The Truth
The Family spent a good portion of the day in Hogsmede. Hermione and Aila went their own way, and Ron and Hilary in the other. Hermione and Aila were arguing (nothing new about that!) over Aila's costume. Aila's cat costume was finished, but Hermione thought it was too revealing after Aila had tried it on. "You can see too much of your chest!"
"Mum! I have no chest for anyone to see!"
"Now give yourself credit! They can wiggle!"
Aila immediately ran and hid in the dressing room, "Don't say something like that out loud! What are you thinking! People can hear you!"
"What?" asked Hermione following her daughter, "Do people think your breasts aren't going to grow? I have a B cup, the Weasley family has C cups, it's not like you are just going to have pumps the size of pimples on your chest!"
Aila was now banging her head against the wall in frustration. "Yes, I figured that much. But Please don't go announcing the size of your brazier to the whole world! I want to have a social status once the day is done!"
"Now get over it. Here is a nice Hag costume. Try this one."
"It's big! And ugly and Oh, mum I hate it."
Hermione straightened it out, "But it won't be revealing."
"Yes, but there is nothing to reveal."
"They Wiggle!"
"MUM!"
OoOO00OOoO
Ron and Hilary were all over Hogsmede. Ron simply HAD to show Hilary everything there was about Hogsmede, and all the daring and astonishing things he did at them. "Oh! Here is the Shrieking Shack. Supposedly haunted by…something. But Really it is where a werewolf hid during the full moon." Then he stretched out smugly, "I happen to know this werewolf personally."
"Would this 'dangerous werewolf' happen to be Remus Lupin?"
"You heard about him too?"
Hilary smiled at her father who slumped down after he learned that she already knew, for the umpteenth time this afternoon. "Yes. And I also know him personally. He is very nice. He told me never to let you tutor me in Defense against the Dark arts."
"Yeah, he was my.."
"I know."
"You are just like your mother you know that?"
"No. I'm not. Aila is."
OoOO00OOoO
There was twenty minutes until the dance and Hilary and Aila were putting on their costumes. Hilary has picked out a costume form the "muggle-wear" section. It was a short, jean skirt, with a purple shirt labeled "halter-top" on the tag, although she had no idea what a halter-top was. The entire outfit was supposed to be a 'muggle prep' but she didn't know what it was either. She just liked the skirt. Aila was dressed as a cat, since Hermione finally conceded after she saw the outrageous prices of all of the costumes in the stores.
The two walked down to the Great hall together. They had each planned on what to get their parents, as long as they would have the same theme. But it was even better when they were together. Ron was Zeus. He had a white toga with gold sash and a hat of leaves like Julius Caesar and was holing a lightning bolt (which was the reason he had decided to even wear the costume). Hermione was Hera, Zeus's wife. She was wearing a long white dress that was very flowey like a dancer's dress. And a gold sash like Ron's. But instead of a crown of leaves it was a simple gold band around her head. She had her hair coiled back to the nape of her neck and the curled down.
They each found their parent and walked into the great hall. The adults had yet to actually see each other. They were going to meet by the punch bowl. Hilary took her mother's hand and began to walk to around the great hall. "Let's meet up with dad and Aila!"
After meeting they began to walk around the Great Hall, looking at the decorations. The Floors were glossy black, except in the center where there were flashing purple, black, and Orange squares where there was supposed to be a dance floor. All around were silver tables with drinks and appetizers. And around the perimeter of the room was a long wooden bench for people to sit on while not dancing. The walls had drapes the colors of the houses, and the ceiling showed a sky with stars and in the middle was the dark mark. Hermione was shocked that they even dared to even pretend the Dark mark was over Hogwarts.
"You know what the Dark Mark means don't you? It is not a silly symbol that you put in the sky for practical jokes! It is what Lord Voldemort made shine over houses every time he murdered someone! It was feared! It was…"
"Was mum. Not IS." Interrupted Hilary.
"Well you wouldn't have such a nonchalant attitude about it if you found the dark mark above your house and found someone you loved dead inside. Then you would not think it was some big joke if you saw it many years later! It strikes fear in peoples hearts and brings back painful memories and…"
"It's Halloween. A holiday for the things feared most. And the dark mark is very appropriate for this tame of year." Said Ron quietly, "if you didn't know, which would be a first, the Dark mark is a new Halloween symbol. Like jack-o-lanterns and gravestones."
Hermione sniffed, "Stupid symbol if you ask me."
"Why are you so down on it? You never found the dark mark above your home! You didn't go to your girlfriend's house, expecting a romantic night, only to find her dead. In her bedroom. Wearing the dress she bought just for your date that night and the necklace you gave her as a Christmas gift the week before. No one you loved was ever taken by Voldemort."
"Dumbledore for starters."
"That was Snape."
"Under orders of Voldemort! My dad after Voldemort Died. Death eaters wanted revenge and they killed the father of the one who helped kill their leader."
"Okay, there's one good one."
"Ad You."
"You may not have noticed. But I am alive."
"Yes but you weren't married to a man who was obviously in Love with their ex-girlfriend. You talked about her all the time. Every night in your sleep. You would cry over her, and go and get drunk about it. You loved Kristina more then you loved me!"
"No. You were obsessed with Viktor. Writing him all the time. Telling me all about Viktor. Reminding me of all the things you and Viktor did after you started dating again. You were obviously in love with someone else."
"I only said that so that hopefully you would get jealous and stop whining over your dead girlfriend and pay attention to me!"
"I only cried over you! I thought you were going to leave me for perfect Vicky."
"Stop fighting!" shouted Aila, saying the first thing she said all night. "I don't want a broken family. I have had one all my life. Now when you are finally together you won't stop! Couldn't you put aside your differenced for a little? Don't you see! Think about what you fought about! I would think it would solve things not hurt them! I guess you two are a hopeless cause." She turned to Hermione, "Go back to your precious Joshua. I am sure he's the perfect one for you. Go marry him. Kiss his face off." Then she turned to her father, "Give up. She's taken. Get you a new bitch." She turned and walked out of the Great Hall. Closely followed by Hilary.
OoOO00OOoO
"Do you really want them to quit?"
"No." I wanted them to shut up and think about trying to keep living without each other. But seriously our mom was acting very bitchy." Aila hugged her pillow. "Way to ruin a perfect night. Mum and dad fighting. No dancing. And that Hippogriff song wasn't half bad."
"Now my mum thinks you think she's a bitch."
"Which will make her want to spend time with me to convince me she's not. Trust me I have this under control. If she wants me, she will have to see dad more often. And if they actually think about the conversation they had, they will learn all about what the other thinks and they will fall back in love la di da."
Hilary laughed, "Wishful thinking. I like it."
"Hey! One can dream."
"If only dreams actually came true."