Chapter Eight - Halloween

After Bree fainted in Defence Against the Dark Arts she had been left with the feeling that she was being watched more than usual. She realised that Dumbledore would have told the teachers to keep a closer eye on her but she was noticing her fellow students were giving her side long glances too. Ernie, Justin and Hannah tried to be subtle with their light interrogations of how she was feeling while Hermione would often try and feel her forehead and offer lists of potions that might help her strength. Bree promised that she would try at least one and Hermione said she would check her potions kit for ingredients. Meanwhile Slytherins she passed in corridors would pretend to stumble and faint while others laughed. Perhaps Draco hadn't liked that she'd given him the brush off. Bree hadn't forgotten that he saw her licking blood off her fingers in Diagon Alley and didn't want him taking too close an interest in her lest he discover her secret.

Halloween was approaching and the castle was decorated with a whole manner of spooky things. The Hufflepuff Common Room was also decorated with large cobwebs and fake spiders that would move up and down the wall. There were carved pumpkins sat on every surface and a cackling cauldron that would shoot up purple, green and orange sparks. A large poster hung over the bulletin board and advertised the Annual Hufflepuff Costume Competition that took place after the Feast. The contest was a secret known only to Hufflepuffs and Bree wondered if other Houses did something similar. The hot topic was what to dress as.

"You see it's funny," Justin said at breakfast one morning, "Last year I dressed as a wizard, this year I am a wizard. It narrows down your options."

"You're right," Hannah nodded, "Muggles have it very easy costume-wise."

"So what do wizards dress as?" Justin asked as he spread marmalade on his toast.

"Magical creatures, famous wizards, stuff like that." There was a moment of silence amongst the group as they sat deep in thought.

"Hmm," Ernie said. "I might be a pumpkin."

"Oh, good idea. Justin I have a great idea for our costume, it'll be amazing." Hannah said mysteriously with a wink. "I'll tell you later."
"I'm keeping my costume a secret too." Bree tried to sound mysterious but really she just hadn't thought of a costume yet but she was sure she would think of one in the next few days.

She daydreamed through all of History of Magic sketching ideas on her parchment. Professor Binn's continuous mention of nundus made her consider dressing as one of them but she wasn't really sure what they looked like. He wasn't very descriptive and none of their textbooks had pictures so she crossed it off the list. The rest of the lessons seemed to fly over; in Charms they practised Wingardium Leviosa, in Transfiguration they turned a box into a ball and in Herbology they planted Dandylions, which looked just like dandelions but would roar and try to bite through the student's thick gloves.

"Class," Professor Sprout warned over a rumble of roars, "If they bite through to your skin rub in your antidote as soon as possible. I don't want anyone having to regrow a finger tonight!"

She also didn't want Bree smelling blood and trying to eat someone in class. Ron and Harry were working at the same table as Bree and Hannah and were making quite a mess.

"That's too much dragon dung Harry!" Ron said with a hand over his nose, "Only one layer!"

"What?" Harry looked up spilling the rest of the sack on the desk as the plant pot over flowed.

"Eugh!" Bree groaned as the dung came towards her, "Watch it Harry!"

"Oops, sorry."
"It's on my robes!" Bree wiped her robes but with her dirty gloves it just got worse.

"Ow! Ow! OWW!" Ron exclaimed as his Dandylion bit down on his glove. Harry tried to wrestle the flower but by that time Professor Sprout was already at the table. She sent a stunning charm to the flower and looked at them with a smile on her face.

"Oh dear," she grinned, she waved her wand to clean up the mess, "Ran into a spot of bother did you?"

Bree noticed Hermione giving the four of them disapproving glare, "We're sorry Professor." The four of them said.

"Oh don't worry, it could be worse. At least the plants are alright, even if I am down a sack of dragon dung." She shook her head slightly, "The four of you will write me an essay on dragon dung due in next week. Just a small one, a few hundred words. Look at the time class, leave your Dandylions on the shelf and you're free to go." There was a cacophony of bangs, clatters and the dragging of chairs as well as a hubbub of voices, Professor Sprout called over the clatter, "Also, you might be interested to see how your beanstalks are doing." She pointed to a cluster of blue pots with little green shoots poking through, some taller than others. Bree hoped that hers had grown at least a little but didn't want to check lest she be disappointed.

"Sorry about getting you in trouble." Harry whispered as they left the greenhouse.

"It's not a problem. It was kind of fun, even if I do stink! Nice day isn't it?" Bree smiled. To a normal person this would be a terrible day, the whole sky was covered in thick grey clouds threatening to burst into showers any moment and a chill ran through the air, but to Bree it meant she could safely be outside.

"Are you mental?" Ron asked with a frown but was interrupted by an indignant looking Hermione.

"Bree! You should know better than to hang around with trouble-makers like this!" She huffed, eyeing Harry and Ron suspiciously, "Surely you don't want to get kicked out of school."

"Hermione it was a bit of dung, we didn't blow up a classroom."

"It's a slippery slope. His brother's are all trouble too!" She pointed at Ron.

"Oi! Percy would be very offended to hear you say that."
"You should try acting more like Percy!"

Ron rolled his eyes and Bree decided to intervene, "Calm down you two."

Hermione let out a humph and stormed off into the castle while Ron let out a tsk and Harry just shook his head, "Sorry about that." Harry apologised to Bree and her friends, "Come on Ron."

The Gryffindor pair climbed up the marble staircase in the Entrance Corridor, Harry turned to send the group a quick wave and than vanished behind a door that was pretending to be a portrait.

Ernie, Hannah and Justin went to the Great Hall but Bree excused herself to go clean herself up and instead went to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey gave her a warm welcome and pointed her towards the office. The office was unbelievably clean and organised, a large bookshelf displayed an alphabetised sets of books on diagnosing and treating patients, a simple green chair sat in front of a dark wooden desk. A glass bottle of blood sat on the corner of the desk next to an inkwell and a small pile of letters. Bree took the bottle in her hand, it was still warm. She delicately unscrewed the top and drank it all in one go. She hated how happy it made her feel but it just felt so good, like sinking into hot bath. Bree took a deep breath as she felt the warm liquid flow through her body, reviving her. While it felt good it was no comparison to a fresh drink; the tearing of flesh and the warm nectar seeping out, the struggle and then sudden stillness of the prey. Bree slammed the bottle down on the desk growing distrustful of her own thoughts. She had only ever drank from animals, small animals, mostly vermin but the darkest corners of her mind had always wondered about humans. She shook her head trying to think of anything else. She left the Hospital Wing as quickly as she had entered it, hurrying down to her Common Room.


October 31st arrived with a early morning thunderstorm and a sky of grey and a bone chilling wind that seemed to sweep the whole castle biting at exposed fingers. The lessons that day seemed longer than usual as anticipation for the feast and party built throughout the day. The mood was deflated slightly by Snape who decided to give them a test and then spend the rest of the lesson offering students snide remarks and putdowns.

"I can't stand him!" Hannah hissed when they were out the lesson, "Galangal, Abbot? Are you brewing Scintillation Solution or trying to blow up the castle?" She sneered in a near perfect impression.

"Let it go. It's Halloween and that was our last lesson. The feast starts in an hour then…" Justin lowered his voice so even Bree could barely hear him, "party time!"

An hour later in their best robes the Hufflepuffs were filing into the Great Hall, they ducked with a shriek as bats swooped over their heads. The Fat Friar glided in after them, "Excited for the feast?" He asked with a chuckle, "We ghosts have quite a show planned for a little after dinner entertainment!" He glided further done the hall as the four of them took their seats, with Bree and Hannah sitting opposite Ernie and Justin. The food appeared on the golden plates just as it had at the start-of-term banquet.

"Yum!" Hannah said reaching out for a chicken leg as Bree ladled some roasted red pepper and tomato soup into a bowl and took a few slices of pumpkin seed bread. The spoon had barely touched her lips when the doors to the Great Hall were thrown open. Professor Quirrell ran in, a look of terror on his face, "Troll - in the dungeons - thought you ought to know." He collapsed on the floor and the whole hall erupted in a panic, students jumped from their seats and ran for the door. Bree was shoved to the ground by a Slytherin while she tried to make it to her feet she heard Dumbledore's voice and everything else seemed to stop. He told them to head back to their dormitories and wait. Hannah pulled her up and Faith and Robert, their prefects guided them down to the common room.

Once they arrived they were told the party was still on and everyone headed up to their dorms to get changed into their costumes. Bree still hadn't thought up a costume and was the last one left in the dorm. She went through her trunk twice but found nothing that could be a costume. Exasperated, she jumped down on her bed and pulled the sheets over her. Inspiration struck her! She pulled a white bed sheet from her bed, poked some eye holes with her wand and threw it over her head and went down to the Common Room.

It looked amazing, pumpkins hovered in the air just like in the Great Hall, huge spiders webs stretched across the ceiling, a huge cauldron in the centre of the room flashed different colours and spat out sparks, silver trays of food weaved their way around the costumed Hufflepuffs. Some were dressed as things Bree recognised, pirates, princesses, mermaids and animals, but some were dressed up as Muggles that Bree didn't recognise. She carefully made her way through the crowd picking up a chicken sandwich as she looked around for Ernie, Justin and Hannah.

Ernie was easiest to spot, he was bright orange and bloated and round, "Hey Ernie!" Bree called.

"Wow, Bree. What exactly…are you?"

"A ghost, of course! Woooooo!" She waved her arms towards him, "You look impressive, is it a spell?" She poked at his belly and carved eyeholes flashed.

"It's from a potion I ordered, you turn back at midnight. Justin seemed to find it funny but I don't really get it. Must be a Muggle thing." He shrugged and took a sip from his goblet.

"Where are Hannah and Justin?"

"Behind you!" Hannah hoarsely. Bree turned around, at first Bree didn't think Hannah was dressed up at all but then she looked down and saw that Hannah had a horse's body!

"Did you use a potion too?"

"No." Came a muffled voice.

"Is that Justin?"

The tail swished and then the foot stamped with a clip-clop. "He lost the coin toss." Hannah giggled and Justin made a disapproving noise, Ernie suppressed a giggle.

"Hey guys! Having fun?" It was Cedric, he was dressed as Dumbledore; a long white beard hung to his knees, half moon spectacles sat at the end of his nose, and was wearing deep purple robes dotted with silver stars and a matching hat.

"Of course, Professor." Bree said with a smile.

"I know this isn't exactly the best party, everyone's a bit worried about the troll. George and Gary were going to dress as one so it kind of ruined their night." He waved over to two sullen looking boys in the corner, trying to avoid being splashed by the group that were bobbing for apples. "Good costumes, I think Hannah and whoever else is in there could win the prize for best first year costume. Bree, are you a giant marshmallow?"

"I'm a ghost."

"Oh, you should make yourself see-through, it's not that hard but-"

There was an almighty crash and everyone shrieked, Bree spun around thinking that the troll had somehow broken in but it was nowhere to be seen.

"HOW COULD YOU!" A voice boomed, Bree spun around again it was boy in a floor-length leather jacket with his hands on his hips. He was standing over a third year who was dressed as a vampire with slicked back hair and a long cape and some fake fangs who had smashed into a table

"Ugh, not again!" Cedric muttered.

"Wha-" Ernie began but he was interrupted by the boy's booming voice.

"How could you!" He yelled again, "Dressing as that! One of those!" He spat, "A vampire KILLED my father!"

"Calm down." The third year said scrambling away from him but the boy reached down and pulled him up by his collar, so they were face-to-face.

"Vampires aren't funny." He said quietly, "They are mindless, soulless killers!"

"Brutus Gaston!" Faith yelled as Robert pulled them apart, "You do this every year! Ten points from Hufflepuff. Now go up to your dormitory and stay there until you calm down."

Brutus shrugged and said "Come on LeFou!" A short boy dressed as bumblebee got up from an armchair and stood by his side. Before he turned to leave his eyes swept the room and Bree could almost swear they settled on her.


AN - I'm so sorry it has taken me so long to upload a new chapter, hopefully it was worth the wait!