Deathday

October arrived and his time at Hogwarts was pretty uneventful. Since the Confrontation between the Slytherin and Gryffindor Quidditch team not much happened. Although all Members of House Slytherin gained a look of Wariness on their faces. His Display of Strength had gained their Respect but at the same time, their Jealousy put them on Guard of him. But like you would expect of Slytherins they didn't dare to make any moves on him since they did not really know his true capabilities and choose a wait-and-see approach.

His Classes continued as expected, although he didn't learn much new the experience of the Professors were still invaluable. During the Self-Study lessons, he mainly focused on Defense of the Dark Arts and the creation of new Spells. With his expanded Database of Knowledge, he managed to create more powerful versions of many of his charms cast with the help of Runes. Their only disadvantage was their slower casting speed, but if he had enough preparation time like a proper Wizard always should they would become an essential part of his magic arsenal.

Ginny's constitution became worse over the last few weeks. The Horcrux was feeding on her Life-force, the same energy Source a Philosopher Stone was made of. Interestingly her Soul-force wasn't affected, although her Soul itself became more dormant which allowed the Horcrux inside the Diary to take over her body from time to time. This whole process was interesting to observe and allowed Matthew to gather a lot of valuable data.

Currently, he was on his way to the Room of Requirements. His magitec drones finally found something with very exotic energy readings, although they couldn't identify the purpose of the artifact. These unique readings intrigued Matthew to take a look at that artifact. It wasn't the first enchanted artifact his drones found but it was the first one they couldn't tell the purpose of, the exotic energy surrounding it interfered with their artificial eyes which made any visual data send to him uselessly. The other artifacts they found were common and Matthew could create them better if he needed to, they were only useful to make some cash.

Once he arrived inside the Room of hidden things he could already see the visible changes to the Room. It was clearly emptier than before although still full of Things. But these things in the front consisted mostly of useless junk with no real use for Matthew or no great worth. His Drones are nowhere seen, but he could hear how they worked deeper inside the Labyrinth of Objects.

Matthew directly approached his Trunk resting on the floor close to the entrance. Inside the last compartment, he found the interesting Object. "It couldn't be!" muttered Matthew as he stared at the Object now resting in his hands.

An Hourglass made of Crystal surrounded by rings of dark metal, that was rusted over the ages. It hung on a long chain equally rusted as the ring. Inside the Crystal Hourglass was glowing sand the source of the strange energy given off by the Artifact.

"I can't believe my Luck… this is a Time-Turner. How the hell does an artifact with the ability to Time travel get abandoned in a School full of kids. Aren't they strictly regulated by the Ministry. Specifically the Department of Mysteries?" wondered Matthew as he observed the Necklace resting in his hands.

"Does it work?" wondered Matthew, besides being rusted it looked as if it was intact. It should work, but he would first perform some tests on it and let one of his Drones try it out before using it himself. He knew how they worked in principle, and that the Sand inside was called the Sand of time an alchemical Product whose production method was lost over the ages. And nobody found a way to experiment on the existing one since it was a highly unstable product once removed from its specially prepared container (the Hourglass) it would cause a violent reaction with unknown consequences for people close by. The theory is that they got permanently displaced in time or just died through accelerated aging. Such a reaction would last until the energy inside the Sand itself would replenish, since it only had a limited amount of energy. It would replenish the energy itself which allowed its user to travel for a few hours back in time indefinitely, the longer the jump the more energy it cost, and if the Jumps were too far or too many in a short period it would empty itself for ever. But this discovery was a major boon for Matthew who was mostly running out of time these days.

~ Scene Break ~

Saturday, Halloween, 31st October 1992

At seven o'clock Matthew and Hermione met up with Harry and Ron who didn't look like they wanted to be here. Their look became even more regretful as the group passed straight past the doorway to the packed Great Hall, which was glittering invitingly with gold plates and candles, with a wonderful smell of Pumpkins passing them and directed their steps instead toward the dungeons.

A promise is a promise," Hermione reminded Harry bossily and Matthew had to Chuckle at that. "You said you'd go to the deathday party.

"Come on, it isn't so bad. You will have the chance to attend the Halloween Party next year again. But an invitation to a Deathday Celebration is a unique opportunity. It's rare for the living to attend one. You should be honored. Sir Nicholas must have a really high opinion of you Harry!" commented Matthew as Harry blushed a bit.

The passageway leading to Nearly Headless Nick's party had been lined with candles, too, though the effect was far from cheerful: These were long, thin, jet-black tapers, all burning bright blue, casting a dim, ghostly light even over their own living faces. The temperature dropped with every step they took. A Sound as if thousands of fingers scraped on a Blackboard came from their target.

"Is that supposed to be music?" Ron whispered. They turned a corner and saw Nearly Headless Nick standing at a doorway hung with black velvet drapes.

"My dear friends," he said mournfully. "Welcome, welcome... so pleased you could come..."

He swept off his plumed hat and bowed them inside.

"Thank you for the Invitation, Sir Nicholas. I am honored for this opportunity that most of the livings get never to witness." Thanked Matthew as they entered the Hall.

"You are welcome, Matthew." Beamed Sir Nicholas a bit with pride through his mournfulness.

It was an incredible sight. The dungeon was full of hundreds of pearly-white, translucent people, mostly drifting around a crowded dance floor, waltzing to the dreadful, quavering sound of thirty musical saws, played by an orchestra on a raised, black-draped platform. A chandelier overhead blazed midnight blue with a thousand more black candles. Their breath rose in a mist before them; it was like stepping into a freezer.

The Group began to explore the venue, there were many Ghosts present besides the inhabitants of Hogwarts. While they dodged the Moaning Myrtle one of the first victims of Voldemort, they discovered the Food served at the Celebration.

On the other side of the dungeon was a long table, also covered in black velvet. The second-year approached it eagerly but the next moment had stopped in their tracks, horrified. The smell was quite disgusting, while Matthew chuckled at them. Large, rotten fish was laid on handsome silver platters; cakes, burned charcoal-black, were heaped on salvers; there was a great maggoty haggis, a slab of cheese covered in furry green mold and, in pride of place, an enormous gray cake in the shape of a tombstone, with tar-like icing forming the words,

SIR NICHOLAS DE MIMSY-PORPINGTON

DIED 31ST OCTOBER, 1492

Matthew left them a bit on their own as he spotted the Grey Lady, the Ghost of House Ravenclaw, and approached. "Good day Lady Helena." Greeted Matthew the daughter of Rowena Ravenclaw.

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