Life in Halloween Town was normal. Something I'm sure no one of normal thoughts would say, but yes it was normal. I did scientific experiments with Jack all the time, and we conversed over what to discuss when it came to making Halloween greater than it was last year. He was strangely weirded out by the fact that his night was no longer monsters under the bed, that people embraced his day like something they should've known to love. He seemed almost offended.

"Will it ever be scary?!"

"Da.. Jack I don't think you should worry about that, I think you should make it a party."

"It is. When children scream for-"

"Candy, teenagers for parties, and adults for a night to not be themselves."

"You make it sound like such..."

"Yeah."

"Such an odd day."

"It is!" I exclaimed "It's crazy! It's fun! It's even a bit sexy. But It's still got it's haunted elements. And those are the dark woods, forest, and the strange creatures that you've got here."

"So son.. What do you think I should do?"

I froze when he called me son. It'd been a week with them. A week of school, homework, and speak of a blue girl that I had never seen. Apparently her father was the ghoul of ghouls and her mother... Well no one would say much. So when he called me son it took my mind off of everything. "Son?"

"Well that's what you are aren't you?"

"Ye.. Yeah I just never heard you say it."

He smiled his toothy smile and I smiled back because I didn't know what else to do. I just smiled. "Harry I didn't think I had to say it to tell you that's what you were."

Funny, I thought. He didn't have to. He'd made me feel it this whole time. Though I could read he'd read to me every night before bed. We'd stay in our lab for hours. I call it our lab, because he set up another tab table just for me. He and I would walk Zero and he would tell me all about this place before me, and I'd tell him all about the world above on the 364 days he wasn't up there. He was so curious, and I was too. "You don't."

"Can I ask you something?"

"Sure."

"You always make the attempt to call me father, dad, or whatever you kids call your parent's these days... But you stop why?"

"Because I.."

"You?"

I didn't know what to say. And saying I didn't want to say it until you said it first kinda made me feel childish. "I thought all of this was rubbish! I thought it would all go away without a second glance and I didn't want it to. I didn't want to just call you dad, and Sally Mum, and then you both just turn on me like a pack of mad dogs."

"Well that won't happen."

"I know that now."

"You do?"

I nodded. I did. Maybe I'm just thick. Maybe I'm just brainless when it comes to family. Hell, would I be wrong? I mean it burns when someone hurts you the first time. It shouldn't hurt now. Not with these people. I mean my father doesn't even have skin... so there's no way he could have a heart, but he's far from heartless. I liked him. I loved Sally. I loved being in a family that was odd. Who didn't mind it when my head ached. (Apparently the dead can still get those) as a matter of fact they help with them.

"Harry you know I think you're the best son I could have asked for."

"You do?"

"You just as curious as I am, you're witty like I am, and why with your shinning personality you'll rule Halloween one day with such a pride I will weep with joy."

I laughed. He couldn't cry. Could he? "Thanks dad."

"There it is." He said and hugged me. "I love you Harry. I know it may be too soon for you, but I do. I prayed every night to someone up there to help me find a son who I knew could love the strange and unusal just as much as I and you do! I do believe this is cause for a celebration."

"Celebration."

"Yes like a party or a gathering of friends have you made any?"

"No."

"Why not?! Shock seems to like you quite well."

"But I don't like her."

"Too bossy?" He sighed "I told her to ease up.. It would never work for her if she kept acting that way."

"You told her that?"

"I did.."

"So you know the children here?"

"Some."

"What about the blue girl?"

"The blue girl... There are ten blue girls and seven blue women in this very town.. Have you not sen your mother?"

I chuckled. Sally was pale blue like a winter flower. I didn't think of her blue when I thought of the blue girl. "No dad not like Mum."

"Then who?"

"The ghouls daughter?"

"That hoodlum had a child."

"You don't like him?"

"Not too much. It was rough when we first accepted him here. He tried to go against me."

"Of course that didn't end well."

"Of course not, but I'm sure his daughter is fine."

"You think."

"Harry you have all the time in the universe for this."

"For what."

"Your curiosity for girls."

If I had blood in my system I would have flushed. I would have blushed so dark it would have been the color of my mothers hair. "I-I am not interested!"

"Okay... If you must know though I think you shall wait. Your mother and I have only been married about six months."

"And you wanted to adop an eleven year old boy?"

"Well its the only logical step and neither one of us can afford to have a baby baby. Why not you?"

I smiled. It didn't seem like much of a compliment, but to me it was everything. "I guess you're right."

"Yes now into bed. You've got school tomorrow."

"Right." I smiled "Good night dad."

"Good night son."

The next morning I got up for school. I bathed, and even put on new clothes that Sally had sown for me. She was a hell of a seamstress. I slid on the black shirt with small pumpkins and then a pair of black pants. I walked down stairs and looked at them. "Well?"

"Well I think black is your color."

"Just like your old man." Jack smiled "Have a good day."

"I'll try."

"Good luck on your broom riding test today."

"Thanks mum." I walked outside and Lock was waiting for me. Along with a wereboy named Joseph.

"Hey Harry!"

"Hey guys." I said and waved one last time to Jack and Sally who, like always stood and waved me off to school. It felt fantastic and gave me a sense of hope.I looked back, "What's new?"

"Since yesterday?"

"Nothing." Lock shrugged. "Shock keeps going on about you and her and your family."

"F-family."

"Oh yes Harry she wishes to be your life mate."

"Oh god."

"Yes. At this point she's going to kill the girl."

"Well there's no need for that either!" I coughed though I had no words left. I'm sure I made it one hundred percent clear that I didn't like her. Perhaps that was in my mind. I shrugged

"Hiya Harry." Shock said skipping up to us. I almost turned as green as her skin.

"Hello shock."

"Can we talk?" She drew out the talk in this undoubtedly sweet way which was rude, because she should probably consider Barrel. He likes her and I think she's just related to Lock. I don't know. Now I was thinking in babbles. That can't be good can it?

"Sure."

"Great." She looked a her brother and my other friend. "Beat it."

"See ya inside Harry."

" 'Kay." I watched them leave me out here with her.

"Hi..."

"Hi."

"Listen Harry-"

"Before you start." I said "I'm not interested in having a girlfriend. I'm not interested in you. You're not kind. You're not nice. I wish you were. I'm sorry you're not. I want to be your friend."

She sighed as if a weight had been lifted "Yeah Harry me too I'll try not to be so mean."

"Great I'll try not to think you're crazy."

She laughed and with a quick "See you in class" She was gone.

For the next few hours I waited to see her. I wanted to meet her. I watched her beautiful blue hair soar through the flames licking the air. She did this to me so many times, but today felt different. The bell rang and it was back to class. I stood out in the field with madam witch Marm. She was the gym teacher basically. She blew the whistle. "Skellington!"

I walked up completely scared. Flying a broom was dangerous, and if I crashed I'd be an embarrassment. That was the last thing I wanted.

"Broom up."

I did as she told me.

"Feet planted."

My feet weren't planted they were anchored. So was my stomach.

"Shoulders back."

Shoulders back. I took a deep breath and prayed I didn't die again.

"Say the words."

The words were almost the same to condition my dog. "Bolt." That's the name I called him. "Up."

Bolt started to hoover and my witch of a teacher looked at me. "Good fly through those obstacles and then back again."

"You heard her buddy." I said. "Go!"

Like a rush of speeding we went through the four hoops upside down through flaming box, which is no longer a flaming box, and through the finish line and then back to her. When I flew it felt like I was meant to be there,in the air with my broom. I was proud to be there. I soared until I landed back at her feet.

"Nice Job Skellingotn. Someone in your before life must've flown a broom." She said and then walked to the next student as my friends cheered, and she looked at me. I smiled and shared high fives and talks of me kicking butt. Maybe I did. I watched them disperse for the next one to come in.

"Hi Harry."

I turned around and she stood there. Her skin blue and her hair white with blue flame. "H-hi."

"You're pretty brave going first."

"I tried."

"You did good!" She held out a blue hand "I'm Blythe. Blythe Spyrt Juice.."

"Lovely to meet you Blythe Spyrit Juice."

She smiled "I know who you are."

"Who am I?"

"You're Harry Potter. The boy who lived, and will live again."

Just like that the blue girl went from someone I admired to becoming part of my worst fear.