playing clangen for the first time in a while i forgot how much i love mantisfang. also the game updated so you can manually set adoptive relationships which is great cuz mantisfang adopted 3 kits in-game but then found 2 other kits without being assigned the adoptive parent, and in my Head and Heart, she adotped those other 2 as well, so now i can actually set it in-game to reflect that

epic single parenthood . love that for her

Title: Black Dog - part four Word count: 4475± words Episode summary: When  Sam gets an anonymous phone call with information about his father, Dean receives a text message with coordinates to different location. The brothers clash and split up, one following orders, the other trusting his instincts. Meanwhile, in the wilderness of Cascade Range, Washington State, Zoë loses grip on a personal case and is forced to confront her demons. Without back up, this might very well turn out to be her final hunt. Part four summary: Dean closes in on the location that the coordinates lead to, and soon begins to grasp the magnitude of this case. Episode warnings: Dark! NSFW, 18+ only!  Angst, gore, violence, character death. Description of blood, injury   and  medical procedures. Supernatural creatures/entities, mentions of   demon possession. Swearing, smoking, weaponry. Descriptions of  torture and murder. Illegal/criminal practices. Mentions of nightmares and   flashbacks. Descriptions of suicidal thoughts and tendencies,   depression, panic attacks, hallucinations. Author’s note: Beta’d by @winchest09​​​​ & @deanwanddamons​​​​​. Thanks, girls!

Supernatural: The Sullivan Series Masterlist

S1E03 “Black Dog” Masterlist

     Darrington, Washington      December 2nd, 2005 - Present Day

     Two days later, Dean and his Impala roll down a two-lane highway through Stillaguamish Valley. Mountains rise from the earth as if they are still growing, overshadowing the villages beneath. Rays of sun pierce through the clouds, spotlights of the sky shining down on the land below.  

     It’s not nearly as warm as it was in Texas. In fact, Dean has the heaters on to cast out the cold. The radio started jamming some time ago, not because of the presence of a ghost or some other supernatural force, but simply because the high mountains are interfering with the radio signal. To break the silence, Dean threw in an old Metallica mixtape, one he used to listen to whenever he was on the road alone. Enter Sandman rages through the speakers as Dean taps his thumb on the steering wheel in the rhythm of the drums. 

     He needs his music right now. It’s the only thing that can keep him sane. The evident empty space next to him and the silence that filled the car before the screaming guitars did, had him almost turn around at least half a dozen times. The knot in his stomach hasn’t exactly loosened ever since he left Sam on the side of the road, but with his father’s orders in mind, he kept pushing north. You’re here now, Dean. Might as well solve this case.

     When he crossed the Texas - Oklahoma state border, he stopped at an internet cafe and traced the location of the coordinates. It turns out that 48°13’11.00”N 121°41’4045”W isn’t an abandoned factory building in the American wastelands or a graveyard which happens to be the final resting place of a not so peaceful spirit. These coordinates are those of a pass on the south side of a mountain range, west of a small town called Darrington, located in Washington State. 

     When he searched for articles on anything out of the ordinary in that area, he stumbled on a bunch of missing person reports and killings in the local newspapers. The growing population of grey wolves and bears, plus the city closing in on nature, are the causes of this unusual animal behavior, according to the wildlife services. Apparently Dean’s father doubts that the animals have anything to do with it. The missing people and casualties are random. Dean couldn’t find a link between any of them, so he went on and eventually got himself on Arlington-Darrington Road, heading for the small village. 

      As far as Dean knows, the last attack took place nine days ago. It happened at the exact location of the coordinates, where a family was hiking. The teenage daughter and the father were killed by God knows what, only the nineteen-year-old son survived. He expects the local police will know more about his state and current whereabouts. Having a word with the poor kid is on the hunter’s to-do list, once he finds him. 

     Dean looks over to the right, where a high peak stands out from the other mountains surrounding him. It seems ominous and beautiful at the same time, intimidating anyone who enters the valley as it reaches for the sky. That’s the place where it went down; Whitehorse Mountain. 

    The hunter carries on and passes a church and a short airstrip, then he enters the town of Darrington. Not quite sure where he’s supposed to go, he follows the main road, and soon spots the police department on his right. The Impala turns to the curb and through his windshield, the driver takes a look around. The benefits of a small town; everything is close by. Across from the police department he finds a diner and a small hotel, no need to drive around to find a place to stay and to eat. First things first, though, he has to figure out what he’s up against. 

     Somewhat carelessly, the hunter rummages through the several false ID’s and badges in the glove compartment, choosing one that his father printed a couple of months back. As he gets out of the car and walks around it, he checks out the ID as he mouths the false name.      “Glenn Frey. Brilliant, Dad,” he chuckles, instantly recognizing the name of one of the founders of the Eagles.

     Confident, Dean steps inside the governmental building.      The deputy, who’s reading a file by a large desk in the corner of the room, looks up from his work. “Can I help you?”      “Yeah, I’m Glenn Frey from Wildlife Services,” Dean flashes his identification as he walks up to the counter.      “Ah, you’re here for the attacks.” The officer stands up and walks over, after which he shakes Dean’s hand. “Deputy Steven Morson.”      “Is the sheriff in?” Dean wonders, getting straight to the point.      “Not at this moment, but he will be later on,” the young deputy replies.

     The hunter purses his lips, letting a sound of discontent slip past his teeth. “I was hoping to gather some more information about the Cleveland family.”      “Your colleague missed something?” deputy Morson assumes.      Oh oh, the real rangers got here first? Quickly, Dean improvises, the slight hesitation barely noticeable. “We just don’t want to miss any details, make sure we know what we’re up against.”      The deputy nods at that. “No problem. I’ll get the documents for you.”

     He moves over to the file cases against the back wall, opens one of the doors with a key, and leafs through the files. As he’s working, Dean takes his time to have a look around  the small police station. Pictures of officers decorate the bleak walls, together with a collection of medals and declarations. The sheriff’s office is separated from the main desk. A bit further in the back, Dean sees the door that leads to the holding cells. It looks pretty much like every small town’s department he’s been in; way too familiar. There have been several occasions that he saw places like this from behind bars.

     “Here you go.” The deputy interrupts his thoughts as he hands the file to Dean.      With a grateful nod, so-called Glenn Frey from Wildlife Services lays out the documents on the desk. Attentive, he scans the pages as he flips through them, but there isn’t much there.      Puzzled, Dean faces the policeman. “This is it? No imaging, death reports?”      “The remains haven’t been brought down the mountain yet. Three hunters went up to track them down, bring the bodies back and shoot the animals if they get the chance, but it snowed for quite a while a few days back, so I think they got delayed,” the deputy explains.      Dean hums at that, but doesn’t say anything. And I think they got killed, he ponders quietly.      “So all you have is an eyewitness report of ...?” Dean concludes, leaving the line open for the deputy to fill in.      “David, the oldest son. Poor guy,” he sighs.      “Got hurt bad?” Dean presumes.      “No, not at all. He didn’t have a scratch on him. But what he saw… Well, read for yourself,” The policeman nods at the page on the counter, and gives the ranger some space.

     Dean scans the eyewitness report intently, taking out the details that matter to him most. Tear wounds, bite marks, limbs shredded off, major blood loss. By the looks of it, the two victims were torn in pieces. The description of the suspected killer is rather poor, though. Apparently Deputy Morson notices the change in Dean’s facial expression, because he comments on it right away.

     “The kid lost his entire family, so I can imagine it was all a blur, but he said the animal was ‘invisible’. He also claimed he heard a wolf-like howl right before the incidents happened, but nothing like any grey he has ever heard, apparently. It seems unlikely, doesn’t it? One lone wolf attacking people? I think he kind of lost it, if I may speak honestly,” he says with a little chuckle. 

     Dean, however, doesn’t find it funny at all and keeps a straight face. “Why don’t we both stick to our fields of expertise, shall we? Is he still in town?”      The deputy clears his throat awkwardly. “He is, Sir. He refuses to go back home until his family is recovered from the mountain.” 

     The hunter nods, able to get behind that reasoning. Foolish, but understandable. Either way, for his investigation on this case it’s quite convenient that David is still here. The report doesn’t give him a lot to go on, and he really needs to know more before he sets foot onto the creature’s hunting grounds.      He straightens his back and looks the deputy in the eye before he exits the police department. “Tell me, where can I find David?”      “He has a room at the Inn, but I’ve seen him in church a lot,” the young officer says.      “Thank you, I’ll see if I can find him.” Dean knocks on the wooden counter before he turns away.

     When he exits the building, he halts on the doorstep, narrowing his eyes to shield them from the bright surroundings outside. Snowy mountain tops reflect the sun, a chilly wind rolling through the valley. The hunter adjusts the collar of his leather coat to protect himself from the cool breeze.

     “You’re a ranger, aren’t you?”      He glances aside, finding an older man on a bench by the grass. The grey-haired local glances at the badge in Dean’s hand, before he makes eye-contact.      “I am,” Dean confirms, despite it being a lie.      The elder nods at that, averting his gaze to the peak on their west. The deep wrinkles become more evident while he folds his boney hands around the handle of his cane. “That missing family? You won’t find them.”      Frowning at that, Dean watches him, curious if he knows more. “What makes you say that?”

     “Three of this town’s best hunters have gone up there, they should’ve been back by now,” the senior says with a voice raw from age. “If you’d ask me, I’d say they befell the same fate.”      Dean tilts his head slightly in agreement, beholding the menacing scenery as well. The wise man seems to know that there is more going on than meets the eye at the treacherous slopes.      “Have you seen anything up there?” he wonders.      The old local shakes his head, his stare turning to the icy pavement. “No one has seen anything. It moves too fast. I’ve heard it, though.”

      Intrigued, Dean turns his head to face the man on the bench again. There is a fear in his eyes that seems out of character for the old soul who has without a doubt seen so much in his long life.      “I’ve lived here for seventy years. Have protected my cattle from quite a few predators during that time. Grizzlies, mountain lions, coyotes, wolves. But what I’ve been hearing lately is unlike any animal I’ve ever heard,” he tells.

     Plenty might think the local has gone mad, but Dean has a growing respect for the senior. If he ever had any doubt that this was his kind of deal, it is taken away now.      “Well, whatever is up there, I’ll take care of it,” he claims, sure to succeed.      “You’re not the first one to say that, and yet no one has returned, but that boy,” The old farmer nods in the direction of the church. “If I were you, I would leave the mountain be.”      “Can’t do that,” Dean shakes his head. “More people will disappear.”      “So will you if you go to find that beast.” 

     The elder’s blue eyes surprise Dean when they meet his green ones. They are so piercing and weary, that it startles him, but he manages not to flinch. Instead, he tries to read the man of age, who has one last message for him.      “There is something evil in those woods.”

     The much younger hunter can’t stop himself from swallowing thickly at the intense stare that comes his way. The local is desperate to change the ranger’s opinion, pleading with him to reconsider. Dean won’t, however, although he takes the warning seriously. The hunter might not know what he will be up against once he heads up, but it’s beginning to dawn on him it’s something unlike he has ever faced before.

     On the corner of Commercial Avenue and Riddle Street, Dean halts in front of a small church. The sign in front of the house of God, which is called St. John Mary Vianney Catholic, has his stomach reacting in a way he didn’t expect it to. The fact that both his parents’ names stare back at him, gives this place a whole other meaning. A strange feeling comes to him as a chill runs down his spine. It bothers him, because he’s not one of those new-agey kids who believes in destiny. Of course, this is just an odd coincidence, but somehow it feels like he was meant to be here. 

     Cautiously, he steps up the porch and enters the building. The church seems deserted, even the priest is nowhere to be seen. Light from outside falls through the stained glass and brings color to the house of the Holy. Candles are lit by the altar and have been burning for a while, given the way the wax has dripped down the silver candleholders. Several smaller flames flicker at the sidewall, worshipping the statue of the Virgin Mary. 

     As Dean enters the small church and walks through the central aisle between the rows of wooden benches, he spots a figure on the front row. Although the hunter’s footsteps echo through the old building, the guy apparently doesn’t hear him coming in. He absently stares at the statue of Jesus, nailed to a cross. And so Dean halts at the end of the aisle, trying to judge the situation and how to approach. Either the young man on the bench is ignoring him, or he’s so trapped in his thoughts that he has shut himself out from the world around him. Dean decides to say something to break through to him.      “Are you David?”

     Slowly, the young man glances aside, but doesn’t look Dean in the eye. His gaze is empty and beholds immense devastation. As if he has cried so much over the last couple of days, that he’s unable to express himself any longer.      “Who are you?” he asks with a raspy voice.      For a moment there, the hunter considers taking out his ID, but then he changes his mind. Sam is always far better in these situations, so he tries to imagine how his little brother would approach David. He decides to be upfront.      “I’m Dean,” he answers.

     The introduction doesn’t trigger a response, though; the only living member of the Clevelands continues to stare into the nothingness absently. Dean exhales, pondering. How the fuck is he going to get through to this kid? It’s clear as day David doesn’t want company, and right about now, he could use Sam’s people’s skills. His little brother can work miracles with a few kind words and a pleading gaze.      A bit ill-at-ease, Dean looks down at his feet. “I heard about your family. I’m sorry.”      The silence that follows is even more evident under these high ceilings. The acoustics should allow every sound to be amplified, yet it remains eerily quiet.      “I know how you feel,” he continues carefully.      David scoffs. “No, you don’t.”

     His firm answer catches the hunter off guard. The young man is right, he doesn’t know how he feels, not entirely. Dean didn’t see his entire family die, but the sound of his mother’s horrifying scream still rips through his mind every now and then. 

     For a moment he goes back in time. He doesn’t remember much of his early childhood, just bits and pieces, stills taken from a movie. But what went down on November 2nd 1983, the one day he wishes he could erase from his memory, he can recall in detail. 

     He remembers how he was comfortably sitting in his mother's arms. She held him close, she always did. She carried him into Sam’s room and they wished his little brother goodnight. Dad was there too, it was the last time he remembers him truly smiling. He remembers being tucked in by both of them. ‘Angels are watching over you,’ Mom said, right before he drifted off. Then he was awoken by the chilling cry that would continue to haunt him until this day. He remembers rushing out of bed and into the hallway, where he froze to the ground. From Sam’s nursery, a rage of flames heated up the entire house. Then his father appeared from the fire, holding little Sam in his arms, handing him over.

     Take your brother outside as fast as you can, don’t look back! Now, Dean! Go!

     Even though the heat was unbearable, as was the toxic smoke that filled every room of the house, he ran downstairs as his father told him to and eventually found himself in the front yard, looking up at his burning home. Then Dad came out, snatched both his sons from the grass, and carried them away from the house, after which moments later the second floor exploded. As he looked over his Dad’s shoulder at the burning remains of their house, he knew: he would never see his mother again. 

     Dean swallows with difficulty, coming back to the present. “Believe me. I know.”      A bit surprised by that statement, David looks up into Dean’s eyes, holding his gaze for a few long seconds. “You’ve lost your family too?”      “My mother,” he replies. “She was murdered.”

     Dean looks away for a brief moment. His Mom’s death was hard on him then, it still is now. It might have happened twenty-two years ago, yet avenging her is what motivates him to keep going. She is the reason his father is willing to go to the edge of the earth and beyond to catch the son of a bitch that killed her. That defining moment kickstarted the hunt that would turn out to be his life’s work. That night, he lost so much more than just his mom. 

     Dad never recovered from her death, condemning his boys to a career of hunting. They are soldiers now, fighting a war of which they can’t grasp the magnitude. A crusade against the monster that tore the family apart. Ironically and sadly, that same crusade seems to have driven the Winchesters apart even further than Mary’s killer ever did. 

     Look at him; he has no idea where his father is and he got into a huge fight with Sam. He is truly on his own right now, unsure if his remaining family will return. What if right now, Sam walks into a trap? What if Dad gets killed by the same thing that killed Mom? 

     Suddenly it strikes him. David is what Dean is afraid to become; he’s alone.

     “What happened on that mountain?” Dean asks, trying to focus on the case again before his mind spirals out of control, but the only survivor cuts him off immediately.      “I don’t wanna talk about it.”      “I think you do, but you’ve given it up because no one believes what you are saying,” Dean replies, seeing right through it.

     Perplexed, David looks aside, eying the stranger who is still standing in the aisle, in the middle of the church.      “Like I said, I know how you feel,” Dean repeats, reading the question from his face. “Why don’t you tell me what happened?”      The young guy shakes his head, defeated. “You wouldn’t believe me anyway.”      “Try me,” Dean encourages.

     With a sigh, David looks down at his feet while the hunter observes him. His dark hair is a mess and he has a stubble growing. Blood and dirt has embedded in the prints of his fingers and around his nails, the blood of his family that seems impossible to wash off.

     “Dad, Ruth and I were hiking on the north side of Whitehorse Mountain. We started out early in the morning and everything went smoothly. We had about an hour of light left, when me and my sister reached the location where we planned to set up camp first. Then it started…” he tells as he folds his shaking hands together. “Ruth and I heard a cry of some sort of animal. For a moment we thought it was a grey wolf, but I’ve heard them before, this… this was different. It took Dad ages to get over the Lone Tree Pass, I thought he might have some equipment trouble or something, so I went back.”

     His jaw clenches and he takes a breath, now he has come to the hard part. Tears fill  his eyes, but he is able to hold them back.      “I found him, against a tree. There was blood everywhere, his chest was… he was torn into pieces. He - he had bite wounds and nail scratches all over him, so deep that I - I could see the bone, his - his intestines. His arm was s - severed,” David stammers.      “And your sister?” Dean asks sympathetically.

     A short pause and he can see in David’s eyes that he relives the haunting memory every time he talks about it.      “Same thing... I heard her scream, but by the time I got there, it - it was too late. There was barely anything left. She was only sixteen,” he reveals with a trembling voice.      David rubs his face and wipes away the tears, but he stays strong.      “Then I heard it, this deep growl. It felt like it was right behind me. When I turned around I didn’t see it, but I heard the call again. Then everything returned to normal,” he remembers.      “What do you mean, back to normal?” Dean questions, curious about his choice of words.

     The young guy looks up at him again from the bench. He hesitates, as if what he’s about to say will just confirm that he’s completely losing his mind. “The mountain came back to life. Birds started singing again, the wind blew through the trees. Right after the first cry, everything went dead. You could hear a penny drop in that forest,” David tells him. “I don’t know how to describe it. It… It was surreal.”      Intently, Dean listens to him and doesn’t give any sign of disbelief what so ever. “Then what happened?” he asks, intrigued.

     “I ran. I knew I needed help and the only place where I could find it was down in the valley. So I ran.” David drops his gaze again, ashamed. “I’m such a coward. I should’ve called it in with the satellite phone. I should’ve stayed by their side.”      “There’s nothing you could have done for your family. You would’ve ended up dead if you had stayed,” Dean says, trying to relieve him from his guilt.      Carelessly, the lone survivor shrugs. “Maybe that would have been better.”

     Dean keeps quiet, because he understands where he’s coming from. If your entire family ends up dead, what is there to live for? He wouldn’t want to stay behind either.

     “You - you know what the worst part is?” David stammers. “I have absolutely no idea how to explain what happened. It wasn’t an animal, I know that much. But if it wasn’t, what the hell was it? There’s just no explanation.”      “There is,” the hunter states.      “What? That it was bigfoot?” David scoffs sarcastically.      “There’s no such thing as bigfoot… I think,” Dean answers, doubting his own words the moment he says them.      “Then what killed my family?” the young Cleveland wants to know.      “I’m not sure yet, but I can tell you, it ain’t no wolf. It’s not from our world,” Dean states.      “I don’t care from what world it is. I want it dead,” David makes clear.

     “I’ll track it and get rid of it,” the man next to him promises.      Determined, the mourning teenager gets up from the bench. “Good. When are we heading out?”      But Dean holds out his hand in front of him, stopping him. “Whoa, dude. I don’t think it’s wise for you to come along.”      “Do you know anything about that mountain? Do you know anything about the trails? About hiking?” David questions.      “I’ll manage, that’s beside the point. This is gonna get ugly, David. You don’t want to be a part of this,” Dean makes clear, trying to discourage him.

     “Trust me, that mountain is one big monster by itself. If you don’t know her paths, you’ll get lost and die. I know these woods like the back of my hand. Together we’ll have a chance. I’m not gonna sit here while you go up there and get killed just like those three hunters,” he argues, his voice gaining strength.      Dean huffs. Smart kid. He’s got spunk, alright.      “Whatever it is, it killed my family. So don’t tell me I can’t be part of this,” the young guy insists firmly. “If you had the chance to face who killed your mother, wouldn’t you take it?”

     Dean doesn’t have an answer ready for that one, he wasn’t expecting a curveball. David is right. If he had even the smallest opportunity to have a share in the fight against the monster that killed Mom, he wouldn’t even have to think about it.      “Alright,” the hunter sighs. “But if anything happens to you--”      David doesn’t even let him finish and walks past him towards the exit. As he does, he looks over his shoulder. “What? Like I have anything to lose?”

     Dean watches him leave, the corner of his mouth pulling into a small smile. He recognizes himself in the kid; hands on, not cowering in the face of danger, willing to do everything for his family. He won’t be able to stop the only remaining Cleveland, and so he follows.

     As he descends down the steps of the church, he finds David standing on the sidewalk, staring up at the sky. Before them, Whitehorse Mountain stands tall, looking down on them like a dark, looming thunderstorm. That’s what they need to overcome, that’s their challenger. 

     It is going to be a difficult climb, but fighting a vicious creature along the way makes things a little more complicated. Dean wishes he had Sam to back him up on this one, because he’s sure his smart brother would have an idea what they are up against. Even though he’s not fond of having a civilian to worry about on a hunt, David does know this terrain. Dean has to face reality here; he’s going to need a guide. He only hopes that he can bring the kid back down, safe and sound. Enough people have died on that mountain already.

Story fact: the church mentioned in this chapter was the actual name of a church in Darrington in 2005. Came across in during research, and just had to use it!

Thank you so much for reading. I appreciate  every single one of you, but if you  do want to give me some extra love,  you are free to reblog my work or  buy me coffee (Link in bio at the  top of the page)

Read part 5 here

Romance asks *cough* for Calliope *coughcough* all, maybe? ^.^

All… ALL??… okay… let’s try…XD

But this goes under a cut because it got quite long ;)

1. What drew your character to their LI and vice versa?

They met in a bar and had a one-night-stand. Neither of them was proud of it… but when they met again by chance it was super awkward… their mutual friend Nivalis (character of @lonyn) said they should figure this out… so they met for lunch and talked and they clicked. They just liked each other’s company… Cal liked Gladio’s sense of humor and Gladio enjoyed Cal’s wit. Lunch dates turned to dinner dates and some more after a while. 

2. What was the first moment that they knew they were in love with their LI?

That was when both thought the other was in grave danger. When Insomnia was attacked and Cal raced through half of the town to make sure Iris was fine (and helped them escape Insomnia). And Gladio knew when he felt the overwhelming relief after hearing that Iris was safe and that Cal had come to help them. 

3. When they are having a fight, what is it about and how do they deal with it?

Mostly stupid things. In the beginning both can’t really deal with their feelings for each other. Since they can’t really “go away” at some point they deal with it by sulking and sitting next to each other until one of them caves in and apologizes and they start talking again about why they started shouting at each other earlier. 

4. Their favorite physical feature on each other?

Okay… my two dorks being superficial? Cal adores his tattoo … and his broad frame. And I see Gladio really liking her hair and the back tattoo she got to compliment his.

5. How do they comfort each other when they are sad?

Gladio makes her hot cocoa or pours her a glass of wine. Cal offers a cup of ice-cream and a camping-trip weekend (and Cal hates camping, but to see Gladio happy she endures it every now and then). 

6. Who is the big spoon?

Gladio ;)

7. Favorite date activity?

Open-Air cinema night. It means being outdoors (which Gladio loves) and watching a movie (which Cal adores). And they eat popcorn and nachos and cuddle :3

8. What are their most prominent memories of each other?

Cal will never forget the first time she saw Gladio train shirtless (the tattoo). Call her superficial, but she likes looking at him. Gladio was so proud of his girl when she got her badge and entered active police duty and how happy and confident she looked in her new uniform. 

9. How open are they with their feelings?

Once they accept that they are madly in love with each other… it gets better and they are pretty open about their feelings for each other. 

10. Do they have pet names for each other?

Both use “Babe” as pet name. It started because Gladio called her “Babe”.

Cal: Don’t “Babe” me, Babe!

And it stuck ;)

11. Do they have any inside jokes?

Oh, a few and they all would need a mature tag if I wanted to explain them :P 

12. Do they have similar goals? If they clash, how do they deal?

Both have the goal to serve the king… Gladio wants to be worthy of his position and Cal wants to be a great cop… it mostly doesn’t clash. Both understand that sometimes their jobs need time and attention, too. 

13. How do they react at being away from each other?

They are both adults. They can deal with separation. Then they text each other often and at night they phone - for quite some time if possible. They miss each other and whoever was away makes sure they celebrate it properly when they are reunited again. 

14. Is there anything they associate with each other?

Calliope associates anything “eagle” with Gladio. And when Gladio sees anything that has to do with the Insomnia Police he thinks of Cal... that sort of association? 

15. Does their view of themselves differ from their partner’s view?

For Cal quite a lot. She doesn’t think she is anything special or strong enough to be worthy of Gladio. He would argue that any day. And Gladio would doubt he manages to offer her enough attention aside his duties but Cal never feels neglected. 

16. Jealous at all?

A little, they can’t deny it. Cal works with lots of men in (pretty) uniforms. Gladio eyes them suspiciously quite a lot. And Cal sometimes worries when Gladio accompanies Noct to formal occasions where there are pretty ladies. What if one of them is more appealing?

But at the end of the day they are faithful and trust each other. 

17. Their ways of expressing their love.

They say it openly and quite often. Cal and Gladio also like to hold hands. On a more intimate level they both are well aware that the other loves them and that it is very much mutual ;)

18. Is their any way they disappoint each other?

Neither Cal nor Gladio can cook... but they try and are both disappointed at themselves when it’s not working out again and they have to either get take out or invite themselves over to Ignis and Niva again. 

19. Describe how they communicate.

They actually talk to each other. And they text when they are at work, or sneak in phone calls during lunch breaks. 

20. Did either person change at all, to be with their partner?

No... they are pretty much the same people. That’s why they get along so well. They accept the other for who they are. Gladio calmed down a little with Cal, and Cal got a little more confident with the help of Gladio... but nobody changed to be with the other. 

For the creator

21. Personally, do you think they are a good couple?

Mostly... yes. They are sometimes ying-yang and bicker ... but at the end of the day they are a great team and make each other happy. Neither is taking advantage of the other, they are people with a life without the other - though they have more fun being together than being apart. 

22. From the outside looking in, what is their dynamic like?

The bickering couple where neither is admitting that they are adorably cute around each other. 

23. Did you tailor your OC for the other in the romance?

Not really... Cal developed in chats with @lonyn and started to shape up... she was not tailored to be with Gladio... it happened that they worked out in my headcanon... 

24. Is their any moment that happens between them that you know happens and just makes you melt?

They were broken up when Insomnia fell. Even though Cal did everything to take Iris, Talcott and Jared out of the city. It was her duty. She owed Gladio when she promised she would keep an eye on Iris while he was gone. When they met again in Lestallum and Gladio met Iris she told him all about their escape. It was later that day that he met Cal who had been out in town running errands and trying to get information. And when he saw her Gladio just walked up to Cal and kissed her. ♥

25. Share any headcanons about their relationship.

They have their separate places for quite some time, even though Cal mostly spends her nights at Gladio’s place at a later point. His place is bigger and closer to her work, too. In the mornings Gladio gets up first to go on his morning run. Cal can’t be persuaded and besides it’s Gladio’s personal thing to go running. So when he gets back and showers Cal mostly gets up and prepares breakfast - or joins him in the shower for some early morning fun before work claims them again for the day ;)

26. How important is the romance in your OC’s overall story?

Fact aside that 98% of it only exists in my head ... it’s romance 50/50 mixed with detective stories... 

27. What makes you excited about their relationship?

They are equals. Neither of them is a minor character without the other. They don’t need the other to function, as I said before. They manage to surprise each other and care for each other as well as still challenge each other occasionally. 

28. Is their any similarities to your OC and LI’s relationship to one you have had IRL?

I am a very happy single woman with hardly any experience in relationships... so no, this is just me hoping to give the characters some interesting lives. 

29. What are your favorite moments that happen between them?

The Fluff. For example Gladio always makes her hot cocoa after long and exhausting days in her job (as police detective) and then they cuddle up on the sofa and watch some silly TV shows. Or Cal gives Gladio a back massage when he is all tense. Or when they cuddle on the sofa - Gladio is reading and Cal is playing on her tablet and both just calmly and quietly enjoy to be with each other.

30. How does their love change as they get older?

It grows. They realize that they found the missing piece in their lives. They happily return to each other at the end of a tough day at work or a risky mission. 

31. Share anything you would like about the couple!

In the canon ending of FFXV Calliope dies before the final stand. She and Gladio don’t last through the 10 years because Gladio withdraws, thinking he failed his duty to protect his king. How could he protect someone else? So they grew apart and broke up. When the team gathers back for the final fight against Ardyn Cal joins them as well. She dies protecting Gladio from an Ariadne-daemon. 

(This is not happening in the alternate-verse after Episode Ignis...) 

Several Girls Approached On Separate Occasions By Stranger, Racine Police Say

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Ranking the top 10 NCAA championship contenders

College basketball, more than any other sport, seems to have a dichotomy about its championship contenders. Even at this point in the season, you could convince me that only two or three teams can really win it all. At the same time, I’d be willing to believe that a wild March Madness could lead to chaos with a 6-seed stealing a championship. Past history tells us the answer probably lives somewhere between the two.

As I scanned for teams to consider as contenders, Duke certainly feels like it exists in a tier at the top alone. The talent assembled at Duke, being led by a legendary coach, puts the Blue Devils as the favorite, but not a sure thing. The next tier is two teams that seem capable of surviving March and also beating Duke when push comes to shove. They are followed by a group that all have high enough ceilings to make the improvements needed to go on a six-game run and cut down the nets.

Here are the 10 teams I see as capable of winning the NCAA Tournament.

10. Marquette

On a list of ten title contenders, in a year like this year with some great teams at the top of the polls, the last spot or two will be longshots. For the gamblers out there, Marquette is an intriguing lottery ticket.

The Golden Eagles have not been beaten by anyone but St. John’s (twice) since before Thanksgiving. Marquette’s two losses in November both came at the hands of two teams who are looking and playing much differently now — Kansas and Indiana.

Steve Wojciechowski has his team playing excellent offensively, which is translating to tough wins. This season, Marquette is 6-3 in road or neutral site games, with all nine of those games coming versus top 100 competition (per KenPom).

Everything Marquette has done and is capable of in March is driven by Markus Howard. The junior sharpshooter has placed himself squarely into the National Player of the Year conversation. He sinks 44 percent of his long range attempts and is taking more than eight per game. Howard has also made himself a more effective driver this year. He’s attempting twice as many free throws as he did last year, and making 91 percent from the stripe.

He has the shooting stroke and scoring ability to win any game for the Golden Eagles. Howard has topped 35 points on six separate occasions this season. Offensively, he isn’t doing things all by himself. As a team, the Golden Eagles are hitting the 8th-highest percentage from outside the arc. When Marquette’s defensive lapses or turnover struggles bubble up, their shooting is good enough to buoy them through problems. Marquette is far from perfect, but they are a longshot to get red hot in March.

9. Nevada

Of all the teams listed here, none is more of an unknown than Nevada. It’s a real possibility that when March rolls around, the Wolf Pack will enter the tournament without having played any of the other 67 teams in the field. The best chances for Nevada to avoid that fate are fairly dire. Either Arizona State would need to turn things around, South Dakota State would need to win the Summit League, or Nevada itself would need to lose to Utah State or Fresno State in the Mountain West Conference Tournament. None of those scenarios are very likely.

This isn’t necessarily the fault of Eric Musselman or his Nevada program. Their schedule looked stronger on paper before the season began. Three wins against Pac-12 teams would seem strong, but that entire conference has been a tire fire this year. The Wolf Pack also probably counted on being able to boast about a road win at Loyola-Chicago, fresh off their Final Four appearance. The Ramblers have been unimpressive, with 11 losses this season.

The Wolf Pack can’t be dismissed due to a weaker-than-expected schedule. Nevada is still 24-2 on the season, with 12 wins and just 2 losses in road or neutral games. With a balanced offensive attack, six different players in Musselman’s rotation are scoring more than 7 points per game. The Pack have turned the ball over more than their opponent just four times all year. In rough games when the lights are brightest, that is a highly valuable trait that can carry Nevada on a deep run in March.

8. North Carolina

I’m not sure a team has done a better job of melding freshman talent with upperclassmen value this season than North Carolina. In the age of one-and-dones, the ability to mesh these two sources of production has become paramount for success in March.

Roy Williams starts three seniors who all have defined roles and reliable skills. Luke Maye is a beast on the glass, but makes bigs step out to the arc to defend his shooting ability. Cam Johnson is a dead-eye shooter at 47 percent from 3-point land. Kenny Williams does the little things, scoring when needed and always defending.

The Heels’ freshman have been just as vital. Coby White, for my money, has been the best point guard in college basketball this season. His ability to score and also find shots for his teammates has been remarkable. Few players in the nation can shoot as well as White and also have the athleticism to slash into the paint as easily as he makes it seem. In addition to White, Nassir Little is starting to look like the lottery pick that was expected in Chapel Hill. Little always had the body and flash to impress, but has grown into a role lately. After a rocky start at Carolina, Little has learned he’s more valuable as a downhill penetrator than a shooter. Until a recent ankle injury limited Little, he’d been shooting fewer threes and finding more ways to use his athleticism to attack the basket.

With those two freshman surrounded by veteran leadership and steady role players, the Heels can build something this March. We all saw that on display when Carolina handled Duke on its home floor this week. Even without Zion Williamson on the court, that dominant win showed how strong the Heels can be.

7. Michigan State

It should come as no surprise that Tom Izzo has built one of the most balanced teams in college basketball. The Spartans rank in the top seven in the nation in both offensive and defensive efficiency this season, per KenPom. Though Michigan State will miss injured guard Joshua Langford the rest of the season, they have the pieces and scheme to make up for his absence.

Offensively, the Spartans lead the nation in assist rate. No team does a better job of passing to the open teammate, rather than prioritizing who shoots the ball. Michigan State has a team full of players who can score, but none that require an isolation or who will stop the momentum of crisp ball movement. This ethos is perfected by point guard Cassius Winston, who leads the Big Ten in assist percentage and assists per game. His vision opens up avenues for every other Spartan.

Defensively, the Spartans allow few easy baskets. That’s reflected by the 40.5 percent Sparty allows from 2-point land, the best in college basketball. With size and length across the entire lineup, Michigan State makes scoring inside the arc a tall task for opponents.

Tom Izzo has been coaching for long enough to know he has a real chance to do great things with this team. Every possession on both ends of the floor, the Spartans are searching for high percentage shots and forcing low percentage ones. Any team that beats Michigan State needs to buck those numbers and overachieve for 40 minutes.

6. Michigan

After starting 17-0, the Wolverines have lost just three times in Big Ten play, all in true road games. John Beilein has spent this season reminding everyone that he’s one of America’s best college basketball coaches, especially on the defensive end of the floor.

After reaching the NCAA Championship Game last April, many expected Michigan to take a step back. Moritz Wagner was such a key cog in that Wolverine team and losing him should have been a crucial departure. Instead, Jon Teske has stepped into the starting center role at Michigan and been spectacular. Defensively, Teske anchors things for Michigan. He handles every screen and change with ease, while protecting the rim. The 7-foot-1 junior is averaging more than two blocks per game. Offensively, he’s not the scorer Wagner was at all, yet he’s been remarkably solid as a screener and safety valve for the Michigan offense. In more than 700 minutes of play this season, Teske has just 11 turnovers, good for the second lowest turnover rate in the nation.

Beilein surrounds Teske with four players that perfectly complement each other. Zavier Simpson is a rock-solid high IQ point guard. Charles Matthews does absolutely everything. Jordan Poole can shoot or attack the paint. Ignas Brazdeikis leads the team in scoring and provides a swagger than previous Michigan teams have lacked. Together, the group makes up the nation’s most complete starting five. They don’t have the top level talent of Duke or the depth of a Michigan State, but the Wolverines’ best five can play with anyone.

5. Tennessee

After several weeks atop the polls, the Volunteers were bumped from the top spot after a loss to Kentucky. Tennessee lost that game handily, but a loss at Rupp Arena is far from enough reason to be worried. It was just the second loss of the season for Tennessee, the first since an overtime defeat at the hands of Kansas way back in November.

The Vols keep winning games by punishing teams in the paint. Only one power conference team scores a higher percentage of its points from inside the arc than Tennessee. Rick Barnes has assembled a roster built to attack the rim. The Vols’ rotation is full of players who are bigger, faster, and stronger than the players trying to defend them.

This charge is led by Grant Williams and Admiral Schofield. These two upperclassmen forwards have been the most potent scoring duo in the SEC this season. Both are capable of demanding the ball on the block or stretching the defense out with a jumpshot. Williams has been a legitimate Player of the Year candidate thanks to his aggressive nature in the paint. He is drawing 7.0 fouls per 40 minutes, leading to 7.3 free throw attempts per game. Williams scored 43 points, including a perfect 23 of 23 from the foul line, at Vanderbilt, in one of the sport’s best performances so far this season.

Sometimes winning six games in March is about efficiency and reliability. The Vols know that every time they take the floor, they can pound the ball inside and win in the paint. There’s a path to a championship that follows that plan.

4. Kentucky

Despite having one of America’s most talented rosters, I’m not sure that anyone thought Kentucky would enter the month of March with a chance at a top seed and a real hope for a championship after the very first night of college basketball this season.

The Wildcats lost to Duke by 34 points and were absolutely blown off the floor. It was one of the worst defensive performances in recent memory, as Kentucky allowed a mind-blowing 1.44 points per possession.

Per a quick check on @collegebb_ref , Kentucky is the first ranked team to allow more than 115 points in a game since 2010. #DukevsKentucky #BBN

— Shane McNichol (@OnTheShaneTrain) November 7, 2018

It’s not surprising that a team like Duke could steamroll and opponent like that. It is surprising how well Kentucky has bounced back. The Cats are now ranked in the top 10 in defensive efficiency nationally and allow the fewest points per game in the SEC.

While the team’s defense has stiffened, PJ Washington has become a double-double machine and Keldon Johnson developed into a deadly shooter.

John Calipari has a way of getting his young teams ready by March, and this team might be his best transformation yet.

3. Virginia

There are no surprises here. I thought Virginia had what it took to win it all last year and even after seeing last year’s Hoos nosedive during the worst upset loss in basketball history, I can still find the differences and the ways that this year’s team can prevail. After all, we’re talking about a program that has won 54 of its last 59 games. Just one of those losses shouldn’t erase the wins and write off the program for good, especially not this year, when this Virginia team is capable of another gear.

Tony Bennett’s teams always pride themselves on defense and are among the best in the nation year in and year out in that regard. This year, Virginia ranks in the top 10 defensively in the nation for the sixth consecutive season. The Hoos are allowing their lowest 3-point percentage in the Tony Bennett era and the lowest in college basketball this season. Everything about Virginia’s Pack Line defense is business as usual.

Offensively, it’s also more of the same in Charlottesville. For the third straight season, the Cavaliers are the nation’s slowest-paced team. They use that time and patience to find the best shot available, either in the paint or from beyond the arc, where they shoot 40 percent as a team.

Sharpshooters Kyle Guy and Ty Jerome stretch defenses to unparalleled lengths. For those quick to point out Guy and Jerome were both on the floor in last year’s loss, it’s important to note the improvements those two guards have made. After combining to shoot 38 percent on over 350 long-range attempts last season, they’ve improved to collectively shoot 43 percent on their nearly 300 attempts this season. The pair has also doubled their free throws per game and nearly doubled their assists per game. What was once a backcourt of shooters is now a more complete piece of the puzzle.

On top of that, De’Andre Hunter, who missed the UMBC loss due to injury, has become a foundation piece for the offense. No Virginia player in the Hunter era could hunt for a shot his own shot inside the paint with as much strength and stability as Hunter. He gives them an option when shots aren’t falling.

At their pace, it’s still a scary bet to fall behind if a team is making shots. With Hunter on board and improvements elsewhere, it’s a bet that Bennett is prepared to make.

2. Gonzaga

We’ve reached a fun annual stretch of basketball season. We’ve officially entered the time of year where everyone forgets how good Gonzaga is!

This year’s team racked up some good wins early in the year, over teams like Washington, Creighton, and Duke. The Zags have lost just twice all season, versus Tennessee on a neutral court, and at UNC in a one-week span.

Since then, Mark Few and company have won 14 in a row and are absolutely trouncing an improved West Coast Conference. KenPom ranks the league as the 8th-best in the nation, yet the Zags are laying waste to their conference foes. Gonzaga is not only undefeated in conference, but is flirting with records for scoring margin in conference.

Largest conference scoring margin through 12 games (since ’97): ’19 Gonzaga +336 ’17 Gonzaga +325 ’99 Duke +285 ’13 Florida +274 ’11 Belmont +271

— Ken Pomeroy (@kenpomeroy) February 17, 2019

If you’ve lost sight of the Zags during their tormenting of the WCC, I suggest checking back in for their upcoming games versus BYU and at St. Mary’s as a reminder for how scary and dangerous this team can be.

1. Duke

It seems unnecessary to waste words trying to explain why Duke could win the championship. The Blue Devils currently sit atop the polls. Zion Williamson is the favorite to not only be the first pick in the draft, but to win every major National Player of the Year award in college basketball as well. He’s joined by three other freshmen who will be first-round draft picks, and a solid crop of role players who have made Duke the most complete team in America. The only thing that could really harm Duke now is if Williamson decides to put his season to bed and instead prepare for the NBA Draft. All indications show Williamson can and will play the rest of the way, making Duke the strongest team in the nation.

Duke ranks 2nd in the nation in offensive efficiency, thanks in large part to the aggressive nature of Williamson and RJ Barrett. It seems crazy to say, but shooting is Duke’s biggest weakness. For just the second time this century, the Blue Devils are not among the top 100 three-point shooting teams in America. This year’s Duke marks by far the lowest ranking and raw percentage in that category since 2000, at just 31 percent, good for 305th in the nation. The worst thing you can say about this Duke team is that it attempts far more 3-pointer than it should. Of course, in game where that should have killed that, like their recent trip to Virginia, the Blue Devils inexplicably stroked 62 percent from outside the arc.

Beating Duke this year when they are shooting well seems near impossible. If the Devils go cold, you have a chance. Syracuse stole a win at Cameron Indoor by making Duke shoot 43 threes, of which they made just 9. It’s not a perfect strategy, but it may be the best option available in March.

Shane McNichol covers college basketball and the NBA for Larry Brown Sports. He also blogs about basketball at Palestra Back and has contributed to Rush The Court, ESPN.com, and USA Today Sports Weekly. Follow him on Twitter @OnTheShaneTrain.

from Larry Brown Sports https://ift.tt/2GDS6dA

Jarrett Stidham took a beating in this one.

     War Eagle everybody. It’s time now for the Acid Reign Report on Auburn’s 14-6 loss to the Clemson Tigers on the road. It was a tough task to go and play the defending national in their back yard. We had every confidence that Auburn would be up to the task, and Auburn did hang in there the whole game, especially the defense. Unfortunately, the offense was terrible. It was a new low for a Gus Malzhan coached offense, which gained only 117 yards and allowed 11 sacks. Auburn scored only 6 points, and half of those were off a Clemson fumble deep in their own end.

     Save for back to back drives at the end of the first half and the start of the second, Auburn’s defense was lock-down. If there was a weakness, it might have been an inability to look back in coverage at times, but this team also had 5 pass breakups, 4 by the secondary. Clemson was limited to just 5.8 yards per pass, and 2.7 yards per rush. The home Tigers were held to just 284 total yards on the evening. That number might have been much lower, if the offense had been able to sustain anything beyond the first quarter.

     I could go on all day about problems with the offense at every position. However, the biggest issue was with the offensive line. Individually, these guys can all block. However, they lost some individual battles with Clemson’s talented bunch. Then, the inability to communicate reared its head again during this one. I had expected Clemson defensive coordinator Brent Venables to send the kitchen sink after Auburn’s backfield, but it didn’t really happen. It wasn’t necessary. What Clemson would do is just show a 4-man defensive front. Once Auburn quarterback Jarrett clapped his hands, calling for the ball, one of Clemson’s linebackers would move up on the line. And Auburn never blocked all 5 guys successfully. Usually, one guy would come clean, untouched into the Auburn backfield. Towards the end of the game, it was complete chaos on the offensive line, as they regressed badly. Auburn’s inability to pass protect left Clemson free to drop 6 or 7 guys back into coverage.

     From a play selection standpoint, Auburn continues to use 3 and 4 wide receiver sets, even down on the goal line. There seems to be no intent at all to get the ball to anyone but one primary receiver, even if other guys are left uncovered. It was all the rage this summer for fans and coaches alike to say that Auburn was going to get the ball to tight ends and running backs in the passing game. Thus far, starting tight end Jalen Harris has yet to even be targeted, in the first two games. Heck, Harris hardly saw the field, even when Auburn could not block Clemson’s front four. Backup tight end Sal Cannella has been targeted twice this season, and dropped one of them. No H-back has been targeted. Kamryn Pettway hasn’t been targeted. Backup runner Kam Martin has 2 catches for 15 yards, and was targeted 1 additional time on a wheel route against Georgia Southern that was overthrown. In two games, that’s a grand total of 5 passes (out of 50 passes) thrown towards backs and tight ends. What defense is going to bother to cover those guys?

     Auburn had some success throwing some mesh and crossing routes against Georgia Southern last week. Those routes disappeared, against Clemson. It seemed like the old half-hearted 4 verticals trees were back against Clemson. Clemson was pressing at the line, then bailing backwards in coverage. Auburn did not try any back-shoulder fades, to take advantage, or even just a simple 5 yard hitch. Once the Clemson defenders learned to quit running into Auburn receivers with the ball in the air, the Auburn air attack fizzled. In quarters 2, 3 and 4, Auburn managed just 28 yards of total offense.

     A decent special teams night was also wasted, in this loss. Both field goal attempts were hit. Ian Shannon punted decently, and the coverage teams were stellar, facing the super-dangerous Ray Ray McCloud. Daniel Carlson hit a couple more touchbacks on kickoffs.

Unit Grades after the jump!

Defensive Line: A. These guys did a good job against a veteran offensive line. While I’d have liked to have seen more pressure on the quarterback in the second half, a lot of that had to do with the Clemson gameplan. After some withering hits on Kelly Bryant, the Clemson staff got the ball out of his hands quickly, something Auburn seems unable to do. On the day, the line had a couple of sacks, 4 tackles for a loss, and 15 total tackles. Clemson was held to just 2.7 yards per carry on the ground.

Linebackers: A. I can’t find much to gripe about, here. Clemson was unable to get a ground game going, and their backs didn’t catch a pass, either. Tre’ Williams led this bunch with 9 total tackles. The linebackers as a whole were credited with 20 total tackles.

Secondary: B. It looked like to me that Clemson picked on corner Carlton Davis a bit, but didn’t beat him deep. Davis led all tacklers with 11, and had a couple of pass breakups. There were also a couple of times that Kelly Bryant scrambled, and the secondary could not find him down the field. Clemson scored both of their touchdowns on such plays. The secondary had 29 total tackles.

Punting: B+. I would have liked a little more distance at times from punter Ian Shannon, who averaged 40.5 yards on 8 punts. However, Shannon did have 3 of those punts killed inside the Clemson 20 yard line, which brought his average down. The Auburn philosophy on punts is to limit returns, and not out-kick the coverage. Clemson had 4 returns for just 17 yards, on a good coverage night for Auburn.

Punt Returns: A. Clemson killed 4 of 6 punts inside the Auburn 20, and Stephen Roberts did a good job of not risking a deep turnover. When the game was on the line late, Roberts stepped up with a big 25 yard return to give Auburn one more chance to score.

Kick Returns: C. Auburn returned 2 of 3 kickoffs, and did not get the ball back out to the 25 yard line, thanks to poor blocking. Kam Martin had 1 return for 19 yards, and Noah Igbinoghene had 1 for 16.

Place Kicking: A. Daniel Carlson hit both of his field goal attempts, and sent 2 of 3 kickoffs for touchbacks. The coverage team allowed 1 return for 21 yards.

Offensive Line: D-. I’m not going to belabor this grade much. Again, boo on the coaches for this situation. We were still shuffling starters around the week of the first game. It showed, against a good defensive front.

Running Backs: B. It’s hard to fault the backs for the lack of production. They were not allowed to run outside, and last week’s leading rusher Kam Martin did not even get a carry. Kudos to Kamryn Pettway, who managed to squeeze 74 rushing yards out of substandard blocking.

Receivers: C. I really didn’t see much from this group, in terms of either separation or blocking. There weren’t any glaring drops this week, but we did not see much after the catch, nor any spectacular catches in traffic. Routes did not look sharp, either.

Quarterback: D. Yes, there was bad offensive line play, but Jarrett Stidham didn’t do much to compensate. He compounded the problem by holding the ball too long on multiple occasions. The only plus might be that he didn’t commit any turnovers. On the day, Stidham produced 35 total yards. Perhaps the coaches will go over the concept of “hot route,” this week?

     I continue to be astounded that the Auburn offense disappears during big games. We can blame it on Jarrett Stidham, or the offensive line, or the receivers, or offensive coordinator Chip Lindsey. However, these issues have existed for several years now, and have been at Auburn longer than any of the above. With Mercer and a very suspect Missouri defense ahead, there is time to work on these things. If Auburn instead lines up and runs the ball 90 percent of the time against the next few opponents, the offense will again be unmasked in Baton Rouge, and beyond when the schedule toughens up again. We will have to see what this coaching staff does.

     If the offensive line play continues at the same level, Auburn could well lose to both Mississippi teams. A loss at LSU would be a certainty, and fatigue might well spell a loss at Arkansas. Texas A&M is tough up front, and Bama and Georgia are better. Continue this way, and Auburn is looking at no better than 5-7, home for the holidays, and looking for a new coaching staff.

The post Tigers Stall in Clemson. (grading Auburn’s 14-6 loss to Clemson.) appeared first on Track 'Em Tigers, Auburn's oldest and most read independent blog.

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New faces

AFL CLUB lists are turned over at a rapid rate these days – so quickly that it’s sometimes hard to keep up with the changes.

To keep you up to speed, AFL.com.au reporters have compiled a review of all the players yet to make their debut at every club, including those who have swapped teams.

Jonathon Beech: The rookie-listed forward picked up a calf injury in the opening game against Richmond. Didn’t play after that.

Harry Dear: Didn’t have a major impact in his two games. The key forward also spent time in the ruck and needs to hone his game in the SANFL.

Jordan Gallucci: The Crows’ top draft pick had some nice touches through the midfield, but only had six possessions against Brisbane. Will get better with competition against bigger bodies in the SANFL.

Dean Gore: Copped a heavy knock against Geelong and missed the last game with concussion. The third-year midfielder looks a fair way off.

Hugh Greenwood: The former basketballer looks a likely type in the midfield. Had 14 possessions and five tackles against the Brisbane Lions.

Curtly Hampton: One of the success stories of the JLT Community Series. Made a great transition to the midfield with his pace and ball use. Firming for a round one spot.

Troy Menzel: Showed positive signs with increased work-rate and defensive pressure in the forward line. Also used across half-back.

Myles Poholke: Had limited game time in his two appearances before playing the SANFL trial last weekend. Attacks the ball hard, but needs to find more of it.

Harrison Wigg: Impressed off a half-back flank in the opening game against Richmond, but didn’t play in the third JLT game against the Brisbane Lions. – Lee Gaskin

Jacob Allison: Got a taste of senior footy with a half in two separate games. Had his moments in the backline but will likely do most of his development in the NEAFL this year.

Jake Barrett: The former Giant was drafted as a rookie, but impressed in his three appearances as a small forward. Has a hunger for the contest and would not surprise to see him play a number of games.

Cedric Cox: Got thrown into the final game against Adelaide and had some nice touches. Needs a little more size but is super-skilled and will get some games.

Jack Frost: The former Magpie looks a great replacement for retired Dan Merrett. Will miss round one through suspension but has a crucial role in 2017.

Hugh McCluggage: The No.3 draft pick got two games in before sustaining an ankle injury against the Dogs that has him in doubt for round one. Showed touches of class and is clearly in the best team. – Michael Whiting

Zac Fisher: The diminutive midfielder has shown promising signs with his pace and creativity. Impressed with his courage in playing a half against Melbourne but battled against St Kilda.

Matt Korcheck: The Category B International Rookie was given his chance against St Kilda and showed he still had a fair way to go, struggling in the ruck against Billy Longer.

Kym Lebois: Gave a brief glimpse of his considerable talent with a magnificent snap goal against Melbourne. Quiet for the rest of the game but has impressed at VFL level.

Harrison Macreadie: Showed promising signs against St Kilda, picking up 13 possessions, and given limited game-time against Fremantle. Lightly built but courageous and knows how to find the ball.

Caleb Marchbank: Courageous and versatile key defender who will be a valuable addition for the Blues after an injury-interrupted 2016. Needs to work on his disposal though.

Harry McKay: Was close to getting a senior berth late last season but on his form this pre-season is still a fair way off. Still raw, but Blues hold high hopes for him.

Rhys Palmer: Went through the midfield against the Saints and Dockers and won plenty of the ball without hurting the opposition. Experience handy and likely to spend time in attack.

Jarrod Pickett: Was most impressive against Fremantle last Friday night. Quick, clever, dangerous around goal and strong overhead for his size, he is likely to play in round one.

Cameron Polson: Played with passion in his only opportunity against St Kilda, impressing with his defensive pressure and ability to break the lines. Likely prospect with speed and skill.

Alex Silvagni: Former Docker was given his opportunity against his former team and was solid in defence. He will be a handy back-up with his experience if required.

Billie Smedts: Former Cat has enjoyed an injury-free pre-season and is moving well in the midfield. Missed a few scoring opportunities against Fremantle and needs to clean up his disposal.

Tom Williamson: The lightly built medium defender showed promising signs in his only game against St Kilda. Saw plenty of action in the back half, finishing with 10 disposals. – Howard Kotton

Caleb Marchbank has shown he will be a useful player for the Blues. Picture: AFL Photos

Josh Daicos

His six possessions in the last quarter of the opening JLT were silky. A one-touch player, he might get a senior game later in the season but will take time.

Lynden Dunn

No surprises from the former Demon. He is a competitor who kicks the ball long. The odd mistake is likely but he will give 100 per cent.

Will Hoskin-Elliott

Showed on more than one occasion the touch of class he possesses, with his one-handed mark on the weekend a highlight. However, he needs more consistency. A good runner, he can fly for marks and snap goals.

Chris Mayne

Will be judged harshly by Magpie fans but the coach rates his contribution highly, as he can organise the forward line as well as kick goals. A 30-goal season would be outstanding.

Henry Schade

An excellent pre-season from the rookie has him in line for a round one spot. Tall and skinny he shows poise with the ball and defends well. – Peter Ryan

Joshua Begley: Slotted four goals versus Gold Coast and handed off a couple of others. Wasn’t as prominent against Geelong but that inconsistency is to be expected from an 18-year-old.

Dylan Clarke: Of his 11 disposals against the Suns, eight were handballs. He has serious running power but will need to improve his kicking to make the grade.

Josh Green: Former Lion provided a spark up forward and should be part of a dangerous group of smalls at the Bombers, with Orazio Fantasia and Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti also down there.

Andrew McGrath: The No.1 selection last year started quietly against Collingwood but improved in the next two games. His handballing in the contest was an asset, although McGrath will likely play across half-back.

Jordan Ridley: Made the trip up to Mackay to face Gold Coast and the backman did some nice things defensively. Also pushed up the ground to send the ball into attack. Is out for up to 12 weeks with a back injury.

James Stewart: Kicked a brilliant goal against the Suns and otherwise provided a target up forward. Depth among talls will be tested at Essendon after injuries to Tom Bellchambers and Matthew Leuenberger, so he may need to pinch hit in the ruck. – Dinny Navaratnam

Sean Darcy: The only Dockers draftee to play all three JLT Community Series games. The bullocking ruckman gives his all and would have learned plenty playing alongside Aaron Sandilands and Jonathon Griffin. Looks a strong chance to debut this year.

Griffin Logue: Had a few nervy moments on a much-anticipated club debut against Carlton but had no trouble finding the ball and warmed into the action, booting a booming supergoal in the final term. A work in progress but showed promising signs.

Joel Hamling: Found the going tough opposed to Eagles star Josh Kennedy in his first game in purple, but his reading of the play was excellent in the win over Collingwood and he was solid against the Blues. Intercept marking will give Freo another dimension down back.

Bradley Hill: The speedy wingman has been one of Freo’s best performers across pre-season. An allergic reaction before the West Coast game wasn’t an ideal start, but Hill was back to his damaging best against Collingwood and Carlton. Looms as a key to the Dockers’ fortunes with his line-breaking run.

Cam McCarthy: Enjoyed a timely confidence boost by bagging six majors against Carlton. His work rate can’t be faulted and, while expectations need to be tempered, McCarthy has shaken off some rust after a year on the sidelines.

Shane Kersten: Didn’t set the world on fire over pre-season, however a lack of supply in the loss to West Coast and a rib injury in the second game against Collingwood didn’t help his cause. Competed hard to end up with 10 touches and a goal against the Blues. – Travis King

Aaron Black: Started his Cats career in style with four goals against Hawthorn, three of which kept his new club in the game. Was quiet against Adelaide with seven touches and no goals, and didn’t play against Essendon.  

Jordan Cunico: Third-year utility only played against Hawthorn, where he collected 18 disposals and took two marks. Is aiming to put knee injuries behind him and break into the side in a half forward role.

Zach Guthrie: Young defender did his chances of early-season promotion from the rookie list no harm with two promising performances; had 24 touches against Hawthorn and 18 (and seven marks) against Adelaide.

Jack Henry: Versatile athlete who joined the club in last year’s rookie draft picked up five touches and kicked a goal in his only appearance, which was against Hawthorn in the first week. 

Brandan Parfitt: Recent draftee is in line for round one selection after a trio of encouraging performances. Played forward with stints through the midfield, and had 11 touches against Hawthorn, 12 against Adelaide, and 18 against Essendon.  

Tom Stewart: The defender from the Cats’ VFL team had a consistent pre-season with 16 touches and eight marks against Hawthorn, 15 and seven against Adelaide, and 10 and four against Essendon.  

Zach Tuohy: Showed why he looms as the logical replacement for Corey Enright across half-back with three encouraging hit-outs after crossing from Carlton. Averaged over 28 touches across the three games. – Jennifer Phelan

Brandan Parfitt and Zach Guthrie have impressed in the JLT Community Series. Picture: AFL Photos

Ben Ainsworth: Encouraging series of games for the No.4 pick. Hard to always be involved as a small forward, but is clever, tough, and a round one lock.

Michael Barlow: Fitted in superbly since moving from Freo. In the leadership group and played three strong games, whether in the middle or resting forward.

Jack Bowes: The Suns Academy player showed glimpses of his class through the series, where coach Rodney Eade played him primarily at back-half. Will play a lot of games this year.

Will Brodie: Another of Gold Coast’s top-10 picks, Brodie is just outside the best 22 but offered plenty of grunt when thrown into the midfield. Drifted out of games as they wore on, but that’s to be expected.

Pearce Hanley: Like Barlow, has made the transition between clubs easily. Played a variety of roles and will be crucial this season.

Jarryd Lyons: Only played the final game after a slight Achilles niggle. Will be better for the run and showed he’ll be a vital cog in the rotation with his ball-winning ability.

Jarrod Witts: His excellent pre-season was slightly disrupted by split webbing, but Witts will start round one and has shown he can be valuable both in the ruck and around the ground. – Michael Whiting

Isaac Cumming: The defender had limited impact in his one game but has plenty of time to learn his craft from the best in the business, Heath Shaw.

Matthew Flynn: The second-year ruckman struggled to have an impact in his only match against West Coast but his competitiveness was impressive.

Tendai Mzungu: The former Docker hasn’t put a foot wrong and was outstanding in his only outing, now just needs to keep piling on the pressure.

Harry Perryman: Looked at home across half-back against West Coast and is tough as nails, could get an early season call up with some consistent performances.

Will Setterfield: One of the team’s best against the Eagles, the draftee found it tougher second up against the Swans, but looks great with the ball in his hands.

Zac Sproule: The rookie didn’t get much of it in his only game but like a lot of his teammates, will benefit from his time in the NEAFL.

Tim Taranto: Brilliant in close with his hands and tough as nails, as shown by his recovery from a Franklin smashing. A lock for round one.

Lachlan Tiziani: Gave some glimpses of his talent against the Eagles, with his speed and agility likely to make him tough to defend inside 50. – Adam Curley

Ricky Henderson: The former Crow played in the brown and gold just once, against Port Adelaide last Sunday. He picked up 21 disposals across half-back and pushed forward for a supergoal.

Teia Miles: Played every JLT Community Series game in a sign he will face Essendon in round one. Can play at either end of the ground and has a nice kick.

Tom Mitchell: Sat out the opening pre-season match versus Geelong but led his side’s disposal count the next two games. His vision and hands are excellent.

Harry Morrison: Barely took to the field versus the Power and otherwise didn’t play in the pre-season. The defender will likely spend the year developing in the VFL.

Conor Nash: Tough to get a read on Nash, who featured in 15 per cent of game time against the Power. Don’t expect to see the Irishman feature for the Hawks in 2017.

Jaeger O’Meara: The early signs are promising. Racked up plenty of the ball and if he can burst from contested situations as he did at the Suns, O’Meara will be tough to stop.

Tyrone Vickery: Solid without being special, which is all Hawthorn is asking for. Having a big man create a contest up forward and help out in the ruck is important for the Hawks’ game-plan.

Dallas Willsmore: The left-footer was drafted as a rookie in 2013 but didn’t do much playing half the match versus Geelong, picking up two handballs. – Dinny Navaratnam

Early signs have been promising for Jaeger O’Meara. Picture: AFL Photos

Jordan Lewis: The four-time premiership Hawk has fitted seamlessly into Melbourne’s team. Spent the majority of his time during the pre-season series in defence, where the Demons are trying to utilise his sharp decision-making and clean disposal.

Jake Melksham: Melksham played in the midfield and at half-back during the JLT Community Series. Still trying to find his role in the side, although his seasoned body and ability to accumulate possessions stood out.

Michael Hibberd: The ex-Bomber picked up 13 disposals in his only JLT hit-out against Carlton. Will be much better equipped once he develops familiarity with his new teammates. Missed the final game against West Coast with Achilles soreness.

Joel Smith: The supremely athletic defender was one of the standouts on the training track over the summer and earned his opportunity in two JLT games. The rookie may not play round one, but the son of former Demon high-flyer Shaun will play senior football at some stage this year.

Dion Johnstone: Got a taste of senior footy in limited game time against Carlton. Drafted at pick No.68 in last year’s draft, Johnstone’s hardness and smarts around goal during the pre-season impressed Melbourne’s coaches. Could debut in 2017. – Ben Guthrie

Sam Durdin: The Roos’ first pick in the 2014 NAB AFL Draft, at No.16 overall, has impressed this pre-season after being allowed to settle in defence. Played North’s first two JLT games and looks capable of playing as an intercepting third defender in 2017.

Mitchell Hibberd: Played all three JLT games, his best performance coming against Hawthorn (25 possessions). The second-year defender is an exciting prospect with his height (190cm) and outstanding endurance, but is let down by his disposal at times.

Nathan Hrovat: The former Western Bulldog appears a certainty for round one after slotting in seamlessly at North as a high half-forward. Kicked two goals in each of the Roos’ opening two JLT games and his class delivery inside 50 stood out.

Nick Larkey: The versatile tall earned a taste of senior football in North’s opening JLT game after an impressive first pre-season. Remains a long-term prospect with 2017 likely to be a development year.

Ben McKay: The second-year key forward did not see a lot of the ball in the Roos’ opening two JLT games, but his work rate and appetite for the contest could not be questioned. Set to start 2017 in the VFL but North will be looking to blood him later in the season.

Declan Mountford: With Ben Jacobs sidelined with recurring foot troubles, the hard-running midfielder has impressed as a run-with on-baller, most notably curbing Jaeger O’Meara’s influence in the second half of the Hawks clash. A chance to debut in round one.

Braydon Preuss: The ruckman has been perhaps North’s most improved player this pre-season, impressing as a sole ruck and in partnership with No.1 big man Todd Goldstein. If he’s to break into the Roos’ 22 when Goldstein’s fit, however, he will have to show he can have an impact in attack.

Jy Simpkin: Last year’s No.12 draft pick had not played since April last year when he returned from a broken leg against Hawthorn last month, but his performances in North’s final two pre-season games suggest he will debut in round one. Classy and composed, his snapped goal in the third quarter against the Giants suggests he will add much-needed X-factor to the Kangaroos.

Matthew Taylor: The first-year rookie did not look out of place across half-back in the Roos’ JLT win over Sydney, but North has a raft of medium defenders ahead of him in the selection queue.

Ed Vickers-Willis: Finally over the injury problems that ruined his first season and a half at Arden St, the 190cm defender’s composure and sound decision-making should see him slot into North’s back six from round one.

Declan Watson: The first-year key defender’s impressive performances during pre-season match practice earned him a spot in North’s opening JLT game, but he’s likely to spend 2017 in the VFL honing his craft. A strong intercept mark.

Marley Williams: The former Magpie should address North’s need for a small defender who can play on the elite goalsneaks. Performed solidly in the first two JLT games and seems set to make his club debut in round one.

Cameron Zurhaar: The first-year rookie was lively in attack in his one JLT game against Hawthorn and has a mature body that is ready made for AFL football if he can press his claims in the VFL. – Nick Bowen

Joe Atley: The Power’s third pick at last year’s draft played all three games and worked hard at stoppages. The midfielder had eight contested possessions against Hawthorn.

Willem Drew: Didn’t have much of a chance to impress and had only three touches in his one game against Richmond. Will develop in the SANFL.

Brett Eddy: The 27-year-old rookie booted five goals against Hawthorn to all but confirm he’ll be making his AFL debut in round one.

Dan Houston: Drafted as a forward, but looked assured in his role across half-back. May have played himself into a round one debut.

Aidyn Johnson: The pacy forward had limited opportunities in his two games. He is ineligible for round one after an off-field incident.

Sam Powell-Pepper: Went into beast mode against Hawthorn, fending off Shaun Burgoyne and taking all before him. A certain starter for round one. – Lee Gaskin

Brett Eddy parcelled up a round one debut with five goals against Hawthorn. Picture: AFL Photos

Dan Butler: Handy half-forward who can move up the ground, has played all JLT matches, kicked a goal a game and pushed for a round one debut in his third season.

Josh Caddy: Looked good on debut, using his size and playing both midfield and forward, but tailed off in the second and third JLT matches, spending a lot of time forward.

Toby Nankervis: A lock for number one ruck spot, he has got his hands dirty at ground level and generated some football around the ground. Improvement still to come in ruck contests.  

Dion Prestia: Played two of three JLT matches and made an impact, adding midfield grunt and pushing forward to kick two goals. Will be important and has better football in him.

Ivan Soldo: Project ruckman is coming on and was given an opportunity in the final pre-season game, playing a half. The rookie might be called on if injuries strike, but needs experience.

Tyson Stengle: An exciting small forward who looked good in intra-club practice, he played a half against Collingwood and kicked one goal. – Nathan Schmook

Nathan Brown: Big bodies in defence are what the Saints need and Brown provides that. Shut down Port Adelaide forward Charlie Dixon in St Kilda’s first JLT Community Series game.

Jake Carlisle: Played every pre-season match and worked into reasonable form without being outstanding. Faced a tough challenge when manning Lance Franklin last Sunday but acquitted himself well.

Ben Long: St Kilda’s first draftee last year used the ball well in limited minutes versus Carlton. Probably won’t play in the senior team early in the season but could make his debut in 2017.

Bailey Rice: Received a chance against Carlton, the other team that could have selected Rice as a father-son pick. Played most of the game but broke a finger and was relatively quiet.

Jack Steele: Slots straight into the best 22. Limited game time versus the Power but had 53 disposals and 20 tackles from his next two matches. His strength in the contest was obvious.

Koby Stevens: A dodgy prawn forced him to miss the last match. Has added a tough body and the Saints like his ability to play forward. His best form is certainly good enough for AFL level. – Dinny Navaratnam

Darcy Cameron: The mature-age recruit has put his hand up for a round one debut with a solid JLT Series in the ruck and as a deep forward.

Shaun Edwards: As he has done at his two previous clubs, the speedster has had his moments, but consistency still his biggest issue.

Sam Fisher: Limited opportunities for the rookie in his first season, but could be a handy medium-sized forward with more development.

Oliver Florent: The club’s number one draft pick has settled well at senior level, and his speed and quality finishing should earn him a round one debut.

Robbie Fox: The mature-age midfielder has done some good work around stoppages and is a smoky for round one with the Swans’ injury worries.

Will Hayward: Struggled with the intensity of the game against GWS but looks a fantastic prospect as a medium forward.

Jack Maibaum: Another draftee to step up with his physical work in defence, and not out of the equation for round one.

Lewis Melican: Carried his 2016 NEAFL form into this year and if Aliir Aliir doesn’t prove his fitness, could fill a key defensive role in the season opener.

Ben Ronke: Impressive with his attack on the footy and the opposition, the rookie has done his chances of an upgrade no harm. – Adam Curley

Tarir Bayok: The Sudanese teenager has lit up training with his electric pace and booted a goal on his Eagles debut against the Giants. Has plenty to learn as a category B rookie, but appears an exciting type.

Paddy Brophy: The athletic Irishman came on in leaps and bounds for East Perth last season – finishing third in the best and fairest. Was quiet in the loss to the Giants with three touches against GWS after sitting out the first half.

Tom Gorter: A promising prospect, Gorter is comfortable in the Eagles’ defensive system after being drafted from WAFL affiliate East Perth. Had seven touches on debut against the Giants.

Sam Mitchell Two mouthwatering pre-season games have whet West Coast fans’ appetites to see the former Hawks champion’s impact during the season proper. Mitchell had 28 and 39 touches, with his creative ball use making those around him better. There have been no signs the 34-year-old is slowing down. Could he be the difference in the Eagles’ flag quest?

Kurt Mutimer: Was among the better-performed West Coast youngsters against GWS, booting a goal and collecting 11 touches. The strong-bodied left-footer is developing into a powerful midfielder.

Luke Partington: One to watch in 2017 for a potential debut after an impressive pre-season. The hard-running 20-year-old picked up 12 touches against GWS, showcasing his ability to play inside and out.

Drew Petrie: A strong chance to make an emotional return to face his old North Melbourne teammates in round one after two rock-solid JLT performances. Worked himself into the ground in the heat against Freo, before winning 17 hit-outs and 13 touches versus Melbourne in a highly competitive display.

Josh Rotham: The young running defender only played a half against the Giants with limited impact. Will take time to develop and put on some muscle, but his talent and clean skills have been obvious at training over summer.

Jordan Snadden: Tall second-year rookie showed potential in the loss to GWS from a handful of touches. Has some exciting athletic attributes, good skills and throws himself into the fray.

Nathan Vardy: The former Cats big man has delivered everything the Eagles could have asked for over the pre-season competition by carrying the lead ruck role, working hard around the ground and offering another marking option in attack. A bargain trade for pick No.72 in last year’s draft if his body holds up.

Jake Waterman: Competed well in his only appearance against the Giants, leading a young West Coast forward line starved of supply. Has tons of potential.

Francis Watson: Dash from half-back caught the eye at training over summer and the category B rookie was one of the best Eagles youngsters in the loss to GWS in Narrandera, gathering 15 touches. A likely type. – Travis King

Sam Mitchell might be the difference in the Eagles’ flag quest. Picture: AFL Photos

Travis Cloke: The former Magpie impressed in his first two outings for the Dogs, and is odds on to face his old side in round one. Will spend time in the ruck to cover for the injured Jordan Roughead and Tom Campbell.

Tim English: The lightly built ruckman showed in one JLT hit-out why is highly rated by the club. The skillful 19-year-old will be considered for a round one debut.

Patrick Lipinski: Despite picking up just five possessions in his only pre-season encounter, the half-forward did enough to suggest he has a future at the highest level.

Lewis Young: The key forward competed well in the JLT clash against the Brisbane Lions, but will be given plenty of time to develop with Footscray in the VFL.

Nathan Mullenger-McHugh: The rookie-listed key position prospect also had just the one opportunity against the Lions, and like the rest of the debutants in that game, won praise from coach Luke Beveridge for his efforts. – Ryan Davidson

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Owl Post

Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways. For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more than any other time of year. For another, he really wanted to do his homework but was forced to do it in secret, in the dead of night. And he also happened to be a wizard. It was nearly midnight, and he was lying on his stomach in bed, the blankets drawn right over his head like a tent, a flashlight in one hand and a large leather-bound book (A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot) propped open against the pillow. Harry moved the tip of his eagle-feather quill down the page, frowning as he looked for something that would help him write his essay, 'Witch Burning in the Fourteenth Century Was Completely Pointless -- discuss.' The quill paused at the top of a likely looking paragraph. Harry pushed his round glasses up the bridge of his nose, moved his flashlight closer to the book, and read: Non-magic people (more commonly known as Muggles) were particularly afraid of magic in medieval times, but not very good at recognizing it. On the rare occasion that they did catch a real witch or wizard, burning had no effect whatsoever. The witch or wizard would perform a basic Flame-Freezing Charm and then pretend to shriek with pain while enjoying a gentle, tickling sensation. Indeed, Wendelin the Weird enjoyed being burned so much that she allowed herself to be caught no less than forty-seven times in various disguises. Harry put his quill between his teeth and reached underneath his pillow for his inkbottle and a roll of parchment. Slowly and very carefully he unscrewed the ink bottle, dipped his quill into it, and began to write, pausing every now and then to listen, because if any of the Dursleys heard the scratching of his quill on their way to the bathroom, he'd probably find himself locked in the cupboard under the stairs for the rest of the summer. The Dursley family of Number Four, Privet Drive, was the reason that Harry never enjoyed his summer holidays. Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and their son, Dudley, were Harry's only living relatives. They were Muggles, and they had a very medieval attitude toward magic. Harry's dead parents, who had been a witch and wizard themselves, were never mentioned under the Dursleys' roof. For years, Aunt Petunia and Uncle Vernon had hoped that if they kept Harry as downtrodden as possible, they would be able to squash the magic out of him. To their fury, they had not been unsuccessful. These days they lived in terror of anyone finding out that Harry had spent most of the last two years at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The most they could do, however, was to lock away Harry's spell books, wand, cauldron, and broomstick at the start of the summer break, and forbid him to talk to the neighbors. This separation from his spell books had been a real problem for Harry, because his teachers at Hogwarts had given him a lot of holiday work. One of the essays, a particularly nasty one about shrinking potions, was for Harry's least favorite teacher, Professor Snape, who would be delighted to have an excuse to give Harry detention for a month. Harry had therefore seized his chance in the first week of the holidays. While Uncle Vernon, Aunt Petunia, and Dudley had gone out into the front garden to admire Uncle Vernon's new company car (in very loud voices, so that the rest of the street would notice it too), Harry had crept downstairs, picked the lock on the cupboard under the stairs, grabbed some of his books, and hidden them in his bedroom. As long as he didn't leave spots of ink on the sheets, the Dursleys need never know that he was studying magic by night. Harry was particularly keen to avoid trouble with his aunt and uncle at the moment, as they were already in an especially bad mood with him, all because he'd received a telephone call from a fellow wizard one week into the school vacation. Ron Weasley, who was one of Harry's best friends at Hogwarts, came from a whole family of wizards. This meant that he knew a lot of things Harry didn't, but had never used a telephone before. Most unluckily, it had been Uncle Vernon who had answered the call. "Vernon Dursley speaking." Harry, who happened to be in the room at the time, froze as he heard Ron's voice answer. "HELLO? HELLO? CAN YOU HEAR ME? I -- WANT -- TO -- TALK -- TO -- HARRY -- POTTER!" Ron was yelling so loudly that Uncle Vernon jumped and held the receiver a foot away from his ear, staring at it with an expression of mingled fury and alarm. "WHO IS THIS?" he roared in the direction of the mouthpiece. "WHO ARE YOU?" "RON -- WEASLEY!" Ron bellowed back, as though he and Uncle Vernon were speaking from opposite ends of a football field. "I'M -- A -- FRIEND -- OF -- HARRY'S -- FROM -- SCHOOL --" Uncle Vernon's small eyes swiveled around to Harry, who was rooted to the spot. "THERE IS NO HARRY POTTER HERE!" he roared, now holding the receiver at arm's length, as though frightened it might explode. "I DON'T KNOW WHAT SCHOOL YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT! NEVER CONTACT ME AGAIN! DON'T YOU COME NEAR MY FAMILY!" And he threw the receiver back onto the telephone as if dropping a poisonous spider. The fight that had followed had been one of the worst ever. "HOW DARE YOU GIVE THIS NUMBER TO PEOPLE LIKE -- PEOPLE LIKE YOU!" Uncle Vernon had roared, spraying Harry with spit. Ron obviously realized that he'd gotten Harry into trouble, because he hadn't called again. Harry's other best friend from Hogwarts, Hermione Granger, hadn't been in touch either. Harry suspected that Ron had warned Hermione not to call, which was a pity, because Hermione, the cleverest witch in Harry's year, had Muggle parents, knew perfectly well how to use a telephone, and would probably have had enough sense not to say that she went to Hogwarts. So Harry had had no word from any of his wizarding friends for five long weeks, and this summer was turning out to be almost as bad as the last one. There was just one very small improvement -- after swearing that he wouldn't use her to send letters to any of his friends, Harry had been allowed to let his owl, Hedwig, out at night. Uncle Vernon had given in because of the racket Hedwig made if she was locked in her cage all the time. Harry finished writing about Wendelin the Weird and paused to listen again. The silence in the dark house was broken only by the distant, grunting snores of his enormous cousin, Dudley. It must be very late, Harry thought. His eyes were itching with tiredness. Perhaps he'd finish this essay tomorrow night... He replaced the top of the ink bottle; pulled an old pillowcase from under his bed; put the flashlight, A History of Magic, his essay, quill, and ink inside it; got out of bed; and hid the lot under a loose floorboard under his bed. Then he stood up, stretched, and checked the time on the luminous alarm clock on his bedside table. It was one o'clock in the morning. Harry's stomach gave a funny jolt. He had been thirteen years old, without realizing it, for a whole hour. Yet another unusual thing about Harry was how little he looked forward to his birthdays. He had never received a birthday card in his life. The Dursleys had completely ignored his last two birthdays, and he had no reason to suppose they would remember this one. Harry walked across the dark room, past Hedwig's large, empty cage, to the open window. He leaned on the sill, the cool night air pleasant on his face after a long time under the blankets. Hedwig had been absent for two nights now. Harry wasn't worried about her: she'd been gone this long before. But he hoped she'd be back soon -- she was the only living creature in this house who didn't flinch at the sight of him. Harry, though still rather small and skinny for his age, had grown a few inches over the last year. His jet-black hair, however, was just as it always had been -- stubbornly untidy, whatever he did to it. The eyes behind his glasses were bright green, and on his forehead, clearly visible through his hair, was a thin scar, shaped like a bolt of lightning. Of all the unusual things about Harry, this scar was the most extraordinary of all. It was not, as the Dursleys had pretended for ten years, a souvenir of the car crash that had killed Harry's parents, because Lily and James Potter had not died in a car crash. They had been murdered, murdered by the most feared Dark wizard for a hundred years, Lord Voldemort. Harry had escaped from the same attack with nothing more than a scar on his forehead, where Voldemort's curse, instead of killing him, had rebounded upon its originator. Barely alive, Voldemort had fled... But Harry had come face-to-face with him at Hogwarts. Remembering their last meeting as he stood at the dark window, Harry had to admit he was lucky even to have reached his thirteenth birthday. He scanned the starry sky for a sign of Hedwig, perhaps soaring back to him with a dead mouse dangling from her beak, expecting praise. Gazing absently over the rooftops, it was a few seconds before Harry realized what he was seeing. Silhouetted against the golden moon, and growing larger every moment, was a large, strangely lopsided creature, and it was flapping in Harry's direction. He stood quite still, watching it sink lower and lower. For a split second he hesitated, his hand on the window latch, wondering whether to slam it shut. But then the bizarre creature soared over one of the street lamps of Privet Drive, and Harry, realizing what it was, leapt aside. Through the window soared three owls, two of them holding up the third, which appeared to be unconscious. They landed with a soft flump on Harry's bed, and the middle owl, which was large and gray, keeled right over and lay motionless. There was a large package tied to its legs. Harry recognized the unconscious owl at once -- his name was Errol, and he belonged to the Weasley family. Harry dashed to the bed, untied the cords around Errol's legs, took off the parcel, and then carried Errol to Hedwig's cage. Errol opened one bleary eye, gave a feeble hoot of thanks, and began to gulp some water. Harry turned back to the remaining owls. One of them, the large snowy female, was his own Hedwig. She, too, was carrying a parcel and looked extremely pleased with herself. She gave Harry an affectionate nip with her beak as he removed her burden, then flew across the room to join Errol. Harry didn't recognize the third owl, a handsome tawny one, but he knew at once where it had come from, because in addition to a third package, it was carrying a letter bearing the Hogwarts crest. When Harry relieved this owl of its burden, it ruffled its feathers importantly, stretched its wings, and took off through the window into the night. Harry sat down on his bed and grabbed Errol's package, ripped off the brown paper, and discovered a present wrapped in gold and his first ever birthday card. Fingers trembling slightly, he opened the envelope. Two pieces of paper fell out -- a letter and a newspaper clipping. The clipping had clearly come out of the wizarding newspaper, the Daily Prophet, because the people in the black-and-white picture were moving. Harry picked up the clipping, smoothed it out, and read: MINISTRY OF MAGIC EMPLOYEE SCOOPS GRAND PRIZE Arthur Weasley, Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office at the Ministry of Magic, has won the annual Daily Prophet Grand Prize Galleon Draw. A delighted Mr. Weasley told the Daily Prophet, "We will be spending the gold on a summer holiday in Egypt, where our eldest son, Bill, works as a curse breaker for Gringotts Wizarding Bank." The Weasley family will be spending a month in Egypt, returning for the start of the new school year at Hogwarts, which five of the Weasley children currently attend. Harry scanned the moving photograph, and a grin spread across his face as he saw all nine of the Weasleys waving furiously at him, standing in front of a large pyramid. Plump little Mrs. Weasley; tall, balding Mr. Weasley; six sons; and one daughter, all (though the black-and-white picture didn't show it) with flaming-red hair. Right in the middle of the picture was Ron, tall and gangling, with his pet rat, Scabbers, on his shoulder and his arm around his little sister, Ginny. Harry couldn't think of anyone who deserved to win a large pile of gold more than the Weasleys, who were very nice and extremely poor. He picked up Ron's letter and unfolded it. Dear Harry, Happy birthday! Look, I'm really sorry about that telephone call. I hope the Muggles didn't give you a hard time. I asked Dad, and he reckons I shouldn't have shouted. It's amazing here in Egypt. Bill's taken us around all the tombs and you wouldn't believe the curses those old Egyptian wizards put on them. Mum wouldn't let Ginny come in the last one. There were all these mutant skeletons in there, of Muggles who'd broken in and grown extra heads and stuff. I couldn't believe it when Dad won the Daily Prophet Draw. Seven hundred galleons! Most of it's gone on this trip, but they're going to buy me a new wand for next year. Harry remembered only too well the occasion when Ron's old wand had snapped. It had happened when the car the two of them had been flying to Hogwarts had crashed into a tree on the school grounds. We'll be back about a week before term starts and we'll be going up to London to get my wand and our new books. Any chance of meeting you there? Don't let the Muggles get you down! Try and come to London, Ron P.S. Percy's Head Boy. He got the letter last week. Harry glanced back at the photograph. Percy, who was in his seventh and final year at Hogwarts, was looking particularly smug. He had pinned his Head Boy badge to the fez perched jauntily on top of his neat hair, his horn-rimmed glasses flashing in the Egyptian sun. Harry now turned to his present and unwrapped it. Inside was what looked like a miniature glass spinning top. There was another note from Ron beneath it. Harry -- this is a Pocket Sneakoscope. If there's someone untrustworthy around, it's supposed to light up and spin. Bill says it's rubbish sold for wizard tourists and isn't reliable, because it kept lighting up at dinner last night. But he didn't realize Fred and George had put beetles in his soup. Bye -- Ron Harry put the Pocket Sneakoscope on his bedside table, where it stood quite still, balanced on its point, reflecting the luminous hands of his clock. He looked at it happily for a few seconds, then picked up the parcel Hedwig had brought. Inside this, too, there was a wrapped present, a card, and a letter, this time from Hermione. Dear Harry, Ron wrote to me and told me about his phone call to your Uncle Vernon. I do hope you're all right. I'm on holiday in France at the moment and I didn't know how I was going to send this to you -- what if they'd opened it at customs? -- but then Hedwig turned up! I think she wanted to make sure you got something for your birthday for a change. I bought your present by owl-order; there was an advertisement in the Daily Prophet (I've been getting it delivered; it's so good to keep up with what's going on in the wizarding world), Did you see that picture of Ron and his family a week ago? I bet he's learning loads. I'm really jealous -- the ancient Egyptian wizards were fascinating. There's some interesting local history of witchcraft here, too. I've rewritten my whole History of Magic essay to include some of the things I've found out, I hope it's not too long -- it's two rolls of parchment more than Professor Binns asked for. Ron says he's going to be in London in the last week of the holidays. Can you make it? Will your aunt and uncle let you come? I really hope you can. If not, I'll see you on the Hogwarts Express on September first! Love from Hermione P.S. Ron says Percy's Head Boy. I'll bet Percy's really pleased. Ron doesn't seem too happy about it. Harry laughed as he put Hermione's letter aside and picked up her present. It was very heavy. Knowing Hermione, he was sure it would be a large book full of very difficult spells -- but it wasn't. His heart gave a huge bound as he ripped back the paper and saw a sleek black leather case, with silver words stamped across it, reading Broomstick Servicing Kit. "Wow, Hermione!" Harry whispered, unzipping the case to look inside. There was a large jar of Fleetwood's High-Finish Handle Polish, a pair of gleaming silver Tail-Twig Clippers, a tiny brass compass to clip on your broom for long journeys, and a Handbook of Do-It-Yourself Broomcare. Apart from his friends, the thing that Harry missed most about Hogwarts was Quidditch, the most popular sport in the magical world -- highly dangerous, very exciting, and played on broomsticks. Harry happened to be a very good Quidditch player; he had been the youngest person in a century to be picked for one of the Hogwarts House teams. One of Harry's most prized possessions was his Nimbus Two Thousand racing broom. Harry put the leather case aside and picked up his last parcel. He recognized the untidy scrawl on the brown paper at once: this was from Hagrid, the Hogwarts gamekeeper. He tore off the top layer of paper and glimpsed something green and leathery, but before he could unwrap it properly, the parcel gave a strange quiver, and whatever was inside it snapped loudly -- as though it had jaws. Harry froze. He knew that Hagrid would never send him anything dangerous on purpose, but then, Hagrid didn't have a normal person's view of what was dangerous. Hagrid had been known to befriend giant spiders, buy vicious, three-headed dogs from men in pubs, and sneak illegal dragon eggs into his cabin. Harry poked the parcel nervously. It snapped loudly again. Harry reached for the lamp on his bedside table, gripped it firmly in one hand, and raised it over his head, ready to strike. Then he seized the rest of the wrapping paper in his other hand and pulled. And out fell -- a book. Harry just had time to register its handsome green cover, emblazoned with the golden title The Monster Book of Monsters, before it flipped onto its edge and scuttled sideways along the bed like some weird crab. "Uh-oh," Harry muttered. The book toppled off the bed with a loud clunk and shuffled rapidly across the room. Harry followed it stealthily. The book was hiding in the dark space under his desk. Praying that the Dursleys were still fast asleep, Harry got down on his hands and knees and reached toward it. "Ouch!" The book snapped shut on his hand and then flapped past him, still scuttling on its covers. Harry scrambled around, threw himself forward, and managed to flatten it. Uncle Vernon gave a loud, sleepy grunt in the room next door. Hedwig and Errol watched interestedly as Harry clamped the struggling book tightly in his arms, hurried to his chest of drawers, and pulled out a belt, which he buckled tightly around it. The Monster Book shuddered angrily, but could no longer flap and snap, so Harry threw it down on the bed and reached for Hagrid's card. Dear Harry, Happy Birthday! Think you might find this useful for next year. Won't say no more here. Tell you when I see you. Hope the Muggles are treating you right. All the best, Hagrid It struck Harry as ominous that Hagrid thought a biting book would come in useful, but he put Hagrid's card up next to Ron's and Hermione's, grinning more broadly than ever. Now there was only the letter from Hogwarts left. Noticing that it was rather thicker than usual, Harry slit open the envelope, pulled out the first page of parchment within, and read: Dear Mr. Potter, Please note that the new school year will begin on September the first. The Hogwarts Express will leave from King's Cross station, platform nine and three-quarters, at eleven o'clock. Third years are permitted to visit the village of Hogsmeade on certain weekends. Please give the enclosed permission form to your parent or guardian to sign. A list of books for next year is enclosed. Yours sincerely, Professor M. McGonagall Deputy Headmistress Harry pulled out the Hogsmeade permission form and looked at it, no longer grinning. It would be wonderful to visit Hogsmeade on weekends; he knew it was an entirely wizarding village, and he had never set foot there. But how on earth was he going to persuade Uncle Vernon or Aunt Petunia to sign the form? He looked over at the alarm clock. It was now two o'clock in the morning. Deciding that he'd worry about the Hogsmeade form when he woke up, Harry got back into bed and reached up to cross off another day on the chart he'd made for himself, counting down the days left until his return to Hogwarts. Then he took off his glasses and lay down; eyes open, facing his three birthday cards. Extremely unusual though he was, at that moment Harry Potter felt just like everyone else -- glad, for the first time in his life, that it was his birthday.