[Classes may be out for the holidays, but Ken's spent his "vacation" in an empty classroom, practicing his spells in the hopes of a) catching up and b) learning how to defend himself. Most of the books scattered about therefore deal with Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Including the one open in front of him.]

"Knockback"...right.

[Checking the book, he focuses all his attention on a different book he's stood upright on the table, pillows placed beneath it for its inevitable fall. Right. If someone comes at him - if someone comes at another student - to get the attacker out of the way, he---

Ken jerks his wand through the motion rather stiffly, snapping the incantation.]

Flipendo!

[Crash. Something in this room just knocked into a cabinet.]

[Hello, third and up years! Who's up for that Hogsmeade visit? Touma is, even though it's really cold! You might run into him in a few places around town (aka this is disguised multiple choice)...

[Touma's first stop is Scrivenshaft's: He needs new quills. How boring. But he does take his time in picking out some nice looking ones.

[Surprisingly, he also spends quite a while in Honeydukes (even though he's probably never seen eating candy at school), choosing some non-explosive lollies: Sugar quills, Chocoballs, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, Chocolate Frogs, and Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. Geeze, Touma, I don't think you have enough lollies there.

[His next destination is even odder, for him: Yes, that is the most serious, uptight fourth year in Zonko's. It's his first time here and he's looking a bit overwhelmed.

[Finally, Touma might be found in Tomes and Scrolls, scoping out the books on healing and diseases even though they're way beyond fourth year level.]

[Hogwarts' latest outsider has found herself with some free time! And how is she going to use it? Studying, perhaps? Working on adjusting to the new culture and surroundings she's suddenly found herself in? Learning her way around the school? Doing anything even remotely productive?

No, she's going to tear the tinsel lining the hallway as a Christmas decoration off the wall and roll around in the middle of the hallway, kicking at it like she's at a cat.

Meet Nepeta Leijon, the living picture of public behavior and getting things done, by which I mean somebody stop this girl before she starts tripping people up and/or desecrating every shiny Christmas decoration in the castle for her own amusement.]

[For the adult classes, the end of module assessments start on Monday, and Espio is near freaking out. They've come up alarmingly fast - it's only been a month since he ended up here! Apparently, the "introductory" modules are supposed to be easy, but it's mostly memorising information rather than practical work - not Espio's learning style. He's taken to sitting around in the library, muttering to himself.]

Ridiculous. How is four weeks supposed to be anywhere near long enough to learn all this? You'd think they'd come up with a better way to handle these classes... like they've handled anything well so far...

[Why can't he just take classes with the other seventh years, anyway? It can't be that hard. At least they've got more time. And they have no exams right before the Christmas Holidays, either.]

Over the last week, it had been growing much colder. The dull, near constant rain of the last few weeks had cleared, and each morning saw a glittering frost carpeting the grounds. Some of the teachers had taken this to mean "Christmas is coming", in particular Professor Flitwick, who had decorated his classroom with tiny, glittering fairies.

With the Christmas Holidays fast approaching, the atmosphere in the castle was fairly relaxed for the most part, but a couple of new Outsiders arriving had caused a few whispers. Thankfully, after the students had become a little more familiar with the ones already present, the whispers were largely wondering why they had arrived so close to the end of term, and why the majority were winding up in Gryffindor House.

Some of the students, however, were clearly feeling a little more hostile towards the new arrivals. It was surely not coincidence that the various suits of armour had taken to harassing the Outsiders - grabbing them, following and chasing them, snatching things from their hands and occasionally even attempting to strike them.

If they listened carefully, the sound of faint laughter might just be heard.

[Yes, a few sixth year Slytherins have decided it'd be a great idea to try and scare the Outsiders. Suits of armour around the castle have been charmed to bug them and them alone - some are just a nuisance, and some are aggressive, depending on who's charmed it.]

[Before supper one evening, Touma stands at the front of an empty classroom, small items such as books, still photographs, quills, and bits and pieces from his potion-making kit on the tables.]

Accio spine of lionfish!

[The small container jerks slightly, but doesn't come to him. His subsequent attempts barely get the container across the table.

[He tries something else, aiming at a still photograph of a blue boxer on a table near the door.]

Accio Gaomon photo!

[That doesn't do much better either. How nice, his actual dog listens to him but he can't Summon a photo of him. Irritated, he tries again, only for the photo to actually fly out the door away from him instead.]

At Hogwarts, it was rather often that things weren't quite as they were expected to be. Most students had by now acclimatised to many of the school's quirks: they knew which steps to avoid, which doors changed their passage on a Friday, and to not be surprised when a mirror told them to go brush their hair. Today, however, things were definitely strange, even for Hogwarts.

There was something wrong with the mirrors.

Every time someone walked past a mirror, it always seemed to be reflecting something entirely different from what it was supposed to. Tropical islands, dusty deserts, modern cities of metal and glass... but nearly every time a confused student turned to double check, the mirror seemed to return to normal.

It didn't disappear every time, though. Sometimes, the image would linger there, showing the students and teachers of Hogwarts something entirely unfamiliar. And, every so often, there would be a person there, just as confused as they were, and with plenty of questions.

Was it worth stopping for a chat?

[This marks the beginning of our Visitor Event. Visitors and members alike are welcome to start a thread in this post. Please note that visitors will always be on the other side of the mirror, and not in Hogwarts itself.

This event will last for one week. Our event guidelines can be found here, so please check them over if you haven't done so already!]

After Monday's announcement that Hogwarts would play host to several Outsiders, the school was a hub of gossip, and the break-in of Sirius Black during the Hallowe'en Feast had almost been forgotten. Everywhere you went, there were people talking about the Outsiders in hushed voices, almost as though it was forbidden. Many of the rumours sounded ridiculous - apparently, Outsiders could throw houses, fly without aid, and turn invisible at will. Some students would try to discredit the rumours by explaining how such things were impossible, but it was to little avail.

Saturday was the day Hogwarts would open its doors to Outsiders, through a small Sorting Ceremony. It wasn't expected to be a large event, as reports indicated only a few Outsiders had accepted the offer, but it still seemed as though the entire school came to the Great Hall for the feast that evening.

The Great Hall was laid out the same way as the start of any Sorting Ceremony, though the tattered, frayed Sorting Hat had already been placed on the stool that stood before the staff table. The Outsiders - a mere four of them - were already present, lined up near the Sorting Hat.

Once all students and staff had arrived, Professor Dumbledore stood, raising a hand to quell the chatter and noise. Once all but a few quiet murmurs had ended, he addressed the school.

"Today," he said, "we welcome four new students into our school. I am sure you are all aware of the circumstances that have brought them here, and ask only that you treat them the same as any other student in this school. They are here to learn, just as you are."

Some couldn't help but wonder how Dumbledore could expect this, when one of the four Outsiders didn't even look human.

"Our four new students will be placed in a suitable House in the same manner as our First Years were at the start of term. Their House will be their home for as long as they remain at Hogwarts.

"Professor McGonagall, if you please?"

And the Headmaster took his seat. Professor McGonagall stepped forward.

"When I call your name and year, you will wear the hat and sit on the stool. The Sorting Hat will select the most appropriate House. You will then seat yourself at that House's table."