The Shadow of Slytherin

Hallow's eve festivities

Out of the blue a hand grabs yours, peeling you from the crowds that has formed in the entrance hall. "Oh, Salem, you have to come with us, we worked so hard on this," Poppy begs, Ominis hooked to her arm, "And you as well."

Together, you head outside the great hall, through the entrance hall onto the viaduct courtyard. All around stand pumpkins, and turnips hang from the columns or are weaved into the ivy. Bright lights flicker in them, some orange, red, others blue and green, their shadows creating frightful creatures on the ground.

At the sound of students screaming, Ominis turns to notice a hopping pumpkin, the seeds and flesh hanging out the mouth, chase after a few first years. "Look at that, someone enchanted the pumpkins."

All eyes dart to the students that climb onto the benches around the courtyard, trying to escape the pumpkins when loud laughter reaches your ears.

Dressed in a dark robe and a mask to her face, Imelda, you'd recognise that snorting laugh anywhere, Atticus, Alex and Akira with his little Gryffindor come through the arch to your left from where the pumpkin had hopped.

"Isn't this marvellous?" Alex cheers, the mask still on his face. "Careful, Morningstar, we are out to get you too hooohoo." Gripping your waist, he pulls you close, growling as the cloak wraps around you as well, swallowing you whole.

With a chuckle, you tickle Alex, causing him to squeal and release you then his glance turns to Akira, who has burst out laughing. "Not funny."

Conjuring a mask and the cloak Atticus has gifted you, you stand still, waiting for Alex to turn your way.

Poppy, Ominis, Akira and the young Gryffindor stand there, the eyes wide as they hold their breaths, listening as Alex complains, but then turns, the forehead wrinkled at their expressions.

"Wuaaaaah!" he yells out, shielding his face when you take off the mask and burst out laughing. "Morningstar, you are worse than Gray. He did the same two minutes ago."

"Not worse, better-" Akira rings for air, his laughter growing dry when he bends over the hand patting onto his thigh, "much better. Well done." Giving you a high-five, he shrugs his shoulder as Alex boxes him into the side.

Her head held high, Imelda approaches, "Care to join? We intend to scare some first years."

"Poppy is eager to show me something, but I'd love to join later."

"You do you," Imelda states, the mask placed back on her face, running at a small girl that shrieks at the sight of the mask.

Parallel to her, Atticus grabs a young boy and throws him over his shoulder, then chases after a few more students that run away screaming, the enchanted pumpkin following them.

With a smile, you tighten your collar as the wind takes on and walk with Poppy in direction of the bridge that connects the Viaduct courtyard with the entrance.

"Wow, Poppy, it looks brilliant," you admire the many candles that have been placed all over the sides of the bridge, covered with hollowed out turnips to keep the wind from blowing them out. All around the candles fly fireflies and enchanted paper as Professor Ronen had presented, glowing bright while students can walk past.

At one end of the bridge hang two apples from strings where students hop around, the hands tied behind their backs, trying to bite the apples. With one high jump a girl manages to grab the apple, pulling it down, and takes out a bite, the string, drawn down, snaps back causing the apple to shoot through the air and knock another student on the head. All spectators around laugh when the apple bursts against his head, leaving him with apple mush in his hair.