Chapter 96

The Great Hall at Hogwarts bustled with activity, the echoes of laughter and conversations weaving through the air as students gathered for dinner. The enchanted ceiling above mimicked a starry night, adding a touch of magic to the ambiance. In a corridor near the entrance to the Great Hall, a group of mischievous older students, led by three Gryffindors and one Hufflepuff, huddled together with sly grins playing on their faces.

"Alright, everyone, gather 'round," the pink-haired girl whispered, her eyes glinting with mischief. The other students leaned in, eager for the group's latest escapade. "We've got a little surprise for our younger friends and a special treat for our dear old friend, Argus Filch."

Two Gryffindor boys exchanged knowing glances as they pulled out their wands. With a wave and an incantation, the air around them stirred, creating an almost tangible energy. A cool breeze began to circulate, and slowly, the translucent forms of ghostly figures emerged, dancing and swirling like leaves caught in a tempest.

The older students watched with satisfaction as their wind constructs took shape—ethereal phantoms with billowing robes and faces obscured by shadows. The ghosts twisted and twirled, casting flickering shadows across the walls, and the entire corridor fell silent as students caught sight of the spectral display.

The first years gasped, their eyes widening in a mix of awe and terror. The wind-borne apparitions circled the younger students, who huddled together, their excitement palpable. The mischievous older students, hidden in the shadows, couldn't contain their laughter at the younger ones' reactions.

But the pièce de résistance was yet to come.

The pink-hired girl, with a sly grin, pointed her wand towards the end of the corridor where Filch sat on his stool. The wind constructs swirled and gathered into a single, ominous figure—the ghostly manifestation of Peeves, the infamous poltergeist.

Peeves, or rather, the wind version of him, cackled maniacally as he floated towards Filch. The caretaker's eyes widened, and he fumbled for his lantern, muttering about mischievous students. The wind-borne Peeves danced just out of Filch's reach, teasing and taunting, much to the delight of the observing students.

As the ghostly apparitions continued their dance, the group erupted into a mix of laughter, gasps, and cheers. Flich, hearing this, stood and turned to find a group of students staring at him. He picked up his walking stick and started to hobble towards them. The students quickly scattered in different directions, trying to escape Flich's wrath.

Albert and Lee Jordan also saw this. They were standing at an intersection close to Flich. As Flich walked by, he stopped, looked them up and down, and continued on. Once he arrived at where the group of students was, he saw a robe disappear. Finding his target, he chose to pursue it. Once he was out of sight, Fred and George popped up behind them.

"That was so cool."

"You guys missed out."

"You just had to be there."

"And that girl, I think I'm in love."

"Brother stop. Charlie is courting her."

"But I'm in love."

"We just have to forget about it."

"I know. Its just a shame. How can someone that amazing end up with Charlie."

"What would have been worse is that she ends up with Percy."

"As if that would every happen."

"Will you two please shut your mouth," Albert snapped.

"Wow, what's wrong with you?"

"You're get so angry easily, lately."

"Is it because of the thing you found."

"The thing you won't show us."

"No, its not. Its because I didn't get any sleep," Albert said in an annoyed tone.

"That's true. You haven't get enough sleep since you got the thing you wouldn't show us."

"And you started to act like one of those slimy snakes."

"And you started to talk all fancy."

"It's like you're becoming one of them."

"We told you not to stay with them."

"Look at what they're doing to our friend."

"Enough. Please stop. I have enough on my plate," Albert said. "Christmas is coming and I need to find gift. And I need to submit a dissertation to Professor McGonagall. And Charlie has been bugging me to start quidditch practice. Can we shelve all of this now, and make our way to the Halloween Feast?"

"Yeah. Come on boys, lets go," Lee said as he dragged the twins along. "Alb, are you going to the Samhain Ritual after the feast?"

"I want to, but I don't think I'll be welcomed," Albert said.

"Even after you've started being buddy-buddy with some of those snakes?" Fred asked.

"Yes, even after I've started being buddy-buddy with some of those snakes," Albert replied. "Hurry up, The doors closed. That means were late."

"We're not the only one that are going to be late," George said as he opened the door.

The four boys walked over to the Gryffindor table and sat down next to the girls. The Great Hall buzzed with anticipation as students, adorned in their house robes, filed into the enchanted space for the Halloween feast. Decorations adorned every corner, creating an atmosphere that blended eerie with festive. Floating pumpkins emitted an otherworldly glow, casting playful shadows on the long wooden tables.

The aroma of the feast wafted through the air, a tantalising mix of roasted meats, spiced pumpkin, and freshly baked bread. The tables groaned under the weight of platters and bowls, displaying a mouthwatering array of magical dishes. Cauldrons bubbled with savoury stews, their steam spiralling upwards like ghostly tendrils.

Plates were filled with golden roast chicken, roasted vegetables, and mashed potatoes. Goblets filled with pumpkin juice clinked together as students toasted to the occasion. The centrepiece of the feast was a massive chocolate cauldron, adorned with edible bats and surrounded by a lake of molten caramel.

Desserts appeared in a burst of magic, tempting the sweet tooth of every student. Chocolate frogs leaped around the plates, and Bertie Bott's Every Flavour Beans spilled out of decorative bowls. Towering trays of treacle tart, pumpkin pasties, and cauldron cakes tempted even the most disciplined witches and wizards.

As the students dug into the feast, laughter and chatter filled the air. Ghosts floated above, joining in the celebration with translucent goblets in hand. The enchanted ceiling above mimicked a starry night, and occasional sparks of magic added an extra dash of wonder to the atmosphere.

"We come just in time. They just started eating," Fred said as he took a bowl of stew and a few slices of bread. He took a bit and sai, "George, this taste better than mums."

"Can you not speak with food in your mouth. It rude and disgusting," Angelina said. "Can you please have some manners?"

"Sorry Ang," said Fred with food in his mouth. "But what are you going to do about it?"

Angelina picked up a slice of bread and threw it at him. "I'm being serious. If you do that again, I'll tell Percy and then you'll see what I'm going to do about it."

"She's got you there, brother. Mother will probably send you a howler or worse, she'll tell Percy to speak to us about it," George said.

Fred looked at Angelina in horror. He shook his head and pleaded with his eyes so she wouldn't do that. Anything was better than listening to Percy.

"Albert! Thomas, Maxwell, Pamella, and Sophia told me to tell you thank you for trying to help them learn the shield charm. They asked if you were available next weekend to help us again," Shannon asked.

"I don't know if ill be free. If I'm in the library, then yes I'll help them," Albert responded.

"Okay, I'll tell them tomorrow," Shannon replied.

"Who are they?" Lee asked.

"That's the group of student we've been studying with for the last couple of weeks," Shannon said.

"They're the slimy snakes we were talking about earlier," Fred said.

"Fredrick Gideon Weasley! They are not 'slimy snakes'. They are normal witches and wizard. They are good people. They're circumstance is the only reason why they're in Slytherin," Shannon said.

"Yeah right. All Slytherin pureblood are the same," Fred said.

"They aren't purebloods.They're half-bloods and they're our friends. You shouldn't judge them based on their house. They're are actually some of the good ones," Shannon said.

TING! TING! TINGGG!

"Students, may I have your attention," Dumbledore said as he stood up and waited for silence. "Please could you give a round of applause for our entertainment tonight. One of Hogwarts very own: Lady Cetina Warbeck."

A loud applause rang through the Great Hall, and Lady Warbeck appeared in front of Dumbledore in a cloud of smoke. She gave Dumbledore a curtsey and walked down the steps. The crowd cheered and eagerly awaited her performance. She even waved at some of the students as her instruments appeared behind her. She started by playing Vivaldi's Four Seasons before moving onto Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, leaving the audience in awe. She then played some of her own pieces as the students listened and ate at the same time. She played for around three and a half hours before receiving a round of applause again. She played with such passion and skill that the audience was captivated throughout the entire performance. Lady Warbeck then went to sit at the teacher's table as she conversed with the teachers.

Throughout her performance, some of the students had finished eating. So some retired to their dorms early, while others decided to partake in some freaky activities. The younger students split off and went to other tables to sit with their friends while others were playing games. The atmosphere was filled with laughter and excitement.

"Did you guys like it?"

"We loved it."

"Our whole family loves it."

"Shannon? Albert? What did you guys think of it?" Angelina asked.

"It's my first time hearing those. They sounded familiar," Shannon asked. "But yeah, I liked it."

"It was okay. It wasn't amazing and it wasn't terrible. She started of with Vivaldi's Four Seasons then she played Beethoven's fifth symphony. The others? I'm guessing she composed it on her own," Albert said.

"What?" The twins said with their mouth agape.

"My family and I used to go and watch the orchestra. When they played, it was spectacular. Lady Warbeck's performance could not hold a candle to them," Albert said.

"What?" This is it was Lee.

"This was a one woman performance using magic. Imagine over three hundred people without magic, playing in perfect harmony and perform similarly to her or better. I just prefer watching the orchestra than her," Albert said. "I just don't find her magic performance impressive at all."

"What?" Lee, Fred, and George said at the same time.

"You heard what I said," Albert replied.

"Stop it, you three. We're allowed to have our own opinions. We don't all have to like the same things but do you know what surprises me the most?," Angelina said as she took a sip of pumpkin juice. "You Weasley liking a Slytherin performer."

"She's not Slytherin."

"She's muggleborn."

"She maybe muggle born, but she was sorted into Slytherin. She a descendant of an ancient family," Angelina said. "And from what I've been hearing, you really don't like Albert' and Shannon's new Slytherin friends."

"She's one of the good ones."

"Not all Slytherins are bad," George said. "Oh, I see what you're doing. But I'm not going to apologise."

"I'm saying you have to. Just keep your opinions to yourself.," Angelina said.

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Later, outside of the Great Hall, Albert decided to leave a bit early and head back to his dormitory while the others played some games. By pure coincidence, he met most of the quidditch team outside the door of the Great Hall, with a passed-out Irene on Mark's back.

"Where are you guys coming back from?" Albert asked.

"Charlie got invited to a hufflepuff party. He didn't want to go without us, so his girlfriend invited us all," Mark said.

"Who's his girlfriend?" Albert asked.

"Were you outside when some of the older student tried to prank Flich?" Mark asked and Albert nodded. "The pink-haired girl. Nymphadora Tonks. Just call her Tonks when you speak to her."

"Noted."

"You haven't come to training recently have you?" Mark asked.

"No, I've been busy. Juggling the study session, assignments, and transfiguration clubs has taken a lot out of me," Albert said

"Charlie want's you to take his seeker position next year," Mark said. "He's been begging professor McGonagall to let you skip some of the session so you can come to practice. Although she probably won't, there's still a chance. Did you know she's a quidditch fanatic?"

"Yes I did, but I've got a feeling that there'll be more suitable replacement coming in the next couple of years," Albert said. "Once Charlie graduates, and Oliver wood takes over, and if there aren't any suitable replacements, I'll take the spot. Until then, I'll come to practice whenever I'm free."

"I don't think we'll find anyone with talent then you to fill the position," Mario said as he and Daniel held up Jackson. "Jackson enjoyed himself a little to much just like Irene."

"If you guys really want me to play, then find a way to convince Professor McGonagall. After that, call a team meeting and then I'll come to practice more often." Albert said as he went and stood in front of the Fat Lady. Once the Fat Lady saw them, she opened the door to the Gryffindor common room. "Good night ," Albert said as he entered the common room and headed towards his dormitory.