Chapter 11: Halloween

A week and a half passed by and it was Halloween morning on a Friday. Delilah was both excited for the Costume Contest and nervous about whether or not Penny had the veritaserum prepared. Her father, a couple days ago, wrote again asking for updates. Delilah wrote back lying about still getting used to the new wand. She knew she had to at least do something or her father would keep pressuring her. She decided to simply intimidate Talbott in the meantime, but not attack him. She didn't want him to be suspicious of her suddenly not going after him either, despite his ultimate wish of her just leaving him alone. She wasn't completely on his side as of yet. The only other student still in the dormitory was Rowan. Her and Rowan helped each other dress into their costumes before heading up.

This Halloween, the professors were hosting a Costume Contest. It was the only day of the year the students were allowed to wear something other than their robes to class. The professors would decide at dinner which student had the best costume. Winner received a voucher for one item at Zonko's Joke Shop. The only costumes not allowed were Death Eater and You Know Who costumes. Most students wouldn't know what either of them looked like anyway.

The crackling fire of the fireplace was already lit in the common room when the girls arrived. Autumn made itself known full swing. The air outside was cool, with leaves of orange, red, and yellow floating about. Students' drinking habits consisted of coffee, hot chocolate, and hot tea. Scarves wrapped around hooks on the wall, and once in a while someone would lose a knitted glove. Flurries of snow would happen once a week, but the snow wouldn't stick. It mostly rained.

Delilah was excited to get near the fire before heading down for breakfast. Her costume didn't provide as much covering as she normally would wear. She wore a blood red sequin bodysuit laced in black that exposed her upper chest but connected the tops of her shoulders to the red choker around her neck. Connected at the back was a pointed red tail. Her outfit also contained black fishnet tights, a headband with curly crimson horns, and red stilettos. Her laid down hair was still singed from the owlery fire, which added to the effect. She was devil Delilah.

"A devil by the fire. Very fitting, Delilah, " Rowan chuckled. "If I swung that way I might have asked you to the Lacustrine Ball myself." She began playfully fanning herself with her hand.

"Oh, be quiet," Delilah joked. "I must say, you make quite the Abraham Lincoln. Why did you choose him anyway?" She turned from the fire to inch towards the common room door.

Rowan was dressed as the 16th president of the United States. Her suit consisted of a custom-made black double-breasted coat made of wool. She wore a tall, black stovepipe hat that Abe was known for. A fake shenandoah beard was wrapped around her face.

"Well, you're American. I also love history and teaching history. He was well known, so maybe I can teach my fellow classmates something new," she smiled.

"Good luck with that," Delilah scoffed. "I wonder what everyone else is going to be wearing."

Delilah and Rowan made their way to the Great Hall where they met with Penny for breakfast.

"Lilahhhhh you're so daring and gorgeous!" Penny exclaimed. "Rowan, you're... a guy?"

"I'm Abraham Lincoln, 16th president of the United States of America," Rowan announced proudly.

"Yeah... Whoever that is..." Penny was not amused. Penny herself was a fairy. She created fuchsia and blue wings that stuck out of her back, a pink and blue flower choker around her neck, and a plain, tan dress.

"Penny, you look wonderful," Delilah complimented.

"Oh, stop flirting with me. Here, I got the potion. Hide it quickly."

She handed it to Delilah sneakily and Delilah slipped it into her bookbag.

"How? I thought you said it would take a month?" The three girls sat down and began filling their plates with breakfast foods.

"It will. I'm still making it. You see..." Penny lowered her voice. "I snuck it out of Professor Snape's office. I know where he keeps everything. I'm making a new batch I plan to swap later on. Hopefully he doesn't need it in the next two weeks."

Delilah was shocked at Penny's actions. "I would have done that myself if I knew you'd do that. Penny, I really appreciate it. But, I don't want you getting into trouble for me."

"You're worth it, Lilah. I'll be fine." She blushed. "Professor Snape won't ever punish me anyway. I'm his favorite student."

"If you say so," replied Delilah.

"Oh, look at all of the other costumes!" Penny began jumping up and down in her seat. Rowan grunted at the commotion. "Tulip makes such a creepy vampire. Who is that hag?! Oh, of course it's Tonks just morphing. Now she's a goblin. She needs to actually pick a costume, not be many different things. Charlie is a dragon, of course. Barnaby is a cute little cruppy, bless his heart! Ismelda is a natural Dementor. She drains the happiness right out of you...Liz Tuttle makes such a happy little tree covered in Bowtruckles! Oh, why is Bea not wearing the costume I picked out for her!? What is she, the grim reaper? Ugh. Hmmm... Doesn't look like Talbott nor Ben dressed up, Lilah."

"Wait, Talbott is here?" Delilah asked. She peeked around and caught him at the edge of one of the tables eating alone. It was strange of him to not eat in the owlery.

"Hey, is it alright if I go sit with Talbott? I want to show him my costume." Delilah said innocently.

"Delilah, I'll never understand you. First you want him, then you fight him, now you want him again? Make up your mind," said Rowan as she picked a piece of scrambled egg out of her makeshift beard.

"Oh, don't be silly. She has every right to go flirt with him." Penny winked.

"Flirt? No, I just want to see him. I'll catch up with you in class, Rowan. Penny, I'll update you later on the outcome of that potion. Thanks again." Delilah smiled and made her way to Talbott's table.

She came up from behind and starting slowly massaging his shoulders. Talbott jumped but didn't turn around.

"Go away."

"But you didn't guess who?" Delilah snickered.

"I don't need to because I already know who. Get off me." He took another bite of his waffle.

"But Talbott, you didn't even dress up. I thought for sure you'd be an... eagle..."

Talbott coughed as he swallowed his food. He turned around and stood up so quickly that he almost knocked Delilah backwards.

"You know, because you're a Ravenclaw, " Delilah said sweetly. "All Ravenclaws are eagles after all." She batted her eyelashes.

Talbott didn't know which caught him off guard more, her suggesting he be an eagle or her outfit. His eyes scanned her curves against his will. He wished it were anyone else dressed so exquisitely. She really was the devil after all, seducing and beautiful.

"Talbott, you're so cute when you blush".

He sighed. "Shut up. What do you want?" As much as he wanted to be angry at her to protect himself, he also didn't want her to actually leave. He took in the scent of her passion fruit perfume.

"Just wanted to see how you've been. Honest. " Seeing Talbott after knowing his past made this a truthful statement. A part of her wanted to protect him from further harm. She felt committed to him in a completely different way than before. He wasn't just a target. He somehow was now her responsibility.

"My life has been better without you. I would like it to be better again, so go." He regretted saying this.

"Oh, fine. I'm going to see Ben now. I bet he'll love my costume." She giggled and turned around to leave.

Delilah was halted in her tracks. She couldn't physically move forward, and she felt a tug from her backside. She cocked her head and realized that Talbott was pulling her tail. His hand held it tight.

Talbott wasn't sure why he was doing this. He didn't want her to see Ben, but there had to be more than that. His mind wandered. He could pull her tail, pulling her closer, and spin her around until she was in his arms. He wanted one of his hands on her dainty waist while running his fingers through her hair with the other. If only he could snog her like she did Ben at the ball. They could pretend the rest of the Great Hall didn't exist. Her fishnet tights didn't look too complicated to get around... he could-

Talbott's daydream was broken by Professor McGonagall.

"What on earth is going on here? Are we having breakfast or playing tug of war?" Some of the professors dressed up as well, including Professor McGonagall. Her outfit made her look like some sort of countess, her hair in an Edwardian updo, an antique diamond tiara on her head, and a violet Edwardian dress with a very high neckline.

Talbott finally realized Delilah was looking surprised, and not running into his arms. He let go of her tail.

"Sorry, Professor. We... got carried away with playing," Delilah piped up.

"What are you even wearing, Miss Tytonidae? Your outfit is very... daring..." she said disapprovingly.

"I take that as a compliment," replied Delilah with a smirk.

"I must have said it wrong," she replied sarcastically.

"I assure you, my outfit is fine. Talbott and I are on our way to class now. Nice costume, Professor." Delilah grabbed Talbott's hand and escorted him out of the Great Hall without a moment to spare.

"Why does everyday involve a fight with an American?" Professor McGonagall sighed as they departed.

The two students turned a corner and stopped near a wall.

"Talbott, what was that? What were you thinking?" Delilah questioned in confusion.

"I say that about ninety percent of the things you do, Deli." Talbott tried to keep his eyes on hers and no lower.

"Look, I really did need to talk to Ben, but now I have no time. I'll have to try at lunch... Ugh. I need to get to History."

"I'll walk with you."

Delilah almost tripped over nothing. "You'll... what?"

"Sorry, this was a bad idea. Never mind, I'll see you later-"

"Talbott, I never said no. I'm just confused right now." They slowly started walking together.

"I'm just enjoying you not trying to kill me for once. The way we used to talk before our first fight. Before Ben started controlling you. That teal nightgown..." He blushed.

"Oh no... I was hoping you'd forget about that." Delilah's face turned pink.

"I know you have a heart. I'm just trying to figure out what's stopping you from using it."

"You know, I'll be a hundred percent honest. My goal today was to simply intimidate you. I can see that I have utterly failed." Delilah peeked up at him. Her father would kill her on the spot if he were seeing this.

"I don't see why. You must want a break every now and then from disrupting my life. Besides, I owe you really."

"Owe me?" Delilah asked.

"You took the blame for the owlery fire. You could have easily turned me in. The professors can check what the last spell from your wand was. You saved me from getting expelled."

"I... had my reasons for protecting you..."

"Whatever they are, I'm grateful, despite you kinda starting all of this. Why do you need to talk to Ben anyway? I heard you two broke up."

"To get answers. I finally believe you when you said he was cursing me. I don't want to go straight to the professors though. I want to... speak to him first." They reached the classroom entrance.

"That's not safe, Deli. Let me come with you."

"Talbott... I'm not innocent. You know this. And despite us being nice to each other now, I'm still trying to, uh, find out your secret," she whispered.

"I know. Let me enjoy this moment. Although, even if you attacked me right now I doubt Professor Binns would notice."

They chuckled and walked into class. Students were watching them. Whispers could be heard. Rowan was shaking her head. Penny was grinning from ear to ear.

Delilah wanted to devilishly kiss him to make any possible rumors true, but she refrained. They nodded at each other before taking their seats.

Lunch time came, and Delilah was starving since she didn't get a chance to actually eat her breakfast. Rowan was grumpy because nobody wanted to hear her lecture about her costume. Delilah couldn't wait to take another break from her.

She scarfed down her lunch before heading over to the Gryffindor table. Rowan perked up and watched her, knowing what she was trying to do.

"Ben," Delilah greeted and set next to him.

"Oh, my ex girlfriend. How bloody wonderful." He didn't look at her. He continued eating.

"Look, I'm sorry for failing you. I just needed some time clear my head. I mean, you didn't even check up on me in the hospital wing." She eyed his goblet of pumpkin juice.

"Didn't think I needed to. You're plenty capable on your own." He took another bite. "Besides..." He swallowed. "You're with Winger now anyway."

"Ugh, no, that's just a very quick rumor. I want you, Ben. I miss you."

He looked at her. He was judging whether or not she meant it.

"I don't know if I can trust you, Delilah. Really. "

"I know you've been cursing me. And yet, I still want you. Doesn't that mean anything? Wouldn't I normally be keeping my distance?"

"You did keep your distance for awhile." He grunted.

"Only a little bit. Again, it was to clear my head. I mean, are you really going to turn me down, especially dressed like this?" Delilah tried to sound as convincing as she could. She was nervous.

"You mean dressed like a whore?"

Her heart stopped. She turned to see if anyone heard him, but the room was loud enough with other conversations that nobody did. Talbott wasn't around either, probably because he didn't want to see her with Ben.

"Like..Like your dirty whore..." Delilah took a chance while nobody was paying attention except Rowan. She snogged him, but kept her eyes open. She watched his eyes close. She one handedly poured the veritaserum into his goblet before ending the kiss.

When they pulled back, he grinned. "I could do that all day whether we're dating or not."

"I don't mind. Finish your lunch." Delilah cringed. Rowan looked mortified at her table.

After a few bites, he finally took a couple gulps from his goblet. Within seconds his eyes were turning a shade of silver. His face was absent of any emotion.

Delilah didn't hesitate. She grabbed his hand and pulled him out of the Great Hall. She had the perfect place nearby that was absent of students and professors where they could privately talk. They entered the Artefact Room.