Chapter Five:  The Halloween Ball

Helgarda looked at herself in the mirror.  She didn't feel like celebrating; she had spent much of the past hour weeping in her room.  Headmaster Dumbledore, that kindest of men, had tried to spare her further pain, but he had told her the truth: someone had gotten her out of the way deliberately.  It was his opinion that someone, perhaps the barbarians, wished to jeopardize Ungarn's tenuous hold on his kingdom.  With his powerful daughter out of the way, they would plan to attack again as soon as possible.  The Headmaster felt that there was magic afoot in Nordland; magic that had not been wielded in centuries, but things were evidently changing.

"So," he told Helgarda, " we know that magic can be used for good or for evil.  I would not have thought that the barbarians were skilful enough to remove you from your world and bring you here – to the modern-day Wizarding World, with its immense power. We must find out who would benefit from your absence."

On the morrow, she would meet Professor Snape, who would give her the Veritaserum to drink, in the hope that it would sharpen her recollection of the moments before she was torn away from her father's side.  Then, she would meet the Runes Mistress, Dame Angharad, and between them all, the Headmaster, Professor McGonagall, the Druid and the potion, there would be an answer to her problem.  So she hoped.  Odin, she thought, if this is your doing I want to know why.  What have I done?  What am I supposed to do, or not do?  She felt tears approaching again.  That would never do; these good and generous people were doing everything they could to help her.

She turned around and regarded herself from all possible angles. It was her second full day at Hogwarts, and she was invited to attend the great celebration of what some call Samhain and others call Halloween.  It would be an insult to her hosts not to attend, no matter how she felt.  "What do you think?" she asked the mirror.

"If you want to know the truth, dear, I'd take off that knitted tunic.  It doesn't suit with the dress; it spoils the line."

Helgarda started to pull off the heavy woollen tunic, and then stopped.  "You don't think I'll look too immodest without it?"

"Pshaw!  You're a pretty young girl; why not let others see how pretty you are?  There, now, pull that bodice down smoothly."  Helgarda did as the mirror told her, and found herself blushing.  "I'm practically overflowing this bodice!" she said.

"No, you're not!  It's quite acceptable to show a bit of bosom, and since you're tall, no-one will try to look down your front to see what they shouldn't, so it's perfectly all right!"

Helgarda had to admit that the mirror was right.  She looked regal in the long dark blue gown with its low-scooped bodice and full queen's sleeves.  It needed something, though…there was a little tap on her door.  "Enter," she said.

Olaf came bustling in with an armload of towels for the bathroom.  Right behind him was another House Elf, somewhat more feminine in appearance.  Olaf indicated his companion:  "This is Winky, Princess.  Winky is come to help you get ready for the ball."

Little Winky walked all around Helgarda.  "Princess," she said in her squeaky little voice, "I is thinking you need something with that gown; I is bringing it."  She snapped her fingers and disappeared, and a second or two later, a loud POP! announced her arrival.  She carried a wooden box over her head, holding it high although it did look rather heavy. Putting the box down on Helgarda's bed, she opened it and removed a long sash, or girdle, of a beautiful dark blue tapestry fabric with gold embroidery.  She tied the sash around Helgarda's hips, arranging the long ends smoothly one over the other in front.  A flash of green light from her gnarled fingers, and a gold brooch fastened the girdle in the front.  Winky stepped back to admire her work:  "Better!  Much, much better! You is tying your eating dagger onto the girdle, Princess," said she.  Then she held the opened wooden box up to Helgarda.

"Are these for me?"  Helgarda lifted a beautiful gold bracelet from the box.  She put it on her left wrist; it fitted smoothly as if it had been made for her measure.  Then, she selected an interesting worked gold cloak clasp.  The design reminded her of the mythical bushy-maned beasts her mother's kinsman had caused to be painted on the walls of his Hall, or the catlike creature on the red and gold banner above Hermione's table in the Great Hall.

Winky fastened the clasp to Helgarda's blue cloak, climbed up on the bed and put the cloak around her shoulders.  "You sits down now, Princess, and Winky does your hair," the little elf said.

Helgarda smiled.  Winky reminded her of her mother's old servant, Braunhilde, who was bossy, officious, outspoken and loving.  She sat down on the small chair next to her bed.  Winky did some things to her hair; Helgarda couldn't really tell what she did, but it only took a few minutes.  "Look, please, Princess," Winky said, taking her sleeve in her small hand and tugging her towards the mirror.  Helgarda gaped at her reflection.  Her hair had been arranged into a stately braided crown, with long, loosely curled strands lying on her shoulders and flowing down her back.  Her gold coronet circled her brow, as always, and the effect was at once regal and endearing. 

"You is beautiful, Princess," said Olaf.  "Yes, beautiful, beautiful," echoed Winky.  The little she-elf made a mystical pass with her hands, and iridescent mist bloomed in the air and then dusted Helgarda's hair, shoulders and bosom.  "Just a little sparklies, Princess," said Winky.

Helgarda took her leave:  "Thank you, thank you, Olaf and Winky, and you also, Mirror.  I feel like a queen of olden times."  She closed the door behind her, and paced along the corridor on her way to the moving staircases. She did indeed feel better.

"Miss Helgarda!"  She stopped, and saw Hermione running towards her.  "Oh, you look fabulous!" gasped Hermione.  "You look like a fairy queen!" She made a circling motion with her hand, and Helgarda revolved in front of her.

"Thanks, Hermione, my mirror and two House Elves did it all; I wouldn't have known how to begin.  I'm unused to such elaborate clothing; we are plain people."

Hermione dimpled.  "Wait till Hagrid sees you!  He'll positively foam at the mouth!" 

"Oh, dear," said Helgarda.  "Do we really want him to do that?"

:"I meant, he'll be struck speechless and fall madly in love with you, if he isn't already," stated Hermione.  "Actually, I think all the men will go ga-ga over you!"

Helgarda frowned.  "What is that, 'ga-ga?"  Does it mean they'll go berserk?"

"Well, most of them anyway.  If they don't they're all too old and worn out." 

Harry and Ron met Helgarda and Hermione in the corridor.  "We've got to give Hagrid his medicine," whispered Ron.  "I can sneak it to him before everyone sits down to dinner."  Hermione and Harry nodded.

Harry blushed as he looked at Helgarda.  "Wow," he said simply.  "Just – wow."

"Yeah," echoed Ron.  "Wow."  He didn't want his friend to feel left out: "You, too, Hermione, you look super." 

Hermione was wearing the costume of a Salem Witch, including a white apron, white cap and a big scarlet A on the bib of the apron. 

Harry and Ron wore their interpretations of humorous costumes:  Harry was upholstered in round cloth circles of many colours, as Bertie Botts Every Flavour Beans, and Ron was draped in grey rags, with a blood-red kerchief tied around his neck. Nearly Headless Nick  himself could not have done better. Together, the four walked to the Great Hall.