Post by Professor Albus Dumbledore on Jul 4, 2008 17:10:49 GMT -5
January 12 - Current[/u]
Darkness is spreading quickly throughout the magical world. Even holiday festivities are no longer considered safe to celebrate outside one's home. On 25 December, a small handful of Death Eaters were placed in Diagon Alley on a top secret mission from You Know Who. When their cover was blown, mayhem ensued, leaving nine injured and one, Marlene McKinnon, dead. The Death Eaters in question have not been found, nor has any witness been able to properly identify any of the three involved. Despite the Ministry's attempts to keep the news quiet, one of the nine injured was the Minister for Magic (whom Aurors believe to be the target of the Death Eaters in the first place, given his support for Muggle and Muggle-born rights), who was placed in a high-security ward in St. Mungo's to recover. However, high-security was not enough protection, it seemed: only days later, the Minister was discovered dead by a Healer, the cause of death being the mixing of the wrong healing potions in an amount so fatal it could only be deliberate.
The disappearances of Muggles, Muggle-borns, half-bloods, and even some purebloods, however, has not gone unnoticed by the public. Muggle news frequently reports mysterious deaths with "no cause", as well as entire families seeming to disappear without a trace. Sheila Marlowe, a Muggle-born, arrived home with her two young children to find the Dark Mark hovering over her house, her pureblood husband lying dead inside. A young Auror-in-training, Gary Mewes, died attempting to protect a Muggle family from an ambush. It doesn't seem to matter the race of the victims, nor the gender, nor the age - from elderly to infants - for all sorts have turned up dead... if they turn up at all.
It would appear that Hogwarts is, indeed, the safest place to be in these dark times. While inside the castle walls, there have been handfuls of attacks, though the culprit was apprehended and there were no serious or long-lasting injuries. Outside, however, is a different story: students being attacked at Hogsmeade and St. Mungo's has led to increased security on the grounds, but that protection, unfortunately, could not follow students home for the holidays. While the Ministry has tried to keep the disappearances of two students under wraps, word spread quickly once term began and their absence was noted. Young Agnes MacBoon, a Hufflepuff second-year, and the rest of her family, vanished without a trace with no sign as to their whereabouts. Miss MacBoon, a half-blood, was the daughter of a Muggle woman, and pureblood wizard Clifton MacBoon, an outspoken activist for Muggle rights. Also missing is Muggle-born Jeremy Buckley, a Ravenclaw sixth-year. Once a contender for next year's Head Boy, Buckley had once planned to enter wizarding government with the intent of one day being Minister for Magic. He was the son of a Muggle politician, a candidate for the next Prime Minister. A Prime Minister with previous extensive knowledge of magic, as well as a son who could potentially head the magical government, could be considerably dangerous to the Dark Lord's cause. While the search for these students and their families continues, hope to find them alive dwindles. One can only hope that the string of disappearances stops, especially as it draws closer and closer to Hogwarts itself...
9.) July 11 - January 12[/u]
After several attacks on school grounds already, only a few months into the year, many students are beginning to doubt their safety even at Hogwarts. But it's becoming clear that the rest of the wizarding world isn't safe either, following growing reports of attacks, including one on St. Mungo's Hospital. Professors are trying to prevent worry from spreading around the school, and the upcoming festivities of the Yule Ball promise to distract from everything that's happening.
Meanwhile, the Order of the Phoenix is growing in both strength and numbers as well, and continuing to fight against the Dark Lord and his forces. Several members, mostly younger recruits so as not to stand out too much and cause alarm, have been stationed around the school and in Hogsmeade to keep an eye out on students after the attacks that have occurred.
And the whispers proclaiming these to be "dark times" are growing louder and louder.
8.) October 10 - July 11[/u]
It's been a month since the students have returned to Hogwarts, becoming accustomed to the old routine of school. Tension is still running high, the fact that things have been unusually calm lately only increasing the worry of something big being on the horizon. Still, with Halloween and the Family Fright Fest on the horizon, it's easy to be unconcerned. However, that's not always a good thing...
The Professors encourage the old routine, piling homework on the Fifth and Seventh Years especially in an attempt to prepare them for the ever-important exams they would have to take at the end of the year. The underlying worry and tension is hard to hide, however, and there's no mistaking the extra security in Hogwarts. For the most part, it seems as if all is well, but everyone knows that saying - there's always a calm before a storm, and even Dumbledore himself is anticipating the storm that would surely be upon them as You-Know-Who continues to gain supporters. With everything so hidden, how can you tell who's your friend and who's your enemy?
The Order is growing, but so is You-Know-Who's army, and it's unclear which side is stronger. The uncertainty is far worse than the knowledge, but Professor Dumbledore is doing everything possible to stop the panic from spreading among the students, instead distracting them with the prospects of Family Fright Fest, Quidditch season, and, of course, the Tabula Rasa Tournament to look forward to. There's no depleting the shadow of worry in the back of everyone's mind, and maybe it's better that way. This is definitely a time to be on guard, after all.
7.) April 09 - October 10:
“You don’t know who his supporters are, you don’t know who’s working for him and who isn’t; you know he can control people so that they do terrible things without being able to stop themselves. You’re scared for yourself, and your family, and your friends. Terror everywhere…panic…confusion…”
There is a new division amongst the school: those in support of the rumors of a dark power rising, those against this unknown tyrant, and those caught in the crosshairs of the two. It has made for an interesting summer and promises to bring along an interesting new term as well. While there is fright outside of the castle walls, the Hogwarts staff has set stronger protections throughout the grounds and wear nothing but smiling faces at the return of their students. The professors know how fortunate the students are; they know they are safe, for the most part, while under Professor Dumbledore’s watch.
Outside of the Headmaster’s gaze less-than-honorable intentions are being fulfilled. Referred to as Death Eater’s only to themselves, a group of young, inexperienced graduates begin to rally as the supporting force for the one they call the Dark Lord. Likewise, another smaller society has begun to form: the Order of the Phoenix. Under the leadership of Professor Dumbledore himself, the hopeful’s have come together with the goal of destroying the looming evil.
It has often been said that light cannot exist where darkness lies, nor can darkness consume where light shines.
The year forthcoming begs a new question: can one truly know light…without knowing darkness also?
6.) December 09 – April 10:
Summer: (n) 1: the season between spring and autumn comprising in the northern hemisphere usually the months of June, July, and August or as reckoned astronomically extending from the June solstice to the September equinox; 2: the warmer half of the year – Mr. Webster
Pretty fancy way to say “SCHOOL’S OUT,” isn’t it?
Hogwarts is vacant and the world is alive with the summer buzz. There are owls soaring to their next letter’s destination bearing good tidings, pool’s are being filled up to their very tips just for the surface to be disturbed by rowdy cannonball dives, quieter company can be found at the rarely used libraries for luxury reading and little children’s lemonade stands clutter the dusty sidewalks.
Those of a keener eye and wiser head can see behind the cheerful facade. They don’t need to see the evil to know it’s there, with vandalizing attacks becoming more frequent in a sequence before stopping altogether. Few weeks will go by and then the cycle begins again with even more deaths than the last. A great power is rising in the midst’s, with the strength of something even darker. No one knows what it is, and if they do, they aren’t saying, but the whispers ring out:
The Dark Lord is coming.
5.) November 09 – December 09:
Graduation – it’s here, it’s now. You’ve waited for seven years, enduring the classes, studying for the exams, making your friends, examining your enemies, and dealing with everyone in between.
Graduation – it’s here again, but it still isn’t the one you’re looking for. You have another year to go, two years maybe, or even six yet. You’re feeling happy, you’re feeling envious.
Whatever year you’re in, everyone agrees that spirits are high. Summer is looming right around the corner calling to you with its sunshine and promise of adventure. You’ll be leaving Hogwarts soon, some of you forever…some for only a few months. The only thing that matters now is making sure you’re remembered somehow, leaving your memory roaming the halls.
What mark will you leave?
4.) June 09 – November 09:
Summer. It’s only one, simple month away. Entering in to the final weeks of May, many students only wish it were that easy. For the younger years, the every day stress of just keeping up with last minute homework and studying for finals can be a major hardship. For the fifth years, one of the biggest tests yet is just around the corner: OWLs. Perhaps the seventh year’s worries are the largest of them all though, with NEWTs so dangerously close and cramming sessions becoming more frequent. Not only that, but with the close of another year, that means Hogwarts will be losing an entire year worth of students come graduation. It’s always a difficult time. But some…more so than others.
Word has begun to spread more rapidly throughout the school about the two mysterious deaths to take place this past school year, as well as an incident regarding one poor girl’s loss of memory. Could the three mishaps be linked? Or was it by sheer coincidence? And the more pressing question in everyone’s mind: can they finish out the year without having another ordeal? The teacher’s have been on higher alert, sending out Prefects more then usual, the professors themselves making more rounds at night. Even the ghosts have become something of another guard; watching out for the students and making sure curfews are enforced. While the security may be tight Hogwarts remains the place it always has and always will be: a home to its students, welcoming and inviting.
But when your home is being threatened…to what lengths will you go to protect it?
3.) Dec. 08 – June 09:
As the fears continue to grow – three deaths and people are bound to talk – so do the suspicions. How could Dumbledore really be letting this happen? How is it happening? Who is behind it all? The answers to these questions and so many more can all be answered if you just take the time to do a little bit of digging…and know who to talk to, namely the small and secretive group of Slytherin’s that include: Regulus, Narcissa and Bellatrix Black, Rabastan and Rodolphus Lestrange, Aletco Carrow, and Aceline Perezz. With their acts becoming more pronounce and daring, the security over Hogwarts does too.
However, unknown to the rest of the school, there are other simpler things to worry about. For the Seventh Years, NEWTs are quickly approaching, graduation is coming even faster, and dates to find for the dance celebrating seven years worth of school and many more to come post-Hogwarts. For the younger years there are still hours of class time to endure and homework to complete. Is it possible to keep up with everything going on above and below Hogwarts?
Come and give it a shot.
2.) 2008 – Dec. 08:
For the seventh years at Hogwarts, life feels as though it’s about to end: NEWTs are quickly approaching, graduation is coming even faster, and dates to find for the dance celebrating seven years worth of school and many more to come post-Hogwarts. For the younger years there is still hours of class time to endure, homework to complete and that all important Home Sweet Hogwarts to worry about and prepare for (commonly referred to as Family Fright Day amongst the students). It’s as though life just couldn’t get much worse –
But it has.
Rumors have steadily spread all year long about the rise of Lord Voldemort and his follows, but it was all taken in vain: who would dare trespass at Hogwarts, the safest place on earth? Turns out the “safest place” is no longer as safe as it used to be. No one can escape Lord Voldemort wrath, it seems: against all odd, a murder has taken place under Professor Dumbledore’s very nose.
Care of Magical Creatures’ professor, Debbie Hemlock was killed by none other then Regulus Black and his Slytherin housemates: Narcissa and Bellatrix Black, Rabastan Lestrange, Aletco Carrow, and Aceline Perezz. How, do you ask, could something like that have ever happened? Guess it isn’t very hard to poison your professor’s daily dose of coffee when it’s either their life – or yours. The hardships come after, when you begin to trace said plan back to those devious minds that created it.
All of Hogwarts occupants have been questioned and suspects have been searched including those at fault but to no avail. The murder remains a mystery to not only the staff, but to the students as well. The gruesome story has impacted all that have heard it, with parent ear’s being apart of the listening (and ever growing) audience: students have been taken out of school to return back home. Similarly other changes consist of enhanced security both during the day and night, professors are more tensed then ever with homework-giving acting as an antidote, and the remaining student body worried more then they’d like to admit when gossiping about the death of Hemlock.
And it’s all taking place here, “the safest place on earth.”
Which side are you on: those ready to discover who has committed this awful treachery and fight back against Lord Voldemort – or, were you part of the criminal act and loyal to your Dark Lord until the very end?
1.) 2007 – 2008:
Dear Student,
We are pleased to inform you that you have a place at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Please find enclosed a list of all necessary books and equipment. Term begins on 1st September. We await your owl by no later than 31st July.
Set in the Marauders’ seventh and final year, the term has only just begun and already the school is rife with unsettling whispers. Whispers, of discord beyond the castle walls; whispers, of the feared name of Lord Voldemort.
Deaths and torturings have already been reported, some parents too frightened to keep their children in school.
James, Sirius, Remus, Peter and their classmates, on the other hand, are already bogged down with the day-to-day of teenage life. Their NEWTs are approaching much faster than they can keep and eye on and the heartache of friends, foes and lovers is constantly getting them down.[/blockquote][/color]