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Denizens of Hogwarts appear in Starkville for library lessons |
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Sunday, 22 July 2007 |
 Kelly Daniels/SDN By KELLY DANIELS
Starkville Daily News
Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, headmaster of Hogwarts, brought his school and a few of its creatures to the Starkville Public Library, where they all sat down for a pancake breakfast with pumpkin juice with ice, mice and pepper imps.
"Welcome to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," Dumbledore — better known as Mississippi State faculty member Harry Cole — on Saturday morning.
"The sorting hat has had its say!
"You, Hufflepuffs, are true and unafraid of toil.
"You, Ravenclaws, are wise and have ready minds.
"You, Slytherins, are cunning when you achieve your ends.
"And, Gryffindors, are brave at heart. It is your daring that sets you apart.
"Oh, I see that Rita Skeeter from ‘The Daily Prophet’ is here. How's the quick-quotes quill, Rita?"
The young witches and wizards listened as Dumbledore walked up and down the aisle between his two long dinner tables giving instructions for the day:
• "Nearly Headless Nick asks that any of you who have read ahead (unlike him) keep your 'ahead' to yourselves. Don't spoil the story for others!
• "Professor Snape threatens detention to anyone (student or muggle) whose cell owl hoots during the ceremony.
• "Peeves the Poltergeist ask that you leave any mischief to him.
• "Moaning Myrtle reminds you that the bathroom is downstairs. Madam Pince, the librarian, requests that you refrain from snoffing in the book stacks.
• "Mr. Filch has asked that anyone with a Crookshanks to keep him away from Mrs. Norris.
• "Professor McGonagall asks that anyone with a Naghini should keep it in his box.
• "And finally, the headmaster says that if he-who-must-not-be-named appears, the Avada Kedavra curse will be permitted."
Dumbledore then looked around at all his witches and wizards who appeared strangely alike. "Based on the number of Harrys, Rons and Hermiones I see, it is obvious that the punch bowl is full of the Polyjuice Potion."
So alike one another they appeared that Dumbledore had to put in place a few judges to decipher the most authentically dressed. Winners received the newly released "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows," the final novel in the series about the boy wizard written by J.K. Rowling. The book went on sale Saturday.
The best overall costume prize went to Hagrid (Grant Peterson). The most creative costume award went to Moaning Myrtle (Emily Damm). The most obscure costume went to Crookshanks (Shane Heiselt). The best accessory prize went to the Fat Lady in the Frame (Olivia Dinep).
Second and third place winners, including a Hungarian horntail dragon and a neatly clad Ravenclaw, received chocolate frogs from the school kitchen.
The real Harry Potter remained a mystery.
Potter sightings did occur in at least two other locations around Starkville Saturday.
In a special sale that began at midnight Friday and went into the wee hours Saturday morning, dozens of would-be witches and wizards descended on the Barnes and Noble store at Mississippi State to be among the first in the area to purchase the new Harry Potter novel.
Others were spotted at The Book Mart downtown Saturday afternoon, where a special party was held to celebrate the launch of the book.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 22 July 2007 )
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