I'm baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack! And WOW. I am soo much happier and healthier than I was this time last year. Reading back my own work was wild. Hermione's depression so perfectly matches my own feelings, but I've done A TON of work over the last 365 days and I'm ready to WRITE again.
Honestly, I'd recommend going to check this out on AO3 as I haven't finished updates yet on the ffn version...
Without FURTHER ADO (I think a year is more than enough), I give you chapter 164:
Sunday, October 12, 1998
"We've decided to switch it up," Jean Granger said early that afternoon when they'd arrived at Headquarters.
The rest of the group looked at her curiously, but no one said anything, waiting for her to reveal her switch up idea. Richard sat grinning next to her, but didn't comment on his wife's plan.
"Richard and I have assembled outfits for each of you, and each of the Purebloods will be paired with a Muggleborn or Muggle," Jean continued. Ricard turned and pulled out a poster board with all of their names written on it.
Hermione - Narcissa
Remus (and Teddy) - Regulus
Jean - Theo
Richard - Draco
Harry - Andromeda
"Please go and stand with your partners," Richard said.
"Now the goal," Jean continued, "is two pronged. This list will be your partner to find a paired costume, as Richard and I have decided on throwing an old fashioned Muggle Halloween party at the end of the month since you all are insisting that we celebrate Samhain."
Hermione grinned. She loved Halloween and her parents were excellent at it. They always had the best couples costumes, and when Hermione was younger she was always included in the fun. After she'd gone to Hogwarts, one of her favourite things to do was to play the guessing game with them where they would give her clues in their letters. Finally on Halloween, she'd receive a package of candy and a photo of her parents in their costumes. Hermione grinned at Narcissa already going through a list of potential costumes.
"As Jean said, This is a two-fold adventure," Richard continued, "we of course want you all to have fun, but we're hoping to help normalise some things about the Muggle world for you all. There are some excellent inventions that, to be honest, we feel rather embarrassed that you all haven't latched onto. Therefore, you will be participating in a scavenger hunt."
"We've assigned each of us a city, making sure that it was one that neither team member was familiar with. We have disposable cameras for you all, but we had the Elves put an enchantment on them so that they'll come out like your moving pictures."
"Any questions?" Richard asked.
"So the costumes are separate from the hunt?" Harry asked.
"Yes," Jean nodded, "today is for our scavenger hunt, our party will be held on the DATE. So costumes just need to be created by then."
"Do we have a budget?" Regulus asked cheekily.
Richard and Jean looked at each other and then to Hermione, unsure how to answer. "One hundred pounds per costume?" Hermione asked.
"That sounds reasonable," Jean said, nodding smartly.
"Well I-" Remus started before Regulus cut him off.
"House Black is quite comfortable with that." Hermione saw Remus flush, she could tell that he was still getting used to being part of House Black and all the things that came along with it.
"Do we have a time limit?" Harry asked, and she could tell that he was getting excited.
"Yes," Jean said, "we have dinner reservations at the final clue on our Scavenger H-"
"Hey!" Hermione said, hands fisting on her hips, "You two made this, that's not fair!"
"Actually, Neville and Dean made the Scavenger Hunt," Richard said with a smirk, "they were rather excited about it. We wanted to make sure that the teams were consistent and that the hunt worked for both team members."
"As I was saying," Jean continued with a raised eyebrow at her daughter. Each group has the same questions, but will be in a different city. The final clue will lead you to a Portkey that will take you to our dinner reservation, which is at 6:30pm."
Richard waved his hand and each of the pairings' cities was revealed. Hermione and Narcissa had Leeds. She'd been there once when she was very small, visiting a few of her parents' friends, but she had no real recollection of the city.
"Portkeys to take you to your first stop," Jean said, handing each an orange plastic pumpkin shaped candy bucket. "Inside you'll find maps, your lists and emergency contact information."
Hermione could feel herself buzzing, she was excited. She made eye contact with Narcissa who looked just as excited.
Moments later, they were being pulled to Leeds. Narcissa pulled out the first clue and handed it to Hermione, pulling out the map for herself.
Out in the dark and under a tree, As any Fanque would be, Look for a Graveyard skeleton key, Don't be afraid of guts and goo, For on that key is your next clue.
Hermione and Narcissa made their way to Leeds General Secretary, where SPablo Fanque was buried. In the front stood a large, old tree. At the foot of the tree was a bucket that was filled with what looked like bloody innards.
Narcissa looked at Hermione and then down at her stomach. "I'll be reaching in for the key. I don't anticipate that your parents wouldn't have thought this through, but I will be handling this nonetheless."
Hermione watched as Narcissa chewed her lip and then stuck her hand in the bucket. She fished around for a moment and then with a shout pulled out a very old poking skeleton key.
They say that bats come out at night, But don't be overcome with fright. A bat flies with the Abbess, but do not Stall as your next clue is hidden there.
Narcissa chuckled. "Kirkstall Abbey!" When Hermione looked at her curiously, she continued. "It's extremely haunted, one of the ghosts is a Black Ancestor, actually. He couldn't be convinced to leave the mortal plane although many have tried. Come along, I've never been but it looks like it's this way."
Hermione grasped her mother-in-law's arm as they made their way to the Abbey. Hermione began to discuss potential costumes for Halloween. As they discussed music, Hermione was struck with inspiration; she'd recently read a piece about Marilyn Monroe and Ella Fitzgerald. Marilyn had lobbied for and supported Ella's career, often pushing back against racist systems. She brought up the idea to Narcissa who was enamoured by the plan.
When they arrived at the Abbey, Narcissa led the way, calling out for the Abbess.
"We're here to honour the ancestors," she called out. "We seek the Abbess and what she holds!"
Suddenly a ghostly woman appeared before them. "You call for us?" she moaned hauntingly.
"We look for our next clue on our hunt," Hermione said softly. "We look for the bat who flies with you."
Behind her appeared a priest who was clothed in dark robes, very reminiscent of a bat.
"Youuuuuu callllled?" he said with a raised eyebrow.
"My name is Narcissa Black, this is my daughter-in-law, we seek our next clue," Narcissa said brightly.
"Ah an ancestor," he said thoughtfully. "Three ancestors, if my senses be correct," he said with a laugh. He looked at them sharply and spoke the next clue:
"Jack-o-lanterns light the night, Their eerie faces shining brightly and Whiteley, The knife that shaped them lies around, And holds your next clue safe and sound."
Abruptly both disappeared leaving a slip of paper in their wake. Hermione pulled out the map and looked through it thoughtfully
Hermione had to scour the map for the correct location. Then she found it. "Whiteley's Farm!" she cheered. "It has to be there, it's even spelled the same!"
Narcissa nodded primly and held out her hand for the apparition. When they arrived, they were greeted by a large display of pumpkins, and a knife stuck in the side of the shelves and a piece of paper fluttering on the handle.
Denny's Bones are scattered everywhere, Around a pile of leaves somewhere, An ENORMOUS plaque holds your next clue, Beware the owner watches you.
"Enormous?" Narcissa said curiously, "and who is this Denny character? I seem to remember a Henry Denny, a rather famous Muggleborn who ran a Museum that housed some Dragon Bones in the area. Do you think they're related?"
"Right here," Hermione said, pointing to Town Street where "Armley Hippo Plaque," was stamped.
"Oh that's perfect. Hippopotamus were in Leeds?" Narcissa asked, shocked. "I went on safari with my sisters when we were younger, they were astounding to see in person!"
When they arrived at the Plaque a small Hippo was holding a sign that read:
Look on the Arcade, look all around, Or your next clue will not be found, Beware the woman dressed in black, Your clue is hidden on a Pebbled hat.
"Well that could only be the Arcade, that one seems much too easy," Hermione said with a chuckle.
They arrived at the Central Arcade Shopping Mall and quickly spotted Pebble's Hats. They entered the store and were ushered into a back room that featured a variety of Magical hats. Each woman looked through, finding a hat befitting their Halloween costumes, and then made their way towards the lumpy black hat. Both women noted the attached tag at the same moment.
Tonight is not all fright and fear. A trick or treat is waiting near, In St. Ives you will find a sweet surprise, Enter the house and claim your prize.
Hermione grinned, "I know exactly where to go!" she grasped Narcissa's arm and apparated them away to their cottage in St. Ives. They weren't the first to arrive, that was won by Theo and Jean, who were sitting, sipping tea with an attempt at calm faces, but they were given away by their slightly red faces and panting. "I know you've only just beaten us, but at least we were second and we beat Dad and Drac-"
Seconds later the two in question appeared, quickly followed by Andromeda and Harry. The group settled into the table and were handed pumpkins and carving tools, inciting yet another competition.
Finally, over an hour later, Remus, Regulus, and a now sleeping Teddy ambled in, looking more than a little flushed. "Took you long enough," Harry said, painfully oblivious to the men's states.
Hermione hid her giggle, but looked around at her family, happily carving pumpkins and eating from the charcuterie board the elves had provided. It was going to be okay.
Thanks for reading! Let me know what you think or if you have any thoughts about what might happen next!
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