Chapter Eleven

Halloween in the Great Hall

Jennifer could not have possibly been in any better mood than she was that Halloween afternoon. She had just finished all the preparations she had to do for the party, but, alas, her helper was still working on the floor detail of the Great Hall, wearing a face that would curdle milk. Jennifer in contrast felt as if she'd just woken up on Christmas morning and had gotten everything she wanted.

"Dobby, how is he doing?" Jennifer asked. "It's getting late and Dumbledore wanted us completely set up before classes got out."

The House Elf was standing over the student with his arms crossed. It had been Harry that gave her the idea of getting Dobby to help supervise, and after hearing the circumstances behind the suggestion, she just couldn't resist.

"He would not make a very good House Elf, Dobby thinks," the Elf said at last.

"This is positively unacceptable! Wait until my father hears about this! He'll have your job!" Draco growled. He was on his hands and knees, covered with suds and sporting a pair of delightfully grubby floor brushes on his hands.

"Now, now, Draco, I'm sure your father is perfectly aware about Hogwarts detentions. I imagine he had a few himself in his day. And if I were you, I'd not want my classmates to catch me like that. I suggest you hurry and finish up before they're released from their classes." Just then, Mr. Filch came in, holding up a noose.

"Here's the rope you needed, Professor Craw. Where do ya want it at?"

"Oh, bring it up here to the front please," she said, looking even more thrilled than ever. As Filch walked into the room, Draco cried out with utter disgust. Filch's boots were covered with a thick layer of slimy mud and had tracked it all the way to the head table where Jennifer was standing.

"Why, thank you! Just what I'd been looking for to spruce up the decorations," Jennifer said cheerfully, winking at him. Filch nodded and headed back out, sniggering at Draco on the way.

"Sorra bout the floor," Filch said in a way that implied he wasn't at all sorry, "had a plugged pipe backin' into the cistern," he said as he left. Draco made another face, wondering exactly what was in the mud.

"Hurry up! Hurry up!" Dobby flailed in a panic. "It won't be long now!" Draco scowled, working on the footprints until just before the last class let out.

Jennifer reluctantly let Malfoy go, telling him to run along and change for the party before anyone saw him. The moment he left, the Elves had the rest of the floor spotless, disappearing before Jennifer had time to turn around. She chuckled, walking over to the table to lay the noose down just as Minerva walked in from the back.

"Well! It's nice to see some healthy color in your cheeks, Jennifer. You've been so dreadfully serious lately that I was beginning to think Severus was rubbing off on you," Minerva teased, looking over the side table.

"Are you kidding? I'm having a fabulous day! Remind me to volunteer for extra detention duty, it was extremely therapeutic," Jennifer grinned, her eyes still sparkling with mischief.

"All right, settle down," Minerva chuckled, "don't forget we have a long evening ahead of us. Dumbledore and I have all those costumes to make…"

"Those are going to be fabulous, I just know it," Jennifer assured her. "Oh, Minerva, if you only could have seen his face when Filch came in with his slimy boots… I thought I was going to die just from holding back my laughter!" Minerva tried to hide a smile.

"Now, Jennifer, enough already. He's done his time," she scolded. The rest of the staff and students began to come in, Jennifer still trying to keep herself from chuckling. A couple of the other instructors came over that would be helping during the party, helping her make sure everything was set.

Severus had been put on air patrol for the grounds that evening, and Jennifer regretted that he wasn't going to be there. Of course, the main reason the sleep over was being held was security, but she almost wished for a moment that she could have gone along with him. He glanced over at her when he came in for the feast, smirking at her good mood as he sat down. He must have heard about Malfoy's task, she thought with a chuckle. Filius Flitwick then came over and tugged at her sleeve, eager to talk over some of the things planned for that night, while waiting for the students to settle into their seats. At last Dumbledore arrived and they all faced the front, counting heads to make sure all the students were accounted for. Jennifer smiled at Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ginny, who smiled back in return.

"May I have your attention for a few announcements," Dumbledore began, looking over at the expectant students. "The Hufflepuff and Gryffindor game which had delayed because of circumstances beyond our control will be replayed Wednesday evening. And also, Hagrid wished for me to relay to anyone who is wondering, the badgimera that ate the Snitch is feeling much better now.

"Costumes will be provided for you tonight by Professor McGonagall and myself. Once the party has started, you will not be permitted to leave the Great Hall without an escort until the professors release you in the morning. Be forewarned that although other students may not recognize you, the professors will know who you are, so please remain on your best behavior so that your houses do not lose points. And now, just a few last words before we sit down, Trick-or-treat." As Dumbledore sat the feast appeared, and the other professors followed his lead.

"I would still like to do the Gryffindor table," Minerva, who was sitting between Jennifer and Dumbledore, was making one last effort to switch places with the Headmaster on the costuming arrangements.

"Minerva, you'll have more than your hands full with Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff. I would really like to do the other two," Dumbledore smiled. Jennifer grinned, drinking her hot apple cider. She almost couldn't wait to see who was going to end up what. She nibbled on her pumpkin bread but wasn't really in the mood to eat. Many of the students, she noticed, seemed to be doing the same.

At last everyone finished, and Minerva and Dumbledore stood up together walking between the house tables; Minerva standing between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, and Dumbledore between Gryffindor and Slytherin.

"Now, the room is going to go dark for a few moments. Please do not get up from your seats until you have been instructed to," Dumbledore warned. As the room went to black and everyone waited, Jennifer felt someone come up behind her.

"On my way out now," Severus whispered. "Try not to have too much fun without me." She almost felt as if she could hear him smirking in the dark.

"Be careful," she whispered back, and he slowly moved away.

From above them came the sounds of moaning, wailing, and even a bit of chain rattling.

"Sir Nicolas, please," Dumbledore's voice rang out.

"Well, I was only trying to add to the mood," his indignant voice said. Some of the students chuckled nervously.

"I'm all done here, Professor McGonagall," Dumbledore added, after a moment.

"Two more," Minerva replied, then a moment later, "ready now."

"Very well. Could I have everyone stand now, please?"

There was a loud ruckus as everyone attempted to stand, jostling each other. Jennifer heard an occasional, "Ow!" and, "Quit poking my eye!" and even once a "What is that?" over the muttering. Suddenly the candles and lanterns sprang to life above the room, and everyone looked around in amazement. The tables had disappeared, the benches now lined against the walls, piled with bedrolls. But, by far, the most amazing sight was the students. It might as well have been a zoo. Creatures and beings of every kind of different colors stood in the room, looking at each other in amazement.

"You don't have to tell the other students who you are if you wish not to. The costumes will fall off at midnight," Dumbledore told them with a smile. "Happy Halloween."

Dumbledore slipped away as Filius started up a band of enchanted instruments he had brought with them and were now floating along the ceiling. It was taking a while for the students to get reoriented, trying to find their friends among the creatures. Jennifer, whose talent for seeing through polymorphs was getting a quick workout, spotted a familiar looking butterfly-winged sprite, Ginny, floating behind a black knight in full armor, who she knew to be Ron. Curiously she looked to see if she could find Harry and Hermione, and was then quickly distracted by a tiny blue house elf in a toga-style towel, glaring menacingly, followed by a young hill troll. Jennifer blinked at them then ran for the back door, running into the staff lounge where she burst out laughing, her sides in stitches at Malfoy and Crabbe's costumes. After she got it down to a giggle, she took some deep breaths of air, and then went back in.

She passed an Ettin, a Satyr and a bear before she finally laid eyes on a brilliant Phoenix talking to a Unicorn and a Centaur. Smiling, she went over to the group.

"Nice costumes," Jennifer grinned at Harry, Hermione, and Seamus.

"Have you seen Neville's costume yet?" the Unicorn's mouth moved strangely human-like as Hermione talked. "Too bad he's positively giving away the fact that it's him. There he is, over there," she said, pointing with her horn. Jennifer glanced across the room at the yearling dragon, and then chuckled.

"Yes, he does look like he's about to trip on his own tail, doesn't he?" Jennifer agreed.

"Did you see his cousin? Amadeus looks just like Peeves!" Seamus the Centaur said. Jennifer couldn't help but laugh at that, knowing how Amadeus loved to pull pranks almost as much as Peeves did.

"Have you seen Ron and Ginny?" the Phoenix asked. Jennifer smiled at Harry.

"You bet. I'm sure you'll figure out who they are. Ron's really…."

"Hullo there!" called Ron, sounding hollow inside the black armor. "Wicked costumes! Did you see Malfoy, Hermione? You'll just choke when you see him!"

"I want to see," Harry said, flapping his wings a bit, "where?" Jennifer started to chuckle again, but before she could follow them she noticed Filius trying to get her attention. As she walked over to him and Minerva she heard a burst of laughter come from behind her, causing Jennifer to chuckle again.

"Honestly, and after I said to drop it, he had to go and do that," said Minerva, but she was obviously amused.

"I'm all for going with the piñata first," Filius suggested cheerfully, pointing at a dummy with a pumpkin head, dangling from the noose above them.

"All right, let's see, who here might be able to manage a broom in costume?" Minerva pondered thoughtfully, looking around. "Definitely not Cho," she chuckled, nodding to the giant black widow.

"Ron, Crabbe, and how about Bering, her fairy costume is manageable," Jennifer suggested.

They quickly pulled out several students and lined them up, letting Brenda Bering from Hufflepuff go first, handing her a Bludger bat as Minerva tied on her blindfold.

"Now, go up there on the broom, and try to hit the dummy with the bat three times," Filius explained to her. "Don't worry, we'll make sure you don't fall or run into anything."

As everyone watched, Brenda floated up, looking a bit shaky on the broom. Below the students shouted advice, trying to get her closer, as candles and jack-o-lanterns floated out of the way as she came near. She knew she was getting close… Filius had charmed the broom so that it would feel warm when she was close and cold when she went away. At last she knocked into it, and backed up again, taking a whack at it with the bat. Two more times, but the side of the dummy didn't budge.

Finally she got her three hits in and floated down, taking off the blindfold, and Ron stepped up, quickly finding a blindfold over his helmet. Ron had much better luck getting the broom to where it would be, knocking it pretty hard. It swayed on the noose, swinging around but didn't break. Vincent Crabbe also got some shots in, but still it didn't open. Two more students tried, and then they went for the next round. Brenda ended up getting too high, smashing its poor pumpkin head, as pieces of pumpkin landed on the crowd below, who yelled at her to get lower. Slashing down, she knocked its arm, causing it to break a bit before heading down.

"All right, Ron, I bet this is it, so show 'em what ya got," Jennifer grinned at him before Minerva put on the blindfold and Filius let go of the broom. Up he went holding the bat firmly, taking the arm off and in the process got knocked into the side, breaking it open. As the students cheered, he took the blindfold off, grabbing a handful and putting it in his pocket. Loose chocolate frogs leaped out of it, causing extra mayhem, and joke crackers filled the air, popping out sayings every time a student pulled on one.

Once they had scooped up all the stuff and the floor was cleared they started dancing again, Jennifer sat down for a few minutes and to drink a pumpkin smoothie. Jennifer chuckled as they watched them trying to figure out how to try and dance in their forms. Most gave up, instead gathering in groups to talk. Curiously, she couldn't help but notice that Draco's elf form was talking to a dryad in tree form, whom she knew was Parvati Patil. Vincent was over talking with a girl from Hufflepuff who was a giant owl, Eliza Marrer, she thought, a fourth year. After the bobbed apples contest (Hermione won by a horn,) they settled down in small groups, as some of the Hogwarts ghosts delightfully told stories of their deaths and other horror tales, delighted by all of the attention. Minerva came and sat by Jennifer, looking tired.

"I think I'm getting too old for this," she joked good naturedly, "you certainly seem to be keeping your energy!"

"Yes, well, I cheated," Jennifer admitted. "Took a Persistent Wakefulness potion the moment I got rid of Malfoy this afternoon. Want one?"

"You could have told me earlier, you potion hoarder, it's nearly midnight. I'll oversleep for sure tomorrow night if I take one now," Minerva frowned.

"Well, let me know if…" Jennifer suddenly noticed something from across the room and quickly got up, moving over to the Phoenix, who had fallen to the floor. She rushed over to his side, shaking the figure gently. "What happened, Ginny?"

"We were just talking, and the pain got worse and worse, and he just… blacked out," the pixie beside her said, looking worried. "I don't remember the last time he was this bad."

Minerva had come up behind Jennifer, quickly dispelling the costume as Jennifer put her hand on his head.

"I think he's coming to," Jennifer said softly.

"Everyone back up and give him some room, please?" Minerva called out, making everyone take a step back. Harry woke up, looking straight in Jennifer's face and Jennifer got slapped with the vision that Harry had just seen as it began to come back to them.

"No, no he can't do it! We've got to stop him!" he yelled, sitting up.

"Don't worry, maybe we're not too late. Stay with him, Ginny," Jennifer pulled Minerva away a step. "Minerva, get Dumbledore. They're going to try to hit the Grangers at midnight," she said as quietly as she could. "We've only got ten minutes."

Minerva rushed off and Jennifer looked up at the rafters, a large bat landing on her head. Jennifer hurried over to Filius, taking a moment to talk to him, then hurried over to the table scribbling out a note. Just as she was tying the note to Ratfly and sending him out to the parapet, the frantic Unicorn came up, Filius immediately attempting to calm her down. The other three soon caught up, fairly distraught.

"Harry said…"

"It's all right Hermione, it'll be okay, don't worry," Jennifer said. "Minerva went to get Dumbledore, and they'll put the emergency plan in action, all right? They've got more than enough time, everything will be all right, please stay calm. Why don't you four come up here and sit a moment and try to relax. Are you okay, Harry?" Harry nodded weakly, looking concerned. Just then Ratfly came back looking agitated, carrying a small note. Frowning at the paper she unrolled it.

Intracepted your letter but it disappeared when I tried to touch it. Took over for Snape he had to go somewheres. Is there trouble? – Hagrid.

Suddenly she got a very bad feeling, wondering what she should do. She glanced at Filius, asking him to take over then turned to head out the back. Minerva was coming in just as she was going out.

"Dumbledore is on his way. Let's just pray it's not too late. Where are you going?"

"Minerva, I need to leave," Jennifer said firmly. "Severus was called away and Hagrid is on the patrol. Is that all right?" Minerva stared at her for a moment as if she was going to tell her no, but then sighed.

"Just be careful, Jennifer," Minerva said. Jennifer nodded and leaped up the stairs towards her room, while Minerva walked into the Great Hall at about five minutes until midnight.