Flare [discontinued]

Chapter 6-Halloween, Secrets and Friendship

Halloween, Secrets and Friendship

Lily and Py examined themselves in the mirror in their dorm for the seventh time that evening, they had decided to dress up a bit given that it was Py’s first Halloween at Hogwarts. Lily had worn purple witch’s robes and a necklace of glowing beads that alternated between purple and pink, several fake bats peeped out of her long red hair and the rings on her fingers were charmed to look like shrunken heads. Py, on the other hand, was wearing leather trousers, a long red blouse and matching leather boots, she had transfigured her incisors to grow like fangs, her chin was smeared with some of her own blood and her hair was pulled into an untidy braid.

“I don’t know Py, nobody ever dresses up for Halloween. I don’t think we’re supposed to, what if we get in trouble?”, Lily asked anxiously.

“Oh come on Lils, live a little!”, Py reprimanded, but she reached onto their beds and handing their cloaks to Lily she said, “But, just in case, here- put these on. When we get back to the Common Room for the party we can show off in full costume. Happy?”

Lily, grinned sheepishly at her and slipped her Hogwarts robes over her head, as they made their way to the Great Hall. The decorations in the Hall took Py’s breath away, never in her life had she seen such exquisite or extravagant enchantments- thousands of live bats fluttered from the ceilings, a few even swooped low over the tables, carved pumpkins with candles inside were suspended in midair casting an eerie orange glow over everything, several hovered over the tables or were huddled in the corners of the Hall.

They made their way to the Gryffindor table just as the feast appeared on the golden plates.

“Well, hello-hello”, called Sirius as he noticed Py’s make-up, “Someone’s been busy. Prongs, mate, look who dressed up!”

James turned from Remus with whom he had been having a hushed argument and as his eyes rested on Lily his mouth hung open.

“Merlin’s Beard!”, he exclaimed and then quickly rearranging his awe-struck features into a stunning smirk he asked, “Go out with me Evans?”

Lily blushed a deep scarlet, “Bugger off Potter or Prongs or whatever it is you’re calling yourself these days”, she rose from her seat and moved up the table beside Mary.

“Great move, Potter!”, said Py sighing, “Compliment her then piss her off- why of course she’s gonna go out with you.”

“It’s hardly my fault she can’t handle a compliment from me, eh Padfoot?”

Sirius hurriedly changed his expression of agreement to a noncommittal chuckle as he noticed Py’s furious glare settle on him. As the feast came to a close, a small note announcing a party promising lots of Butterbeer and loud music was circulated around the Gryffindor table. As a result, the Gryffindors were the first to leave the Hall, much to the amazement of Professor McGonagall who was used to having to herd the last of her house together every evening.

“I told you we won’t need to get changed”, said Py as she slipped off her Hogwarts cloak, casually tossed it aside and grabbed a pair of Butterbeers from a nearby crate that seemed to refill itself almost immediately, “This is wicked Lily! Why didn’t you tell me that parties at Hogwarts are so rad?”

“Well, I didn’t know we were going to have a party today, in fact none of us did except…you. You said that we could show off at…the party?”, said Lily, turning to look at Py suspiciously, “Wait, how did you-”

“Ookay, that’s enough questions for today. Here, dance with Potter”, she said, steering her right into an unsuspecting James, who recovered quickly from his surprise to grab Lily by the waist and steer her off into the dancing crowd.