Chapter 13: chapter xiii: this is Halloween (1)Summary:
In which we try to distract ourselves.
Notes:
DOUBLE UPDATE! DON'T WE LOVE IT???
Actually, we don't! But once again we're splitting the chapter of Halloween because I ended up cramming stuff I genuinely couldn't take out, and this chapter was already a monstrosity with over 8k words, so I decided to split it.
I'll admit that it was hard to write if only because for Star it's such a big day that I just wasn't able to completely skip to the feast, it didn't feel right, to be honest.
anyways, enjoy! There's another chapter coming in like 2 seconds, so make sure you don't miss it!
(See the end of the chapter for more notes.)
Chapter Text
"Should we go up?" Harry asked and I glanced at him, making a noise when he yawned.
"Maybe. I think everyone's just about to wake up, anyway."
There was a mischievously happy twinkle in Harry's eyes when he grinned at me, looking weirdly giddy at the prospect of what waited for the students and making me snicker.
"It's so exciting!" He whispered, and my smile turned soft at his childlike glee. It was rare seeing him like that, as he had been the first weeks of class when faced with all the magic he was now part of.
It was gratifying to see Harry loosening up in other way that wasn't anger; to see how well he diverged from what he would've been, and to watch him- well, happy .
"We should get ready, Percy usually wakes up at these ungodly hours."
We shared a grin before moving, and I raised a brow at him when he tugged on my sleeve at change of stairs, stopping and looking down at his embarrassed face.
"Thank you," for distracting me. For sitting with me. For making me laugh. For including me. Was left unsaid, but I heard it nonetheless.
I watched him shuffle on his feet, averting his eyes from mine before I nodded once, smirking and nudging his shoulder lightly.
"Always and Forever, Harry James."
He beamed at me so brightly that it hurt to see, and I tactfully didn't comment on how wet his eyes looked from behind his glasses.
"Right, always and forever."
I watched him run up his stairs, shaking my head before finally moving to my dorm, seeing that the girls were still asleep when I got inside, their curtains closed and snoring softly.
Taking the chance to have first bath, I quietly moved around, careful around Lavender as she was the easiest to wake up and had more than once glared at me through her curtains for waking her up in the middle of the night.
With November right on the corner, the days had started cooling, and I had to keep muttering warming charms on myself to make up for the fact that I was growing taller, or that someone was shrinking my clothes the same way I had been doing to Pucey, but the only people who'd put the time and effort would never do it.
Fred and George had no qualms about pranking, but they seem to draw the line on damaging other's belongings, and I do too, with exception of Adrian Pucey, because he can - again - choke.
By the time I was dressed, Parvati had already woken up and was waiting for her turn on the showers as I dried my hair and tried not to think about how cold the dungeons would get from then on.
"Morning, Parvati." She quirked a sleepy smile at me, moving to get ready for the day after waving a response. Hermione was stirring when I stepped out to move to the Common Room and wait for the boys, thinking what was the plan for the day.
Though I was loathe to think of all the shit that'd happen later and had done a great job at finding things to keep my mind busy, I knew I'd have to face the music one way or another.
First thing, Quirrell.
Now, he didn't give detention. Ever.
Sure, he might've docked points once or twice, but I never heard of anyone getting detention with him, either because it didn't fit his "no backbone snivelling" persona, or because he couldn't be bothered wasting time when he had his master whispering on his ear.
So what the hell did it mean that he waited so long to serve me detention on the day of his first attempt to take the stone?
Better yet, how does he hope to use me in it?
Is it to actually get inside, or does he hope to place me in the Troll's way? If so, why?
I could understand him trying to assassinate Harry, but me? Was it because I was close to the boy, or- Or was it because I was a McKinnon?
Did… Did he want to finish the job?
A cold shiver ran up my spine at the thought, a pressure behind my eyes as it dawned on me that me being alive might throw a wrench in his future plans and he knew.
It was public knowledge who killed my aunt and grandparents. I hadn't understood at first, but Voldemort himself, Travers, and a few other Death Eaters wiped them out.
After Daphne explained the political and magical hold the McKinnons had on a few of the Death Eaters, it made sense why Voldemort killed them in person. So maybe- maybe he wanted to finish the job.
It wasn't like how I imagined all those years ago after mum had whispered me the tale of what had happened to the Wizarding world, where I saw myself as this grey agent no one saw changing things, working behind the curtains.
An unnamed character in the books.
No, he knew of the threat I could be in the future, and that was a sobering thought.
And to think I had been disrespecting Quirrell as if it wouldn't have consequences.
So what would I do about the detention?
Do I just… not show up and hope that he didn't try killing me another time? Do I go knowing that it was dangerous, but that I wouldn't get caught blindsided?
I didn't know if I'd be able to fight off whatever he'd do to me. Despite the many defensive and offensive spells I had been learning, I doubted I'd be able to make enough damage on a man who saw war and was probably getting his ideas from such a mastermind of the likes of Voldemort, fuck, he might even be possessed.
Maybe I'd be able to surprise him enough to get away, but defeating him? A joke.
And what about the troll?
I was confident Snape would still stop Quirrell, but what was it that made it work? Was it that Quirrell himself was weaker than Snape, or was it that they had to attend to the Trio when they got in the troll's way?
I had already decided to take Hermione out of its way.
I wasn't God, there's no reason for me to knowingly let her be in danger just to- to… what? Have some sort of control over what happens? Make friends? No, I'd help her with that after the troll incident had passed.
The detention was a huge fucking rock in my way.
Now, what would I do about it?
Do I ignore it? Climb it? Smash it to pieces? Hope I don't get crushed by it?
"What has our firstie so deep in thoughts?" I was startled at the push on my head, looking crossed-eyed to the finger George had used to bring me back to reality before swatting it away.
"What mischief have you caused, Starflower?"
A smile threatened to break on my lips at Fred's gleeful question and the way his eyes were twinkling, much like Blaise's did whenever I had some piece of gossip to tell him.
"Oh, you'll know ." They exchanged excited looks while I tried to calm down from my previous thoughts, glad for their interruption even if I should carry on planning.
We bickered for a little while, and Lee joined them into making me company while I waited for the three boys, waving at Lavender and Parvati when they walked out hand in hand, chittering and echoing their greetings before moving out the Common Room.
"I still don't know how Lee gets away with it while you two bampots keep getting detention." Said boy laughed loudly at that and with the twins' put out face, making me snicker when they huffed annoyed breaths.
"We don't know how, either."
"Sometimes it's not even our fault!"
Lee smirked at that, shrugging smugly and leaning back as if on a throne.
"You boys need to learn the art of being underestimated." We all laughed at that, and I accepted Harry's hand to stand up once they finally approached with a sleepy Ron.
Neville smiled, greeting me quietly and falling on my right side once we moved out, leaving the older boys to wait for their other friends. Harry kept throwing excited glances at me from over his shoulder that had Ron narrowing his eyes at us in suspicion.
"What did you two do?"
"What? What're you talking about-" " We didn't do nothin- "
Neville snorted, shaking his head when I smirked and pressed against his side, nudging him teasingly when Ron turned to Harry, who'd clearly crack first.
"What did she make you do, Harry? Tell me, mate. I promise I'll help you."
"Oi!" They snickered at my protest, but luckily Ron kept us busy making jibes at me, doing a great work of distracting Harry when he noticed how he got tense whenever someone crossed our path.
The boy pouted when we finally got into the Great Hall, looking around in disappointment while I snorted.
We moved to our usual seat in the middle of the table where Lavender and Parvati already occupied their spots nearby; Harry, like always, sat by my left while Neville sat across from him with Ron by his side.
"Is it just me or can you guys smell something pumpky, too?" Neville mused with a grin, making us snort when he pushed three plates of pumpkin pie away so we could pull our usual food closer, though Ron did snatch a slice despite Neville trying to slap his hand away gently. "That's too sweet for breakfast."
"No, it isn't-"
"Slob." Harry coughed, making Ron frown jokingly at him and Neville smile.
"That's too much sugar, Ron."
The boy scowled at me, pointedly eating his pie amidst the boys' snickers and my disapproval.
"I won't listen to the girl who bribed my brothers into buying half of Honeydukes!" He spoke through the food, and I snorted when Lavender and Parvati twisted their noses at him while Harry made disgusted noises.
"That's different! I won't eat them in the morning!" Ron rolled his eyes and made mocking faces, earning him a piece of toast thrown his way. "Oi, pass me the- Thanks, mate." Harry nodded at my words, moving the teapot my way while I passed him the - gag -, pumpkin juice, glancing at my clock and grinning. Just a few more minutes.
It was a good choice to wait to activate it.
The Hall was already fuller than normal, everyone chittering excitedly at the new breakfast food and the decor. Some carved pumpkins were already floating above, and I could see some skeletons moving around, as if arranging themselves for a show later on.
I nudged Harry when the twins and their friends finally arrived, and he raised his brows curiously when I smirked, taking a sip from my tea and checking if all of the Professors had arrived before clearing my throat once Fred finally sat by my right.
"Happy Halloween, by the way." The effect was immediate, as soon as the words left my mouth, the were various 'poofs' as every single person sitting down or close to any table received a costume. Outraged squawks and laughter filled the room as I snickered at the sight of Ron blinking dazedly, reaching up to the pirate hat and impressive beard he was sporting.
The twins were gaping at each other, each dressed as matching princesses, though George's dress and makeup was pink while Fred's was blue, it didn't take long for them to cackle loudly, looking around as I patted the top of my head, discovering some type of animal ear, a quick check on what covered my nose and I figured out I was a bunny, looking down at my ridiculous costume and grinning widely at Harry, who was wheezing over the table.
He was dressed as a pumpkin, with an eye-sore orange puffing onesie and green hair, slamming the table to try to stop the sobbing.
The laughter only got louder when the attention was brought to the High Table.
Snape was valiantly trying to take off the Batman mask without much success, face red under it and with his cape snapping dramatically every time he moved.
McGonagall had her lips pressed together, which looked a little hilarious from under the cat face paint, and she was already sending us a glare that promised hell while Flitwick seemed amazed, grinning like mad while brandishing his tiny sword, feeling for his glorious armour.
Sprout also seemed pleased with her flower costume, counting the petals around her face in humour.
But the best of all was Dumbledore, who seemed mighty happy with his fairy costume, patting his beard full of glitter and waving the prop magical wand in interest, showing Madam Pomfrey how it left trails of glitter when he waved it. The wings fluttered behind him, and his robes were a pretty pink colour, full of purple glitter and swirling designs.
There were many variations.
Knights, zombies, bandits, pirates, fairies, mummies, muggle witches, animals, plants, nurses, doctors, clowns, explorers, cops, rock stars, hippies, heroes, princesses, angels, devils, Frankstains, vampires, monsters, any type of cheesy muggle costume I could think of.
Perhaps the best part was that whoever got in late and saw the chaos ended up getting hoped in by saying the magical words, and everyone knew who wished a Happy Halloween by the desperate cries of ' NO! ', which was a nice warning that everyone was getting another piece of costume added to themselves.
The Slytherin table was in an uproar, desperately clawing at themselves trying to rid of the pieces, which only made the Ravenclaws near them laugh.
Fred and George were looking at me like I hung the moon while I ate between laughs at our Slytherin friends, waving at Blaise when he sent me an amused look from his table, looking very regal in his king attire, even with the vampire cape he received from the last round of some Slytherin wishing them a Happy Halloween.
Harry high-fived me under the table when he finally saw how Draco was dressed in a mix of frog and clown, red in the face and scowling at his breakfast.
I made sure none of the costumes weren't in any way revealing, all long-sleeved and either long dresses or pants, so I wasn't too worried about making people uncomfortable with showing skin. If the costume changed that.
I myself could feel my uniform under the jumper, and some students would later spread the word that they disappeared when they entered the loos, only to appear again as soon as their business was done.
The same could be said about the dormitories.
"Wicked!" The twins laughed, proudly showing their sparkling tiaras to their friends.
By the end of breakfast, I was sporting a pirate beard under the bunny nose and teeth, blue fairy wings, a prop sword on my waist and a cop hat between the bunny ears.
The Gryffindor table was the one with most mismatched costumes, seeing as the twins and others kept saying the trigger words to see how many times they could change everyone's costumes.
Most students seemed to take it in good humour, seeing as everyone was affected by it; Only a few were walking around costume free and mighty confused by the school population all dressed up oddly.
It got even better at Flitwick's class as he was making happy use of his prop sword to point at us, twirling it in a way that showed he had some kind of training with the weapon, which was mindblowing.
He was in such good humour that he let us pick our partners for class instead of assigning it to us like he usually did.
They all seemed excited to try the levitation spell, and I quickly hauled Ron as my partner, like usual, seeing as he had the hardest time during Charms with his used wand, but maybe the fact that he'd be getting a new one that weekend had him more cheer than usual.
Harry paired up with Neville on our side, both looking quite thrilled with the prospect of making something fly.
"Now, don't forget that nice wrist movement we've been practicing!" Professor Flitwick squeaked, using the sword as an example instead of his wand. "Swish and flick, remember, swish and flick. And saying the magic word properly is very important, too - never forget Wizard Baruffio, who said 's' instead of 'f' and found himself on the floor with a buffalo on his chest.'
I snickered at that, grinning when Flitwick winked at me before I turned to help Ron, who was already eagerly waiting for instructions.
"Alright, you remember, just saying the spell and making the movement doesn't do much, you have to want it to fly. Have to believe it will." Ron nodded, clearing his throat and making the movement slowly like I usually corrected him to do, seeing as he liked to move fast. I smirked at him saying the spell wrong, pleased to say the movie line even if no one else would understand. "It's Levi- o -sa, not Levio- saaa."
The boy huffed and sent me a dirty look when Harry snorted, but rolled his eyes and corrected his pronunciation.
I was still pleasantly surprised at the Slytherins' influence on him, humble enough to know that his cooling down reactions were Daphne's work as they were both of the same tempers, and the other girl had gotten too pissed at his reactions to let him carry on how he was.
Ridiculously easy to anger, much like Harry, though Blaise was trying to work that on him without much success. Ron seemed smug that he had bested Harry on something, and it never failed to annoy the boy when Blaise pointed out that Ron would survive Slytherin, but he wouldn't.
It was hilarious.
Especially when he'd go on a rant how it was a lie because the hat almost placed him with the snakes. It never failed to make the Slytherins laugh.
"Good job, Mister Weasley! Try making the flick harder, if you'd please." Flitwick praised from his spot, making the boy flush a pleased red before doing as told, smiling widely at the feather rising.
It was still a bit wonky, but it was floating nonetheless.
The other two were also doing progress with my help, and I patted my partner on the shoulder proudly mid helping Neville, who only seemed able to make his feather shiver and raise a few inches before losing the hold on the spell.
"Good, good!" He clapped, nodding at Ron's smile before raising a brow at me amusedly. "And you, Miss McKinnon?"
"Oh, Professor, you know me." My friends snorted at my faux-cocky tone, even the girls giggled at my dismissive wave when Flitwick grinned, eyes glinting.
"Very well, if you'd show us."
"But of course, my lord!" I made a show of clearing my throat, rightening my bunny ears and sticking my nose in the air, hearing people laugh. "Wingardium Leviosa." The feather rose smoothly, hovering steadily when he laughed joyously. "Tis' too easy, sire!"
"Show off." Ron coughed, making me rib him while the other boys snickered at it;
Flitwick smiled sharply, that glint in his eyes that showed me just how pleased he was with my work. "Of course it is. Perhaps you and I should sit down one of these days to discuss moving up your material, hm? Or maybe a few extra lessons."
I shrugged, though there was an exciting tightness in my chest with it. I liked the other classes, of course- But I had gotten the first-year material years ago, and Charms was just… so nice to work with. It made my magic sing.
Transfiguration was getting progressively more challenging, but I didn't enjoy it as much as Ron did, even if his wand didn't want to work with him, or Potions, Harry's baby.
Maybe it had something to do with how my wand worked better for Charms, or it came with just how much my personality fit what it needed for the course.
Hell, it might just be because I fucking adored Professor Flitwick!
Either way, learning more charmwork would be much welcomed.
"I'd like that, Professor." He nodded and I returned to helping Neville, smiling when - perhaps for the first time -, the boy looked determined rather than embarrassed at not getting something as fast as us and I knew it was the result of getting his own wand that weekend.
It was easy to ignore Granger's glares from behind us, probably heard Flitwick and wasn't happy about it. It was also easy to keep the boys' attention away from her, and stopping Ron from calling her a- What was it again? A nightmare?
The rest of the class was spent with me masking how tense I was and happily showing the boys how I could lift things heavier than a feather, telling them how I had first started with books and had nearly shot a quill through the roof when I tried with it after.
I kept a close watch on everyone as we left with Ravenclaw, smiling at Padma when she shyly stepped closer and started asking if I was able to use the spell on heavier things.
She was identical to her twin, but they were both completely different when it came to their personalities and interests. Not that I expected anything different, but I had gotten used to the Weasley twins hiding their differences that it was a little surprising not seeing Padma automatically round my arm how Parvati always did whenever she felt like I spent too much time with the boys and needed some girl talk.
Neville and Ron had Harry between them and were successfully blocking Michael Corner and his friends from approaching Harry, who was doing his best to pretend he didn't see their attention on him.
Lavender and Parvati also slowed down so nobody could be in front of the boys, much to my surprise, but they weren't half as oblivious as they presented and I had a feeling that Parvati had a little crush on Harry. Not that he'd notice, of course.
But oh well.
Hufflepuff was worse than Ravenclaw about it, and I made note to thank Susan Bones for keeping a tight leash on Ernie Macmillan as I would have hexed him if his pompous ass had been able to get past her and Hannah Abbott, and that was a no-no.
It was an unspoken rule that you don't mess with the Puff firsties if you want to survive Hogwarts.
Their whole house was bloody protective of them, it was kind of scary, to be honest.
Seamus and Dean didn't seem to understand why we were closing rank, but had decided to follow the rest of us and walk closer than usual. Even Hermione was trailing close.
It helped keep an eye on her, and the boys were using the opportunity to talk about quidditch. Apparently, Seamus was more of a Ballycastle Bats than a Chudley Cannons, but then again, only Ron was a Chudley Cannons.
"Honestly, Ron. They haven't won in ages!"
"You're just a Ballycastle because they're Irish!" He hissed back, making Dean and Harry snicker while the girls rolled their eyes in front of us.
"No, you little shite , I'm a Ballycastle because they're good." Seamus mocked back and we laughed at Ron glaring at him.
"You're like Star, she says she's a Curupiras but when I talk about the Montrose Magpies-"
"Open your fat mouth and I'm telling Wood!" Ron wisely clicked his mouth shut, much to the Gryffs' amusement. My fellow Scot was just as protective as I was of our Scottish team, one of three of the British and Irish League and the best of it. "And don't you know they're the team with the most wins from our league? What do you have to talk about the Magpies? Don't get bloody gallus, ye?"
"Oi!"
I made a childish face at him but smiled when he rolled his eyes and pushed me inside the Greenhouse.
"What does it even mean? Speak English, woman!"
"Oh, stuff it, Ronald-"
Last class of the day, then we had some time before the feast. I was supposed to have detention with Quirrell before it, so I would be definitely missing it if he went through with his Troll plan.
A fucking shame because I saw Flitwick charming bats on the walls and had helped him enchant the pumpkins during lunch break, and I even managed to sneak a few turnips between them, and I wanted to see how it'd look all lit up.
There was still time before the detention seeing as we didn't have many classes on the afternoon block on Thursdays.
"Ron, does your family do Samhain rituals?" He tilted his head at that, looking slightly uncomfortable by Harry and I's curious attention on him.
Neville also looked interested, but as usual, he was paying more attention to the sample of whatever plant Sprout handed for him to study after class.
"Not really? Not that I remember… We carved pumpkins, though."
I nodded, smiling and turning to look at Neville, who promptly shook his head.
"Wanna go find our trio? They might do something too." Neville looked a tad nervous about that, as he always did when it involved the Slytherins. Something I didn't really understand, seeing that Blaise rather liked talking about Herbology with the boy just as much as he liked seeing him squirm.
He muttered something about putting his plant away, but the two boys shrugged and followed me out after waving Neville goodbye.
"One day he'll be able to face Daphne. I believe in him. One day." Ron muttered, earning a laugh from us while we walked outside, where our trio lazed about in a forced move from Theo for his friends to take some bloody sun.
"Can you blame him? Daph is terrifying."
Harry snorted, nodding deeply, "Cheers, mate." We knocked shoulders, and I took the time to check on him, seeing that he was still wary under the costume, but not as tense and angry as he had been the night before.
Though he looked tired. Harry did stay up all night doing magic with me, after all, so it was to be expected.
My friend looked up at me, smiling thankfully and reaching to squeeze my hand before I knocked shoulders with him one last time in order to approach the trio.
"Oi, you lot!" Daph and Blaise turned first, and I assumed Theo was too busy reading to first react but looked over his shoulder briefly before returning to whatever he was doing. "I've got detention before the feast and I don't doubt I'll miss it-"
Blaise snorted, smirking up at me and squinting up from the afternoon sun hitting his eyes. "Only you, McKinnon."
"Anyways, I won't have time to do my Samhain ritual-"
"You do rituals?" Daphne interrupted sharply, all of the Slytherins had their surprised faces turned to me, and so did my boys, and I blinked in confusion at it, frowning and shrugging.
"Not like how you lot do, I bet."
"Didn't you grow up muggle?"
I shrugged again at Blaise's suspicious glare, looking at Ron when he shifted awkwardly on his feet.
"Yeah? It's not- It's more of a Scots thing than a witch thing… Though mum used to say that we'd do differently if she was one." They kept silent, waiting for me to go into detail and making me sigh. "I was going to ask if you guys wanted to join me or if you'll have your own rituals. I'll just carve a turnip to carry around and leave some food at the door."
"...Turnips?" Came Harry's question.
"They used to grow bigger in Scotland, I think. Or maybe it was easier to find one than a pumpkin, it's to ward off evil spirits- anyways… wanna come?"
They exchanged looks before shaking their heads.
"We'll have our own circle later… You three can join us… if- if you want… It'll be after the feast." Daphne asked hesitantly, looking nervous between the three of us and I beamed.
"Really? You don't mind?"
I blinked at how their postures instantly relaxed, not having noticed just how wound up they had gotten.
"Er… It's not… bad is it?"
"Not… really? Uhm, but only really purebloods practice the old rituals." Ron answered for the Slytherins, shrugging at Harry's question before nodding at them. "I don't know much 'bout it, mum and dad never really cared for it, but if you don't mind teaching us…"
The Slytherins looked pleasantly surprised by it, and I know I didn't imagine how Blaise gave him his full smile, the one he couldn't hide when we made him laugh.
"We'll meet at the entrance after the Feast, then?"
Our eyes flitted between them, and I could feel Harry standing tall at their hopeful looks. It was so… unusual.
As much as Theo was quiet and sweet, and as much as Daphne had a Gryffindor temper, they were Slytherins to boot. Seeing them so unsure, as they had been at the start of our friendship, where Blaise would be a tad more scathing than he really was just to see how far he could push, where Theo wouldn't sit by our side, only across from us so we'd always be within his sights, how Daphne would keep an icy cool façade, never emoting or showing her true feelings- Well, it was a little heartbreaking.
Did they think we'd shun them?
I mean, doing the old rites wasn't normal, sure, but pretty much every pureblood or half-blood had their own for Samhain.
Heck, only on our way I had seen Hannah Abbott collecting rocks with a few older Puffs!
Had we given the impression that we wouldn't be ok with their beliefs?
"Of course, we'll be here." Harry's voice was sure, not giving them any space to doubt that we wanted to be part of something important for them. "We'll walk out together."
"Yeah, I'll try to finish detention fast so you don't have to wait for me."
I felt a stab in my chest at their smiles, a tad shy but happy in a way we'd only see when our Gryffindor honest tendencies caught them by surprise.
Like when Ron had been red with anger when he heard about some upper-years from Ravenclaw talking about Blaise, or whenever we put into words how much we appreciate Daphne teaching us stuff- Hell, Theo gets like that even when we seek him out for company!
Perhaps I… Maybe, I haven't been paying them the right amount of attention.
Certainly not since I began challenging the twins with pranks.
"Well, if you want to find us, we'll be by Hagrid's hut."
I ignored their twisted noses, well aware that despite their secret friendly and protective nature, they were still at their cores, a bunch of fucking snobs.
The three of us huddled close on our way to the half-giant, the cold was starting to turn biting, and soon I'd need to break out the Winter cloaks even through the feeling that they might need a lengthening charm with how I was starting to grow taller.
There was a respectful hush on the field, even through the excited and cheerful groups carving pumpkins, it felt like every group had a bubble around them, like they were the only ones doing their rites, no matter how silly or simple it was.
Hagrid smiled at the sight of us, waving cheerfully and pointing at a few Pumpkins by his huge feet.
"Hullo', yer three! Came for sum' carvin', didn't yer?" I beamed back, dragging Harry by his hand the rest of the way while he squawked in surprise and pulled Ron with him by clutching his pirate beard.
"Afternoon, Hagrid! Happy Halloween!" The man smiled down at us kindly, reaching over to pat my shoulder in response, and I had to bend my knees not to break them with his heavy hand. "Do you have turnips, Hagrid?"
He tilted his huge head to the side consideringly before brightening and nodding excitedly.
"That I do, lass! A few of yer Scots ask me for one- give me a second, will yer?" The half-giant waved away my appreciative words, smiling at the boys as I felt myself getting excited and a tad nostalgic about the wait.
"Did you do it with your mum, Star?" Harry asked, watching Ron struggle to roll his pumpkin to one spot with mirth while I snickered at it.
"Yeah. We'd carve a few and put them by our door with candles, and the best ones mum would sew into a string for us to wear…" I thumbed my ring, unbelievably longing for the woman on the other side of the connection but too upset with the radio silence to reach out again. "We dressed up, of course! It's to protect us from evil spirits and the Sìth- they're- mum used to say they were fairies and elves, uh nature spirits… bad ones… And we put on costumes to hide from them…"
I smiled wistfully at Harry, whose eyes had that touch of longing again, and I didn't think twice before resting on his side, looking over the hills again while he muttered a quiet "what else?"
"We'd eat lamb roast with Mrs. Vass and we'd all bake nut bread with her and Mr. Dupret would send up some shortbread if we made Cottage Pie for him… We'd leave a bit of everything by our door for the spirits. Some years when we heard there'd be a bonfire we'd go into town for the festivals to hear the tales of Tam o'Shanter and Sawney Bean-"
I smirked, already thinking of the boys' faces when I told them the latter.
"There'd be apple dunking and other games… Then we'd go home… and, and after midnight we'd blow out the candles from the carved turnips… We'd say goodbye to Aunt Marlene and my grandparents… tell them that we hoped they enjoyed the food, the drinks, and the music. We'd tell the Sídhe that we hoped they also had their share, but that they should go back."
By that point Hagrid had already handed us two turnips with a gentle smile, surprisingly respectful of my talk with Harry as we moved closer to Ron, who had already taken a few tools for us from the bench, also quietly paying attention to the rest of my words.
Much like the other people, it felt like we were in our own magical bubble. My voice though quiet and gentle, almost a hush, seemed to be heard just fine by them; ricocheting in the invisible walls and echoing with the cold wind.
"That's nice, Lils." Came Harry's soft response, and I sent him a smile before pushing a turnip his way while Ron nodded, equally soft with the atmosphere that had settled between us. "Do you want to say something? It feels… wrong not to."
"We-ll. Mum was the one that remembers what to say at the start… I'd just say something after midnight. We'd usually trade scary stories while carving."
"I can say something?" Ron finally chimed in, face a little red with our attention before clearing his throat when we nodded, putting down our tools and merely holding the vegetables. "N-Now is the season of S-Samhain. It is t-the season of our ancestors," he began, and I quirked a smile, my voice joining his as his words refreshed my memory.
"-of our glorious dead, of those who have fallen and crossed over the veil from his world to the next." The three of us were smiling, Harry with giddiness at being a part of it even if he didn't know the words, and Ron for not speaking alone. "This is a time for us to honor them and pay tribute."
Ron tilted his head a little, scrunching his face as if trying to remember the rest as I shrugged.
"That's all I remember. Mum didn't let me light the candles and say the rest of it save it for snuffing them out. Said I was still too young to do it, and that she'd let me once I was out of Hogwarts and my magic was in control. Scared I'd summon something, she was." They snickered and the air cleared out of the odd stirring of magic, and I felt it brushing away from us with the wind.
Though the strong smell of earth, fresh red apples, and smoke lingered for a little longer. None of us commented on it, but Harry took a few hesitant deep breaths.
"Now," I smiled evilly, starting to carve while they did the same. Ron smartly banished the insides of his pumpkin, probably with a spell he'd seen his mother do more than once. "who wants to hear the terrible tale of Sawney Bean?"
They exchanged wary glances before returning their attention to me while doing their work.
And so I did, grinning at every disgusted noise and pale face, telling them about Sawney Bean and his cannibalistic inbred clan. Making voices and sounds just like the mummers in Edinburgh used to do at the fairs, cackling at every startle and face they made.
"...And as he bled out in the square, he screamed to them, 'it isn't over, it will never be over!' ... Some say that they still haunt the town and that parts of their victims still wash the shores to this day."
Ron scowled at me, trying to look tough even through his pale and green complexion while Harry looked downright disgusted.
"But it's all a lie, innit? I mean, it wasn't real, was it?" I kept silent, a slow grimace forming on my face as his own fell and he repeated again, though more quietly. "Wasn't it?"
"The muggles today think it's just folklore, but we know it's real." They gasped and gagged in disgust as I nodded in agreement. "The real story is that Black Agnes Douglas was the granddaughter of a squib from a branch of the Black family that was left to die in England, but some merchants found him and took him to Scotland.
Her parents didn't accept that she was a witch, so when she finished Hogwarts they told her to either leave or get burned. Apparently, she was into the Dark Arts."
I shuddered at that. Part of me felt bad for her, the other part read what she did and remembered just how she should've been put down years before.
"Anyways. Sawney was a wizard too, but he never went to Hogwarts, and with the wars and witch trials he didn't want to risk anything. Though really, he was nearly a squib, to be honest." I started carving the face carefully, knowing they were paying attention to my words even if I was concentrating on my turnip. "Err- They met when they were both leaving the village and she taught him a Dark Ritual when Sawney admitted that he didn't get any schooling, because of course that's what she'd teach him.
Uh, then… all that happened. They did eat and rob the muggles they came across, but kept to their creepy cave-"
"Why?"
"Who knows? They were both evil, that's why! The Black madness probably took root in Agnes earlier with her going into the dark arts. And I'd go mad too if my home was a cave and my only company were my siblings that I had children with." We gagged in sync and I flapped a hand at them to continue the story.
"The books I read said that the cave was warded, so no one found it for about 25 years. I mean, the muggles did, but the muggle-repellent wards made them believe nothing human lived in it.
Um… They contributed a lot to the innocent hanging and burning of the muggles others thought were witches. Because the people couldn't find who was responsible for all the disappearances and robbing, so they started blaming each other."
"How were they found, then?" Harry finally asked, and I sent him a droll look.
"I'm getting there, calm down." He huffed while Ron snickered, getting a little of his color back as I spoke in a more lecture tone instead of trying to scare the crap out of them. "With so many concentrated burnings and trials, it got the attention of a few wizarding Scottish clans. The McKinnons included- It's how I found out the tale was true, by the way. Daph set everything with the McKinnon name aside for me a few weeks ago- Anyways! One of the Clans found them, broke the wards, and set up for one of them to tip the muggles off.
Er, they tried saving the children, but- well, they were all product of incest and dark magic, ya'know? The books said they were barely human. Too mad."
All of us grimaced in disgust at that.
Really, so fucking messed up.
"I think it was the McLaggens that set up wards for them not to apparate. All the Clans agreed that the muggles earned taking their revenge whatever way they wanted. Even today the cave has traces of dark magic, and I'm pretty sure a few of their children and grandchildren decided to stick around as ghosts."
"Like the ones from here?"
"Yeah, but muggles can't see them, so…" I shrugged at Harry again, smiling down at my turnip and setting it on the ground to wait for them to finish. "Want to hear about Tam o'Shanter, now?"
"Will it make me want to gag?"
I laughed at that, trying to stifle it behind my hand while Harry smiled at me dryly and Ron laughed into his pumpkin and beard.
"Nay, nay, this one is more fun, I promise, mate."
"Aight then. But if I don't laugh you can't tell us any more tales! I'm bloody traumatized, is what I am!"
"Right you are, mate." Ron agreed as I rolled my eyes, snorting and huffing a laughter while looking around to the rest of the students. The grounds had filled a little more, and in the distance, I could see more people collecting some rocks by the black lake; barefooted and stuffing them in their pockets. "Don't even know if I have the stomach for the feast after that!"
"You always have the stomach for it, Ronald."
Harry snickered and I grinned when he flipped me off, dodging the pumpkin guts he threw my way.
"Get on with it, then!"
"Oright' Orright'!" I grinned, crossing my legs and flicking my wand from its place in order to put a little flame inside my carved turnip.
I delighted in their laughs over Tam, the drunk farmer who one Samhain night on his drunken way home stumbled upon a witch festival, and instead of leaving or running away at the sight of magic and dancing, got horny over a witches' robes and catcalled her, only to have to run away lest they caught him and beat him up.
Mum loved telling me that one, starting it somberly and dramatically, saying how the festival was dark and full of knives and odd things, only to slow down when saying that Tam shouted something at the devils, giving a dramatic pause before she'd scream joyously "weel done, cutty-sark!". It used to crack me up- still did, to be honest.
The thought of a drunk muggle pissing off a witch over her short robes and then getting the fright of his life when they all decide to chase him away, shrieking hell and promising pain for his disrespect never failed to have me in stitches.
Harry scooched closer once he finished his carving, looking curiously at my wand movement while I tried valiantly changing the colors of my flame. I wanted pink, but I'd settle for the coral it was flickering.
"Do it for me too?"
It was such an innocent question, but for some reason, it squeezed my heart something fierce.
Maybe it was how utterly adorable Harry looked in the Pumpkin costume, even with the other mismatched pieces, or how his eyes held a childish innocence, but I smiled widely and silently wondered if having a younger brother felt that way.
"Sure thing, Harry James." He blinked a few times before beaming at me and pushing his turnip my way, still with that glint in his eyes when faced with visual magic. Ron also moved closer, rolling his pumpkin next so I'd do the same to his.
They 'oooh-ed' and 'aaww-ed' quietly when the bellflames settled in their respective carved vegetables, curiously feeling how they didn't produce any heat before waiting quietly when I gently held my turnip and closed my eyes.
"For Marlene McKinnon, Eilidh McKinnon, Duncan McKinnon, Lily Potter, and James Potter. We remember you and want you to know you are honored. You are remembered."
When I opened my eyes, Harry's bottom lip was trembling and his eyes were shining with tears before he took a deep breath and closed them, clutching his lit turnip and whispering into the fire.
"For L-Lily Potter and Ja- James P-Potter, and Marlene McKinnon. We remember you and want you to know you are honored. You are remembered." Ron awkwardly patted his shoulder before putting one hand on his pumpkin.
"For Lily Potter, James Potter, Marlene McKinnon, Gideon Prewett, and Fabian Prewett. We remember you and want you to know you are honored. You are remembered."
"Today we memorialize you, whoever you may have been in life, today, now, in death, you are ours as you watch from the other side, at least for a little while."
"We remember you and want you to know you are honored. You are remembered."
The words once again drifted with the wind, and I felt my eyes prickle with tears at it.
It didn't usually go like that when I did it with mum.
Was it because of Hogwarts and its magic grounds?
A mix of scents filled my nose, jasmines, tobacco, lemon tarts, lavender, and mint, a pressure on my shoulders and I bit my lip not to cry out in order to push my shoulder on Harry's, who had a hand over his mouth to stifle his cries.
Ron was on his other side, not as affected as Harry or I, but blinking quickly at whatever we were feeling.
I don't know how long we spent in silence, just trying to gather ourselves until Harry finally sniffled quietly.
"W-what was that?" Neither of us had an answer for that, and he seemed to accept that, only nodding and wiping his face embarrassedly. "Y-You're going to be late for your detention, Star."
I twisted my nose, feeling my heart thumping loudly in my chest at the reminder of what I could no longer stall or distract myself from.
Gulping, I nodded and put on a brave face, clutching my turnip tightly.
"You're right." The spell broke once I rose to my feet, and the other people's chatter reached us like a background buzz. "Do me a favor and keep an eye on Granger during the feast, alright? I got a bad feeling today."
They shared a curious look, brows raised at my words before nodding slowly.
"If you're late for the feast, we'll wait for you by the doors."
"Yeah, yeah… See you two later."
No more stalling.
They chose to stay and chat with Hagrid, who waved at me when I passed by.
"Please, please, please, watch over me, please, please, please-" I whispered into the turnip once I got inside the castle, pleading quietly again before taking a deep breath and shoving it into my costume, checking that the fire really won't burn me and looking up the stairs in worry.
Fuck. Fuck.
I felt like I was about to throw up.
Really.
My mouth was filled with saliva and my hands were clammy; my vision was already darkening at the edges and I seriously considered breaking a hand to avoid it, but what's to say he won't push it for another day? And what if he's feeling angrier that Snape got in his way and took it out on me?
I knew about the troll, if I was placed in its path, save for an imperious - something I didn't know I'd be able to throw off -, I knew I could at least get out of its way.
Quirrell in canon had been pretty tame when he tried assassinating Harry. A jinxed broom when there were teachers present that would be able to cast a cushioning charm, and even then, it was probably a spur-of-the-moment idea since there were no other attempts after that.
It might've just been over the opportunity.
Everybody knew I'd be with him, so what could he do? Quirrelmort himself? Realistically, nothing if he wanted to keep a low profile.
Swallowing the bile, I made my way to his classroom, careful with my steps, considering I was very close to a nervous collapse and I didn't want to tumble down the stairs.
A knock and I clenched my teeth, gathering my Gryffindor courage and feeling it settle on my shoulders; my back straightening and my face cooling, the weak occlumency walls hardening just a tidbit more, aiding in hiding the freezing fear while I waited for the door to open.
I didn't look into his eyes when it did, bringing with it the faint stench of decay under all the overpowering smell of garlic and something sweet, though I noticed a few things.
First, he had no costume as in the past weeks he'd rarely show up at breakfast, so he escaped the costume pranks;
Second, he looked rough.
I didn't need to look into his eyes to see that they were sunken, his robes hung awkwardly on his shoulders, as if they once filled nicely but now were too baggy and draped weirdly.
Lastly, there was a faint glimmer around his face, and when I double-checked it, the sullenness wasn't there anymore.
Either beauty charms, glamours, or something stronger.
"Ah, Miss McKinnon. If you'd enter, please."
Shit.
Notes:
Now, don't scream at me! It's not a cliffhanger if there's already another chapter!
Anyways, after the whole Halloween ordeal, we're going back to our usual wholesome, hogwarts life! We gotta enjoy what we can before the Sirius (hehe) plot starts, immaright????
Also, the tale of Sawney Bean is a real thing in Scotland! So's the Tam o'Shanter, if you search for it you can read the tale and I thought it would be fun to twist it a little for Wizarding History! And no, this story won't really have the ritual of Samhein things, but I did think it was interesting to have them just honor the dead.
Anyways, see you next chapter.