Harry Potter and the Adventure He Affectionately Calls Life

"Do we get off on Halloween?"

Hermione looked at Lana strangely. "Why would we get off on Halloween?"

Lana shrugged. "Just figured that since it's all real witches and such, we would get off."

"How do you celebrate Halloween in America?"

Lana sighed, a dreamy smile across her face. "Usually someone has a Halloween party and we get all dressed up in costume We usually end up watching a scary movie and having popcorn fights." She laughed. "Then we all go trick or treating together. It's great. We've been trick or treating since forever, and all our parents say we're to old to go, but hey, you can never be to old for chocolate, right?"

Hermione nodded. "What's trick or treating?"

"What's trick or treating?" Lana repeated in disbelief. "All the kids get dressed up in costumes and we go ringing the doorbells of the neighbor's houses and we say "trick or treat." Then they give us candy."

"Oh. That's cool. Halloween's not like that here."

"What do you guys do?"

"Well, there are floating pumpkins everywhere. And a huge feast. But I guess for the most part, it's a normal day."

"How boring," Lana commented.

"Yeah, I guess it is kind of boring when you compare it to American Halloween." She shrugged. "Oh well."

"Hermione, what does Dumbledore think of muggles?"

"Most of our school isn't pureblood, so there's a little muggle in most of us. He doesn't have a problem with it, though."

"What about muggle traditions?"

"I don't know. Why?"

"Maybe we could have a costume party. Or a masquerade!"

"Oh!" Hermione breathed. She pictured herself in a full, formfitting gown, probably some deep shade of red or wine, with a jeweled mask covering her face. Ron would be dressed handsomely in a tuxedo, his eyes covered by a mask as well. "That would be amazing." She squealed. "Oh my god, Lana, that would be amazing! You should definitely talk to Dumbledore about it."

"Will you heor="Black">

"Me? How would I do it? No, you're the change in our school, he would probably listen to you. But just be honest."

"Okay. I'll talk to him about it after Defense class today."

"Well," Hermione scoffed. "That would be quite useless, as Dumbledore is no longer our teacher. The new teacher is arriving today."

"Oh." Lana looked upset. "I'll talk to him anyway." She sighed. "Shower time."

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Ron shrugged. "I've always wanted to say that."

Harry laughed.

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Harry was absorbed in writing up new Quidditch plays in the library. Lana had to talk to Professor Dumbledore, and Hermione and Ron were off doing the love thing, so Harry was left on his own. Not that that was a bad thing, of course. He had work to do. And that stupid parchment for Professor Fiora.

"Of all the places in the castle, do you have to be here, Potter?" Draco asked in disgust.

"Or you could leave."

"I could," Harry agreed. "But I got here first. You're more than welcome to join me."

"How generous," Draco said sarcastically, sitting down across the table from Harry. "What are you working on?"

"Quidditch plays. Ron and I are co-captains this year."

"I heard." Draco lookeriting. "Congratulations."

"Thanks," Harry said, a little surprised. "Who's captaining the Slytherin team?"

"Do I care? It's not me, though."

Harry laughed. "What was I thinking? That you would actually know someone other than yourself."

Draco sneered. "I know you," he said. "You should consider yourself lucky."

"Oh, I do," Harry said with mock seriousness. "You ofat's a huge complement."

"I was kidding, git."

"I know that." Then, after a second, he added, "git."

"Where's the rest of your fan club?"

"Lana has to talk to Professor Dumbledore, and Hermione and Ron are off together."

"Congratulations, Weasley," Draco murmured. "He could have done a lot worse."

"He wouldn't have anyone else except 'Mione."

"'Mione?" Draco asked, his blond eyebrows raising.

Harry shrugged.

"So you were expecting this? This Weasley-Granger union?"

"The things you miss out when you're not a Gryffindor," Harry sighed. "Yes, Malfoy, everyone was expecting this. Just because you liked Hermione doesn't mean she liked you, you know."

: 0.00mm; text-align: left; line-height: 4.166667mm; color: Black; background-color: White; "> "I never liked her," Draco protested.

Harry rolled his eyes. "I'm sure."

"Oh, you mean that thing in our second year. Okay, so that wise crack she made about buying my way into the team was.."

"Entirely true?" Harry finished.

"Yeah, that too," Draco said, having the decency to blush. "What's your team like?"

"I know that, idiot. Who's on the team?"

"Who's on yours?" Harry asked.

"I asked first."

"I don't have to answer."

Draco muttered something inaudible under his breath. "Never mind. I'll see when you play."

"Okay."

Draco fell silent. "Hey, Potter?"

"Hmm?" he asked, not looking up from the plays he was writing.

"Did we just have a bonding moment?"

"Dream on, Malfoy," Harry said, grinning.

"Shit! We have a bonding moment!"

"We managed to get through a civil conversation, Malfoy. It isn't that rare for you, is it?"

Draco shook his head. "This is gonna' be on the cover of The Prophet tomorrow. 'Potter and Malfoy: Best Friends.' I better start filing for a transfer."

"The sooner, the better," Harry said sweetly.

"Shut up, Potter. You know you love the publicity."

Harry nodded solemnly. "You better leave before I start charging you to sit next to me."

"Shut up, Potter. I'm leaving."

"Ciao," Harry said, fluttering his fingers delicately. "Do call, Malfie. We'll have to do tea."

"'Malfie'?" Draco repeated. "Do I get to call you 'Potty' then?"

"Just leave," Harry said, stiffling a laugh.

Draco glared at him, then left.

"Harry Potter, I am so proud of you," Lana said sliding into the seat next to him and kissing his cheek. "You and Draco just had a bonding moment."

"Yeah," Harry said quietly. "I guess we did." Harry shook his head, grinning. "Go figure."

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"You know," Professor Dumbledore said to everyone at dinner that night. "I had a talk with one of the students today."

Everyone's eyes were on the headmaster. What's going on?

"We were talking about Halloween. I'm sure you're all aware of the fact that Halloween is coming up soon."

The students all murmured their agreement.

"And I thought to myself, shouldn't the students get off for Halloween?"

The students cheered.

"Of course. We should all go together."

"But what of these masks? Where do we get them from?" Harry asked to no one in particular.

"Hogsmeade. We have to over the weekend to get Professor Fiora's book, anyway." Lana took a sip of apple juice from her goblet.

"Ugh," Ron said. "Can you believe her attitude? Honestly, I think I'd rather have Umbridge as a teacher again."

"Oh, God, no," Hermione said. "Anyone's bett>