Disclaimer: It's JK Rowlings... I'm jealous, but its all hers. I am just glad we get to play in the wonderland she created!

Halloween 2009

October was drawing to a close once again. The staff and volunteers wanted a Halloween party for the inhabitants of the Riddle House. The staff brought it up on the twenty-seventh in the staff meeting. Mason and Katie listened carefully to their plans and promised an answer by dinner. After discussion with their partners, Mason would give the official announcement for the party to be held on Halloween. The annual Halloween Ball would be moved to New Year's Eve for the adults and international groups.

There was not as much preparation time as they had wanted for the party, however, the elves were very much into the spirit. It was decided that the fun would be held at the Cowan Estate beginning at four o'clock on October 31st. The adults brought the donations of food and decorations in from London. They were flown in from other countries. The excess was overwhelming, but Harry had another outbuilding constructed for the over flow.

At 8:00, the younger ones were taken to bed. Their individual elves accompanied them as well. The number dwindled from almost 300 to less than 100 in a matter of moments. That's when the real fun began. Mason and Harry played the drums and several other Hogwart's graduates came in to complete the live band. They were actually pretty good, surprising not only the others but themselves as well. Mason and Katie watched as his parents danced every dance. They looked softly into one another's eyes during the slow songs, and laughed out loud at the faster ones. Remus and Sirius danced just as often as Rowan danced with one of them.

At Midnight, Mason called an end to the festivities and the kids were sent to their rooms. The adults were left to clean up the mess. After packing away the last of the decoration, the guys took them to the building and stored the boxes. The women left used magic to clean the rest of the room and be sure that everything was put away. It was almost one in the morning before they were finished.

And so it went, day after day. The children were rescued, meetings were held, construction on the ever expanding center was completed and another project started. It seemed like only the day before that Madison and Draco entered Medical School; eight more months and they would be graduating.