Percy Jackson and the Hound of Hogwarts [Book 3]

Halloween Special

Happy Halloween!!!

My costume was uncomfortable, but it made me extremely happy. I was a fish.

Dumbledore had been happy to let Luke take me and Draco trick-or-treating that Halloween night, and even magicked up some costumes for them. I was a fish. Draco was a vampire. Luke was some weird cop who was hanging out with children. Well, he was a zombie cop.

"It's been so long since I've gone trick-or-treating," Luke said, smiling down at us as we walked down a sidewalk. "Last time would've been with Draco and Thalia while we were running around America."

"We didn't have very good costumes," Draco said, grinning. "I was an off-brand Scooby Doo."

"I was Shaggy," Luke grinned.

They shared a look, the said, "Thalia was a stick."

I burst out laughing. I had known it was going to be something stupid, but I hadn't expected that.

We walked up to our first door, and Luke got a call.

He glanced down at his phone, grimacing, and said, "I've got to take this."

Me and Draco shared a look, then shrugged, and got our candy. When we were walking back from the door, Luke gave us one of those looks that said Sorry-but-we-have-to-go-I'll-make-it-up-to-you-later.

"Sorry," Luke said, "but we have to go, I'll make it up to you later."

Draco and I simultaneously groaned and collapsed onto the sidewalk. Luke, used to our shit, just picked us up and carried us to his police car.

"Wow you're pretty strong," Draco said, squeezing Luke's arm before trying to wiggle away.

"Stoooop," Luke whined, dropping Draco onto the ground. Then he dropped me on top of him.

"I thought you didn't want us to be in positions like this," I said, giving Luke an unimpressed look. Draco blushed darkly, and Luke immediately picked me up and threw me into the backseat. Draco landed beside me not long after.

Luke climbed into his seat and started driving, saying, "So two prankster brothers of mine may have snuck out of Hogwarts only to egg my captain's house. I will buy you candy and rent a horror movie if that makes it better." He looked genuinely sad, and I realized just how much he had been looking forward to this.

"It's okay," I said. "Will you watch it with us?"

Luke visibly brightened, "Sure!"

Then the car broke down.

"What the Hades?" Luke turned the ignition, but the car just sputtered. He tried again, but nothing changed.

"Well today is just not having a good time, huh," I said, and Draco nodded his head in agreement.

Luke turned and sent a pleading look to Draco, who sighed and went to check out under the hood.

I climbed out of the car too, and looked around. We were in the middle of a deserted street, surrounded by trees. It was a full moon, and I suddenly got a chill up my spine.

Where were we?

"Uh, Luke?" I said quietly, and my brother turned to look at me.

"Yeah?" He looked a little concerned.

"This isn't the way to the station," I said.

Luke glanced around, his eyes widening, "What the fuck? I turned left, we should still be in the suburbs." He pulled his phone out, and attempted to make a call. No one picked up.

There was a low growl from the woods to our left, and then more growling from our right.

"Boys," Luke said, tensing. "Get in the car."

Draco and I immediately scrambled into the backseat, slamming the door shut behind us. Luke attempted to start the car again, shouting curses.

I looked up and saw a monster. And immediately felt sick. We'd learned about these.

"Catoblepas!" I shouted. Luke and Draco's eyes immediately widened. Catoblepas were ugly creatures, and some myths said their looks could kill (they couldn't, but it sure seemed like that when you first looked at them). The real problem was their toxic breath, which if inhaled enough, could kill.

"Fuck me!" Luke yelled, attempting to start the car again. One of the catoblepas slammed into my side of the car, and I slammed into Draco. By that point, everyone was screaming.

I had hit my head on the window. It wasn't anything to serious, but my vision swam. When everything cleared, I was confused. Then I saw the woman with the two torches.

"Fuck off Hecate!" I yelled, seeing Draco's concerned face. "I love you, I really do, but could you not prank us so hard?!?"

I watched realization dawn on Draco and Luke's faces. They looked around.

"Good gods we've just been parked in the same spot for ten minutes, screaming bloody murder," Luke whispered, glancing around. We were still in the suburbs, and nothing was attacking us. Luke's car wasn't damaged from any ugly Greek monsters, and no trees were in sight.

Hecate appeared in our window, grinning, "Halloween is the only time they allow me to prank people. Time to go make more demigods fear for their lives."

"What the fuck," Draco whispered as she disappeared.

"Can we watch a comedy instead of a horror?" I asked. I'd had enough scares for a lifetime.

"Yeah," Luke said, starting the car (for real this time). "Yeah, after I go save Connor and Travis."

This didn't go as expected. I had no clue where it was going when I started, and I have no clue how it got to it all being a prank from Hecate. You can probably tell that I'm not good at writing horror. Anyway, I hope you guys have a happy Halloween!