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So...I suck at blogging

I know.
End.
Looking for an apartment is blah, I want to much and I am too used to getting what I want. I am going home to Virginia in a week for Sarah's graduation, so strange to be attending such a milestone in my baby sister's life. I can't believe this chapter is over. The next time I get go to 'go through' high school it will be with my kids, or my friends kids, or Sarah's kids. It has been really hard being so far away from my family this year. I am so used to going home at least once every three months. Gawd how I miss the educational calendar. Anyway, laundry calls.

There are times that I find myself lost in thought over how things are today and how things used to be. Somehow these introspective postings always end me in a wealth of nostalgia and thinking thoughts, thoughts.

I can't even put these into words...times are slow. Days float by...

Hey, hey, hey...

Yay!!!

It's been a month since I've updated, congratulations to me for sucking at being a blogger.

I know no one really reads this thing, considering I don't post regularly, and I don't advertise the link everywhere I go, but in case anyone does try to keep up with me, I'm sorry I haven't filled you in, in like a year!

Anyway, things are well here in middle America. The work week passes reasonably fast, and the weekends pass by in the blink of an eye. Never seems quite fair. No one ever left comments about my story on CoSForums and MugglenetFanFic rejected the fic because of grammatical errors in punctuation. Blah...even after college level grammar it doesn't stink in, doubt it truly will. Anyway I got a beta so hopefully this time it will get through the queue. I hope. All I want is a little HP fanfic reader love...is that so wrong?

Hah. Laa dee daa, Dumbledore is gay? Had you heard? I had, and so have a couple thousand plus others. It appears that a reasonable few have issues with this news. Unfortunately, for those of us who have no issue whatsoever, the ones who are pissed love to share their opinions frequently. I don't know. I mean, I guess, if your own moral convictions tell you that you must hate all those different or opposite from yourself... Maybe we should all just feel sorry for you for being so ignorant.

The thing that really gets me about all of this, is who ever gave all of you the right to be the authority on the matter. It seems strange to me that people can be so close minded, so intolerant, so ignorant. Frankly, I'm not surprised at the reaction. I'm not blind to the fact that I live in a country burdened with close-minded bigots. I guess, it just surprises me that in this day and age we haven't moved passed discrimination such as this.

Today, while perusing on Mugglenet I found the following two statements.

Posted by Holly09: "I'm just so confused right now...I've always thought of Dumbledore one way, and now this, I just don't know what to think. Throughout my life I have been taught and do believe that homosexuality is wrong. Men are supposed to be with woman--two people of the same gender are not supposed to be together. That is one of the idea that I have accepted. Now, this. I have always looked up to Dumbledore, I mean, he was the greatest wizard ever. He taught me so much. I will never forget, "It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." In book 7 we learned that Dumbledore was not a saint, he had some rough times in his life and always regretted his actions when it came to his sister. However, all of this made me like him even more. He was not perfect. Now I learn that my hero felt a way that I believe is morally wrong. I am a more open person than I used to be because of Harry Potter, but this still feels wrong to me. There was no hint to this whatsoever in the books--I am a die hard Harry Potter fan, this has been my life for 7 years. Now what? I feel betrayed. I don't hate gay people, I just disagree with your way of life. I guess I will just have to go on with my life pretending I didn' t read this and continue to see Dumbledore the way I always have--a hero."

Posted by tnjetfan: "Holly09....so because Dumbledore is gay, he can't be a hero? There seems to be a great amount of hypocrisy from those using religion as a basis for hating homosexuals. Being raised Catholic, I read the Bible, and found that Jesus preached a message of tolerance of all people, and to be accepting of other cultures and lifestyles. Yes, there are parts of the Bible that condemn homosexuality as a sin, but these have to be taken with a grain of salt. The Bible also says that the Earth is flat and built upon pillars of stone, and that the edges are guarded by sea monsters. It is also said that if a woman disobeys her husband, he has the right to stone her. You can't just pick and choose what parts of the Bible you're going to apply to life and which ones you're just going to brush off as old fashioned. Dumbledore is just as great a man as he was before this announcement. What if one of your future children is gay? Will you love them less? Dumbledore is a great man throughout the books, and he will always remain that way in my mind."

I don't claim to be a good Christian, or a regularly practicing one. But, from my understanding we are put on this earth to bring glory to God. I don't necessarily practice this, or fully believe in it. That is to say, my personal opinion of what brings glory to God differs greatly from what I was raised to believe through the Church. What I do believe is this. God, granted us a wondrous favor in creating us to be free thinkers, full of separate  and amazing individuality. It may be our mission in this world to bring glory to our creator but there is a difference in glory and prejudice. In my view, bringing glory to God comes from creating beautiful things and sharing our creations and ourselves with those around us. Accepting each other for our differences and working together to create a more peaceful and wonderful world. Others, it seems, find that the only way they can bring glory is by shoving 'Gods' message down other people throats and by judging other peoples lifestyles instead of focusing on their own. It is not our place to judge anyone. As far as I understand it, the task of judgement lies in only one individuals hands. And that, ladies and gentleman is NOT ours.

Anyway, sorry if I am rambling. And frankly, I'm not sorry if I have upset you. If you disagree, I should probably mention, I DON'T CARE! So, if you are going to attempt to change my mind and alter my views and beliefs, move along to another blog. Godspeed J.K. Rowling. Godspeed Albus Dumbledore. This information doesn't change my mind about the series I love so much. If anything it has strengthened my respect and resolve for this woman and this story.

Peace | k

I did it!

Alright, well, I did it! I posted my One-Shot to both MuggleNet FanFiction and CosForums.com. I am hoping I get some great feedback and that overall people enjoy it. I have been brewing another idea, for a chapter story! I think it will need further development and research but I think it will be better to let it become what it will in time...but I am very intrigued!

love. k.

A Hagird POV One-Shot

All Hallows Eve


Written by: Kate Swaim
Copyright © 2007


Disclaimer: All characters here within have been lovingly borrowed from the creative genius of author JK Rowling.



The scene was gruesome. Thick black smoke filled the air, and dusted the ground before him with soot. He kicked the stand of the large motorbike and lent it down.
Hidden from the Muggle eye, the house now sat completely in ruin. It was hard to believe that such devastation could go unnoticed, that all those within the square of Godric’s Hollow slept unbeknownst to the carnage that had occurred that night.
Slowly, Hagrid walked towards the front gate. He staggered for support as he found himself frozen. Glass from shattered windows shone in the moonlight. Shimmering like a thousand tiny stars strewn carelessly about the lawn. Half of the second floor was gone, blown to bits from the weight of the curse. Bits of scorched ceiling and smoke was all that was left.
A rough, chill breeze drew Hagrid from his daze. And, suddenly he stepped forward with strong resolve. He had a mission, a task to be done. Pulling his moleskin coat tight around his bulging arms, he buttoned the remaining buttons hurriedly.
Grasping the handle on the gate, he punched the lever lift with his thumb. The gate swung back from his hand with a creak. The squelch of metal against the hanging stagnant air caused him to wince.
Gathering strength, Hagrid stepped through the threshold. Turning to where he had stood moments before, he slowly closed the gate. With a snap, the gate locked into its place. The sharp sound shuddered through the night air. And then, as suddenly as it came it was gone, another sound replacing it. Softly, like that of a wounded creature, a whimper came from within the wreckage.
Now blaring, like a siren, came the cries. Hagrid rushed toward the house peering into what was left of the second floor. Twice the size of two adult men, Hagrid’s eyes were just level with where the second floor windows ought to have been. He couldn’t see anything. It seemed, that in the explosion, the floor had fallen out and what could be seen as the second floor was only walls.
Circling the house, following the cries, Hagrid rounded on a large hole where the back sliding door once stood. Poking his head into the house, all he saw was black. Taking a step back, Hagrid reached in to one of his jackets many pockets. Out he pulled a pink umbrella, too small for his size. Quietly, as if speaking to the umbrella, he whispered, “Lumos!”
A bright light shone out from the tip of the umbrella. “Harry? Harry, if yeh can ‘ear me...” Hagrid crouched slowly through the door opening careful not to budge up against anything, should it all come crashing in around him. The cries had stopped suddenly. “Harry? Harry? Are yeh in ‘ere? If yeh are, cry again or...or something, anything...Harry?”
Hagrid stood waiting, hoping against hope, for a sound. Any sound to suggest that he was all right, that all hope was not lost, that he would survive. That something from this night, other than the Dark Lord’s disappearance, would be worth celebrating.
Across the room came a muffled gurgle. Like a low soft spitting noise. As Hagrid neared closer toward the source of the sound, he focused his attention. It sounded, as if someone were blowing raspberries. Laughing almost Hagrid spoke, “Harry, is that you?” Crouching beneath a fallen support beam Hagrid found himself looking at a turned over sofa. Carefully he dropped to his knees and peered under the sofas edge. There, lying on a cushioned pillow, was Harry.
“Harry!” beamed Hagrid as he reached towards the gurgling baby. He gently pulled Harry out from beneath the sofa and looked him over thoroughly? Satisfied that Harry was none the worse for ware, he lifted the baby to eye level. “All right there, Harry?” Harry giggled and stretched a stubby arm to tap Hagrid’s bulbous button nose.
“Hey there!” Hagrid’s black eyes glinted in the glow of his umbrella. Although, his face was covered in bushy black hair you could tell he was smiling from his eyes. Harry let out a high squeal of laughter and grabbed a tuft of Hagrid’s black beard. With a swift yank, “Aargh!” chortled Hagrid. “Got yeh a strong grip there don’ yeh Harry?”
Getting to his feet, he cupped Harry in the crook of his elbow and sidled back out the way he came. The sun was beginning to rise, peeking out from behind the clouds that had seemed to plague the countryside for quite sometime. It was much warmer, Hagrid noticed, then it had been. Maybe he was gone. Maybe all the dark stuff of the past was finally going to stop. Maybe life, for a change, would be peaceful. As he dared let the thought cross his mind, he snuck a peek at the tiny bundle in his arms. Harry seemed to be snoozing.
How had it happened? How had Harry survived? Lifting Harry for a closer look, he first noticed the cut. Showing, just barely, from beneath his jet-black hair, was a small lighting bolt shaped wound. Resting Harry on one arm, he brushed his hair to the side. it wasn’t a deep wound, but it was definite, and Hagrid assumed, lasting. All the same, it couldn’t hurt to try. Grabbing hold of the pink umbrella, he turned it towards Harry. The light that shone from its end caused Harry to squirm in Hagrid’s arm. “Ah, sorry there Harry. Nox.” The light went out so suddenly it took a moment before Hagrid’s eye adjusted and he saw Harry holding on to the spot where the light had just gone out. Hagrid smiled, “Like that do yeh? How ‘bout this then? Lemme see if there ain’t summat we can do abou’ that there cut o’ yours?” Pointing the wand to the wound on Harry’s forehead Hagrid screwed up his brow in concentration, “Episkey!” Nothing happened. Hagrid knew it was a long shot. Healing spells were rather advanced. “Well then, at least we tried, eh?” Harry smiled up at the giant. He didn’t seem in pain at all. he was going to be just fine.
Suddenly, A light in the house next-door flicked on. Hagrid had lost track of time, he knew any moment the Muggles would swoop in on the house, now that the charms around it had disappeared. Quickly he grasped his umbrella. Conjuring a basinet and blankets, he wrapped Harry up gently, trying not to wake him. “Lumos.” Another light from across the street flicked on. “Ah better not then, Nox.” Harry stretched his arms with a yawn and snuggled himself down inside his blankets. Hurriedly, Hagrid placed Harry is the basket and walked toward the motorbike in the street. Sitting astride the bike, he kicked it into life. With a roar, the bike rode down the sweeping street and into the air disappearing between a patch of clouds.
Hagrid looked back at the fragile form behind him. He couldn’t believe the luck. A baby had defeated the Dark Lord, it didn’t seem possible, it didn’t seem real. So many had been lost, so much sacrificed, it was like a dream. Flying east over Bristol Hagrid again check his cargo.
Harry had fallen soundly asleep. Hagrid smile, all he had to do now was meet with professor Dumbledore and Harry would truly be safe.



Lend me your thoughts if you so choose, I would appreciate it!

- GWP

Time disappears, I swear.

Ok, so it's been almost a month since my last post...I swear I had no idea! My sister came to visit last weekend which may account for some of the time I have seemed to misplace lately. So I have finally gotten around to "finishing" that one-shot I mentioned previously. I will post it here to do a bit more editing before it is posted to a few fan sites and forums. I hope it is recieved well. It is always a tough thing to judge. And, I know if I want people to take me seriously I will have to write faster and with more conviction. I want readers, and as I reader first I know that I will have to move quickly to get a steadfast following. Perhaps its better to write it all and then make postings one at a time...Nah. Where's the fun in that. Oh well I will post what I have now.

- k