Ibrox-Glasgow-Scotland
Author: Robert Blackheart
Date: 12-30-01 20:57
The soccer match was being played at Ibrox in Glasgow, home of Glasgow Rangers Football Club. In the stands were one hundred and fifteen thousand screaming spectators...and a cat.
The Rangers manager Dick Advocaat sat next to his good friend Alex Ferguson, manager of Manchester United Football club and the old friends watched the game with avid interest.
So did the cat.
Today Rangers were playing Celtic and the packed ground was a mass of screaming shouting (and fighting) Scots as the two teams from Glasgow battled it out on the pitch.
The score at half time was one goal apiece and Alex finally got a chance to speak quietly to his old friend Dick.
"Come on Dick, there must be more than just a chance to watch Rangers and Celtic for you to drag me all the way up from Manchester...not that I'm complaining but I could have watched this match on the television."
Dick Advocaat smiled (a rare sight) and he nodded sagely. "Ah you're right my good friend, there is something or should I say someone I want you to see play...maybe," Advocaat smiled again and further talk was rendered impossible as the two teams came back out of the players tunnel and on to the pitch to the massive roar of the Ibrox crowd.
The announcement came over the loudspeaker system, "Number Seventeen Robert Blackheart is on for Number Seven David May for Rangers."
The Rangers supporters began the chant of "Robert, Robert, play 'em Robert," while the Celtic supporters nearest the entrance to the players tunnel were screaming with mirth at the sight of the skinny teenager wearing the number seventeen shirt for Rangers.
Alex Ferguson turned to look at Dick Advocaat who was half out of his seat and looking down at the young apprentice player.
"He hasn't signed his professional forms yet," he bellowed to Alex who could just hear him over the noise from the crowd. "Too young he is and that's a fact but just wait 'till the ref starts the game."
Ferguson looked on in dismay. He had seen too many young boys thrown in against the big lads too early in their careers and this wee laddie looked all of fifteen ...if that.
Most of the Glasgow Celtic fans were still trying not to wet themselves with mirth as the young lad took up his position in midfield, looking like a small boy lost in the park.
He looked scared, there were thousands of people shouting and he felt the butterflies in his tummy. He swallowed his fear and tried to look brave when the referee blew his whistle for the game to restart.
Then out of nowhere the ball was at his feet and his fears fell away as he shrugged off a tackle from one of the big Celtic forwards. He passed the ball from his side of the pitch to the very fast Danny Boyle and Rangers were up and running.
"Did you see yon laddie pass the ball?" shouted Advocaat into Alex Ferguson's ear.
Alex nodded. He had seen the pass. So casual and with the side of the boy's foot and yet the ball had moved a good forty yards to the feet of Boyle.
He watched in growing amazement as the game flowed on and the minutes seemed to fly past as the young Blackheart played as if he were used to this level of competition and never once looked out of his depth.
Then with seconds to go and with the score still level the ball fell to Robert near the Celtic goal area. Robert looked up, checked his pace and hammered the ball into the Celtic net as the final whistle blew and then he fell to the ground beneath the bodies of his team mates as they all tried to hug him at the same time...
The Glasgow Rangers supporters went mad with delight and began chanting his name and even the Celtic fans stood and clapped him as he came off the pitch towards the tunnel and the safety of the players changing rooms.
Unnoticed, the cat smiled.
After showering and changing the team tried to make their way to their bus but were held up by hoards of fans trying to get a glimpse of the young hero. There were an awful lot of happy Scots trying to shake the hand of the young match winner who was blushing a deep shade of red and getting more nervous by the second.
"I thought you did rather well young Robert Blackheart," said a rather prim lady who could have well been a shool teacher.
The crowd seemed to melt away from Robert as he stood looking at Professor Minerva McGonagall.
"Now my boy, you are rather late for the start of term you know," said the good professor kindly, "and I did promise your dear mother," she let her voice fall. He was turning into such a handsome and sweet young man she thought.
Robert Blackheart, soccer superstar blushed (yet again) and followed the good professor out of the ground and into his fifth year at Hogwarts.
His only thought was "Daft old biddy, worse than my silly old bat of a mother."
Lunch
Author: Lostark The Rude
Date: 12-30-01 22:33
After potions, Snape told me he'll talk to me later after lunch about my embarrassing quiz and terrible potion I made. All it did was burp and sizzle. It was supposed to be a toothache remedy, but just tasted like my cousin's cooking. I'm lucky Snape had other classes to teach than chew out one Ravenclaw. I had Herbology then Transfig after lunch. I saw a poster near a door.
*********************************************************************************
ATTENTION ALL STUDENTS Professor Endikut has invited a few beings and has-beings to speak about life or afterlife in the wizarding and Muggle world. Friday mornings 8am-9am, bring many questions, a quill and paper, no quizzes. Must be able to write an essay on one speaker of the student's choice. List of speakers will be supplied on first day of class. Please show each guest as much respect as you would wish upon yourself. Class Fri. 8-9 all houses, all years welcome. Class is supported by S.P.E.W.
*********************************************************************************
Doug saw it too. "Cool, all we have to do is an essay on a speaker and our grades are pulled up," he said. "I wonder if we'll have a werewolf or a vampire," I said with a grin. "We can find out on Friday," Doug said as a few more students came up to the poster, including Neville. "I hear Lupin is coming," said a 7th year Hufflepuff. "Who is Lupin?" I asked the 7th year. "A cool DADA teacher who is a werewolf," the Hufflepuff said.
"Cool, what is spew?" I asked another student. "Oh, just some club Hermione Granger started. She thinks having a house-elf is slavery," said a second year Slytherin. "The American Ministry of Magic outlawed unpaid house-elf work. My mom had to pay hers wizard's minimum wage. I think that law was in 1866 according to my uncle, some time after the Muggle American Civil War," I said signing up for the extra credit class. "American house-elves get paid?" said a surprised student. "Only about five sickles," I said as I went to the Ravenclaw table to read my Ravenclaw Quidditch book.
Reading
Author: Lostark The Rude
Date: 12-31-01 00:25
I sat down reading my book on Ravenclaw Quidditch Players 1895-1995. "Here is the best part of the book," said Lilah Baldwyn, turning the page to her.
********************************************************************
Ravenclaw team 1995
...Beater - Lilah Baldwyn, 4th year
She enjoys History of Magic and Transfiguration the best, but she still does her work in the other classes. She grew up all her life with her Muggle father and has developed a despise for her half-crazed mother and two brothers who annoy her. They alone serve as her top motivation to gain what she can and to get away from them as soon as possible. As for being a beater, she enjoys the friendships she has gained. Her best friend is Adam Higginton-Smythe and he too is a Beater, both currently attending Hogwarts...
****************************************************************************
Above was a picture of Lilah smacking a bludger over and over again. Cho Chang was in the background with Harry Potter zipping towards the snitch. "Cool, but I'm looking for a male seeker. It is the only clue as to who my father is. During the 60s, 80s and 90s women were the seekers," I said. "Maybe it's ACE 1951," asked Lilah. "I can't tell if ACE is a boy or a girl, or even if that is just a nick name or initals," I said. "Maybe it's Jack Barry Nimble? He's a seeker during the 70s," asked Lilah.
********************************************************************
Ravenclaw team 1979
...Seeker - Jack Barry Nimble
He was the Ravenclaw seeker from 1973-1979. One of the fastest seekers in Ravenclaw history, he liked to show off by doing crazy stunts, including jumping over candlesticks. He is a stunt broom flyer. He will visit Hogwarts on Halloween for a stunt show and will show the house seekers a few tricks, and he will play a few surviving alumni greats...
****************************************************************************
Just then Majandra arrived.
[London:
Ministry of Magic] Departure Again
Author: Lord L. A. Higginton-Smythe
Date: 12-31-01 00:58
Lludd Alfred sat at his desk in his Ministry office. His leather red armchair massaged his back with warmth and ease. His office was quite cozy with its black walnut walls and dark colored furnishings. Two enormous paintings hung on the walls: one of a moving forest scene where wizards and witches passed each other while they continued in different directions. The other: a Muggle painting given to him by a friend by society, Her Majesty Elizabeth II. His desk was nearly clear of the cluttered state Lludd Alfred had to sit down to an hour before.
He sat and finished reading the last incoming messages as owls had been cluttering in and out of his office all morning long. He scribbled down his response and raised his index and middle fingers. The three owls, which were perched atop on of his black walnut banisters stood at attention. He pointed his raised fingers towards the speediest one and snapped them inward toward himself. The owl swooped down to his desk and he attached the response to his leg.
"Take this to Chancellor Grummolk. Berlin." Lludd Alfred said. The owl flapped from his office with a flash. He sat and starred out his three rectangular windows on the east of his office. They were stained around the edges depicting famous wizarding stories and witch tales. He grabbed his overcoat, hat, and with a tap of his aging wand the toasty fire was quenched. He crossed the dark red rug and walked down two corridors and a set of stairs. At the desk of Percy Weasley he dropped a few messages and a personal note thanking him for his hard work in his absence.
The young lad raised his head as he finished the note and smiled greedily, "Thank you Lord Lludd, I am much grateful of your kindness to me."
"No trouble young Weasley, soon enough you'll be sitting in my office, or higher. I am off to Hogwarts this hour, more business to attend to there. Overlook my dealings here, I trust your judgment completely." Lludd Alfred accepted his gracious hand and walked with a ginger step to a few more desks before he headed to the harsh weathered north.
Quick Lunch...no?
Author: Adam Higginton-Smythe
Date: 12-31-01 01:32
Adam walked in and sat down next to Lilah with his face wrinkled as if he had a wicked rotten aftertaste in his mouth. To her surprise he rejected any of the food paced to him and just sat there. She glanced suspiciously at him, but with concern too. Adam failed to notice as many eyes began to turn on him followed by the self-stinging giggles and inner-burning pointed fingers. His very esteem was beginning to falter and tumble downwards. He didn't know what to expect other than his first day to be continuously stained with the same behavior that ruined the beginning. Adam refused to allow his anxious eyes to glance up towards the teachers' table.
"Where were you Adam?" Lilah was looking straight into him as if she could find the answer without his reply.
"I was at the hospital wing... erm... what class do we have next? Adam looked at her with a weak smile, but seductive starry eyes. She opened her mouth to contest his change in subject, but Adam turned his back on her and broke into a conversation among the 7th and 6th years. She hated whenever he did that, and was doing it a lot this year as if he knew all about their classes, their homework, and their more personal discussions too.
Adam turned around suddenly and studied momentarily what Lilah thought was just the hall's exit. He got up and left.
Loveable Lunch
Author: Majandra
Date: 12-31-01 02:56
Majandra wandered into the Great Hall with thoughts not of getting lunch but of finding her guy. How she'd endured Ancient Runes and the time before lunch she'll never know. It was pure torture! The new teacher, Professor Sorcha, seemed nice enough but all the woman wanted to do was actually talk about the class. Not one word about Hogwarts' most wonderful student Chris Lostark. It should be a new school rule that Lostark is discussed in every class at Hogwarts. Leaving class, Majandra mentioned this oversight to her friend Jonquille Juniper who, like Lavender and Parvati had taken to doing, just rolled her eyes, tried not to throw up, and said nothing. Majandra then spent the time after Ancient Runes until going to lunch filling up parchment after parchment with Lostark's and her names written inside cute little hearts.
Majandra scans the Great Hall, easily finding Lostark. She rushes over to where he is and plops herself down beside him. "There's my Widdle Wostarki Poo. I made you a pair of socks. Are you getting enough to eat? If you feel starved just say the word and I'll have a word with the kitchen elves. No need for you to do without you know. I tried to convince some of the professors to let me switch to Ravenclaw house but do you know they told me I had to stay with Gryffindor? And they also told me I had to stick with the class schedule I have? Really! I don't see what the big deal is in letting me take classes with you. I guess they just don't understand true love."
What?
Author: Pete Marsh
Date: 12-31-01 05:36
Pete skidded to a stop outside his History of Magic class to find a small gathering crowd.
"Why are you all out here?" Pete asked.
"The other class isn't out yet," said one of the Hufflepuff sixth years.
Pete chuckled. "You know how Prof. Binns is about his subject. Perhaps he's waxing poetic again."
That drew a light laugh as the rest of the students began to pile up.
Ancient Runes
10-11 AM
Author: Prof. Sorcha
Date: 12-31-01 14:01
The class came in the door, and slowly sat down in the desks. They were all talking to one another, except two, until the bell rang. The class fell silent, and Sorcha introduced herself.
"My name is Professor Sorcha. This class is Ancient Runes and you should all be fifth year Gryffindors and Ravenclaws." She waited a moment as a student left the class. "What we are doing today is introducing ourselves to each other. When we are done with that, you get to talk to one another until class is dismissed. Now, who wants to go first?"
The students slowly introduced themselves. One student mumbled her introduction, it was Aoife Wright. Another student introduced herself, but was distracted the whole time, her name was Majandra Fine.
When the students were finished, the started talking to each other in low voices. Majandra just wrote two words in little hearts on a piece of parchment. Aoife occasionally spoke to her backpack.
The bell rang and the class left. Sorcha just collapsed into her chair at the desk. Ailsa just watched the whole thing. Sorcha just looked over at the bird and said, "What? Didn't you see the first class? Of course you did, it was a disaster. I am just glad that I don't have to teach anymore today."
Sorcha picked up a book from the desk and opened it. She looked up at Ailsa and continued talking to the bird, while reading the book. "I have no idea what I am going to do. Yea, eat lunch, when I feel like going. Don't worry, I will get you something. I have a better idea."
Sorcha got up and opened a window, "Go catch something. Just don't let me know what it is. Just be back before nightfall." Ailsa flew over to the window, walked outside, and flew off. Sorcha walked over to her desk and continued reading.
Lunch at Last
Author: Jet
Date: 12-31-01 18:57
Jet slumped in his chair at the Hufflepuff table, glad that it was lunchtime. He'd had three back to back classes that morning, Divination, Transfiguration and History of Magic, and he was only half done with his Monday classes. That afternoon he has Defense Against the Dark Arts, Herbology and Astronomy.
"Six freakin' classes on Mondays," Jet mumbles, "but at least by Thursday it's down to two and on Friday, wonderful Friday, no classes for me at all. But what does that matter? Mondays are gonna kill me. Better try to sustain myself with some food."
With that, Jet picks up a sandwich in each hand and digs in to the always excellent food at Hogwarts.
To the Hospital
Wing!
Author: Samantha Thatcher
Date: 12-31-01 20:59
Herbology was boring as can be...to start. Being bored as can be, Samantha 'accidentally' knocked over a box of Bouncing Bulbs, which scattered everywhere and the class spent most the rest of class time trying to collect all them all (wasn't easy).
Professor Sprout ran around trying to keep the class in order as well as catch the magical plants. "Miss Thatcher?!"
"Yes professor?" Samantha asked innocently. She stood up and the bulb she was holding wriggled free from her grasp and banged her in the face and sent her to the ground. "Blast it!!" she exclaimed.
Fred ran over to her. "Alright then, Sam?" he asked with a look of concern on his face. He took Samantha's outstretched hand and pulled her up.
She produced a fake smile. "Nasty li'le buggars." She had her hand over her cheek. Fred noticed blood trickle down Samantha's cheek.
He frowned. "You're bleeding Samantha...!" He took her hand off her face observing her bleeding cut. "That's a bad cut, you should go to the 'Ospital Wing. C'mon." Fred still had her blood stained hand.
Samantha tried to let go, but Fred only held tighter. "Fred, yer gunna get all bloody!"
"I don't care." He smiled. "Oy George! You wanna come? Sam needs to go to the 'Ospital Wing."
"Mr. Weasley! You will stay here!" Professor Sprout interrupted. "Fred, you take Miss Thatcher to the Hospital Wing."
George grinned. "Well, why not? Fred and Sam need..."
"George! Shut it!?" With that Fred dragged Samantha out of the green house leaving George laughing behind them.
Mmm...Lunch!
Author: Cho Chang
Date: 12-31-01 22:58
She sits down, eating almost inhumanly quickly and gulping down her drink, starved from the classes this morning. She looks to her friends and they laugh and grin. All telling jokes and stories of the summer.
Majandra's
Socks
Author: Lostark The Rude
Date: 12-31-01 23:39
Majandra walked up to me and started acting like a Bucky does around a catnip plant, or when being feed. "There's my Widdle Wostarki Poo. I made you a pair of socks. Are you getting enough to eat? If you feel starved just say the word and I'll have a word with the kitchen elves. No need for you to do without you know. I tried to convince some of the professors to let me switch to Ravenclaw house but do you know they told me I had to stay with Gryffindor? And they also told me I had to stick with the class schedule I have? Really! I don't see what the big deal is in letting me take classes with you. I guess they just don't understand true love," she said.
"They're nice. I'm eating fine. McGonagall sure does loves those regulations," I said. "Yeah like someone I know to another person I know," Doug said implying Majandra and I. I placed down the book and looked at the socks. They were pink covered with red hearts with C + M inside. I politely grinned. "A guy can't get too many socks," I said. I decided to try them on but they fit an Olivander's wand better. "Aw are they too small?" Majandra said as I accidentally ripped one. "A bit, but I can use the other as a bag for my wand," I said tossing my wand into the other sock.
Lunch! Finally!
Author: Aoife Wright
Date: 01-01-02 00:32
Walking slowly to the Ravenclaw table Aoife sat down to lunch. Her morning classes had been mostly uneventful. She had kept mostly to herself during class. She slowly ate her lunch, occasionally stuffing fruit in her bag. Muttering things like "Can't let you go hungry now can I?" or "Gotta keep up your strength."
Looking up she saw a girl rush over to a boy at her table. She believed his name to be Lostark, but couldn't quite remember. The girl started talking all lovey dovey. Which started to make Aoife wish she hadn't eaten that last roll. The girl had brought over a pair of socks with hearts on them. Aoife couldn't figure out who in their right mind would wear them. Not that he really could since the were too small for him.
"Oi vey Josephine," she muttered to her bag. "There's another reason for you not to come out."
Aoife turned away so she didn't have to look at the scene. But she could still hear the horrible talk from the girl.
