Happy Halloween!

I don't own HP.

The next two months passed quickly for everyone at Hogwarts. It was 3 days until Halloween, and everyone was excited. The Slytherin common room had been decked out with Halloween things for two weeks now. There were pumpkins placed all around the room, and there were ghouls released throughout the school. Live bats had been placed in the common room and were very friendly towards all the students. The Slytherin students often found themselves with a bat on their shoulder or hanging from their arm as they did schoolwork in the common room. It was quite cute, really.

Meanwhile, Severus was really proud of his Slytherin first years. They were getting some of the top scores in their classes, and they took everything seriously. Hermione had even gotten them into the habit of working ahead. Of course, Hermione was about 3 weeks ahead, while the rest of the first years were anywhere from 1 day to 1 week ahead in their classes. Each first year had aced every single one of their room inspections, and they were all attending the 30 minute conversations with Severus. Severus had found the interests of each of his Slytherins to be unlike their parents. Daphne loved Herbology, unlike her parents, and had a sweet disposition and hated the pureblood rules that her father had set for her. Pansy, although a bit of a brat, was a very intelligent girl when it came to charms. Vincent Crabbe and Greg Goyle were not as stupid as they appeared and they both loved to read. Most of the first years hated the term 'mudblood' and all shuddered when Ron Weasley uttered it to Hermione. He had continued working with Harry on his skittish behavior, but Harry hadn't called him 'dad' again.

Only one of his first year students had gotten detention, Pansy, and that was for staying out later than curfew, because she forgot what time it was when she was in the library studying for a potions quiz the next day. However, the Gryffindors weren't as perfect as the Slytherins. Ron Weasley had gotten detention several times because he wasn't doing his work well, if he even did it. He and his 'friends' had blown up several cauldrons because they didn't follow the directions on the board. Although, Severus had noticed that Finnegan and Thomas weren't as close to Wealsey as they had earlier in the term.

Today was a Wednesday, the 28th of October. Halloween was on a Saturday this year, which the student body was ecstatic about. They didn't have to go to classes, and they could enjoy the decorations around the school. The ghosts had worked up a little choir that floated around the school and sang tunes that they had come up with for Halloween. In classes like charms, they were using the lessons to help keep the student's spirits up.

They were learning the levitating charm, Wingardium Leviosa. Professor Flitwick had brought them into the great hall, where they would first learn the charm and practice using feathers. Those who had succeeded in the charm after 45 minutes, were allowed to help him levitate skulls and pumpkins into the air about the 4 house tables. He explained this to them very quickly, and set them into pairs. Unfortunately for Hermione, she was stuck with Weasley. Hermione and Weasley had not spoken since the last incident in flying class where he had called Hermione a mudblood. Wealsey had thought that this was because Hermione realized that he was superior to her, but he was completely wrong. Hermione was simply annoyed with him, and found no point in talking to him.

"Now, gather round, everyone," Professor Flitwick squeaked. "The incantation is Wingardium Leviosa, and you will swish and flick your wand, like this."

Professor Flitwick showed how to perform the charm. The Slytherins, of course, had already practiced this charm last night at the study session.

"Now that you've seen it, get together with your partner and help each other!" Flitwick said, turning back to the class.

Hermione and Weasley separated from their class to an empty spot at the Hufflepuff Table. They had each gotten their feathers. Hermione, who had obviously mastered this charm already, pulled out her Charms textbook and began to reread the history behind the charm. Occasionally she peaked at Weasley over the book, who was glaring at her and saying the incantation wrong. On his third or fourth try, Weasley started beating the feather with his wand. Hermione rolled her eyes and shut her book, putting it down on the table with a little more force than she meant to.

"Stop that! You're going to poke someone's eye out if you're not careful," Hermione said, exasperated.

"Can it be yours?" Ron snapped.

"Preferably not," Hermione said, pursing her lips. "Besides, you're saying the incantation wrong. It's WinGARdium Leviosahhh, not Wingerdrium Leviosa."

Weasley huffed.

"You do it then, if you're so clever," he said, crossing his arms and leaning back in his chair.

Hermione cocked her head and smirked. She pushed up her sleeves and muttered the incantation. The feather rose into the air, higher than any other person's had.

"Oh well done, Miss Granger!" Professor Flitwick said. "Miss Granger, come on and join me up here, you can help me put these pumpkins up here. I'm sure that I could also teach you the charm that makes them stay there."

Hermione smiled sweetly at Weasley before grabbing her books and her bag and moving away from Weasley and towards Professor Flitwick. Weasley sank down in his chair. He was in a very bad mood.

By the end of class, almost everyone had been able to do the charm well. Weasley was not one of those people. All the Slytherins had been able to, along with Lavender Brown, Parvati Patil, and Dean Thomas. Seasmus Finnegan's feather had caught on fire, three different times. There were now pumpkins, skulls, and candles put all around the Great Hall, and they would not come down until after the Halloween feast, thanks to Flitwick's sticking charm and Hermione's help.

Hermione was standing and chatting with the Slytherins and they were all admiring their work.

"Hi, Hermione? Um, I'm Neville Longbottom, can I talk to you please?" He glanced at the remaining Slytherins. "Alone please?"

Hermione nodded. "Sure, we can walk and talk on my way to the library!"

"Thank you," Neville said, sounding nervous.

The duo left the Great Hall, unaware that they were being followed by Ron and Seamus.

"So, Neville, what do you want to talk with me about?"

"Um, I was wondering, if, well, you're the smartest witch of our year, and I keep failing at everything I do. This is going to sound stupid, but would you have time to help me in my studies? I dunno, tutor me? But only if you have time, I don't want to be an inconvenience to you."

"Oh, Neville! Of course I'd have time to help you! I'd be happy to!" Hermione said, turning and bouncing on the balls of her feet.

Neville let out a breath he didn't know he was holding.

"Oh, good, I was worried you'd say no, I mean, Ron told me you were nothing but trouble and didn't care about others. I didn't quite believe him though. He's always making fun of me, and Harry and Malfoy brought back my remembrall after that one flying class."

"Not a problem, Neville, I'm happy to help you. Maybe we can meet every day. Hmm. How about 6:30-7:30 or 7:45 every night after dinner in the Great Hall? That way it gives us plenty of time to work on whatever you want to work on. And on the weekends, we can meet in the afternoons. I'm sure if you want, the Slytherins would be glad to let you join in on our study sessions we have before dinner in the library. I can ask them if you want," Hermione said, beaming at Neville.

"Oh, er, if that wouldn't be too much trouble. I really don't want to let my Grandmother down, and I'm doing so poorly in all of my classes."

"Don't worry, I'll ask them this afternoon and let you know by my owl tomorrow, okay?"

Neville nodded, looking relieved. He gave his many thanks to Hermione before speeding off toward the Gryffindor common room. Unfortunately for Neville, he was heading the wrong way. Draco and Harry caught up to Hermione.

"So, what did Neville want?" Harry asked, calmly.

"Well, Harry," Hermione said. "He asked me to tutor him. I said yes. Do you think it would be okay if he joined the Slytherin library sessions in the afternoon?"

Draco nodded. "Yeah of course! The more the merrier. Also - does he realize that he's going the wrong way? That's the way to the forbidden corridor, not Gryffindor tower."

Hermione shook her head.

"We should probably go after him, shouldn't we?" Harry mumbled.

The trio quickly walked away, leaving a bewildered group of Slytherin students behind them. They chased after Neville. They found him trying to force open a door in the corridor, as something was making noise in there.

"I realized that I went the wrong direction, and I could have sworn that I went through this door, and there are obviously crowds on the other side, but's locked," Neville said, breathlessly.

"Move over," Hermione said. "Alohomora!"

The door unlocked, and Hermione opened it. All three of the boy's eyes widened as they stood behind Hermione. Hermione gasped.

"I think...I know why this corridor is forbidden," Hermione whispered.

A gigantic three-headed dog was standing there, growling at the 4 children standing at it's door. Hermione's eyes flicked downward. What on earth was this thing guarding? It was the only reasonable explanation to why this monster was hidden inside a forbidden corridor, locked by a door that could only be magically unlocked. It began snapping its teeth at the group, who now screamed, and ran for the other door at the end of the corridor. By the time Hermione had slammed and locked the door shielding the castle from the three headed beast, the boys were at the other end of the corridor.

"You guys! Wait up!" Hermione yelled, running towards them as fast as she could. "Did you see what it was standing on?"

Harry, who was breathing hard and had his hands on his knees, looked up at her, in exasperation.

"You literally were face to face with a three headed beast, and all you care about is what the hell it was standing on? Why Hermione? Why-?" Harry breathed.

"Oh hush, Harry, it was standing on a trap door. Which means it's obviously guarding something. Why else would he be so hidden, not to mention that corridor is forbidden."

"Hermione, now I'm curious, now we're gonna need to figure out what is being hidden. Wait," Harry paused, looking around. "Where's Neville?

Nevile was sprinting in the opposite direction, away from them and away from the three headed dog. Draco shrugged, finally speaking after catching his breath.

"Maybe this has something to do with the break in at Gringotts a few days after school started?"

Hermione shrugged.

"It's probably something we should keep our noses out of, we don't want to get into any trouble," Hermione said, brushing her hair back. "Are we ready to go back to the library?"

Draco and Harry nodded and agreed with her, as they walked down the stairs, laughing and talking along the way. They didn't notice a red haired boy smirk and slink away towards the grounds as they left. Ron Weasley had gotten to know Hagrid, and knew that Hagrid couldn't keep his mouth shut and that he adored dangerous creatures. Hagrid seemed to think that anything dangerous was worth loving and keeping as a pet. He also knew that if he wanted answers, Hagrid was the place to get them. He just couldn't be seen or heard, and maybe he'd finally get recognized for being Ron instead of just being another Weasley.