Stolen from netbug009
(beware, I do have a couple of icons from "Journey's End", not humongous spoilers but spoiler-ish nonetheless)

( Meme right this way! )

Stole this from flyingwild :)

( List this way! )

Interesting list this is, there's a lot that's not really my taste, a lot of what I've read on there was in school. Not enough sci-fi :)

I should get sick more often. Apparently I get my best writing streaks when I lose my voice. :) Basically since Sunday evening when I got sick I've practically doubled the size of this story! Seriously, the RTF backup file from before Sunday was 9 pages and 3929 words long, now the story is 20 pages and 8909 words long! :D

( This is what I've written just since the last post )

Comments, constructive criticism, feedback, and title suggestions all gratefully welcomed! :D

Okay here's the rest of my fic as it stands right now (was way too long to put in one post).

( So, come into the Tourist Office and have a read! )

Comments, constructive criticism, feedback, suggestions (especially for a title cuz I'm stuck on that!) all welcomed!!! :D

Hello all!

Gee, I haven't posted much here lately...guess I haven't really had much to say. :) Ah well. Anyway, I've been working on a Torchwood fanfic and I would love some feedback on how it sounds. It's still in progress (I'm posting all 6000+ words I've got written as of this moment in a couple posts), and frankly I have no idea where it's going (because in my illness here I've really screwed up timelines without meaning to and it's going in a completely different direction than I had originally planned). Hasn't been beta'd or proofread beyond what I normally do as I write (spellcheck and typo check as I go).

( So, come into the Tourist Office and have a read! )

Comments, constructive criticism, feedback, suggestions (especially for a title cuz I'm stuck on that!) all welcomed!!! :D More in the next post!

Well, the panel programming schedule has FINALLY been released! Still waiting to see what some other stuff happening is but for now, this is my schedule:

( Right this way )

Again, this may change especially since the official schedules are still in flux. If you want to find me during the con feel free to PM me for my cellphone number!

Now off to finish sewing!!!

I made some progress today on my Rukia Kuchiki costume! :D Check out my Cosplay.com Gallery for goofy in-progress shots.

I just felt the need to ramble on about my costumes and everything I still have to do before Acen...so ( only click if you're really interested in the rambles )

Also, if anyone has ideas, suggestions or recommendations on what kind of contest I could do for the Glomp Team panel I'd greatly appreciate it. I've been asked to run a contest (with prizes!) and I'm not really sure what to do! Meep! EDIT: got something, gonna just do a raffle, we don't really have time for an involved contest.

And now...I'm gonna try and start towards checking a couple of those off the list.... :)

Yes I am officially past the halfway mark at 55 pages! Still about 3 behind the 58 I should be at but improving!!

( Come read what's new! )

Comments, criticisms, suggestions, ideas are always welcomed!!!

Okay!

I'm hitting a bit of a brick wall here with my screenplay. A few of my characters have taken on lives of their own and are ringleading the story. Fine by me, I kinda figured Knitchick and Pockychopstix were gonna be big mouthed screen hogs ;)

But now I'm trying to figure out where exactly we've landed. Here's the situation:

( It's just a jump to the right )

Thanks in advance for any help and/or inspiration!! :D

*sniff*

I just finished watching the two part season finale of Torchwood, "Fragments" and "Exit Wounds" and even though I have to work in six hours and should really get to bed I had to write SOMETHING, get things off my chest, because this was an upsetting episode.

( Major Spoilers for Torchwood 2x12 & 2x13 plus Doctor Who series 4 behind the curtain )

BTW anyone got Weevil spray that works on the Weevil Plot Bunny variety? ;)

Okay! I'm sure few people on my LJ friend list have heard of Script Frenzy but it's basically a challenge to write what in length amounts to a feature film length screenplay/stageplay/teleplay etc. It is in April this year and so is coming up in two days!

I have a pretty cool idea but I really need some help from my friends, particularly my Acen friends. Why? Well here's my seed of an idea that came to me a while back and I do still like, but I need more characters.

The scene is, in an elevator at Acen, which is of course packed as the elevators always are there! Something strange happens and they're stuck, the doors aren't opening. So KnitChick (cosplaying Dani Phantom) starts to panic a little (I do...I hate being in elevators in the first place and the one time I was in one and it was stuck I nearly had a panic attack). She leans on the door and falls through! So then Pockychopstix is cosplaying her FemmeTen and I was picturing Omnichild getting the brainstorm to try the prop sonic screwdriver on the elevator controls to let them out. It works, and they find KnitChick on the other side of the door trying very hard to stop going intangible. They realize that the corridor they are in is NOT in the Hyatt Regency O'Hare and somehow, everyone has the 'super powers' of their cosplay. And the rest of the screenplay is their adventures trying to get back to the convention.

So I know I'm definitely gonna be there, though I'd really RATHER be cosplaying Captain Jack Harkness (yes not being able to die and all, still, Coat!Love :D) but then I lose that perfect falling-through-the-door method for us realizing we have powers. And I can't think of anyone else to stick in that elevator cosplaying Danny or Dani Phantom. *pout* Definitely gonna have Naomi (pockychopstix) in her FemmeTen cosplay (so, Timelord powers). I want to have Omni there cuz I want to have her get the sonic screwdriver brainstorm but I don't know what cosplay to have her in. I'm thinking of having Amunet and her fiancee there, in coordinating catgirl/catboy costumes (kitty powers? dunno).

But I don't know who else to put in there!! And I need a lot, this is an Acen elevator mind, it's gotta be crammed (thus adding to KC's panic...) There's several friends I would like to cram in that elevator, but I don't know what cosplays to put them in, really. I'm still learning all this anime stuff, and with some people's regular cosplays (that I know, and I see regularly at meetups, and can see the costume anywhere and go 'Oh that's a Prince of Tennis costume' or 'Oh that's Gendo' etc) I don't really know anything about the character to know what powers they'd end up with. I know Bleach...I know someone cosplaying Rukia or Ichigo would end up with Shinigami powers....I know Gintama (hmm not much powers there)....I know Sailor Moon and Cardcaptor Sakura and a little of Tsubasa Chronicles and Claymore and Ghost Hunt and Revolutionary Girl Utena. That's about it.

So I thought I'd put out the call for help! I like this idea, I think it would make for an interesting screenplay (I really want to set my screenplay at Acen, I thought I'd be able to wait and get ideas at my second con but noooo they had to move Script Frenzy up!, and I'm sorry but I have GOT to make some scifi element, even out of an anime con, I'm too much of a scifi nut).

So....ideas? Suggestions on what kinds of adventures they could have? (I need to fill about 100 minutes of screentime here) Who to put in there, what cosplays, what the characters they're cosplaying are like and what 'powers' they have? Help!!

Thanks in advance!!!!

~MJ~

Okay, this is a work in progress and I'm really REALLY not sure where this is going....but part of the scenario just kinda wormed its way into my head the other day and it's been poking me to write it out. Comments, suggestions always welcomed, especially since I really don't know where I'm heading plot-wise. My little scenario idea really just showed me getting into this fine mess, and my imagination has yet to clue me into what's gonna happen next! :D

Anyway...no title as yet, just a beginning, enjoy!


~~~~

Fanfic brainstorm 031108.2339


“Damnit...I knew I should have gone for the extra expense and rented a car...” The young woman looked up from the map she was trying to make sense of. “At least then I'd have a steel cage around me while I'm lost in the middle of Cardiff...”

She resettled the large bag on her shoulder, picked up the handle of her rolling bag, and marched off down the empty street. It wasn't like Chicago at night, always something happening no matter the hour. Cardiff was almost deathly quiet, and it was only eleven at night. The clicking of the wheels on her suitcase seemed unnaturally loud as she hurried down the street, staring around for some indication of where she was.

After a few minutes of fruitless wandering, she stopped near the entry to an alleyway to look at the map again, carefully resting the large red duffel on the suitcase, using the wall of a building to balance it. She pulled open the map and stared at it, so engrossed in trying to decipher the confusing map that she almost didn't notice the unusual sounds issuing from the alley. She tried to ignore the growling, but then it grew louder...and closer.

“Crap...” she muttered, reaching into her large purse and rummaging around. “I forgot, I had to leave the sgian dubh back in Chicago...damn!” She quickly folded the map and slid it into her purse, giving up on it for the time being. She kept feeling through her purse with one hand while she slung the red duffel back on her shoulder, ready to move at a moment's notice if necessary. She cautiously peered down the alley but didn't see anything in the darkness.

Grabbing the handle of her suitcase, she started to continue down the street when a figure shot out of the darkness and blocked her way. It was a stooped figure, clad in a blue utility coverall, with what looked like a horror mask. The woman stopped dead, letting go of the handle of her rolling suitcase and gasping, “A Weevil!?”

The creature tilted its head to one side and regarded her. She started to slowly back away but then it ran toward her. Instinct kicked in, and she lashed out with a high kick, managing to catch the creature square in the chest. It backed off briefly, then ran toward her again. The duffel slid off her shoulder and landed in a shallow puddle on the sidewalk from an earlier rain as she kicked again.

A moment later, before the creature could make a third attack, two men ran in behind it, one spraying it with some kind of substance while the other knocked it to the ground. The woman just stood, frozen in place, watching them contain it. After a moment, the man with the spray stood up and pulled the creature toward a large black vehicle, while the other man approached the woman. He took in her unusual attire, consisting of navy blue Convese trainers, navy dress pants, a slim navy trenchcoat, topped with an extra-long multi-colored scarf that was looped several times around her neck and still hanging nearly down to the ground.

“Hi there, did it hurt you?” he asked, holding out his hand.

“Um, hi, um, no, I'm okay...” she stammered. “I just was not at all expecting to run into a Weevil...”

He gave her a startled look. “Wait, you know about Weevils?” he asked.

She reached down to pick up her duffel. “Aw, man, it's sopping wet...” she muttered. “Yeah, of course I know about Weevils, I've only been obsessing over Torchwood for, like, ever!” she said. Seeing his confused look, she clarified, “You know, the hit sci-fi television series...spin-off of Doctor Who...airs on BBC Three in post-watershed, whatever that is...no?” She peered at the man, suddenly noticing his face, and his distinctive grey Greatcoat and blue shirt. “Ever hear of an actor named John Barrowman?” she asked.

“No, I haven't, why?” he asked.

“K-9, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore,” she muttered.

“Jack, are you coming?” the other man called.

“Yes, Ianto! And you're coming too,” he said to the young woman. “I've got some questions for you.” He took her dripping duffel in one hand and grabbed her hand with the other, pulling her along with him.

“Wait, my suitcase!” she said. He released his grip and she snagged it, trotting after him toward the big black SUV where the other man was waiting.

“Jack?” he asked simply, seeing the young woman in tow.

“She knows more than she should,” was the response. “I've got questions for you, Miss...?”

“Oh, sorry, Lenora,” she replied. “Lenora MacKenzie.”

“Captain Jack Harkness, and this is Ianto Jones,” Jack replied. “Hop in!” He gestured for her to get in the front seat. Ianto took the suitcase from her and Jack handed him the duffel and he climbed in the backseat next to the sedated Weevil. Lenora picked up the ends of her scarf in one hand and climbed up into the seat. Jack closed the door and walked around the front of the vehicle, climbing into the driver's seat.

They drove in silence for a few moments, then Ianto leaned forward between the two seats and asked, “I'm sorry, but I have to know...you've got a lovely coordinated outfit there, but the scarf just doesn't go. Why the scarf?”

Lenora grinned. “It's my Doctor Who scarf, and it does go, there's a bit of navy in here....” She picked up an end and searched for a patch of blue ombre and pointed, “See?”

“Doctor Who?” both men asked at the same time.

“Blimey, I must be in a parallel dimension...even most people who don't watch sci-fi have heard of Doctor Who, it's the longest running science fiction series in television history! One of the longest running shows of any genre really...ran from 1963 to 1989, then came back on the air in 2005 and is showing no signs of stopping anytime soon.”

“And what does the scarf have to do with this show?” Ianto asked.

“The Fourth Doctor was known for his scarf, he had a twenty foot long scarf he wore, it was his trademark really. Simple garter stitch scarf...so a lot of Whovians make Four scarves, it's a popular thing, especially since it's such an easy pattern even for a new knitter. Mine is a bit non-canon with color, and I made it half the width and only twelve feet long because I'm a bit shorter than Tom Baker but it's still recognizable as a Four scarf,” Lenora explained.

“Wait, a character in a tv series wears this twenty foot long scarf and so you made one like it and you wear it around?” Jack asked.

“That's the gist of it yes. What? I'm a geek and proud of it! I'm a cosplayer, it's nothing for me to walk around in public showing off my geekdom. I mean, if I can walk around downtown Chicago dressed as a Nickelodeon cartoon character without batting an eye...a garish Doctor Who scarf is moderately tame in comparison.”

“I suppose so...” Ianto agreed.

Jack stopped the SUV. “Home sweet home!” he announced, jumping out of the car. “Ianto, can you take care of the Weevil for me?”

“Certainly sir, see you down there,” Ianto agreed, handing Lenora's luggage to Jack and then pulling the Weevil out of the car. Len jumped out of the car and looked around, for the first time that evening recognizing where she was, in Cardiff's Millennium Centre. She watched Ianto head across the open area and disappear around a corner.

“This way,” Jack said. He shouldered the duffel and held out a hand to her. She took his hand and he led her to a spot right in front of the towering fountain sculpture. Jack let go of her hand and slid back his left coat sleeve, revealing a brown leather wristband, which he opened up and punched a button. “Hold on tight...I hope you're not afraid of heights,” he said with a grin.

“What if I am?” she squeaked. There was a shudder and they started to move downwards. Jack chuckled and put an arm around her shoulder.

“Don't worry, I won't let anything happen to you,” he promised. “But if you're really afraid of heights, you can close your eyes.”

Len nodded, putting an arm around his waist and closing her eyes. She had a pretty good idea of what she'd be seeing anyway, guessing that it would be kind of like the view of the Hub shown in Torchwood, and deciding her fear of heights won over her interest in what was going on.

After a minute, Jack squeezed her shoulder. “We're at the ground floor, you can look now,” he said quietly. “Welcome to Torchwood!”

Len opened her eyes and looked around. She felt like she'd walked into her television during an episode of Torchwood. It was a dream come true, if she weren't so confused as to what was going on. Getting lost earlier was bad enough. This was just making the hairs on the back of her neck stand at attention. “This is amazing!” she said finally.

“Come on, let's go sit down in my office,” Jack said, leading her across the room into a small office. He placed her suitcase in a corner, then felt the bottom of her duffel. “Wow, this is sopping wet,” he commented.

“Oh no, my TARDIS!” she exclaimed suddenly, snatching the duffel from him and opening it up. She pulled a large blue object out, and her face fell when she saw that it was dripping as well. “Oh crud...just what I need, a sopping wet sleeping bag...”

“Sleeping bag? Well you can wash it up at a laundromat, can't you? There's one nearby,” Jack suggested.

Len shook her head as she carefully unrolled the bag and reached inside the top opening. “No, this is strictly hand wash only, it's all washable but much of it is a little too delicate to go through a machine wash...ah there they are!” She pulled a stuffed animal from the sleeping bag and laid it on a nearby chair, then added two small dolls and a teddy bear. She folded the sleeping bag in half and laid it atop the duffel bag and turned to examine the toys.

Jack picked up the sleeping bag and looked at the design. “This looks like the Doctor's TARDIS,” he said.

“Yep, I made that, hence the hand wash only part. Look at the pillow inside.”

Jack unzipped the zipper and nearly dropped the bag when he saw the sewn in pillow. It was covered in pictures, including a man that looked just like him and another man that looked just like the Doctor. “Wha--? Where are these pictures from?” he asked.

Len stood up straight, her toys cradled in her arms. “From my tv shows, Doctor Who and Torchwood. Screen captures, publicity photos...I made a collage and printed it out on the fabric to make the pillow. Oh, there's the sonic screwdriver!” She reached over Jack's arm and pulled a small grey object from a hidden pocket near the pillow. “Oh good, that's okay too,” she added.

Jack tore his gaze away from the pillow to look at the collection of toys in her arms. “And those are?”

“Oh, this is Jack, the Doctor, Dale, Gally, and my knitted sonic screwdriver,” she said. Jack and the Doctor were the two little dolls, Dale was the teddy bear who was dressed in a long navy blue trenchcoat of his own, and Gally was a blue, yellow and green knitted plush toy.

“Okay, I don't even know where to begin,” Jack said.

Ianto stuck his head in just then. “The Weevil is secure, sir, anything else I can help with?” His eyes widened as he took in the scene, looking at the large sleeping bag that Jack still held, and the armful of toys Len held.

“Actually, Ianto, this needs washing, hand washing, and this bag needs drying out,” Jack said, holding the sleeping bag out to Ianto.

“Be very careful, the pictures on the pillow and the decorations on the front are pretty fragile,” Len said.

“No worries,” Ianto said. “Wait, is it me or does that doll look like...?” he trailed off.

“Me?” Jack asked, plucking the Jack doll from Len's arms. “Actually, that's not a bad likeness!” he remarked. “Oh and he's even got little suspenders!”

“Wouldn't be a Jack doll without the suspenders! He's even got little itty bitty airplane cufflinks,” Len couldn't help boasting.

“Well, I'd best start washing this,” Ianto said, turning to leave. “I'll get this soaking and then bring up coffee?”

“Please!” Jack said. “Lenora?”

“Oh I don't drink coffee,” she said. “Don't suppose you've got any Dr. Pepper around?”

“No but Owen's going to be calling in a pizza order, I'll have him order some,” Ianto said, and left the office.

“Okay, down to business,” Jack said. “You can put your little collection down on my desk if you want, you don't have to hold them all.”

“Oh yes, right,” Len said. She blushed, and carefully sat Dale, Gally, and the Doctor down on the edge of Jack's desk. She sonic screwdriver she tucked in a pocket. Jack made to set down the little Jack doll next to Gally, but Len stopped him. “Oh no, he and Gally don't get along...can't blame him, death by extermination and all...”

“Wait...” Jack peered at Gally while Len seated Jack next to the Doctor. “That's a Dalek?” Len nodded. “A Dalek toy? WHY!?”

She shrugged. “Because someone came up with a pattern for a knitted Dalek and I'm a knitter and a Whovian and there was a knit-a-long challenge...and haven't you figured out I'm strange yet?”

“But a Dalek toy? Wild colors for a Dalek though!” Jack said, sitting down in his chair. “What made you pick those colors anyway?”

“One, it was a skein of yarn I had in my stash that I hadn't designated a project for, two, I like the colors hence why I bought it in the first place and three, the color name was Banana Berry and so it was a bit of a Doctor Who inside joke because of it...long story, I won't bore you with that part of it. My friend named him, Gally, short for Gallifrey, the Doctor's home planet...” She sank back in the chair.

“Okay...so let me get this straight. You watch tv shows called Doctor Who and Torchwood, and there's a character who looks just like me on I'm guessing Torchwood, right?” Jack began.

“Actually Captain Jack first appeared on Doctor Who and then Torchwood and then returned to Doctor Who for a three episode guest stint between the first two seasons of Torchwood and I've been hearing he's gonna be in the next season of Doctor Who again but since it hasn't aired yet I don't know if it's rumour or not.”

“And that sleeping bag of yours looks just like the Doctor's TARDIS,” Jack said. “This...I don't get it, it's like my life...but in your tv show!”

“Well gee, think how I'm feeling, it's like my tv show, come to life all around me!” Len retorted. “This looks exactly like the Hub set in Torchwood, right down to the Magpie television sets in your office,” she pointed to the stack of three in the corner. “And the little airplane on your desk. One minute I'm lost in the middle of Cardiff looking for the inn I'm supposed to be staying at, the next minute a real life Weevil is charging me! I'm just as confused as you!”

“I wonder...” Jack leaned over and punched a button on an intercom unit on his desk. “Tosh, can you check through CCTV, get the coordinates of where we picked up the Weevil from Ianto, and see if you can trace our visitor's movements back through the evening, find out where exactly she's been.”

“All right,” came a woman's voice through the speaker. “Do you just want a route and activity list or is there something specific I'm looking for?”

“Anything unusual, and if you lose her off CCTV at any point. I have a sneaking suspicion she fell through the Rift from another dimension,” Jack responded.

“Very well, I'll get back to you,” Tosh replied.

“Oh I'm such an idiot!” Len said, “I forgot about the Rift! That must be what happened...but I didn't notice anything out of the ordinary tonight.”

“Other than getting lost you mean?” Jack asked.

“No, that's not out of the ordinary. I need a compass to get out of a paper bag, even in Chicago and I've lived there all my life!”

Jack chuckled. “No sense of direction huh? Well let's hope Tosh can find something. Meanwhile...I want to know more about this show of yours.”

“Well, actually...” She reached into her shoulder bag, which Jack noticed for the first time was shaped somewhat like a dog, with the letters “K-9” appliqued on the flap. She held up an iPod. “I've got a couple episodes of each on here, plus some other snippets, clips of other episodes and the like.”

“You've got episodes of the show on there?” Jack asked. “Video iPod? But that's such a tiny screen!”

“Better quality than you'd think!” she said, reaching into her bag again. “But I think...aha!” Her hand emerged holding a white cable. “AV cable, if you've got a TV or monitor with RCA inputs, the quality won't be the best, but you can at least see what I'm talking about.”

“Well then shall we adjourn to the board room?” Jack suggested. He got up and headed for the doorway, running into Ianto who was coming in with coffee.

“Pizza should be here any minute,” Ianto said.

“Good,” Jack said. “Why not send everyone into the boardroom, we can eat while we watch the videos on Lenora's iPod.”

“Very well,” Ianto said. “Oh, Lenora, I hope you don't mind Pepsi, that's all the pizza place had.”

“Pepsi's fine, thank you very much Ianto,” Len said. She followed Jack to the boardroom while Ianto headed through the Hub, presumably to go retrieve the pizza.

“Where's that cable of yours?” Jack asked. Len handed it to him, and he plugged it into a panel at the side of the room. “All set, when everyone gets in here we'll start the show.”

“All right, let me set up the iPod then,” Len said. “Oh, do you have a pen or something? I forgot that I have to take the cover off for the AV cable to work properly.”

“Would this do?” Jack asked, holding out a pencil.

“I think I can make it work,” she said, taking the pencil and using the eraser to poke the iPod out of its protective cover. She gave the pencil back to Jack and turned to setting up the iPod.

~~~~

If you hadn't guessed, Lenora is me (I really need to come up with different character names...) and she's based on me. Yes I've got a Four scarf, and a knitted Dalek, and a teddy bear named Dale. The other stuff is on the project list (got the fabric for the TARDIS sleeping bag and waiting on the zipper I ordered, planning to make a K-9 purse and knit up a Jack coat for Dale, and I just started sewing hair on a muslin doll body for a Jack doll). And yes there really are some Torchwood and Doctor Who clips on my iPod, and there will be more if I can get this program I downloaded to work :D

And now, I must tear myself from my fascinating fantasy life and get some sleep or my boss is gonna murder me in the morning..... *looks at clock* meep! In six and a half hours that is! Night all!!!

So, I finally finished my Dalek!! Actually took way less time than I expected because I got sick and spent a couple days home with no voice so what could I do but knit away!!

My finished Dalek is approximately 11 inches tall, nice and cuddly, and very psychadelic :D He needs a name though....

Here's a shot of the finished product! Lots more pictures and babbling are under the cut!!



( Right this way for more images, beware though, not dial-up friendly at all!! )


So now, one Dalek down, at least one more to go. pockychopstix has requested a pink and white Dalek, I picked up the yarn for that (since I have no pink in my stash!) and will be casting on and starting while I watch the new Torchwood tomorrow!!

I jumped away from the Harry Potter universe for a bit, I'm a little stuck for what to have happen next and I got inspired while watching "Army of Ghosts" for the first time. There is a Ghostbusters reference in that episode!! Yes, the Doctor pops up from the 'basement' of the TARDIS and says "Who ya gonna call?" and sings a little bit of the theme song. Yeah, almost fell off my chair there! So I got inspired to write this bit...though I'm not sure I like how the start of it reads...but that's what December's for. Another few thousand to Chicago's cause!

~~~

The TARDIS materialized with a halt, then shook violently as something struck it from the outside. The Doctor flicked the release lever for the doors and ran outside the TARDIS. Danny and Len exchanged looks and followed him out.

They found the TARDIS sitting in the middle of an old- fashioned brick firehouse. The doors were facing a small office area at the back of the building. On the other side of the TARDIS, a white fifties- era ambulance with all sorts of equipment on the roof had crashed into the side of the ship. Four men in dark gray jumpsuits were climbing out of the car to examine the damage. The Doctor was already bending down.

"That... whatever that is, came out of nowhere!" the driver was saying. He was a sandy- haired man with a bit of a beer belly.

"That is illogical Raymond," a taller dark- haired man with large round spectacles said. "Nothing can appear from nowhere."

The Doctor, finished with his examination of the damage to the TARDIS, stood up. "Oh I dunno about that! Sorry, I'm the Doctor, and that would be my spaceship."

"Ray Stantz," said the driver. "Of the Ghostbusters. Um, this is Egon Spengler, Pete Venkman, and Winston Zeddemore."

The Doctor shook hands with all the Ghostbusters. Danny and Len walked around the TARDIS as Egon steped up to it to take a closer look. A device on Egon's belt started to beep and he pulled it out, peering closely at it. He started waving the device up and down Len.

"Um, hello?" Len said, giving Egon an odd look.

"This is very odd, I am picking up a PKE reading from you... both of you..." Egon said, scanning Danny as well.

"PKE? What's that?" Danny said.

"Wait... psycho- kinetic energy?" Len asked. "That can actually detect psycho- kinesis?"

"Yes, it can," Egon said.

"Wow... wait, it's picking up me?" Len realized. "Huh...."

Venkman walked over and patted Egon on the back. "Now, Egon, be nice to the guests... don't mind him, he failed recess as a kid. I'm Doctor Peter Venkman."

"Hello Doctor Venkman, I'm Lenora MacKenzie, this is Danny Fenton," Len said and shook hands with Venkman.

"Please, call me Pete," Venkman said. "So, what is this thing anyway?" he asked, pointing to the TARDIS, which Ray was now backing their car away from.

"That's the TARDIS, the Doctor's spaceship," Danny said. "So, where are we anyway?"

"You don't know?" Venkman asked incredulously.

"No, the TARDIS kind of lands where ever... we don't always get a read- out of where it's landed," Len said.

"Well, then, welcome to the headquarters of the Ghostbusters, New York's first and finest supernatural investigation and elimination team!" Venkman said. Len and Danny exchanged worried glances at the 'elimination' part.

Egon was still fiddling with his PKE meter. "I still don't understand how I could have a PKE reading from a human," he said to himself.

And then the aliens landed. All around the firehouse, four pepper pot shaped robots appeared, the last remaining Daleks. Len, Danny and the Doctor all jumped to attention, ready for a fight.

"It is the enemy of the Daleks, the Doctor! Exterminate!!" one of the Daleks said.

"Get them in the TARDIS, I'll hold the Daleks off, then bring out the Dalekanium weapon!" the Doctor said.

"Ten- Four!" Len called. "Come on, Pete, everyone, we've got to get you to safety!" She grabbed Venkman's wrist and he grabbed Egon's, while Danny corralled Stantz and Winston, and they pulled the Ghostbusters into the TARDIS.

"What did he mean about a Dalekanium weapon?" Danny asked Len once the doors were closed.

"Not sure," she said. "wait, does he mean that device that we used to stop the Daleks, you know that thing that converted our ghost energy?"

"Ghost energy?" Egon asked.

"That must be it! Where did he put it?" Danny wondered, ignoring Egon.

"I don't know, I was unconscious! You must have seen where the Doctor put it!" Len said. "Think he put it in that storage area down the hall?"

"Must be, be right back," Danny said, running off down a nearby hallway.

"What do you mean by ghost energy?" Egon asked.

"We'll explain later," Len said impatiently as Danny came back with a device. "Stay in here and cross your fingers!" She and Danny ran back outside of the TARDIS, transforming once the door was closed.

"Took you long enough!" the Doctor called when he saw the flash of light from around the corner of the TARDIS.

"Someone couldn't remember where you put the device," Len snapped as they ran over to the Doctor. She grabbed the Doctor and flew up to the roof of the TARDIS, and Danny flew up right behind with the device.

"Yeah well that's only because someone had worked herself into unconsciousness and never saw where he put it!" Danny retorted, plunking the device down on the TARDIS roof.

"Um, hello, Daleks, right there!" the Doctor said, whipping out his sonic screwdriver and tuning the device. The Daleks all aimed their eyestalks and weapons up at the trio. "All right, it's ready!" Danny and Len braced themselves. "FIRE!" The two halfas fired ghost beams into the device, which shut down all four Daleks. The Doctor peered down, and then, "All right, you can stop!"

"I thought we got rid of all the Daleks!" Len said, sitting down on the TARDIS roof. "I mean, we pumped so much energy into that thing you built, how could any of them survived?"

"Four Daleks... I wonder... well I suppose it's too late to ask them now..." the Doctor said.

"Ask them what? Is there something significant about four Daleks?" Danny asked.

"The Cult of Skaro, there were four of them that survived the great Time War," the Doctor explained. "I do hope that was the Cult of Skaro, then I wouldn't have to deal with them again." He gave the Daleks a dark look, then stood up straight and said brightly, "Well, they're done with, shall we put this away again and explain things to those Ghostbuster blokes?"

Danny and Len chuckled, and floated down through the roof of the TARDIS. The Ghostbusters all jumped up from the floor where they'd sat while waiting. Danny flew off through the TARDIS with the device to put it away again, while Len and the Doctor gently landed in the middle of the TARDIS control room. Egon whipped out the PKE meter, and Ray pulled out one of his own, and they converged on Len.

"This is amazing! I've never seen anything like this!" Ray said.

"A human exerting such supernatural energies, it's unheard of!" Egon said.

Danny returned and Ray whirled around, running the PKE meter over him. "Wow, double the PKE readings! How is this possible?"

Danny and Len exchanged looks. "Well, we're half ghost," Danny began.

"Half ghost!?" Ray and Egon echoed.

Any further questioning was cut short by a scream outside the TARDIS. Venkman jumped, saying, "That's Janine!" He ran out of the TARDIS into the firehouse. After a beat, the other Ghostbusters and the Doctor followed him. Danny and Len let out sighs of relief and transformed before following everyone else out of the TARDIS.

They found Venkman consoling a woman with bright red hair, obviously the woman who had screamed. Ray and Egon were closely examining the deactivated Daleks. And then Kathy Griffin busted into the room screaming in Pig Latin. Everyone jumped, turning to stare at the new arrival. The crazed comedienne stopped short as she saw the Daleks, then fainted on the floor. Len ran over to check the woman's vitals, while the Doctor and Danny held a whispered discussion.

An hour later, Len was sitting with Ray talking parapsychology while Danny allowed Egon to perform a battery of scans and tests. The Doctor was in the TARDIS, finding a storage place for the Daleks that he'd asked Danny to fly inside for him. Venkman was on the second floor, with Winston watching over the still- unconscious comedienne, while they tried to calm Janine down.

"So, your parapsychology department actually has a working portal that leads to the Ghost Zone?" Ray asked.

"Yeah, somehow Danny's parents stumbled on the way to access the Ghost Zone. I'm not really sure how, they're smart but they also seem to have a lot of dumb luck. Danny too. Their first portal, kind of blew up in a friend's face and turned him half ghost.... and somewhat evil. The second portal, didn't quite work at first, not until Danny stepped inside and it got triggered. Turned him half ghost. About five years later, their third portal was commissioned by Northeastern. Guess who was chosen to have the honor of stepping into the Ghost Zone at the ribbon cutting?" Len said.

"So you are half ghost too?" Ray asked. "That's amazing!"

"Amazing... difficult at times, scary when it happened even though, unlike Danny, I did have a little bit of an idea of what was coming," Len said. "But being able to walk through walls and fly does come in handy at times!"

Ray laughed. "I guess it would be!" He looked over at where Egon was putting Danny though his paces. "He takes to the air like he's being doing it all his life," he commented.

"danny's had his powers for, oh, it's about six years now I believe. And with all the ghosts that like to drop in on Amity Park, and Chicago, he's gotten a lot of practice," Len said. "I've had my powers for more than a year, but I still have a ways to go. Especially since I do not like to fly!"

Any comment Ray had was drowned by the alarm bell sounding. Egon's head popped up from behind a computer panel, while Danny whirled around in mid-air. "What's that!?" Len asked.

"We've got a call!" Ray said. "want to come along?"

"Come with? To, what, bust a ghost?" Len asked.

"Yeah, should be routine for you," Ray said, standing up and holding out his hand.

"Oh why not! I'd love to!" Len said, taking Ray's hand. They ran over to the fire pole and slid down it all the way from the third floor to the first. Egon and Danny were steps behind, and Venkman and Winston were right on their heels. Everyone climbed into the Ectomobile, the Doctor jumping in just as the car fired up, and Ray backed out of the firehouse and went flying down the street, sirens blazing.

After a short, harried ride, Ray parked the Ectomobile right in front of the Empire State Building. Everyone climbed out and looked upwards, staring at the weird energy swirling around the spire high up. "Wow, the Empire State Building," Len mused. "It's been a while since I was here..."

"Me too," the Doctor agreed. "Last time I was here... it was ninteen- thirty, and the Daleks were trying to use the spire to turn the human race into Daleks."

"Come on, the call said the ghosts were on the top floor," Venkman said, reading the paper he'd grabbed from Janine on the way out of the firehouse.

Ray opened the back door of the Ectomobile and the four Ghostbusters helped each other shoulder their large bulky proton packs, gathering up other equipment and heading inside the building. As they entered the building, a security guard approached Venkman. "Oh thank goodness, you're here! We didn't know who to call, there's all these spirits floating around the top floor, right under the spire!"

"Well, then, take us up," Venkman said. The guard nodded and led them past the main bank of elevators to a special elevator that was labeled 'For Staff Only.' It was a little bit of a tight fit with four Ghostbusters, two halfas, the Doctor, the security guard, and all the equipment, but after a short ride upwards they stepped out onto the top floor.

The guard quickly retreated back into the elevator as they were treated to the sight of a swirling green cloud of ecto energy. The four Ghostbusters quickly armed their proton packs, while Danny and Len transformed.

"What is this?" the Doctor mused.

Egon pulled out his PKE meter. "Massive PKE readings, off the scale..."

Ray grabbed a meter with a circular bubble shape to the end of it, switching it on. "Four GEVs on the giga- meter!"

Len looked at the giga- meter. "That's crazy! Didn't you tell me Vigo only registered just shy of three?" she asked. Ray simply nodded.

"So what can we do?" Danny asked. "It's not like you can suck all this... loose energy into a trap!"

"There has to be a focus to this," Len said. "If we can find the focus..." She took a deep breath and stepped forward into the thick green gas.

"Len! What are you doing?" Danny asked, running after her.

"Drawing their fire," she said simply.

As they walked into the cloud, suddenly part of it coalesced into a form, an almost humanoid form. Len stopped dead, watching the cloud coalesce. Danny took her hand, and they stared at the form.

"Leave this place...." came a voice, seemingly from all around them.

"N- N- No, YOU!" Len stammered. "You, whatever you are, you don't belong here!"

"Leave this place!" came the voice again, louder.

Danny squeezed Len's hand and they exchanged knowing glances. Still holding hands, hey held up their free hands and aimed at the still- coalescing mass and fired. There was a scream from all around them. The two halfas darted backwards, taking up position by the Ghostbusters.

"Follow our lead!" Danny said. "Aim for that mass in the center, just aim where we're aiming!" He and Len fired again, and the four Ghostbusters took aim and fired their proton beams at the same spot. The Doctor stood next to Len and held out his sonic screwdriver, aiming at the same spot.

There was a hellish screech from all around them and the gas rapidly coalesced, forming an irregular blob in the center of the room.

"That's it! We can trap it!" Ray said. "Doctor, grab the trap from my belt!"

"Right... this thing?" the Doctor said, grabbing a box- like object that was hanging from Ray's belt.

"Yes! Slide it under the form and hit the foot pad at the end of the cord!" Ray instructed.

"Don't look directly in the trap!" Egon added as the Doctor triggered the trap, which opened and spilled out a blinding white light.

"Danny.... it's pulling us in," Len said.

"Transform!" Danny said, and they both stopped firing, reverting to human form.

Moments later all of the green gas in the room was pulled into the trap and the Doctor closed it, pulling it back. "Well then, that solves that crisis, eh?"

Ray put down his proton wand and pulled out the giga- meter. "Not quite, I've still got a reading over 2 GEVs and that can't be the two of you."

"One- one- ten on the PKE," Egon said. "That is well above what I was getting in the lab."

"Wasn't there energy swirling around the spire?" Len said, recalling the view from the street.

"But there isn't access to the spire!" Danny said.

"Yeah there is," the doctor said. He handed the trap to Ray and moved over to a nearby doorway, using his sonic screwdriver to unlock it. "I don't think everyone can fit up there though... maybe two people."

"I'll go," Ray said. "Pete, let me have that empty trap!" He traded ghost traps with Venkman and joined the Doctor.

"We're going too," Danny said, pulling Len along with him. "We can fly along side the building."

"Great thanks," Len muttered as they followed the Doctor and Ray out onto the narrow roof, transforming and taking to the air as the Doctor climbed up the spire, holding the ghost trap in one hand.

All around them swirled more green energy. "All right," Danny said. "How do we get this packed into the trap?"

"Fire randomly?" Len suggested, doing so, firing out into the swirling energy. Danny shrugged and followed suit. the cloud started to collect at the tip of the spire, and Danny headed higher up, firing into the coalescing mass. Len stayed close to the base of the spire, firing at the remaining cloud.

"I'm going to open the trap!" the doctor called out.

"Okay!" Danny acknowledged him and transformed, still floating near the top of the spire.

Len transformed also, falling down a bit as she focused her energy to remain floating while in human form. The Doctor triggered the ghost trap and sucked in the remaining ecto energy. Once the trap closed, he called down to Ray, "Is that it? Is it all gone?"

Ray pulled out a PKE meter. "Looks like, all I'm reading is these two!"

"Then back inside I think!" the Doctor agreed. He climbed back downwards, following Ray inside. Danny grabbed Len's hand and pulled her inside.

"Good job!" the Doctor said. "That was quite an adventure!"

"First time I've ever worked with ghosts to trap ghosts," Ray said. "That was fun!"

"It will be interesting to analyze these readings," Egon said. "This was a unique entity."

"Most certainly was," Len agreed. "I've never seen a ghost like that one!"

"Me either. We certainly seem to find the interesting ones, though, don't we?" Danny agreed.

The group headed out of the Empire State Building and returned to the firehouse. Despite requests from Egon and Ray for them to stay longer, the Doctor insisted they had to move on and a few minutes later, the Ghostbusters watched as the TARDIS dematerialized with its characteristic 'vworp vworp'.

~~~

Oh and in case you're wondering, the random "and the aliens landed" and "Kathy Griffin came in screaming pig latin" were from a challenge by the Chicago ML in an email, um, yeah it makes more sense if you got his email I guess. :)

*yawn* time for bed...stupid thing called work keeping me from my true calling!

Argh my momentum is slowing...but I'm determined to whip out some more words :)

What follows is a scene I will probably trash come editing time... but it's words for my count! Ignore the goofiness.

~~~

After a while Len started to become a little bored, and not wanting to disappear on Danny, she started idly braiding blades of grass. She got so involved in that, she barely noticed when Danny landed beside her. "Having fun?" he teased.

Len dropped the grass. "Oh whoops, sorry, guess watching Quidditch practice is not for me," she said.

"You missed my great pass!" Danny whined, picking Len up from the ground and tossing her over his shoulder. "So I guess I'll have to recreate it for you... with you as the ball!"

"Hey! Put me down! Stop it! Daaaaany!" Len screamed.

"Nope sorry," Danny said. "Fred! Catch!"

"Noooo!" Len screeched as Danny tossed her toward the twins. They ran to catch her, but she instinctively started flying about mid- toss.

"Aw, it's no fun when your ball can fly by herself!" George whined.

Len landed gently just short of where the twins were standing. "Don't make me jinx you," Len said, giving the twins the evil eye. "That goes for you too," she added, glaring at Danny.

"You're no fun!" Danny pouted. "Plus you can't do jinxes!"

"Wanna bet?" Len said, shooting Danny a glowing green glare.

"Ooo the scary eyes.... fine I'll back off. Come on, let's go eat," Danny said, patting Len on the back.

"Who says we have to eat in the castle?" Fred said.

"Yeah, how about a change of scenery?" George added.

"Really? What exactly do you have in mind?" Danny asked.

"Just follow us," Fred told them, heading for the castle. Len and Danny exchanged quizzical glances but followed him, through the castle and to a deserted corridor. They stopped near a statue of a one-eyed witch and George pulled out the parchment, telling it "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good." He peered at the squiggly lines that appeared. "Mischief Managed," he said, tucking the parchment back in his pocket.

Fred took out his wand and tapped the statue, saying "Dissendium." The statue slid aside revealing a dark corridor beyond. Fred jumped inside, calling back, "Come on!"

Danny jumped down after him, landing on the hard dirt ground below and fell to his knees. Len rolled her eyes and floated down, landing gently beside Danny. George jumped down last, pointing his wand upwards to slide the statue back in place. Once the statue was in place, Fred held up his wand, saying "Lumos" to light the tip.

"Where exactly are we going?" Len asked, pulling out her wand and lighting it as well.

"A little off- campus excursion," George said behind her. "We thought the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade would make for a nice change of pace from dinner in the caastle."

"Hogsmeade?" Danny asked.

"Only all- wizarding village in Britain. Hogsmeade station is where the Hogwarts Express arrives," Fred explained.

"Wow!" Len said. "So, what kind of place is the Three Broomsticks?"

"Kind of like the Leaky Cauldron, a nice little pub," George said. "Oh almost there!"

A fewe minutes later they were peering out of a trapdoor in the floor of the candy store, Fred checking to see if the coast was clear. "The hard part is getting past the shop owners, but once you're in the store, it's easy to blend in."

"So let's use the sure fire route past detection," Danny said, turning invisible.

"Oi I forgot about that trick!" George said. "Good one mate!"

Danny and Len linked hands with the twins and floated up through the basement of Honeydukes, and out onto the street. They found a dark corner to reappear in, and then headed off down the street toward the Three Broomsticks.

After a jovial dinner, talking about everything under the sun from ghosts to time travel to magic, the group headed back to Hogwarts through the tunnel that connected the castle with the basement of Honeydukes. When they reached the end of the tunnel, George pulled out the parchment again.

"I have to ask" Danny said. "what exactly is that paper?"

"Ah, the secret of our sucess!" Fred began.

"The marauder's Map. Nicked it out of Filch's files one day," George continued.

"Moody, Padfoot, Wormtail and Prongs, we owe so much to their teachings."

"This remarkable map shows every inch of Hogwarts, including several secret passages out of the school and through the school."

"Not only that, it shows the location of everyone in the school. The Marauder's Map never lies."

"And it shows people even if they have invisibility cloaks!" George finished.

"Wow, that's amazing!" Len said. "Wait...would it show ghosts too?"

"You know, I don't think we've ever noticed," Fred said. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."

They all leaned in around the map and looked closely. "I don't see any ghosts..." Danny said.

"Wait, find us... ah there we are. Okay... keep an eye on my dot." Len stepped back and transformed. "So?"

"Still there," Danny said. "Go intangible." Len did so. "Still there." Len went invisible. "Wow, still there. No hiding from this map!"

Len transformed back. "That is really amazing."

~~~~

I'm gonna go try and write something better now....

Yes, I am an official NaNo winner!! YAY!!!!

Thanks to some word warring in AIM tonight, I knocked off over 6,000 words in just a couple hours to pass the 50K mark. YAY!

~~~

The next morning Danny woke Len by levitating her blanket away and then when she didn't respond, dropping a few icicles on her feet. That stunt earned him a big blast of ecto energy in response.

"come on, I can almost smell the breakfast cooking!" Danny said.

"Oh shut up," Len moaned. "You really should know better by now." She quickly got dressed in her long pleated MacKenzie tartan skirt and coordinating green and navy handmade kimono top and followed Danny upstairs to the Great Hall. There they found one long table set up and about half the seats around it filled with professors. They spotted the Doctor, sitting near Dumbledore and across from McGonagall and sat next to him.

"Good morning, I trust you slept well?" Dumbledore asked as they sat down.

"Yes, thank you," Len said. Danny murmurred agreement.

"After breakfast, we shall retire to the Head Master's office and discuss plans," McGonagall said.

As the last of the professors trickled in, Dumbledore stood. "Good morning staff," he said. "Before we eat I'd like to introduce our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher for this year, James McCrimmon, an old friend of mine. I would also like to introduce his niece Lenora MacKenzie, who will be working as my assistant on a few special projects this year, and his nephew Daniel Fenton, who is going to be a first year student at Hogwarts this year."

There were murmurs of "welcome!" and "cheers!" and a smattering of clapping, before the golden plates in the center of the table swiftly went from empty to overflowing with breakfast delights. "Enjoy everyone!" Dumbledore said, sitting down, and all around the table everyone began to fill their plates.

"Len... what is this stuff? I don't recognize a lot of this food!" Danny whispered.

"That's because you won't eat what I cook for breakfast!" she hissed. "Those are black and white sausages, really a form of bread pudding, over there is kipper, which is smoked herring, um, that would be potato scones, and over there, porridge. Oh and those are oatcakes and next to them, oh yum, buttery!" Len reached over and grabbed a couple slices of "buttery", a butter-enriched bread. "Dig in!" She piled her plate with some white and black sausages, traditional sausages, quite a few slices of buttery, a mound of scrambled eggs, and a slice of toast that she piled high with strawberry jam. Danny reluctantly took much smaller portions of many of the foods on the table, avoiding the kippers.

After everyone finished breakfast, the plates cleaned themselves and most of the staff left the table quickly, heading out into the castle. Dumbledore finally stood and motioned for McGonagall, Len, Danny, and the Doctor to follow him to his office. Once everyone stepped inside he took out his wand and magically sealed the lock on the door.

"Now then, let us discuss our strategy," Dumbledore said.

"Perhaps, first, you should fill us in on what has happened to cause you to worry about the possibility of Death Eaters in the school?" the Doctor suggested.

"That is a good idea," Dumbledore agreed. "Well as you know it has been nearly nine years since Voldemort disappeared. We still do not know the full scope of events that happened that night, just that he somehow found the Potter family's hiding place and went there to kill James and Lily, and he succeeded, but when he tried to kill their son Harry something happened. Harry survived, the only person to ever live through the Avada Kedavra curse, and Voldemort disappeared. Many believe he is gone forever but I am not so sure. Most of his followers, the Death Eaters, are either in Azkaban Prison or have repented their previous deeds and returned to normal wizarding society. Hoever, of late I have heard rustlings, of talk of returning to their old ways and searching for their hidden leader. Furthermore, the house elves have spoken to me of overhearing such talk in house common rooms. What worries me the most is that some of this talk is of recruiting more students to their cause."

"So that is why you called on me? So that I could teach and perhaps ascertain who is behind it all?" the Doctor asked.

"Indeed. It seems that I called upon you at the most opportune time, as these two companions of yours should be able to help with that. As a student, Daniel might be approached to join the Death Eaters," Dumbledore said. "And I spent some time last night pondering and I think perhaps Lenora might be able to do some invisible scouting of the other house dormitories, as Daniel will only have access to one."

"Sounds like a good idea," Len said. "So, what, I hide out most of the time and sneak out when the students are in their dormitories talking?"

"There's that, but I will have other tasks for you," Dumbledore said. "I think, perhaps, we should introduce you to the Weasley twins, they seem to know all the secret place in this school, perhaps they might be able to point you to where these recruiters are holding court."

"Do you think it wise to reveal our worries to the Weasley twins? They aren't exactly trustworthy!" McGonagall exclaimed.

"Oh no Minerva, I do not mean to tell them everything, just gain their trust. To that end, we need to devise a position for Lenora to hold..." Dumbledore said.

"Perhaps assistant caretaker?" McGonagall suggested. "That way she can mve freely about the corridors, and she might even be able to assist Argus in keeping some of our more active students under control."

"But would these twins open up to an assistant caretaker?" Danny asked.

"Oh I might be able to gain their confidence," Len said, and Danny could see the wheels turning in her head. "Yes, I'll take assistant caretaker, I like that idea."

"Very well then, I shall introduce you to Argus Filch later, but for now, I believe a trip to Diagon Alley is in order," Dumbledore said. "Daniel will need school supplies, you will need some proper wizarding robes, and so does the Doctor."

"I shall accompany them to Diagon Alley," McGonagall said. "I, too, have a small shopping list for there."

"Thank you Minerva," Dumbledore said. He pulled a golden key from his desk drawer and handed it to her. "Take some gold from my vault for their purchases, and make sure Lenora gets a wand."

McGonagall nodded, sliding the key into a pocket buried deep in her robes. "Very well. I need to get my travelling cloak from my office. Come, we will take the Floo Network from my office."

"I will see all of you at dinner, then," Dumbledore said. "Safe travels!"

They followed McGonagall through the corridors to her office, where she slid on a deep forest green cloak and then pulled out her wand and used it to light the fire in her enormous fireplace. Another tap of the wand, and the hearth moved upwards, so the fireplace was large enough for a person to stand in. Replacing her wand, she took a large pot from a nearby table which held a glittering powder. "Have any of you ever travelled by Floo Powder?"

"I have," the Doctor said, stepping forward. "A few years ago but I believe I remember the principle... state the destination, throw the powder on the fire, and step in, correct?" McGonagall nodded. He took a handful of powder and tossed it in the fire, stating loudly, "Diagon alley!" Then he stepped into the now- emerald flames and with a whirl, vanished.

"Wow..." Danny breathed.

"Now then, be careful to state the destination clearly and keep your arms tucked to your sides," McGonagall said, holding the pot out.

Danny took a small handful of powder and followed the Doctor's example, stating "Diagon alley!" as he entered the emerald green flames.

Len felt her heart pounding as she did the same, stepping into the flames despite her instincts to the contrary as she said loudly, "Diagon Alley!" As soon as she finished speaking she felt like she had been picked up by a tornado, spinning feverishly as the fireplace entrance disappeared in a blur. After a few long moments of spinning in the hot green flames, she fell to her knees just outside another large fireplace, this one at the end of a sun- lit alley. A moment later, and McGonagall stepped out behind her.

Danny and the Doctor were already standing there, and Danny leaned down to pull Len to her feet. "This is neat, isn't it?" he asked.

"So this is Diagon Alley?" Len said. "Where exactly is it?" she wondered.

"Underneath London," McGonagall said. "That is not actually the sky but rather a ceiling bewitched to echo the sky above, much like the Great Hall at Hogwarts. Come, Gringotts first, then you will be able to explore a little." She set off toward an enormous snow white building with large bronze doors. Inside they walked up to a counter, where a short wrinkled creature with abnormally long fingers sat writing with a quill. McGonagall approached the creature. "Good afternoon. I am here to withdraw from my personal vault, and from Albus Dumbledore's vault." She pulled out the golden key that Dumbledore had handed her, and a second gold key from elsewhere in her robes and handed them to the creature.

It looked critically at the two keys, then, "Seems to be in order. Griphook shall take you down to the vaults."

As another creature, presumably Griphook, approached, McGonagall turned to the group. "You do not all need accompany me," she said. "In fact I do not believe there is room in their carts."

"Fine by me, those carts make me queasy," the Doctor said.

"However, Miss MacKenzie, will you please accompany me?" McGonagall asked.

"oh, sure," Len said. She stepped forward, following McGonagall and Griphook through the building to a darkened hallway with what looked like a mining cart. Griphook climbed in and bade them aboard. Len helped McGonagall climb aboard, then quietly used a little ghostly flying power to board herself. The cart took off, moving at high speed down a railway. Len looked at Griphook but he didn't seem to be doing anything to control the cart's speed or direction. As the cart hurtled through dark cavernous tunnels, Len could see McGonagall turning slightly green, holding tight to the side of the cart.

Finally the cart stopped and Griphook climbed out. McGonagall stood, somewhat shakily, in the cart. Len quickly grasped the professor's arm, steadying her. McGonagall gave her a grateful smile. "Thank you Miss Mackenzie. I am not entirely enamoured of these carts."

"That kind of ride is not for everyone," Len agreed. "Thank goodness I don't get motion sick." They climbed out of the cart as Griphook pulled out one of the golden keys and placed it on a lock in the door, then placed a key from a very large keyring on his belt into a second lock. The door slid open and McGonagall approached, pulling a leather drawstring bag from her cloak. Len gaped in awe as she saw the mounds of gold, silver, and bronze coins stacked haphazardly inside.

"Let me see, robes for three, first year supplies, wand..." McGonagall muttered to herself as she scooped generous amounts of coins into the bag. "I believe that should do for today's errands, please hold on to this Miss MacKenzie," McGonagall said, handing the bag to Len. Griphook closed the door as they walked back to the cart and Len helped McGonagall aboard. Griphook climbed into the cart and it took off again, a shorter trip this time, stopping in front of another vault. Len helped McGonagall out of the cart, but this time hung back, realizing this was the professor's private vault and trying to respect her privacy. McGonagall filled a second pouch with some coins and returned to the cart. Another ride, and they were back to the main floor of the bank.

They found Danny and the Doctor standing in a corner near the door people watching. McGonagall ushered them out onto the street and pulled them to a quiet corner. "I have errands of my own. Lenora has the money from Professor Dumbledore to pay for your robes, wands, and Mister Fenton's school supplies. Shall we meet at the Leaky Cauldron in two hours for tea?"

"That sounds wonderful," The Doctor said. "The Leaky Cauldron is down at that end of the alley, correct?"

"Correct. Oh, and Mister Fenton, here is your supply list," she added, pulling a parchment envelope out of her robes and handing it to Danny before heading off into the busy alley.

Len looked at the envelope over Danny's shoulder. In emerald green ink on the front it read "Daniel Fenton, Diagon Alley, London". Danny chuckled. "I guess they planned in advance to give it to me here," he said as he turned it over and carefully opened the envelope, trying not to destroy the crimson wax seal that bore a stylized 'H' on it. There were two sheets of paper inside. The first sheet was a formal Hogwarts acceptance letter. The second sheet gave a list of school supplies. Danny handed this sheet to Len and slid the other back in the envelope. "All right... where to first?"

"I dont know..." Len mused. She looked up and down the street at all the various shop signs. "Maybe we should do wands first?" she suggested, spotting a sign that read "Ollivanders: Makers of Fine Wands since 382 B.C."

"ooo sounds good to me!" Danny said. The three of them took off for the shop. Inside it was dark and musty, with narrow wand boxes piled everywhere the eye could see. Len and Danny stared around in awe and barely noticed when a wizened old man stepped out from the back and stood behind the counter.

"Welcome welcome... ah Master McCrimmon!" the man said, spotting the Doctor. "Is your wand still functional? Fourteen inches, mahogany, phoenix feather wasn't it?"

"Good memory!" the Doctor said, pulling the wand out of his pocket. "Yes, it works quite nicely. I'm here with my friends Lenora MacKenzie and Danny Fenton to get their wands, Danny is going to be starting at Hogwarts this year."

"Excellent excellent! Let me see, well ladies first," Ollivander said. "Which is your wand arm my dear?"

"Um, I'm not sure..." Len said.

"which is your dominant hand?" Ollivander asked.

"Um, neither... I'm ambidextrous," Len said quietly.

"Ah, a challenge then," Olllivander said happily. He pulled out a silver tape measure which began to measure up and down Len's body, floating in the air as it did so. Ollivander turned around and started pulling boxes from nearby shelves and placing wands into Len's hand, then whipping them out of her hand just as quickly to try another wand. She stood still, somewhat in shock, as Ollivander did his work. "Aha, this might be the one, ten inches, maple, unicorn hair, slightly bendy," he said, sliding another wand into Len's hand.

Suddenly she felt a warmth spread through her body, and she saw red and gold sparks emit from the tip of the wand. Ollivander smiled and grabbed the wand back, replacing it in its box and wrapping it with brown paper. "Good good, I had a feeling that would be the one. Now to Master Fenton."

Danny stepped forward as Len took the wrapped box from Ollivander, still staring at the old man dumbstruck. "Um, I'm right handed," he said. Ollivander nodded and his silver tape measure began to float around Danny, while Ollivander started the process again, puling wands and making his commentary. The process took a little less time for Danny, and finally a wand that was twelve inches, made of cypress and containing dragon heartstring was boxed up for Danny. They paid Ollivander fourteen galleons and headed out into the street.

"That guy was... interesting," Len said. "But wow, a magic wand... funny though..."

"What?" Danny asked as they headed for Madam Malkin's Robes for All Occasions.

"Well, I've always loved unicorns and my favorite tree is a maple tree... and my favorite tarot deck is a unicorn deck. It's just... funny that I'd end up with a wand made of maple with a unicorn hair in it," Len said.

"Well Ollivander always says the wand chooses the wizard," the Doctor said. "I suppose that's the wand that was meant for you."

They entered Madam Malkin's then and were approached by a squat smiling witch dressed in mauve. "Good afternoon dears, how may I help you?"

"Danny needs Hogwarts first year student robes," the Doctor said. "And Len and I need some everday robes. Well she needs everyday robes, I need something professorial!"

"All right dearies, let's get you measured up," Madam Malkin said, leading them to another room off the main entryway into the store. There were three raised platforms there, and Madam Malkin gestured for them to each stand on one while she called two of her assistants. She then slipped a black robe over Danny's head and started pinning it up, while one of the assistants started measuring the Doctor and the other started measuring Len.

Half an hour later they emerged from the shop carrying a few boxes each. "We have a little more than an hour left... what else is on your list Danny?" the Doctor asked.

Danny dug out the sheet. "Um, books, cauldron, potion ingredients..."

"Oh potions! I need some of that," the Doctor said. "Shall we head there next?"

"Sure!" Len and Danny agreed.

They entered the A