Plagued Logs

Those that were out of bed heard it, though perhaps it was just the wind. A soft echoing wind that sounded like a laugh through the dark corridors. The kind of laugh that raises the hairs across the back of your neck and sends an icy chill down your spine; a distant laugh of cruel glee. Mrs Norris pinned her ears back and hissed. The fur along her spine rose and her tail puffed out and thrashed. She backed away, making herself smaller, as fear overtook her. She didn't know what she had seen, but she knew it was nothing good. The cat turned and ran.

"Um, just a quick announcement this morning ladies and gentlemen. I'm afraid Professor McGonagall has been taken ill. She's currently under Madam Pomfrey's care until she feels better. So if you have any problems, feel free to send me an owl on her behalf!

Thank you! Enjoy your breakfast!

Who: Professor Slughorn, George Weasley, Sally-ann Perks, Eleanor Branstone, Dennis Creevey, Lucius Malfoy, Bert Scamander
What: Professor Slughorn addresses the test subjects
When: Monday Afternoon
Where: The Hospital Wing Quarantine Ward.


"Ah, yes, well, looks like we had some success, but I must apologise to you Mr. Weasley and Miss Branstone. The potion tested well in my lab but the results... Well, at least your sacrifice has led to us being able to prevent any other infections in the future.

We're still working on a cure of course, of course!

The rest of you, I must thank you for your trouble and your bravery. You're free to return to classes and, ah, whatever you are up to Mr Scamander, Mr... Malfoy. Yes. Thank you all!"

[OOC: No need to reply, this is simply a post to say you're free to go!]

( Daily Prophet 16th May 1999 )

Finally, after weeks of endless white, the mists hovering over the castle and village appear to be lifting. Nothing seemed to herald the parting of the weather, but at least that's all over now...

Who: Terence Higgs and Morag MacDougal
What: It's much, much stronger now
Where: The dungeon corridors
When: Monday evening
Rating: Low

( Death was following it )

Stephen had tried to ignore the fact that the mist was still lingering. He told himself that no one else had experienced the linked dreams. There had been no mention of it. Still, the fog was hard to ignore.

Under cover of darkness he made his way back to the empty cottage. It was hard to tell, but still the white vapour rose from the chimney into the night. He let himself in the back door and approached the basement stairs with his wand drawn. The spell was still active, he could tell. Vanishing it hadn't worked. There was only one thing he could think of.

With carefully laid spells, Stephen the house on fire. The flames were quick the devour the wooden beams and spread eagerly over the walls and floor. He watched from a safe distance as it roared into an inferno. Suddenly, from within the very heart of the cottage, came an explosion of silvery smoke that rose quickly into the air, crackling with magic.

Stephen bit his lip. Well, it could hardly get any worse could it?

Notice for Students:

QUIDDITCH MATCH CANCELLED Ravenclaw vs. Hufflepuff Quidditch match will be postponed until further notice due to adverse weather conditions. -Madame Hooch

Who: Neville Longbottom[!grabme] and open
What: Fire.
Where: The greenhouses
When: Wednesday evening
Rating: Mid

( ... )

It was a strange sight to any passing by; as if a giant smoke-filled glass dome were laying over the land. The quarantine dome over the area seemed to have filled entirely in white mist, though there was something odd about it. It didn't seem to pass through the barrier... The thick fog slowly spread throughout the trees of the forest, between the houses of the village, and the towers of the lonely castle standing amidst the middle of the vast quarantine. It reduced vision to merely meters away. A perfect, white, endless haze, with the looming shadows of buildings and trees within.