Advanced Studies Update

This week's Advanced Studies Update is focusing on the Order of the Phoenix!

BROOMs have been submitted and missions/phoenixes have begun!

So, who all is attempting a phoenix, you ask?  Here's a fancy chart with the breakdown by house:

And in case you wanted to know what kind of missions people are taking on, here is another chart!

Good luck to all the operatives out there!  

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And in other news, more of our NEWTlings have reached 50%!

NaturallyKnitty's Socks & Stockings

CindiKnits' various projects

LNS's projects

                                                  

Greenheron's lovely collection!

Next week I'll be back with some statistics on OWLs!

Advanced Studies Update: So many proposals!

BROOMs and OWLs are flying all over Hogwarts!

As of Saturday morning, there were **242** OWL proposals approved!  I think this means we need to give a great big shout out to our amazing OWL examiners and assistants:

13moonsago 

damiknitter

KatieMc1229 

kimanneberly

Mindysue

Shadawyn 

softnshiny 

Stacymarie

Additionally, we have had an amazing story unfold from our Order of the Phoenix staff.  They truly are amazing and are continuing the magic through their interaction with Order hopefuls.  If you haven't already checked out the thread, do so!  There is amazing storytelling happening!  Shout outs to:

GazeboGal

Isisonearth

TheWindWraith

Vox8

If you want to get in on the storytelling, make sure you check out the OOTP role playing thread.  This gives us, as Order members/hopefuls, a place to continue the magical storytelling.

And, finally, our NEWTlings are hard at work, entering their second month of the four-month challenge.  Go, NEWTlings, go!

P.S. Have you created your OOTP/Hogwarts persona?  I have!  I'm Emmeline Chilcott.  I still have a bit of work to do on my background story, but if you have your persona, tell me about him/her!

Order of the Phoenix: What's all this noise?

The story began here... 

The Great Hall is abuzz! DrusillaWormwood has returned to the castle - giving orders from a stretcher! AlexisT is managing in an arm splint; Mushroom is limping heavily; Seakame is guiding their several carpetbags with her wand, showing only a slight twitch, but she is meeting no one’s eyes. School Nurse Boppingbeth was seen leading them to the infirmary with cups of chamomile tea.

Ravenclaws speak in low tones, “How did Vox8 get past Eagle Eye? That was some amazing spellwork!” Slytherins are all wearing their scarves indoors and clutching hot chocolate, as though a cold wind - like the one that perpetually surrounds TheWindWraith - had blown through their dungeon. Gryffindors are chatting about GazeboGal and her surprising entrance in their tower on her Electron 3K broom.

The Hufflepuffs are all bending over various pieces of paper with hastily-scratched notes. One of them makes a face at a second-year. “I don’t think that IsisOnEarth’s central message was ‘learn to make mojitos’, Evan!” The youngster looks discouraged, but they turn to JMN, who took copious and tidy notes.

“It’s all in learning the right way to make a Quick Quotes Quill, badgers,” she says. Then Geminio! she makes a few dozen copies of her notes. “Share them all around - all houses,” she says as she passes them about.

You get your hands on a copy of JMN’s neat script and read hastily while your dormmates crowd around you.

• Order of the Phoenix prompts will change 
• The Order of the Phoenix schedule will change 
• April 1 is Fred & George’s birthday
• Each House has a pre-January Order advice-giver
• Read the Order of the Phoenix thread carefully on New Year’s Day
• re-stock dried blueberries

Mission: Claiming Victory!

Wednesday, 9:00 hours.

Mission Closing Report:

I believe it is safe to say that, due to the amazing work of our operatives, we can claim victory!  I am so pleased with the work of all of our operatives and cannot express my joy at our collective accomplishments.  We have helped wizards in need, guarded the muggles, recruited the giants, goblins, & others, an made headquarters a dazzlingly wonderful place to be.

So today, I tip my hat to all of you operatives out there.  Congratulations on a job well done.

I must now go and prepare the owlery for next term.  Until then, keep crafting for the Order, for Hogwarts, and, most of all, for the joy it brings to you.

Happy Holidays!

AbbyEBee, signing off.

This message will self-destruct in 10... 9... 8... 7...

Mission: Accomplished

Wednesday, 8:00 hours.

Mission Report:

The parliament is arriving!  We've seen a small group of them come in, but I'm expecting a deluge any day now.

Here are some of the beautiful things they've brought back with them to headquarters:

from Barknknit

from Timeless1

from Froggie3ds

from KnitInferno

from clmnj58

from straayerliz

from Knittingnearsided

from Tangeldav

from KnitWit685

from Uncia

from PatriciaO

These are such wonderful objects.  I can only imagine how pleased our mission commanders are with these operatives!

Be swift in completing your mission - the final call is coming quickly!

AbbyEBee, signing off.

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Mission: Telling the Tale

Wednesday, 8:00 hours.

Mission Report:

The owls are beginning to bring in long rolls of parchment.  I am stunned at some of what I've been reading; our operatives are brave, to say the least.

A few of our operatives have been quite detailed in their reports.  Perhaps if you read them you will be inspired as you work towards finishing your mission.  Only aliases will be used here, although real names are listed in the reports.

Rubyyarn, who is working in diagonally, has provided a detailed saga of her time spent on her mission.

Abycat has also provided us with a few detailed accounts of her endeavors.

We've also been privy to quite the story from ElizabethsMommy.

Finally, FlyKitten has told us her tale.

I know there are others who have provided wonderful narratives of their mission progress, but I am exhausted from the preparations for the imminent owl inundation.  Just a few more days until completed mission reports will be flying into headquarters -- literally!

AbbyEBee, signing off.

This message will self-destruct in 10... 9... 8... 7...

MISSON: no news is good news

Wednesday, 8:00 hours.

Mission Report:

I am beginning to worry about some of the missions that are currently underway.  Some operatives are sending in reports on their ongoing missions, yet many have remained silent.  I suspect it is because they are deep into their mission and do not want to risk a compromise.  I can only assume that no news is good news and await the owls expected to be arriving in the next few weeks.

Those that are reporting are very near completion.  I would like to encourage you in your endeavors for the Order by sharing some of the documents they have submitted.  Many have been sneaky, using Muggle-type photographs to conceal their missions. I will be using the operatives code names (Rav names) so as to keep their cover safe should this be intercepted.

dixiehellcat, who is serving as an operative on the Knight Bus

jessajune, who has been helping to clean HQ and make it more comfortable

rubyyarn, an operative working in Diagon Alley

adevinelife, who is working with the advance guard to protect Muggle babies

I trust these documents will be inspirational to you as you continue to work towards completing your mission.  I must go, however, as I anticipate many owls are headed this way and the owlery must be prepared for rapid influx of residents.  An owl receiver's work is never done.

AbbyEBee, signing off.

This message will self-destruct in 10... 9... 8... 7...

Mission: Conversations with Commanders, part four

Wednesday, 8:00 hours.

Mission Report:

We are starting to see some missions near finishing.  It is exciting to know of all the work out there done on behalf of the Order.  The owls are beginning to trickle in with even more updates on missions.

This week I found myself in a room with commander alexist.  My interview went as follows:

Name (RavId): alexist
Command: Security Operations
It's often been heard that during the first wizarding war, Dumbledore created a way for Order members to speak to each other via talking patronuses... patroni?  Moving on - what form does your patronus take?
My patronus takes the form of an arctic wolf.

What's your non-order day job?


During Quidditch season you can often find me out on the Pitch with my teammates, The Waiting Werewolves!  I've also been known to do a bit of Curse Breaking, sometimes even on purpose.  Never could resist getting myself into a tight spot.  ;)

Wait, you mean right now?  Oh, a little of this, a little of that.  Hey look!  Is that a Cornish Pixie over there?



What's your hidden talent?

Well if I told you my hidden talents, they wouldn't stay hidden, now would they?

But um...  Did you realize I arrived at this interview an hour ago?  No, you didn't notice?  Fantastic!  Sorry, didn't mean to make you jumpy -- gotta keep the skills sharp.

Here, have a sip of this to calm you down.  It's a really perky batch of Chocolate Mint Wolfs' Ba-  Yeah, that's gonna freak you out even more, isn't it?  OK, next question!



What made you want to take a lead role in the Order?


Remus Lupin was a special mentor of mine.  Where he leads it's impossible not to follow!  And that's the thing with The Order -- you can muster all your desire to fight the good fight, but until someone shows you the way inside...

They needed someone with a strong arm that no one would see coming.  And I started to see some things about myself that others would call a curse could actually be my greatest assets.



What was your first mission you undertook for the Order?

Oh gosh, I started way back when, doing a little reconnaissance. I still do a lot of that today!  I can't disclose any specifics, but Quidditch and Curse Breaking both provide excellent cover for traveling around at a moment's notice.

And if one of my traveling trunks happens to thunk and shake, everyone assumes it's a bludger.


Anything else you want to add?

I have to say, the enthusiasm of The Order's new recruits has been really inspiring!  Dark Magic won't know what hit it!

And with that, I'll let you get going.  I've got to be off too.  No really, I'm heading off -- you won't see a thing from me!



I trust your mission is going smoothly.  I look forward to hearing from more operatives as they begin to finish their missions.

AbbyEBee, signing off.

This message will self-destruct in 10... 9... 8... 7...

Mission: Conversations with Commanders, part three

Wednesday, 8:00 hours.

Mission Report:

I am continually amazed by our operatives.  Many are finding success, some are coming against obstacles but are pressing forward in an effort to further the Order's cause.

This week I found myself able to speak with commander Mushroom.  My interview went as follows:

Name (RavId): Mushroom
Command: Recruitment Chief
It's often been heard that during the first wizarding war, Dumbledore created a way for Order members to speak to each other via talking patronuses... patroni?  Moving on - what form does your patronus take?
My patronus takes the form of a Mustang.

What's your non-order day job?

I work part time in the Ministry in the Regulation for Magical Transportation Department.  I give apparition tests and fill out loads of paperwork.  The rest of my time is spent working on my family farm.  We have a large forest where we cultivate and harvest a large variety of mushrooms for magical and culinary uses.  The culinary mushrooms are mostly a front for the Muggles though they are bought by witches and wizards as well.


What's your hidden talent?
Generations back my grandmother was a Silkie.  Other than that I'm a plain old witch.

What made you want to take a lead role in the Order?

"Since my family has lived on our large estate for many generations they have been relatively isolated from the politics and ""hubub"" (as they call it) of the wizarding world.  They were neither for nor against you-know-who during the wars.  Out of sight, out of mind as it were.  In many ways they were like the conscientious objectors in the Muggle world.  They were happy to just be farmers.

I on the other hand, wanted to make a difference.  I really enjoy teaching and even taught Herbology for a term at Hogwarts.  I thought I could help out most as part of the Order and when I found out that we were teaming up with students at Hogwarts I jumped at the chance.  "


What was your first mission you undertook for the Order?
My family doesn't have a shop in Diagon Alley but we are suppliers for many of the potions shops.  Many of the shopkeepers have known me since I was a child so I have a deep connection with them.  Even some of the more shady stores are friendly to me and my family.  Though it wasn't official, I think of my first mission as gaining all of those contacts and laying my web of informants.  Unoffically, I've been in recruitment for a very long time.

Anything else you want to add?
Thank you for doing this interview!


I hope this helps you as you strive to complete your mission. I will report again once I have had a chance to speak with our final commander.

AbbyEBee, signing off.

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MISSION: Conversations with Commanders, part two

Wednesday, 8:00 hours.

Mission Report:

I am still happily fulfilling my role as owl receiver at headquarters.  It seems as though the newly approved members of the Order are quite busy on their missions as I have seen several updates come through the owlery here. Rubyyarn has been keeping us updated in her suspenseful story, should you like to hear what's going on in a particular mission.

Besides the few owls that have ventured from active Order members with mission updates, not much has been occurring here at headquarters. Fortunately, I was able to speak with another of the commanders this week. My interview went as follows:

Name (RavId): seakame
Command: Undercover Operations
It's often been heard that during the first wizarding war, Dumbledore created a way for Order members to speak to each other via talking patronuses... patroni?  Moving on - what form does your patronus take?
My patronus takes the form of a raccoon.

What's your non-order day job?

"::shifty eyes::

I can't reveal too much about my day job. It involves copious amounts of paperwork, cheese and goats. Ministry head hunters have been after me for years. I keep telling them that ""I'm not the auror you are looking for."" The never get the muggle reference. One of these days I'm going to take a sabbatical and travel the world looking for other wizarding communities."


What's your hidden talent?
My hidden talent, hmmm. Ah yes, I know one of them I can share that won't get me in too much trouble with my supervisors. I was charmed at birth to have "sneaky feet". I can come and go with relative ease. Most often I am not noticed. It's a very handy ability to have while working for the Order, as you can imagine. I've heard the sneaky feet charm is very hard to master. There are fewer and fewer professors who know how to cast it, so  people with sneaky feet are becoming very rare. I hope to learn the spell one day.

What made you want to take a lead role in the Order?
I know this guy named Steve. Even among witches and wizards he's considered somewhat half baked. Well, back in 2009, I believe it was June, he told me about this fantastic group. I sighed and let him continue. It turns out Steve crackpot behavior is to throw others off his trail. He took me to a meeting and the rest is history. Plus do-gooding and all the free scones I can eat doesn't hurt either.

What was your first mission you undertook for the Order?
My first mission was a small one, but I was able to gain very valuable information on Lu... Wait, wait, wait, I've said too much already.

Anything else you want to add?
I have been thrilled with the number and variety of missions all the operatives have come up with. I will continue to make myself available to anyone. I expect we will see great things in November.


I trust you will find this information helpful as you continue your mission.  I will report again once I have had a chance to speak with another commander.

AbbyEBee, signing off.

This message will self-destruct in 10... 9... 8... 7...

MISSION: Conversations with Commanders, part one

Wednesday, 8:00 hours.

Mission Report:

Since the signal has been given, I've found the various commanders of the Order to be a bit... restless.  As such, I've been able to get some time with them and have asked them a few questions.  I think you will find their answers most enlightening.

I was only able to get in touch with commander DrusillaWormwood this week.  I hope to speak with all of the commanders in turn.

My interview went as follows:

Name (RavId): DrusillaWormwood
Command: Central Command
It's often been heard that during the first wizarding war, Dumbledore created a way for Order members to speak to each other via talking patronuses... patroni?  Moving on - what form does your patronus take?
My patronus takes the form of a raven.

What's your non-order day job?
I work at the family business, Slug and Jiggers Apothecary in Diagon Alley.  I am a Potions Master and Herbologist, especially skilled in poisons and antidotes.  I do some contract work for the Ministry from time to time, and I put in some volunteer hours every month at St. Mungos Hospital for Magical Maladies.

What's your hidden talent?
I invented the spell that conjures tequila.

What made you want to take a lead role in the Order?
Even though my pure blood heritage and family history of Slytherin seem somehow opposed to the Order ideals, we are not a family of dark witches and wizards.  We have always supported the goals and ideals which the Order represent, and in the great effort against He-who-must-not-be-named, my family allowed the Order use of our facilities when needed and passed intel to the Order whenever possible.  Although I am the first in the family to formally join the Order, I'm hardly the first to be involved in helping them.

What was your first mission you undertook for the Order?
My first official Mission was actually very mundane, but put my expertise to good use.  I was asked to test various potions ingredients and check them for purity and adulterations.  There had been several attempts on the part of the Death Eaters to pass poisons and cursed substances into circulation and into the stores at Hogwarts through various sources, so I spent many months moving between Hogsmeade and Diagon Alley, testing potions ingredients for many hours.  Not exactly exciting and glamorous, but my work insured the safety of our supply stores.

Anything else you want to add?
Not at this time.


I hope this report proves most informative for you.  I will report again once I have had a chance to speak with another commander.

AbbyEBee, signing off.

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MISSION: broomtastic

Wednesday, 08:00 hours

Mission Report:

It was my hope to get interviews with the commanders this week.  While they are here at headquarters, they are much too busy receiving and reviewing BROOMs to be able to talk to a probie like me.  They work feverishly night and day in attempt to get all BROOMs reviewed before the October 1st signal is given.


As a substitute, I've utilized my duty as owl receiver to sneak a peek at a few more BROOMs.  These BROOMs are special as they include self-designed elements.  There are four that I've come across so far, but I only have enough time away from my duties to report on two of them at this time.  Perhaps I'll be able to get enough time away from the owls to report on the other two next week.

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Ravelry name: Jonathaniel 
House: Slytherin 
Mission Department: Undercover Ops - Work at Gringotts

Dear Members of the Order of the Phoenix,

My name is Tristan Gamp and I am contacting you today to volunteer my services and skills for the Undercover Operations section of the Order of the Phoenix. I believe I would be most adequately placed to work Bill Weasley at Gringotts. Please see below for a sample of my work.

 (or project page)

Even while still at Hogwarts I was already interested in the various aids available to witches and wizard with regards to stealth and invisibility. Not everyone can afford a costly Invisibility Cloak after all! I have travelled extensively to discover a broad variety of plant and animal products to use in stealth wear. 
But enough of my research - which I am sure we will have more than enough time to discuss in more detail at a later date.

I have found a basic lace pattern that I will adept for a lovely rectangular shawl as well as a yarn that is elegant in its simplicity yet sophisticated with its unobtrusive silver highlights. I am sure the Goblins will admire both the craftsmanship and the material. What’s more, the yarn was died with a blend including Peruvian Instant Darkness powder and the shawl can thus be used for undercover mission as it will allow the wearer to not attract attention.

In the hopes that my project will receive your favourable consideration, I remain faithfully yours,

Tristan Gamp

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Ravelry name: Drake 
House: Ravenclaw 
Mission Department: Undercover Ops

Ariadne Drake enters the Hog’s Head, laden with a paper sack from Honeydukes as well as bags from Scrivenshaft’s and Dervish & Banges. She orders a drink, and settles with her (slightly grungy) mug in a shadowy corner. She leaves some twenty minutes later, leaving a small tip on the bar.

Aberforth scoops up the handful of change, his sharp eyes picking out the silver denarius among the sickles. He flips it casually in his hand, noting it was minted in the reign of Emperor Septimius Severus. He drops it into a smoked-glass pitcher under the bar; the ringing sound is heard far away in the kitchen of Grimmaud Place, notifying the Mission Chiefs that a Broom has been delivered to the hollow leg of a shabby cane chair in a Hogsmeade pub. Soon, a magical summoning draws the scrap of parchment to Order Headquarters, and the hollow leg stands, once again, empty.

Dear Mission Chief,

I, Ariadne Drake, wish to use a family contact to infiltrate the Deatheaters’ organization. In order to carry out this perilous mission, I will design and craft winter accessories (Hat or hats, mitts and/or scarf, totalling not less than 400 yards of knitting, plus at least one pattern ready for test knitting) that will blend seamlessly into the Muggle world, but that will, to those in the know, proclaim my identity as a witch.

Though I have improvised patterns in the past, I have no experience writing them down, and will thus be developing a new skill. I also intend to conceal a spare wand (a good idea for anyone who intends to infiltrate the Deatheaters) amongst cables in at least one of the items, and my cabling experience is minimal. I expect to spend a week, or perhaps two, swatching; and a further two weeks creating the first item. I anticipate a week of pattern-writing, then an additional two to four weeks applying the design motif to other items (with notes, but probably not true patterns) or creating further designs.

I can only hope that the Deatheaters will not perceive the duality of my designs.

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Remember, the signal is coming in just a few days for missions to begin.  And if you submitted your BROOM, be patient, as the commanders are working to review them all before the go.

AbbyEBee, signing off.

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Mission: Sweep of the BROOMs

Wednesday, 08:00 hours

Mission Report:

I have found myself in the position of owl receiver for the Order.  While it is a slightly smelly, messy job, I do enjoy the company of birds and have found sorting through the post quite interesting.  One of my jobs as owl receiver is to sort through the incoming BROOMs and make sure they are seen by the appropriate commander.

One BROOM caught my eye as I was sorting.  I trust that sharing this with you will not compromise the safety of this operative.  Perhaps it will help you to decide what to do for your BROOM, should you desire to take on a mission.

The following is the BROOM received from Hogwarts student Gatty Crawford.

It’s a rainy Tuesday afternoon, and the Leaky Cauldron is full to overflowing with damp and grumpy witches and wizards. So Order Commander Seakame barely looks up from her Daily Prophet when Gatty Crawford pulls up a chair to her table, setting down a mug of steaming butterbeer

“Mind sharing? Crowded today!”
“No, please, sit.”

Gatty opens “Ancient Runes Made Easy”, and, with a sigh, starts flipping through an enormous pile of class notes, which slowly expand to cover the entire table. Reaching the end of a chapter, she gathers up the strewn papers, wishes seakame a good evening, and heads out onto Diagon Alley

“Wait!” Seakame calls, “You forgot a page!” But Gatty is already out the door. What a scatterbrain! thinks Seakame, now I suppose I’ll have to chase after her…in the rain, too. And all for some Ancient Runes notes. Except…these aren’t Ancient runes notes…

Dear Commander Seakame,

Gatty Crawford (aka sarahlouise of Hufflepuff), writing to request formal permission to undertake a secret operation, forming allegiances with the goblins of Gringotts bank. In these times, more than ever, we need to build relationships among magical people devoted to justice. It is crucially important, however, that we achieve this without arousing the suspicions of either the radical goblin factions or the supremacist elements in the wizarding community--what good would opening lines of communication do if the only effect was to start a war? I have established contact with Urgan, the elder goblin gemcrafter at Gringotts, who is sympathetic to our cause. He has agreed to aid me in this pursuit, and to provide cover for me as his apprentice in gemwork. In order to make this convincing, I will be crafting a fine rope studded with thousands of tiny periodots, a stone known to be power in alleviating anxiety and forging interpersonal ties.

If all is successful, I hope to see the Minister of Magic present this rope as a gift of friendship to the Goblin Leader, Gobblebeak, by the end of my mission.

P.S. I will craft the rope (3-ply sock) from this BFL roving:

P.P.S. I, of course, await formal permission from the order. I can be found at Hogwarts, in the meantime.

I hope this has served as proper inspiration.  Remember, you have until the 24th of this month (that is three days from now!) to submit a BROOM.  Missions are slotted to take at least 6-8 weeks and may not be started unless approved.  The signal to begin will be given on October 1st.

I must get back to the makeshift owlery of Order headquarters to clean up the... well, the owl "leftovers" as I like to call them.

AbbyEBee, signing off.

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Mission: Learning the Ropes

Wednesday, 8:00 hours.

Mission Report:

I've been working hard to understand all that is going on at headquarters.  This place is huge, although completely invisible to those who don't know it's here.  A wonderful security feature.  As such, I must refrain from putting the headquarters location in my reports, should they fall into the wrong hands.

In continuing to get to know the commanders, I've spent some time around Mushroom, head of Recruitment.  Mushroom has laid out the following missions:

Negotiate with the Giants 

Hagrid had to give some very special magical gifts to the chief of the giants before he could begin negotiations. Make a gift that would impress a giant.

Potential Targets:

Anything to do with fire

Relating to Goblin Made Armor/Weapons

Other Targets: Dragon Skin, anything magical

Work in Diagon Alley

All British wizards and witches do at least some of their shopping here. Not only can we keep an eye on the general wizarding world, we can meet potential new recruits here unobtrusively and mingle to find anything and anyone we need. Craft something you would find in a shop on Diagon Alley.

Potential Targets:

Eeylops Owl Emporium

Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions

Scribbulus Everchanging Inks

TerrorTours

Other Targets: Check out a list of Diagon Alley Shops


I have also worked to be near seakame, head of Undercover Operations.  There are two UC missions:

Work at Gringotts

Bill Weasley worked at Gringotts and tried to keep an eye on developments with the goblins. Craft something that the goblins would value. (Ex: intricate workmanship, inspired by metals or jewels, ancient pattern, etc.)

Potential Targets:

Use the new KnitPicks Stroll Glimmer or other metallic yarn

Cables, cables, and more cables

Other Targets: Jewel tone yarns, jewelry, intricate construction with lots of seaming

Spy on the Deatheaters

Severus Snape spied on He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named to gain information for the Order. He did so at great personal risk and was eventually killed by Voldemort. Snape walked a perilous line between two worlds. Craft something that works in two worlds.

Potential Targets:

Laptop cozy and other travel/office accessories for work & home

Something reversible

Other Targets: day/night (maybe a nice cardigan that pairs both with jeans and a dress), city/country (perhaps a shawl you can wear as a kerchief or fashionable accessory)

As a reminder to both myself and to you, these commanders are accepting BROOMs (Basic Requests for Official Order Missions) from September 14th to 24th.  Once approval is given October 1st, Order members will have until November 30th to complete their missions.  I have been told in the past week that missions should take approximately 6-8 weeks to complete.

I also have often heard the words "sell it."  It appears that a very essential part of a successful BROOM is a good story -- and perhaps a wink and a smile would get you somewhere, too.

I do hope to soon be able to report on some of the other recruits I have met.  Look for my next message in 7 days.

AbbyEBee, signing off.

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