1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE

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Subject: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Tue Oct 28 2008, 14:09

1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE

Welcome to the 1600m middle distance event. Please read the instructions carefully

INSTRUCTIONS

For the 1600m all who participate will have their fics put together in one big olympic event fic. Each person needs to write three chapters of at least 1000 words long. You need to choose three of the subject lines below to base each chapter upon. Only one chapter per person and first come first served. Please say which chapters you are taking before writing, one at a time! Post the chapter name here and re-edit that post with your finished chapter before going onto the next one and doing the same thing. Please check posts before yours to make sure the chapter isnt taken.

If all chapters have been taken then please pm me and I will assign a new chapter.

CHAPTERS COMPLETED

1. Aboard the hogwarts express
2. the sorting hat
3. the great hall
4. quidditch - gryffindor V slytherin
5. A trip to the hospital wing Rigby Dumbledore
6. The doctor in the castle jennifer williams
7. DADA class
8. Through the Floo Elana
9. Quidditch - Hufflepuff V Ravenclaw
10. Potions Class Rigby Dumbledore
11. Duel and Noon
12. A challenge Gemma_Cullen-Malfoy
13. Supernatural happenings Elana
14. Never tickle a purple hippo Violetriddle
15. OWL's Rigby Dumbledore
16. Apparition training
17. Big Brother
18. The Prefects Bathroom
19. Elves are always right!
20. Halloween at Hogwarts
21. Badge Burrow Ellemanae
22. Debates in the morning
23. A Trip to Hogsmeade
24. The Order of the Phoenix
25. Death Eaters Allegance
26. The Pensieve knows all
27. Photographical evidence
28. Hogwarts Walks
29. Beauxbatons Violetriddle
30. Filches filing cabinet Violetriddle
31. Snapes revelation
32. House cup
33. Celebrations and goodbye
34. Home

IMPORTANT RULES

1. Use the format above; post a claim, edit post with chapter, claim new chapter in next post

2. Post all chapters here

3.
Please put your chapter title and username from HQ in first two lines before starting each chapter

1st, 2nd and 3rd bonus for race will go to the posting order of scores.
Points Possible can be found within the points post.
Story will be judged by judges in two different ways.

Please note: Scores are now much higher than originally planned!

Only those who signed up can participate

kathrineee_anne
Rigby Dumbledore
Raistlin The Wizard
Drkangelcat
Violetriddle
Stephy
ag167
polly
Snapes_girl
Pickles
Gemma_Cullen-Malfoy
Belldandy
KatieBellaTrix
Shausto-la
Herbaceoustraitorous
P h o e n i x
Ellemanae
weasleybrother08
ElladoraZeller
Etta
Snape_Luffer
Alice Cullen
Jamoki
jennifer williams
Samantha Granger
Agatha Black
Puppet_Master
Kris
Duck the duck

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Tue Oct 28 2008, 14:44

Claim!
Aboard the Hogwarts Express!

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Tue Oct 28 2008, 15:02

Chapter 2 – The doctor in the castle
By Jennifer Williams

It was a day like no other. The empty corridor was strangely quiet as a cold wind whistled through the halls of Hogwarts Experience. Generally bursting with life, today the castle seemed eerily deserted with the exception of the few spiders frantically climbing the walls to get away from the cold. The dark stones on the wall seemed to, well, darken the…dark hallway. And as the narrator hints that she would like a nice Thesaurus for Christmas, the story continues. Suddenly a loud desperate yell echoed through the empty castle as someone was being dragged down to the dungeons.

“I’m telling you I’m fine!”

“No, you’re not! And if you continue to struggle, I swear I’ll hex you so bad you won’t be fine for a long ti-”

LooneyKim struggled against Violetriddle’s grasp as she tried to go back up the stairs to the game. And not just any game. The final Quidditch game of the season! It wasn’t something that a sprained ankle was going to keep her out of. Nothing and nobody could possibly keep her away. That is nobody but the stubborn Violetriddle. Kim nearly groaned out loud when the Slytherin offered to take her to the hospital wing.

“But it’s just a small sprain. And I’ll just be sitting on a broom! I could make it…”

Shaking her head, Violet pointed at Kim’s misshapen bandaged foot. “It is not just a sprain. Your foot is practically facing the other direction! Shouldn’t you be in pain?”

“No, not really.” The injured girl suddenly started giggling so hard, her Ravenclaw earrings started to dance. “Etta secretly gave me a potion to take away the pain and I feel grrreat! In fact, I could start dancing and…” Her voice trailed off as she looked down at the ground for a few minutes. “Your feet are so tiny! How did you grow them so tiny?”

“Oh boy,” Violet fumbled in her bag and took out a small bottle of magical coffee, guaranteed to wake anybody up. It was guaranteed because Raist spiked it with something to keep his entire house alert and energized to go to class and get housepoints. Now I would just like to take a moment and point out how despite all the rules, it was the Head of Houses that seemed to need it the most. Etta with her “pain free medication”, Raist with his “coffee”, and Kate with her sleek, shiny hair that clearly isn’t natural. And there’s no need to point out how Amy seems to be everywhere. Perhaps with the help of an illegal time turner that she claims not to have but everyone saw around her neck at last year Christmas party. By the way, great cookies Cris! Not as I’ve pointed a few things that would need to be investigated, I’ll just finish with my story so I can go hide in Elfie’s office where it’s safe.

“Oh boy,” Violet continued as though she wasn’t interrupted by the loud booming narrator’s voice. I resent it but it’s true. “Here drink this.”

Sticking out her tongue, Kim threw her head back and tried to drink it with her tongue still out. After ten minutes, she finally finished the tiny bottle and shook her head as she rubbed her eyes. “What am I…I have to go back to the game! They need me!”

“No, they don’t.” Violet exclaimed as she held onto Kim’s wrist even tighter. “They’ve got everything taken care of. Don’t worry. Hufflepuff doesn’t stand a chance.” (*bows down to the Helga Hufflepuff statue in the common* I’m just kidding! I would never sell my soul to the devil just for a challenge! Or to Raist! For a badge maybe…xD)

Kim stopped for a moment and thought about it. “You’re right, Elana and Kate would never let that happen. Or Herby for that matter.” Her eyes nervously skidded to the dungeon entrance below. “But I still don’t want to go down there.”

“Why not? You have to get your foot fixed.”

“No, I don’t! I could just keep the bandage on. White bandages are coming back into style you know.”

Violet’s forehead scrunched up in confusion. “I thought polka dots were?” She shook her head to stay focused. “Why are you so afraid to go to the hospital wing?”

“Because…” Kim’s voiced lowered to a silent whisper. “I heard the doctor is…” She glanced around them for a moment before answering. “Crazy.”

“Yeah….so?”

“So? Did you hear me? He’s crazy!”

Violet rolled her eyes. “Have you seen the people here? Seriously, here, crazy is the new normal!” She exclaimed as she waved her arms around. The portraits on the wall nodded their agreement, all important moments in HE history. Marriages, births, adoptions, divorces, Raist dressed in a chicken suit. All good times.

“That is true…” Kim shook her head again. “But I heard that the doctor’s crazy scary! Nobody’s ever gone to see him ever since he started working. Look! Even the way to his office is dark. And the wind keeps whistling!”

The whistling suddenly stopped. “Oh, sorry about that.” Pickles’s voice from overhead called out as he jumped down from his perch on a pillar. “I was dared to stay up there and do that.”

Violet squinted her eyes at Pickles. “Aren’t you supposed to be at the Quidditch match?”

His eyes suddenly widened in horror. “That was today? Oh, ----” A black crow suddenly called out, drowning out Pickle’s last words as he started to run toward the field. “Oh, and it’s dark because Snape forgot to pay for the electric bill again. But don’t tell Elfie or not she’ll have his -----” He called out over his shoulder as the crow drowned out his last words again.

The two girls stopped outside the doctor’s office and looked at each other in fear. Even from the doorway, they could see the smoke and cobwebs that seemed to fill the room as a mournful violin tune played softly in the background.

“Well…” Kim gestured toward the room. “You’re the brave Slytherin. You go first.”

“It’s Gryffindors that are brave, not us!” Violet exclaimed without thinking. “I mean…you’re the injured one. Why don’t you go first?”

“Because I-”

“How about we play rock paper scissors first?” Violet suggested, her left hand already making a little fist.

“Okay, one, two, thr-”

A hand suddenly clamped on both of the girls shoulders. “Why don’t you both come in?”

They looked up just as lightening flashed outside the window, making the stranger’s face glow in the dark. Together, they let out ear piercing screams and ran into the hospital.

“Barty Crouch Jr!”

“Now, wait. I’m not-”

“Get away from us!” Kim yelled as she hobbled behind a bed.

“I may be a Slytherin and I may support Voldemort but that doesn’t mean I want to socialize with someone like you!” Violet shouted as she started throwing books in his direction to ward him off.

“I’m not-Ow! I’m not who you think I am.” He tried to explain as he dodged the missiles thrown at him. “I’m not Barty Crouch Jr!”

“Oh, right and I’m the tooth fairy!” Kim retorted with a roll of her eyes.

Violet stopped in her attack. “Wait, you are?”

“Don’t stop!” Kim called out, pointing in David Tenant’s direction.

“Oh, right.”

Too late, David took advantage of her distraction and tackled her onto a bed. Quickly, he muttered a spell at both of them, causing them to be paralyzed.

“Oh my God, we’re going to die. We’re going to die!” Violet muttered as she glared at David’s back.

“What do you think you’re-” Kim watched helplessly as he was bent over her sprained ankle. Within seconds, he poured a healing lotion over it and bandaged it neatly together.
“Oh, is it customary to heal your victim before killing them?”

David Tenant let out a loud sigh as he flicked on the lights. “I am not going to kill you. I told you, I’m not Barty Crouch Jr.”

“Yeah right, then who are you?”

“I’m David Tenant.” David sat on one of the empty beds and let out another loud sigh. “I took this job just to get some pocket money. I’ll admit, I was worried about the reaction I would get since I acted Barty Crouch Jr’s character but I was assured by many of your staff members that I’m better known as Dr. Who rather than Barty. But apparently, Barty Crouch is how most of the American students see me and so…” His hand waved around empty hospital wing. “They never come to me when they’re injured.”

“Oh, I’m sure students aren’t quite so…” Violet flushed as she remembered how she first reacted when she saw his face.

“It must be quite lonely and boring for you up here.” Kim said as she reached out to pat his arm, as the spell was already starting to wear off.

“Oh, it’s okay. I’m really too busy for it to get boring.”

“But you just said that nobody comes up here to get treated.” Violet said.

“Yes, students don’t bother to come up here. But staff members come up here all the time. Apparently they get injured quite often. Sometimes three to four times a day.” He explained as he ruffled his hair with a half smile.

As though on cue there was a thundering noise coming down the dungeon stairs.

“I was here first! I need my injury to be treated.”

“Well, I just want to speak to Davi-I mean the doctor and make sure you’re okay.”

“Oh you’re such a little liar! I should fire all of-”

The arguing suddenly stopped as Elfie, Etta, and Amy stumbled into the door, all in different states of dishevelment. As one, they swarmed to the bed David was sitting at and immediately started picking for his attention.

“Doctor, I have a horrible bruise forming on my knee and need to know how to treat it. Would firewhiskey help? Because I have a bottle in my bag if you’d like to share it with me.” Etta suggested with a sweet smile as she glanced at him beneath her lashes.

“Yes, if Etta needs to rest, I’ll be willing to bring her back to her room and come back to discuss how she needs to be treated. I’m just so worried.’ Amy exclaimed as she pushed Etta out of the way so she could wedge herself next to David Tenant.

Elfie waved her index finger in front of David’s face with a pout. “I think I have a splinter in my finger. I know it doesn’t sound like much but you know how quickly infection spreads with old wood…”

“Oh, boo hoo, you have a splinter. Why don’t you get Snape to get it out for you?” Etta said with her hands on her hips.

“Because he’s with little Elfie. And you just have a bruise, get some ice.” Elfie snapped as she mimicked Etta’s stance.

“They are clearly in pain. Why don’t you and I go into your office and discuss the treatments for each of them?” Amy suggested as she linked arms with David Tenant and started to lead him away.

“Amy!” The other two staff members called out unison as they chased after the pair.

Meanwhile, Kim and Violet stared after them with their mouths open as the watched the most important people at Hogwarts Experience chase after the doctor like lovesick fangirls.

“So, that’s how they choose the staff around here.” Violet muttered to herself. Suddenly her eyes widened as she remembered something important. “You know, Raistlin always calls this one supernatural exterminator to his office and rooms at least three times a week.”

“Yeah, so?”

“And I heard him call the exterminator Jensen once.”

Now Kim’s eyes also widened. “You mean as in Jensen Ackles?!”

“I wouldn’t have believed it but after seeing those three.” Violet pointed at the closed office door. “I wouldn’t put it past him.”

Kim hobbled off of the bed and headed toward the doorway. “You go to Raistlin’s office to find out and I’ll head to the kitchens. We’ll meet back at the Great Hall in a half an hour.”

“Wait, why are you going to the kitchens?”

“Because I always see Elana and Jenn sneak off to the kitchens and they’re always talking about a Rocco Dispirito and a Curtis Stone. Now I have a feeling they’re cooking up more than just food in the kitchens.”

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Tue Oct 28 2008, 15:05

Never Tickle a Purple Hippo
violetirddle

“I’m telling you, never tickle a purple hippo!” Violet screamed. Nixy and Matt stood around her, laughing. Just a shame they didn’t believe her, she was being honest. Well, that’s was just fine. She could call the hippo out, even though they didn’t even believe it exist. All it took was some screaming and the little threat that Elfie would have him kicked out of the school.

“Come on, Vi. You must have had to much candy.” Matt said. Violet glared at him. So nice of him to bring up the fact that candy was her weakness. Maybe she should try and get dirt on him to.

“I haven’t had to much candy! I was right here and he came out so I tickled him! HE ATTACKED ME!” Violet screamed. Nixy started laughing at her again and used Matt to help her keep standing up.

“Riddy, I think you have lost it…..maybe you should be the blondie!” Nixy said, tears in her eyes. Violet glared at her, but Nixy kept laughing.

“Fine! I’ll go find someone to believe me!” She yelled, turning on her heal. She heard them laughing still. Violet growled. She was telling the truth, never tickle a purple hippo, mostly if they have green hair. She turned the corner, she bumped into someone.

“Who, watch out Vi.” Someone said. She looked up and smiled.

“MY JAMOKI!” She yelled, tackling him with hugs. She heard him grunt and she giggled, moving.

“You have to help me!” Violet yelled, grabbing his hand. Jamoki was trying to protest, but Violet wouldn’t listen. She had to get someone to believe her. Even if it was someone who protested a lot.

As they were going out the door, someone cleared their throat. Violet looked to the side, smiling innocently at the person.

“Hello…….” Violet said. Rai raised an eyebrow, shaking his head.

“Do I even want to know?” He asked. Violet shrugged, walking out the door.

“JUST NEVER TICKLE A PURPLE HIPPO!” She yelled, running towards the forest. Jamoki tried to protest again but Violet glared.

“Zip it.” She hissed. Jamokie went quiet, but she sensed he was cussing up a storm in his mind. Violet guessed she was a sight seeing as she had cuts on her face and a black eye. Her clothes were dirty, but hey, how could she out-run a one ton hippo.

“Vi, come on, there is no hi- OH MY GOD! WHAT IS THAT!?” Jamoki yelled. Violet turned around and smiled. The hippo has come.

“See I told you!” Violet yelled. She grabbed Jamoki’s hand again, pulling him to the hippo. Jamoki was saying stuff like, no, why, and holy. Violet smiled and stopped, walking over to the hippo.

“Hello girl….or boy.” She said, bending down. The hippo looked at her with lazy eyes and she had the urge to tickle him again.

“Do you have the urge to tickle it?” Jamoki asked, sitting beside her. Violet looked at him and nodded. She hippo made a noise and Violet reached out to tickle it, and so did Jamoki.

Seconds later, they were running.

“I TOLD YOU NOT TO TICKLE IT!” Violet yelled, she ran passed Stephy and Elana, who were sitting under a tree. Only God knows what they were doing. It looked like they were planning something.

“NO YOU DIDN’T!” Jamoki yelled, grabbing her hand and running faster. She heard the hippo gaining up on them and she looked behind them, only to trip and fall.

“AH!” Violet yelled, jumping back up to running. The hippo made a screeching noise and Violet clapped her hands over her ears. Jamoki did the same, turning in a new direction.

“Come on!” He yelled. Violet nodded, following him. He opened the door to the school and Violet pushed him in, falling as she did. She glared up at him as he started closing the door. She heard a large thump on the door and winced.

“He just hit it…” She mumbled. Jamoki turned around, glaring.

“ARE YOU TRYING TO KILL US!” He yelled. Violet smiled, turning her head.

“So you want me to answer that?” She asked. He narrowed his eyes and turned towards the common room.

“I’m going before you come up with another plan to kill us.” he growled, pushing some first years down. Violet stood up, opening the door some. She squealed, seeing the hippo still there. Great, he may never leave. Violet heard foot steps and turned around, looking.

“Other way Riddle.” Kris said. Violet groaned, turning around. Even though she didn’t know her, she didn’t feel like talking to her. Kris raised an eyebrow. She glared as she walked by her. Violet shrugged, turning back to the door. She opened it again and saw he was gone.

Violet growled, turning around. Only then did she scream. The hippo was in front of her. Violet run, not knowing where she was going. She ran into the first open door and slammed it shut. Someone put there hand on her shoulder and she turned around, smiling sheepishly.

“Hi…Amy….” Violet said, looking out the door. The hippo was sitting there, waiting. Amy narrowed her eyes, as though she was trying to figure what was going on. She soon smiled and open the door.

“I see you met the hippo.” She said, walking up to it. Violet went to stop her, but she starched it ears and the hippo whined and turned around. Violet looked dumbfound but said nothing.

“All you have to do is nothing look it in the eye.” Amy said. Violet groaned, but nodded. Great, she had done it wrong. Never again with she believe Cat and Gemma. She walked from the room, back to the Great Hall. She saw Nixy and Matt talking and laughing and she smiled.

“You guys are still wrong and I can prove it.” She said, grabbing their cloaks. Being older then them worked out great.

“Hey where are we going!” Matt yelled, pulling from her. Violet smiled, but said nothing. She saw the purple hippo laying on the grass again and Matt hushed.

“It is real…” He said, walking closer. Nixy followed him and Violet smirked. Seconds later, they screamed and ran passed her. Violet grabbed her stomach, laughing. And that’s why you don’t tickle a purple hippo.

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Tue Oct 28 2008, 15:21

Chapter 13: Supernatural Happenings
By Magical Me
(HQ Username)

As she was the Supernatural and Paranormal Studies Professor, one would think that Elana was well accustomed to supernatural happenings. Well, we all think wrong thoughts now and again, don’t we? It was true that she had become prone to them since taking the job – before, she hadn’t been plagued with ghostly apparitions in her office where she stayed through the wee hours of the night grading various papers and projects (though she hadn’t had an office until now, in her dorm she hadn’t had that problem) – but she still hadn’t quite gotten used to it.

That fact became apparent during one of her classes in late October.

The day had started off normally – waking up earlier than she would’ve liked in order to get a lesson ready for her class, breakfast down in the Hall, attending a number of classes herself, lunch, and then straight to the SPS classroom to begin teaching. After going over information on their review sheets for an upcoming quiz, she covered up the blackboard with a splatter painted white sheet and said, “Okay, guys, let’s see if you’ve got this yet.

That got out a groan from her students, which only made her smile. Teaching was such a joy – why hadn’t she considered it before this position opened up? “I know, I know,” she said, sighing along with them, “it’s just so horrible to have to answer questions without the answers being right in front of you. But for those of you who actually take notes, this should be a breeze.”

She continued on to pop questions and pick students at random; a few lucky ones had taken notes and were able to get through the question without suffering, while the rest quickly turned red or deathly pale as they were unable to get the right words out. During this time she heard the door to the classroom creak open, but didn't look to see who had come in. It was always moving about - one of the things about this classroom which made it a perfect place for this class. After a few minutes of questioning, Elana’s attention was disrupted by the sudden hushed giggles by most of the class and a few pointing fingers to whatever was behind her.

“Stephy, dear, mind telling me what’s so funny?” she asked, raising her eyebrows at the bright Ravenclaw dorm leader.

“Nothing, ‘Lana,” Stephy replied, trying to keep from chuckling.

“Nothing? I’m sure it wasn’t about the Brown Lady, which was the answer to that last question, for those who are wondering – but if it wasn’t about that…” She whipped around to see the sheet covering the blackboard suddenly fall back into place. She shook her head, rolling her eyes. Boredom took many of the spirits that haunted the castle and made them do things like this for the amusement of students; it was probably nothing more, as she explained to the tittering class.

“I don’t think ghosts can do that,” whispered Matt to his neighbor, Violet, who burst into a renewed set of giggles.

Elana rapped her pointer on the front table for attention. Once most of the class had looked up, she said calmly, “I want to know what’s going on. Now.” When that got her no response, she continued, “The person who tells me is exempt from the rest of the Q&A session.”

“It’s Peeves!” Gemma cried out, pointing to the blackboard. When Elana turned, the sheet was falling back down again, but Peeves was no where to be found. Doubting the answer, even though it was given by her most wonderful student, Elana turned back to the class.

“It’s true!” Cat continued from Gemma’s side. “He’s been…flying around with the sheet, pretending to be a ghost!”

“All right, I see how that would be funny the first couple times, but I thought you were all more mature than that to keep laughing every time he did it,” Elana replied coolly, doubt rising with Cat’s hesitation.

“Well, he didn’t just do that,” June piped in. “He’s been making faces too, and - ” She was suddenly cut off by a new wave of laughter as she doubled over in her chair. This time the professor was ready. She turned only partly around, knowing that if she went fully she wouldn’t see anything, then whipped back around to see a dark haired girl wearing a yellow and black scarf ducking down underneath her desk. Fuming, Elana stomped over to it and looked under, having an inkling to who it could be.

“Jennifer Williams!” Elana cried, aghast, as her suspicions were rewarded. “I’ve – I’m – I can’t believe you!”

“What?” Jenn replied innocently as she crawled out. She stood up and dusted off her skirt before curtsying to the class. Elana let out an angry “Hrumph!” and began pushing her friend towards the door, much to the class’s amusement.

“Oh, come on, Elana, it was just a bit of fun! Your review was boring them to death!”

“Was not!”

“Was too!”

“OUT!”

“MOOOOOOOOOOO!”

“What was that?” shrieked Katie, almost jumping out of her seat.

Elana paused, hand on the door’s handle. She hadn’t heard a noise like that since she had left Wisconsin. Cows there were friendly sorts, helped out the economy, were adorable, all kinds of good stuff. But cows in this world…

They were a supernatural happening.

“Everybody stay calm!” she shouted, obviously very not calm herself, as the lights began to flicker overhead. A wind began moving through the room, though the windows weren’t open. The older students got out their wands and made a ring around the younger ones, although they didn’t know what sorts of spells they would be using as no enemy was to be seen. Elana and Jenn, who had been completely forgiven given the turning of events, paced anxiously around the ring as they waited for the mysterious antagonist to present itself.

Kate slowly raised her wand arm to point to the chandelier hanging from the ceiling. It was swaying back and forth, though the wind surely wasn’t strong enough to do that. As if to confirm their thoughts, a dark shape suddenly swung down from the fixture, and spread what looked to be strong wings to keep itself afloat as it drifted down.

As it was hit with light, the ungainly figure, which was beginning to look quite familiar, took on a purple glow. Purple? What harm could be done by something purple? Feeling relieved, many of the older students let their wand arms drop, not thinking they’d need them after all.

“Don’t!” Elana warned. “This could be a tricky one, trying to fool us. Stay alert!”

The figure alighted atop her desk, which began to groan under its weight, with its back to the cluster of frightened students. A Slytherin then realized that the purple of the figure was unlike anything he had ever seen, except…

“Hey, wait a minute,” said Rai shrewdly, narrowing his eyes and taking a few steps closer. “I’d know that purple anywhere!”

A couple of the other oldies started to see where this was going too. The HE Hippo turned around, the wings of her flying bat costume knocking over a mobile. Everyone let out a relieved breath before going over to pat the hippo and congratulating her on her great Halloween costume.

So much for supernatural happenings.

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Tue Oct 28 2008, 17:34

Chapter 10: Potions Class

By Rigby Dumbledore

Rigby Dumbledore stood at her cauldron in front of the empty Potions classroom. She frowned over the bubbling orange and black swirled potion that brewed in her pewter cauldron. Her newly created Halloween potion was missing something, she just knew it. She walked over to the potions store room, digging around, waiting for inspiration to hit.

“Got it!” Rigby emerged from the storeroom clutching a vial of bat eyes. She shook out two into her palm, tossing them into the cauldron. Then she stirred the pot in a counterclockwise direction until the potion gave off a slight glow. Smiling to herself, she poured the potion into twenty separate vials.

Walking around the room, she placed a vial of the swirly, twirly potion in front of each empty chair. Lunch was almost over and her students should be coming in at any moment. Rigby withdrew to her desk, curious as to see the student’s reactions to the very unorthodox class they were about to walk into.

Not surprisingly the first student in was Elana, from Rigby’s own house: Ravenclaw. Elana looked up from the potion to meet Rigby’s eyes. She merely smiled in response. The next student in was Raistlin the Wizard from Slytherin. Rigby was surprised to see the head of her rival house in her class, but happy to see him regardless. He raised a curious arched eyebrow when he saw the potions, shaking his head slightly, as if to say, “Oh, Rigby.”

More Ravenclaws and Slytherins piled in the dungeon, with a few Hufflepuff and Gryffindor stragglers popping in. Finally all twenty seats were filled. The whole class was fairly buzzing with whispered speculations.

“What’s she playing at? I think she’s trying to poison us…”
“It’s like someone bottled Halloween!”
“… and it’s glowing, like the…”

Rigby stood up, silence descending quickly throughout the classroom. She began to walk slowly, winding her way past each student.

“As you may have noticed, before you is a unknown potion. Would anyone care to guess which potion it is?”

Immediately students began avoiding eye contact, but June, from Gryffindor, raised her hand to take a guess.

“Is it Wit-sharpening potion?” she asked. Rigby changed course and came to stand in front of June.

“That’s a good guess, but incorrect. You will note that the Wit-sharpening potion glows green and black, and it’s stripes are far more even, a lot less swirly.”

Another hand shot up, Rigby smiled, waiting to see what Etta’s answer would be. Or if her hand was just up so that she could get a hall pass from the school nurse.

“It’s a Halloween thing, isn’t it?” Rigby nodded.

“But do you know what it does?” Rigby quizzed.

Etta shook her head, blowing a bubble loudly before answering, “Something creepy, no doubt.” Rigby’s grin stretched wider still.

“Correct, it is a Halloween potion, and slightly creepy, perhaps. This potion before you is my own creation. It is much like my Yule Tide Cheer Potion that I developed a few years back. The potion before you will fill you with Halloween cheer, and it will spark your imagination and you will then be able to create some truly wonderful Halloween costumes.”

Polly and Stephy, both Ravenclaws, exchanged a look. Polly raised her hand, “Excuse me, Professor Rigby, but I just don’t get it.” Stephy nodded her head in agreement, most of her classmates echoing her sentiment.

Rigby sighed. “Every year, as you get older, Halloween often becomes just another day in October. This potion, this new wonder drug, re-creates that feeling of holiday euphoria that is usually the first thing sacrificed in the name of growing up. Plus, if I mass market this stuff, I can get huge payoffs from the candy and costume companies.”

Suddenly Rigby clapped her hands together in two quick motions. “Okay, bottoms up, class! I want to see every vial drained. It should just take a few moments to begin to take effect. Next to the storage room you will find a couple of trunks and a wardrobe closet, which you may use to create your vision of the perfect Halloween costume.”

No one reached for their potion. Rigby’s smile faltered. Glaring at her students, she said, “Did I mention that there are house points at stake here? Hmmm? Drink the potion, design the costume, get house points. Sit there like a bunch of lumps of holiday blah and you will find your house’s points docked for every second you hesitate to take the potion. Am I making myself clear? You have until the count of three. One.” But Rigby didn’t even have to make it to the number two. All twenty students downed their potions in record time. Rigby’s smile returned, brighter than ever.

At first nothing appeared to change. However, Rigby was glad to see that no one appeared to be having a fatal reaction to the potion, seeing as how she had never gotten around to testing it first. She watched her students eyeing one another, looking for signs of something happening. Then violet riddles’s chair shot back as she lunged out of her seat.

The Slytherin’s face was lit with an inspired light, and she ran towards the trunks. She had them pried open in no time. Clothes, shoes, make-up, masks, bright colored silk scarves, one rubber chicken, and various wigs went flying as Violet rummaged through the contents of the first trunk.

Upon seeing a bright pink wig, Elana was struck with a costume idea and went flying towards it, only to find herself in a tug-of war with Jennifer Williams. The two girls fought with such ferocity that Rigby began to question the wisdom of giving untested potions to students. Perhaps Elfie would be mad that she was treating her class like guinea pigs?

When Elana withdrew her wand and pointed it at Jenn, Rigby decided the moment to intervene had come. She ran over to the two good friends who were all but foaming at the mouth, her own wand in hand. Just then Elana was distracted by a pair of fairy wings flying overhead, and in her excitement to get her hands on the wings, relaxed her hold on the pink wig. Jenn easily snatched it away, all but purring with contentment.

Soon the rest of the class were joining the girls, searching through the items to piece together the costumes they had dreamed up. A few more skirmishes broke out, Etta getting in one good nose hair growth spell on a first year Slytherin before Rigby could stop her, but most were resolved bloodlessly. After ten minutes most students were back at their desks, diligently working on their costumes.

Rigby paced the aisles, inspecting the costumes and enjoying the whole hearted enthusiasm that permeated her classroom.

“Five more minutes, students! By then I want you dressed in your costumes, ready to be judged!” The minutes flew by. Rigby had her students line up, and she marked them all out of ten points, choosing a final three to be voted upon by their fellow classmates.

“Okay, in third place, with 5 votes is Elana and her purple hippo fairy costume! In second place, with 7 points is Duck the Duck for her telephone booth/time machine outfit,” At this point several student’s yelled out ‘TARDIS!’, “and the winner with 8 whole points of his own, Raistlin the Wizard!”

Raisty took his place in front of the class, bowing as gracefully as his tight purple and red gown would allow him to. He was dressed as a boggart manifesting as Severus Snape in Neville Longbottom’s grandmother’s wardrobe. Rigby handed out peanut butter and chocolate cauldron candies, and settled down to her desk as her students went loudly and happily out of the dungeon.

Taking out a few pieces of parchment paper and a quill, Rigby began drafting her first letters to Honeydukes and Morgana’s Mystical Costumes companies.

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Tue Oct 28 2008, 19:36

Claim

20. Halloween at Hogwarts

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Tue Oct 28 2008, 20:54

5. A trip to the hospital wing

By Rigby Dumbledore

“Bobbina looks ill.” Rigby said, flopping into a comfy chair in headmistress Elfie’s office.

“Ill?” inquired Elfie, glancing up from the event papers she was busy grading. Rigby did her best not to peek, but failed. Elfie cleared her throat to get Rigby’s attention.

“Oh, sorry,” she said, flushing bright red, “Bobbina looks more lavender than purple. And her nose is dry. But maybe that’s normal for purple hippos? She just seems lethargic too. I brought her a new red ball to play with, you know, since she sat on her last one? And she wouldn’t even play with it.”

Elfie’s forehead knitted with concern. “Where is Bobbina now?”

Rigby explained that the house hippo was still in her play area, sprawled out beneath a tree.

“What do you think we should do?”

“I think we should take her to the hospital wing and have her looked at. Why don’t you go sit with Bobbina, and I’ll get Amy and Raisty and meet you down there?” suggested Elfie. Rigby nodded in agreement and set off to rejoin Bobbina.

When she got to the hippo’s play area, she found Bobbina in even worse shape than before. The hippo was breathing hard. Rigby sank on the grass beside her, and began petting Bobbina right behind her shoulders, the hippo’s favorite spot to be rubbed.

“Poor, Bobbina, it’ll be okay.” I hope, she thought. Rigby spotted Jenn and Elana entering the play area and called them over.

“What’s going on?” asked Jenn. Elana came and knelt on Bobbina’s other side. Rigby filled them in on Bobbina’s symptoms just as Elfie arrived with Amy and Raisty,

With a flick of her wand, Elfie had Bobbina raised comfortably off the ground, and began the long walk to the hospital wing. As they walked, the Hogwarts staff and students were unusually quiet, not speaking a word. The purple hippo’s breathing was getting worse, and she moaned in pain now and then.

Although they were quiet, the minds of Rigby, Elfie, Amy and the others, were full of noise, wondering what could be wrong with their beloved hippo. As they made their way to the hospital wing, they were slowly joined by other staff and students. Etta, Stephy, Violetriddle, Cat, Polly, and Mick- who immediately leant a hand to his tiring wife, soon were following.

Finally the group arrived, and began making Bobbina comfortable. Herby and KatieBellaTrix were waiting, although how they knew to be there was a bit of a mystery.

“Oh, poor Bobbina,” whispered Herby, her eyes watering a bit with worry. She pulled herself together, and began wiping the hippo’s forehead with a cool cloth. Elfie and Amy began to examine Bobbina, while Raisty barked orders to the rest of the onlookers, giving everyone a job to do so that they wouldn’t just stand around staring.

Rigby hid a bit from Raisty’s view, and peeked now and then over Elfie’s shoulder.

“Does her stomach seem bigger to you?” asked Amy to Elfie.

Elfie nodded,” It’s definitely swollen almost twice it’s normal size. It’s hard to the touch too. Maybe she ate something she shouldn’t have?”

Suddenly both Elfie and Amy jumped back, Elfie tripping over the hiding Rigby. The whole room turned to stare in shock at the two heads of HE.

Amy looked at Elfie, Elfie stared back, as the two of them appeared to be having a silent discussion, one nodding or shaking their head on occasion.

“What is it!?” hissed Raisty.

Elfie glanced over at Bobbina, the hippo was in clear distress, yet the Headmistress smiled!

“Everyone, gather round,” Elfie said, and within moments everyone was seated neatly in front of her, curiosity brimming to the top,” Our beloved Bobbina is… having another baby!”

The news at first was met with stunned silence. Then chaos broke out. People cried, cheered, laughed, celebrating the possibility of more purple hippos. Soon they all were speculating just how Bobbina had ended up with child. Their gossip and theories were broken up by the hippo’s scream of pain.

“Her labor must be further along than we thought! Raisty, Mick, would you two get everyone settled and get them to grab all the items we’ll need for the birth?” asked Elfie. The two Slytherin males went to work.

Rigby found herself with the task of gathering blankets for the new arrival. She headed towards the linen closet with great speed, as Amy announced that the contractions were very close together, and that the baby could be born at any moment. In her haste and excitement, Rigby grabbed more blankets than any small army could use. She grabbed blue for a boy, pink for a girl, purple for if the baby had they same hue as it’s mother and older sibling, green in case the baby was evil like a Slytherin, a red blanket because red and purple looked cute together, and finally gold in case the new born hippo won a gold medal upon it’s arrival. Hurrying back with a pile of blankets so high she couldn’t see, Rigby practically ran into a pacing Raisty.

Of all of them, Raisty had seemed the least surprised that Bobbina was with child. Now he was pacing like a pent up tiger, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. It was as if he knew something no one else did. Rigby looked at him suspiciously, and shoved a handful of blankets at him.

“It’s time,” Elfie cried, “Push, Bobbina, push!” The purple hippo strained and pushed, and out popped the baby! Everyone ohhed and ahhed. Rigby waited while Elfie and Amy cleaned the baby off, announcing the baby’s blueberry colored skin.

“Well, perhaps it will turn purple?” asked Etta hopefully. Rigby stepped forward with the blue blanket, swaddling the female infant in Ravenclaw’s colors. She glanced down at the blue, squirming infant. It was so cute! She handed the baby to Mick, so that he could put the baby in it’s crib.

“Umm, Elfie, I don’t think she’s done quite yet.” said Raisty. Sure enough, the hippo was still in labor! Turning back to Bobbina, Elfie and Amy delivered another baby, this time a green hued baby boy. The news was met with stunned silence. Rigby once again swaddled the adorable newborn, this time in a green blanket. Mick took the new baby from her, smiling even wider at the Slytherin colored hippo.

Within minutes, Bobbina gave birth to two more babies, a red hued boy, and a yellow hued girl.. Each baby was wrapped in Hogwart’s house colors. The stunned silence had given way to a party atmosphere. Bobbina pulled through the labor, recovering quickly. Elfie and Amy helped get her settled in to a wide pen, placing her hungry hippo newborns at her side.

As Bobbina fed her babies, the HE crowd gathered to watch and take pictures, stopping instantly when Bobbina appeared to have had enough. Gathering in the hallway, fights began to break out over naming the newborns. Everyone had a different idea, until finally Amy yelled for them to be quiet.

“It’s clear that we can’t all agree on four separate names. So here is what we are going to do. I am going to put four boxes in the Great Hall, one for each baby. You can drop your suggestions for baby names in them. Then the names will be put up for vote, but Bobbina will have final say.” Everyone agreed, some more grudgingly than others. The race to the Great Hall began.

Rigby stayed behind, having watched Raisty the whole time. He was looking decidedly smugger than normal.

“Rai, did you have something to do with this?” she asked, indicating the now sleeping Bobbina and brightly colored babies.

Raisty’s eyes narrowed dangerously, “I’m no Aberforth Dumbledore, if that’s what you’re implying!” he snapped.

“No! That’s not what I was implying! I meant the fact that there happened to be four babies born in each Hogwart’s houses colors.” she quickly explained.

Raisty smiled enigmatically.

“And just how would I do that, curious Rigby?” But the look in his eyes was triumphant. Rigby wisely kept her mouth shut, instead turning her attention to the little blue bundle of joy that had already captured her heart.

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Wed Oct 29 2008, 11:21

Chapter 12: A Challenge
by Gemma CullenMalfoy

"For the love of Salazar, Muffin, why can't you be serious for just one minute?"

"Hey, don't say that. I can be serious, I can be the most serious person in the world if I want to."

"Without hexing yourself into silence and oncoming depression, you mean?"

"Hmph."

It was one of the gloomy days during which student activity throughout the castle basically died a slow and tormented death, yet naturally in the Psych Ward death was a foreign word. Indeed, despite being aspiring future Death Eaters, the three girls huddled on the floor around a huge pile of candy were more the caging and poking type of persons, and currently two of them were on a different - albeit cruel - mission.

"Fine, be that way. I'd bet a bunch of sugar penguins that you couldn't stay serious for one day even!"

"I'm in, a dozen packages of chocolate giraffes if you can pull it off without magic."

"Alright. Nut, go get those penguins, and Banana go right with her. Tomorrow, same time and place, I'll enjoy the pleasure of being given free sweets by the two of you."

That said, one girl stomped over to her trunk and pulled out a small package that contained what seemed to be colourful little knobs. Grinning she rolled one of them, pink and green, in between her fingers and -

"STOP! You can't just stuff random things into your ear, you stupid girl!"

However her's smile only widened and she continued plugging her eyes with the happy little balls.

"Don't tell me you've never heard of ear plugs, Nutty?"

Pure evil marked her face and transformed the normally [too] kind features into a truely Slytherin smirk, indicating to anyone who wasn't satisfied by the room's colour scheme of green and silver that those girls were indeed snakeys.

"The bet is on..."

Breakfast went by uneventfully, with Gemma ignoring her friends acting all silly, which was basically them being themselves, and classes passed just as peacefully - apart from the occasional annoyed sideways glance by one of the rather broke girls at their victim.

It was, as a matter of fact, not until shortly before dinner that Gemma realised something was obviously going on, and probably not to her advantage. The amount of glances exchanged by the other two girls increased all of a sudden, and she could hear them talking animatedly while wearing those sadistic smiles.

Back at the Great Hall's table fo the third time that day, Cat and Kaylee sat at either side of Gemma, trying hard to get her attention. Once they'd decided that talking and babbling wouldn't help, they'd apparently opted for acting out the most ludicrous scenes of classical Muggle literature, using several bits and pieces of breaskfast as props and partners.

Currrently, they were allowing a 'breadroll-Juliet' to discover a dead 'bowl of pumpkin juice-Romeo' and than stab itself - or was that herself, then? - with 'pumpkin juice bowl-Romeo's' cheese dagger. Following doubtful looks from some and roaring applause from most - including such royalties as Headmistress Elfie and Etta the Badger maniac -, the two newly risen stars got up and bowed down to their audience repeatedly.

Somehow Gemma managed to stay serious nontheless, and Kay voted in favor of a quick spell-check to determine any possible joke-repelling charms. Cat only just kept her from mumbling the incarnation around the murdered roll, trying to prevent total chaos, just whether it worked was hard to say for suddenly Kaylee's wand was directed at her friends.

"Adhaero!"

At that point, the owls rushed in and how they managed to re-direct the wand as severely as followed, noone might know but the somewhat smug-looking girl that now took hold of a letter addressed to C. Van Buiren. Regardless of that, it took only a few moments and the disappearance of the fluttering birds for the students to start whipsering, pointing and laughing.

"Can you see it?" "-seems stuck-" "Him, of all people..." "The poor thing!" "At the hip, true thing." "Hey Creevey, take some good pictures of that, will you!" "Does that mean no more DADA classes?"

At the table in front, several teachers clamped their hands tightly over their mouths to stiffle the giggles, while next to them an uncommon sight greeted everybody as if perfectly normal: there stood the hippo, in it's normal place, and literally bound at the hip with it - Raisty, astonishment, horror and something else - was that contentment? - washing over his face.

That was about as much as she could have taken, and Nut and Banana exchanged just the most slightly worrisome glance as their Gemma Muffin burst out laughing, tears spilling from her eyes at the expressions rushing over the Head of House's face. In a moment, the plugs plopped from her ears and she actually sobbed into the Romeo bowl due to all the laughter.

"You....you ev-evil little witch-ches!"

"But why would you say that?"

"Really, what did we do now?"

"It's not my fault she goes around cursing teachers now!"

"Excuse me? I didn't knock the wand over myself, now did I?"

"You would, you would. By accident, that is, of course."

Up front, the bound authority person nearly fell over when trying to demand peace from the two trouble girls, and therefor he had to hold tightly onto his new partner. Luckily for him, nobody witnessed the smile playing across his lips, a true and genuine one, at the touch of the soft purple skin; and nobody heard his whisper into the animal's ear.

"My dear, this might last for a while...I hope you won't mind, be assured I don't at all. And sorry for all that alleged hate, you know, I just didn't want people to make assumptions about, well, about you and me, about us. Me sorries?"

Nobody, that was, besides one omniscient elf at the centre of it all, allowing a smile to grace her lips and sighing contently. She really should set her students up in challenges like this more often if the results would always be as heartwarming, she thought to herself, and got out a tiny notepad on which she scribbled something.

Note to self: Buy promised Pixie Sticks for Cat and Kaylee from Slytherin and bring a few bananas and nuts.

Just forget about researching that severing charm for a while, too. You're a busy woman...

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Wed Oct 29 2008, 14:31

I have edited the chapter claim list in first post to help to see at a glance which chapters have already been taken.

Continue with this event as usual

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Thu Oct 30 2008, 04:54

Claim

26. The Pensieve knows all

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Fri Oct 31 2008, 14:00

My 1st chapter:

Claim: 21 Badge Burrow
Ellemanae

Those who had never before entered the wizarding world would
be amazed and perhaps a little shocked at the sudden appearance of an unusual
winding building, not too unlike the Weasleys own Burrow, right outside the
event hall.

Its tall winding walls, with mismatched bricks and stones
strutting from all over, basking in a bold purple colour with a matching purple
hippo standing tall outside of the open doors, is enough to make anyone believe
that they have gone slightly mad, yet the inhabitants of The Hogwarts Experience
castle knew better. They knew that within the confines of the castle, anything
was possible…even flying purple hippos.

The first time I made my way in to the burrow, I did it with
a nervous beating heart. I could hear muffled whispering from the many rooms
that seemed to appear out of nowhere. A small map lay on the wall to my right
as I entered the crooked doors, tiny dots moving around all with names rather
like the infamous marauders map (which I have yet to discover for my collectors
badge!). I could see the Gryffindor transfiguration professor Katie and a
fellow Hufflepuff, Mathew, in a room shown with a giant paintbrush. Feeling
that was the way forward, I followed the now appearing yellow footprints on the
floor. As I reached the destination of the artist’s room, a large sphinx
appeared in front of me and gave me an answer to which I had to create a riddle
for. This did not surprise me as everything seemed backwards and upside down
here, including the resident ghost who seemed more solid than any student I had
passed. I thought that I might have been thrown out of the doors for the answer
I gave, yet the sphinx simply smiled and let me past.

I entered the room in front of me where the professor and
fellow hufflepuff sat behind large easels, holding painbrushes and pens. The
Ravenclaw paranormal and supernatural professor, Elana, was reciting a poem
near the window to the statue who was nodding its metal head, its ears jangling
to the beat of her words. Slowly and cautiously I sat behind a desk and began
to write a story. It was as though I was being inspired by the room. After the
story, I waved my wand and created a banner that flew over my head to the
applause of three birds sitting in the far corner. Suddenly an Elf shaped
statue walked over to me and handed me a bright golden badge. I smiled and
silently walked out of the room.

I had presumed that I would be in the hall where I left off,
yet I should have remembered that nothing is what it seems in the burrow, and everything
is so much bigger than it looks on the outside. I half expected to see The
Doctor from the TARDIS walking around, yet no such luck there!

I decided to turn left yet suddenly the floor dropped from
beneath my feet. A gaping, bottomless pit stared me in the face. I gasped, the
mere sound echoing through the blackness. I grabbed hold of the banister which
had suddenly appeared by my side, and steadied myself. Purple hippos I could
handle, but falling into a pit of nothingness…that was something else
altogether.

“Excuse me please”

I turned around and saw Violet, a young slytherin girl, walk
straight up to the edge of the pit. She looked down and gulped before closing
her eyes and stepping forward. I cried out for her to stop, tried to catch her,
yet suddenly it was as though she was walking in thin air. She glanced back and
grinned at me.

“You have got to have faith” she said smiling before turning
around and continuing to walk in air over the neverending pit.

I glanced up at the wall and laughed. A plaque gleamed from
the stonework;

Faith Badge

I took one last look
back at the gaping hole and gulped, thinking I would have to wait until later
to try that badge. As if reading my thoughts, the hole closed up allowing me to
tred down the now safe looking corridor and on my way passing many unusual
rooms as I did.

As I walked past a white coloured door, a fairy flew out
gracefully holding a gleaming tooth. Casey, the Ravenclaw prefect, and fellow
housemate Zoe followed her smiling, their teeth gleaming white in the dimness
of the corridor, in their hands a toothbrush and a lollypop. They both smiled
at me as they wandered off down to another door. I glanced in at the dentists
room, yet decided to pass. I was never great with teeth!

As I wandered further down the winding corridor, a blue and
red hand walked past me. I nearly collapsed in fright. I had heard of being
legless but armless and bodyless was a new thing for me. Suddenly a lovely
smell of burgers swam towards me. Feeling hungry, I followed the smell to a large
room with many food places around the edge, and tables sitting in the center. I
glanced around and saw Mick of Slytherin behind an ‘O’Donalds’ counter, his
freshly prepared burgers wafting deliciously towards me, Christina of Ravenclaw
called me over to her Cheesy Burger stall where a sign stated that sacred cows
make the best burgers. My stomach rumbled hungrily as I took one burger from
each stall and munched them down in less than a second. A small yellow pig
walked past me and barked loudly causing me to jump and spill cola down my new
top. I groaned as laughter prevailed above the delightful smell of food.
Quickly, I made my way back out of the door, yet now I was standing in a large
bathroom. My mind flickered to the room of requirement. Did this burrow have
magical everchanging rooms, I wondered and a statue appeared in the corner and
nodded his head.

As I quickly cleaned my top, Amy of Slytherin rushed in and
took a photo of the ceiling.

“For my photography badge” she said and rushed back out
again before I could say another word. I shook my head.

“I think I need to prepare myself better before doing any
more badges” I muttered to myself as I hurried back down the corridor, down the
jelly molded staircase, past the small cinema and the computer room (which seemed
unusually relatively normal), jumping over Raistlin of Slytherin as he chased a
group of young toddlers out of the window, under the flying piano that Kate of
Ravenclaw was playing, and outside into the courtyard where HE students were
putting up tents in all shapes and sizes.

Breathing deeply I ran back to the confines of Hufflepuff
room and slumped into the armchair.

“Thank goodness the common room is normal” I muttered
looking to my left to see head of house Etta with multicoloured hair, a witches
hat upon her head as she stroked two big cats with matching witches hats on
their heads, whilst driving an F1 car around the room with Rose chasing her
with a large bag of sugar sweets, a large lollypop chasing her.

Yes, being back to normal was great

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Fri Oct 31 2008, 14:52

Claim number 2

16. Apparition training

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Sun Nov 02 2008, 20:55

Chapter 8: Through the Floo
By MagicalMe

Sitting on one of the stools at the counter lining the glass wall of the study hall room, swinging her feet back until they hit the stool’s rungs and forward until they met the glass of the window, Elana knew there had to be something more interesting to do than dig up information about the mysterious Aethonons. Though the English winged horses were super cool and all, it just wasn’t what she wanted to spend her free afternoon doing. The study hall room wasn’t too well designed for what it was meant for – with its beautiful view over the grounds, it was completely distracting with the endless possibilities easily came to mind of what else to do. Glancing over to her right she saw her bestie, Jenn, dutifully writing out an essay for History of Magic; to her left Herby was planting a few seeds in a pot. All around her were students working – working, working, always working! Surely more of them felt how she did at the moment, right?

Suddenly, an idea struck her that made her immediately break out into an elated grin.

Elana stuck her hand deep down into her pocket and pulled out a small purple velvet pouch. Keeping it hidden in her lap, she slowly turned her head to locate the nearest fireplace. It was time for some fun, and a little game of tag was just the answer – and the distraction – she needed. Undoing the string holding the pouch closed, she poured a small bit of the green powder into her hand and slid her feet down to touch the floor and make ready for a speedy escape.

“Psst, Jenn,” she whispered, pushing off the floor with her toes to scoot closer to Jenn. Before Jenn had a chance to respond more than looking her way, Elana blew the powder into her face and sprinted towards the fireplace. At the same time Jenn shrieked in disgust at swallowing some powder, Elana screamed, “JENN’S IT!” Skidding up to a fireplace she threw down a handful of powder to make the flames dance green and jumped in, yelling, “The Kitchen!”

Knowing Jenn and more would be after her in moments, she had little time to waste. Once she arrived in the kitchens she dashed to another fireplace – grabbing a pastry from a tray on her way – and through a mouthful of cherry danish said, “The Badge Burrow!” As she spun, she could have sworn she heard quick footsteps coming to the fireplace she had just vacated. Once at the Burrow she shouted to the many students working on their various badges that Jenn was It – which stopped productivity immediately. Fleeing to another fireplace and seeing lots of others do the same, Elana couldn’t help but keep grinning.

This game that the members of the Hogwarts Experience liked to play was simply called Floo Tag. It would start when one person elected another to be “It” and used to Floo to get somewhere else. “It” would follow, and it was the tagger’s job to get somewhere else before “it” got to him or her. This resulted in a castle-wide chase that many students and professors got swept into as it progressed. When you weren’t “it,” you were going from fireplace to fireplace as fast as you could, never knowing when you would be found and become the new “it.” The only real boundaries were staying out of Houses, and the only other rule really was not entering and leaving a room by the same fireplace. It was highly entertaining – and they even got exercise!

Although writing about HE’s ghosts was a – erm - very fulfilling way to spend an afternoon, Jenn had to admit she wasn’t disappointed to leave her books and notes to play the game. Before the fire in the fireplace Elana had left through had gone out, she had taken out an identical purple pouch and jumped into another. Repeating her friend’s words, she soon appeared in a puff of green flame in a fireplace in the kitchen. The House Elves working there were well used to members popping in during the game, and replied to Jenn’s wordless question.

“The Badge Burrow!” they squeaked, and she nodded her thanks for that and the chocolate éclair she had just nabbed. Leaping into a fireplace, she let a handful of powder fall and made the flames turn an electric green. As she came out of the fireplace and surveyed the Burrow as she ran to another fireplace, she tried to spot her main target. It wasn’t a rule to tag the one who’d tagged you, but it was a fun way to get them back. Through the chaos of the room, with only a few good members still working and the rest running around, she was able to spy a mane of curly brown hair disappear in a flash of flames. But, being too far away to hear her destination, Jenn could only guess. Such was the excitement and mystery involved in the game – the better you knew your opponent, the better chance you had at catching them. A few fireplaces later landed Jenn in the south-east corner of the library, Elana’s favorite spot because of its perpetual sunshine and view of the lake. Emerging from the fireplace and taking a few steps forward, she wasn’t surprised to hear a sharp intake of breath. Whirling around towards it, she could’ve sworn it was coming from behind Elana’s usual bright blue armchair, Jenn lightly strode forward, smiling.

“Got you now,” she muttered, peeking behind it. Seeing Elana crouched in the small space between the chair and the corner, she laughed as she tapped her on the head. Taking a couple steps back while Elana struggled to wriggle free, Jenn located another fireplace. Taking off towards it, she yelled, “ELANA’S IT!”

And so it went on, until Elana tagged Amy who tagged Cris who tagged Polly who tagged Kimmy who tagged Etta who tagged the hippo. Then it was time to call it quits for the night – for everyone’s sake. Poor Bobina had troubles fitting into the fireplaces, and Floo powder just didn’t seem to work for her.

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Mon Nov 03 2008, 10:31

for my second chapter I'll claim 27. Photographical evidence

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Tue Nov 04 2008, 21:19

For my last chapter, I'll take 28: Hogwarts Walks!

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Wed Nov 05 2008, 09:48

Chapter 15: OWL's
By Rigby Dumbledore

The HE Library was jam packed with students. It was nearing end of term and the race for the House Cup was a close one. Ravenclaw and Slytherin were in the lead, but Gryffindor and Hufflepuff weren’t far behind. With all the chaos of the last couple of weeks, points were fluctuating like mad. In order to shake things up, Elfie Dumbledore, Headmistress, had drastically increased the points students could get for completing their OWLS.

Rigby Dumbledore and Raistlin the Wizard sat at their small table, overwhelmed with the sudden surge in competition. The end of term coincided with Christmas break for a lot of the other HE students, and Rigby and Raisty found themselves not the only ones determined to earn the most house points for the year. The two of them had teamed up, somewhat grudgingly, and were working together to ensure their lead. For her part Rigby was okay losing, as long as she lost to either a fellow Ravenclaw or Raisty. For his part, Raisty just sneered a lot.

Currently Rigby was cramming for her Defense Against The Dark Arts OWL. Her head was already full of Lord Voldemort and Azkaban facts. Now she was turning her focus on Dark Creatures. She was attempting to read Dark Creatures of The Deep Dark, but was distracted by the feeling of being intensely watched. Looking up she caught both June and Gemma staring at her book with undisguised envy. Rigby glared at them, and turned her chair to face the other way, only to find Herby and Etta watching her every move.

Rigby sighed, part of her wanting to just give up and study for a less popular owl. A part of her that felt that way always wanted to see what bloodshed would ensue if she tossed the book in the air and the four girls went after it all at once. But she had already come so far with the DADA OWL, she couldn’t stop now. She motioned for the four girls to come over to her, which they all did in varying degrees of suspicion and weariness.

Surrounded by a throng of her fellow students, whom she was normally on good terms with, Rigby couldn’t help but feel a little alarmed. Perhaps calling Etta over had been a mistake, as she could see the glint of her beater’s bat poorly concealed in the Hufflepuff’s robes. Clearing her throat loudly, Rigby tore a piece of notebook paper into four equal pieces. She then printed numbers one through four on each of the slips. Rigby then emptied out her snack bowl (full of nuts and fruits and water bottles) and tossed in the pieces of paper, which were now all folded up identically. She swished the bowl around, amused to see that all four girls were watching every move, so that their eyes all appeared to be shaking a little.

“Okay, here’s how it works. Everyone will draw a piece of paper. The number you draw determines the order in which you will receive the DADA books that I am reading. We’ll draw in alphabetical order, by first name. Got it?” she asked. They nodded, Etta a bit happier than June, who’s HE name was Rhiannon-Mei.

Etta drew a slip of paper out, revealing the number two. The Hufflepuff glared a bit, and Rigby already felt bad for whoever drew number one. Next Gemma drew the number four, muttering that it didn’t matter anyway because she was already done with her Charm Owl, for which she would no doubt receive an Outstanding. Herby and June drew next, one right after the other. They opened their paper’s at the same time, June winning the first slot, and Herby graciously settling for third.

“Fine, that’s done with then. Here you go June, I’ve already read this one.” Rigby said, handing June a thick volume of The Dark Beasties of Northern Ireland. The book left Rigby’s hands with such speed and force that tiny scorch marks were left. Fortunately, Etta and her glower followed June to where the eager Gryffindor sat.

“I would have made them pay for the books. You always fail to make the most of the situation, Rigby. This is why I always beat you so bad.” commented Raisty. Rigby smiled tightly at him. The two of them had a strange friendship, because while the supported one another, they were almost always in constant competition. it’s not like the thought of financial profit hadn’t crossed her mind, it was just that she had her moral limits.

‘Whatever, Rai,” she muttered, turning her attention back to the incredible evil Lethifold. After absorbing information on them, and glad that her Patronus Charm was strong, she moved on to the Lobalug, a sea creature used for defense by merpeople. Rigby was sure that her nightmares would be particularly vivid this evening.

Hours later, having read and handed off three other books to June, Rigby was on her last Dark Creature book. The Ultimate Guide to Creatures Dark, Scary, and Evil, promised to be a good read. The book was huge, forcing her to scoot her chair back and rest the book half on the desk, half off of it, so that Raisty would have enough room for his own book. The Slytherin was buried in a volume about evil charms, supposedly for his Charms OWL, but Rigby suspected that Raisty was a little more interested in it then was necessarily called for.

Finally, her mind stuffed to the brim with defensive positions, Dark Creatures, Voldemort, Azkaban and Dementors, and the idea of Muggle alliances in times of trouble, Rigby passed her last and final book to June.

“Wish me luck, Raisty, I’m going to go take my DADA OWL.” To her surprise, Raisty sounded almost entirely sincere in his good wishes. With shaky knees, Rigby left the library and made her way to the exam waiting room.

The stark white walls, without any decoration, were blinding in their austerity. Rigby sat in a white chair, her feet resting on the white carpet. In fact, she was the only color in the room. Elfie appeared out of nowhere, the doors as white as everything else and therefore hidden to the untrained eye.

“Rigby Dumbledore? You’re up next!” Elfie called out cheerfully. Somehow, Rigby managed to get up off her chair and follow the Headmistress into the previously hidden DADA OWL exam room. The room had a little more color than the waiting room, decked out in black and red furnishings. But still no paintings, no clocks, nothing at all on the walls.

“Have a seat, Rigby. You’ll have as long as you need to complete your five different subjects to choose from, but you only need four to qualify for your OWL. You may choose to do all five simply for the extra house points, which I think you mentioned was your goal. Here’s the folders with all five subjects, a roll of parchment paper, and two EverInk Quills. You may begin once I leave the room. If you need to leave at anytime, just be sure to sign out at my office. Any questions?”

Rigby shook her head. Elfie smiled, assured her that she would do fine, and then departed. Rigby remembered to breath again, and opened the first folder on Lord Voldemort. Her DADA OWL had begun.

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Sun Nov 09 2008, 07:39

Filches Filing cabinet

violetriddle

Filches filing cabinet. She couldn’t believe what it was filling with. Pictures, wands, gags, maps, paper, everything. She wanted so badly one grab one as Filch opened the cabinet, but didn’t. She would wait until Stephy let the signal out. They had planned this. Take all you could in stuff it in your bag. Then she would run. To where? She had no idea. They were to meet up with Matt then. Violet listened hard. Where was the signal. Had she missed it already? No, she knew she hadn’t. Maybe Stephy was waiting. But not long after she thought that, a loud boom was issued from above them. Violet smirked. There was the signal. Filch growled, or what was suppose to be a growl, and ran out.

Violet jumped up, opening the cabinet. She grabbed handfuls of everything. When she was done, there was nothing left. She slammed it shut and ran out. Stephy was waiting at the stairs and smiled.

“You got it?” She asked. Violet nodded, grabbing her hand. She ran down the stairs and smiled at the site of Matt. She didn’t stop, but Stephy grabbed his hands. Together, they all were running down the stairs.

“Vi, you have to stop.” Matt shouted. Violet shook her head and ran around the corner. She saw her brother, Anthony and smiled.

“Grab his hand Matt!” she yelled. Matt glared at her, but did so. Soon, the four were running towards the Slytherin Common Room. She heard Matt and Stephy protesting and Anthony asking what was going on. Violet shouted the password and ran through.

“I did it! I got everything from the cabinet!” She said proudly, throwing herself on the couch. Matt glared, but sat himself on the couch anyway. Stephy remained standing, while Anthony allowed himself to sit on the floor, lost in space. Maybe they should have left him behind……

“Here.” Violet said, dumping everything in her bag on the floor. Papers, gags, pictures, toys, wands, and just about everything fell to the floor. She started sorting threw it before screaming.

“EWWW EWWW EWWW!” She yelled. She grabbed a picture and made a sick face. Stephy moved forward and grabbed the picture before laughing.

“What is it?” Matt asked. He tried to grab the picture, but couldn’t reach it from Stephy. Violet shook her head. The picture was over and over in her head. How could Rai be wearing pink! She thought he hated pink! Matt finally grabbed the picture and busted out laughing.

“He is wearing pink! Haha, I thought he hated pink!” Matt yelled. Him and Stephy kept laughing and Violet shook her head. She grabbed another picture and smiled.

“Heres one for you, Matt.” Violet said. She handed him the picture and he glared.

“How did that get in there.” He mumbled. He ripped the picture up and Violet giggled. Who would want a picture of you dancing like a hobo? Violet just shook her head and grabbed some papers.

“WHAT! BLANK PAPER!” She yelled. She flipped it over and over. There was nothing on it. Stephy took it from her and smiled.

“It’s the Maruaders map!” She said excited. Violet raised an eyebrow as Stephy opened it. Violet sighed and grabbed something else. She examined the wand and smiled.

“Here’s a wand. I wonder who it belongs to?” She asked. She flipped it around to see if any names where on it, but saw none. She sat it beside her and grabbed some more pictures. She laughed at it. Poor Amy. She looked so uncomfortable trying to feed the hippo with Etta and Rigby beside her. They had the look of I wanted to push her in on their faces.

“HEY RAI IS COMING!” Stephy yelled. Violet looked at her with horror on her face. She grabbed the stuff and pushed it under the couch.

“Hurry! Hide!” Violet yelled. The others moved around to hide. Seconds later, Rai came threw the door. Violet sat on the floor playing with her shoe strings. Rai stopped infront of her. Violet looked up at him and smiled sheepishly.

“Miss. Riddle, Filch has been robbed. You were the last one in his office he claims.” He said. Violet shrugged and sighed.

“Ok, I did it. Only because he had my wand in there!” Violet yelled. Rai nodded and flicked his wand to move the couch. Violet paled. She prayed the picture wasn’t there. Rai stepped over to it and narrowed his eyes.

“FILCH IS DEAD!” He yelled. He grabbed the picture and ran from the common room. Violet laughed and stood up. She walked over to the others and grabbed the map from Stephy. She saw Rai running towards Filch.

“That was…weird…” Matt said. Violet nodded and looked at Anthony, who still looked confused. Violet shook her head.

“Go, Anthony…before you become to confuse.” She mumbled. He nodded and left, still confused. Stephy walked back over to the pile of stuff. Violet followed her and Matt stayed in his spot. Violet grabbed another piece of paper and glared.

“WHY IS MY NAME ON HERE!” She yelled. She read threw the paper but couldn’t find out why her name was on it. Stephy took it and glared.

“YOUR NAME ISNT ON HERE! MINE IS!” She yelled. Violet shook her head and pointed to where her name was, but it was no longer there.

“It was right there!” She yelled. Violet took the paper and looked again. Her name was there again.

“SEE! I TOLD YOU!” She yelled. Stephy looked and looked confused.

“But, what….TRICK PAPER!” She yelled. Violet raised an eyebrow. Stephy just shook her head. Matt grabbed some papers and started looking threw them.

“Trash, trash, trash, trash- CANDY!” he yelled. He put the piece in his mouth and he started swelling up. Violet’s eyes widen and she grabbed the wrapper. She groaned. He had ate Weasley candy.

“Matt, we have to take you to the nurse!” Violet yelled. Stephy groaned.

“Ok, keep the map, I want that wand and Matt, you get nothing.” Violet said. She put everything back into her bag and carried it with her.

“Filch is somewhere on the fifth floor, running from Rai.” Stephy said laughing. Violet nodded and started running towards the third floor. She ran into the office, dumped the things back into the cabinet, and ran from the room.

Violet walked threw the hospital wing minutes later and smiled. Matt still looked like a butte ball and Stephy was trying not to laugh.

“He will live…” Stephy said in between laughing. Violet raised an eyebrow.

“He is filled with hot gas!” She laughed. Violet laughed softly and Matt glared at them. All she had to say was never eat candy from a Weasley…but Matt wouldn’t listen to her.

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Tue Nov 11 2008, 09:14

Beauxbatons
violetriddle

Beauxbatons so beautiful. So delicate like. So breakable for Violet Riddle and her best friends. Violet zoomed down the hallway on a muggle contraction she had learned was called a skate board. She had fell off it more then once, but she didn’t care. She just wanted to break the school. She saw girls move from in front of her as they screamed.

“Come on Stephy and Nixy! We have to hurry if we want to destroy this school!” Violet yelled, laughing. She heard the other mumbled in ok and she stopped, falling off the skateboard in process. Seconds later, two of the boys who went there grabbed her arms and legs.

“Hey let me go!” Violet yelled. She looked over at Nixy and Stephy and saw the same happening to them. Great, they were caught. Even before they could pain of the school. Why had they been transferred here? It was to…girly for her liking. The carried them down to the headmistress office and Violet sighed.

“Come on. Put me down. I’ll give you a cookie….I’ll let Stephy kiss you!” Violet said. Stephy turned her attention to Violet.

“Hey! I don’t kiss on first dates!” She yelled. The guys just shook their heads and one of them opened the door for them. Violet, Stephy, and Nixy were both thrown into the room. She winced as she landed wrong.

“Thank you.” Someone said. Violet looked up and raised an eyebrow.

“You’re not the headmistress.” Violet said. The woman smiled, nodding. She pulled a piece of paper from the drawer and handed it to them.

“I am until what’s her name comes back. That’s the detention. Go.” The woman told her. Violet glared as she left the room, reading the slip of paper while she did so.

“WHAT! FOUR NIGHTS! FOR JUST SKATE BOARDING!!” Violet yelled. Violet turned to go back to the woman’s room but Stephy and Nixy stopped her.

“Hey, don’t. Let’s ruined the rest of the building and get revenge?” Nixy asked. Violet smiled, hugging her.

“And this is why you’re my best friend.” Violet said. She grabbed their hands and started running towards their bedroom. Violet busted open the door and ran to their closet.

“This is going to take some careful planning. Here.” She said, passing over some black clothes. She put hers on quick and grabbed her mask. She turned to the others and smiled.

“Show time.” Violet whispered. She grabbed the wand from her bed and smirked. She had some many plans for the school. She looked in her trunk and pulled out a bag of potions.

“Ok, we need to pick the best potions.” Violet mumbled. She grabbed hair removing potion and pocketed it. She stood up and ran from the room at the same time Stephy and Nixy did.

“I’m going to the food center thingy.” Violet said. The other nodded and Violet ran to the food center. She made sure no one was there before pouring the potion into the food. She smiled, knowing some fools would lose their hair soon. She laughed and pulled her wand out. She colored the walls green and made the tables silver with snakes all over them. Violet laughed at the place.

“Wow, just like the common room.” She said, laughing. She wondered what the people in Hogwarts would think of it. Heck, she didn’t care. They would most likely be laughing like her. Just to add a bonus, she made a purple hippo appear. She put a tickle me I’m French on it’s chest and smirked. She wondered how long it would be before someone tickled it.

“This room looked down.” She mumbled, running from the food center. She ran to the entrance hall and sighed. She had no idea what to do here. She pulled her wand out and pointed at the statues. Maybe she could make them come alive. She smirked and shot a spell at it. The statues came to live and started running around.

“Vi!” Nixy yelled, running up to her. Violet turned around and smiled.

“Help me in here.” Violet said. Nixy nodded and turned the walls yellow. Violet laughed and added some pink to it. The statues were running around and Violet glared. They were suppose to go away. Violet shrugged and started working on the stairs. She made then extra slippy for girls and guys to walk down the and fall.

“Come on, we need to go and redo something else.” Violet mumbled. Nixy nodded but then stopped.

“Maybe we should go back to our room before we get caught.” Stephy said from the other side of the room. Violet sighed and nodded. She had really wanted to ruin the library. Oh well. They ran back to their room and pulled off the mask and clothes, replacing them with the uniforms.

“I wonder what will happen. Oh don’t eat the food!” Violet said. Nixy and Stephy looked at her weirdly but nodded. Violet laid back on her bed and closed her eyes.

“You know, a nap sounds good right now.” Violet said, pulling her covers over her. She fell sleep seconds later.

Stephy smirked and stood up.

“You know, we could draw on her face.” Stephy said. Nixy smiled and giggled. Stephy grabbed a pen from her bag and walked over to Violet. Carefully, she wrote I like pancakes on Violet’s forehead and the drew a mustache. Nixy stood up and grabbed her make up bag. She put some eyeliner on Violet and then some really ugly eyeshadow.

“Good.” Stephy whispered, grabbing the lipstick. She rubbed it over Violet’s lips and laughed at how messed up it was. When she finished, the took a picture of it and the Nixy smiled.

“You know…I do have some shaving cream….” She whispered. Stephy smirked and Nixy walked over to her bag. She grabbed the shaving cream and they put it on Violet’s hand. Stephy grabbed a clean sock and moved it softly on Violet’s face. Seconds later, Violet jumped up screaming.

“I don’t want to play snowball fights!” She yelled as the shaving cream hit her hand. Stephy and Nixy started laughing. They decided not to tell her just yet.

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Mon Nov 17 2008, 14:16

This event is now closed. Scores and medalists will be up soon

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Mon Nov 17 2008, 14:27

1600m : 600 for full participation (200 per chapter) with a
bonus 200 for completion, 400 bonus 1^st place, 300 2^nd place,
200 3^rd place

If there is a tie for medals then vote or judge
choice occurs.

THREE CHAPTERS

Rigby Dumbledore 3 – 600 +
200 bonus + 400 bonus 1^st place (1200) + 3000 GOLD MEDAL

Violetriddle 3 – 600 + 200
bonus + 300 2^nd place (1100) + 2000 SILVER MEDAL

Elana 2 – 400

jennifer Williams 1 – 200

Gemma_Cullen-Malfoy 1 -
200

Ellemanae 1 -200

Subject: Re: 1600m MIDDLE DISTANCE Mon Nov 17 2008, 15:38

Chapters are now all up on HQ under the story title of 'A unique experience'