Miss Kitty
Author: Bronwyn Dewhurst
Date: 03-06-03 21:16

Bronwyn stepped into the Great Hall and surveyed the scene before her. Plenty of students were already seated at the four great tables lining the vast chamber; most of her peers wore costumes, but a handful of sticks in the mud hovered over the benches. Most everyone seemed to possess a unique sense of style, but groups of ghosts, knights and even witches lingered about.

Many heads, particularly of the male-persuasion, swiveled around to catch a better glimpse of the stunning Hufflepuff standing in the doorway. The Slytherins, who ordinarily kept their glances of approval to a minimum, stared openly at Bronwyn. Little wonder, too.

She wore a skin-tight, black cat suit, gloves and boots with 6-inch heels. A matching mask covered a portion of her face, revealing her eyes, nose and red lips. Two black cat ears protruded from the top of her mask, signalling to those without any knowledge of Batman that Bronwyn was supposed to be some sort of cat.

With a provocative sway in her hips, Bronwyn strolled over to the Hufflepuff table, revelling in the astonished faces coming from both male and female alike. Someone whistled as she threw one leg over the side of the bench and stradled it, winking at a random Ravenclaw boy before swinging her other leg around in order to sit properly at the table.

---

Barely unable to control his excitement, Dobby makes sure everything with his costume is as it should be. The House Elf takes a deep breath then enters the Great Hall, eager to see the costumes gathered so far and eager to be seen as well.

The first bunch who spy him go utterly silent and then the giggles start. Dobby feels like skipping, dancing, and singing as it becomes apparent that his costume's a hit. The only negative thought twirling around in Dobby's head is that his hero won't be so enchanted with the costume. Hopefully, he'll know that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

Dobby pauses to catch a glimpse of his reflection and gets all giddy again at the sight of the jet black wig with straggly bangs, a fake lightening bolt scar on his forehead, the broom, and the House Elf size version of Gryffindor Quidditch robes. Just call him Harry. Harry Dobber.

---

Courting
Author: Fynn Greenleaf
Date: 03-07-03 00:22

Rather Inventive, Really
Author: Veronica Dumbledore
Date: 03-07-03 06:20

Veronica had spent thirty minutes adjusting her curly brown wig and seeing that her thick strawberry hair was tucked neatly underneath. Finally satisfied with her costume, she headed down to the Great Hall.

As she entered, she looked around to see the students in costume. Some had gotten quite creative. This costume idea had been a very good one. She smiled brightly and made her way past the student to take her place at the staff table.

Most of the students didn't think Veronica was fun enough to dress up at all, but let me tell you here and now, just because you run a tight ship in class doesn't mean you are a stick in the mud. Boy, was she a sight tonight. She strode in wearing a long sea foam green, tight fitting dress that flared on either side at the bottom like a fin and a green fishing net worn as a cape. A thick handful of seashell necklaces adorned her neck and a starfish was pinned right in the middle of her bosom.

She took her seat at the table, quite anxious to see what the other teachers wear. This should be a Halloween to remember.

---

Oh, Brother!
Author: Fred Weasley
Date: 03-07-03 08:50

Fred paused outside Blossom's front door and took a moment to adjust his Halloween costume. He wore an old hooded robe, charmed from its previous color of faded black to a comfortable brown, and a pair of matching slippers. A ring of red hair crowned his head, but a round bald spot on top became visible when he lowered his hood.

Satisfied with his appearance, he knocked on the door and instantly heard light and rapid footsteps approaching from the other side. The door swung open and a very smiling Blossom stood within the threshold, looking as beautiful as ever.

Her shining eyes wandered over Fred's costume, from the ginger crown on his head to the brown shoes on his feet. When she met his eyes again, she laughed and exclaimed, "Happy Halloween, Brother Fred!"

Brother Fred smiled kindly and replied serenly, "Happy Halloween, gentle soul." His small smile widened suddenly, as if he could no longer keep up with the calm charade and added, "You look like an exotic queen, Blossom. Simply irresistible! Mind if I come in?"

"I'm a Native American Princess, that monk costume is surprisingly sexy and yes, you may," Blossom replied, returning his smile.

Fred followed Blossom inside and explained, "I went into Muggle London the other day and visited the library. I just happened to find an interesting book on monks."

Although money wasn't so much of a problem anymore thanks to the Weasleys' booming business in the joke industry, Fred's frugal ways still existed. He didn't pay a single knut for his costume–all the materials were old and simply charmed to look a little bit different in order to serve as his costume.

Fred explained that his hair had been a bit of a problem. "George did it, and by the way, he's coming. Just adding a few last minute touches to his costume. Anyway, let's hope this bald spot is merely temporary. It took us a while to get it to work correctly, but I'm afraid George may have botched the charm. I suppose we'll see!"

---

Walk Like An Egyptian
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 03-07-03 09:32

Athena Goddess of Wisdom (AKA Professor Gryffindor)
Author: Angelina
Date: 03-07-03 17:05

I finished up my last class for the day and went to my room. I opened the door and saw my costume had been finished and was hanging in the closet. A pair of Greek style sandals were near my bed. On the bed was a box and a card.

I went to the bed and opened the box. Inside was a gold armband to go around my upper arm to cover my birthmark. I then read the card, "HAPPY BIRTHDAY PROFESSOR LOGAN FROM TWINKLE." I smiled and changed into my costume. At that moment Loki sailed through the window and landed on his perch. "Ready for a party Loki?" I asked as I put on the sandals and then tapped my wand to my hair, making it curl in the ancient Greek fashion.

Loki gave a hoot of approval as I put on the tiara and tightened the thin belt around the middle. I then picked up the armband and looked at it more closely. Twinkle had put cloth on the inside that looked like silk to add comfort. I put on the band and snapped it shut.

I then turned to Loki and smiled. "Shall we, Loki?" Loki gave a small hoot and took off, then landed on my shoulder. I opened my door and headed to the Great Hall for the Halloween Banquet.

---

I Feel Pretty
Author: H Potter
Date: 03-07-03 19:11

Harry had spent a full twenty-four hours trying to figure out what sort of costume to wear for Halloween than he had on school work or even thinking about Quidditch. In the first minutes of the twenty-fifth hour, a mischievous thought entered Harry's head. He spent the rest of yesterday and part of today seeing the idea through to fruition. And, perhaps the best part of it was that not even Ron knew Harry's plan. When Ron had asked Harry who or what Harry was going as for the feast, Harry still wasn't sure so he had been very truthful when he'd replied, "I'm not really sure, Ron. I'll probably just wear my Lysander costume from the Muggle Studies play."

Boy, is Ron going to be surprised! Hermione too for that matter. Harry had so wanted to keep his costume a secret, he's quietly dressed behind the curtains on his bed, letting the others think he wasn't even in the room. He waits patiently for Ron, Dean, Seamus, and Neville to make their respective exits before parting the curtains on his bed and poking his wigged head out. Harry takes a moment to check out his reflection and to make a few adjustments before heading down to the common room.

Harry pauses at the top of the stairs, listening as Ron asks those already gathered, "Has anyone seen Harry?" and to variations of the reply of, "No, sorry, Ron."

With a shake of the long, curly (and slightly frizzy) hair now adorning his head, Harry walks down the stairs, being very careful with each step since he's still not used to the dark green pumps his feet are wedged into. At the bottom of the steps, Harry sets down what looks like an overstuffed book bag and asks, "Did I hear my name?" As Ron and Hermione, and others present in the common room, turn to look his way, Harry does as close to a pirouette as he can in such shoes, causing the flounces of the green skirt with small pink flowers to flair out nicely.

A grin on his face, Harry focuses on Ron, whose jaw seems to be resting on the common room floor. Suppressing a laugh, Harry quips in a higher pitched voice, "What's the matter, Ron? Don't you recognize your own girlfriend?"

---

The Mark of Darkness
Author: Voldemort
Date: 03-08-03 21:14

Late Halowe'en night a second act throws the ministry - and especially the Aurors - into a frenzy. Speedy owls are dispatched to the Chief auror and her deputy, as well as to several officials and many aurors who are not on assignment. They apparate to the site where muggles and police have gathered at the crime scene: the murder of a muggle family in their spacious home.

The murder probably would not have been anything of concern to the Ministry, but for the oddly shaped cloud just above the home of the murdered muggles.

The Aurors begin to apparate and take control of the situation, along with offices and members of other departments -such as Obliviators. They can investigate, but it is all too late.

And above the home, the Dark Mark glows eerily in the darkness.

---

An Samhain
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 03-07-03 21:31

It was a mark of just how chaotic tings were at the ministry that I only realized it was An Samhain when everyone was running off to parties. Also, somewhere in the back of my mind I still remember that I need to talk to Sirius. Samhain was the most important druidic festival - there no way I should nearly miss it.

Samhain is also a time of ambivalence for me. It can be hard not to get caught up in the celebration and festival atmosphere; but it also has a darker side. It is a time of power, and a time when it is easy to cross to the Otherworld.

I take out two candles and place them on my windowsill then light them - a tribute to James and Lily who were murdered on Samhain. A tradition I keep every year. I am considering if I should go to some of the parties or not when an owl flies into the open window with an urgent message. There is no way I'm going to be partying tonight.

---

Back to Her Roots
Author: Remadi Ye
Date: 03-08-03 06:50

This past year, Remadi had decided to surprise her mother with her outfit. She had started working on it with one of the people on costume crew at the University. When her mother had gotten sick, she had stopped and all-but-forgotten about it.

After the chess tournament, Remadi had sent her father an owl about it and mentioned the Halloween feast. She was pleasantly surprised when Jing-Mei, the family owl, returned with a package. Inside was her costume and a couple accessories and make-up. The thoughtfulness of the package erased any disappointments or sadness she had from losing the match.

Now she was making sure her hair would stay in place with a quick flick of her wand and putting on the last bit of her make-up. She looked in the mirror and grinned. Her mother would have loved it. Looking at Neko, she ties the red string of a necklace around his neck, making sure the jade pendant rests on his chest. She smiles at him.

"I think we're ready to go. I wonder what everyone else will be wearing," she says as she smooths her outfit and admires the work done, satisfied with the ancient Chinese look of it.

They walk out of the Gryffindor commonroom and to the Great Hall. Remadi couldn't wait to see everyone else's outfits.

---

Dopplegranger
Author: Draco Malfoy
Date: 03-08-03 09:01

Draco strode into the Great Hall wearing tall, brown boots, navy pants and a white v-neck button-less blouse. He wore a sword at his hip and a black eye-patch over one eye. Crabbe, dressed as a mummy, and Goyle, dressed as a zombie, trailed closely behind their leader as he made his way to the Slytherin table.

Shortly after he found his seat, Hermione, Hermione and Ron entered the Great Hall. Wait. Hermione, Hermione and... Two Hermiones!? No. Hermione, Harry and Ron entered the Great Hall.

Draco's jaw fell slack, utterly shocked that Harry chose to dress like a girl and that he chose Granger of all people as his model. Then, he smirked.

"Look at that, Goyle. Seems Potter's secret fetish has finally come to light. Makes me wonder whether or not this is the first time he's worn some of Granger's clothes."

Both Crabbe and Goyle grunted their laughter in typical Crabbe and Goyle fashion, something also befitting their costumes of choice for the evening.

"On the other hand, maybe it's not just a fetish," Draco drawled loud enough for the three Gryffindors to hear. "Maybe Potter's not the man we thought he was. Imagine that. Hogwarts' hero as effeminate as Granger, if not more so."

The pirate shot the three Gryffindors an evil grin as more grunts of laughter sounded from his undead sidekicks.

---

Ready for the Feast
Author: Fritz Schnackenpfefferhausen
Date: 03-08-03 09:27

Fritz slid into his seat at the Ravenclaw table and eagerly awaited for Professor Dumbledore to launch the Halloween Feast. Throughout the day, he overheard many of the older Ravenclaw students ramble on about the food and the merriment, and it made Fritz so hungry and excited that he could hardly wait for the evening to arrive.

His costume was modeled after a comic book and cartoon character he had grown up with while living in the Muggle World -- Spiderman. Lacking the ability to sew and not very advanced in Transfiguration yet and since he did not have the time to order a costume, Fritz simply rummaged through his clothing to come up with something.

He wore tennis shoes, blue sweat pants and a red, long-sleeved T-shirt. He painted a black spider on the front of the shirt and cut holes into an old, red ski cap, which he pulled down over his head to act as a mask.

A few times when other students not familiar with Spiderman would ask him who or what he was supposed to be, he'd explain the history of the character and use some quotes such as, "Mein spider-sense ist tingling."

Fritz saved a seat at the Ravenclaw table for Coco and hoped that she'd arrive soon. The feast was bound to start any minute now.

---

Crazy Dreams
Author: Captain Electron
Date: 03-08-03 16:03

Doing nothing all day, Electron had managed to fall asleep again - not something he did regularly. At least not on the days when he hadn't been out all night partying, and since arriving in Hogsmeade he hadn't really done that a lot. It wasn't that he was tired. He'd be really worried if that was the case - he'd think he was turning into his grandfather or something. No, he was just bored, fed up, and not in the humour for getting on with his work, so he fell asleep instead.

And, sleeping, he had a mad dream that he was in a Muggle recording studio showing his latest song to his manager, only he'd brought in the Wizarding copy by mistake. It wasn't just that there were references to spells and wizarding equipment. No, the major problem was that instead of being neatly typed up on a computer and printed out, it was written in flourishing ink on parchment. Electron didn't even realise what he was doing until he'd given it to the man, and was standing there watching him turn a strange colour. Some kind of spell, he wondered? But no - his manager dropped the parchment on the floor and launched into a tirade about animal rights and outdated stuff that had no place in the modern world and how Electron had better watch out if he didn't want everyone to think he was weirder than Michael Jackson. What next, his manager wanted to know? Biting the heads off bats on stage? and if he intended doing that, he'd better look for a new manager, because -

With that, Electron woke up, still a bit shellshocked. Just a dream, thank all the gods, and he was going into London at his next earliest opportunity to buy some proper paper. Then he was going to get everything typed up properly so that he would never risk having that happen to him in real life!

Anyway, he had to go out soon enough and meet Veronica, and he couldn't go in his jeans. Well, maybe he could. It was Hallowe'en after all, and the locals might just think he was dressing up. It was the closest he was ever likely to get to actually dressing up, given his feelings on the day. Pondering the matter, he played some very loud music to blow out the cobwebs while he got ready.

---

Lions and Tigers and Grindylows, Oh My!
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 03-08-03 17:03

The first chance Coco got after learning that costumes could be worn to the Halloween feast, she'd dashed up to the owlery. Coco sent a message to her grandfather requesting he send her the costumes she and Pea had worn the year before. The package had arrived this morning at breakfast and for the rest of the day, Coco had barely been able to sit still for more than two seconds. The time between getting out of Charms at three o'clock and time to get ready for the feast seemed to creep by but at long last everyone in Ravenclaw, whether going in costume or not, began scrambling to get dressed.

When Coco and Pea make their appearances in the common room, ready to go down to the Great Hall, Coco doesn't see Fritz anywhere. Seeing one of the other first year boys, Coco approaches. "Allo, Bradley. Jolly good costume. Yer uh Grindylow loike wots pitchered in one o' tha dark arts books. Roight?"

Bradley Neilson nods. "I'm not very familiar with Muggle things but going in costume sounded so much fun I went with something I'm familiar with. My mom actually whipped this up for me after I'd owled about needing a costume. She did a smashing job. Here, take my picture, please?"

Bradley hands Coco his camera and she, glad it works pretty much like the cameras she's used to, snaps a couple of shots of Bradley as a Grindylow. As she giving the camera back, Bradley grins, "Thanks, Coco. Let me get one of you and Pea. And tell me, what are you two?"

Coco and Pea pose as Bradley takes a picture then Coco explains her outfit. With a wave of one hand, she indicates her pith helmut, the beige safari outfit right down to the puffy jodpurs, the fake pistol in the belt at her waist, and the small chair along with a whip she holds in the other hand. "Oi am uh lion tamer."

Coco then points to Pea, sitting on her outstretched palm. Pea is wearing a tawny mane, tiny little dog booties with teeny claws on the ends, and a longish fake tail topped by a puffball. "An Pea is uh ferocious lion."

As Bradley chuckles over Coco's last statement, she asks, "Yer seen Fritz?"

"He's already gone to the Great Hall. I'm on my way there. Want to walk together?"

"We'd be roight 'onored, Bradley. Oi cain't wait fer tha feast ter start. Roight chuffed ah'bowt it we are."

With that, the two first year Ravenclaws, and Pea of course, exist Ravenclaw House and make their way to the Great Hall.