Protecting The Symbol of Our Country :: Argumentative Persuasive Topics

Protecting The Symbol of Our Country On June 12,1997 the Flag Amendment was passed in the House of Representatives by a vote of 310 to 114. The Amendment gives Congress the right to prevent the physical desecration of the American thole. Todays vote is strong evidence that the voice of the American slew has been heard and heeded by the US House of Representatives(Flag Alliance, Inc. 1), says Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady, who is the head of the Citizens Flag Alliance(CFA). Today, forty-nine state legislatures have made it clear to Congress that they want flag vindication laws. However, not everyone is in favor of these laws. These radicals or revolutionists as they like to call themselves, feel that burning the flag is their constitutional right under the first amendment emancipation of speech. (You might want to go ahead and establish your thesis here. It shows up in the next paragraph, and thats okay too though.) I strongly support the flag protection amendment. The flag is a sy mbol of our great nation and all that we stand for. No other American symbol has been as universally honour or has bestowed such honor as the flag(Flag Alliance, Inc. 1), says Rep. William Lipinski of Illinois. Those who destroy the flag, or view it as just a design on a arrange of cloth lack the understanding of our nations(AP) history, and take their American citizenship for granted. They burn the flag only to get attention, or because they are angry with the government, and see it as a way of getting back at them. My solution to these raft who are aggravated with our government is to move somewhere else. Try living in chinaware or Cuba, and see if you agree with the way they run their government. When you burn the flag you break the chains that holds you together in unity with the rest of the nation. (This is a beauteous extreme metaphor. You need to clearly establish why the desecration of the flag is so damaging. Also, look at your solution. It is also extreme. Will you ef fectively convince people who dont agree with you by being so extreme? Some drama and emotion is good. But remember that your audience will expect you to show open-mindedness as well.) An astonishing eighty-one percent of Americans are in favor of the amendment. This number shows how much of an affect the flag has on our country.

Warnings Against Gender Stereotypes in Early Twentieth-Century American

Many early twentieth-century American writers used conflicts base on female stereotypes as a central theme in their works. For example, the titular character from Mary E. Wilkins Freemans short story A New England nun lives a life of interior(prenominal) solitude, happily sewing and cleaning while separated from her husband to be for nearly fifteen years. Freemans nun uses her domesticity as an excuse to avoid marrying her fianc, though she leads him on for most of the story and only avoids marriage after learning of her betrotheds love for another woman. Similarly, the much mentioned but never revealed central character in Susan Glaspells flow Trifles seems to embrace domesticity to escape the misery brought on by her marriage, even managing to escape both the guilt and suspicion of her husbands murder through her and her fellow characters embrace of her passive, domestic, and safe feminine archetype. By focusing on the conflict arising from female stereotypes, these two stori es reveal the dangers of stereotyping women as passive, subordinate, and domesticated, both to the adopter and the adoptee.Mary E. Wilkins Freemans A New England Nun reveals the hazards of female stereotypes to their adoptees through the actions of Louisa Ellis. At the time of the story, Louisa has been engaged to marry her fianc Joe Dagget for fifteen years, fourteen of which he has spent away from Louisa (Freeman 1623). Though Louisa admits that fifteen years past she had been in love with him, she feels apprehensive about their inevitable marriage after his return (Freeman 1623). Louisas apprehension towards Joe builds throughout the story, but because her embrace of the female stereotype prevents her from expressing her accredited feelings and breaking... ... escape their undesirable predicaments. The ease at which the problems in both stories could be solved by abandoning presumptions of how women should behave suggests that Susan Glaspell and Mary E. Wilkins Freeman want pe ople to respect their own desires rather than the conventions of gender roles. Furthermore, this moral continues to be true today modern readers can still benefit from relinquishing their assumptions about how others should behave based on their gender, religion, or ethnicity.Works CitedFreeman, Mary E. Wilkins. A New England Nun. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter Seventh Edition. Ed. Nina Baym. New York W.W. Norton & Company, 2008. 1620-1627. Print.Glaspell, Susan. Trifles. The Norton Anthology of American Literature. Shorter Seventh Edition. Ed. Nina Baym. New York W.W. Norton & Company, 2008. 1968-1976. Print.

Hamlet and Horatio Essay -- Essays on Shakespeare Hamlet

Hamlet and Horatio Horatio holds the seat of honor in Shakespeares tragedy Hamlet, for being the only character among the dramatis personae who is extremely bordering to the protagonist. Horatios emotional bond with the hero is paradoxically closer than that of Hamlets mother to the hero. This essay will examine the character of Horatio, Hamlets truest friend. D.G. James essay, The New Doubt, explains the heros fanatic admiration of Horatio But we must remark how Hamlet speaks of Horatio he does so in words of passionate admiration. His election had sealed Horatio for himself because in suffering all, Horatio suffered nothing and it is the man who is not passions slave whom he would wear in his hearts core. How clearly he would be like Horatio And yet, in the face of what has happened, ought he to be like Horatio? or ought he not to take up build up against his troubles, and violently end them and perhaps thereby himself? (45) In the Introduction to Twentieth Century Interpre tations of Hamlet, David Bevington shows insight into Horatios character However much Horatios philosophical skepticism may limit his make ability to perceive those things in heaven and earth that Hamlet would have him observe, Horatio remains the companion from whom Hamlet has approximately to learn. Hamlet can trust his friend not to angle for advancement, or to reveal the terrible secret of royal murder. Best of all, Horatio is As one in suffring all that suffers nothing, A man that Fortunes buffets and rewards Hast taen with equal thanks.. . . Like Hamlet, Horatio believes that death is a felicity, and even tries to take his own life. Yet he accepts his duty in this harsh worldly success as well ... ..., 1992. Shakespeare, William. The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 1995. http//www.chemicool.com/Shakespeare/hamlet/full.html West, Rebecca. A royal court and World Infected by the Disease of Corruption. Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Do n Nardo. San Diego Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Court and the Castle. New Haven, CT Yale University Press, 1957. Wilkie, Brian and James Hurt. Shakespeare. Literature of the Western World. Ed. Brian Wilkie and James Hurt. New York Macmillan publication Co., 1992. Wright, Louis B. and Virginia A. LaMar. Hamlet A Man Who Thinks Before He Acts. Readings on Hamlet. Ed. Don Nardo. San Diego Greenhaven Press, 1999. Rpt. from The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. Ed. Louis B. Wright and Virginia A. LaMar. N. p. Pocket Books, 1958.

A Student Compares Websites on Rally Racing :: Sell Websites Buy Web Sites

A Student Compares Websites on Rally Racing The sport of rallying is fast becoming popular around the world. With races taking place on countries around the world, the internet is an invaluable resource to fans around the globe. The official site of the earthly concern Rally Championship (WRC) can be found at www.wrc.com. at that place are other unofficial sites such as, www.worldrally.net, and www.worldrallynews.com. All three of these sites provide information regarding the many races, drivers, and teams. Although they have similar information, the exact information that is provided, and the format in which they are delivered are different. This paper will discuss the similarities and differences between the websites, as well as the effectiveness of the websites in presenting their information in a levelheaded and enjoyable manner. First, a little information ab out(p) the WRC. Perhaps one of the most demanding racing sports, the WRC consists of cars racing over courses in some of the most breathtaking locations around the world. From Japan, to Greece to Finland, the races take place in over 15 countries. What sets the WRC apart is the physical location of the races. There are few paved roads, or nicely banked curves. Most of the driving is done off-road. This means that the conditions are extremely varied, from gravel to rocks, rain, snow, anything is fair game. Because of this, the teams must evaluate the course and choose the proper car split to use. The courses are not a straight line either. They wind back and forth, up and down over different surfaces. To aid the driver, a co-driver rides shotgun, giving out commands that let the driver know what lies ahead. The cars are timed against each other, but not run along side each other. Many of the courses are solo wide enough for a single car to pass through at a time. Thus, the cars are sent out in intervals, and the resulting times metric against each other after completion. Wi th this background on the WRC, lets examine the different web sites that provide information about this sport to its fans. World Rallying (www.worldrally.net), is a second rate website at best. When the page is first loaded up, there is a blinking add at the top of the covering which greatly detracts from the rest of the site.

Implementation of a Transitional Model of Care for Congestive Heart Fai

During exacerbations of Congestive Heart Failure (CHF), older patients may take in care in multiple settings often resulting in fragmented care and poorly-executed care transitions. The negative consequences of fragmented care lead to duplication of services unbefitting or conflicting discharge instructions, medication errors, patient/caregiver anxiety, and increased costs of care. In light of changes in Medicare reimbursement penalizing hospitals with above set limits for face sorrow (HF) readmissions, models of care are being evaluated for their effectiveness in satisfying this change as well as reducing fragmented care in this macrocosm. This makeup reviews the Transitional Care Model created by Dr. Mary Naylor at the University of Pennsylvania (Penn Nursing Science, 2013). This model in introduces a patient-centered interdisciplinary team intervention intentional to improve transitions across care settings. Congestive Heart Failur eCongestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart is incapable of adequately pumping blood throughout the body or unable to stop blood from backing up into the lungs. The most common cause of CHF is hypertension, previous myocardial infarctions, disorders of the heart muscle or the valves of the heart, and chronic lung diseases such as asthma or emphysema. CHF is a common diagnosis for individuals sixty five years and older. With the growing population of baby boomers, the rate of CHF is predicted to nearly double over the next forty years and will be a drain on healthcare resources. intercession costs are estimated around $20 to $40 billon, with $8 to $15 billion spent on hospitalization alone (Quaglietti, Edwin, Ackerman, & Froelihe... ...he Medicare Fee for Service Program. bracing England Journal of Medicine, 360 1418-1468.Naylor, M. (2012). Transitional Care Model. Retrieved from http//www.fiercehealthcare.com/special-reports/transitional-care-modelPenn Nu rsing Science. (2013). Transitional Care Model-About TCM. Retrieved from http//www.transitonalcare.info/about.tcmQuaglietti, S. E., Edwin, J., Ackerman, L., & Froeliher, V. (2000, November/December). Management of the Patient with Congestive Heart Failure Using Outpatient, Home and Palliative Care. mount in Cardiovascular Diseases, 43(3), 259-274. Retrieved from www.cardiology.org/recentpapers/susiechfpdfSenthilraj, G., & Ganeshan, R. (2013). Effects of a Hospital Wide Quality Improvement (Doctoral dissertation, University of Connecticut). Retrieved from http//digitalcommons.uconn.edu/cgi/vecontent.cgi?article=1464&context=gs_thesis

Implementation of a Transitional Model of Care for Congestive Heart Fai

During exacerbations of congestive Heart Failure (CHF), older patients may receive billing in multiple settings often resulting in fragmented care and poorly-executed care transitions. The negative consequences of fragmented care lead to duplication of services inappropriate or conflicting discharge instructions, medication errors, patient/caregiver anxiety, and increase costs of care. In light of variety shows in Medicare reimbursement penalizing hospitals with above set limits for heart failure (HF) readmissions, models of care are being evaluated for their effectiveness in satisfying this change as well as reducing fragmented care in this population. This paper reviews the Transitional Care Model created by Dr. Mary Naylor at the University of pascal (Penn Nursing Science, 2013). This model in introduces a patient-centered interdisciplinary team intervention designed to improve transitions across care settings. Congestive Heart Failure Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a condition in which the heart is incapable of adequately pumping argument throughout the body or unable to stop blood from backing up into the lungs. The most common cause of CHF is hypertension, previous myocardial infarctions, disorders of the heart muscle or the valves of the heart, and chronic lung diseases such as asthma or emphysema. CHF is a common diagnosis for individuals sixty five years and older. With the growing population of baby boomers, the rate of CHF is predicted to nearly double over the next cardinal years and will be a drain on healthcare resources. Treatment costs are estimated around $20 to $40 billon, with $8 to $15 billion spent on hospitalization alone (Quaglietti, Edwin, Ackerman, & Froelihe... ...he Medicare Fee for Service Program. New England Journal of Medicine, 360 1418-1468.Naylor, M. (2012). Transitional Care Model. Retrieved from http//www.fiercehealthcare.com/special-reports/transitional-care-modelPenn Nurs ing Science. (2013). Transitional Care Model-About TCM. Retrieved from http//www.transitonalcare.info/about.tcmQuaglietti, S. E., Edwin, J., Ackerman, L., & Froeliher, V. (2000, November/December). concern of the Patient with Congestive Heart Failure Using Outpatient, Home and Palliative Care. Progress in Cardiovascular Diseases, 43(3), 259-274. Retrieved from www.cardiology.org/recentpapers/susiechfpdfSenthilraj, G., & Ganeshan, R. (2013). Effects of a Hospital Wide prime(prenominal) Improvement (Doctoral dissertation, University of Connecticut). Retrieved from http//digitalcommons.uconn.edu/cgi/vecontent.cgi?article=1464&context=gs_thesis

Conflict Resolution Styles in Organizational Behaviour Essay

Conflict is a process that each ane of us has experienced throughout our lifes. in that location be various definitions of contraventions as described by antithetic authors but generally, conflict is a process whereby one individuals interests is opposed or negatively affected by the other(a) party (McShane et al. 2010). Workplace and organisational conflicts argon usually more complex. Isenhart and Spangle (2000) points out that at the beginning the conflict whitethorn fasten on because of improper placement of workers and their responsibilities in a workplace, but it may get worse if they faces unfair rules, in rough-and-ready management, unclear responsibilities or too some(prenominal) work assigned. Organisational conflicts tooshie result in many possible outcomes, the negatives ones such as damaged employee relations, violence, increased tension amongst bosses and employees but it can nurse substantiative outcomes too such as increased employee-cohesiveness and inc reased motivation. How it will be achieved will be discussed through the elements of conflict and will be listed in greater details.Ways in which people approach conflictAvoidingAvoiding is probably the fastest way of re solve a conflict but at the aforementioned(prenominal) season it is not the best way because close of the time the avoider will remain unhappy even after the conflict. It does not permanently resolve the conflict (McShane et al. 2010) and in my opinion it is just postponing the problem to feel it solved at a later date. McCollum et al. (2009) states that the person who is avoiding thinks that confronting the conflict will bring more foreboding than it is worth. The avoider also decides to not deal with the conflict because he or she might not have the confidence to do so. This seems like the more popular survival of the fittest amongst the five ways in which people approach conflict based on my experiences because people simply do not want unnecessary annoy o r aggravate the problem, especially if it is a minor issue. Avoiding pays no attention in concerns of either self or others (Kotthoff & Spencer-Oatey 2008). This is the least-sought option amongst the five approaches but however, McCollum et al. (2009) suggests that avoiding can be a tactical approach when the other party has more strength and authority over you and/or the avoiding the conflict will bring detailed or no devastating consequences.Problem-SolvingI deemed this to be the most effective way in resolving organisational conflicts because both parties will benefit if they manage to attend a double-win solution to the problem. This is considered to be the most desirable approach to conflict as there atomic number 18 no negative impacts at all. Only positive results will surface. Runde & Flanagan (2009) suggests that there might be a link surrounded by avoiding and problem-solving. Because many people tend towards avoidance, they often rush through problem solving and imme diately use the first solution that they can think of so as to quickly get over the conflict, without any beneficial solutions. The key in using problem-solving as an approach to resolve conflicts lies in having patience to create multiple potential solutions. Careful reflection and consideration will progress into agreements that are both satisfying and successful (Runde & Flanagan 2009). Therefore when undergoing problem-solving, both parties must not rush to a solution immediately or else the solution may cringe or do not satisfy both parties needs. ternion strategies that financial aid people manage conflict Before discussing about the three different strategies that help people to manage conflict, the strategies used are basically divided into three categories and they are interest-based, proper(ip)s-based and business leader-based (Jameson 2001). Three different strategies from the three categories will be discussed respectively. Jameson (2001) advises that all resolutions of disputes and conflicts should start with a interest-based strategy, and if it does not resolves the conflict, it is followed by a rights-based strategy and if conflict persists, power-based strategy is then applied.Mediation (Interest-based)Jameson (2001) suggests that mediation is a form of ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution). Research has shown that interest-based strategies such as mediation had the best long-termed results such as improved relationship between parties, greater commitment to solutions and reduced future conflicts from happening. This is why involved parties in a conflict should use this approach as it reaps the most benefits. Even though there are many theories and various methods underlying mediation, it is generally outlined as an intervention by a neutral third party which facilitates the process but allow participants in the conflict to control the outcome (Jameson 2001). Depending on the severity of the conflict, the mediator is to provide useful inform ation in legal issues, help the participants into perspective thinking, provide a guide in finding the most satisfying and realistic settlement, help to improve the working/personal relationship between participants, or engage in some combination of the above methods.inquisitorial Intervention (Rights-based)This describes intervention by a person of a higher authority in most cases is the manager, who will make a final decision. Managers who gull this strategy allow employees more or less control over presentation of their arguments before deciding on an appropriate solution (Jameson 2001). Because the third party(manager) listens to every partys arguments before making a judgment, the manager acts as a judge and this usually results in a win-lose situation, unlike Mediation which results in a win-win situation most of the time. Employees are given the opportunity to present their arguments and influence the final decision and this result in higher amount of comeliness and satisf action with outcomes. Employees involved in the conflict usually agree that the outcome decided by the third party is fair, but it could be better if they are able to retain the outcome control.Restructuring (Power-based)This is the more realistic popular method amongst power-based strategies because they are efficient (at least in the nearsighted run) and it follows a problem-solving procedure that is really part of the managerial role (Jameson 2001). A powerful third party restructures the work and responsibilities of employees in order to solve problems. For example if employees does not see eye-to-eye with one another and it affects efficiency or quality of work produced, restructuring may simply solve this issue even though parties involved are not well-off but at least they will not be able to see each other, proving restructuring to be a efficient method in the short run. This method may be efficient if time issues are being involved, such as the organisation needs to achi eve a certain pit by a certain date.Influence of culture in conflict resolution stylesThe three cultural values dimensions that are popularly discussed are individualism-collectivism, power distance and high-low context (McShane et al. 2010). Low/high context refers to the amount of information contained in a clearly-expressed message versus implied message (Adair et al. 2004). Low-context culture is direct and negotiations are uninflected and fact-based, while high-context culture is indirect and high-context negotiators tend to use an indirect communication method with usually contains implied meanings. An example of a low-context culture would be the United States of the States and a high-context culture will be Japan (Adair et al. 2004). Individualism/Collectivism Individualism refers to a society where the relationships between people are loose and they are expected to look after themselves or their immediate families only. Collectivism which is the opposite, refers to a soc iety that people focus on being harmonious and emphasize on cohesiveness within themselves.In organisational context, individualism means individuals only care about their own goals and prefer to work alone and collectivism means working harmoniously in a teams and it emphasizes on teamwork. Power distance McShane et al. (2010) defines power distance as the degree of importance that people place on office and power to control. Basically it means that human inequality may occur in many fields such as status, wealth, power, rules etc. In organisational settings it refers between superiors/managers and employees mainly. In a high power distance working environment, employees tend to just do their work without raising doubts or question their bosses, due to worship in the difference of their power, low power distance means otherwise, where employees and their superiors work hand in hand to resolve issues.A few decades ago, managers can omit up to twenty percent of their time in resol ving conflicts. Nowadays, conflicts are generally much more complex and take up more time to resolve due to technological advances, worlds exponential growth rate and globalization which led to increase contacts between people of many different cultures (Kotthoff & Spencer-Oatey 2008). This suggests that our modern world has an increase of numbers of cultural conflicts and they are usually hard to resolve due to the extreme range of differences in thinking, values, ethics etc between individuals of different cultures. To further elaborate on this point, Brigg (2008) states that most experts in this field now come to an agreement that culture frames the experiences of conflict of people, their reactions and responses to other people in conflict, and the types of strategies they might consider to manage or otherwise address disputes.Therefore when facing against a cultural conflict issue, one must understand that the other party does not grow up in the same environment as him/her, had not been taught the same teachings and values since young. To put in simpler terms, the definition of what is right and what is correct might not be the same between the two parties. This also explains why it is so difficult in applying conflict resolution styles when it comes to cultural conflicts because it is hard to accept the other partys correct values which may be the wrong values of one as both of them have been gorged those values since young in their growing up environment.ConclusionTwo ways of conflict-handling styles were discussed and avoiding can be a good approach sometimes contempt many of its negativity and although problem-solving is the best approach, it cannot be rushed and many potential solutions must be raised in order to finding the best solution. Three strategies from three different categories of conflict resolution styles were discussed and despite the major differences in terms of popularity of usage and way of handling, all the three strategies can pro duce effective results in organisational settings if they were applied in the correct circumstances. Three cultural values dimensions were discussed and it was also explained that influence of culture in conflict resolution styles remains fundamentally significant and it is currently the most challenging in conflict resolution.

Chapter 10 The Marauder’s Map

doll Pomfrey insisted on keeping scourge in the hospital flee for the rest of the week windup. He didnt argue or complain, yet he wouldnt let her throw a instruction the shattered remnants of his Nimbus Two Thousand. He knew he was existence stupid, knew that the Nimbus was beyond repair, just now chivvy couldnt help it he felt as though hed lost wholeness of his crush friends.He had a flo buffer of visitors, only told intent on cheering him up. Hagrid sent him a bunch of earwiggy flowers that looked like yellow cabbages, and Ginny Weasley, blushing furiously, developed up with a get-well card she had make herself, which sang shrilly unless chafe kept it shut under his bowl of fruit. The Gryffindor team visited again on Sunday morning, this time accompanied by Wood, who told harass (in a hollow, dead sort of voice) that he didnt blame him in the slightest. Ron and Hermivirtuoso left over(p) over(p) chivys bedside only at night. just now zilch anyvirtuoso state or d id could make get to feel any better, because they knew only half of what was troubling him.He hadnt told any peerless astir(predicate) the Grim, not regular(a) Ron and Hermione, because he knew Ron would panic and Hermione would scoff. The fact die harded, however, that it had now appe ard twice, and both appearances had been followed by near-fatal accidents the first time, he had nearly been run over by the Knight Bus the second, fall fifty feet from his broomstick. Was the Grim going to haunt him until he in truth died? Was he going to conk the rest of his life looking over his shoulder for the beast?And and wherefore on that point were the Dementors. arouse felt sick and mortify e actually(prenominal) time he thought of them. Everyone verbalize the Dementors were horrible, but no one else collapsed every time they went near one. No one else heard echoes in their head of their dying parents.Because rile knew who that screaming voice be capacioused to now. He had hear d her words, heard them over and over again during the night hours in the hospital wing while he lay awake, staring at the strips of moonlight on the ceiling. When the Dementors approached him, he heard the last moments of his mothers life, her attempts to protect him, Harry, from Lord Voldemort, and Voldemorts laughter before he kill herHarry dozed fitfully, sinking into dreams full of clammy, rotted contacts and petrified pleading, jerking awake to dwell again on his mothers voice.It was a relief to return to the hitch and bustle of the main school on Monday, where he was forced to think more or less other things, rase if he had to endure Draco Malfoys taunting. Malfoy was almost beside himself with gloating at Gryffindors defeat. He had finally taken off his bandages, and celebrated having the full use of both arms again by doing spirited imitations of Harry travel off his broom. Malfoy spent much of their next Potions class doing Dementor imitations across the dungeon Ron finally cracked and flung a large, slippery crocodile heart at Malfoy, which hit him in the face and caused Snape to take fifty points from Gryffindor.If Snapes learning Defense Against the Dark Arts again, Im skiving off, utter Ron as they headed toward lupins classroom aft(prenominal) lunch. Check whos in on that point, Hermione.Hermione peered around the classroom door.Its okayprof lupine was back at work. It surely looked as though he had been ill. His old robes were hanging more loosely on him and thither were dark shadows beneath his eyes nevertheless, he smiled at the class as they took their seats, and they burst at once into an explosion of complaints or so Snapes behavior while Lupin had been ill.Its not fair, he was only filling in, why should he sacrifice us homework?We dont know anything ab proscribed werewolves both rolls of parchmentDid you tell prof Snape we absorbnt covered them yet? Lupin asked, frowning slightly.The babble broke out again.Yes, but he tell we were truly behind he wouldnt listen two rolls of parchmentProfessor Lupin smiled at the look of indignation on every face.Dont worry. Ill speak to Professor Snape. You dont live to do the es presuppose.Oh no, give tongue to Hermione, looking very disappointed. Ive already finished itThey had a very enjoyable lesson. Professor Lupin had brought on a glass box containing a Hinkypunk, a little one-legged creature who looked as though he were made of wisps of smoke, rather frail and harmless looking.Lures travelers into bogs, said Professor Lupin as they took notes. You post horse the lantern dangling from his hand? record hop ahead citizenry follow the light then The Hinkypunk made a horrible squelching noise against the glass.When the campana rang, everyone gathered up their things and headed for the door, Harry among them, but inhabit a moment, Harry, Lupin called. Id like a word.Harry doubled back and watched Professor Lupin covering the Hinkypunks box with a cl oth.I heard about the match, said Lupin, turning back to his desk and starting to pile books into his briefcase, and Im sorry about your broomstick. Is there any chance of fixing it?No, said Harry. The tree smashed it to bits.Lupin sighed.They planted the Whomping Willow the same year that I arrived at Hogwarts. People used to play a game, trying to get near enough to gather the trunk. In the end, a boy called Davey Gudgeon nearly lost an eye, and we were forbidden to go near it. No broomstick would stimulate a chance.Did you hear about the Dementors too? said Harry with difficulty.Lupin looked at him quickly.Yes, I did. I dont think any of us have seen Professor Dumbledore that angry. They have been growing industrious for slightly timefurious at his refusal to let them indoors the groundsI suppose they were the reason you fell?Yes, said Harry. He hesitated, and then the ca seat he had to ask burst from him before he could s binding himself. Why? Why do they affect me like th at? Am I just ?It has nothing to do with weakness, said Professor Lupin acutelyly, as though he had read Harrys mind. The Dementors affect you worsened than the others because there are horrors in your past that the others dont have.A ray of wintry sunlight fell across the classroom, illuminating Lupins gray hairs and the lines on his young face.Dementors are among the foulest creatures that walk this earth. They infest the darkest, filthiest places, they glory in fall apart and despair, they d come down peace, hope, and happiness out of the air around them. Even Muggles feel their presence, though they croupet see them. Get too near a Dementor and every redeeming(prenominal) feeling, every happy memory will be sucked out of you. If it buns, the Dementor will feed on you long enough to reduce you to something like itself soul-less and evil. Youll be left with nothing but the worst experiences of your life. And the worst that happened to you, Harry, is enough to make anyone fal l off their broom. You have nothing to feel ashamed of.When they get near me Harry stared at Lupins desk, his throat tight. I can hear Voldemort murdering my mum.Lupin made a sudden motion with his arm as though to grip Harrys shoulder, but thought better of it. There was a moments silence, then Why did they have to come to the match? said Harry bitterly.Theyre getting hungry, said Lupin alterly, shutdown his briefcase with a snap. Dumbledore wont let them into the school, so their supply of human prey has dried upI dont think they could resist the large crowd around the Quidditch field. both that excitementemotions running highit was their idea of a feast.Azkaban must be terrible, Harry muttered. Lupin nodded grimly.The fortress is set on a tiny island, carriage out to sea, but they dont need walls and water to keep the prisoners in, not when theyre all trapped inside their own heads, incapable of a single cheery thought. nearly of them go mad within weeks.But Sirius shadowy escaped from them, Harry said diminishly. He got awayLupins briefcase slipped from the desk he had to stoop quickly to catch it.Yes, he said, straightening up, downhearted must have nominate a way to fight them. I wouldnt have believed it possibleDementors are supposed to drain a charming of his powers if he is left with them too longYou made that Dementor on the train back off, said Harry suddenly.There are certain defenses one can use, said Lupin. But there was only one Dementor on the train. The more there are, the more difficult it becomes to resist.What defenses? said Harry at once. Can you teach me?I dont pretend to be an expert at fighting Dementors, Harry quite the contraryBut if the Dementors come to other Quidditch match, I need to be able to fight them Lupin looked into Harrys determined face, hesitated, then said, Wellall in force(p). Ill try and help. But itll have to wait until next term, Im afraid. I have a lot to do before the holidays. I chose a very inconve nient time to fall ill.******What with the promise of anti-Dementor lessons from Lupin, the thought that he might never have to hear his mothers death again, and the fact that Ravenclaw flattened Hufflepuff in their Quidditch match at the end of November, Harrys mood took a definite upturn. Gryffindor were not out of the running after all, although they could not afford to lose another match. Wood became repossessed of his manic energy, and worked his team as hard as ever in the chilly haze of rain that persisted into December. Harry adage no hint of a Dementor within the grounds. Dumbledores anger seemed to be keeping them at their stations at the hitchs.Two weeks before the end of the term, the sky lightened suddenly to a dazzling, opaline white and the muddy grounds were revealed one morning covered in glittering frost. Inside the castle, there was a buzz of Christmas in the air. Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, had already decorated his classroom with shimmering lights t hat turned out to be real, fluttering fairies. The students were all happily discussing their plans for the holidays. Both Ron and Hermione had decided to remain at Hogwarts, and though Ron said it was because he couldnt stand two weeks with Percy, and Hermione insisted she needed to use the library, Harry wasnt fooled they were doing it to keep him company, and he was very grateful.To everyones delight except Harrys, there was to be another Hogsmeade trip on the very last weekend of the term.We can do all our Christmas shopping there said Hermione. Mum and soda water would really love those Toothflossing Stringmints from HoneydukesResigned to the fact that he would be the only third year staying behind again, Harry borrowed a copy of Which Broomstick from Wood, and decided to spend the day reading up on the different makes. He had been riding one of the school brooms at team practice, an ancient Shooting Star, which was very slow and jerky he definitely needed a new broom of his o wn.On the Saturday morning of the Hogsmeade trip, Harry bid good-bye to Ron and Hermione, who were wrapped in cloaks and scarves, then turned up the marble staircase alone, and headed back toward Gryffindor Tower. Snow had started to fall outside the windows, and the castle was very still and quiet.Psst HarryHe turned, halfway along the third-floor corridor, to see Fred and George peering out at him from behind a statue of a humpbacked, one-eyed witch.What are you doing? said Harry curiously. How come youre not going to Hogsmeade?Weve come to give you a bit of festive cheer before we go, said Fred, with a mysterious wink. Come in hereHe nodded toward an empty classroom to the left of the one-eyed statue. Harry followed Fred and George inside. George closed the door quietly and then turned, beaming, to look at Harry.Early Christmas present for you, Harry, he said.Fred pulled something from inside his cloak with a amplify and laid it on one of the desks. It was a large, square, very worn piece of parchment with nothing written on it. Harry, suspecting one of Fred and Georges jokes, stared at it.Whats that supposed to be?This, Harry, is the private of our success, said George, patting the parchment fondly.Its a wrench, giving it to you, said Fred, but we decided last night, your needs greater than ours.Anyway, we know it by heart, said George. We bequeath it to you. We dont really need it anymore.And what do I need with a bit of old parchment? said Harry.A bit of old parchment said Fred, oddment his eyes with a grimace as though Harry had mortally offended him. Explain, George.Wellwhen we were in our first year, Harry young, carefree, and innocent Harry snorted. He doubted whether Fred and George had ever been innocent.?C well, more innocent than we are now we got into a spot of bother with Filch.We let off a Dungbomb in the corridor and it upset him for some reason So he hauled us off to his office and started threatening us with the usual detention dise mbowelment and we couldnt help noticing a drawer in one of his filing cabinets marked Confiscated and Highly Dangerous.Dont tell me said Harry, starting to grin.Well, what would youve done? said Fred. George caused a diversion by dropping another Dungbomb, I whipped the drawer open, and grabbed this.Its not as bad as it sounds, you know, said George. We dont reckon Filch ever found out how to work it. He probably suspect what it was, though, or he wouldnt have confiscated it.And you know how to work it?Oh yes, said Fred, smirking. This little beautys taught us more than all the teachers in this school.Youre winding me up, said Harry, looking at the ragged old bit of parchment.Oh, are we? said George.He took out his wand, touched the parchment lightly, and said, I solemnly swear that I am up to no good.And at once, thin ink lines began to spread like a spiders web from the point that Georges wand had touched. They joined each other, they crisscrossed, they fanned into every reces sion of the parchment then words began to blossom across the top, great, curly green words, that proclaimedMessrs. Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs Purveyors of Aids to Magical Mischief-Makers are proud to present THE MARAUDERS MAP It was a map out showing every detail of the Hogwarts castle and grounds. But the truly remarkable thing were the tiny ink dots moving around it, each label with a name in minuscule writing. Astounded, Harry bent over it. A labeled dot in the top left corner showed that Professor Dumbledore was pacing his study the caretakers cat, Mrs. Norris, was prowling the second floor and Peeves the Poltergeist was currently bouncing around the trophy room. And as Harrys eyes traveled up and down the familiar corridors, he noticed something else.This map showed a set of passages he had never entered. And many of them seemed to lead Right into Hogsmeade, said Fred, tracing one of them with his finger. There are cardinal in all. Now, Filch knows about these four he pointed them out but were sure were the only ones who know about these. Dont bother with the one behind the reverberate on the fourth floor. We used it until last winter, but its caved in completely blocked. And we dont reckon anyones ever used this one, because the Whomping Willows planted right over the entrance. But this one here, this one leads right into the cellar of Honeydukes. Weve used it loads of times. And as you mightve noticed, the entrance is right outside this room, through that one-eyed old crones hump.Moony, Wormtail, Padfoot, and Prongs, sighed George, patting the heading of the map. We owe them so much.Noble men, working tirelessly to help a new generation of lawbreakers, said Fred solemnly.Right, said George briskly. Dont forget to wipe it after youve used it or anyone can read it, Fred said warningly.Just tap it again and say, Mischief managed And itll go blank.So, young Harry, said Fred, in an uncanny impersonation of Percy, mind you behave yourself. converge you in Honeydukes, said George, winking.They left the room, both smirking in a satisfied sort of way.Harry stood there, gazing at the miraculous map. He watched the tiny ink Mrs. Norris turn left and pause to sniff at something on the floor. If Filch really didnt knowhe wouldnt have to pass the Dementors at all.But even as he stood there, flooded with excitement, something Harry had once heard Mr. Weasley say came floating out of his memory. neer trust anything that can think for itself, if you cant see where it keeps its brain.This map was one of those dangerous magical objects Mr. Weasley had been warning againstAids for Magical Mischief Makersbut then, Harry reasoned, he only wanted to use it to get into Hogsmeade, it wasnt as though he wanted to steal anything or attack anyoneand Fred and George had been using it for years without anything horrible happeningHarry traced the secret passage to Honeydukes with his finger.Then, quite suddenly, as though following orders, he rolled up the map, stuffed it inside his robes, and hurried to the door of the classroom. He opened it a couple of inches. There was no one outside. Very carefully, he moldingd out of the room and behind the statue of the one-eyed witch.What did he have to do? He pulled out the map again and saw to his astonishment, that a new ink figure had appeared upon it, labeled Harry Potter. This figure was standing exactly where the real Harry was standing, about halfway down the third-floor corridor. Harry watched carefully. His little Ink self appeared to be tapping the witch with his minute wand. Harry quickly took out his real wand and tapped the statue. Nothing happened. He looked back at the map. The tiniest speech bubble had appeared next to his figure. The word inside said, Dissendium.Dissendium Harry whispered, tapping the stone witch again.At once, the statues hump opened wide enough to admit a fairly thin person. Harry glanced quickly up and down the corridor, then tucked the ma p away again, hoisted himself into the hole headfirst, and pushed himself forward.He slid a considerable way down what felt like a stone slide, then landed on cold, damp earth. He stood up, looking around. It was pitch dark. He held up his wand, muttered, Lumos and saw that he was in a very narrow, low, earthy passageway. He raised the map, tapped it with the tip of his wand, and muttered, Mischief managed The map went blank at once. He folded it carefully, tucked it inside his robes, then, heart beating fast, both excited and apprehensive, he set off.The passage twisted and turned, more like the burrow of a giant rabbit than anything else. Harry hurried along it, stumbling now and then on the uneven floor, holding his wand out in front of him.It took ages, but Harry had the thought of Honeydukes to start him. After what felt like an hour, the passage began to test. Panting, Harry sped up, his face hot, his feet very cold.Ten proceedings subsequent, he came to the foot of some w orn stone steps, which bloom out of sight above him. Careful not to make any noise, Harry began to climb. A hundred steps, two hundred steps, he lost guess as he climbed, watching his feetthen, without warning, his head hit something hard.It seemed to be a trapdoor. Harry stood there, massaging the top of his head, listening. He couldnt hear any sounds above him. Very slowly, he pushed the trapdoor open and peered over the edge.He was in a cellar, which was full of wooden crates and boxes. Harry climbed out of the trapdoor and replaced it it blended so perfectly with the dusty floor that it was unacceptable to tell it was there. Harry crept slowly toward the wooden staircase that led upstairs. Now he could definitely hear voices, not to mention the tinkle of a bell and the opening and shutting of a door.Wondering what he ought to do, he suddenly heard a door open much closer at hand somebody was about to come downstairs.And get another box of Jelly Slugs, dear, theyve nearly cle aned us out said a womans voice.A pair of feet was glide slope down the staircase. Harry leapt behind an enormous crate and waited for the footsteps to pass. He heard the man shifting boxes against the opposite wall. He might not get another chance Quickly and silently, Harry dodged out from his concealing place and climbed the stairs looking back, he saw an enormous backside and shiny bald head, bury in a box. Harry reached the door at the top of the stairs, slipped through it, and found himself behind the counter of Honeydukes he ducked, crept sideways, and then straightened up.Honeydukes was so crowded with Hogwarts students that no one looked twice at Harry. He edged among them, looking around, and suppressed a laugh as he imagined the look that would spread over Dudleys shote face if he could see where Harry was now.There were shelves upon shelves of the most succulent-looking sweets imaginable. Creamy chunks of nougat, shimmering pink squares of coconut ice, fat, honey-c olored toffees hundreds of different kinds of chocolate in neat rows there was a large barrel of Every Flavor Beans, and another of Fizzing Whizbees, the levitating sherbet balls that Ron had mentioned along yet another wall were Special Effects sweets Droobles Best Blowing Gum (which make full a room with bluebell-colored bubbles that refused to pop for days), the strange, splintery Toothflossing Stringmints, tiny black Pepper Imps (breathe fire for your friends), Ice Mice (hear your teeth chatter and squeak), eucalyptus kino creams shaped like toads (hop realistically in the stomach), fragile sugar-spun quills, and exploding bonbons.Harry squeezed himself through a crowd of sixth years and saw a sign hanging in the farthest corner of the shop (UNUSUAL TASTES). Ron and Hermione were standing underneath it, examining a tray of blood-flavored lollipops. Harry sneaked up behind them.Ugh, no, Harry wont want one of those, theyre for vampires, I expect, Hermione was saying.How about these? said Ron, shoving a jar of rope Clusters under Hermiones nose.Definitely not, said Harry.Ron nearly dropped the jar.Harry squealed Hermione. What are you doing here? How how did you ?Wow said Ron, looking very impressed, youve learned to ApparateCourse I havent, said Harry. He dropped his voice so that none of the sixth years could hear him and told them all about the Marauders Map.How come Fred and George never gave it to me said Ron, outraged. Im their brotherBut Harry isnt going to keep it said Hermione, as though the idea were ludicrous. Hes going to hand it in to Professor McGonagall, arent you, Harry?No, Im not said Harry.Are you mad? said Ron, goggling at Hermione. Hand in something that good?If I hand it in, Ill have to say where I got it Filch would know Fred and George had nicked itBut what about Sirius Black? Hermione hissed. He could be using one of the passages on that map to get into the castle The teachers have got to knowHe cant be getting in through a passa ge, said Harry quickly. There are seven secret tunnels on the map, right? Fred and George reckon Filch already knows about four of them. And of the other three one of thems caved in, so no one can get through it. angiotensin-converting enzyme of thems got the Whomping Willow planted over the entrance, so you cant get out of it. And the one I just came through well its really hard to see the entrance to it down in the cellar so unless he knew it was there Harry hesitated. What if Black did know the passage was there? Ron, however, cleared his throat significantly, and pointed to a notice pasted on the inside of the sweetshop door.BY ORDER OF THE MINISTRY OF MAGIC Customers are reminded that until further notice, Dementors will be patrolling the streets of Hogsmeade every night after sundown. This measure has been put in place for the safety of Hogsmeade residents and will be lifted upon the recapture of Sirius Black. It is therefore advisable that you complete your shopping well before nightfall. Merry Christmas gather? said Ron quietly. Id like to see Black try and break into Honeydukes with Dementors swarming all over the village. Anyway, Hermione, the Honeydukes owners would hear a break-in, wouldnt they? They live over the shopYes, but but Heroine seemed to be struggling to find another problem. Look, Harry still shouldnt be coming into Hogsmeade. He hasnt got a signed form If anyone finds out, hell be in so much trouble And its not nightfall yet what if Sirius Black turns up today? Now?Hed have a job spotting Harry in this, said Ron, nodding through the mullioned windows at the thick, swirling snow. Come on, Hermione, its Christmas. Harry deserves a break.Hermione bit her lip, looking extremely worried.Are you going to report me? Harry asked her, grinning.Oh of course not but honestly, Harry Seen the Fizzing Whizbees, Harry? said Ron, grabbing him and leading him over to their barrel. And the Jelly Slugs? And the Acid Pops? Fred gave me one of t hose when I was seven it destroy a hole right through my tongue. I remember Mum walloping him with her broomstick. Ron stared broodingly into the Acid Pop box. Reckon Fredd take a bite of Cockroach Cluster if I told him they were peanuts?When Ron and Hermione had paid for all their sweets, the three of them left Honeydukes for the blizzard outside.Hogsmeade looked like a Christmas card the little thatched cottages and shops were all covered in a layer of crisp snow there were holly wreaths on the doors and strings of enchanted candles hanging in the trees.Harry shivered unlike the other two, he didnt have his cloak. They headed up the street, heads bowed against the wind, Ron and Hermione shouting through their scarves.Thats the post office Zonkos is up there We could go up to the Shrieking Shack Tell you what, said Ron, his teeth chattering, shall we go for a butterbeer in the one-third Broomsticks?Harry was more than willing the wind was fierce and his hands were freezing, so t hey crossed the road, and in a few minutes were entering the tiny inn.It was extremely crowded, noisy, warm, and smoky. A curvy sort of woman with a pretty face was serving a bunch of rowdy warlocks up at the bar.Thats maam Rosmerta, said Ron. Ill get the drinks, shall I? he added, going slightly red.Harry and Hermione made their way to the back of the room, where there was a keen, inert table between the window and a handsome Christmas tree, which stood next to the fireplace. Ron came back five minutes later, carrying three foaming tankards of hot butterbeer.Merry Christmas he said happily, raising his tankard.Harry drank deeply. It was the most delicious thing hed ever tasted and seemed to heat every bit of him from the inside.A sudden breeze ruffled his hair. The door of the lead Broomsticks had opened again. Harry looked over the rim of his tankard and choked.Professors McGonagall and Flitwick had just entered the pub with a flurry of snowflakes, shortly followed by Hagrid, w ho was deep in conversation with a hardy man in a lime-green bowler hat and a pinstriped cloak Cornelius Fudge, parson of Magic.In an instant, Ron and Hermione had both placed hands on the top of Harrys head and forced him off his stool and under the table. Dripping with butterbeer and crouching out of sight, Harry clutched his empty tankard and watched the teachers and Fudges feet move toward the bar, pause, then turn and walk right toward him. someplace above him, Hermione whispered, MobiliarbusThe Christmas tree beside their table rose a few inches off the ground, drifted sideways, and landed with a soft thump right in front of their table, hiding them from view. Staring through the dense lower branches, Harry saw four sets of direct legs move back from the table right beside theirs, then heard the grunts and sighs of the teachers and curate as they sat down.Next he saw another pair of feet, wearing sparkly turquoise high heels, and heard a womans voice.A small gillywater Mi ne, said Professor McGonagalls voice.Four pints of mulled mead Ta, Rosmerta, said Hagrid.A cherry syrup and soda with ice and umbrella Mmm said Professor Flitwick, smacking his lips.So youll be the red currant rum, Minister.Thank you, Rosmerta, mdear, said Fudges voice. Lovely to see you again, I must say. Have one yourself, wont you? Come and join usWell, thank you very much, Minister.Harry watched the glittering heels march away and back again. His heart was pounding uncomfortably in his throat. Why hadnt it occurred to him that this was the last weekend of term for the teachers too? And how long were they going to sit there? He needed time to sneak back into Honeydukes if he wanted to return to school tonight Hermiones leg gave a nervous twitch next to him.So, what brings you to this neck of the woods, Minister? came Madam Rosmertas voice.Harry saw the lower part of Fudges thick body twist in his chair as though he were checking for eavesdroppers. Then he said in a quiet voice, What else, mdear, but Sirius Black? I daresay you heard what happened up at the school at Halloween?I did hear a rumor, admitted Madam Rosmerta.Did you tell the whole pub, Hagrid? said Professor McGonagall exasperatedly.Do you think Blacks still in the area, Minister? whispered Madam Rosmerta.Im sure of it, said Fudge shortly.You know that the Dementors have searched the whole village twice? said Madam Rosmerta, a slight edge to her voice. Scared all my customers awayIts very bad for business, Minister.Rosmerta, dear, I dont like them any more than you do, said Fudge uncomfortably. Necessary precaution unfortunate, but there you areIve just met some of them. Theyre in a fury against Dumbledore he wont let them inside the castle grounds.I should think not, said Professor McGonagall sharply. How are we supposed to teach with those horrors floating around?Hear, hear squeaked tiny Professor Flitwick, whose feet were dangling a foot from the ground.All the same, demurred Fudge, they are here to protect you all from something much worseWe all know what Blacks capable ofDo you know, I still have trouble believing it, said Madam Rosmerta thoughtfully. Of all the people to go over to the Dark Side, Sirius Black was the last Id have thoughtI mean, I remember him when he was a boy at Hogwarts. If youd told me then what he was going to become, Id have said youd had too much mead.You dont know the half of it, Rosmerta, said Fudge gruffly. The worst he did isnt widely known.The worst? said Madam Rosmerta, her voice alive with curiosity. Worse than murdering all those poor people, you mean?I certainly do, said Fudge.I cant believe that. What could possibly be worse?You say you remember him at Hogwarts, Rosmerta, murmured Professor McGonagall. Do you remember who his best friend was?Naturally, said Madam Rosmerta, with a small laugh. Never saw one without the other, did you? The number of times I had them in here ooh, they used to make me laugh. Quite the double act, Sirius Black and James PotterHarry dropped his tankard with a flashy clunk. Ron kicked him.Precisely, said Professor McGonagall. Black and Potter. Ringleaders of their little gang. Both very bright, of course exceptionally bright, in fact but I dont think weve ever had much(prenominal) a pair of troublemakers I dunno, chuckled Hagrid. Fred and George Weasley could give em a run fer their money.Youd have thought Black and Potter were brothers chimed in Professor Flitwick. InseparableOf course they were, said Fudge. Potter trusted Black beyond all his other friends. Nothing changed when they left school. Black was best man when James married Lily. Then they named him godfather to Harry. Harry has no idea, of course. You can imagine how the idea would torment him.Because Black turned out to be in league with You-Know-Who? whispered Madam Rosmerta.Worse even than that, mdear Fudge dropped his voice and proceeded in a sort of low rumble. Not many people are aware that the Potters knew You-K now-Who was after them. Dumbledore, who was of course working tirelessly against You-Know-Who, had a number of useful spies. One of them tipped him off, and he alerted James and Lily at once. He advised them to go into hiding. Well, of course, You-Know-Who wasnt an easy person to hide from. Dumbledore told them that their best chance was the Fidelius Charm.How does that work? said Madam Rosmerta, breathless with interest. Professor Flitwick cleared his throat.An immensely complex spell, he said squeakily, involving the magical concealment of a secret inside a single, living soul. The information is hidden inside the chosen person, or Secret-Keeper, and is henceforth impossible to find unless, of course, the Secret-Keeper chooses to divulge it. As long as the Secret-Keeper refused to speak, You-Know-Who could search the village where Lily and James were staying for years and never find them, not even if he had his nose pressed against their sitting room windowSo Black was the Potter s Secret-Keeper? whispered Madam Rosmerta.Naturally, said Professor McGonagall. James Potter told Dumbledore that Black would die rather than tell where they were, that Black was planning to go into hiding himselfand yet, Dumbledore remained worried. I remember him offering to be the Potters Secret-Keeper himself.He suspected Black? gasped Madam Rosmerta.He was sure that somebody close to the Potters had been keeping You-Know-Who informed of their movements, said Professor McGonagall darkly. Indeed, he had suspected for some time that someone on our side had turned traitor and was passing a lot of information to You-Know-Who.But James Potter insisted on using Black?He did, said Fudge severely. And then, barely a week after the Fidelius Charm had been performed Black betrayed them? take a breath Madam Rosmerta.He did indeed. Black was tired of his double-agent role, he was ready to declare his support openly for You-Know-Who, and he seems to have planned this for the moment of the Potters death. But, as we all know, You-Know-Who met his downfall in little Harry Potter. Powers gone, horribly weakened, he fled. And this left Black in a very nasty position indeed. His master had fallen at the very moment when he, Black, had shown his true colors as a traitor. He had no choice but to run for it Filthy, stinkin turncoat Hagrid said, so loudly that half the bar went quiet.Shh said Professor McGonagall.I met him growled Hagrid. I musta bin the last ter see him before he killed all them people It was me what rescued Harry from Lily an Jamess house after they was killed Jus got him outta the ruins, poor little thing, with a great slash across his forehead, an his parents deadan Sirius Black turns up, on that flyin motorbike he used ter ride. Never occurred ter me what he was doin there. I didn know hed bin Lily an Jamess Secret-Keeper. Thought hed jus heard the news o You-Know-Whos attack an come ter see what he could do. White an shakin, he was. An yeh know what I d id? I COMFORTED THE MURDERIN TRAITOR Hagrid roared.Hagrid, please said Professor McGonagall. Keep your voice downHow was I ter know he wasn upset abou Lily an James? It was You-Know-Who he cared abou An then he says, Give Harry ter me, Hagrid, Im his godfather, Ill look after him Ha But Id had me orders from Dumbledore, an I told Black no, Dumbledore said Harry was ter go ter his aunt an uncles. Black argued, but in the end he gave in. Told me ter take his motorbike ter get Harry there. I wont need it anymore, he says.I shoulda known there was somethin funny goin on then. He loved that motorbike, what was he givin it ter me for? Why wouldn he need it anymore? Fact was, it was too easy ter trace. Dumbledore knew hed bin the Potters Secret-Keeper. Black knew he was goin ter have ter run fer it that night, knew it was a matter o hours before the Ministry was after him.But what if Id given Harry to him, eh? I bet hedve pitched him off the bike halfway out ter sea. His bes friends son But when a wizard goes over ter the Dark Side, theres nothin and no one that matters to em anymoreA long silence followed Hagrids story. Then Madam Rosmerta said with some satisfaction, But he didnt manage to disappear, did he? The Ministry of Magic caught up with him next dayAlas, if only we had, said Fudge bitterly. It was not we who found him. It was little Peter Pettigrew another of the Potters friends. Maddened by grief, no doubt, and knowing that Black had been the Potters Secret-Keeper, he went after Black himself.Pettigrewthat fat little boy who was eternally tagging around after them at Hogwarts? said Madam Rosmerta.Hero-worshipped Black and Potter, said Professor McGonagall. Never quite in their league, talent-wise. I was often rather sharp with him. You can imagine how I how I regret that now She sounded as though she had a sudden head cold.There, now, Minerva, said Fudge kindly, Pettigrew died a heros death. Eyewitnesses Muggles, of course, we wiped their memories la ter told us how Pettigrew cornered Black. They say he was sobbing, Lily and James, Sirius How could you? And then he went for his wand. Well, of course, Black was quicker. Blew Pettigrew to smithereens.Professor McGonagall blew her nose and said thickly, Stupid boyfoolish boyhe was always hopeless at duelingshould have left it to the Ministry I tell yeh, if Id got ter Black before little Pettigrew did, I wouldntve messed around with wands Id ve ripped him limb from limb, Hagrid growled.You dont know what youre lecture about, Hagrid, said Fudge sharply. Nobody but trained Hit Wizards from the Magical Law Enforcement Squad would have stood a chance against Black once he was cornered. I was Junior Minister in the Department of Magical Catastrophes at the time, and I was one of the first on the scene after Black murdered all those people. I I will never forget it. I still dream about it sometimes. A crater in the middle of the street, so deep it had cracked the sewer below. Bodies everywhere. Muggles screaming. And Black standing there laughing, with what was left of Pettigrew in front of hima heap of bloodstained robes and a few a few fragments Fudges voice stopped abruptly. There was the sound of five noses being blown.Well, there you have it, Rosmerta, said Fudge thickly. Black was taken away by twenty members of the Magical Law Enforcement Squad and Pettigrew received the Order of Merlin, First Class, which I think was some comfort to his poor mother. Blacks been in Azkaban ever since.Madam Rosmerta let out a long sigh.Is it true hes mad, Minister?I wish I could say that he was, said Fudge slowly. I certainly believe his masters defeat unhinged him for a while. The murder of Pettigrew and all those Muggles was the action of a cornered and desperate man cruel pointless. Yet I met Black on my last inspection of Azkaban. You know, most of the prisoners in there sit muttering to themselves in the dark theres no sense in thembut I was shocked at how normal Black seemed. He spoke quite rationally to me. It was unnerving. Youd have thought he was merely bored asked if Id finished with my newspaper, cool as you please, said he missed doing the crossword. Yes, I was astounded at how little effect the Dementors seemed to be having on him and he was one of the most heavily guarded in the place, you know. Dementors outside his door day and night.But what do you think hes broken out to do? said Madam Rosmerta. Good gracious, Minister, he isnt trying to rejoin You-Know-Who, is he?I daresay that is his er eventual plan, said Fudge evasively. But we hope to catch Black long before that. I must say, You-Know-Who alone and friendless is one thingbut give him back his most devoted servant, and I shudder to think how quickly hell rise againThere was a small chink of glass on wood. Someone had set down their glass.You know, Cornelius, if youre dining with the headmaster, wed better head back up to the castle, said Professor McGonagall.One by one, the pairs of feet in front of Harry took the weight of their owners once more hems of cloaks swung into sight, and Madam Rosmertas glittering heels disappeared behind the bar. The door of the Three Broomsticks opened again, there was another flurry of snow, and the teachers had disappeared.Harry?Rons and Hermiones faces appeared under the table. They were both staring at him, lost for words.

Night World : Secret Vampire Chapter 10

Things have to be right, Poppy verbalize. Things have to be just right for this. compact some candles, Phil.Phil was looking ashen and haggard. Candles?As many as you can find. And some pillows. I need lots of pillows. She knelt by the stereo to examine a haphazard pile of CDs. Phil stared at herbriefly, indeed went out. Structures from Silence . . .no. Too repetitious,Poppy said, rummaging through the pile. Deep Forest-no.Too hyper. I need somethingambient.How about this? jam picked a CD up. Poppylooked at the label.Music to Disappear In.Of course. It was perfect. Poppy in like mannerk the CD andmet packs gaze. Usually he referred to the hauntingsoft strains of ambient music as New Age mush.You understand, she said quietly.Yes. But youre not dying, Poppy. This isnt adeath scene youre range up.But Im going away. Im changing. Poppy couldnt explain exactly, but something in her saidshe was doing the right thing. She was dying to her old life. It was a solemn occasion, a Passage. And of course, although neither of them menti adeptd it, they both knew she business leaderdie for good.James had been precise wiener about that-some peopledidnt make it through the transition.Phil came back with candles, Christmas candles,emergency candles, odourise votive candles. Poppy directed him to place them around the room and lightthem. She herself went to the bathroom to change into her best nightgown. It was flannel, with a name of little strawberries.Just imagine, she thought as she left the bathroom.This is the give-up the ghost time Ill ever walk down this hall, the go bad time Ill push open my chamber door.The bedroom was beautiful. The soft glow of candlelight gave it an aura of sanctity, of mystery. Themusic was unearthly and sweet, and Poppy matt-up shecould fall into it forever, the way she fel in herdreams.Poppy opened the closet and used a hanger to bata tawny stuffed lion and a floppy gray Eeyore down from the top shelf. She took them to her bed and put t hem beside the mounded pillows. Maybe it wasstupid, maybe it was childish, but she wanted themwith her.She sat on the bed and looked at James and Phillip.They were both looking at her. Phil was dearly upset,touching his mouth to stop its trembling. James wasupset, too, although only some ace who knew him aswell as Poppy did would have been adequate to(p) to disunite.Its all right, Poppy told them. Dont you see?Imall right, so theres no excuse for you not to be.And the strange thing was, it was the truth. Shewas all right. She felt calm and clear now, as if e very(prenominal)thing had become very simple. She saw the road ahead of her, and all she had to do was follow it, step by step.Phil came oer to squeeze her hand. How does this how does this work? he asked James huskily.First well win over blood, James said-speaking to Poppy. Looking only at her. It doesnt haveto be a lot youre right on the border ofchangingalready. Then the two kinds of blood fight it outsort of the last batt le, if you see what I mean. Hesmiled faintly and painfully, and Poppy nodded.While thats happening youll life weaker andweaker. And then youll just go to sleep. Thechange happens while youre asleep.And when do I wake up? Poppy asked.Ill give you a kind of posthypnotic suggestionabout that. Tell you to wake up whenI come to holdyou. Dont worry about it Ive got all the detailsfigured out. All you need to do is rest.Phil was running nervous hands through his h charge,as if he was just now thinking about what kind ofdetails he and James were going to have to argue with.Wait a minute, he said in almost a croak. When whenyou say sleep-shes going to lookDead, Poppy supplied, when his section ran out.James gave Phil a cold look. Yes. Weve beenover this.And then-were rattling going to-whats going tohappento her?James glared.Its okay, Poppy said softly. Tell him.You know whats going to happen, James saidthrough clenched teeth to Phillip. She cant just dis appear. Wed have the policeandth e Night peo pleafter us, looking for her. No, its got to appear that shedied from the cancer, and that means everythings got to happen exactly the way it would if she haddied.Phils sick expression said he wasnt at his mostrational. Youre sure there isnt any other way?No,James said.Phil wet his lips. Oh, God.Poppy herself didnt want to dwell on it too much.She said fiercely,Dealwith it, Phil. Youve got to. And remember, if it doesnt happen now its goingto happen in a a few(prenominal) weeks-for real.Phil was holding on to one of the brass bedpostsso hard that his knuckles were pale. But hed gottenthe point, and there was no one better than Phil atbracing himself. Youre right, he saidthinly, with the ghost of his old efficient manner. Okay, Im dealing with it.Then permits get started, Poppy said, making hervoice calm and steady. As if she were dealing witheverything effortlessly herself.James said to Phil, You dont want to see thispart. Go out and watch TV for a few minutes.Phil he sitated, then nodded and left.One thing, Poppy said to James as she scootedto the middle_ of the bed. She was still trying desperately to sound casual. After the funeral-well, Ill be asleep, wont I? I wont wake up you know.In my nice little coffin. She looked up at him. Its just that Im claustrophobic, a little.You wont wake up there, James said. Poppy,I wouldnt let that happen to you. Trust me Ive thought of everything.Poppy nodded. I do trust you, she thought.Then she held her arms out to him.He touched her neck, so she tilted her chin back.As the blood was drawn from her, she felt her mind drawn into his.Dont worry, Poppy. Dont be afraid. Allhis thoughtswere ferociously protective. And even though it onlyconfirmed that there was something to be afraidof,that this could go wrong, Poppy felt peaceful. Thedirect sense of his love made her calm, flooded her with light.She suddenly felt distance and point and depthspaciousness. As if her horizons had expanded almostto infinity in an instant. As if shed discovered a new dimension.Asif there were no limits or obstacles to what she and James could do together.She felt free.Im getting light-headed, she realized. She couldfeel herself going limp in Jamess arms. Swooning worry a wilting flower.Ive optn enough,James said in her mind.Thewarmanimalmouth on her throat pulled back.Now its your turn.This time, though, he didnt make the cut at hiswrist. He took off his T-shirt and, with a quick, impulsive gesture, ran a fingernail along the base of his throat.Oh, Poppy thought. Slowly, almost reverently, she leaned forward. Jamess hand supported the back ofher head. Poppy put her arms around him, feelinghis excess skin under the flannel of her nightgown.It was better this way. But if James was right, itwas another last time. She and James could neerexchange blood again.I cant accept that, Poppythought, but she couldntconcentrate on anything for very long. This time, instead of clearing her brain, the wild, intoxicating vampire blood was making her more confused. Moreheavy and sleepy.James?Its all right. Its the beginning of the change.Heavysleepywarm. Lapped in salty oceanwaves. She could almost picture the vampire bloodtrickling through her veins, controling everything inits path. It was ancient blood, primeval. It was changing her into something old, something that had been around since the dawn of time. Something primitive and basic.Every molecule in her body, changingPoppy, can you hear me?James was palpitation herslightly. Poppy had been so engrossed in the sensations that she hadnt even realized she wasnt drinking any longer. James was cradling her.Poppy.It was an effort to open her eye. Im all right. Just sleepy.His arms tightened around her, then he laid hergently on the mounded pillows. You can rest now. Ill get Phil.But before he went, he kissed her on the forehead.My first kiss, Poppy thought, her eye drifting shutagain. And Im comatose. Great.She felt the bed give under weight and loo ked upto see Phil. Phil looked very nervous, sitting gingerly,staring at Poppy. So whats happening now? heasked.The vampire bloods taking over, James said. Poppy said, Im truly sleepy. in that respect was no pain. Just a feeling of wanting toglide away. Her body now felt warm and numb, asif she were insulated by a soft, thick aura.Phil? I forgot to say-thank you. For helping out.And everything. Youre a good brother, Phil.You dont have to say that now, Phil said tersely. You can say it later. Im still going to be here later,you know.But I might not be, Poppy thought. This is all a gamble. And Id never take it, except that the only alternative was to give up without even trying to fight.I fought, didnt I? At least(prenominal) I fought.Yes, you did, Phil said, his voice trembling.Poppy hadnt been aware she was speaking aloud.Youve always been a fighter, Phil said. Ivelearned so much from you.Which was funny, because shed learned so muchfrom him,even if most of it was in the last twe nty four-spot hours. She wanted to tell him that, but therewas so much to say, and she was so tired. Her tongue felt thick her whole body weak and languorous.Justhold my hand, she said, and she couldhear that her voice was no louder than a breath.Phillip took one of her hands and James the other.That was good. This was the way to do it, withEeyore and her lion on the pillows beside her andPhil and James holding her hands, keeping her safe and anchored.One of the candles was scented with vanilla, awarm and homey smell. A smell that reminded herof being a kid. Nilla wafers and naptime. That waswhat this was same. Just a nap in Miss Spurgeons kindergarten, with the sun slanting across the floorand James on a mat beside her.So safe, so sereneOh, Poppy, Phil whispered.James said, Youre doing great, kiddo. Everythings just right.That was what Poppy compulsory to hear. She let herself fall backward into the music, and it was resembling falling in a dream, without fear. It was like being a raindrop falling into the ocean that had started you.At the last mammary glandent she thought, Im not ready. But she already knew the answer to that. Nobodywas ever ready.But shed been stupid-shed forgotten the mostimportant thing. Shed never told James she lovedhim. Not even when hed said he loved her.She tried to get enough air, enough strength to sayit. But it was too late. The outside manhood was goneand she couldnt feel her body any longer. She was floating in the darkness and the music, and all she could do now was sleep.Sleep, James said, leaning dose to Poppy. Dontwake up until I bellyache you. Just sleep.Every muscle in Phils body was rigid. Poppylooked so peaceful-pale, with her hair spread out incoppery curls on the pillow, and her eyelashes blackon her cheeks and her lips parted as she breathedgently. She looked like a porcelain cosset doll. But the more peaceful she got, the more terrified Phil felt.I can deal with this, he told himself.I haveto.Poppy gave a soft exhalation, and then suddenlyshe was moving. Her chest heaved once, twice. Herhand tightened on Phils and her eyes flew openbut she didnt seem to be seeing anything. She simply looked astonished.Poppyl Phil grabbed at her, getting a handful offlannel nightgown. She was so small and fragile in side it. PoppylThe heaving gasps stopped. For one moment Poppywas suspended in air, then her eyes closed and shefell back on the pillows. Her hand was limp in Phils.Phil lost all rationality.Poppy, he said, earshot the dangerous, unbalanced tone in his own voice. Poppy, come on.Poppy, wake up-on a rising note. His hands were shaking violently, scrabbling at Poppys shoulders.Other hands pushed his away. What the underworld areyou doing? James said quietly.Poppy? Poppy? Phil kept staring at her. Herchest wasnt moving. Her face had a look of-innocent release. The kind of newness you only see inbabies.And it was-changing. Taking on a white, unprejudiced look. It was uncanny, ghostlike, and even though Phil had never seen a corpse, he knew instinctively that this was the death pallor.Poppys essence had left her. Her body was flat andtoneless, no longer inflated by the vital spirit. Herhand in Phils was slack, not like the hand of a sleeping person. Her skin had lost its shine, as if somebodyhad breathed on it softly.Phil threw back his head and let out an animalsound. It wasnt human. It was a howl.You killed her He tumbled off the bed andlurched toward James. You said she was just goingto sleep, but you killed herl Shes deadJames didnt back away from the attack. Instead,he grabbed Phil and dragged him out intothe hallway.Hearing is the last sense to go, he snarled inPhillips ear. She may be able tohear you.Phil wrenched free and ran toward the living room. He didnt know what he was doing, he only knew that he needed to destroy things. Poppy wasdead. She was gone. He grabbed the couch andflipped it over, then kicked the coffee table over, too. He snatched up a lamp, yanked i ts cord out of thesocket, and threw it toward the fireplace.Stop it James shouted over the crash. Phil sawhim and ran at him. The sheer force of his charge knocked James backward into the wall. They fell tothe floor together in a heap.You-killed her Phil gasped, trying to get hishands around Jamess throat.Silver.Jamess eyes blazed like the molten metal.He grabbed Phils wrists in a painful grip.Stop itnow,Phillip, he hissed.Something about the way he said it made Phil stop.Almost sobbing, he struggled to get air into his lungs.Ill killyouif I have to, to keep Poppy safe, James said, his voice still savage and menacing. And shesonly safe if you stop this and do exactly what I tell youto.Exactlywhat I tell you. Understand? He shook Philhard, nearly banging Phils head into the wall.Strangely enough, it was the right thing to say.James was saying he cared about Poppy. And weird as it might sound, Phil had come to trust James totell the truth.The raging red insanity in Phils brain died aw ay.He took a long breath.Okay. I understand, he said hoarsely. He was used to being in charge-both of himself and of otherpeople. He didnt like James giving him orders. Butin this case there was no help for it. But-she isdead, isnt she?It depends on your definition, James said, lettinggo and slow pushing himself off the floor. Hescanned the living room, his mouth grim. Nothingwent wrong, Phil. Everything went just the way itwas supposed to-except for this. I was going to letyour parents come back and find her, but we donthave that option now. There isnt any way to explain this mess, except the.truth.The truth being?That you went in there and found her dead andwent berserk. And then I called your parents-you know what restaurant theyre at, dont you?Its Valentinos. My mom said they were lucky toget in.Okay. Thatll work. But first we have to clean upthe bedroom. Get all the candles and stuff out. Itsgot to look as if she just went to sleep, like anyother night.Phil glanced at the gli de glass door. It was justgetting dark. But then Poppy had been sleeping a lotthese last few days. Well say she got tired and toldus to go watch TV, he said slowly, trying to conquer his dazed feeling and be clearheaded. And then Iwent in after a while and checked on her.Right, James said, with a faint smile that didntreach his eyes.It didnt take long to clear out the bedroom. Thehardest thing was that Phil had to keep looking atPoppy, and every time he looked, his heart lurched.She looked so tiny, so delicate-limbed. A Christmas angel in June.He hated to take the stuffed animals away fromher.She is going to wake up, isnt she? he said, without looking at James.God, I hope so, James said, and his voice wasvery tired. It sounded more like a prayer than a wish.If she doesnt you wont have to come after me witha stake, Phil. Ill take care of it myself.Phil was shocked-and angry. Dont be stupid,he said brutally. If Poppy stood for anything-if she standsfor anything-its for life. Throwing your life away would be like a slap in her face. Besides, evenif it goes wrong now, you did your best. Blaming yourself is just stupid.James looked at him blankly, and Phil realizedtheyd managed to surprise each other. Then Jamesnodded slowly. Thanks.It was a milestone, the first time theyd ever beenon merely the same wavelength. Phillip felt an oddconnection between them.He looked away and said briskly, Is it time to callthe restaurant?James glanced at his watch. In just a fewminutes.If we wait too long theyre going to have left bythe time we call.That doesntmatter.What matters is that we dont have any paramedics trying to resuscitate her, or taking her to the hospital. Which means shes gotto be cold by the time anybody gets here.Phil felt a wave of dizzy horror. Youre a coldblooded snake after all.Im just practical, James said wearily, as if speaking to a child. He touched one of Poppys marblewhite hands where it lay on the bedspread. Allright. Its time. Im going to call. You can go berserkagain if you want to.Phil shook his head. He didnt have the energyanymore. But he did feel like crying, which was al most as good. Crying and crying like a kid who was lost and hurt.Get my mom, he said thickly.He knelt on the floor beside Poppys bed andwaited. Poppys music was off and he could hear theTV in the family room. He had no sense of time passing until he also comprehend a car in the driveway.Then he leaned his forehead against Poppys mattress. His tears were absolutely genuine. At that moment he was sure hed lost her forever.Brace yourself, James said from behind him.Theyre here.

The Miracle League of El Paso

Introduction There ar thousands of children who play sports in the communities on facilities supported by residents through their assess dollars. The Miracle conference of El Paso provides handicapped children and adolescent adults in our communities who tinnot participate in a sport on a conventional field with a localize to play baseball. The Miracle coalition of El Paso removes the obstructions that await children with disabilities off the baseball field and allows them to experience playing the field. The principal(prenominal) obstruction for disabled children starts from the natural grass fields.The Miracle group discussion of El Paso is about building self-esteem, qualification new friends, and confidence. The Miracle union of El Paso applies a buddy system coupling apiece pretender with a peer volunteer to attend to the players. The Miracle federation of El Pasos strategic conception is to blend in closely with the Junior League of El Paso, Inc. and partnersh ips with the public leaders, and follow their directions, establishing a possible benefactor record. The short-term goal is the preparation for an accessible, adaptable playground for the back area of the field.The Miracle League of El Paso plans to come alive and campaign to raise the needed $350,000 for the plait of the playground. The Miracle League of El Paso The Miracle League of El Paso is a non-profit organization that continues to grow with the community and the training through the innovative process of change within time. The noncommercial organization has developed a relegating statement designed to motivate and encourage future success and permanence. The Miracle League of El Pasos perpetration is to provide recreational opportunities to persons with disabilities, regardless of their abilities (The Miracle League Of El Paso, 2013).The mission statement is positive, motivational, and long-term that definitely gives the nonprofit organization to strive towards. Th e mission statement cooperates develop the nonprofit organization as a resource that would be used by eitherone who was doing research or just asking a question in popular. The mission statement allows The Miracle League of El Paso to use any means possible to organize information (The Miracle League Of El Paso, 2013). There are thousands of children who play sports in the communities on facilities supported by residents through their tax dollars.The Miracle League of El Paso provides disabled children and young adults in our communities who cannot participate in a sport on a conventional field with a place to play baseball. The Miracle League of El Paso, and the community can provide the disabled children with an chance to experience the benefits from playing baseball. Even though the facility is built the Miracle League of El Paso continues to need support to sustain it (The Miracle League Of El Paso, 2013). The Miracle League of El Paso removes the obstructions that stop child ren with disabilities off the baseball field and allows them to experience playing the field.The main obstruction for disabled children starts from the natural grass fields. The Miracle League of El Paso teams play on a custom-designed, rubberized turf field that provides accommodation for wheelchairs and self-assured devices while preventing handicap (The Miracle League Of El Paso, 2013). The Miracle League of El Paso is about building self-esteem, making new friends, and confidence. The Miracle League of El Paso applies a buddy system coupling separately player with a peer volunteer to help the players. The result from the buddy system is a bond that cannot be expressed.The buddy is there to protect the player. To countenance the player in running, batting, and to be a long term friend for the whole season. Parents, relatives, siblings, and friends of players know their childrens disability and therefore are encouraged to be the childs buddy. Buddies can start from the age of 12 and up (The Miracle League Of El Paso, 2013). The Miracle League of El Paso caters to children who have a medical condition from any mental or physical disabilities, such as ADHD to cancer, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, and autism. According to the 2000 Census Bureaus states there are 5. million children in our rude that have disabilities between the ages of five and 19, and with young adults the number enlarges substantially. (Miracle League, 2013). Teams are divided by age and ability, which means that it is possible to have children from a wide field of ages on the resembling team if they play at a similar mental and physical level. There are three divisions of play, non-competitive, intermediate, and competitive. The difference is the t all(prenominal)ing of regular baseball fundamentals in the competitive division. In non- competitive every child bats, runs, and last batter scores a home run.Intermediate division is in the middle of non-competitive and competitiv e division (Miracle League, 2013). The Strengths of the Miracle League of El Paso is the ability to r from each one out to disabled children no matter their age is to be decrease involved in a recreational sport such as baseball that schools, and little league teams would not include a disabled child. The main advantage of the Miracle League of El Paso is that this League is the only one of its kind in El Paso. The weakness of the Miracle League of El Paso is that the location is the only location for the park, and many children come from all parts of El Paso.A few children live in New Mexico. Because of the economys situation many parents or relatives are not able to travel cardinal times a week, especially if the park is 27 miles from their home. The Miracle League of El Paso needs to advertise through the social media more (Rivera, 2013). Opportunities for the Miracle League of El Paso is to advertise in the social media such as twitter, Insta-gram, T-mobile, Verizon, television , etc. Collaborate with other nonprofit organizations to help each other out with whatever is needed for each organization to sustain in todays economy.The Miracle League of El Paso needs to partner with the school territory bus systems for transportation from each districts area to transport the children to and from reflect Park for activities (Rivera, 2013). Threats for the Miracle League of El Paso is the downfall of the economy. Because of tough times, and a rise in unemployment it is hard to donate for the cause. Volunteers, coaches, and parents whitethorn begin to drop from attending and may not be able to pay for registration of their child along with uniforms. Trends for the Miracle League of El Paso would be to add onto Ponder Park with more recreational activities.The all inclusive playground. Another trend would be to add a Recreational center for additional activities to be added to Ponder park such as yoga, aerobics, dance classes, etc. (Rivera, 2013). Although the SW OTT analysis may be used for the external and internal milieu, it may still have the organizations thinking remain in the same place rather than evolve and grow. With this the three circles analysis comes in to play. Everything that has been questioned to add on to the Miracle League of El Paso, and the areas that prohibit players and siblings to attend are the main concerns of the customers and the beneficiarys.The nonprofit organization needs to question if they are succeeding in their beliefs, distinctiveness, what should be provided, effectiveness and what to add to the values for the beneficiaries (Rivera, 2013). The Miracle League of El Pasos strategic plan is to work closely with the Junior League of El Paso, Inc. and partnerships with the public leaders, and follow their directions, establishing a possible benefactor record. Substantiate expenses of projects and create an official financial plan numerate in-kind contributions. Plan meetings with potential organizations to establish possible field, and facility lease agreements.The Miracle League of El Paso formed a website for the main way of corresponding what they are doing and who they are. initiate the residents and businesses throughout El Paso County about the Miracle League of El Paso through the public awareness support, public discussions, and speaking arrangements. Investigate innovated ideas for flourishing upcoming events and constant endowment fund raising to ensure future success (The Miracle League Of El Paso, 2013). The short-term goal is the planning for an accessible, adaptable playground for the back area of the field.The Miracle League of El Paso plans to advertise and campaign to raise the needed $350,000 for the construction of the playground. The playground willing be created for mental and physically disabled children of all ages to play in an environment that children and their families can play together, regardless of their abilities. The playground will promote inclusive play by concentrating on convenience for age, developmental suitability, and sensory-stimulating activity that manages a brilliant partner for The Miracle League of El Paso (The Miracle League Of El Paso, 2013).The Miracle League of El Paso needs to increase the number of committed volunteers and coaches to downscale the number of players on each team. stress additional volunteers from boy scouts, girl scouts, high schools that need so many hours of community work for graduation, surrounding schools, universities, church groups, civic organizations, YMCA, YWCA, retired community, etc. . Seek additional community partnerships (The Miracle League Of El Paso, 2013). An opportunity for the Miracle League of El Paso is to advertise in the social media such as twitter, Instagram, T-mobile, Verizon, television, etc.Collaborate with other nonprofit organizations to help each other out with whatever is needed for each organization to sustain in todays economy. The Miracle League of El Pa so needs to partner with the school district bus systems for transportation from each districts area to transport the children to and from Ponder Park for activities (Rivera, 2013). The Miracle League of El Paso does not have a transportation system for disabled children and families, which inhibits them to get to each game or event at the Miracle field location.The Miracle League of El Paso will propose a partnership with the school districts of each area that disabled children are located in to help transport the children for each game. The Miracle League of El Paso can propose to use their umbrella general liability insurance for safety precautions during the use of the school district bus system. If the school district bus system could not partner with the Miracle League of El Paso, the Miracle League will try to establish a partnership with Sun Metro for specific days and times for the families and participants of the Miracle League of El Paso.To help raise money for the Miracl e League of El Paso throughout the years a run/walk event for the cause will be established as well up as possible future sponsors and partners to increase recreational activities for the Miracle League of El Paso. The imposing strategy for the Miracle League is to partner with one major construction company, Hunts construction company, in El Paso, Texas. Partnering with Hunt Construction Company will inaugurate the construction of the all inclusive playground for disabled children and their families.The Miracle League of El Paso will only ask to partner with Hunts Construction Company because will allow only for the full press and advertisement of one main construction company, along with the company logo on all participants, family members, and buddy t-shirts. The Miracle League of El Paso will to a fault ask to have the television news broadcast the development of the all inclusive playground for advertisement of the construction company as well as the Miracle League of El Paso for future participants.One major functional tactic is that the Miracle League of El Pasos responsibility is to have the CEO-Founder-Executive Director, Sandra Olivar to be devoted to the mission, and goals of the Miracle League of El Paso while preserving inflexible values and the highest principles of superiority. Sandra Olivar must be devoted to increase the resources required to construct and maintain the mission, and goals. Sandra Olivar must generate an atmosphere in which volunteers remain engaged and ommitted to the constant requirements of the organization. Sandra Olivar must incorporate a better spirit to the volunteer staff increasing the role in the organizations mission and goals (Peace & Robinson, 2011). Because Sandra Olivar is the main director she has first-hand knowledge for the basis of schedules, strategic check off, developing budgets slightly new events, and trigger points for the organization. Sandra Olivar is a powerful asset to the organization.Sandra O livar has a powerful motivational connection with the beneficiaries and especially can connect with the volunteers and beneficiaries through a reinforcer system motivating them to further accomplish future goals for the organization (The Miracle League of El Paso, 2013). Sandra Olivar is the main non-paid volunteer operating the daily events of the League. Sandra Olivars responsibilities are to make sure that members register every season. Sandra Olivar must keep tabs on the increase and decrease of program fees and payments, which this year has increased to a 95% rate (The Miracle League of El Paso, 2013).Sandra Olivar must make sure that contributions and sponsorships have increased or dropped for the year, which for this year has dropped by 65% (The Miracle League of El Paso, 2013). The Miracle League of El Paso entails nigh $55,000 per season. The Miracle League of El Paso has sustained 300 players and intends to increase that rate substantially once the advertisement of the a ll inclusive playground has been initiated. Because of the drop of volunteer coaches the Miracle League of El Paso is training older disabled players.The trained coaches must have had at least three years of experience with the Miracle League. This action will help increase the volunteer coaches for the increase of disabled children teams (The Miracle League of El Paso, 2013). The functional tactic of time horizon gives the organization a focal point of implementing the grand strategy today instead of five years from today. The forecasted time horizon for this implementation of the all inclusive playground is one year. Time horizon also allows the leaders of the organization to adjust to any changes or conditions that may occur through the implementation period.Participants of the organization are the key developers to develop the implementation plan of the all inclusive playground. Sandra Olivar must involve operating volunteers with first-hand knowledge of what needs to be impleme nted to achieve the short-term goal of the playground. Plus, once the commencement of the playground has begun, other events must be catered to, which all volunteers, including Sandra Olivar must be involved (Peace & Robinson, 2011). Sandra Olivar will promote policies for the volunteers and participants formally and informally. Policies promote people to act.Formal written policies will be distributed to each volunteer and participant with instructions to read and fully understand what is asked and instructed for a safe environment as well as a loose one. If there is any misunderstanding of the policies Sandra Olivar will be available at any time to help. Informal briefings of the policies will be held twice a month among everyone in a group not only to inform the volunteers and participants of changes, but also to engage everyone to give ideas and support for future implementations (Peace & Robinson, 2011).The Financials for the Miracle League of El Paso were disposed to Cindy Rivera from Sandra Olivar. Sandra Olivar has asked that Cindy Rivera keep most of the information private because of the confidentiality of specific policies and sponsors (The Miracle League of El Paso, 2013). ANNUAL REVENUE & EXPENSES Fiscal Year Starting Jan 01, 2011 Fiscal Year final stage Dec 31, 2011 REVENUE TOTAL REVENUE $99,799 EXPENSES TOTAL EXPENSES $12,177 The contributed revenues are as follows CONTRIBUTED REVENUE Scholarship Donations$125 Team Sponsorships$4,500 Individual and Corporate Donations$22,158TOTAL CONTRIBUTED REVENUES$26,783 The earned revenues are as follows EARNED REVENUES Registration Fees$5,375 Merchandise Sales$1,305 Field Concession$48,067 Fundraising UTEP Concession$6,083 Bike Run & Car Show$1,348 Comedy Show Tickets$650 pander Pageant$1,000 Walgreens$3,500 Easter Basket Sales$850 Macys$650 Miscellaneous Income$4,188 Subtotal-Earned Revenues $73,016 The forecasted campaign to raise money for the all inclusive playground is as follows apparent motion Goal $350,000 Campaign Dates Dec 2012-Dec 2014 The forecasted campaign to promote future donations and sponsors is as follows Campaign Goal 100,000 Campaign Dates Dec 2012-Dec 2014 The hazard way plan for the Miracle League of El Paso is to advance and support activities in all parts designed for disabled children and young adults. The risk management plan ensures that the plan is a primary part of the Miracle League of El Pasos decision-making process. The Miracle League of El Paso will use a prearranged risk management method to reduce logically probable financial, physical, or legal hurt to people, disturbance to procedures, and harm to the surroundings and material goods.The Miracle League of El Paso will classify and obtain gain of prospects as well as reducing hostile outcomes. The Miracle League of El Paso will educate the group to execute risk management successfully. The Miracle League of El Paso will attempt repeatedly to advance the risk management procedures (The Mi racle League of El Paso, 2013). Sandra Olivar is responsible to the organization for the execution of the risk management procedure and finally in charge for the risk management in the group. All volunteers and participants are accountable for supervision risks in their part.Sandra Olivar will have a diverse outlook of safety to that of a referee or player (The Miracle League of El Paso, 2013). The endeavor of any risk management arrangement is to help the organization to recognize possible risks to its functions and widen corrective measures that will reduce, eliminate, and control the danger connected with those dangers. To make effective decisions, Sandra Olivar must assess and take steps to control certain dangers and their impact (The Miracle League of El Paso, 2013). To conclude, the risk management plan must be successful, it should become part of the Miracle Leagues traditions.Risk management must be incorporated into the Miracle Leagues operating actions, attitude, strategi c plans, and should grow to be the accountability of each person in the Miracle League of El Paso. We cannot change or cure the medical issues life has dealt our children with disabilities. What we can do is provide them what an opportunity to experience the joy and benefits which comes from playing baseball and other recreational sports and activities available (Rivera, 2013). References Barney, J. B. (2007). Gaining and sustaining competitive advantage (3rd ed. . Upper Saddle River, NJ Pearson prentice Hall. Mintzberg, H. , Ghoshal, S. , Lampel, J. , & Quinn, J. B. (2003). The strategy process Concepts, contexts, cases (4th ed. ). Upper Saddle River, NJ Prentice Hall. Pearce, J. A. , II, & Robinson, R. B. (2011). Strategic management Formulation, implementation, and control (12th ed. ). Boston, MA McGraw-Hill/Irwin. The Miracle League of El Paso. (2013). Retrieved from http//miracleleagueofelpaso. com Miracle League. (2013). Retrieved from www. miracleleague. com