Diverse - HARRY POTTER

Edward - 2

Year 2

Saturday – 31st October – 6:00pm

My birthday was going well, as per usual. 14 and I feel old. Presents from the Outsiders were laid neatly at the foot of my four poster when I awoke this morning along with presents from Ron, Harry and even Hermione. Which I wasn't expecting at all, so it was a pleasant surprise.

This year will be a little different than all my previous birthdays as I won't be doing the usual tradition with the Outsiders but accompanying my Gryffindor friends to Nearly Headless Nick's 500th death day party, whatever that is.

Nearly Headless Nick is the Gryffindor ghost and why he invited us is beyond me. Harry being harry agreed anyway. This better be good because I'm missing the Halloween feast for this.

Although, when we arrived, I came to realise we were the only living guests present. The party was down in the dungeons, which is no surprise, but it was rather roomier compared to the other one. I don't know if it was the dungeon or the lack of body heat but the room was like stepping straight into a freezer. I could see my breath mist up in front of me.

Ron and I went straight to the food table, our stomachs growling with hunger. You could smell it before you reached it, enough to make me gag, up close it was even worse. The table was lit with candles and entrails were placed to make it look presentable, although the food was rancid and mouldy.

"I say we get out of here, quick." Ron whispers.

"Maybe if we leave now, we'll still make it for dessert." I reply and Ron nods his head. We both slowly walk away to find Harry. When we found them though, they seemed to have upset some young looking Ghost. Peeves was laughing devilishly beside her.

"That's moaning Myrtle." Hermione said once she had left. "She occupies one of the girl's bathrooms and she's always crying, no one will even go in there anymore." Ron and I glanced between each other.

"There's another reason I will be leaving here very soon." I laugh.

Nick had joined us now along with someone else I wasn't really paying attention to. I just want to leave I am so hungry. They both glide past us, thank God. If I don't get frost bite down here it will be a miracle.

"I can't stand much more of this," Ron muttered, his teeth chattering, as the orchestra ground back into action and the ghosts swept back onto the dance floor.

"Let's go," Harry agreed.

We backed toward the door, nodding and beaming at anyone who looked at us, and a minute later were hurrying back up the passageway full of black candles.

"Pudding might not be finished yet," said Ron hopefully, leading the way toward the steps to the entrance hall.

"It will be when I get there." I replied.

All of a sudden Harry just stops in the middle of the stairs. He pressed his ear to the wall, listening to the plumbing? What a strange boy.

"Harry, what're you –?" I started

"It's that voice again – shut up a minute –" he cut me off. Harry had been going on about some voice he keeps hearing that apparently doesn't belong to a body. It's like he's talking to himself inside his head. No one else can hear anything.

"Listen!" said Harry urgently, and Ron, Hermione, and I froze, watching him.

"This way," he shouted, and he began to run, up the stairs, into the entrance hall. It was no good hoping to hear anything in here, the babble of talk from the Halloween feast was echoing out of the Great Hall. Harry sprinted up the marble staircase to the first floor, Ron, Hermione and I clattering behind him.