The Dunk Tank
Author: Sora
Date: 06-25-04 17:38
Reading the letter over and over again (still) Sora thought of ways as to getting the letter out of his head... or out of his hands. He thought of just dropping it on the ground, claiming it wasn't his, but then again... someone could have found it... and that was a risk Sora wasn't willing to take.
Entering the Great Hall, Sora decided to go visit a few booths to try to think of something else for a while, but first things first, Sora wanted to find the throwing booths. Being very good at throwing, Sora had always hit the target. "Yeah!! Baseball has finally paid off!!" Taking his prize, Sora made his way searching for more throwing booths.
His wish came true. He then came across his most favorite booth, the dunk booth. HAHA!! He was handed a few balls and laughed heartedly. "Call the first victim!!!" he shouted, but to his dread, it was none other than... Professor Snape. Sora had to hold back a scream when he first saw that great glare from Professor Snape, who only gave a discusted sigh as he kept his gaze upon Sora. "Oh great." he said as he stared at Sora, "just what I need, more humilliation." Sora only gave a stern look. "Hey! What's that suppose to mean?" he said. Snape just glared again, "I would rather go up against a troll than be dunked by a no good first year Gryffindor."
Sparks flew from Sora's eyes as he shook his hand in anger. "Oh yeah! Well you'll see!!" he said. Snape's glare turned even meaner. "Be careful Mr. Hearts, you might strain yourself. I wouldn't want you to fall on your face while you try to throw that ball of yours on account you have big shoes."
Now he's gone too far! Sora gritted his teeth. "Why you..! I'll teach you not to talk trash about my shoes!!! TAKE THIS!!!!!!" he shouted as he threw the ball with all his might. Striking the target, Snape went tumbling into the watery tank below. He shot up out of the water with the most frightening glare anyone could ever imagine! Feeling the dread come back into Sora's body, he dropped his balls and ran for it before Snape could hex him.
Revenge Served Old
Author: Bellatrix Lestrange
Date: 06-25-04 17:58
Bellatrix cursed to herself. If she had thought the matter through further, she might have apparated a tad closer to the damn school. The aging potion was all well and fine and the walk might have been nice, but suddenly finding oneself to be about eighty five years old had it's down side.
After spending an inordinate amount of time walking to Hogwarts someone finally took pity on her and offered her an arm. Bellatrix could feel the aging potion settling down, swishing her age about like the tide a few years this way and then back again. It finally made up its mind and settled for about eighty, leaving her with a little more strength than she'd had before. The young man who had offered her his support hurried off to find his friends with an apology and left her to her own devices. She made a mental note if she ever reached this age to have herself killed, or better yet get her hands on a youth potion.
It had been a number of years since she had visited Hogwarts, namely the last time being as a pupil. At the time she couldn't wait to leave, but a feeling of fondness fell over once she passed through the doors. She turned and entered the great hall, stopping in the doorway to admire the enchanted ceiling. A pulling sensation in her stomach wanted to lead her towards the dungeons and the Slytherin common room but she resisted. She could feel her nephew was nearby somewhere.
Another pupil bumped into her and quickly took her arm, making sure she was upright. "Sorry, Mother," he said before running off. Bellatrix bit back a nasty swearword. She was getting rather sick of the whole 'mother' thing, even if it was meant in respect to someone a great deal further on in years. She wished she could throw off this potion and make them all see what she really was – but alas, she was stuck for a while.
She wandered slowly down the line of booths, passing a group of girls on the way who were running some kind of balloon thing. She wandered over, catching one of the girls eyes and holding her gaze. There was something there…she couldn't place it. The girl had frozen like a rabbit in headlights as the muggles said, and slowly she reached out a delicate hand and passed Bellatrix a balloon animal. She turned and continued on her way, surprised at the girl's gesture, and now towing a magic balloon kitten which mewed loudly all the way and bobbed about on its string.
Feeling quite ludicrous, which only made her temper worse; she finally reached the dunk tank and the person she had been searching for. Severus Snape was sitting on the dunking bench, arms folded, spine rigid with humiliation, and he deserved every moment of it as far as she could see. He scowled deeply at the balloon kitten and fixed his gaze on Bellatrix, not recognizing her.
She couldn't resist – she carefully selected a ball and turned around, taking aim at the target above the dunk tank. The balloon kitten mewed, and she threw the ball. Her strength wasn't what it usually was by any means, but somehow the ball connected and with a sudden snapping noise the mechanism was dropped and Hogwarts' least favorite individual plummeted into the cold depths. There was a fair amount of cheering behind her and it seemed half the school was suddenly very interested in what might happen next.
Snape rose from the depths, looking very wet and wearing an even deeper scowl. She shuffled over and offered to help him out of the water. She leaned over, so none of the overly interested children could here, and said, "Snape – it is I, Bellatrix. We cannot talk now but the Dark Lord requests an update on the scroll. I shall see you at the Knights Walpurgis Ball later this evening. Don't disappoint me."
Snape went a nasty shade of grey below the wetness of his skin. He nodded quickly in reply and then climbed back up onto the stool. Bellatrix turned around and noticed that a line of eager kids had formed behind her, determined to bring down the Potions master once more.
As Bellatrix made her way slowly out of the hall she could feel Snape's stare in the middle of her back, and then there was the sound of the release mechanism again and a big cheer. She permitted herself a chuckle as she passed back through the door and into the grounds.
Milk Can Toss
Author: Hermione Granger
Date: 06-25-04 18:45
Anastasia King stood in the designated position and raised her wand. "Wingardium Leviosa!" she cried out, and with a swish and a flick the baseball slowly and gently lifted into the air and over towards a metal can in the booth. Just a little bit further! the young Ravenclaw thought.
When she thought it was just over the mouth of the milk can, she let the ball drop. Unfortunately, it hit the rim of the can and bounced off the side, where it rolled across the floor of the booth.
Anastasia lowered her wand arm and frowned.
"Two more tries, Anastasia," Hermione said, smiling in encouragement.
The young girl tried again, and found success with her second ball. It went straight through the opening in the can without touching the rim. Grinning widely, Anastasia lowered her wand and turned to Hermione. "What do I win?"
"Congratulations, Anastasia!" Hermione exclaimed, laughing. "You are now the proud owner of a gift certificate to Twice Told Tales. You can use it two weeks from now when you're in Hogsmeade!"
The Great Prize Wall
Author: Albus Dumbledore
Date: 06-25-04 19:38
STEP RIGHT UP FOLKS! DON'T BE SHY!
YOU MIGHT WIN A PRIZE - OR A FRESH CUSTARD PIE!
The students are milling all about The Great Hall. There are a goodly number of activities and booths competing for their attention. Stuck over here on the side, sandwiched between the Horseshoe Toss and the Sand Painting, I'm surprized that we have had any business at all. Finally, I catch the attention of a pair of third-years', just coming from the Face Painting booth, across the way.
"Would you care to try your luck on the Prize Wall?" I call out.
With matched grins, they saunter over. I see behind the colorful designs that it is Juliet Davis and Mindy Fort. With a bit if a giggle, Miss Davis approaches the wall and plays "Eeny-Meeny-Miny" with the six doors. Finally, she pauses in front of door number four and hesitantly opens it. Her prize is a Large-size box of Bertie Bott's Beans. She grabs it and scoots out of the way to allow her friend a try.
Miss Fort stands in front of the wall with her eyes closed. Her lips are moving, and I can barely make out a concentration spell which Trelawney used to teach in the Divination classes. I smile and watch as she attempts to use divination to select her prize. Suddenly, she reaches for door number 2. The door flies open and a small custard pie comes sailing out. Miss Fort opens her eyes just in time to see the beginning of the impact. Custard flies everywhere. Miss Davis laughs as I hand out the "Quick-Kleen" magically-fortified towels. Within seconds, they are both laughing at the mis-adventure, and hurrying off to try something else.
I look down and discover that I have not escaped unscathed. A largish glob of custard seems to be residing on the front of my robes. I dab at it with an experimental finger, and then take a taste. Mmmm... Lemon Creme!"
Down the Rabbit Hole
Author: Victor Harkwell
Date: 06-25-04 22:56
"If my suspicions are accurate," I preface, while circling widdershins round the faery ring, "this should be the entrance to the realm of the Gwee." Andrew's eyes grow narrow as he rifles through his mental encyclopaedia of magical creatures.
"Gwee, or Guvii. A stately host of faery nobility. Gentle, but wary of strangers?" Andrew recites from memory. With a wink, I leap over the edge of the faery ring and am suspended in mid-air for a mere moment. Tiny star-like creatures rise from their toadstool dwellings and spiral around me as I pass through the Elf-Door and into the Otherworld!
After a moment of starry brilliance and the rich smell of soil, I find myself upon my back in what appears to be a tomb. A chill comes over me as I am reminded how many believe the Otherworld is the Afterlife. Perhaps the Hidden Worlds are better left alone. I close my eyes and start to laugh: I'm beginning to think like Andrew! Where is my old crony, by the way? Surely he hasn't decided to stay behind. If he has, I hope he's found something to eat. Why didn't we find breakfast while we had the chance? Faery food isn't safe for mortals, and there's no telling how long we - er, I - will be here. I suddenly hear the echo of feet shuffling across the floor.
A spot of light appears at the end of a long, dark corridor, and sooner that I would expect I am face-to-face with an old, diminutive fellow with torch in hand. "Och, how is it that there be alltimes a stranger at the end of this catacombs. *sigh* I'd say a careless young elf left a door open again!" The old elf scratches at his thin white hair, straightens his waistcoat and clears his throat, in an attempt to make a rather late first impression. "Welcome, knight, to the Shee of Inisglain, home of the Gwee! Will you come meet the Ealdor?" My heart begins to race and a grin creeps into the corner of my mouth. How marvellous - I have found the realm of the Gwee! I just hope Andrew isn't too far behind...
Valentine Pranzo
Author: Hestia Jones
Date: 06-26-04 02:04
"You what?"
"I quit my job," replied Hestia, popping another Valentine's Day chocolate into her mouth.
"Ma che!" cried Farfalla reaching to snatch the box from Hestia. "I figured you would get fired before you quit." Hestia laughed, it was true, she had never seen herself quitting her job in a hundred years.
"Yeah, but I wasn't liking it. I'm starting to wonder if I'm not meant to be in the journalism world."
"You liked it so much when you were in school." Farfalla took a sip of her soda.
Hestia sighed and drifted to a different subject. "It's so nice out, why don't we go outside to the caffe?"
"It's raining," pouted her friend.
"So, let's go anyway."
Farfalla groaned and pulled herself off the couch, candy wrappers falling to the floor. "All right, if you insist."
Running between the warm Mediterranean raindrops, Hestia and Farfalla arrived at the Cortile Caffe just in time to take the last table in the crowded room.
"Ugh, look at those two," said Hestia, nodding her head toward a young couple snogging on a Valentine's date in a booth next theirs. "I can't stand it when people do that in public."
Farfalla raised an eyebrow, "Really? It seems to me three summers ago you couldn't keep your hands off of that one guy. What was his name again?"
"I have no idea what you are talking about!" Hestia began to turn pink.
"Sure you do, hmmm..." Farfalla attempted to look like she was deep in thought. "Mario?"
"Abele," muttered Hestia.
"Right! He was a good fellow." Then Farfalla laughed at a memory of Abele. Abele had the misfortune of being a muggle. When Hestia's cousin, Adolfo, found this out, he was sure to go straight away to Abele's home to turn him into a toad, but fortunately Hestia was able to convince Adolfo to leave Abele alone without harm as long as she made the sacrifice of never seeing Abele again. Hestia did not quite keep the promise; she did see Abele again one day in a shop, and it seemed had grown a couple warts since their last meeting.
"So what are you going to do with all your spare time now that you don't have a job?" Farfalla brought Hestia back to the present.
"Well, I'm hoping to help the Order more," replied Hestia. "Speaking of orders..." she motioned for a waiter to finally come take their order. It was only a moment later when one had came over and written down what they wanted. The waiter gone for only two seconds, Farfalla jumped back into the conversation.
"The Order? I did not realize they were doing much."
"Well... they are, and they aren't."
"Oh." She looked confused so Hestia attempted to explain.
"It would seem Sirius has recently found a new toy, and that's keeping him pretty busy. Who exactly she is, I'm not sure. And then all of the members who work at the Ministry are all busy with their jobs and then all the others are just plainly busy. Not much is going on in the Dark world; it is strangely quiet."
"Ah, perhaps this is the silence before the storm?"
"Could be, it certainly is started to give me the heebie-jeebies."
"But you know, Hestia, the money is going to run out eventually. You need a paying job too."
Hestia sighed, she had not really thought about that consequence of quitting her job. Luckily the food arrived right at that moment so the subject was changed briefly, but Farfalla did not let it die.
"Maybe you could go back to school," suggested her friend.
Hestia reached for the pepper, "I hadn't really thought of that."
"Yeah! You can come to the university down here, and then we will be together a lot more!" Farfalla became excited at the thought.
"Well..." Hestia was hesitant. "It's just that it's becoming in such disrepair since the Ministry disbanded."
"Oh." Farfalla did not need to be reminded of the grief the witches and wizards of Italy have had to put up with the past few years.
"-but you are right," Hestia tried to cheer her friend up, "maybe I should go back to school. I need to find something I really enjoy, and besides, it's not like I can't come down here whenever I want. Plus I'll still have Order things to do on the weekends. I haven't given that up."
"That's true." There was a moment of silence at their table, sucking noises could be heard from the neighboring one.
"But you know-" Hestia was giving an idea a second thought for once. "Don't you think I'll be a little old?"
"Old? Since when were we old?" Her friend looked a bit offended.
"Well, I did graduate from Hogwarts almost ten years ago, and you graduated two years after that. In muggle terms, we're getting 'up there'."
"Ha!" Farfalla laughed at the idea. "Up there? At least I'm not single!" A jab at Hestia.
"So? At least I don't have grey hairs!" Farfalla reached up to her head, that was one problem with having a veela in the family, silver hairs tended to crop up early.
The two women stared each other in the eyes for a moment before breaking into laughter. Simultaneously they replied, "What's it matter? We don't look it, and we don't act it." It was a favorite saying of Farfalla's mother; she would often use it when she was with Hestia's mother.
The friends shared another laugh and returned to eating their lunch. Hestia had made up her mind, school was a good next step.
Deeply Troubled
Author: Severus Snape
Date: 06-26-04 09:11
Although greatly concerned for his pride, Severus was more troubled knowing that Bellatrix Lestrange had walked through the doors of Hogwarts in range of hundreds of innocent children, not to mention Harry Potter. She could have easily raised her wand and ended the lives of many, inflicting terror upon the school.
I'll have to tell Dumbledore, of course, Snape thought to himself, his face set in a grimace. Though by now, Bellatrix had long left the school and the village of Hogsmeade.
Snape's thoughts were cut short when he again fell into the tank. He placed his feet firmly on the bottom and shot up to a standing position, staring daggers at the culprit: Siegfried Dewhurst of Hufflepuff House.
The boy smiled broadly and made way for his sister, Miss Bronwyn Dewhurst, who tossed a ball up and down with one hand. One of her perfectly arched eyebrows was raised and she grinned playfully at her potion's master.
"Come to play sport, Miss Dewhurst?" Severus sneered as he climbed back into his seat. He shook his head to remove a few strands of wet hair from his face. "I was under the impression that you're all talk and no action." He smirked.
Bronwyn, feeling unmoved by his taunts and not the least bit threatened since there was a tank of water between them answered, "You might be surprised."
Then she threw a hard pitch, meeting her target dead on. The release mechanism triggered the seat and down Snape went into the water once more.
I'm so going to pay for that one later, Bronwyn thought to herself, but she grinned at Snape when he emerged from the water and gave a little wave before letting the next person in line have a go at the game.
Is it six o'clock yet? Snape questioned himself, willing the humiliation to be over so that he could focus on more important tasks at hand: Bellatrix Lestrange, the Knights Walpurgis Ball and the Volumen Immortalitas.
