Potty Game: Five Words (Vol. XVI)

   because I'm leaving soon, without                  

I wrote 'soon' because in the beginning of the story, it's written:
Lately, Horace had been feeling somewhat disheartened as his efforts to prove to Headmaster Dippet that he was the right person for the newly vacant position of Hogwarts Potions master had failed to have the desired effect. Dippet obviously liked him...

I had some time before lunch, so thought I'd get a head start on formatting the story for when it's time to post it. If you want to see what we've written so far, check this post.

Also, wouldn't it be lucky for Sluggy if Headmaster Dippet walked into the Three Broomsticks now? It would mean that Arnold and Daphne would have to make a hasty exit, so that gets them out of the picture, and then maybe Sluggy has the chance to impress Dippet with his cheese-infused skin cream since Dippet's got a bad rash from the owl feathers now? Didn't meet Sybill Trelawney in the Hog's Head for her interview, the night of the prediction? I know that was a planned meeting, but I dunno, I think an impromptu meeting in the Three Broomsticks between Sluggy and Dippet would be a lucky occurrence, and would be quite fitting to our story about Felix Felicis. It would get the "Sluggy's getting the Potions job bit" of the story in quickly, get Daphne and Arnold out of the picture, and then on to the delightful day with Donna! Yes, quite a bit of luck involved to have Dippet just walk in, but perhaps Sluggy brewed up quite a potent batch of Felix!

remaining posts of the story (139), in 1/3s:

• first 1/3 (approx. 46 posts)
- Sluggy and the job bit (Dippet enters the Three Broomsticks, luckily for Sluggy)
- Daphne and Arnold exit the story

• second and final 1/3s (approx. 93 posts)
- the start of Sluggy's delightful day with Donna
- the end of Sluggy's delightful day with Donna

Of course, this is just an idea. Just thought I'd throw it out there; don't know how it matches the outline.

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proper notice," Arnold began, but

I guess Daphne hushes him or something since she's seen Dippet walking in or something.

PAH, I like your ideas for the story!

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he fell silent suddenly, as

Actually I thought the information that Prof. Dippet needed someone who was an expert at anti-allergy medications would give Sluggy the great idea that he could use to win the vacant Potions Master's position. That's why I thought he would be thankful to 'little Felix' as soon as he heard about Dippet's allergy problem. How convenient it would be for the Headmaster to have a Potions Master who could regularly prepare what he needed for his allergy! Building on this type of connection seems to me very typical of Sluggy. In that case he needs no further job winning tips from Arnold.

So, yes, the Potions Master's position has already been vacant and Sluggy has applied for it, so Arnold must have handed in his resignation some time ago - unless he is the new Potions Master who has just got the job (as Sluggy has been refused) and he has already changed his mind (which would give Dippet further reason to be angry with him).

It may also be interesting that Dippet (allegedly) found Sluggy too young for the job, but Arnold is young as well (though he may be older than Sluggy).

137 posts left

   none other than Headmaster Dippet himself                  

Thanks, Mona Let's see how they play out.

I'll need to read your comments again, Julia, as I'm a bit by them now, and have to log off! But I will say, when do we actually get to this delightful day with Donna? It hasn't been awful, or anything, but it doesn't seem all that delightful yet, either. But that's just my take on it. I may be hard to impress.

Also, Mona, I saw your list in the alphabet game. Nice job! One suggestion: maybe post it in the header post for easier access? You can do that as you have moderator status. It will also help you to find this list quickly and add to it as the game progresses. Just a suggestion, of course.

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walked in. Daphne and Arnold

Hmm...Arnold hands in resignation, Dippet advertises, Sluggy applies and Dippet isn't keen. Now Arnold discovers that he has to join Beauxbatons much sooner than he thought so cuts short his notice, and Dippet will be more inclined to hire Sluggy now, since he's in urgent need of a potions master. Of course his Miracle Anti-allergy Cheese Cream will be what really impresses Dippet. I wonder if that ties up the loose ends?

Thanks, PAH! I think I'll follow your sugggestion, but tomorrow. Now I'm off to bed

135 posts left

exchanged a meaningful glance and

Mona, I really like your summary! That's more or less what I was thinking of as well. PAH, don't worry about my comments, just read Mona's.

If we want to get to the really delightful part of the day as soon as possible, we may not need to write out the full conversation between Dippet and Sluggy - we might perhaps just summarise how quickly Felix and Slughorn's allergy expertise did the trick so that Donna and Sluggy could leave rapidly. Then the only question is whether it's really the Cheese Festival that they are heading to.

134 posts left

   past the Headmaster, completely unnoticed.                  

I just decided to make my own outline, in the end.

I found a way to change 'was looking' (from before) to 'looked'! I am going to add 'himself' to: 'none other than Headmaster Dippet {himself} walked in. Mischief managed!

I'm sure the people who read our story, besides the four of us, won't wonder too much about the particulars of when the Potions Master position became vacant, when Sluggy applied for it, when he was first refused, when Arnold started and then gave his notice, etc., so there really aren't any loose ends that need tying when it comes to that plotline, in my mind. And even if we explain it all in the notes, those don't make it into the story. Not that I'm saying they need to, because I don't think they do. I think it's enough for the reader to understand that Sluggy wants the job of Potions Master at Hogwarts, tried for it once, didn't get it, and now has a chance to try for it again, and probably get it! I think that point comes out in our story and we don't need to worry too much about the timeline of the resignation/vacancy/initial refusal, etc. The fun day with Belladonna will be the more fun part of the story, if I'm not mistaken. And if we could try to be in that section by the 100 posts left mark, we'd have ample opportunity to write a nice bit of story there. Should be fun!

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Horace, however, rose with alacrity


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   hand outstretched.

"Headmaster Dippet! It's                  



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   meet like this!"

The Headmaster                  

Verity, if gluten-free chocolate cake is anything like flourless chocolate cake, then yum, indeed! You don't miss the flour at all in those cakes!

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   towards the empty seat next                  

Verity wrote:"... if we use narrative instead of dialogue we can get through it [Sluggy's job-seeking] a bit quicker and get on to his date with Donna.

Count me in! I'm all for getting to that part of the story as quickly as possible! Let's see if we can get there by 115 posts left (50 words from now).

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to Horace and was soon

Spoiler:

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listening to an eloquent discourse

Spoiler:

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his anti-allergy cheese cream, and


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minutes later, the bemused Headmaster

Spoiler:

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position of Potions Master at

I'm glad we all like the narrative solution for this part. I had suggested the same earlier here. Now I look forward to the most delightful part of Sluggy's day.


Happy Belated Birthday, Verity!

117 posts left

   at Hogwarts and he left                  

Julia H. wrote:I'm glad we all like the narrative solution for this part. I had suggested the same earlier here.

Great idea, Julia. Dunno how I missed it.

Okay, let's see how quickly we can get this narrative section finished!

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the Three Broomsticks feeling rather

PAH, you repeated "at" in your last post.

115 posts left