The Story So Far and Round 3 Mission Options

[evlpez]

The trio are in trouble! On one side, a massive, black dog appears to be closing in on them. On the other, they are about to be discovered by Trelawney or Hagrid or possibly another (the dangerous escapee?) How do they get out of this?

What mystery surrounds Lupin and his Holiday plans? (Hint- The Full Moon occurs three days after Christmas!) Crookshanks and Scabbers must each make an appearance in the scene.

It ends with a single, exciting moment which confirms Hermione's suspicions.

Word challenge:
mossberry, sycamine, enigma, cat, wolfsbane or wormwood.
(again, use of more than one of these in the winning submission gets a bonus prize for each additional word)

The deadline is Noon Central on Wednesday, December 10.
Polling will follow... the winner and new mission will be declared next Friday!

This round, the Mission is the same for both Canon Fodder and Wizarding Wheezes submissions. Good Luck and happy writing!

Again... The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures, who sponsor this contest, would like you to know that all prizes are negotiable to some degree. Should you have no use for tea or be allergic to chocolate or find the hourglass unsuitable for your household decor... we might be able to work something out!

[evlpez]

Chapter Two Winner - pinkpanther

Happy Holidays?



Int: Boys dormitory, early morning.

(Harry sits up in bed, aware of the familiar feeling of dread in the pit of his stomach and an icy fear spreading over his whole body. His bed curtain ruffles slightly. Terrified, he throws it open to reveal two hooded dementors gliding towards him. He tries to scream, but no sound comes. They move closer and one of them stretches out it's hand and touches his shoulder. Surprised that he's still alive, Harry looks at the dementors as the other one also grabs his shoulder and proceeds to shake him. Confused, Harry slaps it away, amazed at his own boldness. Suddenly, one of the dementors turns to the other and says, "Sheesh, you'd think he was sampling Madame Rosmerta's hippocras! Maybe we should throw water on him.")

HARRY (opening his eyes)
What?!

FRED
Just joking, mate! What kind of a dream were you having anyway? You were making the best facial expressions!

GEORGE
Yeah, we decided that we should try to replicate them, you know, as masks, but I think that's beyond even our skill.

HARRY (grumpily)
That's what I've always wanted, to have my face replicated as a mask by you too...mind my asking why you're here?

FRED (in a sarcastically concerned voice)
Alas, poor soul, sleep has befuddled his already weak mind!

GEORGE
Too true, you'd think that he could remember quidditch practice on this fine morning!

FRED
Especially at this lovely hour (he glares out the window at the barely risen sun).
Anyway, Harry, Wood wants us all on the field in ten minutes, so don't take too long primping.

(They leave and Harry drags himself out of bed, trying to remember his dream so that he and Ron can interpret it for their divination homework.)

Int. Later that day, on the way to Hagrid's.


RON
Maybe Hagrid's just getting evidence to help with Buckbeak's case.

HERMIONE(rolling her eyes)
If that's what he was doing, he wouldn't have been so secretive.

HARRY
Ron could be right, I mean, we don't know if he was hiding something in that box. Maybe he was just holding it funny.

HERM
Don't be thick! Just because you two don't care if Hagrid's in trouble...

RON
We never said that!

HARRY (attempting to ward off a new spat between Ron and Hermione)
We were just trying to think of a reasonable posibility before we suspect Hagrid of doing something...

HERM
What's wrong?

HARRY (aghast,pointing at Hagrid's hut)
Trelawney! She just went in Hagrid's back door!

RON
I didn't know she ever left her precious tower!

HERM
Harry, are you sure?

HARRY
Positive, come on, let's go look in the window.

HERM
Should we be spying on Hagrid?

RON
Come on, Hermione, he's hiding something from us, remember?

(They run stealthily to the hut and crouch under the small, dirty window, which is cracked enough at the bottom to allow them to hear everthing going on inside)

HAGRID
Do ya think we'll have time fer all a that, what with som a tha students stayin' over tha holiday an' all.

HERM (whispering)
Maybe this all has something to do with Professor Sprout giving Snape flowers and that dog everyone keeps seeing!

RON
It's a grim.

HARRY
Shut up before you give us away!

TRELAWNEY
The heavens have informed me that all will go well. As soon as Severus has prepared the arnica, we may rest assured that they will not get out of hand.

HAGRID (unconvinced)
I still don' see how it'll work. If ya ask me, it's best ta--

TRELAWNEY (shrilly)
Do you doubt my mantic abilities? I have volunteered to spend the entire holiday preparing--you have no idea what work! And...

HAGRID
Now, jus' hol' on a minute, I wasn't sayin' yer not capable...it's jus'...well, what does Dumbledore think?

TRELAWNEY (somewhat placated, but still miffed)
HE has complete confidence in my inner eye! If you don't mind, I must be going.

(The trio prepare to move out of sight, but when they turn around, they are blocked by a massive, black dog. They remain frozen, in complete view of the hut's door, as the dog moves closer.)