welcome to &. not. meant. to. be.

[ryan dranson]

Dear lucky contestant

You have won the amazing prize of entertaining a very attractive looking man for the rest of this History of Magic Class!I know it's a wonderful prize but please try not to break down in tears.

First off how do you feel abot winning this prize
and second how honoured do you feel?

From
The very attractive looking manin History of Magic

[nalissa bannon]

Hah, that's a good one. Only I suggest that this particular - er, attractive-looking man, did you say? - be careful who he hits in the head with flying notes. Or else he might wake up some morning with hair coloured like the rainbow. And I can fix it so you can't get it off with the normal charms, either. Just ask my brother, he had hot pink and aquamarine hair for two weeks after he thought it would be funny to send me a Howler for my birthday last year.

How do I feel, hrm. Interesting question. Well, to tell the truth, a bit like charming this parchment into an owl and making it peck you in the head.. but I guess that might be overkill, you think?

Hrm, I dunno about honored. I think it might be more fun if the guy throwing it at me was doing it to get my attention for a different reason, to be honest. But if you want to be entertained, I can tell you that ages-old joke about the hippogriff and the Cornish pixie...

Wondering how she could POSSIBLY be more interesting than the names of the twelve thousand some odd goblin rebels whose names she had to memorize when she was five (as if anything short of flobberworms could be duller),
Nalissa

[ryan dranson]

Dear Nalissa

Pink and aquamarine hair did you say, I'm sure he became very popular, did he end up in hospital with bruises? Also my dear charming my hair rainbow colours would probably do wonders, my mother would freak out and probably have a heart attack which means I would probably propose to you.

I do believe charming this paper into an owl would be overkill, I mean it's not likeI meant for it to hit you in the head, although I'm sure if it didn't it wouldn't of woken anyone up from the daily stupor.

What sort of attention are you looking for because there is this Ravenerd I know who would love to take any girl out on a date, the catch is though is that he's actually a girl in disguise so that may possibly turn you off a tad

From the still incredibly attractive looking man

[nalissa bannon]

Oh, he got plenty of bruises, all right, but most of them were from me. If the little twerp thinks he's better with a wand than his sister who's two years older, he deserves a few.

Well, sorry, but I don't pull pranks to kill people. Although I did shock a Ravenclaw into fainting one time, and Vee and I charmed the beetles that my second cousin and her friend were trying to Transfigure so that they grew a little, and ickle Roni almost wet herself. But those are funny, dead mothers are not. I should know, my mother died two months ago.

Unlike most people, I can actually stay conscious in Binns's class if I want to. But that's IF I want to. I don't really see much point in it usually, since I've been taught all this stuff since I can remember, anyway.

"A tad," right. That's like calling the Mariana Trench a ditch in the ocean. Accurate, but the queen mother of understatements.

-Nali

[ryan dranson]

Dear Nali

I apologise I should've thought of that. My mother is a right old hag though, seriously she could take on He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named in the evilness stakes. Then again she's only evil to me for some reason, I mean I'm not that bad.

Your pranks sound rather amusing of course when not done to myself I find all pranks amusing as would most people.

I think you deserve a medal for staying conscious in this class. I mean really how could anyone? His voice is just so, so dronable, he never sounds excited, angry or any other emotion.

Hey you never know how desperate some people can get you know.

From
The most awesome person you'll ever meet

[nalissa bannon]

You should've thought of that? How'd you even know about it, I'd like to know?

Oh, I doubt that. Unless, of course, she goes around killing random people for being 'blood traitors,' in which case I'd have to agree with you.

Probably true. But I don't mind being pranked as long as I know it's all in good fun (how could I, hanging around with the girls in my year?), I don't know why some people freak out about it.

That's true; but he's not as bad as my brother. You know, the one with the multi-coloured hair. He could put you into a coma with his History of Magic speeches. I think that's what I'd hear if I ran into a dementor: 'And in the year 1456, Bodrod the Bearded blah blah blah blah blah blah blah...'

Yeah, well, I'm not, thanks. I'd sign up to listen to a lifetime of Ryan's speeches first -- and that's a scary thought, my friend.

-Nali

[ryan dranson]

Dear Nali

What I meant is I should've thought that maybe your mother had passed. I don't know I just guess parents always seem as though they'll be around forever ya know.

Well she doesn't kill them...Seriously though being stuck with her for a week is torterous. I can't do anything right apparantly and I'm also the worst son a person could ask her. She sounds bloody delightful doesn't she?

It depends on the prank to me. Although I've only been pranked a couple of times because people reackon I'll beat them up if they prank me because I did once when this guy made me spill my coffee. What can I say I like coffee.

Dude your brother does HOM speeches? Have you suggested therapy for him or maybe throwing him off the astronomy tower to knock some sense into him?

If it was me I'd take the trasvestite over speeches anyday, of course that's just probably because I could get out of the date somehow. You'd be surprised at what lengths I have gone to get out of dates.

Your brother's name is Ryan too?

From
The confused yet also hot guy in History of Magic

[nalissa bannon]

No, I knew what you meant. I just like to randomly ramble and confuse and generally bug people sometimes. Unfortunately, it's not quite as much fun in notes, because then you don't get to see their reactions. But meh, it's the point of the thing.

Yeah, it does, but unfortunately life has a way of working out the last way you ever expect. It's just charming that way, you know.

I know the feeling. You ought to hear my uncle go on about how he thinks Muggleborns should be handled for minor infractions to the Statutes: death, torture, dismemberment... He's probably the reason my brother's such a pill, to be honest, but naturally that doesn't mean I let Ryan off for being a jerk to people, either...

Heheheh, maybe my friends and I should try it and see what your response to that would be. I know Vee and Bam-Bam would be on board, but we might have to coerce Abs.

Coffee's good sometimes, but I'm not addicted to it or anything. Most of the time I'd rather eat coffee beans than drink coffee -- you get that nice crunch, and the taste is so much stronger! (Yes, I'm a freak of nature, I know...)

Oh, I've suggested many things, but unfortunately they've all been vetoed by Ryan, Dad, Kelly (my other brother), teachers, Dumbledore, various members of law enforcement...

Nope, not me. If I make a promise, I'll keep it; I'm one of the last of that rare breed of honest people. We're almost extinct, these days. And I think I just might avoid going anywhere near Ravenclaw guys from now on, just on the grounds that I would now be likely to keep wondering if they were actually guys. So thanks for ruining that particular avenue for me, nice job.

Heh, I once tricked a guy into thinking I had dragon pox because he wouldn't quit asking me out. I wonder if that counts?

Yep. Ryan's a third year Slytherin, and Kelly's a first year Gryffindor. (I don't know how, he acts so much like Ryan you'd think they were twins sometimes.) Then I also have a baby sister named Astrid, she's not a year old yet. I do pity you for having the same name as him, though; it's bad enough that I have the same last name, but at least I have some hope of getting rid of mine some day.

-Nali

[ryan dranson]

Dear Nali

I remember my mother almost ran into a muggle one time and made to get away but the muggle called Patty I think began to talk and talk and talk. It's lucky my mother didn't kill her although she did light the poor woman's hair on fire.

Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhh you're Nali, like Abi and Bam-Bam's friend Nali. This makes so much more sense now.

Coffee is great I am addicted and proud to be actually, except Abi dared me not to have any coffee for two months, luckily I think that may be over now...I'm not sure. That was the definition of torture, I was falling asleep everywhere. I resorted to drinking hot chocolate.

I'm sorry I ruined Ravenclaw guys for you although you have to admit they're not that great...not that I rate the guys I see or anything.

So your brother Ryan is in Slytherin too. I haven't heard of him although once I thought I heard a boy begin a speech in the common room but someone performed petrificus totalus before he finished the sentence.

If you don't want to get your brother and me confused you could call me Dragon like OD does, or Stern like Bam Bam does

From
The incredibly attractive, extremely hot, yet in coffee withdrawal guy

[nalissa bannon]

Oh, wow. Didn't she get called to a hearing or anything for that? My mother did once, Dad says, right after they were married, because apparently laws are different in America or something. Or maybe she just wasn't used to there being people around who don't know about magic.

Yep, that's me. Nalissa Bannon, at your service. Not that anybody actually calls me Nalissa except Dad, and Mama when she was alive, but whatever. And I would do the fake twirly bow thing, but I think even Binns might notice something like that. Although you never can tell, it might be an interesting way to get detention.

Whatever you do, don't drink any until you're sure the two months are over! Because if I know Abs, there'll be strange conditions you don't want to face if you mess up. Like the last time I miscalculated one of her dares, I had to wear a Slytherin scarf tied around my arm during a Quidditch match. My own team hit bludgers at me!

Hey, hot chocolate's pretty good. It reminds me of bonfires and s'mores and hayrides and carving pumpkins on halloween. My grandfather used to arrange things like that for us to do when my brothers and I were little and we'd go to visit. It's really fun when you're in a place where everyone knows about magic so there's no worrying and loads of Filibuster's fireworks.

Yeah, sadly that's true, but it's not just the Ravenclaws. It's all the guys at Hogwarts. All the good-looking ones are either jerks, already have girlfriends -- or worse, already have boyfriends.

Ohh, you've gotta be kidding me! You mean somebody actually did that, and I missed it!? Did anybody happen to have a camera on hand? I'll pay good money for that picture!

Heh, Rea's funny with nicknames. If she comes up with one and somebody else uses it, she chews their head off. Anyway, it wouldn't help much, because I also have a cousin and an uncle named Ryan. It's a pretty common name among Irish families, unfortunately. Even Kelly was named for my grandfather, and my name came from some sort of third cousin or something. I think Astrid is the only one in the family who doesn't have a Celtic name, though I couldn't tell you exactly where her name is from.

But keep on your brave face, coffee dude!

-Nali

[ryan dranson]

Dear Nali

She did actually although I think she said it was an accident or I did it or something. She's someone who would let someone else take the fall for something wrong she did. Such a kind lady don't ya think.

Oh don't worry I do not plan on even going near the stuff until the dare is over. I know if I do Abi would probably do something that more then likely would involve eyeliner *shudders*

I don't mind hot chocolate, it just doesn't have enough caffine for me. You're reminding me of America with all that now. Merlin I miss America, saw nearly the whole country when I was younger because we travelled a lot.

Well who said you had to get a boyfriend who's in Hogwarts? You could do one of those pen pels thing. I read about it in a magazin once, what is a pen?

Yeah well this is OD we're talking about. I can't imagine her not being weird or using nicknames. She's a strange, strange child and is far to obssessed with eyeliner for sure.

Thanks for the encouragement

From
Incredibly attractive coffee dude

[nalissa bannon]

How in Merlin's name could she write that off as an accident!? I mean, I set the table on fire once when I was little, but come on. She's a grown witch, she's supposed to have control of her magic by now. Everybody messes up sometimes, of course, but Merlin, I really don't see how anything that drastic could be an accident...

Oi, Reneey's got to her with the eyeliner again? They try to make me wear the stuff, too, so I feel for you. Makeup is evil, I'm telling you. And I'm a girl, so it would be seriously worse for you.

Heheheh, caffeine. That's what tea's for, hon. Caffeine and sugar! I can't drink coffee any way but strong and black, so tea is much better for me. You really don't want to meet me when I'm in caffeine and sugar withdrawal.

You've been to America? I didn't know that, Abi never mentioned it. My mother was from America, you know. Have you ever been to Tennessee? There's a village there called Anvdadisdi, that's where she's from, and it's where my brothers and I were born.

Nobody says so, but it is kind of strange if you don't. I've never even had a real boyfriend, just a couple of jerks I went to Hogsmeade with a couple of times. Probably because I tend to tick most guys off for some reason.

Pens are kind of like quills. Only they don't need inkpots. I'm not sure how, though. Muggles really do have some strange inventions.

That's true. If she weren't awesomely insane, she wouldn't be the Reneey we all know and love. Or tolerate, in some people's cases, but meh. She is far, far too obsessed with eyeliner.. but she can't be cured of it, I'm afraid, I've been trying for years. Ever since she slipped me a sleeping potion and gave me a "makeover" in the Great Hall my third year. Not a pleasant day, although I think a lot of the people in your house got a kick out of it.

Mm, you'll need it. Or at least, I would. I must have my tea, or else I would go into caffeine and sugar withdrawal and probably get sent to Azkaban within the week for exploding a few people.

-Nali

[ryan dranson]

Dear Nali

My mother has a way with words. She's a greta actress you should've seen her, tears, hicoughing the whole works and so she got off.

Well I have to say at least I'm not the only one she's trying to kidnap. Seriously you'd think after Hogsmeade that she wouldleave me alone by now but apparantly not. Also she's in my house so I have her in the common room as well and the dorms. I wish our stairs turned into slides when girls touched them.

Yeah I guess I'm not a really a tea person, it's too...well I can't think of a word to describe it. It's just not strong enough for me I guess. Although there is this great muggle drink called Coca cola which I wouldn't mind right now mmm.

Yeah I was born in America, San Francisco to be precise. We lived there for about two years before we started to travel. I've been to Tennessee but I can't remember anything about it. We moved here when I was ten so this was all a long time ago.

I guess it would be a bit strange, especially since you wouldn't see the person for about ten months of the year.

The things muggles come up with, it's amazing really. I love tv's and fones, they're hilarious contraptions.

Looks like I'm going to have to keep an eye on my drinks for now on then if she does that sort of thing. I thikn it would be worse if she did a makeover on me considering I'm a guy.

From
An awesome guy who is currently craving Coca cola

[nalissa bannon]

Ah, she sounds a lot like my brother Ryan. He's good at the con, too, I keep telling him if he keeps on the way he's going he'll be a Death Eater some day.

Just be glad she isn't in your dorm room. There's never any peace and quiet in mine, there's always Abs wanting me to wear makeup and Ivy wanting me to get my lip pierced and Bam-Bam making noise just for the heck of it. It's really pretty amusing, but there's no place for solace if you have a headache or homework due in two hours.

Ah, yeah, Cokes! I've had them, the Muggles in the Hollow always offer them when I go to visit. I don't like them so much, though, the carbonation bugs me.

Still, that's awesome, though. I don't know anybody else at Hogwarts who's from America. I never lived there, though, just my mom was raised with Cherokee traditions and so she thought we should all be born in a place where the people still remembered the old traditions and everything. We used to go back every summer, but I don't know if we will next year or not. Dad probably won't want to be reminded of it all over again.

Yeah, definitely a little uncomfortable. Especially if you have a knack for getting into random situations the way I do. One year Bam-Bam blew up a potion in my face and I had no eyebrows when I went back, Dad about had a heart attack.

TVs confuse me. I still want to know how they make those pictures move if they can't make the ones they take with a camera do that.

Yeah, really. I doubt she'll try it again, though, the last time she did she wound up getting crushed under a two-hundred-pound fifth year when he finally passed out. That was kind of funny, to be honest...

-Nali

[ryan dranson]

Dear Nali

Wow your dorm room sounds like hell. Just be glad you don't have Truck. He snores like a drunken sailor. Honestly it's such a struggle to resist the temptation to smother him with a pillow just so I can get some sleep.

I love Coca Cola, my mother isn't fond of the drink though and has banned it in the house.

Glad to know I'm not the only person born in America, although I do seem to be the only person with the accent still, well that I know of anyway.

I agree, you'd think if they can invent something like a tv they would be able to make pictures move. Still pictures look so lifeless I don't get it. Fones confuse me, how are you meant to hear someone that's not next to you through a funny shaped thing.

Oh I don't know. I wouldn't rule anything out. I think it may be her life long ambition to cover me in eyeliner

From
The guy in history who fears eyeliner above all else

[nalissa bannon]

Ah, there probably wouldn't be many people who would mind. I'm sure he bugs your roommates, too - maybe you can get them to help you! You know, everybody take turns so that nobody can actually tell who really did it. Or maybe try a Dreamless Sleep Potion; my mom used to make them for my dad and apparently they helped his snoring.

The taste is okay, but the carbonation annoys me. It's weird.

My mother had an accent. Sometimes I'll say something like she used to, but in general I don't have an accent.

I don't, either. I've heard Muggles saying that pictures look just like the people they were taken of, but I just can't see that. They look like wax figures in still photographs!

I think her lifelong ambition is to cover the world in eyeliner...

-Nali

[ryan dranson]

Dear Nali

Hmm thanks for the info I will try that. If I can steal some from the hospital wing. It wouldn't be a first time but don't tell anyone!

Yeah everyone here has their English accent. I don't mind too much, makes me stand out a bit and I like that. I doubt I'll ever really get and English accent because my parents are American so they still have their accent as well.

I know! They just stand there with a smile, it's kinda freak actually especiall when you move about and their eyes seems to follow you, that freaks me out. I much prefer moving pictures at least everyone looks alive then.

You know you're probably right. I think she may need to be locked up somewhere tight

From
The hot history guy who wants coffee

[nalissa bannon]

Yeah, right. We all nick stuff from the hospital wing or kitchens or similar places on occasion. Anyway, look who you're talking to. If you honestly think I've never done anything similar, you need to get your head checked. You just might be in serious withdrawal.

My mother never did. She had the same accent as my grandparents until the day she died.

Yeah, at least our photos don't act like creepy stalkers. Well, except for that one portrait on the fifth floor... I still think that baron or whoever he is was a pervert...

The only problem is that she wouldn't stay there. We locked her in a supply closet one time, for a joke... and she blew it up. The scary part was that she didn't even mean to.

-- Nali

[ryan dranson]

Dear Nali

Oh yeah heh I kinda forgot you're friends with the Hogwarts pranksters, you guys are infamous you know. Either way I am in withdrawal! Abi won't let me have coffee until this month is over, it's going to get me killed ya know!

Oh yeah I know who you're talking about, I'm pretty sure he is so I'd stay away if I were you.

Oh great! I'm going to be stuck looking over my shoulder for life now. How can she blow something up without even meaning to? Hey do you reckon Azkaban will hold her? Or maybe someone should steal all her eyeliners...somehow

From coffee withdrawal guy

[nalissa bannon]

Yeah, I guess so. There are enough people who look at us like we're crazy or they expect us to turn their robes neon pink with sparkles. I mean, we only did that ONCE...

Ah, I pity you. Abs tried to get me with that one time and keep me from drinking tea... but let's just say she couldn't deal with me while I was in caffeine-and-sugar withdrawal. I think I threatened her with death by pumpkin and she decided it just wasn't worth it.

Yeah. I kind of pity that poor girl in the portrait next to his. They should switch her portrait with the one of the drunk monks, they would annoy each other endlessly and it would be hilarious.

I honestly have no idea. Maybe it's like how when you're a kid and do magic without meaning to? I blew up a wardrobe when I was seven when my cousin made me mad...

Hm, I dunno. She calls Dementors "diskipable dementoes" and dressed up like one once to scare Ryan... My brother Ryan, that is.

I highly doubt that, sorry. Vee and I spent two hours trying to get all her eyeliner away after she drew on our faces when we fell asleep in the Great Hall because we had been up all night. We finally thought we had it all and then she pulled a whole package of eyeliner pens out of an inside pocket of her jacket and started throwing them at us.

If I were you, I'd just hide. When I figure out how to work a proper Disillusionment Charm, I can put you on the list of people to help out with that when she's on the hunt with eyeliner... right after me, Vee, Abs, and pretty much the entirety of the third year...

-- Nali