Horace Slughorn's Ball

After the first Quidditch match, Halloween quietly arrived as well.

The pumpkins Hagrid had planted in the patch by the entrance were moved into Hogwarts. Heaven knew what he had done to them, but they looked at least six feet tall—put four wheels on one, and it could have served as a carriage.

Once the pumpkins were delivered to the Great Hall, Professor McGonagall transformed them into various shapes, such as eagles, lions, snakes, badgers, and some more famous ghosts. Professor Flitwick then sent them floating into the air above the Great Hall.

Nearly Headless Nick struck poses wildly beside his pumpkin statue, letting the young wizards take pictures with him.

Hufflepuff's Fat Friar was smiling cheerfully too, looking very pleased.

The other two Houses, however, could not enjoy the sight of their actual ghost standing alongside its statue.

Bloody Baron had no interest in any of this and never appeared in the Great Hall. As for the Lady Grey—Helena Ravenclaw—she had been gone for a long time.

Kyle had searched for her many times, as had Dumbledore and the portraits in the Headmaster's Office. They had practically turned the castle upside down, yet they still could not find her.

Eventually, Kyle gradually gave up. There was nothing else to be done. After all, Rowena Ravenclaw herself had been responsible for creating the castle. If they did not want anyone else to find them, it truly would not be difficult.

"Hey, this is really nice."

Mikel, who had come from the common room to attend the feast in the Great Hall, looked over the decorations around him and said, "It's a shame there isn't a performance by the Weird Sisters or the Skeleton Dance Troupe this year. That would've made it perfect."

"It can't be helped." Ryan sighed. "Everyone's busy