Deathday Party

At exactly seven that evening, the six of them gathered in the Entrance Hall.

"Ginny, the Deathday Party is no place for you!"

Ron was surprised to see his sister there. He looked displeased.

Little Ginny held Salatea's hand and answered stubbornly, "I'm going. I promised Nearly Headless Nick, and I can't break my word. I'm brave! Ask Salasha if you don't believe me!"

"That's right. Ginny's incredibly brave. She's bound to do great things one day!"

Salatea praised her without batting an eye.

"H-Harry, can I... go with you?"

"Of course. Nick invited you too!"

What the girl had meant was that she wanted to hold Harry's hand and walk with him. Harry, of course, had brought up Nearly Headless Nick instead.

"Let's go before I head over to the dining table and stuff myself."

Ron stared at the food on the golden plates, swallowing hard.

"Ron's right. Let's go. The party's probably started already."

Luo Bin led the way, with Hermione and Ron following. Harry and Salatea walked side by side, while Ginny kept pace to Salasha's left. She stole glances at Harry now and then, but whenever their eyes met, she hurriedly looked away, her ears burning red.

The passage down to Nick's party had been decorated for Halloween with lots of little pumpkin-shaped candles. Perhaps they were too small, or perhaps it was the wax, but their blue flames were faint and lit only a tiny area.

As the six of them walked, they had to keep their eyes straight ahead. One turn of the head revealed a face glowing an eerie blue. Even knowing it was only the candlelight did little to calm their nerves.

The farther down they went, the dimmer the light and the colder the air became. Just as they began to