Letters
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 02-09-04 08:54

With a bundle of envelopes large and small tucked underneath her arm, Hermione climbed the winding staircase of the Owlery. She tried to ignore the stitch in her side and found it ever increasingly difficult to breathe. She'd practically run from Gryffindor Tower and held her breath for most of the way, too excited and nervous about what she wanted to do to give any thought to anything else. When she finally reached the landing of the Owlery, she paused only to lean up against the curved wall for a few minutes to catch her breath.

A few moments later, Hermione selected a few sturdy-looking barn owls to take her letters to their destinations. A big, brown owl clasped onto a large, white envelope and went soaring into the evening sky. Hermione watched it until it disappeared before turning to the next available bird.

"Take these to St. Mungo's, please," Hermione instructed, attaching three envelopes of varying sizes to the owl's talons.

The owl hooted in understanding and took flight.

***

A quarter of an hour later, Hermione found herself in the Great Hall. She saved a few seats at the Gryffindor table for Harry, Ron, Ginny and Majandra and waited for the festivities to begin.

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Wizarding Edinburgh - The Back in the Saddle Show!
Author: Captain Electron
Date: 02-09-04 09:56

There was a thundering of drums, such as might have brought down the ceiling of a lesser building, and the stage filled up with smoke. Captain Electron shook out his dreads, checked that his robes were properly fastened, and spun his wand around in his fingers before pointing and muttering "Sonorus". He strode out through the smoke, already feeling the buzz. The crowd was screaming. As he took his position centre stage, two cans at the front exploded, and golden glitter filled the room, showering him, the backing band, and the audience.

"Hello Edinburgh!" he roared. "Are you ready for a GOOD TIME?"

They screamed back at him. He grinned and held one hand to his ear.

"What was that? I couldn't hear you! I said are you READY for a GOOD TIME!"

This time the screaming almost deafened him.

"All right!" he shouted back. "Then let's go!" He made an extravagant gesture with one arm, and the band struck up the intro to Gloria Gaynor's "I Will Survive". He sang the first few words in a high falsetto - "First I was afraid..." and when the audience realised what was happening, they burst out laughing.

Chuckling, Electron made a "cut it" signal - "Just checking to see if ye were paying attention!" - and the band swung into a much heavier intro.

"This is my new song!" he shouted, and started singing.

"So you think
So you think I'm through
Just because
Cos I don't have you
Hey babe, know what I got to say
You're wrong, babe, guess it's not your day...

I'm still alive
oh yeah...
I'm still here
oh yeah
Still alive
oh yeah
Live forever...

Bet you thought
Bet you thought that was it
Cos you and me
Cos we didn't fit
Hey honey you can go where you like
Babe I ain't gonna fall, cos you got on your bike..."

By the time he reached the last chorus, the audience was singing along. The Cap was back!

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Re: Wizarding Edinburgh - the Back in the Saddle Show!
Author: Sidi Ross
Date: 02-09-04 11:27

Sidi sat reading a book while Adam stood on his chair leaping and dancing in a cloud of "Electronic Euphoria." Her wand was gripped tightly in her hand as she knew that in his over-enthusastic appreciation for "the great" Captain Electron there were going to be things needing fixed fast when he unintentionally hijacked magic going on around him.

"It's a new song!! It's a new song!!" He leapt with joy as the singer presented his latest creation:

"I'm still alive
oh yeah...
I'm still here
oh yeah
Still alive
oh yeah
Live forever..."

Sidi covered her face as her fiancée screamed and yelled and declared just how much Captain Electron "SO ROCKS!"

"Bet you thought
Bet you thought that was it
Cos you and me
Cos we didn't fit
Hey honey you can go where you like
Babe I ain't gonna fall, cos you got on your bike..."

It really wasn't her type of music but if Adam liked it she'd go along with it. There was a limit however. She refused to stand.

Her wand whipped around to the light spray of harmless sparks that suddenly burst into a grand-finale type fireworks display.

"Finite Incantatum!"

The display was extinguished before anyone got burned or badly damaged.

Adam was oblivious to the true nature of the display. "Oh man how cool is that!?" He gushed at the brilliance of the Captain. The crowd agreed with him screaming even louder for the man on stage.

Sidi laughed at Captain Electron's expression at the sudden and unexpected blaze. She had to admit the man was excellent. He didn't miss a beat and played it like pro giving his adoring fans more of what they came for: Himself.

Adam begged her to do the "lumos" spell so he could lift her wand much in the same way one lifts a lighter at a muggle show. After much begging she relented and allowed it for about 15 minutes.

Adam danced and swayed on his chair, his arms flailing back and forth with the lit wand. Sidi sat and wondered if Captain Electron knew any Mozart.

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Halloween! MUAHAHAHAHA!
Author: Sora
Date: 02-09-04 12:58

Sora was up in the boys' dormitories for at least an hour before he went down to meet his friends there. Halloween was Sora's favorite Holiday; mainly 'cause of the candy (of course) and for the opportunity to scare people... hehehe!

Sora made his way in the shadows down to the common room where Kairi, Roane, Tranquillina, Logan and Riku were sitting on the couches... Sora crept silently like a mouse as he kept in the shadows. He was going to give them all a scare!

They're really gonna kill me after this...! thought Sora as he rose silently behind Kairi, Tranquillina, and Roane. Three... two... one... "MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

It was better that Sora could imagine! Everyone jumped about ten feet in the air, Kairi turned around and screamed! Sora was still laughing. "I'M GOING TO DRINK YOUR BLOOD!!" he shouted as he bore his fake fangs. He noticed that Riku and Logan were quite startled at Sora's appearance (as they were grasping the couches they were in quite tightly).

The three girls all ran to the other side of the room as Sora started to crack up laughing hysterically. "That was great! You should have seen your faces!!" he said. When he looked up, everyone was running his way tackling Sora to the ground.

" 'Oe iki lolo!!" cried Kairi in Hawaiian as she started to tickle him. Everyone followed the suit. "ACK! Okay! Okay!! S-STOP IT!! I GIVE!!" Laughed Sora, as they all finally decided to get off of him. Riku started to laugh. "Ha! That was great Sora! Boy did you scare the crud out of Kairi!"

Kairi smiled and gave Riku a little punch on the arm. "Oh yeah, real funny mister scared stiff!" She laughed. Sora got to his feet. "Well, I'm starving! How's about some grub?"

---

Samhain Excursion
Author: Dierna ní Cíaran
Date: 02-09-04 14:31

I'd tried to forget that today is Samhain, the more perilous and powerful day of the Celtic Calendar. But I could feel it in the air, and forgetting something so deeply ingrained into me is rather like forgetting my own name. Not so easily done. I'd even searched my house for three hours trying to find my Shield of Brid, before I remembered that I'd given it to Remus when he was at St. Mungo's and in need of its protection.

Last night I'd gone to the Castle to tell Dumbledore Nevvyn and I would be going to Norway this morning. Fawkes, sensing my unease, had sung a triad of notes. I try to remember the sound of those notes now. I wish I could bring Fawkes with us. Instead, I had one of his feathers. He'd plucked it and left it with me just before I left. I hold it tightly now as I walk to Nevvyn's dressed too warmly for the crisp autumn day, but just right for the cooler Norwegian climate.

I'd charmed and left three candles burning in my window. One each for Lily and James, and one for all the others who had and would fall in this fight against Voldemort.

I knock on the shoppe door and Nevvyn opens the door. "Good morning, dear lady. Are you ready for our adventure?"

"Ta me ullam go leor*. Let's get this done."

We apparate in stages until we arrive just outside of Oslo.

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* = I am ready enough

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Going to the Feast
Author: Coco Nutt
Date: 02-09-04 16:35

Her hair bright orange with streaks of black for Halloween, Coco fairly prances down corridors on her way to the Great Hall. Pea, wearing tiny but fierce devil's horns on his head, scampers along by Coco's feet. Fritz walks at a near jog to keep up with his friend and her dog, something he's had to do alot of the past couple of weeks.

Always exuberant, Coco has been even more so since trying out for the only available spot on the Ravenclaw team. Viktor Krum had held late tryouts to both fill some positions and to give those who didn't have a chance to attend the official tryout a chance. After what Professor Krum had said to her the day of the first workshop on Hogsmeade weekend, Coco decided to take his suggestion of trying out. Much to her delight, Coco was selected to fill the open Ravenclaw beater position.

A few days later, to her amazement, Coco received her very own, top of the line broom. At the start of the school year, she'd gotten a notice announcing she'd been selected to receive a scholarship named after the late Kendra Beck. It had paid for new robes and school supplies and apparently it covers the cost of a broom as well. Professor Krum must have heard she was the recipient of the scholarship and ordered the broom for her so Coco had made sure she thanked him. She, Pea and Fritz had then spent several hours playing around with their brooms, Fritz still having a hard time believing he was chosen for the team on the day of official tryouts.

Reaching the Great Hall, Coco opens the door, her feet never stopping their little dance even though has to wait for Fritz and Pea to enter. Swooping up Pea and depositing him in the comfort of one of her pockets, Coco and Fritz wave to friends and rush over to grab seats at the Ravenclaw table.

Now if only the feast would hurry up and begin!

---

Something Wicked This Way Comes
Author: Mary
Date: 02-09-04 17:10

Two o'clock brings Mary out of bed at last. She yawned and stretched, brushed and braided her hair, grabbed her history of magic things and went down the hall to the common room, but not before donning her Halloween costume.

"Here's Mary, getting up at the last possible minute, as usual." Crispin said coolly without taking his eyes from his book. Nora sat near him, playing exploding snaps with Mortimer. He was losing and looking slightly nervous at the mischievous glint in Nora's eye.

"Let's go get breakfast." Mary yawned.

"Lunch ended at one, Mary." Crispin said, "But you can go to the kitchens and ask the house elves, I suppose."

"C'mon you scurvy pirate, let's get some breakfast."

"I already ate." Nora said smoothly, shaking her head. Mary shrugged.

"Not enough time." Mortimer checked his watch, "History of Magic begins in fifteen minutes."

"Let's go, then." Crispin stowed his book and picked up his bag, stopping in front of Mary. He opened his mouth and tilted it, a sign that Mary should do the same. She grinned, showing pointed iridescent canines.

"Tell me, Mary, why is it those suit you so well?" Crispin quipped, grinning. Mary shrugged mysteriously.

"Obviously Nora's a pirate for Halloween." Mary said as the four second-years walked through the dungeons together. Through the gloom Mary saw her grin and roll her single eye. Nora didn't look any different than any other day. Mortimer had painted his round face white and the area around his eyes and mouth black, going as a skeleton. Crispin had fangs as well, and was going as Mary's other half.

(According to Mary, his official title was 'minion', but Crispin had other thoughts in mind).

The air in Binns' classroom was more wired than usual but even less attention was paid than average. Paper airplanes flapped their way across the class from student to student and were received with giggles. Mary doodled pictures of sketchy stick-figures with fangs chasing and attacking other, terrified-looking stick figures, and Crispin quietly practiced his evil cackle in the back row next to her.

Mary couldn't wait until the Halloween feast.

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The Road to Oslo
Author: Nevvyn
Date: 02-09-04 17:10

Dierna came by at an early hour, all packed and ready for cold weather. I was waiting for her with a hot cup of tea and some sweet cakes from Briar's. As we broke our fast, I explained our route; London, Brussels, Amsterdam, Hamburg, Copenhagen, and Oslo... each a major city with a sizeable wizarding community. "This way, our comings and goings should be unnoticed," I explained. I certainly didn't want to advertise our destination.

With a few words to the Toms about minding the store AND their manners, I picked up my staff and backpack and slung the latter on my shoulders. Taking Dierna's hand, I showed her our first jump... to a clear spot in Diagon Alley. With a "POP", we apparated to the middle of London and the Wizarding World.

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