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singlikenoonecanhearyou Captain
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 Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 2:54 pm
Hog's HeadAbout:~The Hog's Head is another pub, which often attracts a more unusual and private clientele than the Three Broomsticks, and many of the customers hide their faces. The hanging sign on the front of the pub has a severed boar's head, leaking blood onto the white cloth around it. The pub itself is filthy, with the floor covered with layers of dirt, and the windows smeared with so much grime that little light gets through. The main floor is a single room, but there are additional rooms on the upper floors. Harry notes that the pub smells strongly of goats. The barman is Aberforth Dumbledore, the brother of Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
Despite its seedy reputation, the Hog's Head pub has been host to several important events in the world of Harry Potter. The inn was the headquarters of the 1612 Goblin Rebellion. A few months before Harry was born, it was here that the seer Sybill Trelawney revealed the prophecy connecting Voldemort and Harry during an interview with Dumbledore for the position of Divination teacher at Hogwarts, while Snape listens to the first part of the prophecy. It is also where Hagrid wins an illegal dragon egg (Norbert) while gambling with a disguised servant of Voldemort. In Order of the Phoenix, the first meeting of Dumbledore's Army is secretly held at the Hog's Head. It also serves as an evacuation point for the underage students directly before the Battle of Hogwarts. The children are sent to Hogwarts’ Room of Requirement and travel to the Hog's Head through a portrait of Ariana Dumbledore. In addition, during the Battle of Hogwarts, the Hog's Head is the gathering place for the remaining members of the Order of the Phoenix and Dumbledore's Army who have gathered to fight against Voldemort and his Death Eaters.
The name of the tavern refers to an archaic unit of liquid measurement, the hogshead. It may also be an allusion to the "Boar's Head Tavern" from the play Henry IV, Part 1, by William Shakespeare. Much like The Hog's Head, Shakespeare's tavern is the haunt of some less than reputable characters.~
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Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2010 6:58 pm
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singlikenoonecanhearyou Captain
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:42 pm
 Zillah bustles into the pub, her feet kicking up a cloud of dust as she struggles to force the heavy oak door closed against the gusting wind.
After several attempts, she heard the door latch and the room was plunged into an almost eerie dimness.
She waited for her eyes to become accustomed to the sudden change, feeling her pupils dilate.
Upon getting her bearings, she meandered across the grimy, dust covered floor to the man behind the bar that was currently wiping a water stained mug with a grease splotched rag.
"One Fire-whiskey." she said with a slight shiver, still trying in vain to warm herself from the blustering weather outside.
The bartender obliged, and Zillah thanked him with a kind smile before taking a generous sip. She felt the warmth course through her veins, the whiskey living up to its name.
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 8:56 pm
Not terribly long after the teacher places her order, the door to the small tavern bursts open and the wind, again, buffets the indoors. I step inside calmly, my robe and tie being tossed around by the intense wind. As I enter, I attempt to close the door behind me with one hand. Finding this action a little less than easy, I whip out my wand and sound off a spell.
"Operio."
As if fearful of further spells, the door quickly slams shut, locking out the raging wind yet again. I straighten my clothes and walk to the bar.
"Lovely weather." I say in cheery sarcasm, "Makes me glad I live in England." I continue, leaning on the bar now, "Ah, a butterbeer, please." I say to the bartender, "I need something to cool off after experiencing this wonderfully temperate weather." I continue, my sarcasm still pleasant.
"Hello." I greet the fellow teacher happily, "You must be from Hogwarts too, right?" I ask, trying to make conversation.
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 9:06 pm
A shiver racks her body as the gradually warming enclosure was once again doused with the unforgiving chill of the frosty November wind which whipped around the pub. She turned with a half glare towards the intruder of her unintended sanctuary.
"That's right." she answered concerning his query of her profession.
She took another large swallow of her Fire-whiskey to once again rid her body of its seemingly endless tremors.
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 9:12 pm
Smiling as the cold mug reached his hand, I quickly take a few swigs, "Honestly," I begin, setting the mug down, "I adore this place." I say, sweeping my hand about the room, "All the history! All the people who've ever been here!" I drop my arm to my side, "And no lines for a bloody drink." I add, "Grading papers has never occurred in a more peaceful and historic setting." I take another gulp.
"I'm sorry, I don't know you quite yet." I offer out my hand to you, "My name is... well, you can just call me Kitty." I say, always feeling rather awkward about my name, as the tiny blush on my face would announce. I quickly change subjects, "I teach Ancient Runes. Bloody wonderful class, if my students would stay awake for anything short of watching the runes for 'rock' 'paper' and 'scissors' duking it out." I sigh, looking into my mug.
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 10:20 pm
Zillah's face contorts in confusion at the mention of even considering grading papers in such poor lighting and grime covered tables. Not a conducive environment for anything having to do with scholarly advancement. She followed his wide gesture with her eyes, never before having thought about the historic moments that transpired within these four walls. She nodded absentmindedly and took a reasonably small sip when compared to the massive gulps she had take previously.
She focused on his outstretched hand, large and a bit coarse when she thought back to her petite and slender beneath her navy winter mittens.
Not wanting to come of as frigid as the fall air outside, she extended her hand with a cordial smile. "Call me Zillah, the professor of Transfiguration at Hogwarts. It's increasingly difficult to have class when all the girls are twittering about the Yule Ball."
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 10:28 pm
A look of intrigue crosses my face when I hear of Zillah's subject of teaching, "Transfiguration... really?" I ask in earnest, "Like... changing one thing into another?" I suggest, trying not to sound inept, "I'm kind of clueless when it comes to that." I admit, smiling awkwardly.
"My forte is in charms." I say happily, "You could probably guess that by the way I closed the door." I quickly snap my attention to the barkeep, "Sorry about slamming it!" I say in a higher pitch than normal. He shakes his head and waves a hand dismissively. I return my attention to Zillah, "So, the Yule Ball." I continue, as if recalling a sweet memory, "Seems like only yesterday when I went." I trail off, smiling dreamily.
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 10:41 pm
A small smile plays across her lips, thinking of her past exploits concerning her subject of choice.
"Quite right you are Professor, er, Kitty. I recently conducted a lesson on switching spells upon my return from a dealing with the Ministry. Nasty business really. I won't bore you with the details."
Zillah grimaced slightly at the mention of charms.
"I remember that class well. Always intruding on transfiguration. Feriverto is ours! They need to keep their shabby little unkempt wands out!"
She slammed her Fire-whiskey to the table harder than she had intended to. A quick deep breath and she was back to her usual self.
"I wouldn't know about the Yule Ball in practice. When I was a student, I have far more important things to do rather than parade around a dance floor."
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Posted: Thu Nov 04, 2010 10:50 pm
A confused look invades my features. Surely she wouldn't be talking about the water goblet spell? Not really being intimate with transfiguration in practice, the rage was lost upon me. These thoughts, however, were shattered by the sound of her glass hitting the bar. Even the barkeep seemed taken aback by this fiery outburst.
"Yeesh." I smile, looking to you with an uncertain gaze. When you continue on as if nothing happened, a small laugh escapes me. She was a crazy one alright.
"Aw come on!" I smile, "The Yule Ball is a GREAT time!" I lean toward Zillah a little, "You ARE planning on going this year, right?" I ask slowly, already knowing the answer.
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Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 8:51 am
Zillah opened her mouth to respond, but shut it after a couple seconds passed. She hadn't given any thought to her attendance now that she was back at Hogwarts and finally grown out of her awkward stage, for the most part.
Rather than answering, she returned to her Fire-whiskey, the alcohol giving her courage a temporary boost. "I think going now would be rather foolish." she answered honestly. "I had my chance as a student."
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Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 5:52 pm
I wave a dismissive hand in the air at the thought, "Oh blah." I dismiss, "You had your chance as a student, and you didn't take it. True. Why now, when you have a totally legitimate excuse to go as a teacher to keep watch, do you shy away?" I ask, clearly having no regard for the fact we'd only known each other for a few minutes now.
"Come on, go to it." I tease, "It'll be fun." I say tantalizingly, taking another sip of my butterbeer.
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Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:01 pm
Zillah looks at Kitty with a raised eyebrow and a bemused expression.
"Why so interested in my attendance Mr. Kitty? Planning on taking someone yourself?" Zillah pondered with a smirk before raising her mug to her lips.
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Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:27 pm
I smile at Zillah, unsure. I weigh my options carefully, studying when the best time to answer would be. I wait until she sips, the begin.
"Well, I would never dream of letting a woman such as yourself attend alone." I allude, "I would be honored to accompany you, since you asked whom I planned to take."
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Posted: Fri Nov 05, 2010 6:32 pm
Shock stiffens Zillahs form, the rather large gulp still floating around in her mouth. She turned to the awaiting Mr. Kitty and released the liquid in a wide spray.
"Wh-what?" she asked, blinking several times as if doing so would rid the wave of shock and confusion that flooded her.
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