25. the deathday party

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     "A DEATHDAY PARTY?" HERMIONE REPEATED keenly, when Harry and Harper had changed at last and joined her and Ron in the common room

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     "A DEATHDAY PARTY?" HERMIONE REPEATED keenly, when Harry and Harper had changed at last and joined her and Ron in the common room. "I bet there aren't many living people who can say they've been to one of those—it'll be fascinating!"

Harper nodded in agreement.

"Why would anyone want to celebrate the day they died?" Ron asked, already halfway through his Potions homework and rather grumpy. "Sounds dead depressing to me . . ."

Rain was still lashing the windows, which were now only black, but inside, all looked bright and cheerful. The firelight flowed over the countless squashy armchairs where people sat reading, talking, doing homework or, in case of Fred and George, trying to find out what would happen if you fed a Firework to a Salamander. Fred has 'rescued' the brilliant orange, fire-dwelling lizard from a Care of Magical Creatures class and it was now smoldering gently on a table surrounded by knot of curious people.

Harper was on the point of telling Ron and Hermione about Filch and the Kwikspell course when the Salamander suddenly whizzed into the air, emitting loud sparks and bangs as it whirled wildly round the room. The sight of Percy bellowing himself hoarse at Fred and George, the spectacular display of tangerine stars showering from the Salamander's mouth, and its escape into the fire, with accompanying explosions, drove both Filch and the Kwikspell from her mind.

• ✧ •

BY THE TIME HALLOWEEN CAME, I NOTICED Harry regretting our rash promise to go to the Deathday Party. The rest of the school were happily anticipating their Halloween feast; the Great Hall had been decorated with the usual live bats; Hagrid's vast pumpkins had been carved into lanterns large enough for three men to sit in and there were rumors that Dumbledore had booked a troupe of dancing skeletons for the entertainment.

"A promise is a promise," Hermione reminded him bossily. "You said you'd go to the Deathday Party."

So, at seven o'clock, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Harper walked straight past the doorway to the packed Great Hall, which was glittering invitingly with gold plates and candles, and directed their steps instead towards the dungeons.

𝐂𝐎𝐋𝐋𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐑𝐀𝐋 𝐃𝐀𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐄 ¹Where stories live. Discover now