sinistra in nocturne_alley @ 2002-07-31 03:03:00

Current mood:	annoyed
Current music:	"Excuse You" by Succubus.

Attention Wizarding World.
Well. It seems I've been given the pleasure of letting you all know about this year's annual Lantern Festival, coming up this Saturday. Of course, I'd expect all of you should have been preparing for it, but since I am in charge, it's my responsibility to let you know. I am, of course, in charge, as the Astronomy professor, since Astronomy is the most highly recognised subject in the matter of the universe. Other topics, such as Astrology, just don't hold water when it comes down to it.

The Lantern Festival will be held on the Hogwarts grounds near the lake, of course, after 6 p.m. Unfortunately, this invitation is extended to everyone at Hogwarts and their families. Yes, Mrs. Malfoy, that means even you may want to leave your coffin and visit your child. Of course, those members of the faculty who transfigure into a savage, carnivorous beast during the full moon would do best to stay at home. Carnage would do nothing for the decor. Most heartfelt sympathies, Professor Lupin.

Since most of you do not pay attention during your lessons, to clarify, the Lantern Festival is a tradition that's been held for centuries. Supposedly, it's a time for celebration, and other such rubbish that some nostalgic wizards like to hold on to. The celebration is in honour, naturally, of the moon. Mooncakes are and always have been a traditional part of the festival, so named for their shape. You can buy these in Hogsmeade during the week, unless, of course, you dare to make your own. Mooncakes have always been used as a means of communication in the past, and thus we leave notes in them even now.

Families have always travelled and Apparated to come to the Lantern Festival, so this year should be no different. Come on the pretense of nostalgia, stay for the fireworks and buttergin.

Mooncakes, while not mandatory, are encouraged as something to bring with you. I'm sure that most of you children will enjoy leaving anonymous notes in them, as is tradition. However, you are forbidden from putting anything magical inside of your mooncakes. Personally, I cannot see how this would be anything but amusing, but the Headmaster seems to think this could turn out to be harmful. Thusly, you are expected to keep your hidden notes down to parchment and ink.

If any of you intend on admitting your gossipy crushes in your mooncakes, as you no doubt will, you would do well to keep in mind that there is no guarantee that the person you intended will pick up the same mooncake during the course of the evening. Thus, I encourage all of you to sign your notes so that the embarrassment can be even deeper. Or, of course, you could do the typical thing, and leave them anonymous. It is your choice.

Students are expected to participate in the paper lantern contest. The paper lantern contest will be judged by Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, Professor Snape, and myself. There will be no favouritism, I assure you, on my part, so I certainly hope that none of you are expecting you can slap on some paste and a Glitter Charm and call it done. If you want to win this thing, you'd better put some effort into your lantern.

As there will, of course, be fireworks, students are to be advised that any Levitation Potions will be best left in the dormitories. We don't want any students accidently bursting into flames in the middle of the sky. Mr. Filch has also requested that I remind you that there will be no Dungbombs permitted on Hogwarts grounds during the Lantern Festival. If they are brought in from the outside, perhaps from a certain shop in Hogsmeade, they will be traced.

That is all. Unfortunately, I will see all of you on Saturday evening.

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