#triwizevent

I am pretending I do not haff homework.

Say one more thing about ice cream. I dare you.

Hope she hasn't forgotten....

Albus Severus Potter as the Cheshire Cat

The immense and intricate layout of Hogwarts never ceased to amaze Oliver. Of course, it was a magical castle and in some ways seemed to have a mind of its own, but back home, he could not help subjectively comparing Muggle establishments to the castle he called his second home. Needless to say, every single time he never failed to be disappointed by these buildings, far too unmoving and consistent to hold his attention, architectural attractiveness be damned. He suspected that Hogwarts had probably spoiled him in a foul way, but it didn't stop him each time he found something new in the six years he had attended the school for wizardry.

This night was no different.

A bit of wandering around dark, shifting corridors in a costume that half obscured his face led Oliver to a balcony who's existence he had not been previously aware of. It was on the far side of the castle, protruding from the wall facing the grounds and the lake. Students tittered around in brightly colored costumes, chatting with one another about parties or planned Hogsmeade trips, while the more grimly dressed ones blended into the shadows, their silhouettes bending with the dark shapes formed by the flickering candlelight attempting to add to the eerie glow of the harvest moon consistent to the Halloween season.

It was solitary, and though Oliver was usually content in his independence, something about this night struck his heart with aching pangs of loneliness. Times like these were ones where he felt the worst about his inability to socialize of his own accord. People were frightening, being close to said people was frightening, and because of that, Oliver was compelled to spend another holiday on his own.

But maybe, it couldn't be helped.

Besides, he thought as pulled open his cape, carefully drawing his wand from a concealed pocket along with a few supplies. It would probably be best that he had found this balcony on his own. Its convenience in both placing and timing during his time of necessity practically screamed Room of Requirement and he wasn't keen on finding others to help him execute the pranks he had prepared for tonight's festivities.

The costume was a joke. Or it had been, anyways. Ironically enough, of the two costumes Oliver had considered wearing for the school's festivities, the Phantom of the Opera had been the joke, not the bonnet of pink poppy petals or the bright green bodysuit intended to be the makings of a flower that he had stopped constructing halfway through.

As much as he loved being known as the plant boy, it was Halloween, the only time of the year where trying on a new personality was encouraged. And Oliver intended to do just that.

He was weird, he knew that. He also knew that he was not much of a people person, even when he wasn't the one to initiate the conversation. Shy, quiet, and typically content in spending time by himself, the Phantom of the Opera was almost too perfect of a costume for him. Granted, he didn't think he'd find himself randomly breaking out into song, but he didn't quite consider it all out of the realm of possibility, should the appropriate opportunity present itself, of course.

Donning the mask, Oliver couldn't help but look in the mirror, examining the person that looked back at him as he swept back his hair. In a way, covering his face almost made him feel brave; a half mask may not be the best disguise if you didn't want people to know who you are, but Oliver realized that it was more than enough to give his confidence a boost, significantly so. 

A part of her wondered what was happening in the party but the thought of dressing up in the costume her mother had sent her made her heart thump wildly in her chest. The Nyx outfit wasn't revealing, save her shoulders, but it was not what the girl would normally wear and she was sure it would attracted attention that Maddie wasn't sure if she was ready for. But a small voice inside her wanted to go, revel in the attention and (hopefully) blow everyone away. 

Why bother Mads? They'd just laugh at you. You? A Nyx. It is pretty laughable.

She nodded at the ever present voice of her uncle. There wasn't a point in going anyway. Not in that outfit.

Your mother should have picked something that suited you more. What is the most cowardly creature? I guess you could have gone as a chicken.

"I-I would have made th-them look bad," she murmured, echoing remnants of previous conversations with her uncle.

Exactly. Just stay with me. You know I always knew best. I was always better at making the decisions anyway.

Wait. No, that was wrong. Maddie's brows furrowed in confusion. What was wrong with that though? Almost immediately, the instinct to push the conflicting thoughts away came up but she focused, wondering why the statement she had known as truth for so long seemed...off.

A breeze brought another wave of sound to her ears, laughter and music washed over her. It was this. Hogwarts and the Triwizard Tournament that made it wrong. She had made the decision, fought for it when it seemed that everyone didn't believe that she could do it. It was a decision she made solely by herself. Even when she doubted she would be chosen as Champion, Maddie had entered her name in the Goblet. 

Don't start down that road again, Mads. We all know how that'll end. Remember what I said? Estelle and Amelie are looking rather lovely now, don't you think?