Chapter Eleven

A Haunting Evening

Taylor hopped over to the Gryffindor table after breakfast and squeezed his way between Corey and Doug, looking rather excited.

"It's official and I wanted you both to be the first to know," he said, pulling out the article he was working on for the paper. "Danny is taking over as team captain of Slytherin this year, starting with their first game and your second this Sunday."

"Halloween afternoon," Doug said. "I hope it doesn't run over. It'd be bad karma to play too late on a night like that."

"You sound pretty excited about it, Taylor, considering Ravenclaw's already lost its first game," Corey said.

"Well, I can't get excited about our team anymore, so I'll just get excited for both of yours. It'll be the game of the season, and I get to announce it and write about it," Taylor said.

"I wonder why Amadeus let it go so quickly without a fight," Corey mused.

"And have you noticed how he's been avoiding us this year? Not one sneer or name since we got back, very odd," Doug said. "It's like it's a whole different table of people."

"I wouldn't go that far," Corey chuckled. "A Slytherin by any other name is still a Slytherin." Taylor gazed over to the far table to see Danny sitting with the team huddled around her. Casper and Baylor were to either side, while the Starling twins, Janders and Amadeus across from her.

"I don't want to see any funny stuff like what happened last year," Danny told them, looking directly at Amadeus when she spoke. "We're the best team in the league, and they have the second weakest Seeker and an average Keeper. It's the Beaters we have to worry about."

"If you don't want us to take them out, what do you want us to do?" Amadeus asked with a tension in his voice that Danny recognized as irritation. It wasn't easy going from ringleader to second, and Danny could tell Amadeus hated being out of control. But she also knew full well after the talk he and Draco had during the summer that he wouldn't overstep his boundaries. She wasn't even sure what the deal had been, or what Draco had originally promised him. Danny didn't particularly care to know, either, so long as they stayed in line and did what they were told.

"Just keep them busy. There's no reason with the Chasers we have and me as the Seeker that we need to do anything but make sure they're distracted," Danny said. "I don't know about you, but I for one got rather tired of the glowers we were getting for winning last year. Let's show them we can beat them because we're the best instead of because we're bullies, and they'll have to give us the respect we deserve as reigning champions."

"Strategic meeting?" Snape inquired. The team looked up to see him standing right behind them with a nearly imperceptible smile on his face.

"Yes sir. Actually, since you're here, is there any chance we can book the Pitch for the day? Being the new captain and all, I need to get everyone organized," Danny suggested. Casper and Roger grinned at each other knowingly. What could be better than monopolizing the Pitch the day before the game so the Gryffindor team couldn't use it? Severus' lip twitched, and then he nodded.

"Very well, Miss Nelson. Come to my office after you've finished but don't dally, I've other things to do today."

"Yes, Professor, thank you," Danny said. She watched him as he stepped away, then turned towards the others. "It never hurts to have an edge," she said, and the others nodded approvingly. Quickly she finished up and left the table, waving to Corey and the others as she walked out of the room.

By the time she arrived at his office, Snape was already sitting at his desk, glancing thoughtfully at a letter. He gestured for her to come in when she knocked, and then hissed softly. Rasputin, who had made himself comfortable lying across the desk, reluctantly got up and vacated the area, glancing over at Danny with his glass eye before laying on the hearthstones. Putting down the letter he was reading, Snape took out a piece of paper to write Danyelle a note.

"It should be a rather entertaining game tomorrow, provided there aren't any incidents like there was last year," Snape commented as he began writing.

"Don't worry sir, there won't be," Danny said. "I'll make sure of that." Snape paused as if he was going to say something when another knock rattled the door and he looked up to see Craw standing there.

"Not ready yet?" she asked in an almost exasperated tone.

"This'll just take a moment," Snape assured her, getting up to grab something off the shelf. "While you're waiting, will you run these up to McGonagall?" he asked, going over to the door to speak to her. Danny strained to hear but couldn't really make out what they were talking about, peering over on the desk to see if the note for her was ready. As she did, she happened to spy the letter that he was reading when she came in. Curiosity getting the better of her, she glanced over her shoulder to make sure they weren't looking before quickly scanning it.

There were a couple of book lots that went for the outrageous sum of 2500, but unfortunately they were both bought by an anonymous bidder. If Janus Craw's journal was sold at all, I'm sure it was in one of those lots, but it's going to take some work to try and get that information from the auctioneer's, in this case, Gringotts Bank. ~Sirius

Janus Craw's journal? Sold at an auction? Danny pondered that a moment, wondering if Caprica knew about it yet. But her thoughts were interrupted as Snape came back over to finish the note.

"I couldn't help but to notice that things seem to have changed dramatically for you this year," Snape said. "Strange after all of the trouble you had last year with Amadeus that he so willingly stepped out of the way for you to become captain. I would have thought that would be out of character for him," he said, a question in his voice.

"I guess he's finally learned how to recognize a born leader when he sees one," Danny answered. Snape began to hand her the note but pulled it back as she reached out, getting her attention.

"Just a little free advice from your advisor before you go," he said, his face expressionless but his gaze steady on her. "Amadeus may be willing to step out of the way when he is pressured, but that doesn't mean he won't be looking for opportunities to turn his position around. I wouldn't turn my back on him for a moment, if I were you."

Danny nodded slowly. She hadn't realized it had been so obvious what had happened, but then Snape never seemed to miss much when it came to what was going on in the house.

"I'll keep that in mind, sir," she said, taking the note. "Thank you," she added, heading out. Jennifer appeared in the door a moment later, looking back down the corridor as she put on her gloves.

"No trouble, I hope?" Jennifer asked curiously at Severus' solemn face.

"Nothing out of the ordinary," Severus replied, grabbing his cloak as they went home for the day.

Halloween arrived cloudy and cold but the mood in the school was filled with excitement, thanks to the game and the feast to follow. Jennifer couldn't help but notice that the ghosts around the castle seemed stirred up even more as usual this time of year.

"I suppose it'd be tempting fate to have two quiet Halloweens in a row?" Jennifer commented to Severus as they paused in the hall, hearing Peeves laughing in the distance, expecting a crash to follow. When the crash didn't come, Severus resumed his stride towards the Pitch.

"Since I no longer have forest patrols, I think I'll join you and Hermione in the halls tonight. There is definitely something brewing." Severus said.

"Perhaps we're just getting paranoid in our old age," Jennifer chuckled. At the Quidditch Pitch the two of them separated. Jennifer walked down to the lower benches to sit with the Gryffindor students, while Severus went up to the Slytherin box. Jennifer couldn't help but grin when she saw Alvin out on the field. Rolanda had been trying to talk him into refereeing for months, and apparently her efforts finally paid off. Jennifer couldn't help but be a little nervous about this game, remembering all too well what had happened last year when Corey nearly lost his life. As if she wasn't tense enough, she felt a cold drop of water hit her face as it started to sprinkle, just when the two teams left their gates.

Corey, for his part, didn't seem the least bit worried. Rolanda had come by before the start of the game and thoroughly checked all of their equipment and had found no problems with them. Perry Dalance led them out as the crowd began to cheer, Corey and Doug twisting upside down and waving towards the Gryffindor stands and hearing their names announced by Taylor up in the teacher's box. It was when Danny's name was announced that the crowd really went wild as she easily spun into a pretzel knot and out as she passed the Slytherin box, waving to her cousin Draco. Katie had looked back at the other Seeker with a frown but was quickly reassured by Doug, who had flown up beside her and cheered her on before taking his position. He then grinned at Corey, giving him the thumbs up as he looked across at the other team.

Hatred flashed in Amadeus' eyes when their gazes met, but Corey nodded with mocking respect before turning his attention on Professor Archibald, standing below.

With a solid kick on the trunk, Archibald released the Snitch and Bludgers and threw the Quaffle up. It was immediately grabbed by Juniper Lydian, who sped off with it before Baylor and the Starling Twins had time to react.

Amadeus hadn't missed a beat, flying his broom up to meet one of the Bludgers as it came back down and smacking it towards the Gryffindor Chasers as the rest of them joined the pursuit.

Doug was the first to Beater reach the second Bludger, passing it downfield in hopes of distracting the Slytherin Keeper Janders Box long enough for Juniper to make her throw. Just then, Juniper veered straight up from the rings, surprising everyone at the sudden move. Before Box could react, she circled around the rest of the Chasers and dove below them as they tried futilely to follow, then launched the Quaffle through the lowest ring, the crowd clapping in appreciation at the play.

Lisa and Liam had the ball, passing it back and forth as they made their way up the Pitch. Corey knew they weren't to be trifled with. Pushing his now-soaked hair out of his face, Corey waited for the Bludger to come charging back before taking control of it, aiming straight between them. But as the Bludger neared, they suddenly split up and Liam sped the Quaffle towards the highest ring. Having experienced the twins' tactics before, Perry hadn't missed that last pass between and managed to stop the Quaffle before it entered the ring, batting it towards the Gryffindor Chasers who quickly took it towards the other end of the Pitch.

A flicker of light flashed in front of Corey, followed by a low rumble. Alvin blew his whistle twice, shouting at the teams the moment the next point was scored, declaring lightning rules in effect.

Corey frowned, knowing that meant they couldn't go higher than the canopy of the Quidditch boxes where the lightning rods were placed. It was definitely going to reduce his overall maneuverability. It was also going to make life difficult for the Seekers, for the Snitch would likely cross that border many times, mindlessly unaware of the lightning. Crossing the border had the penalty of automatically giving the other team the Quaffle, so the Chasers especially lowered their flying height as Roger threw out the ball to Lisa. It also meant a longer wait time to get control of a wayward Bludger, which was going to make things more of a challenge for the Beaters as well.

Danny immediately lowered her broom closer to the ground, frowning. The lightning would get worse before it got better, she thought, counting the seconds in between the flashes and the thunder, and the rain was pouring now. Every time the light flickered, she thought she spied the Snitch only to realize it was just a reflection. Katie moved suddenly and Danny hesitated, wondering if she too had a false start, until another flash of lightning revealed the golden ball in front of them.

Corey, catching the two Seekers' movements out of the corner of his eye, pushed forward to get to an incoming Bludger, hitting it across Danny's path. Instinctively Danny dove, barely pulling up just inches above the field before ascending again towards the Snitch, desperately trying to keep from losing it. Just as she had caught up to Katie, the Snitch went above the line and the two of them had to break off.

Across the Pitch, Juniper and the Gryffindor Chasers were proving to be more than a match for the Slytherins in the harsh conditions. The restrictions had slowed them down and limited their normal plays, and none of them really felt like playing now.

"Don't just hover there, find that horrid thing so we can end the game!" Lisa shouted as she passed on their way back up the Pitch.

Danny, determined to see it through, coasted around the field near where the Snitch had disappeared, dodging another incoming Bludger from Doug. Just then, lighting flashed and a very loud crack of thunder sounded very close indeed.

In that instant, Danny saw someone standing in the middle of the field. Blinking from the rain, she took another quick glance around, coasting nearer to the spot she had seen the figure. That was when she found herself looking at the ghost of a girl about her age. She was wearing Quidditch robes and a Ravenclaw patch, Danny realized, carrying a ghostly broom in one hand. In the other, she had the Snitch, tossing it up and down like a normal ball and watching the Slytherin thoughtfully.

"You're not going to get it, you know," she said, sounding bitter. "If you try, you'll only end up like me. Would you like that?" Not waiting for an answer, the girl threw it back up into the air, and as Danny looked up towards it, the haunted image faded completely away.

Katie flew above her head on a beeline for the Snitch, speeding towards it a lot higher than she should have, and Danny felt a strange chill down her back. Leaning forward on her broom. she sped not towards the Snitch, but towards Katie, grabbing hold of her from behind just before she reached the ball, pulling the girl and her broom down with her. If there had been a penalty call, Danny had not heard, for a streak of lightning crackled down just then, blazing over in an arch to the nearest box and dissipating on the rod. The two girls, lying on the muddy turf, looked at each other shakily before getting back on their brooms.

The Snitch was much lower now, spinning about in the circle near the middle of the field not a yard off the ground, and as the girls sped forward, Katie pushed ahead, grasping the golden ball tightly in her hand. The Gryffindor crowd broke out in a cheer, but to Danny the cheer sounded subdued, and not because she had lost her first game at Hogwarts. Instead she gazed toward the center of the pitch, wondering about what had just happened.

By the time they had gotten changed it was nearly time for the Halloween feast. Amadeus had come down long before Danny and had already gathered a group around him.

"If anyone doubted my captain skills, they shouldn't now," Amadeus said. Danny paused at a distance to listen, her jaw clamped shut in annoyance. "After that long winning streak, we lose it the first game she's captain. And she gets on me about being rough with the other teams and what does she do? She knocks their Seeker completely off her broom, and she still doesn't get the Snitch." Exhaling, Danny walked over to the team, Amadeus biting his tongue.

"There you are, Nelson. Bad luck today. Bet you had trouble in the rain…"

"Can it, Amadeus," Danny snapped, sitting down. "I don't buy your lines. But if you have any criticism about the way I run things, now's the time," she said, a flash of fire in her eyes. Amadeus shook his head. "Good. I don't know if you deserve any messages from my cousin or not, but if you, Baylor, and Wyatt meet me in the common room later, I may have something for you."

"What did happen to you out there, anyhow, Danny? One minute you looked like you were dazed and the next you were tackling Katie," Lisa asked.

But before Danny could have time to answer, the rest of the professors had come in, followed by Headmaster Dumbledore. Instead of sitting down, McGonagall chimed her glass and the students quickly settled down.

"I just wanted to compliment the Gryffindor and Slytherin teams for the game today, for they both played very well under very harsh conditions," Dumbledore said. "I most especially want to acknowledge Danyelle Nelson, for her quick thinking near the end of the game assisting Katie Marrer and preventing a terrible accident. So, I'd like to go ahead and award twenty points to Slytherin for that."

Danyelle smiled as the table broke out in cheers, Amadeus clapping less enthusiastically beside her. At the Gryffindor table they were clapping heartily as well, but Doug couldn't help but feel slightly annoyed and told Corey as much while they were eating.

"We finally beat Slytherin after all this time and what happens? They get points for it," Doug sighed, gazing at his caramel apple. "I am very glad Katie's alright, though."

"I wonder how Danny knew about the lightning before it happened?" Corey asked, looking over at her. Catching his glance, Danny made a motion with her hands, and Corey nodded to her. "I think we're going to find out. She wants to see us after the feast."

"What was that?" Perry looked over from where he was talking to Gail. "We have to go straight to the common rooms after the feast, remember? Don't you even dare think about it. I'll tell Dave what you're up to."

"Oh, don't be such a tattletale, Perry. We'll only be a minute, not long enough to starch a prefect's robes about," Doug snorted. "As if you and Gail haven't been doing your fair share of lingering in the halls lately."

"Ignore him, Perry, he's just jealous," Gail said. "Good thing Katie dealt well with the rain today, the two of you seemed to be falling all over yourselves out there."

"I'd like to have seen you do any better with rain pouring down your face."

"Doug, calm down, it's all right," Corey said. "Don't worry, Perry, we won't linger long enough to get in trouble."

After filling up on ice cream, the two boys wandered down the hall, watching the doors until Taylor and Danny came out, joining them. A curious moan came from behind them and they looked around. Seeing nothing, they turned to each other again, listening to Danny's recount of the game. It didn't take Danny long to fill them in to what happened. Taylor especially seemed intent when he heard the girl had a Ravenclaw robe on, but he had no more idea than they did who she might have been.

"Why hadn't she ever appeared before, I wonder?" Taylor asked thoughtfully.

"Maybe she just appears on certain days. Like Halloween, and all of the extra energy might have woken her up," Danny guessed. "But from what she said, I gather she died in a storm much like this one."

"The storm's gotten worse too," Corey pointed out, nodding out the window at the beating rain. "I bet if this castle had electricity, it'd be out by now."

"Do you suppose Caprica knows who the girl might have been?" Danny said. Corey looked at her and shook his head.

"Oh, no. We're sure to get in trouble if we're caught there tonight, and there are going to be professors on patrol. It's just going to have to wait until the morning." Just then there was a loud thud as if something heavy had hit the ground and the students jumped slightly, looking around again. "In fact, I think it's high time we went to our rooms."

"Would you guys mind walking me up?" Taylor asked nervously. "I'm not sure I want to walk these corridors alone tonight."

"No, I don't suppose I blame you," Corey admitted. "All right, we'll walk you and Danny back first, since there's two of us going to Gryffindor. That way none of us have to be alone."

"I think you're making a bit of a deal over nothing, but I'll go along with it," Danny said. "After all, we know most of the ghosts here are fairly harmless, and we've all learned our share of Defense spells for more malignant ones."

"What about the Bloody Baron? He doesn't seem all that harmless to me," Taylor said.

"I think he even unnerves Mom a bit," Corey agreed.

"Don't worry, I'm a Slytherin, I'll protect you," Danny promised them.

It was just as they had gotten to the corridor that led to the Ravenclaw dormitories when they heard a crash that sounded like dishes breaking, followed up by a giggle.

"Peeves," Doug said with certainty. "We better let the professors know he's up to no good again." But apparently the poltergeist had heard them for he suddenly hovered in, looking over at them.

"Naughty students not in their rooms yet. Naughty, naughty, naughty!" Peeves hummed delightedly.

He suddenly faded out as a paddle suddenly appeared from down the corridor, hitting Doug on the backside with a loud whack, making him cry out and rub his backside. The paddle hurried to catch Taylor too. But Corey raised his hands, pointing at the poltergeist. Remembering a spell his year in sparring club, he gazed at the troublesome spirit and intoned, "Preoccupy!"

Peeves suddenly looked blank, and then suddenly began looking at his hands as if seeing them for the first time. Then he wondered where his navel went.

"I didn't think that spell worked on ghosts," Doug said.

"I don't think it's going to last, so we'd better clear out before he comes out of it," Corey answered, heading them down the hall. Another round of lightning flashed in the hall and Dame Rachel floated out of a wall, looking at the students with a frown.

"And just where are you going?" she asked.

"To bed," Taylor said quickly. "Good night, all," he told them. "I'll ask around and see if anyone knows who that girl was," he added, walking past the ghost and up to the painting to the Ravenclaw dorm rooms.

"Excuse us, Dame Rachel, we need to see Danny back to her room," Corey said, before walking back the other way. The ghost looked after them thoughtfully for a moment before continuing on her way, disappearing through a wall.

"This school has gone completely mad tonight," Doug decided, hearing chains rattling in the distance.

"It's as if every ghost in the castle is awake and active," Danny agreed as they hurried down the back stairs. "But there's nothing to worry about, really. I mean, if any of them were any real danger to students, they'd have been moved by now," Danny reassured them.

Just then they heard a howl as the Bloody Baron appeared zooming down the hall. Corey and Doug screamed loudly and dove as he barreled past them, for he probably would have gone through them had they stayed where they were. Danny sighed and shook her heads at them, glancing over at the Baron.

"You shouldn't be in the hallways! All students were to report directly to their dorms," the Baron boomed, eyeing the two Gryffindors dangerously.

"Excuse me," a voice said from behind them. The three looked up to see Caprica making her way into the picture, only there was something rather odd about her. That was when Corey realized that she was wearing a mustache. "Baron, dear, could you please go get your servant? He is busy redecorating all of the portraits with mustaches and beards," she said, sounding exasperated.

"I cannot seem to turn my back on him for a moment," the Baron snarled before hovering down the corridor, apparently forgetting all about the three students.

"There now, two birds with one stone. Come now, hurry and get her back, boys. I'll get the Fat Lady to cover for you the first bed check, but you must get to your rooms without any further delay. This is not a night for students to be out." Caprica said.

"What is this all about, Professor? Why are all these ghosts stirred up?" Corey asked.

"Nothing for you to be concerned about, dears. I will tell you all about it later, but for now, be off with you!" she said with an unusually stern face.

"I can walk back from here, it's just down the hall," Danny assured them. "You two just get to your rooms before you run into anyone else."

"Dead or alive," Doug agreed.

Waiting until she disappeared down the hall, the two boys turned and climbed up the stairs, nearly in a jog by the time they got up to the right floor. As they crossed to the other wing of the castle, skirting passed the main stair, the two of them suddenly stopped in sheer surprise when they saw dozens of ghosts of every sort, some very familiar, others they had never seen before, gliding down the stairs, visible all the way down the spiral. Many of them stopped to greet the paintings, who waved in return. Corey grabbed Doug's sleeve, breaking him out of an awed stupor. The two of them raced to the painting of the Fat Lady, now bearded, who frowned at them as they neared.

"There you are! It's about time you got back. I rather don't like skirting around bed counts when they ask me," she said, opening for them without the bother of a password.

"What did you tell them?" Corey asked.

"I told them everyone was accounted for. I didn't tell them everyone was inside," she explained. "Caprica and you boys owe me one. You can start by cleaning off this beard tomorrow."

Doug and Corey knew better than to argue, a little afraid she might amend her report to include they had come in late. Instead they went in to see most of the Gryffindors had gathered around the fire, while Nearly Headless Nick was telling them ghost stories.

"I don't know about you, but I've had enough ghost stories for one night," Doug said. Agreeing wholeheartedly, Corey went up to bed.

Jennifer finished her second pass and met Severus near her office, shaking her head slightly in amazement.

"I've never seen them so worked up. Have you ever seen them like this?" Jennifer asked him.

"I've seen them stirred up before, but never quite to this extent," Severus admitted. "Dumbledore is aware of the situation, however. Everyone accounted for?"

"Yes, thank goodness. I have a feeling all of this racket would unnerve nearly any one of them. In fact, I'm not so crazy about it myself," Jennifer admitted with a slight chuckle. "We'd better check on Hermione." Severus nodded and the two of them went up the stairs and down the main corridor. A loud screeching wail rang out then stopped as quickly as it started.

"It sounds like the Baron caught up with Peeves," Severus said calmly.

"It sounds like they were on this floor too," Jennifer added. Then they heard someone calling Jennifer's name and looked back to see Hermione walking towards them.

"You need to see this," Hermione said seriously, heading down the side hall. "I knew Hogwarts had a lot of paintings, but you should see the paintings in the Great Hall."

"There aren't any paintings in the Great Hall, are there?"

"There are now," Hermione said, opening the back door wide enough so that the other two could peer in. Every inch of wall in sight was squeezed with a painting, the different sizes fitting like stones in a building. But even that paled in comparison to the inhabitants of the room, for floating through the room at various heights was the largest host of ghosts that any of them had seen. As they stood there staring, a ghost came up beside them, clearing his throat.

"Excuse me," Sir Nicolas said with a smile. "Running late, you know. I promised to tell stories to the Gryffindors first. I was on a roll too, until Willowby and Brim came in late and ruined one of my stories just when it was getting to the scary part. Ah well, couldn't miss the fun here anyhow. Pardon me," he said cheerfully, walking through the wall by the door. Jennifer and Severus squinted at each other, exchanging suspicious looks.

"Oh, dear, it looks as if Professor Dusthorn is throwing one of her parties again," Dumbledore said from directly behind them. They cleared the doorway so he could enter, gazing around at all the spirits. The tables had been pushed back to the walls and filled with very unappetizing looking morsels, while above, the denizens of the paintings crowded around those that had food and games in them.

Above the mantle, Caprica had finally succeeded in borrowing the chessboard painting and was playing a game across from her friend from the empty classroom. It was his turn, however, and was taking his time about it, so Caprica's eyes wandered around the room until she spied the four living folks in the back of the hall.

"Oh, hello, Albus! Come on in, guys, Happy Halloween. You know, Albus, we could really use a few more feast table paintings around the school. And maybe a croquet field, if it's not too much trouble?" Caprica beamed at him.

"I thought you promised you were going to tell me when you were going to throw another party?" the Headmaster scolded her gently.

"I'm sorry, Albus, it was a spur of the moment thing," Caprica said. "All of the ghosts were worked up over all the goings on lately, so I thought with all their chain rattling, a diversion was in order. And, since I knew you'd send all the students up early, I also knew the hall would be empty."

"Check," the wizard she was playing chess against said.

"Oh dear, now look what happens when I get distracted," Caprica said.

"How ever did the school survive having a half-pooka as a Headmistress?" Severus asked starkly.

"I heard that, and that's Headmaster Dusthorn to you," Caprica said in a huff, finally making a move. "And here I was thinking you could stay and we could throw you a birthday party after midnight, and you start picking on my heritage."

"That's quite all right, and if you don't mind, I could do without the general announcements on personal dates as well," Severus said.

"Check," the wizard said. Caprica glowered at him.

"Are you cheating?" she asked

"Of course not," the wizard said.

"Would you tell me if you were?" Caprica asked. The wizard smiled.

"Of course not," the wizard said.

"Wait a minute. Now I know where I recognize you from," Jennifer said suddenly, staring at the two of them. "You're Professor Bedivere O'Laren. You're the Seeker!"

"Guilty as charged," he beamed at her.

"Aha! I knew you were cheating!" Caprica said.

"I was speaking with Janus' descendant," Bedivere said amusedly to Caprica.

"Bedivere O'Laren, the famous Symbologist?" Hermione said excitedly. "You and I have to talk."

"Hermione, he's only a painting, let's not get carried away," Severus told her.

"Professor Snape, even in the Muggle world, there is no such thing as 'only' a painting. A painting is a symbol of both the artist's soul and that of his subject. Sometimes it can symbolize much more than even that, depending on how he wishes to represent it," Bedivere said calmly, waiting for Caprica to make her move.

"Is this a private party or can anyone crash it?" Rolanda asked from where she stood near the main doors. Beside her was Argus Filch, who was looking none too pleased for being there. "We were on a missing painting hunt," Rolanda explained.

"Don't worry, we're not missing, we just decided to decorate in here for a change," Caprica said cheerfully. "Come on in, there's plenty of room, if you don't mind a ghost walking through you from time to time that is," she said.

"We'll speak of this in the morning, Caprica. Please make sure everyone gets back to where they should be before dawn," Dumbledore said. "At least it will keep them all out of trouble in the hallways," he noted to Severus and Jennifer. As he went out the back door, the head table was filled with sandwiches, drinks, and other humanly edible items. Jennifer and Hermione hurried over to it.

"Jennifer, what are you doing?" Severus asked.

"Joining the party," Jennifer said, picking over the trays.

"I'll be right back! I'm going to go get Alvin and see if Filius is willing to get his band out," Rolanda said with a wink.

"Ah music! Lovely idea!" Nicolas said, tipping his cup in their direction. "I can't think of a better way to spend the evening, can you?"

Severus knew better to answer that, especially when it was obvious he wasn't going to be able to pull Jennifer away. Shrugging in resignation, he walked over to her side and decided to make the best of it, getting himself a glass.