This year's Halloween feast was different from previous years.
Young wizards who couldn't see any ghosts looked around in confusion. Especially the first-years.
Though being passed through by ghosts didn't feel pleasant on normal days, today alone, without ghosts appearing, without that icy-water chill, something felt missing.
Fortunately, Dumbledore had invited the Skeleton Dance Troupe.
In the corridors of each house, the bones dancing their ridiculous individual dances drew applause and laughter.
The Weasley Twins had also placed finger guillotines of their own making on each house's dining tables. Thrilling, joyful screams rose and fell.
Many young wizards ran to them, ordering sets for themselves. Looking forward to playing with their families at home.
Thanks to Tequila's thoughtfulness, Tiger hadn't touched any pumpkin products on the Slytherin table. Instead eating Halloween-themed braised lion heads.
Noticing the little snakes' longing gazes, Tiger immediately arranged a portion for each of them. The moving, screaming braised lion heads drew admiration.
"They'd be even better sweet."
"I prefer them with chocolate sauce."
Draco and Venom enthusiastically discussed braised lion head recipes. Getting more outrageous with each suggestion.
Just then, Tiger noticed Hermione wasn't at the Gryffindor table. The braised lion heads that had suddenly appeared had already been divided among the other little lions.
Neville ate his chocolate-maple flavored braised lion head. Giving Venom enthusiastic thumbs up.
"Where is she?"
Tiger scanned the surroundings.
Not just Hermione—even Harry and Ron weren't at the Gryffindor table.
Noticing Tiger's gaze, lackey Draco moved closer and reminded him:
"I heard from the Weasley pauper that they were invited to the ghosts' banquet. That Nearly Headless Nick—today's his five-hundredth deathday anniversary."
Tiger nodded in understanding. But then noticed Draco's gloating smile.
"What are you laughing about?"
You know, whenever Harry and Ron's names came up, Draco usually showed resentful anger. Rarely laughing so hard like today.
"They're in for it."
"My father told me deathday parties don't have roasted pumpkin." Draco contentedly sipped his pumpkin juice. "There's only moldy, rotten food scraps."
"Just going hungry."
Tiger smiled and shook his head.
He was equally curious about deathday anniversaries. Even going hungry wouldn't diminish such an interesting experience.
He suddenly wanted to go see too.
"Not just that..." Sensing Tiger's restlessness, Theodore spoke expressionlessly:
"The living shouldn't approach the dead."
"Them attending a deathday anniversary is like dogs soaked in ice water rummaging through trash. Stay too long and getting seriously ill would be getting off light."
"Hiss..."
Tiger winced slightly.
Not because of Hermione and the others' situation, but because Theodore's way of speaking seemed to be moving toward Mom's style.
"Moreover..." Theodore stared at Tiger. His cold, empty eyes suddenly showing worship.
"Have you noticed, Father?"
"The dead are terrified of you. Where you are, the dead absolutely won't appear!"
"Cough, that's not important."
Tiger sighed helplessly.
"Theodore, whatever you do, don't learn Mom's way of speaking. Motherfucker is already enough."
[Better not say that either!]
Burstrode and the others silently watched the two. Their slightly downturned lips looking even more helpless than Tiger's.
"Oh God! Harry, let's just leave."
Ron grimaced, covering his ears.
On the deathday banquet stage, the orchestra's music sounded like sawing strings with saw blades.
Especially when the dead walked down to the dance floor, carelessly passing through his body, he felt like someone was constantly pouring ice water on him.
"Time to say goodbye, Harry!"
Hermione's face was pale. She wrapped her robes tightly, trying to retain some warmth.
But after Myrtle passed through her body with mocking laughter, she abandoned the idea.
However, she didn't regret tonight's journey.
Halloween came every year, but deathday banquets weren't annual events. She planned to show off tonight's experiences to Tiger when she got back.
"Forget it, let's skip the goodbyes. Let's just leave..."
Harry sniffled his runny nose.
The dance floor was full of ghostly comings and goings. He really didn't have the courage to cross it to bid Nearly Headless Nick farewell.
The three carefully avoided ghosts. Quickly walking out of the deathday hall. The gradually rising temperature made them sigh with relief.
"Hope the feast isn't over. Neville said Dumbledore invited the Skeleton Dance Troupe."
Ron clasped his hands together, muttering hopefully.
"They tour worldwide—that's a show you can't see even waiting in line. I really regret coming..."
Just as the three climbed the spiral staircase, Harry suddenly stumbled. He looked around nervously.
"Harry, you..."
Hermione was cut off mid-sentence as Harry frantically raised his hand to stop her. Crying out in panic:
"Someone's talking! Listen!"
Hermione and Ron immediately held their breath. Looking confused as they pricked up their ears. However, in the narrow spiral staircase, only their light, rapid breathing could be heard.
"He went that way!" The voice seemed constant. Harry's gaze slowly moved upward.
Before Hermione and Ron could react, he rushed out first. Trying to find the voice's source.
"Harry!!!"
Hermione grabbed his collar.
Harry's expression just now was too strange. Like someone was talking to him while she couldn't hear.
This was wrong! Very wrong!
"Calm down! You should tell the profess—"
"No, Hermione!"
Harry anxiously broke free from Hermione's restraint.
He stared toward where the voice had gone. Scrambling upstairs.
"Only I can hear this voice! He's dangerous! He wants to kill someone! I have to figure out who he is before finding a professor..."
"Wait for me! Harry!"
Ron quickly chased after Harry. His eyes faintly showing excitement.
"Ron!"
Hermione couldn't stop them. Only running after the two, cursing under her breath:
"These two idiots!!!"
The wizarding world had many death cases caused by hearing voices others couldn't hear. Seeing things others couldn't see. Leading to tragedies.
She'd told these two idiots many times.
How could they never learn!!!
When she caught up at the second-floor staircase, Harry was pulling Ron. Running quickly out of the corridor as if something was chasing them. Faces pale.
Hermione didn't stop them to ask what happened.
If something really was behind them, stopping now would be suicide.
Just as they ran down the stairs, bustling footsteps and conversation came from the first-floor staircase. Obviously the feast had ended and young wizards were streaming out of the Great Hall.
"Oh no!"
Harry stopped helplessly. Ron spun in circles, not knowing whether to go or return. Like someone about to be caught doing something wrong.
"Hermione? What happened?"
Just then, Tiger's voice suddenly rang out.
~~~~❃❃~~~~~~~~❃❃~~~~
Read up to (100+ ) advanced chapters on Patre\on
Visit us here: patreon.com/DarkGolds
Happy reading, everyone!