It was the beginning of what was to become the sixth year, even more soon to be seventh, at the life-threatening school (i.e. Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry). The students had become restless and bored after the same you-know-who and boy-who-lived fiascos for the last five years. What they needed was something exciting, something fun, sure the possibility of dying was a risk enough, it was something the wizarding world took for granted, that it was so easy to kill yourself. Dumbledore's attempt at creating a school newspaper had ended up worse than the school's exchange program to Germany, where it turned out they had exchanged for a group of five full-grown vampires, yet fared better than the attempt at student tutoring. Actually, comparatively, it had turned out better than most of his schemes, including implementing a school government and at adding another wizarding sport to the school as it quickly became apparent that the students really didn't mind having only one small highly selective group of exclusive semi-athletes, as they didn't actually do much physical exercise, as they just sit down the whole time.
Dumbledore's 'quest' to create a safe yet fun-filled week for his students led to the creation of Spirit Week at Hogwarts. Since being in the Magic World, Dumbledore and his colleagues were unknown to the disastrous effects of the so-not-fun-filled week at regular high schools around the world which usually ended with most of the students staying home 'sick', however since Hogwarts is a boarding school, this lame excuse for everything school related was easily to be bypassed with the help of the nurse whose name is not important enough to remember, although it will come back to haunt me.
Dumbledore giddily posted this new week agenda all over the school on brightly colored paper which ranged from hot pink to an even more masculine pale purple. Each day of the week, of which there are five days!, were organized by one of the heads of house with the help of their prefects and the last day, being Friday, was organized by himself. Friday read to be announced as Dumbledore didn't want the others to steal his ideas. He kept his master plans locked in a safe behind the hidden panel on the side of his desk facing the northern wall of his oval office.
The poster read as follows:
HOGWART'S FIRST-EVER SPIRIT WEEK!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(Organized by each house in alphabetical order)
MONDAY: The theme is tropical beach day! The morning will consist of classes outdoors and a barbeque on the lawn. There will then be various inter-house competitions such as tug-of-war over a swamp, the potato sack obstacle course, improve synchronized swimming to music, a prize for the best costume, a house cheer contest, and conclusively a relay race around the pond! (Participants are reminded to sign-up with their Heads of House at least 24 hours in advance.) The evening will be finished with a career planning seminar and a debate with Cornelius Fudge and Professor Dumbledore on whether or not He-who-must-not-be-named actually has returned. The floor will be open for questions after.
GO GO Gryfindor!
TUESDAY: Immerse yourself in your inner beauty! Morning is pajama day with classes beginning a whole hour latter! (Breakfast will still begin and end at the same time due to S.P.E.W. labor contracts.) At Breakfast, Miss. Gloria's Beauty Palace will be providing the school with free instant facials and similar serums. Lunch will include toenail painting and free pony rides. There will be a race to see who can run around the lunch -room the fastest with cotton balls between their toes, the winner will receive a bowl of non-fat, sugar-free, 0 calorie CANDY! (Courtesy of Weasly's Wizarding Wheezes) Evening activity will include a modeling competition sponsored by IMMA (Inter-Magical Modeling Agency), and winners will be ranked, with the winner getting contracts and walking away with 100 points to their house! 50 points will go to second place, 25 to third and 10 to the honorable mentionees.
Good-Luck! Hufflepuff is H-O-T-T HOT!
WEDNESDAY: Class will be better today! There will be a no-learning-allowed rule passed for the day! Teacher will have to play games of the class's choice! (Must pass judgment for suitability from said teachers.) At breakfast you will have to opportunity to sign-up for candy-grams! (5 knuts each, proceeds go towards expanding the library's rare collection of trashy wizard romance novels.) These will be dispersed throughout the school during the day. The girl and boy who receives the most 'Admirerer's Hearts' (a kind of candy-gram-treat available) will win the titles of King and Queen of Hearts (for each year) for the day, and will wear them to dinner, where they will be treated as the King and Queen (surprise!). A masquerade dance will then ensue! Prizes for best costume and best dressed couple etcetera, there will also be door prizes and SUPERLATIVES!! (Note: Voting will take place during breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack!)
LET THE CAOS GO! RAH RAH Ravenclaw!
THURSDAY: The day will begin will an all-out food fight in the cafeteria followed by a trip to Bath to visit the baths. Each year will leave through a different portkey; to be posted that morning. Lunch will then be served in the common rooms where students will supposedly prepare for an afternoon of all out pranking; Mr. Filch requests that no magic actually be used in this procedure. Classes will proceed as scheduled; yes teachers can and do give homework. Dinner will end with a bake-off and then a pie eating contest; points to be awarded. Come out to support your house if you're that cool.
SHUT-UP! Slytherin!
FRIDAY: to be announced
On evenings with continuous time activities, curfews will be as follows:
First & Second Year: 9 00 PM
Third Year: 10 00 PM
Fourth & Fifth Year: 11 30 PM
Sixth & Seventh Year: 2 00 AM
(Your non-voted-for therefore non-representative House Prefects will be in charge of events, if there are any questions, they are to be directed to them, but at chance that they too will have no clue, which is very likely, it is suggested that you raise your hand and someone, probably a teacher, will assist you in any way possible. Exits are located at the back and front. In need of exiting, the floor will light up and guide you there.)
DETAILS TO BE POSTED! DEADLINE: FRIDAY!
Dumbledore grinned at himself. How devilishly smart of him to distract the students from the real world. Hee hee hee, he thought to himself with that 'fairy'-like twinkle in his eyes. They would be so excited for the week! Just thinking about it made him have to go to the bathroom.
He thought the Slytherins could have put a tad more effort into THEIR day; they had looked extremely peeved when they had submitted it to him. Nevertheless though, it was posted that Monday; Monday being the Monday before the event was actually supposed to take place; so yes a week before (this week not being in school terms so therefore consisting of SEVEN days).