About the font size, I'm very sorry about it, but its not really my fault because I had to copy and paste this onto one of my backup chapters because )# &$# WONT LET ME LOAD MY CHAPTER! STUPID WEBSITE! I HATE THIS SERVER! And I've been trying to load this chapter up for a while now too...so it would have been up earlier if the website had no problems...if anyone knows what the problem is, please tell me.

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or Shin Kidousenki Gundam Wing. If I did, well...you get the point of why I wrote this in the first place, right? Okay, I actually only really wrote this cause I wanted a 1x2 fic...lolz.

Memories of the Past

Chapter 5

by Hikaru

Almost two months had passed since the beginning of the school year, and it was a week before Halloween. As the trio walked toward the Great Hall, they saw a group of people gathered around the doors. Apparently, there was some kind of announcement. When they got closer, they pushed their way to the front of the group. The announcement said:

Halloween Ball

Please come in costume. There will be a costume contest for the different categories listed below. Winners receive 50 points for their house.

Categories:

Most beautiful

Most humourous

Most atrocious

Most natural

Most realistic

Most muggle

Most accurate and detailed

Most original

Best costume overall (not a category)

Your Deputy Headmistress,

Professor Minerva McGonagall

Harry, Hermoine, and Ron all looked at each other.

"So...anyone going to try?" Hermione cautiously asked.

Harry and Ron looked at each other for a moment before silently agreeing. "Nope." They said in unison.

"C'mon, let's get some breakfast." Harry said, and they entered the Great Hall.

A Week Later

It was the late Friday morning of October 31st when Dumbledore made an announcement. "As you all know, there will be a Halloween Ball and a costume contest tonight. As a way to celebrate this year, all classes today will be canceled. You may spend the day preparing for the contest if you are entering or just relax and enjoy the festivities tonight. Also, there will be a Hogsmeade trip this afternoon if any would like to get some last minute things."

Cheers erupted around Great Hall as the students shouted in joy before disintegrating into noisy chatter. Hermione was one of the few distressed because of the canceled classes.

"How could he do that? We need to be preparing for our OWLs!" She was practically bursting with anxiety.

"Oh c'mon, Hermione. Just have fun for this one day today." Ron complained.

"Yeah, you can go back to worrying about the schoolwork tomorrow. It's not everyday that he gives us a day of no school." Harry added.

"Well, I suppose." Hermione said, a bit more calmly now.

"Yeah! Now let's go to hogsmeade." Ron shouted.

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They were all taking shelter from the cold in the Three Broomsticks (A/N: Is that the right place?).

"Hmm...after seeing everyone so excited about the costume contest, I almost want to join in myself." Hermione sighed.

"Well, I don't think its too late yet. Submissions end at 5 this afternoon, so you still have about 5 hours to get everything ready and submit an entry form." Harry said.

"Well..." Hermione trailed off.

"We'll help!" Ron said.

"Well...oh alright. I'll do it." Hermione agreed.

"Now you just need to decide what you want to be." Harry said.

"Hmm..."

"How about a witch?" Ron asked.

"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Ron, if you haven't noticed yet, she already IS a witch." Harry said dryly.

"Oh. Yeah..." Ron deflated.

"How about a fairy?" Harry asked as he caught sight of a fairy costume in a display.

"Not really." Hermione saw the same costume Harry was eyeing. "Besides, that one's pre-made. There's no chance of winning with that one."

"Well, what else can you go as? A muggle?" Ron asked sarcastically.

"Ron, you're a genius!" Hermione exclaimed.

"I am?" "He is?" Both Ron and Harry said at the same time.

"I can just dress in a pair of jeans and a t-shirt and pass off as a muggle!" Hermione exclaimed.

"Oh." Harry was stunned. "Well, I guess that would work."

"I just hope Malfoy doesn't insult her." Ron made a face. "Oh well, we can always beat him up if he does." He said, sounding almost gleeful.

"Ron..." Hermione had a warning tone in her voice.

"Let's go get you registered." Ron ignored her warning.

"Actually, how about we hang around the stores for a while? We still have over 4 hours to waste." Harry suggested.

"Sure." Hermione smiled.

So, for the next 2 hours, they wandered around looking at students rushing to get last minute articles of clothing.

"Oh hey, look at that one!" Harry pointed out a 3rd year trying to put on an obviously oversized dress. The sleeves of the dress were a foot past the girl's fingers and the dress was meant to be a 3/4th sleeved dress.

Ron burst out laughing as Hermione tried to hold back a smile.

As Harry turned back to face his friends and laugh, he saw Draco in one of the more expensive stores purchasing what seemed to be an endless bolt of black cloth. He had to wonder about that, but his attention was called away as Ron pointed out a skinny man trying on a Santa Claus suit.

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That night, Harry and Ron waited in the common room as Hermione got ready. They were quite early since it was only about 6:30 pm. The ball started at 7, so many were still up in their dormitories preparing. Only a few other people were down in the common room, which included Neville. The other people either didn't have enough time to get a costume ready, didn't want to participate, or just wanted to see how the other students looked in their costumes.

Five minutes later, Hermione came down the stairs. She was wearing a fair of faded blue jeans, a red-violet spaghetti-strap shirt, 2-inch heels, and her hair was slicked so that it was wavy instead of bushy. She also had a pair of earrings and a bracelet and necklace on.

"C'mon, let's get to the Great Hall early. I want a good seat." Hermione said as she reached the boys.

"Sure." Harry got up, but had to poke Ron to get Ron moving. Ron was still staring at Hermione as they walked towarrds the great hall.

The walls were redecorated so that instead of torches, there were pumpkins with candles inside. The ghosts were still wandering around as usual, but even some of them tried to join in on the festivities. Nearly Headless Nick was wearing a pumpkin hat. How that was possible, they had no idea.

As they entered the Great Hall, they discovered that there were also pumpkins hanging down from the ceiling. The teacher's table was replaced with a stage where the contestants would be paraded out.

"Wow! They really went overboard with the decorations this year." Hermione exclaimed.

Harry frowned. "If you ask me, there's a bit too many pumpkins..."

"Who cares? As long as the food's just as great, I'm happy." Ron grabbed a seat near the front of the stage.

And thus they sat until the people really started filing in.

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The contest started immediately at 7 sharp. Students in costume were called across the stage one by one and were asked to explain who and what they were and what category they were competing in.

After half an hour, Ron noticed that Hermione was still at her seat. "Hey Hermione, don't you have to get up there?"

"Yes, but I'm one of the last since I registered so late." She took another look at her number. "I'll need to leave in about another hour."

"Hey, do we get to vote?" Harry whispered.

"Well, yes, but that's after the teachers have filtered through everyone so that there's only about 10 people left per category." Hermione answered.

"Oh." Harry went back to observing the contestants.

Another hour passed before Hermione got up and left, and another 10 minutes passed before she walked on stage.

"Hello, I'm Hermione Granger and I'm competing in the most muggle category. Well, I thought, what could be more muggle than being a muggle! So, I'm pretty sure you can guess what I'm supposed to be. Thank you."

"Alright, and the last contestant. Contestant number 435!" Lee Jordan, the announcer said.

Nothing happened for a little while, which confused the announcer. "Contestant number 435?"

Suddenly, a black shadow appeared and formed out of nowhere in the center of the stage. It was completely covered in a black robe, complete with a hood. It was also holding an extremely sharp looking black scythe.

Screams erupted from the audience.

"Omg! We're all going to die!"

"Mommy! I'm too young to die!"

"Noo! I don't want to go!"

"Quiet! QUIET!" Dumbledore tried to calm all the students down. "You are all here to see a costume contest. NOT die. Contestant number 435, please continue."

The figure drenched in black robes seemed to snort before speaking. "If that was the reaction that I was going to receive every time I do this..." here, the figure lifted the hood off its head. "Then I might do this more often." A cherubic face twisted into a smirk as wide violet eyes sparkled with laughter.

Harry's breath caught in his throat as he saw the trailing yard-long braid. 'It's the boy from my dreams!'

"Duo Maxwell, death reincarnate, at your service. Just place me in any category you'd like."

Dumbledore smiled as he addressed the audience. "Well, that's all the contestants. The professors will now judge all the contestants. We will narrow it down to 10 people for each category and then you may vote. During this time, you are free to do whatever you wish. The announcements will be made at 10."

Harry got up and slowly walked out of the Great Hall.

"Harry! Where're you going?" Ron asked as he saw Harry walking out.

"Out. I'll be back later." Harry replied. he slowly walked around the gardens before he found a bench to sit down at. 'Who was that boy? I've never even seen him around school. How did he even get in...'

His thoughts were interrupted when he felt a nudge at his leg. He looked down to see a chestnut wolf sitting on its hind legs staring at him. Panic arose in him and he fell backwards off the bench, only to find the wolf walking over to him and nudging his face instead.

'Waitaminute. Why isn't it attacking me?' Harry wondered. He took a closer look and realized that it was a delta wolf. At first glance, it looked like it had a chestnut color, but it also had strand of red and blonde in its fur, giving it a beautiful gleam. 'Wait, how come the other ones were so scared of me, and yet this one just walks right up to me?'

Harry wondered. He took a closer look and realized that it was a delta wolf. At first glance, it looked like it had a chestnut color, but it also had strand of red and blonde in its fur, giving it a beautiful gleam.

He sat up and found that the wolf had laid down on his lap. Finding himself trapped and curious about the wolf's fur, he gave into the urge to pet it. The wolf gave no reaction except to nuzzle into his hand. He lost himself in petting the wolf that he almost didn't hear the clock strike ten, which was when the announcements were to be made.

"C'mon boy, I have to go back inside now. Maybe I'll see you again next time?" Harry gently prodded the wolf as it opened its eyes lazily before it got up. "Bye!" Harry said as he walked back inside the castle. He never saw the wolf sit there watching him for a while before darting off into the bushes.

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"Alright, now there are pieces of parchment being passed around. Please write down your vote for each category from the 10 we have selected." Dumbledore announced. There were still about 80 people left on stage. Hermione and the boy dressed in black robes were still on the stage.

15 minutes later, all the votes were counted and the results were announced.

The winner for most beautiful was a 4th year dressed as a princess.

The winner for most humorous was the girl wit the oversized dress.

The winner for most atrocious was...a boy who looked like he was tangled in sludge, cords and wires, and...a toilet seat?

The winner for most natural was quite funny. The boy had streaked across the stage while waving his wand telling all of the needed information.

The winner for most realistic was a girl who had bought and wore an authentic fairy made dress.

Hermione won for the most muggle.

The winner for most accurate and detailed was strangely a boy dressed as a fish. However, all the scales of the fish were apparent.

The winner of the most original was Duo Maxwell with his imitation of death, although, Harry still wasn't quite sure if it was only an imitation or not...

"...And...the winner for best overall costume is...Duo Maxwell! For scaring everyone to death, that is." Dumbledore smiled and then announced the closing of the contest, leaving everyone to dance, eat, and do practically whatever else they wanted.

Hermione met up with Ron and Harry after she got off the stage.

"Have you guys ever met that Duo Maxwell? I've never even seen him around school before." Hermione sounded suspicious and confused.

"No...maybe he's just a student who doesn't want people to know who he really is?" Harry suggested.

"Well, I guess, but he doesn't seem like the type." Hermione mused.

As they walked back to the Gryffindor tower, Harry remembered the delta wolf he left outside.

"Hey guys, you go on ahead, I forgot something in the garden earlier." He said as he ran back. He hoped the wolf was still around there.

OMFG...this has got to be the longest chapter yet...in terms of the real story that is...excluding all the notes and stuff...and guess what? This is only three-quarters of the entire chapter that I had planned out! I'd cut off a scene at the end...oh wells...it'll be in the next chapter anyways...

I was actually going to cut it right before the contest started, but yeah, I decided to give you guys a long chapter since I didn't write too much for the past...12 months...or almost 12 months...oh hey! its exactly a year today! oh wells...

Please READ AND REVIEW! I want to reach the 25 review mark this time! and its only 6 more reviews...so please?

Reviews give encouragement. If I get 6 reviews for this chapter and reach the 25 review mark, then I might post up another one tomorrow...