The Hogwarts Headliner, Issue #42

PAGE 11.

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How School House-Elves Polish and Party Over the Summer by Simon Kincaid	x	Soon, July 1st will arrive, and the students and staff will say farewell to the castle for the summer—but the school will not be empty. Ghosts will roam the abandoned corridors, portraits will hang on quiet walls, and our staff of school house-elves will remain. During the summer, they will get their polish and party on! When students and staff are away, the house-elves are still very active. They shift their focus from daily school support to deep cleaning, maintenance, and preparations for the next school year.	x	“Some call it cleaning. I call it castle-caring,” said Flicket, one of our dedicated elves. Deep cleaning consists of scrubbing every corner of the castle. They polish the suits of armor, portraits, and chandeliers, and wash the linens, curtains, and tapestries.
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The elves also feel a deep sense of pride and purpose when it comes to repairs and maintenance. “Oh yes, sir, broken suits of armor and squeaky floorboards are most exciting! We patch, we polish, we make it good as new—sometimes better!” Bibble told me. Fixing squeaky doors, broken tiles, and magical systems isn’t always an easy task. Frabble described how, last summer holiday, “I spent three whole days re-enchanting the enchanted broom cupboard. It kept spitting brooms at me, but I showed it who’s boss!”	x	In preparation for the next school year, the elves do kitchen work: preserving food stores, restocking pantry items, and updating recipes for the new term. Our house-elves take great pride in their work and find joy in keeping our school in perfect condition. While they’re known for this tireless work ethic, there is still much fun to be had during the quieter summer months.
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	x	Wimlet told of one tradition, the Sock Swap, where the elves trade or show off interesting socks they’ve found or been gifted over the last school year. “Oh, the Sock Swap is the highlight of our year! We line them all up in the kitchens—stripes, sparkles, even ones with tiny Hippogriffs. No two are the same and that’s the joy of it!” said Tibby.
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With no picky students to feed, the elves conduct experimental cooking contests, where they try new magical recipes such as levitating cupcakes or pudding that hums lullabies. One summer, they created Chocolate Frogs shaped like professors. I was told stories of stargazing in the Astronomy Tower, night picnics, and magical arts and crafts. Games of tag and hide and seek are played throughout our corridors.	x	They also hold two unique celebrations during the summer months. The Great Dusting Day is a traditional holiday in which they celebrate the halfway point of the summer cleanup. This celebration starts with a symbolic “first flick” of a feather duster and is followed by dance circles with magical cleaning tools, feasting on elf favourite treats, and races upon enchanted mop buckets. Wimlet, last year’s “first flicker”, said, “Me mam would’ve cried, she would. Said no elf from our cupboard line ever got the first flick. I practised for weeks!” The highlight of their recreational summer is the Moonlight Mop Ball. The Great Hall is transformed into a glittering ballroom, and our elves, dressed in enchanted aprons that shimmer like stars, waltz as enchanted pots and pans provide their music. “It’s our thank-you to each other, for another year of keeping Hogwarts shining. It gets us hyped for a new year,” told Mimsy.

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Despite being humble and hardworking, these house-elves have rich lives and it’s lovely that they’re enjoying a little well-earned magic of their own.

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 12.

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Scandinavian Destinations for Summertime

by Archer Duncan

As the summer holiday is fast approaching, students must be hungry to get out of school. Once finally released from the bounds of this educational institution, don’t waste your newfound freedom rotting in bed. Instead, why not try travelling? Today, we will be focusing on Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. While Scandinavia is most notable for its bitterly low winter temperatures, it can be a beautiful retreat in the summertime, and it offers spectacular experiences, both rural and urban.

1. A Swedish Midsommar Sweden is famous for its celebration of the Summer Solstice, also known as Midsummer or Midsommar (rest assured, not every pagan gathering is as portrayed in the cult classic film by the same name). Dalarna is the heartland of the traditional Swedish Midsommar, and travellers can expect folk music, maypole dances, traditional games, and a delicious variety of food. The best towns to celebrate the holiday include Rättvik, Leksand, and Mora. While you’re at it, why not head north to the Laplands and cities like Abisko to join Sami cultural events under the never-setting sun? ============ 2. The Faroe Islands One of the highlights of Scandinavian scenery—and with a perfect temperature thanks to its northern location—is the Faroe Islands. Its capital of Tórshavn is the place to start, and from there one can go to the main islands of Stremoy, Eysturoy, and Vágar, among others, which are all close in proximity. The views barely look real, with rocks that seem to be the carved doorways of giants and high-altitude lakes that flow via waterfalls into the ocean.

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3. The Lofoten Islands Carrying on with this theme, the Lofoten Islands are found in the northeast of Norway and are undoubtedly one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. Notable sights include Å, the eastmost tip of the archipelagoes offering a sublime hike, as well as the Rambergstranda and Skagsanden beaches, and villages like Reine (as well as the mountain, Reinebringen) and Leknes. Fjord cruises are also a must for travellers here, and particularly good views can be found in Trollfjorden or Bergsjorden. They are perfect for road tripping through, so make sure to stop along the way for the views, a dip, and a summertime picnic. ─ ❝ ─ ──────────┓ x ─. Don’t waste your newfound freedom rotting in bed. ── x┗────────── x❞ 4. City Hopping & Culture Trip Cycle around Copenhagen or tour its canals with “hygge” cafes and art exhibitions, wander through Stockholm’s Gamla Stan and see the Vasa museum, or explore Oslo’s parks and Opera House—urban Scandinavia is just as stunning as its nature. Tromsø is less well known compared to the former three, but it’s still northern Norway’s largest city and home to a beautiful port.

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Stockholm has a marathon in early June, Oslo hosts the Øya festival in early August and the jazz festival in mid-August, and Denmark’s Smukfest enjoys the country’s “most beautiful music festival” in the Skanderbog forest. =========== 5. Road Trips for the Family This is a concept our Muggle-born or half-blood readers may be more familiar with. There are three routes I find especially scenic, and they are as follows. First is Norway’s Atlantic Road, which mainly involves driving through bridges connecting the scattered islands of the country’s ocean, featuring towns like Molde or Kristiansand along the way—perfect stops for a seafood snack. Second, Sweden’s Wilderness Road is a loop from and to Strömsund. Notable views include Stekenjokk Plateau and the lakes and rivers of Vilhelmina. Finally is a coastal road trip by Bohuslän, from Göteborg to Strömstad. Stops include Kosterhavet, Sweden’s first marine national park, and Grebbstad, a guest harbour famed for oysters.

=
Travel safely, and bon voyage.

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 13.

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No Need For Ducklifors:=─────────────────────────
Celebrating International Rubber Ducky Day =──=by Anonymous

The article was found not even in the Headliner office, hand-written on Muggle lined paper.
It has since been put into type.
=

There are lots of frivolous, bombastic holidays in the world. Take International Talk Like a Pirate Day, for example, celebrated on the 19th of September every year. Or even Alien Abduction Day, observed on March 20th, for those of you who think Area 51 is the neatest thing ever. But nothing compares to the whimsy of a day that's just for fun and joy, a day where the happy little squeaking of happy little ducks fills the happy little trees. You like ducks, don’t you, dear reader?	x		x	The little waddlers, all sorts of them, from mallards to muscovies to mandarins? Yeah, me too. Which is why I wanted to introduce you to International Rubber Ducky Day, if you’ve not heard of it. International Rubber Ducky Day is celebrated on July 18th and is intended to spread the joy of rubber duckies to people all over the world—young and old, big and small. You don’t need to be a kid to love rubber ducks. Just like real ducks, they come in all shapes and sizes.
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There are the classic rubber duckies, which, for those of you who aren’t aware, are yellow plastic toys that are often thought of as bathtime toys for Muggle children. If you squeeze them, they let out a cute little squeak. They usually have faces painted onto them, and, often, they have coloured bills like real ducks! But it doesn’t stop there.

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There are glow-in-the-dark ducks, which I think are super cool! You leave them under a light for a couple of hours, and then you can turn off the lights and have a glowing duck. Who hasn’t wanted a glowing duck!? There are mini ducks you can use as office decorations, and there are gigantic ducks you can use to prank your friends, or decorate your room. There are even rubber ducks with motorised mechanisms, where if you wind up a lever, they will run or swim, like real ducks! = But my favourites are the character ducks. You could get a duck that looks like Albert Einstein, with the hair and all! There are ducks styled like the King’s Guard, and even ducks that look like Spider-Man! I saw one that looked like a hot dog in a bun once. That was probably the most unique. But these can be combined with jumbo, mini, glow-in-the-dark, rainbow... every type of duck there is. = = x───────────────────x x x──────────────────x

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And, well, I guess you could get a rubber mallard, a rubber muscovy, or a rubber mandarin duck. But it's 100% up to you! And since the ducks are usually only around US$2.00, or £1.48, they're pretty affordable, so you could mix-and-match and buy as many as you'd like!

July 18th is a day to celebrate the joy that the little things, like rubber ducks, give you—so go for it! Get ready for International Rubber Ducky Day, and buy a rubber duck today!

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 14.

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All the Craze for WORLD CHOCOLATE DAY
by Ruth Fairchild

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For a world vibrant in taste and flavour, the realm of sugar and sweetness never fails to amaze. Considering the number of confectionery brands and chocolate consumers out there, chocolate is easily among the most popular sweets in the world. With this acclaim comes a whole day simply to celebrate the wonders of this delight: World Chocolate Day.

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───────────────── The existence of this day may come as a surprise, even to chocolate lovers, such as Jacob Harman, a sixth-year Gryffindor. He claims to have fallen in love with chocolate at the age of 9 from eating a Hershey’s Bar, made by the Muggle American confectionery company,======x Hershey’s. ─────────────────

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. The greatest sensation of taste and flavour that had ever entered my mouth. ── x┗─────────── x❞

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───────────────── This was, as he put it, “the greatest sensation of taste and flavour that had ever entered my mouth; it seemed it would never end.” ───────────────────── When he was told about World Chocolate Day, he was quite delighted and frankly eager to share some facts about chocolate. ─────────────────

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We will touch on these facts before proceeding to talk about the day itself.

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The life of chocolate begins with the cacao bean, an ancient Mesoamerican plant. These beans are ground and roasted to become the treat that we consume. While the exact date of chocolate’s introduction is unknown, Europe was first introduced to it on July 7, 1550. Even then, it wasn’t until 1585 that the first official record of a shipment of cocoa beans to Europe was made. According to Jacob, the world’s very first chocolate factory was established in 1765 by James Baker and John Hanson. More than a century later, in 1894, Hershey’s was founded, which Jacob insists is the reason why chocolate is the way it is today. To the non-Muggle-born readers out there, perhaps someday you’ll get to have a taste of this ‘Hershey’s’ chocolate he keeps referencing. Spoiler alert: it is quite delicious.

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With Europe’s first introduction to chocolate came World Chocolate Day, celebrated annually on July 7th. People from all around the globe use the occasion to honour chocolate in all its forms, be it rich, dark bars or creamy truffles, steaming mugs of hot chocolate, or even elaborate desserts. Of course, World Chocolate Day isn’t just about eating. It’s also about learning to appreciate the craft and culture behind chocolate making, and commemorating the history from cocoa bean to bar.

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There are several ways to celebrate such a momentous occasion. One could, for example, host small gatherings in their common rooms to share the variety of chocolate treats found at Honeydukes in Hogsmeade. These could include Chocolate Frogs, Rochers, and maybe even some Muggle chocolate, if anyone can get their hands on it. Jacob himself didn’t hesitate for a moment to say that he’d celebrate the day by eating a bar of chocolate. After all, what better way is there to honour World Chocolate Day than to eat chocolate?

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 15.

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Confessions From the Owlery Wall by Evpraksiya Vinogradova As the school year begins to end, we pack our luggage, promise to stay in touch, and wave our goodbyes as we step onto the train. But one thing from the students remains at Hogwarts.	x	Hidden away in a place many pass without a second thought, a dimly lit chamber filled with the rustling of wings and the soft coo of owls—the Owlery—there are thousands of untaken letters that have remained abandoned on the floor by their writers or recipients. Some were meant to be messages of love, friendships to be mended, promises made under midnight skies,xxxxorxxxxdoubtsxxxxthat	x	were meant to stay private. Others may have fallen from owls’ beaks, gotten misplaced in a rush, or simply been forgotten in the chaos of the school year’s end. Unfortunately, for the sake of anonymity, these have their authors and recipients blacked out… though perhaps you, dear reader, could help us reunite the recipients with their letters. x─────────────────────x
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Here’s a glimpse of what we found…

[1] — Folded in a piece of parchment, nearly worn through by nervous hands: **“Dear █████, I know you probably haven’t noticed me much this year, but we sit across from each other in Transfiguration! We haven’t really spoken except when we pass notes under the desks. I meant to tell you something back in December, you know, just before the holiday break? I meant to say… I think I’m falling for you. It scares me how much I care about you—you, who barely know me. I tried a dozen times to find the courage to say it in person, but something always held me back. So instead, I’m letting these words fly on the wings of an owl, hopefully straight to you. Whatever your answer, whatever you feel, please know it’s sincere. Yours, █████”	x	[2] — Small, crumpled, with shaky handwriting: **“█████, I know you’re going back home soon and we might not see each other for a whole summer. I wanted you to know… I kept your quill when you dropped it in Potions class. It seemed silly to hang on to it, but it made me think of you, and made me happy on days when I felt unsure of myself. I hope when we return in the fall, we can be friends—or perhaps become more. Until then, please stay safe and remember someone at Hogwarts is thinking of you. Yours, █████”
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	x	[3] — Written on notebook paper **“To █████, Alright, you sneaky Niffler, I know you took it. Don’t try to pretend you have no idea what I’m talking about—the silver necklace with the little crescent moon charm. The very one I told you a thousand times NOT to borrow without asking (because you always ‘forget’ to put it back). I’m not mad (well, not mad mad), but honestly, you’re the worst thief in the world. I found it sitting on your dresser this morning, not even hidden under socks or books. Nice try!	x	Consider this a friendly warning from your loving—and much more responsible—sister: I want it back by dinner… or I’m borrowing your favorite quill in return. See you soon (with my necklace in hand), █████” ══════════════════════ Whether filled with love, regret, or annoyance, these messages have all found their way into the dusty corners of the Owlery. Though hardly heroic or epic, in these fragments, we glimpse the truths too often left unspoken, then tucked away in a justified silence. Perhaps, as the trains whistle and trunks close, students may yet receive these letters.
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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 16.

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Magical & Muggle Meals: Forgetfulness Potion Ice Cream
by Aly Salinger

Have you ever been so sad, embarrassed, or some portmanteau of the two that you wish you could just forget it all? Have you tried to drown your sorrows in a pint, not of butterbeer, but of refreshing, flavourful ice cream? Have you wondered what would happen if you could combine the forgetting and the flavour? Look no further: you can make ice cream with Forgetfulness Potion! Normally, adding extra liquids to an ice cream recipe is a bad idea, but it turns out that adding this particular potion to a batch of creamy cold pudding won’t have any effect on its composition. It’s like the ice cream forgets the potion is even there… and with the flavouring of cherries and cheesecake masking the taste, you will, too! Honestly, that’s the only issue: you might forget the sweet treat has its extra ingredient… or that you’ve had some already, and you might go back for more! We recommend leaving a note for yourself detailing its ingredients, when you had the ice cream and how much, and also a nice compliment for yourself. Merlin knows that if you’re eating this, you might need one! ─────────────────────────────────────────

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Forgetfulness Potion Cherry Cheesecake Ice Cream
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Serves: 12 people… or you, 12 times
Time: 30 minutes (magical), 6.5-9 hours (Muggle)

Ingredients: ▫ 1 pound cherries ▫ ⅓ cup sugar from a Sugar Shrub (*granulated sugar) ▫ 1 teaspoon lemon juice ▫ 2 tablespoons cornstarch ▫ 8 ounces creamed dragon cheese (*cream cheese) ▫ 14 ounces sweetened condensed milk** ▫ 1 ½ cups heavy dragon cream (*heavy cream) ▫ 1 vial Forgetfulness Potion*** ▫ Several graham crackers

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* Muggle alternative.
** This must be cow—sweetened condensed dragon milk is too thick!
*** If you are attempting to make the Muggle version, omit this ingredient altogether.

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Directions
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𝟭| Using the Reductor Curse (*back of a spoon), crush graham crackers into crumbs; also, carefully remove pits from cherries. For fun, try flicking pits at Headmaster Lear during the next feast without getting caught. 𝟮| Combine cornstarch and sugar; stir thoroughly. Add to a large cauldron on medium heat, then add cherries and lemon juice. 𝟯| Continue to stir until the mixture begins to double bubble, toil and trouble, then reduce the heat to a low simmer and keep stirring for a few minutes until the mixture thickens. 𝟰| Take cherry mixture off the heat and allow to fully cool. 𝟱| With your wand (*electric mixer), beat creamed dragon cheese in a small cauldron until it is smooth. Add sweetened condensed milk and Forgetfulness Potion (*remember to omit potion if you are making it non-magically) and repeat the beat until smooth and fully combined. ──────────────────────────

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𝟲| In another cauldron, whip heavy dragon cream until stiff peaks form (for reference on stiff peaks, see the Meringues article from December). Fold the stiff peaks into the creamed dragon cheese mixture, being very gentle so as to not un-whip the cream. 𝟳| Take ¾ cup of cooled cherry mixture and blend with your wand (*blender) until completely smooth. The remainder of this mixture can go in a pie! 𝟴| Add ½ of blended cherry mixture and ½ of crushed graham crackers into the cream mixture. Stir gently to combine. 𝟵| Pour cream mixture into a large glass pan and add rest of blended cherry mixture and crushed graham crackers on top. Swirl with your wand tip to make it pretty! 𝟭𝟬| Freeze pan and contents with a Freezing Spell (*freezer for a minimum of 6 hours, or longer if you want a harder scoop). Scoop, enjoy, and remember to leave yourself a note saying you’ve already had some, lest you forget and go back for more… ──────────────────────────

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 17.

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┏──────────────────────────────────────┓
The Most Hidden Secrets by █████████
┗──────────────────────────────────────┛

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Professor Makaio Kāne’s Mysterious Chicken ──────────────────────────────────────── Sources say the feathery menace that the Transfiguration professor keeps hidden in the Forbidden Forest isn’t just poultry. Whispers spreading through the castle suggest it’s a transfigured Dark wizard that Professor Kāne kept as a prize from his old days as an Auror. Remember to maintain your best behaviour in his class—one can never know when rumours are true.

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Desislava Nenovsky — How Deep Does She Dive? ──────────────────────────────────────── Mermaids have always been reclusive creatures, but Professor Nenovsky seems to have an unnatural kinship with them. Spending more time underwater than on land, is the Divination professor a half-mermaid herself, or is she simply trying to avoid her students? Only the lake truly knows her deepest secrets.

A Vampire Amongst Us ──────────────────────────────────────── Why does Professor Samuel Sauber avoid garlic bread at every meal? Why is his presence so cold? His pale skin clearly says that he has been avoiding sunlight or any source of warmth at all. Honestly, we’re not saying Professor Sauber is a vampire... but his bat wing collection is suspiciously off-brand.

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Love Triangle of the Century ──────────────────────────────────────── Rumours say that Melisande Lennox and Octavius ​​Baird were once engaged. Several witnesses claim to have seen them arguing like a couple who’ve already exchanged vows. But wait, there’s more. Ruckus Weems recently “just happened” to be reassigned to outdoor duties as the new Flying professor. Sources say it’s because he couldn’t stop staring at Professor Lennox during his days as a caretaker, distracting him from his assignments. The lingering stares. The haunted sighs. The tension could light a campfire.

Leonardo Chiadovini’s Prediction ──────────────────────────────────────── We’d slander Mr Chiadovini here, but honestly, he does a pretty good job of it himself. Leonardo Chiadovini, former Hogwarts Astronomy professor and part-time Seer, was last seen at the Hog’s Head, loudly predicting a “stellar conjunction of cosmic proportions” as he tried to exit through what he claimed was a portal to the Department of Mysteries. Unfortunately, it was just the cleaning supplies cupboard.

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Serena Towers: Fallen & Forgotten? ──────────────────────────────────────── Former Hufflepuff student and broom racer, Serena Towers, was recently spotted dining alone for over an hour. One onlooker claims it was a blind date gone wrong. What happened? Was it her pointy ears? Have they also heard the recent allegations that her family disowned her? It’s understood that Serena Towers has stopped attending fancy pureblood gatherings and dwelling at Towers Manor. She’s now seen living with roommates, going from riches to rags…

Arjan: Heartthrob or Heartbreaker? ──────────────────────────────────────── The Oberois are supposedly searching for a proper match for their precious son, but Arjan seems more interested in snogging and flirting with a different person at every public appearance. Moreover, is it possible for any athlete to have that many muscles without taking something? Is he shamefully cheating? Or is it just blessed genetics?

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The Toussaint-Vorozheykin Secret Union ──────────────────────────────────────── The new CoMC professor is suspiciously shiny with a ring they won’t talk about, and Director Vorozheykin was seen at the Toussaint family cookout… without a diplomatic reason. Marriage? A forbidden romance? Why is it a secret? Does it involve the recent rumours about Headmaster Vorozheykin? Doubts have arisen about Aulis being a Seer: is he truly gifted or just really good at guessing? When pressed for a prediction last week, he just said, “You’ll find out soon,” and disappeared. Coincidence or cover-up?

Murder, He Wrote (or Maybe Committed) ──────────────────────────────────────── Let’s not forget the most hushed hush-hush tale of all. Lawrence Maynard, Tenūsa’s headmaster, left school at 17 under unknown circumstances after a classmate mysteriously vanished. No charges were ever filed, but some say the ghosts in the library still whisper that name.

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 18.

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The Triptych of Tartt by Archer Duncan	x	After finishing The Little Friend recently, I have had a taste of three of Donna Tartt’s novels. The author is renowned for her contributions to literary fiction, including the modern classics The Goldfinch and The Secret History. Her books have been described as enthralling, dark, and haunting, so today, I will dive into which one would be perfectly suited for you.
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The Secret History Tartt’s most famous work, The Secret History, rose to vitality when it pioneered the “dark academia” aesthetic. This book, however, serves as a cautionary tale to those longing after a life of brooding in the name of beauty. The novel captures the mental taxes of murder and how the illusions of perfection disintegrate. My favourite aspect of this book is how we follow the story in the mind of young Richard Papen, clad in rose-coloured glasses. As he idolises the toxic friend group who would go on to become murderers and accomplices, part of the reader does too. This book is perfect for those who want a riveting journey in the surreal psyche and for those seeking a “whydunit” mystery instead of a traditional “whodunit.” It is something that should be read and reread, to experience it first like Papen and then watch the disaster unfold.	x	The Little Friend The Little Friend lacks any grand scheme, following twelve-year-old Harriet Dufresnes as she futilely tries to find the murderer of her brother who was killed more than a decade earlier. A representation of the hazes of childhood, it is told from multiple perspectives, following her and her friends as they weave through life as kids. “The journey, not the destination” is most important—after all the trouble Harriet goes through, spoiler alert, her brother’s murder still remains a mystery. And what a journey! Tartt certainly offers fantastic views on the hike through this book. The Little Friend is an immersive opportunity for readers to experience the Mississippi heat—this book fosters paranoia about the South’s gnats and snakes. It is a fever dream induced by the sweltering summer, seen through the eyes of a child who is too smart for her own good yet barely understands the workings of the world. Everything feels distilled by the heat waves, and the world is seen through a retro TV*.	x	The Goldfinch The timeline of this novel makes it different. Rather than focus on a period of the characters’ lives, this book stretches out as it follows the narrator, Theo Decker, for much longer. The Goldfinch is a depiction of an adolescent’s troubles leading into adulthood, brimming with angst from the experience of loss and grief and following the “teenage dirtbag” trope as Decker befriends questionable people. It is a beautiful portrayal of growing up, treating life as real and at times terrible, candidly straying from The Secret History’s romanticised portrayal. This book is well-suited for a reader who enjoys coming of age. If you adore character studies focusing on development through a character’s entire life, this is for you! Considering it centres on a painting and how it haunts the narrator, it may also interest the artistic souls among us.
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I hope this encourages you to read some of Tartt’s prose, and while she is yet to be available in magical libraries, I have copies you may borrow.

*Note from the editors: For those of you who are unaware, a “TV” is a Muggle box with a window, in which you can watch tiny people do things!

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19

PAGE 19.

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The Editor-in-Chief’s Goodbye==─────────────────────────
─────────────────────────────────────────=by Ruby Cazares

It’s been a long time since I’ve written an article—the last time my writing was published in the Headliner was September 2023, back in issue #27. Unfortunately, this isn’t so much an article as a goodbye letter.

I joined the Headliner in September 2019, at the beginning of my second year. I was only twelve then, and I had never participated in anything similar before. I certainly had no clue that I would stick with it for the next almost six years. Back then, Alexx was the Editor-in-Chief—the first of three I worked alongside before I took on that role myself. In July 2023, I had left my previous positions in order to become Secretary, with Delilah as the Editor-in-Chief. When she graduated in 2024, I replaced her. She wrote a goodbye letter at the time, and now here I am doing the same thing a year later.

The first Headliner issue I contributed to was issue #3, published in October 2019. I have thus seen the Headliner through forty whole issues, playing various different roles over the years—all of which I enjoyed immensely. It’s been an honour to see the team grow and evolve over my time here, just as I have grown from a preteen to an adult. Since I’ve more or less aged alongside the Headliner, the idea of leaving is very bittersweet. I am excited to move onto new things and greater possibilities, although it is sad to leave behind this portion of my life that has been consistent for so many years. I am grateful for all of the experience I have gained and the memories I have made in that time.

As Koko and I both have to leave now, I have no clue who the next Editor-in-Chief will be. However, I know that we have quite a capable team currently, so I have faith that they will continue to thrive. Please keep reading and engaging with your fellow students, whether you’re a member of the Headliner team or not. The pursuit of truth and connection is a noble one in which I hope I have led you well.

With that, although I must bid you all farewell, I wish you the best of luck moving forward. Goodbye, Hogwarts Headliner. It’s been a pleasure.

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BROOMS PG. 06

CLASS OF 2024 PG. 09

SECRETS PG. 17

EIC'S GOODBYE PG. 19