Fall from Grace

The Samhain Child

Chapter 9

The Samhain Child

October the 31st began with a storm. The windows by the beds in the dormitory shook as thunder and lightning surged outside, shocking Harry awake. The boys grumbled as Harry searched for his glasses, he heard Abraxas mutter something about the school's enchantments before demanding that his window show a clear Paris night. The other boys too shouted at their windows as rain matted their hair and faces. Harry slammed his glasses on and immediately shouted at his window to show the moon. The reflection in the window glazed, the rain stopped, and a full white moon hung directly outside of Harry's window.

"What the hell was that?" Sylvain demanded. "Those windows never acted like that before."

"Storm must be powerful enough to mess with the enchantment," Avery said. "Happens sometimes, when nature's too strong for enchantments to hold back, you know? Usually during hurricanes or something."

"This is Britain, Avery, we do not get hurricanes. Those are an American thing," Abraxas sneered. He checked the time and his sneer deepened. "Seven. What a rude awakening."

The boys all grumbled a tired agreement and left their beds in order to get ready for the day. It wasn't until Harry was halfway through his shower that he remembered what today was. It was October 31st! Samhain! His first Samhain. A nervous giddiness rose within him as he thought about it. He was going to perform a ritual tonight. He was going to go out into the woods and summon the dead with his friends and Riddle. The thought should disgust him. It should make him jump in anger or disgust at the prospect of dark or strange magic. After all, that was what the Golden Boy-Who-Lived would do.

But he wasn't the Boy-Who-Lived. Not here. He had no expectations of killing or doing what adults were too afraid to do. Here he was just Harry Peverell, and he can be or do whatever he wanted! Memories of his career advice floated into his head as he cleaned out his hair. He remembered Professor McGonagall and Umbridge arguing over the fact that Harry wanted to become an Auror and McGonagall's determination that he would become one if it was the last thing she did. Why did I even want to become one anyway? He found himself wondering. Was it because his father was one? Because it was what was expected from him? At the time when he was younger, he supposed the idea of an Auror sounded cool, but after all the fighting, after losing Sirius, Harry wasn't sure if he could handle it anymore. He was only fifteen, barely sixteen—no wait, that's a lie. He was sixteen now! Was he?

Harry muttered to himself as he worked it out, "My birthday's July 31st, and I was a month away from it when I got here and so I landed in September... so that means shit today's my birthday. Right?" Harry growled in frustration. "Too complicated. Fuck it I'll just say it's today."

"What's today?" Alphard's voice came from outside the curtain. Harry jumped and spun to it, covering himself even though he knew Alphard couldn't see through the shower curtain.

"Uh my birthday," Harry said hesitantly.

"Really? We got to tell the others!" Alphard said excitedly. "Finally sixteen you old dog! Congratulations!"

"Uh thanks," Harry said, his cheeks blushing faintly. "Can I uh finish please?"

"Yeah, no problem! Just wanted to see if Sylvain and Jasper are done yet, those two take forever at times!" Alphard said and Harry heard his feet retreating from Harry's shower. Harry sighed and leaned against the wall. Too close Potter, he thought.

When he finished cleaning and drying himself, Harry dressed and made his way to the common room to find everyone waiting for him. Sylvain and Xavier got him by the shoulders, slinging their arms around him as both took turns ruffling his hair. "Heard it was your birthday Peverell! Very rude of you not to tell us in advance," Sylvain said, grinning.