Hello, and welcome to the March issue of "The Anvil"!

If you're suffering this Flu Season (like our poor editor, Gwen), we have a ton of recc's to keep you busy while you're going through boxes of tissue. There's always news of the Harmony Podcast, and discussion of the latest OotP casting. Along with tons to read in Fanfiction and loads of eye-candy in Fanart. Not to mention AnndeeGranger's new quiz in Games, and Harry and Hermione's answers to advice questions in Extras. Also, don't forget to check out Owls for this month's reader question, and also the State of the Project Address, if you're curious about WW and Project Harmony news.

And since our editor is sickly, please send us some love at theanvil@theanvilezine.com. Cookies and pumpkin juice would be appreciated, too.

- The Anvil Staff

- News

- Witherwings.net has decided to start hosting a monthly fanfic contest, with actual prizes. This month's challenge is Everything but the Kitchen Sink, with entries due March 27. For writing requirements and details, read the contest posting, here.

- Harmony Forever is the new home for the HMS Harmony Forums, along with some bonus features: Harmony news, tag boards, and polls. Go check out its new design and new home, here.

- The Harmony Podcast was updated twice this month; on February 3rd and 24th. You can read the transcript for Podcast #6, here, and for Podcast #7, here. You can upload the latest podcast on iTunes, or listen to it here. (And as a side note, The Anvil was mentioned on Podcast #6. Thanks Misti!)

- Hogwarts Harmony - which is a Harmony-friendly community and RPG - is now open for play. If you're interested in joining, please visit their Wizard Card, here.

- MissGranger.net is a new Hermione-focused website that supports all Hr-related 'ships. They are currently looking for staff, so if you're interested in supporting our fave gal (and perhaps our 'ship), take a look at their jobs posting, here.

- OotP Casting News - Luna, Tonks, Belltrix, and Umbridge posted by CBBC News on February 2nd, 2006

- OotP Casting News - Amelia Bones, Young Pettigrew, and Lily Potter posted by HPANA on February 10th, 2006

- Daniel Radcliffe Buys Black Family Tree posted by HPANA on February 22nd, 2006

- First Pictures From the OotP Set posted by HPANA on February 27th, 2006

- Community

- For Project Harmony and Witherwings.net news, read the latest State of the Project Address; written this month by our own Co-Editor in Chief, Gwen.

- "Harmonian of the Month" is on hiatus 'til April.

The Daily Snitch

- It Doesn't Look Good for Harry and Hermione posted by kaskait on February 20th, 2006
- The Uniqueness of Harry Potter posted by dragonscholar in Fanthropology on February 22nd, 2006

Delusional Fans

- Force posted by forluck_yousaid on January 30th, 2006

Portkey.org

- The Price of H/Hr posted by gti88 on January 27th, 2006
- Food for Thought posted by garasu on February 13th, 2006
- Any Ex-Heron Converts? posted by eupho TPO4 on February 14th, 2006
- Hermione's Dependency posted by Aurabolt on February 16th, 2006
- What is the Significance of Harry and Ginny's Breakup? posted by Anora on February 24th, 2006

Team Voldemort

- OotP Casting News posted by weezerchi on February 2nd, 2006
- Melissa's Over-Reaction posted by siria_eva_black on February 23rd, 2006

Witherwings.net

- My Truth posted by Padfoot on February 16th, 2006

- Fanfiction

- Year Seven:: Harry Potter and the Snares of Fortune and Folly written by Herminia: Unrated, Novel-Length Fic. As of this issue's release the latest chapter, Chapter 19, was uploaded February 6th, 2006.

Delusional Fans

- More written by bingblot: PG-13, Romance, One-Shot

- Something Borrowed written by herminia: PG-13, Romance/Drama, Mini-Fic

HHr_News:

- Displacement written by msgenevieve: G, Angst, One-Shot
- More written by bingblot: PG-13, Romance/Drama, One-Shot
- Revelation written by scifichick774: G, Fluff, One-Shot
- Safety Net written by msgenevieve: G, Drama, One-Shot
- Warmth written by goldy_dollar: PG-13, Fluff, One-Shot

HPHG100

- Broom Closet Beginnings written by kmars44: G, Humor/Romance, Drabble

Portkey.org

- A Nighttime Revelation written by madscientist: PG-13, Angst/Romance, Book 6 Spoilers, One-Shot
- I'm Not Neurotic! The Diary of Hermione Granger written by Hermione_Crookshanks: PG-13, Romance/Humor, AU
- VII written by JA_Japster: R, Action/Adventure/Romance, Book 6 Spoilers, AU
- His Favorite Holiday written by Bingblot: G, Romance/Humor, One-Shot
- Restoring Hope written by Paracelsus: PG-13, Drama/Angst, Book 6 Spoilers
- Oblivious written by Vicarious Leigh: PG-13, Romance/Angst, Book 6 Spoilers, One-Shot

Witherwings.net:

- Harry Potter and the Three Travelers written by shlamboozle: PG-13, Romance/Drama/Adventure, WIP
- What If... written by weezerchi: PG-13, Romance/Drama/Adventure, WIP

- FanArt

Delusional Fans:

- H/Hr Wallpaper (rated G) posted by lothus_prison on February 6th, 2006
- H/Hr Wallpapers and Headers (rated G) posted by __iiconize__ on February 12th, 2006HP St. Valentine's FanArt (rated PG) posted by herminia on February 13th, 2006
- Anti-Harry/Ginny (rated PG) posted by herminia on February 14th, 2006
- Anti-R/Hr Icons (rated PG) posted by herminia on February 15th, 2006
- H/Hr Icons posted by kate_mc on February 17th, 2006
- That Chest Monster posted by herminia on February 2oth, 2006
- Anvils and Monsters and Ships, Oh My! posted herminia on February 24th, 2006
- H/Hr Wallpaper posted by lothus_prison on February 25th, 2006
- 36 HP Icons (rated G) posted by snowflakie06 on February 27th, 2006

HHR Art:

- Don't Worry Kids It Will End With a Laugh (rated G) posted by siria_eva_black on February 13th, 2006
- Happiness (rated G) posted by rjade829 on February 17th, 2006
- Sunny Day (rated PG) posted by rjade829 on February 20th, 2006

HHr_News

- A Cozy Moment (rated PG) posted by rjade829 on January 30th, 2006
- Two H/Hr Sketches (rated G) posted by reeve-outtoplay on January 30th, 2006
- Fanciable (rated R, for nudity) posted by demosthenes91 on February 5th, 2006
- Harry Potter (rated G) posted by pale_heaven on February 6th, 2006
- 50 HP-Related Icons (rated G) posted by hhr79 on February 6th, 2006
- 43 H/Hr Icons (rated G) posted by _frozenmoondust on February 21st, 2006

Portkey.org:

- Lying on Grass (rated G) posted by mary_massafera on February 8th, 2006
- The Yule Ball (rated G) posted by stefy on February 12th, 2006
- Valentine's Sunshine (rated G) posted by viximon on February 14th, 2006
- Goblet of Fire (rated PG) posted by ratgirl_84 on February 16th, 2006
- First Kiss (rated PG-13) posted by FenrisWolf on February 17th, 2006
- H/Hr Outsides (rated G) posted by siria_eva_black on February 21st, 2006
- First Years (rated G) posted by weasleytwin101 on February 21st, 2006
- hrr (rated G) posted by Nivea on February 26th, 2006
- Ricordi (rated PG-13) posted by stefy on February 17th, 2006

- Extras

- Because You Live (FanVideo) posted by January 29th, 2006
- HHR Fanmix - I've Loved You All Along posted by __iiconize__ on February 8th, 2006
- HP-Themed Inspirational Posters posted by leonhart_17 on February 25th, 2006

Advice Column: AnndeeGranger caught up with Harry and Hermione last month in order to answer your advice column questions.

Thanks for helping out, you guys!

Hermione: Not a problem!
Harry: (nods)

This month's letter is from Hannie, who has a question about her cat:

Hello, Harry and Hermione! You two are my favourite couple, as well as favourite characters! Well... to be honest, you're right beneath Luna, as SHE's my most favourite ^_^.

Harry: I saw that Hermione. You know she’s not bad.
Hermione: Honestly Harry, it has nothing to do with Luna -
Harry: What is it, then?
Hermione: Well, besides the netspeak smilies?
Harry: Yes, besides the netspeak smilies.
Hermione: Well, one cannot have a "most" favourite. One either has a favourite or does not. It's like being a little bit dead. You either are, or you're not, or like-
Harry: Let’s just finish the letter and see if we can help.
Hermione: I am helping!
Harry: With answering their letter, Hermione, not correcting their grammar.
Hermione: (mutters) I don't understand why I can't help with both...

Ahem... Anyway... I have a question, see. Or rather, a dilemma...

Hermione: (under breath) I’ll say, your sentence structure is worse than Harry’s.
Harry: I heard that.
Hermione: (blushing) Well, yours is better than Ron’s.
Harry: That’s because I actually listen to you…now and then.
Hermione: (blushing even more) Let’s get back to the letter...

My cat is very spoiled! She's so accustomed to having her usual snack every day that she now whines (meows) whenever it's not given to her. And we've run out of her favourite treats! Her constant meowing is driving me crazy! Worse yet, she's somehow performed classical conditioning on ME! What happens is, I used to get up at a certain time, and then I'd feed her. But then she expects it every day. When I don't get up to feed her, she makes noise! I mean she ruffles papers, plays with bags, swaps anything she can get her paws on... She makes so much noise that I can't possibly ignore her so I am forced to get up to feed her. And that is how I fell straight into her trap because now she knows! She knows that as long as she annoys me, I'll feed her just to get her out of my room. Now she does it ALL THE TIME! Every morning! Before I even wake up! Ugh! I don't know how to stop it. I figure if I stop following the pattern, she'd eventually stop... but I can't ignore the noise! Is there any way to get around it?

Harry: That’s easy, close your door at night.
Hermione: Oh honestly Harry, keep reading before you decide on a course of action.

I love my cat. I like it when she sleeps with me in my bed, so I can't lock her out of my room. But I wish she'd stay asleep until I decide to get up at least. Geez! Cats are supposed to be lazy! Of course... She IS lazy. After I feed her, she promptly leaves the room to go sleep somewhere else (traitor!).

Hermione, you have a cat. A half-kneazle, at that. What would you suggest I do to solve this?

~ Hannie

Harry: Just cast a silencing charm on the cat every night and when you get up in the – OUCH!
Hermione: She could very well be a muggle, Harry!
Harry: (rubs his arm) Did you have to hit me over that?
Hermione: (smirks) Want me to kiss it and make it better?
Harry: (leans closer to Hermione, his voice lowering an octave) Does it have to be my arm?
Hermione: (grins wickedly) I suppose we could make some sort of deal where -

CANON!NAZI: THIS RELATIONSHIP IS NOT CANON!

Harry and Hermione: (stare stunned and speechless at the sudden appearance of this nuisance)

CANON!NAZI: (stands between Harry and Hermione) THIS IS A PURELY PLATONIC, NON-SEXUAL, ONLY FRIENDSHIP RELATIONSHIP! (glares at pair before stalking off in righteous indignation)

Harry: (under his breath to Hermione ) Since when?
Hermione: (blushing) We better get back to the letter and stick to the subject before that… thing returns.
Harry: Oh yeah, the cat. Well Hannie, I would –
Hermione: Honestly Harry, she asked me. Besides, you don't even have a cat.
Harry: Yes, but Crookshanks sleeps with us almost -

CANON!NAZI: PLATONIC!!!!

Harry and Hermione: (both jump, startled)

CANON!NAZI: JUST ANSWER THE QUESTION AND STAY AWAY FROM EACH OTHER - YOU, YOU - NON-SEXUAL-ONLY-BEST-FRIENDS!!!

Hermione: Um... Hannie, you just have to stick to your guns and show your cat who the boss really is. It may prove tiresome and annoying, but, um... in the long run, it should work out. (looks around and then at Harry) Is it gone?
Harry: (smirks) We could test that out...
Hermione: (blushes)

Next month our guest columnists are Fred and George Weasley - just in time for April Fool's Day. If you have any questions about love, life, school, or practical jokes, please send your owls to advice@theanvilezine.com. See you next month!

- Games

This month's quiz is brought to us by the lovely AnndeeGranger.

The quiz is on an external website, and can be accessed here.

When you're done, share your score on the forums, here.

- Owls

Inspired by this thread at Witherwings: How did you become a Harry and Hermione 'Shipper?

Myrhlyn: "My nephews brought over the movies, and I became a 'shipper from the Hermione-'You're a wonderful wizard' speech. This was definitely confirmed for me when I read the first book, and there was - shock! - a hug there, too. A lot of my family members told me that my opinion would change when I read GoF - I actually believed them before I read the book. Then I read GoF, closed the cover, turned to my sister (also for H/Hr) and said, 'That was it? That's what I have to worry about?' I just didn't get it. I then went on to read OotP, and the scene in Buckbeak's room just sealed it for me. Ginny was in the house, too - she had also been posessed. Why didn't she confront Harry and drag him out? But no - it was Hermione. I remember joining fandom a year ago, and being absolutely surprised that we were the minority."

WhiteRose4000: "It just came in naturally... hero gets leading lady; or rather lead male and female characters should be a couple. In that case, Harry should be with Hermione - that's one of the rules in my world. That led me to being a Harmonian... they just sooo deserve each other. This one thing kept me on board the 'ship' - If Harry Potter and Hermione Granger got together, they could easily get the title of 'The Most Powerful Couple' all over the Wizarding World!"

You can continue reading comments, here.

Next month's question: What other couple(s) do you 'ship in HP fandom?

Discuss your answers, here; or send us your answers in an owl to theanvil@theanvilezine.com - and your letter might appear here, next month!

See ya then!