Chapter 14
It was Halloween, and since it had gone so well last year, the Halloween costume ball was tonight.
Down int eh Slytherin Dungeons Methos and Severus were putting the finishing touches on their costumes. Dress all in black, with his hair tousled and teased to stay in a crazy halo around his head, Severus was Morpheous, King of the Dreaming. The Sandman. Methos was dressed all win white, his hair died white for the occasion, his hair in the same style as Severus. Hanging around his neck was a large emerald. He was Daniel, second King of the Dreaming. The Sandman.
Up in the Gryffindor tower Ron was meeting Hermione in the common room, ready to escort her to the great hall. Hermione was dressed in a dazzling medieval gown, a golden tiara in her hair, her dress a shimmering ruby. Ron, her prince, was dressed in gold with red trim, a golden crown with Rubys on his head. They were the King and Queen of Gryffindor.
Ginny followed behind in net stockings and combat boots. A patchwork skirt, a leather jacket and a bathing suit top. Her hair was charmed to change colors and lengths at random. A magical trail of flying fish followed behind. She was Delirium.
Over in Draco's Rooms Harry and Draco were just finishing dressing. Draco was radiant in a shimmering white tunic, gold wrap up sandals, belt and circlet on his brow. His eyes were made up with white and glitter, making his pale eyes impossibly wide. With a simple spell his fake wings were attached and would move slightly as real wings would. Harry was dressed as a 19th Century Frenchman (think Lestat from Interview with a Vampire) with black leather boots, tight breeches, a billowy ruffled shirt and a black and gold embroidered vest. Out from between his unruly locks poked two horns made of bone, and from the seat of his pants came a lifelike tail. A black cane with a silver demon head handle completed the look. They were off.
In their rooms, Remus and Sirius were getting ready to leave. Taking their cure from American Pop Culture, Remus pulled on his hokey mask and picked up his machete. Sirius stood by the door in his white William Shatner mask with the crazy hair holding a really big kitchen knife. For the first time in history Jason Voorhees was face to face with Michael Myers.
In their room Percy and Oliver faced each other and adjusted the other's string tie. They pulled on their long jackets and fedoras. The last step was to put their guns into their shoulder holsters. Arm in arm these two twenties gangsters left for the ball.
They were the last to arrive. A few couples were already dancing, while the other milled in groups or hovered by the snack bar. Over by the punch bowl Duncan MacLeod (dressed as himself in his tartan kilt) was talking to Minerva (dressed as Catwoman, of Batman fame.) By the stage a playboy bunny, later identified as Cassandra, was dancing with Dumbledore, who was dressed as Hugh Heffner. Methos and Severus sat with Harry, Draco, Ron and Hermione, while Ginny danced with her fish nearby. Percy and Oliver joined them until the song played a better song for them to dance to.
The doors banged open and smoke poured through. The adults all stood in alarm until the Weasley twins bounced through the door. Or should I say, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. Percy put his head in his hands.
"Oh, God, why are they here? Were they even invited?" Oliver shrugged at him.
"Who knows. Who cares. C'mon. Lets dance." Oliver pulled Percy to his feet and out onto the dance floor to dance to the "Zoot Suit Riot." The twins made their way over to Methos and Severus. The Hatter spoke first.
"That was a mean trick you pulled."
"Yeah."
Methos smirked.
"You didn't get anything you didn't deserve." Nice costumes, by the way, but wouldn't Tweedledee and Tweedledum be more appropriate?" They made a face at him.
"Oh ha ha."
"Very witty."
On the dance floor Percy kicked out, supported by Oliver, and flew up, then down through Oliver's legs where he spun over, jumped up and went on dancing. The crowd that was forming around them cheered them on.
Unknown by any of them, including the foxtrot-ing Dumbeldore, the attack had begun. Unseen the by the wards a single rat snuck past the defenses. Once inside the building Pettigrew made his way to aside the entrance to the Great Hall. Spying the Horror Movie killers s smiled, waves his want, and whispered a spell.
Wormtail also noticed the array of fighting capable costumes around them, and unknown to Pettigrew, made the spell go in a sweeping arc, not a strait line.
The two initial targets seemed to swell, Jason more than Michael, as their bodies gained the extra muscle and weight. They stood suddenly, blades in hand, looking for prey.
Draco's wings were all at once suddenly a part of him and moved as he thought them too. His pale eyes turned opaque white and glowed with an inner light. Harry's tail attached as well, and his emerald eyes seemed to glow with the light of a thousand hellfires.
The Endless seemed to swell and shrink at once, their entire perceptions changing. Severus' dark eyes grew all black and reflected the night sky, full of starts. Methos' eyes did the same. Ginny stopped her dance to watch her older brothers with mismatched eyes.
"WhAt fUn! YoU'rE BacK! WE cAN PlAy NOW." A fish swam by. "OooH! preTTy!" and she wandered off.
Across the room Jason demolished a table with his machete while Michael chased some Hufflepuff 7th year girls. Draco spread his wings and flew above the crowds. Angels watched but could not actively interfere with mortal lives. Harry, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair a lit a cigar. Why should he try and help? This was bloody chaos. He loved this!
Ginny chased her fish across the dance floor doing the cha-cha. Jason was surrounded by her fish and, confused and annoyed, lashed out at them wildly. Percy and Oliver, also hit by the curse, couldn't care less and kept dancing until Michael Myers slashed at them. They both reached into their holsters, brought their guns to bear, and emptied their led into the monster. He fell, smoking. They blew out their guns and went on dancing.
Minerva, who by now realized what was going on, rushed over to "Michael" and administered the counter curse just as he sat up, healed and ready to round two. He shrunk as Michael left his body and started to lilt, as if dazed.
"Minerva?" came Sirius's muffled voice from behind the mask.
"Yes." The mask tilted to one side as he cocked his head.
"Do I want to know why you're dressed all in vinyl?" She scowled at him.
"Now is not the time for cheep jokes. People are becoming their costumes, and in all the confusing the Death Eaters may attack." There came a crash like thunder from the door outside the castle.
"Well.there they are."
"Let us handle this." They turned to see the Lords of the Dreaming standing there, Morpheous blending with the shadows and Daniel encased in light.
"It's not our way to interfere with the actions of man."
"But without man there would be no endless, and there would be no man without endless. Andwe have been, on occasion, known to make exceptions."
"We protect our own existence."
Minerva nodded and the Lords disappeared from sight. She turned to see Jason begin to tire of fighting the fish and quickly cast the counter spell. He shrunk immediately and dropped the machete, pulling his mask off. Delirium pouted.
"YoU tOoK awaY My tOy! That WasN'T vERY Nice!"
"I'm sorry Ginny." Minerva replied.
"I'm noT gInNy! I'M DelErIUm?" and she flew away in a swirl of fish and butterflies. Minerva simply sighed and began unspelling the others, starting with Dumbledore, who was feeling up his bunny. Somehow she didn't think Cassandra would be too happy when she returned to herself. With Remus and Sirius helping the ball was unfrozen and returned ot their natural state of mind not soon after the Death Eaters were dispatched.
***
The Death Eaters stood in a sea of black robes, a magical battering ram working at the door. A young girl appeared, dressed in a wide assortment of odd articles of clothing, her hair changing, and fish following behind. She sat on the ram as it moved.
"WeeeEEeeEeeeE!"
A man appeared beside her on either side. One was dressed all in white with an Emerald shining from his chest and he was everything yet nothing all at once, an abstract idea only comprehensible in dreams. The other was garbed in a black cloak that blew in the wind. His face was impossibly white next to that mess of black hair. He was dark and wild, a creature that could only exist in dreams, that haunted nightmares. Both held up a simple leather pouch and poured a generous amount of sand into their hands. Raising their hands in unison they blew, and the sparking sand blew into the minds of the assembled Death Eaters.
One by one they fell to sleep, lying where they stood. Some began to toss and turn; others twitch and cry, still others lay with pained expressions, unable to move. Dream had unleashes the nightmares.
They stayed trapped in dreams until the Aurors arrived.
Pettigrew, who had watched from the shadows, quietly transformed and slipped away. The voice of Wormtail was, for once quiet.
***
Draco drifted down after the ball had been changed back. He landed next to Harry.
"You didn't help them!"
"Neither did you."
"His law says I can't." Harry just stared at him, before slowly raking his eyes up Draco's body. "It wouldn't work, what you're thinking. Angels have no genetalia." Harry blinked and laughed.
"You are evil." As Draco smirked Minerva cast the spell to end his possession. They were human once more.
***
Morpheous turned turned to Delirium.
"Come on sister. It is time to go." Delirium stopped her play and hopped down, putting her hand in Dream's. Together the three walked back to the great hall.
As they entered they were hit with the counter curse. They wavered as the power left them. Ginny collapsed into Percy's arms.
"I'll take her to Madame Pomfrey." Percy said softly and gently carried his sister away. Methos and Severus leaned into each other, holding each other up. The power drain on them was more severe due to the amount of energy they used in their possessed state.
The doors burst open and all the Slytherins from the dorms (all first to third years and a few older students) flew in, their robes dripping wet. Severus made the effort and stood up strait.
"What is going on?" He growled softly. His weakened state left him rather grouchy.
"The dungeons are flooding. The lake is coming in."
"What?!" He demanded. The Slytherins cowered. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. The doors opened again and this time the Gryffindors from the tower entered.
"What happened?" McGonagall demanded, crossing her arms and looking very scary in her catsuit.
"There are holes in the tower. The wind is coming in." She simply pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows. "Brick sized holes" the children elaborated. Before McGonagall could say anything Dumbledore stepped in.
"The children will stay in here tonight." He began. "Oliver, you and Remus set up the beds. Severus, you and Adam take care of the Dungeons. Minerva and I will take the tower. The rest of the students, please return to your dorms. Thank you."
And they got to work and had the problems solved in a little under an hour, despite how tired they were.
TBC
It was Halloween, and since it had gone so well last year, the Halloween costume ball was tonight.
Down int eh Slytherin Dungeons Methos and Severus were putting the finishing touches on their costumes. Dress all in black, with his hair tousled and teased to stay in a crazy halo around his head, Severus was Morpheous, King of the Dreaming. The Sandman. Methos was dressed all win white, his hair died white for the occasion, his hair in the same style as Severus. Hanging around his neck was a large emerald. He was Daniel, second King of the Dreaming. The Sandman.
Up in the Gryffindor tower Ron was meeting Hermione in the common room, ready to escort her to the great hall. Hermione was dressed in a dazzling medieval gown, a golden tiara in her hair, her dress a shimmering ruby. Ron, her prince, was dressed in gold with red trim, a golden crown with Rubys on his head. They were the King and Queen of Gryffindor.
Ginny followed behind in net stockings and combat boots. A patchwork skirt, a leather jacket and a bathing suit top. Her hair was charmed to change colors and lengths at random. A magical trail of flying fish followed behind. She was Delirium.
Over in Draco's Rooms Harry and Draco were just finishing dressing. Draco was radiant in a shimmering white tunic, gold wrap up sandals, belt and circlet on his brow. His eyes were made up with white and glitter, making his pale eyes impossibly wide. With a simple spell his fake wings were attached and would move slightly as real wings would. Harry was dressed as a 19th Century Frenchman (think Lestat from Interview with a Vampire) with black leather boots, tight breeches, a billowy ruffled shirt and a black and gold embroidered vest. Out from between his unruly locks poked two horns made of bone, and from the seat of his pants came a lifelike tail. A black cane with a silver demon head handle completed the look. They were off.
In their rooms, Remus and Sirius were getting ready to leave. Taking their cure from American Pop Culture, Remus pulled on his hokey mask and picked up his machete. Sirius stood by the door in his white William Shatner mask with the crazy hair holding a really big kitchen knife. For the first time in history Jason Voorhees was face to face with Michael Myers.
In their room Percy and Oliver faced each other and adjusted the other's string tie. They pulled on their long jackets and fedoras. The last step was to put their guns into their shoulder holsters. Arm in arm these two twenties gangsters left for the ball.
They were the last to arrive. A few couples were already dancing, while the other milled in groups or hovered by the snack bar. Over by the punch bowl Duncan MacLeod (dressed as himself in his tartan kilt) was talking to Minerva (dressed as Catwoman, of Batman fame.) By the stage a playboy bunny, later identified as Cassandra, was dancing with Dumbledore, who was dressed as Hugh Heffner. Methos and Severus sat with Harry, Draco, Ron and Hermione, while Ginny danced with her fish nearby. Percy and Oliver joined them until the song played a better song for them to dance to.
The doors banged open and smoke poured through. The adults all stood in alarm until the Weasley twins bounced through the door. Or should I say, the Mad Hatter and the March Hare. Percy put his head in his hands.
"Oh, God, why are they here? Were they even invited?" Oliver shrugged at him.
"Who knows. Who cares. C'mon. Lets dance." Oliver pulled Percy to his feet and out onto the dance floor to dance to the "Zoot Suit Riot." The twins made their way over to Methos and Severus. The Hatter spoke first.
"That was a mean trick you pulled."
"Yeah."
Methos smirked.
"You didn't get anything you didn't deserve." Nice costumes, by the way, but wouldn't Tweedledee and Tweedledum be more appropriate?" They made a face at him.
"Oh ha ha."
"Very witty."
On the dance floor Percy kicked out, supported by Oliver, and flew up, then down through Oliver's legs where he spun over, jumped up and went on dancing. The crowd that was forming around them cheered them on.
Unknown by any of them, including the foxtrot-ing Dumbeldore, the attack had begun. Unseen the by the wards a single rat snuck past the defenses. Once inside the building Pettigrew made his way to aside the entrance to the Great Hall. Spying the Horror Movie killers s smiled, waves his want, and whispered a spell.
Wormtail also noticed the array of fighting capable costumes around them, and unknown to Pettigrew, made the spell go in a sweeping arc, not a strait line.
The two initial targets seemed to swell, Jason more than Michael, as their bodies gained the extra muscle and weight. They stood suddenly, blades in hand, looking for prey.
Draco's wings were all at once suddenly a part of him and moved as he thought them too. His pale eyes turned opaque white and glowed with an inner light. Harry's tail attached as well, and his emerald eyes seemed to glow with the light of a thousand hellfires.
The Endless seemed to swell and shrink at once, their entire perceptions changing. Severus' dark eyes grew all black and reflected the night sky, full of starts. Methos' eyes did the same. Ginny stopped her dance to watch her older brothers with mismatched eyes.
"WhAt fUn! YoU'rE BacK! WE cAN PlAy NOW." A fish swam by. "OooH! preTTy!" and she wandered off.
Across the room Jason demolished a table with his machete while Michael chased some Hufflepuff 7th year girls. Draco spread his wings and flew above the crowds. Angels watched but could not actively interfere with mortal lives. Harry, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair a lit a cigar. Why should he try and help? This was bloody chaos. He loved this!
Ginny chased her fish across the dance floor doing the cha-cha. Jason was surrounded by her fish and, confused and annoyed, lashed out at them wildly. Percy and Oliver, also hit by the curse, couldn't care less and kept dancing until Michael Myers slashed at them. They both reached into their holsters, brought their guns to bear, and emptied their led into the monster. He fell, smoking. They blew out their guns and went on dancing.
Minerva, who by now realized what was going on, rushed over to "Michael" and administered the counter curse just as he sat up, healed and ready to round two. He shrunk as Michael left his body and started to lilt, as if dazed.
"Minerva?" came Sirius's muffled voice from behind the mask.
"Yes." The mask tilted to one side as he cocked his head.
"Do I want to know why you're dressed all in vinyl?" She scowled at him.
"Now is not the time for cheep jokes. People are becoming their costumes, and in all the confusing the Death Eaters may attack." There came a crash like thunder from the door outside the castle.
"Well.there they are."
"Let us handle this." They turned to see the Lords of the Dreaming standing there, Morpheous blending with the shadows and Daniel encased in light.
"It's not our way to interfere with the actions of man."
"But without man there would be no endless, and there would be no man without endless. Andwe have been, on occasion, known to make exceptions."
"We protect our own existence."
Minerva nodded and the Lords disappeared from sight. She turned to see Jason begin to tire of fighting the fish and quickly cast the counter spell. He shrunk immediately and dropped the machete, pulling his mask off. Delirium pouted.
"YoU tOoK awaY My tOy! That WasN'T vERY Nice!"
"I'm sorry Ginny." Minerva replied.
"I'm noT gInNy! I'M DelErIUm?" and she flew away in a swirl of fish and butterflies. Minerva simply sighed and began unspelling the others, starting with Dumbledore, who was feeling up his bunny. Somehow she didn't think Cassandra would be too happy when she returned to herself. With Remus and Sirius helping the ball was unfrozen and returned ot their natural state of mind not soon after the Death Eaters were dispatched.
***
The Death Eaters stood in a sea of black robes, a magical battering ram working at the door. A young girl appeared, dressed in a wide assortment of odd articles of clothing, her hair changing, and fish following behind. She sat on the ram as it moved.
"WeeeEEeeEeeeE!"
A man appeared beside her on either side. One was dressed all in white with an Emerald shining from his chest and he was everything yet nothing all at once, an abstract idea only comprehensible in dreams. The other was garbed in a black cloak that blew in the wind. His face was impossibly white next to that mess of black hair. He was dark and wild, a creature that could only exist in dreams, that haunted nightmares. Both held up a simple leather pouch and poured a generous amount of sand into their hands. Raising their hands in unison they blew, and the sparking sand blew into the minds of the assembled Death Eaters.
One by one they fell to sleep, lying where they stood. Some began to toss and turn; others twitch and cry, still others lay with pained expressions, unable to move. Dream had unleashes the nightmares.
They stayed trapped in dreams until the Aurors arrived.
Pettigrew, who had watched from the shadows, quietly transformed and slipped away. The voice of Wormtail was, for once quiet.
***
Draco drifted down after the ball had been changed back. He landed next to Harry.
"You didn't help them!"
"Neither did you."
"His law says I can't." Harry just stared at him, before slowly raking his eyes up Draco's body. "It wouldn't work, what you're thinking. Angels have no genetalia." Harry blinked and laughed.
"You are evil." As Draco smirked Minerva cast the spell to end his possession. They were human once more.
***
Morpheous turned turned to Delirium.
"Come on sister. It is time to go." Delirium stopped her play and hopped down, putting her hand in Dream's. Together the three walked back to the great hall.
As they entered they were hit with the counter curse. They wavered as the power left them. Ginny collapsed into Percy's arms.
"I'll take her to Madame Pomfrey." Percy said softly and gently carried his sister away. Methos and Severus leaned into each other, holding each other up. The power drain on them was more severe due to the amount of energy they used in their possessed state.
The doors burst open and all the Slytherins from the dorms (all first to third years and a few older students) flew in, their robes dripping wet. Severus made the effort and stood up strait.
"What is going on?" He growled softly. His weakened state left him rather grouchy.
"The dungeons are flooding. The lake is coming in."
"What?!" He demanded. The Slytherins cowered. He sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. The doors opened again and this time the Gryffindors from the tower entered.
"What happened?" McGonagall demanded, crossing her arms and looking very scary in her catsuit.
"There are holes in the tower. The wind is coming in." She simply pursed her lips and raised her eyebrows. "Brick sized holes" the children elaborated. Before McGonagall could say anything Dumbledore stepped in.
"The children will stay in here tonight." He began. "Oliver, you and Remus set up the beds. Severus, you and Adam take care of the Dungeons. Minerva and I will take the tower. The rest of the students, please return to your dorms. Thank you."
And they got to work and had the problems solved in a little under an hour, despite how tired they were.
TBC
