Ch 3

The days of early fall continued to be busy. Sinead quickly became a favorite of all her students and Severus often heard the younger students speak of their lessons with excitement.

"Sinead, how is Halloween celebrated in America?" Albus asked at the staff meeting on the first day of October.

"Well… Salem is decorated and it is one of the most busy tourist locations in the country. They have jack-o-lanterns in Pioneer Village which is a living museum for people to see how old Salem looked. There are lots of haunted houses and costume balls. The Salem Witches ball is a fantastic event. There is also a Vampire Ball where people dress up as their favorite vampires. Lots of trick or treating for the kids. On television they are showing scary movies. It really is one of the best times of year." Sinead said trailing off seeing everyone hanging on her words. "I have some photographs of the Witches Ball in my room…"

"Let's have a costume celebration this year. It's dark times and the children deserve fun. Sinead, would you like to set this up?"

Sinead's face lit up.

"I would be honored."

"I would like to see photos of the Ball." Minerva said with a small smile.

"Of course."

"Me too." Pomona said with a grin. The meeting continued with the professors bringing up any issues they were having or speaking about any students they noticed struggling. After the meeting Sinead went to her room and returned with two photo albums and placed them on the table.

"This was from the fall before I moved to England."

"Look at your dress!" Poppy said admiring the sky blue Victorian style dress and half white mask.

"These costumes are amazing." Minerva said flipping through the pages. "To be young again. This is your friend Maggie, you two could be sisters." Minerva said seeing the pair in similar costumes but in different colors.

"Those are from the Vampire Ball." Sinead said as the pictures switched to groups of people with fangs.

"Quiet realistic." Pomona said examining the pictures.

"Of course they are fake fangs, a few make-up artists make custom fangs fitted to your teeth." Sinead glanced up to see Severus stalk out of the room. She knew that even though he enjoyed his new position as Defense Against The Dark Arts Professor the meetings with Voldemort were wearing on him. Even though he tried to hide it she saw him watching over Draco Malfoy trying to keep up with what was going on with him. Like Severus, Draco looked tired and stressed.

After the staff meeting Sinead made her way down to the Potions lab for her weekly tutoring session with Neville Longbottom. Neville had been very nervous around Sinead until she started to talk about Herbology and how Neville's knowledge of plants was a strength.

"Neville, you are brilliant in Herbology. Professor Sprout always speaks so highly of you and what you know. Use that focus when it comes to Potions."

Sinead focused on Potions with a lot of ingredients he was familiar with. While working she asked him questions about the plants and their growing conditions and what they could be used for. After two lessons in this format Neville began to relax. The third lesson Ginny joined them in the lab working on homework at another table while she chatted about Fred and George's plans for their shop.

"Have you two started your costumes for Halloween?" Ginny shook her head as Neville shrugged. "I hope they are something good as I am in charge of the ball. There will be prizes for top costumes. Tomorrow at dinner it's all going to be announced."

Ginny smiled as Neville looked a bit nervous.

"I'm planning on having a few information sessions and after there will be a table to gather materials for costumes."

"Professor, you are brilliant." Ginny said as Hermonie came into the room her hair messy and looked to be very stressed.

"Professor, here in our Potions book it says to brew Draught of Living Death one way. How it is when I follow these instructions it does not brew perfectly."

Sinead glanced at the directions and sighed.

"Well… this is a difficult potion and I would change a few steps to make the process easier." As Sinead spoke changing the ingredients and adjusting the directions Hermonie nodded making notes on a parchment.

"Professor, how would you make these adjustments? Was it from your mentor or did you figure it out on your own?"

"Both actually, when I was an apprentice with Nathaniel I learned a lot. He explained that Potions Masters and Mistresses learn more from brewing than being taught. He was often telling me to change recipes and brew in a way that was comfortable and worked for me."

Hermonie nodded.

"Last question, if there was notes with directions similar to yours the person would need to be an apprentice or Potions Master?"

"Not necessarily, some wizards are gifted with brewing and never before a Master or Mistress. They excel at brewing but choose another path. Dedicating your life to this work is hard but rewarding."

Hermonie nodded.

"Thank you, that was very helpful."