"Trevor, it's for you."

[Barry Arrowsmith]

No: HPFGUIDX 95144

Where's Trevor?
What's  happened to our favourite amphibian?

Has he been taking a breather until the coming of his apotheosis, that 
glorious moment when, in the full flower of his warty strength, he 
rises from his humble station to shake the foundations of the 
Potterverse?

Or has he breathed his last, now an unrecognised lump of desiccated 
something, mouldering gently at the bottom of Mrs Norris's basket?

It's a long time since TOADMASTER I & II bestrode the site, avidly 
promoted by diseased imaginations as either the embodiment of Neville's 
parents minds or an evil spy, cunningly placed to report  all to the 
forces of repression. Could still happen, though time is running 
dangerously short for the little fellow to reveal all.

Last year I wondered if he'd set up house in Moaning Myrtle's cubicle; 
or perhaps had fallen victim to the Mermen - served up on a half-shell 
with a piquant garnish as an appetising snack.
Even such a foul calumny did not provoke him to break  cover and 
protest.
This is ominous.

Snape would know all about toads. You see, they have magical 
properties. Oh my word, yes! Even Shakespeare gave them a line  or two:

Sweet are the uses of adversity,
Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous,
Wears yet a precious jewel in it's head.

(If you ask nicely, ladyramkin2000 will tell you that's from 'As You 
Like It'.)

"And what  is this precious jewel?"  you mutter between yawns.
The toadstone. Found in a toad's head it will when touched to any 
envenomed hurt causes the pain to cease and the wound to heal. Nagini, 
anyone?

Just what the plot needs - yet another little helper  to save Harry's 
bacon as doom looms closer. Can't use Fawkes again, he's had his 15 
minutes of fame already. Or will it be Neville that needs saving, just  
for a  change? Of course, for it to work somebody is going to have to 
perform a rough and ready craniotomy on Trevor, which will definitely 
put him out of the running in the "Pet that causes the least mess' 
competition, but what the hell, it'll all be in a good cause.

Assuming, that is, that the other... No, no, you don't want to hear it. 
Well, if you insist.

There's another bit of mythology - surprising really, that our French 
members haven't brought it up. Concerns Roland, yep, him of the Song. 
The device on his banner was 3 toads. No accounting for taste. One day 
when he went into battle the toads turned into fleurs-de-lis. And the 
fleur-de-lis is the Lily.
Silly really. Don't tell Harry - he might get the stories mixed up and 
it'd be really upsetting for the poor lad if he picked the wrong one 
and saw something shocking bouncing down the  dormitory steps.

There's only one problem.
Anyone seen Trevor?
Give him a call, tell him he might be needed.

Kneasy