Everything Remains

Chapter 11- Lineal Spaces

Halloween was quickly approaching Hogwarts, evidenced by the jack-o-lanterns lining the hallways and enchanted sweets that were floating about the classrooms. Harry liked Halloween enough, but never really understood the point of it. 'I'm going to eat candy whenever I want, I don't need a holiday for it.' 
Harry had heard some traditions surrounding Halloween from Hermione, who grew up with muggle parents. Dressing up as someone or something you're not, going to strangers houses, and begging for candy? 'What a strange way to spend a night.'

Harry, Hermione, Ron, Neville, Luna, and Draco were all seated at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall for lunch. As per usual, Ron was shoving his face with sausages and cabbage and reading a Quidditch magazine. Hermione and Luna were laughing about Neville's recent attempt at potions, which he himself called the "unfortunate red goo incident". Draco and Harry were discussing which of them was allowed to copy the others' homework for charms. 

Headmaster McGonagal approached the podium at the head of the hall, tapping on it thrice to get the student's attention. 
Raising her wand to her throat to amplify her voice, Headmaster McGonagal began to speak. 
"Good afternoon students. As we are well into the year, the professors and I have seen great work from you all. A renewed vigor into studies, that has benefitted you all as well. I hope this means that your education is now viewed as a privilege, not to be squandered, especially after last year. That being said, staff have agreed that it will be a continued boost to your motivations to hold a masquerade ball for Halloween festivities. For those of you not familiar, a masquerade is an event where everyone attending wears either masks over their eyes, or over their entire faces. This leads to curiosity and wonderment of who might be underneath which mask. We will of course have refreshments and a band, so you can dance the night away with anonymity."

The Great Hall boomed with excitement, the students talking about their surprise, or, their disdain. 
Hermione turned to Luna and squealed, excited for another opportunity to dance and dress up. Ron rolled his eyes, "Bloody hell, why is it we always have to dance? Is it not weird that they always want us to dance??"
Hermione swatted his arm, silencing him. 
"As I was saying? We will hold the ball Halloween night, at the end of this week. That will give you all plenty of time to procure your outfits and masks. Now, we hope you have a great time, but for now, let us return to our classes!" Headmaster McGonagal ended her speech, moving back to her table. 

"How exciting! Our last ball as Hogwarts students! Unless the professors have some other surprises in store for us." Hermione looked in the distance dreamily, sparkles in her eyes. 
"Oi, Ron, are you actually going to invite someone on time this year?" Harry teased, trying to contain the laughter coming from him. 
"Oh, you're one to talk Harry. Are you going to manage to keep your feet on the floor, or trample all over your dates' feet again?" Ron shot back, his eyes wide. 
"Oh come on you two. It will be fun and we get to partake in some muggle festivities! Now, who all needs to go shopping for outfits?" Hermione beamed. 
"Bloody hell. I'll go. I don't want to wear those hand-me-downs ever again for the rest of my life." Ron shuddered, envisioning the hideous, fluffy dress robes of his fourth year. 
"Well, let's all make a trip of it, hmm? We can find outfits and masks and then get some butterbeer." Harry suggested to the group.
"Sounds like a plan to me. I wonder how concealing these masks really are. I think I could spot Ron's ginger hair from a mile away and know that it's him." Draco laughed heartily, tossing a brussel sprout at him. 
"Oi, like I couldn't see that white hair of yours radiating from the top of the Astronomy Tower!" Ron jabbed back. 
"Oh, quit it you two. Draco, are you going to ask anyone to the ball?" Hermione asked, trying to keep the excitement in her voice low. 
"I... I don't think so. I know that Pansy wants me to take her. And Astoria. But... I don't want to really be around them honestly. I can only talk about how much they hate so-and-so for so long before I want to bombarda my head off." Draco was completely serious, but the nonchalant way he professed it made everyone laugh hard. 
"Neville, what about you?"
"I um. I have someone I want to take. I have to figure out how to ask them though... I'm not telling you who yet!" Neville replied, everyone curiously looking at him. 
"Harry?"
"Probably not. I'm not interested in anyone right now. I would rather just be with friends." 
"Fair enough."
"What about me?" Ron was offended, his gaping mouth full of potatoes. 
"Ronald, I just assumed that you weren't going to ask anyone. Who will you ask?"
"Well, I'm not telling either. But I have a plan." Ron crossed his arms over his chest in a matter-of-fact way. 
"Well, let's all meet back here after our afternoon classes and head to Hogsmeade then. The sooner the errand is done, the better." Harry rubbed his eyes. 
"Agreed."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

After afternoon classes of potions and Defense Against the Dark Arts, the group met up near the Great Hall again as they agreed. They all decided to floo there; Ron and Neville having forgotten their cloaks to protect from the cold wind. 
The group marched into Hogsmeade, heading towards Madame Malkin's shop to find their dress robes. 
The group had thankfully came at a slow time, so they had the run of the shop pretty much to themselves. Draco, Harry, Ron, and Neville got fitted for their dress robes while Luna and Hermione looked through the racks of dresses. 
Draco decided to go with something different; a slate gray dress robes set with snakes embroidered down the arms and legs. There were small accents of emerald at the cuff links and buttons. 
Harry watched as Draco admired himself in the mirror, making sure his robes fit properly. 
'He looks really handsome in that color... the color of his eyes... wait, what? Handsome? Have I gone mad?' Harry shook his head, as though that would shake the thoughts away. 
"What, Harry? You don't like them?" Draco turned, eyebrows raised in confusion. 
"OH, um, blimey.. no. I do like them! You look... really good in them. They... match your eyes..." Harry squirmed, not quite believing that he said that out loud.
"Well, well, I have to get them then if they make you blush like that." Draco said in a low voice, dripping with honey and deviousness. 

Harry swallowed hard before turning to the rack for himself. He chose a deep maroon set, bordering on the brink of black. The details were black as well, and he chose to have a snitch embroidered on the inside of the pocket. 
Neville had chosen a nice navy set with some light blue accents. Ron, surprisingly, chose a deep sage set that looked amazing with his red hair. His accents were a deep brown. 
"Madame Malkin? Do you have masquerade masks by chance? Something that might match the dress robes we chose?" Hermione appeared behind the boys, holding a garment bag in her arms. 
"Yes, deary. Let me pull them out. I got some ready in advanced, as Headmaster McGonagal warned me they would be needed!"
Madame Malkin entered the back room through the curtained panes and resurfaced with a large rack of masks. Every color you could imagine, every pattern, every amount of coverage. It was amazing to see. 
"Boys, you pick first. Luna and I are keeping our dresses and masks a secret until the dance." Hermione giggled. 
"Hey, that's not fair! You know what ours look like?" Ron pouted. 
"Well, you all needed help to look presentable. We don't." Hermione laughed again, turning Ron towards the masks. "This one would look nice with your color scheme..." 
Harry stood back and watched the other men pick their masks. Even though they tried to pretend they weren't excited, they were. They were having a blast picking out things to wear and the perfect mask. 
Harry spotted a deep maroon mask that covered everything but the mouth. It had gold accents and trim, which matched perfectly. He snatched it up and paid for everything. 
The girls had their backs turned towards them, blocking out the boys from seeing their mask picks. 'They really weren't kidding about that.'

Once everyone paid and was situated, Ron quickly declared, "I need to go into Voclain & Co!" before hurrying over to the shop. 
"Oi, what was that about?" Harry laughed. Ron, ever so impulsive. 
The rest of the group followed curiously. If anything, at least they could look around. 
The shop was beautifully lit with glowing crystals enchanted around the room. There were cases of reflective mirrors that housed fine jewelry, wand accessories, and various pins and brooches. 
'What on earth does he need from here?'
Ron had already made his way to a sale's clerk and was frantically looking through the cases in front of him. He turned his head, scanning desperately before stopping on Harry. "Bloke, come here!"
Harry hurried over to him, "what is going on here?" 
"Don't tell anyone, okay? But... I'm going to ask Hermione to the ball. And I wanted to get her something special. But I need your help deciding what to get her. Otherwise, I'll be here for a week and miss the damn ball itself!" 
"Calm down, it will be alright! We will find her something. But honestly, I'm very excited for you. It's about time, you know?" 
"I know, I know. Do you think she would like this bracelet?" 
Ron pointed towards a dainty gold bracelet with a small, pale yellow citrine flower attached to it. It was absolutely beautiful. "Oh look, there's a matching necklace too. I think it is beautiful Ron. You should get them!" 
"Oi, mate. I can only afford the bracelet. But do you think she will still like it?"
"Of course, how could she not?" 
Ron sneakily bought the bracelet and slipped it into his pocket, as to not be detected by Hermione. 
Harry was being sneaky himself; secretly buying the matching necklace when Ron wasn't looking. 
Harry thanked the sales clerk and slipped the jewelry case into Ron's pocket as well, without him noticing. 
"Everyone good to go?" 
The group nodded, thanking the clerks and walking over to the Three Broomsticks. 

"Oi, Draco. You coming?"
"I'll meet you over there, go on ahead without me."
"If you say so!"
Draco was looking at a case of jewelry himself. He was seriously contemplating getting Harry something and sending it anonymously. Just so that he can spoil him a little without him catching on about his feelings. 
As Draco considered, Pansy Parkinson came up to the side of him. 
"Bloody hell, I didn't know you were here?" 
"I was just in the area, shopping, and I saw you come in here. What are you looking for?"
"Um, I'm not exactly sure. Maybe a brooch or a pendent of some sort." 
"Oh! Well I found something perfect over at the other display case, do you want to see it?"
"Sure?"
Pansy pulled out a small black velvet box and opened it. Inside was a tiny brooch, in the shape of a golden snitch. "It's real gold, too." Pansy flicked her eyebrows up, really trying to sell this. 
"Oh wow, I do like that. Thanks, Pansy." 
Draco closed the box and was rung up by the sales clerk. 
"Bye Pansy! Thanks again." 
Draco slipped the box into his pocket and made his way to the Three Broomsticks. 

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX