Prompt: I25 - And now, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.
Note:
Not my bingo number, but I had an idea I liked so much that I had no choice but to write this. For anyone wondering, Walpurgisnacht is an ancient tradition in the region where I come from and is most likely unknown in most areas of the world.
The sun was setting on the horizon in a blazing ruby fire as five hooded figures emerged from a whimsical-looking house, brooms over their shoulders. "And now, let us step out into the night and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure," called the leader of a small group of witches as they waved goodbye to their friends and husbands and disappeared with soft popping noises.
Walpurgis Night was a time of ancient magic when the boundaries between the mortal world and the realm of the supernatural grew thinner. It was a night of celebration and revelry as witches gathered around bonfires to honour the arrival of spring and ward off evil spirits.
In a secluded clearing deep in the Forbidden Forest, five witches stood huddled together, their faces illuminated by the flickering light of the bonfire. Ginny Potter, Hermione Granger, Luna Lovegood, Angelina and Fleur Weasley had gathered to celebrate Walpurgis Night, eager to take part in the ancient rituals of their ancestors.
Hermione, the bookworm among them, had come across the ritual of flying on broomsticks around a bonfire in an old volume hidden in the restricted section of Hogwarts library. Fascinated by the idea of harnessing the magic of Walpurgis Night, after a few too many drinks at the last Weasley New Year's party, she'd convinced her friends in the wee hours of the morning to join her in the ritual.
As they stood by the bonfire, Hermione took the worn, leather-bound book from her bag, the pages of which were filled with ancient runes and incantations, and let her eyes wander about the group of witches. "Let's get started," she finally called out, unbuttoned her robe, and started undressing herself piece by piece.
Eager for the ritual to begin, Ginny followed her friend's example and undressed, occasionally glancing at the others. Then, as they all stood in a circle around the fire, giggling quietly to herself, Hermione took the book in her hand, waved her wand in intricate patter while murmuring incantations, and finally began chanting the words of the ritual, calling upon the powers of the night to strengthen their magic and make them prolific.
The air crackled with magic as the bonfire burned higher, sending sparks dancing into the night sky. At a signal from Hermione, they gathered next to a tub filled with a mixture of earth and ochery marl and rubbed it on each other, giggling excitedly and exchanging furtive glances. When finally all their body parts were prepared for the ritual, the five witches mounted their brooms as, with a blast of air, a touch of magic escaped the bonfire as a large wooden block broke and caused the fire to flare up. Slowly, they rose into the sky, their brooms floating effortlessly above the treetops. They flew lap after lap, their laughter echoing through the night as they danced under the stars.
For Ginny, flying on her broom was an incomparable feeling of freedom and happiness, filling her with joy. She whirled and circled through the air, her hair flowing behind her like a fiery comet in the night.
Hermione, who'd ever been the cautious one, flew carefully and focused, her brow furrowed in concentration as she guided her broom through the night sky. Luna, always in tune with the mystical forces of the universe, had a dreamy smile plastered on her face, her eyes sparkling with wonder.
Angelina, the most experienced Quidditch player next to Ginny, floated through the air with grace and skill, her movements fluid and effortless. Together with Fleur, her sister-in-law, she danced among the stars, their laughter mingling with the ancient magic of Walpurgis Night.
As they flew, they could all feel the power of the magic night streaming through their veins, filling them with energy and vitality. They made their rounds faster and faster until they fell into a kind of trance, and time no longer mattered to them.
But as the night wore on and the first light of dawn began to illuminate the sky, they knew their time was running out. With heavy hearts, they slowly began to descend back to their slowly dying bonfire.
When they landed next to the bonfire, their faces flushed with joy and exhaustion, they knew they had experienced true magic. Walpurgis Night had brought them together like nothing else, bonding them with the shared memory of their magical flight through the night sky.
As they gathered around the dying embers under the first sun rays of the new day and began to dress again, their hearts were filled with the friendship and togetherness they shared and the unspoken consensus that a new tradition was born.