Halloween Masquerade Ball

Gemma's appearance drew almost everyone's attention.

It wasn't because she was dressed provocatively. In fact, she was rather modestly dressed.

It was just...

Harry was surrounded by people and dressed as a centaur too, holding a book and looking Elegant and Gentle.

At the same time, his upper body was almost bare, wrapped only in moon-white silk. The Harden Horn Lyre rested on his back, and his perfectly sculpted, David-like muscles seemed to glow in the candlelight, heat rising from them.

He was the perfect combination of strength and beauty, wildness and elegance.

He looked just like Chiron, mentor to the demigod heroes of Greek mythology, brought to life.

"He's even more dazzling than James," Sirius said with a sigh, dressed as a werewolf in all his authentic glory.

"Who's that?" Remus, also dressed as a werewolf and finally persuaded to come to Hogwarts by Sirius, immediately noticed Tonks.

"Her? My cousin's daughter, and one of Harry's admirers."

"Harry?" Remus's gaze instantly sharpened.

"Hello, Harry Potter."

The centaur Gemma held out her right hand, greeting Harry in the same tone she'd used the first time they met.

"You can tell just by looking at her hands that she doesn't draw a bow," the fairy Hermione pointed out critically.

"So..." Gemma rested her hand on Harry's shoulder and slid it along the outline of the Harden Horn Lyre. "How about we trade? My bow for—"

"No!" Hermione flushed and shoved Gemma away.

"Sure," Harry said, instantly proving her wrong.

His fingers plucked the strings. With a long, resonant note, the lyre and the bow exchanged places.

Gemma lowered her head to fix the chestnut bob tucked behind her ear, blushing as she felt the warmth Harry had left on the Harden Horn Lyre.

Hermione didn't notice Gemma's little move at all. Like a victor, she looked around, having "successfully" prevented an annoying old woman from getting close to Harry. Her confidence soared.

The next moment, her eyes narrowed.

Another "old woman" had arrived.

"Hello, Harry." Tonks had added black fur, but her tight, black velvet-like outfit accentuated her curves even more, making her look alluring and seductive.

She looked down at Hermione and smugly glanced at her flat chest.

"How's my Halloween makeup magic?"

"With your Metamorphmagus talent combined with this spell, it's flawless."

Harry's words instantly lifted Hermione's spirits.

I knew it. Those awful bulges are fake. They're all just illusions!

Hermione raised an eyebrow and glanced at Tonks's chest with a knowing look.

Tonks was simply baffled.

"All right, everyone."

Dumbledore stood up, wearing a feathered robe and a pair of golden-red phoenix wings he'd conjured for himself.

"I'm delighted that you've all come to Hogwarts's first-ever Halloween masquerade ball!"

The four long tables in the Great Hall had been temporarily removed, replaced by a huge stage beneath a magical canopy of lights and numerous small round tables.

Menus sat on the round tables. Say the name of a dish, and it would be served.

"Now... I'll call out the names of everyone who signed up, one by one."

"When your name is called, please come up onstage. The judges, myself included, will give you a fair score!"

"Minerva McGonagall?"

Dumbledore glanced at the list again, wondering if he'd read it wrong.

Fred and George were about to start heckling, dressed in feathered robes like Dumbledore and pink Augurey costumes, with their hair dyed pink too. But they were left speechless, their mouths hanging open.

"This is a rare opportunity. Everyone who takes part is allowed to let their hair down and relax." Professor McGonagall, with silver tabby cat ears and a tail, raised her furry paw.

She walked to the center of the stage.

"Undoubtedly Gryffindor-style courage," Dumbledore praised. "But to be fair, I can only give you a seven."

He held up the scorecard. "Seven is the most magical number, isn't it?"

Voldemort, who had just returned from Little Hangleton, was triggered.

[Ding, ding, ding! [Voldemort's Vigilance Continued]]

[Dumbledore's inexplicable hint and the disappearance of Slytherin's Locket have made Voldemort wary once more. Find Hufflepuff's Cup within four school years.]

Harry, how the hell did you get triggered again?

Four school years? Will you hide the Cup even more carefully?

As Harry stared speechlessly, Quirrell, dressed as a snowman and only just entering the Great Hall, hurriedly left again.

"I agree with Professor Dumbledore." Harry held up his scorecard.

"Me too." xN

Remove the highest score, remove the lowest score, then take the average—

Well, there was no need to remove any scores at all. Professor McGonagall's score was already clear.

Seven.

"Severus Snape!"

"No, I didn't sign up!"

Caught in the spotlight, Snape, whose complexion had finally returned to the pallor of his youth, roared like a vampire.

Well, he'd hardly put on any makeup at all.

He'd only added fake fangs, but with his usual dark clothes, he was already almost perfect.

The spotlight made up for his final—no, second-to-last—flaw.

His greasy black hair still stubbornly hung down on either side like curtains.

"It was you!"

Sirius's laughter was so unrestrained that Snape figured out the truth.

"Yes, it was me, you— Well, Snape."

"Oh, having another little wolf around has given you a bit more confidence, has it? I suppose that's right. You've always relied on numbers to bully people."

Snape didn't go up onstage. He just kept spewing venom at Sirius.

Dumbledore simply raised his scorecard—six.

Harry and the other professors followed suit.

"Next," Dumbledore said, eager to get on with the proceedings. "Filius Flitwick?"

The spotlight finally left Snape, who'd been about to lunge at Sirius, and landed on an empty tabletop?

"I'm over here." Dressed as a Goblin from Gringotts, Professor Flitwick had made just as little effort, changing only his clothes—but he'd nailed every little detail. He climbed onto a cushion.

"Sorry, I was so excited that I fell off."

"Did all of you sign up except me?" Dumbledore looked at the other staff members.

"I didn't, Professor Dumbledore." Filch, a Squib whom Harry had helped turn into a zombie, shook his head.

"Neither did I, Professor." Hagrid, who'd wanted to become a Dragonman like Draco but had done a poor job of it, only managing to grow wings and a tail, shook his head.

"Neither did I." Professor Sprout shook her head, her Puffapod head shaking as well. A few purple seeds, seemingly wrapped in jelly, popped out.

One landed in the throat of the laughing Sirius. Snape seized the opportunity and elbowed him in the chest.

"Separate them!"

Dumbledore quickly cast a spell, splitting the two apart.

"Six points." He raised his scorecard again.

The lively feast helped Harry forget his worries for a while, and he was finally able to enjoy himself.

Especially since not every student's Halloween makeup magic was as flawless.

Seamus's Niffler costume exploded at the pocket, exposing his underwear.

Justin Finch-Fletchley of Hufflepuff had been so determined to perfect every detail that his costume was too elaborate. Before he even reached the stage, his griffin's rear end began falling apart.

Fred and George were halfway through their speech, racking up points, when Fred's beak and George's tail feathers began to fall off. In the end, their wrinkled, chicken-like skin showed through, with only a few feathers left.

Harry was sure they'd done it on purpose.

"Marcus Flint!"

That's a real Troll!

Harry's eyes were full of anticipation.