Hogwarts Ball - Memorial Presentation and Dinner
Date: Saturday, 03 March, 2001
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Hogwarts
Rating: PG
Characters Involved: Anyone who wishes to attend
Inside the Great Hall, the vines of ivy carried the trellis design down the length of the room, allowing room for the simulated sky of the charmed ceiling to show through the leaves. Crystals of light hung suspended in air around the room. The student tables had all been removed, leaving only a few presently-empty buffet tables backed against the wall.
Where the Staff Table usually stood, there was now a large stage, illuminated with similar crystals, although these varied greatly in size from large to small and instead of soft white light, gave off light in multi-colors from pink to blue to red to green. On the stage, down center, stood a small podium, the focus of all attention drawn by the large white crystal light above it. Just in front and to the side of the podium was an enormous rectangular object, draped in a heavy purple-velvet cloth.
At this podium stood Minerva McGonagall, headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, if I may have your attention please?"
Standing tall and proud, she waited until the chatter of several conversations around the hall drew to a close. As had been noted on many occasions by past students of the school, Professor McGonagall was a woman who knew how to keep a room absolutely silent while she was speaking -- a trait which had not diminished with her promotion to Headmistress, although this evening it was most likely enhanced by the fact that many in attendance were those past students.
"Welcome. This week, our world has busied itself with celebration of the end of a war that has left many of our children alone and helpless. For many years, the philosophy of this school has been 'equal education for all wizarding children'. Thanks to your generous support this evening, we will be able to offer that education to a few more of those children."
Polite applause met that statement and Minerva paused before continuing, an odd note now entering her voice.
"No one believed in that philosophy more than Albus Dumbledore. In honor of his dream, I would now like to present a special memorial gift that has been anonymously gifted to this school in his memory."
With a flick of her wand, the drape lifted away and then vanished altogether, leaving an enormous framed wizarding photograph before the crowd. Except it was not a photograph, but a sort of projection of memories.
Minerva remained silent while the fluttering whisper of 'oohs' and 'aahs' passed through the crowd. When it had quieted again, she tucked her handkerchief surreptitiously back inside her sleeve and once again addressed the gathering.
"This lovely memorial will now hang here in the Great Hall just behind the staff table as long as Hogwarts stands. Anyone who wishes to add a memory may do so by submitting the memory to the current Headmaster or Headmistress of the school. Memories cannot be removed from the device and will, of course, be kept anonymous.
"Now then. As Albus might have said if he were here to open our celebrations, 'Nitwick, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak'."
With this cryptic message, she left the stage. The head house-elves who had just been named had already organised their fellows, so the previously empty buffet tables were now laden with every delicious thing Hogwarts had to offer. The dancers would not want for refreshment this night!
Time: 6:00pm
Location: Hogwarts
Rating: PG
Characters Involved: Anyone who wishes to attend
Inside the Great Hall, the vines of ivy carried the trellis design down the length of the room, allowing room for the simulated sky of the charmed ceiling to show through the leaves. Crystals of light hung suspended in air around the room. The student tables had all been removed, leaving only a few presently-empty buffet tables backed against the wall.
Where the Staff Table usually stood, there was now a large stage, illuminated with similar crystals, although these varied greatly in size from large to small and instead of soft white light, gave off light in multi-colors from pink to blue to red to green. On the stage, down center, stood a small podium, the focus of all attention drawn by the large white crystal light above it. Just in front and to the side of the podium was an enormous rectangular object, draped in a heavy purple-velvet cloth.
At this podium stood Minerva McGonagall, headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.
"Ladies and Gentlemen, if I may have your attention please?"
Standing tall and proud, she waited until the chatter of several conversations around the hall drew to a close. As had been noted on many occasions by past students of the school, Professor McGonagall was a woman who knew how to keep a room absolutely silent while she was speaking -- a trait which had not diminished with her promotion to Headmistress, although this evening it was most likely enhanced by the fact that many in attendance were those past students.
"Welcome. This week, our world has busied itself with celebration of the end of a war that has left many of our children alone and helpless. For many years, the philosophy of this school has been 'equal education for all wizarding children'. Thanks to your generous support this evening, we will be able to offer that education to a few more of those children."
Polite applause met that statement and Minerva paused before continuing, an odd note now entering her voice.
"No one believed in that philosophy more than Albus Dumbledore. In honor of his dream, I would now like to present a special memorial gift that has been anonymously gifted to this school in his memory."
With a flick of her wand, the drape lifted away and then vanished altogether, leaving an enormous framed wizarding photograph before the crowd. Except it was not a photograph, but a sort of projection of memories.
Minerva remained silent while the fluttering whisper of 'oohs' and 'aahs' passed through the crowd. When it had quieted again, she tucked her handkerchief surreptitiously back inside her sleeve and once again addressed the gathering.
"This lovely memorial will now hang here in the Great Hall just behind the staff table as long as Hogwarts stands. Anyone who wishes to add a memory may do so by submitting the memory to the current Headmaster or Headmistress of the school. Memories cannot be removed from the device and will, of course, be kept anonymous.
"Now then. As Albus might have said if he were here to open our celebrations, 'Nitwick, Blubber, Oddment, Tweak'."
With this cryptic message, she left the stage. The head house-elves who had just been named had already organised their fellows, so the previously empty buffet tables were now laden with every delicious thing Hogwarts had to offer. The dancers would not want for refreshment this night!