A Strange Halloween

Meanwhile, in the main group chat.

Bug Ming: Guys, what ideas do you all have for this year?

Bug Ming: I suggest we do a cosplay relay!

Kerun: I like that idea. We could also do an art event, drawing pictures related to HP and Halloween. Everyone can team up www

Magpie: Yay! We get to see the cosplay masters in action!

Red-Lipped, White-Toothed The Chosen One: ! Are there any restrictions? Can people do the same character?! My Harry outfit just arrived yesterday! What a coincidence!

Harry Is Mine: I can hear you scheming all the way from the Southern Hemisphere.

James-Brand Shampoo: Seriously.

Oh My Mother: Guys, I'm ugly and I can't do makeup, so I'll just draw! Good luck, everyone!

Kerun: Listen to that, Teacher Oh is farting again.

Kerun: I saw your face on your last livestream, Teacher! You're obviously a total beauty!

Magpie: It's not like Teacher Oh just started farting yesterday.

Luna Is an Angel on Earth!: Teacher, I want to see you cosplay Luna /rose doge.

Oh My Mother: ! I can't do makeup

Oh My Mother: /crying cat face.

By all rights, the people they were discussing should have been at school, but who was this Luna?

"Is there a Luna at our school?" Fred asked George, turning to him as he scrolled through the chat history. George was fiddling with a new invention. Thanks to the group's suggestions, ideas like Nosebleed Nougat and Puking Pastilles were brilliant. They'd do just that in Snape's class tomorrow.

Hearing Fred's question, George thought for a moment, then shook his head. "I don't remember anyone by that name at school, but judging by her name, she definitely isn't in Gryffindor. Sounds more like she's in Ravenclaw next door."

"Then why are they talking about her in the group?"

"Hey, maybe she's a student who'll enroll in the future?"

"That's possible! It's not like this is the first time they've known things before they happened!"

At the front of the classroom, Professor Binns droned on about History of Magic, completely oblivious to the two boys not paying attention. In fact, most people were sprawled on their desks asleep. It had always been that way, but ever since phones appeared, more people had been awake in class. Of course, the number actually listening hadn't changed.

Professor Binns paid no attention to any of it, though. He was only responsible for finishing his lecture.

"Why don't we join in too?" Fred grinned mischievously. "It'll be hilarious. The fictional characters they idolize are right in front of them, reading their chats every day."

"Are you sure, Fred?" George raised an eyebrow. "I think that's too ordinary. If you ask me, we should let information slip bit by bit. We can show them a little something first, like our Halloween party."

Fred was so excited that he smacked George. "Great idea, George! Once we've gotten to know them, we'll reveal who we are. That'll definitely be fun to watch!"

Lee Jordan, sitting behind them, silently hunched his shoulders. The kings of pranks really were no joke. Those two had terrifying ideas!

Meanwhile, Harry was suffering through Potions Class, his mind nowhere near the cauldron in front of him. He also wanted to join the group's event, but the fact that he really was Harry Potter... should they know?

"Mr. Potter, your lack of attention has cost Gryffindor five points." Snape floated over like a ghost, drawled out the remark, then left to inspect Malfoy's potion.

Malfoy's potion was the perfect color, earning him ten points from Snape. Harry could only stare speechlessly at the taunting look Malfoy sent his way. It was as if Snape were selectively blind to Malfoy's provocations.

"Forget it, Harry. Let's pay attention," Hermione said, holding Harry back. Avoiding a conflict would keep them from losing more points.

"I'm almost used to losing points by now." Ron pursed his lips in discontent. "If our house comes in last, it'll definitely be because of all the points Snape took."

Ron hadn't spoken loudly, but Snape still looked over alertly, frightening Ron into clamping his mouth shut. Hermione rolled her eyes.

"I hope you don't brew potions with your mouth, Mr. Weasley," Snape's mocking voice rang out. Ron's face turned as red as the apple he'd eaten at lunch. The Slytherins around them laughed, with Malfoy laughing loudest of all.

"What is he so smug about?! It's just Potions!" Ron stormed along, the "he" in his sentence naturally referring to Malfoy.

"You shouldn't have said that, Ron." Hermione frowned, reproaching Ron for what he'd just said and done. "Whatever else he is, Snape is a professor."

"So what? I wasn't wrong." Ron didn't seem convinced. "Snape is unfair. He's always taking points from Gryffindor for no reason, and whatever the Slytherins do, he acts like he hasn't seen it."

Hermione's frown deepened.

Harry wasn't in the mood to listen to their argument. All he could think about now was Halloween.

He hoped time would pass a little faster.

That was what Harry thought.

"Cosplay? What's this new thing?" That evening, Blaise had only just picked up his phone and started reading the group messages. Seeing people talk about it, he couldn't help growing curious.

Zabini: You're going to cosplay?

Blaise asked curiously.

A flood of replies followed.

Kerun: Yes, yes!

Magpie: It's dressing up as characters you like!

If My Name Is Long Enough Someone Will Read It: It's the quiet newbie! /mischievous

If My Name Is Long Enough Someone Will Read It: Newbie, want to join in?!

"Oh?" Blaise looked at Draco, who was sitting there doing his Potions homework, and smiled without giving anything away. Then he typed.

Zabini: Interesting. How does it work?

Bug Ming: Just cosplay a character you like, or another character. Anyway, as long as they're from Harry Potter, it's fine www

Bug Ming: You can wear a Halloween AU outfit or their original look! School uniforms or suits are fine, as long as they fit the character's personality! Then hold up a pumpkin or say something, whatever you like! Basically, just record a short video. You have to cover the camera with something at the start and end to make it feel like a relay.

Red-Lipped, White-Toothed The Chosen One: That's how simple the rules are!

Proprietress Number Two: Whether you understood or not, just watch----and that's it!! /manic

[Proprietress Number Two has been muted for five minutes by administrator Yan]

[Administrator] Yan: Talk normally. What if you scare the newbie away?

[Administrator] Yan: www Newbie, if you're curious, you can check the group album. There are some photos posted by the group's cosplay masters there too.

Zabini: Photo. Malfoy turning around suddenly while doing homework, looking thoroughly annoyed.jpg

Zabini: Someone like this?

Red-Lipped, White-Toothed The Chosen One: Holy shit, that's so accurate! This isn't really a production still???

Stepmother Literature: Based on my many years of experience, the Harry Potter production has never released a still like this, and the stills from back then are usually pretty blurry! This one's so high-def, you can tell it's a real cosplayer!

Mrs. Malfoy: !!!!!

Mrs. Malfoy Number Two Accepts No Objections: Holy shit!!!

That one photo drew dozens of Mrs. Malfoys out of the woodwork.

Zabini smiled mischievously. These Muggles were really interesting. A moment ago, an idea had struck him, and he'd pointed his phone's camera at Draco. "Hey, Draco, look over here."

"What?" The moment Draco turned around, Blaise swiftly snapped a photo. Malfoy hadn't even realized what had happened.

"Nothing, just felt like calling you." Blaise quickly recalled the photo after posting it. If the young master found out, he'd probably go complaining to Uncle Lucius again.

Malfoy: ...You've got too much time on your hands.

The group had already gone wild.

Bug Ming: Holy shit, whose kid is this?! How can he look so much like young Malfoy!!

Stepmother Literature: Shit! Come here, son, let Mommy give you a hug!

Everyone automatically ignored Blaise's question right after the photo: "Someone like this?"

Cold Candy: Holy shit, master, don't recall it! I haven't saved it yet!!

Proprietress Number Two (just unmuted, don't mute me again): Damn, that arrogant attitude is exactly like fucking Malfoy himself!

Blaise grinned happily at the screen. This was a sight rarely seen in real life. The Malfoy family's young master actually had so many Muggle fans.

Stepmother Literature: How old is the young actor? Hehe /drool.

Stepmother Literature: The wig looks so natural. It really looks like real hair slicked back with hair gel.

Bug Ming: Is this your kid, master? Are you a cosplayer too?

Blaise laughed until his stomach hurt. All of a sudden, he'd gone up a generation.

Zabini: It's real hair.

My Younger Brother Isn't as Handsome as Me: Don't worry, brother, you're not imagining it.

My Older Brother Is Farting: Be confident. Drop the "looks like."

Stepmother Literature: ??? Whoa, you all know each other?

Kerun: Shit? Asking online for the cosplayer's contact info

Mrs. Malfoy: Me too. No ulterior motives, I just want to make a new contact.

Mrs. Malfoy Number Three: +10086, I want to make a new contact too.

Magpie: I can hear you all scheming from Great Britain.

Blaise looked at those two IDs. Were My Younger Brother Isn't as Handsome as Me and My Older Brother Is Farting also at Hogwarts? Otherwise, how would they know it was real hair? After a little thought, Blaise quickly concluded that they were the Weasley twins.

At the other end of the screen, Fred and George were once again laughing so hard they'd collapsed on their beds. They hadn't expected someone like that to be around Malfoy too.

It made Fred want to post the Malfoy reaction images he'd made before.

He was just afraid Malfoy would come after him, since the young master was in the group now too.

"Wait, doesn't that mean Zabini beat you to this prank idea?" Lee Jordan suddenly realized something was wrong.

Fred and George gradually realized the gravity of the situation.

"...Looks like it."

"That won't do! It'll damage the Weasley name!"

"We've got to come up with an even better prank!"

Fred was full of enthusiasm.

Meanwhile, Malfoy, who was doing his homework, suddenly broke out in goosebumps.

Malfoy: Feels like someone's plotting against me.