I was going through some of the older posts in this area over the weekend, and I came across a combined teaser/audience participation bit that I posted for the Harry Potter Step just before that hacker whacked so much of ezBoard. It got a lot of responses, but they were all blanked, and judging from my notes, before I'd been able to get from them what I'd hoped for. So, let's try it again...
"Go ahead," Dumbledore said, holding out a pointed leather hat so
old and worn that it looked about ready to fall apart. "Put it
on."
I gave him a dubious look, not taken in by the whole "twinkling
eyes I'm-just-an-eccentric-old-man" act. "You're kidding." I
gave the hat a dubious look as well, and had the oddest sensation
that it was returning the favor.
Dumbledore shook his head. "Not at all, Douglas. Every staff
member at Hogwarts must have at least a nominal House
affiliation." He shrugged. "At the very least to give us an
idea who can act as a representative of each House in ... unusual
circumstances."
I caught myself about to scowl in a very Skuld-like manner and
aborted the expression. I sighed, though, and held out my hand.
"If I must."
Dumbledore just smiled and silently extended the Sorting Hat.
"Well, what have we here?" A voice echoed in my mind as soon as
I'd plopped the thing onto my head.
"Funny," I thought back at it. "I was about to say the same
thing. I'm used to talking to my headgear, but having it talk
back is a new experience for me."
I sensed, rather than heard, its amusement. "A new teacher, are
you? Well, well, where shall I put you?" It fell silent for a
moment and I could feel the depth of its concentration. "Hmmm.
Ambitious you aren't, not for power, but you enjoy glory for its
own sake, and there is blood enough on your hands. Slytherin
could make use of you."
It seemed to shift and settle itself differently on my head. "And
yet you are a hero, too."
"I wouldn't say so. I'm a soldier, I just do my job."
Its chuckle, like the sound of old, creaking leather, echoed
between my ears. "Eyes always ahead, you never know what it is
you have done, do you? Trust me, young man, I see the trail of a
hero behind you. Gryffindor is as good a choice."
"Whatever you say, Hat."
"But you also have a mind of extraordinary power, if not always
of sufficient focus. Ravenclaw could sharpen your wits."
I sighed. "Is there a point to this? Or an end?"
"And loyalty in spades," it went on, ignoring me this time. "To
friends, to wife, to commander, to those whom you take under your
wing, and those who take you in. You would gladly die in their
defense. You could show Hufflepuff a thing or two, I'd wager."
"So I belong everywhere. Maybe you should make up a new house
just for me."
Another creaky chuckle. "Maybe I should. That'd stand
Dumbledore's beard on end! Well, Mr. Sangnoir, it's a hard
decision, a hard one indeed. But I've taken your measure, and
read your life, and it is my belief that you belong in..."
... and here's the audience participation part. Pick yer house and make yer argument. I have no pre-ordained plans or needs for Doug to be in any particular house, so I'll entertain all possibilities.
Except House Sparklypoo.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.
"Go ahead," Dumbledore said, holding out a pointed leather hat so
old and worn that it looked about ready to fall apart. "Put it
on."
I gave him a dubious look, not taken in by the whole "twinkling
eyes I'm-just-an-eccentric-old-man" act. "You're kidding." I
gave the hat a dubious look as well, and had the oddest sensation
that it was returning the favor.
Dumbledore shook his head. "Not at all, Douglas. Every staff
member at Hogwarts must have at least a nominal House
affiliation." He shrugged. "At the very least to give us an
idea who can act as a representative of each House in ... unusual
circumstances."
I caught myself about to scowl in a very Skuld-like manner and
aborted the expression. I sighed, though, and held out my hand.
"If I must."
Dumbledore just smiled and silently extended the Sorting Hat.
"Well, what have we here?" A voice echoed in my mind as soon as
I'd plopped the thing onto my head.
"Funny," I thought back at it. "I was about to say the same
thing. I'm used to talking to my headgear, but having it talk
back is a new experience for me."
I sensed, rather than heard, its amusement. "A new teacher, are
you? Well, well, where shall I put you?" It fell silent for a
moment and I could feel the depth of its concentration. "Hmmm.
Ambitious you aren't, not for power, but you enjoy glory for its
own sake, and there is blood enough on your hands. Slytherin
could make use of you."
It seemed to shift and settle itself differently on my head. "And
yet you are a hero, too."
"I wouldn't say so. I'm a soldier, I just do my job."
Its chuckle, like the sound of old, creaking leather, echoed
between my ears. "Eyes always ahead, you never know what it is
you have done, do you? Trust me, young man, I see the trail of a
hero behind you. Gryffindor is as good a choice."
"Whatever you say, Hat."
"But you also have a mind of extraordinary power, if not always
of sufficient focus. Ravenclaw could sharpen your wits."
I sighed. "Is there a point to this? Or an end?"
"And loyalty in spades," it went on, ignoring me this time. "To
friends, to wife, to commander, to those whom you take under your
wing, and those who take you in. You would gladly die in their
defense. You could show Hufflepuff a thing or two, I'd wager."
"So I belong everywhere. Maybe you should make up a new house
just for me."
Another creaky chuckle. "Maybe I should. That'd stand
Dumbledore's beard on end! Well, Mr. Sangnoir, it's a hard
decision, a hard one indeed. But I've taken your measure, and
read your life, and it is my belief that you belong in..."
... and here's the audience participation part. Pick yer house and make yer argument. I have no pre-ordained plans or needs for Doug to be in any particular house, so I'll entertain all possibilities.
Except House Sparklypoo.
-- Bob
---------
Then the horns kicked in...
...and my shoes began to squeak.