‘What would you recommend, Matron?’ Professor Voronov asked Madam Longbottom on Gideon’s behalf.

‘First and foremost, Gideon needs rest, so I suggest he stay here for the remainder of the day and overnight for observation. Beyond that, there are several options. However, given what’s happened, I’d feel better about consulting the Headmistress. She’s far more experienced in such matters. If you’d be kind enough to contact her, Professor, I’ll prepare a sleeping draught and a stronger dose of Dreamless Sleep.’

‘Of course. Thank you, Matron,’ the professor said kindly, ‘Mr Maxwell, you’ll stay here. I will inform your teachers and your dormmates of your absence.’

Gideon nodded in agreement as the adults both left the room. He couldn’t help feeling a little guilty. Professor Voronov had an imposing presence and manner, which intimidated most students, Gideon included. However, the man had been nothing but fair and caring since Gideon had divulged the truth about the dorm fire.

About fifteen minutes later, he noticed out of the corner of his eye, someone arrive at the entrance and head straight into the matron’s office. From the momentary glint of her gold-chained spectacles, Gideon knew it was the headmistress.

Professor Dandridge entered the Hospital Wing after a lengthy discussion with Madam Longbottom. ‘Mr Maxwell,’ she announced, the arms of her chocolate brown robes billowing behind her as she swiftly made her way over to his bed. ‘Sorry to keep you waiting.’

‘Oh, no—no problem, my fault,’ Gideon said clumsily, embarrassed to be bothering the head teacher with his problems.

She smiled and continued, ‘Madam Longbottom has filled me in. She is preparing some potions for you. We want you to get some rest. The problem is, I know from my own experience that you have a natural resistance to sleeping potions. In addition, it seems that Dreamless Sleep doesn’t work on you very well!’

‘Sorry,’ Gideon replied.

‘A hearty constitution is nothing to apologise for,’ she informed him. ‘It does pose a problem for us here, though. I may have a solution if you’ll indulge me?’

‘Sure.’

‘Well, what I would like to do, is remove the dream that’s bothering you from your consciousness. Temporarily, of course! However, it is a rather drastic measure. So, with your permission, I would like to assess your dream first—I won’t ask you to explain it. Would that be alright?’

‘Erm,’ Gideon wondered aloud, unsure whether he wanted to share his dream. Still, she wouldn’t know what it was about, Gideon didn’t even know that. Honestly, he was too tired to give the question the consideration it deserved. It was just a dream, after all, so he agreed, ‘Okay.’

‘Good. I promise you won’t feel a thing. Scoot back on the bed for me, please,’ the professor told him before taking out her wand and touching it perpendicular to his forehead. ‘Now, if you would, try to relax and think back to the last time you experienced the dream. Try to replay it in your mind’s eye.’

Gideon took a breath and reluctantly forced himself to relive the awful vision. As he did so, he heard the headmistress whisper, ‘Somniostendo.’ Unbeknown to him, a widening light had emerged from the back of his head like that of a projector.

While Gideon’s eyes were closed in thought, Professor Dandridge watched a choppy version of the boy’s nightmare play out behind him like a silent movie. She saw the woman reaching out for the tiny hands and looked away as Gwendoline Drake was consumed by flames.

The headmistress adopted a stern but solemn expression. She gathered herself as Madam Longbottom entered the room and removed her wand.

‘Are we ready, then?’ the matron asked.

‘Yes, I think so,’ Professor Dandridge responded.

‘Is everything okay?’ Gideon asked quietly.

‘Fine. I do think we should go ahead, though,’ the professor confirmed, ‘so, if you wouldn’t mind concentrating on the dream once more, just as before?’

Gideon complied, and the professor touched her wand to his head again, this time to his left temple. After a few moments she pulled her wand away and a shiny strand of pink mist appeared to follow. She continued to pull until it broke away from Gideon’s temple and dangled from her wand like bait on a fishing line.

Madam Longbottom handed Professor Dandridge a small vial with a stopper, which the headmistress dropped the wriggling pink mist into before announcing, ‘There, all done! Now, I’m sure Madam Longbottom has already informed you how important dreams are, but I think it’s best I hold on to this one temporarily. Just until you’re ready to process it.’

Gideon didn’t fully understand the former healer’s words, but she surely knew what she was talking about.

‘Okay, Mr Maxwell, I’ll going to leave you in Madam Longbottom’s capable hands,’ the headmistress informed him before swishing away. ‘Sleep well!’

***

‘Up you get, Gideon. Time to wake up,’ came the distant voice of Madam Longbottom along with the sound of the curtain around his bed being drawn open.

Gideon woke up in the Hospital Wing as if no time had passed since he had taken the matron’s potions. However, as he sat up in bed, the difference was immediately perceptible. Both his mind and body felt completely refreshed. He stretched his arms above his head as the matron came back over.

‘You look better!’ she commented.

‘I feel it! Thank you, Madam Longbottom,’ Gideon replied.

‘That’s what I’m here for. Now, after the head’s magic trick, you shouldn’t have any more problems sleeping. However, if you do, be sure you tell me!’

‘I will!’

‘Good! Now get going and you will be in time for breakfast. I expect you’re hungry after sleeping as long as you did!’

***

The matron had been right. Gideon was full of energy, but he was ravenous. After stopping by the empty dorm, changing, and getting his school things for the day, Gideon headed to the Great Hall with his appetite in tow.

He spotted his friends at the far end of the Slytherin table and joined them. Feeling so well rested and his attention drawn to the smell of bacon in the air, Gideon all but forgot the events of the previous day and took his seat without noticing the many stares and whispers of other students.

‘Morning guys,’ he said, reaching for bacon, sausage, egg, toast, and ketchup right away.

‘Morning,’ Dorian alone replied. ‘Professor V mentioned you were out sick. Feeling better?’

‘Much!’ Gideon answered, taking a big bite into the breakfast sandwich he had made. After eating half and gulping down some water, he felt satiated, and his focus returned. ‘I’m sorry about yesterday, guys, and again about the fire in the dorm. I’ve slept properly and things should be okay now. Oh, and Dorian doesn’t have detention anymore—or didn’t. Well, I guess you know that already!’

‘Yeah, that’s great,’ Dorian replied unenthusiastically. ‘Only, people have been talking…’

‘Yeah, they do that,’ Gideon said dryly.

‘People think you’re setting fires on purpose or that you can’t control your magic,’ Dorian said quietly. ‘They think you burned down the Charms classroom, too.’

‘Let them talk,’ Gideon stated confidently. ‘The dorm fire happened and I’m sorry about that, but I know why it did now, and it won’t happen again. The other fire happening on the same night was just a coincidence. It’s stupid to think I could have done it! As for yesterday and almost barbecuing the Gryffindors? Well, who cares if they’re missing an eyebrow or two?’

Dorian smiled weakly but Eoin, who had been quiet up to that point, burst out laughing and sprayed milk from his cereal all over the table.

‘And what about Charms Club?’ Dorian pressed. ‘We heard something happened there.’

‘That wasn’t out of control magic, it was just really good magic!’ Gideon asserted. ‘I did something really cool, probably thanks to all the reading and practicing I’ve been doing, and the club leader got annoyed. That’s all.’

Dorian seemed a little relieved, but he warned, ‘Even so, just be aware that people are talking, especially Crawley and Stevens. They’re making you out to be a maniac.’

‘Oh, yeah, I’m really scary, me! Boogawooga!’ Gideon said with a silly face while flailing his arms. Eoin laughed again, along with Tim, whom Gio swatted on the arm. Apparently, Gio needed more time.

***

Over the next few days things slowly returned to normal. Even Gio was starting to come around. Gideon thought it was natural for the boys to have misgivings over the fire. He just hoped that now he was better, they would eventually forgive and forget.

After Gideon conveniently mentioned why he had a detention writing lines in earshot of the Barrington sisters, word soon got around that Gideon had started the fires accidentally due to insomnia, all but the one in the Charms classroom, which remained a mystery.

Most people seemed to buy the straightforward explanation, but every now and then Gideon still got odd looks from people and noticed whispered conversations around him. Some would simply mention the fires, but others exchanged ridiculous theories. Gideon’s favourite was that he had the power of the Evil Eye, and that his eye patch had been a device to nurture his dark powers.

On occasions when it occurred close by, he would make light of the situation by shouting ‘Boo!’, ‘Boogawooga!’, or simply roaring at bewildered passers-by, much to Eoin’s enjoyment. Soon, even Peeves the Poltergeist was to be heard mocking students by telling them that “Big Bad Gideon” was going to get them!

Gideon more or less returned to his routine. He had adjusted his timetable to make more time for fun and relaxation, but he was still committed to his studies, and his pursuit of curse marks and references to The Weaving. The latter was proving difficult. He was beginning to wonder if they were the type of magic that would only be found in the library’s Restricted Section books.

As the last week of October arrived, the school was abuzz with excitement. Halloween, the first Quidditch match and the first Hogsmeade Village visit were all coming up. Halloween in particular was highly anticipated. Spooky decorations had popped up overnight all around the castle, courtesy of Mrs Mills, the jolly Caretaker, who rumour had it was a big fan of holidays.

The corridors were bestrewn with realistic webbing, from which, life-like spiders would drop down on threads as students passed under them. The statues were covered in vivid green goo that glowed in the dark. The suits of armour would jump out at passers-by, as did the ghosts, who seemed to take their job of scaring students as a matter of pride. Even the paintings joined in.

None of that compared to the Great Hall on the day of the Halloween Feast. The students had enjoyed a lazy weekend, knowing they would have that Monday off to celebrate. Upon walking into the room for breakfast, Gideon and the first-years were caught off guard by the excessively creepy décor.

The usual lightning was dimmed. Instead, the room was lit mainly by the enchanted ceiling, which mirrored a lightning storm, and a sea of carved pumpkin lanterns with different monstrous faces.

In addition, more of Mrs Mills’ webbing darted between the pillars, the walls appeared to be oozing blood, and live bats circled above. Throughout the day, students discussed the hall in anticipation for the feast. Many students joked about whether Professor Voronov might be among the bats. Variations of the joke got tired very quickly.

One of the things that generated the most conversation was a special spell prepared by the teachers. Every five minutes a spectral image of the Grim Reaper would appear at some point around the hall and attempt to behead a nearby student with its scythe before disappearing with an evil laugh. Avoiding his reaping became a game of sorts.

The other thing that had the students in a tizzy was speculation about the night’s special performance. It was traditional that an act of some kind closed the event. Rumours about past performances were doing the rounds. Gideon didn’t pay much mind to Hogwarts rumours anymore, but there were some interesting ones.

‘I heard there was a mountain troll once,’ Gio informed a group of Slytherins in their Common Room.

‘A troll?’ Dorian asked sceptically.

‘Apparently, a troupe of dancing skeletons have appeared a few times!’ Cheryl shared eagerly.

‘That might be fun to watch!’ Sasha replied. ‘Personally, though, I’d prefer a singer. Someone really famous!’

‘It is Professor Dandridge’s first year as headmistress,’ Tim commented, ‘so there’s a chance they might go the extra mile, isn’t there?’

‘As long as they don’t trot out old Celestina Warbeck!’ Eoin jested.

After a round of giggles, Gideon suggested, ‘Fire-eaters might be cool?’

‘Really, Gideon? I think we’ve had enough fire around here, don’t you?’ Gio said. There was an awkward moment of silence before the boy smiled widely and the group laughed harder than ever.

***

As the Slytherins headed up to the Halloween Feast that evening, discussion about possible guest performers was replaced by something even more mysterious. In the Entrance Hall, a previously non-existent set of double doors had appeared. They were decorated with more of Mrs Mills’ webbing and some sinister-looking chains with a skull-shaped padlock.

Excited whispers broke out among the group as soon as they laid eyes on it. The frantic speculation only stopped once everyone had taken their seats in the Great Hall and Professor Dandridge rose to speak.

‘Happy Halloween to you all!’ The Headmistress announced, wearing bright orange, bat-patterned robes. ‘Let the feast begin!’

The food suddenly appeared on the tables and an awestruck roar of approval echoed around the room. Gideon delighted in sampling all manner of Halloween-inspired foods. There were classics like toffee apples, candy corn and pumpkin pie, as well as bowls of spaghetti enchanted to move like worms, meat dishes enchanted to beat like organs, and sweets made to resemble eyeballs.

Once everyone appeared to be sufficiently stuffed, the Headmistress rose again and said, ‘Now, I have a couple of surprises to mark the occasion. Firstly, I’m sure many of you will have noticed the mysterious doors on your way here this evening.

‘I’m very happy to reveal that behind those doors is a new addition to Hogwarts! A shared area I’m naming the Student Lounge. Essentially, it is a new indoor space for students of all houses to congregate.’

The subsequent murmuring and polite round of applause seemed to indicate it was a nice idea. However, with the way that the houses competed, Gideon wondered how popular the new area would be.

‘There are numerous ways in which our four houses compete. I wanted to create a place where they can come together to share knowledge and make connections. The Lounge is now open, and you’ll be free to take a look in just a moment.

‘However, you might want to hold off as your second surprise will be revealed shortly. First, though, if everyone could please assemble in the middle of the room?’

Once the students had shuffled around, the teachers magically moved the now empty tables and benches to either side of the room to create a large open space. The staff table was also pushed back to the far wall and a space was created at the head of the room.

Only Professor Dandridge remained on the elevated area and cleared her throat to continue, ‘Ladies and gentlemen, boys and girls; please give a big Hogwarts welcome to our guests for the evening—’

The professor stood aside and with a few flourishes of her wand, the wall torches went out and with a flash and a bang, a thick pink smog appeared at the head of the room. As the smoke began to clear, the outline of several people could be seen and the sound of magically enhanced instruments filled the room.

‘—The Stargazers!’

The room erupted into a mix of cheers, screams and to Gideon’s dismay, some groans. Gideon couldn’t believe his luck as the Stargazers lead singer began to perform their classic number, Star Child. He was seeing his favourite band play live! As amazing as the moment was for him, sadly, he couldn’t help noticing some students using the opportunity to go see the new Student Lounge, including some of his friends.

‘What’s the matter?’ Gideon questioned Eoin, who looked less than enthused.

‘Nothing, I’m just not a big fan,’ he replied.

‘How about you, Dorian?’

‘They’re alright,’ Dorian answered simply. ‘I think I’ll go check out the new room with Gio and Tim, though. I’ll come back for their more popular songs.’

Gideon knew the Stargazers were a little hit or miss for some, but he was a little disappointed that he couldn’t share this moment with his friends. Still, he certainly wasn’t going to miss it. He moved to the front of the room and joined the large crowd of students who were dancing and singing along.

Gideon stared up at the leather-clad heroes who once graced the wall of his bedroom at Maxwell Manor and belted out the chorus of their song with those around him. Looking around, he was dazzled by the many glowing fairies flying around, creating a light show. Then, he spotted Alex Grimsby on the other side of the room, jumping, and singing along as passionately as anyone.

They made eye contact for a moment and Gideon thought he caught the boy smile, but just then, another familiar face appeared in his sightline.

‘You’re a fan, too, huh?’ said Talia loudly.

Gideon beamed with joy and declared, ‘They’re my favourite band!’

Gideon enjoyed the performance together with Talia and as the band’s more mainstream songs came on, he was happy to see others return to the Great Hall. Unfortunately, that included Jason Crawley and Greg Stevens.

‘Pulso!’

Before Gideon knew it, he was on the floor, dropped by a full power Shocker Spell. In the middle of the crowd, where teachers couldn’t see, Gideon lied convulsing on the floor as Jason continued to zap him repeatedly.

‘Get off him, you neanderthal!’ Talia yelled angrily and pushed Jason away. However, Gideon looked up to see Greg take his friend’s place. The nasty boy grinned widely as he covertly shocked Gideon while pretending to dance. The few people that had noticed didn’t know what was going on.

Every time Gideon began to recover enough to reach for his wand, Greg would shock him again and his limbs seized up. Gideon was angry. He gritted his teeth and concentrated as hard as he could on reaching his wand.

Suddenly, the sounds of cheers became screams, increasing until they were loud enough to rival the band, and terrible orange flashes filled the room. As the crowd began to thin and Greg ducked for cover, Gideon looked on in horror as the Great Hall’s floating lanterns exploded one by one in quick succession, raining down pumpkin and embers on the terrified crowd below.