The day of the Halloween feast arrived, and with it, a palpable buzz of excitement that even the Triwizard Tournament could not entirely overshadow. Classes felt like an endless procession of ticking clocks, and every student, from first-years to the reluctant champions, found themselves glancing at the windows, eager for the sun to set and the festivities to begin.
When the Great Hall doors finally swung open, a collective gasp of delight rippled through the Hogwarts students. The hall had been utterly transformed. Hundreds of flickering jack-o'-lanterns, carved with various ghoulish grins and mischievous eyes, hung suspended from the enchanted ceiling, casting a warm, dancing glow over everything. Giant, luminous spiders, made of some shimmering, ethereal web, crawled across the walls, their multifaceted eyes gleaming. Bat-shaped lanterns flitted through the air, and enchanted ghosts, far friendlier than Peeves, drifted silently amongst the tables, occasionally offering a spectral giggle. The air itself smelled of pumpkin spice, roasted apples, and a hint of something sweetly eerie.
The Hogwarts students, released from the confines of their dormitories and the expectations of everyday school life, had truly outdone themselves. Witches in elaborate, shimmering gowns mingled with wizards dressed as ancient kings and mythical beasts. There was a particularly convincing group of boggarts, constantly shifting their forms, and a student dressed as a perfectly rendered, miniature version of the Whomping Willow, complete with rustling leaves and tiny, thrashing branches. Even the usually reserved Ravenclaws embraced the spirit, with one meticulously dressed as a constellation, stars twinkling across his cloak, and another as a walking, talking ancient scroll.
The Beauxbatons students, ever elegant, had embraced the theme with their own distinct flair. While not as overtly spooky as some of the Hogwarts costumes, their outfits were nonetheless captivating. The group of Veela, including Empusa, shimmered like graceful muses from Greek mythology, their ancient Greek robes and delicate, glowing faerie lights in their hair set among olive branches. Others wore masks of intricate design, resembling majestic birds or mythical creatures, their movements fluid and enchanting. Madame Maxime herself, though still imposing, wore a velvet gown the color of deep twilight, subtly embroidered with silver crescent moons.
The Durmstrang contingent, however, remained largely unchanged. They sat at their table in their heavy, fur-lined uniforms, looking rather out of place amidst the vibrant display of costumes. Some appeared stoic and unconcerned, others slightly bewildered by the sheer exuberance of the other schools. Whether they had forgotten it was Halloween, simply didn't celebrate the holiday, or found such frivolity beneath them, was a topic of hushed, speculative whispers among the other students.
At a table near the back of the hall, slightly removed from the main throng, sat Lily, Amos, Frank, and Severus. Lily, dressed as Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, her fiery red hair made into two long braided pigtails, kept her gaze fixed on the massive Great Hall doors. Amos, a boisterous centaur with a cleverly constructed horse lower half, munched on a chicken leg, his eyes scanning the crowd. Frank, a remarkably convincing werewolf with meticulously applied fur and fangs, was engaged in a quiet conversation with Severus, who, in a surprisingly understated yet undeniably effective costume, was a shadowy, cloaked figure, his face obscured by a deep hood, making him look like a particularly menacing Dementor.
"Still expecting him, Lily?" Amos asked, noticing her unwavering attention on the doors.
Lily sighed, a faint shimmer of silver dust falling from her hair. "Yes," she admitted, her voice a little softer than usual. "It's been a couple of days since… well, since his little manic episode about becoming the unintended fourth champion of the Triwizard tournament. I'm just worried he's going to miss out on all the fun just because he doesn't want to participate in the tournament."
Amos clapped her on the shoulder. "Echo always comes back when he's ready, Lily. You know that. He just needs his space sometimes. Especially to process something like this."
"But what if he doesn't come back?" Frank asked, his werewolf fangs glinting in the candlelight. "What if he just… stays away?"
Severus, from beneath his hood, let out a low, dry chuckle. "Then he will most likely be expelled, Frank. He can't keep missing classes like this."
Lily's shoulders slumped. "That's the whole thing I'm worried about," she murmured, her gaze returning to the still-closed doors. A knot of anxiety tightened in her stomach amidst the festive cheer.
Suddenly, the large Great Hall doors slammed open with a resounding *BANG, and a giant, human-sized niffler scurried into the room. It darted all over the place, a blur of black fur and mischievous energy, scurrying beneath tables and between chairs, causing panic to erupt immediately. Students shrieked, chairs toppled, and several professors, including Dumbledore, Madame Maxine, and Igor, quickly drew their wands and aimed them at the unexpected intruder.
The colossal niffler, seemingly oblivious to the chaos it was creating, then headed directly towards Lily's table, where Severus, Amos, and Frank sat. Just as it reached them, Severus, with a rare flash of concern in his usually impassive eyes, stepped in front of Lily. "Wingardium Leviosa!" he intoned, a beam of light shooting from his wand.
The niffler's head shot upwards, suspended in mid-air, and from a hole underneath its bill, Echo's face popped out. He was nearly blue, gasping for air, his black hair disheveled and plastered to his forehead. "Oh, thank God!" he wheezed, breathing heavily. "I thought I was going to suffocate in that thing!"
"Echo!" Lily, Severus, Frank, and Amos all exclaimed in unison, their voices laced with a mixture of confusion and relief. The panic in the room slowly died down, replaced by a collective, bewildered silence as everyone simply stared at the boy in the niffler costume.
Severus, still holding the niffler's head aloft, slowly lowered Echo back to the ground. "What in Merlin's name were you doing?" he demanded, his voice a low growl.
Lily added, "If that was supposed to be a prank, Echo, it wasn't funny. And certainly not the right time for it."
Echo, still catching his breath, pulled the niffler head completely off, revealing his flushed face. "It wasn't a prank!" he insisted, running a hand through his messy hair. "I… I completely forgot it was Halloween yesterday, and I rushed to make a costume. But I didn't get the head right, and it kept falling over my face. I was always able to pull it back up, but then it fell over my face, and I tripped so that I couldn't pull the head off! I panicked and started scrambling around, unable to breathe, at least until Severus saved me from almost suffocating." He shuddered, still visibly shaken. "I thought I was a goner."
Lily, still looking a little pale, shook her head. "Well, next time, maybe just stick to a simple sheet ghost, Echo. Or at least make sure you can breathe."
Frank, ever the pragmatist, chimed in, "And maybe don't cause a stampede in the Great Hall, mate. You nearly got yourself hexed."
Amos, however, burst out laughing, a booming sound that echoed through the now-settled hall. "A niffler, though! That's brilliant, Echo! Very on brand for you." He clapped Echo on the back, making the boy wince slightly.
Echo managed a weak grin. "Yeah, well, it seemed like a good idea at the time. I figured if I was going to make a last-minute costume, it might as well be something that causes a bit of a stir." He looked around at the curious, but no longer panicked, faces of the other students. "So, is the feast still on, or did I unintentionally ruin everything again?"
Dumbledore, who had been observing the entire spectacle with a twinkle in his eye, cleared his throat. "The feast, Mr. Echo, is most certainly still on. Though I do believe we've had enough excitement for one evening." He then gestured towards the tables, and with a wave of his hand, the scattered chairs righted themselves, and the spilled food vanished, leaving the Great Hall as pristine as before Echo's grand entrance. "Now, if everyone would kindly return to their seats, we can properly begin the Halloween festivities!"
Echo, relieved, turned back to his friends. "So, what did I miss?"
Lily, a small smile finally gracing her lips, shook her head again. "It's just us worrying about you, you big oaf. Now come on, sit down. And try not to cause any more trouble." She pulled out a chair for him, and Echo, still a bit wobbly, gratefully sank into it. The lingering scent of pumpkin pasties and roasted turkey was a welcome change from the stuffy Niffler costume. He looked around at his friends, a sense of warmth spreading through him.
"Why a niffler, though?" Frank asked, taking a bite of a pumpkin pasty. "Last year you went as… well, something scary."
Echo grinned, his eyes twinkling. "Exactly! Last year, I was a chimera, something scary. This year, I figured I'd go for something cute and cuddly. Besides," he added, a mischievous glint in his eye, "this costume has a hidden practicality." He then opened up the surprisingly spacious pouch on the niffler suit, revealing a deep, seemingly endless pocket. "When we go trick-or-treating, I can carry twice as much candy!"
Frank and Amos exchanged a look, a shared thought passing between them that mirrored Echo's own triumphant expression.
Severus, however, raised a skeptical eyebrow from beneath his hood. "That's only if you're able to get that amount, Echo. We have a limited time in Hogsmeade, and it's not very large. The other hamlets are quite far away as well."
"Don't worry," Echo said, a confident smirk spreading across his face. "I have a plan for that." He then turned to Lily. "Lily, hand me one of those sweet rolls, would you?"
Lily, still amused by his antics, obliged, passing him a warm, sugary sweet roll from a nearby platter. As Echo reached for it, a tiny, silver blur launched out of his sleeve. Sniffles, with astonishing speed, instantly snagged the sweet roll, along with a piece of candy that was already clutched in Lily's hand. He then vanished back into his sleeve in a blink.
Echo beamed at his friends. "See?"
Severus let out a long-suffering sigh. "You're essentially going to double-dip, aren't you?"
Echo shrugged innocently. "No one said I couldn't. And besides, it's not like they'll see when Sniffles just juts in and out for a small handful of candy."
Frank's eyes widened. "Echo, you're a genius!"
Lily rolled her eyes, but a smile played on her lips. "You're going to get caught, you know," she warned, though her tone lacked any real conviction.
"Not if Sniffles is fast enough," Echo countered, winking. "And he's pretty quick when there's an insensitive one involved."
Amos chuckled, shaking his head. "I wouldn't put it past him, Lily. Echo and his creatures have a knack for getting away with things."
"Indeed," Severus drawled, a hint of grudging amusement in his voice. "Though I suspect Dumbledore might have a few words for you if he catches a niffler-suited student and his normal-sized niffler companion raiding the candy bowls around Hogsmeade."
Echo just shrugged, already reaching for another sweet roll, though this time he made sure to keep Sniffles firmly tucked away. "A small risk for a sweet reward. Besides, it's Halloween. A little mischief is practically tradition."
Lily leaned over, a genuine smile gracing her face. "I'm so glad to see you back in such high spirits, Echo," she said, her voice soft. "Especially after… well, after a few days ago. We were really worried."
Frank, his werewolf fangs still adding a touch of ferocity to his otherwise friendly expression, nodded in agreement. "Yeah, mate. We were almost certain you wouldn't set foot back in Hogwarts until something was done about your placement in the Triwizard Tournament. What changed?"
Echo took a deep breath, a thoughtful expression replacing his earlier mischievous grin. "I probably would have stayed away, honestly," he admitted. "But I got to talking with a friend, and… well, they helped me clear my head out a bit. Helped me realize some stuff." He didn't elaborate on which friend, but he subtly shifted to the site of the smallest muse sitting amongst the others. "It's not going to be easy, but I'm not going to let it ruin everything."
He paused, then continued, his voice resolute. "I'm still going to find a way out of the tournament. But I'm not going to do it by hiding in a tree or getting myself expelled. I have friends here, and… and I don't want to leave them." He glanced at Lily, a genuine warmth in his eyes, then at Severus, who gave a nearly imperceptible nod. "I'll fight this, but I'll fight it from inside the castle."
Lily smiled, a wave of relief washing over her. "That's good to hear, Echo. Really good to hear."
Frank raised his pumpkin pastry in a mock toast. "To fight from the inside!"
Amos clinked his chicken leg against Frank's pasty. "Hear, hear! And to more candy for all of us!"
Severus, a faint, almost invisible smirk on his lips, simply took a sip of his pumpkin juice. "Just try not to get too many detentions in the process, Echo."
Echo grinned, his blue hair flickering with a mischievous yellow. "No promises, Sev. No promises at all." He then turned his attention to the vast array of food laid out before them, a renewed appetite replacing his earlier anxieties.
Echo, thoroughly engrossed in a particularly succulent chicken drumstick, hummed with contentment. His yellow hair, now settled into a warm, inviting orange, reflected his easygoing mood.
"So, Echo," Frank began, wiping a bit of pumpkin pasty from his fangs, "you said you had a plan to get out of the tournament. What exactly did you have in mind?"
Echo swallowed his mouthful of chicken, taking a quick gulp of pumpkin juice. He leaned forward conspiratorially, his orange hair flickering with a mischievous green. "Well, part of my plan actually involves you all, if you're willing to help, that is." He looked around at their expectant faces. "It's nothing big; I just need some extra hands for a few silencing and shield charms, maybe a diversion or two."
Lily's eyes lit up. "Of course, we'll help, Echo! Anything to get you out of that awful tournament?"
Amos nodded vigorously, his centaur hooves thumping lightly on the floor. "You know we're in, mate. Just tell us what to do."
Frank grinned, flexing his werewolf claws. "Count me in! Sounds like fun."
All eyes then turned to Severus, who, from beneath his Dementor's hood, remained impassive. A beat of silence passed. Then, to everyone's surprise, he let out a faint, almost imperceptible sigh. "Very well, Echo. I shall lend my... talents to your endeavor. Provided it doesn't involve anything truly idiotic."
Echo beamed, his green hair flaring with triumph. "Brilliant! I knew I could count on you, Sev!"
Amos paused his eating, then looked around the table. "Speaking of which, where's Shimmer? He's usually never far behind you, Echo."
Echo's grin widened. "Ah, yes, Shimmer! I'm glad you decided to dress up as Dorothy, Lily, because Shimmer has the perfect costume to fit yours." As he spoke, a shimmering outline began to form beside Lily's shoulder, solidifying into the familiar, translucent form of Shimmer. But this time, the demiguise was sporting a tiny, surprisingly detailed flying monkey costume, complete with miniature leathery wings and a small, red fezzes perched jauntily on his head. Shimmer preened, striking a pose.
Amos roared with laughter, nearly toppling his chair. "A flying monkey! That's incredible, Echo!"
Severus, for his part, actually let out a low chuckle from beneath his hood. "Fitting, indeed."
Frank clapped a hand to his forehead. "Oh, man! Too bad we didn't coordinate! We could have gone as the whole Wizard of Oz gang!"
Echo shrugged playfully. "You can still be the Cowardly Werewolf, Frank."
Amos chuckled. "And Sev can be the Wicked Witch of the West!"
Frank pointed at Echo. "And you, Echo, you could be Toto!"
Echo shook his head, a knowing glint in his eye. "Nope, already got that covered." As if on cue, a small, soft pop sounded from beside Lily. Pip, Echo's house-elf, materialized, looking exceedingly proud in a fluffy, black terrier costume, complete with a tiny red bow on his collar. He wagged his small, fake tail enthusiastically.
Lily, though charmed, shook her head. "As much as I love you, Pip, I am not going to carry you around all night."
Pip, in his squeaky voice, replied, "Pip wasn't expecting Miss Lily to carry him, no! Pip will walk alongside and carry all of the candy bags for Master Echo and his friends!" He gestured proudly to a small, enchanted sack that had appeared in his paw, clearly designed for holding an impressive amount of sweets.
Amos, his centaur eyes gleaming, looked at Shimmer. "Wait a minute, Echo," he rumbled, "can that little flying monkey actually… fly? Or are those just for show?"
Echo grinned, his orange hair pulsing with a smug, knowing flicker. "Oh, they most certainly can fly, Amos. I may have enchanted the wings with a bit of Wingardium Leviosa and a few other subtle charms to give him some extra lift." With a flourish, he tapped Shimmer's tiny, leathery wings with his wand.
Immediately, Shimmer, with a triumphant squeak, lifted into the air. He made small, elegant circles around their table, his miniature fezzes bobbing jauntily, his translucent form shimmering in the candlelight. Lily, Frank, and Amos watched, mesmerized, their eyes following the tiny, airborne demiguise.
From beneath his Dementor's hood, Severus let out a low, almost inaudible chuckle, a sound so rare it made Echo glance at him. For a fleeting moment, Echo could almost imagine Severus thinking, Fly, my pretties, fly!
Echo chuckled outright, a soft, warm sound that drew Lily's attention. "What's so funny, Echo?" she asked, a smile playing on her lips as she watched Shimmer perform an aerial loop-the-loop.
Echo looked at her, his orange hair softening to a gentle, appreciative blue. "It's just," he began, his eyes twinkling mischievously, "every time I look at you, Lily, dressed as Dorothy like that, I just want to break out into song. You know, 'Over the Rainbow'."
Lily's cheeks instantly flushed a vibrant red, matching her fiery hair. "Echo!" she hissed, nudging him under the table. "Don't you dare! That's so embarrassing!"
"Why not?" Echo asked, feigning innocence, though a playful glint in his eye betrayed him. "It's a lovely song."
"To sing?" Lily whispered emphatically, glancing around nervously to see if anyone else had overheard. "To be seen singing, by everyone?"
Echo shrugged, his blue hair flickering with a defiant green. "I'm not embarrassed, Lil. Not anymore. I'm not going to try to be normal like everyone else or care about what they think. If they don't like it, they can cry about it."
He stood up, ignoring Lily's mortified expression, and took a deep breath. Then, in a surprisingly clear and strong tenor, he began to sing. His voice, usually used for frantic shouts or whispered commands to magical creatures, now filled their small corner of the Great Hall with a sweet, slightly off-key rendition of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow."
Lily buried her face in her hands, groaning in mortification, while Frank and Amos dissolved into helpless laughter. Even Severus, hidden beneath his hood, seemed to be shaking with silent amusement. Shimmer, still flying around, let out a series of happy chirps, as if providing backup vocals. Pip, meanwhile, sat attentively by Echo's feet, wagging his little terrier tail in earnest appreciation.
Echo, completely unbothered by the stares and snickers that slowly began to ripple through the nearby tables, sang with genuine feeling. His blue hair pulsed with vibrant, confident colors – a joyful yellow, a serene blue, and a mischievous green - all blending into a testament to his newfound comfort in his own skin. He even added a few flamboyant gestures, much to Lily's further despair.
When he finished, with a flourish and a slightly dramatic bow, a scattering of applause, mostly from the Beauxbatons table where Empusa sat, reached their table. Empusa, her eyes sparkling, blew him a discreet kiss, making Echo's blue hair flush a soft, appreciative pink.
He sat back down, a wide, triumphant grin on his face. "See?" he said to Lily, who was slowly lifting her head, her face still red but now tinged with reluctant amusement. "Nothing to be embarrassed about."
Lily just shook her head, a soft, warm laugh escaping her. "You're absolutely incorrigible, Echo," she murmured, leaning her head on his shoulder. "But I suppose... I suppose that's why we love you."
Echo beamed, his pink hair settling into a contented, soft blue. He wrapped an arm around Lily, pulling her into a comforting hug. "And I suppose I love you all too, you big softies," he said, his voice unusually gentle. "Now, who's ready to raid Hogsmeade for some serious candy?"
Frank, Amos, and even a reluctant Severus all raised their hands (or paws, in Amos's case). Shimmer did a celebratory aerial flip, and Pip let out an excited yip.
Empusa, her shimmering robes swaying gently, approached their table, her eyes still sparkling with amusement. "That was… magnifique, Echo," she said, her voice a soft, melodic chime, a faint blush rising on her cheeks. "A little off-key, perhaps, but truly from the heart."
Frank and Amos, who had been laughing moments before, suddenly fell silent, their eyes wide with unconcealed awe as Empusa drew nearer. Even Severus, beneath the shadows of his Dementor hood, seemed to stiffen, though he quickly adjusted his posture, attempting to appear completely unperturbed.
Echo waved casually and offered her a relaxed smile. "Hey, Empusa," he said, his blue hair pulsing with a friendly green. Thanks. You know, your costume is really something else. It reminds me of the Muses from that old Muggle film, Hercules. Very fitting."
Empusa's smile widened, and there was a genuinely pleased expression on her face. "Merci, Echo. I am glad you like it. I was hoping it would capture that… mythological spirit." She then tilted her head, her shimmering hair catching the candlelight. "You know, your singing… it has given me an idea. Before the night ends, perhaps we could sing the opening song from that film? 'The Gospel Truth'? It is… quite spirited."
Echo's eyes lit up, his green hair flaring with enthusiasm. "That's a great idea, Empusa! I love that song!" He paused, then his gaze, still sparkling with excitement, took on a mischievous glint. "Hey, since you're here, would you like to join us for trick-or-treating in Hogsmeade? We're about to head out."
Empusa's eyes gleamed. "I would be delighted, Echo. It sounds like much more fun than staying here all night."
"Perfect!" Echo exclaimed, already starting to stand. "We can sing 'The Gospel Truth' on the way to Hogsmeade!" Then, his eyes widened further, and his green hair pulsed with a sudden, brilliant yellow. "Wait, I just had an even better idea! With you there, Empusa, we could get even more candy! Everyone will be so distracted by you that we could probably double or even triple-dip without anyone noticing! Heck, we could probably just take the whole bowl, and they'd still be staring! But no, no, that's not fair to put you on the spot like that." He waved a dismissive hand, though his eyes still gleamed with the suggestion.
Empusa, however, merely giggled, a delightful, uninhibited sound. "Oh, Echo, that sounds like so much fun! I would not mind at all!"
Echo grinned, his yellow hair flaring with triumph. "Brilliant! Alright, let's go before this head falls over my face again." He quickly pulled the colossal niffler head back over his face, plunging himself into temporary darkness.
Severus let out a long-suffering sigh. "Honestly, Echo," he muttered, then with a swift, precise flick of his wand, a quiet swoosh of magic filled the air. Echo, still fumbling, felt the niffler's head suddenly shift, molding itself perfectly to his face, snug but no longer obstructing his vision or breathing. He pulled it off, blinking in surprise.
"Whoa!" Echo exclaimed, his blue hair pulsing with gratitude. "Thanks, Sev! That's much better!"
Severus merely offered a terse nod from beneath his hood, though a faint, almost imperceptible curve graced his lips.
Echo pulled the niffler head back on, now comfortable and able to see. His blue hair pulsed with cheerful anticipation. "Alright, team," he announced, his voice muffled slightly by the costume. One last thing before we head out." He paused, his tone becoming serious. If anyone gets any candy corn tonight, do NOT throw it out. Bring it to me."
Lily made a face, her fiery red hair seeming to bristle. "Ugh, Echo, why? Candy corn is absolutely vile. It tastes like waxy sugar and disappointment."
"Exactly," Frank chimed in, wrinkling his werewolf nose. "It's the worst candy ever invented."
Echo shook his head, his niffler head tilting. "You just don't understand, you philistines. Skate loves it. And I'm going to bring her a whole pile of it."
A flicker of curiosity crossed Empusa's face. Skate? she wondered, but decided not to ask, figuring Echo would elaborate when he was ready.
Amos frowned, his centaur brow furrowing. "Skate? Really? Candy corn? Is that... a merfolk thing, Echo? Do merpeople have unusual taste buds for overly sweet, waxy confections?"
Severus, from beneath his hood, even offered a rare, thoughtful hum. "An interesting hypothesis, Amos. One might surmise that an aquatic palate, accustomed to the subtle brine of the sea, might find the intense, artificial sweetness of candy corn a novel and perhaps enjoyable sensation."
Echo just shrugged, a smug grin spreading across his face. "Maybe. All I know is that Skate loves it, and I'm bringing her plenty. So, no throwing it out, got it?"
With that, the group, now including a delighted Empusa, made their way out of the Great Hall and towards the chillier autumn air of Hogsmeade. Just like Hogwarts, Hogsmeade was decked out in full Halloween splendor. Jack-o'-lanterns lined the cobblestone streets, their toothy grins flickering in the dimming light. Ghosts, some enchanted, some genuinely spectral, drifted through the alleyways, and the sweet scent of pumpkin pastries mingled with the earthy smell of fallen leaves.
As they walked, Echo and Empusa, their voices surprisingly harmonious, launched into a spirited, if slightly off-key, rendition of "Zero to Hero." Echo's blue hair pulsed with vibrant yellow, reflecting the sheer joy he found in the performance, while Empusa's shimmering hair seemed to sway with the rhythm.
Frank and Amos clapped along, grinning widely at the spectacle, occasionally adding enthusiastic whoops. Lily, however, walked a few paces ahead, her face a deepening shade of scarlet. She occasionally mutters under her breath about the public humiliation.
As they reached the first house in Hogsmeade, Echo and Empusa hit the final, soaring note of the song. Frank and Amos burst into applause.
"Are you two quite finished?" Lily asked, her voice tight with mortification. "Because if you are, I'd like to get some candy before my face melts off from embarrassment."
Echo pulled off his niffler head, his blue hair glowing with satisfaction. "We are, Lil! And yes, it's candy time!"
As if on cue, Sniffles popped his head out from Echo's sleeve, letting out a happy squeak. Shimmer, still flying in tiny circles above them, chittered with excitement, ready for the hunt.
Lily took a deep breath, trying to regain her composure. "Alright, everyone," she announced, attempting to sound authoritative despite her still-flushed cheeks. "Remember the plan: one house, one treat. No double-dipping, Echo!"
Echo, already pulling his niffler head back on, merely chuckled, the sound muffled by the costume. "No promises, Lil! Besides, Empusa is here now. We have a secret weapon!" He winked conspiratorially at Empusa, who giggled in response, her shimmering eyes sparkling with playful mischief.
They approached the first house, a cozy cottage with a smoking chimney and a brightly carved pumpkin on its doorstep. Echo, with a dramatic flourish, raised his niffler-clad hand and knocked loudly.
The door creaked open, revealing a kindly-faced witch with a basket overflowing with sweets. Her eyes widened slightly at the sight of the giant niffler, but then a warm smile spread across her face as she saw Lily, Frank, Amos, and Empusa. "Oh, what lovely costumes! And a niffler, how unique! Happy Halloween, children!"
One by one, the friends offered their greetings and held out their bags. Lily, still looking a little embarrassed, politely accepted a handful of pumpkin-shaped chocolates. Frank, with a polite growl, received a packet of licorice wands. Amos, bending his centaur torso, gratefully took a large caramel apple. Severus, in his Dementor guise, merely held out a surprisingly small pouch, and the witch, looking a touch unnerved by his silent, shadowy presence, quickly dropped in a few hard candies.
Then it was Echo's turn. With a dramatic bow that nearly toppled him, he held out the niffler's capacious pouch. "Trick or treat!" he exclaimed, his voice muffled but enthusiastic.
The witch chuckled, dropping a generous handful of sweets into his pouch, including several pieces of candy corn. "My, you'll certainly be well-stocked, young niffler!"
As Echo straightened up, Sniffles, with a barely perceptible flash of silver, darted out from his sleeve, snatched a few more pieces of candy corn directly from the witch's basket, and vanished back inside, all before she could even blink. Shimmer, meanwhile, performed an aerial ballet just above her head, subtly distracting her with his glittering wings.
The witch, momentarily bewildered by the sudden flurry of movement she couldn't quite pinpoint, merely blinked. "Well, wasn't that… spirited!" she laughed, shaking her head good-naturedly.
Empusa stepped forward and offered a radiant smile that seemed to blind the witch momentarily. "Merci beaucoup, Madame!" she said, her voice a melodic chime. You are most generous!" The witch, utterly captivated by Empusa's beauty, practically emptied the rest of her candy corn into Empusa's outstretched hands.
Echo, from inside his niffler costume, let out a silent, triumphant cheer. His blue hair pulsed with a brilliant, scheming yellow. He definitely had a plan, and it was working perfectly.
They continued their candy crusade through Hogsmeade, a whirlwind of costumed figures and delighted laughter. Echo, now a seasoned niffler, had perfected the art of the subtle double-dip. As a witch praised Lily's Dorothy costume, Sniffles would dart out, snatching a handful of chocolate frogs and vanishing before the compliments even finished. Shimmer, meanwhile, would perform dazzling aerial displays, drawing all eyes upward while Echo's invisible companion pilfered treats from below.
Empusa, however, was their true secret weapon. At the Hog's Head Inn, a gruff, one-eyed wizard behind the counter nearly dropped his entire bowl of rock candy when Empusa offered a dazzling smile and a melodious "Happy Halloween, kind sir!"
He stammered, his face reddening, and practically shoved the whole bowl towards her. Empusa, with a graceful nod, accepted it and, with a knowing wink at Echo, subtly guided his niffler-clad hand to take the entire, brimming bowl.
"Echo!" Lily hissed, her face a furious crimson. "You can't just take the whole bowl! That's against the rules!"
Echo, his voice muffled by the niffler head, merely chuckled. "He practically gave it to us, Lil! Besides, more candy corn for Skate!" as he dumped the bowl into his costume pouch.
Lily groaned, throwing her hands up in exasperation. "You are absolutely impossible!"
As the night wore on and their bags grew heavier, a different kind of observation began to brew amongst the group. Empusa, with increasing frequency, would link her arm through Echo's, lean in close to whisper a joke, or simply brush her shimmering hair against his arm. She'd laugh at his jokes with a warmth that seemed to envelop him entirely, and her gaze, when it settled on him, was undeniably tender.
Frank, ever the observant one, leaned over to Severus as they walked past a particularly brightly lit shop window. "Sev," he murmured, nudging him with his elbow. "Are you seeing what I'm seeing?"
Severus, still shrouded in his Dementor costume, merely tilted his hooded head. "If what you are seeing is the Beauxbatons Veela exhibiting a rather pronounced romantic inclination towards our perpetually oblivious friend, then yes, Frank, I am seeing it."
Frank let out a low whistle. "Blimey. Do you think Skate's going to like this?"
Amos, overhearing them, snorted. "Skate? She'll probably turn Empusa into a jellyfish. No, Frank, Skate will absolutely not like this."
"Does Echo even realize?" Frank pressed, glancing at Empusa, who was now holding Echo's hand again, swinging it gently as they walked.
Severus emitted a dry, almost cynical chuckle from beneath his hood. "Absolutely not. He likely perceives it as nothing more than an unusually attentive and physically affectionate display of friendship. His capacity for self-awareness in such matters is, shall we say, severely limited."
Frank shook his head, a determined glint in his werewolf eyes. "I'm going to check." Before anyone could stop him, he bounded forward, closing the distance between them and Echo in a few loping strides. "Hey, Echo!"
Echo pulled off his niffler head, his blue hair pulsing with amusement. "What's up, Frank? Got another theory about candy corn and magical creature taste preferences?"
"No, no," Frank said quickly, glancing pointedly at Empusa, who was now smiling sweetly at him. "It's about that friend you mentioned earlier. The one who helped you clear your head in the forest. Was it… was it Empusa?"
Echo's face lit up, a genuine, grateful smile spreading across his lips. He reached out and gently squeezed Empusa's hand. "Yeah, it was! She was amazing, Frank. I was having a complete meltdown, and she just… she listened. Really helped me see things clearly." He beamed at Empusa, his blue hair flickering with soft, appreciative green. Empusa's shimmering eyes met Echo's, and she returned his smile, a faint blush rising on her cheeks.
Frank stared at them for a moment, then slowly backed away, shaking his head in disbelief. He rejoined Lily, Amos, and Severus, his werewolf fangs bared in a frustrated grimace. "He has no idea," Frank confirmed, his voice a bewildered whisper. "Absolutely, positively no idea."
Amos groaned, running a hand through his mane. "This is going to be one weird love triangle, I tell you what."
Severus, ever precise, adjusted his hood. "A triangle, Amos, traditionally has three sides. This scenario, as I observe it, presents only two points of agreement, which is hardly sufficient for even a nascent geometric form."
Frank scratched his head, his fangs glinting. "Oh, yeah? Then what is that, an arrowhead?"
Lily, holding her candy bag, which Pip was now attempting to take from her, turned to them, her eyebrows raised. "What are you three muttering about now?"
Severus, with a subtle movement of his hooded head, indicated Empusa and Echo, who were now laughing together, their hands still intertwined.
Lily followed his gaze, and her face instantly scrunched up. "Ugh, I noticed that," she muttered, a cringe spreading across her features. "I just didn't want to say anything."
Pip, who had finally managed to secure Lily's candy bag, tilted his small terrier head. "Should Pip bring it up to Master Echo, Miss Lily?"
Lily shook her head emphatically. "No, Pip, absolutely not. We'll cross that bridge when we get to it. For now, let's just enjoy the night."
Just as Lily finished speaking, Echo suddenly stopped dead in his tracks, his niffler head swiveling rapidly. His blue hair, visible through the opening, pulsed with a sudden, sharp yellow of intense focus.
"Hold on a second, guys," he muttered, his voice muffled by the costume, but laced with an undeniable urgency. "Everyone, just… hang tight for a moment."
Before anyone could question him, he was off, a giant black furry blur darting away from the group and disappearing around the corner of a dimly lit alleyway. Lily, Frank, Amos, and Empusa exchanged bewildered glances. Severus, however, merely adjusted his hood, a flicker of something akin to grim resignation in his posture.
"Now what's he up to?" Lily groaned, throwing her hands up again. "Probably found a rogue cauldron of butterbeer or something equally distracting."
"Or a pile of unattended gold," Amos rumbled, his centaur eyes narrowed in suspicion.
Their questions were soon answered. Echo reappeared at the mouth of the alley, not with stolen goods, but making a beeline towards a small, roped-off booth further down the street. Clustered around the booth were a group of goblins, their sharp, shrewd faces made even more menacing by the flickering lantern light. They were hawking various trinkets and enchanted baubles, their voices a harsh, guttural drone.
As Echo, the massive niffler, approached, the goblins nearest to him visibly bristled. Their already unpleasant expressions twisted into glares of undisguised resentment. One particularly surly goblin, with a jagged scar across his nose, actually spat on the cobblestones near Echo's foot. The niffler costume, however, seemed to absorb the insult without a flinch. Then, to the utter astonishment of Echo's friends, one of the goblins, slightly taller than the others and wearing a surprisingly well-tailored, albeit dark, tunic, detached himself from the group. His face, while still stern, lacked the overt hostility of his companions. He walked a short distance away, into a patch of deeper shadow, and gestured for Echo to follow.
Echo, pulling off his niffler head, his yellow hair still pulsing with purpose, followed the goblin without hesitation. They stood in hushed conversation, their voices too low to carry over the ambient sounds of Hogsmeade. The sight of Echo, conversing privately and seemingly amicably with a goblin, while the other goblins watched with seething disapproval, only deepened the mystery for Lily and the others.
"What in the blazes?" Frank whispered, his werewolf fangs bared in sheer confusion. "Is he… making friends with a goblin?"
"And they look like they hate him," Empusa murmured, her eyes wide. "Except for that one."
Severus remained silent, his hooded head cocked slightly, as if attempting to decipher the bizarre tableau. After a few minutes, the goblin nodded sharply, a flicker of something almost like approval in his unblinking eyes. Echo then reached into the niffler's capacious pouch, pulled out a handful of candy corn, and offered it to the goblin. The goblin, surprisingly, accepted it without a sneer, tucking it into a small pocket on his tunic. Echo clapped him on the shoulder, a gesture that made the other goblins visibly recoil in disgust, and then turned and jogged back towards his friends, a satisfied grin on his face.
"Alright, team, let's roll!" Echo announced, pulling his niffler head back on. His blue hair now pulsed with a triumphant, scheming yellow.
Lily immediately confronted him, her hands on her hips. "Echo! What was that all about? You just went off and started talking to a goblin! And they all looked like they wanted to curse you into oblivion, except for that one. Who was that? And why were you giving him candy corn?"
Echo chuckled, his voice muffled. "That, my dear Lily, was Ragnok. And he's going to be instrumental in my plan to get out of the tournament."
Frank's jaw dropped. "Your plan involves… a goblin? You made friends with a goblin?"
"Not just a goblin," Amos corrected, his eyes wide. "You made friends with a goblin who looks like he's in charge of the other goblins! And they clearly don't like you, but he seems to tolerate you!"
Severus, who had been listening intently, finally spoke, his voice dry. "And how much, Echo, did this 'friendship' with a goblin cost you? Goblins are not known for their altruism, especially not towards wizards."
Echo waved a dismissive hand. "Cost me? Nothing, really. Well, it did, but not for the reasons you're thinking, Sev. Ragnok and I… we've been friends since the summer."
A stunned silence descended upon the group.
"The summer?" Lily repeated, her voice incredulous.
"You mean to tell me," Frank began, his voice barely a whisper, "that you've secretly been friends with a goblin, possibly a very important one, since before the school year even started, and you never told us?"
Echo shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. "It never really came up. Besides, I didn't think it was that big of a deal. Ragnok's a cool guy, once you get past the whole 'goblins hate wizards' thing."
Empusa, her eyes sparkling, giggled softly. "Oh, Echo. You truly are… something else. Befriending a goblin. That is… quite remarkable."
Amos let out a long, slow whistle. "You know, after everything you've pulled, Echo, I honestly don't think anything you do could surprise me anymore. Befriending a goblin? Yeah, alright. Makes sense, in a 'that's Echo' kind of way."
Lily just shook her head, a soft, exasperated laugh escaping her. "I give up. Honestly, just… just tell us the plan, Echo. And try not to involve any more dangerous, secretly befriended magical creatures, alright?"
Echo grinned, his yellow hair flaring with a triumphant, almost manic energy. "No promises, Lil. No promises at all."
As the group, laden with their trick-or-treating spoils, began to make their way back towards the familiar glow of Hogwarts, Echo suddenly paused. His niffler head swiveled, his blue hair, visible through the opening, pulsing with a thoughtful, almost secretive yellow.
"Hold on a second, guys," he announced, his voice muffled. "I have to make one more quick stop. You don't have to come, I won't be long."
Lily, Frank, Amos, and Empusa exchanged curious glances. Severus merely raised a hooded eyebrow.
"A quick stop?" Lily repeated, her voice laced with suspicion. "Echo, we have enough candy to last us until Christmas. And it's getting late."
"This isn't about candy, Lil," Echo replied, a mysterious glint in his visible eye. "It's… a different kind of business. But seriously, you don't have to follow. It's probably boring anyway."
Despite his words, his tone seemed to imply the exact opposite. Naturally, their curiosity was piqued.
"Boring? With you, Echo?" Frank scoffed, flexing his werewolf claws. "Never. Lead the way, mate. We're in."
Amos nodded, his centaur hooves scraping lightly against the cobblestones. "Indeed. After befriending a goblin, I'm genuinely intrigued by what 'boring' means to you."
Empusa, her eyes sparkling, merely tightened her grip on Echo's hand. "Bien sûr, Echo. I will follow."
Severus, with a sigh that was almost a growl, simply adjusted his hood. "As if I had a choice. Someone has to ensure you don't accidentally ignite the Forbidden Forest."
Echo grinned, his yellow hair flaring with triumph. "Excellent! Follow me then, my intrepid candy-hoarding adventurers!"
He led them away from the comforting lights of Hogsmeade, past the edge of the Quidditch pitch, and towards the looming, shadowy expanse of the Forbidden Forest. A chill wind, carrying the scent of damp earth and ancient trees, swept through them as they stepped beneath the canopy of the massive, gnarled oaks. The moonlight, already sparse, struggled to penetrate the thick foliage, plunging them into a world of shifting shadows and eerie silence.
After a few minutes of walking deeper into the woods, the trees suddenly thinned, revealing a small, almost imperceptible clearing. In the center stood a rickety, moss-covered hut, its windows dark and opaque, its chimney leaning precariously to one side. A faint, cloying smell, like something sickly sweet and vaguely rotten, hung in the air around it.
Frank stopped dead in his tracks, his werewolf senses bristling. "Echo," he said, his voice low, a genuine note of apprehension in it. "This… this can't be it. This place is…" He didn't finish, but the implication was clear.
Echo, however, strode confidently forward, his niffler costume appearing strangely out of place against the ominous backdrop. "Oh, it's definitely it, Frank. Good old Granny Ethel's hut."
Amos, his centaur form tense, took a step back, his eyes wide. "Granny Ethel's? Echo, this is precisely the kind of place they warn you about in horror stories. The first rule of any good horror setting is to never, under any circumstances, go into the creepy house in the middle of nowhere!"
Echo paused at the crumbling porch, pulling off his niffler head, his blue hair pulsing with amusement. "Relax, Amos. It's fine. It would only be bad if the house were made of sweets, right? Then we'd really have a problem."
Frank's eyes widened even further, his fangs bared in a horrified grimace. "Echo! You… you know this is a hag's hut, don't you?!"
Echo shrugged, his blue hair flickering with nonchalance. "Yeah, I do. What about it?"
Lily, her face pale in the dim light, grabbed Echo's arm. "Echo! Hags eat people! And children most of all! It's not just a legend!"
Echo merely chuckled, a low, reassuring sound. "That's just an old legend, Lil. And besides," he added, knocking on the wooden door with a confident pounding, "if we were going to get eaten, we'd already be in a pie crust, wouldn't we?"
"Granny Ethel!" Echo called out, his voice echoing eerily in the quiet clearing.
There was a moment of silence, and then the rickety door creaked open, revealing the figure of a woman. She was old, certainly, with a kind, wrinkled face framed by wispy white hair pulled back in a neat bun. Her eyes, though sharp and intelligent, held a surprising warmth, and her floral-patterned dress, though a bit threadbare, was clean. She looked remarkably, utterly, human.
Lily, Frank, and Amos stared, their mouths agape. Even Empusa, who had expected something grotesque and discolored, blinked in confusion.
"Echo, my dear!" Granny Ethel's voice was surprisingly soft, almost melodic, and a wide, genuine smile spread across her face. "My favorite grandson! What a delightful surprise!" She stepped out onto the porch, her gaze sweeping over the bewildered group, then settling back on Echo.
Echo beamed, his blue hair pulsing with unadulterated joy. "Granny Ethel! It's good to see you!" He jogged up the steps and, to the utter astonishment of his friends, embraced the hag warmly.
They pulled apart, and Echo leaned in, speaking in a low, rapid whisper. "Granny, I need a favor. You know how those magical contracts are, right? I need to… well, I need to break one. Discreetly."
Granny Ethel listened intently, her kind eyes never leaving his face. After a moment, she nodded. "Ah, yes. The Triwizard Tournament. A sticky situation, that. But I think I can help you, my dear. On that day, you say?"
Echo nodded eagerly. "Yes, that day. It has to be that day."
Granny Ethel smiled, a knowing glint in her eyes. "Consider it done, then. I'll make sure it's handled."
Echo straightened up, a look of profound relief on his face. "Thank you, Granny Ethel! You're the best!"
As Echo turned to rejoin his friends, Granny Ethel called out, "Hold on, my dear! Would you like a treat for your journey?"
Echo's eyes lit up, his blue hair flaring with excited yellow. "Oh, yes, please, Granny!"
Granny Ethel reached into a pocket of her dress and, with a casualness that belied the object's appearance, pulled out what looked like a solid, grey cinder block. It was surprisingly small, but undeniably a block of dense, heavy material. She then, with a faint grunt, dropped it into the capacious pouch of Echo's niffler costume. The heavy object landed with a dull thud, making Echo's entire costume sag slightly.
Lily, Frank, Amos, Empusa, and even Severus stared, utterly dumbfounded.
"What?" Echo asked, his voice muffled, his yellow hair pulsing with confusion as he noticed their wide-eyed stares. "Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Frank just shook his head, running a hand through his werewolf fur. "You know what, Echo? I don't even think I want to ask anymore."
Severus, however, finally found his voice, a dry, almost defeated tone replacing his usual sharpness. "This… 'Granny Ethel.' Is this another one of your summer acquaintances, Echo?"
Echo nodded cheerfully, pulling off his niffler head. "Yep! She's the best. Always gives me the best advice, and sometimes, the best treats."
Severus sighed, a long, drawn-out sound that carried a lifetime of exasperation. "I have no further questions."
Lily, however, still looked utterly bewildered. "I do! Echo, what on earth did she just give you? It looked like… like a piece of the wall!"
Echo chuckled, reaching into the niffler's pouch with a bit of effort. With a heave, he pulled out the grey, cinder block-like object. It was surprisingly heavy, dull, and unappetizing in appearance. Then, with a proud grin, he held it up for them to see. "It's chocolate!"
Empusa gasped, her eyes widening in recognition. "Chocolat de sorcière!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with wonder. "Hag's chocolate! I have heard legends. They say it is… second to none. Truly the most dense and rich chocolate in all the magical world!"
Echo beamed, his yellow hair flaring with pride. "She's right! Granny Ethel makes the best. She sometimes makes me cookies with it when I visit. You guys have to try some sometime!"
His friends, however, were still reeling from the revelation.
"Chocolate?" Lily sputtered, staring at the grey block with a mixture of disbelief and apprehension. "That's… that's what that is? It looks like something you'd use to build a wall!"
"It's concentrated, Lil!" Echo insisted, his blue hair pulsing with enthusiasm. "One bite and you're full for a day! It's super magical. And it tastes amazing, really!"
Frank, still looking utterly bewildered, shook his head. "I don't know, Echo. I think I'll stick to pumpkin pasties, thank you very much. And... a hag's chocolate? That just sounds like something out of a fairy tale, and usually not a good one."
Amos was slowly coming around to the idea. His centaur nose twitched, and he leaned in closer, sniffing the air around the block of chocolate. "It does smell... unusually rich," he conceded, a hint of curiosity in his voice.
Severus, after a moment of intense scrutiny, adjusted his hood once more. "While its aesthetic appeal is, shall we say, debatable, the high density and apparent magical properties do lend some credence to Empusa's claim. It would certainly provide sustained energy, a valuable commodity for… extended periods of, shall we say, 'mischief'."
Empusa, meanwhile, was gazing at the hag's hut with a newfound reverence. "To think, such a humble dwelling holds such a powerful confection! Truly, the magical world is full of wonders."
Echo beamed, his blue hair settling into a contented, soft pink. "See? Empusa gets it! Granny Ethel is the best! And she's going to help me get out of the tournament, too!"
Lily's eyes widened. "Wait, she is? How? What did you two talk about?"
Echo just grinned, a mischievous glint in his eye. "That, my dear Lily, is a secret. But trust me, it's a good one. You'll just have to wait and see." He then, with a surprising amount of strength, lifted the heavy block of chocolate and carefully tucked it back into his niffler pouch.
"Now," he announced, pulling his niffler head back on, his voice muffled but cheerful, "who's ready to go back to Hogwarts and dump all this candy finally? My back is starting to hurt."
His friends, still a mix of bewildered, amused, and slightly apprehensive, nevertheless followed him out of the clearing, leaving Granny Ethel's hut to its quiet, eerie solitude. As they walked, a light, ethereal glow seemed to emanate from Echo's niffler pouch, a silent testament to the powerful, if unconventional, treat he now carried. The scent of richly dark, almost earthy chocolate mingled subtly with the lingering smell of damp leaves and ancient magic, a strange but fitting end to their Halloween night.