𝐀𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐎𝐌𝐘 - 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐫

seven | hurtful words

-SEVEN-

The night was clear and calm, the jet black sky filled with hundreds of stars which glittered like diamonds. The little cottage porch was gently illuminated with the yellow light if the enchanted jack-o-lanterns who's candles flickered in the wind, but didn't go out. Remus sat on the steps of the porch, 10-year-old Khalida seated on the step right below him as she let him braid her long, brown hair.  "Halloween night is rather fun," Khalida admitted, leaning back as Remus rested his hands on her shoulders. "But I wonder how muggles celebrate it." 

Smiling at her, Remus replied, "They dress up in silly little costumes and get candy from the people in their neighbourhood. It's loud and festive; the houses completely done up in cobwebs, fake skeletons and cloth ghosts spurting red paint as blood." 

"It sounds chaotic," admitted Khalida. "But I like this way of celebrating Halloween." She checked the time on her watch to see that it was almost 10:00 at night, October 31st. "Papa, they're about to come!" She squealed as Remus made the light vanish from the lanterns with a flick of his wand. Just as all the lights flickered off, the meadow was cloaked in darkness, with only a slight illumination from the stars. 

From behind the nearest tree came a tall woman, who donned a pale white dress. Well, her entire figure was a translucent pale white, which was information enough to understand that she was a ghost. From behind the trees more ghosts emerged, laughing and smiling as they embraced each other. The air grew colder as they walked around, smiling and chatting, making Khalida shudder a little. Remus patted the stair next to him, and Khalida moved up without taking her eyes off the ghosts. He pulled a blanket around the pair of them, as they watched an old-looking ghost put out a gramophone to play 'The Entertainer' by Scott Joplin. 

They began to dance together, doing the upbeat foxtrot while Remus and Khalida watched, spellbound. One of the male ghosts looked at Khalida, and waved his hand to beckon her over. She squealed and leapt up, pulling Remus after her as she joined in the dancing. Remus had to be careful with his daughter, knowing how clumsy she was, but nevertheless danced with her amidst the calm of the countryside.

---

"Lia! Wake up!" Hermione shook her friend violently, making the girl snarl and snap at the brunette's hands. She rolled out of bed and stretched leisurely before nudging Lilith awake. The cat growled softly, but nevertheless allowed herself to be lifted off the bed and placed down on the ground. 

"You don't have to snarl so viciously when I wake you up so nicely, you know." Scoffed Hermione as Khalida opened her cupboard for her robes. "And for someone who's lived in the countryside all her life, you aren't much of a morning person." 

"Minnie," Khalida said, her bronze eyes half-closed in tiredness, "My father owns an apple orchard. We do not have any poultry to wake up early for. I have never been a morning person." 

"Come on now," Said Hermione, "Let's go. You're taking a shower before breakfast." She then dragged a very annoyed Khalida down to the girl's showers, ignoring another vicious snarl from her friend.

--Time Skip--

"One of a wizard's most rudimentary skills is levitation." Said Professor Flitwick. Draco leaned over to Khalida and whispered, "He's gonna fall off his book stack if I throw a paper plane at him. I bet you two silver." 

"You wouldn't!" She whispered back, giggling. "But I'll take you up on that bet. I've got a ten worth in my pocket. It's yours if you win." 

"And if you win?" Draco whispered, a smile on his face.