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the five of them in the room that morning was kept. Amanda was in Hogwarts three times a week and every Saturday morning, they had decided to meet up in the same room in which they had first met. Saffron felt like it was much to all of their benefits. Beyond Amanda, it helped keep the Mitchells close which was paramount for her, as, with the chaos that was Hogwarts, it was very easy to lose focus on what they had outside of the school.

They learned an inordinate amount of information about their family. For instance, how their mother spent a Summer with Sage Gill and Amanda at Amanda's house near a lake. How they had ultimately befriended Lily Evans, Harry's mother. More defined details as to how their parents met were revealed, which furthered their knowledge as to how they spent their time in Squires. On top of that, Amanda confirmed that Sage was still living in Ireland with her son, but that she hadn't spoken to her for a long time.

Maya was adamant that Amanda was purposely leaving holes in the stories she told them. But in all honesty, Saffron wasn't overly bothered. It was more than she had ever gotten before, so, for now, it would have to do.

Besides, she didn't have much time to ponder over it, as Hogwarts was proving to still be a rollercoaster that only went down. Everything flew by like crazy, and before any of them knew it, Halloween was right around the corner.

Having a properHalloween in Hogwarts was something that Saffron was looking forward to. After the fiasco that was Hermione's emotional breakdown and subsequent encounter with a troll, Saffron felt as though she owed it to herself to ensure that this year would be spent properly. She wasn't entirely sure what properly meant yet, as students went on about a band of skeletons, apple bobbing with Professor Dumbledore and there being sweets galore on show in the Great Hall.

But, in typical Harry fashion, he had to throw a wrench into that plan. As Ser Nicholas was holding what he called a Deathday party and had asked Harry to attend. In turn, Harry was basically begging his friends to attend with him. Hermione agreed immediately, citing that it would be a unique experience. Saffron and Ron, on the other side of things, weren't as quick to agree.

"Why on earth would somebody want to celebrate their own death?" said Saffron confusedly. "I mean if you die old, then you would. But almost getting decapitated isn't exactly something to hang your hat on, is it?"

"I don't like the sound of this, Harry," Ron added to Saffron's point solemnly. "Sounds dead depressing to me,"

"Please," Harry practically begged them, looking from Saffron to Ron with a forlorn expression on his face. "I already said I'd go, Nick really helped me out of a tough spot, I couldn't say no... "

Saffron sighed. She felt like she couldn't say no to him, just as Harry couldn't say no to Nick. Especially on the day that it was. Halloween was the day that Harry's parents died and if Amanda's story had thought them anything, it was to prioritise looking out for each other. As soon as Harry's eye locked onto hers, she agreed.

"Fine, I'll do it,"

Both Saffron and Ron were in a huff when they walked past the alluring smells from inside the Great Hall and instead continued to walk down to the dreary dungeons. They knew which way to go as the route was lined with large candlesticks which instead of the usual orange colour of fire, were a bright blue. Saffron moaned about not bringing a coat due to how cold it was down there, as they went further and further underground.

"Is that supposed to be music?" Ron hissed. Saffron winced in return. It sounded like the sharpest nails were scratching a blackboard continuously. She got eerie chills down her spine because of it.

"My dear friends," Nearly Headless Nick made his way over to them. It was his expression that told Saffron that he personally wasn't celebrating the day but mourning it, which made sense to her. However, she wasn't entirely sure if that were the case before attending. "Welcome, welcome... so pleased you could come..."

Sharing apprehensive glances, they followed Nick inside to a room full to the brim (or at least, that was how it looked whereas in actuality any number of ghosts could have fit into it) of ghosts of different shapes and sizes.

"Shall we have a look around?" Harry asked them.

"Careful not to walk through anyone," commented Ron, but obliged and walked around the room of ghosts. Amidst all of the many ghosts, one stood out to Saffron more than any of the others.

Saffron nudged Hermione, jerking her head towards one of the ghosts. "Look who it is."

"Never in a million years did I think she would come to a party," said Hermione, amazed at seeing Moaning Myrtle - the ghost that effectively haunted the girl's bathroom on the first floor, out of that bathroom. "Come on, let's turn back, I don't want to talk to her,"

"Who's this?" questioned Harry, as Hermione grabbed his arm and pulled him in the opposite direction.

" Moaning Myrtle," Saffron told him. "She lives in the girl's bathroom on the first floor, which is why nobody ever uses it,"

"She haunts a toilet?"

"Yes. It's been out-of-order all year because she keeps having tantrums and flooding the place. I never went in there anyway if I could avoid it; it's awful trying to have a pee with her wailing at you--" explained Hermione, but was cut off by Ron

"Look, food!" exclaimed Ron. Suddenly, Saffron's interests were peaked. She and the others followed Ron over to a long narrow table full of what appeared to be food. And it was, although, not the edible kind. Saffron clasped her hand over her nose when it caught the scent of the most out of date food she had ever seen. Rotten fishes, burned cakes, haggis infested by maggots, mouldy cheese, a large bowl of disintegrating salad and to top it all off, another cake with Sir Nicholas' name on it. It was vomit inducing.

Saffron clutched onto Hermione's arm and took several steps backwards in order to get away from it. Meanwhile, a ghost floated through it, seemingly to try and taste some of it.

"I expect they've let it rot to give it a stronger flavour," said Hermione cleverly, letting go of Saffron's arm and walking forward to inspect the mould haggis.

"Excellent," Saffron murmured sarcastically, sharing a desperate look with Ron. It was clear that the only incentive either of them had to be there was Harry.

"Can we move? I feel sick," stated Ron.

They did so, but no sooner had they done so, did they see the menace that was the Poltergeist Peeves in front of them. Saffron rolled her eyes when she saw him and stared pointedly in the opposite direction. How no teacher had done anything to combat Peeves in the school was a mystery to her. He was plain cruel and seemed to live the serve one purpose; to make life hell for as many students and teachers alike, as possible.

"Nibbles?" Saffron turned to see Peeves offering them food.

"No thanks," replied Hermione curtly.

"Heard you talking about poor Myrtle," cackled Peeves. " Rude you was about poor Myrtle. OY! MYRTLE!"

"Oh, no, Peeves, don't tell her what I said, she'll be really upset," Hermione groaned. "I didn't mean it, I don't mind her - er, hello, Myrtle."

Moaning Myrtle had made her way towards them and looked at them sadly through her translucent glasses. "What?" 

"How are you, Myrtle?" Hermione's voice had never sounded more insincere and false in the entirety of its existence. "It's nice to see you out of the toilet."

"Miss Granger and her friends were just talking about you -" Peeves hissed into Myrtle's ear. "Just saying--"

"Just saying - saying - how nice you look tonight," Hermione glared at Peeves.

"You're making fun of me," Myrtle cried out in response.

"No Myrtle, honestly we were just talking about--" Saffron began, trying to take some of the heat off of Hermione, but she was cut off my Myrtle.

"Don't lie to me," Myrtle gasped. "D'you think I don't know what people call me behind my back? Fat Myrtle! Ugly Myrtle! Miserable, moaning, moping Myrtle!"

"You've forgotten pimply," wheezed Peeves

With that, Myrtle burst into tears and glided out of the dungeon, Peeves hot on her heels, yelling, "Pimply! Pimply!"

"Oh, dear," frowned Hermione.

"Peeves is a twat," Ron stated, as Nearly Headless Nick now drifted toward them through the crowd.

"Enjoying yourselves?"

"Definitely," nodded Saffron, lying, as the others did similarly.

"Not a bad turnout," said Nearly Headless Nick proudly. "The Wailing Widow came all the way up from Kent... It's nearly time for my speech, I'd better go and warn the orchestra..."

"Can we just leave?" Saffron whispered into Ron's ear. She chose Ron to ask because she knew neither Harry nor Hermione would be on board with the plan. Hermione seemed genuinely fascinated by the proceedings whilst Harry felt indebted to Nick, and therefore wouldn't do anything to upset him.

"Just give it a minute," said Ron quietly. "They'll crack any second now," He darted his eyes in the direction of Hermione and Harry. Saffron pouted. She didn't share the same confidence that the two of them would want to leave anytime soon.

Her guess proved to be incorrect, for it wasn't until Harry awkwardly insisted that Nick was a brave noble ghost that they opted to leave, which was approximately two minutes after Saffron suggested leaving to Ron. She felt relieved to be out of there and to be able to breathe properly out of the dungeons.

Minutes later, however, she wished that she hadn't of left the dungeons. What came next was immeasurably worse than any Deathday party.