Intimately Close

Hallowe'en

Weeks went by, and everyone in the Eighth Year dormitory slowly saw a change occur.

They spent more time together – even Draco – talking about what had happened after the war. Many of them had harrowing tales of funerals and breakdowns, but they loved the stories from Ron and Hermione about the Weasley household.

"You know how it is, don't you. Dressing the family ghoul up as your son to get away from Death Eaters. Typical stuff like that." Ron had said offhandedly one day when everyone was comparing stories from during the war, earning laughs from everyone.

"Or when an elf wearing a tea cosy as a hat saves your life." Harry laughed, taking a moment to think. "Quite a nice change to be honest. Usually, whenever he tried to save my life he put me in more danger. Bewitched that bludger second year to maim me so I wouldn't go searching for the Chamber of Secrets. Terrible plan, really."

"Horrific," Draco agreed. "I could've been killed. Think about what a shame that would have been."

"We'd have mourned you for all of three seconds," Seamus cackled.

"I am deeply offended by such a statement." Draco had once again thrown a hand across his heart – his dramatic nature free in this tiny space.

Hermione had simply shaken her head, looking off towards one of her colourful vases. She had been trying to make the near-empty room look beautiful, and was doing her best to transfigure some beauty into it.

She wished that Luna had decided to come back. A lot of them did.

She could always see what was wonderful in a situation – a trait none of them could muster anymore.

"I think we should arrange for some of the old students to meet us in Hogsmeade over Christmas." Everyone turned to her at that, waiting. "We can all... mourn."

"More like get drunk and get thrown out!" Seamus announced although he did so with less cheer than would be expected.

"It sounds like a nice idea." Harry agreed, "Try and get everyone together again."

"I'll write to Mum," Ron thought aloud. "Maybe we can get George out of the shop for once."

***

Before anyone realised it, Hallowe'en decorations were covering every inch of Hogwarts. Professor Flitwick had worked tirelessly, and the castle looked as haunted as ever.

"Apparently they've unblocked the Shrieking Shack passage, so we can use it in the challenge," Hermione stated as she sat down one morning, only momentarily thrown off by the confused look of the three boys around her.

"What challenge?" They had asked in unison – something they had been trying to avoid since Draco started spending every spare moment with Harry and his friends.

He would never say he enjoyed their company, but he relished the moments when their chatter drowned out his memories.

"Honestly, anyone would think you weren't listening to McGonagall last night!" Hermione reprimanded, reaching for some fruit to pair with her porridge. "She's setting something up to help us get house points, but also unwind. There's going to be a school-wide challenge starting from Hallowe'en night. It's called Murder, and it's quite ingenious, really."

Draco's raised eyebrow seemed to say otherwise – none of the boys seemed very convinced.

"Listen, the rules are being delivered with the morning post. So just accept it and have some fun for once in your lives."

"We used to have fun," Ron joked, waiting for the others to start with him.

"Loads of fun. Remember that year we broke into the Ministry? Cracking time."

"I quite enjoyed when you two buffoons turned yourselves into Crabbe and Goyle for the evening. Fantastic."

"I loved it when Ron was throwing up slugs," Neville stated from the other side of Hermione, causing Seamus to spit his pumpkin juice across the table at the fourth year.

"Very funny, Neville. Kill a single snake and you think you're some pretty hot stuff, huh?" Everyone was laughing – everyone knew that Ron was joking, but there was a serious undertone. Like, 'holy hell Neville, you killed a part of Voldemort'.

"Well, I've had quite enough of killing people for one lifetime." Draco sighed, sipping at a cup of tea. "Perhaps we can just release a batch of kittens into the castle, and anyone who catches them gets to keep them?"

"A batch of kittens? You don't bake them!" Hermione rolled her eyes dramatically, turning towards the blond in hopes of educating him in the grouping of animal species.

Fortunately for everyone around her, owls began to flood the hall before the got the chance.

All students will receive a toy wand which is only capable of casting the spell Stupefy and had the name of a single student inscribed on the side of it.

The house-elves will leave your wand on your bedside table at midnight on October 31st, and from that moment the game will begin.

For a week, you are tasked with 'killing' the target on your wand, then collecting their wand and going after your next target.

Your house will receive ten points for every target you 'kill', your target can and will quite possibly be in your own house.

The only safe place is the Great Hall, but 'killing' someone, while they are naked, is also against the rules. The wands have been designed to guarantee this.

Good luck,

Headmistress McGonagall

With the rules of the game delivered to the school, groups slowly began to develop in an attempt to survive.

***

When October 31st came and went, the students awoke with suspicion in their minds.

Harry had opened his eyes and looked across the room at Draco, who sat with his wand in his eyes. His eyes met Harry's as the other boy sat up, suspicion not letting him trust the blond just yet.

"If I'm honest, I'm not interested in winning. I am interested in scaring everyone half to death. Fancy joining me?" While Harry couldn't bring himself to trust the mischievous smirk, he could negotiate with him.

"Who did you get?" He asked, picking up his own mock-wand. Hannah Abbott.

"Justin. Found it quite funny, really. So, what do you say? Fancy winding everyone up a bit?"

Harry found himself grinning, digging around in his drawer until he pulled out fluid material. The invisibility cloak.

"Let's have some fun." He agreed.

I promised one of you another chapter before my exams started, so here's a little something I prepared ten minutes ago.

Hopefully it will leave you anticipating a new chapter in roughly two weeks time (although I may be kind and try something this weekend).

AJ