I've been trying to work out when things happen in canon, so I can properly move my AU fic Goblet of Mist (http://www.fanfiction.net/s/5275113) around Rowling's schedule, but I've been running into problems.

I thought that term began on September first, and yet there only seems to be a week between the start of term and the other schools arriving - and then another week until the champions are chosen on Halloween - October 31st.

Pretty sure I failed to notice it somewhere; although I can't find it I must keep skipping over the passage in the book where a month and a half passes. Could someone be a dear and point out what's going on or bitchslap me with the appropriate page?

 

No idea about the proper passage, but just go to the Goblet of Fire page at the hp lexicon. They've got detailed chapter synopses and a day-to-day calendar of events.

PS - This really didn't need its own thread

 

I was attention-whoring for a faster reply. Who says that youtube can't teach us anything? : )

And the sub-page http://www.hp-lexicon.org/timelines/calendars/calendar_gf.html saved my ass. Bookmarked for future reference.

I'll bake you a cupcake or something as thanks.

 

Story's not bad thus far, the apprentice bit was over done, and the 'well behaved puppy' line isn't something I can see Dumbledore saying. 'Follow me as close and silent as a shadow' perhaps, but that's a bit melodramatic as well.

Also, perhaps I'm confused, but if there is only one test for the French, wouldn't it be the equivalent of Newts? I'm pretty sure that's what you said... Wouldn't that make it an advanced class for Harry rather than remedial?

furthermore About your so called 'wild' magic? ... I dunno, seems dodgy. The soul magic green I could possibly see, but 'wild magic'? It's just intent based wandless really, and 'wild magic' screams 'Deus Ex' to me, especially as Dumbledore claims to be a master of it.

If you really want an 'Apprentice Harry' story have Dumbledore's challenge be to find a way to enter and report it back before the names are drawn. Have Harry suggest a couple of the more cliche' one's, Paper airplane, Crumpled up balls, Older student ect. have Dumbledore shoot them down, He IS smart after all, surely he's warded for things like that. Finally, a couple hours before the names come out, Harry stumbles on one he's overlooked. Not some insanely tricky piece of might and magic, but something so simple he didn't think to block it.

When his name (Harry's) comes out, Dumbledore is rightly furious as he figures Harry disobeyed his order not to try them, In his rage he invokes the full force of the brand new apprentice bond making harry unable to lie to him, move, or do anything except shake in terror at headmaster "Fucked up the elder wand wielding Grindwald" Dumbledore's aura. When the answer is still negative Dumbledore is of course chalk white as what he did could have seriously hurt him (Harry) even though he told the truth. Since he obviously didn't do it, nobody really blames him (Harry still) and they intend to let him out of competing but crouch says it's a binding contract. This way Cedric can be a staunch harry supporter, but nobody believes him since he's just being a 'Puff and a good sport about it. Dumbledore of course offers to release Harry, but Harry's decided that this is Exactly why he wanted to be an apprentice in the first place. To learn from the man who Voldimort fears.

Conflict of interest, Blah blah, Mcgonngal is now the Hogwarts judge, and the headmaster is training Harry after giving an oath not to reveal the tasks beforehand.

-Insert rest of story here-


I got a little off track there, but to continue, SomewhatWandless!Harry is cool. completely wandless is not, soul magic harry is very hard to write properly, so I'd go for some form of emotional, or intent based spell tweaking instead. NOT overcharging. S' pointless.

"WOW, look at that overcharged stunner!"
"...wow... it has the exact same effect as a regular one except it wastes a lot more magic to make it brighter and a little harder to dodge or shield... whoop de do..."

Anyway, /Rant

 

Wrong thread, I think, but thanks for the comments anyway Manatheron.

Yeah - you've pointed out the direction I don't want to go in with the wild magic. It's not going to be an overpowered wandless magic thing; "emotional, or intent based spell tweaking instead" hits it right on the head for the most part.

The shadow!patronus thingy was a sort of mix of wild and wand magic, and that sort of thing will be popping up again.

And yeah, your thoughts about Cedric pretty much match mine exactly, but I haven't decided whether or not to have him compete yet. I like the idea of having Harry's name come out twice, and that being the basis for getting rid of Not!Moody fairly early on.

With regards to the French test, I was thinking that they'd be recapping subjects from every year, and Harry would be mostly there to revise the parts he'd already covered.

I'll try to clear these things up fairly quickly; gotta pick up the pace anyway.

 

Ah, missed it in WBA, Someone want to snip that for me?