In The Dark,
Chapter 97, Thestral
Kereston met Gellert and Blaise at theirs so they could arrive at the party together, considering their costumes were a matching set. She'd cast an illusion to look like a black stone with her face where a face should be. Blaise had done the same with the elder wand, and Gellert was invisible save for his face. The three had worked out via a quick chat in the fire earlier that day how they would arrange their costumes to appear as the three Deathly Hallows. Durmstrang, already a school with dark motifs, went all out when it came to decorating for Hallowe'en. The outside school grounds were peppered with pumpkins in various sizes from small to giant. Each wore a grim scowl or open snarl, dripping with pumpkin malevolence. Their eyes glowed with orange candles, giving forth a festive Hallowe'en light to guide the way of any party guests coming from the outside. Similar pumpkins decorated the Great Hall along with fake yet very realistic looking hanging corpses. Said corpses held baskets of delightful treats from which one could sample if they dared.
As it turned out, Mag and Regulus sang together. She played fiddle and he the electric guitar, charmed not to require Muggle electricity to make it scream or wail. His husky tones blended nicely with her high soprano to weave a captivating sort of magic, though Gellert nor Blaise recognized any of the songs the two performed. All were fitting for the holiday, though, about ghosts or other various creatures of the night. They ended with a cheerful number just titled Halloween that sounded as if it perhaps hailed from the nineteen-forties. "Ah well," Gellert proclaimed cheerfully, leaning to speak into Blaise's ear as they applauded enthusiastically along with everyone else at the performance's end. "No conjuring rotten fruit and throwing it at them after all."
"Very generous of you, Darling," Blaise quipped. "Seriously, though, they were rather good." Gellert nodded. Kereston sighed from where she sat on Gellert's other side. "They were indeed quite good, and Gellert, you are five."
"No. You are," Gellert sing-songed at her, before giving a merry laugh.
"And he proves my point," Kereston told the ceiling eloquently, before laughing herself.
"Wasn't Master Regulus's performance brilliant," Kreacher gushed from where he sat on Kereston's other side. Though he clearly considered Gellert a friend, the elf was far more interested in talking of Regulus.
"They are both very talented," Blaise agreed, glancing to where Regulus and Mag stood with Severus in a corner speaking to some Durmstrang students. "I had no idea that Regulus was interested in music. Mag either for that matter." Gellert nodded, indicating that he hadn't either.
"Perhaps that's because you are both so self centered," Kereston speculated, and Gellert grinned.
"True," he agreed without hesitation. "It's kind of you to notice our best qualities, Porky Mouth."
Kereston punched him in the arm, clearly unwilling to warm to the pet name Gellert had given her for her love of the McDonalds burgers that he found to be so disgusting. "Is it odd for you to be here with so many people and students present," she asked him, leaning closer and lowering her voice. Gellert appreciated her for asking. The thoughtful support such demonstrated was oddly touching.
He shook his head. "Not really. Being quite in costume helps, of course. That's one reason that Hallowe'en is so magical. For a day, one can be anyone or anything they like without question, and without anyone wondering who they are."
"Speaking of that," Blaise said, turning to Kreacher. "What are you and Regulus supposed to be?" Both wore old fashioned Muggle suits in black and white.
"I told you they'd not know," Kereston said, turning an amused glance to Kreacher. "They're Dracula and Renfield," she added to Blaise and Gellert. "It's mildly ironic, considering. It was my idea," she concluded proudly.
"Vlad Dracula, yes I am aware of who that is, but who is Renfield," Gellert asked.
"His human servant," Kereston explained.
"How is being a vampire," Blaise asked Kreacher.
The elf smiled, and for the first time that evening, Blaise noticed a flash of fangs.
"Kreacher enjoys it," he said thoughtfully. "Even more than he expected to in all honesty. Of course he knew there would be benefits, but he believed he would miss certain things that he finds he does not miss at all."
"You shall still work on projects with us, won't you," Blaise asked. "As long as we switch to working in the evenings?"
"Of course," Kreacher agreed readily. "So long as Master Regulus may come along with Kreacher."
"He is always welcome," Blaise assured, pleased not to be losing money as a result of Kreacher's life choices. Idly he wondered if he wanted to ask what Kreacher thought of the taste of blood, then decided probably not. Clearly vampires found it yummy, else they'd complain more. EU.
"Do you find that Vampirism effects your magic in any way," Gellert asked. His gaze held a thoughtful intensity as he regarded Kreacher. "Regulus seems to have experienced no changes, but I wonder if it is different with elves."
Kreacher frowned. "Not usually. Usually Kreacher finds it the same unless it is perhaps a bit stronger," the elf murmured thoughtfully. "Then again perhaps what feels like more strength is only Kreacher experiencing his heightened vampiric senses. He is not always certain. The only true difference he notices is that he does not feel as connected to his home as he once did. It is his, but not as an elf...not as it once was. It is his as a true master." He must have sensed their confusion, for he continued. "Once the manor was as an extra limb to Kreacher of a sort, but now it is a mere possession."" In that case, Blaise was glad that Bramble did not wish to become a vampire.
"I told him he looks just like Nosferatu," Kereston gushed. "He makes for a terrifying vampire in the best of ways."
"Who," Gellert asked, turning to Blaise who only shrugged. He had no idea either.
"Nosferatu! He's one of the most terrifying vampires in the original silent films and he looks just bloody like Kreacher...Only the film came out in nineteen-twenty-two or something. It's a bloody amazing coincidence. Don't you two know anything?" She shook her head at them in open exasperation. "And before you say it's a Muggle thing, sure but wizards were just as invested in the moving pictures and you know it. Especially you, Gellert. You were around back then."
"Yes, but I didn't care about such rubbish. I had bigger fish to fry, if you recall," Gellert remarked carelessly.
Kereston sighed. "Come on. Let's go grab some snacks from the hanging corpses. Those pumpkin scones look delightful." She sprang up from her chair and headed across the room toward one of the hanging corpses that happened to be holding a large basket of pumpkin scones. Kreacher walked companionably at her side even though he could no longer enjoy such treats. Blaise and Gellert trailed in her wake, willing to sample the pumpkin scones along with anything else that looked interesting. They'd skipped dinner at home for that very purpose, after all.
"The students will be retiring to their dorms soon. When they've gone, the rest of us are having a nightcap in Albus's chambers to have a bit of a catch up, if you'd all like to stay." The voice belonged to Severus Snape and came from just behind them. Blaise turned to give his former Potions Master a warm smile. "That would be grand."
Kreacher nodded eagerly. "Master Regulus shall enjoy a catch up as shall Kreacher himself." Snape was fittingly dressed as a bat, a cloak serving as the sweeping wings. For her part, Mag just wore bardic robes. "There is spiked pumpkin juice on the far table against the wall there if you'd all like any. It's age warded against the students," she explained. From the overly happy way she leaned on Severus's arm, it was clear that she'd already had some.
"Sounds good," Gellert said. He referred to the existence of spiked pumpkin juice rather than the age warding. He could care less how drunk students did or did not get. After he and Blaise had gotten their pumpkin scones they headed over to snag glasses of spiked pumpkin juice. /Hey, bring me one, please,/ Nightshade thought in way of greeting from his usual spot on Severus's shoulder.
/Can you have pumpkin juice without getting sick,/ Gellert wondered.
/Yeah, pumpkin is super healthy,/ Nightshade assured.
/And the Fire Whisky,/ Gellert asked, lips twitching in open amusement.
/Just bring me the fuckin drink, please. It's Hallowe'en./ Gellert shrugged and floated a glass over to the owl. If Snape or Mag had a problem, they'd just take it away. Regulus came to join the group then, walking at Bera's side. Smiling she handed Kreacher a blood lollypop, and he happily popped it into his mouth. Blaise stared, then glanced away. It was definitely something to get used to.
"He's so cute," Bera crooned. That was a word for it, Blaise thought. From the odd fleeting smile flickering across Gellert's face, he could tell the blond agreed. Both tossed back their cups of pumpkin juice and went together for a refill.
"You should try the soul cakes," Albus suggested. He stood in front of one of the hanging corpses that they passed on the way to the table of spiked juice. It held a basket of biscuit looking things. Dumbledore was holding one in his hand and seemed to be enjoying it quite a lot. "Bera found these at a local wizarding bakery, and they use the recipe of old for them. They're delightful! It's a once a year opportunity, so you should really enjoy them while they're here," he encouraged.
"Well we are finished with our scones, so why not," Gellert said. Reaching past the corpse's drooping head, he snatched two soul cakes from the basket and passed one to Blaise. They were quite good, sweet bread like concoctions full of nuts and dried fruit.
"I'll be bringing what's left of these up to my and Bera's apartment after the party is over," Albus decided. "It wouldn't do to allow any to go to waste."
"He has a sugar addiction," Bera complained. She glided up to Albus, slipping an arm around his waist.
"That may or may not be the case, but today is the day...literally the day for tricks and treats, my dear," Albus pointed out to his wife. Both were dressed as ghosts, which meant they wore an illusion that caused them to appear transparent.
"Nice costumes," Bera told Blaise and Gellert. "The two of you along with Kereston make a grand set."
"Why thank you," Gellert said. "It was my Blaise's idea." The two were never ones to compete against one another. Instead, they always proudly gave one another credit, pleased for the other's accomplishments. When they crafted enchantments together, they shared in the glory of their mutual creations. As if summoned by Bera's mention of her, Kereston drifted over with Kreacher and Regulus. "I still need to try a soulcake," she explained. As she spoke, Blaise caught sight of the black Death Phoenix on Regulus's shoulder. The bird's glossy jet feathers blended in well with the youthful looking vampire's neatly combed shoulder length black hair.
"So Death Phoenixes aren't like Thestrals, right," Blaise asked Regulus. As an enchanter, the concept of the rare bird drew his fascination. "That is, Thestrals clearly have some connection to death," he clarified. "Unlike Thestrals, anyone can see the Death Phoenixes without having seen anyone die, though. So that means their power works differently, does it not?"
At the question, Regulus looked mildly startled. Rather than answering at once, he glanced toward the black bird on his shoulder. The phoenix gave a musical trill, bobbing his head as he did. "Mortis says that you are correct," Regulus told Blaise. "They are different. Death Phoenixes merely have more control of the death aspect where life phoenixes like Albus's have more control over life. It is a balance, though, so both types of phoenixes work with both sides." He paused as the bird trilled again. "He says Thestrals can be protective as can Death Phoenixes, but that they have a connection to the afterlife that Death Phoenixes do not. With Phoenixes it's either life or death, but Thestral energy can extend beyond that, working with the veil as well.
"Thank you," Blaise said, addressing both Regulus and his phoenix. Mortis inclined his head in a regal gesture of acknowledgement as Regulus said, "Of course. Any time."
"I never approved of using Thestral hair in wands for that very reason, you know," Albus said thoughtfully.
Blaise nodded in understanding. "Because that connection to the veil...to the afterlife can create a dangerous opening, yes?"
Albus nodded. "Precisely. I feel this could pose an unnecessary danger in a duel, but also in general."
Blaise nodded again. His thoughts aligned with those of the former Hogwarts Headmaster on that. Normally such a thing may have been surprising, but as it was on a rather obscure matter, and Albus was a genius, Blaise was pleased. The Elder Wand had a Thestral hair core, and it was just one more reason he was relieved that Gellert no longer possessed the thing. The last thing he wanted was even the slightest risk posed to Gellert's safety. Losing the blond was a thought he simply could not stand.
"Not to say that Thestrals aren't kind, gentle and good creatures," Albus was saying. "But this is when worked with in their live forms. They even have some properties to deflect Dementors, rather like a Patronus, but these appear to be largely unexplored from what I've managed to find. Using their hair and such, when their powers are so uncanny, is simply a danger I feel carries far too many risks to be wise."
Blaise nodded. He agreed one hundred percent. As for the protective properties of live Thestrals, he'd read of that as well, but like Dumbledore, he'd also found limited information. Granted he'd never looked very hard, considering he found Thestrals to be a bit creepy.
"It is an area that I feel warrants further exploration, though," Gellert said. Blaise frowned, because on this, the two appeared to disagree which was a rare occurrence.
"Vell the students are heading to their dorms, so ve are free to retire as vell," Bera observed. "Go ahead and take everything along vith us that you vont, Albus."
"I plan to share," Albus said cheerfully, then began sweeping his wand at the remaining baskets of treats.