The Hogwarts Headliner, Issue #44

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	x	Gospel of the Self-Made God by Verdigris ───────────────────────────────────── In the ever-changing hierarchy of wizarding society, few lives are as laden with expectation as those of pure-bloods. To be born into an old magical family is to inherit a lineage and a narrative — a myth of who you should be and why you deserve to be remembered. At its most seductive, this myth transforms heirs into self-made gods: figures convinced that destiny
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is a stage, and their lives, the central performance. Within this cosmology, every pure-blood matures amidst pantheons of rival “godlings”, each determined to ascend from the private sanctums of their ancestral homes to the coveted front page of the Daily Prophet, and from there into the long memory of family legend.	x	Pure-blood culture has always been obsessed with reputation. Genealogy books, family tapestries, and heraldic jewellery remind children that their worth is ancient and proven. Yet those same emblems breed a paradox: if pre-eminence is already secured by birth, what remains to be achieved? The answer often leads down a path of narcissism — not vanity, but a
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full-scale obsession with curating a persona so blinding it overshadows contemporaries and ancestors alike. To be a successful scion is not enough; one must become a living myth, a deity sculpted by one’s own ambition. You are your own self-made god.

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. You are your own self-made god. ── x┗─────────── x❞

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How else is one to dress up and preen oneself in the eyes of thousands of others? You'll trim away your imperfections, and mask what you cannot, until you are your own self-made god. Your body becomes your temple — your hands bear no calluses, yet your tongue has sliced through countless battles. From the moment you awaken to the time you fall asleep, you are locked in societal combat with a ceaseless stream of rival godlings for the glory of becoming the only G-O-D.	x	More followers means more believers in your divinity. As a pure-blood, you rise each day to present yourself as an elusive, more-than-human figure — for the newspapers and an artist's brush, even in your most intimate moments. You ignore the sour hunger pains that make your teeth ache with the urge to bite and find your cheek a suitable surrogate. This narcissism is always cultivated early. Pure-blood children grow up in houses where portraits murmur encouragement or criticism, the expectations of dead relatives hovering like ancestral ghosts.	x	Every meal, lesson, or ceremony is a silent audition for the family’s eternal approval. When all you do is labour for the sake of your image, you begin to believe in the praise and the ridicule of your family: You have heritage. Don’t lower yourself to talking to them. You are greater. You’re entitled to respect. Over time, this evolves into an almost religious belief in the self, a conviction that your personal charisma and schemes can bend even the world into submission.
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The metaphor of “self-made gods” captures more than inflated egos; it also reflects this theology of power. In this unspoken faith, divinity is no longer bestowed upon you by the divine up above like Hercules and Zeus, but forged through wit, politics, and spectacle. Front-page coverage is the modern Olympus, and headlines are scripture validating your existence. ────────────────

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. The scramble to dominate society’s pages (...) becomes a holy war ── x┗─────────── x❞

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The scramble to dominate society’s pages — Ministry appointments and exclusive salons — becomes a holy war fought with champagne flutes, clandestine bribes under the table, and strategic alliances with people you secretly disdain. A new art exhibition, a scandalous duel, or a whispered romance all turn into offerings on the altar of notoriety. ─────────────────── ────────────────

The pursuit is never solitary. Pure-blood circles operate like overlapping pantheons where each figure seeks to outshine the rest while also depending on the recognition of one another. Rivalries are as old as the bloodlines themselves:	x	siblings competing for patriarchal favour, cousins manoeuvring for inheritance, former schoolmates clashing over Ministry promotions. There’s always the awareness that you are surrounded by competitors just as ───────────────	x	pedigreed and ambitious. Worship is fragile, after all. Today’s darling can so easily become tomorrow’s cautionary tale, with reputations as perishable as dragon-lily blooms. The resulting anxiety often fuels the ───────────────	x	excesses outsiders ridicule — ostentatious galas, obsessive networking, and ruthless politicking. The race to maintain relevance becomes so consuming that authentic identity is sacrificed on the altar of performance. ───────────────
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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. You are your own self-made ruination. ── x┗─────────── x❞

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So the battle for your name’s legacy and immortality runs through first, second, and countless generations thereafter. Ironically, it is as close to a Muggle Shakespearean tragedy as one can get. Macbeths and Macduffs are reborn tenfold, a thousand Icaruses flying too close to the sun. You are your own self-made ruination.

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DATE SPOTS PG. 04

GOSSIP PG. 08

SPIRIT WEEK PG. 09

HEADS LEAVING PG. 19

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On Mid-Autumn Festival and the Moon

by Archer Duncan

This year, the 6th of October marks the Mid-Autumn Festival. Held on the 15th day of the eighth month in the lunar calendar, it is a harvest festival widely known for its celebration of the moon. Culturally, it is known as the day in the year with the brightest full moon. It is celebrated by appreciating the moon’s beauty, family gatherings, and eating moon cakes: small, round pastries with intricate decorations. Lantern lighting is also a common activity, symbolising a path towards the light or good fortune. The festival dates back three thousand years, while variants and similar holidays are celebrated in other Asian countries.

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The festival is based on the Chinese goddess, Chang’e. Famously, she drank a portion of the elixir of immortality while trying to save it from her husband’s troubled apprentice. Then, she flew up to the heavens and chose the moon as her immortal residence in the sky. According to tradition, observers of the moon that night can see her in its shadow. The Jade Rabbit, called Yu Tu, is said to be seen beside her.

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Outside of Asia, our commonly celebrated Easter is also directly tied to the moon. It is observed on the first Sunday after the first full moon following the vernal equinox. Similarly, the entire holy month of Ramadan is based on the lunar calendar, making the moon a crucial marker of sacred time. Other familiar names to us may be the Greco-Roman goddesses Artemis and Diana. As can be seen, the Mid-Autumn is often associated with femininity and yin, depicted as the opposite of the brightness of the sun.

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Being dark in nature, it also has connotations to mystery and the unknown. Perhaps this is why the full moon is also associated with madness, thus the words “lunacy” and “lunatic”. For centuries, it was widely believed that the full moon could trigger insanity or erratic behaviours in people. This can also be seen in literature, such as Shakespeare’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, where the moon governs over a “lunatic” comedy of imagination.

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On a similar note, for students here, a full moon might conjure up a memory of werewolves or lycanthropes. For those who owe our DADA professor much more attention, lycanthropes are creatures famed for transforming into wolf-like humanoids on the full moon every month. Upon transformation, lycanthropes have no memory of their human form and become similar to wild beasts without medication, which is why Hogwarts isolates them and provides help. This is just one example of how powerfully we perceive the moon and are impacted by it.

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─ ❝ ─ ──────────┓ x ─. The moon is the first milestone on the road to the stars. - Arthur C. Clarke ── x┗────────── x❞

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To contrast the magical with the mundane are tides. This scientific phenomenon is caused by the moon’s gravity on the Earth’s seas. Due to water’s fluidity, it is pulled up, forming waves. The moon is more than just mythology and magic – it keeps the Earth in balance as well.

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To finish off this article, I interviewed Hogwarts’s resident selenophile, meaning lover of the moon, for more information. Although they wished to stay anonymous, they provided some insightful answers. To them, “She is a presence I find myself seeking comfort from each night. The moon was there when I needed a companion through sleepless nights, and she has remained ever since.” When I asked them how they favoured observing the moon, they replied: “I like bathing directly under her light, so that would be outside, with my bare eyes.”

Although they confessed to being a fan of the full moon themself, their second answer intrigued me more: “Though I surprisingly find myself enjoying new moons immensely. There is a comfort in knowing she is there, yet you cannot trust your own eyes to confirm it – a certain trust, almost?” An answer almost ironic, I could not help but understand the silent weight of her invisible existence. This is a sign for you to gaze at the moon yourself; I, for one, know exactly what I would be doing at the Mid-Autumn Festival.

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DATE SPOTS PG. 04

GOSSIP PG. 08

SPIRIT WEEK PG. 09

HEADS LEAVING PG. 19

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Hogwarts’s Best Autumn Date Spots For You & Your Fall Flame by Aly Salinger

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Just because we’re four whole months away from Valentine’s Day doesn’t mean that love isn’t already in the air at Hogwarts! Take a deep breath and sense it: the crisp tang of autumn in the air, leaves crunching under your step, that first October chill that just makes you want to stay in with a nice hot cuppa and snuggle with your	x	sweetie to keep warm. This time of year is perfect for adorable autumnal love affairs, and the school’s resident seventh-year romantic is here to make sure that your fall flings turn out to be just as heart-wrenchingly darling as you dream them to be.	x	How, exactly, do you make autumn the season of romance? The answer is simple: with the best dates any girl, guy, or non-binary person could ask for. This time of year is just brimming with unexplored hang-out spots or enchanting activities that are sure to bewitch your beloved, without any love potions required.xxxxxxxxxxx♡
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Here are just a few of the harvesttime hobbies Hogwarts and the surrounding area has to offer:
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Pumpkin carving Pumpkins abound around the castle this time of year. Find some in the Great Hall, or nick one from a local pumpkin patch – then use your handy Severing Charm to carve out a beautiful image on one side, or go the Muggle way and use a knife for a little added quaintness. Put on a record and dance around whilst you carve, and place candles in your jack-o-lanterns when finished to enjoy your creations’ flickering light!	x	Leaf-finding competition A fun one for those competitive folks in our midst: you each try to find the best leaf! What exactly is “best” about it can be totally up to you – crunchiest, brightest colours, prettiest shape, etc. – but there are so many trees turning colourful around this time that you’re sure to have your pick of leaves. At the end, make a pile of all the leaves you can find and jump into it together for a bit of added fun!
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Go dancing in the ghost ballroom Speaking of dancing, did you know there’s a wonderful (private!) place to do so anytime right here in the castle? I won’t give away its exact location, but if you’re brave enough to try dancing with death, be on the lookout for the Deathday Party Hall. You’re bound to find some eerie music playing, and look up for an exciting surprise – some of Hogwarts’ ghosts enjoy a whirl about the ballroom together. They always appreciate having a living individual in their midst – just be prepared to change the music when they ask that of you!	x	Make autumnal snacks in the kitchen The kitchen is another one whose location I shan’t just give out to anyone and everyone reading the Headliner, but I sure was tickled pink (or green?) when I found this place for the first time! The house-elves within are always thrilled to assist with any cooking or baking plans you may bring to the table, and autumn is clearly the season with the best snacks. From pies to ciders, stews to soups, piquant pumpkin pips to breads and baked goods of all kinds… you’re sure to have a great time cooking up a storm with your sweetheart. Take your completed goods out to the lake for a lakeside picnic to finish – just make sure to bring a blanket or two!
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Bonfire and stargazing When night has fallen but curfew’s still a while out, take to the cold out-of-doors and warm yourself up with a bonfire on the grounds. As long as you build it properly (and get a professor’s permission), it should be fine! When you’re ready to stargaze, extinguish the flames and stare upwards into the night sky. October is always a great time for stargazing, and the Orionids meteor shower peaks on the 21st this year, if you’re in the mood for some meteor-minding!	x	A cozy Three Broomsticks date (+ a trip to Muggle Artefacts) It wouldn’t be a date list without the Three Broomsticks on it! Cosying up to your precious one in the corner booth is easily the best autumnal activity in Hogsmeade, to which many elder years shall attest. However, if it’s too crowded, why not get your butterbeer to go and give Muggle Artefacts a try? Wandering the dusty aisles gives the feeling of the Muggle activity “antiquing”, and you may come away with a few cool or spooky treasures to show each other in excitement as you walk back to the castle.
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Ultimately, what matters most is that you enjoy your time together. After all, autumn only lasts so long before it gives way to winter. Make sure you’re not left with a frozen heart by taking your loved one on one of these enjoyable dates!

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DATE SPOTS PG. 04

GOSSIP PG. 08

SPIRIT WEEK PG. 09

HEADS LEAVING PG. 19

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Third Time’s the Charm - by Oonagh Brown Interview with Alphonse Toussaint Hello to whoever is actually interested in learning more about that random student who decided to move to the UK, and my pity to whoever just reads every article one way or another because they are simply obsessed with the Headliner for whatever reason. I bring to you an interview in which x────────────────x = I interviewed a student who has – before this school year – studied in two schools abroad, but has now come to Hogwarts. Hopefully, he won’t add to the numbers of boring students already present and will, instead, increase the tiny amount of people in this school who are actually interesting or fun to be around. x────────────────x

Let’s find out together, shall we?

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O: Hey you, tell the readers a bit about yourself, and please make it interesting. I don’t want [censored] boring stuff in my article. A: Well [censored]. What do you want to know? I’m Hogwarts’s first transfer student. And yes, I totally wrote in the last Headliner’s edition. If a first-year Hufflepuff is going around saying I forced her to write a few articles for me, she’s lying. ==	==	O: What has made you switch schools and come to Hogwarts? Did magic suck there, too? If that was the reason, I have to disappoint you, because I feel that is a worldwide phenomenon and won’t get better in the UK… A: Now that you mentioned it, Ilvermorny’s magic was kind of lame. Castelobruxo’s magic was alright, I guess… flashy ‘cause the golden pyramids, maybe. Anyways, I got expelled from Castelobruxo, and was forced to transfer from Ilvermorny at the end of second year. ==	==	O: What has gotten you kicked out of the schools? Are you going to see how much it takes to get kicked out of this school too? A: So, my transfer from Ilvermorny was only ‘cause Headmaster Fleischer – my dad – stepped down. Castelobruxo is a different story; these three pendejos were starting to piss me off, so I showed them two really cool things: my fists. You catch my drift, yes? I’m gonna try to make it out of here too… I’m curious where they’ll ship me off to next. Hopefully Beauxbâtons…
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"What do you want to know? I’m Hogwarts’s first transfer student."

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O: Why Beaux-whatever? A: Last February, the Beauxbâtons Headmistress invited all the schools to France. I met someone special who attends Beauxbâtons, but our time was cut short when one of the Headmasters drugged me with Amortentia. No, that's not exaggeration or nothin’ – I was actually drugged by one of 'em. Needless to say, I've been trying to make up for lost time ever since.	==	O: Are you interested in any of the sports or clubs this school has to offer? A: Look, let’s cut the bullshit. Quidditch is the only thing on my mind, and if you guys don’t let me on the team soon – well [censored]. I played as a Chaser for Castelobruxo and a Beater for Ilvermorny, and I’m not trying to stop there. O: I like you already! =	==
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O: If you could break three rules of Hogwarts and get away with it, which rules would you pick to break?
A: Do professors get a copy of these? No? Okay. First, I heard you got a Forbidden Forest? What the hell makes it so forbidden? That’s what I wanna know. Two more? Hm… the “no duelling outside of the duelling club”. So you’re telling me I gotta walk a million steps just to beat your ass? That’s crazy work. In Ilvermorny, “on sight” means on sight. Last one’s “no cheating”. If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying – it’s survival of the fittest out here. You gotta adapt.

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"If you’re not cheating, you’re not trying – it’s survival of the fittest out here."

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As far as first impressions go, this could have gone a lot worse. He, at the very least, does not appear to be the standard boring student; instead, this school has gained another troublemaker in the making. He has yet to prove that, but I, for one, will be expecting his first prank to blow something up soon; unless he is all bark and no bite. Your move, Al.

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DATE SPOTS PG. 04

GOSSIP PG. 08

SPIRIT WEEK PG. 09

HEADS LEAVING PG. 19

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What Happened to the Thirteenth Portrait in the Charms Corridor?

─────────by Simon Kincaid

You may have noticed something odd lately on your way to Charms class if you weren’t too busy preparing for last-minute exams with your head in a book or engrossed in conversation with a friend. It is quieter, much quieter. The chatty thirteenth portrait in the row of enchanted paintings in the Charms corridor has suddenly vanished. The frame is still there, gold trimmed and crooked, but the painting within is gone. If you ask the other nearby portraits about it, they go suspiciously quiet or turn away.	x
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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. Annoying, but never boring. ── x┗─────────── x❞

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According to texts found in the library, the painting featured Augustus Tatterhelm and was known by many around Hogwarts by the nickname of Sir Tatterhelm the Talkative. He was a 15th-century wizard known for attempting to charm the entire French Royal Court. His portrait within our corridor has been known to offer unsolicited advice on everything from wand motions to romantic entanglements.

A nearby portrait, the seventh portrait in the row of enchanted paintings in the Charms corridor, said that Sir Tatterhelm was “annoying, but never boring”. She claimed that he was always chatting away, never silent. He would give fashion critiques and weather recaps, or would retell stories that he had told a thousand times over, each rendition better than the last. According to the students I asked, some said he would occasionally sprinkle something on the notion of pure magic into his statements.

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the one of Valeria Myriadd, she quickly dismissed it, stating that “some portraits are more active than others. And some know when it’s time to be quiet.” She did add, “Pure magic is not a subject for idle chatter, nor for curious students. Those who delve too deep into such notions tend to disappear – just like our portrait. You must understand, some magics are best left unspoken.” Have we uncovered something worth investigating deeper into, or best left hidden? Perhaps the portrait of Valeria Myriadd was only toying with me.	x	Naturally, Hogwarts students have their own theories on what might have happened to the thirteenth portrait in the charms corridor. Some feel as though Sir Tatterhelm the Talkative simply wandered off. Since portraits can move between frames, he might have visited elsewhere for conversation. Still, he hasn’t been seen recently in other portraits. One believes the disappearance was a prank gone wrong. This student is blaming it on a group of third-year Slytherin students, saying they were trying to prank the painting and may have accidentally banished it.	x	The only other portrait to talk about was the Wizard in Red, who was half asleep when he gave the vague remark that “some silences are best left unspoken” and that I should “mind my own brushstrokes”. So where is Sir Tatterhelm the Talkative? Did he finally say the right thing to the wrong ear or perhaps the wrong thing to the right one? Whether a prank, a portrait gone rogue, or something stranger, the mystery of the thirteenth portrait remains unsolved.
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DATE SPOTS PG. 04

GOSSIP PG. 08

SPIRIT WEEK PG. 09

HEADS LEAVING PG. 19

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All the Craze for NATIONAL POETRY DAY
by Ruth Fairchild

Literature has always come in various forms. Many enjoy works of unique genres within fiction and non-fiction. However, if we race past the more common categories of literature, such as novels or short stories, and focus on others, we can explore the importance of poetry.

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. Poetry is a central part of mankind's history ── x┗─────────── x❞

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Poetry is a central part of mankind's history; it's used to entwine romantic words together and form a story of meaning that could be read so clearly, or simply be too illegible to understand. But all poetry is created – the word itself comes from the Greek word "poiesis", which means "making".

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Due to poetry's significance, the Muggle agency UNESCO* established "World Poetry Day" in 1999. Its purpose was to encourage people to read, write, share, and enjoy poetry. Sure, you may protest that upon staring at a piece of empty paper, the words fail to come to you; well, there’s a catch: each year comes with a specific theme. The 2023 theme was 'Refuge', the 2024 theme was 'Home', and this year's theme is 'Play'.

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Personally, the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about 'Play' is Shakespeare – a Muggle known for his diverse plays, though recognised most for his tragedies. Then again, 'Play' could simply refer to games or childhood memories like running around the garden with your siblings. The word itself has so many meanings, so it’s really just up to you to derive its meaning and come up with stanzas significant to you.

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National Poetry Day was an event initially run by the Poetry Society, now organised by the Forward Arts Foundation. While there are now two poetry days to celebrate – World Poetry Day on the 21st of March, and National Poetry Day on the first Thursday of October – the latter has become the largest poetry celebration in the UK. Much like World Chocolate Day, there are plenty of ways to celebrate this event. Some of the early focuses included live readings, radio broadcasts, and television appearances, as well as poets performing in schools. Poetry has a deep historical role in Britain and Ireland, especially the latter for its bardic tradition in Chaucer, Shakespeare, the Romantics, war poets, and even modernists.

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ xxx ─. The latter has become the largest poetry celebration in the UK. ── x┗─────────── x❞

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You see, poetry isn’t just about "pretty words" or something that you’re meant to study – it’s a way for people to express themselves, to explore, to heal, and to connect. Schools have been encouraged to use National Poetry Day to boost literacy and support creativity among students. With this year’s theme of 'Play', it permits experimentation and messing up, and that’s okay!

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It’s an inclusive event for everyone to tackle strange forms and let their minds run wild. Poetry also ties into well-being, where the act of writing or performing poetry can be cathartic; listening to poetry being read is considered soothing and validating. I myself have been to many open-mic sessions where people step up onto makeshift stages and perform their poetry. It’s like a story being told to you, raw and true. If one has never had poetry read to them before, they’re missing out!

To commemorate National Poetry Day, my dear friend, Aurelia Valentine, has generously allowed me to feature one of her fantastic poems from her impressive collection found in the school shelves under the name, The Poets Might Disagree.

Out of the many that she has written over the few months she has been in Hogwarts, the one that I have chosen is my favourite by far. This one is titled “Scarlets”:

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"Hey, would it ever be wiser If I just drifted far away? Along with enchanting waters Of an azure mountain bay? Would you ever know I'm lying If I said "scarlets had scared me"? Though it flow from my eyes, dripping; From the depths of my soul, within me? Resemblance of the past winters Would it ever be forgotten? Snowflakes that are made of splinters Scarlets I desire, begotten."

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There seems to be a general colour association of red with passion, violence, blood, and danger. Its emotional intensity is heightened because it moves from a simple, conversational "hey" directly into a tone of yearning and escapism – a clear longing for serenity away from inner turmoil. I really enjoyed this poem because of how intriguing it was to me – how there was just so much to unpack and so many layers to peel back. It’s almost unsettling how many questions remain unresolved, a fracturing of emotions. (Aurelia herself admitted that it was one of her favourites, though she wouldn’t specify why.)

And with Aurelia’s poem as an exemplar, I present to you why National Poetry Day is held as such a sacred event and why poetry itself is treasured, not just in Britain and Ireland but worldwide. The meanings and colours it brings to life are outstanding.

*United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization

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DATE SPOTS PG. 04

GOSSIP PG. 08

SPIRIT WEEK PG. 09

HEADS LEAVING PG. 19

PAGE 08.

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Spilling Hogwarts’s Secrets: Vol. 1	x	My dearest readers: Although this is the primary iteration of the deepest, darkest revelations of our student populace, I implore you not to panic. This is the first volume of many, many hidden rumours. Keeping them in confidence would have greatly lessened the utmost fun we shall have, so I must first extend my gratitude to those who informed me of these horrible truths. Now, I present what you have all been waiting for: everyone’s juiciest secrets.
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Now, the young Mr Norwood is no renegade hero. The first person to lend me their name is none other than the Headliner’s brand new Editor-in-Chief, Silas Norwood. The young troublemaker came to Hogwarts equipped with a shiny set of chains, which, sources tell me, are straight out of Azkaban itself! Now, the young Mr Norwood is no renegade hero. The chains just so happen to be what remain from when he was incarcerated. You tell me, dear readers: what horrific crime must the lawless try-hard have committed to have been imprisoned at such a young age? I await your interpretations.	x	x Something something, louder than Moaning Myrtle, something something. I’m not done. Hardly. There’s also first year Demitra Aragon, known among her peers for being, well, sensitive. I’ve received plenty of complaints from other students about her monopolising the real estate in the toilets. Something something, louder than Moaning Myrtle, something something. One older student stated that Aragon is always cavilling about some stupid scuffle and that her antics make the first years look bad. Others say she’s crying all the time. I don’t judge. But I’m telling all of you so that you can judge freely.
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Next! One new member of staff does not come without his secrets, which shall duly be revealed. Jon Rebus Cantu, our new professor of Muggle Studies, is hardly as professional as we were led to believe. Rumour has it that he practises his lectures in front of a mirror—shirtless, no less! One student reported hearing him say, “You’re brilliant. You’re brilliant, and they don’t deserve you.” Why they were peeping in on his shirtless sessions of self-confidence, I don’t know, but to each their own. If you’re taking Muggle Studies this year, just bear in mind that your professor might need a pick-me-up. A little bit of kindness and complimenting goes a long way, for the record.	x	Just bear in mind that your professor might need a pick-me-up.
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	x	─ ❝ ──── ──────────┓ x ─. Petty, arrogant, withdrawn, and always scribbling the most horrible things in this journal of his. ── x┗────────── x❞
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There’s also one Archer Duncan, with whom I have some personal experience. I’m sure plenty of the loyal readers of the Headliner have gotten to know him. Petty, arrogant, withdrawn, and always—and I do mean always—scribbling the most horrible things in this journal of his. There has been a lot of speculation about what he is actually writing, but sources say that his mental state can’t be that great. This just leads me to wonder: what exactly, does Mr Duncan have planned? I have heard from a few older students of the horrors Hogwarts used to have happening, but I haven’t yet been unfortunate enough to witness these myself. Will Mr Duncan spice up the lives of everyone at school? One source, who shall remain unnamed, said they were sitting behind Mr Duncan in class, and that they were able to read some almost threatening lines from his journal. He seems to be plotting attacks against other students. With that in mind, all I can say is that to be safe, we must avoid him at all costs.	x
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Just remember: the halls may be silent, but my quill is not.

Lady Audientia

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DATE SPOTS PG. 04

GOSSIP PG. 08

SPIRIT WEEK PG. 09

HEADS LEAVING PG. 19

PAGE 09.

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Spirit Week=─────────────────────────────=by Pericles Dralt

October marks the time-honoured tradition of dressing up for All Hallows' Eve!

This year, the spooky holiday lands on a Friday, meaning festivities would typically be pushed back until classes are completed for the day. The Headliner has received permission from Hogwarts staff to switch things up; not only will costumes be allowed throughout the day, but we've been permitted to designate the end of October as a Spirit Week.	x	Don't be alarmed! This has little to nothing to do with actual spectres. In Muggle schools, a Spirit Week is a tradition in which students dress up according to a variety of themes, allowing for freedom of expression. We invite you to take a break from your house robes and get in the spirit starting Monday, the 27th. =
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Monday Match Up: Wear a matching outfit with your friend(s) or pet. Have a go at mirroring fashions, hairstyles, or colour schemes. No, uniforms do not count.

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Tuesday Type Day: Adopt a look you find attractive on others. This can be expressed through a specific style, copying your crush, or – for the most committed – Polyjuice of your paramour. Should you lack the necessary resources to steal your partner's identity, consider swapping outfits.

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Wednesday Pyjama Party: As an excuse to halve one's morning prep time, students are invited to enjoy a leisurely day in night gowns or sets. Robes, (non-cursed) stuffies, and slippers are also permissible, but those attending Flying, CoMC, or Herbology class are expected to bring closed-toe shoes.

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Thursday Game Gear: Don uniforms or equipment from your favourite sport. This can include your school gear or anything that commemorates your favourite team, player, or game. Please note that active Bludgers are NOT categorised as "accessories".

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Friday Hallow’s Eve: Between dinner and curfew, stop by the Headliner office in costume for a trick or treat. Visitors will have their choice between a classic Chocolate Frog or a surprise ticket draw, which may result in a gag gift or a jinx!

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DATE SPOTS PG. 04

GOSSIP PG. 08

SPIRIT WEEK PG. 09

HEADS LEAVING PG. 19

PAGE 10.

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The Haunting of Hogsmeade Hollow: The Last Watcher

by Simon Kincaid

Have you ever found yourself wandering through Hogsmeade on a cold October evening – beyond the warmth of The Three Broomsticks and the sweet smells of Honeydukes? Hidden beyond the last lantern’s glow is where the trees grow thick and full and the silence hangs heavy. It is there you might find the tale of Hogsmeade Hollow. Heed the careful advice of the tale you are about to be told; this is a cautionary tale that many will hesitate to speak aloud.

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Long ago, long before Hogsmeade became a village, the hollow was a sacred gathering place for witches and wizards alike who guarded powerful magic. Among these was a wizard named Thaddeus Carver, who would eventually come to be known as The Last Watcher. Thaddeus had been entrusted with protecting a hidden artefact that was said to hold the key to ancient and forbidden dark magic. On one stormy Halloween night, a dark force attacked the hollow in search of the artefact in his protection. Thaddeus fought bravely but was overwhelmed. To protect the relic, he cast a powerful binding curse, one that trapped his own soul inside the hollow that forever tethered him to the land he swore to protect.

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And since that night, Thaddeus’s spirit never left. They say he still wanders Hogsmeade Hollow – a figure in tattered robes with eyes that glow faintly silver in the darkness. He is known as the Watcher in the Hollow – The Last Watcher. His duty was never truly fulfilled. The artefact had never been destroyed, only hidden, so The Last Watcher’s soul lingers out of purpose. He chose this fate, and the choices made with magic as ancient as the relic do not come without cost.

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Some tell tales that the artefact stirs every so often in the village of Hogsmeade, and that is when The Watcher walks. Wizards and witches who have encountered Thaddeus’s ghost tell a tale of a chilling silence that falls suddenly, followed by a cold breeze and the faint sound of footsteps behind them, though no one is there. Some say he’s warning intruders to stay away, while others believe he’s searching for someone worthy to lift his curse.

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Many have tried to find the relic, but none have succeeded. Those who have attempted seem to become dizzy, disoriented, and even their most simple spells seem to fail them. Some Hogwarts students claim that if you whisper Thaddeus’s name three times while standing at the edge of Hogsmeade Hollow on Halloween night, you might catch a glimpse of his glowing eyes watching from the shadows. If you do, be careful, because The Last Watcher might choose you as the next guardian – the next soul to be trapped in the hollow forever.

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─ ❝ ─ ──────────┓ x ─. Shadows of a thousand years rise again unseen, Voices whisper in the trees, "Tonight is Halloween!" - Dexter Kozen ── x┗────────── x❞

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If you find yourself beyond the last lantern’s glow on a cold October evening and the wind goes suddenly still – turn back! The Last Watcher is already watching; turn away quickly, before he steps out of the dark.

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DATE SPOTS PG. 04

GOSSIP PG. 08

SPIRIT WEEK PG. 09

HEADS LEAVING PG. 19