To spare you guys some of the “HEE! DECORATIONS. TINSEL!” rambling, I’m going to give you some excerpts from ongoing fics/my random prose file (a file that only Jacky has seen, to date.)
Some of them are old, and most unedited. So forgive me? 
The worlds of the fanfis don’t belong to me, obviously. But the original stuff is mine, and either way don’t steal. 
I have bakers envy. ’nuff said. Kinda shitty day, this makes life better. Time to get myself some dessert.
Same yada ya from the previous crochet post, read the books, love these ones, understand it takes patience and hard work to crochet and the ones I point out that I don’t like aren’t here to offend the makers, just to show a variety of stuff I’ve found on flickr! I’m leaving scarves out unless they’re exceptional, for obvious reasons.
A bit close to scarves, but still a lovely way to show Gryffindor Pride are these adorable little pretties and knick knacks that I would wear despite my hatred of maroon.
Stitch wise this is awesome, and scary because of the colours at the same time but considering that it is a replica of something Mollywobbles wears, I’m not entirely surprised.
I was reading ‘s post earlier about where the American versions of Hogwarts might be placed, and the comments particularly rendered some interesting ideas. Because they were talking about magic schools, ley lines were and obvious choice, perhaps even Salem, the place of some of the notorious Witch Trials. Others suggested places like LA, New York – because honestly, in the city strange looking people are mostly passed over. I do remember in Goblet of Fire that at the Quidditch World Cup there were Witches from Salem (no surprise, there).
Salem
Massachusetts – United States – North America
Famous for its seventeenth-century hysteria over witchcraft and witch trials, Salem is today a typical suburb of Boston, Massachusetts. There is still a witches’ institute in Salem, though, which we know because Harry walked by their tent at the Quidditch World Cup (GF7).
From the Lexicon.
And this all got me to thinking about how important location could be, and not just when concerning HP. I’m working on a new game, it’s Urban Fantasy type stuff, set in a made up city in the Blue Mountains here in Australia. I had trouble working out where to put it, what would be the reason for so many different species happening to like the city? How old was the city? Why was it built?
I don’t have all the answers to these questions – it’s a city in the mountains, plenty of room for the shapeshifters to hunt outside the city limits. The fey like hills, mountains, they have them. The vampires.. well, the city is growing rapidly, and with the large population of fey and shapeshifters they believe they can find willing victims amongst the bunch. Little happy meals on legs, as it were.
There’s a fairly good climate for living in, the mountains are good for hikers, trail bike riders, and other things. The city has a sort of modern outlook on most things and since the preternatural’s are out of the closet, and so many are in the city they bring in tourists, for better or for worse.
Is this the right kind of location? I think so, but I don’t know so. I guess only time can tell, but I’m hoping it’ll be less trite than the classic favourites, London, Paris etc.
