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A few weeks had passed and Astoria started to feel more and more useless. She only ever felt true happiness around Ginny or even on a broom, and there was always the thought in the back of her mind telling her no. That she shouldn't be on a broomstick because her condition would worsen or that she couldn't date Ginny because she'd never like her back or she'd just lose her. So, she was never really happy.

She started to become addicted to the sensation cutting herself brought, and she would tell herself it was so her nightmares weren't as bad even though she knew that wasn't true. The truth was it was a way to relieve stress when times were tough and she was overthinking (which she did a lot). She knew it wasn't healthy, but if no one knew what harm could it do? She hated it, but people could tell something was wrong and no one knew exactly what it was. Daphne thought her condition was getting worse and Astoria let her think that.

Halloween was coming up and the Gryffindors had decided that they'd through a party in the RoR (Room of Requirement) with what to require to get in on the invitations. None of the Slytherins were invited as expected, so they decided to throw their own party in their common room. They were all secretly hurt that they weren't invited, but being in Slytherin meant isolation from the other houses. It wasn't fun having to depend on only a quarter of the school when in trouble, but they were all very loyal to each other.

Ginny and Matthew waited for a few Slytherins wanting to talk. They knew that the Slytherins probably hadn't been invited and so they decided to smuggle an invitation and bring it to them. The first person that came out was a third year girl who seemed a little confused by the presence of outsiders. Matthew tried to give her the invitation but the younger girl was convinced it was a trap.

Soon after Theodore came out and also seemed a bit confused by their presence.

"We stole an invitation and thought you guy's might like to come," Ginny explained.

"I don't know," Theodore didn't seem pleased, "we've got our own plans, and the others won't be all that pleased."

"You told me that you guy's are always excluded," Matthew started, "you don't have to be."

"I want to ask the others. I'll take the invitation, but we might not show."

"I except those terms," Ginny was happy they even took the envelope. "Give us your answer by tonight."

"Okay."

"Bye," Matthew and Ginny then left.

The two students were pleased and felt like they had accomplished something and they were proud of that. It wasn't much, but they had managed to possibly cheer up a few students and that was worth it. Whether or not the Slytherins actually showed up to the party hadn't been decided yet, but the two hoped that they would show. They knew it was wishful thinking, but they held onto hope.

-~-

Theodore had told all of the Slytherins that Ginny and Matthew had invited them to the Halloween party. None of them really wanted to go, Pansy didn't want to be a party crasher, Draco didn't want to course a seen, Tracey didn't want to create even more of a rift between the houses and Astoria didn't want to go to a party filled with drunk students. None of the Slytherins drunk because it had been nailed into them since birth that it didn't look good. They wouldn't be breaking their habits any time soon.

So, they all decided that they wouldn't go to the RoR and continue with their plans. Theodore asked if he could invite Ginny and Matthew and everyone thought it was a good idea since they were now excepted as family. Millicent wanted to see Matthew anyway, and Astoria wanted an excuse to speak with Ginny. So, they were invited and gladly excepted.

All that was left on the to-do-list was to decorate the common room and smuggle food from the kitchens. The house-elves didn't mind the Slytherins, they actually liked them because they treated them as equals. The Slytherins new what it was like to be treated horribly and wouldn't wish it upon anyone. The house-elves were no exception to that. 

Eventually they had all the supplies they wanted and bean to prepare. Orange and black banners were hung around the common room and platters of food were laid out on the tables. They wouldn't be able to make it super festive, but the Gryffindors had used the only room that contained the decorations for their party. The night was going to be hectic, but the poor Slytherins had no idea what the Gryffindors had up their sleeve.

"Alright," a second year Slytherin started, "have we got everything?"

"I believe so,' a fifth year Slytherin answered.

"Music?"

"Check."

"Food?"

"Check."

"Decorations?"

"Check."

"Have Ginny and Matthew been invited?"

"Double check."

"Okay, good."

They started to head off to the feast and would have the party afterwards. Ginny wasn't on best terms with the Gryffindors and sat with the Slytherins instead. The feast was tantalising and danced on everyone's taste buds. Even Millicent and Pansy couldn't help but eat a proper meal. They hated how they looked and decided to stop eating, but they simply couldn't resist the meal and would probably purge it out later.

Theodore had a strange metabolism and looked like he didn't eat when he ate more than most people. The seventh and sixth years were all eating normally, with a few exceptions here and there. The third to fifth years ate a small meal while the first and second years ate a meal a little bit bigger than normal. The eight years ate less than they probably should, but they managed to eat enough as to not die.

After everyone finished the Slytherins, Ginny and Matthew went down into the dungeons while everyone else went to their common rooms. None of the Slytherins had costumes like everyone else because they were taught it was an immature holiday. Ginny and Matthew didn't have costumes either because they didn't want people to think they were going to the RoR. The Slytherins and their friends went into the dormitory and began the festivities.

They had no clue that a pair of fourth year Gryffindors had planned a prank. And they wouldn't find out until it was too late.

-~-

After the party the Gryffindors had planned two sneaky students snuck away to cause some mischief. Two fifth years; Georgia and Louise were going to prank the Slytherins by pouring a potion on the first few to walk out. It wasn't just any potion though, it was a potion that would open whatever cuts or scar they had. The Slytherins probably wouldn't have any, but it would be enough to freak them out.

And how would they lure the Slytherins out you might ask. They would cause a noise and spill the potion on top of them. Nothing could go wrong, no one would be seriously hurt and they'd get a laugh out of their reactions. They just hoped Matthew and Ginny wouldn't be leaving with them.

The two sneaky Gryffindors went into the dungeons and set up their amazing prank and tried not to make noise. Once the potion was in place they hid and caused a ruckus in order to create a few curious students. It was Astoria, Draco and a few seventh years that came out and the potion was dropped on their heads. They all started freaking out as their robes turn a crimson shade of red and Astoria collapsed. The seventh years began feeling dizzy and Draco could barely stand.

This wasn't the result the Gryffindors had expected. Why had they been so bloody? Daphne soon after walked out and screamed at the sight before her, causing Slughorn to race out and find four bloody students. Not wanting to get in trouble, the fifth year Gryffindors ran out unnoticed and retreated to their common room with questions flooding their heads. 

Soon after they left a second year Slytherin dashed out and went to Madam Pomfrey. All the bleeding students were rushed to the hospital wing on floating stretchers and spent the night there unconscious. They didn't know what had happened to them, all they knew was some unknown liquid collapsed onto their heads and they started bleeding. And no one else knew what happened as all they saw was four students on the floor bleeding to death.

Head Mistress McGonagall came to the hospital wing quickly and asked everyone questions. She uncovered something. It was no accident, and no one in the common room could've done it. She would need to talk to everyone in the castle that wasn't in the Slytherin common room which would take a while.

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Thank you!

        -Turtlefreakakw2 <3