Chapter 8: Halloween night

Halloween found the potions classroom and the unused one next door, emptied of all movable furniture, and there were sleeping bags. There were also some pumpkins, candy and other items, even if the kids would go to the feast first. Severus had even convinced the ghosts to make an appearance. His husband had laughed, he had never known Severus to get so into a holiday, but Severus wanted to make it really fun for the boys. It would be good practice when Johnny and their daughter were old enough for birthdays, which had Remus quite convinced his husband was going soft Severus said this was about sticking it to Albus, but also about the boys having a good time, and perhaps making some unity between the houses It had been since before Voldemort, that houses had been close

Harry and Draco had been dreading it, but they could not deny the party actually would be fun, though he wondered if it would be just the five Slytherins. Greg and Vince had dads who were likely dark, but they were pretty brainless goons a lot of the time, and had taken to hanging out with the three of them. The girls seemed to have better luck; they had confirmation right away, from most of the girls their age.

They were heading down when Neville came their way. "Are you guys still having the Halloween sleep over?"

Harry nodded. "We are. You guys joining us?"

Though Neville and his fellow Hufflepuffs seemed a bit unsure about sleeping in the dungeons, they nodded. There was a rule, all wands were being collected, so there had to be no concern for people hexing each other, or some kind of prank It seemed the Hufflepuffs created some bravery and two of the Ravenclaw boys moved to join them as well, but as they headed out of the hall, they had run into Ron and his house.

Ron sneered at them but he looked at the non-snakes. "You are actually going? Are you not worried they will hex you? You know you can't trust snakes"

It was Terry who answered. "We all are giving up our wands. What are you scared to sleep in the dungeons? I thought Gryffindors were supposed to be so brave"

Laughter came from everyone who was going, the Gryffindors were all about being such brave lions, and they were the only ones not coming. Ron, Seamus and Dean were red in anger from the jokes, but the two other guys in their house, Jake Moon and Troy Percy, looked like they would join the sleep over bunch

Harry moved past the lions. "Well you know where to find us is you locate your so called superior Gryffindor courage. You have till curfew to join us"

Draco snickered as they headed to the dungeons. "He is a fool if he doesn't come now. He will look like a baby"

The heads of house were waiting, and all took their wands from them, to return in the morning. They had been surprised when they heard, but they thought it was a good idea to try and lessen some of the tension between houses, and were proud. Well Minerva was proud of her girls, it seemed all the first year girls had shown up, but she was disappointed none of the boys had come. She knew Albus was not happy, she was more then aware what led to this little experiment, but she thought him wrong. She didn't often tell him, or for that matter think he was wrong, but when she did, she usually found her voice.

The wall between the rooms was removed for now, but at curfew the wall would go up, to allow for a co-ed party until time for bed. Many of the decorations from up stairs were carried down here, and there was plenty of both wizard and muggle food for them as well

Harry knew the twins were a bit jealous. "You know there used to be actual dances and parties, not simply feasts, years ago."

Draco remembered their dads telling them "There were clubs too, not simply quidditch. It was a way to keep kids busy and out of trouble."

It seemed shame thanks to the war things like that ended, or freedom for seventh years, to leave evenings and weekends There had been peace for a decade, but this sleep over was the closest thing to reinstating some of that tradition As they enjoyed the music and games with the others, they hoped their Uncle was right, and tonight going well might be a sign of things to come, and more fun.

Blaise pointed in surprise that the ghosts were not the only ones to come, before curfew. "It seems at least a few of the proud lions, decided to come"

Seamus and Ron were not there but Dean had come with the other two. "Fine it sounded fun, and I was not going to allow you to think I was scared."

Though it was odd seeing Dean without Ron and Seamus, for they were nearly as inseparable as Harry with Draco and Blaise, they were welcome There was some joking at first but soon the three new comers were having a good time with the rest of them, and after curfew, the boys were up with scary stories

Remus and Severus looked in much later and Remus kissed his husband. "It looks like your plan worked well"

Ron was not impressed Dean and the other two went to the party, but Seamus was regretting he didn't, hearing how much fun it had been A week after Halloween, Gryffindor and Slytherin had their first game of the season, and Harry was with his team He knew he would likely never see air time before next year, but practices had been good, and Harry knew of course he had a place on the team, next year. Harry hoped his team would win the cup this year, it had been years his Uncle had said since before the twin's older brother was there. Harry knew they were matched in Gryffindor though.

Harry was cheering on the tem when he noticed Quirell who was acting a bit odd. He looked at his Uncle "What is the man doing over there?"

Severus eyed the man who was the first return DADA professor to return for a second year. "I'm not sure"

They could have sworn the man was muttering under his breath, and Severus knew he could do wandless magic, but had no idea what he was up to They noticed one of the bludgers seemed to be charmed, and was chasing the seeker for Slytherin, around the pitch, with no support

Severus went over to Quirell, not wanting to make a scene and not sure it was him, and whispered a spell of his own. "You seem to be on fire."

Quirell did not look up at first until he felt the heat. "Fire Fire"

Though he had no idea what the man would have gained from charming the bludger, it seemed he had, or coincidence, for the bludger was back to normal The whistle blew for one of the attempts to avoid the bludger, helped his seeker to find the snitch, and Slytherin had won The only thing he could guess was the man for some reason wanted Harry in the game which worried him, for he had no idea why the man was interested in his son.

Severus did not want to worry his nephew so he motioned him down to the field "You may want to go congratulate your team."