Chapter 42 - Hallows Eve (1/2)
Early the next morning the castle began to smell of the sweet fragrance of pumpkins being baked. The sweet smells continued all day and only served to whet the student's appetites. Rowan pulls her cloak a bit tighter around her as the chill of the dungeons seems to seep into her bones. After all, it was already almost November and the dungeons would only become colder with the passing of time.
”Excellent work class keep stirring those cauldrons or else the potion will stick,” Professor Slughorn advised.
Rowan sighs and takes her stirring ladle and begins to properly stir as her hands begin to become chilly once more. Potions class seems to drag forever, when at last Professor Slughorn says, ”Ladles up!”
Everyone does so as Professor Slughorn comes over and checks each worm-tail potion with the last being their group. As usual, Professor Slughorn beams at Severus and Lily who are two of his best students. With some hesitation, Professor Slughorn checks Rowan's potion to find that only is it the right color, but the right density and all. ”Miss Prince, excellent work!” Professor Slughorn excitedly said, no doubt thinking Rowan was turning a new leaf.
”There weren't any living ingredients this time,” Rowan flatly stated.
Professor Slughorn's enthusiasm dampens as he says, ”Well no matter, you've improved considerably, Miss Prince.” Rowan nods her head at Professor Slughorn before everyone begins to gather their things and eagerly depart to get ready for the Hallowe'en Feast.
Bethanie, Tiffany, and Silvia are exited as they brush their hair and straighten their robes. Rowan just nods at them, before heading downstairs. The minute she steps out of the stairs, ”C'mon,” Severus excitedly said as he grabs Rowan by the sleeve and drags her way.
”Took you long enough,” Terry Greengrass said with a grin as he waited for them at the entrance of the common room.
The three of them make their way to the great hall to find that thousands of bats flutter from the ceiling and walls while others swoop over tables like black clouds as the breeze from their wings cause the candles within the small jack-o-lanterns to sputter. On the floor against the walls are vast carved giant pumpkins large enough for three grown men to sit down. However, unlike the two of them, Rowan's face pales at seeing the bats fluttering about.
”Bat Guano,” Rowan sickly thought. ”How on Earth can an enchanted school be so unsanitary?!”
Severus doesn't notice Rowan's damp enthusiasm and drags her towards the Slytherin table. Taking a seat, Terry whispers, ”There's supposed to be a Ghost Waltz done by the Hogwarts ghosts later and at the end of the night, I heard that Dumbledore hired a troop of skeletons to play!”
”How exciting,” Rowan damply said.
Terry either doesn't notice her tone of voice or doesn't care as he and Severus excitedly chatter. Rowan sighs as she closes her eyes and pretends to ignore the flutter of the bat wings. She didn't know when, but soon everything would start on Alastor's end. Either way, tonight would decide if the official and future potential Death Eater base at Hogwarts would be destroyed or if it would thrive as it originally did.
The tables quickly fill and finally grow silent as Dumbledore rises and says, ”Welcome! And enjoy our traditional Hallowe'en feast!”
The students let out a cheer as much like at the sorting hat ceremony food appears onto their golden plates and pumpkin juice or cider appear in their golden goblets. On the plates, before them, there are candy-filled pumpkins, candy apples, black cauldrons filled with lollipops, carrot cake bats, orange streamers, goblets made of colored candy, and so much more to feast the eyes.