4th Challenge-Chess Game- Results and Final Round Entries

The final voting is over. The voting threads can be found here:
Through the Trapdoor - Moderated Threads (http://www.cosforums.com/forumdisplay.php?f=257)

Here are the results and the awards:


The winners of the 4th challenge – the chess game are:
Best chess piece
1st Place – Pox Voldius [S] ……………#13 ………… 13 votes
2nd Place – 9th Wonder [G]……………#29 …………. 12 votes
3rd Place – Mad_Druid [R] ……………#12 …………. 7 votes
Finalist – Spacecadet [G]……………# 2 …………… 4 votes
Finalist – gottriplets [G] …………….# 7 ……………. 3 votes
Finalist – storyteller [R] …………….#27 ………….… 3 votes
Finalist – Klio [R] ………….………….#35 ……………. 3 votes
Finalist – GinnyIsGenius [H] …….#14 ………….…. 1 vote

Best Story
1st Place – gottriplets [G] ………..…….# 7 …………. 6 votes
1st Place –LittleElf [S] …………..………#11 ………… 6 votes
1st Place – MrSleepyHead [R]……….#18 …………. 6 votes
2nd Place - Mad_Druid [R] ………….…#12 …..……. 5 votes
2nd Place - Melazska [R] ………….……#26 …..…….. 5 votes
3rd Place – rigdoctorbri [R] ……………# 5 …………. 3 votes
3rd Place – princessjaffa [R] …….…# 19 .……….… 3 votes
3rd Place – Den_Muggle [G] …………#37 …………… 3 votes
Finalist – GinnyIsGenius [H] …….#14 ………….…. 2 votes
Finalist – silverinkpot [S] ……..….#20 ………….…. 2 votes
Finalist – Lucybird [H] …,,,,,,,,,….#33 ………….…. 1 vote


Best Overall Entry

Best Overall Entry
1st Place – 9th Wonder [G]…….…… #29 …………. 7 votes
1st Place – Mad_Druid [R] ……………#12 …………. 7 votes
1st Place – Pox Voldius [S] ……………#13 ………… 7 votes
2nd Place – freelantzer [H] ……………#22 …………… 6 votes
3rd Place – GinnyIsGenius[H] ………#14 ………..… 5 votes
3rd Place – Den_Muggle [G] …..……#37 …….…… 5 votes
Finalist – gottriplets ………………....# 7………….…. 4 votes
Finalist - Melazska [R] ………..……#26 …..……….. 3 votes




banners -
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/bestchesspiece.png - Pox Voldius - entry #13

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/winnerbeststory.png - gottriplets -entry #7, LittleElf - entry #11, and MrSleepyHead - entry #18


http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/Imagen2.png
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/Imagen1.png
http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/Imagen3.png
- Pox Voldius - entry #13 and Mad_Druid - entry #12,and 9th Wonder - entry #29

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/mcgspupil.png - Melazska - entry #26, Den_Muggle - entry # 37, GinnyIsGenuis - entry #14, rigdoctorbri - entry #5, freelantzer - entry # 22, and princessjaffa - entry #19

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/moralfiber.png - rigdoctorbri - entry #5 and HMN - entry #17

http://i40.photobucket.com/albums/e222/COSTink/cos%20awards/specialservices.png - Spacecadet - entry #2, storyteller - entry #27, Klio - entry #35, silverinkpot - entry #20, Lucybird - entry #33, Anhelda -entry #25, and Colonel_Fubster - entry #24

The banners were made by Nadia.


Here is the list of entrants, their Houses, and their entry # with links to the single post view.

Cybobbie [R] - 1 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362919&postcount=2)
Spacecadet [G] - 2 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362921&postcount=3)
Karleecakes [S] - 3 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362922&postcount=4)
Fawkesfan1 [G] - 4 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362923&postcount=5)
rigdoctorbri [R] - 5 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362924&postcount=6)
ArryGrotter [H] - 6 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362925&postcount=7)
gottriplets [G] - 7 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362927&postcount=8)
Mugglewizard [R] - 8 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362928&postcount=9)
LyraLovegood [R] - 9 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362930&postcount=10)
Skrewtmaster [S] - 10 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362931&postcount=11)
LittleElf [S] - 11 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362932&postcount=12)
Mad_Druid [R] - 12 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362933&postcount=13)
Pox Voldius [S] - 13 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362934&postcount=14)
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 14 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362935&postcount=15)
amanduhrae [H] - 15 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362937&postcount=16)
witchsmart [G] - 16 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362938&postcount=17)
HMN [H] - 17 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362939&postcount=18)
MrSleepyHead [R] - 18 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362941&postcount=19)
primcessjaffa [R] - 19 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362942&postcount=20)
silverinkpot [S] - 20 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362944&postcount=21)
MmeBergerac [R] - 21 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362945&postcount=23)
freelantzer [H] - 22 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362946&postcount=24)
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 23 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362948&postcount=24)
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 24 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362949&postcount=25)
Anhelda [R] - 25 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362950&postcount=26)
Melaszka [R] - 26 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362951&postcount=27)
storyteller [R] - 27 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362953&postcount=28)
Daggerstone [S] - 28 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362954&postcount=29)
9th Wonder [G] - 29 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362955&postcount=30)
wickedwickedboy [S] - 30 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362958&postcount=31)
The_Green_Woods [S] - 31 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362959&postcount=32)
halfbloodsnape [G] - 32 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362960&postcount=33)
Lucybird [H] - 33 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362962&postcount=34)
Kanksha [G] - 34 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362963&postcount=35)
Klio [R] - 35 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362964&postcount=36)
leah49 [G] - 36 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362965&postcount=37)
Den_muggle [G] - 37 (http://www.cosforums.com/showpost.php?p=5362966&postcount=38)


best chess piece - entrants - entry # - 1st round votes
Cybobbie [R] - 1 - 5
Spacecadet [G] - 2 - 11
Karleecakes [S] - 3 - 0
Fawkesfan1 [G] - 4 - 0
rigdoctorbri [R] - 5 - 3
ArryGrotter [H] - 6 - 4
gottriplets [G] - 7 - 12
Mugglewizard [R] - 8 - 8
LyraLovegood [R] - 9 - 8
Skrewtmaster [S] - 10 - 2
LittleElf [S] - 11 - 1
Mad_Druid [R] - 12 - 20
Pox Voldius [S] - 13 - 23
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 14 - 12
amanduhrae [H] - 15 - 0
witchsmart [G] - 16 - 8
HMN [H] - 17 - 8
MrSleepyHead [R] - 18 - 2
primcessjaffa [R] - 19 - 0
silverinkpot [S] - 20 - 4
MmeBergerac [R] - 21 - 2
freelantzer [H] - 22 - 1
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 23 - 6
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 24 - 6
Anhelda [R] - 25 - 0
Melaszka [R] - 26 - 5
storyteller [R] - 27 - 10
Daggerstone [S] - 28 - 8
9th Wonder [G] - 29 - 24
wickedwickedboy [S] - 30 - 6
The_Green_Woods [S] - 31 - 3
halfbloodsnape [G] - 32 - 2
Lucybird [H] - 33 - 0
Kanksha [G] - 34 - 1
Klio [R] - 35 - 10
leah49 [G] - 36 - 3
Den_muggle [G] - 37 - 2




best story
entrants - entry # - 1st round votes
Cybobbie [R] - 1 - 2
Spacecadet [G] - 2 - 3
Karleecakes [S] - 3 - 3
Fawkesfan1 [G] - 4 - 0
rigdoctorbri [R] - 5 - 8
ArryGrotter [H] - 6 - 5
gottriplets [G] - 7 - 11
Mugglewizard [R] - 8 - 3
LyraLovegood [R] - 9 - 0
Skrewtmaster [S] - 10 - 6
LittleElf [S] - 11 - 11
Mad_Druid [R] - 12 - 11
Pox Voldius [S] - 13 - 6
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 14 - 10
amanduhrae [H] - 15 - 4
witchsmart [G] - 16 - 3
HMN [H] - 17 - 0
MrSleepyHead [R] - 18 - 14
primcessjaffa [R] - 19 - 11
silverinkpot [S] - 20 - 11
MmeBergerac [R] - 21 - 2
freelantzer [H] - 22 - 5
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 23 - 5
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 24 - 6
Anhelda [R] - 25 - 4
Melaszka [R] - 26 - 11
storyteller [R] - 27 - 5
Daggerstone [S] - 28 - 0
9th Wonder [G] - 29 - 4
wickedwickedboy [S] - 30 - 4
The_Green_Woods [S] - 31 - 4
halfbloodsnape [G] - 32 - 4
Lucybird [H] - 33 - 9
Kanksha [G] - 34 - 5
Klio [R] - 35 - 4
leah49 [G] - 36 - 2
Den_muggle [G] - 37 - 9



best overall
entrants - entry # - 1st round votes
Cybobbie [R] - 1 - 2
Spacecadet [G] - 2 - 7
Karleecakes [S] - 3 - 0
Fawkesfan1 [G] - 4 - 0
rigdoctorbri [R] - 5 - 5
ArryGrotter [H] - 6 - 5
gottriplets [G] - 7 - 13
Mugglewizard [R] - 8 - 2
LyraLovegood [R] - 9 - 5
Skrewtmaster [S] - 10 - 7
LittleElf [S] - 11 - 3
Mad_Druid [R] - 12 - 17
Pox Voldius [S] - 13 - 12
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 14 - 12
amanduhrae [H] - 15 - 1
witchsmart [G] - 16 - 7
HMN [H] - 17 - 2
MrSleepyHead [R] - 18 - 7
primcessjaffa [R] - 19 - 1
silverinkpot [S] - 20 - 7
MmeBergerac [R] - 21 - 2
freelantzer [H] - 22 - 12
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 23 - 6
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 24 - 5
Anhelda [R] - 25 - 4
Melaszka [R] - 26 - 11
storyteller [R] - 27 - 3
Daggerstone [S] - 28 - 4
9th Wonder [G] - 29 - 11
wickedwickedboy [S] - 30 - 5
The_Green_Woods [S] - 31 - 3
halfbloodsnape [G] - 32 - 1
Lucybird [H] - 33 - 3
Kanksha [G] - 34 - 0
Klio [R] - 35 - 4
leah49 [G] - 36 - 1
Den_muggle [G] - 37 - 9


--------------------------------------------------

Contest points for the chess game contest - 4th challenge

Everyone who entered this contest received 10 points. And there were points awarded by how the votes ranked, highest # of votes getting the most points. Some people who had a lot of votes in the first round but didn't make the final cut received award points.



entrants - entry # - total contest points
Cybobbie [R] - 1 - 10
Spacecadet [G] - 2 - 18
Karleecakes [S] - 3 - 10
Fawkesfan1 [G] - 4 - 10
rigdoctorbri [R] - 5 - 18
ArryGrotter [H] - 6 - 14
gottriplets [G] - 7 - 27
Mugglewizard [R] - 8 - 12
LyraLovegood [R] - 9 - 14
Skrewtmaster [S] - 10 - 16
LittleElf [S] - 11 - 18
Mad_Druid [R] - 12 - 31
Pox Voldius [S] - 13 - 29
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 14 - 24
amanduhrae [H] - 15 - 11
witchsmart [G] - 16 - 15
HMN [H] - 17 - 12
MrSleepyHead [R] - 18 - 21
primcessjaffa [R] - 19 - 16
silverinkpot [S] - 20 - 18
MmeBergerac [R] - 21 - 10
freelantzer [H] - 22 - 19
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 23 - 15
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 24 - 15
Anhelda [R] - 25 - 12
Melaszka [R] - 26 - 21
storyteller [R] - 27 - 16
Daggerstone [S] - 28 - 13
9th Wonder [G] - 29 - 26
wickedwickedboy [S] - 30 - 14
The_Green_Woods [S] - 31 - 11
halfbloodsnape [G] - 32 - 11
Lucybird [H] - 33 - 14
Kanksha [G] - 34 - 12
Klio [R] - 35 - 16
leah49 [G] - 36 - 10
Den_muggle [G] - 37 - 21




entrants - entry # - total contest points
Mad_Druid [R] - 12 - 31
Pox Voldius [S] - 13 - 29
gottriplets [G] - 7 - 27
9th Wonder [G] - 29 - 26
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 14 - 24
MrSleepyHead [R] - 18 - 21
Melaszka [R] - 26 - 21
Den_muggle [G] - 37 - 21
freelantzer [H] - 22 - 19
Spacecadet [G] - 2 - 18
rigdoctorbri [R] - 5 - 18
LittleElf [S] - 11 - 18
silverinkpot [S] - 20 - 18
Skrewtmaster [S] - 10 - 16
primcessjaffa [R] - 19 - 16
storyteller [R] - 27 - 16
Klio [R] - 35 - 16
witchsmart [G] - 16 - 15
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 23 - 15
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 24 - 15
ArryGrotter [H] - 6 - 14
LyraLovegood [R] - 9 - 14
wickedwickedboy [S] - 30 - 14
Lucybird [H] - 33 - 14
Daggerstone [S] - 28 - 13
Mugglewizard [R] - 8 - 12
HMN [H] - 17 - 12
Anhelda [R] - 25 - 12
Kanksha [G] - 34 - 12
amanduhrae [H] - 15 - 11
The_Green_Woods [S] - 31 - 11
halfbloodsnape [G] - 32 - 11
Cybobbie [R] - 1 - 10
Karleecakes [S] - 3 - 10
Fawkesfan1 [G] - 4 - 10
MmeBergerac [R] - 21 - 10
leah49 [G] - 36 - 10




best chess piece
entrants - entry # - chess piece contest points
Pox Voldius [S] - 13 - 8
9th Wonder [G] - 29 - 7
Mad_Druid [R] - 12 - 6
Spacecadet [G] - 2 - 5
gottriplets [G] - 7 - 4
storyteller [R] - 27 - 4
Klio [R] - 35 - 4
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 14 - 3
Mugglewizard [R] - 8 - 2
LyraLovegood [R] - 9 - 2
witchsmart [G] - 16 - 2
HMN [H] - 17 - 2
Daggerstone [S] - 28 - 2
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 23 - 1
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 24 - 1
wickedwickedboy [S] - 30 - 1




best story
entrants - entry # - contest points
gottriplets [G] - 7 - 8
LittleElf [S] - 11 - 8
MrSleepyHead [R] - 18 - 8
Mad_Druid [R] - 12 - 7
Melaszka [R] - 26 - 7
rigdoctorbri [R] - 5 - 6
primcessjaffa [R] - 19 - 6
Den_muggle [G] - 37 - 6
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 14 - 5
silverinkpot [S] - 20 - 5
Lucybird [H] - 33 - 4
Skrewtmaster [S] - 10 - 3
Pox Voldius [S] - 13 - 3
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 24 - 3
ArryGrotter [H] - 6 - 2
freelantzer [H] - 22 - 2
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 23 - 2
storyteller [R] - 27 - 2
Kanksha [G] - 34 - 2
amanduhrae [H] - 15 - 1
Anhelda [R] - 25 - 1
9th Wonder [G] - 29 - 1
wickedwickedboy [S] - 30 - 1
The_Green_Woods [S] - 31 - 1
halfbloodsnape [G] - 32 - 1
Klio [R] - 35 - 1



best overall entrants - entry # - overall points for place
Mad_Druid [R] - 12 - 8
Pox Voldius [S] - 13 - 8
9th Wonder [G] - 29 - 8
freelantzer [H] - 22 - 7
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 14 - 6
gottriplets [G] - 7 - 5
Den_muggle [G] - 37 - 5
Melaszka [R] - 26 - 4
Spacecadet [G] - 2 - 3
Skrewtmaster [S] - 10 - 3
witchsmart [G] - 16 - 3
MrSleepyHead [R] - 18 - 3
silverinkpot [S] - 20 - 3
rigdoctorbri [R] - 5 - 2
ArryGrotter [H] - 6 - 2
LyraLovegood [R] - 9 - 2
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 23 - 2
wickedwickedboy [S] - 30 - 2
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 24 - 1
Anhelda [R] - 25 - 1
Daggerstone [S] - 28 - 1
Klio [R] - 35 - 1


-----------------------------------------------------------------

Contest points for the previous contests:


User Name - C1
Alien_visitor [H] - 16
Anhelda [R] - 18
ArryGrotter [H] - 20
CathyWeasley [R] - 20
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 15
Daggerstone [S] - 13
Dav_muggle [G] - 21
Den_muggle [G] - 15
eaglestreasure [R] - 20
elvenprincess [G] - 12
Fawkesfan1 [G] - 11
FleurduJardin [R] - 25
freelantzer [H] - 16
Gaian [G] - 16
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 20
gottriplets [G] - 20
HMN [H] - 12
JJFinch [R] - 25
KeepItDark [S] - 19
Klio [R] - 23
leah49 [G] - 17
LikeLuna [H] - 25
LittleElf [S] - 17
Lucybird [H] - 11
LyraLovegood [R] - 19
Melaszka [R] - 20
Mimosa [H] - 12
MmeBergerac [R] - 18
Morning_star [R] - 15
MrSleepyHead [R] - 18
MuggleMagic [G] - 18
myosotis [S] - 10
nmpsr_14 - 14
Pox Voldius [S] - 18
Radish_Earrings [R] - 17
Reader [H] - 14
rigdoctorbri [R] - 13
Spacecadet [G] - 17
storyteller [R] - 15
The_Green_Woods [S] - 17
thethirdman [G] - 20
Tweedlidam [H] - 15
Tweedlidum [G] - 16
TWZRD - 16
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 24
Voldemorts8thHorcrux [S] - 11
WanderingPrince [H] - 14
wickedwickedboy [S] - 18
witchsmart [G] - 20




User Name - C2
Alien_visitor [H] - 11
Anhelda [R] - 2
ArryGrotter [H] - 2
Asteria_Malfoy [S] - 9
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 2
Daggerstone [S] - 27
Den_muggle [G] - 21
elvenprincess [G] - 3
Fawkesfan1 [G] - 2
freelantzer [H] - 3
Gaian [G] - 2
gottriplets [G] - 12
HMN [H] - 3
JJFinch [R] - 15
Klio [R] - 18
leah49 [G] - 2
LikeLuna [H] - 2
LittleElf [S] - 13
Lucybird [H] - 2
LyraLovegood [R] - 2
Melaszka [R] - 2
Mimosa [H] - 13
MmeBergerac [R] - 2
Montse [G] - 2
Morning_star [R] - 2
MrSleepyHead [R] - 13
myosotis [S] - 5
Pox Voldius [S] - 16
PureBloodGirl [S] - 2
Reader [H] - 2
Rell [R] - 3
rigdoctorbri [R] - 2
Skrewtmaster [S] - 2
Spacecadet [G] - 4
storyteller [R] - 3
thethirdman [G] - 9
TreacleTartlett [H] - 3
Tweedlidam [H] - 2
Tweedlidum [G] - 2
twinsrule26 [H] - 2
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 12
WanderingPrince [H] - 2
wickedwickedboy [S] - 2



User Name - C 3
9th Wonder [G] - 11
Alien_visitor [H] - 14
ally_xx [H] - 26
AndiAwesome [H] - 8
Anhelda [R] - 19
ArryGrotter [H] - 24
Aurora Yaxley [G] - 12
baseballblondie [H] - 16
Beatifically [G] - 17
beth83 [H] - 14
boushh [S] - 12
browneyedkat [H] - 17
cinnamon822 [H] - 9
CirceRocks [H] - 10
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 24
CrazyCatLover [R] - 25
Cybobbie [R] - 6
Daggerstone [S] - 9
Dan_the_Man [H] - 5
Den_muggle [G] - 14
Dinkydudydums [R] - 16
dumbledores1fan [G] - 16
elvenprincess [G] - 9
Fawkesfan1 [G] - 11
Fidelis [G] - 21
freelantzer [H] - 20
furryDice [H] - 22
Gaian [G] - 15
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 9
gipro2003 [R] - 8
gottriplets [G] - 7
halfbloodsnape [G] - 19
HMN [H] - 26
Hysteria [S] - 20
IchLiebeGeorge [H] - 8
JJFinch [R] - 22
Kanksha [G] - 18
kaustubh77 [G] - 14
KeepItDark [S] - 14
Klio [R] - 9
leah49 [G] - 24
LikeLuna [H] - 25
LilyDreamsOn [R] - 23
lilyrose [G] - 21
LittleElf [S] - 7
Lucybird [H] - 15
Luminescence [H] - 15
LunaGranger4eva [G] - 3
lupislune [R] - 8
LyraLovegood [R] - 23
mac_attack [G] - 21
mactheknife [R] - 7
Mad_Druid [R] - 7
MandyB [H] - 13
MasterOfDeath [H] - 20
Melaszka [R] - 17
Mimosa [H] - 11
MmeBergerac [R] - 16
moonfoot [H] - 19
Morning_star [R] - 6
Moviebuff [G] - 6
MrSleepyHead [R] - 28
Mugglewizard [R] - 19
outnitwit - 17
pigwijon [H] - 21
Pox Voldius [S] - 20
PureBloodGirl [S] - 8
Radish_Earrings [R] - 12
Reader [H] - 22
Rell [R] - 21
rigdoctorbri [R] - 9
sholeigh [G] - 18
silverinkpot [S] - 12
Skrewtmaster [S] - 23
Spacecadet [G] - 10
starchica [R] - 24
storyteller [R] - 7
sugar_quill [H] - 11
SwimminPotterFan [G] - 9
tayrhodes [G] - 8
Tenshi [S] - 26
Texan_Harry [G] - 12
The_Green_Woods [S] - 8
Tweedlidum [G] - 16
twinsrule26 [H] - 6
TWZRD - 6
USNAGator91 [G] - 20
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 23
WanderingPrince [H] - 10
wickedwickedboy [S] - 11
witchsmart [G] - 25
xhanax315 [R] - 17


-----------------------------------------------


User Name - Ind. total
9th Wonder [G] - 37
Alien_visitor [H] - 41
ally_xx [H] - 26
amanduhrae [H] - 11
AndiAwesome [H] - 8
Anhelda [R] - 51
ArryGrotter [H] - 60
Asteria_Malfoy [S] - 9
Aurora Yaxley [G] - 12
baseballblondie [H] - 16
Beatifically [G] - 17
beth83 [H] - 14
boushh [S] - 12
browneyedkat [H] - 17
CathyWeasley [R] - 20
cinnamon822 [H] - 9
CirceRocks [H] - 10
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 56
CrazyCatLover [R] - 25
Cybobbie [R] - 16
Daggerstone [S] - 62
Dan_the_Man [H] - 5
Dav_muggle [G] - 21
Den_muggle [G] - 71
Dinkydudydums [R] - 16
dumbledores1fan [G] - 16
eaglestreasure [R] - 20
elvenprincess [G] - 24
Fawkesfan1 [G] - 34
Fidelis [G] - 21
FleurduJardin [R] - 25
freelantzer [H] - 58
furryDice [H] - 22
Gaian [G] - 33
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 53
gipro2003 [R] - 8
gottriplets [G] - 66
halfbloodsnape [G] - 30
HMN [H] - 53
Hysteria [S] - 20
IchLiebeGeorge [H] - 8
JJFinch [R] - 62
Kanksha [G] - 30
Karleecakes [S] - 10
kaustubh77 [G] - 14
KeepItDark [S] - 33
Klio [R] - 66
leah49 [G] - 53
LikeLuna [H] - 52
LilyDreamsOn [R] - 23
lilyrose [G] - 21
LittleElf [S] - 55
Lucybird [H] - 42
Luminescence [H] - 15
LunaGranger4eva [G] - 3
lupislune [R] - 8
LyraLovegood [R] - 58
mac_attack [G] - 21
mactheknife [R] - 7
Mad_Druid [R] - 38
MandyB [H] - 13
MasterOfDeath [H] - 20
Melaszka [R] - 60
Mimosa [H] - 36
MmeBergerac [R] - 46
Montse [G] - 2
moonfoot [H] - 19
Morning_star [R] - 23
Moviebuff [G] - 6
MrSleepyHead [R] - 80
MuggleMagic [G] - 18
Mugglewizard [R] - 31
myosotis [S] - 15
nmpsr_14 - 14
outnitwit - 17
pigwijon [H] - 21
Pox Voldius [S] - 83
princessjaffa [R] - 16
PureBloodGirl [S] - 10
Radish_Earrings [R] - 29
Reader [H] - 38
Rell [R] - 24
rigdoctorbri [R] - 42
sholeigh [G] - 18
silverinkpot [S] - 30
Skrewtmaster [S] - 41
Spacecadet [G] - 49
starchica [R] - 24
storyteller [R] - 41
sugar_quill [H] - 11
SwimminPotterFan [G] - 9
tayrhodes [G] - 8
Tenshi [S] - 26
Texan_Harry [G] - 12
The_Green_Woods [S] - 36
thethirdman [G] - 29
TreacleTartlett [H] - 3
Tweedlidam [H] - 17
Tweedlidum [G] - 34
twinsrule26 [H] - 8
TWZRD [H] - 22
USNAGator91 [G] - 20
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 74
Voldemorts8thHorcrux [S] - 11
WanderingPrince [H] - 26
wickedwickedboy [S] - 45
witchsmart [G] - 60
xhanax315 [R] - 17



User Name - Ind. total
Pox Voldius [S] - 83
MrSleepyHead [R] - 80
Vigneshnimbus [H] - 74
Den_muggle [G] - 71
gottriplets [G] - 66
Klio [R] - 66
Daggerstone [S] - 62
JJFinch [R] - 62
ArryGrotter [H] - 60
Melaszka [R] - 60
witchsmart [G] - 60
freelantzer [H] - 58
LyraLovegood [R] - 58
Colonel_Fubster [S] - 56
LittleElf [S] - 55
GinnyIsGenius [H] - 53
HMN [H] - 53
leah49 [G] - 53
LikeLuna [H] - 52
Anhelda [R] - 51
Spacecadet [G] - 49
MmeBergerac [R] - 46
wickedwickedboy [S] - 45
Lucybird [H] - 42
rigdoctorbri [R] - 42
Alien_visitor [H] - 41
Skrewtmaster [S] - 41
storyteller [R] - 41
Mad_Druid [R] - 38
Reader [H] - 38
9th Wonder [G] - 37
Mimosa [H] - 36
The_Green_Woods [S] - 36
Fawkesfan1 [G] - 34
Tweedlidum [G] - 34
Gaian [G] - 33
KeepItDark [S] - 33
Mugglewizard [R] - 31
halfbloodsnape [G] - 30
Kanksha [G] - 30
silverinkpot [S] - 30
Radish_Earrings [R] - 29
thethirdman [G] - 29
ally_xx [H] - 26
Tenshi [S] - 26
WanderingPrince [H] - 26
CrazyCatLover [R] - 25
FleurduJardin [R] - 25
elvenprincess [G] - 24
Rell [R] - 24
starchica [R] - 24
LilyDreamsOn [R] - 23
Morning_star [R] - 23
furryDice [H] - 22
TWZRD [H] - 22
Dav_muggle [G] - 21
Fidelis [G] - 21
lilyrose [G] - 21
mac_attack [G] - 21
pigwijon [H] - 21
CathyWeasley [R] - 20
eaglestreasure [R] - 20
Hysteria [S] - 20
MasterOfDeath [H] - 20
USNAGator91 [G] - 20
moonfoot [H] - 19
MuggleMagic [G] - 18
sholeigh [G] - 18
Beatifically [G] - 17
browneyedkat [H] - 17
outnitwit - 17
Tweedlidam [H] - 17
xhanax315 [R] - 17
baseballblondie [H] - 16
Cybobbie [R] - 16
Dinkydudydums [R] - 16
dumbledores1fan [G] - 16
princessjaffa [R] - 16
Luminescence [H] - 15
myosotis [S] - 15
beth83 [H] - 14
kaustubh77 [G] - 14
nmpsr_14 - 14
MandyB [H] - 13
Aurora Yaxley [G] - 12
boushh [S] - 12
Texan_Harry [G] - 12
amanduhrae [H] - 11
sugar_quill [H] - 11
Voldemorts8thHorcrux [S] - 11
CirceRocks [H] - 10
Karleecakes [S] - 10
PureBloodGirl [S] - 10
Asteria_Malfoy [S] - 9
cinnamon822 [H] - 9
SwimminPotterFan [G] - 9
AndiAwesome [H] - 8
gipro2003 [R] - 8
IchLiebeGeorge [H] - 8
lupislune [R] - 8
tayrhodes [G] - 8
twinsrule26 [H] - 8
mactheknife [R] - 7
Moviebuff [G] - 6
Dan_the_Man [H] - 5
LunaGranger4eva [G] - 3
TreacleTartlett [H] - 3
Montse [G] - 2


link to Pox Voldius' spreadsheet on Googledocs: http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0AufGSJ30HXI8dFNYWngzQTBqRHRyblFIaUoxOTY3a Xc&hl=en&pref=1

Best chess piece entrants have been moved to last post to make room for the contest results.

These are the finalists for the best story.


Entry 37


“Want to play a game of Quidditch Chess?” Ron asked excitedly when his friend arrived. Though technically an adult, he still got as excited as his children.

“Quidditch Chess?” Harry repeated doubtfully.

“It’s a game I invented that combines Quidditch and Wizard’s Chess.”

Harry looked at the altered chess set. One pawn on each side was golden-colored. One had a miniature Golden Snitch on top, while the other topper looked suspiciously like Pigwideon. “Why are those different?”

“I was trying to concentrate on a new strategy for chess, and Pig was buzzing around like a snitch so I transfigured him into a pawn. After he’s learned his lesson and I change him back, both Golden Pawns will have snitches on top. Since he gave me the idea, I thought he could play in our first game of Quidditch Chess,” Ron said with a grin.

Both men ignored a hoot of protest from the Pigwideon-headed pawn.

“How is it different from Wizard’s Chess?” Harry asked.

“The Golden Pawns, mainly. First, you can’t take any pieces with the Golden Pawns nor can they take any other pieces. They’re for blocking only. They can start anywhere on the pawn row. Second, either player can move either Golden Pawn…if they can see it.”

“If they can see it?” echoed Harry.

Ron’s grin widened. “I told you it combined Quidditch and Chess. Like a snitch, the Golden Pawns can’t always be seen. They’re only visible to a single player at a time. If you play black, they’re only visible to you when they’re on black squares. They can move one square any direction, so you can use it to block and protect your pieces, but you might have to give up control of it to do so.”

Harry took a moment to wrap his mind around that quirk. “Definitely kicks strategy up a notch,” he admitted, admiration in his tone.

“So does the miniature bludger I charmed to fly randomly over the board. It doesn’t disturb any pieces except the Golden Pawn. The first time it hits one, the pawn is knocked into the next open square. The second hit knocks it out of the game.” They pretended to ignore the frightened hoot from the Pig-pawn, though Ron mouthed a silent assurance to Harry that the bird wouldn’t be harmed. “The only way to protect the Golden Pawn is with the knights.”

Harry saw that each knight had a tiny beater’s bat instead of a sword.

“That introduces a random element, making it not simply a game of skill, but also a game of chance that forces the players to change and adapt.” Ron’s smug expression was taunting as he challenged, “Want to play a game of Quidditch Chess?”

As a man who had learned early to think on his feet, Harry saw definite advantages to him in this game. Maybe he could beat Ron at his own game. “Get ready to lose your first Quidditch Chess game,” he replied, eagerly sitting down.



Entry 33

Snape stood in a disused classroom waiting for Lockhart. For some reason Lockhart had decided that the only reason that the duelling club hadn’t worked (or, as most people who weren’t Lockhart saw it, had been a complete disaster) was because they hadn’t prepared for it before hand. So now he had come to the decision that they better plan, and practice what they were going to do before they actually did it in front of the students.
Snape twiddled his wand between his fingers, Lockhart was late, of course. Probably doing his hair or something. Snape doubted Lockhart would ever even stick his head out of the door of his office before prettying himself up a bit.
The smell of flowers reached Snape’s nostrils. At last Lockhart must be coming. Indeed, within seconds Lockhart was floating through the door
“Hello Snapey”
he thrilled with a cheery wave and a smile,
“Sorry I’m late, some of my students needed me, you know how it is.”
Snape suppressed a smirk, students, of course.
“Right”
said Lockhart, bouncing on the heels of his feet
“I thought we’d cover stunning this week. That’s helpful when you need a quick getaway.”
Snape nodded, it wasn’t a bad idea at least. Possibly even good if Lockhart actually did it properly this time, and at least with practice Snape could attempt to correct him before the whole thing turned into a disaster again.
“Seeing as it is my club, and you’re my assistant. I think it will be best if I stun you, then I can describe to the students what I was doing.”
said Lockhart
“Lets get started shall we?”
Lockhart raised his want and preformed and elaborate twirling action. Which rather than looking fancy looked as if he was attempting some sort of juggling trick with his wand
“Stupefy!”
Snape felt a strange heaviness in his head, he felt kind of ridgid. His neck began to feel terribly stiff. He tried to raise his wand to defend himself against whatever was happening. His arm just didn’t seem to want to move, he couldn’t even seem to twitch his fingers. Snape had been stunned before and it certainly had never felt like this, in fact it didn’t feel like anything, just blackness. Right now it felt like he was unconscious except that he could still see.
But what worried Snape the most was not how his body felt but the way that the smile had dropped from Lockhart’s face. Lockhart never stopped smiling. His smile might become weak but Snape had never known it to drop completely.
“Err, right”
said Lockhart,
“I’m sure I can fix this”
Snape tried to open his month to protest but found that his lips were glued together
“Rennervate!”
Lockhart’s spell seemed to do nothing, if anything Snape’s arms felt even more heavy.
“I think I will go and get Professor McGonngal”
Lockhart shouted as he dashed out the room glancing futilely over his shoulder and Snape’s long, white body.



Entry 26

“Let me do it alone! I promise I won’t let you down this time!”

Hagrid gripped his pink umbrella tightly. He was immensely pleased and proud that Dumbledore had once again chosen him to undertake a dangerous mission for the Order – sounding out the loyalties of a colony of Mermen off the north west of England - especially since his recent embassy to the giants had not exactly gone as planned. However, he felt intimidated by the partner chosen for him, and he really hoped Dumbledore would back down.

The Headmaster sighed. “It is very noble of you to offer, Rubeus, but I’m afraid I must insist that you work with Professor Snape on this particular mission. Numbered amongst his many accomplishments is a fluent grasp of the Mermish language – essential if you are to make effective contact with our marine friends. Besides which, Professor Snape has specialist knowledge of Muggle life, which should prove invaluable, if you are to avoid drawing attention to yourselves in the Muggle holiday resort off which they make their home.”

Hagrid wondered for a moment why a rumoured former Death Eater would have “specialist knowledge of Muggle life”.

“Ah, well,” he thought to himself. “I trust Dumbledore illicitly…er, explicitly?… implacably?… …er, a lot, so if he says so, I’m sure that’s right.”

Things, however, did not go well. When they reached Blackpool, Snape seemed determined to treat his fellow Hogwarts teacher like a dimwitted schoolboy sent to him for remedial tuition. When Hagrid suggested finding a boat and rowing out to sea, the Potions master reacted with undisguised contempt.

“And let them see us coming? Ridiculous! We need to think of a subtle approach.”

Hagrid’s thoughts, of course, immediately turned to his favourite topic – monsters.

“I know!” he bubbled, excitedly. “We could turn ourselves into sea creatures and swim across!”

Snape’s voice was ice. “You are suggesting that we turn ourselves into unregistered animagi?” (and he pronounced these last two words with especial distaste). “That we knowingly break Ministry rules and put ourselves at risk of Azkaban, should we be discovered?”

“Well,” acknowledged Hagrid, staring at his boots, “if you put it like that…”

“No,” Snape continued in a slightly softer tone. “With my past record, the consequences would be too great. But there is another way. We are not permitted to turn ourselves into animals without prior authorisation. As far as I am aware, however, there is no rule prohibiting us from turning each other into animals.” He turned to the half-giant. “Which sea creature would you suggest?”

Hagrid’s fertile imagination went into overdrive. “Kraken? Leviathan? Loch Ness Monster?”

“No, no, no!” snapped Snape, crossly. “Much too obtrusive. Choose the smallest creature you can think of.”

Hagrid raised his umbrella, pointed it at Snape, and yelled with all his might: “Transmutando prawn!”

Or, at least, that’s what he’d meant to say.

“Ah!” said Hagrid, looking down at the chess piece on the beach. “Should’nt have said that.”



Entry 20


Pun, Pawn, and Punishment

Lucius and Narcissa entered the house where the Dark Lord was staying. They were surprised to see the floor transformed into white and brown checkerboard tiles. Perhaps there was to be ballroom dancing later in the evening instead of the usual punishment? Lucius relaxed. The previous week, he had been forced to roll a dungbomb across the room with his nose while Nagini slithered behind him. Anything would be better than that.

Suddenly, Lord Voldemort swept in, his glowing eyes like red pins stuck in a round green apple.

“Welcome, friends. How intelligent of you to show up.”

The Dark Lord called out their names, directing them to one side of the room or another, until there were sixteen wizards or witches on each side.

Then he said, “Potter and his playmates became Chess Pieces before they robbed me of the Philosopher’s Stone. Tonight we shall reenact the game.”

Lucius began to sweat a little. Chess? Strategy was not his thing - he even failed at gobstones.

Lord Voldemort continued. “The lovely Bellatrix shall be . . .the Black Queen.”

Whoosh! ~ Bellatrix became a shiny obsidian Queen.

“And you, Severus. A Black Bishop.” Whoosh!

On the White side of the board, Greyback became a Rook and Dolohov a White Knight. Narcissa was the Queen. Lucius waited expectantly to become the White King.

The red eyes pointed his way.

“Lucius, how luminous you appear, all dressed in white with your fair hair so nicely shampooed.”

Lucius bowed very low and said, “Thank you, my Lord,” trying to suppress thoughts about sadistic tyrants with green bald heads.

“Ah, I see from your thoughts that you like a good pun,” Voldemort said.

“Puns? Why, uh … yes, my Lord.”

“A pun is short for ‘punishment,’ is it not?”

“Uh . . . perhaps, my Lord.”

“Are the letters P – W – N significant to you?”

Lucius stammered, “Uh . . . well . . . “

“A well is a deep subject, Lucius, and you are a shallow man. And yet I take whatever foot soldiers I can get.” The Dark Lord smiled menacingly. “What position do you feel you deserve on the Chess Board of life?”

Lucius felt his thoughts slipping away, exposed by the Dark Lord’s Legilimency. The Master scoffed.

“So you have the gall to see yourself as the high and mighty White King, with your graceful Queen beside you?” Death Eaters on the sidelines began to snort and giggle.

“It is more fitting that I, Lord Voldemort, shall be King on both sides of the board. And while I don’t have your lustrous goldilocks, my dignified ‘bald’ head shall wear two crowns, while you serve as a lowly . . . expendable . . . Pawn.”

The room began to spin and Lucius felt his body turning into one of the smallest chess pieces. Suddenly he understood the Master’s pun as his head became as round as a ball.



Entry 19

Percy was not at all surprised when he walked into the kitchen and the twins fell silent. He was used to them conspiring against him and whispering about him when they thought he wasn’t listening. He expected it from them - they were so childish. Fred greeted him a little too enthusiastically.
“Good morning Percy! Lovely day isn’t it?”
“Em….well, yes, it is, I suppose” replied Percy cautiously.
“We were thinking of going for a walk in the woods. Want to come?” asked George.
Percy was a bit taken aback by this. They didn’t usually invite him to join them on their expeditions. He wasn’t quite sure what to say. What if they had some big trick planned for him? After a great deal of silent deliberation, he decided to go with them. After all, how much damage could they do?
An hour later, the three boys were walking through the woods. George produced a bag of sweets from his pocket and offered one to Percy. He accepted, and George threw a sweet wrapped in pink metallic paper to him. Percy unwrapped it and examined it carefully. The others, however, were already chewing so Percy made the brave decision to put the sweet in his mouth. The sweets were very chewy so the three boys walked in silence.
Percy’s mind began to wander. He was thinking of the game of Wizarding Chess he’d been playing with Ron the night before. They had stopped the game and agreed to complete it that evening. He had memorised the positions of all the pieces so he began to work out a strategy. He had just worked out a brilliant plan using a pawn to capture Ron’s Queen.
“Underestimated, pawns are, really,” he thought as he swallowed. “They can be quite useful sometimes.”
Suddenly he felt himself being pulled and twisted in all directions. He thought Fred and George must have been attacking him but when he was finally still he saw that were standing quite far away from him, laughing hysterically.
“A pawn!” gasped George. “I thought he’d be a book or a Prefect badge.”
“One of you tell me what is going on right now!” screamed Percy.
“Well, you’re the test subject for our new invention - haven’t come up with a name for it yet. Turns the eater into whatever they’re thinking of when the swallow it. And apparently you were thinking of pawns!” Fred could barely contain his laughter as he explained what they had done.
“What?! You…you imbeciles! Just wait ‘til I get my hands on you!!”
Once they had managed to reduce their laughter to the occasional snort and giggle, Fred and George began to walk away.
“Wait!” cried Percy. “you can’t just leave me here like this!”
“Oh, don’t worry,” called George over his shoulder as they walked away. “It will wear off in an hour or so”
“We think!” added Fred.



Entry 18

"I’m telling you, Minerva, this chess set you have in mind is not transfiguration!"

"And I am telling you, Filius, that it most certainly is!" McGonagall replied, her nostrils beginning to flare. "Might I remind you that under Hocus’s Law of –"

"Oh, hocus pocus,' Flitwick pouted. "He couldn’t tell a hex from a jinx. I think it is quite clear that making nonhuman objects mimic life is most definitely a charm."

"A charm that transfigures an inanimate object to an animate one!" McGonagall retorted. "Transfiguration changes one object into another, Filius, which also includes changing an object from one state into another!"

"But wouldn’t you agree, Minerva, that charms enchant an object to act in a way that is abnormal for the said object?"

"Yes, but –"

"And wouldn’t you agree that making a chess piece mimic human life is enchanting it to act abnormally?"

"Yes, but –"

"So you agree that your idea of 'transfiguring,'" Filius raised his fingers in quotation marks, "chessmen to replicate life is actually charming them, not transfiguring them?"

"No!" McGonagall exclaimed so loudly that Flitwick almost spilled his cherry syrup and soda. "Transfiguration changes the nature of an object, Filius –"

"And so do charms!"

"So I am transfiguring these chessmen to act like people," McGonagall finished, talking louder than normal to drown out Flitwick’s objections. "I think you can claim almost anything is a charm, Filius. It is such a general branch of magic."

"Minerva! How could you say –" Flitwick squawked in outrage.

"But transfiguration is the more accurate terminology and magic for my plans!" McGonagall continued.

"Minerva, if you had even opened that copy of Quintessence: A Quest I had given you –"

But McGonagall had had enough. She moved her wand around in a circle, and then – Pop!
Professor Flitwick was gone, with a pawn from a chess set standing where he just was. Only, the pawn was not a usual pawn; it had Flitwick’s head where the pawn’s normally was.

"This is incomplete transfiguration, Minerva!" Flitwick’s head squeaked in outrage. "Set me free this instant!"

"Transfiguration, Filius, exactly," Minerva said quietly, a slight grin on her face. "But now for some…decoration." McGonagall waved her wand again and a star-patterned, purple collar appeared under Flitwick’s head. "That," McGonagall said, "is a charm." And she left the giant chessboard.

***

"My dear old chap," Flitwick said to the knight standing behind him. "You don’t think you could help me, do you?" The knight was silent. "Oh well," Flitwick sighed. There was a pause. "'Oh, come and stir my cauldron, and if you do it right…'"



Entry 14

Simply put: he’d had enough … but five words won’t cut it in this challenge.

Ron Weasley lay against the post of his bed, trying to ignore the gold chain necklace that his peripheral vision inevitably caught. “My sweetheart,” he ranted to his frustrated self.

How did he end up like this? At first it seemed like a good idea, all that snogging … and snogging … and well, the snogging. But now Lavender Brown seemed more like a never-ending penance. Things were sort of back to normal with Hermione, and frankly, one could argue that getting poisoned twice in a span of an HOUR is enough hassle for the whole school year.

He was set to avoid her at all cause, but it was a very flawed, tiring plan. You can only fake to be asleep so many times. He had even cast the Muffliato spell on himself for the sake of his inner peace. He knew he had to end it, soon!
While he figured it out the logistics of that one, Ron gathered enough courage to venture into the seemingly empty Common Room to play Wizard Chess. He was a Gryffindor after all.

But then he heard it … for the 11th time that day.

“Won Won! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!,” said Lavender as she made her way towards him, arms menacing to be wrap around his neck. That was when it happened.

He had not experience any surge of uncontrolled magic since his days before Hogwarts. It was a scary (especially considering he’d never quiiiiite mastered transfiguration spells). He felt it run through his veins as he grasped the table in the hope of gaining some control. But no, Merlin’s-Wicked-Firebolt, Lavender Brown was now a piece on his Chess Board.

The situation called for a freak out. There was no way he was ever going to attempt to the reverse the spell himself. What if her nose ended up where his ear should be? “Hermione will have to give lend me helping hand,” he thought, and she did, in a way.

While lecturing Ron on how all could have been avoided if he had managed to end up the relationship in the proper way, she dragged him into Professor McGonagall office. In ten minutes time Lavender had returned to normal. There was no doubt in his mind, McGonagall deserved a pay raise.

Once Lavender made sure everything was on the right place, she flung her arms around Ron’s neck. “Oh sweetheart, it’s ok. I know you didn’t mean it. Don’t feel bad. You’re still my Won Won,” she went on and on as he jadedly patted her back. He had the most uncomprehending look on his face, as Hermione rolled her eyes and made her way out of McGonagall’s office.

So here he was: right back where he started. Well, not exactly. With a 150 House Points ... less!



Entry 12

It was a lazy Saturday morning as Squiddy propelled himself through the icy waters of the Great Lake.

Rather nice marmalade today he thought, as he happily wiped the toast crumbs from his beak.

He swam languidly in circles for while, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight on his tentacles, and he soon got to thinking about his latest desire; to meet another giant squid (preferably female) and so be able to take up synchronised swimming. However he was a practical squid and sadly came to the conclusion that his dream wasn't likely to come true anytime soon.

Squiddy dozed for a while but woke with a snort at the sounds of a fight from the far end of the lake.

Wand wavers again.

Indeed Squiddy was correct. Two rival students had their wands at the ready and their voices raised.

"Like I'd ever flirt with your dog of a girlfriend!"

"Take that back, Hufflepuff"

Actually, Squiddy thought, maybe not having a mate wasn't such a bad thing after all.

His speculation cut short as hexes began flying, our tentacled friend sank beneath the surface until the testosterone levels had lowered.

"Incarcerous!"

"Ha! At least try a spell that you can actually perform! Densaugeo!"

"Pathetic! Let's see if she'll be so keen on you with boils all over your face! Furnunculus!"

Squiddy couldn't help himself; this was as good as a soap opera. He silently raised his head above the water and wished that he had another piece of toast to munch on as the drama played out.

The hexes flew back and forth becoming wilder and consequently more dangerous.

Before long the irate Ravenclaw had had just about enough. Time to shut this cocky Hufflepuff up. He raised his
wand (wincing as another boil burst) and bellowed out one of his own personal (but unfortunately untested) spells.

The effect was immediate. With a flash of blinding light the two students were blasted high into the air and as they plummeted back down to the earth they were transformed; as was poor Squiddy who due to his own nosiness was in range of the spell.

The three unfortunates found themselves as ivory hybrids. We can only assume that the Ravenclaw student (who now bore an uncanny resemblance to a piano key) had tried to turn his Hufflepuff aggressor into an elephant.

The hero of our story now truly was one-of-a-kind; after all, how many Giant Squid/Chess Piece hybrids do you know.

Within the hour the boys had been found, laughed at, transported to the hospital wing and set right.
Poor Squiddy however was left to roam the great lake as a unique hybrid until somebody finally noticed and took pity on him.

Still, something to tell the grandkids one day.

The moral of the story is - eat more toast.



Entry 11

Quirrell felt the familiar prickling behind his head that announced that his Master was going to speak to him.

“So, Quirrell, what’s this new idea you have to get to the Philosopher’s Stone? We know where Dumbledore hid it, did you find out more about the obstacles set to prevent access to it?”

“I have, My Lord. I’ve found out how to get past Fluffy, how to escape the Devil’s Snare and how to find the right key to the next door. I think we can trick our way through the chess game too. After that, Snape’s little riddles with the potions will be child’s play for you. I believe you have a pet snake, don’t you?”

“Yes, a nicely vicious little thing that may grow up to be a veritable serpent. Her name is Nagini. What about her?”

“I think we can use her, My Lord. She could slither across the chess board and open the way for us. It’d be easy enough for me to smuggle her in if we reduce her size a bit. The chess pieces are not trained to play against snakes; they won’t even notice she’s there. Once she’s in, we could re-enlarge her to her natural size. With a flip of her tail, she’d sweep all the chess pieces out of the way and we could cross the board to the door on the other side.”

“It’s worth a try, Quirrell. Quite clever of you.”

“I only aim to serve you, My Lord. I am happy that you find my idea worthy of your approval.”

So that was how it happened. Quirrell sneaked Nagini in, and loosed her on top of the chessboard, with instructions to get rid of the chess pieces so as to clear the way to the door.

They did not, however, count on Dumbledore’s foresight and brilliance. He had set it so that anything coming onto the chessboard that was not a human player would be instantly transformed into a chess piece itself. Moreover, a white chess piece that would be facing the entrance door, with its back to its goal, thus defeating the intrusion’s purpose.

Caught up in the drama of the game, Harry, Ron and Hermione never noticed it, but one of the white pawns they were facing had a snake’s head. After the chess game was over, however, the enchantment was lifted, and Nagini lost no time in scurrying back to her hiding place in the Forbidden Forest to wait for her Master’s return.

The rest is history.



Entry 7

Wizard’s Chess Can Be a Pest

Ron, being an expert at Wizard’s Chess, was in his element. He consulted a black chessman and determined that he, Harry and Hermione would have to take the places of three of the black chessmen. Once the trio was in place on the chessboard, Ron explained that the white chessmen would be the first to move.

As they watched, a white pawn moved two spaces forward. Then the trio received quite a shock. The faceless pawn was suddenly transfigured into a bizarre combination of a pawn with the face of Peeves the Poltergeist. They all looked at each other with confusion. Why would Peeves be a part of the enchantment? They wondered aloud if a poltergeist could transfigure themselves?

Harry, knowing that time was short, quickly asked Peeves what he was doing here. Peeves responded by blowing a very wet raspberry and started to sing.
Some think Peeves is such a pest,
Because he likes to vex and jest.
The teachers met, their charms surveyed,
And Peevsie offered up his aid.
The professors began to laugh and snort,
They didn’t need old Peeves’ support.
Then Peeves became so irate,
He vowed he would retaliate.
So Peevsie’s here to cause a mess,
And make a farce of this game of chess.


Hermione couldn’t tell who groaned louder, Harry or Ron. How were they going to play and win with Peeves in the way?

Ron ordered the black chessmen to start moving. To their dismay, Peeves began to give the white chessmen bizarre instructions. Promptly the white queen did an Irish jig over to the black knight and then tangoed with him off the board. Peeves began to play hopscotch on his side of the chessboard in celebration.

Harry, Ron and Hermione became more and more frustrated. They knew they had to end this game and quick or else Snape was going to get his hands on the stone. Ron made another command, this time to Hermione. It actually was more of an urgent request. “Hermione, you’ve read more books on spells and charms. Do something, quick!”

Hermione thought hard. She had borrowed some books from the library just the other day. She looked at Ron and mouthed “Here goes nothing!” Hermione whipped out her wand and took aim at Peeves while he was busy celebrating. She spoke with confidence. “Arresto Communicatus!” Immediately Peeves mouth shut tight, he couldn’t utter a single word. His face turned red and screwed up with anger. Hermione then said her last spell, “Departo Vexare!” Peeves disappeared with a pop.

Harry and Ron cheered and told Hermione that she was a spectacular witch. Hermione said thanks and then reminded them that they had to get a move on.




[CENTER]Entry 5

When the necessity came that the Philosopher’s Stone should be protected within the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, he found himself with yet another opportunity to play both the watcher, and the player. For it was Professor McGonagall’s elaborate, life-size chessboard that presented yet an undeniable, and ever so tempting chance.

Having for so many years been the Hogwarts’ Professor of Transfiguration, it was obvious he would transfigure himself into a chess piece. But, which? “Well, as the Steward of this castle, akin to being King in The King’s absence, it would be obvious that I should play a king. But, I am rarely obvious.”

For several moments, the wizard, wearing robes of deep midnight, gazed at the chessboard. “Perhaps, a knight? Am I so chivalrous, and selfless as to be worthy of such a title?” He shook his head, no. “Rooks are powerful, as am I, and often held in a watchful position until well into the match. But, alas, they are held in the corners and often cannot see the proceedings very well.”

Dumbledore loved a good practical joke. He could not help but smile at the buffet of chess pieces before him, and his inevitable enjoyment of secretly being part of the greatest game of chess Hogwarts has ever seen. “The queen? Hardly! And I am not pious enough to be a bishop!” A mischievous grin settled upon the old man’s visage, as the most obvious answer came to him…”Of course, a pawn; the most underestimated piece on the board. Who would ever suspect I was watching them as a pawn on the board? I certainly wouldn’t, and that is saying something.”

Dumbledore drew his wand, pointed it at the white pawn standing guard before the queen’s rook, and ordered gently, “Would you mind terribly excusing yourself?” Relieved that he certainly would not be smashed into bits this game--he so disliked having to pick himself back up, and dust himself off, even if he did love the melee that too often reduced him to rubble--, the obedient warrior happily stood, twin scimitars at his sides, and walked off the board to a quiet, dimly lit corner.

Albus strode over to the position vacated by the obedient warrior, made a few gestures in the air with his pale wand, and allowed the stilettos of magic to weave an intricate web around him. In rapid succession the venerable headmaster’s body and all donned upon it began the transformation. His white beard cinched up his face, melding into him, while his elongated, star strewn hat flattened down on his head to form a wide brimmed helm. The mystical robes of the wizard took on the guise of padded armour, buttoned and fastened, while simultaneously his boots took on the white color of the pawn, becoming marble along with the rest of him.

He had now but to wait. He could hear Professor Quirrell in the next room, chasing that accursed key!

These are the finalists for the best overall entry.


Entry 37



“Want to play a game of Quidditch Chess?” Ron asked excitedly when his friend arrived. Though technically an adult, he still got as excited as his children.

“Quidditch Chess?” Harry repeated doubtfully.

“It’s a game I invented that combines Quidditch and Wizard’s Chess.”

Harry looked at the altered chess set. One pawn on each side was golden-colored. One had a miniature Golden Snitch on top, while the other topper looked suspiciously like Pigwideon. “Why are those different?”

“I was trying to concentrate on a new strategy for chess, and Pig was buzzing around like a snitch so I transfigured him into a pawn. After he’s learned his lesson and I change him back, both Golden Pawns will have snitches on top. Since he gave me the idea, I thought he could play in our first game of Quidditch Chess,” Ron said with a grin.

Both men ignored a hoot of protest from the Pigwideon-headed pawn.

“How is it different from Wizard’s Chess?” Harry asked.

“The Golden Pawns, mainly. First, you can’t take any pieces with the Golden Pawns nor can they take any other pieces. They’re for blocking only. They can start anywhere on the pawn row. Second, either player can move either Golden Pawn…if they can see it.”

“If they can see it?” echoed Harry.

Ron’s grin widened. “I told you it combined Quidditch and Chess. Like a snitch, the Golden Pawns can’t always be seen. They’re only visible to a single player at a time. If you play black, they’re only visible to you when they’re on black squares. They can move one square any direction, so you can use it to block and protect your pieces, but you might have to give up control of it to do so.”

Harry took a moment to wrap his mind around that quirk. “Definitely kicks strategy up a notch,” he admitted, admiration in his tone.

“So does the miniature bludger I charmed to fly randomly over the board. It doesn’t disturb any pieces except the Golden Pawn. The first time it hits one, the pawn is knocked into the next open square. The second hit knocks it out of the game.” They pretended to ignore the frightened hoot from the Pig-pawn, though Ron mouthed a silent assurance to Harry that the bird wouldn’t be harmed. “The only way to protect the Golden Pawn is with the knights.”

Harry saw that each knight had a tiny beater’s bat instead of a sword.

“That introduces a random element, making it not simply a game of skill, but also a game of chance that forces the players to change and adapt.” Ron’s smug expression was taunting as he challenged, “Want to play a game of Quidditch Chess?”

As a man who had learned early to think on his feet, Harry saw definite advantages to him in this game. Maybe he could beat Ron at his own game. “Get ready to lose your first Quidditch Chess game,” he replied, eagerly sitting down.

http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2451/3736563898_15fcf43343.jpg?v=0


Program: Photoshop Elements 7

Other image used:
http://www.hows.org.uk/inter/birds/gambia/wfscops.jpg

Steps:
1. Cut background and body from image of Scops owl using eraser tool
2. Pasted owl head on pawn (Layer 2)
3. Opened 3rd layer and colored golden area over white pawn
4. Reduced opacity of Layer 3 to 60% to let shapes/shadows of pawn show
5. Cropped out some of excess background
6. Reduced size to make dimensions fit requirements
7. Flattened image to single layer



Entry 29


An eerie light cast through the slim crevices between the trees of the Forbidden Forrest. It was getting dark. A man with jet black hair lay hidden behind the massive trunk of a tree. His hair was just long enough to touch the rim of his glasses and concealed a peculiar lightning shaped scar on his forehead. A few yards away stood a red-haired man, wand clutched tightly as he peered into the falling gloom.
“Any sign of him?” whispered the red-haired wizard.
“I can barely see three feet in front of me” grunted the other.

“Blimey Harry, we’ve been at this for days. We’re never going to find him. How hard is it find find a bloody centaur? “

“I know what you mean Ron, but we can’t just quit. Let’s keep searching.”

Ron and Harry had completed their three years of Auror training and managed to finish at the top of the class. As a reward, they were assigned a special mission as their first assignment. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures was trying to capture Bane, a Centaur responsible for multiple attacks on students at Hogwarts. After weeks of searching, the Ministry of Magic turned to the Auror division to get the job done.

Bane was an extremely proud Centaur and had a great dislike for humans. He and Harry had met before while Harry was still at Hogwarts. He had grown tired of living in the Forbidden Forrest and felt that the Centaurs were being oppressed by Wizards. As a result, he started to rain arrows on unsuspecting students he would find lounging on the castle grounds. Most were able recover in the school’s hospital wing but three unlucky blokes had to be sent to St. Mungo’s.

Darkness blanketed the forest as night fell. All that could be heard were the eerie sounds made by unseen creatures lurking in the shadows. Exhausted and disappointed, Harry and Ron were about to call it a night when flames erupted from a nearby bush. Before they could comprehend what was happening, a flaming arrow shot out of the darkness nearly setting the two ablaze.

“It’s him!” yelled Ron.

“We can’t let him get away!” cried Harry over the crackling of the fires. Just then, a magnificent Centaur burst out of the brush, bow held high, arrow ready to be shot. It reared onto its hind legs poised to strike went two jets of light erupted from the tip of the Auror’s wands. Bane was no longer moving. He had been petrified and turned into stone.

“Blimey Harry, he looks like a Knight!” exclaimed Ron.

“What?!” said Harry, dumbfounded by this random remark.

“He looks like a Chess Piece!” With a wave of his wand and a murmur of words, Ron transfigured Bane into an actual chess piece and stuffed him into his pocket. “For safe keeping” he said to Harry with a wink. They exchanged looks, laughed, and disapparated with a loud crack.

http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j165/Aristotle328/CoSCentaurChessPiececopy.jpg


Image used: http://i80.photobucket.com/albums/j165/Aristotle328/centaur2.jpg
*Note: The actual image I used was bigger. When I uploaded it to photobucket, the dimensions were altered.

I used Photoshop CS3 to create my image.

1) Using the magnetic lasso tool, I traced the outline of the centaur and dragged it into the Chess Piece image (creating a new layer in the process) and placed it over the pawn. (2 total layers so far. The chess piece image, and the Centaur.)
2) I then made the Centaur black and white. (Image>Adjustments>Black and White.)
3) I then altered the color balance by adjusting the amount of yellow in the image, giving the centaur a yellowish glow to match the chess piece's color. (Image>Adjustments>Color Balance)
4) Using the magnetic lasso tool again, I traced the acutal chess piece and copied it into a new layer. (3 total layers: Chess piece original image, Centaur, and the pawn by itself with no background) It now looks like the centaur is behind the chess piece.
5) Using the eraser tool on a low opacity level, I erased part of the duplicated pawn to make it look like the Centaur's belly is attached to the top of the pawn.
6) Using the brush tool on a very low opacity level, I painted over where the chess piece met the Centaur with a white, yellowish color to make them blend together. I also painted the entire centaur with this color in order to make it appear lighter and look more like the pawn.
7) I altered the Centaur's blending options by adding shadow and a yellow glow.
8) I used the paint brush tool to paint part of the head of the pawn sticking out of the centaur's back. I painted it brown and beige to blend in with chess board background.
9)I cropped the image.
10)I re-sized the image to the desired dimensions.


Entry 26

“Let me do it alone! I promise I won’t let you down this time!”

Hagrid gripped his pink umbrella tightly. He was immensely pleased and proud that Dumbledore had once again chosen him to undertake a dangerous mission for the Order – sounding out the loyalties of a colony of Mermen off the north west of England - especially since his recent embassy to the giants had not exactly gone as planned. However, he felt intimidated by the partner chosen for him, and he really hoped Dumbledore would back down.

The Headmaster sighed. “It is very noble of you to offer, Rubeus, but I’m afraid I must insist that you work with Professor Snape on this particular mission. Numbered amongst his many accomplishments is a fluent grasp of the Mermish language – essential if you are to make effective contact with our marine friends. Besides which, Professor Snape has specialist knowledge of Muggle life, which should prove invaluable, if you are to avoid drawing attention to yourselves in the Muggle holiday resort off which they make their home.”

Hagrid wondered for a moment why a rumoured former Death Eater would have “specialist knowledge of Muggle life”.

“Ah, well,” he thought to himself. “I trust Dumbledore illicitly…er, explicitly?… implacably?… …er, a lot, so if he says so, I’m sure that’s right.”

Things, however, did not go well. When they reached Blackpool, Snape seemed determined to treat his fellow Hogwarts teacher like a dimwitted schoolboy sent to him for remedial tuition. When Hagrid suggested finding a boat and rowing out to sea, the Potions master reacted with undisguised contempt.

“And let them see us coming? Ridiculous! We need to think of a subtle approach.”

Hagrid’s thoughts, of course, immediately turned to his favourite topic – monsters.

“I know!” he bubbled, excitedly. “We could turn ourselves into sea creatures and swim across!”

Snape’s voice was ice. “You are suggesting that we turn ourselves into unregistered animagi?” (and he pronounced these last two words with especial distaste). “That we knowingly break Ministry rules and put ourselves at risk of Azkaban, should we be discovered?”

“Well,” acknowledged Hagrid, staring at his boots, “if you put it like that…”

“No,” Snape continued in a slightly softer tone. “With my past record, the consequences would be too great. But there is another way. We are not permitted to turn ourselves into animals without prior authorisation. As far as I am aware, however, there is no rule prohibiting us from turning each other into animals.” He turned to the half-giant. “Which sea creature would you suggest?”

Hagrid’s fertile imagination went into overdrive. “Kraken? Leviathan? Loch Ness Monster?”

“No, no, no!” snapped Snape, crossly. “Much too obtrusive. Choose the smallest creature you can think of.”

Hagrid raised his umbrella, pointed it at Snape, and yelled with all his might: “Transmutando prawn!”

Or, at least, that’s what he’d meant to say.

“Ah!” said Hagrid, looking down at the chess piece on the beach. “Should’nt have said that.”

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/chessstepnumber3-11.jpg


How I created Snape (that’s who it’s supposed to be, btw – it’s probably not immediately obvious from my picture!)

Step 1: Downloaded picture into Paint and cropped.
Step 2: using the brush tool, drew Snape’s hair and eyebrows.
Step 3: using the pencil tool, drew rest of Snape’s face, shaded lips, touched up hair.
Step 4: uploaded to Photobucket and resized.


Entry 22

Sacrifice

He stood in a dim, wood-paneled room. Dust covered the floor, and the only light shone from a branch of candles on one wall, which cast an eerie glow that somehow darkened the room instead of illuminating it.

His voice rang out, high and cold, “I have been badly advised, it seems . . . You are sure of your facts, Rookwood?”

The trembling reply came from a trembling man, prostrated at the feet of his master.
“Yes, my lord. I worked in The Department of Mysteries. Avery’s information was false. Bode never could have gotten it. None but those named may remove it.”

“I see.” His white, spidery hands twitched toward his wand pocket and Rookwood flinched, cowering even lower to the floor.

A cruel smile spread over his face. “Very well . . . you may go. Send Avery to me.”

Rookwood stumbled on the hem of his robes in his haste to escape and fairly flew to the door.

He swept across the room, deep in thought. So many months wasted on a plan that could never succeed. He must have it; he must know the full prophecy before he moved into the open. Months wasted . . . The one who misdirected him would pay.

The door opened and Avery stepped tentatively into the room. “You wished to see me, my lord?”

He turned. Avery could barely bring himself to meet those livid red eyes.

“You have given me faulty information, Avery.”

“F-faulty? Master, allow me to explain—”

“Crucio!”

Screams echoed in the empty room. Avery’s face was contorted with agony, his back arched and limbs flailing.

He watched with an amused smile for several moments. Slowly, he raised his wand. Avery lay crumpled and gasping for breath.

His cold voice seemed to surround Avery, coming from every direction. “There is no explanation for such ineptitude . . . or was it treachery?”

“No, Master! I swear! I would never betray you. I was mistaken, it is true. But I-I can make it up to you. I can still be of service in the war—"

“A loyal soldier, are we, Avery? What are you willing to . . . sacrifice . . . for Lord Voldemort?”

“S-sacrifice, my lord?”

“You hesitate?”

“Please! Have mercy, my lord!”

“Crucio!”

Screams once again filled the chamber. The longer he listened, the more pleased was his expression. Then he flicked his wand and the screams were suddenly cut short. Instead of gasping this time, the chamber was filled with a deafening silence. Before him stood Avery, transfigured into a chess piece, face contorted in mid-scream.

“You are nothing but a pawn. Expendable. The time has come for you to be sacrificed.” He gave another flick of his wand and cried, “Reducto!”

Avery shattered into pieces.

He surveyed the scene with satisfaction, swept to the door and with a cruel smile called, “Wormtail! I have something for you to clean up.”

-------

Italicized lines are quoted from OotP

http://i605.photobucket.com/albums/tt139/EnderAlbum/FotoFlexer_Photo5.jpg

To create the graphic, I used Microsoft Picture Manager, fotoflexer.com, the picture of the chess piece, and the following pictures:

Screaming Man (http://www.thingstocome.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/screaming.jpg)
Background (http://cache3.asset-cache.net/xc/85456062.jpg?v=1&c=NewsMaker&k=2&d=3B3A6A2DE61A5847F531F39E042F0E71E30A760B0D811297 )

Steps:
1. Resized the picture of the screaming man to make it fit the size of the pawn.
2. Cut out the man’s face from the picture.
3. Blurred the edges of his face.
4. Cut out the pawn from its background.
5. Changed the color of the pawn to grey scale.
6. Blurred the edges of the pawn.
7. Layered the man’s face on top of the pawn.
8. Adjusted the brightness of the background photo to make it darker.
9. Cropped the background photo.
10. Layered the transfigured pawn on top of the background.
11. Distorted the man’s mouth to make his scream bigger and more contorted.
12. Resized final picture to fit parameters.


Entry 14

Simply put: he’d had enough … but five words won’t cut it in this challenge.

Ron Weasley lay against the post of his bed, trying to ignore the gold chain necklace that his peripheral vision inevitably caught. “My sweetheart,” he ranted to his frustrated self.

How did he end up like this? At first it seemed like a good idea, all that snogging … and snogging … and well, the snogging. But now Lavender Brown seemed more like a never-ending penance. Things were sort of back to normal with Hermione, and frankly, one could argue that getting poisoned twice in a span of an HOUR is enough hassle for the whole school year.

He was set to avoid her at all cause, but it was a very flawed, tiring plan. You can only fake to be asleep so many times. He had even cast the Muffliato spell on himself for the sake of his inner peace. He knew he had to end it, soon!
While he figured it out the logistics of that one, Ron gathered enough courage to venture into the seemingly empty Common Room to play Wizard Chess. He was a Gryffindor after all.

But then he heard it … for the 11th time that day.

“Won Won! I’ve been looking everywhere for you!,” said Lavender as she made her way towards him, arms menacing to be wrap around his neck. That was when it happened.

He had not experience any surge of uncontrolled magic since his days before Hogwarts. It was a scary (especially considering he’d never quiiiiite mastered transfiguration spells). He felt it run through his veins as he grasped the table in the hope of gaining some control. But no, Merlin’s-Wicked-Firebolt, Lavender Brown was now a piece on his Chess Board.

The situation called for a freak out. There was no way he was ever going to attempt to the reverse the spell himself. What if her nose ended up where his ear should be? “Hermione will have to give lend me helping hand,” he thought, and she did, in a way.

While lecturing Ron on how all could have been avoided if he had managed to end up the relationship in the proper way, she dragged him into Professor McGonagall office. In ten minutes time Lavender had returned to normal. There was no doubt in his mind, McGonagall deserved a pay raise.

Once Lavender made sure everything was on the right place, she flung her arms around Ron’s neck. “Oh sweetheart, it’s ok. I know you didn’t mean it. Don’t feel bad. You’re still my Won Won,” she went on and on as he jadedly patted her back. He had the most uncomprehending look on his face, as Hermione rolled her eyes and made her way out of McGonagall’s office.

So here he was: right back where he started. Well, not exactly. With a 150 House Points ... less!


http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/EntryTask4-LavenderChessPiece.jpg



Graphics Program: Corel Paint Shop Pro Photo X2
Images used in creating the transfiguration: LINK (http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c106/moodylupin/CoS%20TTT/OtherImages.jpg)

http://i26.photobucket.com/albums/c106/moodylupin/CoS%20TTT/Process.jpg
*Images were cropped only for this purpose*


Image #2

Cropping of the hair piece from the original photo (ear included)
Pasting of the hair piece into the chess piece image
Softening around the edges


Image #3

Cropping of the face features from the original photo (area around eyes, nose and mouth)
Pasting of the face features into the chess piece image
Softening around the edges


Image #4

Whitening of the added face features to match the color of the chess piece
Blending


Image #5

High Pass Sharpening over the face


Image #6

Addition of a soft, pink blush color in the cheeks (Hey! It's Lavender after all!)


Image #7

Cropping of the Gryffindor tie from the original photo
Pasting of the Gryffindor tie into the chess piece image
Softening around the edges


Image #8

Lighting effect at the top of the head (simulating a hex)
Lightning effect at the bottom of the chess piece
Final Image Resizing






Entry 13


“What is this stuff supposed to do, exactly?” Wormtail asked as he eyed the swirling pink goop.

“It induces the victim to live out a succession of their worst fears and recurring nightmares. With the right variation on the recipe,” here Snape added a pinch of powdered boomslang skin, “it will also cause the effects of those fears to manifest physically on the victim’s body. Had you been listening to the conversation earlier, you would have known this already, you dolt. Perhaps I should inform the Dark Lord that you are not paying attention at his meetings?”

“I do pay attention!” Wormtail bristled.

Snape just raised an eyebrow and gave his potion a final clockwise stir. It turned a violently bright orange. “This is ready to be bottled. Fetch me a clean ladle from that rack over there.” He pointed at the far wall.

Wormtail gave him a dirty look before turning to retrieve the item. He wiped the sweat from his brow with his sleeve as he returned. Combined with the heat of summer, the bubbling cauldron made the stuffy little room in Spinner’s End absolutely unbearable. He held out the ladle, staring at Snape and wondering how he could possibly stand to wear those thick dark robes in such conditions.

“Cooling charms, imbecile.”

Startled, Wormtail jerked and dropped the ladle into the cauldron. He watched in horror as the potion splattered and a gob of it hit him between the eyes.

The next thing he knew, Wormtail was on a giant chessboard and he couldn’t feel his feet. He looked down and felt sick. He no longer had feet.

“Pawn to D4!” came the Dark Lord’s cold voice.

Wormtail shot forward, only to realise that he was about to be taken by Ronald Weasley’s bishop.

Snape snorted at the outsized chess piece on his floor. A large purple bruise blossomed on Wormtail’s temple. He smirked.

“How convenient.”

The potions master summoned another ladle and began the bottling process, enjoying the tranquility while it lasted.


http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/Wormtail_Pawn_v2.jpg


Graphics Program: Adobe Photoshop CS1

1. Isolate a portion of Wormtail using the Eraser (operating on character source image).
2. Paste Wormtail into position in a layer of his own.
3. Isolate the head & shoulders of the pawn on a separate layer.
4. Isolate the body of the pawn on a separate layer.
5. Isolate the pedestal of the pawn on a separate layer.
6. Use Free Transform on pawn head & shoulders
7. Use Free Transform on pawn body.
8. Use Distort on pawn pedestal.
9. Smudge a section of the pedestal.
10. Blend edge of Wormtail’s torso with the Smudge tool.
11. Change Brightness/Contrast on Wormtail.
12. Change Hue/Saturation on Wormtail.
13. Match Color operation on Wormtail, using one of the pawn layers.
14. Change Brightness/Contrast on Wormtail again.
15. Match Color operation on the pawn.
16. Change Brightness/Contrast on the pawn.
17. Isolate Wormtail’s hand on a separate layer.
18. Match Color operation on Wormtail’s hand, using an image of the Silver Surfer.
19. Change Color Balance on Wormtail’s hand.
20. Clone Stamp Wormtail’s suit pattern over portions of the pawn (on the Wormtail layer).
21. Use Smudge tool on the pawn’s suit.
22. Clean up edges with the Eraser.
23. Add shadows with the Burn tool.
24. Add highlights with the Dodge tool.
25. Resize the image.

Source images:
Image of Wormtail from PoA: http://www.hpvision.com/books/wormtail.jpg
Image of the Silver Surfer: http://media.movieweb.com/news/12.2006/silverSurfer.jpg


Entry 12

It was a lazy Saturday morning as Squiddy propelled himself through the icy waters of the Great Lake.

Rather nice marmalade today he thought, as he happily wiped the toast crumbs from his beak.

He swam languidly in circles for while, enjoying the warmth of the sunlight on his tentacles, and he soon got to thinking about his latest desire; to meet another giant squid (preferably female) and so be able to take up synchronised swimming. However he was a practical squid and sadly came to the conclusion that his dream wasn't likely to come true anytime soon.

Squiddy dozed for a while but woke with a snort at the sounds of a fight from the far end of the lake.

Wand wavers again.

Indeed Squiddy was correct. Two rival students had their wands at the ready and their voices raised.

"Like I'd ever flirt with your dog of a girlfriend!"

"Take that back, Hufflepuff"

Actually, Squiddy thought, maybe not having a mate wasn't such a bad thing after all.

His speculation cut short as hexes began flying, our tentacled friend sank beneath the surface until the testosterone levels had lowered.

"Incarcerous!"

"Ha! At least try a spell that you can actually perform! Densaugeo!"

"Pathetic! Let's see if she'll be so keen on you with boils all over your face! Furnunculus!"

Squiddy couldn't help himself; this was as good as a soap opera. He silently raised his head above the water and wished that he had another piece of toast to munch on as the drama played out.

The hexes flew back and forth becoming wilder and consequently more dangerous.

Before long the irate Ravenclaw had had just about enough. Time to shut this cocky Hufflepuff up. He raised his
wand (wincing as another boil burst) and bellowed out one of his own personal (but unfortunately untested) spells.

The effect was immediate. With a flash of blinding light the two students were blasted high into the air and as they plummeted back down to the earth they were transformed; as was poor Squiddy who due to his own nosiness was in range of the spell.

The three unfortunates found themselves as ivory hybrids. We can only assume that the Ravenclaw student (who now bore an uncanny resemblance to a piano key) had tried to turn his Hufflepuff aggressor into an elephant.

The hero of our story now truly was one-of-a-kind; after all, how many Giant Squid/Chess Piece hybrids do you know.

Within the hour the boys had been found, laughed at, transported to the hospital wing and set right.
Poor Squiddy however was left to roam the great lake as a unique hybrid until somebody finally noticed and took pity on him.

Still, something to tell the grandkids one day.

The moral of the story is - eat more toast.


http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/3733276159_87c2f201c1.jpg

1. Opened water image
2. Cut water image
3. Pasted water image
4. Opened chess image
5. Cut portion of chess image
6. Pasted cut portion of chess image
7. Tilted chess portion
8. Moved chess portion
9. Opened squid image
10. Cut portion of squid image
11. Pasted cut portion of squid image
12. Tilted squid portion
13. Moved squid portion
14. Used smudge tool
15. Cropped final image

Used images from here (http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://i.ehow.com/images/GlobalPhoto/Articles/2181866/squid-main_Full.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.ehow.com/how_2181866_tell-difference-between-squid-octopus.html&usg=__wkTXf-fW5XmEGtFD6HehuKtpKuc=&h=398&w=600&sz=18&hl=en&start=71&um=1&tbnid=dzZk6fzj_F0SYM:&tbnh=90&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dsquid%26ndsp%3D18%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN% 26start%3D54%26um%3D1) and here (http://images.google.com.au/imgres?imgurl=http://www.mentalimages.com/uploads/pics/underwater_002.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.mentalimages.com/gallery/special-features.html&usg=__NKiAyap41jwXUQZjMeSIfbkFX4o=&h=400&w=500&sz=29&hl=en&start=18&um=1&tbnid=ktvIo-edJn2amM:&tbnh=104&tbnw=130&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dunder%2Bwater%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG%26um %3D1).

Link (http://www.flickr.com/photos/40421003@N08/?saved=1) to screencaps of my steps.

I used GIMP to create this image.


Entry 7

Wizard’s Chess Can Be a Pest

Ron, being an expert at Wizard’s Chess, was in his element. He consulted a black chessman and determined that he, Harry and Hermione would have to take the places of three of the black chessmen. Once the trio was in place on the chessboard, Ron explained that the white chessmen would be the first to move.

As they watched, a white pawn moved two spaces forward. Then the trio received quite a shock. The faceless pawn was suddenly transfigured into a bizarre combination of a pawn with the face of Peeves the Poltergeist. They all looked at each other with confusion. Why would Peeves be a part of the enchantment? They wondered aloud if a poltergeist could transfigure themselves?

Harry, knowing that time was short, quickly asked Peeves what he was doing here. Peeves responded by blowing a very wet raspberry and started to sing.
Some think Peeves is such a pest,
Because he likes to vex and jest.
The teachers met, their charms surveyed,
And Peevsie offered up his aid.
The professors began to laugh and snort,
They didn’t need old Peeves’ support.
Then Peeves became so irate,
He vowed he would retaliate.
So Peevsie’s here to cause a mess,
And make a farce of this game of chess.


Hermione couldn’t tell who groaned louder, Harry or Ron. How were they going to play and win with Peeves in the way?

Ron ordered the black chessmen to start moving. To their dismay, Peeves began to give the white chessmen bizarre instructions. Promptly the white queen did an Irish jig over to the black knight and then tangoed with him off the board. Peeves began to play hopscotch on his side of the chessboard in celebration.

Harry, Ron and Hermione became more and more frustrated. They knew they had to end this game and quick or else Snape was going to get his hands on the stone. Ron made another command, this time to Hermione. It actually was more of an urgent request. “Hermione, you’ve read more books on spells and charms. Do something, quick!”

Hermione thought hard. She had borrowed some books from the library just the other day. She looked at Ron and mouthed “Here goes nothing!” Hermione whipped out her wand and took aim at Peeves while he was busy celebrating. She spoke with confidence. “Arresto Communicatus!” Immediately Peeves mouth shut tight, he couldn’t utter a single word. His face turned red and screwed up with anger. Hermione then said her last spell, “Departo Vexare!” Peeves disappeared with a pop.

Harry and Ron cheered and told Hermione that she was a spectacular witch. Hermione said thanks and then reminded them that they had to get a move on.


http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/RealPeevesonPawnname481.png

Steps used to transfigure pawn:

I found my character at the location below:
http://www.pojo.com/harrypotter/ccg/AHCardImages/Peeves.JPG (http://www.pojo.com/harrypotter/ccg/AHCardImages/Peeves.JPG)
I used Adobe Photoshop Elements for my transfiguration.
Steps
1. Used Polygonal Lasso Tool to outline part of Peeves pic
2. Used Move Tool and dragged cutout pic onto Pawn pic
3. Sized Peeves pic to same size of Pawn
4. Used Erase Tool to remove part of Peeves to better fit Pawn shape
5. Used Smudge Tool to blend bottom of Peeves pic into Pawn pic
6. Used Horizontal Test Tool-chose black Crazy Harold font and changed font size to 30 points to write Peeves name, then warped Peeves name to Shell Lower Style to fit Pawn shape
7. Saved pic
8. Resized pic to 300x481 (141kb)
9. Saved pic again

Here are the finalists for Best Chess Piece:


Entry #35 by Klio

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/Dracopawn2.jpg


Entry #29 by 9th Wonder

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/CoSCentaurChessPiececopy.jpg


Entry #27 by storyteller

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/chesspiecewhitepawn.jpg


Entry #14 by GinnyIsGenius

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/EntryTask4-LavenderChessPiece.jpg


Entry #13 by Pox Voldius

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/Wormtail_Pawn_v2.jpg


Entry #12 by Mad_Druid

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/3733276159_87c2f201c1.jpg


Entry #7 by gottriplets

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/RealPeevesonPawnname481.png


Entry # 2 by Spacecadet

http://i581.photobucket.com/albums/ss254/neverendingparty/Throughthetrapdoorpart4.jpg