The Hogwarts Headliner, Issue #42

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Your Guide to Broomstock 2025
by Simon Kincaid

┏ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┓ WHAT IS BROOMSTOCK? ┗ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┛ Broomstock is a spellbinding three-day wizarding music festival that celebrates music, magic, and community. Here’s everything you need to know. x────────────────x	x	Mimicking the Muggles’ Woodstock Music and Art Fair in 1969 (commonly referred to as Woodstock), Broomstock began as a rogue gathering of unknown musicians and magical misfits but is now a fully-sanctioned annual celebration. Every summer, magical folk everywhere pack their enchanted tents, get their best dancing shoes,	x	and practice their charms to prepare for the event. It is as much about community as it is about music. It is a rare moment when purebloods, half-bloods, Muggle-borns, Squibs, half-breeds, and magical beings of all kinds can gather in harmony.
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┏ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┓ DATE AND LOCATION ┗ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┛ Nestled along the magically expanded heaths of Dartmoor, Broomstock will be back—and bigger than ever—this year! From July 11-13, the wizarding world’s most beloved summer music festival will deliver sounds, spells, and spectacles. The area is hidden from Muggles by similar enchantments to those that are used on our castle and is also protected with spells to keep out unwanted visitors and repel bad weather.	x	┏ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┓ GETTING THERE & RULES ┗ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┛ Portkeys are the preferred method of travel to get to the extravaganza. While there is the alternate tent-based Floo Network hub, it becomes congested rather quickly, no matter how large the tent is made. You’ll get there, but they can’t say just how squished you’ll be once you do. Knight Bus services to the festival are only at night, and reliability has been said to be spotty. There are very few rules at Broomstock: no hatred allowed, no Summoning Charms to bring the bands closer, and no use of love potions without consent. x────────────────────────────────x
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┏ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┓ LINEUP ┗ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┛	x	On various enchanted stages, floating platforms that drift above the crowd, you’ll find many talents. This year’s main event is The Weird Sisters, back to begin their reunion tour! Their genre is Wizard Rock (WRock) and they’re sure to bring in larger crowds than ever. They are known for songs such as “Magic Works”, “This is the Night”, and, of course, “Do the Hippogriff”. Other WRock bands featured are The Banshee Howls, known for “Shriek Before Dawn” and “Whispers in the West Tower”, and Snitch in the System with their hits “No More Ministry Lies” and “Arresto Momentum”. Magical Folk groups will also be there, with groups like Fiddlers of Faley, Phoenix Song, and Stubby Boardman & The Hobgoblins. Let’s not forget that Magical EDM (‘Electronic’ Dance Music) sound, brought to the festival by Cauldron Born, Potion Drop, Spelltraxx, and featuring a finale by the ever-mysterious Invisibility Cloaks (as no one knows who they are)! You’ll experience visual additions to aid your musical experience with looping charm sequences, glowing cauldron visuals, floating glitter, and shadow magic. Interludes between bands involve spontaneous drum battles and literal battles of the bands, where spells are cast out in duelling-like fashion. Other performing groups include The Blibbering Humdingers, The Remembralls, Veela Charm, Sirens of the Deep, Hogwarts Dropouts, and Wand & Harmony.
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┏ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┓ EXPERIENCES ┗ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┛ Beyond music, the festival includes several experiences, such as enchanted air installations, midnight duelling tournaments, wand-carving workshops, and sunrise flying yoga sessions over the moors. You’ll find potion lounges that craft various mood-altering draughts like Dreamcloud Tonics and Euphoric Elixir. There will be spell-jam sessions where you can jam with some of the visiting musicians’ actual instruments, or amplify your own, using charms. You can even visit the Time-Turner Tent, an illusion tent with looping performances from different eras of magical music—it’ll be like being there! On the last night of Broomstock, the event ends with a sky-symphony of coordinated fireworks and floating melodies. x─────────────────────────x	x	┏ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┓ VENDORS ┗ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┛ There are many fun, quirky vendors that you’ll find wandering the enchanted paths between music stages or within a cluster of tents. You’ll find a variety of food and drink stalls like Fizzy Wizzy Fizzcles, selling fizzy ice lollies that float mid-air and must be caught with your tongue. If they don’t hit your tongue first, they disappear right before your eyes. There’s also Bertie Bott’s Burrito Bazaar that offers burritos with randomly enchanted fillings. For vegan options, try Gravy and Mandrake. Many other vendors sell merchandise and trinkets. Official band gear will be for sale from each band, but check out Willoughby’s Wild Wearables for more. Hex & Flex is where to go to get tattoos, permanent or temporary, that shimmer, animate, or occasionally sass their owner. At Trevor’s Totally Not Cursed Trinkets, you’ll find some interesting and allegedly Ministry-approved items, but note that no items are refundable.
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┏ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┓ CONCLUSION ┗ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ─ ┛	Some say Broomstock is where magic meets music, others say it’s one stage and a thousand spells, but one thing is for certain: when the music starts and the wands rise, there’s no place in the world quite like Broomstock.
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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 03.

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Who Does Your News Come From?:
Koko Riddle and Ruby Cazares
by Evpraksiya Vinogradova and Alyss Gilmour
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Hogwarts students have become accustomed to our very own student-run newspaper that aims to provide the most reliable accounts of the exciting events that run across the school. From gossip and horoscopes to the latest in academics and politics, who exactly are the people behind Hogwarts’s very own Headliner? Alyss Gilmour and Evpraksiya Vinogradova aim to answer this question in issue #42 of the Headliner. x──────x

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Ruby Cazares x────────────x Graduating from Hogwarts this year are our Secretary, Koko Riddle, and Editor-in-Chief, Ruby Cazares. Throughout their careers at the Headliner, both of these seventh years have had an immeasurable impact on the programme. Writing articles into the dead of night for the sake of making the deadline? Check. x Koko Riddle x────────────x Editing said articles over and over again for clarity before they hit the presses? Also check. These two have done it all at the Headliner, and so we wanted to ask them some questions prior to their release from Hogwarts, and the Headliner along with it.

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(1) Are there any traditions you participate in as part of the Headliner? For example, welcoming new people with a prank or gift or praying to the collective quill whenever a writer has writer's block? R: Perhaps other members of the team do, but I prefer to keep things practical and focus on what’s important. I’m not a big participant in unnecessary things like that. K: It's been a while, but we used to do parties for new recruits. Those were fun. Historically, we've also welcomed people with new quills—for those of us who prefer to hand-write things, it's certainly a fun addition to a quill collection!	x	(2) What made you stay in the Headliner? R: It’s been quite a consistent part of my life since I joined, and I’ve always liked it, so there hasn’t been a reason for me to leave. I’ve been able to explore multiple different roles within the team, which likely helped avoid potential boredom, and, after being the Editor-in-Chief for a year now, the Headliner feels almost like my own. K: Having a platform to say what needs to be said! Selfishly, I like to talk about Quidditch quite a bit in my articles, and the Headliner has provided a welcome avenue to garner some attention for the sport. Otherwise, the community—I've made a lot of friends and acquaintances since I joined the Headliner in 2019, and I wouldn't trade the fun that can give you for anything in the world.
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(3) How is the Headliner different now from when you first joined?

R: The team has grown in size, for one, which has enabled us to be more ambitious with the number of articles published per issue. Our design has evolved as well and is very different from the style most commonly used when I first joined the team back in 2019. Obviously, the membership has also changed greatly—it’s been nearly six years—and, by nature, having different people on the team alters the environment slightly with each new person. The only person who has been a part of the Headliner for as long as I have is Koko. I suppose it will be the end of an era once we are gone.

K: Well, for starters, there's a completely different group of people. I actually don't think anyone from when I joined is still here! So that's different. Other than that, we definitely have a more... well, a more positive reporting experience. It doesn't seem like Hogwarts students encounter as many deadly things as they used to. I think that's a good thing, although some might argue!	x
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(4) As you graduate and leave Hogwarts behind, what legacy do you hope to leave behind? R: I would like to be remembered as a strong and effective leader, as I have dedicated a lot of time and effort to the Headliner and have kept everything running smoothly. I hope our efficiency and integrity will continue even after I graduate.

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. I would like to be remembered as a strong and effective leader. ── x┗─────────── x❞

❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. You know, hardworking, impressive, the type of person kids look up to. ── x┗─────────── x❞

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K: Well, I'd certainly hope I'm remembered. The younger kids do seem to like me, so I think I'm okay on that end. But I'd like for people to remember my name for a while after I leave, to be one of those people who isn't forgotten for a long time. It would be nice for it to be a positive legacy. You know, hardworking, impressive, the type of person kids look up to. That.

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As we ask them to look back on their past, Koko and Ruby are looking forward to a future without the pressures of newspaper deadlines. We hope this freedom translates well as they make the transition away from Hogwarts. Thank you for your time here with us at the Headliner!

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

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Professors and Their Summer Holidays: What on Earth Do They Do?

by Ruth Fairchild

One often finds it strange to see their professors out and about beyond the school walls—who would have known teachers could exist outside of a teaching space? But yes, they do experience life just as we do. With the summer holidays fast approaching, I ventured forward and interviewed a handful of professors, asking them all the one question many students have been curious to know the answer to:

What do you do during the summer?

First on the list is Professor Sauber of Potions. His summer is quite jam-packed—as we all know, our dear professor is a busy, busy man. “This summer, I will begin with Prague,” he began, before proceeding to openly discuss his stay in peaceful accommodation and walking along the streets, talking to “familiar faces who do not know me and thus cannot disappoint me.” Strangers? Before I had the opportunity to ask, the professor had continued presenting his itinerary. Right after Prague, he will jump to Florence, where he will once again visit Michelangelo's statue at Basilica di Santa Croce. This, he proclaims, is not for art but for calibration. “Art, much like magic, has standards worth revisiting.” What a man of words. ─ ❝ ─ ──────────┓ x ─. Art, much like magic, has standards worth revisiting. ── x┗────────── x❞

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Professor Kāne, too, seemed to have grand plans. This is quite contrary to his usual summer, in which he notes he spends a lot of time away from home to recover rare artifacts and rescue endangered species of magical creatures from various horrors. “This is, in fact, my very first summer where I'm not out doing something incredibly dangerous and making my wife worry,” he admitted. While lacking an itinerary like Professor Sauber’s, our Transfiguration professor will be staying close to his home in Glasgow and attending all the races of his (and I quote, “beautiful”) wife, Leilani. “When I'm not supporting her, I will be planning classes and perhaps a few fun events. I know that doesn't seem to be the most exciting of answers, but after so many years, I think I'm long overdue for a quiet summer.” He then mulled over taking his wife on a few dates but didn’t go on. Whatever dates he has in store for her, I do hope she enjoys them!

Professors often conclude their quotes with matters of education. “My goal for the summer is to bring some much needed excitement to Transfiguration. To do this will require quite a bit of creativity to provide maximum excitement for all of my students! Everyone should enjoy their summers to the fullest but come back ready to learn!” Good for you, Professor. If only students had as much enthusiasm for the subject as he does. Our great Defence Against the Dark Arts professor was surprisingly cheerful, considering I interviewed him after a lesson on the Knife to Paper Airplane spell. “I usually spend the summer with my loved ones in the French countryside. This year, I will be planning my wedding.” A wedding! How could one not be intrigued? I pressed on, and he answered with a chuckle. “Well, I suppose I'll be Orion Browne soon enough.” Shortly afterwards, he gave me an O.

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A Browne? I was reeling with the discovery. However, I was unsure as to which Browne Professor Lécuyer might have been referring to. As luck would have it, I ran into Professor Galahad Browne (Head of Gryffindor) in the corridors and managed to ask what it was he did during the summer. “Well, I've only had off in the summer for a couple of years now, so I don’t really have a routine,” he began. Then, he told me about what he had done last summer. All traces of exhaustion seemed to disappear from his face. Boy, was he giddy with love! He rambled on about having taken a vacation with Professor Lécuyer on the French Riviera before giggling. “So we're in the room at this really bougie hotel and I'm making toast. Meanwhile my darling Orion is just staring at it while it toasts and when I come back from the bathroom…” He had to repeat the phrase twice, he was laughing so hard by then, “...the toaster finished, right, and as it pops out, Orion is so surprised that he whips out his wand.” As quickly as he had burst into laughter, he recovered to mention that they were going to go back to France and get married. If you ever do see the two in the corridors, offer your congratulations!

Unfortunately, many of the other professors and Heads of House were unable to accommodate my requests for an interview, but what is to blame but their busy teaching lives? This, dear readers, is why you should jolly well appreciate them.

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

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Class of 2025==──────────────────────────=by Xiomara Torres

It’s that time of year when the seventh years are full-fledged adults, about to embark on a new adventure outside of Hogwarts. Let's have a look at some of the graduating Class of 2025!

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Headliner Editor-in-Chief, Ruby Cazares, remains a mystery to us. “As for specific career plans, I’d prefer to keep that private for now, but I’m remaining open-minded too in case life takes me down a different path than the one I expect.” Nonetheless, Ruby said she will “never stop challenging myself and growing.” Ruby’s parents “had always denigrated and vilified [Slytherin]”, so she “had wanted to see if it was really that bad (it wasn’t) and form opinions” for herself. The now Slytherin Prefect continued, “I definitely grew, was exposed to new things, and learned a lot, which I had expected and =

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wanted prior to coming to Hogwarts, but I didn’t expect the amount of danger that I would face while at the school. I’d say that overall, though, I’m pretty satisfied with my time here. I’ve achieved a lot, held quite a few positions in several different areas, and I feel I’m probably as prepared as I can be to enter the adult world.”

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Koko Riddle, who has also held many roles in her Hogwarts journey, has secured a position in Cork, playing Quidditch professionally! How cool is that?! I asked her if first year Koko had any future dreams, and her answer should come as no surprise: “I was more focused on getting through my classes with an A at that point. But after joining the Quidditch team in my first year, I didn't know what I would do without Quidditch in my life.”

This is very similar to Lavinia Cloven’s story: “Before I came to Hogwarts, the only thing I knew about my life was that I loved flying and wanted to play for my house Quidditch team. I had no idea that I would fall so in love with the sport and have the talent to make it a career.” After loving the sport for so long, it is wonderful that they are both able to play professionally. Lavinia hasn’t picked a team but plans to become a professional Chaser. She even boldly declared, “I want to be the best Chaser in the world and make an undeniable mark on professional Quidditch!” Perhaps Koko and Lavinia will face each other in the leagues!

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Meenauh Silmataurea is a duellist who believes: “I always thought that the Ministry needs me. That's always a way to go. But I believe it's better than nothing, especially if I want my... er... skills to be applied in proper places.” She has some fun (maybe questionable?) ideas about her future. “I think it is very important to keep our community safe from the Muggle eye. So, dealing with all the accidental magic occurrences. Maybe Obliviate a few people here and there.” Welp? But she does value Muggles: “Muggles are fascinating, and I learnt a lot from them... Actually, because Muggles are sometimes too fascinating, and I learnt a lot about them, I wish to keep securing our community from being discovered.”

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Whilst Meenauh may not be considering duelling professionally, Bridget Collins is. This is no surprise when she has won so many duels in her career!

Bridget said, “I didn't grow up around magic, so back then a lot of these things weren't even an option. When I was maybe five I said I wanted to be a doctor, and then for a while it was an astronaut, and I think right before I came to Hogwarts = ========== = it was a scientist or a football player, so I guess that part hasn’t changed other than the sport. But what I pictured adulthood looking like has definitely changed since becoming a witch.” It may not have been her plans, but she is a badass on the duelling stage!

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It is so exciting seeing the graduating students grow. From all of us at the Headliner, we wish you the very best of luck in the future—may your dreams come true. As a parting note, I’ll leave you a final quote from Lavinia: “Maybe one day I’ll own a team or return to Hogwarts to teach, but for now I’m focused on playing the game I love.” It truly would be a dream to see our graduates as professors.

XOXO, XIO

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 06.

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How to Sweep the Competition Under the Rug by Oonagh Brown

─────────────────────────────────────────────────────── For all the jocks and sports friends across Hogwarts, there is one question that is asked the most: “Which broom should I get?” ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────

Well, why don’t we find out? Research was done to learn which brooms are currently being used by Quidditch players and broom racers. To be as exact as possible, a list of the top 3 brooms used for each of the Quidditch positions will be revealed.

However, not every student is already using their dream broom, so to be accurate, a whole bunch of different sports players were asked what their most coveted broom was. I made it my mission to find out which brooms are most desired, because this is necessary to know what YOU want to save up for, in case you are interested in a broom sport.

x x Let us first take a look at the overall breakdown of brooms used by our official sports’ team members. Interestingly enough, there are exactly 100 brooms currently owned by Quidditch players and broom racers, if one includes the school broom that is under the care of at least one student. x────────────────x

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══════════════════ It appears that the most popular broom is the Silver Arrow, owned by 36% of students currently on the roster of a broom sport, followed by the Comet 180 (10%) and the Firebolt (9%). This is unsurprising, considering that the Silver Arrow can reach a speed of 68 miles per hour, and while the Firebolt is unmatched when it comes to speed and manoeuvrability, it is quite expensive. The Comet 180 is decent, though I don’t really see the hype, but it is pretty affordable, which may be why it is such a popular option. statistical chart → x────────────────x

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x x 5% 36% 3% 1% 3% 9% 8% 10% 3% 1% 1% 1% 2% 1% 8% 1% 1% 6% x x Oakshaft 79 Silver Arrow Varápidos Pine Chopper Nimbus 1500 Firebolt Moontrimmer Comet 180 Nimbus 1001 Nimbus 2001 Twigger 90 Swiftback Nimbus 1000 Autumn Cruise Nimbus 1700 School Broom Cleansweep 2 Starsweeper XXI x────────────────x

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Across the sports, there is an abundance of brooms in use, some of which get more love and care than others. Some brooms, like the Autumn Cruise and Pine Chopper, appear to require a certain taste, but pack a punch when it comes to their usefulness in sports. The Moontrimmer and Nimbus 1700 were just shy of making it onto the podium of most owned brooms across the sports.

For broom racing, the brooms most used are easy to distinguish. Almost half of the students (48%) favour the use of the Silver Arrow. In second place, with 16% when it comes to actual purchases, one will find the Starsweeper XXI. It is a famous racing broom, but it is quite difficult to master. Last but not least on the podium is the Comet 180, owned by 10% of the broom racers.	x	Broom Racing 48% 16% 10% Silver Arrow Starsweeper XXI Comet 180
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Quidditch x 30% 10% 10% 9% x 31% 25% 13% x 27% 20% 13% 13% x 40% 12% 8% 8% x 23% 15% 15% 15% Overall Silver Arrow Firebolt Comet 180 Nimbus 1700 Beater Firebolt Silver Arrow Oakshaft 79 Seeker Silver Arrow Moontrimmer Oakshaft 79 Comet 180 Chaser Silver Arrow Moontrimmer Nimbus 1700 Comet 180 Keeper Silver Arrow Varápidos Nimbus 1700 Comet 180	x	For those of you interested in the broom closet of the Quidditch players, you are in for a treat and some surprises. Across the positions, the Silver Arrow is the most favoured broom and it is owned by 30% of Quidditch players. It is followed by the Firebolt and Comet 180 which are both owned by 10% of Quidditch players. The numbers become more interesting when you take a look at the individual positions. Owned by 31% of Beaters, the Firebolt seems to be particularly popular. This showcases the superiority of Beaters compared to Quidditch players of other positions, who fail to have any originality. Still, 25% of Beaters own the Silver Arrow. The majority of Seekers, 27%, own the Silver Arrow. In second place for Seekers is the Moontrimmer, which is owned by 20% of these players. Chasers also seem not to have any understanding of individuality and chase after what is popular: a whole 40% of them own a Silver Arrow. In second place, only 12% of Chasers own a Moontrimmer. As for the Keepers, the podium is being kept short due to a certain Keeper having a spending problem and being a compulsive buyer. However, it can still be said that 23% of Keepers own a Silver Arrow.
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Desired Brooms x 31% 17% 17% x 62% 15% x 31% 25% Across Sports Starsweeper XXI Varápidos Oakshaft 79 Broom Racing Starsweeper XXI Autumn Cruise Quidditch Oakshaft 79 Varápidos	x	Now for the important part, though it is way less telling due to a lack of participation—too many of our sports friends seem to be busy catching up on their studies for the exam phase, or something like that. However, let us not waste time talking about the boring stuff. Here are the results to the inquiry about which broom is most desired and on everyone’s wish list for their next big purchase! Across broom-related sports, the winner happens to be the Starsweeper XXI, desired by a whole 29% of participating Quidditch players and broom racers. It is followed closely by 18% desiring the Varápidos and Oakshaft 79. In broom racing itself a whole 62% wish to call the Starsweeper XXI their own, and in second place, with 16%, is the Autumn Cruise. This leaves us with Quidditch, the superior sport. 33% of participating Quidditch players desire the Oakshaft 79. Meanwhile, 27% of Quidditch players want the Varápidos, known for allowing quite a few sneaky manoeuvres.
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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 07.

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Hogwarts, How Many Languages Do You Speak?
by Archer Duncan

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Given its diversity, Hogwarts is home to many cultures and many languages. Today, I'll share and reflect upon some insight I received from the students of Hogwarts.

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First, we travel to East Asia, where Meiyu Xiang, Evpraksiya Vinogradova, Ara Villa, and Eonaria Kabukimono have a few words to say on Mandarin, Korean, and Japanese, three languages that are drastically different from English.

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. Mandarin feels like dancing between tones without tripping. ── x┗─────────── x❞

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The first three students, who all spoke Mandarin, commented on its difficulty, especially regarding the tonal system, which is difficult to perfect, and the character system, which is a hassle to learn. Although Evpraksiya had her own gripes, she pointed out that they allow for “more poetic interpretations”. Ara adds that while the characters look impossible (although beautiful in written calligraphy), the grammar is surprisingly manageable. She put it masterfully: “Mandarin feels like dancing between tones without tripping.” What I find fascinating, however, are Chinese idioms. They are more than just expressions but often have stories behind them, and I encourage you to read them. Ara gave the example of “画蛇添足” which means adding something unnecessary that ruins the result. In the story, a man finishes first in a drawing competition for snakes, and feeling it is not yet perfect, adds feet to it.

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Meiyu and Ara, who also speak Korean, went on to praise the language, especially its Hangul character system for its simplicity and efficiency. In fact, as the former said: “Korean is far easier, emphasising enunciation to convey emotion and meaning.” Ara also called the language a playful puzzle and beautifully logical, saying the writing system can be learnt in just a few days. Meiyu also shared the idiom, “호랑이에게 물려가도 정신만 차리면 산다”, which means “even if you’re bitten by a tiger, you’ll live if you come to your senses”, a mantra that taught her to keep calm in times of despair. Ara added to this with, “공자 앞에서 문자 쓴다”, which means “to write characters in front of a prince” or to teach someone who already knows more than you.

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. Spilt water cannot be put back. ── x┗─────────── x❞

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Eonaria, on the other hand, speaks Japanese and introduced me to an idiom of her own: “ふくすいぼんにかえらず”, or “spilt water cannot be put back”, similar to “there's no use crying over spilt milk”. She reflected on how the writing can be easily distinguished, but sometimes difficult to remember.

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Since we are already in Asia, let’s take a short stop with Avis Marlong, who introduced me to the quirks of her native tongue, Nepali. While she is illiterate in the language, it is an important way she communicates with her family, and it connects her to delicious dishes. However, not being able to write in the complicated system is not an issue for her, since she was most enthusiastic for how the language sounded. One particular feature that urged me to learn more about this language we may not be so familiar with was the intriguing idiom she shared, “Hatti ayo, hatti ayo, ghamle pet dukhyo!” It translates to “The elephant came, the elephant came, the sun gave me a stomachache”, and as Avis explained herself, “It means sort of making a huge deal—like an elephant coming—out of something sort of silly and not important.”

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x xxx ─. If that is not interesting, I don’t know what is. ── x┗─────────── x❞

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Next, we stay close to home in the British Isles as I review the input from Colin McCoire. Colin speaks both Scots and Gaelic. He was quite excitable when talking about his favourite expression in Scots: “houd yer whisht”, which is along the lines of “shut up”. He also talked about how he speaks it quite often. Unlike Brookline, however, he is more of a pessimist when it comes to Gaelic, and while he is grateful to have Gaelic still spoken in his area, he reckoned it would fade with time, especially since he finds Scots easier. As a Gaelic learner, I find the language quite fascinating and hope to prove that wrong. The word he introduced me to, “Seanmamó”, seems to mean “great-great-great-great-grandmother”. If that is not interesting, I don’t know what is.

xxx

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Above are my conclusions from my research on the multilingual side of Hogwarts. I will always urge you to pick up a new language—perhaps you can even join me in the acquisition of Latin and Scottish Gaelic. Not only can you foster important skills, but you can also learn about culture and history. I am certain our local librarian would love to help you find resources. Due to the sheer number of languages spoken by our community, I have split this article into multiple parts. Stay tuned for the next issue for the second, in which we will dive into the three main language groups of Europe and much more!

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 08.

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	x	─────────────── Cats vs Half-Crups: The Ultimate Showdown Alyss Gilmour ─────────────── As a half-blood or Muggle-born, you might have been asked “cats or dogs?” multiple times before, often ending with exaggerated gasps upon hearing the word “cat”. This favouritism in the Muggle world is a widespread phenomenon that is rather startling when compared to the wizarding perspective. Perhaps I am biased, as I believe the answer	x	to be quite clear. But let us first begin with the Muggle facts. In the US, mainland China, and the UK, dogs are the most common pets. The US and China have a gap of nearly 30% between owners, with dogs being the favourite. The UK has these numbers down to 20%, and Russia has increasingly more felines as pets over their canine counterparts. These statistics show that the majority of the Muggle world has fallen into the trap of puppy eyes and boundless energy over quiet affection and low maintenance.
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There are eleven varieties of cats that are permitted at Hogwarts as pets.

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Now, the wizarding world appears to have a different perspective, with our very own Hogwarts being a prime example. The most common pets at Hogwarts are owls and… cats. This is shown just by observing the animals that grace the ground beneath our feet and, in this case, fly above our heads. Let’s look at the numbers. As of writing this, there are nine varieties of owls allowed at Hogwarts. Beating even that, there are eleven varieties of cats that are permitted at Hogwarts as pets. How many varieties of Half-Crup, the wizarding counterpart to dogs, are there? There is only one singular breed: the Wexford Half-Crup. Why might this disparity between the two exist, or even be necessary? Allow me to explain the reasoning. The Half-Crup, a wizard-bred dog, was developed only recently. Full Crups tend to be	x	aggressive towards Muggles and Squibs. There was a desire for a friendly and loyal companion, a pet willing to cuddle with you, lick your face, and wag their forked tail when showing their happiness. The breed sold in the Magical Menagerie was developed and bred by the lovely Ms Wexford. Half-Crups were an amazing breakthrough, and many can be happy to have these furry friends to accompany them throughout their journey at Hogwarts. But what would put the Half-Crup above the competition? They certainly display admirable qualities, such as loyalty, enthusiasm,xxlxxandxxlxxlimitless	x	entertainment. Is this different from cats? Cats are better known as withdrawn and even mean at times, even in the Muggle world, but wizarding folk seem to have a different take. This is very much present at the Magical Menagerie; their cats are noted to be “very social and affectionate with a love of play”, and are “excellent companions if you treat them well”. This helps with dispelling these stereotypes. Cats are excellent pets provided they’re given the care they deserve. Cats tend to express love through purrs and head bunting; although this attention may sometimes be more widespread than that of a Half-Crup, it makes it even more special when one can hold them like a newborn, or pet them from the tips of their ears to the ends of their tails.
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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

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Where Are They Now?: Checking in on the Class of 2024 by Aly Salinger		Before graduating and subsequently abandoning us here at the Headliner, Serena Towers wrote about five of her fellow seventh years’ plans after Hogwarts. We found some of them and asked how their best-laid plans were going…
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Xailah Alptraum-Leveret (née Alptraum) Xailah originally said her biggest goal was to travel. This dream is being fulfilled with her new husband; her favourite destination was “a quaint little beach near Cornwall” (although she wasn’t fond of the sand). See, dreams can come true! Xailah claimed to miss Hogwarts’s architecture and broom racing most. She also noted how her goals have shifted: “My post-Hogwarts experience has been a big adjustment for me… I do have a few exciting smaller goals: remodeling one of the spare rooms, and finishing making a blanket I started back in February.” It sounds like married life is going well for her!	x	Howard White Howard’s biggest goal was to study to become a ranger; he seems to have completed the first step: “I’ve been working at a library called Tatiana’s Tomes and Titles in Hogsmeade since I graduated and that’s given me plenty of time to do some extra studies.” He noted that his goals haven’t changed, though he dreams of having his own place to live. When asked what he misses most about Hogwarts, Howard’s answer was easy: “The food! I’ve been living off of noodles and blood pops for the last year and what I wouldn’t do for another Hogwarts feast!” Pro tip: learn to cook with our Magical & Muggle Meals series before you graduate!
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Frost Cira Frost dreamed of becoming a Healer or Mediwizard but has taken a pause: “I actually decided to take a year to help my family first, but although my path isn’t exactly going as planned, I have no intention of giving up. I plan on working as a trainee Healer this coming year, actually! I’d say that’s my biggest goal now.” Life might not go as intended, but like Frost, you’ll get back on track! She also expressed she misses seeing her friends, saying travelling to see them is a bit “silly”. Treasure your friendships while you can! ───────────────────────── Finally, each alumnus shared some advice for those graduating this June:	x	Ami Procoppio Ami was the least specific of our graduates last year, giving many goals including travel, Quidditch, music, and even tattooing. Life seems amazing for her: “I’m a Holyhead Harpy now, which is awesome, so travel has definitely been a big part of that when we play away games. Haven’t joined a band, unfortunately, and certainly haven’t done any tattoos, but I’ve got a whole bunch now!” After achieving her goals, she claims her new ones are more realistic: “I’d like for Cecily and I to find a slightly nicer apartment, definitely would like to get off the bench a bit more for the Harpies, and maybe spend more time with my family.” She also agreed with Howard in missing Hogwarts’ food the most!
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	x	“Take the chance. You know the one. A bird will never know flight until it takes a leap.” –Xailah “Stay focused on your goals like I did and you just kind of settle right into it. The nerves settle down after a while. Find something you enjoy and go for it!” –Howard	xx	“Don't forget to take a moment to enjoy some of it! There isn’t exactly a race. You will get to your goals eventually.” –Frost “Between everything you’ve learned at Hogwarts, the strength of the character forged by the flames, and your friendships, you’re gonna be able to handle anything.” –Ami	x
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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 10.

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┏ ┗ Advice for the Youths by Koko Riddle ┓ ┛ As my final year at Hogwarts comes to an end, I decided it might be prudent to write again. I could have written a goodbye letter—and in spirit, this is a goodbye letter. But I wanted to try something new.	x	I’ve been a member of the Headliner since 2019, and a student at Hogwarts since 2018, and if that means anything, it means that I have a lot of tips and tricks sitting around in my brain. Thus, while I could have just said goodbye, I think I would like to do something helpful with that goodbye. As such, I reached out to all of you to ask if you wanted any advice. At any rate, here goes.
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How hard were your N.E.W.T.s? What should I do during seventh year to study for them? I took more N.E.W.T.s than I probably should have—my advice in that regard is to know your limits. I’m sure they went fine, obviously, as I could stand for no less than that, but I will say that, for me, Transfiguration was the hardest and Flying was the easiest. As for studying… don’t be afraid to try something new. Sometimes you might need to look at a problem from a different angle. And, while I’m at it… don’t be afraid to ask for help; you might need it. I just wanted to ask: how does it feel now that you're graduating? It feels great. I mean, a bit strange, sure. I’ll miss some people and certainly some routines. But I’m excited to go out in the real world. I'm a first year here and I just wanted to ask: are the O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s hard?	x	❝ ─ ─────────┓ x . Don't be afraid to ask for help, you might need it. . x┗───────── x❞ I didn’t have any issues with my O.W.L.s. However, I’d also really withdrawn in order to focus on classes, and I’d recommend not doing that. Your social life still matters even though you’re a student! N.E.W.T.s, however… Those were a different story. They’re definitely not easy. You will need many doses of Invigoration Draught. What would you suggest to a student who wants to get involved in Quidditch, but is scared to try out? Do it anyway! The worst that can happen is that you have a great time at tryouts but ultimately don’t make the cut. But you’ll get a fun workout from the experience, and you might also make some friends!	x	I would suggest finding a decent broom beforehand, or otherwise getting up early to pick out and polish a school broom ahead of time. When I was younger, my go-to broom was a Nimbus 1700; they’re not too expensive but are definitely less rickety than the ones in the broom shed. Is it worth it to pull an all-nighter? No. Do you know of any secrets in the castle? There’s a door on the fifth floor—it’s rather small, and you’ll likely have to crawl to get inside. But it’s there, and if you go into it, there’s actually no floor. I think if you were to step off the threshold you might cease to exist… Just kidding. There’s no such room. But there are some rather friendly portraits on the fifth floor that will recount drama in exchange for a story. They’re always fun to talk to.
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I hope some of that was helpful. At any rate, I’ll miss all of you—but you should all come see me play professional Quidditch!

Anyway, over and out!

Koko Riddle
Headliner Secretary

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19