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• 
  
  On January 3rd the Hogwarts Express puffs its way back up the country with the returning students who were home for Christmas. From discussions of Christmas in one compartment to floating students in another, spirits are high ahead of the feast and Goblet of Fire announcements, and the weighing of the wands for each of the chosen champions.
  
  The Hogwarts staff undergo their transformation with Deaglan McDonough the new Head of Gryffindor, parking his caravan beside the greenhouses ready to teach Herbology, and Muggle Studies professor, Althea Santucci stepping up to replace retiring Leopold Sandusky who has left Hogwarts due to illness. Also replacing Sandusky in Transfiguration is the sprightly Effie Finnigan, with potions this term from Leyla Naceri, and Henry MacLeod for Arithmancy.
  
  Two familiar faces rejoin the staff - Sybill Trelawney for Divination and the notorious Declan Ó Móráin, former Deputy Headmaster, for Creatures. Behind the scenes the dashing Dallas Locksley arrives to look after the grounds while Felinus Woodward keeps his paws busy with the castle. Head Boy, Walton Dodd gets right onto prefect duties with the new team.
  
  Adrift in winter snow, two older students bid farewell to a fallen rabbit while others leapfrog surprise each other in corridors. (Young Ravenclaws prefer to stay inside and duel with chessboards.) Its never straight forward amongst the sixth year girls, especially with the mafia and veelas, but friendship is never far away. Before long there's a kerfuffle in the Great Hall, and quidditch begins to ramp up. While some students have deeper concerns of family others have toads that grow and grow…!
  
  Back to the timetable, classes restart with fourth years discussing astrology in astronomy, their inner eye, trees and meeting their new arithmancy tutor. The first and second years get stuck in with potions and charms. Meanwhile the NEWT students have a rather wet lesson with the assistance of a visiting professor and can't resist a peek in creatures.
  
  The Professors make their own fun getting to the bottom of each other, becoming acquainted, taking trips and seeking advice. That's when they're not tackling students with poor grades from the winter examinations. Certainly the staff room has been thronging since term began...
  
  
  

• 
  
  With the new year turning over, familiar old faces have been making a reappearance in London! Ex-Minister of Magic Marcus Annwyl speeds back into the UK, saved by Alexander Belisario who meets with an old colleague Claudia for a drink a few days later. Meanwhile, present Minister of Magic Persepolis Zephyr greets the return of former Head of Magical Law Enforcement Cameron Rosier by making him wait in her office for an extortionate amount of time as punishment for an argument and the wizard’s vanishing. Auror Trevelyan also welcomes his former boss back into the country after his travels to solve a case he’d become obsessed with.
  
  Also in the Ministry, Auror Chalmers Holt makes a reappearance and Charisma Aldridge returns to give Jonas and Tamis something important after they mourned the anniversary of Tait Aldridge’s death a couple of weeks prior. Auror Trainees Dax and Brett clear the air and Mihai and Aisling do lunch. Healer Bombay and Knox Greyfriar receive their verdict and Bombay’s engagement with Johann Storm becomes public.
  
  Fancy soirees seem to be all the rage in the magical world recently! Le Masquerade holds an evening of fairy tale delights for a secret clientele of the most worthy, welcoming new members. Owner Éloi Desrosiers also reconnects with Darian Morgan a few days prior to the event. Elsewhere, Ira Almasy and the Royal Opera House welcome guests for the newest production.  But will all go well as the night wears on?  St Mungo’s welcomes newest Apothecary and Healer in Training Elixa Mordent as she tries not to be too…stalkerish and scare off Healer Hollingbury and Flynn Hughes gets a strange call to the first floor. And Torolf and Gale make an interesting first acquaintance.
  
  But not every moment this winter is a bright one.  Lucy Matthews, who is still missing, suffers through Christmas alone while she waits for her brother Devlin to rescue her from her kidnapper.  And the New Year gets off to a tragic start for Oulton Broad residents, when Mark Hunter is mysteriously poisoned!  Thankfully, he seems to be on the mend, but his girlfriend Julie LeFevre must still grapple with the fact that his attacker was her mysterious werewolf sister.
  
  

Hogwarts Plots:
A Field Trip! A Field Trip! - Muggle Studies students visit London in the new term
Quidditch Conditioning - Get ready for the upcoming season!
Remedial Flying - Don't let a Troll grade stop you from getting back on your broom!
Ah Youth's Experiments! - Students, Level Two, and Level Three can all collaborate on a new plot involving illegal substances at Hogwarts
January DADA Lesson - Visit to the MLE - The Second Year students will pay a visit to Level Two!
A Young Heir Rises - Help Zoe Torret claim her heritage
Pint Sized Professor Seeks Plots - Effie Finnigan is brand new at Hogwarts and looking for threads!
Hear Ye Hear Ye!  Art Club Planning - Take part in the revitalized Hogwarts Art Club with new president Addison Rockwell



Adult World Plots:
So you think you can WROCK? - Nola and the Knockturnals are recruiting!
Need Information? I know a guy... - Alexander Belisario is back in business!
Matters of Breeding - How do werewolves and metamorphs breed?
St. Mungo's Plots! - Just like Grey's Anatomy, only with apothecaries
Magical Catastrophe #2 - Come up with new ideas to keep Level Three busy
House Hunting for a Hermit - Arcturus Hollingbury is searching for new roommates

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The champions for the Third Task are chosen during the return to school feast on January third. While some students are excited to be drawn from the Goblet of Fire, others are sent into a bit of a panic. And Hogwart's very own wandmaker makes an appearance alongside Garrick Ollivander to weigh the champions' wands.

The Third Task will take place on Sunday, January 24, leaving the new champions with a little time to study, practice, and worry.  Will Durmstrang be able to maintain its lead?  Will Beauxbatons be able to make up for lost ground?  Stay tuned and find out!

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• 
  
  
  Rules Refresh Goes Live!
  
  After six months of behind-the-scenes work by the Curating Team, the Absit Omen Rules Refresh became reality on 9 February.  The Curators have been quietly tweaking links and changing the wording on small things in response to inquiries since then in an effort to get everything up to date and making sense.
  
  If you haven't already, check out the new About Absit Omen tabs, and please let us know if you still have any questions!
  
  
  
  Character Guidelines Updates
  
  As the Rules Refresh continues, we've made a couple of small updates to the character guidelines:
  
  
  • Although they are still a Level 1 Major Role, Heads of Houses no longer need 15 years of experience to qualify.  In the future, characters can be considered for Head of House with only 10 years relevant experience.  (Just like a normal professor!)
    
    
  • Thanks to collaboration with new member Lee, Half Vampires are now available to play!  Check out the wiki article for more information.
  
  
  
  Harry Potter Roleplaying Awards
  
  Absit Omen was invited to participate in the first annual Harry Potter Roleplaying Awards.  Nominations closed on March 5, but voting will be open throughout March.  If you'd like to vote for us in any of the categories, head on over and register an account!
  
  
  
  Staff Changes
  
  We've had a couple of staff changes since our last Fortnight Flier.  Amara has stepped down as a Cbox Moderator and Erika has stepped down as the Quidditch Aide.  Armiece, Thea, and Nina have joined us as our brand new Aides.  Thank you all again for all of your help, past, present, and future!  Check out the Staff Directory to see the full roster of Absit Omen staff members.
  
  Do you want to lend a hand behind the scenes?  We'll be recruiting for new positions in April!  Keep an eye out for the upcoming announcement.
  
  
  
  Foul Language Update
  
  In response to a member inquiry, we have clarified the Code of Conduct in response to swearing and foul language.  Members are asked to use extreme language sparingly and to keep it out of open threads, such as Hogwarts classes.
  
  Please let us know if you have any questions about when swearing is permitted on the board!
  
  
  
  Wiki Update
  
  Changes keep coming to the Absit Omen Lexicon!  The most recent update is the addition of new navigation boxes, like this one for Characters, which will help make jumping from page to page even simpler.  A huge thank you to Cody for all of his hard work!
  
  If you haven't already, keep adding your NPCs and places to the wiki.  Contact Cody or any Curator if you have questions or need help getting started!  You can also submit additions to the wiki on the board here.
  
  
  
  January 2010 Weather Forecasts for London and Hogwarts
  
  London Forecast for January 2010
  
  The first week of the year brings temperatures around freezing but there will be several rare sunny winter days.  Rain returns for the second week of January and skies will remain grey and cloudy through most of the rest of the month.  A warming trend starts around January 21^st bringing much milder temperatures but begin to drop back towards freezing as January moves into February.
  
  
  • Best Sunny Days: January 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th and 30^th. 
  • Watch for snow: January 5^th, 6^th and 13^th.
  
  
  Hogsmeade & Hogwarts Forecast for January 2010
  
  Clouds and snow cover Hogwarts and Hogsmeade for the first week but rising temperatures bring rain starting January 12^th.  Temperatures will be mild, with intermittent sun breaks from the 17th through the 22^nd with rain returning for the last week of January.  Temperatures start to dip back down towards freezing as January moves into February - will Hogwarts see more snow before winter is done?
  
  
  • Best Sunny Days: January 11^th, 18^th, 19^th, and 25^th
  • Watch for snow: January 1^st, 2^nd, 4^th, 5^th and 9^th
  
  Mai has updated the wiki to include the forecast for January 2010!  Check the Almanac for daily forecast details!
  
  
  Major Roles Classified Ads
  
  Interested in involvement with Hogwarts and the Tetrawizard Tournament? Or in managing an entire department within the Ministry of Magic? Perhaps helping with coordinating the next Quidditch World Cup? The following Level  II Major Roles are available.
  
  • Head of Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures
  • Head of Department of Magical Transportation
  • Head of Department of Magical Games and Sports
  • Headmaster/Headmistress of Beauxbatons
  • Headmaster/Headmistress of Salem
  
  Also available are several Level III Major Roles in student leadership for students in good standing who are  willing to take on a little extra responsibility.
  
  • Male Ravenclaw Sixth Year Prefect
  • All Seventh Year Prefect positions
  • Head Girl
  
  If interested in any of these positions, submit an supplementary form today! All Major Roles are subject to special requirements, and requests will be considered on a first come, first serve basis.
  

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