November's Contest, Fat Friar Story |
 Nov 1 2008, 01:30 PM
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Trapped in a Gringott's Vault  Posts: 2,903 Joined: 1:49pm October 25, 2005 Location: Monterey, CA   |
Rose Weasley carefully removed the Sorting Hat, placed it back on the three-legged stool and then quickly rushed to join her favorite cousin, Albus Severus, who was already seated at the Gryffindor table next to his older brother, James. Rose gave a sigh of relief as she accepted the well wishes of her two cousins, grateful to no longer be the center of attention. As her nerves settled, she looked around the Great Hall curiously taking in the students, the teachers, and the ghosts….
Rose was anxious to get to her bedroom that night so she could do some light reading in a book her mother had recommended Rose check out from the library as soon as she arrived at school--Hogwarts: A History. She wanted to learn more about the House ghosts she had seen in the Great Hall earlier that evening. As she read the story of the Bloody Baron and the Grey Lady she shuddered uncontrollably and snuggled more deeply into her blankets while making a mental note to avoid crossing the Bloody Baron’s path at all costs. And while Nearly-Headless Nick’s story was also rather gruesome (after all, who wants to be struck with a dull axe 45 times?), he seemed quite cheerful and popular as he talked to the Gryffindor students over a dinner he couldn’t eat. The Fat Friar seemed the least intimidating of all the ghosts Rose encountered that evening and she turned expectantly to find his entry. Much to her dismay, the page was missing…. The Contest Staff invites you to write a 600 word entry for Hogwarts: A History about the Fat Friar and how he became a ghost. Please make your entry as professional as possible. We don’t want Madam Pince accusing Rose of desecrating one of her precious library books! Rules for Entrants:
This post has been edited by mjk: Nov 2 2008, 01:07 PM -------------------- Click the image for the latest contest and winners.  |
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Nov 6 2008, 08:28 AM
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Eeylops Owl Cage Cleaner Posts: 215 Joined: 10:54am May 18, 2005  |
Is there a minimum word count? There is not one listed in the rules, but mine is a lot shorter than 600 words. Do I need to flesh it out some?
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Nov 7 2008, 08:36 PM
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#3
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Trapped in a Gringott's Vault Posts: 2,903 Joined: 1:49pm October 25, 2005 Location: Monterey, CA |
QUOTE(songbird @ Nov 6 2008, 06:28 AM)  Is there a minimum word count? There is not one listed in the rules, but mine is a lot shorter than 600 words. Do I need to flesh it out some? Because this is less of a story and more of a biographical reference writing contest, if you think you can cover everything underneath 600 words (at whatever amount you have), that's fine with us. Hope that helps! 
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Nov 8 2008, 09:42 AM
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Eeylops Owl Cage Cleaner Posts: 215 Joined: 10:54am May 18, 2005 |
OK, thank you. I already added some things I forgot to put in the first time. It was running through my head at bed time and then I wrote it the next morning and forgot half of what I wanted to write, so it's closer to 600 now, but thank you!!
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Dec 11 2008, 12:35 AM
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#5
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Trapped in a Gringott's Vault Posts: 2,903 Joined: 1:49pm October 25, 2005 Location: Monterey, CA |
Here are the winners!
First Place: momwitch Honorable Mention: Matthew Because of the length of the entries, they are in their own post. You can click on the above names to jump to the posts or simply scroll down. Thanks for everyone for participating and congratulations to the winners! This post has been edited by mjk: Dec 11 2008, 12:41 AM -------------------- Click the image for the latest contest and winners. |
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Dec 11 2008, 12:38 AM
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#6
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Trapped in a Gringott's Vault Posts: 2,903 Joined: 1:49pm October 25, 2005 Location: Monterey, CA |
First Place: momwitch
The Fat Friar is the more familiar ghostly name of a near-squib born into one of the Wizarding World’s most celebrated families, and is the fraternal twin of Hogwarts’ Co-Founder, Helga Hufflepuff. Helga and Hermann Hufflepuff were inseparable playmates as children, though when it was discovered that Hermann possessed limited magical abilities, his memory was altered, so that he could live at a nearby abbey as a foundling and grow up in a partially sequestered World as a non-Magical. This was also done to protect the Hufflepuff family from those who might inadvertently witness magical acts, since at that time; tensions were beginning to arise between the Magical and Non-Magical communities. It is unknown if Helga Hufflepuff was in contact with her brother at this time, or if she was indeed aware that she knew what happened to him. It has been speculated that her memory was also altered in some way, so that she would feel the loss of her brother less. Some historians claim that she must have retained some memories of her brother; that it was this early relationship which formed the basis for her egalitarian viewpoints, and was significant to the development of her House’s characteristics to include those students who were loyal and not afraid of hard work. While at the Abbey, Hermann proved himself to be a skilled brew maker and innovative chef, from whom the Brotherhood benefited both through having their own worldly needs met, and for bringing in much needed revenue from the sale of these goods. Though technically a Squib, Hermann had a near magical ability for stretching meager resources and giving them abundance with plenty to spare, a trait that he shared with his sister. His reputation made him a minor celebrity in the nearby villages, and it came to pass when Hogwarts was ready to accept its opening class of wizards and witches, Hermann was among the first recipients of a Hogwarts’ Owl. Hermann was very content in his life at the Abbey, but he was determined to deliver his regrets in person. Upon reuniting with his sister, the Forgetful Charm was broken, and he embraced his twin exuberantly. Though they continued to live in separate worlds, he was a contributor to some of Hogwarts’ finest banquets, teaching the house elves his culinary secrets and creating a number of Hogwarts’ signature dishes. He also became “Father Confessor” to Hogwarts’ anomaly Peeves, who to this day has maintained a unique friendship with the “Fat Friar”. It was his wish that when he died, that his body be buried anonymously on the grounds of Hogwarts. When asked why he didn’t want to be laid to rest at the Abbey, he simply stated: “Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.” The Fat Friar, in addition to being the Hufflepuff House Ghost, continues to act as a mediator between the Magical and Non-Magical Worlds. A journal entry attributed to the Muggleborn writer Charles Dickens [see Appendix 1225A-D Venificus Incognito], reveals that the character inspiration for The Ghost of Christmas Present: “came to him in a dream as a person who called himself The Fat Friar”. After Dickens’ death in 1870, this journal was found in a locked chest, along with an original printing of A Christmas Carol in Prose, Being a Ghost Story of Christmas, and a small golden cup. This cup was later identified to be one of the belongings of Helga Hufflepuff, and was promptly returned to her heirs. This post has been edited by mjk: Dec 11 2008, 12:41 AM -------------------- Click the image for the latest contest and winners. |
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Dec 11 2008, 12:39 AM
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#7
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Trapped in a Gringott's Vault Posts: 2,903 Joined: 1:49pm October 25, 2005 Location: Monterey, CA |
Honorable Mention: Matthew
Roaming around the hallowed halls of Hogwarts School are the pale, floating forms of ghosts, the departed souls of many of the school’s former students. Of these ghosts none are more famous than the four House Ghosts. All of them have a captivating history, whether it be the gruesome demise of The Gryffindor House Ghost, Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington (more commonly referred to as Nearly Headless Nick), or the tragic tale of The Grey lady and The Bloody Baron ( The Ravenclaw and Slytherin Ghosts respectively). However, there is one House Ghost’s history that is often overlooked compared to the others, that of the Hufflepuff Ghost, The Fat Friar. The Friar was one of the first students to enter Hogwarts School. He was sorted into Hufflepuff and would grow quite close to his house’s namesake. The young man was considered to be loyal and always played fair. During his time at Hogwarts he developed a fierce appetite and was said to have loved a good Hogwarts feast. It would be this appetite that would eventually lead to his demise. While a student the young man became very attached to his school and house. He considered it to a great honor to be considered a Hufflepuff. In his seventh year at the school he watched as his classmates began planning out their future careers. The Friar however felt very confused as to what he would do20after school. While other wizards of his age thought only of pushing the boundaries of magic, the young friar pondered where did magic truly come from. He and his friends would often discuss why only some people where gifted with magic and other’s were left to be muggles, or how did magic originate in this world. These questions would plague the young man for years to come. After he had left school the young man began to travel the world. He encountered many peoples and new approaches to magic, but still found no answer to his burning questions. It was some ten years after he had left school when he found someone who could answer his questions. He was visiting France when he stumbled upon a elderly wizard who seemed to be struggling to produce a proper levitation charm. The young man raised in Hufflepuff house decided to help the old man. It turned out the elderly man was a friar who was taking a trip to England and didn’t know if he would be able to make the trip alone. The young Hufflepuff agreed to accompany him and it is here that his fascination with religion began. He studied with elderly friar and after twenty years he himself became a friar. The Fat Friar would become an instrumental figure in the religious wizarding community. He started the first wizarding friar’s club in Britain ( Established 1065 A.D.). He could often be seen at Hogwarts where he would come to hand out leaflet s to fifth years planning to join the friars. It was during one of these visits that he would meet his end. It was his fondness for food that did him in. He had attended one of Hogwarts famous end of the year feasts when he had eaten a whole roast ham, that just happened to contain a doxy egg. After that event The Fat Friar’s Ghost decided to stay at the school as the Hufflepuff Ghost. The Fat Friar is considered one of the most approachable ghosts at Hogwarts School and believes that everyone, even the poltergeist Peeves, deserves understanding and forgiveness. -------------------- Click the image for the latest contest and winners. |
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