The Second Task: The Stone VOTING

Then the second brother, who was an arrogant man, decided that he wanted to humiliate Death still further, and asked for the power to recall others from Death. So Death picked up a stone from the riverbank and gave it to the second brother, and told him that the stone would have the power to bring back the dead.
— The Tale of the Three Brothers

The history of the Resurrection Stone is not known by many. Given to Cadmus Peverell by Death, it was handed down through the family. Eventually the Stone was fitted into a ring and it's special power was forgotten. The Gaunt family gained ownership and Marvolo Gaunt was robbed of the ring by Tom Riddle. Riddle created his horcrux and hid the ring in the ruins of the Gaunt house. There it was found by Professor Dumbledore.

As you might know, a young Albus Dumbledore had desired this stone in order to be able to bring back his sister and parents, but it was not until he was much older that he finally found it. Could anyone blame Dumbledore for wanting to use it? I can't; having used it myself, I understand the longing.

We all know what happened next and we know that the Stone is currently in the Forbidden Forest. Lying there, maybe for eternity, but what if...?

The Resurrection Stone

The Challenge

Pick one of these choices.


Choice 1:

Imagine you find the stone and can bring one character back from the death with the Resurrection Stone, who would it be and why would you bring her/him back? Motivate your choice.

Make sure the Stone plays an important role in the story/visual.


Choice 2:

Imagine you find the stone and can bring a loved one back from the death with the Resurrection Stone, who would it be and why would you bring her/him back? Motivate your choice.

Make sure the Stone plays an important role in the story/visual.


Rules

You have the choice between a text entry or visual entry.


Text entry: 500 minimum / 800 words maximum

Visual entry: 500x500 and 300kb size limit. Text allowed but it should not dominate (up to 100 words)



Submissions

1. Once you have submitted your entry, it is done. No alterations or resubmissions allowed.
2. Please submit your entry via owl to one of the following staff members:
Hes (http://www.cosforums.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=52712), mexicant (http://www.cosforums.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=141899), SusanBones (http://www.cosforums.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=47011), RemusLupinFan (http://www.cosforums.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=23922), lilyrose (http://www.cosforums.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=64972) or Nadia (http://www.cosforums.com/private.php?do=newpm&u=118687)

Deadline:
- The deadline for this challenge will be: Tuesday, April 13, 10pm GMT
Timezone converter (http://www.timezoneconverter.com/cgi-bin/tzc.tzc)

Important
Remember all work must be kept anonymous. Please do not share your work, this includes hinting about elements of your work, with anyone until the voting is over. Any entries posted publicly anywhere else or otherwise shared will be disqualified. No exceptions.

Questions about the challenge go here.

In choice #1, the character we choose to bring back...is it a character from HP? Or could it possibly be a real person from any time in history?

Oooh interesting. For option 1, is the "you" to be an anonymous "you" or can it be first person narrative from the perspective of an existing character?

In choice #1, the character we choose to bring back...is it a character from HP? Or could it possibly be a real person from any time in history?

The character has to be a Harry Potter character.

Oooh interesting. For option 1, is the "you" to be an anonymous "you" or can it be first person narrative from the perspective of an existing character?

:hmm: Good question. I'll check. :eeep:

what would the minimum words in the 1st choice be? i see there is a maximum, but no minimum.

With option 2 how do we keep others from figuring out who wrote it if it is a loved one from our past?
EG say I want to bring back my Aunty If someone knew I had lost an Aunt they might figure it out that I wrote the story.

Are we to creat a character to play the part of the writer?

Ooh! I like the challenge. :tu:. I'll try to send it in early this time. :scared:.

Oooh interesting. For option 1, is the "you" to be an anonymous "you" or can it be first person narrative from the perspective of an existing character?

You personally.

what would the minimum words in the 1st choice be? i see there is a maximum, but no minimum.

500 (I'll add it to the opening post)

With option 2 how do we keep others from figuring out who wrote it if it is a loved one from our past?
EG say I want to bring back my Aunty If someone knew I had lost an Aunt they might figure it out that I wrote the story.

Are we to creat a character to play the part of the writer?

Well unless you have told everyone on the forum your Aunt X died it won't be that obvious.

Choice two is about you personally so you would probably be the narrator. For choice one I don't mind how you do it as long as it's about a HP character.

For choice one, it doesn't need to be a loved one, right? Just any character?

Yep any character that died.

Thanks! Animation allowed for image entry?

Yep as long as you keep the 300kb limit in mind.

Is it necessary to include the story of finding the stone in the entry?

No.

For choice two

You can start with picking up the stone from the ground if you want, any prior story isn't really necessary.

"I picked up the stone, walked on and started thinking of my friend who had died..."

"I held the stone in my hand and thought about the person I longed for..."

Whatever you want really :)

I'm confused, in choice 1, can it be from a HP character's perspective or does it have to be me?

You guys are starting to confuse me.

Both choices have to be from your perspective.

So for choice one, I have to write about me resurrecting a dead HP character instead of a HP character resurrecting a HP character (ie Harry resurrecting Dumbledore)?

-JR

500 (I'll add it to the opening post)





thank you.

So for choice one, I have to write about me resurrecting a dead HP character instead of a HP character resurrecting a HP character (ie Harry resurrecting Dumbledore)?

-JR

Yes.

Does the person you're writing about actually have to have die in the story!

No. The character (I presume you refer to a HP character here) you want to bring back has already died.

Do they have to have died in the story. For example, could I write about "Future Ginny" mourning "Future Harry"?

No, sorry no future deaths. Only those who we know have died in the books.

This may be obvious, but can I assume that images for option 2 should not be of the actual CoS member and the person they'd like to bring back from the dead?

This may be obvious, but can I assume that images for option 2 should not be of the actual CoS member and the person they'd like to bring back from the dead?

Your entry needs to be anonymous. The images that you use can't be ones that will reveal your identity.

Does that help?

Hi! Can I participate, even though I'm new here? I think it'd be nice of you to let me do so :) :)

Sure you can!

Well it's a good thing that I read through the questions before asking mine.

When we do option 1, I know it's from my own perspective. But can we possible make it including a next gen character as part of the premise about this said character lamenting the fact that such and such has died, and me as the friend/student would then try to bring back that said person?

Yeah it's fine but make sure you motivate your reasons for helping the friend well.


This is addressed to everyone:

If you want to ask such specific questions about your plot please do so via owl. Asking in public gives away hints about which entry you made.

Haven't started working on my entry yet. :no:.

Haven't started working on my entry yet. :no:.

http://www.smilies-and-more.de/pics/smilies/violent/080.gif

:lol:. I've been very busy last week (every week actually :p). I'll try to work on it and finish it today, hopefully. :shrug:.

:lol:. I've been very busy last week (every week actually :p). I'll try to work on it and finish it today, hopefully. :shrug:.

Take your time, no hurry ,you've got lots of time! :whistle: :D

Yes no hurry. Take your time seriously :)

Take your time, no hurry ,you've got lots of time! :whistle: :D
http://www.smilies-and-more.de/pics/smilies/violent/080.gif

:p

Yes no hurry. Take your time seriously :)

Thanks, Hes. :huggles:. I've started working on my entry, though I'm not sure where it is headed, yet. :shrug:.

Two more days to go guys :)

Got mine done!! :clap:

Take your time, no hurry ,you've got lots of time! :whistle: :D

Twins... you are :evil:

Twins... you are :evil:

Who Me ! ? :angel: :elaugh:

*considers 'losing' a certain Hufflepuff entry* :relax:

Who Me ! ? :angel: :elaugh:

Oh, where's the devil smiley when you need one! :yuhup:

eeks I'm running out of time to finish!

Oh, where's the devil smiley when you need one! :yuhup:

This One? http://bestsmileys.com/evil/11.gif


twins:p

This One? http://bestsmileys.com/evil/11.gif


twins:p

Thanks. http://bestsmileys.com/evil/11.gif

:lol:

*considers 'losing' a certain Hufflepuff entry* :relax:

Shall we cooperate? I need an entry, btw. :p

Since I have no very clear idea when the forums will be open again I will extend the deadline for the contest entries with a day.

So now it will be Tuesday April 13th 10pm GMT. This give us time to receive entries and report back to you if there are any problems.

Yay!! Thanks, Hes. I have had no chance so far to submit something - but this gives me a chance. :)

Awesome!

Thank you Hes - the forum seems to be up and running just fine now (That wooshing noise you can hear is all the technical stuff going very fast over my head). I hope the extended time means there will be even more brilliant entries to read. :)

Oh is that what it was? I thought the Admins had released some Nargles.

Yep more entries are very welcome!

I sent the entry in. :clap:. Better than the last time. :scared:.

Not Nargels. These are wrackspurts (explains why it took me too long to finish my entry :p).

Okay... I've sent my entry in! :clap:

I look forward to reading all the other entries!

Well, thank you very much, Mods, for the time extension--when I couldn't log onto COS to put my submission in last night, I almost went into a full-blown panic! I was thinking that it would just be my luck to go to all the effort to put an entry together, and then be prevented from submitting it before the deadline. So I'm feeling much better now that I know you all had mercy on me and my nerves.

So, submitted and done--hope it's okay.

*whew*

Thanks for extending the deadline. Until taxes and busy season are over, I don't get to visit often and only discovered the second round had started on Sunday,
Now, back to the per diem calculations...:-(

Thanks for extending the deadline. Until taxes and busy season are over, I don't get to visit often and only discovered the second round had started on Sunday,
Now, back to the per diem calculations... :sigh:

Yay!! Thanks, Hes. I have had no chance so far to submit something - but this gives me a chance. :)

Dang it. :p

Time flies now guys.

Dang it. :p

:lol: :evil:.

Looking forward to see what you guys have come up with. :tu:. I hope I get a chance to read them tomorrow, as I have a busy day.. :shrug:.

*considers 'losing' a certain Hufflepuff entry* :relax:

:p

The Entries are up and voting has started. (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=124405)

So go and vote. We have awesome entries. Well done everyone!

Any questions can go here :)

Wow, thanks for getting them up so quickly. It looks like there's some great entries there.

:clap: I'll go read now!!

We've got some great entries this round! :clap:

Question I'm not sure just how many votes we are allowed to make for the first round is it like the wand task where we picked the top 10 in the first round ?

Just noticed there are two entries numbered 22

Question I'm not sure just how many votes we are allowed to make for the first round is it like the wand task where we picked the top 10 in the first round ?

In best overall (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=124436), yes, those are the instructions. :)


Voting instructions

* Pick your 10 favourite entries


We will have two voting rounds, this round we will make a selection for best overall. In the second round you will be able to choose for best overall, best story choice 1, best story choice 2 and best visual.

Just did a quick read-through. It's gonna be a great contest! :clap:

On the 17 entries relating to a HP character, entries 3-17 are the same.

On the 17 entries relating to a HP character, entries 3-17 are the same.

You're right.... :lol:

On the 17 entries relating to a HP character, entries 3-17 are the same.

I'll fix the links after I get home from work, in about 2 hours. In the meantime, just go to the entry thread to read them:

http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=124405

OMG...these are good! I'm sitting here crying my eyes out! These stories combined with 5 family deaths since October...I'm gonna need some more tissues here!!!

OMG...these are good! I'm sitting here crying my eyes out! These stories combined with 5 family deaths since October...I'm gonna need some more tissues here!!!

Oh, poor Susan...:huggles: Hang in there, Sweetie!

I've just finished reading all of the entries. Wow! There are some really talented members here!

Just noticed there are two entries numbered 22Fixed. :)

Fixed. :)

Now there are two entries numbered 24.

Okay, so I finished reading entries from 1-19. Really a good bunch of entries and very creative ideas.
I'll post their feedback now, and I hope I'd be able to do the others later today :).

Sorry guys I was pretty tired (and have one bad eye) when I put that thread together so messed up.

Pardon me for being dense but when can one actually view the feedback thread? After the first round of voting or only after the second round of voting is over? :hmm:

Fixed.
Now there are two entries numbered 24.Ok the numbering should be right now. :yuhup:
Pardon me for being dense but when can one actually view the feedback thread? After the first round of voting or only after the second round of voting is over?I believe it should be after the second round of voting is over.

Oh, poor Susan...:huggles: Hang in there, Sweetie!

Thank you Anhelda...you are so very sweet!

I'm sure I've just missed it due to being too tired, but how long is voting open?

I'm sure I've just missed it due to being too tired, but how long is voting open?

The first round of voting ends April 27th.

My PC restarted while posting in the voting (best overall) thread. So I don't know whether it was already posted or should I post once more?

Your votes are there :)

Wow! Voted, that was a tough task ! Good luck to all who entered.

Voting ends the day after my dad's birthday, that'll help me remember. I need to get my voting done.

Yes, this is going to be another tough vote, because so many of the entries are fantastic. It's always so amazing to see how talented and creative everyone is here on COS (not to mention a little frustrating when one has to make choices amongst so much quality...;) )

I voted and commented a couple of days ago. But yes, I did have to make some very tough choices.

I can help make your decision easier...

Ah only 27th, good thing I can do what I can do best when it comes to submitting and voting. Procrastinating! *twiddles thumbs for the next nine days*

I can help make your decision easier...

:rotfl:

I was wondering why the voting window is so long this time? :hmm: :scared:

I was wondering why the voting window is so long this time? :hmm: :scared:

I was wondering that too. :hmm:

I was wondering why the voting window is so long this time? :hmm: :scared:

I didn't notice it until just now :lol: I just assumed that it was this Tuesday, oh well, I've voted now anyway.

we will make a selection for best overall and best choice 1 entry

So, here in the first round we only vote for one in the Best Overall category and vote for one in the Round 1 category? Is this correct?

The instructions on how many entries to vote for are in the voting thread.

This round:

We make a selection for best overall (in the final round we vote for a winner) and we make a selection for best Harry Potter related text entry (because we have 17 stories in that category)

So in the final round we have:

5 best Harry Potter related text entry (depends a bit on possible ties)
5 best personal stories
5 visual entries
10+ best overall.

At least that's my current plan.

Oops! Sorry Hes...I was looking in the wrong place (as usual). Thanks for clearing me up! :D


Edit:

Voted, done & done! Whew...that was so hard!

Finally voted! Phew. Great entries, everyone.

Can't wait for the next round! :clap:

Still four days. :grumble:

Personally, I'm happy that the window is this long, because I've been on limited time lately, and I want to give the stories at least one more read-through before I make my final choices for my votes--I should have time to do that this weekend. Although I do appreciate that for those of you who have voted, it is somewhat frustrating to have to wait so long for results....:D

When writing feed back should I do one for my own ?

When writing feed back should I do one for my own ?
I did. :lol:

When writing feed back should I do one for my own ?

Since the feedback won't be revealed until after the voting is over, you don't have to write feedback for your own entry. People used to do it in the past, when feedback was visible during the voting period, so they wouldn't reveal which entry was theirs.

Since the feedback won't be revealed until after the voting is over, you don't have to write feedback for your own entry. People used to do it in the past, when feedback was visible during the voting period, so they wouldn't reveal which entry was theirs.

I know why the feedbacks are being held back but this thread is very inactive as a result. :sigh:

Will the feedback thread be not visible to all those who voted early in the second round? I remember that during one of the tasks in the last contest, people who had already voted could access the feedback thread via 'password'. :hmm:

That would mean we have to create a whole new forum for one thread.

That would mean we have to create a whole new forum for one thread.

Ok, that's fine really. Just wondering...:)

Posted some feed back I hope it will be liked .

Will the new round open tomorrow, or will we have to wait a few days while everything gets sorted out and tallied up? :)

Can't tell yet :)

Take your time!

I couldn't decide so didn't vote this round. I loved too many of the entries, great work everyone.

And voting is closed :D

Voting for the final round has started. you can see the voting instructions here (http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=124536)

Congrats to the finalists :clap:! I find the voting very difficult..

Congrats to all the finalists!!! :clap:

Some tough choices ahead.

Congrats to the finalists! As everyone else has said, the choices are difficult!

The voting window is so short this time! :wow:

The voting closes tomorrow- Sunday - 8pm GMT

which is 3pm in the afternoon in Chicago.

http://www.worldtimezone.com/

Finally voted! So many great entries, good luck all! :clap:.

Aaaaaaaaaand voting is closed. Thanks to those who voted!

Congrats to the winners. :clap:

Congrats to the winners! :clap:

ETA:

And I'd like to thank those who voted for my entry in either round:

LFM, Bellatrix93, SIP, arithmancer, baseballblondie, gelowo93, HMN, Anhelda, texan_muggle, Dan_the_Man

I appreciate your support!

And thanks to those who gave me feedback:

Bellatrix93, baseballblondie, Leah49, twinsrule26, Anhelda

I really appreciate it!

Great contest! On to the next round!

Cogratulations to the winners, and a big "thank you" for all the lovely reviews despite my selfishness regarding the identity of my main character. :)

Oh my goodness... thanks so much for the votes and feedback, everyone! I'm so very happy right now. :clap:

And congratulations to all the winners. :huggles:

Congratulations to the winners--well done! :tu:

And as always, thanks to the mods for putting it all together and not leaving us in suspense about the results! :clap:

ETA: I'd also like to thank the people who voted for my Dai Llewellyn entry in the preliminary rounds: LoonyforMoony, ccollinsmith, arithmancer, leah49, FurryDice, vigneshnimbus, and TWZRD, I appreciate your support.

Congrats to the winners!! :clap:

Thank you to all who voted for me. :huggles: and thank you for the feedback for my entry. It made me cry a bit.

This task was easy for me because for the last 15 years I've had the same regret - I never got to say goodbye to my dad when he died. It's not at all fair, but has helped me give others good advice when they have a sick friend or parent. And for those of you who asked in the feedback - that is me and my dad. I was 3 years old and it's my favorite picture of the two of us. :)

This task was easy for me because for the last 15 years I've had the same regret - I never got to say goodbye to my dad when he died. It's not at all fair, but has helped me give others good advice when they have a sick friend or parent. And for those of you who asked in the feedback - that is me and my dad. I was 3 years old and it's my favorite picture of the two of us.
As I said in my feed back yours was a real tear jerker . Thank you again for sharing it with us HMN.

Thank you so much to everyone who voted for my story :) thanks to the mods for all their hard work, and to those who took the trouble to write feedback on all the entries.

Thank you to ccollinsmith, gelow93, gottriplets, twinsrule26, and WildOldDan for voting for me, even though I did not make it out of the first round. There were too many wonderful entries as competition!

:huggles: Thanks so much to those who voted for me :huggles: I worked really hard on my drawing/painting (I'm kind of new to digital art and I'm not sure if it's called a drawing or a painting :lol:)

:huggles: Thanks so much to those who voted for me :huggles: I worked really hard on my drawing/painting (I'm kind of new to digital art and I'm not sure if it's called a drawing or a painting :lol:)

It was really good, Rell. :huggles:

This task was easy for me because for the last 15 years I've had the same regret - I never got to say goodbye to my dad when he died. It's not at all fair, but has helped me give others good advice when they have a sick friend or parent. And for those of you who asked in the feedback - that is me and my dad. I was 3 years old and it's my favorite picture of the two of us. Voted for you! So happy you won. :huggles: Your entry was beautiful and made me cry so much. I'm actually crying a bit right now just thinking about it.

My entry was #7. And as someone mentioned in their feedback about my wanting to do more than end it rather abruptly, I was already having to cut words out to get the 800 max. :lol

Thanks so much to those who voted for me in the first round: LoonyforMoony, ginger1, vigneshnimbus, twinsrule26, texan_muggle, and FurryDice. And in the second round: LoonyforMoony and HMN.

Also thanks to all who left feedback. Someone asked why it took six years before I used the stone, well my short is answer that I stuffed it in my trunk and forgot all about it.

Thank you RemusLupinFan for the brilliant banner. :) I would really love it as my sig, but I have no idea about how to do it. (And reading "siggies for dummies" is no help - I'm dumber than a dummy - my son put my present sig up for me - but he's in Australia ...)