HEAR YE! HEAR YE! YULE BALL 2010 at NUMBER 12



TO: G. Potter, Ridane Prongs Skye Phoenix, Wendylin the Weird, Hedwig,
J.B. Indoma, and Silver Doe...

Dear Number 12 Residents,

The Yuletide Season is just around the corner, and Mookie, our official house elf, has been bugging me about sprucing up the place for the season. This gave G. Potter the idea to hold a Yule Ball here at Number 12.

Finding this idea "cute" (for lack of a better word), I am sending this invitation to you, fellow residents, in the hope that Mookie the House Elf will give his nagging request a rest.

Because we don't want to look like losers at the ball, we need to come with a date or an escort. So, here's the deal-- suggest a date for the following residents and post your suggestions as comment. The date could be a fellow resident, a JK Rowling character, or even your "dream date," also known as your "imaginary soulmate."

G. Potter and _______________________________?

H. Granger and _____________________________ ?

Ridane Prongs and ___________________________?

Hedwig and ________________________________?
Wendylin and ______________________________?

Silver Doe and ______________________________?

J.B. Indoma and _____________________________?

We'll be waiting. RSVP (Respondez S'il Vous Plait).

That means "Please respond" in English.

Your hosts,

H. Granger and G. Potter





Dumby and Voldy: A Character Analysis from the Structuralist Perspective by Silver Doe

As any Harry Potter avid follower already knows, the "Chosen One" earned his brand and fame because of these two other major characters that represent good and evil in Harry's universe: Albus Dumbledore and Lord Voldemort. So, allow me to expound on the characterization of these opposing pair from the vantage point of structuralism.

For purposes of this discourse, I will use Binary Opposition as a tool to analyze how these characters operate in the dynamics of the plot.

Dumbledore is, undoubtedly, the very embodiment of Good, the one end of the Good-Evil continuum, providing our protagonist with the counsel and the wisdom he still lacks owing to his youth and inexperience. He is immensely wise and powerful, notwithstanding his occasional judgment lapses and human frailties, which got the better of him in Book 6, when he fell victim to one of the Horcruxes, in a moment of weakness. He baffles Harry with his cryptic messages and one-liners, and with his enigmatic persona, withholding a few secrets from him. (We sometimes find this incomprehensible, even irritating. Why not lay all the cards on the table for Harry to see? That would have made our hero's quest a lot easier. Then, again, it will rob us all of the thrill and sense of suspense which have kept us rooting for the next book.)

Dumbledore inspires Harry with his example. I personally think he was teaching Harry something when he made that smooth, stylish escape during the arrest scene in Order of the Phoenix, when Umbridge and Fudge ordered his arrest on account of treason or sedition against the Ministry. It was his way of educating Harry on standing your ground and fighting for your principle. Being a half-blood himself, he believes in the peaceful co-existence of magic and non-magic people. This is another interesting side to the three major characters-- Harry, Dumbledore and Voldemort. They are all half-bloods.

Spotlight on Lord Voldemort now. Every inch of him is evil. He is the other end of the Good-Evil continuum, the very definition of anti-hero. In many respects, he was very much like Harry Potter in his youth-- half-blood, stubborn, self-possessed, and charismatic. But, unlike Harry, he had no friends, like Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger, to fill in for his missing superego. He wanted to know more, be more powerful, become some Machiavellian leader of a purist, dark society someday, and achieve immortality and infinite power. He went as far as losing his soul to achieve his ultimate goal of becoming the greatest wizard in the wizarding world. Notwithstanding his half-blood status, he loathes Muggles and became intent upon "purging" the wizarding world of half-bloods and Muggle-borns. Reminds me of Adolf Hitler, who was not even German in lineage, but campaigned for the annihilation of the Jews, who, he believed, pollute the gene pool of the superior German race.

Voldemort, although immensely powerful after being "resurrected," has one major flaw: in the words of Dumbledore himself, "Indeed, your failure to understand that there are things much worse than death has always been your greatest weakness (APWBD to Voldemort, Order of the Phoenix)." In contrast, Dumbledore embraced death, instead of facing a fate worse than death-- the humiliation of having succumb to his momentary weakness.

To Dumbledore, there is dignity in death. To Voldemort, death is something he could not and will never want to face. So ironic, considering that his name contains the French word for death, "mort." Oh, by the way, the word "albus" is Latin for "white." So, there's the symbolism.#



Whatever Happened to the Dursleys After They Left Number 4 Privet Drive? (An Invitation to Create a Hypothetical Story for the Insatiably Curious)

Dear Denizens of Number 12,


What better way to perpetuate the Harry Potter tradition than to keep writing about it and its characters?

For as long as we ask the “what if” question, there will always be something to write about. So, my challenge to every dweller/secret keeper of this house is to let your creative juices flow and come up with your own make-believe story that would answer the question posted above.

You see, nothing is said of the Dursleys after they were forced to vacate their turf in Book Seven. Another of Rowling’s “gaping holes” in the novel’s plotting. These holes and gaps are for us, devoted followers of the Harry Potter tradition, to fill in.

Go ahead, post your hypothetical story. Your imagination is the limit.


Anticipating excitedly,
H. Granger

Why in the World did Hermione Jean Granger made it to Gryffindor when she can be in Ravenclaw??

"Wit beyond measure is man's greatest treasure". This is Rowena Ravenclaw's ultimate motto. Students who belong in her House should be witty and intelligent. They should be quick thinkers. They should be logical and absolutely smart as Rowena Ravenclaw was. So, why in the world did Hermione made it to Gryffindor when she can be in Ravenclaw? Where she can fit in so easily with the people who share the same qualities as she have? So, Why not Ravenclaw? Why out of all the Houses Hermione was placed in Gryffindor? What do you think?

Well in my case, the answer's quite simple. Because Harry and Ron are in Gryffindor. Hermione should be there as well. 

Imagine for a moment that Hermione's sorted to a different House, let's say Ravenclaw.. Do you think the bond she would share with Ron and Harry will be as strong and as tight if she's with them in Gryffindor? G.Potter thinks not. Who knows they wouldn't even be friends. Hermione has proven her worth to Harry and Ron so many times that without her they wouldn't have lasted a day, Harry Potter would be already dead. 

Let's say for arguments sake that she is in Ravenclaw but she ended up being friends with Harry and Ron, like Luna did. Will it still be the same? Again.. G. Potter thinks not. The kind of friendship Harry, Ron and Hermione had, needed a foundation. And I think it would be difficult for them to build that foundation if she was in a different House. Different House means different friends, different common room, different beliefs. Everything would be different. And it would have been difficult for Jo to make the bond between the 3 effortless and flawless if Hermione did end up being a Ravenclaw. It would become too forced and too staged. So Jo, instead of letting Harry scour around Ravenclaw tower seeking advises from a Ravenclaw girl, she created a character that has all the potential in the world to be in Ravenclaw, but placed her in Gryffindor. Harry's a lot on his shoulders and what Jo could to the least is to give him friends. Friends who are accessible. Friends who are loyal. Friends who could save his ass so many times. Friends that would help him survive and live. So for G.Potter, that is the reason why Hermione Jean Granger is in Gryffindor. Oh... And also, aside from being super intelligent and witty.. Hermione Jean Granger is brave, bold and loyal. Making her quite a Gryffindor too.

Your turn. What do you think? What are the other reasons? I'll be waiting for your comments.

-G.Potter♥

The Unauthorized Harry Potter Side Stories: Vignette Number Three: “The Secret Life of Philippa Trunchbull, the Fat Lady in the Portrait” by H. Granger

Prologue

“The portrait of the Fat Lady is the door to Gryffindor Tower, which is hidden behind her painting. She will open it (sometimes grudgingly) when the correct password is uttered. She is often upset after being awoken, and is often seen drunk with her best friend, Violet. The Fat Lady has no other known name, and it is unknown whether she is supposed to represent a real person. In Philosopher's Stone, she leaves her portrait in the middle of the night, locking Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Neville out of Gryffindor Tower, forcing them to run across the school. Luckily for them, when they return, she has returned to her portrait, allowing them to escape into Gryffindor Tower. In Prisoner of Azkaban, Sirius Black slashes the Fat Lady’s portrait when she won't let him in without a password and it is some time before she dares to guard Gryffindor Tower again. After her portrait was restored, she requested protection in case someone tried to attack her portrait again. Thus, two security trolls were hired. In Half Blood Prince, she gets so annoyed with Harry's late return that she pretends the password has changed and tries to call him back when he heads off to talk to Dumbledore. When Harry later confirms Dumbledore's death, she lets out a sob and for the first and only time in the series, she opens without the password for Harry in her grief.” [harry.wiki.com/jkrowling-characters]

*****

“Lumos!” whispered a girl’s voice in the dark.

“Merlin’s beard! She’s done it again, Molly,” blurted a second voice, “Left her portrait in the middle of the night.”

“How dare you sneak up on Philippa! Put your lights out, you filthy varmints!” cried Violet from the adjacent portrait of the lady and the child.

“You don’t talk to a Gryffindor like that, Vi. And you might also want to tell us where in the world the Fat Lady is,” said Molly, a lovely fifth year, indignantly.

“So, it is you, isn’t it?  Lady Molly Prewett and Sir Arthur Weasley,” Vi said snidely, “the noble lady and knight of the House of Gryffindor, up to no good, I must say.”

“You’re drunk again, Vi. Here, we’re not going to hold you up. We only want to get inside the common room, so please tell us where she is,” pleaded Arthur, an auburn-haired fifth year from Gryffindor.

“And where have you two been at this unholy hour of the night? Fancied taking a walk?” asked Violet, her voice thick with malice.

“None of your business,” blurted Molly angrily, “and for the last time, Violet, where is the Fat Lady? I can use this wand on you, you know.”

“Threats! How indecent!” shrieked Violet, enraged.

“Hush, Violet. You’re waking the entire school,” whispered Arthur.

“Then teach your lady some manners, sir,” demanded Vi, “You could’ve asked me nicely and I would’ve told you straightaway she is in Octavius Agrippa’s portrait inside the Room of Requirement…Oh my Lord! Dear God. I just spilt my best friend’s secret! Oh, shame on me!”

“What in Merlin’s name is she doing in the Room of Requirement? And who is Octavius Agrippa, anyway?” asked Molly, flabbergasted.

“Oh it’s none of your business! So silly of me! I just betrayed my best friend’s trust!” wailed Vi.

Molly and Arthur exchanged knowing looks and seemed to have arrived at some silently orchestrated plan.

“Listen, Vi. There’s no use crying over spilt milk. Here’s what you can do—you can go fetch the Fat Lady and we’ll stay mum about it, or we could ask her personally who Octavius Agrippa is,” said Molly.

“I would, if I could. But, as it is, I can’t,” lamented Vi.

“What do you mean you can’t?” asked Arthur.

“Well, let me put it this way: no one can enter the Room of Requirement, unless he’s in dire need of the room!  And at the moment, Philippa needs the room all to herself,” Violet explained quite hysterically. “Oh, dear heavens! There I go again. You’re making me talk too much!”

“And why would she need the room all to herself?” asked Molly, her voice now rife with excitement.

“Enough already, you nosy brats. I have already spilt the beans, haven’t I?” retorted Vi.

“Well, that is just too bad, Vi. We’re all in hot water now, so we might as well indulge each other’s wishes, and we wish to know the truth about those two. Or we could ask her ourselves,” Molly said.

“You blackmailing imps! Alright, alright. Suffice it to say that my best friend, Philippa, and Octavius Agrippa believed themselves to be soul mates when they were alive—or at least Philippa did,” Violet began grudgingly.

“ But Philippa was not cut out for a fairy-tale romance, for Octavius, being a Muggle living in the Muggle world, had wandering eyes and a notorious penchant for skinny, curvaceous Muggle women and the Dark Arts. They both went to school here at Hogwarts, both Gryffindors, inseparable, like you two. But, Octavius dropped out of Hogwarts in their fifth year. It was during the Yule break and, cruelly, he did not tell Philippa he was not coming back. It shattered her to pieces. She kind of lost her wits. Lost her sanity, more like.

She was Head Girl back then, and she would prowl the hallway to the Gryffindor tower and guarded the entrance to the common room, with the fierceness of Argus Filch, hopefully anticipating her lover’s return. Every night for the rest of her years here, she would sneak out of her bed, stand by the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, and gaze dreamily for hours at the portrait that used to hide the portrait-hole entrance—a painting of Venus and Adonis. Back then, I was inhabiting the portrait next to it and I witnessed her pain and befriended her.

Years passed and Philippa went on to become a successful winemaker and connoisseur, owning the vastest vineyard south of Normandy. She opted to live in the Muggle world, although she is of pure-blood descent, apparently in the hope of crossing paths with her beloved Octavius. Meanwhile, Octavius, who dabbled in alchemy and the occult, was then a celebrated writer in the Muggle world, publishing books that Muggles deem heretic and blasphemous. His arrest and eventual imprisonment was so sensationalized that Philippa heard of it. She came to his rescue and orchestrated his escape from prison with the use of magic.

They were happy for a while, living in a cozy English cottage in Surrey. But Octavius’ eyes wandered once more. Poor Philippa woke up alone one day, her lover having eloped with a pretty married Muggle neighbour. Utterly wretched, Philippa retreated into the wizarding world and lived in seclusion at the outskirts of Hogsmeade. She was never heard of again.

A decade passed, and the Muggle world was baffled by Octavius Agrippa’s mysterious disappearance. Even his Muggle wife and mistresses were confounded. He just vanished like smoke in thin air. Around the time of his disappearance, Philippa drank herself to death. She was found lifeless in her Hogsmeade home, among empty bottles of her invention and contribution to the wizarding world, firewhisky.

Professor Dumbledore , the new headmaster, learned about the tragic story of this former Gryffindor Head Girl and, to honour her memory, had a portrait of her done and mounted at the common room entrance. Almost as soon as she was installed, she came to life and began performing her duty of fiercely guarding the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, demanding a password and changing it constantly.

As for Octavius Agrippa, Philippa imprisoned him in an enchanted portrait which she hides, to this day, inside the Room of Requirement. Forever in an unmoving state, a still- life painting, he is forever young, forever hers. And tonight, as in many moons ago, she paid him a visit…”

“Blimey, Molly. What a story, “ Arthur said in awe.

“What story?” inquired a voice from the now inhabited portrait of the Fat Lady. In their dazed state, neither Arthur nor Molly noticed that the Fat Lady had just slid back into her portrait.

“So, you’re back Philippa. How wonderful. I must run now, dear. The drinking monks are expecting me at their portrait downstairs,” Violet muttered nervously and dashed out of the nearby portrait.

“Password,” the Fat Lady demanded, looking spent but content, not minding Violet’s rush.

“ Periwinkle,” replied Arthur and Molly in unison.

“Ah, yes. The color of his eyes…” the Fat Lady uttered dreamily, as she swung open to let Arthur and Molly in.

The Unauthorized Harry Potter Side Stories: Vignette Number Two -- “Bathsheda the Obscure” by H. Granger

Prologue

The most obscure of JK Rowling’s characters, Bathsheda Babbling is the Ancient Runes professor at Hogwarts. The character never appears in the films nor is mentioned in the books, but Rowling has named her on her official site.

[Etymology: The name Babbling has for its root the word, “babble,” meaning “foolish talk or incoherent speech.” Runes refer to “old Germanic alphabet characters or to magical symbols or spells,” which will not make sense to the unlearned; thus the ancient runes professor’s name, Babbling. – H. Granger]

The moon was starting to wane, but Bathsheda’s raven, Odin, had not yet arrived. Odin had been away for a fortnight then. “The long hard flight from Little Wallop to Hogwarts and back must be taking its toll on him,” Bathsheda thought. Odin was, in fact, too old for such tedious journeys that involve collecting parcels and scrolls, and that trip of a fortnight was his worst – he had a chance encounter with the abominable harpies over the Forest of Nott on his way back from Hogwarts. Odin was dying from the mortal injuries he sustained, and the scroll he collected from Professor Armando Dippet was lying among the dead leaves somewhere in the Forest of Dean. As for Odin, he did not make it home.

Another fortnight passed, and Professor Dippet’s next letter arrived by owl post. By then, Bathsheda had given up hope on Odin’s return, but was still hopefully anticipating Dippet’s correspondence, as she had been since she turned seventeen, when mysterious letters and lavish gifts started arriving from Hogwarts.

The gentle thud against the stained glass window pane jolted Bathsheda awake. Morning had just broken in Little Wallop, the first rays of the morning sun was flooding Bathsheda’s rustic bedroom in rainbow colours.  Some owl from Hogwarts was frantically trying to break into the window of her room, with a scroll tied to one of its legs. Bathsheda reached for her wand-- a seven-inch rosewood with basilisk tendon core—and let the owl in with a flick of her wand, without leaving her bed.

“Accio scroll,” she muttered sleepily.

The letter was, in fact, from Dippet, but was sent by Professor Albus Dumbledore, regretfully informing her that Professor Dippet had retired from his post as Hogwarts headmaster, and that he, Dumbledore, had assumed the post, adding that the former headmaster retired a very sad old man owing to her utter silence. Dumbledore noted briefly that he sent the letter on Dippet’s request, at the appointed time, that is, after he was well on his way to his retirement cottage in some unplottable region of Wales. Now fully awake, Bathsheda read Dippet’s last letter to her:

Batty Dear,

By the time you read this letter, I will have left Hogwarts. As to where I am spending my remaining years on this earth, I am not certain. Life is full of uncertainties, Batty. But there are a few things I am quite certain of: that your mother and I truly loved each other, even if her world will never understand my world; and that no other wish is dearer to me than to see you in the flesh before I die.

I have been meaning to invite you to join the Hogwarts faculty, since your mum wrote about your commendable academic performance at the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. A perfect choice, indeed, for such a fair and gifted witch as you are, dear.  Your headmistress, Madame Francoise Lesyeux, is in awe of your performance in Ancient Runes and Grammatica, in a congratulatory note she posted in the Daily Prophet the day you completed your education.  The wizarding community might brand you as “half-blood,” but for me, your mother’s Muggle blood only made you uniquely beautiful and special. So forgive me, but I confess to being envious of your Muggle foster father, Will Babbling.

Yet, my letters never yielded any response from you. Why, dear? A month before my retirement, I sent you another letter, this time inviting you to a teaching post at Hogwarts. Having received no response, I reckon I will have to live with the fact that I will forever be a shadowy figure in my own daughter’s world—a fate I rightfully deserve, having abandoned your mum before you were born. And although your mother understands why I left, I do not expect you to understand why I could not be a father to you. But know that I will love you and your mother dearly until my dying day.

For the last time, Batty, and with Dumbledore concurring, I am inviting you to join the teaching staff at Hogwarts. The school needs a new Ancient Runes teacher. Tilda Tripplehorn, our Ancient Runes teacher, is too old to remember the last name of the new headmaster, I have taken to calling her the “ancient” Runes teacher.

Lastly, dear, forgive your old man for all the birthdays, Christmases, and holidays I missed.

I remain

Your loving father,

Armando

Bathsheda rolled up the scroll and propped herself up against her pillow. Her cat, Nocturne, jumped onto her lap, locked eyes with her, and, as if responding to some unspoken command, fetched her a quill and a parchment. Bathsheda looked out of her bedroom window and was greeted by the peonies and petunias in full bloom. The sun was already half-way up the morning sky when she began to scribble a note to Dumbledore:

To Professor Dumbledore, Hogwarts Headmaster:

It would be an honour to be accepted as a member of your teaching staff at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I would be grateful for the information by owl post, as to when I could start teaching, so I could arrange my departure from Little Wallop.

Your servant,

Bathsheda “Batty” Babbling

The Unauthorized Harry Potter Side Stories: Vignette Number One -- The Untold Story of Wendelin the Weird by H. Granger

Dear Residents of Number 12,

       You may claim extensive knowledge of characters from the Harry Potter series, but, in truth, there are "obscure" characters you may not even recall reading about in any one of the seven books. And so I am undertaking this noble task of writing about them and of giving them due credit for their significant, albeit small contribution to the marvelous literary tapestry that is Harry Potter's life and adventures.

Do you recall a certain Medieval witch who goes by the name Wendelin the Weird?

On pages 1 -2, Chapter One ("Owl Post"), Book 3 (Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban), Harry is writing an essay under the blanket, flashlight in one hand, and a book by Bathilda Bagshot (A History of Magic). He had to write an essay for History of Magic in his third year, the premise for which was that "Witch burning in the fourteenth century was completely pointless. Please explain." Remember now?

<sup>Wendelin the Weird was a witch who lived in the Middle Ages. She allowed herself to be caught numerous times in various disguises by witch-hunters, who tried to burn her at the stake. With the use of a Flame-Freezing Charm, however, the flames were rendered harmless, creating only a gentle tickling sensation which Wendelin enjoyed.

"Non-magic people (more commonly known as muggles) were particularly afraid of magic in medieval times, but not very good at recognizing it. On the rare occasion that they did catch a real witch or wizard, burning had no effect whatsoever. The witch or wizard would perform a basic Flame Freezing Charm and then pretend to shriek with pain while enjoying a gentle, tickling sensation. Indeed, Wendelin the Weird enjoyed being burned so much that she allowed herself to be caught no less than forty-seven times in various disguises." (Bagshot, A History of Magic).

What if I told you that I found (nicked, more like) a torn page from Wendelin the Weird's diary, tucked within the pages of a copy of Bagshot's original manuscripts? It was not an easy task, I might add. I had to perform the Imperius Curse on Madam Pince to gain access into the Hogwarts library Medieval Archives Section. So, without much ado, here's the diary entry on a day in the life of Wendelin the Weird:

                 13th of the First Month of Spring Equinox, A.D. 1312

Dear Diary,

       It's been a quarter of a century since my last "execution" by burning at the stake. I had a blast with that last one, what with all the attention I was getting while I was feigning pain and agony amidst the flames. Ah, how I miss the look on the faces of those Muggles while I am pulling off my trick.

       My father, Winthrop the Wise, who teaches Charms at Durmstrang, calls me a freak of nature for pursuing this unusual hobby of mine. He thinks I have gone mental like my mum, Wanda the Wanderer, who goes around the world, sampling the method of execution of every country by revealing she is a witch and allowing herself to be hanged, drawn and quartered, skinned, scalped, burned, stoned, and fed to the crocodiles. In each circumstance, of course, she has a spell to save her skin. Quite a genius on spells, my mum.

       Incidentally, I have heard of a massive witch hunt going on somewhere in Dublin, Ireland, and that's where I'm headed for. I am presently contemplating on the kind of disguise I will use this time. I've tried transforming into the person of my notorius great-aunt, Wilfrida the Wild, a hideous hag, by means of Polyjuice Potion; I've appeared as a seductive courtesan who could levitate; I've tried flying over a French village on a broom...So, what would it be this time? I should see my cousin, Willian the Wily, for some advice. Uncle Willard once mentioned that cousin Willian has survived sixty-five executions because of her extensive knowledge of life-saving spells.

P.S.  My hawk, Loki, returned today with a message from mum. She is in England, applying for a teaching post at a wizarding school called Hogwarts. Said they are in need of a new Charms professor, as the previous one died because of a spell that backfired. I'm sure mum will bag the post.

                                                                --Wendelin the Weird</sup>