A Taste of Magic

Chapter 6: 6th Course - Hollow Night

"I beg your pardon?" McGonagall gave Harry her full attention. When he had approached to ask her a question, she never thought he would ask that. "You wish to skip the Halloween Feast?"

"Yes Ma'am," he replied.

She looked at him closely. He did not look ill, at least to her, but he did seem to be withdrawn and subdued. "Are you sick or hurt?"

"No Ma'am."

"Is someone preventing you from wanting to go?"

"No Ma'am." Not now anyways.

She crossed her arms. "The Halloween Feast is a long-standing tradition. Students do not miss it unless they are sick or have committed some grave infraction. Since you are neither sick nor in trouble, I must ask why."

"I've never liked Halloween," Harry said at last. "I'd rather do something else, something I've done on Halloween for the last few years."

"And it cannot be done on any other day?"

"No Ma'am."

She tried to look stern yet understanding. "And you do not care to explain more?"

"Not if I have to. Ma'am."

She looked at him and while he did not look her back in the eye, he remained resolute. "I will speak with the Headmaster, but be prepared to attend the feast, Mister Potter. And he may ask for further clarification."

Harry sighed softly. "Yes Ma'am," he said quietly.

She watched him go, a troubled expression growing on her face.

-0-

"What did she say?" Lavender asked when Harry caught up to her.

"She wouldn't give me permission," Harry said. "Said she'll talk to the Headmaster, but be prepared to attend."

"Maybe it won't be so bad?" Lavender suggested.

"Maybe," he said but did not look convinced. He looked at her sheepishly. "I'm sorry. For not really explaining. It's hard to."

"It's okay," she replied and gently patted his arm. She noticed that he did not seem all that comfortable with things beyond an arm or shoulder pat. He was growing more comfortable with it however, something she was grateful for, and she tried her best to respect his feelings. "Explain when you feel comfortable to."

"Thanks," he said gratefully.

"Maybe you are feeling sick though," she said worriedly. Harry had looked under the weather the last few days. "Are you sure you don't want to go to the Infirmary?"

"I'm sure. I'm not sick. I just don't love Halloween," he said.

"You'll tell me if you are sick though, right?"

"I would," he said sincerely. "We're friends, right?"

She beamed at him. "We're friends," she said firmly.

-0-

"I can't wait for the feast tonight," Millicent said. "I always heard the Halloween Feast is a lot of fun." She looked at her friend. "What about you?"