Chapter Five: The Costume Ball
Walking up the stairs to Gryffindor tower, Harry regretted storming out of Dumbledore's office. He hoped that Dumbledore didn't think that Harry was upset with him, he wasn't. In fact, Harry really appreciated everything that Dumbledore told him about his aunt. Harry thought that if he should be mad at anyone it would be Sirius for keeping this from him, but Harry wasn't upset with Sirius either. Although he wished that Sirius had told him, he knew how much it would hurt him to do so. The more and more that Harry thought about it, the more and more Harry realized that he and Sirius had a lot in common. Harry sometimes felt that he was unbelievably alone in this world, and he imagined that Sirius felt the same way. Harry didn't like to talk about the death of his parents, because he was always reminded (thanks to the dementors) of his mother's screams. From his discussion with Dumbledore, Harry knew that Sirius had watched Selene die and he couldn't blame him for not wanting to talk about it.
"Clabbert." Harry said to the Fat Lady, who smiled at him and opened the door.
"Hey Harry!" Ron yelled from a game of Wizard chess that he was playing with Hermione. "How did it go?"
"Fine." Harry said.
"Tell us what happened?" Hermione asked.
Harry told them what had happened. When he was done, Hermione and Ron stared at him. "Well?" Harry asked, "Are you two going to say anything?"
"Wow." Ron said.
"Wow." Hermione said then added, "No wonder Sirius didn't want to tell you."
"I wonder what its like to have a phoenix inside you," Ron asked.
"Ron you idiot, the actual bird isn't inside you." Hermione retorted.
"Thank you professor, I realized that. You know what I meant." Ron said rolling his eyes.
Harry looked at his friends in amusement, "Are you two really going to the ball together?" Harry asked. "All you two ever do is fight. Or are you just having lovers' spats?" Harry added grinning.
Ron and Hermione blushed. Ron who was particularly red at the moment decided to switch the spotlight to Harry, "You have no room to talk, Romeo. Ginny told me that you asked her to the Ball."
"And?" Harry asked.
Ron, who was quite surprised at Harry's cool response and the fact that he was able to say it without blushing, poked around at a fallen rook and said, "Oh, well….she just told me… that's all."
********************
As the days until the Costume Ball counted down, the mood at Hogwarts became very excited. Between that and his schoolwork, Harry had almost forgotten about his family's past. Ron's dad had sent him the mask that he had been talking about for weeks. The mask (which was quite impressive) was a Chinese Fireball dragon. Apparently Bill had picked it up while in China. For his own mask, Harry had settled on a nice griffin mask that he had purchased on a trip to Hogsmeade.
When the day of the Ball finally arrived, the students (as well as the faculty) were so excited that they cancelled afternoon classes. This was unprecedented in Hogwarts, but as long as Harry didn't have to go to Potions, he was fine with the decision. "Hey Harry, how do my fangs look? Are they straight?"
Harry squinted and adjusted the left tooth so it was now equal with the right.
"Thanks Harry." Ron said.
"How about my beak?" Harry asked.
"Perfect." Ron said.
"Shall we go and find our dates?" Harry asked, taking one last look in the mirror.
"Yeah. I guess. I hope Hermione doesn't come as book." Ron said.
Ron and Harry stepped out into the Gryffindor common room and waited for Ginny and Hermione.
After waiting for about ten minutes, Ron looked at the clock above the fireplace and nodded disapprovingly, "Why do girls take so long to get ready?"
"Why are boys so impatient?" came a voice from behind him.
Harry and Ron turned around. Hermione was behind them. She was wearing a long silvery white dress and had on a glass mask that changed colors when she moved her head. Her hair was pulled back and had little silver and blue pearls in it. "Well, that certainly looks like a book to me…" Harry said. Ron gave him a push, which knocked him over into one of the large fluffy chairs. "Hey! You messed up my mask!" Harry shouted trying to sound angry. Harry picked himself up off the chair and went over to adjust the mask in the mirror. When he looked in the mirror he saw someone's reflection behind him, and it took him a minute to realize that it was Ginny's.
"Wow." Harry thought. Ginny was dressed in a long green gown and had a purple and gold butterfly mask on. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders and her bright eyes shined through the mask. She looked stunning.
"You don't like it?" She asked.
"No! I mean Yes….you look….great." Harry finally managed to get out.
"Shall we?" Harry said offering his arm to her. Ginny took it and they followed Ron and Hermione out of the tower.
The Great Hall looked much different than usual. All the tables were gone, with the exception of a few in the back that held all sorts of goodies. The hall was decorated with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes and streamers that hung mysteriously in midair. The ceiling offered a large and brilliant harvest moon that shone down upon the guests. The presence of the resident ghosts at Hogwarts put the finishing touches on a truly spectacular room. "Wow." Harry said as he tried to locate the location of where the haunting music was coming from. More and more people filed in and when it seemed that they couldn't fit any one else in, Professor Dumbledore (with a hippogriff mask on) stood up and addressed the students…
"Welcome to the first Hogwarts Halloween Costume Ball! (many cheers ensued). I would like to thank all the staff that helped decorate and all the professors that allowed the students to have time off today in order to enjoy the day more (more cheers)! Now I want all of you to remember one thing……Have a most wonderful time tonight!" More cheers radiated from the room as the music started up again and students began to dance.
Harry felt a feeling of dread sweep over him. He didn't know how to dance, at least not well. He had moved around a bit to some music before, but that would hardly be considered dancing by anyone. "Well?" Ginny asked, expecting him to lead her on to the dance floor. Harry nodded and took her hand (he hoped that it wasn't too sweaty) and they moved onto the dance floor. They moved slowly at first and then Harry (much to his own surprise), began to feel more confident, and picked up the pace. Harry was so preoccupied in dancing and in Ginny that he almost didn't see the stranger walk in, but he did, as did everyone else. She walked into the room like she'd been there before, but didn't know quite what to expect. Although she was wearing a mask, everyone knew it was a woman. Her mannerisms alone gave away her femininity, but her costume left no doubt. She wore a long red robe that turned fiery orange when she moved. Her hair, which was barely visible because of her mask, was as brilliantly red as her dress. Her mask was magnificent. A golden bird ran down the bridge of her nose and its wings stretched out over her forehead. It was also adorned by gold, red, and orange feathers, which seemed to be constructed out of fire. The woman made her way over to Dumbledore and gave him a polite bow. He returned her bow and they started to dance, and (after a while) so did the rest of the students except for Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Harry.
"Who do you think she is?" Harry asked.
"She's beautiful." Ron said.
"She's probably a friend of Dumbledore's." Hermione said closing Ron's gaping mouth. "Can we dance now?"
All four went back to dancing, but Harry was distracted by the new stranger and kept stepping on Ginny's feet. "Ouch! Harry!" she cried.
"I'm so sorry Ginny." Harry said.
"It's okay. I'm going to go get some punch and sit down for a while." she said and then grinned, "until the swelling goes down."
"Oh very funny." Harry said and smiled.
He watched Ginny leave and then went and stood against the wall. "Mr. Potter, can I see you for a moment?" Harry turned around and saw Dumbledore looking down at him. He had taken off his mask, which he was holding in his hand. Harry was struck by Dumbledore's expression, which was that of bewilderment and delight.
"Is there something wrong?" Harry asked.
"Oh no. Quite the opposite really… please follow me."
Harry complied and they weaved their way through the crowd and out through the doors. There waiting for them was the lady in red. "Albus, he really does look like James doesn't he?" a voice said from underneath the mask. Harry was really confused. The lady stepped closer to him, and they made eye contact. Harry's confusion was replaced by astonishment; he had seen those eyes before.
"Harry…" Dumbledore said.
Harry couldn't believe it. It couldn't possibly be true…
"I would like you to meet your aunt, Selene." Dumbledore said, his eyes glistening.
Walking up the stairs to Gryffindor tower, Harry regretted storming out of Dumbledore's office. He hoped that Dumbledore didn't think that Harry was upset with him, he wasn't. In fact, Harry really appreciated everything that Dumbledore told him about his aunt. Harry thought that if he should be mad at anyone it would be Sirius for keeping this from him, but Harry wasn't upset with Sirius either. Although he wished that Sirius had told him, he knew how much it would hurt him to do so. The more and more that Harry thought about it, the more and more Harry realized that he and Sirius had a lot in common. Harry sometimes felt that he was unbelievably alone in this world, and he imagined that Sirius felt the same way. Harry didn't like to talk about the death of his parents, because he was always reminded (thanks to the dementors) of his mother's screams. From his discussion with Dumbledore, Harry knew that Sirius had watched Selene die and he couldn't blame him for not wanting to talk about it.
"Clabbert." Harry said to the Fat Lady, who smiled at him and opened the door.
"Hey Harry!" Ron yelled from a game of Wizard chess that he was playing with Hermione. "How did it go?"
"Fine." Harry said.
"Tell us what happened?" Hermione asked.
Harry told them what had happened. When he was done, Hermione and Ron stared at him. "Well?" Harry asked, "Are you two going to say anything?"
"Wow." Ron said.
"Wow." Hermione said then added, "No wonder Sirius didn't want to tell you."
"I wonder what its like to have a phoenix inside you," Ron asked.
"Ron you idiot, the actual bird isn't inside you." Hermione retorted.
"Thank you professor, I realized that. You know what I meant." Ron said rolling his eyes.
Harry looked at his friends in amusement, "Are you two really going to the ball together?" Harry asked. "All you two ever do is fight. Or are you just having lovers' spats?" Harry added grinning.
Ron and Hermione blushed. Ron who was particularly red at the moment decided to switch the spotlight to Harry, "You have no room to talk, Romeo. Ginny told me that you asked her to the Ball."
"And?" Harry asked.
Ron, who was quite surprised at Harry's cool response and the fact that he was able to say it without blushing, poked around at a fallen rook and said, "Oh, well….she just told me… that's all."
********************
As the days until the Costume Ball counted down, the mood at Hogwarts became very excited. Between that and his schoolwork, Harry had almost forgotten about his family's past. Ron's dad had sent him the mask that he had been talking about for weeks. The mask (which was quite impressive) was a Chinese Fireball dragon. Apparently Bill had picked it up while in China. For his own mask, Harry had settled on a nice griffin mask that he had purchased on a trip to Hogsmeade.
When the day of the Ball finally arrived, the students (as well as the faculty) were so excited that they cancelled afternoon classes. This was unprecedented in Hogwarts, but as long as Harry didn't have to go to Potions, he was fine with the decision. "Hey Harry, how do my fangs look? Are they straight?"
Harry squinted and adjusted the left tooth so it was now equal with the right.
"Thanks Harry." Ron said.
"How about my beak?" Harry asked.
"Perfect." Ron said.
"Shall we go and find our dates?" Harry asked, taking one last look in the mirror.
"Yeah. I guess. I hope Hermione doesn't come as book." Ron said.
Ron and Harry stepped out into the Gryffindor common room and waited for Ginny and Hermione.
After waiting for about ten minutes, Ron looked at the clock above the fireplace and nodded disapprovingly, "Why do girls take so long to get ready?"
"Why are boys so impatient?" came a voice from behind him.
Harry and Ron turned around. Hermione was behind them. She was wearing a long silvery white dress and had on a glass mask that changed colors when she moved her head. Her hair was pulled back and had little silver and blue pearls in it. "Well, that certainly looks like a book to me…" Harry said. Ron gave him a push, which knocked him over into one of the large fluffy chairs. "Hey! You messed up my mask!" Harry shouted trying to sound angry. Harry picked himself up off the chair and went over to adjust the mask in the mirror. When he looked in the mirror he saw someone's reflection behind him, and it took him a minute to realize that it was Ginny's.
"Wow." Harry thought. Ginny was dressed in a long green gown and had a purple and gold butterfly mask on. Her hair fell loosely over her shoulders and her bright eyes shined through the mask. She looked stunning.
"You don't like it?" She asked.
"No! I mean Yes….you look….great." Harry finally managed to get out.
"Shall we?" Harry said offering his arm to her. Ginny took it and they followed Ron and Hermione out of the tower.
The Great Hall looked much different than usual. All the tables were gone, with the exception of a few in the back that held all sorts of goodies. The hall was decorated with pumpkins of all shapes and sizes and streamers that hung mysteriously in midair. The ceiling offered a large and brilliant harvest moon that shone down upon the guests. The presence of the resident ghosts at Hogwarts put the finishing touches on a truly spectacular room. "Wow." Harry said as he tried to locate the location of where the haunting music was coming from. More and more people filed in and when it seemed that they couldn't fit any one else in, Professor Dumbledore (with a hippogriff mask on) stood up and addressed the students…
"Welcome to the first Hogwarts Halloween Costume Ball! (many cheers ensued). I would like to thank all the staff that helped decorate and all the professors that allowed the students to have time off today in order to enjoy the day more (more cheers)! Now I want all of you to remember one thing……Have a most wonderful time tonight!" More cheers radiated from the room as the music started up again and students began to dance.
Harry felt a feeling of dread sweep over him. He didn't know how to dance, at least not well. He had moved around a bit to some music before, but that would hardly be considered dancing by anyone. "Well?" Ginny asked, expecting him to lead her on to the dance floor. Harry nodded and took her hand (he hoped that it wasn't too sweaty) and they moved onto the dance floor. They moved slowly at first and then Harry (much to his own surprise), began to feel more confident, and picked up the pace. Harry was so preoccupied in dancing and in Ginny that he almost didn't see the stranger walk in, but he did, as did everyone else. She walked into the room like she'd been there before, but didn't know quite what to expect. Although she was wearing a mask, everyone knew it was a woman. Her mannerisms alone gave away her femininity, but her costume left no doubt. She wore a long red robe that turned fiery orange when she moved. Her hair, which was barely visible because of her mask, was as brilliantly red as her dress. Her mask was magnificent. A golden bird ran down the bridge of her nose and its wings stretched out over her forehead. It was also adorned by gold, red, and orange feathers, which seemed to be constructed out of fire. The woman made her way over to Dumbledore and gave him a polite bow. He returned her bow and they started to dance, and (after a while) so did the rest of the students except for Ron, Hermione, Ginny, and Harry.
"Who do you think she is?" Harry asked.
"She's beautiful." Ron said.
"She's probably a friend of Dumbledore's." Hermione said closing Ron's gaping mouth. "Can we dance now?"
All four went back to dancing, but Harry was distracted by the new stranger and kept stepping on Ginny's feet. "Ouch! Harry!" she cried.
"I'm so sorry Ginny." Harry said.
"It's okay. I'm going to go get some punch and sit down for a while." she said and then grinned, "until the swelling goes down."
"Oh very funny." Harry said and smiled.
He watched Ginny leave and then went and stood against the wall. "Mr. Potter, can I see you for a moment?" Harry turned around and saw Dumbledore looking down at him. He had taken off his mask, which he was holding in his hand. Harry was struck by Dumbledore's expression, which was that of bewilderment and delight.
"Is there something wrong?" Harry asked.
"Oh no. Quite the opposite really… please follow me."
Harry complied and they weaved their way through the crowd and out through the doors. There waiting for them was the lady in red. "Albus, he really does look like James doesn't he?" a voice said from underneath the mask. Harry was really confused. The lady stepped closer to him, and they made eye contact. Harry's confusion was replaced by astonishment; he had seen those eyes before.
"Harry…" Dumbledore said.
Harry couldn't believe it. It couldn't possibly be true…
"I would like you to meet your aunt, Selene." Dumbledore said, his eyes glistening.