As the days grew shorter and the chill of autumn settled over the Hogwarts grounds, the excitement for the Halloween feast began to spread throughout the castle. The corridors were filled with pumpkins the size of small boulders, and ghosts floated merrily through the halls, whispering tales of past celebrations. For many students, especially the first-years, this would be their first Hogwarts Halloween, and the air buzzed with anticipation.
For Harry and the members of the Order of the Stars, the lead-up to Halloween was filled with plans, both official and secret. They had decided to make the holiday a special one for their club. Even though their numbers were still small, the bond between them was growing stronger after their Forbidden Forest excursion, and they wanted to mark the occasion with something memorable.
"We should do something big," Fred Weasley suggested one evening during one of their club meetings. "Something that'll make people notice us."
"Like what?" Neville asked, his eyes wide with curiosity.
Fred grinned mischievously. "Well, Halloween is the perfect time for a bit of fun, isn't it? A few harmless pranks, maybe?"
George chimed in. "Or we could decorate the Great Hall with something spectacular—something no one would expect."
Susan Bones, sitting across from them, rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "You two are going to get us all into trouble."
"Trouble?" Fred grinned. "No, Susan, it's memorable—there's a difference."
"Besides," Harry added, leaning back in his chair, "I think we can do something fun without breaking too many rules."
The twins looked skeptical but intrigued. "Go on," George prompted."We could use the club's influence to organize something a little... unconventional," Harry suggested. "Maybe a scavenger hunt or a secret challenge for the club members. We could even leave clues around the castle, something to add a bit of mystery to the night."
Padma, who had been quietly listening, raised an eyebrow. "That could work, as long as it's not too dangerous. I mean, we don't want to end up in the Forbidden Forest again."
Hagrid, who had become the unofficial supervisor of the club, gave a hearty chuckle from the corner where he sat. "The Forbidden Forest ain't so bad, Padma, but I get what yeh mean. No need fer more trips there just yet."
The club members mulled over the idea, and after much discussion, they agreed on a plan. The Order of the Stars would organize a secret scavenger hunt throughout Hogwarts, with riddles and clues that would lead to hidden prizes. It would be something fun and challenging, a way to bring the club together while keeping it under the radar of the professors.
As the day of Halloween arrived, Hogwarts was a hive of activity. The castle had been transformed for the occasion, with enchanted pumpkins and ghostly decorations adding to the festive atmosphere. The Great Hall was filled with laughter and excitement as students prepared for the annual Halloween feast.
Harry Potter, however, was not in a celebratory mood. He had known about his parents' deaths for some time now, and Halloween, the anniversary of their murder, was a painful reminder of his loss. Despite this, he wanted his club members, the Order of the Stars, to enjoy the night. He had worked hard to organize the scavenger hunt and wanted them to have a memorable time.
At breakfast in the Great Hall, the atmosphere buzzed with excitement as Neville stood up to make an important announcement. The Order of the Stars had organized a scavenger hunt, and Harry wanted to make sure everyone knew about it. As he cleared his throat, the chatter in the hall slowly quieted, with curious eyes turning toward Neville.
"Good morning, everyone," Neville began, trying to hide his nerves. "I'm excited to announce that our club, the Order of the Stars, is hosting a scavenger hunt this evening! It's open to all students, and we'd love for as many of you as possible to join in."
He paused as the room erupted in a wave of murmurs, with students from all Houses whispering to one another about the prospect of the hunt.
"The rules are simple," Neville continued, raising his voice slightly. "You'll need to form a team of four people to participate. You don't have to be a member of our club to join, so feel free to team up with your friends. Once you've got your team together, come see me or Susan Bones, our club secretary, to register your team name. The hunt will take place this evening, and it'll last for three hours, so we'll have plenty of time to finish before the Halloween feast."
The students in the hall seemed to perk up even more at the mention of the feast, but it was clear that many were already thinking ahead to the scavenger hunt. Harry could hear snippets of conversation about potential team members and strategies for the hunt.
Throughout the day, the club members were kept busy as a stream of students approached either Neville or Susan to register their teams. Some students were bursting with enthusiasm, eager to participate in what they hoped would be a fun and challenging event. There were groups from all Houses—Gryffindors, Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, and even a few Slytherins—coming together to form teams.
Some team names were creative, like "The Firebolts," while others were more humorous, like "Pumpkin Prowlers." Even those who weren't members of the Order of the Stars were excited about joining the hunt, appreciating the opportunity for a little friendly competition."Are there any clues about what we're looking for?" asked a Ravenclaw girl as she signed up her team, her quill poised over the parchment.
"You'll find out when the hunt starts," Susan replied with a knowing smile. "Just make sure you're ready at the starting point by evening."
As evening approached, the anticipation in the castle grew. Students gathered near the starting point, buzzing with excitement as they waited for the scavenger hunt to begin. Teams stood together, talking strategy, each hoping to outsmart the others and find the hidden clues scattered around Hogwarts.
By the time the scavenger hunt kicked off, nearly every team was in high spirits, racing through the corridors, scouring classrooms, and exploring the grounds. The air was electric with energy, and though the Halloween feast would follow, the scavenger hunt had already made the evening unforgettable.
For the next three hours, students were completely absorbed in the hunt, solving riddles, collecting clues, and working together as a team. It was exactly the kind of fun Harry had hoped it would be, and by the time it was over, everyone was exhausted but thrilled with the experience.
With the scavenger hunt wrapped up, the students returned to the Great Hall, where the Halloween feast awaited them, a well-earned reward after an evening of excitement.
The Halloween feast was in full swing, the Great Hall glowing with floating jack-o'-lanterns and bats fluttering overhead. Plates overflowed with food, and students laughed and joked, still buzzing with excitement from the scavenger hunt. But Harry Potter wasn't in the mood for any of it.
He slipped out quietly, unnoticed by most except for Fred and George Weasley, who had spotted him earlier, looking particularly somber.
"Oi, Harry, you alright?" Fred had asked, noticing the way Harry's eyes seemed to dim despite the lively atmosphere around him.
Harry had merely shrugged, his voice low. "I just don't feel like celebrating, that's all."
Fred and George exchanged a look, their usual mischievous expressions softening. They knew this day meant something painful for Harry—the anniversary of his parents' murder. George nodded in understanding.
"Go on, mate. We'll cover for you. Just take some time for yourself," Fred had said, and Harry gave them both a grateful nod before disappearing from the Great Hall.
As Harry wandered the darkened halls of the castle, he found solace in the quiet. The magical decorations, while meant to be festive, somehow made the castle even more beautiful at night. The flickering lights from enchanted torches, the eerie shadows cast by old portraits, and the occasional chill breeze that seemed to follow him made it feel like Hogwarts was alive, breathing softly around him.
He drifted aimlessly until he found himself near the infamous third-floor corridor, the one Dumbledore had specifically warned students to avoid. But Harry was hardly in the mood for following rules tonight. He felt a strange pull toward it, as if there was something in the dark, secret corridors waiting for him.
As he approached the corridor, lost in thought, the hairs on the back of his neck stood on end. Suddenly, he heard something—a heavy, ominous sound like thunderous footsteps echoing through the hall. Harry froze, his hand instinctively moving to his wand. The sound grew louder, and with a slow, chilling realization, Harry understood it wasn't just a trick of the castle.
Something large was coming his way.
Meanwhile, back in the Great Hall, the joyous atmosphere was suddenly shattered as Professor Quirrell burst through the large oak doors, his face pale and terror-stricken."Troll!" he screamed, his voice trembling. "Troll
dungeon! Thought you ought to know!" With that, he collapsed in a dramatic faint, sending the hall into immediate chaos.
Students shrieked in panic, and some leapt to their feet, while others looked around wildly, unsure of what to do. The prefects were already scrambling to guide their Houses, trying to maintain some order.
Professor Dumbledore stood up at once, his voice booming across the hall. "Silence!" he commanded, and the room fell still.
"Prefects, lead your Houses back to your common rooms at once!" he ordered. "Teachers, follow me—we must find the troll!"
But then, a clear voice cut through the murmurings. Hermione Granger, always sharp and quick-thinking, called out, "But, Professor! Slytherin's common room is in the dungeon!"
The realization hit the students like a cold splash of water. Slytherin House, whose common room was located in the very place the troll had been found, would be marching directly toward danger.
Even the Slytherins, who were usually proud and defiant, glanced at one another with wide eyes. Amara Shafiq, a Slytherin prefect, nodded at Hermione in thanks, recognizing her quick thinking had likely saved them.
Dumbledore immediately amended his instructions. "Everyone, remain here in the Great Hall. Prefects, stay with your Houses and make sure no one leaves. Teachers, come with me." He turned swiftly, leading the professors out of the hall as the students huddled together, fear beginning to set in.
Back in the third-floor corridor, Harry found himself face to face with the troll.
The creature was enormous, towering over him with gray, lumpy skin and a vacant, drooling expression. It held a massive wooden club in one hand, dragging it along the floor as it lumbered closer. Harry's heart raced, his mind scrambling for a plan. He knew running wouldn't help—the troll was fast, despite its size.
Instinctively, Harry raised his wand, his mind running through every spell he had learned so far. He began casting, sending spell after spell flying toward the troll, the colors lighting up the dark corridor. Stupefy! Red sparks flew from his wand, but they only seemed to irritate the creature. Expelliarmus! His disarming charm had no effect on a creature that wasn't holding a wand.
The troll snarled and swung its club wildly, missing Harry by inches. Panic surged through him as he realized none of the spells were slowing the troll down. It was getting closer, and the smell of its rotting flesh filled the air.
In desperation, Harry began casting silently—another skill he had practiced in secret. His wand flashed again and again, the spells shimmering in the dim light of the castle, but none seemed to be enough to stop the beast.
Then an idea struck him.
The club. The troll's own weapon.
Harry pointed his wand at the troll's club, focusing all his energy on one spell. "Wingardium Leviosa," he whispered under his breath. The club trembled in the troll's hand, then slowly began to lift out of its grip.
The troll blinked in confusion, its small mind unable to comprehend what was happening. Harry didn't give it time to react. With a silent flick of his wand, he swung the club through the air and smashed it into the troll's head with a sickening thud.
The troll roared in pain, stumbling backward, but Harry didn't stop. He swung the club again. And again. Each blow struck the troll harder than the last, and soon, the creature's knees buckled.
With one final, resounding crack, the troll collapsed to the floor, unconscious.
Breathing heavily, Harry lowered his wand, his heart pounding in his chest. He stared at the massive form of the troll lying motionless before him, the club still hovering in the air above its head. Slowly, he released the levitation charm, letting the club fall with a heavy thud beside the creature.
Harry stood there, alone in the dark corridor, the silence pressing in around him. His hands were trembling, but he had done it. He had defeated the troll—alone.
But even as the adrenaline began to fade, Harry couldn't shake the gnawing sadness that lingered in his chest. This was the night his parents had died, and even a victory like this couldn't change that.