Chapter 94

Chapter 94

Suer had no desire to attend a party crowded with ghosts.

The castle’s Halloween feast promised far more enjoyment than freezing underground on an empty stomach while staring at rotten food. He particularly wanted to see what Hagrid’s pumpkins would become.

Hermione, however, was fascinated by the ghostly gathering.

“I wager hardly any living person can say they’ve attended one. It must be an extraordinary experience.”

“It won’t be extraordinary,” Suer said, trying to dissuade her.

“Why celebrate the day you died?” Ron agreed. “It sounds terribly unlucky.”

Hermione merely fixed Suer with glittering, pleading eyes.

“I already promised Nearly Headless Nick,” Harry admitted apologetically.

Meanwhile, Suer had tried repeatedly to ask Ron about Ginny without being obvious, but still found no chance to speak with her alone. In the end, he temporarily gave up.

Malfoy vanished from public view for several days. Apart from lessons, he remained in the common room, and Crabbe and Goyle brought him meals.

School gossip changed daily, and his humiliation soon faded. The new sensation was a rumour that Dumbledore had invited a famous skeleton dance troupe to perform at the Halloween feast.

Halloween arrived on schedule. Bats fluttered among the countless candles, decorations filled the Great Hall, and Hagrid’s largest pumpkin had become a lantern spacious enough for three people.

A broad area in the centre of the hall stood empty. The rumour about performers appeared true.

“I regret everything,” Harry said miserably.

“Then we won’t go?” Ron brightened. “Look at the feast–and there’ll be a performance.”

Suer nodded enthusiastically.

“Perhaps…” Harry hesitated, sorely tempted. “Perhaps we shouldn’t?”

“No.” Hermione planted her hands on her hips. “A wizard must keep his word. You promised Nick.”

“But think of the pumpkin pie, toffee apples, and macarons,” Suer coaxed. “The kitchens are serving dishes we never normally see, some from France. Hufflepuff’s common room is near the kitchens, remember.”

Hermione wavered.

“Ghosts can’t eat our food,” Suer continued. “Someone once studied their diet…”

He had genuinely found such a book in the library. Its author had apparently attended a ghost gathering.

“Ghosts dislike hot, fragrant food. They prefer rotting things: dead rats, spoiled meat and fruit, cheese covered in green mould…”

“Stop.” Disgust crossed Hermione’s face. “Is that really true?”

“I wouldn’t lie to you. We can go and look now if you don’t believe me.”

“But Harry promised.”

“Then we’ll leave Harry there.”

Harry stared at him. They were plotting loudly enough for every word to reach him.

“That seems rather cruel,” Hermione said.

“I’m joking.” Suer laughed at Harry’s dark expression. “Nick invited Harry because he wants his support. We can attend, stay briefly, then come back. If we leave early enough, we may still see the performance.”

Hermione accepted the compromise.

At six, the four of them crossed the crowded entrance to the Great Hall. They passed Neville, who was talking shyly to a young witch and did not notice them.

“Susan? When did Neville start talking to Susan?” Suer asked. Hermione often spent time with Hannah, Susan’s closest friend.

Susan was also Suer’s distant cousin, though they rarely exchanged more than a nod.

“I don’t know,” Hermione said. “Perhaps they became friends while helping Professor Sprout. Hannah says Susan is gifted at Herbology.”

“We should hurry,” Ron urged. “Let’s be back by half past seven.”

Nick’s Deathday Party occupied an underground classroom. Thin black candles lit the corridor, their ghostly flames lending it an ominous air.

A perfect location for a horror film, Suer thought.

Then again, they were attending a dead man’s party.

The temperature dropped sharply. All four wrapped their robes more tightly around themselves.

Then came a sound like a thousand fingernails scraping an enormous blackboard. Gooseflesh rose across Ron’s skin.

“They call that music?” he whispered.

Around the corner, Nearly Headless Nick waited at a doorway draped in black velvet.

“Welcome, my dear friends,” he said mournfully. “Mr Potter, Miss Granger, Mr Weasley, Mr Bones–I am truly delighted you came.”

He removed his black-plumed hat, bowed, and invited them inside.