First Weekend at Hogwarts

Letter ta Sammi Gurl
Author: Samuel Thatcher
Date: 12-02-01 06:01

Dear Sammi Gurl,

Hey gurl! How are things over there in the U.K.?! Wish I were there...Hogwarts! Man you're lucky! Not much has happened here at Verona. Kimberly says "Hi!" So does everyone else o' course! They all miss you! When I told them that you were going to Hogwarts this year they all went nuts! We're all jealous of ya! Have ya started yet? Got lots of friends yet? Knowing you I bet ya do! Stayin' out of trouble right? I told ya to! You better! Well, I know that this is short, but I need ta do my potions homework! I luv ya Sammi Gurl! I miss ya tooooo much! Write back soon!

Yours,
Sam

Dominos
Author: Sykra Sawyer
Date: 12-12-01 07:06

When it came time to go to the common rooms, Sykra and Cho decided to walk with the first years along with Aradia. They discussed Quidditch and some strategies they could use to help them win this year. They stopped only when Prescott Clearwater called for the first years' attention to explain about the moving stairs and such.

They were near the top of the stairs when Prescott held up the first years for a moment so Cho and Sykra could go ahead of them. As the two girls went on ahead, Sykra tripped on the top step, fell back into Cho, who fell back into Prescott and so on causing a domino collision effect. Next thing the young Ravenclaws knew...they were all tumbling down the stairs!

On to the Common Room
Author: Clara Devaki
Date: 12-12-01 08:03

Clara and Tempest made their way towards the Slytherin common room. They were talking about the new girl, Samantha. "Can you believe her?" Clara said. "I mean NO one messes with Slytherins! And Draco of all people!"

"I know!" Tempest agreed. "And then when she threw food in Paul Dole's face!" Tempest's eyes glistened. "Dumbledore didn't do a single thing!"

Clara was shaking her head. "If she thinks she can come in here and start messing with people like Draco and Paul, she's wron-!" Clara ran smack into the person in front of her and they both fell to the ground.

"Ouch!" The boy in front of her said. "Wataya think ya doin'? Huh?" He picked himself up off the floor, pushed his blonde hair out of his eyes, and glared at her.

"Wataya mean what am I doin'?" Clara stood up and turned to face him with an angry look in her eyes. "You shouldn't of been wa-oh! D-Draco!" The anger in her voice left almost immediately. "Didn't realize it was you. Sorry."

"Yeah whatever." Malfoy sneered, as Tempest looked at Clara sort of funny. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle again headed for the common room.

Clara noticed Tempest staring at her...somewhat in shock. So she stood up and started to yell something after Malfoy, but stopped, realizing that for once she didn't have anything to say. She glanced at Tempest who had started to smirk. "You like Drac-!" Clara silenced her with an icey glare, before starting towards the common room again.

After Dinner, Mint?
Author: Dr. Armageddon Endikut
Date: 12-12-01 20:32

After dinner I went to my office instead my room. I decided to quadruple check what I should have ready. I first have Gryffindor and Slytherin, first years. I'm going to ask them to define evil. I just hope I don't have any jokers in either house; they are as different as night and day. I then have Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw, second years. For them I'll talk about annoying monsters, maybe ask Professor Sprout for a gnome for next week. I'm certain she can live without one in her garden.

I then have Gryffindor and Slytherin, the third years. I plan to cover hellcats, for a week. I'll bring a house cat, hellcat hybrid to class in a cage. I then have lunch in my office and if any of the students want to know anything, I could help them.

I then have Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw fourth years to show them minor curses. We'll put them on toads and lift them. The last class for the day is the fifth year Gryffindor and Slytherin. I plan to talk about identifying vampires and their types. I bet there will a few smart remarks done at the expense of Professor Snape and a few students. Snape is not a vampire, just a man who needs some more sunlight. After all, when he yawned before we went to bed his mouth was like any other man's. His gums are normal as are his teeth.

I reached for a mint and popped it into my mouth. I noticed someone was behind me. He stayed in the shadows. "Mint?" I offered.

Perfect Prefect
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 12-12-01 21:00

Hermione led the first years out of the Great Hall and began climbing the stairs to Gryffindor Tower. She entertained the young students with anecdotes of her first year at Hogwarts and naturally emphasized the importance of always being prepared for classes.

Juliet Davis and Mindy Fort were quite amazed by the staircases, which tended to change at random. "Watch your step," Hermione said, skipping over one. "That one's faulty," she added, turning to help Lee Henderson pull his foot out of the stair.

They climbed and climbed, working off all the food they had eaten at the feast, until finally they got to the seventh floor of Gryffindor Tower. The small group approached a painting of an over-weight lady in a pink silk dress.

"Password," the woman stated, her eyes scanning over the eager first years.

Hermione cleared her throat and answered, "Elephant Ear."

The portrait swung open like a door, and Hermione instructed all of the first years to climb through into the Common Room. She thanked the Fat Lady and followed the new students inside.

Emerald City
Author: Fred Weasley
Date: 12-13-01 02:08

Fred and George immediately got on either side of Samantha and linked arms with her.

"Follow the yellow brick road!" Fred exclaimed, and the three started to skip out of the Great Hall.

George crooned, "Follow, follow, follow, follow...wait a minute." He stopped suddenly, causing the other two to almost fall. "The bricks aren't the least bit yellow. More of a blackish, greyish, brownish, sepia tone."

"An' I dare say, we're 'ardly skippin' on bricks!" Samantha quipped.

Fred shrugged, staring down at the floor. The ground was paved with large stones that couldn't pass for yellow. He grinned, turning to face the marble staircase, which led...well, up. "This is the grand staircase, Samantha."

"Very good, Fred," George said, laughing.

Fred rolled his eyes at George before continuing, "I hope you don't mind climbing stairs. The Gryffindor Common Room is on the 7th floor of the tower."

Samantha groaned, "You boys are gonna 'ave ta push me up the stairs, then!"

"Or Fred can carry ya!" George joked.

Fred flushed scarlet, "Let's jus' start climbin'."

The trio climbed higher and higher, taking breathers on each floor. On the third floor a group of suits of armor ran off in the other direction at the sight of the twins.

"Wot's tha' all about?" Samantha asked, watching the suits of armor high-tail it around a corner.

Fred and George looked at one another and grinned. "Oh nothin'!"

Domino Effect
Author: Aradia Forest
Date: 12-13-01 05:09

Cho, Skyra and I happily talk and plan how to win the cups (both of them) this year. When we get to the entrance of the common room Prescott, the prefect, lets the returning students by while the new students such as myself, are held back to receive instructions and informs us of moving stairs (this place is getting more interesting my the minute!! First a FORBIDDEN forest, now MOVING stairs!!!).

Or rather, that is the plan. However, Skyra trips and falls into Cho. Cho, in turn, falls on the prefect who falls on another student.... The result is a human game of Dominoes.. Unfortunately I end up under several people much larger than me (which doesn't take much), including the giant Lostark.

"Get off me!!" I manage to gasp. "Can't breathe!!!"

Prote's Thoughts
Author: Prote Spacy
Date: 12-13-01 05:11

Prote ate dinner. It was soo delicious! But he didn't eat joyfully, because he realized that he was the only American person in this school (so he thinks) which made him nervous. A girl named Hannah Abbott sat a few seats away from where Prote sat. She looked at him and smiled. Prote waved and continued to his thoughts.

Prote looked up to the staff table. Professor Dumbledore seemed nice. He looked along the table until one teacher caught his eye, he had black hair and sallow skin... What house would he be in charge of? Prote thought to himself...

Dinner was almost over and Prote watched his fellow Hufflepuffs eat without a care in the world, but Prote's mind was focused on something else. What if I don't fit in? What if no one likes me? That Scottish Gryffindor girl seemed nice... but I doubt that she would like to be friends with a foreign American student like me. This is so unlike me to act this way... exactly why was I transferred here? he thought.

Do I Really Need a Title?
Author: Samantha Thatcher
Date: 12-13-01 05:27

"What do yeh mean nothin eh?" Samantha rose a brow. "Com'on...tell me...tell me, tell me, tell me...!" She hopped in front of them and gave a puppy face.

"Shoot girl...you don't need to be bothered by that!" Fred answered.

George chuckled. "But I'm sure if you gave 'im a peck on the cheek 'e'd tell ya anything!"

Fred blushed and elbowed his twin in the gut. "Shut that 'ole in your face George!"

"Well ya didn't 'ave ta punch me for it!!" George exclaimed.

"I didn't punch ya!"

"Yeah ya did!" They were nose to nose.

Samantha cracked up laughing at the two fighting brothers. At the chime of her laughter they turned their heads to her. "Wot's so funny?" Fred asked.

Wiping a tear from her face Samantha managed to reply. "You....You two are so funny! Yeh remind me of me an' my twin brother!" She said still laughing.

"You 'ave a twin?" George asked, shocked.

Samantha laughed till it hurt. She finally stopped and saw the stunned look on their faces. "Oh, yeah...I 'ave a twin brother. He lives with me mum." Her expression darkened to a more depressed look rather then a gleeful one. "We don' see each other much anymore."

"Why not?" Fred asked concerned.

"Well....Me parents....they got a divorce and split us apart. It's a long story." She seemed to get a little angry just talking about it.

Not knowing what to say, Fred just stood there watching her. So George jumped in. "I'm sorry ta 'ear that.....Well! I think we've 'ad a long enough break! Let's finish these stairs!" He said, wanting to change the subject.

Password
Author: Fred Weasley
Date: 12-13-01 20:18

The trio quietly made their way to Gryffindor Tower. When they got to the portrait of the Fat Lady, she sighed and rolled her eyes. "The Weasley twins are back, I see. And who is this young lady?" she asked, nodding towards Samantha.

Fred pushed Samantha forward a bit and said, "This is Samantha Thatcher. She's a transfer student."

The Fat Lady looked her over and finally said, "You'd be wise to steer clear of these two. They're nothing but trouble!"

Samantha smiled, arching an eyebrow at the boys. The twins put their hands behind their backs and whistled innocently.

"Cut the act you two," the Fat Lady exclaimed. "Password."

Fred and George simultaneously said, "Elephant Ear."

Samantha watched in amazement as the portrait swung open, revealing the entryway to the common room.

The three entered to find Hermione instructing the first years on keeping the password a secret. "Don't tell anyone the password. No friends from other houses can learn it, not even family members you may have there," she lectured, looking each first year in the eye.

Fred nodded and began telling Samantha the story of Neville Longbottom and his bad memory. "Don't worry, yehself," Samantha stated, punching Fred lightly in the arm. "I've got a good mem'ry. I won't forget it. It's Elephant Trunk, roight? No, no. Elephant Tusk. Nah, that ain't roight either. Uh...Elephant Tail?"

George doubled over laughing, and even Fred cracked a smile. "You're a silly girl, you know that?" Fred asked smiling.

Quidditch
Author: Samantha Thatcher
Date: 12-13-01 20:45

Samantha grinned. "Some'uns gotta be the comic relief!" She found an empty seat and plopped down in it. "So..What's next, eh? We 'ave a 'ole weekend ta cause a riot...Wait a sec...When's Quidditch tryouts?" She asked.

Pain and History
Author: Lostark The Rude
Date: 12-14-01 00:06

"Ugh, I just had to be on the bottom," said Doug rubbing his neck. "Sorry," I said, sitting in a chair. Doug reached for a book in the Ravenclaw personal library. The books were all books about famous Ravenclaws. I grabbed a book on Ravenclaw Quidditch Players from 1895-1995. It had the biographies of all of them:

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

Ravenclaw Team 1895

Keeper - Lee Goal, 7th year

Lee Goal was the Ravenclaw Keeper from 1890-1895. His work as a keeper in the 1895 Ravenclaw vs. Slytherin Game made it so that Slytherin never scored. After Hogwarts, Lee went pro and played for Chudley Cannons while studying to be a stock broker for Muggles. He retired from Quidditch in August 1, 1929 when he was hired to be a stockbroker. He was fired October 30, 1929. We (the writers) are uncertain why. Something about a crash.

Shizbit!
Author: Prote Spacy
Date: 12-14-01 06:00

Prote continued to think until he stood up and decided to walk around.

Prote just couldn't stop thinking!

Why can't I think of something else! he thought. He looked at all of the pictures on the walls, which waved back "SHIZBIT!!!" Prote cried. Another Hufflepuff boy stared. "What?" he said. Prote stared back at the portrait again.

"The pictures move?" Prote asked. "Well duh!" said the boy. "Didn't you know that all of the portraits move?" Prote looked at his feet. The boy didn't say anything, and instead he moved up forwards ahead. I knew I wouldn't make any friends...thought Prote.

Prote looked around to find that a sixth year student jumped in front of him. Nearly falling backwards, Prote took a startling gasp!

Beg Yer Pardon?
Author: George Weasley
Date: 12-14-01 08:06

"I beg yer pardon?" George said, looking from Samantha to Fred. "Did you say Quidditch tryouts?"

Samantha nodded.

"You play Quidditch?" George said, sneaking a quick wink to his twin.

"Do I ever!" Samantha said, grinning.

George rubbed his hands together. "Really, now?"

Both Samantha an Fred's brow furrowed. "Wot?" Fred asked.

"Oh, nothin'. Jus' ne'er mind. I'm gettin' tired. I'm goin' ta bed. Noight you two . . . " George wandered off up the stairs to the bedrooms, grinning and mumbled. Love Birds

Plans to Meet at Midnight
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 12-14-01 20:58

After Hermione finished explaining to the first years about how important it was to keep the password a secret, she gave them a quick tour of the common room. Then, she led the girls and boys to their respective dormitories, allowing them to settle in for the night. It was late and they would have plenty of time to explore the castle over the weekend before classes start.

Hermione sighed, crossing the common room to take a seat in front of the fireplace. The room was still full of life, although more and more students were heading off to bed by the minute. After a while, Harry and Ron appeared and approached Hermione.

"There you are," she said, looking up at them. "What took you so long?"

Ron shrugged, "We were just a little slow getting back, that's all." He took the armchair next to hers and stared into the fire.

Harry plopped down in the next seat and rubbed his eyes. "I'm so tired, I think I could sleep all weekend!"

"Well, try not to fall asleep just yet, Harry," Hermione said, lowering her voice. "The box...we still haven't received the full message."

"Oh yeah!" Ron whispered, glancing around the room. "We'll have to wait until everyone has gone to bed."

Harry nodded, "Maybe we should make as if we're going off to bed. Then, come back in an hour or so."

"Good plan, Harry. Let's meet here at midnight." Hermione said in a hushed voice.

"Right," Ron agreed, and the three got to their feet exchanging good nights, sleep wells, and sweet dreams'.

Hermione entered the circular dormitory, finding all the beds occupied except for hers and Majandra's. She changed into her pjs and crawled beneath the covers, noting that she had one hour to kill before meeting the boys. Just what message did the golden box have for Harry? Hermione, eager to find out, hoped that this time they wouldn't be disturbed.