Wish Upon A Pumpkin (A Poofwalno Family Piece)

LonelyRiddle

“Everyone, may I have your attention please,” called Headmaster Albus Dumbledore from the Staff Table. “I have some most exciting news for you today. The Staff and I have been discussing it for some time now, and are finally prepared to make an announcement. In two weeks time on the night of Halloween we will have a Grand Halloween Ball. It will be here in the Great Hall, and it is likely that we will have a Muggle band perform for us, should all the planning go alright…”

“You’re JOKING Dumbledore!” rang a voice from the stunned crowd.

“I assure you, Mr. Potter, I am not joking,” said Albus with a chuckle. “Though I did hear an excellent joke about a Banshee, a Werewolf, and a House-Elf who all go up the tallest tower…”

Richard heard a coughing sound from his Transfiguration Professor, Minerva McGonagall, and he could have sworn he saw the Headmaster blanch.

“Ah, well, perhaps this is not the time. Though, it really never seems to be, does it James? Moving on, should everything work out with the band, I think you all will be most pleased. Additionally, the Ball will be a costume ball if you wish to dress up, but at the very least Dress Robes will be worn. That’s all for today students; a full day of magical learning awaits you!”

His thoughts had become a maelstrom inside his mind. A ball? Could this be an opportunity for him to ask Taelynna about what had been weighing on him? Or could it be an excellent time for him to embarrass himself in front of the whole school? Either way, there was too much to do, too much to get prepared. It was as if there was not enough time to plan or make sure that it’s all ready in time. Surely there had to be a way, something to help him…

“Riddle! Snap out of it!” said the voice of James Potter, sitting across from Richard and who appeared to be trying to get his attention for some time now.

“Oh, Hi James,” replied Richard dazedly. “What can I do for you?”

“What can you do for me, you hapless sap? Nah, I don’t need anything. This ball thing though, what do you reckon?”

“I reckon I won’t be taking you, Potter. I’m not that kind of bloke.”

“Who’s asking you, you great stupid prat? I figured you would be taking the Slytherin you’re always with…” James trailed off.

Richard followed his eyes to see what he was looking at, and then smirked.

“Actually James, I was thinking of asking out Lily Evans…”

James’ eyes shot back to his, and you could see the look of barely repressed fury behind them.

“You…you what?” James asked with narrowed eyes.

“Calm down, Potter!” Richard chuckled. “I have no intentions of asking Evans, I don’t want to be hexed by her, you, or my own girlfriend. So…are you going to ask her out again? It’s been what, 6 years of you pining and her shooting you down? Going for another go, then?”

“Yeah, yeah…laugh it up, Riddle. I think she is starting to soften up towards me. I think this time is going to be it for us, she’s going to say yes this time…” he finished, although he looked as if he were struggling to convince himself.

“Ah, well, there is an old Muggle saying Potter,” Richard responded, “that says ‘The art of love is largely the art of persistence’, and you’ve been nothing if not that.”

“Ah, Muggles. Gotta love em, don’t we? Hey listen, Riddle…I still owe you for getting me out of that pinch with McGonagall, so if you need anything let me know.”

James had stuck his hand out to shake. Richard contemplated not shaking it, as James had been the bane of his existence for a good while, when he was a younger boy. It was obvious to him that over the past year or so that James was growing up, and he was a good man now who would continue grow into a better person, especially if he had Lily Evans’ help.

“Of course, James,” replied Richard, shaking his hand. “Come to think of it, I could use your help. I want to make this ball really special for Tae, and I’ve got some ideas, but I need some better ones, and maybe some help on execution. Think you could help me out there, mate?”

“Sure thing, but what did you have in mind?”

“Oh, well it starts with a giant pumpkin see…”

Richard was walking along the dungeon corridor that he knew held the Slytherin Common Room. For all his planning, it would be for naught if she didn’t agree to go to the Ball with him. One of those details he reckoned he ought to have worked out before putting everything into motion.

Suddenly, he heard a noise from behind him, and he turned hoping that it was her finally coming out. It was not who he wanted, quite the opposite.

It was Bellatrix Black. She hated him, and he hated her. They had dated for a few months back in 5^th year, and needless to say, it did not end well.

“What are you doing down here, Riddle?”

“Why, I’ve come to see you Bella, love! How is my gorgeous Death Eater in training? Serving your master well, are you?”

“Like you would know anything about it, Riddle! You and your damn foolhardy Gryffindors, don’t know anything! You’re all Mudbloods and blood-traitors!”

In a one fell swoop, he had her pushed against a wall, and his wand at her throat. He could have sworn he heard her whimper.

“You didn’t think I was so bad before you found out I was Muggle born, did you? That long and lovely night in the Astronomy Tower, you didn’t think me so bad then.”

He leaned down, and looked directly into her eyes. He loved to tease and torture her like this. He knew she wanted him still, and that she couldn’t anymore drove her mad. Her eyes flicked down to his lips, and he could feel her breathing become erratic.

“Oi! Riddle! Quit teasing Bella!” a voice shouted from down the hall.

A voice he knew, and was very happy to finally hear. Ignoring the small moan of disappointment from Bella, he walked down the hallway to greet her.

“Tae…,” he said in a whisper as he reached her, “I am so glad to see you.”

He pulled her close, and leaned down to give her a gentle kiss. It was not as heated or as passionate as some of their kisses had been, but it spoke greater volumes than some of them ever could. He pulled back, and gazed into her dark brown eyes. He loved her eyes. Sometimes they were like dark chocolate, and when she was angry they could be as distorted as the flames of hell. The way her eyes would flicker like that, the way her cheeks flushed. He really liked seeing her angry.

“You’re beautiful, you know that?” he asked her.

“Actually, I’m not really sure. Why don’t you tell me?”

“You’re more beautiful than words can express. When I see you, I see not only you, but I see the light of the Gods within you. To compare Aphrodite to you would be irrationally nonsensical.”

What happened next, he was not expecting. She kissed him. She kissed him hard. Not that he was complaining; she just didn’t usually like public displays like this too much, even if it was an abandoned corridor near the Slytherin dungeons.

She finally pulled away. Her robes were disheveled, her hair mussed up, and her lips red, looking as if they might bruise.

“How did I get so lucky as to find you?” she asked with a whisper.

“I think it is me who is lucky, but you had better not let your house-mates hear you saying that, my dear Slytherin.”

She swatted him on the arm, begun walking down the hallway. He fell into step beside her.

“I don’t care what anyone else thinks anymore. I’m tired of living how they want me to live. Besides, none of them have someone that makes them as happy as you make me.”

“I love it when you say that. I’ve been meaning to ask you, since you missed breakfast. Dumbledore announced this morning that there was going to be a Halloween Ball. I want you to be my date.”

She turned and looked at him, with what appeared to be sorrow in her eyes.

“Richard…you know I don’t like going to things like that. It’s just a chance for people to show off to one another, and it serves right into the plans of those elitist prats.”

“I know that, love. It’s just…I love you, and I want to the world to know it. I want them to see it on my face when you walk in there on my arm, and see in your smile that you love me too. That’s all.”

She looked like she was fighting with herself about something. It was obvious that the cogs in her brain were trying to work out whether or not she wanted to do this. She knew how bad he wanted this, and she really appreciated that he wanted to make that statement with her. Well, she thought, it’s only a dance. It’s not like he was proposing marriage or something. The thought raced into her mind unbidden and without restraint. Suddenly, she saw herself at the altar next to him with their families on each side. She shook her head, and then met his eyes again.

“Okay. I’ll go. But only on one condition.”

“Anything! Just name it.” He replied anxiously.

“Kiss me again.”

“That I can definitely do,” he whispered as he obliged.

*****************

The night was upon him. This night was the night when all of his plans would come to fruition. At least he hoped. So much was riding on so many things. He needed for them all to work out properly. He only hoped that Potter would have gotten everything right as he said he would. He had even asked and received help from Lily Evans, who despite everything with Potter had always been really nice to him. He knew what Severus meant when he talked about her now, not that he would dare mention his words to James.

He stood in front of his dormitory mirror, contemplating the evening. They had decided to go dressed as Muggles, mostly so they could throw it in the face of the contemptuous Slytherins, and the snotty Gryffindors. That would show them to meddle about in their business. He looked himself over again. He was wearing a black Diamond Lapel Tuxedo, with a black Hilfiger Fullback Satin Vest, a plain black button down shirt, with a crimson tie and handkerchief.

He had one piece of the plan that no one knew about. The ring. The ring that was an eighteen carat blue diamond set in emeralds with a platinum band. He had pooled a decent chunk of his savings for this ring, but he knew in his heart that nothing would be too expensive for his love. The one who had his heart from nearly the moment they met. He could only hope it would be enough for her, because he felt he could never say how he felt, never find the words, never do enough to show how much he loved her.

He double checked his cuffs, and made sure the ring was in his pocket. Now, he actually had to go down and meet his destiny.

He marched down the stairs and into the Common Room. He saw James standing over by the fireplace and he made a beeline for him.

“Hey, Potter.”

“Hello, Riddle. Lovely evening isn’t it? Yes, I daresay it is…,” he responded, chattering on nervously.

“James,” Richard asked carefully, “What’s got you so rattled?”

“Oh…well, it’s the ball. Evans finally told me she’d go with me, and after all this time, you’d think I’d be ready for it. Quite the opposite, mate. I’m afraid that now that I got my one chance, that I will muck it up. I couldn’t deal if that happened. What should I do?”

“James,” he started with a chuckle. “You know better than this, mate. Just be the person that she decided to go to the ball with. Be yourself. Besides, if you are more or even less, you will just be a disappointment in the end. Just be yourself, and it will be fine. Now, how about all of our preparations? Everything go well? Evans too?”

“Yes,” replied James. “I spoke with her earlier, and she said that all would be ready. Now keep in mind, I charmed the pumpkin on the outside of the door to respond to your touch before the real magic kicks in. Evans put her bit on there too, so it should all be alright.”

“Thanks, James.” He said, clapping him on the shoulder. “I can’t say how much this means to me.”

“No problem. I just hope it all works out for you.”

“For you as well, James. It’s going to work out famously for both of us. Just you wait and see.”

Richard made his way slowly down towards the Great Hall. He knew he was supposed to meet her there at 7 P.M, but he was a couple of minutes early. He looked around and saw that a fair amount of people had shown up already as well. Many of them dressed in costumes. He could have sworn he saw a pirate and perhaps a Marilyn Monroe look-a-like. Must have been a Muggle-born like himself. He looked desperately around for Tae now, as it was time for her to be here. She was nothing if not punctual.

Just then, he spotted her by the doors leading to the Slytherin dungeons. In that very instant, he felt all the air leave his lungs, and a huge bubble swell in his chest. She was his idea of a perfect woman manifesting itself right in front of his eyes. She was, simply put, beyond perfection.

She was wearing a black strapless floor length gown, with a V cut in the back with laces going across. Looking her over, he admired how the dress seemed to fit her in all the right places. The black made her pale skin shine like the moon on a starlit night. Her hair hung down just past her shoulders. He loved it when she wore her hair down and tonight she definitely did not disappoint. She stopped in front of him, and looked shyly up at him, as if looking for his approval.

“I…I don’t…you…Sorry,” Richard stammered out. “What I’m trying to say, is that you look amazing, so beautiful.”

“Thanks,” she replied with a smile. “You look pretty good yourself.”

“Thanks, love. Almost forgot,” Richard added. “This is a corsage. It’s a bit of a Muggle custom; you wear it on your wrist.”

He saw her eyes flicker down to the crimson rose attached to an elastic band that he slipped over her left wrist.

“Richard…it’s beautiful.”

“It’s nothing compared to you. I’m glad you like it. Before we go in, let us take a walk outside.”

She looked at him quizzically, but she complied.

“I have a little bit of a treat for you tonight, thanks in part to some friends of mine. I hope you like it. Hold up here for a bit.”

He felt her eyes on him as he knelt down beside what he prayed was the correct pumpkin. He hoped upon hope that James got this right, otherwise, he was going to look like a real dolt. He touched a finger gently to the pumpkin and immediately jumped back as it began to transform. He quickly noticed as it went from an ordinary pumpkin, to a four wheeled stage coach, almost out of a Muggle fairy tale.

“Wow, James…,” muttered Richard. Shaking his head in amazement, he held out his hand to Tae expectantly. “Are you coming?”

She looked amazed at what she had just seen happen. She had been in the magical world all her life, yet here she was blatantly taken aback by what she had just seen. Things were working great so far, indeed. If only Lily worked out her spells properly, which he was confident she did.

She grabbed his hand, and climbed into the coach beside him, snuggling close.

“How did you do this?” she asked, obviously impressed.

“Just a bit of magic, is all. One moment, I need to make sure this thing gets started.”

He touched his wand to the front of the coach, and it started moving of its own volition down the path towards the black lake.

“Excellent. This will take us on a tour of the grounds. I figured we could spend some time out here together, before we make our fashionably late entrance into the ball. What do you think?”

“I think this is so amazing. I love it,” she responded. She reached up her hand to cup the side of his face; he leant down and touched his lips to hers gently. He ran his tongue across her bottom lip, and he felt her open her mouth to allow him entrance. Before he lost his breath, he pulled back, and rested his forehead against hers.

“I love you, Taelynna.”

“I love you, Richard. This night has been incredible. I can’t believe it.”

“Don’t you worry. The night is just getting started.”

The coach had made its way around the glittering Black Lake. After a gentle wave from the Giant Squid, the carriage made its away around the Quidditch Pitch. He snuggled her close, as he knew the ride would be over soon. He bent his head down, touched his nose to her hair, and breathed in deeply. He knew that no matter what happened later tonight, he would treasure these moments with her for the rest of his life. He wanted to make sure that every last detail was burned into his memory.

The coach pulled up in front of the entrance to the castle, and with great pain he withdrew himself from her side and from the coach, assisting her down as well.

“Are you ready to make our grand entrance, darling?” Richard asked.

“Ready as I’ll ever be,” replied Tae happily.

He wrapped his arm around her, and felt the pleasant weight of her head upon his shoulder. They walked into the Great Hall; it appeared as if they had interrupted a speech by the Headmaster. The hall was deathly quiet. Every eye in the hall was trained on him and Tae.

“Let us thank Mr. Riddle and Ms. Kavanagh for joining us tonight. As I was saying, we have a special treat for you tonight. We have arranged for a Muggle band to play for us this evening. I have made changes in the wards to allow them and their equipment to work here, and not to mention all of the paperwork that had to go into allowing them here as well. Anyway, I give you The Beatles, who have reunited to do this special show for us!”

Richard’s face lit up with excitement. He had known and loved their music since he was a small boy. He remembered dancing in front of the telly while listening to their music with his sister Meg. Those were such wonderful memories.

“You know this band?” Tae asked with a smirk.

“Know them? Of course I know them! Come on!” he said excitedly as he pulled her out onto the dance floor.

After a few songs they took a break and Richard went over to get them drinks. When he came back he saw that Tae was sitting with her sisters, Kea and Dree. Their full names, he had yet to find out.

“Evening, ladies. How’s the night going so far?” he asked pleasantly.

“Not as nice as yours by the sound it,” Kea said with a frown.

“Indeed. Not all of us had such thoughtful dates,” added Dree, with a look of obvious jealously at her older sister.

“That’s enough girls. Do you want to make his head even bigger?” asked Tae with a slight smile.

“Thanks for the lovely sentiments, ladies. Not to worry. Some handsome blokes will come along to treat you right. And if they don’t, just come see me and I’ll see to them.”

The girls had looked slightly taken aback by his statement, but Tae held a look only of mild surprise. She didn’t know that he had come to think of them more like family, especially seeing as how rough they all got started.

Richard sat down next to Tae, barely paying attention as the girls chattered on about all the mad things that girls talk about. He took a few minutes to look around the ball to see who was with whom. In the middle of the dance floor he spotted none other than James Potter with his arms around the gorgeous red-head he knew to be Lily Evans. James met his eye and gave him a smile that he read to say that everything was just fine. He watched how close they danced together, how well they seemed to match, and how right they were for one another. He watched James kiss her. For a moment, he thought that Evans was going to slug him. She didn’t however, and appeared to enjoying it as much as James was. He knew then that this was a couple that would have a long and happy life together; he only wanted the best for them. They deserved it after everything they had been through to get to just this point.

“Ready for another dance, dear?” Richard asked Tae.

“Yes, lets.” She responded enthusiastically. She apparently had discovered a fondness for dancing, he thought with a small smile.

Just then, the band started up a song that he knew all too well. It was a song that his Mum and Dad danced to a lot when he was a boy and Richard knew this would be perfect for them. He was thankful that they had finally played a slow song, especially one he though would be perfect for he and Tae.

I give her all my love,
That's all I do,
And if you saw my love,
You'd love her too.
I love her.

“This song is pretty,” she said in admiration as she laid her head on his chest.

“Yes, I love it too. Know what else I love?”

She gives me ev'rything,
And tenderly,
The kiss my lover brings,
She brings to me,
And I love her.

She looked up at him with question lingering in her eyes.

“I love you. So much that I can’t imagine what life would be like without you anymore. I don’t want to think of what it would be like, because the misery I would be in would be tantamount to a sentence to hell.”

A love like ours,
Could never die,
As long as I,
Have you near me.

“I know that this is going to sound crazy, especially considering how young we are. I just know what I feel and I know that I won’t ever need anything else in this life except for having you right beside me.”

He was looking directly into her dark brown eyes, which by now were full of unshed tears. He noticed a streak down her cheek where some had already fallen.

Bright are the stars that shine,
Dark is the sky,
I know this love of mine,
Will never die,
And I love her.

“I wish there was more I could do for you. I wish there was a better way to show you exactly how important you are to me, how much you matter. I have only one thing in this world that matters that I can give you besides my love, and that’s my name. Taelynna Kavanagh, will you marry me?”

Bright are the stars that shine,
Dark is the sky,
I know this love of mine,
Will never die,
And I love her.

She looked to be in stunned; silent tears were running down her cheeks. He noticed out of the corner of his eyes, that a lot of people were watching them. James and Lily were but a few feet away, anxiously awaiting to see what would happen. He opened the small box that he had been carrying around all night and opened it. The ring glittered like a star in the box but he was watching nothing but her face. Her eyes glanced down at the ring, then back up at him.

“I can’t do this, I’ve got to go…” she muttered as she rushed out of the hall.

“Blimey…,” he heard James whisper.

“Tae! Taelynna! Wait!” he called after her.

He finally caught up to her on the far side of the Entrance Hall as she was on the top of the stairs leading down to the Slytherin dungeons.

“Tae, please. Don’t be like this.”

“Be like what, Richard? Do you have any idea what this would do to us? To our families? My family despises you and your family can barely stand me. I don’t want to be forced to choose. I don’t want to mess everything up for everyone!” she finished, collapsing into tears in his arms.

“Tae…I know it wouldn’t be easy. I know it would be a struggle. Marriage always is, especially for people like us. But you know what?”

She looked up at him with red rimmed eyes, with tears noticeable on individual lashes. She was so beautiful, he thought.

“What?” she squeaked out.

“They are our families. They love us. They will come around before too long. Besides, as my friend John always said, all you need is love. With that, we can do anything. And besides, I’ll be by you every step of the way. You wouldn’t have to face any of it alone. I promise. I love you.”

She looked like she was on the verge of breaking down again. It looked as if she was not going to follow him through life, but that she would turn him away. To his great surprise, something magical happened. She held out her right hand, and looked at him with an expectant smile.

He beamed as he took the box back out, and set the massive diamond onto her finger.

“Of course, I’ll marry you, my dear Gryffindor.”

With no care for the audience they had accumulated, he brought his lips down to hers. He put everything he had into that kiss; his love, his dreams for them, and his promises of tomorrow. He did his best to convey these things through this gentle, yet passionate, kiss. He wished that he could glance at the old Mirror of Erised now, for he was sure that it would show them exactly as they were at this very moment.

He heard some cat calls, and some wolf whistles from the door, followed by a very familiar voice.

“Alright then, Riddle?” called the voice of James Potter.

“Perfect, James. Absolutely perfect,” he responded, bending down to give his fiancé another kiss.