A Most Unusual Halloween at Hogwarts

Chapter Three

***

Draco was very upset. No way was he going to this party dressed as a Sexy Cat-Man.

But he had no choice, as Blaise had gleefully pointed out.

A very sullen Draco pulled on the leather outfit. It was really absurdly tight, he noticed. Though it did show off his... well, his attributes. No one could say he didn't look sexy in this.

He chucked the cat ears aside, however - without them no one would even know what he was. He was just 'Sexy Leather Pants Draco' without the ears.

When he, Crabbe, and Goyle (the second two dressed as plumbers) got to the party (fashionably late, of course), Draco realized that perhaps the messed up costume thing wasn't so bad. He strutted past a large group of girls, who giggled as he passed.

Obviously, they thought he was oh-so sexy.

***

After talking to Hermione for a few more minutes, Harry went off to find Ron. He did find him, eventually, talking to Ernie Macmillan (who was a 'Realtor', apparently).

"I love being a cowboy," Ron said. Then he spat on the ground.

"What are you doing?" Harry asked.

"Well, I've always heard that cowboys spit on the ground a lot." He spat again. "Have you seen Hermione?"

"Yeah, she's over there," Harry said as Ron spat once more. "She dressed as a... well, I believe the costume is called 'Sexy Wench'."

Ron spat. "So is she sexy?"

"What?" Harry hadn't really thought about it. "Yeah, I guess so."

Ron spat again, and Ernie turned to him, annoyed. "You realize that's the fourth time you've spit on my shoe?"

"Oh, sorry," Ron said, carefully directing his spit elsewhere. He was about to say something else when he pointed.

"Look at Malfoy!"

"Where?"

"Right there! In the leather!"

Harry squinted. Sure enough, Draco was strutting around in a large circle, wearing a very tight leather outfit.

Ron was doubled over with laughter. "He looks ridiculous!"

"What is he supposed to be, anyway?"

Ernie spoke up. "I think that's the 'Sexy Cat-Man' costume. Looks like he ditched the ears, though. He does look stupid," he added.

"Look, you can tell he thinks those girls are giggling because he's hot," Ron pointed out. "They're laughing at him, though!" He was so busy laughing himself that he almost forgot to spit on the ground again.

Draco walked over and struck a pose. "Hello, boys," he drawled. "Care for a closer look at Mr. Sexy?"

"Ah, walking the catwalk, aren't you, Malfoy?" Ernie asked. Draco flushed.

"But you can't deny I look damn sexy in it."

"Sure, Malfoy," Ron said. "You look as sexy as Neville does in that postman costume."

"Oh, so you're not like most guys?" Draco said. "Think Neville's sexy, do you? Honestly, one would think you'd have better taste, Weasley. And what did your parents say when they found out?"

"Shut up, Malfoy," Ron said as he spat and then lunged at Draco. Harry held him back. "The only one who's gay is you, strutting around in a black leather cat costume."

***

After Ron had cooled down, and Draco was showing off elsewhere, they went and found Hermione. Harry was careful to make sure that Ron didn't see Ginny, or he'd explode.

"Hermione, is that you?" Ron asked, spitting.

She rolled her eyes. "Can't I dress differently for one night without everyone asking me that? And why are you spitting on me?"

"Sorry," Ron replied, aiming at a Hermione-free area of the floor. "It's a cowboy thing, you know."

"Well, stop, you'll lose bodily fluids," Hermione snapped. "And you look stupid, too. Not even a camel spits that much."

Ron flushed, but stopped spitting.

"So, having fun?" Harry asked Hermione, trying to change the subject.

"Sort of," she said. "But, you know, about ten guys have asked me out without realizing it was me. Just goes to show how obsessed some guys can be about looks."

"Speaking of that, have you seen Malfoy?" Ron asked.

"Yes," Hermione hid a smile. "He does look ridiculous, doesn't he?"

Harry laughed. As strange and bizarre this whole experience had been, everyone was somehow still themselves, and despite everything, he could still laugh at Malfoy.