Lysander removed an old, musty book from the highest shelf in the bookcase and thumbed through it, inhaling that scent of something ages old before flipping over to the inside of the front cover to take down some of the information written there for his records. He paused in the middle of his work, glancing through the glass windows of the office to admire his lovely wife, three months pregnant and as beautiful as ever. She looked a little tired, yet she refused to give up her job. He loved her all the more for being stubborn.

He resumed his duty to catalogue some of the older, finer books in the store, briefly wondering if Julian would come into work today. The trio had hired a new employee recently, Marcus Flint, former Slytherin student at Hogwarts. It took absolute zero hesitation to hire him on the spot. They could always use an extra hand in the shop, especially someone like Marcus.

---

Dobby strolls through Hogsmeade, killing time before picking up a large delivery of fresh vegetables and fruits for Hogwarts' Halloween feast. He'd deliberately arrived early so that he could get some shopping done. Dobby, like all the House Elves at the school, had heard the students buzzing about wearing costumes tomorrow. Upon first hearing of this, Dobby had run to look up Muggle Halloween practices in one of the cast off library books he'd obtained months and months ago. The same set of books from which he learned all about dying and hiding Easter eggs.

When Dobby first thought up a costume for himself, he considered asking Majandra or Winky or someone else who excelled at sewing to help him out but as busy as they all are, he decided to consult with his friends at Gladrags Wizardwear. That is, he thinks of the salespeople there as his friends because they are always so nice to him and so very helpful when he pops in to look around at new merchandise.

Dobby spends about fifteen minutes at Gladrags explaining what he's needing and showing the drawings of the costume he envisions. A happy Dobby exits the store and practically dances his way down to the bakery. After a snack it will be time to pick up the Hogwarts delivery and take it back to school. Dobby plans to finish up his work at the school then he'll return to Hogsmeade and pick up his costume. His favorite Gladrags seamstress told him it wouldn't be any problem to have the costume done by them.

A spritely skip in his step, Dobby arrives at the bakery, almost quivering in anticipation for Halloween to arrive.

---

Julian steps from the Floo Network into his apartment on the second floor of Twice Told Tales, firmly holding onto a crate. He puts the crate down just long enough to cast a charm on it so that it will float ahead of him. Julian navigates the stairs with the crate, calls out to Lysander in the office to let Lys know he's in the store, stops long enough to give the glowing Chyler a peck on the cheek, then manuevers the crate to where the new clerk, Marcus Flint, is working. Jules has the crate set itself down gently near Marcus's feet.

"All the books in the crate should be biographies, Marcus. First change you get, dust them off and shelve them, okay?"

Marcus nods and returns to the task at hand, whistling a tune that Julian recalls hearing played on the WWN recently. Julian finds himself humming the same tune as he sticks his head in the office. "I'm going over to the bakery. Shouldn't be long though then I'll come help you with this cataloguing."

Julian is out the door before Lysander has a chance to make a comment, witty or otherwise. He's across the street to the bakery in no time, glad that things with Briar seem to have been smoothed over. That took some work though. His mother just didn't want to accept that Briar might have her own ideas about her own wedding and that none of them matched his mum's. Julian should never have let it get so out of hand. He just hadn't realize how amock his mother was running until the woman had gone in personally to change the orders for all the dresses. Julian still shudders at the thought of Briar wearing his mother's favorite color lime green for her wedding robes.

It was probably a very good thing that the series of little arguments that blew up into one big one when Julian suggested eloping. After he'd cooled off, Julian had been able to see reason in what Briar said. He also knew how close he was to loosing her entirely and it is far more important to get Briar into a position where she can be returned to the Dark Lord's fold than it is for Julian to retain his bachelorhood. So, Julian had worked hard for over a week to get things back on track with Briar. Now, if things would just hold together a little while longer, Julian and company can breath much easier.

Julian enters the bakery, sneaks up behind Briar and wraps his arms around her as he nuzzles her neck. "I picked up those sample invitations as you asked. But, you only get them on one condition."

Briar turns in Julian's arms to face him, unable to keep herself from smiling at the sight of his mischevious grin. "And what condition would that be?"

"Dinner with me tonight."

"Well, Julian, you drive a hard bargain but consider it a deal. Now shoo! Can't you see we're very busy this morning?"

Julian drops a kiss on Briar's lips, tells her to be ready within an hour after closing for the day, and to wear something fancy. Seconds later, Julian is on his way back to the bookstore, humming as he strolls along.

---

Ginny sits on her bed, putting the finishing touches on her costume. Rather than starting from scratch, Ginny had decided to use her costume from the play Muggle Studies put on last year. Ginny had been the fairy Moth and while she adored the costume as it was for the play, she'd decided to change up the wings a little bit, to put a few more flouces in the skirt, and to sprinkle a little more glitter, or in this case fairy dust, onto the entire costume. Like just about every student at Hogwarts, Ginny is very much looking forward to the Halloween feast.

The only negative aspect of her life at the moment is breaking up with Prescott. Ginny really cared for Prescott and had enjoyed being his girlfriend, but for the most part, since the school term began, Prescott has seemed distant and trying to get him to spend time with her had grown more and more difficult. Oh sure, there had been some very good moments since returning to school but they'd been few and far between. As each day passed, Ginny began to feel more and more as if she was putting 99.99% of the effort into their relationship with Prescott only contributing 0.01%. For Ginny, the effort was beginning to seem like work. So, she'd finally concluded it was better to break up now rather than prolong things to the point that she developed an intense dislike for him. This way, after the initial hurt has worn off, they can remain congenial and friendly.

It hadn't been easy to get Prescott totally alone after supper tonight and it was even harder still to put voice to all her thoughts. Afterwards, Prescott had given her a sweet kiss on the cheek and walked away, shoulders slumped. Ginny had gone straight to Gryffindor House to her bed and drawn the curtains closed to cry in privacy. The only thing that drew her out of total seclusion was the knowledge that with four classes tomorrow, she really needed to get the changes made to the costume tonight.

Carefully hanging up the slightly altered costume, Ginny thinks with a sigh, "Maybe, just maybe, when I put this on tomorrow night, I won't feel like the wings should be wilted."

---

Re: New Employee
Author: Captain Electron
Date: 03-04-03 13:13

Electron was doing his best to sleep the day away. At 9am he woke up, turned over and went back to sleep. At 11am he dropped his pillow on the floor, and was almost disturbed enough to get up, but not quite. At 12.30 he could no longer ignore the combined complaints of stomach and bladder, and he crawled out of bed.

He HATED Hallowe'en. Hated it, absolutely deplored it, especially the pumpkins. Hated the Wizarding feasts, the Muggle costumes, the apple-bobbing, the whole damned lot of it.

The reason - he couldn't help remembering, although he had an outing planned for later that would hopefully help distract him - was that Hallowe'en years ago when his Muggle father had decided he couldn't stand his Witch mother for another second, let alone any more years. His father - whose name actually was John, hence Electron's choice of it - had left on the evening on Hallowe'en without properly explaining matters to his ten-year-old son.

As if that wasn't bad enough, John had died mere days later, and the circumstances surrounding his death had never been fully explained.

Doing his best to ignore the day, Electron dumped feed into a bowl for Hendrix. The owl was back from Dublin, bearing enthusiastic letters from the gang, which Electron now settled down to re-read over breakfast.

---

Encounter with a Beast
Author: Alexis Black
Date: 03-04-03 15:16

Alexis always liked to be at class in plenty of time, so as not to miss anything important. Since today was Thursday, and she had the especially difficult class of transfiguration first thing in the morning, she was especially keen on getting to class with time to spare. It was 7:45 and Alexis was just rushing towards the common room exit when she realized someone was in the way. A very short and obnoxious someone with an unfortunately familiar smirk on her porcelain face.

"Get out of my way." Alexis snapped, glaring at her sister with intense dislike.

"I know why you've been acting odd." Mary said slyly.

"As if I know or care what you're on about. Move."

"You're in love." If Alexis was surprised in any way she didn't show it, and Mary was plainly disappointed she didn't get an immediate reaction.

"Goodness gracious you've found me out. I am in love." Alexis said, injecting her voice with sappy, fake romance. Mary was taken aback and immediately looked suspicious.

"With a Ra.." She began, but Alexis cut her off.

"With my wand, see." She pulled it out slowly, "And I'm also in a terrible rush, so if you don't move, I'll let my wand have its way with you."

Mary let out a short, derisive "Ha!" Just before Alexis shouted, "locomotor mortis!"

Mary's eyes widened as her feet sprang together and locked in place. She would have fallen if she didn't have such a good sense of balance. It didn't matter, though, because Alexis pushed her over anyway. She walked over Mary's squirming body and out the common room door without so much as a backward glance. The laughter ringing in her ears was a sure signal of success, but Alexis had no time to revel in it as she would likely be late for transfiguration.

---

Mary scowled as she tipped herself back on her feet. The few people left in the common room were still laughing: Crispin had a big, stupid grin on his freckled face and Mortimer was clearly trying not to laugh for fear of Mary's inevitable attack. Mary turned up her nose and regally wiped the dust from her robes, attempting to recover what dignity she had left. Her evil mind raced with plans of revenge, and as she stood there she forgot for a moment that the curse was still on her.

"Come on, Mary, we've got to get to class." Crispin said. She automatically moved to walk next to him and fell flat on her face. Mortimer, somewhere nearby, couldn't contain himself and erupted into a maelstrom of stupid-sounding gaffaws. Mary, worked by now into a considerable rage, pulled herself onto her feet for the second time.

"SHUT UP!" She screamed at Mortimer. He quieted gradually and began to hiccup. Crispin, much to Mary's annoyance, was still grinning.

"I don't know the counter-curse." He chuckled. Lucky for Mary, a third year named Malcolm knew it, and he came over to set Mary loose.

"Locomotor restoro."

"Thanks," She said gratefully. Mary's head suddenly swiveled toward Mortimer, whose hazel eyes widened as they met Mary's fiery gray ones. He gulped loudly and bolted out of the common room. Mary pursued with Crispin close behind. They caught up to Mortimer not far down the hallway, where Mary pulled out her wand and pointed it at the panting boy, grinning evilly, "I just learned a new curse today."

Crispin put up a hand and deflected Mary's. "Wait for that, we're very late." The three slid into potions class as unobtrusively as possible a few minutes after the bell. The three Slytherins cringed under Snape's icy gaze. They really weren't late to class that often, and they tried especially to be on time for Snape as they had heard many horror stories about him and watched him take points from the Gryffindors.

"Sorry, professor" She panted as sincerely as she could between gasps of oxygen, "My sister cursed me and I..." She trailed off as Snape glared at them.

"What are you waiting for? Get out your cauldrons!"

---

"Oh, my!" I chuckle to myself, leaning back in my great chair behind my desk. "This will most definitely be a Halloween Feast to remember."

Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, Ron Weasley and Majandra Fine came to visit me the other day, asking permission to wear Muggle-style costumes to the Feast. After due consideration (about three minutes), they convinced me that it would be great fun. Also, since we now have students from a wide variety of cultures and backgrounds, it will give them a chance to display their individuality. "Why not!" I exclaimed, and they were off to spread the word.

Now, I have only one, moderately-serious problem. What am I to wear? For the past hour, I have been poring over Muggle books and magazines, Looking at pictures of their idols and super-heroes. No! I am absolutely not the type for Superman or Batman, or any of their friends! Hmmm... Now here is something of interest. A tale written by an Oxford Don, all about little people, elves, dwarves and dragons... AND an old wizard! Hmmm... This looks quite promising! I place a marker in the book at the place where the author had drawn a sketch of his wizard.

"Londy?" I call out. "poof!" She appears near the doorway and rushes to my desk. "Take a look at this..." I show her the picture. "Do you think we might have an old gray robe, with a hood, in one of the storage rooms? And a tall, pointed hat to match?"

She takes a good, long look and a smile grows on her normally serious face. "Londy is thinking that looks very much like the old, old, uniforms for Hogwarts. There is a dungeon-room full of these cloaks. And hats are there also," she almost grins. Quickly, she pulls out a yellow string and uses it to take my measurements. "This may be taking a few minutes or more," she says as she turns for the door. "I am hoping the preservation spells are at work still."

As she leaves, I begin rummaging through some of my cabinets, looking for a particular item. Ah... Here it is! An old wizard's staff of age-blackened oak. I run my fingers over the incised runes of protection and power. Five feet tall it is, and surmounted by a clear crystal orb, clutched in the claw of a dragon. Very impressive! Yes! This will do quite nicely.

I lay the staff across my desk, just as Londy reappears. She shakes out the folds of the robe and hold it out for me to try on. Perfect fit! Sadly, the hat has seen better days. The top part seems intent on flopping over to one side. Well... it just adds to the charm! "Thank you, Londy!" I say, taking the lid off the candy dish. "Would you care for a Sherbert Lemon? Here! Take two or three!" I pop one into my own mouth as she takes the three I have suggested.

"One I will take to Winky! She is liking them ever so much!" and she dashes from my office.

---

Veronica, upon hearing the news about wearing costumes to the feast, had immediatly gone to work on her own costume. She had figured this would be quite a good bit of fun and would enjoy wearing it down to Hogsmeade.. what a surprise it would give John. All in good fun though.

She had gone about collecting things from various places, an old starfish, a fishing net, some linens and an old curly brown wig and had gotten creative. A mermaid costume. Surely no one else thought of that. Wait until Uncle Albus saw this!

She stood in front of the mirror for a moment looking at her reflection. "Oh, I do look silly," she said to Hermes, "but that's half the fun!" She chuckled to herself. "Better hide this away until later or I may just spoil the surprise."

She changed into her robes and headed to visit her Uncle and see just what he was planning for tonight.