Halloween At Hogwarts!

Chapter 26 - Tension and Fears!

Harry made his way down the staircase to the common room for the second time that day. Although this time round both he and Ron were determined not to make the mistake of keeping the girls waiting for a second time, and had rushed to get ready and made their way down. Harry slowed his pace as he neared the last few steps and saw that neither Hermione or Saba were waiting there, and gave a sigh of relief. The good feeling diminished as Ron collided into him. The hard impact caused his body to lurch forward, almost causing him to loose his footing. Harry grabbed the banisters on each side with both hands to steady himself.

"You've seriously got to look where you're going Ron. Are you having a race with Halloween and trying to kill me before he does or something?" Harry groaned rubbing his back and turning to his red haired friend, who had fallen back and landed on his bottom on the steps behind him.

"Ouch! Sorry." Ron mumbled quickly clambering back onto his feet. "I was trying to get down as fast as possible. I didn't want Saba to kill me. Why'd you stop anyway? If anyone is competing with Halloween, it'll be her if we don't get down there." Ron said as he searched the bottom of the stairs.

"I was just enjoying the fact that they haven't got here yet." Harry sighed and made his way down slowly. Once they'd made it to the common room, Harry swept the crowd with his eyes. He couldn't believe how much effort had been put into the costumes; the whole room was filled with colour.

"Everyone's costume looks great, I've never seen so much colour in one place." Harry gasped in owe. "It's brilliant." For a split second he forgot his nerves and Halloween, he stood gaping with a grin on his face as he took in the scene before him.

"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked breaking the spell and Harry's nerves of earlier had all come rushing back. Ron was right the girls ought to have been here by now, and yet they were nowhere to be seen.

"I don't know, but I wish she were here now. I just hope she's okay." Harry replied nervously.

Harry looked to where a watch should have sat on his right wrist and inwardly sighed, as he remembered why his watch hadn't been there. It had gotten broken during one of the triwizard tournament tasks last year, when he'd been underwater. 'I should have gotten that fixed.' He mentally cursed himself, as he swept the room with his eyes, trying to rake out Hermione's face in the crowd.

Suddenly the colors didn't seem so strikingly grand anymore. They were distractingly too bright, and Harry wanted nothing more than to run. Why hadn't Hermione come down yet? Or was she hiding somewhere in the mass of colors? They seemed to almost hide her. Harry silently scolded himself for being ridiculous. 'She's probably still getting ready. Girls take awhile right?' He mentally chided himself.

"Harry?" Ron's voice broke through Harry's mind, sounding from somewhere afar rather than just beside him. He could feel the sounds and colors washing and blending into one another, he could no longer concentrate or think clearly, Hermione wasn't where she was suppose to be, and the panic was starting to bubble inside him, making him feel as though he were drowning. "Yeah?" Harry responded without looking, and keeping his eyes trained on he stairs that lead to the girl's dorms instead.

"Do you seriously believe we have a chance of destroying Halloween tonight?" Ron asked. Harry suspected he was trying one last time to question Saba's plans and her involvement. Harry closed his eyes tight, and began to rub them to bring him back to focus. Then removing his hands and letting them fall to the side, Harry turned to Ron in earnest and steadily looked the ginger boy in the eyes.

"Yes Ron, I really do. I strongly believe we can defeat Halloween. I think if we do this properly and follow the plan accordingly, I think we have a really good chance of finishing this tonight and for good. With Saba's help we stand a strong chance, so please don't do anything stupid." Harry pleaded and then turned back to the crowded common room.