badges.
"Eh. Didn't know you had a Hufflepuff friend." The boy focused on the next table. "If you're looking for that popular kid… The one you talked last time… Diggory. He's over there next to the group that was late the first Potions class." Said pointing the farthest side of the room.
Taeni didn't looked at them, Ron Weasley, who realized he was being studied, mumbled something to his friend and both turned to look at her. She rolled her eyes. "Aron, if I talked to the scrawny Diggory boy was because you wanted an excuse to become friend of Susan Bones. Thanks to me we were part of that study group on that day."
The boy couldn't help but blush.
But, before he could recover and get his answer, doors were opened with too much force. Stinky Professor Quirrell entered with his turban twisted, more smelly than ever and running between Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw tables.
He supported his weight on the center table in front Dumbledore. "A trol... Down in dungeons... I thought you should know." And with horror, everyone watched their Defense Against Dark Arts, the guy that should be protecting them, passing out.
Someone screamed and that started a riot in there. Students standing at the same time trying to run away. Taeni had a hard time staying close to Aron.
It didn't stop until the Headmaster called them out and asked Prefects to guide their groups.
"Ravenclaw first and second years, this way!" Called Penelope Clearwaters, two other Prefects at her side. As they walk out the Great Hall, Aron bumped into Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini, Taeni saluted Theo putting her hand on his arm. It was amazing the way both of them seemed so calm when she was about having a heart attack.
The group started to climb the stair when Taeni stopped and looked at her friend full of worries.
"I just remembered." She said as he walked back. "Hermione never made it to the hall." She started to descend. Aron had to follow her.
"Granger? What's happening?"
Taeni kept walking no caring some of her older housemates were trying to stop them. "She was in the bathroom. We need to tell someone."
"For the beard of Merlin!" Aron decided to accompany her… And the work wouldn't be so hard if there wouldn't so many Hufflepuff to avoid.
Then, between that sea of yellow and black, they found Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley. Aron thought they would ignore them, but his friend took the redhead from the tunic and walked him to an empty hallway where people wouldn't crash them. Aron and Harry shared a concerned look before joining them.
.
"Hermione, are you looking for her?"
"Ah?" Poor Ron had no idea what was happening.
"What I said. Are you looking for Hermione Granger?" Taeni was mad as her eyes were from a Gryffindor to the other.
"Yes. We think she's at the bathroom." At the end, Harry reacted.
"Girls room, fourth hallway. Do not lose time. We will find a Professor." Aron got weirded out seeing the girl accomplish with the other two.
"Thanks." Said the boy with glasses before they leave.
Even when they met McGonagall. Taeni and Aron couldn't eat what elfs took to the Common Room to continue the celebration until Professor Flitwick (it was usual to see him there so it was not a bad sign), came with the good new the danger had been controlled by a fearless group of Gryffindor.
Food was delicious.
Maybe that night Hermione didn't make two but three friends.
...
Minhyun had not time to close his eyes.
The door opened slowly. "Minhyunie, are you ready?"
Keri was still wearing the cute purple dress she had worn at Narcisa Malfoy's party to have kids celebrating Halloween properly and adults taking part on the charity collection to finance experimental studies of talented young wizards recently graduated from Hogwarts which she was leading with pleasure.
"Are we doing this for real?" Asked the boy feeling helpless whilst he put on his shoes again. His white shirt was unbuttoned and the tie was nowhere to be found.
"Absolutely." She said with confidence, pointing the pretty bag embroidered with magic she held on her shoulder, that had been a gift from the Malfoys, because she deserved to carry her candies 'like a whole lady'. "I got provisions." And showing her wand. "And anything we might need."
The children took their jackets and made sure to get out without anyone knowing. Because that year there were not party in the mansion, they were lucky enough every elf was sleeping at the moment, probably planning they would wake up early and make the biggest breakfast.
Non magic protected the main entrance so it was easy to reach the garden, where they regretted not knowing any of those charms that could make the air warmer, Keri decided to ask her sister about it in her next letter.
"We will end lost and frozen out there." Minhyun said when they got to the limits that opened to the forest. Their breath formed white clouds. "It's Halloween, we'll find something dangerous and..."
"Everything will be alright." The girl said. "Believe me, there is no way we get lost." She claimed without doubts, Minhyun followed her close. "And even if that happens, someone will come for us."
The boy frowned. "You cannot be sure."
"I can. Whilst you discussed with elf's about the right way to make hot chocolate, I did some research." Seeing the hard look he gave her, she explained. "Mr. Nott asked me if I was thinking on making a treat this night, he just wanted to know if I have a boyfriend or something… Can you believe it? He is one of those who thinks engaging young is smart. Anyway, I took the opportunity and asked him about the best way to do this. He gave me some advice not much worthy, but the important thing is he knows what we will do, then if we do not come back he will tell our parents."
"You told him we are out without permission?! Are you bloody crazy?!" Minhyun was really mad. "He will get us in troubles with mama!"
She sighed and stopped. A cloud just hide the moon and nothing could be seen. "I told you, do not worry. Mr. Nott was happy to have me trusting him, he will not betray us. And you were the one suggesting to tell someone."
The boy did thought that person would stop them from walking the forest at midnight, not that they would be supporting them. Anyhow, he lied. "I had thought about asking an elf."
"No. You didn't think that." The girl declared and with a move of her wand made that charm little kids learned to play at parties. From the tip of her brilliant wand came out four to five little lights that changed colors and kept dancing around the object. "It is not the best but this will work." She said as started to walk again.
Minhyun hurried so he could keep besides her. Sounds that came from the deep forest got louder, cracking sounds, howls, hooting owls. "When Taeni comes back she needs to teach us a lot of things, that way we will ready for next time."
Keri smiled. Then it will be a next time.
.
"I cannot see a thing." Minhyun complained fifteen minutes later, clouds hid the moon again. The changing lights weren't that helpful.
"We're close. There is not need to see anything." The girl answered taking his hand. "We're almost there."
The boy resisted the idea of asking how was she so sure. He knew. She heard them already. He tried to do it too even if he knew it was impossible. Only the soft sounds of the water.
"I knew they would be near the stream."
"Mmmm." Minhyun was too tired to lose energy giving her the reason.
They walked through a group of trees before being capable to see the water. A thin and little deep stream reflected the poor light it received. Some wild flowers were dancing with the cold wind on the riverside, but there was not a soul on sight.
"That long walk was for nothing." The boy said disappointed.
Keri looked at him and rolled her eyes. Didn't he know who she was? Did he believed she could ever possibly make a mistake on that situation? She didn't even tried to argue. She walked down river until she found a tree with tall roots that made a good seat, then… Started to look for something on her bag.
The boy sighed and sat at her side looking how her hands worked. "So they're here for real."
"That is what I said." She put a white and beautifully embroidered handkerchief in the grass in front of them. Took a little cup and a little bottle that handed to the boy. "Be careful, do not throw it over yourself."
He didn't and retrieved it open after a moment.
Keri put the honey in the cup and leave it in the center of the handkerchief. "This is one of the suggestions of Mr. Nott, and this..." She said showing a big strawberry in her hand. "It is what Mrs. Malfoy said will work for sure." Then put a little amount of that fruit and organized it around the cup.
"I can't believe you! Did you make Draco's mother help you too? What? Now you speak parcel?"
Keri ignored the fact he was comparing the mother of their friend with a snake. Accurate comparison but a little rude. "I asked her about last Christmas. She suspected nothing." She took from her bag more strawberries and offered them to the boy. "Do you want some?"
For some seconds both kid enjoyed the flavor.
"Are these...? On October?"
The girl frowned. They needed to stay silence. Even so, she answered. "I asked Deullie to send some." Minhyun wanted to ask how much meant 'some' to that creepy elf. "He sent twenty four boxes. Our fresals are charmed to always give fruits. It was my mistake to not be specific."
"The mistake is to keep that chubby danger." He said talking about the little creature.
She shoot fire with her eyes but instead insulting him, she put her pointing finger on her lips to ask him to be quiet. When Minhyun thought it was weird the way she acted, she pointed the stream. No. The other side of it.
Between white flowers a little yellow light was flowing.
The boy was speechless.
The light slowly made turns in the air before getting close to them. The water reflected its light that was more intense than the girl's wand some minutes ago.
The light stopped a some seconds on a spot centimeters away from Keri's face, it was studying its visitors.
"It is beautiful." The boy blurted out with a big smile.
She feared those words would scare it, but instead of that the small fairy got very happy and stopped all the caution.
The instant their new friend descended to taste the delicious food they were offering others two lights appeared from the bushes, one pink and the other green.
After some minutes they were surrounded by a bunch of little lights of every color.
"They're too beautiful." Keri said and that provoked the fairies to get excited and dance.
"Don't remember there were so many colors at Malfoy Manor last year." Minhyun was talking about the fairies that decorated the Christmas Tree of Malfoy Manor last parties, everyone was impressed about how cool it was, but the truth is…
"There was not this much. There were not so happy." The girl thought nothing they had seen before could ever compare to that moment. "This is..."
"We have to bring your sister." He said showing a smile. "Next holidays."
She answered with a bigger smile. "Happy Halloween."
"Happy Halloween."
After some hours the kids said bye to their new friends, promising to be back soon and walked back holding hands. A great adventure to celebrate a special night!