Aether paced through the candlelit halls of the Ministry, the soft swish of his ridiculous banana costume echoing off the gothic stone walls. The fabric bunched awkwardly at his knees with every step, and the top of the banana flopped dramatically with every exaggerated movement. He tugged at the seams now and then, fidgeting out of sheer nervous energy.

It was Halloween—his favorite time of year, and yet somehow, he still felt out of place. Not because he wasn’t into the spirit—Aether had insisted on dressing up—but because he’d chosen something so absurd, so un-ghoul-like, that even he couldn’t decide if it was hilarious or humiliating.

Still, he couldn’t help the way his heart raced. Trick-or-treating in the Ministry wasn’t just for the children of the clergy—it was tradition. Aether had spent days sneaking little stashes of candy into hidden corners, excited to pass them out.

Now, as twilight crept over the horizon and the pumpkin lanterns flickered to life, he stood awkwardly near the main corridor, trying to act casual while counting the seconds until the festivities began.