Halloween dinner was one of the times students really enjoyed.
Even the first years seemed unusually attentive.
Everyone knew something was coming.
Some students stared directly at Alexander.
Others kept glancing nervously toward the High Table where the professors sat.
Alexander continued eating, ignoring the stares.
Near the end of dinner, Cho leaned closer.
"When will the show start?"
Alexander smiled.
"Make sure to smile and laugh," he said quietly. "Don't be too scared."
Cho grinned.
"I'm ready."
Alexander nodded and quickly finished his food.
"Okay."
He drew out his wand and waved it a few times.
The lights in the Great Hall dimmed.
Students instantly fell silent.
Alexander leaned in and whispered into Cho's ear.
"Show time."
With one final wave of his wand, the enchanted ceiling transformed.
A dark crimson night sky appeared above them.
A massive blood-red moon hung overhead.
Gasps filled the hall.
Fog began rolling slowly across the floor between the tables.
Illusionary bats flew across the room in chaotic circles.
The floating candles changed color, their flames now burning eerie shades of purple and green.
The entire Great Hall now looked like a dark vampire castle.
Several professors immediately stood up and drew their wands.
At the High Table, Dumbledore calmly raised a hand.
A silent signal meant to wait.
Above the hall, glowing words suddenly appeared in the air.
THE RISE OF THE NIGHT COURT
Excited whispers spread across the hall.
Cho grabbed Alexander's arm.
"Did you really do a vampire theme this year?!"
Alexander chuckled.
"You wanted one."
He gestured toward the ceiling.
"So I gave you one."
Cho watched with excitement.
Alexander smiled slightly.
"Just watch."
"The show is only starting."
Suddenly, music began to play.
A deep, dramatic melody filled the Great Hall.
Around the edges of the hall stood several large black coffins. For the entire month, they had been decorations.
Students had checked them before.
The black coffins had always been empty.
Now, the coffins began to rise slowly into the air.
Creak.
The largest coffin slowly opened first.
A thick wave of fog poured out.
Then another coffin opened.
And another.
One by one, the coffins revealed figures inside.
A tall figure stepped out from the first coffin.
His eyes glowed red.
A sudden magical wind swept through the hall, making his cloak and robe flutter dramatically.
Then the figure raised his arms and spoke with a powerful voice.
"I am the Great Vampire Lord!"
His voice echoed across the hall.
"The night belongs to us once more!"
He raised a hand dramatically.
"RISE… MY CHILDREN!"
The hall exploded with reactions.
Some students cheered loudly.
Others screamed in fear.
The rest of the coffins burst open.
Twenty vampires stepped out.
They screamed, then suddenly jumped forward and attacked.
Students shrieked as the vampires rushed forward.
Blood splattered everywhere.
The vampires seemed to focus their attacks mainly toward the Gryffindor table.
One vampire bit a student.
Then another.
Then another.
The students who got bitten collapsed dramatically onto the floor.
Moments later…
They stood up again.
Their eyes were glowing red.
They had become vampires.
The number of vampires quickly grew.
Students began running across the hall.
One male student shouted emotionally.
"You killed her!"
"I will avenge her!"
"I didn't even ask her out yet!"
The entire Great Hall went silent.
Everyone froze.
Even the vampires.
The Great Vampire Lord paused.
For several seconds, no one moved.
The Great Vampire Lord slowly raised his arms again.
"Keep feasting, my children!"
Instead of attacking again, the now hundred or so vampires suddenly took flight.
They flew wildly around the Great Hall.
Students ran everywhere.
Screaming.
Laughing.
Hiding.
Cho held onto Alexander's arm, her eyes bright with excitement.
"Hey," she said. "Is that Lee as the Great Vampire Lord?"
Alexander nodded.
"Yes."
Cho looked around again.
"All those vampires… they're students?"
"Yes."
She leaned closer.
"The blood… what is it?"
Alexander answered calmly.
"Tomato juice."
Cho blinked.
Then she burst out laughing.
Alexander chuckled.
"If people actually paid attention," he said, "they'd realize everything is fake."
He gestured at the chaos surrounding them.
"But the fear they're showing right now…"
He shook his head, amused.
"Is absolutely hilarious."
Cho laughed even harder as another group of screaming students ran past their table.
Meanwhile, above them, the crimson moon glowed brighter.
And the Night Court continued its chaotic feast.