The Hogwarts Headliner Text Version

Plans, Hope, Wishes
By Dealla Prince

Every year at the end of June, Hogwarts spews forth a wave of young adults into the Wizarding World. They’re hopefully passionate, hopefully well-prepared, and surely full of hopes and dreams for their future.

While I still have nearly three years left before life gets serious, our freshly made seventh years are not so lucky. Time is ticking, and in less than a year, they’ll leave this school. I took a little time to interview three of them, and I picked them as diverse as I could manage: Three houses, three sports, three unique personalities.


Delilah Stewart

Seventh Year
Ravenclaw
Duelling Captain
Headliner Secretary

Dream job: Healer, teacher
Core classes: Charms, Potions

Dee: Hi Del! Glad I caught you, I wanted to throw some existential questions about your future at you! You only have one year left at Hogwarts, what are you planning to do after?

"Well, after Hogwarts I'm hoping to go into Healing, but teaching isn’t out of the question for me either. I've not entirely made up my mind yet to be honest. As for useful classes, as a muggleborn wanting to go into a wizarding profession, oh it’s a hard decision but I’d say overall Charms, but Potions is a close second."

What do you think you'll miss most about school when you're done?
I'll probably miss just the general vibes. Of course I will miss the people and everything, but I'm hoping to keep in contact with my friends after graduation. [...] But there's just something amazing about living in a literal castle most months of the year. I’ll definitely miss that in my muggle-filled village.



Xailah Alptraum

Seventh Year
Gryffindor
Prefect
Broomracer
Renaissance woman

Dream job: Whatever tickles her fancy.
Core skills: Arts (singing, dancing, visual crafts), tinkering, broom customisation, sewing

Dee: Hi Xailah! Do you have a minute? I have a few questions, nothing suspicious, I promise.

Xailah: Oh, what a shame, I was just thinking how I wish someone would come along and ask me suspicious questions. Perhaps next time you'll have some particularly perturbing icebreakers for me? Anywho, how might I indulge you?

I was just wondering how you're preparing for your time after Hogwarts - there's less than a year left until your N.E.W.T.'s! Any ideas for what you want to do after school?

Oh, I have lots of ideas, nothing concrete– after all, where’s the fun in that? I’ll have a whole world at my fingertips to explore once I graduate. I want to see it, experience it. Hmmmm.... maybe I'll run away and join a travelling circus. Or live out my days as a mysterious highwaywoman- perhaps even become a local cryptid. There are just so many exciting possibilities. It's hard to pick where to start.

What do you think you'll miss most about school when you're done?
Truthfully? Not much. I know, you must expect me to say the people, but I cannot truly think of anyone I will deeply miss. Except for, oh, maybe Ruby. And of course I’ll miss you and these little conversations, Miss Prince. But I have memories, and that is enough. I did my grieving years ago, departure does not make me sombre. But I suppose you need a better answer? I... think I have one. (cut for space)



Ami Procoppio

Seventh Year
Hufflepuff
Former Quidditch captain and player
Former Broomracing captain

Dream job: Tattoo artist, Quidditch player, bear assassin for hire
Core skills: Flying, transfiguration

Hi Ami! So now that you're getting old, I mean close to graduation, I was wondering what your thoughts about the future are! What are your favourite classes you think might be useful for life after school?

Old? Old?! I’d whoop you right now if you weren’t such a good duellist. The future’s scary, man, so some people might say Divination would be useful… but I’m really bad at Divination, so I’d have to say Flying. I mean, come on. Flying is literally the coolest. Transfiguration’s probably pretty high up there for me too because the spells are all straight gas. It literally puts life on easy mode, so definitely super clutch.

Only one year left, what are you planning to do after Hogwarts? Any jobs where your particular skill sets might come in handy? Not everyone can turn into a bear after all.

I dunno, man… should I be, like, an assassin for hire? Like slide to someone’s house and just BAM, BEAR. But I’ve been looking at professional Quidditch, I think that’d be pretty much right up my alley. Maybe a tattoo artist. I just know I’ve gotta do something physical. We all know magic ain’t my strong suit, but I’m quite good with my hands… ladies, hit the line. Y’all know where to find me.

What do you think you'll miss most about school when you're done?
The food is bussin’, of course. The professors are Gs. But I think I’ll miss my friends. Ew, I can’t believe I just said that… but yeah. The kids here are so fun, and all my friends are going to do incredible things, I already know it. So I know I’ll miss them like hell once we graduate— you included, of course. Ain’t nobody as spunky and funky as Dee Prince.

Appreciate our Professors!
By Regina Miller

As another school year comes to a close, there is no better time for us to reflect on all the lessons learnt from our incredibly hard-working Professors. The reward of their efforts are, undoubtedly, the endless admiration of their students; some of them even went out of their way to express it through heartfelt words on parchment paper. Such was the purpose of the Professor Appreciation errand on 8th May. Today, I present to you an interview with one of the event hosts herself: the ever respected Slytherin Prefect Monica Evans.

Regina Miller: Prefect Evans. Thank you for allowing me a moment of your time and giving our readers an insight to your thoughts on the Professor Appreciation errand. Now, as I understand, you were not the sole organiser, correct?

Monica Evans: That is correct! I actually hosted this event with my best friend Beatrice Langstreth.

Regina Miller: I must say, that was quite a grand project for just the two of you. Can you tell me a bit about the organisation process? What was it exactly that inspired you to host this event?

Monica Evans: Well, I don't really remember how the topic came up, but Bea and I were chatting one day, about being prefects and all the work that goes into it. Then we got to thinking about all that our Professors and assistants do for all of Hogwarts every day! Bea was the one that suggested the time, since it was a common event to have a professor appreciation week, and so that is how the idea formed really.

After that there were a lot of conversations on how to host such a day! Making posters, gathering supplies, I really wouldn't have been able to do it without Langstreth, she did so much for this event!

Regina Miller: I see. Your efforts were most commendable, as I'm sure our Professors are moved by your dedication. The event did turn out to be very lively, and I noticed by the end of it there were a surprisingly large amount of letters. How do you feel about the successful turnout? Did you expect it to receive so much attention?

Monica Evans: To see that many fellow students as passionate as we were to encourage and bless our professors wasn't a surprise, but I will be honest, as we were setting up I had my doubts that anyone would show up. I am just so happy we were able to do something to say thank you to our professors as a collective.

Regina Miller: That's good to hear. You deserve the credit for being able to motivate them to show their true appreciation for our dear teachers. But I'm more curious about you. Specifically, did you end up writing a letter of your own as well? If so, will you tell us who your favourite Professor is?

Monica Evans: Well like my mum always said with us kids, I have no favourites (chuckle). Though the day of the event I didn't have time to write my own letter, wanting to be available for those who participated, I did write a letter to the Slytherin Head of House. With all they have helped me with as I have taken on this role of a prefect at quite a young age, I can't wait to deliver it (smile grows, while cheeks become red with embarrassment).

Regina Miller: It seems that you have a great admiration for Professor Jensen. Do you have high expectations for her reaction to your appreciation letter?

Monica Evans: Honestly I am not one for expectations… I have learnt nothing except that life never meets expectations. So I am just excited to send her a little something to show her how much I appreciate the work she does.

Letters aren't always for everyone, but my hope after this event is that we inspired students to share their appreciation more often to Professors. Whether that be a letter, or a quick word, or small gifts.

Regina Miller: After such a well-received event, it is without a doubt that Hogwarts students will learn to express their love for the staff more openly. And lastly, are there any encouraging words you want to give should our Professors be among the readers?

Monica Evans: Yes! Thank you for all you do for us. From preparing lessons, ensuring we get the best education in witchcraft and wizardry. Being supportive of us as we grow into young adults, talking through our problems with us, or simply just being there when we need support. Keeping us safe and protected. And for so many more reasons, we wouldn't be able to be who we are or do what we are doing without all your work and effort.

"On behalf of all those who pass through these halls. Thank you."

Meet the Captains: Newest Arrivals
By Ruby Cazares

As the school year comes to an end, this time for change also introduces new beginnings. For three talented students, this included becoming co-captains of their respective house sports teams in the final few months of the term.

Koko Riddle is a rising sixth year, well-established in the Hogwarts community due to being a Headliner reporter and former prefect. She has been Slytherin’s Keeper since the new teams were formed four years ago and will undoubtedly serve as an experienced leader ready to guide her team in her new role as Quidditch co-captain.

Julian Pritchard is the newest duelling co-captain for the house of Hufflepuff. His attitude in duels so far has been largely positive and sportsmanlike, making him a good teammate and co-captain. Since he has been a duellist since the beginning of his second year and is now moving into his fourth year, he too may be able to offer the wisdom of experience to his team.

Avery McCall, while currently benched as a second-string Beater, seems to have a talent for strategy and leadership, as she is co-captain for Hufflepuff’s Quidditch and Broom Racing teams, obtaining both positions recently. Many are excited to see what this high-achiever accomplishes in the future, as she has only just finished her first year and already holds two highly esteemed roles.

Now that these three have had some time to settle into their new roles, I reached out to learn some more about them beyond the basics and share their advice with all of you.


What’s been your favourite thing so far about being a co-captain?

Koko Riddle: So far, I’ve gotten to understand Quidditch strategy even better, which helps me see a different perspective in which every person’s move affects another’s.

Julian Pritchard: Getting to work with other Hufflepuffs in improving our strategy as a team, and on ways to make duelling a safer sport.

Avery McCall: Honestly, just seeing how much work goes into everything and how it all comes together. It helps to give both sports a whole new kind of depth.


What advice would you give to students aspiring to join their house’s sports teams?

Koko Riddle: I’d tell them to be passionate. While any student can become a Quidditch player, the best ones are those who genuinely enjoy the game and put their heart into it.

Julian Pritchard: I suppose I would suggest they spend time researching and practising even if they're not part of the team, so they know what to expect and can be prepared once they join.

Avery McCall: Just go for it! It can definitely be intimidating when you're first starting out, but all of the teams have such amazing support systems.


What motivates you?

Koko Riddle: I’m motivated by my team. I love working with all of my teammates, and it’s really important to me that they’re all feeling content with how things are going.

Julian Pritchard: I dunno. Learning new things and helping other people, I guess.


What do you believe all students should know about your sport and about being a captain?

Koko Riddle (Quidditch): About Quidditch—it’s not all about hitting people. Or about the Snitch. It’s about what you can bring to the table and how that can complement your teammates’ skills. Being a captain is just understanding what everyone needs most and what will work best at a specific time.

Avery McCall (Broom Racing, Quidditch): Even if everyone seems to be doing their own thing, each player is connected and working together the entire time. Communication and trust in your team can really go a long way.


Is there anything you hope to change in the next school year, either for yourself or for your team?

Koko Riddle: Well… Admittedly, I would like to change things for the better, as in, I’d like my team to win the Quidditch Cup… But I’d also like to spread the word about Quidditch and increase excitement around games.

Avery McCall: The teams are honestly in a great place and we've had a great year overall. If anything, maybe just looking into some team outreach to try and drum up even more interest. The more, the merrier!


Sports fans will be watching these three to see how they shape the future of their teams. Will these students’ new captaincy status help their teams achieve victory? Time will tell, and perhaps those interested in joining one of these sports will feel inspired to go for it after hearing from these co-captains. We’ll see what happens when the next school year comes, but for now, enjoy your summer and keep practising what you love!

The Motorcycle Diaries: To Change or Not to Change
By Maverick Castle

It’s that time of the year! Heading into summer, this one question always looms on professional racers and fans alike: ‘Which riders change teams next season?’ Yup, these people are fast. They start discussing, or even deciding, the next step in their career half a year before. No real changes have been formally announced, but here are our predictions for 2024.


What’s in a Number?
Some riders do have contracts with their current teams ending in 2024, but who says that these contracts can’t be terminated? Maverick Viñales did so back in mid-year 2021.

Fabio Quartararo, for instance, may not wish to stay even for another year. A World Champion with the team in 2021, 2022 saw the French begin to struggle; this year it isn’t unusual for him to finish outside the top ten. While Quartararo has stated he’d give Yamaha another year to improve, a new team may knock at his door anytime…

Once considered the two best constructors on track, Yamaha and Honda have been struggling for a couple of years. Three out of four Honda riders have contracts that end in 2024 - Joan Mir and Marc Marquez, as well as Alex Rins, but they’re all far from content. Mir has suffered many injuries and DNF results with his new motor. Rins once publicly criticised Honda for not involving enough to develop their bikes, and his employers didn’t take this well. Marquez, whose golden days were synonymous with Honda, can’t even finish even one race so far this year. With his ambition to win another World Champion title and himself not getting any younger, the Spaniard may consider leaving sooner or later, despite his initial denial.

On the other hand, there are three pairs of riders who seem comfortable with their current teams: Francesco Bagnaia, Enea Bastianini, Jack Miller and Brad Binder, as well as Miguel Oliveira and Raul Fernandez (RNF MotoGP Team). In addition, Pol Espargaro also looks set to continue, unless the injuries he’s been suffering since the beginning of 2023 persist.

Both Aprilia Racing riders may not have performed very well in the last few races, but Aleix Espargaro remains optimistic; the Spanish has stated he would continue racing with Aprilia in 2024. Maverick Viñales, though, is another case. Although he hasn’t said anything regarding the declining performance, the 28-year-old is known to be hot-headed and sometimes controlled by his emotions. We wonder if he might explode one of these days…

Jorge Martin is performing well, but it’s no secret he wants a factory seat, and his contract allows him to leave if he’s offered one. It’s reported that Yamaha wants Martin to be in their team, but the 25-year-old is concerned that the Japanese manufacturer ‘continues not to keep its promises by the engineers’. Still, as Crash puts it, he can be ‘the first domino to fall before the avalanche of rider market moves’.


No String Attached
What about those whose contracts end this season?

Augusto Fernandez, Johann Zarco, and Alex Marquez all seem good. In contrast, Takaaki Nakagami might need to be in constant vigilance. While no finite threat is visible, his performance lately hasn’t been as good as it used to be.

Luca Marini, whose results may not be as good as most other Ducati riders, has been putting on some good performances. We think it’s likely his contract will be extended. His teammate, Marco Bezzecchi, is performing better but has made it clear he wants a factory bike. Like Martin, the Italian is a ‘crucial cog in the 2024 MotoGP rider market whose future will dictate many of his peers’’.

But the favourites to lose their MotoGP seats are Alex Marquez’s teammate Fabio di Giannantonio and Quartaro’s Franco Morbidelli. Di Giannantonio has reportedly received a now-or-never signal from Ducati boss Paolo Ciabatti, and Morbidelli has been booed quite a lot by fans.

Although our sympathy is with Morbidelli (as we believe the problem lies more with the motorcycle instead of the racer), Yamaha did name some potential replacements in the likes of Bezzecchi, Martin, and World SBK’s Toprak Razgatlioglu despite Yamaha boss Lin Jarvis’ claim that their current rider is still their first choice. The Italian has since been coldly dropping not-so-subtle hints that he doesn’t want to stay. If he truly leaves, our guess is he’ll move to Mooney VR46 Racing Team.


Who Can Spoil the Party?
Pedro Acosta from Moto2 class has made it clear that he wants a spot in MotoGP next year. His closest rival, Tony Arbolino, has also been linked with a move to the top class, and so has Ai Ogura, who was rumoured to replace Nakagami. We don’t forget Jake Dixon who has been speaking with teams in MotoGP for a possibility to move in 2024, either.

June's 2023 Horoscopes
By Koko Riddle

After a short hiatus, the Hogwarts Headliner’s horoscopes column has returned for the month of June! Marking the start of summer, June is often a month in which people embark on new adventures, especially as, for students, the school year begins to wind down and those studying can return home. Whether or not you’re staying where you are or returning home, June’s horoscopes are below:

ARIES
Aries natives might find the month of June a bit tumultuous. If you feel like your finances are wavering, try not to worry. Although things might not be great initially, the situation should improve eventually. For now, power through. Don’t be afraid to spend time with friends and family.

TAURUS
This June, Taurus natives might find their friendships blossoming. Your family should be there to support you, and as long as you remain cautious, you might find ways to increase your financial gains this month. All in all, Tauruses have nothing to fear during the month of June.

GEMINI
Mentally, Gemini natives will likely feel much happier than usual. After all, it is your birthday month. Let this happiness spread to other aspects of your life. Your relationships will continue to grow, but some might become increasingly detrimental to your health. This is the month to figure out what is best for you and to take steps towards improving your well-being.

CANCER
In June, Cancer natives might feel stressed. This could stem from a need to be in control, so try to delegate tasks. You don’t need to do everything on your own. Lean on those who love you, and don’t be afraid to take time to relax. It’s important to make sure all your tasks are complete, yes, but it’s also important to take care of yourself in the process.

LEO
Leos should find June to be an empowering month. Have you had any new opportunities spring up? Any sudden job prospects? Chances are, there is more to come. Continue to work towards your goals, and don’t be afraid to make the most of unforeseen advantages.

VIRGO
This month, Virgos might notice their relationships with family members growing stronger. Perhaps you have already noticed this. You might have to spend more time with family, so be prepared. However, if they usually get on your nerves, this month might be different.

LIBRA
Although Libra natives’ relationships with others might not noticeably improve, you will have the potential for financial gains. You might feel the urge to travel, and if you do, it very well might be worth it. New chances for you to better your living situation may arise, so keep an eye out.

SCORPIO
June will likely be hectic for Scorpio natives. No day will seem like the one before it. Monotony will go out the window, but that shouldn’t be a problem. In fact, you might find it exciting. However, be careful – there will likely be events you are unprepared for, so don’t be afraid to improvise.

SAGITTARIUS
Unlike Scorpios, Sagittarius natives will likely find June to be a month of relative peace, especially when compared with prior months. Take advantage of this while you can. It will be the perfect time for relaxation and self-care.

CAPRICORN
This month, Capricorn natives will likely need time to themselves. You might have many commitments that you can handle, but they may seem like too much to bear all at once. When you can, take time to rest. Remember to take care of yourself if the day seems too stressful.

AQUARIUS
Aquarius natives will need a break from monotony. Maybe you’ve been doing the same thing every day for weeks now. June is one of the perfect times to take a break – or, if not a break, to change your scenery. Take some time in nature if you want, or maybe venture into the city. The choice is yours.

PISCES
Like Scorpios, Pisces natives are likely to find June to be increasingly busy. However, this should go well for you, and anything that comes up shouldn’t be a hindrance but should instead help you further your goals. You might even find yourself more content than usual.

June marks the beginning of summer for those in the northern hemisphere, and for most, this month should be one of enjoyment. To students and teachers – enjoy the break from school! To everyone else, enjoy the warmer weather and the greater amount of light. Take care, and have a great month!

You've Got a Friend in Me
By Simon Kincaid

“You got troubles, I've got 'em too
There isn't anything I wouldn't do for you
We stick together and see it through
'Cause you've got a friend in me
You've got a friend in me”


Friendships.

The task of finding and maintaining friendships can sometimes throw us into the first line of A Tale of Two Cities written by Muggle author Charles Dickens: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times”. How exactly do we go about finding and maintaining friendships? What makes this so important in our lives?

Let's begin with the basics – how do you meet these people that might become potential friends? Here are several suggestions: get out of your dormitory and explore the castle, join team sports and school clubs, get a quill pal, go to school functions, talk with your housemates in your common room or a classmate sitting nearby in class, or start a new hobby.

Once you've met them, build an authentic foundation by being your true self – show them what you love, what makes you upset, your strengths and your weaknesses. Don't expect perfection. Talk about the little things first and build up to the big things. Encourage them, listen, and support their goals. Embrace your similarities and your differences.

Once a friendship has been built, maintaining it can be difficult. Communication is the key to keeping those friendships active. Create opportunities to interact with each other – maybe by creating a special event or project for the two of you, arranging regular meet-ups, or writing letters. Be honest with each other. Be supportive of one another. Accept them as they are. If conflicts arise, don't let them escalate – talk about them or apologise. Maybe it was a misunderstanding, or you might be able to see their side to the situation. Take the time to show you care, be helpful, and support their dreams.

The benefits of healthy friendships are numerous! Our friends provide support and motivation, reality checks, free therapy, self-esteem boosters, someone who understands us, a helping hand, and someone to help us grow and achieve our goals.

You can do this! You can get out there and make some amazing friendships!

I believe in you, Hogwarts, and as always, remember to be kind to one another.

Del's Book Reviews: The School for Good Mothers by Jessamine Chan
By Delilah Stewart

It’s been a little while since I’ve written about a book I’ve been reading, and this is one that has somewhat mixed reviews. On Goodreads, the book has a 3.6/5, on Amazon UK, a 3.8/5, and on Waterstones, a 5/5. There have been worse reviews of the book, but overall the general consensus seems to be around 4/5 stars. I read through a few of the reviews and I generally agree with their rating.

The author, Jessamine Chan, is a first-generation Chinese-American who is also half Taiwanese. This is important as her debut novel – The School for Good Mothers – touches on many topics based around being the only Chinese-American or even Asian in a scenario.

The beginning of the novel centres around Frida Liu, who has a severe lapse of judgement that results in her 18-month-old daughter, Harriet, being taken from her by Child Protective Services. The ‘treatment’ for this is a sci-fi, futuristic approach in the form of a year-long school program in which the mothers have to look after extremely realistic dolls of a similar age to the children that were removed from their care.

The story is interesting – it’s not often I get into a futuristic book and enjoy the premise, but this time I did. The thing that holds it back is the writing. It took me an entire month to read this book, and considering I have a current goal of 50 books in the year and I’m still ahead of that goal, that says a lot. Even though the pace was slow, some parts felt choppy. I could be reading for what felt like weeks about the playing practice, but then the emergency classes went by in the blink of an eye. Personally, I would’ve preferred more evenness throughout similar topics. I feel I had to drag my heels through the mud for 80% of the book, and only the last couple of chapters were worth it.

This brings me to the ending. I like to try and keep my reviews mostly spoiler-free, so I won’t discuss details, however, I was left wanting more. The ending is very open-ended, which I know many people enjoy, and it could be leading up to a sequel, but if it was, I likely won’t be reading it. I like my endings to have at least some information about how the plot of the entire novel panned out, but we don’t really get that here and it’s quite empty.

Overall, the premise was interesting but the result didn’t seem to quite work out the way it should have. I wouldn’t be against reading future novels by this author, however, it’s not a book I’d pick up again for a nostalgic read in a few years time. This is the first review I’ve written publicly that wasn’t pure praise, but I don’t want anybody to think that I didn’t like the book – it’s just not a top 10 for me. Still, if you like futuristic books, I’d give it a shot.

That’s all from me! If you have any specific books you want me to take a jab at, send me an owl. Ciao!

Life After Hogwarts #1
By Serena J. Towers

As you hit your final years of Hogwarts, the question of “what will you do afterwards” plagues your mind. You have to pass your OWLs, choose the right subjects to study at NEWT level and then actually pick a career path. My family act like I should have my entire life figured out before I even sat my OWLs - and yet, some adults say that you can always change your mind down the line or study something new even into your nineties.

Figuring out your life is a lot easier said than done, however. The problem is that there are too many options. The world, as people say, is your oyster. The important things to know are:

You can always change your path down the line, even if that means going back to study and complete a N.E.W.T. that you may not have passed the first time.
No matter how long it takes, anything is possible if you don’t give up.
Most of us are perfectly capable of doing a multitude of things. You don’t have to stick to one specific thing if you do not want to.
What you find interesting and enjoyable could definitely lead to a career!
There’s more to life than just finding a job.

As I get closer to graduation, “what’s next” is a question that I constantly wonder about and I wanted to share some of the research I have done with all of you to, perhaps, alleviate some of your tensions or answer any questions you may have. Whilst this column is mostly aimed at the fourth-fifth years starting to prepare for OWLs and the sixth-seventh years who have picked their NEWTs and now need to figure out what to do with them, this knowledge is likely useful to everyone. Besides, it is never too early to think about these things (and never too late to change your mind, remember!).


However, I have narrowed it down for myself and I want to help you do the same. Think about these questions and write down the answer somewhere:

1. What are you interested in? This could be a hobby, a specific career, a subject, anything. Write them all down.
2. What are you good at? Note: this is not necessarily the same as above but could be.
3. Is there something you wish to achieve in life? This could be anything. Do you want to helppeople, earn a lot of money, create something new, research a topic you’re interested in, make a huge discovery, make your parents proud, continue your family business, utilise a skill you have, do a hobby you love, pursue a subject you love or anything else?

4. What are you willing to do for the above? Would you prefer something that requires no studying or are you planning on doing every NEWT possible? Are you willing to spend most of your day working or would you prefer to have a good work-life balance? Are you a team player or will you be the leader?

What you write down does not need to be final. It can change. However, it will start to give you some guidance on what you could do and help you to narrow down your path just a little. It might also make you consider a career that you did not think of before.

Let's start with the basics. When you graduate from Hogwarts at the end of your seventh year, you will go into the big wide world and be able to do anything you want. After all, you are an adult by then. Here, you will have to make a decision. Do you want to work? If so, what sort of field or industry are you interested in? The above questions and answers will hopefully have given you some guidance here. Whatever you choose, you must have the prerequisites to take that career path. Entry-level jobs vary in their prerequisites but some are a lot easier than others! You may also end up specialising down the line. Do not be afraid to do further studies or to try multiple jobs over the years. At the end of the day, it is the fun that you had on the journey that matters most.

Ponder on the questions I have asked you, until next time. For now, this is Serena J. Towers, signing out.

The 2022-2023 Sports Tournaments in Review
by Ruby Cazares

As the new school year begins, it brings with it a new sports season, wiping the scoreboards clean. While we don’t know where the next few months will take our sports teams, we can look back at the scores from the past year to find areas of improvement or celebrate our houses’ achievements.

In duelling, Hufflepuff started off in the lead in October. While Slytherin and Ravenclaw performed best out of the January matches, that stage saw Hufflepuff still in the lead for overall points along with Ravenclaw. Despite Gryffindor having the most wins out of the final matches that took place in January, the 2022-2023 duelling championship concluded with both Slytherin and Ravenclaw winning, leaving Hufflepuff narrowly behind as the two teams were crowned champions and moved onto the summer matches. All of the houses performed well, though, and the final scores were all very close – much closer than the scores of the past championships concluding in 2022 and 2021. With such an exciting year, the next duelling championship could go in any direction and will surely be one to watch.

Duelling Leaderboard
Slytherin - 37
Ravenclaw - 37
Hufflepuff - 36
Gryffindor - 34

While Hufflepuff didn’t have the best of luck in the end with duelling, they excelled in Quidditch, winning every single one of their games and ending the 2022-2023 season with 830 total points. Whether all members of the team are especially skilled, their captains have crafted a superior strategy, or some other factor is at play, it is an impressive feat to have consistently done so well throughout the year. Other teams played valiantly – Ravenclaw and Slytherin’s season totals were above even the highest total of the 2021-2022 season – but they were still no match for Hufflepuff this past year. Will Hufflepuff’s win streak continue in the 2023-2024 season or will we see a new team rise to take the victory?

Quidditch Leaderboard
Hufflepuff - 830
Ravenclaw - 590
Slytherin - 460
Gryffindor - 160

The broom racing season started off with landslide victories for Gryffindor and Hufflepuff, although the Hufflepuff vs Slytherin game was particularly brutal, with the whole Slytherin team being knocked unconscious. The winter games brought a victory for Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, despite Hufflepuff earning more points in the game against Gryffindor. The spring games concluded with a bang, with Hufflepuff claiming the win against Ravenclaw, but the Slytherin vs Gryffindor game ended by some unknown magical force causing all racers to crash or get otherwise injured. What happened there remains to be seen, an unsatisfying and worrying conclusion to an exciting race. Nevertheless, the tournament had to conclude somewhere. While Gryffindor had plenty of successes throughout the season, it wasn’t quite enough to help them achieve the overall win. Hufflepuff, after leading in points for the whole season, managed to secure the win with their victory against Ravenclaw in the final game of the year. In a grand display of skill, it seems that the Hufflepuff teams have dominated both of the broom sports in the past year – will there be a new challenger this year?

Broom Racing Leaderboard
Hufflepuff - 125
Gryffindor - 110
Ravenclaw - 81
Slytherin - 64

Whether you attended every game of the 2022-2023 season or this is your first time learning about the final results of each tournament, you will see that it was an excellent year for sports. Every house achieved things they can be proud of, whether they won the whole tournament of your favourite sport or just a few games. The 2023-2024 season will surely be one to watch after such great successes and close calls this past year. If you aren’t already on one of your house teams, consider signing up. Perhaps you could be the one to lead your team to victory.

Sweet Stress Child o' Mine
by Tianning Zheng

The lights went off and the medium-sized room filled with young adults went quiet. For 1.5 hours, our eyes were glued to the big silvery white screen, observing – ah, but I’m not here to discuss the film; the focus of my writing today is the discussion that followed the film. Held in a local library in Muggle’s Cambridge one sunny afternoon last August, My Friend The Stress focused on the feeling mentioned in the name and was led by three speakers: Dr Lin Chen, a psychologist; Ms C. L. Rivera, a novelist; and Fr Prudencio Graham, a volunteer social worker. Interestingly, the three did not give separate speeches, but instead worked together to lead an interactive session with the participants. First, we participants were put in small groups of 4-5 and were encouraged to share our thoughts about the film using a set of questions composed by the speakers themselves. All of these questions were related to psychological aspects found in the film that turned out to be connected to daily life of a youngster.

After all groups shared the summaries of their discussions, Dr Chen introduced the participants to basic psychological theories on stress. “Stress is often perceived as a feeling or an emotion, but I believe it’s more than that,” the psychologist stated. “I think it’s more of an event involving our whole body: our emotions, our physical condition, our mental.”
But what causes stress?

Where does it come from? Various answers were gathered from the groups: tests, family, social life, work, competition, economic condition, worries about the future. Ms Rivera, though, reminded us that the answer was in the film.

“How’s the stress creature born? Who gives birth to her?” Duncan, we participants unanimously replied with the name of the leading man. “Exactly,” smiled the novelist. “Stress comes from inside of us. It’s always there, it’s a part of us. Peer pressure, work, school, and everything else we mentioned earlier are called triggers or stressors. Did I say it correctly, Lin?” (Dr Chen grinned and nodded his head here.)

Is stress good or bad, then? “Like all the other feelings, it’s neutral. In fact, it’s comparable to a child who is seeking attention, thus the babyish (rather than monstrous) appearance of the stress creature.” Dr Chen then added that stress could, in fact, bring negative effects in the forms of depression, anxiety, and physical illnesses; but then again, they are not stress itself. On the other hand, it can also lead us to positive things such as productivity, responsibility, and even excitement, as well as serves as a means of self-protection. “Which is why our stress creature attacks whoever makes Duncan unhappy. She’s trying to protect her human,” explained Ms Rivera in regards to the literary aspects of the film.
Moving on to the last, and seemingly most awaited, part of the discussion, Fr Graham, backed up by Dr Chen, shared some healthy tips in dealing with stress. According to the two experts, there were four approaches. The first was dietary intervention, which involved consuming an appropriate amount of carbs, protein, vegetable, and fruit. In addition, what many of us tend to consider as ‘comfort food’ (such as chips and junk food) actually has the opposite effect and should be reduced. The second is mental health intervention. Some examples of this include meditating, practising hobbies, connecting with our loved ones, having ‘me’ time, journaling, or simply sitting or lying down with our eyes closed.
The third approach is physical intervention, such as doing physical exercises, taking a walk, and having a spa or massage. As for the fourth intervention, lifestyle changes, it could be tricky since this may involve cutting back on commitments or making big changes, such as decreasing extracurricular activities or switching college majors or jobs.
“Our stressors vary, and how we respond is also different from one another. This is why there are these four approaches. A multi-varied approach can also be applied,” Fr Graham emphasised, earning an approving nod from Dr Chen. “If these methods still don’t work and you feel physical pain, a psychologist or school counsellor is there to help.”
In contrast, lashing at others is definitely not recommended. Pushing your stress away is also harmful. “Remember when Duncan hurts the creature in the film? He ends up hurting himself in the process,” Ms Rivera remarked. “On the contrary, when he accepts her like his own baby at the end, they are finally at peace with each other.”
“And that’s exactly what we need to do when stress knocks at our door. Welcome it, spend some quality time with it. Your stress needs you, so let it know you’re there for it like how a good parent would to their child,” said Dr Chen, ending this beautiful and useful discussion.

A Future So Bright
by Koko Riddle

For fifth, sixth and seventh year students at Hogwarts, graduation gets closer with each passing day. For some, this is a blessing; for others, this is a curse. Hogwarts has treated some older years rather well, but for those who have suffered at the school of magic, they might be searching for freedom.

A few older years – sixth years Annie Morgan and Meenauh Silmataurea and seventh year Alexx Séverin – were kind enough to provide their valuable time for an interview. Each student had different views on the future, but every one of them described their looming graduation in a similar vein: although it is coming soon, it is only the beginning of a new chapter of their lives.

Miss Silmataurea and Miss Séverin in particular commented on how they think they will feel nostalgic for their days at Hogwarts in the future. Miss Séverin noted that there are people at Hogwarts who she wished she had met sooner. “I find myself running a lot of ‘what if’ scenarios through my head these days,” she mentioned. Miss Silmataurea called the prospect of graduation a “preliminary void” in her heart, especially because she is a year behind one of her close friends.

However, one door must close so another can open. When asked about their hopes for future careers, each student had a different response. Miss Séverin, true to her past, noted that she aspires to work in the journalism industry, while Miss Morgan said she wishes to become a Healer like her grandmother. “I thought my chances were over when I became blind,” Miss Morgan recalled, “but it’s only strengthened my pursuit. If my grandmother could do it, so could I.”

Miss Silmataurea noted something a bit different, something many students can likely relate to. “I am not sure what exactly I would like to do, to be honest,” she began. However, she added that she might like to work in the Ministry. For worried older years, it’s important to remember that there is time for one to find one’s interests before one must enter the workforce.

When asked what experiences in particular helped shape their futures, the respondents’ answers stemmed from their experiences at Hogwarts. Miss Morgan talked about her Quidditch experience and her friendships, the latter being something Miss Silmataurea also mentioned. Miss Séverin, however, discussed her time as a prefect of Slytherin and as the former Editor-in-Chief of the Hogwarts Headliner. Her many roles around the castle gave her lots of hands-on work experience, and she added, “If there’s any advice I can give to those younger than me, it’s to not be afraid of trying new things like that. You never know what valuable lessons, even if hard-earned, you’ll gain along the way.”

Each respondent stated they felt well-prepared for their future; however, Miss Morgan did add, “I’m bound to experience something I’m yet to experience. When the time comes, I’ll try my best to overcome it.” This speaks to the fact that, despite any amount of preparation, there are always possible unknowns, even in those with the most planned-out futures. Something unforeseen can always occur, and it is important to have the willpower to overcome any potential obstacles.

Lastly, I asked if the respondents had anything specific they’d like to say.

Miss Séverin highlighted Reid Kovacs, a Hufflepuff. “I’d like to shout out my day one, Mr. Reid Kovacs. He did a lot for me throughout my time at Hogwarts, over summers spent, as well as on the Headliner. We even raised a plant together! My advice – find yourself a Reid. Someone loyal, trustworthy, and who will always keep you cheered up.”

Miss Morgan gave some important advice to any younger students reading the paper: “Take chances and go down the path most unfollowed. While you’re young, take your life by the reins and live it to the fullest. So many experiences wait out in the world for you.”

To end the interview on a – perhaps deserved – apprehensive note, Miss Silmataurea also gave younger years a few words of advice: “Hogwarts is not easy. Stay safe.”

Despite that slightly chilling phrase, these three upper years and their journeys at Hogwarts mark the beginning of the end of an era. Annie Morgan, Meenauh Silmataurea and Alexx Séverin are going to leave Hogwarts within the next two years, and they will begin the next chapters of their lives – potentially involving employment, travelling or something else entirely. It seems, perhaps, that graduation will lead them to continue to develop as people.

Hogwarts may be losing some well-known, well-loved students within the next few years, but it is important to remember that there will only be better things to come in the future.

MEET ROBIN MONROE: First Year Duelling Captain
by Dealla Prince

It is undeniable that Murder of Merlin, the Ravenclaw duelling team, has had an amazing run in the past few years. We placed second in the 2020/2021 Championship, then first both in 2021/2022 and 2022/2023. While we of course have incredibly talented duellists that made this possible, I don’t think anyone could deny that leadership also plays an important role. Captains set the tone of the training sessions, coordinate and give advice, and are essential to a team working well together. In duelling especially, strategies often need to be adapted on the fly, depending on who you’re partnered with - and who you’re facing.

We were all a little sad to see Adelaide Barlowe go. She had been doing a decent job during her tenure, and I would’ve liked to see if she could continue leading Ravenclaw to victory. Yet, undeniably more interesting is the choice of her replacement.

As of September 2023, Robin Monroe has been named co-captain for the Ravenclaw duelling team. If you have never heard that name like I hadn’t, it’s with good reason: she is a first year. Barely arriving at Hogwarts, yet somehow slipped into this position, which usually requires some sort of experience with… well, magic. I’m never one to discount Muggle-borns based on their heritage, but it’s a fact that when they arrive at Hogwarts, most of them barely know which way to hold their wand.

So, you might wonder what qualifies her to lead the Ravenclaw team. I was wondering the same, and decided to ask her directly. She had the following to share:

Robin: (chuckles nervously) Well, I’m fascinated by duelling, it's the sport that caught my interest as soon as I entered Hogwarts, which wasn’t that long ago but... still, I’d been more than prepared to give it my all, both being a captain and being a duellist, once I got on the team. I know it’s probably a bit unusual for you and other higher years on the team to have a captain so young, but I’m really great at leading a team, so I guess you’ll have to trust me on that one? But I definitely promise to help bring Ravenclaw to victory in the duelling championships.

While fascination with the sport is great and certainly necessary, I think that being a captain takes something more, for example being able to cast spells. I was certain our new captain would have some insight to share on which spells are useful in duels.

Robin: I've been doing a lot of reading outside of classes to help me feel better prepared, and I'm really excited to learn Flipendo, or maybe even Incendio. They’d be really useful spells in a duel, and I’m sure a lot of other duellists could agree with that!

They’re Knockback Jinx and the Fire-Making Spell respectively, for anyone who isn’t familiar with the incantations. She’s not wrong, they are useful, if mostly for first years. But certainly, she has a vision for how to advise her older duellists - those that might not be able to rely on those basic spells in their duels.

Doesn’t that inspire boundless confidence in the new captain? I admire her confidence.

Robin: Yeah, it can definitely be intimidating, and it was quite intimidating for the first few days, but now I'm confident that I have the ability to lead them, even if they are older and more experienced than me. Plus, I was chosen to be a captain so that must mean something, right? I can assure you and the other members of the team that they are in good hands with me, and I also have the reassurance of the other two captains to help me, so I’m not that nervous to learn the ropes of everything.

At least, as she mentioned, there will be those with more experience that the older duellists can rely on. Finally, to end the interview on a good note, I asked her to share some wisdom with aspiring duellists - perhaps they would also like to know how she got to where she is.

Robin: Hm, my advice would probably be to give it a go even if you feel you aren’t as experienced as everyone else! I mean, look at me! I just gave it a go and went for it, and it worked! Nothing can stop you if you believe in yourself, so don't listen to what other people have to say and just do it if you want to do it. But maybe ask me that question next year and I'll have an even better answer!

After this incredibly insightful conversation, I look forward to seeing our new fearless leader in action. I expect we will see her competence in the results at the end of the school year.

Danger Danger
by Simon Kincaid

Life is full of questions and some have no answers. Life is full of risk but also the possibility of adventure. How will you live your life – out in the brightness or curled up in the shadows?

Despite the potential dangers that life can hold – it can be a brilliant and beautiful thing to experience and behold. Go. Live your life. Have an AMAZING time.

It can be tricky to carry on when everything around you seems chaotic and turbulent, but it can be accomplished. You just have to shift your method of thinking.

American Muggle television host, author, producer, and minister Fred Rogers, more commonly known as Mister Rogers, demonstrated this very sort of mindset in one of his quotes: “When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me,

To this day, especially in times of ‘disaster,’ I remember my mother’s words, and I am always comforted by realising that there are still so many helpers – so many caring people in this world.”

It isn’t about ignoring the problems of the world or ignoring potential dangers, but rather shifting our mindset so that we can be positive, increase our well-being, and lead a happy and fulfilling life.

To do this, we must focus on the good – not to ignore what is bothering us, but to be more optimistic and allow us to engage in healthier behaviours.

Here’s some advice to focus on the good:


Live Intentionally
Reconnect with what is most important to you and do things because you choose to do them, not because someone else wanted you to do them. This will help you be more aware of what is going on in your daily life, feel more connected, and focus on the things that bring you joy and meaning.

Practice Self-Affirmations
I am brave, I am strong, I am smart, I am kind, I am helpful, I am grateful, I am resilient, I am important, I am loved, I am enough – it almost sounds like the Scout Law, but no, these are some positive affirmations that you might say to yourself. Say them to yourself or out loud and feel it in your body. This can be a powerful tool to help you focus on your best qualities and see yourself in a positive light.

Define Your Values
Know what is important to you. Everyone has core values. Figure out what you value in life and that is what you should focus on. “What is the most important thing to me right now?” and “What makes me excited?” are some questions you can ask to help determine what you value in life.

Practice Gratitude
Make a list of things that you’re grateful for. In the long run, it’s all the little things that we remember, and being thankful helps us focus on all that we already have instead of what we want or lack. Realise what you love and you’ll find yourself more grateful and full of joy.

Practice Mindfulness
Unsure of what mindfulness is? It is the practice of becoming aware of the present moment in order to experience life more deeply. One can achieve this by meditating or practising deep breathing.

Social Support
We live in a world with so many others. Find people who are like-minded and supportive and form a good support system together.

When you focus on the good things in life each day, you’re opening yourself up to experiencing more joy, happiness and satisfaction in your life. Being positive like this doesn’t mean ignoring everything else to feel good all the time – instead, it’s a tool to help you face challenges so you can learn from them and evolve and thrive as a human being.

As Muggle musician Bob Marley put it:
"Don't worry about a thing
‘Cause every little thing gonna be alright."

Go. Live your life. Have an AMAZING time, and please, be kind to one another.

The Motorcycle Diaries: The Annual Summer Garden Party
by Maverick Castle

“Everybody has a summer holiday, doing things they always wanted to,” Cliff Richard famously sang in his 1963 hit. While it may not be entirely true, professional motorcycle racers are among the lucky lot who earn paid summer break. For most of them, it means beaches;still, some others were invited – and accepted – to go to motorsport riders’ and fans’ annual summer garden party, the Goodwood Festival of Speed.

The event was started in 1993 by Charles Henry Gordon-Lennox (now the Duke of Richmond) to bring motor racing back to Goodwood House, his estate and seat. Initially choosing the Goodwood Circuit, he unfortunately lacked the necessary permit to host a race there. Therefore, he made the decision to host it on his own grounds.

In 2023, the festival was held from the 13th to 16th of July. Guests may park from 6:30, but the gates were opened at 7:00 to give them opportunities to look around before the actions commenced at 8:30. Hillclimb, one of the most infamous attractions, marked the beginning of the actions every day. Here, guests had the chance to watch race and road bikes and cars, both modern and classic, speed up the famous Hill area.

Other attractions and features included, but were not limited to, exhibitions of iconic motorcycles and cars from different eras, supercar debuts, and experiencing the future of motoring and tech thanks to the advanced technologies Muggles had invented. But the most awaited in the festival timetable would easily be the meet-and-greet with motorsport legends, current racers, wildcards, and test riders.

Outstanding figures related to motorcycle racing such as Alex Crivillé, Kevin Schwantz, Pol Espargaro, Miguel Oliveira, Michele Pirro, and Mika Kallio were all spotted participating in the festival. And just to emphasise how festive the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed was, this list is not even complete! In fact, there were about fifteen other names!

Even the rain that fell on Friday (14th July) and the cancellation of Saturday’s (15th) events due to high winds couldn’t dampen the stars’ and visitors’ spirit. On Sunday, the sun was back out and the area was once again packed.

During the closing ceremony, fans gathered in front of Goodwood House as the stars of both two- and four-wheel parked their machinery and headed inside the house before appearing on the balcony for a few interviews and to wave to the crowd. Multiple legends and riders took to the mic and addressed the fans before the festival came to an end with a round of cheers and applause.

Giacomo Agostini: “It’s incredible. And it’s nice to meet the young riders, and with all the older riders, it’s like a big party!”

Mick Doohan: “It’s always a spectacular place here, it’s great for everyone to come here. It’s great to reunite with a bunch of the older guys, like myself, and then also the younger generation, see some of the new bikes and the old bikes.”

Freddie Spencer: “To come here and be here, today it’s incredible. I’ve been coming here off and on since 1997!”

Francesco Bagnaia: “It was great, it’s maybe the greatest event I’ve ever been to in terms of passion for motorsport.”

Raul Fernandez: “It’s amazing, what an event!”

Brad Binder: “I’m just so stoked to be here! The amount of people here is incredible, and they put on a fantastic event.”

Enea Bastianini: “It’s more than my expectations, it’s fantastic and I’ve seen a lot of cars and bikes, and a lot of legends. It’s so cool.”

Long live Goodwood Festival of Speed!


September's Horoscope
by Koko Riddle

Welcome back to Hogwarts for the 2023-2024 school year! With a new school year comes, predictably, new horoscopes. Without further ado, let me present them for September 2023.

ARIES
During September, Aries natives might be feeling a bit more ambitious than usual. In fact, now is the time to take charge and move forward with anything you have been putting off.

TAURUS
This month, Tauruses might find difficulties in many aspects of their lives. This is due to Jupiter being in retrograde beginning on the fourth of September, and it is set to last until December. Fear not, though: your hobbies and self-expression
will remain unaffected.

GEMINI
Gemini natives may come upon obstacles that seem insurmountable this month. Your career or academic path might seem to come to a stall. It would be wise to take this time to focus on your personal relationships.

CANCER
Similarly to Tauruses, Cancers will feel the pain of Jupiter’s retrograde. You might feel as if your efforts amount to nothing, but that means that now is a good time to evaluate your plans ─ and the progress (or lack thereof) you have made.

LEO
Leos may see September as a month to speed through, but it’s important to take a step back and reflect – your health will be better for it. You might be someone who tries to keep an eye on other people, but right now, it is more important to focus on yourself first.

VIRGO
This month, the moon is in Virgo, and this can make you question your abilities. Try to nurture your self-confidence ─ do things that make you happy, and ensure your mental health is being taken care of.

LIBRA
This month, the moon is in Virgo, and this can make you question your abilities. Try to nurture your self-confidence ─ do things that make you happy, and ensure your mental health is being taken care of.

SCORPIO
In the middle of the month, Scorpios might have trouble communicating with others, especially their coworkers. To avoid snapping at people, one might look inwards instead. Try to see how you are feeling, and work on some of your personal projects if you have time.

SAGITTARIUS
September, for Sagittarius natives, will be a month of intense work with results as great as the effort put forth to achieve them. Your relationships might seem stronger than ever, and although you may find obstacles at work or school, you will find your way around them as long as you work towards your goals.

CAPRICORN
This month, Capricorns might find increasing difficulty regulating their personal lives and their professional lives. You have the skills to navigate any negative situations that arise, but it is imperative that you want to reconcile your work life and your home life.

AQUARIUS
Although Aquarians are often inclined to work hard, this month, hard work in itself might not reap rewards. Perseverance, however, will. Try to be diligent when things don’t go as planned ─ things might surprise you.

PISCES
This September, Pisces natives might feel inclined to act according to others’ wishes, especially in their professional life. However, others don’t always have your best interests in mind. Ask yourself what to do, and go with what you think is right.

As autumn begins, marking yet another change in the seasons, we will likely see change in our own lives as well. Change is not something to be disliked ─ rather, we adapt, and we grow. This September, I challenge everyone reading this to find some way to grow. Happy autumn, everyone.

Shine A Light On: Avery Leveret
by Cassandra Ironwoods

It has been my great honour to interview either stellar students or professors who walk the same corridors as us. If you pay attention to the changing of Prefects as I do, then you know that Prefects are always coming and going.

Some Prefects start their journey late in their Hogwarts career, while others start out before their school year even begins – shout out to Mr. Cain Corvus who, as I recall, was the youngest Prefect Slytherin has ever had. And for every Prefect who steps down from the role, there is someone ready to fill those shoes and take up the mantle to ensure everyone’s safety.

So, enough of the introduction – let’s get to know the person that I interviewed for this issue.

Cash: You were chosen to fill the Prefect role when you were a first-year student, did you expect to get the role or did it come as a surprise for you?
Avery: Excellence has been in my family for generations. My mother was also a serving member of the Wizengamot; as her mother, and her mother's mother before her. We are a great and pure family, and with that comes the expectation that all of us will do well; one of my brothers works in the ministry, and the other is a successful saleswizard; who knows where I will end up? Wherever it is, this is my first step.

Cash: I noticed aside from being a Prefect, you are also an active duellist for the Viridian Vipers. What made you choose duelling instead of other sports and who inspired you?
Avery: Have you ever felt a thrill so violent that you could swear that it embodied what it must be like to be a bolt of lightning? No? Well, then you haven't duelled. There is power in the mastery of magic, in competing against others with such, and if you're not powerful or the very best at your craft, what good are you?

Cash: From one former Prefect to another, do you think is it hard to balance school life and Prefect duties or does the school-Prefect balance come easy for you?
Avery: We live at our school, we breathe our school. Unlike some of my classmates, I take my education very seriously, though it is wasted. I feel unchallenged I've only ever received Outstanding grades; being a prefect is a time sink that means I can leave an impact on the terribly mannered student body. I'm sure you felt the same.

Cash: Any advice or anything else you’d like to add?
Avery: You can rely only on yourself, and you might as well be who you want to be because everyone else is taken. Besides, being like everyone else is boring. In a world of copies, be outstanding, my grandmother says.

There you go, lads and lasses! Meet one of the youngest Prefects in our school. Though Mr. Leveret is one of the youngest amongst the Prefect elite, he definitely seems to know what he’s doing. I, for one, can’t wait to see how Mr. Leveret blooms and grows while wearing the badge!

If you see him in passing, don’t hesitate to greet him. And as a closing statement, my message to all of you is to be kind to one another, take care, and stay safe! Cassandra Ironwoods signing off. Until next time!

Dangers That Lurk
By Simon Kincaid

Danger is defined as "the possibility of suffering harm or injury." Are our lives as students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry fraught with danger?

In a day at Hogwarts, there's about every scenario imaginable. Here's a sampling that may make you question the school's safety, in no particular order of level of harm: moving staircase mishaps, fellow students practicing the dark arts, choking hazards during meal times, shadowy figures, potential issues from half-breeds, broom accidents, Transfigurations gone wrong,


getting hit by a Bludger in Quidditch, the things that lurk in the Forbidden Forest, the hidden Chamber of Secrets (... and what other secrets?), the Hexwizard Tournament, harsh spells during duels, unexplained deaths in the neighboring wizarding town, hags, poisonous plants, potions that cause explosions, the Whomping Willow, fist fights, food fights, and what's with the curse on our school dances??

What does the student body think of these apparent dangers? I went to the corridors to seek some opinions and here's what your peers had to say!

I first spoke with Hufflepuff AngelFyre McCubbin who focused on the half-breed population at Hogwarts. Did you readers know that we are the only school of magic to accept half-breeds? AngelFyre felt that the half-breed population didn't present any danger to our school and that any dangers associated with them have come AT them and not from them. Such wise words from a beautiful person and a beautiful soul.

Some weren't too sure of the danger. Zach Zaphiere of Ravenclaw said that "Hogwarts itself is surrounded by dangers like the Forbidden Forest and Great Lake, but I feel completely safe here because I know Hogwarts is protected by experts. Or maybe I feel that way because I still spent a year here and didn't explore Hogwarts much."

Fellow Ravenclaw Cassie Jiang was also undecided. She began confidently by telling me, "Personally, I do not feel Hogwarts is very dangerous. With friends around me, I feel pretty safe and happy," but she did go on to explain that she sometimes argues with her foes and gets into fights, and that it can be easy for one to get hurt. She also brought up how classes like Potions can be dangerous because students could accidentally blow something up. Additionally, she raised an interesting point about the rumor of the headmaster going missing for a while.

Gryffindor Hannah Blossom was hesitant as well as she thought about the topic. "Danger? Well, my parents were deeply concerned about dark magic," she said, but quickly clarified that she hadn't used it. Then there was never a braver Gryffindor than Estelle Nyx, who, when questioned, replied, "Dangers? What dangers? The only dangerous thing that has happened to me at Hogwarts was falling out of a tree (which is surprisingly painful) and that was easily fixed by the nurse in the Hospital Wing. … Is there something I should know?"

That is a great question, isn't it?
Is there something we should know??

Rebecca Loops, a Slytherin, touched on this in his interview. Pausing at first, he stated, "For sure, Hogwarts is definitely not a safe place to be." He mentioned how it was bound to happen when you put a bunch of kids with wands in one place. "All magic is potentially dangerous. That's just how life is. If people wanted to be SAFE then they could have just stayed at home."

It is quite true. If one seeks adventure, then they also seek risk. Fear not though, Hogwarts, as statistically speaking, most all of us will make it to graduation!

A Note to First Years
by Ruby Cazares

The new school year has commenced, and as those of us who have been at Hogwarts in previous years readjust to the bustle of daily life, a new group of students are added to the ranks of our houses. For those of you new to the school, reading your first edition of the Hogwarts Headliner, let me give you a sense of what you can expect. Whether you’re a pureblood who’s been preparing for this your entire life or you’re a Muggleborn still adjusting to the idea of magic, I hope you can gain something from this article.

By now, you will have had the experience of being sorted into one of our four houses – a group you might one day call a family if you bond well with your housemates. If you’re pleased with your house already, that’s excellent. However, there are many who feel uncertain or insecure about their house placement, believing they should have been somewhere else. It may be hard, but trust in the Sorting Hat – as they say, it is never wrong. Every house has its merits, and you have been chosen for yours based on qualities that you possess, whether they’re clear to you now or revealed later. You belong where you are.

As you will quickly learn, the corridors can be highly confusing, with talkative portraits walking to different frames, moving staircases of various sizes and shapes, and ghosts who may float by. The school is full of many mysteries and idiosyncrasies, and while you will soon become familiar with some, others will take you years to discover or even be left unknown. There is a lot of trial and error involved in learning your way around, but try not to worry, as there’s generally an older student or two who wouldn’t mind offering directions if you get lost. It’s okay to ask for help – you won’t be alone in your confusion.


You can expect good food, grounds nearly as unpredictable and mysterious as the castle itself, and a wide range of personalities present in your professors. Don’t be afraid to talk to your professors after class or drop by their offices when they’re available – there is much to gain by building a relationship with them. They’re here to help you learn and become capable witches and wizards, and they bring with them a wealth of knowledge from their many varied experiences and backgrounds. You may find a mentor in them, and some will even offer you sweet treats just by showing up and talking to them. Furthermore, visiting the library, forming a study group, or just studying hard by yourself and staying organised can go a long way. Dedication to your academics early on will help you build good habits and make future learning easier once you have those foundations down. There’s much beyond academics, though. Join one of the many clubs or start your own, try out for the Quidditch team or sharpen your spellcasting skills for duelling – whatever it is you enjoy, whatever you want to do, there will be a place for it somewhere.

Whatever it is you enjoy, whatever you want to do, there will be a place for it somewhere.

Above all, keep your head up when things get hard in the first few months. You may doubt yourself or your place in the school, but I’m confident that you have the ability to excel despite that. Being a first year can be hard, but you will get through it, likely with fun and interesting experiences gained along the way. Good luck to all of you, and I wish you well.

Autumn Traditions
By Simon Kincaid

As the nights grow longer, the temperatures cool, and the leaves change colour, one knows that Summer is coming to a close and Autumn, along with another Halloween, is here once more. In fact, thousands of years ago the Celts held the festival of Samhain, which literally means ‘summer’s end’. With the closing of the harvest season and winter coming, they believed that the veil between the world of the living and the world of the dead was thinnest during this time and the dead could walk where they had before. It was also believed that those who had passed within the past year but yet to move on could interact with the living and say their goodbyes.

The Celts are where it all began, but as one fruitful season turns into one all about changes, we can see that other traditions have transpired throughout the world to celebrate some sort of, but not necessarily, Halloween around the month of October.

THE UNITED KINGDOM
In our country, on All Hallows’ Eve, ghost stories will be told and lighting candles inside hollowed vegetables will occur. Some play games such as bobbing for apples. Around this time, many muggle cinemas will play horror films and various historical places will conduct a ghost walk.

UNITED STATES AND CANADA
Our Ilvermorny friends that reside in the United States and Canada have perhaps the widest variety of customs for the night of the 31st of October. They take advantage of the fall harvest, taking pumpkins and carving faces within them and then placing a candle inside, creating what the Muggles there (or as they call, No-Majs) call jack-o’-lanterns. Along with the longer nights, they take them to corn mazes, visit haunted houses, and dress up in costumes to go trick-or-treating from the door of one house to another for sweets.

SPAIN
There’s a three-day-celebration in Spain from the 31st of October to the 2nd of November where they celebrate Dia de las Brujas (‘Day of the Witches’) or Noite dos Calacús, (‘Night of the Pumpkins’) until Dia de los Muertos. All Saints’ Day is an official holiday in Spain and many are off work so that they can tend to their lost loved ones’ graves and leave them flowers and other special offerings.

In some parts of Spain, you’ll see pumpkin carving, bonfires, and people dressed up in costumes that are much like the Americanised version of Halloween, but other parts of Spain mark this time of year by feasting on sweet wine, little cakes made of marzipan, chestnuts, and sweet potatoes.

JAPAN
Japan has the Obon Festival toward the end of Summer that honours and welcomes back the spirits of long-deceased ancestors. To honour this tradition, many will light a small bonfire in front of their house to guide spirits home. Fires are also lit each night, and lanterns are displayed and released into rivers and oceans.

MEXICO
In Mexico, people celebrate Día de los Muertos or ‘Day of the Dead’ on the 1st and 2nd of November, combining All Saints’ and All Souls’ Days. As with the celebration in Spain, this isn’t a version of Halloween but falls near the same calendar time and is marked by a celebration to remember our lost loved ones. They celebrate the days by dressing up, wearing masks, painting their faces to look like skulls, singing, dancing, and partying.

HAITI
Fet Gede is a celebration that is much like the Day of the Dead. This two day celebration has people dress up and wear lots of purple, black, and white and they drink, feast, and visit the graves of their lost loved ones.

CHINA, TAIWAN AND HONG KONG
In these countries, the Hungry Ghost Festival is held to pay respects to the spirits of the dead. The gates to the afterlife are believed to be opened, and the living offer food, drinks, and memorial shrines to appease these spirits so they can pass by in peace. This is also believed to be a time when passed loved ones can come check in on their families. However, the festival isn’t celebrated in October, but rather in Gregorian’s July or August, depending on the lunar calendar.
Note: This event is also celebrated in many other forms in other Asian countries.


So there it is. We were once in spring where all was new and we saw summer’s growth. Now, the leaves will be falling from the trees and autumn is here with a time of decline, reminding us that nothing lasts forever. Most areas deem this time of year as a time to reflect on all that once was and to pay homage to their ancestors and respect those who came before.

Bewitching Brooms
By Koko Riddle

Quidditch: it’s a word many of you have heard before. Some of you might play Quidditch – or you might broom race, which still uses brooms. That’s what this article is about (hence the title). Today, you will get to know some Quidditch players, and you’ll also get to learn about their wonderful brooms.

Ethan Smith, a third-year Gryffindor Beater; Lavinia Cloven, a sixth-year Ravenclaw Chaser; and Dan Palmer, a sixth-year Slytherin Seeker, provided valuable input.

Palmer said he uses two brooms – more specifically, he said he owns a Silver Arrow, but that he uses his Firebolt ‘almost exclusively’. Smith, too, uses a Firebolt. Cloven, however, had a different broom: the Varápidos, a racing broom that she had said also ‘works well for Quidditch’.

Smith stated that he doesn’t wish to buy any broom other than his Firebolt, calling his broom ‘just rough enough’ for his ‘style of play’. In addition to what Palmer said about the broom, the Firebolt seems rather versatile. Both players highlighted the broom’s speed and agility, and Smith in particular noted that it makes his job as a Beater a lot easier. It seems that speed can be incredibly useful when creating an onslaught of bludgers.

Cloven also emphasised her broom’s agility, but added that she seemed to be able to perform more blatches with her Varápidos. This might be a coincidence, but there might also be something about a racing broom that adds to fouling proficiency in Quidditch. Perhaps some brooms are better-suited to blatching than others are.

Palmer, like Smith, said he was fine with his Firebolt, but he mentioned he might eventually wish to collect other brooms. Cloven, however, mentioned tree brooms – the Pine Chopper in particular – as brooms she was interested in buying in the future. ‘They just seem so fun to ride and compete in,’ she added.

I asked each Quidditch player for their advice for younger years.

Cloven said, ‘Reach out to the broom funds! That’s where I got my first broom and have been donating old ones to ever since.’

Smith said, quite truthfully, ‘I think it’s important to remember that a good broom is nothing without a skilled and determined player. And when it comes to brooms, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all answer. Different players have different preferences and styles of play, so it’s important to find the broom that works best for you.’.

Last but not least, Palmer said, ‘Get yer own broom. Don’t rely on the school brooms. All respect to the professors and the Flyin’ professor in particular, but the school brooms’r [censored]. There’s no gettin’ ‘round it. If ye hafta settle fer the cheapest Cleansweep they got, it’s still a step up. Ye’ll feel way better about it.’

Ultimately, while brooms are important and are rather fun to use, they are not everything a Quidditch player or a broom racer is. It is important to strengthen one’s own skills first. Then, one should set their sights on a broom – any broom, really, although the three athletes I interviewed all use rather famous brooms. All brooms, from the Shooting Star to the Pine Chopper, are valid, and as Ethan Smith stated best, there is no perfect broom for all players. Every player has a broom that fits them best. The only thing one can do is practice to find out.

The Motorcycle Diaries: Race in Peace
By Maverick Castle

Each year on 2nd November, many worldwide commemorate the deceased in general and the passings of their loved ones specifically. These are the stories of some professional motorcycle racers who fought on tracks and passed there; and this article is respectfully dedicated to each and every rider who followed their passion but tragically, unable to fulfil their dreams until the very end.

Daijiro Kato
(4/6/1976 - 20/4/2003)
Kato started racing miniature motorbikes as a child and was crowned national champion in the Japanese pocket-bike racing four times. In 1992, Kato began road racing, and four years later, he managed to join the Grand Prix as a wildcard rider. The Japanese man was eventually promoted as a full-time rider in 2000.

The following season, he dominated the 250cc class with 11 wins, a record that still stands today.

Winning the 2000 and 2002 Suzuka Eight Hours, Kato graduated to the top MotoGP class the same year he won his second aforementioned endurance race.

Sadly, he passed on 20th April 2003, following a race on the same circuit where he crashed and hit a wall at 200 kilometres/hour. He was 26 years old.

Shoya Tomizawa
(10/12/1990 - 5/9/2010)
Tomizawa began his career with pocket-bikes when he was three, later switching to minibikes in 2001. While majoring in English at Sousa High School, he also began participating full-time in the 125cc category of All-Japan Road Race Championship. As his achievements rocketed, Tomizawa began to eye global challenge, a dream that came true in 2009: following his high-school graduation and runner-up position in the 250cc class, the Japanese was recruited to compete in international racing, where he was dubbed a ‘future star’ by British sports commentator Toby Moody.

The bright path, however, was short-lived. On 5th September 2010, Tomizawa fell off his motorcycle during a race and was struck by two competitors. Although he was taken to hospital, the 19-year-old passed away the same afternoon.

Marco Simoncelli
(20/1/1987 - 23/10/2011)
Simoncelli, a San Marino nicknamed Sic, began racing minibikes at seven years old. Following a successful European 125cc campaign, Sic made his GP debut and continued climbing up the ladder, joining the top category in 2010.

His incomplete final race took place in Malaysia, on 23rd October 2011. Falling from the fourth position on the second lap, Sic slid into the path of other riders, all of whom had no time to avoid him. Less than an hour after the incident, his passing at the age of 24 was confirmed.

Luis Jaime Salom Horrach
(7/8/1991-3/6/2016)
Salom, from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, raced competitively in national championships since the age of eight. His talents eventually attracted an international team, enabling the Spanish to begin competing at the next level in 2009. Even though he never won any world title, Salom overall in his last year fighting in the Moto3 category, in 2013.

When practising for a Moto2 grand prix in Barcelona on 3rd June 2016, the 24-year-old crashed his bike. The machine hit an air fence and bounced upwards, while Salom slid and was positioned directly in the falling motorcycle’s path. He passed during surgery performed in attempts to save him from the crash’s injuries.

Jason Dupasquier
(7/9/2001-30/5/2021)
Dupasquier was a Swiss rider who started racing at eleven and debuted in the Red Bull Rookies Cup in 2019, after which he was immediately awarded a two-year contract to race full-time in GP’s lightweight class.

Despite the promising start, his career was cut short when Dupasquier was involved in a crash during the qualification preceding the Italian GP. He received medical treatments on the spot for approximately half an hour before being transported to a hospital via medical helicopter to undergo cardiothoracic and brain surgeries; the following day, he passed from complications of his injuries.

Dean Berta Viñales
(20/4/2006-25/9/2021)
Born in Palau-saverdera, Spain, the love of motorcycles runs in Berta’s family, as his maternal cousins Maverick Viñales Ruiz and Isaac Viñales Mares also pursued careers as motorcycle racers. He made a debut in the Supersport 300 World Championship in the year of 2021, starting in 11 races and achieving his best result in the fourth place in a French race.

Berta’s racing journey was terribly short-lived. Less than a year after debuting, the Spanish fell to the ground and was run over by multiple fellow riders. The same afternoon, 3:11 p.m. on the 25th September 2021, the race organiser published a message which confirmed the 15-year-old’s passing.

We miss you, racers. The times you had with us was not enough, but we’ll keep them in our hearts forever. RIP - Race in Peace.

Meet the Professors: Melisande Lennox
Alyssea Brown

A new year always brings new faces and, aside from our new first year cohort, we are introducing two new professors to the Hogwarts family. While the former History of Magic professor – Professor Browne – remains in Hogwarts, unfortunately, we are saying goodbye to the Divination professor, Professor Bardot. Regardless, we thank both of them for their hard work and passion for teaching.

The new professors are Professor Melisande Lennox and Professor Winifred Bonnet. In this issue, we will be meeting Professor Lennox.

Professor Lennox is the new History of Magic professor, replacing Professor Browne when he returned to the position of Hufflepuff’s Head of House. She is a Hogwarts alumna and also graduated from the University of Edinburgh, majoring in history and archaeology. Following her studies, she worked with the Ministry of Magic as an archaeologist prior to her return to Hogwarts this year.

Brown: Thank you for doing this interview with me, Professor! You’ve just started teaching here – how has Hogwarts treated you so far?

Lennox: This is my first time as a professor and it is a new challenge for me, personally and professionally. Hogwarts was my home when I was a student, so this came with nostalgia, like coming home after a long time away. It would be impossible to say I’m not happy to be here again. I did have some… particular encounters, but I hope to make more during my time here. Overall, Hogwarts is a beautiful community, like a micro-society inside a more vast and complex one, a place we can look up to, grow and learn from it.

Brown: You mentioned that you were also a Hogwarts student. Has anything changed since you graduated?

Lennox: A lot changed! But isn’t that the natural order of things? I started studying at Hogwarts in 1997. That was a dark time in our history. A war was happening.

Hogwarts was supposed to be the safest place in our world, but the final battle took place in these grounds. I was just a first year, a little twelve-year-old girl. Imagine having to face Dark wizards and all that chaos that invaded these halls. I did not, obviously. Like many others, I kept inside my common room. I remember the muffled sounds, we knew what was happening outside even without seeing it. We gathered around waiting, just waiting for who would be the one opening the heavy door to the room. I remember how frightening those moments felt, the anticipation of wondering what kind of world we would find after that never-ending night. And the world changed. It changed, fortunately, for the better. So yes, many things changed since my first year at Hogwarts and I’m glad they did.

Brown: What important things about history do you think students should know?

History is a valuable tool we can use to change our society, our world and everything that is a part of it. History is what we are, it tells us from where we are coming and towards where and what we are walking into. Because even if we can't change what's in the past, the future is in our hands. And there is no way we can walk for a better world if we don’t know history and not care to learn from it.

Knowledge is a weapon; it holds power, and power can be a dangerous thing in the wrong hands.

See this as a wheel that never stops: it keeps moving in circles, it respects an order to prevent chaos. But sometimes, a wheel spins the wrong way and the one with knowledge has power to change things. Because they know their history, they know how to break the wheel and fix it.

Learning history and learning from it lets you decide if you are the one running in circles or the one that breaks it and is able to master its rotations. I want my students to be the ones deciding their destiny and not being tools in an addicted system.

Brown: As someone who enjoys learning about history, I’ll definitely keep that wheel analogy in mind. To wrap things up, any last messages you’d like to offer?

Lennox: Always be honest to yourself and your peers. Seek more and don't be afraid to question things. Keep your mind busy finding the answers and don't settle for something that isn't right for you or those you love and care about. Always keep a respectful manner to deal with things and others; listen more and speak only when you have the knowledge you need. Show kindness and love a lot. Those are things that are never too much.

Interview with a (Half) Vampire
by Simon Kincaid

Halloween, at least in the Muggle world, conjures up thoughts of ghosts, goblins, hexes, spells, wizards, werewolves, va- mpires, and all things that go bump in the night. For my first eleven years, I thought they were nothing more than spooky myths; but here at Hogwarts, I would discover them all to be factual. Now, in this article, we’re going to delve into the bloody truth about (half) vampires through an interview.

What is a dhampir? Do dhampirs possess any unique skills or talents?
A dhampir is part vampire and part human, either from bloodline or a turning. I like to think I hold more human traits than vampiric ones, but some characteristics that distinguish me from full humans are retractable fangs; fingernails that grow quickly, strong, and sharp; pale skin; eyes that dilate wide in low light; tears of blood; increased strength and speed; and of course, aversion to sunlight. I know that can sound like a lot of differences, but they’re relatively small when you think about all the similarities.

How do you keep from being burnt by the sun?
Unlike folklore, at least for us dhampirs, exposure to sunlight doesn’t prove to be fatal. However, when exposed to sunlight or even some wand-lighting charms, we can feel weakened. Our movements are slower under too much exposure and we’re quick to get sunburnt.

What do you eat?
I haven’t compared eating preferences and favourite meals with others of my kind to know for sure, but dhampirs probably have various palates like any other creatures. We can eat human food, but blood is also one of our food sources and is necessary. I personally enjoy steak and can also eat some vegetables and enjoy lemon drops, but will pass on anything sweet.

What happens if dhampirs don’t drink blood?
Dhampirs need such nutrition in their diet, but that doesn’t mean they need it directly from the source. We’re provided a daily ration of blood pops which are supplied to us to satisfy this essential part of our diet and prevent cravings; therefore avoiding any urge to attack.

How can I protect myself from a dhampir?
We are no more of a threat than any other living being on this Earth and there is absolutely no need to be afraid of us. As for me, I love making new friends so please don’t be afraid.

Do you think creatures should be accepted by society? Can they coexist peacefully with humans?
Absolutely. It saddens me that our other wizarding schools don’t accept half-breeds as students, treating us like some sort of lesser beings. All of the half-breeds are intelligent creatures of this Earth with thoughts, feelings, goals, and dreams.

What is the most difficult part of being a dhampir?
The secrecy of it all; it feels like lying, but when you’re not completely certain how others will react or think of you, you do try to keep it hidden.

But Hogwarts, I no longer wish to feel like I’m lying and over secrecy. I reveal to you that the dhampir interviewed in this article didn’t sit in front of me; instead, his image was reflected back to me from a small hand mirror propped up on the table. I, Simon Kincaid, am one of the dhampir students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; one of the half-breeds. If you have any questions I didn’t answer in this interview, please, smile and say hello and ask away. We are one student body so let’s gain some understanding, acceptance, and solidarity - and as always, remember to be kind to one another.

Horror-Scopes
by Koko Riddle

With the advent of spooky season and the looming terror of Halloween, new horror-scopes – apologies, horoscopes – have arrived. Without further ado, they are presented below.

ARIES
Aries natives might not find too much to be different from last month. You could very well be at a point of stability for the foreseeable future, but remember to take care of your health as you usually would.

TAURUS
Although Taurus natives might not find their financial lives to be as good as they have been, they can expect greater harmony in their relationships with their family and friends.

GEMINI
Geminis will have a wonderful month. October should bring you prosperity and good health, and you should notice greater success in most of your pursuits. This would be a good month to work towards something new.

CANCER
Cancer natives, however, will likely notice greater discord in their lives. If October brings trouble, do your best to focus on your well-being – things will sort themselves out eventually.

LEO
Most Leos will see increasing opportunities for growth in their school or work lives. Your family situation should also be more favourable.

VIRGO
Despite likely having better health, October could bring financial woes for Virgos. Although these might be minor, like noticeable inflation, they will likely still have an effect.

LIBRA
Libras may experience ups and downs in their work life this month. However, the ‘downs’ might be a bit more pronounced than the ‘ups’. Perseverance is key to maintaining focus, but your work-life balance is still important.

SCORPIO
Scorpio natives should experience better health throughout the month of October, but remain alert for any disharmony in your familial relationships.

SAGITTARIUS
Financially, Sagittarius natives should see decent growth. Money might seem to come more easily, or you might have a raise. Keep an eye out for opportunities.

CAPRICORN
Capricorns might not notice anything too different, but there could be increased discord in romantic relationships. Communication is important to ensure everyone remains happy.

AQUARIUS
Aquarians will likely face a relatively difficult October when compared to prior months. October could very well bring hardships in one’s career, academics or finances, so it is important to remember the importance of one’s interpersonal relationships in trying times.

PISCES
Despite decent growth in finances or advances in one’s career, Pisces natives might find it prudent to work on their self-confidence and self-care this October. Taking care of oneself is a way to help good things last.

Despite a range of variables affecting the horoscopes this October, the month shouldn’t be too scary… At least until Halloween. I hope that this month, you get treated instead of tricked. Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful October.

Be-leaf in yourself & Carve Out a Good Time
by Serena Towers

The Autumnal Equinox — on the 23rd September — marks the start of the season of autumn. Think cosy days of sweaters, pumpkin spiced latte and harvest. There are many things associated with wellbeing and cosiness when it comes to autumn -snuggling into warm cosy blankets, wearing fluffy socks, drinking pumpkin spiced hot chocolate, being thankful, carving pumpkins and so on.

There are also many crafts that you could do with pine cones, dried leaves and branches. Make a wreath to go on your dorm door or above your dorm bed, create a wooden log candle holder, make a hedgehog house, build a bug hotel or make a bird feeder. You could even go a step further and organise a harvest or picnic for others - imagine the amount of crafts you could make for a picnic!

There are so many festivals and celebrations happening around the world every season that it would be impossible to go through them all. However, whatever the occasion is, you can celebrate it in Hogwarts. Just think creatively and embrace the celebration.

To name but a few, we have Halloween, Day of the Dead, Diwali, the Moon Festival and Loy Krathong (also known as Lantern festival) are all coming up.

There are many ways to celebrate the festival at Hogwarts. Start by telling people about the festival, its importance and what it means to you. You could even host an activity related to it!

For instance, if you want to celebrate Halloween - you could try carving pumpkins and leave them all over your dorm (the greenhouses might have some that the professor will let you have!) or try making your own costume if you know how to sew! For Diwali, why not create some rangoli patterns around the castle? You could potentially even make some food dishes related to your festival, if you can get permission from a professor - like Pan de Muerto (which translates to Bread of the Dead) for Day of the Dead.

If you can’t get permission to do your specific task, there are plenty of alternatives. Did you know you could get ceramic shaped tealight holders, such as a ceramic skull? The skulls could be used for Day of the Dead or Halloween, depending on how you decorate them! Why not eat some mooncakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival or decorate some paper lanterns? You could make the rangoli patterns on paper plates and leave them in your dormitories.

Think creatively and you’ll quickly find ways of celebrating any festival and bringing some of your culture to the castle. These cultural celebrations are incredibly good for well-being— not just yours, but everyone around. These events are good for bringing people together and giving them a sense of belonging. Just be-leaf in yourself and carve out a good time for everyone by celebrating the festivals you love and enjoy!

Spooky Stories Around the World
Hannah Blossom

Halloween season is the time spooky stories abound. People travel through haunted houses and watch gory movies to induce fear all through October. But it’s not just Halloween— cultures around the world have traditions of telling creepy stories. In fact, many have told different scary folktales to scare kids throughout history.

Spooky stories are tales of ancient origin that form a substantial part of the body of folk literature. They can feature supernatural elements such as ghosts, witches, or vampires, or address more realistic psychological fears. “Spooky” can also be used to describe something that is related to ghosts or spooks.

In this article, I will be sharing with you a few popular spooky stories from around the world, just in time for Halloween! The stories, of course, are within age ratings, so I hope you enjoy them.

La Llorona

The story of La Llorona, or “The Weeping Woman”, hails from Mexico. The story goes that a woman named Maria married a rich man and had two children.

The husband started paying more attention to the children than to her, so she drowned her children in a jealous fit of rage. Because of this, she wasn’t allowed into heaven. She’s now forced to wander the world aimlessly.

Everywhere she goes, she cries out for her children to forgive her. But you don’t want to hear her cries: they say if you do, she’s chosen you. Some versions of the story say she kidnaps kids to replace her own. Others say she attacks cheating husbands. Whatever the case, you don’t want to hear a woman crying near a body of water.

Baba Yaga

Baba Yaga is one of the classic scary folktales in Slavic culture. She is a witchy woman who flies around in a mortar and snatches up children who misbehave. She’s always portrayed as skinny, bony, and frightfully ugly.

Her name means “wicked old woman”, which describes her very well. In many versions of the story, Baba Yaga cooks children and eats them to fatten herself up, which really sounds like a horrible way to go.

She often resides in a hut surrounded by a fence of human bones.

Baba Yaga can also refer to a trio of sisters.

Other strands of the scary story interpret the Baba Yaga into three separate sisters who all share the same name. They either help lost travellers and children or eat them, depending on how they’re feeling.

El Cuco

This scary story is very similar to the Bogeyman, but it originates in Spain. El Cuco is a monster that haunts children at night.

He can take any form, which makes him especially creepy. El Cuco can take the form of a shadow or an animal, and he can snatch children if he’s hiding nearby. He often steals away under children’s beds or in the darkest corners of a room.

Parents sang songs about El Cuco to warn their children: “Sleep child, sleep now, else Cuco will eat you,” is the most well-known lullaby.

Mètminwi

This Haitian monster scoops up children who are out after dark. He easily gets the job done thanks to his legs that are two stories high.

Each night, he roams the streets in search of prey. His name means “Master of Midnight”, a nod to his preference for nighttime strolls.

He’s been called the “Haitian Slender Man”, the creepypasta from the 2010s, due to his tall, gangly appearance.

And these are the spooky stories I have for you today. They are from all around the world and help us learn about different cultures, just in time for Halloween.

Wicked Awesome Ways to Overcome Authority
By Koko Riddle

Some of you have known me as a prefect of Slytherin in the past, and some of you see me as one now. In other words, you see me as authority. It might surprise some of you to know that, when I was a first and second year, I was absolutely terrified of prefects, professors… really anyone in positions of authority, largely because I didn’t want to get in trouble. I’ve since gotten over that fear, and I would like to extend some advice.

Familiarity is often the bane of fear. This is exemplified when students at Hogwarts learn the Boggart-Banishing Spell – they must face their fears before they can dispel them. This was, largely, how I began to overcome my fear of authority. I befriended a few prefects and I began to ask questions of my professors. Although I was still terrified, it was exposure that made me eventually willing to become a prefect. That’s not to say that one must become a figure of authority to overcome their fear… but it was certainly helpful.

Increasing one’s confidence can also help. This is admittedly very difficult, and I struggled with it until recently. I actually will admit that I still struggle with confidence, just far less often than I used to. I’ve become more confident through Quidditch, mostly, but also through getting better marks in some of my classes. I’ve heard that increasing one’s number of friends can help with confidence, as well. Once you are confident in yourself, you have less of a need to fear authority, since you can handle things on your own (or, at least, you might believe you can).

Additionally, observation was very useful for me, and it might prove useful to anyone reading this, too. I watched others interact, often from far away, and I realised what I could do better in my own interactions with others. Once I got better at talking to others, I was less worried about any potential interactions I might have with those who have authority over me.

Even when one manages to decrease one’s fear of authority, anxiety might linger – and that’s okay. It’s normal to still feel residual fear despite having overcome the worst of it. That’s part of growth, and eventually, that will lessen. A twinge of worry might always remain, but maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe that keeps us in check.

DEFEATING DEMENTORS
Serena Towers


Dementors are known to be creatures that drain us of our happiness and joy. They are foul creatures associated with despair. They literally suck away people’s happiness, unless they are defeated. And, from my experience, happiness is an emotion that many of us want in our lives, but sometimes, we find it eludes us.

Classwork is too hard, Hogwarts is constantly under attack, our friends turn out to be lying backstabbers… Whatever it is that drives our happiness away, there are many, many books and research on the concept of happiness and how to make life happier.

So welcome to this brand new column, where we discuss ways to remove the things that bring unhappiness into our lives and actions that can bring happiness to us instead.

In the past, I have written some articles showcasing ways we can do more self-care. In a similar way, I wanted to discuss happiness and ways we can actively seek it, inviting it into our lives. Together, we will seek the sunshine— much like.catching that golden snitch. So, sunshine seekers, let us work on ways to defeat our dementors.

Now, I will start by saying this: everyone’s journey and situation is different, and sometimes, there may be things that prevent you from being happy or— in that situation— make you unhappy. This is not a fix for everything, but perhaps it will help make you smile a little. It is okay not to be okay, and feeling other emotions is perfectly normal. However, I have recently been researching what makes different people happy and I thought that every so often, I would share some of those methods with you through real, achievable things that you could do or think about that may bring some happiness to your life. These are things you can try and do until the next column.

I am by no means an expert. I am a seventeen-year-old Hufflepuff with very little experience in the matter. However, I almost died in my first year and I never thought I would make it to where I am— but I did make it to my seventh year, and throughout the years, I have trialled some of these strategies. I am slowly finding things that work for me— and what things don’t work. I want to share these with you.

It is also important to note that what works for you today might not work for you in a few months. What works then might not work for you right now. What I have found are some small, real-life actions that you can take right now to make little differences in your life. They work for me sometimes and I wanted to share them, in case they worked for you too.

Say this out loud. Don’t sit there silently reading this. Say it loudly and proudly:

Let’s make the world a happier place. Together.
We can defeat our dementors. For we are Sunshine Seekers.

Now, before we continue, I want to issue you a challenge. Before you read Defeating Dementors #2, take a few minutes to think about what makes you happy. Is there anything you enjoy doing? People whom you like spending time with? Moments that make you smile? When was the last time you smiled and why? Have you made anyone else smile recently? Write them down. Write down what— or who— makes you happy, so you can reflect on it in the future.

For now, this is Serena J. Towers, over and out.

Sky-High Results and a New Captain?
By Alyssea Brown

The summer games were an exhilarating watch across the field. Following a very successful 2022–2023 season, Hufflepuff represented Hogwarts for broom sports at the summer games. Let’s have a look at each of the games.

Broom racing:

On July 8th, the broom racing competition began in the morning with Hufflepuff competing against Beauxbatons. While the start of the race was painful for Hufflepuff, the team made up for it with speed. A few knee-reversal hexes from Beauxbatons later, Hufflepuff's Simon Kincaid crossed the finish line just millimetres ahead of Beauxbatons’ Raphael Aveline.

In the afternoon it was Koldovstoretz and Ilvermorny. Whoever said Hufflepuff were the most brutal broom racers were wrong because Ilvermorny began the race throwing projectiles. However, Koldovstoretz racer Irina Afanasyeva stayed in the lead for the whole race and crossed the finish line first to secure the win.

On July 9th, Durmstrang’s racers were up against racers from Koldovstoretz, Mahoutokoro, and Castelobruxo. Passageways seemed to be everyone’s enemy as almost all the racers hit their heads against the rocks. In the end, Mahoutokoro’s Chiaki Hiroi took home the win for the interschool team.

Quidditch:

July 29th was a Quidditch-filled day. The morning saw Uagadou-Mahoutokoro against Ilvermorny. Of course, it wasn’t Quidditch without cheating as Uagadou’s Mkhaku Khosa was caught blatching and others were knocking Ilvermorny off their brooms. However, it seemed the violence was for nought as Ilvermorny’s seeker, Kaya Rose Bennett, caught the snitch.

Mahoutokoro played another game in the afternoon, this time with Koldovstoretz against Beauxbatons-Castelobruxo. Beauxbatons-Castelobruxo put on a strong start with their chasers scoring goals every round. Mahoutokoro-Koldovstoretz hit just as hard by bludgering the opposing team’s seeker to the ground. Still, Beauxbatons-Castelobruxo remained firm in their point-scoring strategy and won.

Hogwarts against Durmstrang in the evening was a quick game. While Hufflepuff scored points, Durmstrang was violent, knocking Hufflepuff off their brooms. Arguably, Hufflepuff earned points and should’ve been handed the victory. However, Durmstrang did knock the badgers off their brooms and could also be counted as a win. In the end, the game was considered a tie, much to the disappointment of the Durmstrang students.

Interview with Zach Zaphiere, new Ravenclaw racing captain:

Q: Hi, Zach! First of all, how are you?

A: Hello! I am doing okay. Thanks for asking!

Q: Nice! Onto your captaincy, why broom racing? You’re a duellist for Ravenclaw, right?

A: Oh yeah... I am currently part of the Murder of Merlin. And why broom racing? (Zach paused.) I actually started to enjoy watching sports during the spring games.

Duelling caught my attention first. I decided to join the team to take the opportunity to train my magic as I can't whenever I go home.

Then I saw Quidditch and broom racing. I realised then that both of the sports are really cool! And I like watching the racers fly fast to the finish line while avoiding all the obstacles and attacks from the environment and other racers. Not to mention they can cast spells while flying. They are really cool!

When this term started, I heard that the Ravenclaw Broom Racing team had opened up applications for co-captain. I actually wanted to apply, but I was hesitant because I'm very bad at flying and scared of heights. However, I remembered my grandpa once said to me that to overcome fear, we have to face it head-on. So, I decided to apply and here I am.

Q: I’m sure a lot of people had that fear before becoming racers. Some insider info, if you’re willing to share, what kind of strategies will you bring to the track?

A: Strategy? I actually cannot tell you about that, sorry. But I want to let you know that we are working hard, practising all the strategies we have made. So, I have high expectations that our team will perform well in this year's championship.

Q: Fair enough! A lot of people will probably wonder which sport to do, and since you do both duelling and broom racing, do you have any messages you want to give to any aspiring athletes?

A: Ah, yes. To anyone who wants to join the official team for any sports, but is still hesitant, you have to—give it a try! Don't be afraid of your skills because the thing is, we're all still learning together. And believe me, there are many benefits that you can get by joining us! We will welcome you with open arms.

Some wise words from our newest captain and a thrilling end to the summer season for broom sports. Maybe it's your turn to try out broom sports. After all, who knows what this new year will bring?


Rubik's Cube: More Than Your Average Toy
By Cassandra Ironwoods

It’s been a while since a.Muggle Item of the Month has seen the.light of the day. But fret not. I will try to.satisfy your curiosity.with anything Muggle-related. If you don’t know what Muggle Item of the Month is, please go bother your peers, upperclassmen, or any Headliner staff aside from me.

Now, I know you are not reading the newspaper for my rambles, so I hope this comeback of Muggle Item of the Month will keep your curiosity sated until the next issue. Without further ado, let’s begin.

What is the Rubik's Cube?

The Rubik's Cube is a 3-D combination puzzle invented in 1974 by Hungarian sculptor and professor of architecture Ernő Rubik. Originally called the Magic Cube, it was used as a learning exercise to teach Rubik’s students about 3-dimensional spaces.

Rubik licensed the puzzle to Pentangle Puzzles in the UK in 1978, and then Ideal Toy Corp in 1980 via businessman Tibor Laczi and Seven Towns founder Tom Kremer. The cube was released internationally in 1980 and became one of the most recognized icons in popular culture.

On the original Rubik's Cube, each of the six faces was covered by nine stickers, each one of six solid colours: white, red, blue, orange, green, and yellow. Some later versions of the cube use coloured plastic panels instead, which prevent peeling and fading.

The 1980s Cube Craze

May 1980: sales were modest, but Ideal began a television advertising campaign in the middle of the year which it supplemented with newspaper advertisements.

Late 1980: Rubik's Cube won a German Game of the Year special award and won similar awards for best toy in the UK, France, and the US.

1981: the Rubik's Cube became a craze, and it is estimated that between 1980 and 1983, around 200 million Rubik's Cubes were sold worldwide.

In March 1981, the Guinness Book of World Records held a speedcubing in Munich.

September 1981, New Scientist noted that the cube "captivated the attention of children of ages from 7 to 70 all over the world this summer."

In June 1982, the First Rubik's Cube World Championship took place in Budapest and was the only official competition until its revival in 2003.

In October 1982, The New York Times reported that sales had fallen and that "the craze has died”. By 1983, it was clear that sales had plummeted.

21st-Century Revival

The Rubik's Cubes continued to be marketed and sold throughout the 1980s and 1990s, but interest in the Cube greatly increased in the early 2000s. The 2003 World Rubik's Games Championship, held in Toronto, was the first speedcubing tournament since 1982.

Since then, the Rubik’s Cube has taken on new forms: Rubik’s Apprentice 2x2, Rubik's 3x3, Rubik’s Master 4x4, Rubik’s Professor 5x5, and Rubik's 3x3 Phantom. Despite their similar names, the Rubik’s 3x3 is far different from the more difficult 3x3 Phantom.

One must touch the Phantom’s tiles to temporarily reveal the colours and solve it as the colours fade. This is done using thermochromic technology. Since the Phantom’s colours fade so quickly, the Rubik’s Phantom is a difficult challenge that was meant for experienced Cubers.

Today, the Rubik’s Cube is revered as one of the most beloved toys of all time. Each year, millions of Cubes are sold, solved, and shared among friends, families, and puzzle seekers alike.

As my closing statement, what are you waiting for? Go buy, borrow, or steal one. And when you do solve that darn cube, let me know. Until next time, Cassandra Ironwoods, signing out!

The Motorcycle Diaries: And the Winners Are...
By Maverick Castle

November, as always, brings the curtains down on another season of the MotoGP championship. The World Champions from the three categories are crowned, and so are the Rookies of the Year, and constructors and machineries are awarded with prestigious prizes — but it seems that a couple of awards have been missed by the FIM (according to us at the Hogwarts Headliner). What are they?

Best Recovery: Marco Bezzechi in Indonesia
Starting his Indonesian Grand Prix journey less than a week following his collarbone surgery, Bezzechi finished third on Saturday’s 13-lap race and fifth on Sunday’s 27. What a comeback!

Bizarre Crasher: Joel Kelso
Poor Kelso broke several bones after crashing into the back of Dani Holgado’s bike post-race in the 2023 opening round. This seems to be a continuation of the 2022 season when he somehow got hit by a riderless motorcycle (it kept on running on the track despite its rider having fallen). We wonder if magic really has no place in MotoGP.

Born to Hand-Jive: Jack Miller and Sam Lowes
These two never fail to punch the air whenever they crash or feel someone wronged them.

Careless Helper: Marco Bezzechi’s helper in Japan
During the second qualification session, Bezzechi had a crash. His helper, having a good intention to drive the racer back to his box as fast as possible, started to drive before the Italian sat properly on the passenger seat. No injury was caused, though — thankfully!

Drama Queens: Romano Fenati and Marc Márquez
Yeah, we aren’t surprised either….

Dry Weather Specialist: Francesco Bagnaia in Indonesia
The reigning MotoGP World Champion won the race after starting 13th on the grid!

Role Reversal: Sam Lowes in France
Despite starting from the pole position, the Brit suffered from a crash and later attempted to return to his team’s garage within five minutes to be qualified for a restart following a red flag. Not trusting his helper, Lowes rode on his own while the helper sat in the passenger seat. The role reversal didn’t stop here as he failed to ride his bike past the pit lane gate within the designated time, forcing the poleman to start from the back of the grid instead. Tough luck!

We wonder if magic really has no place in MotoGP.

Soulmates: Joan Mir and Alex Rins
In the previous seasons, these two were teammates who often achieved similar race results, be it good or bad. In 2023, although no longer teammates, they keep the pattern. Even when Rins was sidelined for a couple of rounds due to injury, Mir somehow tended to fail to finish the races. Coincidence? Hmmm… we don’t think so!

Wet Weather Specialist: Sergio García in Argentina
Starting from 28th and finishing fifth in his second-ever Moto2 race, the Valencian is definitely someone to keep your eye on.

What a Hit: Miguel Oliviera
Upon trying his hand at cricket pre-Indian Grand Prix, the #88 managed to successfully aim his ball to hit a reporter’s head… even though he didn’t mean to do so!

Wildly-Cheered Wildcard: Dani Pedrosa
Widely recognised as one of the most successful riders to never win a title, the MotoGP Legend’s wildcard appearances were highly anticipated, and they didn’t disappoint, too! Another reason for his popularity? Definitely his humble and gentle personality.

Which awards are your favourite? Or are there other categories you wish to be included next year? Let us know by sending us an owl!

How to Know if Somebody is Taking Advantage of You
By Hannah Blossom

If you suspect someone is taking advantage of you or simply would like to know how to know this information, then this is the right article for you.

There are many ways to know if someone is actually taking advantage of you. However, I shall tell you the simplest ways to know this. If the person practices these two kinds of habits, then they might be taking advantage, or you might begin to suspect them, but do observe their behaviour. Think about these things and then you might know if they are actually taking advantage of yours truly.

Self-Centred. When talking to this person, do think: are they speaking mostly about themselves? Is their favourite topic themselves? If so, they might be using you. Keep looking for these clues. They only reach out when the topic is about themselves. Next time they reach out, is it something like, oh is my hair alright? Or maybe, could you do my charms homework? Thank you!

When they help, it’s because they think they have to, not necessarily because they want to. Maybe they want to make you think they don’t actually practice this behaviour, so they help you, however, if they do, they might look frustrated or terribly bored.

They look to you for a confidence boost. When they're feeling upset or feel bad you’re the first one they owl, however… This could be a good thing, right? Not necessarily.

If they do these self-centred things, then this could be a clue and you might keep a look out for the next habit…

Uncaring of Others. They don’t support you, ever. In other words, when you support them, they don’t return the favour. This one is quite simple to observe; ask them to do something, do they? If the answer is no, then keep looking for more clues.

They don’t sacrifice. Well, this could mean many things, such as, when you do something for them, they don’t do something for you, or in your favour. They are using you to get ahead. In life, some people use you to get ahead, for example, if they see that your grades are exceptional, they will ask for help with homework and studying, that is the sad truth.

They don’t share an interest in your personal life. So, when you talk with them, they don’t share interest when you’re talking about how you’re doing, your problems and solutions even what you did and regret doing, your stories. When you’re telling them about these things, they don’t care.

It might be difficult to pick up the scent at first, but stay cautious and observe them. Be careful with who you trust, and be patient; observe them, and then think about these habits. Do they practice these self-centred and uncaring habits around you? If they do, here’s some things to do to not be taken advantage of:

Respect yourself. If you don’t respect yourself, they won't respect you. It’s okay if you don’t weigh the same as everyone else, or your hair isn’t like the others or your skin colour is different. It’s okay! Respect yourself!

Set clear boundaries. Sometimes you just have to make it clear that you don’t want to go to a party because you have to study for an exam, and that’s fine!

Be kind. If you are kind, they will most likely be kind back. A compliment can make someone’s day, but if they are rude, pretend you don’t care.

Speak up. If you defend yourself or your friend, or even a stranger, they might stop using you, but you have to be confident and say the words you want to say.

Don’t over-apologise. This displays you are weak, well at least they might think so, so just once or twice.

These are all the tips I have for you today, I hope you have a good day or night. Thank you for reading.

Memorable Traditions
By Simon Kincaid

During the long winter months, many of us have holiday traditions of some sort to look forward to. This is important as we all need these customary, ritualistic behaviours that nurture us and our relationships with others. These traditions build a strong bond between our friends, families, and communities, and give us a sense of belonging and a way to express what’s important to us. They connect us all with our history, help us celebrate generations of family, and keep memories of the past alive. These rituals also nurture our spirit and help us feel like we're part of something bigger.

As many of us head home for our winter break, let’s remember that ‘tis the season for spending time with family and hopefully partake in some of our own traditions. Here are some of the ways we at Hogwarts celebrate the holidays during this time of year:

I caught up with a first-year Slytherin who unfortunately dashed off immediately after answering my question to catch up with a friend and didn't get his name, but he said,

“Every day that I’m home, my family elf creates some elaborate scheme or theme for the day - going all out with activities and food and treats and costumes. I think it’s carried over to those Muggles even with something called elf on the shelf. I don't quite understand that though, as Lolli never remains stationary in one place, nor sits upon a shelf. What sort of lots are Muggles these days?”

Another first-year Slytherin, Astra Norrick, has a long-standing family tradition that she isn't clear where it exactly came from, as most traditions tend to eventually fall toward. She explained, “On Christmas Eve, I get to open my gift from my brother and he gets to open his gift from me. It's like a little sneak peek for Christmas Day, and I must say, it’s probably my favourite holiday tradition. Been passed down from my dad's side of the family for a few generations now, I think. Don't quote me on that.” And as I quote her on that in this article, I truly wish Astra a happy holiday season.

That’s the thing about traditions, they become ingrained in our lives and become such a part of them, that we don't always know how they got started - but just that we are somehow invisibly pulled to do them by some sort of power that be.

Fifth-year Ravenclaw and duellist Pericles Dralt experiences a sight that I would love to see! “My family likes to come together every Yule and create our own tree decorations. My grandmother animates them with enchantments, which makes the decor all the more magical! That is, aside from the time my sister's wooden dragon carving nearly burned the tree down…” he stated. The inferno can perhaps be held off, but how amazing would animated and homemade decorations be on a tree?

Second-year Gryffindor Estelle Nyx definitely takes in the holiday traditions. “My family has some fun traditions around Christmas. On Christmas Eve, our family and some friends go carolling, then we all go to my grandfather’s for a big roast dinner. My grandfather and I make a gingerbread house, which is a lot of fun and very chaotic; icing gets literally everywhere including, once, in a bundle of mistletoe hung up around the house. After that, we all go to bed. The next morning, we wake up and I open some of my presents. Then, we have some friends over for a big Christmas Day roast. Although I don’t actually like Christmas Pudding, I always have some because my grandfather hides 20p coins in tin foil within the cake.”

If you’re ready to head over to the Nyx family home for the holidays, wait until you hear about the Present Game, Estelle’s favourite tradition. Maybe it is one you can start with your own friends and family. This is how it works:

1. Everybody brings along at least three pre-wrapped gifts from the pound shop and piles them up in the middle of the table.

2. Everyone takes turns to roll a die. If a six is rolled, you get one of the gifts.

3. When all the gifts have been taken, everyone in turn unwraps their gifts.

4. A half-hour timer is set.

5. The die is passed around and rolled again, but this time if you get a six, you can steal someone else’s item.

At the end of the game, when the timer goes off, you get to keep your hoard of items or you can make trades with others.

Hold your traditions close, continue them in the years to come, and may you find more to share in the festivities of the season. Happy holidays, Hogwarts!

The Motorcycle Diaries: An Angel in Chains
by Penny Porter
retold by Maverick Castle

“Mum! Mum! You gotta see this! There’s an angel in chains!” Just a few weeks before Christmas in 1974, four-year-old Becky surprised her mother, Penny, with such an exclamation.

Penny, alone at home with her children as her husband was away in a cow sale in another town, was surprised as she noticed a tall man with glistening skin just outside her Arizona farm. His arms were visibly muscled and decorated with a purple tattoo, a scar on his left cheek, and an earring the shape of a silver knife hung on an ear. He was dressed in a leather vest and chains: on his boots, belt, and gigantic breast. Not so far away was his Harley-Davidson motorcycle and his friends, some wearing black jackets decorated with glittering Hell’s Angels on their backs. It was then she noticed why her daughter dubbed them angels.

Their leader, the gigantic man, politely and nervously introduced himself to Penny, telling her his name was Rip Balou and his motorcycle gear was broken, so he and his gang would need a shelter and some water for the night. Somehow, something behind his appearance and their group’s negative reputation made her feel safe to give them the permission, and the bikers spent the night at the farm.

Unfortunately, the following day they found out that a new gear had to be sent from the capital; and so, the twelve bikers helped around the farm to express their gratitude for the food and shelter Penny gave them. Becky befriended all of them, but Rip, the most diligent ‘farmhand’, was closest to her. They played with her dolls, read stories, and coloured pictures in her colouring book; he even taught her to mix colours and told her, “Sweetie, the most important thing to remember is that you have to stay inside the line.”

On the third day, Becky suddenly asked her new best friend about his family. Rip initially attempted to avoid answering it, but after that reluctantly he showed her a picture of a bespectacled, grey-haired lady whose hand was resting on the shoulder of a little girl. “This is my mum,” he answered, “and that’s Jasmine… my daughter. She’s about your age now, I think.”

“I wish she could play with me,” Becky said.

Rip stared at the photograph for a long time. “Mum raises her, but she suffers from glaucoma. She can’t see clearly.”

Becky locked her eyes with Rip’s and, with a child’s immeasurable wisdom, asked, “If your mum can’t see clearly, who will teach Jasmine to stay inside the line?”

Rip shook his head. “I… don’t know.” He replied quietly, but Penny could hear pain in his voice, his heart, and his soul.

Thursday evening, finally, Rip’s new gear arrived. His friends helped him replace the old one and they were ready to leave at dawn. Oddly, Penny felt there was a strain between her guests. At the end, one of them told her that breakfast would not be necessary, and he looked at Rip unhappily.

Carefully so as not to spook the horses and chickens, the Hell’s Angels on their motorcycles slowly moved as they said thank you to Penny and bid her goodbye. Rip was the last, muttering, “Thank you, Ma’am… for many things."

“And thank you for being a playmate and a fun teacher,” she replied. She wanted to say more than that, but all in a sudden his eyes were filled with uncontrollable tears. “I don’t see Becky,” he said, looking at the picnic table where they often had meals together. “I… I need to tell her something… remind her of something very important.”

“She’s at the fence,” said Penny, giving him a brief hug, arranging the chains around his neck, secretly wishing she could do the same to the chains which had stolen his life. The mother pointed at her daughter, who was sitting on the fence, waving and bidding farewells to her friends as they moved westward on Frontier Road toward their destination, Los Angeles. “You’d better be quick, Rip,” Penny urged him. “They’ll leave you.”

For the first time, he smiled widely at her before approaching his beloved four-year-old. He lifted her up, let her sit on his motorbike as he crouched next to her so that they could talk face-to-face. Her mum knew not what they were talking about, but she knew that their goodbye hug dampened her eyes.

Rip Balou started his engine and turned east on Frontier Road, not toward Los Angeles but Baltimore—‘4,235 kilometres away, just in time for Christmas’—where a little girl was waiting to hear the lesson of how important it is to ‘stay inside the line’, and her dad was to show her the way to do so.

A Brief History of Chanukah
by Koko Riddle

In addition to December traditions such as Christmas or New Year is a holiday that has withstood the test of time: Chanukah, the reconsecration of the temple. Also spelled Hanukkah, it is a Jewish holiday that is also called ‘The Festival of Lights’. This year, Chanukah begins at sundown on 7 December and continues until sundown on 15 December. Behind this holiday, though, is a wealth of traditions that has been passed down for centuries, some of which will be detailed below.

Perhaps the most recognisable symbol of Chanukah is the menorah. While that is the common word in English, this term refers to the temple candelabra, which has seven candles, while chanukiah refers to the candelabra used during Chanukah. Its eight branches each hold a candle representative of each night of the holiday. One is lit for each new night, while the ninth candle is called the shamash and sits above the others. The shamash is used to help light the other candles. This alludes to the lighting of a temple menorah for eight days with only as much oil as would light it for one day.

Similarly to other winter holidays, food plays a large part in Chanukah celebrations. Since Chanukah is a celebration of the use of oil, food fried in oil is commonly eaten. Some of these include latkes, which are potato pancakes fried in oil, and sufganiyot, which are round, deep-fried jam doughnuts. Some families eat roast goose, lots of dairy products or fried chicken ─ it depends on the family and where they live. However, fried foods in particular are staples of Chanukah.

Many people, Jews and non-Jews alike, have heard of the dreidel. Also called sevivon in Hebrew, the dreidel is an object much like a spinning top, and each of its four sides are inscribed with one Hebrew letter - nun, gimel, hei or shin. It is often used to play a game, in which each player has pieces (chocolate coins (gelt), tokens or other sweets) they must play with. Everyone will put one of their pieces into the centre of a circle. After spinning the dreidel, the action a player will take depends on what letter the dreidel lands on. If it lands on nun, the player will do nothing. If it lands on gimel, the player will take the entire centre ‘pot’ of pieces. If the pot is empty, everyone will put in another piece. If the dreidel lands on hei, the player will take half of the pieces in the centre; if it lands on shin, the player will have to put one of their pieces in the middle. Once a player loses all of their tokens, they are out of the game, and the winner is the last player remaining.

The giving of gelt is yet another Chanukah tradition. Gelt was traditionally money, although in the 20th century, chocolate gelt became common. Often, it is given to children and teachers as a sign of gratitude. Chocolate coins or gelt in particular is a common type of game piece for the dreidel game.

While most non-Jewish families do not celebrate Chanukah and every Jewish family that does celebrate does so differently, the holiday is an important time for friends and family to bond over good food and strong traditions. With any luck, this article has served as a quick overview of the holiday itself. If it has piqued your interest, feel free to do more research on your own ─ or, better yet, talk to someone you know who celebrates Chanukah. The resulting discussion might be a new way to bond with a friend.

What do you want for Christmas, Hogwarts?
by Simon Kincaid

Exchanging gifts has been a popular Christmas tradition for a very long time - thousands of years! Along with many winter holiday traditions, giving presents to one another is a central part of the season for many.

For Christians, this gift giving is symbolic of the tributes made to Baby Jesus after His birth in the Nativity story. The Bible’s New Testament states that Three Wise Men follow a star to the location of Jesus’ birth and present him with gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.

The tradition of gift giving during the winter season goes back much further than the founding of Christianity. The ancient Romans had a festival of Saturnalia, taking place in late December. In those days, thanks were given for the bounty provided by the pagan agricultural god of Saturn and celebrated with banquets, sacrifice, partying, and gift-giving.

There’s a popular Muggle Christmas song that states “Santa baby, I want a yacht and really that's not a lot…” among several other high-priced items that the singer requests. It’s very materialistic and while we at Hogwarts might not have our sights set on high-end jewellery and other pricey items, what exactly do we want? Here are what some at Hogwarts wish for this winter season.

One of the first students I found in the corridors was first-year Ravenclaw Renelle Dalton. Her Christmas wish is that her best friend’s older brother can disappear. She’s visiting her house for Christmas and feels it would be a much easier trip if he weren’t there. She also mentioned a swarm of pygmy puffs to guard her stuff and attack anyone who annoys her, and a new quill because she loses hers a lot. I offered her up an extra quill from my satchel and backed away slowly.

First-year Slytherin Remedy Norden told me that ‘every day, it’s painstakingly clear that [she] requires a new wand’. “If my wand cannot keep up with my tenacity and talent, then what good is it?” Quite the statement, Miss Norden.

The Gryffindors all seemed to be out and about this particular afternoon and just like a school dance, no professors could be seen anywhere, so I found some fellow badgers.

First-year Helena Rose said she wanted to spend the holiday break with her family and friends who actually care and enjoy her company. She said that the holidays were not about presents but those you spend it with.

Beautiful, isn’t it? I can’t agree more and it pains me that this year's winter break I’ll be spending it apart from my amazing girlfriend as last year we took what seemed like a never-ending trip to a ski resort in Austria.

Speaking of the amazing girlfriend, I asked third-year Hufflepuff AngelFyre McCubbin what she wanted most for the holiday season and she wants some rest, personal reflection, and an honest reminder of the reason for the season - focusing her thoughts and gratitude for her blessings and maybe even on her losses. Not something this boyfriend is going to find in the shops, huh?

Yuletide greetings, Hogwarts - may you find peace, love, and happiness this season and for all that follow - and remember, be kind to one another.

Christmas Gift Guide!
by Ara Villa

Christmas at Hogwarts is a truly magical time of year. The castle is decorated with twinkling lights and festive garlands, and the Great Hall is transformed into a Christmas wonderland. Some students go home to celebrate with their families, while others celebrate here at Hogwarts with their friends. Either way, Christmas is a season to be jolly and happy. People enjoy delicious food, sing carols, and exchange gifts during this time of year, but some may still try deciding what to give people during Christmas, so here’s a gift guide to know what to give certain people during Christmas!

For the bookworm
1. A bookmark. It can be handmade or bought in a shop.
2. A gift certificate to a bookshop. This is a great way to let them choose their own books. If you aren’t sure what kind of books they like, you can try getting them a gift certificate to a general bookshop or a speciality one that sells their favourite book genres.
3. Reading light for Muggles, so that they won’t go blind while reading in the dark!
4. A new book by their favourite wizarding world (or Muggle) author.
5. A book-themed gift basket. Fill a gift basket with their favourite snacks, drinks, and book-related items, such as a book light, a bookmark, or a book sleeve - and you’re set!

For the studious
1. New notebooks and supplies are always nice!
2. Books on advanced topics!
3. A new cup for their favourite drink when studying.
4. Study snacks, if they like to munch on something while studying.
5. A planner. If they like being organised, this is the perfect item for them!

For the fan of magical creatures
1. A book about magical creatures, such as ‘Fantastic Beasts and Where To Find Them' or ‘The Monster Book of Monsters’.
2. A painting of their favourite magical creature. This may take time, but is totally worth it!
3. A stuffed animal of their favourite magical creature!
4. A set of creature-themed pyjamas for cuteness sake.
5. A book about the care and feeding of magical creatures.

For the Quidditch lover
1. A scarf, badge, or banner of their favourite team!
2. Omnioculars or Binoculars, so when they go to a game, they get the full experience!
3. A new broom. If you’re rich enough, then go for it.
4. Calendar of Matches, so that they know when the next one is!

For the Prankster
1. Socks of Eternal Wetness. It’s perfect for a funny revenge.
2. Annoy-o-Tron. This will definitely annoy them.
3. Prank Cake.
4. Leprechaun Gold, just to trick ‘em!
5. Exploding Bonbons.

For your greatest enemy
1. Dream Pantaloons. They’re from Zonko’s at Hogsmeade and best suited for the best kind of revenge.
2. Nose-Biting Teacup. It might hurt!
3. Skiving Snackbox Sweets, but just tell them these are regular sweets!
4. Canary Creme Biscuits.

If you still feel unsure of what to give people even after reading this list, then just take it slow while deciding. Remember that the best gift comes from the heart, and are the ones that show you care about your friend, and that you put thoughts into their gift. Happy holidays!


Recipe: Yule Log
by Koko Riddle

Many different families have their own holiday traditions ranging from eggnog to challah, and today, I will bring you a food our Muggle-born and half-blood friends, and perhaps some of the purebloods, will definitely recognise. It is a chocolate cake, and its name is Bûche de Noël in French. Any guesses? Alright, no shenanigans: this month, I bring you the recipe for a Yule Log.

You will need access to an oven for this recipe.

Ingredients:

Butter
- 5 eggs
- 140g light muscovado sugar
- 100g self-rising flour
- 25g cocoa powder
- caster sugar

For icing and filling:
- 285 ml carton double cream
- 450g fondant chocolate
- icing sugar

STEP 1:
The first step is to preheat your oven. You will want it to be at 190°C, fan 170°C or gas 5. Take out a 30 by 35 cm Swiss roll tin and butter it before lining it with baking parchment.

STEP 2:
Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites and place them in separate large bowls. Add the sugar to the egg yolks and whisk with 30 ml water. Mix for five minutes, or until the mixture is light in colour and relatively thick. Sift in the flour and cocoa, and fold it into the mixture, using either the blades of your whisk or a large metal spoon.

STEP 3:
Use a clean whisk to beat the egg whites until they are stiff, then use the whisk blades or spoon to fold the egg whites into the rest of the cake mixture, going in thirds.

STEP 4:
Pour the mixture evenly into the tin. Then, spread it to the edges ─ be careful. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cake is firm to the touch, whichever comes first. Once the cake is baked, set a large sheet of baking parchment on your work surface. Using the parchment in the tin, turn the cake onto your work surface, and then peel off the paper stuck to the cake. Use a clean tea towel to cover the cake while it cools. Once the cake has cooled completely, trim up the edges a bit, and cut score lines into a long end of the cake. Begin rolling the cake from that side, using the paper to help you. The paper should be rolled inside the cake.

STEP 5:
For the icing, put the cream in a small pan and bring it to a boil. Then, remove the pan from the heat, and break 400g of the chocolate into it. Stir until the chocolate has melted and the mixture is smooth. Leave to cool, and then chill for about 1 hour. Then, chop up the remaining chocolate, and put that with ⅓ of the icing in a bowl. Stir that together to make the filling.

STEP 6:
Unroll the cake. Then, spread all of the filling until it is within 2 centimetres of the cake’s edges. Once again, use the parchment to help you roll up the cake. Then, set it on a board.

STEP 7:
Using a knife, diagonally slice off a thicker piece of the cake. Put the larger piece on its final destination (hopefully a plate), and use some icing over the cut side of the smaller piece to attach it to the larger piece. This will look like a stump on your log. Spread the rest of the icing over the cake, and dust with sugar as you like.

Once your Yule Log is finished, you will have a festive and delicious treat for the holidays!

(A note on British oven terms: the first temperature refers to a conventional electric oven; a fan oven is the same as a “convection oven” in America; these two settings will work on American gas or electric ovens. The gas mark, however, is a scale particular to gas ovens in the UK, Ireland and some Commonwealth Nations. — Editor)

Valentine's Confessions
By Simon Kincaid

With Valentine’s Day upon us, I ask two things of you: 1) be kind to one another; and 2) give me a Valentine’s confession.

Only Me (for Simon Kincaid)

You caught my eye just a year ago
While on that garnet path I did twirl
Hopes soaring high were soon dashed low
For I was not your she, the golden pearl
No I was only me – Just Some Girl

As no one you would remember
Feelings have swelled and thoughts unfurl
To hold your hand and stoke that ember
But surprise! She is I and she is yours
So love from me
– Just Some Girl

“My boyfriend is the best boy I have met. He makes my life very beautiful and I feel he's very caring and loving. He is always there for me whenever I need him. He is my biggest support. I think I am falling in love with him more and more each day.”
- Damion White

“I think everyone’s got a reason within them to love them. We are all capable of love and to be loved.”
- Anonymous

“To my AngelFyre: My greatest dream is to build a happy life with you and the best part is we're going to make it happen. ”
- With love always, Simon Kincaid

“I love you.”
- Anonymous

“Love is real, people! Go find it!”
- Anonymous

“My husband started out being the first friend I ever met. It was on the train to Hogwarts. And I remember him being very protective of me since the beginning. I really appreciated it. I remember a time when I was being bullied and he was the one who stood up for me. My life has been so much better with my husband in it.”

- Argento Perceval-Phelan

“That quiet girl that sits beside me in Charms; the one who doesn’t think anyone notices her
- I notice her.”
.
- Anonymous

“I love chocolate frogs more than boys!”
- Anonymous

“Oh um. I do have a crush... Cassian Clarke. Um. I guess you don't have to keep it anonymous. I think he already knows. He really just has a – a cute smile and he is really sweet. Everything seems easier with him around."
- Quinn Brook

"They're clever, beautiful, and brilliant. I don't know if I just admire them or if it's something more, but maybe if I get to know them better ... just wish there was something less complicated I could do besides talking to them."
- Anonymous

“Brave as any LION!
Smartest of the RAVENS!
Loyal as a BADGER!
Clever as a SERPENT!

She's the BEST GIRL in all Hogwarts!
If you didn't know, you do now: CLAIR FERNANDEZ!”
- Colin McCoire

“My apologies in advance, as I understand this may not be the answer you were looking for.

Almost seven years at this school, and I have never experienced having a crush or possessed an interest in the romantic side to relationships. It was never something that crossed my mind, and truthfully, it still isn't today.

I've had my fair share of "dates"- a term I use very loosely- and perturbing advancements from past associates; but that never changed the fact that courtship wasn't a priority in my life.

Was something wrong with me?

Was I broken?

Romance as an idea had been so well advertised, I couldn't help but wonder if I was wrong in not complying to something which I thought was a societal standard. But one day I had a realization: I loved. Not in the way others wanted me to, but I loved all the same. I loved people. I loved their brains. I loved the world they occupied, and all the wonders it held. I love life. And for others that may be having doubts, or feel they don't quite fit on the path that has been laid out for them; know there is nothing wrong with you, you just love differently. The world is your playground, so why not play? Embrace your freedoms and what life has to offer, experience everything. Romance can wait. Living cannot.”
- Xailah Alptraum



New Year, New You
By Koko Riddle

Welcome to 2024. To commemorate the new year, I sent out a survey, which a number of students responded to. In the survey, I asked the students of Hogwarts for their New Year’s Resolutions, if they had any, as well as things they’d like to see at school in the upcoming year. In addition, since Hogwarts students and professors alike often enjoy sports, I asked respondents to predict a winning house for each sport ─ although I should mention that there is likely some bias in self-reporting these predictions.

Quite a few students stated they would like to make more friends or be more social, although a number also indicated they would like to exercise more. One student, Emiline Hunter, said she wants ‘to make someone smile twice a week’, which is definitely inspirational.

A few students wanted to improve their grades, and one student said she wanted to start looking for her own dreams instead of those of others.

When asked what the most common New Year’s Resolution was, most students responded with either improving grades or working out. A few people, however, mentioned eating healthier.

The majority of respondents predicted that Ravenclaw would win the Quidditch and Duelling Championships and that Ravenclaw would tie with Slytherin for winning the Broom Racing Championship. These results, however, may be influenced by the house affiliation of respondents. It seems that a person’s house might just happen to correlate with what house they predict to win a tournament ─ who knew!?


However, if the new year of 2024 is really supposed to reflect the changes Hogwarts students want, it is imperative to actually listen to what said students want to see in their school. Thus, the respondents to the survey provided a few ideas. One new prefect said he would like to see more troublemakers so he can get experience handing out detentions. A few students requested more large get-togethers ─ one even specified that an inter-house sleepover would be interesting.

A fifth year who will be taking OWLs soon suggested career prep get-togethers to help students figure out what to do, which is especially important as some OWL and NEWT subjects matter more in certain careers than others.

One student said they would like to see more deodorant around the halls of Hogwarts. If you are finding yourself or your friends to be too stinky, you might wish to invest in Lowdour, or have your parents do so. It can do miracles for the underarms of sweaty pre-teens and teenagers.

Ultimately, Happy New Year to the students and staff of Hogwarts! We’ll have to see if the sports predictions come true, but it’s really up to everyone at Hogwarts whether everyone sticks with their resolutions or whether Hogwarts has get-togethers like some students suggested. With the recent biscuit-decorating event after the winter holidays, anything is possible.

Up next is Valentine’s Day, so be sure to invest in chocolates and sweets … or not, if your New Year’s Resolution was to eat healthy food. Maybe your valentine will want some chocolate instead.



Life After Hogwarts #2
By Serena Towers

In a few months, our seventh years will be taking their first step out into the real world – outside of Hogwarts. Half of the cohort may already be adults, but who knows if we are really ready to adult? Graduating may not seem like a big deal, since it happens every year, but after seven years of being at Hogwarts, I think it is definitely something worth celebrating.

Whilst you may be graduating from Hogwarts and taking a step into the world as adults, there is always the option of returning. Not as a student, but rather as a professor. This may be the most obvious career path – as though the answer is right in front of your eyes – but if you do consider going into academics and education, then this might be the one for you! You could return to Hogwarts as a Professor or go to one of the other wizarding schools.

Maybe you want to teach at a muggle school.

Even if you do not want to teach, perhaps you look at a textbook and wonder if you could go into research and make it even better. You could literally become a published researcher, give talks to thousands at large global conferences or make future generations with your work. Or perhaps you are keen to use another language that you know.

There are many different roles you could consider:

Teaching: If you have ever considered teaching or even becoming a tutor, maybe you want to be a professor one day or run your own school. This includes students of all ages, including reception (4-5 year olds) all the way through to graduate students undergoing further studies. Education is a vital part of society whether you join a muggle school or teach magic. You could even consider home-schooling people. You could become a tutor or go to graduate school, where you learn how to teach.

Researcher: If you are interested in academics but do not want to deal with students (who can really blame you), perhaps you may want to become a researcher. You could go into graduate school, study your chosen subject in more depth, and start becoming an expert in your chosen field.

Translator: Good at another language, or perhaps you just enjoy linguistics? Have you considered becoming a translator? Runes, potion recipes and textbooks all need to be translated. With a wide range of muggle and magical languages, there is plenty of information out there to translate if this suits your interests. Translators are vital and help keep the language alive – if people stop translating or speaking the language, it’ll become endangered and die out!

Librarian: People sometimes think being a librarian is easy or requires no skills – and they would be incredibly wrong. If you wish to become a librarian, you need the appropriate NEWTs and experience working in a library. If you enjoy books, then this may be a role that you find interesting – you will literally be responsible for furthering people’s minds with the tomes of knowledge that you acquire and stock in your library. Some of the time, you will end up studying and learning from these books yourself too, which can be a nice bonus if that is something you wish to do.

Scholar: Becoming a scholar is not an easy path. They are recognised as experts in their chosen field, they attend and talk at conferences, and they are constantly researching or writing work that will make a huge difference and often getting these works published. If you want the future generation to one day read your research and academic sources in their curriculum, then become a scholar and start researching.

If academics doesn’t float your boat, don’t worry – there are so many other industries and career paths for you to choose from! I, for one, would just be really excited to see a name I knew in textbooks in the future. I would love to smile at my kid one day and go “did you know I went to school with the author of that book?” or even see people I know teach my future children.

This is Serena J. Towers – over and out.



The Motorcycle Diaries: February Birthdays' Blues
By Maverick Castle

Two highly talented motorcycle racers. Two first-borns originating from neighbouring countries. Their birthdays are just one day apart. Nothing could possibly go wrong between the two, right?

Wrong.

Valentino Rossi

Born on 16 February 1979 in Urbino, Rossi is widely known as one of the greatest motorcycle riders of all time, with some even dubbing him the greatest ever.

In addition to his achievements – including but not limited to nine World Champion titles, most premier class victories, competing in more than 400 races, and continuing to race at the age of 45 – the Italian is a figure who has revolutionised Grand Prix (GP) international motorcycle racing. Before Rossi started his career, GP was almost purely “formal”, leaving the audience with little to no knowledge regarding their favourite riders. Rossi is one of the first to have brought sunshine and personality to the sport with his cheery, iconic podium celebrations, something most motorcycle racers do nowadays but not back then. Furthermore, he is also a pioneer in customising racing leathers with personalised fonts, font colours, and nicknames, in contrast to the former uniformed surnames stitched to riders’ uniforms.

As a person, Vale – as how his family and closest friends address him – is both competitive and warm. He might be cold and aggressive on track, but off-track he’s people-oriented and has always realised how important positive personal connections are. Whereas most riders at his time made no fuss in regards to their mechanics as long as they were proven great, Rossi always insisted on having true friends in his garage, noting that humans and their personal qualities contribute just as much success to a rider as his machine, if not even more.

That being said, he’s no angel. It is understandably difficult to separate professional and personal lives, and Rossi has had a couple of feuds with his competitors, most notably Max Biaggi (which included a physical fight), Sete Gibernau, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo, and Marc Márquez.

However, his fair play, his special attention to motorcycle enthusiasts with physical disabilities, and the multiple times he presented his trophies and dedicated his podiums to children with critical illnesses surely live forever in the hearts of true motorcycle fans – for off-track actions show who one truly is, more than his on-track achievements.

Marc Márquez

Márquez originates from Rossi’s neighbouring country of Spain. The two almost share birthdays, with Márquez born on 17 February 1993. They also share the similarity of being first-borns.

Much like Valentino Rossi, he has set impressive records on track, including being crowned a World Champion in his rookie season and is well-known for his cornering technique which has inspired many other riders. In fact, as a child, Márquez idolised Rossi and learnt a lot from the Italian both in riding techniques and in choosing his mechanics.

However, if there is something even the living legend cannot inspire in the Spaniard, it’s got to be the habit of having consideration toward others. Márquez is, undoubtedly, one of the most egotistical and self-centred people to ever race in MotoGP. His awfully aggressive riding style more often than not costs his competitors their safety by knocking them off their bikes, although thankfully nowadays things often backfire as he knocks himself off the bike by pushing it over the limit without taking someone else out.

He’s certainly brave, but three other notable characteristics of Marc Márquez are his sneakiness, lack of fair play, and manipulativeness. His career of dancing the line of the spirit of sportsmanship is just as impressive as his on-track achievements: a rider who tried to sabotage his teammate’s machinery parts was never heard of in MotoGP before, as well as a racer who made false claims under broad daylight without considering the possibility of physics law (Márquez’s infamous lie in 2015 when he claimed that he crashed because Valentino Rossi kicked his bike without somehow falling together with him).

Some may question how such person is still allowed to take part in a sport competition, and the answer to the query is both basic and controversial – but fans are no fools, and after a couple of incidents, they managed to figure it out: Márquez originates from the country where the bodies governing the competition was born. That being said, these unfair decisions are condemned by many, including Spanish motorcycle race fans.

(More on inconsistencies in the world of motorcycle racing will be covered in the upcoming April issue, so stay tuned!)

So, #TeamRossi or #TeamMárquez? You decide!



Horoscopes
By Koko Riddle

Happy New Year, students of Hogwarts! With a New Year comes a new you, and coincidentally, new horoscopes. Without further ado, here are the horoscopes for February 2024!

ARIES
Although you might notice tensions in your personal life, don’t be too worried ─ improvements in other aspects of your life should balance this out. Especially look for opportunities for advancement in your career or schooling.

TAURUS
Taurus natives can expect good news this month! As long as you keep your eyes open and look for chances to advance your goals, the next month should go rather smoothly.

GEMINI
February will be a good month for Gemini natives to follow intellectual pursuits. Take some time to yourself, though and don’t be afraid to be introspective this month.

CANCER
This month, you may experience tumultuous relationships, but do not despair! As long as you take time to work on your strengths, you should be able to persevere through any issues that arise. Be sure to take care of yourself mentally.

LEO
February may bring challenges in many areas of your life. It would be beneficial for you to focus on uplifting yourself rather than listening to any negative things others might say about you this month.

VIRGO
With this month you might find yourself being even more creative than usual. With this creativity, however, might come an increased need to keep an eye on your health. Try to balance both in order to grow this month.

LIBRA
In February, it would be beneficial to ensure you are getting enough sleep every night. You might encounter stress in your career or academic life, so balancing your health with your responsibilities will only help you.

SCORPIO
Although your ambitions and goals are important, it is also good to take a step back and understand that you don’t have to give all of your time to your pursuits. Spend time with others and revitalise your health before going after opportunities with everything you’ve got.

SAGITTARIUS
Look out for investment opportunities this month ─ your hard work should pay off. Keep being who you are, and don’t be afraid to be honest with people. This month is your month, and your interpersonal interactions will only help you.

CAPRICORN
If you’ve been dealing with stress and emotional hurdles since January, February probably won’t be much better on that front. However, if you remain patient, opportunities to avoid some of your stressors may arise. Focus on your health so you can remain strong while working through trouble.

AQUARIUS
This month, balance is of the utmost importance. You might find yourself swamped with external responsibilities, and any internal struggles you have likely won’t help with that. Thus, it would be more helpful for you to focus on what you can do about any problems that arise. Learning how to balance external expectations with internal issues can help you feel better both mentally and physically.

PISCES
February should bring opportunities for travel and personal growth. However, you might also encounter higher levels of stress than usual. To combat that, increase your interpersonal involvement and allowing for self-care is beneficial.

I hope that, no matter what the stars have in store, everyone reading this has a wonderful month. Remember, each of you is amazing and deserves to feel valued. Happy New Year, everyone!



New Year Traditions
By Renelle Dalton

Everyone has their own set of unique traditions, often passed down through generations. In addition to being fun, these customs bring family and friends together in this particularly festive time, making us feel loved and connected.

With the New Year approaching, I became curious as to whether the student body of Hogwarts has any memorable practices they take part in during this time, and thus took it upon myself to find out. After quite a bit of wandering around the castle, I found myself three members of the Hogwarts population to ask this precise question.

My first interviewee was first-year Slytherin Elisa Shakestra, who described with detail an annual celebration known as the Shakestra Starlight Soiree. The Soiree is a magical night when all the members of her family gather, complete with light shows, music, and interactive stations depicting the Shakestra family history.

“One of my most cherished moments of the evening is when we gather around a majestic yet huge family tree, covered in the soft glow of starlight. Each family member takes turns adding an enchanted crystal orb to its branches, symbolising our hopes, dreams, and wishes for the coming year. It is a beautiful reminder of our unity and the power of our shared intentions.” What a wonderful way to remind everyone of their support and love for one another in the year to come!

The second student I came across was a Ravenclaw Quidditch player, Delainie Silverwing, who informed me of an experience without enchantment, but magical all the same! “Well, every year that I was home, we would always have a huge party with our family. Everyone would get together and celebrate a new year, mostly by talking about memories we had made. Usually my parents would like to tell stories about how me and my sister grew up, and we would also play card games. There weren't any wizard things we did, all just Muggle stuff.”

For my last interview, I approached none other than a Slytherin and personal good friend of mine, Astra Norrick. Astra seemed a bit nervous at first, but managed to tell me about some of the Norrick family customs. "One of our traditions is watching The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers and timing it just right so that Theoden says 'so it begins' at midnight. And then we have a toast."

Doesn’t that sound quite lovely? My favourite one, by far. You can never go wrong with Lord of the Rings, that’s what I say. Frodo supremacy.

As for myself, my dad always lays out a wide assortment of fresh buns and cakes from his amazing bakery on New Year’s Eve, which is definitely a plus. And my brother tries his best to draw everyone a hand-made New Year’s card, bless his heart- even if the cards are always slightly crumpled and sticky, for some reason. I’m not sure I want to know.

Another one of my traditions is paying attention to the Chinese Zodiac Cycle. 2024 marks the Year of the Dragon, the fifth animal sign in the Chinese zodiac cycle- a mighty impressive animal, representing prosperity, authority and good fortune. Hopefully, this year will bring luck and evolution to all of us, and bestow us with strength, independence, and creativity!



How Do We Love Thee
By Simon Kincaid

"Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
Here’s to you, Hogwarts,
And what we love about YOU!"

Multitasking as I did patrols on a late Thursday evening after supper, I scavengened the corridors to find answers to an important question with Valentine’s Day befalling upon us. Many at this time are so focused on making valentines for their friends back home and at school, their families, their beloved, their secret crush, or even their pets – but let’s not neglect an important facet of each of our lives: Hogwarts, our amazing school!

What do you love about Hogwarts? Here’s what some say!

“There is a lot I enjoy about Hogwarts, but I think my favorite thing has to be the architecture – it is a spectacular piece of craftsmanship. No one talks about how beautiful the castle is at sunset, or how charming the courtyard gargoyles are. There is always more here than what meets the eye – details that can be missed in passing. Everything has a story to tell and a secret to share, if you are willing to stop and listen. Next time you are out and about, I encourage you to take a moment to look at the landscape, and the castle against it. Perhaps test yourself and see if you can find something you never noticed before.” - Xailah Alptraum

“Hogwarts gave me a home to return to when things were rough.” - anonymous

“We can find all sorts of people at Hogwarts and know that everyone is accepted here, which is a big comfort. It’s a place where we can drop all pretense and be our true selves; find peace.”-anonymous

“Growing up in a loving pureblood family, it was not a secret what adventures I would be having. I had heard a lot about Hogwarts from my parents and I was pretty excited. At first it was very scary for me, even though the first thing that happened was a Sorting Ceremony to know the houses. But the scariness ended there as I found a library – which became my go to place in times of need and it became one of my favorite places to be. Besides being in the dorm with my dormmate who later became my husband.”
- Professor Argento Perceval-Phelan

“Have you ever gone up to see the view from the Astronomy Tower? It’s absolutely breathtaking! Love that Hogwarts is located in the Scottish Highlands!” - anonymous

“There’s magic here!” - anonymous

“The professors are pretty cool, I guess.... maybe some more than others.” - anonymous

“The Great Hall is like a dream come true. The food there is so yummy, and it’s also so different from back home! And I get to sit with all my friends. But my favourite place has to be the Hufflepuff Common Room. It’s so cozy with big comfy chairs and a warm fireplace. And the greenhouses are so cool! They're filled with so many things and it's always so warm there so in the winter, it's the perfect spot to just chill at. But you know what's the absolute best? The people. I mean! So many people, right? All kinds too, which is awesome. I've met tons of friends and it makes it a ton better. Hogwarts would be so boring without the people, honestly, and I love being here.” - Dean Saunders

No matter the reason and no matter the season – approaching Valentine’s Day and beyond – we love you, Hogwarts. Thank you for always being there and for allowing us to call you home.

The Sound of Music
By Alyssea Brown

Muggles have this interesting obsession with dedicating a random day of the week to celebrate the most arbitrary things. For example, February 9th is National Pizza Day; June 10th is Iced Tea Day; December 16th is Stupid Toy Day.

Why? Someone was so enthralled by a specific thing (a food item, genre of music or anything) that they dedicated a specific day in the year to that obsession. There is no real reason, and you do not get free food unless corporations decide to follow the tradition.

Of course, not all national days are made the same. In April, World Health Day is celebrated on April 7th. World Health Day is a campaign organised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to bring awareness to various health issues. Since the First Health Assembly in 1948, the WHO has educated people on mental health, childcare and climate change, which are all relevant issues that we still tackle today.

Some more national days celebrated for no real reason in the same month are Laugh at Work Week (April 1st-7th), Vitamin C Day (April 4th) and National Exercise Day (April 18th). There is a common theme of promoting overall well-being throughout the month; laughing improves mood, vitamin C is good for the immune system and exercise keeps people healthy. This article discusses one aspect that helps with health and well-being: music.

They often say that music is a universal language and that where words fail, music speaks – a quote said by Hans Christian Andersen, a famous author responsible for the original Disney fairy tales in the Muggle world. Music is known to help with well-being either as a stress reliever or by brightening your mood with the right tune.

As someone who spent most of her life before Hogwarts on the stage singing and dancing, music was a way to escape reality for a moment. In my first year, I frequented the rehearsal room on the fourth floor and met many people who could play all sorts of instruments. I even met someone who knew the same musical I loved.

Music is a very broad subject. There are many styles of music: pop, country, vocal, musical theatre and orchestral. It does not need to have lyrics to be considered music, and vice versa, it does not need accompaniment (a capella) to be considered music. Where there is a tune, there is music.

April 11th is marked as National Barbershop Quartet Day. Barbershop is a style of vocal music characterised by its theatrical performance, lack of accompaniment and jazzy melodies that often become earworms. While classic barbershop music was originally written for male voices, female voices are just as prominent and can assimilate into the style.

The history of National Barbershop Quartet Day started in the 1880s in No-Maj America, and the genre became popular in the 1910s. It was a form of entertainment with men singing and harmonising in the barbershop while waiting for their haircut. Slowly, it became its own genre of choral music. At this time, barbershop singing was only for men and was done in groups of four with each man singing a single harmony. These parts are known as the lead (often the melody), tenor, baritone and bass. For female singers, this is roughly equivalent to the lyric soprano, second soprano, alto and contralto.

With its gradual decline in popularity, the Society for the Preservation and Encouragement of Barbershop Quartet Singing in America was established in 1938. Now it is better known as the Barbershop Harmony Society, which is less of a mouthful to say.

Modern barbershop is inclusive of all genders and is no longer limited to being a group of four singers. You do not even need to be considered a barbershop group to sing its music. Large groups of singers, or choirs, will sing barbershop-style pieces, and the style’s theatrical element remains. The only difference is that regular choirs will tone down their theatrical performance or assign it to a small group in the choir.

The history behind barbershop music highlights how music brings people closer. The act of singing together not only helps to improve your mood by engaging with music but also strengthens your interpersonal relationships as you work with people to create harmonies.

The theatrical element of barbershop performances also helps to improve your mood due to its silliness. Of course, it only works if you let yourself go.

While barbershop music is still relatively new, it has an enduring legacy that brightens anyone who happens to watch this performance’s day. So, if you get the chance, have a listen to “Play That Barbershop Chord” or any barbershop-style song and let yourself dance.



Spring Stargazing
By Rebecca Lark

While there’s still a good few months before the weather really starts to warm up and become truly habitable for those of us who prefer the outdoors to the warmth and (debatable) safety of the castle, the snow is finally starting to melt here in Scotland, and with it slowly but surely comes the return of some of the many outdoor activities that have been more difficult to experience in the winter-time. Some of the most exciting, for me personally, are the upcoming meteor showers that will be visiting us in April and May.

I reached out to resident meteor shower expert and newly hired Astronomy professor, Gargamel Starwise, to tell us about what we can expect from these upcoming astronomical events.

Q: Hullo, Professor Starwise! Thanks for meeting with me today! Could you tell me – and, uh, the readers, I guess - what exactly a meteor shower is?

A: Ah! Meteor showers are, perhaps apart from the approach of a planet-killing asteroid, one of the most spectacular sights the night sky has to offer! Basically, a meteor shower is nothing more than a veritable "shower" of particles, not unlike sleet or hail! In fact, meteor showers were at one time thought to be atmospheric in nature, like rain, snow or sleet. It wasn't until the 19th century that it was determined that these "storms" originate in space. And that origin is usually the debris trail of a comet as it orbits around the Sun.

Q: So, meteor showers come from comets, then? What is a comet, Professor?

A: Comets are generally ball-shaped aggregations of dust, rock and various kinds of ice — water, ammonia and the like. As a comet nears the Sun, it heats up and small chunks can break off forming the coma or tail of the comet. The coma is comprised of small bits of comet material, most being no larger than a grain of sand, though they can be quite larger!

Q: If the comets only break up near the Sun, though, how can we see meteor showers here on Earth?

A: When the Earth passes through such debris fields, these tiny bits, or meteors, become trapped in Earth's gravity and they fall towards the surface. As they interact with the denser atmosphere, they heat up. They become so hot that they begin to radiate light! The streaks of light we see are the meteors burning up. Most of them disintegrate high up in the atmosphere. Only the largest chunks ever have a hope of striking the surface, and some of these are quite famous!

Q: We have two different meteor showers coming our way soon, what would you say the best way to enjoy them is?

A: Hm. I believe the very best way to enjoy a meteor shower is to get several friends together, very early in the morning or late at night when the sky is darkest. If you live in a muggle city, good luck seeing anything! There's too much light and too much noise! Go out into the country, far away from cities and towns.

A little planning — learning what night and time are best viewing for your location and then checking local weather reports will ensure the best time to see a meteor shower. Find a nice field or hilltop to spread out some blankets and enjoy the show! Meteors whiz along far too fast to be seen by a telescope, so lying down and looking up is the only way to go! Bring some hot chocolate, some snacks to share and you and your friends will be sure to enjoy a marvellous phenomenon of Nature!

The first meteor shower that lucky stargazers will be able to see is the Lyrid meteor shower, which will be visible for the second half of April, from the 14th to the 30th. It will hit its peak, though, on the night of April 22nd to the early hours of April 23rd, so if you’re planning to watch, you’ll first have to suffer the unholy indignity of getting up long before the Sun. If you do manage to wake up for it, though, you’ll get to make so many shooting-star wishes.

Our second meteor shower will be taking place from April 19th to May 28th, so you’ll have loads of time to catch a glimpse! The absolute best time to see it though will be on May 6th, between midnight and dawn. It will be low in the sky for us here in Scotland, so make sure that if you’ve got your eyes on the skies, you’re looking in the right place!

Whether you decide to view the upcoming meteor showers by yourself, with some friends, or make a proper party out of it, they are sure to be some spectacular nights. Try not to miss them!



Meet the Captains: A New Year of Duelling
By Alyssea Brown

With the new school year comes changes and new faces, and not just a fresh set of first years. In addition to changes to administration and staff, new captains are also roaming about. Quidditch remained the same while racing saw two new captains rise to the challenge. In the duelling scene, all the houses have a new captain in their ranks. In this article, we managed to interview two of the new captains: Piérre Marchonné of Gryffindor and Lea Hirsch of Hufflepuff.

Piérre Marchonné is a fifth-year student known for being unpredictable, both on and off the piste, and is quite the showman in whatever situation he finds himself in. He also wears different house colours depending on the day.

Lea Hirsch, a fourth year, is a quick-witted and dependable leader among the Hufflepuffs, having been on the Blazing Badgers since the sport's establishment. Even outside of Hufflepuff, she is known for her duelling passion and prowess.

Unfortunately, Ravenclaw captain Cassius Eden was unable to be interviewed, but the new captain taking over for Robin Monroe will, hopefully, be able to spare some time at a later date to chat with us. As for Slytherin captain Opeila Winters, she is also a prefect and is quite busy. She will also be joining the new Ravenclaw captain in the next issue.

For now, here is some insight into these new captains.

Q: What do you love about being a duelling captain?

Piérre: (flourishes jazz hands) Commentatingggg! Showmanship is half the sport; we are the entertainers here, after all. I want to sell you the match just as much as you want to watch six teenagers beat each other into a bloody pulp for the sake of "House Pride"! (sarcasm air-quotes included)

Lea: There's quite the list: strategizing, helping out my teammates, being able to see both their progress and my own, the new perspective of overlooking other duels, and collaborating with both my fellow Hufflepuff captains and other houses' captains. Even the paperwork isn't so bad─

Wonder what paperwork goes down in the captains’ office… Probably hospital wing reports, considering Piérre is right about watching six teenagers throwing spells at each other until three (or more) of them drop.

Q: Here's a question that can be considered controversial: why is duelling the best sport?

Piérre: It's quite practical. We practise spells that we will use in life after school, especially those of us who are aspiring towards more combative lifestyles. Looking at you, Aurors and Hitwizards. It also forces you to heighten your pain threshold and to invent ways to handle and mend your injuries: you'll get burnt, shocked, bludgeoned, and frozen... all in a matter of seconds to minutes!

Lea: It's not even a competition that duelling is the best. It has strategy and teamwork while also allowing you to individually test your skills both in spellwork and coordination. Plus, you generally get to keep both of your feet on land ─ quite the plus.

For those that do broom sports, you might disagree, but there is no doubt that all the sports have their own high level of risk.

Q: Classic duellist question: what is your favourite spell and why?

Piérre: Probably either Nec Crepitus Divinos or Protego. I like the Cracker Jinx because it's quite pretty and has a mean damage splashzone, and I like the Shield Charm because it's always fun to turn an opponent's spells right back at them. Time it right, and it'll teach anyone to think twice before a concentrated attack!

Lea: The Blasting Curse currently. While I enjoy the spells I have learned and grasped in class, teaching a spell to yourself has a greater pride and connection to it. I'm sure, though, that my answer will change as I learn more spells and see them in action.

All exciting spells and ones you don't generally see in the junior leagues. The senior leagues are more exciting with their wider repertoire of spells. It can also be the most confusing set of matches if you don't pay attention.

Q: If you were faced by a younger you right now, what would you like to tell them?

Piérre: Cunning over might. Every time. And the bigger they are... the harder they will always fall. Keep your wits about you, on and off the stage.

An interesting closing statement from Gryffindor's captain. One might have to reconsider their strategy against this jester.

Lea: Wow, that's... I think, "It might seem strange now, but you will find your place ─ and be open to new ideas or opportunities." Also, studies are important, don't forget that.

Studies are definitely important, and not just as a duellist. If you're considering trying out for your house's duelling team, take Lea's advice and try it out! It might end up being your sport.



Life After Hogwarts #3: Athletics
By Serena J. Towers

For all of you sports players out there, there is another very obvious path that might be of interest to you. However, this path is actually for anyone who may be even remotely interested in sports. You do not have to be good at sports to have a career in it – you simply need to be passionate and care about it.

If you are a duellist, broom racer or Quidditch player then you can make a career by going into the sport. This would be determined by your talent, skill and the amount of experience you have. However, it is certainly possible to go from simply aspiring to be a player to becoming a national superstar. This path is not easy, of course, and requires real talent in the sport to get picked. Most sports have leagues. The lower leagues are easier to get into, but through practice, hard work and skill, you can move up the ranks. Not everyone will become a national player, but if you stick to it, you could get the physical skill required to be something great in your chosen field.

Did you know that it is possible to succeed in the muggle world too? Whilst they don’t have magical duels, Quidditch games or broom races, they do have a huge variety of muggle sports. If you enjoy one of those sports then why not look to become an athlete in the muggle world? You could gain fame and money through that method just as easily as you could through the wizarding world! At Hogwarts, we have several clubs related to muggle sports and if there isn’t one of interest already, you could make your own! Why not try your hand at archery, gymnastics, martial arts, football, swimming or any other muggle sport that takes your fancy?

If fame and glory don’t motivate you or you choose to take a break or simply change your mind, you could change your path to become a referee or personal trainer. Referees are vital in every game, and usually, their word is the law. Becoming a referee is not easy – if you make a wrong call, you will face the wrath of many. Sometimes you will face that wrath even if you make the right call, as people will always see what they want to see (fans can be biased!). If you’re good under pressure though, know the rules of the game well and put your bias aside to judge fairly, then this could be the career path for you!

Instead of becoming a player, perhaps aspire to coach your own team? Managers are responsible for the entire team and gain fame through the collective team’s wins.

The sports world is competitive but people can make a career for themselves even if they don’t play any sports. For those interested in radio, you could consider becoming a commentator in the sports world! All you have to do is be willing to watch a lot of sports games and talk about them. If you like sports and talking then this might be the role for you! It may even lead to hosting your own radio show one day.

Becoming an athlete is not easy by any means, though. It requires literal sweat – and possibly tears and blood. Through hard work, you may become incredibly successful. The risk of injury or not getting a role on your favourite team is possible but even if you stop playing, you can quickly make a name for yourself through coaching or managing a team.

I may be biased, but one of the greatest moments of my life was hearing my name being called out by the commentator at the London Quidditch Stadium as we brought home yet another trophy. For a sports player, there is no greater feeling than that. But if you aren’t into sports, I’ll be back next time with research on another career path for you!

For now, this is Serena J. Towers – over and out.



Duelling Dust Bunnies
By Rebecca Lark

Spring is here, and we all know what that means! After many long months of winter, it’s time to sort through all the rubbish you accumulated when there wasn’t much to do except collect more rubbish. It’s a beautiful cycle, really.

Some of us have more useless knick-knacks and long-hoarded junk than others – not me, of course, and it’s proper rude of you to accuse me of this – and it can be difficult to know where to start. Taking on the long and arduous task of cleaning and organising can seem daunting, but the fruits of this labour are often especially sweet. If you’re looking to get your life in order, it can help to start with your belongings and living space.

If you’re struggling to find an entry point when it comes to your spring cleaning goals, worry not! I’ve sought out the experts and assembled the following tips and tricks for you:

Step 1: Go in with a plan.

You probably have an “ultimate goal” when it comes to your spring-cleaning aspirations. If you don’t, now’s the perfect time to set one! Keeping your eyes on the prize can help you see it through to the end, and can also assist you in setting small, achievable goals along the way. A checklist is helpful for this, as it allows you to keep track of your future cleaning goals whilst also allowing you to visibly see all of the progress you’ve made!

Step 2: Come prepared.

It’s so easy to find fun new reasons to procrastinate. Certainly more fun than actually cleaning! One easy distraction that can get in our way is lacking important supplies and having to break your concentration flow to go out and retrieve the necessary materials. Cleaning with magic definitely makes this easier as it eliminates the need for most cleaning supplies, but it’s still a good idea to ready in advance anything you might need, whether that means having clean sheets ready to go, or just having shelves prepared to hold your newly organised trinkets.

Step 3: De-stress and declutter.

Deciding what to keep and what to bin can be very difficult and emotionally draining. Sometimes the things we own can have more sentimental value to us than actual functionality, and the emotions we invest in said objects can serve as a debilitating obstacle when it comes to the decluttering process. Sometimes traditional decluttering methods instruct us to throw out items of sentimental value if we’re not using them, but this can be counterproductive. If our goal with spring cleaning is to make a happier, more livable space, then the things we love should absolutely have a place in this process. My thirteen different coloured moonballs are actually integral to my health and well-being, and I refuse to throw them away.

The professional muggle organising consultant Marie Kondo has a really lovely method for deciding what to keep and what to toss. For each object that you’re struggling to decide the fate of, ask yourself, “Does this spark joy?” If it makes you happier to have it than not, keep it. But if it isn’t bringing you joy in your day-to-day life, then into the bin it goes.

Good luck in all of your spring-cleaning ventures! Was I using the writing of this article to avoid doing my own spring cleaning? Maybe so! But that’s none of your business, so stay on your own broom. Regardless, you’ve got this! Go out there and get cleaning, and if you find anything cool when you’re cleaning out your trunk, consider sending it my way.



How to Know When Someone is Lying
By Hannah Blossom

Knowing when someone is lying is very simple, you just have to be observant and calm. It might take a while to suspect when someone is lying, but once you do, you need to watch out for a few things.

Consider these things before coming to any conclusions:

The Body. The first thing you have to observe is their face; are they smiling or laughing? That might be a clue. Now look at their eyes; are they looking directly at your eyes or are they looking at something besides you? That might be another clue.

Is the person sweating a lot? More than usual? That’s a sign as well, because usually when someone is lying, their heartbeat isn’t normal, it’s faster than usual.

The Story. Next, you must observe if their story makes sense, or do they seem like they’re adding too many details? Most liars make up a story and add so many details and often, people believe them. They could even take a real story and add many details to it which makes them not lie, but bend the truth.

Behaviour. Their body language is key. Are they fidgeting or is their voice different from normal? Is there a shift from their usual behaviour? Were they all quiet and then suddenly they started talking about something? Those could be signs that someone is lying. But, pay attention, sometimes they aren’t lying and are just nervous.

Changes to the Story. Are they correcting or changing the story or adding more and more details to their story? Are they saying words like “I mean…” “Actually…” “Oh and I also…”?

Are they responding quickly? Too quickly? For example, are they not even thinking about their replies?

Are they leaving out a very important detail? Like, for example, if they told you they wanted to tell you a story about them colouring their hair, they forgot to include what colour they painted it. The might seem kind of confusing, but it’ll also kind of make sense.

Observe if they are repeating the same words or, even better, the same story. Most liars forget the words they said previously and don’t hesitate to say the same thing.

Finding the Truth! Those are a few things which you have to take notice of while trying to catch a liar in the act of trying to know if someone said something that is not necessarily true. But, you can also do a few things to help find out if the person is lying or not!

Questions? Things as simple as asking questions can help you find out the truth. However, don’t ask too many questions, or else the person will think that your conversation is a police investigation, which is obviously not true. They might not show it, but they are surely thinking about this.

Also, you must be careful, as the person might end up getting suspicious as to why you are asking so many questions and they could stop talking to you and come up with an excuse to stop speaking to you. Imagine if they were saying the truth, would they say it the same way as they are speaking, or would they say something different? Ask yourself this. Would they use different wording? Would they add less details? More details? Think about this for a second.

Next, if they mention someone you know who was involved, don’t be shy, go ahead and ask that person! They might be able to help you find out the actual truth. Even if you’ve never talked to the person, ask them anyway, if you aren’t too shy.

Keep Calm! If you figure out if the person is lying, do not confront them! They might get extremely mad or upset. What you should do is, the next time you guys talk, leave hints that you know what they said isn’t the truth. Also, you shouldn’t confront them because what they told you could be the truth too, but you don’t know.

The truth to figuring out if someone is actually lying or if they are actually speaking the truth is observing their behaviour, their posture and asking not too many questions. You must be careful, and just go with the flow. Remember to always trust your gut.

Simon Kincaid's Guide to Summer Survival

It’s almost here, can you feel it? Just blink – and that cool spring breeze will turn into hot summer wind, the spring blossoms will fall and a lush green will burst open, and the once crowded corridors of Hogwarts will lay empty for months. Yes, summer is nearly here.

Are you ready?

Here’s my personal guide to summer survival – because while life at Hogwarts can be pretty chaotic, it eventually becomes our norm, and we begin to feel a little lost in those months away from our classes.

1. Make a list of 3+ goals or plans you hope to accomplish. Writing them down creates a sort of commitment, motivating you to take action. Your goal might be to learn something new, make a new friend, or help others, and, used correctly, these longer days of sunshine can serve you a boost of energy and motivation to get things done!

2. Reconnect with your family and friends back home. You’ve been away for many months, take some time to genuinely connect with them and catch up. An old friend represents a season in life that is part of who you are today and even if you have changed, they can remind you of the path it took to get you where you are.

3. Write to and/or visit your friends from Hogwarts. Some friends turn into family, and many of us have found a home away from home at Hogwarts. We can feel a little lost in those summer months when away. Write, or if possible, visit with some of your besties from school! It can make all the difference.

4. Get along with your family. Spend time together and show your appreciation for them. This task may not always be easy, but don’t forget to listen if you expect to be heard. A family is a bond – maybe work to establish (or reestablish!) traditions, values, and goals together.

5. Rediscover what you love about home. Is it the landscape around the area? The museums? That one home-cooked meal the school elves just can’t replicate? A house isn’t just your home, but a piece of who you are. What makes you love home?

6. Pick up a book or refresh your learning. What’s something you’ve wanted to know more about, or something from class you could have fun working on? Academic retention declines over summer vacation; keep ahead of the game to avoid this summer learning loss.

"Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August."
–Jenny Han

Well, that’s it for now! That summer holiday is just around the corner, and it’s never too soon to prepare. Make that list, start thinking how you can put those plans into action, and, as always: be kind to one another.



The Upper-Year's Guide to Studying for Examinations
By Aly Salinger

The tables in the Great Hall are littered with as many textbooks as food, and professors’ office hours seem much busier than usual. An empty table in the Study Hall is currently an impossible sight, and good luck trying to find a copy of whatever book you want on the library’s emptying shelves. You may also notice your favourite upperclassman looking distinctly more haunted than usual. That’s right, it’s almost exam time – which, for fifth- and seventh-years, means O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s.

Fifth-years take their Ordinary Wizarding Levels, and seventh-years their Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Tests, beginning in the second-to-last week of the term. These examinations, which instil greater fear than regular finals, are usually held over the last fortnight of school and encompass all that students have learned thus far. Naturally, Hogwarts turns into a whirlwind of studying, reading, quizzing and barely eating or sleeping when exams are just around the corner.

Examinations come hand-in-hand with various challenges: reviewing years’ worth of education, finding time to study and knowing that the results will dictate your future career are all common pressures, according to a recent survey of elder students. That’s a lot to balance, so how do the upperclassmen do it?

Speaking as a fifth-year, we all have our different tried-and-true techniques for revision – the places we go and methods we use. Whether you’re cramming for the end-of-year examinations that could potentially dictate the rest of your life, or you’re younger and won’t have such examinations for a while, it’s important to share these tips and tricks; you never know what might work someday!

Before you can even begin to crack open books or spread out your notes, the first step of studying is finding the perfect location. While the library, your House commons, and the Study Hall are all great spots, they can sometimes feel overcrowded and loud. If you’re looking for a quieter, more peaceful place to pull out your primers, search no further – some kind Headliner upperclassmen have shared their favoured study spots. (If you take advantage of any of these, we just ask that you don’t bother the upperclassmen who shared them! Let them study in peace!)

Pericles Dralt, fifth-year: “Believe it or not, the dungeons are a great space to study in, so long as you don’t mind the occasional ghost or spider!”

Evelynn Decipio, fifth-year: “At the risk of compromising my peace, my preference is the spot beneath my favourite tree at the lakeside... does wonders for enhancing focus.”

Delilah Stewart, seventh-year: “Sometimes the owlery is nice, you just have to watch you don’t get owl poop on your parchment...”

Alan Vanes, seventh-year: “There is this hill near the paddocks of the Care of Magical Creatures classroom that I really love… [and] the Great Lake is pretty neat.”

Once you’ve found your place, you can study! Do you prefer solitary scrutiny or memorisation with the masses? Though I’m personally a fan of the latter, finding studying alone to be boring, fifth-year Cassius Eden identifies more with the former, saying, “Studying alone allows me to be free of distractions which others often bring whether intentionally or unintentionally.”

Don’t forget to address both the practical and the theoretical when it comes to studying! “For practical studying I enjoy duelling or just visiting the stables and watching the creatures,” said Vanes. “For theoretical aspects I do review the notes I take in class or when observing creatures.” Other theory-based methodologies include flashcard review, textbook-reading, rewriting notes, sipping Memory Potion before studying (according to Dralt), or even teaching. “My mother always emphasised that teaching is the best way to learn,” explained Decipio. “So I deliver lectures in the theatre of the mind, rereading any content of which I was uncertain.”

How much time you should devote to cramming varies from person to person and should honestly just be “as much as you can take without wanting to practise DADA spells on yourself”. Some upperclassmen err on the lower side, such as Dralt, who puts aside just one hour a day for O.W.L.-specific studying (and always just before dinner, so that hunger will assist with his concentration), or Eden, who reviews “at least two hours per day of classes. Time must be allowed for current homework and personal study, of course.”

And then there are people like Stewart, our editor-in-chief. “I probably spend more than most people [studying]... maybe 2-3 hours a day per subject?” Stewart said, adding, “I spend a lot of time in the library.” Again, to each their own!

The important takeaway here is that studying should be different for everyone – and no matter what you do, don’t resort to cheap tricks like buying powdered dragon claw from shifty upperclassmen in the toilets. Hard work is the best path to outstanding Outstandings!



A Rose By Any Other Name
By Rebecca Lark

As we all prepare to graduate into the next year – and some of us prepare to graduate out of Hogwarts entirely – the world around us too continues its cycle of growth and change, with the full bounty of spring out around us in full bloom. Now is the time to rekindle old friendships before the chance slips away from us again, maybe for the last time. This is the perfect season for it, after all: what has frozen can always thaw again, can always grow into something even more beautiful and vibrant than that which came before it.

For those of you looking to rebuild burned bridges, I commend you; I will most definitely not be doing that. Those who are dead to me are welcome to stay dead. But if you are considering making the unenviable leap to reconnect with a love lost, romantic or platonic, that first tentative contact can be awkward, uncomfortable, and more than a little terrifying.

There are many ways to send a message to someone important to you that effectively communicates exactly how you feel about them and what they mean to you, but none quite as seasonally appropriate as floriography – or, as you’ve probably most commonly heard it called, the language of flowers. Flower language has existed in various forms and in various different cultures for centuries but started to gain prominence here in the U.K. and other parts of Europe in the early 18th century, though books compiling various flowers and their meanings didn’t start to emerge until the 19th century.

Flowers were used to send messages and share secrets, and while it was often associated with clandestine communications between lovers, floriography was commonly utilised amongst friends and family as well. Everything from what hand the flowers were delivered with to how the ribbon was tied played a part in their meaning. Colour also played an important role: while receiving red carnations, for example, would imply feelings of love and passion from the sender, receiving yellow carnations on the other hand would convey feelings of rejection and disappointment. As such, confusing the two would likely lead to one very broken heart and a rather embarrassing outcome for both parties involved.

Many of us recently got up close and personal with over a dozen different kinds of flowers at the Spring Ball back in April. While not all flowers were gifted commonly enough to have any symbolism attached to them, quite a few of the flowers chosen by the planning committee serve as more than just lovely dance decorations – or, in our case, as clever hiding spots for the various clues left for attendees to discover.

While Honking Daffodils don’t have any special meaning attached to them by nature of their honking (though, if I may suggest one of my own, perhaps the Honking Daffodil should symbolise that someone is standing in your way, and you are very loudly requesting that they move out of it quickly, should they enjoy getting to do so of their own free will), daffodils have rather disputed meanings. Some say that the flower represents new beginnings, rebirth, and unequalled love; others believe that it symbolises unrequited love. So, if you’re planning to give someone a daffodil, maybe consider sending it with a note.

Red roses, on the other hand, have some of the most well-known symbolism of any flower. Even if you don’t know a single other thing about floriography, you likely implicitly understand what it means to be gifted a red rose. Red roses symbolise romantic love and are the most unequivocal love declaration a person can receive.

Lilies have a variety of different meanings depending on their colour. White lilies can mean innocence and purity (lame) and can also be used as well wishes for weddings. Yellow lilies, meanwhile, can symbolise gratitude and friendship, while orange lilies often are used to convey hatred. Mad that your ex is marrying someone else? Spice up the wedding by sending orange lilies instead of white!

While my own dreams of sending spy missives via flowers might be unrealistic – no flower possesses the meaning of “meet me at the Astronomy Tower at midnight, bring Hiccoughing Potion and come unarmed”, for example – you can absolutely use floriography to rekindle snuffed out friendships and old flames long gone cold. Perhaps pink camellias and chrysanthemums to express longing for a dear friend, or a bouquet of snapdragons and hyacinth to convey “I’m sorry for my mistakes.” However you choose to say it, just make sure that you do. Summer is fast approaching, and time has a way of slipping away from us; if you want someone in your life again, consider this your sign to tell them so.



May Day Around the World
By Alyssea Brown

When you hear the words ‘May’ and ‘day’ together, what comes to mind first? The distress callout used by ships and aircraft? The workers’ day to celebrate the labour movement? The spring festivals?

Fortunately (or unfortunately), there is no emergency to be covered in this article, but rather a celebration of a brand new year. With the winter cold melting away and spring upon us, we can also look forward to warmer days as May Day (the festival) rolls around.

May Day is a celebration occurring between the spring equinox (20 March) and the summer solstice (21 June). Depending on your sources, it is a celebration for the return of spring or the beginning of summer. The origins of May Day lie in both Roman and Celtic festivals, better known as Floralia and Beltane, respectively.

ORIGINS - ROMANS AND CELTICS

Floralia was an ancient Roman festival held for five to six days, beginning in late April and ending in early May, which celebrated the goddess Flora, who represented flowers, vegetation and fertility. The length of the festival was not because of the many offerings the Romans believed would appeal to her for an abundant harvest, but because of the Ludi Florae, games of Flora.

Beltane is a Celtic fire festival that marks the beginning of summer and is also believed to be the best time for cattle to pasture. It is one of four Celtic fire festivals. During this time, people perform rituals to protect their livestock, crops, and wish for a plentiful summer. In addition, the fires of Beltane were once known to have protective magics.

ENGLAND

In England, May Day celebrations involve crowning a May Queen, the Maypole dance and a May Fair.

The May Queen is the first to enter at the May Fair. She is dressed in white to symbolise purity and bears a flower crown for the season. She is also the first to address the people before dancing begins. In some places, a May King may be appointed to accompany the May Queen, and he is dressed in green to symbolise springtime.

The Maypole dance originally happened in the woods, where a tree would be picked and adorned with ribbons and streamers. Nowadays, the tree is brought to the village and children dance around it, holding onto the ribbons and streamers as they circle the pole.

USA

A lesser known tradition that was practised in the United States was the gifting of May baskets. These baskets were usually handmade or sometimes made from empty milk cartons gifted anonymously by friends and family by simply leaving them on each other’s doorsteps. Inside, the recipients would find wildflowers, sweets, and other treats. If a person was caught giving a May basket, they would have to kiss the cheek of the person who caught them.

Other variations of May Day you may have heard include:

CENTRAL AND NORTHERN EUROPE

Saint Walpurgis Night, or simply Walpurgis Night, celebrates Saint Walpurga, who was known for her healing powers and for protecting people from evil spirits.

Bonfires are lit as a symbol of protection. There are even more regional variations of Walpurgis Night depending on which part of Europe you visit. In some regions, it is more akin to Halloween and is less about the saint or the bonfires. There is one common feature: as long as you are down to have fun, you can head down to a bonfire and dance the night away.

In Finland, Walpurgis Night is known as Vappu. Finnish traditions usually involve lots of drinking, namely of sima (a low-alcoholic and soft drink), sparkling wine and other alcoholic drinks. Sima is also consumed with funnel cakes and donuts.

SOUTHEAST EUROPE

Known as Irminden, Bulgarians lean more towards the protection of people from snakes and lizards.

People light fires and dance over them while making noises, believing it will scare the snakes. Pregnant women are more likely to observe the May Day celebration so as to ward off evil.

Not to be confused with Bulgarian Irmenden, the armindeni (beginning of summer) is a Romanian celebration. Other names include ziua pelinului (mugwort day) and ziua bețivilor (drunkard’s day). Aside from sowing the seeds for a rich summer, it is a time for Romanians to prepare good wine for autumn and ask for protection from harsh weather. The reason it is also called mugwort day is because men often walk away from these festivals with mugworts on their hats.

Wherever you are in the world, the 1st of May is certainly a time for community and blessings for the new year. However, if you are lighting bonfires, make sure it follows the open air fire rules and does not cause a disaster.



A Brief History of Taylor Swift – Part 1
By Dorion Anderson

Taylor Alison Swift was born in West Reading, Pennsylvania, United States on December 13th, 1989. She is a powerhouse at age 34 that does not seem to be stopping after releasing her latest album, The Tortured Poets Department, on April 19th, 2024 with a total tracklist of 31 songs. She has broken a multitude of records including the highest-grossing tour, which she is still on, called The Eras Tour! Sadly, I am at stupid wizard school and can’t go see it, but it’s whatever.

Her awards include: 14 Grammys, 40 American Music Awards, 39 Billboard Music Awards, Primetime Emmy Award, 23 MTV Video Music Awards, and 3 separate Artist or Album of the Year awards four times each.

She notably cites her grandmother, Marjorie Finlay (who has a song dedicated to her on Evermore), as one of her earliest influences to pursue music. Marjorie was an opera singer who performed in the church that the family attended. Her family was incredibly supportive of music, bringing her to NYC for voice and acting lessons throughout her early childhood and helping her perform a lot early on. While she was rejected by a myriad of labels, she focused on her skills, including guitar and songwriting, and eventually was able to secure something called an “Artist Development Deal” with RCA records. Her family moved to Nashville when she was 14 years old.


Eventually she switched to Big Machine Records and wrote her debut album with them, which was released in October of 2006. It spent 157 weeks on the Billboard 200 list which was an insane record for the early 2000s! She was only 17 in 2006! Can you believe it? Through her career she broke a lot of “firsts” – not only spending that long on the Billboard list, but she was also the first female country artist to write or co-write every. single. track. on her US platinum album. Her breakthrough song came in with “Teardrops on My Guitar”, though I really think “Our Song” was the breakthrough song. Alas, I was not alive yet, so I don’t have much of an opinion.

That is how she got her start; since then she has released countless albums and we are going to really quickly run through them because oh boy she has had a career and I have a word limit! Fearless was released in November of 2008 and spent 11 weeks on the Billboard 200 at the number one spot. This album also broke a lot of firsts for women in the industry! In October of 2010 she released Speak Now which was only written by her! She also released Red in October of 2012.

What do you know, in October of 2014 she released 1989, an album she called her first “pop album” and that was deeply influenced by her new residence in New York City. This was followed shortly in November of 2014 by her pulling all of her music from free streaming platforms and advocating for these platforms to actually pay the artists they were making money off of. Apple Music announced changes that satiated her enough to keep her albums on there, and it wasn’t until June 2017 that her music returned to other streaming platforms. This was also the year in which she was named as Billboard’s Woman of the Year, the second time she had won the award.


This time we have a November album! In November of 2017 she released one of her most controversial albums: Reputation. This came as a response to so many years of being in the spotlight and the criticisms that she had received from media and the public alike. In November of 2018, Taylor Swift switched to the Universal Music Group with a contract that allowed her to keep the masters of all her albums. Lover is released in August 2019; in July of 2020 we get Folklore, and then Evermore in December. During this, however, there was a huge dispute with her manager Scooter Braun, as she tried to buy her old masters, but Big Machine would only let her under a contract that agreed that she would have to exchange new masters for her old ones.

So she decided, why don’t I just re-record all of them?

Here’s the thing pals – there’s so much more, including 2 more albums and a whole bunch of new records. Stay tuned for next Headliner, where I get into my own personal Swiftie opinions, as well as her finished history and discussing her newest album, The Tortured Poets Department, which I was lucky enough to receive unharmed as a record via owl transport and then I lay in the rehearsal room to listen to it.

An Article from Your Favorite Swiftie,
Dorion Anderson



May Horoscopes
By Pericles Dralt

With Spring arriving in full force, bringing the seasonal shift, May is a month of change. Taurus season is typically grounding, though the new moon will bring unfamiliar experiences. Gemini season will strike later in the month, overwhelming some with its creativity-boosting energies. Not to mention, O.W.L.s and N.E.W.T.s are on the horizon for us upper-years, so there’s plenty of surplus stress to go around. Utilise Taurus’s strength to stay firm on your path. Don’t allow change to intimidate you: this is one of the most significant turning points of the year.

ARIES
Now isn’t a time to take shortcuts. Focus on strengthening your foundation, especially by gaining control over your routine. Self-control will be vital this month for reaching your goal, but so will self-confidence.

TAURUS
Honesty will be your guide this month, both when establishing new friendships and admitting when you’re at your limit. Be kind to yourself: you’re doing better than you realise, and that deserves credit.

GEMINI
Embrace solitude this month in order to gain clarity, and when you’re ready, reach out. A change in connections will provide transparency in your goals. As Jupiter shifts into Gemini, your inspiration will rekindle.

CANCER
You enjoy supporting your friends. Don’t struggle in silence and deny them the chance to return the favour. Communication is on your side, both with them and yourself, so choose what you say with care.

LEO
Be fearless when introducing yourself. If you present yourself authentically, you’re bound to attract similar minds. Take this time to prove your innate potential by being brave and genuine, especially in the face of risk.

VIRGO
Be open to learning and receiving this month. Hang back and observe, and your future may become clearer. A wealth of wisdom lies just outside of your perception; it is obtainable if you let the information come to you for a change.

LIBRA
If you don’t let your walls down, you won’t see the world beyond them. Perhaps go somewhere new or read an unusual book – they’re often as good as travel. Embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

SCORPIO
You’re self-reliant, but the month of May is a good time to lean on others for a change. Don’t let preconceived notions cloud your ability to form new judgments. Let go of the old, and celebrate your hard-earned wins.

SAGITTARIUS
Work on communicating your needs or risk hitting a wall. Jupiter and Venus are poised to expand your connections if you open your heart to them. Remember: there are opportunities to learn about yourself in every interaction.

CAPRICORN
Work hard, but don’t forget to play hard, too. Not everything you do should be a matter of success versus failure. Make a point to treat yourself, find an excuse to be grateful and acknowledge your inherent value.

AQUARIUS
Inspiration will strike if you allow yourself to rest. Recover your energy because the breakthrough will happen when you least expect it. Strangers may become friends, and friends may further prove themselves.

PISCES
This isn’t a month for forming new methods. Keep true to your routine to avoid needless frustration, both socially and academically. Rest, or else you won’t be prepared for the arrival of the stimulating Gemini season.



Room for Change
By Alan Vanes

As many of you readers are aware, this castle offers dozens, if not thousands of secrets and mysteries. Not all of them have been or will ever be uncovered, but it does not hurt to try, right? As someone who has been a student in this castle for almost seven years now, I have seen my fair share of secret passages, short cuts and little secrets. And these range from small and trivial to mind-blowing. The likes of the secret I wish to share with you today is more of the latter category, at least if you ask me.

Because unknown to many students, there lies a room in this very castle that is unlike any other. Not everyone will find it and many make it through their seven years of Hogwarts without even being aware of this room’s existence.

Which, truth to be told, is quite a shame as it has many uses. That might be an understatement as the room will have limitless possibilities of what it can offer, as it seemingly warps to the occupant’s will.

If you, like many others, feel like Hogwarts in its available rooms and areas has room for improvement, you might embrace some room for change and you should seek it, literally. In the room of change!

Those who are aware of the room might skip ahead to the next article, but the many readers who are unaware should keep on reading to discover more about the Room of Many Names and how to find it.
The name I have heard most is the Room of Requirement, the Room of Wishing and also the Room of Many Things.
Funnily enough, lost things often seem to make their way into said room! I am personally unaware of the room’s limits, but perhaps you can be the first to find out?
For those who are curious and wish to see the room for themselves, you should head to the seventh floor of this castle, and walk along the corridor.

The journey will be worth it! Pace it back and forth, three times to be precise and keep in mind what kind of place you would desire and if your desire is strong enough the room will deliver as you require! So, for all the students that desire and require, keep an eye out for the painting of Barnabas the Barmy... good luck!



Opinion: Why You Should Join Your House's Quidditch Team
By Koko Riddle

We’ve all been there. The feeling of the sturdy, calming wood of a broom in your hand is an experience that every Hogwarts student shares. If you’ve taken a Flying class, you’ve felt the wind in your hair, felt the weight of a broom against you or under you, and you’ve flown.

Some of us don’t like flying. That is, of course, entirely understandable. However, for those of us who do, joining our house’s Quidditch team is an exceptional way to exercise, to make new friends and to enjoy the freeing feeling of flying on a broom.x

Without further ado, here are seven reasons you should join your house’s Quidditch team.

One: Exercise. It’s easy for students to get so involved in their studies that they forget to go outside and breathe. It’s not unheard of for Hogwarts students to spend all day in their dormitories, neglecting the vast expanse of the grounds and the health benefits that exercising can give them. Quidditch solves that. You have to practise, which ensures you are taking steps to exercise and keep your body healthy.

Two: Teamwork and socialisation. Joining the Quidditch team teaches you the importance of teamwork. It is a bit less individualistic than duelling and broom racing, and it is also easy to get to meet people in different years and of different skill levels. For those who find it difficult to socialise with others, Quidditch can give you things to bond over and also open avenues for making new friends.

Three: Mental health. Quidditch is, first and foremost, a game. It helps you talk to people and exercise, which are both beneficial for your mental health. The fun aspect of the game helps students enjoy themselves, offering a break from rigorous studying.

Four: Competition. House rivalries are fine and well, but there’s just something special about getting to act on your grudges. Have you ever been upset that your house has lost the house cup for months in a row? Well, Quidditch is a perfect outlet for that frustration. At least you can win at something.

Five: Mental stimulation. I think Quidditch makes you smarter. You have to come up with all sorts of strategies, and you have to learn to react in the moment. It might not be academic smartness, but it is common sense, which might even be more important. You learn how to deal with stressful situations as well as people you might not like, which are both things you will need to be able to deal with as an adult.

Six: Winning. Isn’t that the most important part of Quidditch? Winning? No? Well, it is to some. If you join your house’s Quidditch team and do well in it, you’ll be able to win. Maybe you won’t win every game, but that’s part of life. What truly matters is that you feel good about the game and yourself – and trust me, after winning a difficult game of Quidditch, you most certainly will.

Seven: Fun. Despite the inherent danger in getting whacked with a bludger, Quidditch is still a game. The goal is to have fun… although some might argue that the goal is to win. However, it’s most important to have fun while you’re winning. The points total in Quidditch makes it easier to keep track of who is winning, and since you’re part of a team, everyone can share in the happiness. That’s not to mention the exhilaration that comes from flying!

Quidditch teams need you. Maybe you need a Quidditch team. Whatever the case, you should join your house’s team today.



Why Duelling is the Best Sport
By Alyssea Brown

Between the three sports at Hogwarts, it’s hard to know which one you should sign up for. Quidditch, duelling, and broom racing all offer their pros and cons, as well as their own level of risk. Because the school only allows you to participate in one, which one should you choose?

If you have a legacy to continue, the answer may come easily. If not, it is a daunting question to answer. As someone who has spent all of her second year trying out every single sport (and without losing any bones along the way), I will be presenting a mini-series to go through every sport.

Hopefully, by the end of this mini-series, you will have a better idea of which sport you want to do. This article also includes opinions from current and former duellists, so it’s not just my opinion you’re getting.

Duelling at Hogwarts is not about settling grudges or determining quarrels; instead it’s a team effort to bring pride to one’s house. All you need is a wand, some spells in your arsenal and maybe some extra studying to get an advantage over your opponent. In the past, duels were between pairs but are now in a three-versus-three format.

So, what is so cool about this spell-flinging sport that requires little to no physical exertion? For one, duelling is actually quite physical unless you’re able to avoid all your opponents’ spells. While duellists don’t have to throw rocks or hit Bludgers to knock out opponents, the mental toll to cast so many spells in a short period of time is draining. Not only are you casting and dodging spells, but you may also have to break out of binds like Fulgari to avoid making yourself an easy target.

Duelling is a very practical sport. For those looking to go into the Auror or Hit Wizard industries, this can give you a massive boost in the long run. Former Gryffindor duellist Raizel Voltrouz backed this up, saying, “It gives fighting experience, especially for those who want to become Aurors in the future. And who wouldn’t want to be in a sport that doesn’t just teach you how to defend yourself but kind of simulates a real fight between wizards and witches?”

Miss Voltrouz added, “It’s also the best way to test out spells against other people and that’s fun for those who love spells. Sure, it hurts, but no pain no gain” – a pretty bold statement from the lioness.

Former duelling partner of mine and a duellist for Hufflepuff, EmmaLee LeDames, said, “Duelling is completely about strategy. Even a weak duellist can win with a good strategy… and I would rather not be on a broom,” which are all completely good points! If you have a fear of heights, like Zach Zaphiere, who we talked to in Issue #29, but still want to do something physical, duelling might be a good pick.

Ravenclaw duellist Cassian Clarke is quite passionate about the sport, saying, “I love the duelling team. I don’t know, there’s something really cool about being able to test your abilities, to find out how good you really are. The adrenaline is such a rush and it takes not just magical willpower, but also insight and quick thinking.”

Ultimately, sign up for your house’s duelling team! And if you find it’s not your cup of tea, at least you gave it a shot. As some person somewhere once said, “better an oops than a what if”.

Stay tuned for the next instalment of this mini-series!



Magical & Muggle Meals: Giant Squid Calamari
By Aly Salinger

Many Hogwarts students believe that one of the best parts of attending our esteemed academy is the food – not just the holiday feasts, our tables positively dripping with delectable delights themed to the occasion, but the everyday meals, too. Each time we sit down to dine together, we leave satisfied, our bellies full of the most flavourful fare this side of Scotland.

After graduating, we are going to face a grim truth: there won’t be an army of house-elves in our kitchens whipping up rich recipes. Learning to cook for yourself is essential, whether you’re magical or Muggle! As such, welcome to “Magical & Muggle Meals”, which shall provide you with recipes so that you don’t leave Hogwarts completely unprepared to tackle cooking.
‎ ‏‏‎ ‎‏‏‎ ‎ Let’s start off with something you may have tried if you’ve recently visited Jakarta: fried Giant Squid tentacles. These squid arms are wonderfully chewy without being overly so, crispy on the outside for a satisfying crunch upon first bite, and carry with them all of the salt and savouriness of the sea. What’s not to love?

(Side note before the recipe itself: since hunting Giant Squids is not technically legal in large parts of the magical world, you may have to settle for a regular-sized squid, unless you travel all the way to Indonesia to get some of the larger version.)

Giant Squid Calamari
Serves: Hogwarts, if you use giant squid; if you use regular squid, 6 people
Time: one hour, not including squid-butchering

Ingredients:
▫ 1 giant squid (*one pound of squid)
▫ Skrewt oil (*olive oil)
▫ ½ cup dragon milk (*2% milk)
▫ 1 ½ cups Wizarding Wheat Self-Charmed Flour (*all-purpose flour)
▫ ¾ teaspoon dried oregano
▫ ½ teaspoon pepper
▫ ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
▫ ⅓ cup cornstarch
▫ ½ teaspoon baking powder
▫ 1 lemon
▫ Salt, as needed
*Muggle alternative

Directions:


𝟭| Butcher your squid – discard all but the tentacles, then slice tentacles into rings that are ¾ inch thick. *Note: Some Muggle stores will sell squid pre-sliced, though you may be hard-pressed to find a pre-butchered Giant Squid.
𝟮| In a medium-sized cauldron, add one teaspoon of salt to the milk and stir. Add the squid rings; chill for thirty minutes with a Freezing Spell or Muggle refrigerator.
𝟯| Add the flour, spices, cornstarch, and baking powder to a separate medium-sized cauldron. Mix well.
𝟰| Take half of the squid and shake off excess milk. Add to flour mixture and toss to coat, then place to the side. Repeat with the remaining squid.
𝟱| Turn your oven to a low heat – 150 degrees Fahrenheit or 65 degrees Celsius. Place a wire rack atop a large sheet pan, top with paper towels, and place inside the oven.
𝟲| In a small cauldron over a different fire (Muggle alternative: stove), heat ten centimetres of oil to a high heat (around 350 degrees Fahrenheit or 175 Celsius). *Note: This may spit whether you are using skrewt oil or not. If it spits, turn the temperature down – your oil is too hot!
𝟳| Use your wand (or tongs) to add several pieces of squid into the oil; allow to fry for three minutes or until crispy and golden-brown. Remove finished squid from the oil with your wand (or tongs) and carefully add to the preheated sheet pan with wire rack and towels. Season with salt, then repeat the step until all the squid has been fried.
𝟴| Levitate squid out of the oven (or use oven mitts to safely remove it). Slice the lemon carefully with a Severing Charm (or knife) and squeeze the lemon juice onto the squid. Serve!



Muggle Item of the Month: Light Bulbs
By Dorion Anderson

Ah, it has been a long time, hasn’t it my dear readers? So long, in fact, that I’ve had a name and gender change. But that’s not what we’re here to talk about. Let me shed some light on what Muggles use for light sources! If you need a refresher on what electricity is, please revisit Meenauh Silmataurea’s article from Issue #5 – you’ll find it positively enlightening. Let’s talk about light bulbs!

Light bulbs have been around starting in the early 1800s, but we don’t see something reminiscent of the modern lightbulb until the 1870s. Reader, you might imagine that these weren’t quite as effective as the blinding effect of LED headlights (Muggle-borns, if you know you know). I’ll be focusing on the incandescent model of light bulb, but there has been a progression towards more power-efficient and cooler (as in temperature) models.


The incandescent light bulb takes advantage of electrical currents passing through thin wires called filaments (typically made of tungsten metal, which has a high melting point that makes it perfect for this function). The filament essentially tries to resist the electrical current, and through that it gets super hot, and that heat creates light. So… don’t touch it. Or do and have a burn salve on hand.

The air in light bulbs has to be either a vacuum situation (with no air) or replaced with a noble gas, which means they never react with anything. Welcome to Muggle science! Normally neon or argon is what is used within a light bulb, because if it was just air the filament would burn up so fast you would have no use for a light bulb besides a quick light show.

As mentioned earlier, light bulbs started entering the homes of Muggles starting around 1870, as two historical icons, Joseph Swan and Thomas Edison, made it actually work well enough to be a suitable replacement for fire as a source of light. Originally the filament was made of carbon instead of tungsten, which came into play in the 1900s.

I’m going to go through a short list of different light sources you might find in Muggle homes, camping supplies, or really anywhere Muggles are.

1. Torches – Also known as flashlights in some regions. These are usually battery powered (tiny containers of electricity, basically, that don’t need to be connected to a main electricity source), although sometimes they are powered by hand crank. These kind of have the same effect as casting Lumos from your wand, but they are usually a lot thicker with a very high-powered light bulb.

2. Fairy Lights – These are kind of what they sound like: tiny bulbs of light along a string that you can hang up to create pretty displays of light. These are also known as string lights! Often you can see them being hung up during the holiday months around December.

3. Ceiling, Floor, or Desk Lamps – These are what Muggles will generally use to light rooms! Ceiling lamps are, well, in the ceiling, while floor lamps are usually on a stand of some kind. The desk lamps are usually small to light a much smaller space than the rest of them.

4. Concert/Stage Lighting – Muggles get really creative when it comes to concerts or theatre performances! Colour gels or filters will be used over basic lighting to create cool effects on a stage that can be seen from really far back.

That’s all for this edition of Muggle Item of the Month! Is there an item you’re curious about? Send me an owl and I’ll try and cover it! I’ve missed you all dearly.



Our Summer Plans
By Simon Kincaid

Hogwarts may be our home away from home, but in the summer months, the heavy wooden doors of the Entrance Hall close, and the corridors rest empty as we head onto other adventures. Let’s discover what some of our fellow students have planned for their summer holiday!

First year Slytherin Archer Duncan tells me that his mother is a researcher and cartographer. If my memory serves correctly, that means she looks at and designs maps and knows things. He said that they will be visiting the Canadian countryside, where she will be researching magical locations, and he is excited to explore the country’s mountains and lakes.

Another outdoor adventurer is second year Gryffindor Keith Moore, who plans to go on a camping trip with his aunts, hang out with his Muggle friends, and possibly owl a girl from Hogwarts. It looks like Keith is ready for summer survival the right way!

First year Hufflepuff Genevieve Delacourt would love to go to one of her favourite places in the world, the beach, finding it magical and glorious. She would also like to travel, possibly visiting France.

I also caught up with a charming and gorgeous third year Hufflepuff named AngelFyre McCubbin who said her summer plans consisted of going on safari to Kruger National Park in South Africa to see some exotic animals, while hopelessly missing her beloved boyfriend, who she thinks is the best boyfriend any girl could possibly hope to have.

As for me? I plan to head back to my native land of London Town to catch up with my family and friends, and to partake in some of the culture, the music, and the museums that the city has to offer. I’ll also be writing to those at Hogwarts whom I’ll miss, hopefully getting to visit with some of them as well; especially a certain girl that has my heart, mind, and soul.

Whatever your plans are, stay safe! We want you back when summer ends for another exciting year at Hogwarts!

Knives and Shadows: Are Hogwarts Balls Hotbeds for Attempted Homicides?
By Anonymous

Twice a year, every year, Hogwarts holds two balls for both its own students and our compatriots abroad. While I do so love a good party, our beloved Hogwarts balls have garnered a rather prolific reputation, less for the good food, good friends, and good fun, but more for the sheer life-threatening injury count. For those of you lucky enough to have missed the ball this past spring, whether due to disinterest, forgetfulness, or just plain good sense, congratulations. There are many things I’d wish on my worst enemies – everything from accidents to maladies to unending exams – but even I hesitate to wish a Hogwarts Ball on any of them.

If you enjoyed the evening in blissful ignorance, allow me a brief moment of your time to recapitulate the snowballing grotesquerie that was the 2024 Hogwarts Spring Ball. I consider it my most solemn obligation to do so, the fulfillment of a grudge gone as-of-yet unanswered for.

The ball started out relatively benign, the planning committee having arranged a darling little scavenger hunt for us; the indescribable sight of elegantly dressed attendees gambolling about in the bushes like toddlers is not one I’ll personally soon forget. In hot pursuit of the floral riddles left for us, the ball was thus opened on a playful note that was regrettably never destined to last.

I confess that, while I have the jagged pieces of the night set out in front of me, how they all manage to fit neatly together still eludes me; some questions I’m still seeking the answers to, and some may never be answered at all.

What I know is this: one of our own, a fifth year, Jack Warren, decided that searching through bushes didn’t provide enough sedimentary fun for him, and resorted to upturning the earth itself with his own two hands. When his fellow fifth year, Pericles Dralt, approached to ensure that Mr. Warren was in good health, Mr. Warren turned on him, stabbing the young man in eye with the same wand that Mr. Warren had used for the past five years to cast every Lumos, Reparo, and Scourgify.

Should it not have been so ghastly, I’d have considered it almost clever. Despite the day-to-day mundanity of general wand usage, wands are weapons, or so Professor Lécuyer has been doing his best to impart upon us. What a novel use for one’s wand, then, to use it not for casting but instead as a crude, physical weapon.

I applaud your ingenuity, Mr. Warren.

Mr. Dralt lost the eye. Eyes are complicated bits of equipment, after all, and difficult to reconfigure after they’ve been as thoroughly eviscerated as Mr. Dralt’s was. Mr. Warren will have lots of time to think about it in St. Mungo’s, I'm sure. Are you proud of your strength and valour, Mr. Warren?

I suppose he must be, what with him having fought almost the entirety of years five through seven in attendance. I commend the brave students willing to go toe-to-toe with a fully grown elk. Mr. Warren’s Animagus form certainly is impressive, blood stains and all. There were more interpersonal disputes than a life-or-death fight may warrant but loathe am I to critique the whims of those protecting the school from a rampaging elk. An elk who, apparently, had been digging up human bones. A word of warning in good faith to Ms. Prince, though: perhaps throwing up a Protego for the boy who publicly assaulted another member of the student body isn’t the best look.

I would advise watching your back in the upcoming year.

Only one stabbing would be too pedestrian for a Hogwarts Ball, though. A second, equally bloody one was occurring a scant distance away, though the details of this one are far murkier and less conclusive than the first. Someone certainly stabbed the second year, Finnegan Connor, but the details of who exactly is to blame are heavily disputed. What might have been an accident on its own looks rather orchestrated when held next to the attack on Mr. Dralt.

One thing is clear: a first year, Astra Norrick, attempted an attack on Mr. Connor and his friend in the chaos. Thus, she certainly had the means and opportunity, but did she have the motive? Numerous witnesses say they saw her perform the deed, though Ms, Norrick herself disputes this. What could compel a person to stab a fellow student mid-conversation? Perhaps more importantly, what kind of institution is this, that we have so many students hungry and eager for blood out freely roaming our halls?

Come autumn, the cycle will continue, and ball season will once again be upon us. Take care, should you be brave or stupid enough to attend it.




Opinion: The Hogwarts Express is Outdated!
By Aly Salinger

Since 1830, the Hogwarts Express has been Hogwarts’s one and only way of transporting students to and from our prestigious academy at the beginning and end of each school year. Implemented by Minister of Magic Ottaline Gambol, the steam-powered locomotive’s iconic black-and-red silhouette now pumps through the English and Scottish countryside every September and June – Hogwarts’s one-stop shop for pupil transportation.

That, however, is precisely the problem: it’s a one-stop train.

For Hogwarts scholars who live in the London area, or even in all of southern England, travelling to King’s Cross Station to catch the Express is certainly quicker and easier than finding one’s way to the Scottish Highlands solo without catching Muggle attention. However, did Minister Gambol completely forget that there are Scottish and Northern English students attending Hogwarts, too? For these families, it is nowhere near as smooth and convenient to travel to King’s Cross.

Plus, it doesn’t make sense for a student from the north to make the journey south just to go right back up north again. So why is this still the only way for students to get to Hogwarts?

Beyond that, wizards have had instantaneous transportation for a very long time: Apparition. Yes, Apparating onto the Hogwarts grounds is impossible due to the school’s heavy protective enchantments, but one can still Apparate into nearby Hogsmeade, where the train station is located anyway. It seems possible to allow parents to drop their kids off at school via Side-Along Apparition into Hogsmeade, the fastest way of all.

However, Apparition is notoriously uncomfortable; understandably, it’s not for everyone. Still, it is somewhat ridiculous that the Hogwarts Express is unable to make a few stops at smaller stations along the way to and from Hogsmeade so that students who live in between the two stops don’t have to go south to go north. Alternatively, the fact that there is only one train – nothing to pick up students from Ireland or Wales, and nothing shorter for Northern Scottish students – seems unfair.

One last point against the Hogwarts Express is that it hasn’t really been updated since it was first installed in the mid-1800s. It still looks like an old steam engine, and that’s because it is one! With the Mystic Pullman able to deliver luxurious, first-class travel between King’s Cross and Hogsmeade, why can’t the Express do the same? Why must Hogwarts students be sentenced to small cabins, little luggage room, uncomfortable bench seats, and a single trip of the sweets trolley for the entirety of the ride?

With these complaints in mind, let us explore some possibilities to fix the outdated, lone option of travel currently held by Hogwarts students.

Option 1: flight. And no, I don’t mean by broomstick! We ripped off Muggle technology for the original Hogwarts Express, so why not do it again? Did you know that Muggles invented these wonderful metal flight machines called “aeroplanes” in 1903? They are now used by Muggles to travel all over the world. There are nearly 150 airports, sort of like the aeroplane equivalent of a train station, in the United Kingdom alone. Coordinating flights from these airports to Hogwarts might be complicated, and Hogwarts would certainly need an airport to receive the planes, but this option would be faster than a train and would allow students to travel from much closer to home.

Option 2: Floo Powder. For those wizards who might not prefer Muggle manners of movement, another suggestion is Floo Powder. It’s not as dangerous or uncomfortable as other magical means of travel such as Apparition or Portkeys, although this does run the risk of ending up in the wrong spot if you pronounce Hogwarts incorrectly. Fireplaces at Hogwarts are connected to the Floo Network, and since Muggle households are not, there isn’t any risk of breaking the International Statute of Secrecy by accidentally ending up in one! This is the quickest option of the lot, but probably the one most likely to go wrong.

Option 3: trains. The Hogwarts Express might be outdated, but it has also proved to be a useful tool for transporting students for nearly 200 years. With a bit of a luxurious makeover, it may still end up a usable option, especially if more stops are added between King’s Cross and Hogsmeade. The addition of other trains from northern Scotland, Wales, and Ireland would make it so no student would need to complete unnecessary travel and everyone could have a comfortable train ride from close to home all the way to Hogwarts.

Of course, these are just suggestions. Any real change would have to be implemented by Hogwarts faculty and staff, particularly the Headmaster, in conjunction with the Department of Magical Transportation. In the meantime, we ask you, the students of Hogwarts… which of these travel options would you prefer?




A Brief History of Taylor Swift: Part 2
By Dorion Anderson

Buckle in, let’s jump right back in, my fellow newly-inducted Swifties! Last we left off was the deal with Big Machine and Scooter Braun not letting Taylor Swift own her own masters. But here’s the deal – before we jump into what she does about it, she releases the aforementioned Lover, Folklore, and Evermore.

In April of 2021 she released Fearless (Taylor’s Version, to be henceforth abbreviated to TV), and then in November 2021 we get Red (TV). She destroyed the nation singlehandedly with “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)”. It is a song my mum and I frequently scream together despite both of us being incredibly happy in our respective relationships. We got a break with Midnights in October of 2022, an original album which some consider a break-up album despite her highly public breakup of six-and-a-half years not coming until April of 2023. Then we got Speak Now (TV) in July 2023 and 1989 (TV) in October 2023.

This broke yet another record, surpassing Barbra Streisand to be the woman with the most #1 albums according to Billboard. “Is It Over Now?” is a certifiable bop. The Tortured Poets Department’s first 16 songs released right at midnight, with another 15 songs releasing at 2 am on the night of release, for a total album length of 2 hours and 2 minutes with features of Florence + The Machine and Post Malone. Midnights was thrown out as the break-up album as this became THE break-up album. The album is rumoured by Swifties to be about her relationship with Joe Alwyn and her contentious short relationship with Matty Healy.

I almost asked Elsian to break up with me for 2 hours and 2 minutes, but I don’t think the boy would be able to handle it.

Instead, on my second listen, I did force him to hand crank the record player so I could lay on the floor and write notes for this article.

However, it did include quite sweet songs seemingly dedicated to her new boyfriend of American football fame: Travis Kelce. These include “So High School” and “The Alchemy”. Fun Fact: Travis’ favourite songs include those two, as well as “Blank Space” from 1989.
But I know this is what you were all looking for: my ranking of all 31 songs of The Tortured Poets Department, from bottom to top.

31. “Fresh Out The Slammer”
30. “I Hate It Here”
29. “thanK you aIMee”
28. “Robin”
27. “The Bolter”
26. “I Can Fix Him (No Really I Can)”
25. “My Boy Only Breaks His Favorite Toys”
24. “imgonnagetyouback”
23. “The Manuscript”
22. “The Albatross”
21. “How Did It End?”
20. “I Look in People’s Windows”
19. “Peter”
18. “loml”
17. “The Black Dog”
16. “The Alchemy”
15. “Clara Bow”
14. “So Long, London”
13. “Guilty as Sin?”
12. “Chloe or Sam or Sophia or Marcus”
11. “Florida!!!” (feat. Florence + The Machine)
10. “So High School”
9. “But Daddy I Love Him”
8. “The Tortured Poets Department”
7. “The Smallest Man Who Ever Lived”
6. “Down Bad”
5. “Fortnight” (feat. Post Malone)
4. “Cassandra”
3. “The Prophecy”
2. “I Can Do It With a Broken Heart”
1. “Who’s Afraid of Little Old Me?”

So anyway, if anyone wants to listen to this album, feel free to owl me and we can set up a time to lay on the floor together and listen. But don’t owl me about my rankings because they’re perfect and I won’t take suggestions.

Your favourite Swiftie,
Dorion Anderson



Life After Hogwarts #4: Interviewing Our 2024 Graduates
By Serena J. Towers

To inspire you, I asked five graduates about their post-Hogwarts plans – and what life was like before Hogwarts for comparison:

Xailah
"The world will be my oyster then, and I simply want to see it. I have an idea as to what life is, and now I want to experience it. So I suppose, to put it simply: I intend to travel. As for thoughts on careers, I've been tossing a few ideas around. I would like to take on a job that allows me to still dabble in my hobbies. Nothing too stationary, though, I like to keep busy and moving when work is in question.

"It may seem strange, but I now realise I did not have a grand vision for what my life would become back then. And truth be told, I still don't to this day. I had my dreams – I have my dreams, and no Miss Towers, I will not tell you what they are – but for the most part, I want life to remain a surprise."

Howard
“I’ve been talking with my professors about a career path after school and I’d love to become a Ranger one day. I’ve gotten really good at Herbology, Potions and Care of Magical Creatures, so it just feels like a natural fit. I can see myself out there looking after the forests and helping to protect all the creatures within. I’ll need a bit of extra studying (librarian aide) but that’s the goal I’m working towards.

"Seems like another life when I think about my time before Hogwarts. Being a Muggle-born, I couldn’t even fathom that this existed outside of fairy tales. Never thought of being a real wizard or being turned Dhampir for that matter, but I suppose I still wanted to do something outdoorsy. My folks run a small bakery back in Manchester, but I could never see myself cramped up all day in that small building. If I was still a Muggle I suppose I’d have dreamt up being a footballer, but realistically would have ended up as a gardener or something like that.”

Amadea
"I want to follow in my grandmother's footsteps and become a Healer, so that is the goal! I want to do something that helps people and makes the world a better place, and I feel like healing is a good way to do that.

"I am Muggle-born so I didn't realise the wizarding world existed until my Hogwarts letter came actually, so that was a giant surprise. All I know is that anything I ever could have thought when I was younger was blown out of the water when I came to Hogwarts. It was definitely the best experience of my life thus far."

Frost
"I'm on my way to being a Healer, maybe even a Mediwizard? That way, I could help loads of people, anyone I can, and that is my real goal, you know? I spend quite a lot of time in the Hospital wing, and as anyone who has been there while I'm interning can tell that I'm very passionate about becoming a Healer. Not to mention having to put myself through so much studying for my good grades on my N.E.W.T.s, and if you know me you know I'm definitely not the brightest. But everything will have been worth it.

"My mum is a Healer, so I think there was always some seedling of that planted somewhere in me from the beginning. But I don't think I truly knew until actually attending here. Especially with all of our... not-so-safe happenings. Actually, Ser, I don't think I've ever told you this before, but when you got hurt back then during first year was one of the main things that made me want to become a Healer. In a way, I guess you could say you are one of the first reasons I'm chasing after the Healer career now! I didn't quite know you but that whole campout was the beginning of all the dangerous and scary stuff. I never told anyone, but I felt kinda helpless and guilty that there was nothing I could do to help. Every time after that too, any time people I knew got hurt, it broke my heart. Now, when I get there, of course, I'll be able to help many many people. That's thanks to you and everything here at Hogwarts, honest."

Ami
“I think I want to travel for a little bit. Didn’t get to do much of that between the constant fires and the studying and whatnot. After that, maybe stay in London with my parents while I figure out what I want to do. Probably try out for the Holyhead Harpies, maybe get a tattoo apprenticeship… lots of different options.

“You know, before Hogwarts, I was supposed to be some famous concert pianist, so maybe I’ll join a band, too? I’m open to a lot of things.”

This is Serena J. Towers, over and out.




That's a Wrap
By Simon Kincaid

As the 2023-2024 academic year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry comes to an end, I ponder something: what was the best part about this year, and what am I most looking forward to about next year? A lot happens throughout a year at Hogwarts for all – classes to attend, essays to write, exams to study for, potions to memorise, spells to memorise and perfect. There are friendships created, connections strengthened or weakened, bonds formed, and memories made.

The best part of my year has been going forward in full truth of who, and what, I am. As a writer for the Hogwarts Headliner, I publicly revealed myself as a dhampir to all of Hogwarts with my article, Interview with a (Half) Vampire, in the October 2023 issue. It was liberating, and I hope that it will bring more unity to all of those here at Hogwarts – the witches, the wizards, and the half-breeds. May we all be proud of who, and what, we are.

What am I looking forward to next year?

For me, that would be deepening my relationship with my girlfriend, strengthening friendships, creating new friendships, and learning more magical medicine through my internship with the school’s hospital wing.

I crave connection, and I crave knowledge. I can find both of these within the walls of this castle, and I am grateful for that. I asked some of my fellow students about the best part of this year at Hogwarts and what they are most looking forward to in the next, and here’s what some of you had to say:

“Best part of this year? Probably getting sorted into Hufflepuff. Next year, I’m hoping to balance myself more. I want to put myself out there more.” – Sage Willows, first-year Hufflepuff

“The best part of this was meeting new friends and celebrating Lizzy’s birthday! And for next year, I’m most excited to meet even more friends.” – Brookline Quinn, first-year Ravenclaw

“The best part of this year was the chaos it brought with it. I pulled a number of pranks. I’m really excited for next year – I’ll finally be able to start COMC. It’s always been my dream to be a Magizoologist, and these classes are the first step.” – Estelle Nyx, second year Gryffindor

“The best part of this year, for me, as it is in any year, is my fabulous boyfriend, Simon Kincaid. Outside of him, it has to be the additional responsibilities I have been entrusted with, and the growth that came along with them, while serving as prefect. As for what I look forward to next year, I think reconnecting with my friends on a deeper level and finally beginning to roadmap my future in earnest.” – the breathtakingly beautiful AngelFyre McCubbin, third year Hufflepuff

“Best part? The overall exploring I got to do – being able to poke my head around corners and finding all these different rooms and hidden spaces. I reckon the thing I’m most looking forward to is to see what else I could find hiding around Hogwarts.” – Emily Shephard, first year Hufflepuff

Some had a darker outlook:

“The lessons are awful, and the life outside of lessons is awful. Two of my friends were stabbed at a school dance. What am I looking forward to for next year? Surviving. If I’m so lucky.” – Rebecca Lark, first-year Ravenclaw

“Two stabbings and one drowning in a single year. Perhaps we should put our attention towards establishing some safety parameters. I’m looking forward to surviving.” – Remedy Norden, first year Slytherin

Whatever it is you do and wherever your adventures take you, let us shine some more positivity on some of this darkness and be kind to one another. Cheers to all the good the 2023-2024 school year brought, and here’s to a great year in the next one! Happy summer, my friends!





Why Racing Is The Best Sport
By Alyssea Brown

If you are reading this second instalment of my mini-series, you may have found that duelling isn’t to your taste. Or you just like to read the Headliner, which, in that case, thank you for reading!

Continuing on with our mini-series of “which sport is the best?”, you may say I will be biased this time around. Having been a broom racing co-captain for the entire 2023–2024 season, I’ve spent a lot of time on the field with fellow captains and racers alike. Rest assured, the opinions you will find are backed up by tenured broom racers at this school.

Known as the daughter of duelling and Quidditch, this sport takes the spell-flinging of duelling and combines it with the freedom of flying on brooms and more from Quidditch. Broom racing at Hogwarts is reminiscent of the professional Wahda League races where teams of six play together and fly to the finish. Originally, Hogwarts offered teams of five racers but this expanded in the winter games of the 2023–2024 season with the increased interest in the sport.

Due to the nature of broom racing, those who are “jacks of all trades, masters of none” might find themselves to be powerhouses on the track. I like to call it the sport where “everything and everyone is out to get you” because, well, not only are you having to contend with other racers, but the environment can be nasty. In duelling, the only danger is your opponent; in Quidditch, danger lies in your opponents’ ability to knock you off your broom or Bludger you to the ground; in broom racing, you can find yourself at the fiery end of a cockatrice’s breath or the devastating blow of the Whomping Willow’s branches. As Hufflepuff’s youngest racer Reyna Evergreen puts it, “Broom racing is the best sport because it’s versatile… and the risk and danger makes it even more fun!”

In comparison to the other sports, one might say broom racing is the more practical and superior sport. While duelling can be useful to practise fighting opponents in the sentinel business, you might also find yourself in less than ideal situations where Muggle tactics are necessary. When spells can’t be flung, rocks and your strength are a natural substitute. Captain of the Brisk Basilisks June Selwyn describes the benefits of racing as “the ultimate test of skill and agility. Nowhere else are students’ spell prowess and physical ability and mental flexibility tested in the same way.” You never know if you will end up fighting in a similar situation to the Battle of the Seven Potters.

In Quidditch, the largest team sport offered at the school, everyone has a role to play. Yet, there’s a different atmosphere surrounding broom racing and their teams. Hufflepuff student Dorion Anderson has tried every single sport at this school, both as a player on the Quidditch and racing teams and as a duelling captain. After all the experiences, Anderson stated, "I think broom racing is the best because of how team-oriented it is. As a Keeper, I felt kind of isolated; duelling, you only work with one other person [back when teams consisted of two players]. I feel really connected to the broom racing team because we're really like- in it together. And every position on the field can win, which I think is exciting."

If this sounds like your cup of tea, head on down to the Outdoor Club Area with your wand and a broom! Or stick around for the next issue, where we’ll conclude this mini-series about Quidditch. Happy summer and stay safe!




Magical & Muggle Meals: Butterbeer Pot de Crème
by Aly Salinger

We’re back with another edition of "Magical & Muggle Meals". You won’t always have house-elves to cook for you, so you’d better start learning to do it yourself!

After last month’s recipe for Giant Squid Calamari, this time, we’ll pivot to the sweeter side of things. That’s right, we’re making a pudding! Specifically, this delicious, sugary bite can be found in the Three Broomsticks and is a favourite amongst older students – it’s an excellent way to satisfy your sweet tooth on your trip to Hogsmeade (if a trip to Honeydukes has failed). If you like to down a mug or two of saccharine golden Butterbeer, you will definitely love a Butterbeer-flavoured pot de crème.

‎ ‏‏‎Often served in a small glass jar about the size of one’s palm, pot de crème is a French pudding that consists of a thick, rich custard usually topped with whipped cream. The custard is eggy, sugary, and opulent, while the whipped cream provides a lighter, less-sweet touch to balance this perfectly-crafted dish. Though it isn’t the most difficult recipe, the final product is so impressive that it is sure to cement you as the dessert-bringer for every get-together in the foreseeable future! Not recommended for those lacking a sweet tooth.

Butterbeer Pot de Crème
Serves: 4-8 people depending on portion size, or one major Butterbeer fan
Time: about one and a half hours

Pot de Crème Ingredients:
▫ ⅔ cup sugar from a Sugar Shrub (*white sugar)
▫ 3 cups of dragon milk half-and-half (*3 cups of ½-and-½)
▫ 1 Occamy egg yolk (*4 chicken yolks)
▫ ⅔ cup butterscotch chips
▫ ¼ cup cornstarch
▫ 2 tablespoons butter
▫ 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
▫ ¼ teaspoon salt

Whipped Cream Ingredients:
▫ 1 cup cold dragon cream (*heavy whipping cream)
▫ 2 tablespoons sugar from a Sugar Shrub (*white sugar)
▫ ½ teaspoon vanilla extract

*Muggle Alternative

Directions
𝟭| Beat yolk(s) together in a bowl, then add one cup half-and-half and stir. Set aside.
𝟮| In a medium-sized cauldron (Muggle alternative: saucepan) over a fire (Muggle alternative: stove) at medium heat, use a whisk to thoroughly combine the sugar, cornstarch, and salt.
𝟯| To the cauldron, add the remaining two cups of half-and-half and stir continuously until the mixture is bubbly and thick (around 5-8 minutes). *Note: if you stop stirring, it may burn!
𝟰| When the mixture is thick, pour about one cup of it into the bowl with the yolk mixture and stir quickly to heat up the egg without cooking it.
𝟱| When the new egg mixture is thoroughly stirred, add the contents of the bowl back into the cauldron and again stir quickly to incorporate it. Stir for another 2-4 minutes until the mixture is smooth and thick.
𝟲| Take your cauldron off of the fire and add the butterscotch chips, butter, and vanilla extract. Stir until thoroughly combined. *Note: make sure all butterscotch chips have melted before proceeding to the next step.
𝟳| Pour or scoop the mixture into small ramekins or glass jars. Cover the top of each pudding with Muggle plastic wrap and place them in a cool place, such as a Muggle refrigerator, for at least one hour.
𝟴| While the puddings cool, make your whipped cream. Add all ingredients into a bowl. Using a Muggle whisking machine, whip them together for around 3-4 minutes or until they are thick and smooth, forming medium-to-(slightly) stiff peaks. Cover and chill until ready to serve.
𝟵| When the puddings have cooled, remove the plastic wrap, top each one with a dollop of whipped cream (optional: add a drizzle of Butterbeer syrup or some butterscotch chips!), and serve!




The Danger of Hogwarts
by Dorion Anderson

Hogwarts. How dangerous is it?

My fellow students, I still have one scar that would prove it to be very. Nightmares that linger on the edges of my mind no matter how long it’s been. I have seen many become complacent within the hallowed halls, too comfortable. I corresponded with some of our friends from other schools that seemed to hold similar sentiments. Madhup Hexum, a sixth year Durmstrang student, talked about some friends he mourns: “Seventeen Koldovstoretz Quidditch players were lost in that explosion in Hogsmeade. Our Russian friends were full of passion… and when their lives were taken, we almost stopped coming to play at Hogwarts.” Nikolai Ryzhkov, a second year from Koldovstoretz, mentioned that he has never felt safe here.

“The three times that I have come to Hogwarts, yes. Every time. Your school has yet to do anything to truly prove those worries unnecessary. If something were to happen, I’d rather be here with my friends and classmates than waiting like a coward back home.” Even Madeleine Nakamura, a Beauxbatons fifth year, had an incident at a ball which was a result of the rowdy students of Hogwarts: “Well, my best friend got attacked by some random student a couple years ago. I stopped going to some of the balls after that.” These visiting students are unsafe from forces seemingly unstoppable by Hogwarts itself.

Balls have always been a source of danger – they are, in fact, where I received my very own scar. “During a ball, a storm struck and a tent was lifted off the ground and I was on top of it. On top of a floating tent high up in the air, no, you haven’t mistaken. And I had to jump from there or hold onto the fabric. What did I do? I chose to jump.” Maximilien de Fostoncy, a Beauxbatons fifth year, talked about his experience where he was barely saved by some well-timed spells to slow his fall. Zophyr Qethnis, an Uagadou second year, is so young but already knows of this reputation: “Oh yes, danger is now basically the first thing I think of when I hear of Hogwarts. I honestly don’t understand how it’s still standing.” I feel like I bring this up again and again and nothing changes, or people look at me appalled. Might I remind everyone of the issues with SCAR? It was not that long ago that they were terrorising our very streets here.

There are many places that these schools come from that would be absolutely delightful to visit, but Hogwarts is always the host. I think it would be interesting if we hosted at other schools, and here’s what a couple students had to say about why their schools might be a better place to host than Hogwarts:

Castelobruxo is vastly different from Hogwarts. We have the exotic wonders of South America at our school, and, well, less threats of danger... – Sabrina Ortega, Castelobruxo, first year

“Beauxbatons has everything Hogwarts has, plus more. We have performance halls and auditoriums. I think we could be just as good of a host as Hogwarts, if not better." – Madeleine Nakamura, Beauxbatons, fifth year

I leave you fellow students with a bit of advice from a sixth year student from Ilvermorny, Cyrus Darsel: “I mean, I’m from New York, so bear with me, but I think anything can be dangerous if it tries hard enough. A little razzle-dazzle Flipendo or bright lighting charm never hurt anyone.”

Pay attention in class, learn defensive spells, never leave your dorm without your wand, and most of all, always, always walk in pairs.




ARCANE ARTEFACTS: Summer Supplies
by Pericles Dralt

Welcome to the first edition of Arcane Artefacts, a recurring article in which I’ll introduce you to magic-infused items.

With the summer holidays on the horizon, whether you're preparing for school camp or camping at home, today's inventory ought to accommodate your holiday. Each item can be purchased in the Hogsmeade Main Square. If you loathe the inconvenience of limited packing space, consider magically endowed luggage.

The Enchanted Backpack, Satchel or Suitcase – each around five galleons – is charmed to be spacious on the inside. This is achieved with professionally-cast Undetectable Extensions.

While imbuing this effect is highly regulated by the Ministry, these come pre-enchanted. Each container can fit a trunk's worth of items with greater portability. They will undoubtedly provide enough room for not only your necessities, but an abundance of creature comforts. One could combine a stock of sports supplies, an expansive wardrobe, and an armload of potions intended to ward off the inevitable brush with death summer camp is sure to provide. Just don't try to put your pets in any of these containers, as they are NOT intended to transport living things! Or dead things, for that matter. Only pack inanimate supplies.

For an even greater stretch of Wizard Space real-estate, Hogsmeade is offering a summer deal on the luxurious Majesto Tent 500. If you don't care to stay in school-supplied lodging, for the reasonable price of fifty galleons, you can own what is essentially a portable home. This tent comes with five separated sections: a kitchen, living room, and three bedrooms.

Customise your space with augmentations such as an Enchanted Radio for five galleons. Powered by mana rather than electricity, it taps into the wireless wizard network to provide news or music in magic-concentrated areas.

Consider adding furniture like a Portable Couch. Priced just over twenty galleons, this peculiar piece of furniture unfolds from a pillow into a sofa. Its cushions are curiously capable of producing either a miscellaneous coin or snack once each day.‎ ‏‏‎

Disclaimer: the Headliner does not endorse eating food from the interior of a couch.

Another practical addition would be the Magic Lantern, which acts as an immediate source of light when lifted, and extinguishes fully when released. While not convenient to carry and cast spells simultaneously, one would look significantly more dramatic running with it through the dark.

They sell sponges enchanted to automatically clean the kitchen, and teapots enchanted to serve tea. For a galleon, this writer purchased one designed with legs like a spider. What is more relaxing than the smell of chamomile accompanied by the sound of scuttling porcelain?

Magical items serve a boundless range of functions, making them of high value in our culture. Their creation is facilitated by those in the Magical Artisan career path, though enchantments can also be found woven into the arts, such as moving tattoos and artificially-intelligent portraits. Gaining a greater familiarity with enchanted objects will better prepare you for a future in mage society. Wherever your summer destination may be, go with comfort, convenience, and caution. Consider swinging by Hogsmeade before graduation. You never know what unique item might come in handy on your adventures, both in and beyond your time at Hogwarts.





Money, Money, Money
by Dorion Anderson

Today we’re going to talk about the thing that makes the world go ‘round, or something like that (adults seem to love it): money!

Now, we have galleons, sickles, and knuts, but there have historically been so many fun types of currency out there. I cannot even begin to imagine trying to explain the history of money and capitalism in such a short form, so here are my top 5 favourite types of currency (in no particular order) out in the world either today or in the past.

[1] Chinese Cash Coins
These are very cool because they are currency with a hole in the middle! The purpose of this was so that a string could be threaded through the coins as an easy carrying coin purse! Originally the coins were cowrie shells and evolved over time to eventually have the hole around 350 BCE. The Qin dynasty around 221-206 BCE were the first in China to standardise the coinage. However, it wasn’t until the Han dynasty that the use of them became widespread for everything.

[2] Canadian Dollars
They are very pretty and kind of rainbow coloured? But not quite in order. 100 is orange, 50 is red, 20 is green, 10 is purple, and the 5 is blue! For coins they have denominations of 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, then $1 and $2, which are respectively called loonies and toonies. The notes themselves are water-resistant and crumple-resistant because they are made out of a special plastic. Also, I heard part of it is scratch and sniff for maple syrup? But I cannot confirm this.

[3] Yapese Stone Money
These are a very cool artefact of the Micronesian islands! They could range anywhere from 3.5 cm wide to 3.6 metres wide. While the smaller discs of crystalline limestone could be traded quite easily, larger ones had their ownership transferred via oral history. So, if I had a big stone I wanted to pass onto one of my friends, we would just have to tell everyone we knew that I no longer owned the stone, and instead my dear friend did. There was no way to standardise these so it was mostly based on vibe! How cool!

[4] Edible Currencies
Want to be worth your salt? Then you'd better work hard. I know we learn about etymology a lot with spells, so here’s another one! The word salary comes from the Latin term salarium, which was what Roman soldiers used so they could go buy salt. Salt was HIGHLY valued historically and was used as payment a lot. Other forms of edible currencies were cacao in Mexico and Central America, Parmigiano Reggiano in Italy, something called reng which was a yarn-ball of turmeric in the Solomon islands, or (inedibly) poisonous seeds of Burma!

[5] Swiss Franc
This is just another very pretty currency; guys, there’s so much pretty currency I could do a series of articles just about pretty ones. But this is the currency of Switzerland and Liechtenstein! The notes come in denominations of 10, 20, 50, 100, 200, and 1000! Which feels like a lot. I think I would be stressed if I was carrying 1000 notes. These are even more brightly coloured than the Canadian currency with beautiful illustrations that I highly recommend seeking out.

That is all I have for you guys today! As always, if you have a Muggle item request please feel free to owl me and I might cover it in a future issue!

P.S. If any of you have pretty money from different places, please track me down and show me.





A Goodbye to Hogwarts
by Serena J. Towers

As graduation looms, seventh year students are getting ready to say their goodbyes. This will likely be my final article – and perhaps the most personal. It is a strange feeling, in all honesty. I never really thought about how it would feel to leave.

Or rather, I always thought leaving would be something to celebrate, that I would be thrilled to have survived Hogwarts and to finally be done with school or studying. Yet, now that I am approaching that deadline, I find myself actually wanting to stay.

I have friends I don’t want to leave behind, I have things I still need to learn before I am ready to take care of myself. It is truly a strange feeling to say that I have almost done it, I have almost survived my school life.

Farewell letters lined the Small Hall. The graduating class got their yearbook. And soon, we’ll be graduating, leaving this castle. For most of us, this will be the last time we see Hogwarts, one last look over the lake as it fades away. I remember arriving across the lake for the first time and even now the excitement I felt was like it was only yesterday. But that was seven years ago and now, I can’t even begin to imagine how seeing it for the last time will feel. Yet, with everything that has happened over the years, I have changed and I wanted to take a moment to share just how much we all have. Life may not turn out the way you expect it. When I joined in first year, I wanted to be a Magizoologist, then I wanted to be a Healer. Yet, I never once imagined I could make an earring that would save my life by warning me of incoming danger or boots that allowed me to literally be faster. I must admit, if you ever need anything made of metal, find a goblin. We’re pretty good metalsmiths.

Recently, I also interviewed five of our graduating class to find out what their life and dreams were like before Hogwarts, and what they are going to do now. If you’re a first year, I would read it. It shows you that there are so many options, even amongst those five. Someone kind of knew from the start they wanted to be a Healer and they are well on their way to achieving their dreams now! A few people never thought about it – and that’s perfectly okay! Some are still unsure and plan to explore their options or travel the world – and that’s a great option too. You do not need to have everything sorted out. Life may not turn out exactly how you expect, but your experiences can change you, for better or worse. You will get through the fires, the shadows, the nightmares. You will come out the other end stronger than before, as long as you help each other. Together, you can survive anything.

If there’s nothing else you take away from this, know that most of us did not have our life together at your age – and we still don’t at ours. We are just doing our best to deal with the obstacles life throws at us. I have spent many months researching the options and I’ll leave behind some articles and notes for future issues that will hopefully inspire you but know that even if you can’t think of graduation yet, you will get there one day. We are rooting for you.

So, for one last time, let me just say – this is Serena J. Towers, over and out.





The Final Letter
by Delilah Stewart

In my year as Editor-in-Chief, we hadn’t done letters like this; it had been a thing of the past but I had never really been one to do it. Ruby and I thought it would be fitting to do one for this occasion. The Headliner for the last year has been, for all intents and purposes, like a baby of mine. It is a project I have loved dearly working on.

For a little bit of history for those of you who are newer than me, in 2019, Head of Hufflepuff Bonabé Bonet led a sort of ‘contest’ for who would run the new school-wide newspaper. Each house having had its own previously, 4 teams of EiCs with (what started as) 3 writers per team. The winning team being my own, for the first while of the Headliner’s existence, I was EiC. Although you will notice that the first edition is posted by Alexx, not myself, this was because within about 2 weeks, I was forced to step down from my position as EiC (OOC: simultaneously my professor) because of circumstances out of my control. Alexx took over for around 2 years. After that it was Phaedra for around a year and a half, until the summer of last year, where I came in once again.

I was anxious that the possibility of me having to step down again in short notice would be possible, but thankfully it did not, and I have now been EiC for around a year, and I have loved it greatly.

Unfortunately, now I have to say goodbye, as I am graduating! It’s an exciting and terrifying venture, I can’t run the Headliner anymore, and I’m going back up home! If any of you are ever in the area, send me an owl. I will forever hold a place for my fellow writers, editors, and designers; you have made my dreams a reality.

I want to say a ginormous thank you to everybody who has ever worked alongside me. I won’t name you all since there are so many, but for notable mentions, Alexx and Phaedra, who will be graduating with me, and finally Ruby, who will be taking over from now on.

You lot have made this Headliner what it is, I just gave you a deadline.

And to the readers, thank you for being here. A newspaper isn’t a newspaper without its readers, so please keep reading. I’m sure the editions will only go up from here.

Hogwarts Declassified School Survival Guide
by Dorion Anderson

Welcome, firsties, to Hogwarts! Everyone is so excited to have you here, so I reached out to students that are in their 4th-7th year to pass on some advice to help you survive in Hogwarts. Please, enjoy the advice, and stick around for some advice from me in the future!

“Follow the rules. They’re in place to keep all of Hogwarts’ students safe. Also, get involved in activities! That can help you make friends. It’s important to keep up on your personal needs – don’t forget to wash yourself and have clean clothes! Remember that you can always reach out if you need anything!” - Koko Riddle, 7th Year

“You definitely want to wander around the dungeons; if you find the genie that lives down there, he’ll grant you three wishes. How do you think some of us passed Transfiguration? Not through studying, that’s for sure.” - Anonymous (This is not confirmed advice, but someone please investigate and let me know.)

“Don’t believe every rumour you hear. Honestly, most of them are true, but take it all with a grain of salt!” - June Selwyn, 4th Year

“There is no point in believing in the house divisions as determiners of your future. These house divisions should not matter in who you spend time with, how you act, and who you will be. Do not believe in stereotypes.” - Tristan Theramin, 6th Year

“Get to know your peers – truly know them – that you may recognise when they are not themselves, and intervene. Allow others the same privilege to know you, however difficult that might be. Keep a journal and update it regularly so that you may have a record of events should memory falter. Do not discount the importance of sleep; it is part of the learning process.” - Evelynn Decipio, 6th Year

“Everyone blows up a cauldron or two in Potions, it’s inevitable – but if you do it first out of everyone in the year, you get an award. Little-known secret!” - Anonymous (Again, unconfirmed. Please take this with a grain of salt.)

“I think the drama and goings-ons of Hogwarts make a lot of people forget why we’re all here: to learn. This is a school, after all. Keep your head down and focus on your studies, spend time in your common room, don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong, and stay out of trouble, and you’ll be fine.” - Aly Salinger, 6th Year

“5th Years love taking O.W.L. study breaks to help out random first-years they don’t even know. Half of them don’t want to pass their classes anyway! Make sure you pester them with every question you have.” - Anonymous (As a 6th Year student, please don’t do this to us.)

“Don’t accept potions from strangers.” - Winnie Harper, 5th Year

“Don’t forget to bring your favourite stuffed animal! And don’t be ashamed of having one, either! It’s good to have a familiar fuzzy face to snuggle with at the end of the night to help ease the homesickness.” - Haven Bohannon, 6th Year

That was the best and worst advice I could find across the halls of Hogwarts, and I hope you will take (again, only some of) it to heart.

Hogwarts is a great place to find out who you are about to become, and that is going to change over the years. I was a completely different person in my first year, new and mystified by everything. I was pushy and, honestly, really annoying. And thank goddess I have changed. This isn’t something to be afraid of, but it will make you afraid anyway. Embrace it, lean into it, see what can happen.

You’re going to make mistakes, and a lot of them. Especially spell mistakes. You might freeze your hand or something – there are endless possibilities of mix-ups that you can have. Thankfully, they can almost always be fixed by our wonderful professors.

Your classmates will be your closest allies and your biggest enemies as you move through the school years. You have each other’s backs, and that’s honestly one of the scariest things that you can do. Trust others. But you have to earn their trust in return.

Just be a good friend, a kind friend, but never forget to always protect your #1, yourself.

Your soon-to-be-favourite Hufflepuff,
Dorion Anderson




Meet the Professors #2 - Sereia Clairmont
by Alyssea Brown

You might remember, if you’ve read the Headliner for over a year now, that I tried to get in touch with Professor Winifred Bonnet when she became the new Divination professor at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, I had little success with how hard she is to catch and that she stepped down in late January.

That said, she did leave suddenly, so I hope she’s doing okay wherever she is now. As usual, a new teacher took her place. In this issue, I was able to interview Professor Sereia Clairmont.

Professor Clairmont came from New Zealand and is an alumna from Tenūsa, the Isle of Divination. Before coming to Hogwarts, she worked as an oracle aide in New Zealand for two years and then as an early childcare worker in Muggle England until her employment here. While not as exciting of a backstory as a lot of our other staff, the professor did say, “I’m still young, so there’s still a lot I can do. I’m just taking life at my own pace.”

What brought you to England in the first place?

My boyfriend, actually, which sounds really cheesy whenever I say it. Like I said earlier, I was my father's aide after I graduated school, plus some smaller gigs on the side, and that was pretty much what I'd be doing for the rest of my life. But my boyfriend did some extra Muggle education to get a diploma and ended up being accepted into Oxford! So, I took the plunge and came all the way here for a fresh start.

I think that's cute! How are you liking England? Is it different to New Zealand?

It is very different. For one, it's slightly cheaper to own a home here. But the environment is very different. Wellington is right at the bottom of the North Island and there's a lot of water; the waterfront was my favourite place to walk. I haven't visited in a while so I can't confirm, but Wellington is called ‘Windy Wellington’ for obvious reasons. Oxford has the Thames river and not much else, so you'd have to drive pretty far to get to the ocean which I miss. There's a lot more to see in England, though, but maybe that's because I've lived in New Zealand so long, I basically know every part of the city by heart. But I do like it! It was the change I needed.

I'd love to visit New Zealand one day. Anyways, you teach Divination! What do you have to say about the subject?

It’s not as difficult as people make it out to be. Just have an open mind. I had friends that liked divination in theory, but couldn't be bothered to actually exercise the practice. They liked the idea of predicting your future by some supernatural entity speaking through a medium but they didn't want to go through the trouble of searching up symbols or really thinking about the things they were seeing. I do understand that, yes, it can be difficult to interpret certain mediums like crystal balls or tea leaves, but that's what I'm here for! It's an interesting subject – of course, to me – and all it takes is creativity.

What tips do you have for any students taking your course, like me?

Oh! Good to know you'll be taking it. I’m always excited to see more students take interest. Well, I already said to have an open mind. Other than that, don’t be afraid to ask questions and be a critical thinker. When I say ‘critical’, I don't mean disregard a reading if it doesn't ring true to you. What I mean is, look for a second meaning. You’ll get textbook meanings that I can teach, but the rest is up to you and what you make of a reading, so think about both sides of the coin and you'll get a more sophisticated answer. If, even after some critical thinking, the reading doesn’t make sense to you, then that might be the time to disregard it.

Thank you very much, Professor! Now, everyone's burning question: are you a Seer?

I would actually prefer to not answer. Very sorry! I don't want people to stereotype me based on what I say next, so please, just come meet me and get to know me. My office is always open for questions and help with interpreting signs if you need it.

That wraps up an introduction to the teacher of the school’s most elusive subject. If you're thinking about studying Divination as an extracurricular, or you already take it and need to refresh as the new year starts, take note of Professor Clairmont's advice.

Next issue, we'll be reaching out to another new professor. Stay tuned for who it is and their introduction!




Conspirasoup!
by Aly Salinger

Chances are that if you went back-to-school shopping in Diagon Alley this past August, you likely stopped in for a lovely, light lunch at the Leaky Cauldron. It’s the quintessential lunching place for new students, returnees, graduates, and parents alike, and why wouldn’t it be? From their flobberworm stew to the house-made Leaky Burger, this longtime favourite pub boasts a menu you won’t be quick to forget.

This author’s personal favourite is usually the house speciality, steak-and-kidney pie. After all, it’s hard to beat the flaky, buttery crust and a filling full of salt and flavour. However, upon my most recent visit to the beloved wizarding tavern, I strayed from my regular order due to an upset stomach – and found myself leaving with an upset mind!

You see, dear reader, the Leaky Cauldron also has a Luncheon Menu in addition to its regular bill of fare. The Luncheon Menu has risen to fame especially in the last few decades, to the point where a sign within boasts that “The Leaky Cauldron is noted for its most excellent and delicious luncheon”! What is on this menu, you may ask? A supposedly wide variety of delectable soups, monikered as such:

• Leaky House Soup
• Soup House Leaky
• House Soup Leaky
• Leaky Soup House
• Soup Leaky House
• House Leaky Soup
• Leaky, Leaky Soup
• House, House Soup
• Soup, Soup Soup
• Soup Leaky, Leaky

Despite the strong similarities in name, these soups are assumed to be rather different from each other, especially due to the difference in price – for instance, a bowl of the House, House Soup costs five Sickles, whereas a bowl of the Soup House Leaky will only cost you three. It’s not such a stretch, then, to believe that these fare distinctions represent a similar distinction in the soup’s quality, flavour, or ingredients, right?

Wrong.

Upon ordering a bowl of Soup, Soup Soup – priced at five Sickles, and recommended by a friend of mine as “The best in the luncheon” – from the Luncheon Menu, I noted a nearby witch receiving her own bowl of luncheon soup, which appeared to be something similar to a cream of watercress. As an avid fan of cream of watercress, I began to hope that the Soup, Soup Soup would perhaps be something similar – and my dreams soared into reality as the waitress delivered to my table a steaming green bowl. I am not one to lie, reader, and I must admit it was a delicious dish, a crock of colour and cress that brought water to my mouth simply from the scent… the entire porringer was squeaky clean in a matter of minutes, and I cannot be blamed for my enjoyment.

So much was my newly encountered love for the dish that I felt the need to share in this excitement with the other purveyor of fine soups in the area – the other witch who had ordered the watercress. However, to my horror, upon mentioning my order to her, my statement was met with naught but a confused raise of an eyebrow. The witch informed me that she had, in fact, ordered not the Soup, Soup Soup… but the House Soup Leaky, priced at two Sickles cheaper than my lunch. And yet, we had both received a watercress soup.

Readers, you can now understand my frustration. A quick glance around the pub proved that anyone enjoying a bowl of soup was, in fact, consuming cream of watercress, no matter what they had ordered. A cursory ask of the waitress received only gaslighting in reply, as the waitress insisted that we had each received different soups – the other witch the House Soup Leaky, and myself the Soup, Soup Soup, as we had ordered. A lie! This author loves cream of watercress soup as much as the next person, but something must be done about this soup conspiracy! This… conspirasoup!

Was it simply a lazy serve by the cooks in the kitchen at the Leaky Cauldron, unwilling to make more than one soup on that specific day? Was it a lack of ingredients, a need for a supply run? Or was it something more malicious, perhaps… a specific, ill-intentioned plot to sell the same soup under different names and varying prices?

For those who may be visiting the Leaky Cauldron soon, I implore you to order different soups from the Luncheon Menu and compare their tastes. Write home to your parents! Write to the Ministry! Protest in the Great Hall this reckless and frankly amateurish plot to steal the money of hardworking clients of the Leaky Cauldron! They must serve us different soups if that is what we ordered, and if they shan’t, we soup-lovers and guardians of justice shall take this right to their door in Diagon Alley. We mustn’t let the Leaky Cauldron get away with this!




Classes To Love
by Simon Kincaid
The second week of August is the busiest for many of the shops within Diagon Alley.

Madam Malkin’s Robes For All Occasions sells basic robes for incoming students and robes based on new measurements for returning students already sorted into their houses. Those robes will adorn witches and wizards as they learn new spells and incantations and about magical plants and creatures, and hopefully they won’t spill anything on them when brewing new potions.

The Magical Menagerie is abuzz with students who want to find their dedicated animal to take to Hogwarts. Here they can find their cat, toad, rat, pygmy puff, lizard, spider, snake, rabbit, ferret, or fish – whatever their little buddy might be to take to classes occasionally and offer companionship always. If one of these isn’t their pet of choice, they can choose an owl that is also a classic messenger. These little furry (or scaled, or feathered) friends can offer a moral boost when life gets a little difficult at school – academically or socially.

A stop in Flourish and Blotts is a must to set you up for academic success. It is here that students find most of their basic school supplies and the books on their supply list. Finally, most will decompress after a long day of shopping at Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour.

The streets of Diagon Alley will soon rest quietly once September 1st rolls around and students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry commence for another year of magic and wonder. After months away, I find myself missing all that goes on within the walls of the castle from my friends, to my dormitory, to my professors, to the sports, and to the classes.

I know many of you have missed all this as well, so welcome back, friends! It is time for another year of memories to unfold and learning to achieve! Which classes are you looking forward to? Here’s what some of your classmates had to say!

Second year Hufflepuff, Emily Shephard, says, “It’s hard to pick one… I’ve been constantly changing my favourite subject since I started Hogwarts last year! I’ve jumped from Astronomy to Potions to Herbology. But right now I’m excited for Charms! With all the wand work I’ve been practising over the summer – with my pencil – I’m eager to jump back in for some new spells and jinxes!”

Another student that I caught while shopping, but sadly ran off before I could get their name, said that Care of Magical Creatures was what they were most looking forward to. “You’ll learn about some creatures that are chill and also about some that want to kill you. You’ll want to learn about them all because you never know when one might end up within the corridors or at your next broom racing match.”

One Ravenclaw boy, who ran off after his new ferret just as he finished his statement, said “Astronomy! Stars and planets are cool and the class is AT NIGHT!”

And a girl sporting a Gryffindor jumper said that she was looking most forward to Muggle Studies, stating that, “It’s the best class to try and break the pureblooded bigots’ world view of non-magical folk.”

When it pertains to classes, I’d have to say I’m most looking forward to Potions and Herbology. I very much enjoy seeing how these two components of magic can go hand-in-hand, especially when it pertains to healing. Ultimately, I’m ready to get back to the social aspect of it all. I miss seeing my friends and getting to spend time with that beautiful girl of mine on a daily basis.

So folks, let’s get back to Hogwarts! Back to witches and wizards and magical beasts, to goblins

Avatar
Ruby Cazares
Explorer, I
1 577 434

20 Aug 2024, 04:16
September Issue #35
Coding area for September. Assignments TBA.
Stamina: 10 | Evasion: 14 | Strength: 5 | Wisdom: 17 | ArcPower: 12 | Accuracy: 17
Perfectionist I & II, Fearless, Spell Spread, Nonverbal Magic
iNPC Vyacheslav Aleksandrovich Preobrazhensky
Avatar
Ruby Cazares
Explorer, I
1 577 434

20 Aug 2024, 04:17
September Issue #35
-@Rose Moon
-@Archer Duncan
-@Mellani Miller
-@Linda Ramirez
-@Lucia Fox
-@Tristan Theramin
-@Lindsey Springhall
-@Evelynn Decipio

Deadline: September 7th

===

Order:
Hogwarts Declassified School Survival Guide by Dorion Anderson
Meet the Professors #2 - Sereia Clairmont by Alyssea Brown
Conspirasoup! by Aly Salinger
Classes To Love by Simon Kincaid
Snake Oil: An Affliction of the Slytherin Racing Team by Anonymous
Summer Camp Gossip by Oonagh Brown
A Requiem of Antlers and Manacles by Anonymous
Arcane Artefacts: School Supplies(?) by Pericles Dralt
Muggle Item of the Month: Microwaves by Dorion Anderson
How To Deal With Procrastination by Violeta Roux
Why Quidditch is the Best Sport by Alyssea Brown
A Doggy Life for Me by Dorion Anderson
Muggle vs. Pureblood 101: Currency Systems by Tristan Theramin
Magical & Muggle Meals: Pumpkin Pasties by Aly Salinger

Reducio

Rose Moon
Reducio

Notes from the editor:
Reducio



Hogwarts Declassified School Survival Guide
by Dorion Anderson
Welcome, firsties, to Hogwarts! Everyone is so excited to have you here, so I reached out to students that are in their 4th-7th year to pass on some advice to help you survive in Hogwarts. Please, enjoy the advice, and stick around for some advice from me in the future!

“Follow the rules. They’re in place to keep all of Hogwarts’ students safe. Also, get involved in activities! That can help you make friends. It’s important to keep up on your personal needs – don’t forget to wash yourself and have clean clothes! Remember that you can always reach out if you need anything!” - Koko Riddle, 7th Year

“You definitely want to wander around the dungeons; if you find the genie that lives down there, he’ll grant you three wishes. How do you think some of us passed Transfiguration? Not through studying, that’s for sure.” - Anonymous (This is not confirmed advice, but someone please investigate and let me know.)

“Don’t believe every rumour you hear. Honestly, most of them are true, but take it all with a grain of salt!” - June Selwyn, 4th Year

“There is no point in believing in the house divisions as determiners of your future. These house divisions should not matter in who you spend time with, how you act, and who you will be. Do not believe in stereotypes.” - Tristan Theramin, 6th Year

“Get to know your peers – truly know them – that you may recognise when they are not themselves, and intervene. Allow others the same privilege to know you, however difficult that might be. Keep a journal and update it regularly so that you may have a record of events should memory falter. Do not discount the importance of sleep; it is part of the learning process.” - Evelynn Decipio, 6th Year

“Everyone blows up a cauldron or two in Potions, it’s inevitable – but if you do it first out of everyone in the year, you get an award. Little-known secret!” - Anonymous (Again, unconfirmed. Please take this with a grain of salt.)

“I think the drama and goings-ons of Hogwarts make a lot of people forget why we’re all here: to learn. This is a school, after all. Keep your head down and focus on your studies, spend time in your common room, don’t stick your nose where it doesn’t belong, and stay out of trouble, and you’ll be fine.” - Aly Salinger, 6th Year

“5th Years love taking O.W.L. study breaks to help out random first-years they don’t even know. Half of them don’t want to pass their classes anyway! Make sure you pester them with every question you have.” - Anonymous (As a 6th Year student, please don’t do this to us.)

“Don’t accept potions from strangers.” - Winnie Harper, 5th Year

“Don’t forget to bring your favourite stuffed animal! And don’t be ashamed of having one, either! It’s good to have a familiar fuzzy face to snuggle with at the end of the night to help ease the homesickness.” - Haven Bohannon, 6th Year

That was the best and worst advice I could find across the halls of Hogwarts, and I hope you will take (again, only some of) it to heart.

Hogwarts is a great place to find out who you are about to become, and that is going to change over the years. I was a completely different person in my first year, new and mystified by everything. I was pushy and, honestly, really annoying. And thank goddess I have changed. This isn’t something to be afraid of, but it will make you afraid anyway. Embrace it, lean into it, see what can happen.

You’re going to make mistakes, and a lot of them. Especially spell mistakes. You might freeze your hand or something – there are endless possibilities of mix-ups that you can have. Thankfully, they can almost always be fixed by our wonderful professors.

Your classmates will be your closest allies and your biggest enemies as you move through the school years. You have each other’s backs, and that’s honestly one of the scariest things that you can do. Trust others. But you have to earn their trust in return.

Just be a good friend, a kind friend, but never forget to always protect your #1, yourself.

Your soon-to-be-favourite Hufflepuff,
Dorion Anderson

Archer Duncan
Reducio

Meet the Professors #2 - Sereia Clairmont
by Alyssea Brown
You might remember, if you’ve read the Headliner for over a year now, that I tried to get in touch with Professor Winifred Bonnet when she became the new Divination professor at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, I had little success with how hard she is to catch and that she stepped down in late January.

That said, she did leave suddenly, so I hope she’s doing okay wherever she is now. As usual, a new teacher took her place. In this issue, I was able to interview Professor Sereia Clairmont.

Professor Clairmont came from New Zealand and is an alumna from Tenūsa, the Isle of Divination. Before coming to Hogwarts, she worked as an oracle aide in New Zealand for two years and then as an early childcare worker in Muggle England until her employment here. While not as exciting of a backstory as a lot of our other staff, the professor did say, “I’m still young, so there’s still a lot I can do. I’m just taking life at my own pace.”

What brought you to England in the first place?

My boyfriend, actually, which sounds really cheesy whenever I say it. Like I said earlier, I was my father's aide after I graduated school, plus some smaller gigs on the side, and that was pretty much what I'd be doing for the rest of my life. But my boyfriend did some extra Muggle education to get a diploma and ended up being accepted into Oxford! So, I took the plunge and came all the way here for a fresh start.

I think that's cute! How are you liking England? Is it different to New Zealand?

It is very different. For one, it's slightly cheaper to own a home here. But the environment is very different. Wellington is right at the bottom of the North Island and there's a lot of water; the waterfront was my favourite place to walk. I haven't visited in a while so I can't confirm, but Wellington is called ‘Windy Wellington’ for obvious reasons. Oxford has the Thames river and not much else, so you'd have to drive pretty far to get to the ocean which I miss. There's a lot more to see in England, though, but maybe that's because I've lived in New Zealand so long, I basically know every part of the city by heart. But I do like it! It was the change I needed.

I'd love to visit New Zealand one day. Anyways, you teach Divination! What do you have to say about the subject?

It’s not as difficult as people make it out to be. Just have an open mind. I had friends that liked divination in theory, but couldn't be bothered to actually exercise the practice. They liked the idea of predicting your future by some supernatural entity speaking through a medium but they didn't want to go through the trouble of searching up symbols or really thinking about the things they were seeing. I do understand that, yes, it can be difficult to interpret certain mediums like crystal balls or tea leaves, but that's what I'm here for! It's an interesting subject – of course, to me – and all it takes is creativity.

What tips do you have for any students taking your course, like me?

Oh! Good to know you'll be taking it. I’m always excited to see more students take interest. Well, I already said to have an open mind. Other than that, don’t be afraid to ask questions and be a critical thinker. When I say ‘critical’, I don't mean disregard a reading if it doesn't ring true to you. What I mean is, look for a second meaning. You’ll get textbook meanings that I can teach, but the rest is up to you and what you make of a reading, so think about both sides of the coin and you'll get a more sophisticated answer. If, even after some critical thinking, the reading doesn’t make sense to you, then that might be the time to disregard it.

Thank you very much, Professor! Now, everyone's burning question: are you a Seer?

I would actually prefer to not answer. Very sorry! I don't want people to stereotype me based on what I say next, so please, just come meet me and get to know me. My office is always open for questions and help with interpreting signs if you need it.

That wraps up an introduction to the teacher of the school’s most elusive subject. If you're thinking about studying Divination as an extracurricular, or you already take it and need to refresh as the new year starts, take note of Professor Clairmont's advice.

Next issue, we'll be reaching out to another new professor. Stay tuned for who it is and their introduction!

Mellani Miller
Reducio

Conspirasoup!
by Aly Salinger
Chances are that if you went back-to-school shopping in Diagon Alley this past August, you likely stopped in for a lovely, light lunch at the Leaky Cauldron. It’s the quintessential lunching place for new students, returnees, graduates, and parents alike, and why wouldn’t it be? From their flobberworm stew to the house-made Leaky Burger, this longtime favourite pub boasts a menu you won’t be quick to forget.

This author’s personal favourite is usually the house speciality, steak-and-kidney pie. After all, it’s hard to beat the flaky, buttery crust and a filling full of salt and flavour. However, upon my most recent visit to the beloved wizarding tavern, I strayed from my regular order due to an upset stomach – and found myself leaving with an upset mind!

You see, dear reader, the Leaky Cauldron also has a Luncheon Menu in addition to its regular bill of fare. The Luncheon Menu has risen to fame especially in the last few decades, to the point where a sign within boasts that “The Leaky Cauldron is noted for its most excellent and delicious luncheon”! What is on this menu, you may ask? A supposedly wide variety of delectable soups, monikered as such:

• Leaky House Soup
• Soup House Leaky
• House Soup Leaky
• Leaky Soup House
• Soup Leaky House
• House Leaky Soup
• Leaky, Leaky Soup
• House, House Soup
• Soup, Soup Soup
• Soup Leaky, Leaky

Despite the strong similarities in name, these soups are assumed to be rather different from each other, especially due to the difference in price – for instance, a bowl of the House, House Soup costs five Sickles, whereas a bowl of the Soup House Leaky will only cost you three. It’s not such a stretch, then, to believe that these fare distinctions represent a similar distinction in the soup’s quality, flavour, or ingredients, right?

Wrong.

Upon ordering a bowl of Soup, Soup Soup – priced at five Sickles, and recommended by a friend of mine as “The best in the luncheon” – from the Luncheon Menu, I noted a nearby witch receiving her own bowl of luncheon soup, which appeared to be something similar to a cream of watercress. As an avid fan of cream of watercress, I began to hope that the Soup, Soup Soup would perhaps be something similar – and my dreams soared into reality as the waitress delivered to my table a steaming green bowl. I am not one to lie, reader, and I must admit it was a delicious dish, a crock of colour and cress that brought water to my mouth simply from the scent… the entire porringer was squeaky clean in a matter of minutes, and I cannot be blamed for my enjoyment.

So much was my newly encountered love for the dish that I felt the need to share in this excitement with the other purveyor of fine soups in the area – the other witch who had ordered the watercress. However, to my horror, upon mentioning my order to her, my statement was met with naught but a confused raise of an eyebrow. The witch informed me that she had, in fact, ordered not the Soup, Soup Soup… but the House Soup Leaky, priced at two Sickles cheaper than my lunch. And yet, we had both received a watercress soup.

Readers, you can now understand my frustration. A quick glance around the pub proved that anyone enjoying a bowl of soup was, in fact, consuming cream of watercress, no matter what they had ordered. A cursory ask of the waitress received only gaslighting in reply, as the waitress insisted that we had each received different soups – the other witch the House Soup Leaky, and myself the Soup, Soup Soup, as we had ordered. A lie! This author loves cream of watercress soup as much as the next person, but something must be done about this soup conspiracy! This… conspirasoup!

Was it simply a lazy serve by the cooks in the kitchen at the Leaky Cauldron, unwilling to make more than one soup on that specific day? Was it a lack of ingredients, a need for a supply run? Or was it something more malicious, perhaps… a specific, ill-intentioned plot to sell the same soup under different names and varying prices?

For those who may be visiting the Leaky Cauldron soon, I implore you to order different soups from the Luncheon Menu and compare their tastes. Write home to your parents! Write to the Ministry! Protest in the Great Hall this reckless and frankly amateurish plot to steal the money of hardworking clients of the Leaky Cauldron! They must serve us different soups if that is what we ordered, and if they shan’t, we soup-lovers and guardians of justice shall take this right to their door in Diagon Alley. We mustn’t let the Leaky Cauldron get away with this!

Linda Ramirez
Reducio

Classes To Love
by Simon Kincaid
The second week of August is the busiest for many of the shops within Diagon Alley.

Madam Malkin’s Robes For All Occasions sells basic robes for incoming students and robes based on new measurements for returning students already sorted into their houses. Those robes will adorn witches and wizards as they learn new spells and incantations and about magical plants and creatures, and hopefully they won’t spill anything on them when brewing new potions.

The Magical Menagerie is abuzz with students who want to find their dedicated animal to take to Hogwarts. Here they can find their cat, toad, rat, pygmy puff, lizard, spider, snake, rabbit, ferret, or fish – whatever their little buddy might be to take to classes occasionally and offer companionship always. If one of these isn’t their pet of choice, they can choose an owl that is also a classic messenger. These little furry (or scaled, or feathered) friends can offer a moral boost when life gets a little difficult at school – academically or socially.

A stop in Flourish and Blotts is a must to set you up for academic success. It is here that students find most of their basic school supplies and the books on their supply list. Finally, most will decompress after a long day of shopping at Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour.

The streets of Diagon Alley will soon rest quietly once September 1st rolls around and students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry commence for another year of magic and wonder. After months away, I find myself missing all that goes on within the walls of the castle from my friends, to my dormitory, to my professors, to the sports, and to the classes.

I know many of you have missed all this as well, so welcome back, friends! It is time for another year of memories to unfold and learning to achieve! Which classes are you looking forward to? Here’s what some of your classmates had to say!

Second year Hufflepuff, Emily Shephard, says, “It’s hard to pick one… I’ve been constantly changing my favourite subject since I started Hogwarts last year! I’ve jumped from Astronomy to Potions to Herbology. But right now I’m excited for Charms! With all the wand work I’ve been practising over the summer – with my pencil – I’m eager to jump back in for some new spells and jinxes!”

Another student that I caught while shopping, but sadly ran off before I could get their name, said that Care of Magical Creatures was what they were most looking forward to. “You’ll learn about some creatures that are chill and also about some that want to kill you. You’ll want to learn about them all because you never know when one might end up within the corridors or at your next broom racing match.”

One Ravenclaw boy, who ran off after his new ferret just as he finished his statement, said “Astronomy! Stars and planets are cool and the class is AT NIGHT!”

And a girl sporting a Gryffindor jumper said that she was looking most forward to Muggle Studies, stating that, “It’s the best class to try and break the pureblooded bigots’ world view of non-magical folk.”

When it pertains to classes, I’d have to say I’m most looking forward to Potions and Herbology. I very much enjoy seeing how these two components of magic can go hand-in-hand, especially when it pertains to healing. Ultimately, I’m ready to get back to the social aspect of it all. I miss seeing my friends and getting to spend time with that beautiful girl of mine on a daily basis.

So folks, let’s get back to Hogwarts! Back to witches and wizards and magical beasts, to goblins and ghosts and magical feasts. It’s all that we love and it’s all that we need at Hogwarts, Hogwarts. -Quoted from the parody musical A Very Potter Musical





Snake Oil: An Affliction of the Slytherin Racing Team
by Anonymous (you can either say that or omit the author altogether)

Point thirty-nine percent. To those reading this, I beg you not to misunderstand me: it is not thirty-nine percent that I attempt to relay – dramatically perhaps, though well-warranted, in my opinion, for reasons I’ll endeavour to elucidate for you – but rather point thirty-nine percent. This almost inconceivably diminutive quantum is the odds of our Slytherin broom racing team, the Brisk Basilisks, having lost every single match of their eight game career. It is, to put it quite bluntly, a statistical marvel that, whether by hook or by crook, Slytherin have yet to secure themselves even one measly little win.

Each of our other three racing teams have managed to clear this comically low bar for success and more, so I'd forgive you for assuming that this must be the result of some sort of vice, like laziness or deficient leadership on the part of the Slytherin team, or perhaps some more external factor like cheap brooms or opportunistic sabotage. I myself initially leaned towards the former – is a captain not intrinsically responsible for the success or failure of their team? When a team is fairing so poorly on a scale as grand as this, one must look to the leadership for answers on their inadequacies.

Since having this brought to my attention, though, I've done a bit of sleuthing. While a loss is a loss at the end of the day, despite the losers' most fervent wishes otherwise, I would be remiss not to call attention to one rather… interesting rumour that’s been floating around. Many seem to believe that the Brisk Basilisks are cursed, though I myself am unaware of any dark magic that specifically causes a team to be almost incandescently terrible at the sport they play. One source, however, who was willing to write to me on the condition of anonymity, asserted:

“Oh yeah, they’re for sure cursed. When the change in captaincy happened I figured something would change. It’s like the captain likes seeing her team lose or something, because that team is the ONLY team in the whole school to have never won a game. At first I thought they were just bad, but now they’ve had almost an entire roster change since they were formed and they’re STILL losing. Plus the weird thing that happened at one of their races a couple years back. Cursed, if you ask me.”

While I am certainly inclined to agree that their captains must be largely to blame, the idea that one or both of them could have cursed the team on purpose is a rather ghastly one, so fear not – I did some digging to see if the accusation had any merit, and came across a rather interesting race from back in May of 2023. According to witnesses, while Slytherin appeared to be the clear frontrunners of this race, both teams appeared to come under some sort of mass hypnosis, and the race ended with all parties crashing into trees, and not a one managing to cross the finish line. How interesting it is that, when the Brisk Basilisks finally managed to clinch a win, the game was brought to a shocking, brutal conclusion. Proper convenient, that is.

While the curse theory has been surging in popularity, not everyone is so convinced of the captains’ guilt. Another anonymous source had this to say:

“Personally, I don't think the team is cursed. I mean, we certainly have had a huge run of bad luck, and it is a bit odd we keep losing no matter how hard we try, but – well, maybe we are cursed. It's not someone on the team though, I can tell you that much. Maybe it's someone from Hufflepuff, they're always playing dirty.”

While the defence of their captains is admirable, the Spring race was between Slytherin and Gryffindor; what motive could someone in Hufflepuff have possibly had? The simplest answer is usually the correct one, and the culprit of this particular crime would need to have both means and opportunity. The captain of the Brisk Basilisks, June Selwyn, commented:

“The idea of a ‘curse’ over the team seems a bit preposterous. Our team works and trains hard, as do the other house teams. We’ve just unfortunately suffered from not having as many experienced racers as the other teams. The attack during the race against Gryffindor is far more concerning in my opinion, and frankly I’m surprised no further investigation has been made, or safety protocols to prevent such incidents from happening again.”

I’ll leave it up to my fellow students to decide: is the Brisk Basilisks’ losing streak the result of an incompetent captaincy; vengeful, dark magic at the hands of their captains; or just plain bad luck? Only time will tell.





Summer Camp Gossip
by Oonagh Brown
Reporting from Summer Camp, not live but as live as can be. All the gossip and drama or flat out scams pulled this year by your fellow students. Well not all of them of course, that would be a headache to keep track of. You might be thinking, scams? But yes, believe it or not, there are some elaborate lies to unveil with this one. I am a new reporter, but I will not back down from making some waves around here, which brings me to the first of our highlighted students…

Tommy Patterson. I haven’t quite figured out what his deal is, but he claims to be a Seer, yet he lacks the most basic intuitive skills a Seer or trick performer ought to possess. Not only that, but he was the one behind that Winter Wonderland theme because he thought it would be ‘cool’. Needless to say, he remains on thin ice even after the summer. So in case you were also expecting summer, sun and good times, you now know who to blame!

Oonagh Brown. That’s right, it’s me. I just found it rude to write an article about the people who made an impact and not include me. Apparently throwing sand instead of water balloons and flipping over sleds in a race deserved me a spot on this list. So beware, those who have crossed my path already, and even more so those who have yet to have the pleasure of meeting me.

Needless to say, it was a summer camp with students, so of course there was a lot of kissing and relationship drama. If you wish to read about that kinda stuff, sucks for you but dating is yuck. Who cares about that kind of drama anyway? Now, to actually interesting stuff like the events that happened (apart from things the organizers had thought of for entertainment; which admittedly were quite fun)…

Skylar Tent. Not a person, not a scam, but definitely a thing people would like to whisper about. A competition was held within this tent, unbeknownst even to the camp itinerary. Apparently they were giving out crups, which are practically just dogs for the unknowing amongst you. A reward for the winner of the challenges.

International Rubber Ducky Day. This was not really a thing until this year. On July 18th, students from all over the world gathered to share their love for the rubber ducky. Rubber ducks were handed out to anyone willing to take any, and this event was all orchestrated by a foreign student by the name of Cyrus Darsel. Perhaps this will mark the first of many International Rubber Ducky Days to come.

Unofficial Sports. It is to no one’s surprise that the sports in official capacity are not for everyone, or just have too few spaces to satisfy everyone. So students have run some unofficial sports. A broom race took place between mixed school teams. Right away, it looked pretty rough for the second team led by Cyrus Darsel and Miharu Goto.

Tug of War. Overviewed by none other than me, nothing special and pretty self explanatory. Whoever said kicking sand at people was against the rules?

I am sure there were a lot of other small games or crafting activities as is the standard for things such as summer camps. However, I am just one person, and that is all I had the pleasure to discover.

Aside from the events and the people who have been running around spreading lies, there have also been some rumors that I am happy to spread the news of. Apparently the camp has been plagued by a Broom Thief. Multiple students have reported missing brooms. Most of them have turned up again, but usually at places the owner swore they had not been to throughout the entire camp. A few, however, may still be looking for their brooms. If anyone knows something or has fallen victim to said thief, they are welcome to report their findings to me. For now, be careful with your belongings in case the thief was a Hogwarts student and is still amongst us.

A secret hang out spot was a Frozen Pond near the tent area that allowed for cozy hang outs and the use of ice skates as the ice was thick enough to carry a few students at a time. Especially in the evening hours as it was illuminated by the light of the full moon. Did the camp feel more empty on that night for you too?




A Requiem of Antlers and Manacles
by Anonymous

Justice is a most peculiar breed of beast; it camouflages itself so deviously and thoroughly that one might find that even their closest friends, whose hearts and minds are otherwise bare to them, have a completely different understanding of what exactly satisfying justice might look like. Is justice the restitution of past wrongs? Is it restoring order and stability where their load-bearing pillars have crumbled? Or is it something far more sanguineous, the ancient adage of an eye for an eye? Can there be justice without closure, when a debt in blood has been left profoundly unpaid?

In our last issue, I took you on a charming little jaunt around the gardens, by which I mean walked you through the horrors of our most recent Spring Ball and the crimes that Jack Warren committed within it. I shan’t bore you with the specifics again; rather, I’m here to close this door as best as one can when the hinges have all been pried off and misappropriated.

In case you’ve been too busy with your nose in a book or your tongue in someone else’s mouth, I’ll expound on what you may have missed. After performing his impromptu ocular operation, Jack Warren was checked into psychiatric care. Rumours abounded around the will-they-won’t-they conundrum of whether or not our most wise and esteemed administration would allow the aforementioned young man to return to school, but it seems that such a decision is no longer necessary. Mr Warren was moved into long-term care and won’t be returning to darken our doorsteps anytime soon.

One may find themselves feeling some measure of sorrow on his behalf, as there’ve been fervent whispers insisting that Mr Warren was not to blame. Many of our peers are adamant that he did not possess control of his own will and faculties and was as much a victim as the young man he ordained to a life of singularity. As such, my fellow students, I strive to set the record straight: Jack Warren does not deserve even the lowliest crumb of your magnanimity. His cruelty began long before the Spring Ball, and he has no one to blame but himself.

Those closest to him will tell you that his greatest vices were possessiveness and jealousy, and he had a notable disregard for the privacy and autonomy of others that often culminated in bouts of rage. One might remember an old piece of gossip from last year, in which Mr Warren very loudly and publicly ended things with his then-girlfriend in the courtyard. To say they broke up might be too kind of a description, however, as “stomped on the girl’s heart and publicly questioned her virtue” would likely be more accurate. From what I’ve managed to dig up, he stole and destroyed the girl’s private property before yelling insults at her, until she had the good sense to finally leave.

He also notably beat a boy unconscious over a different girl’s honour during his third year, injuring the boy so badly that he was hospitalised for over two weeks. Regardless of any external forces that may or may not have afflicted Jack Warren, his penchant for violence started early. He was more than a potential danger to the students here: he was a realised one.

I truly hope that, whatever help Jack Warren may need, he will be able to receive it. I think I speak for almost all of us, however, when I say that I am equally hopeful that the aforementioned recovery takes place as far away from Hogwarts as possible. Godspeed, Jack Warren.




Arcane Artefacts: School Supplies(?)
by Pericles Dralt

With summer behind and September ahead, the most practical artefacts one could consider are school supplies. The shops of Diagon Alley never disappoint on this front. Quality Quidditch Supplies lives up to its name, not only to the benefit of team players, but anyone invested in easy, up-to-date broom care. Madam Malkin's is the ideal spot for preparing your school-year wardrobe. Their inventory boasts enchanted items that simplify any cosmetically-inclined wix's morning routine, from Combs of Vanity that instantly style one's hair, to Beautifying Robes which automatically apply a full face of makeup. Dogweed & Deathcap has tools for any aspiring herbologist, while Flourish & Blotts offers a timeless array of study material.

Yet there is one shop which this responsible upperclassman would not recommend for school supplies: Weasley's Wizard Wheezes. Unless you're looking to buy Gobstones and a Wizard's Chess set for clean fun with friends, there is absolutely nothing here that one should consider taking to Hogwarts. In fact, possessing any one of them could be considered a violation of school rules (if caught), so reader beware! Most commonly utilised for skipping class, Skiving Snackboxes are sweets which cause the consumer to appear ill. For under two Galleons, a student could evade a dry lecture on History, or even extend the due date of a timed assignment. These come with a second snack that cures all related symptoms. A desperate (albeit more risky) tool for shirking responsibility would be the classic dungbomb. Priced just over three Sickles, these putrid pellets can shut down an entire classroom for hours, while inhaling the more potent ones would be an ideal excuse for a stay in the Hospital Wing.

Weasley's goes so far as to brazenly arm juveniles with tools for duping professors and prefects. On the cheaper side of this arsenal, Fake Permission Slips are sold for a measly six Galleons. These astonishing enchantments imitate not only the school's official form, but can copy a parent's signature, too, enabling underage students to sneak off to Hogsmeade. On the matter of sneaking, for fifteen Galleons and some pocket change, anyone can obtain a pair of Extendable Ears. These hearing devices can be attached to one's ear and extended down stairways or against barriers to listen for patrollers. I even purchased a pair to test them myself, for research purposes, and found them capable of eavesdropping through doors or walls. Most infamous, and impressive, is perhaps Weasley's very own iteration of the Invisibility Cloak. Although listed at a whopping seventy-five Galleons, this item endows the wearer with temporary translucency. The invisibility induced is not flawless, but could be effective when moving through darker hours, such as after curfew. It could also last just long enough to slip past staff. A number of WWW's inventory is forbidden from Hogwarts, including Fanged Frisbees and Ever-Bashing Boomerangs, which would make for dangerous but efficient distractions. It is this writer's hope that you draw inspiration from this article – to stay safe from such nefarious products, that is.




Muggle Item of the Month: Microwaves
by Dorion Anderson

There are many Muggle inventions that I miss when I’m here at Hogwarts. Whenever I think about these, I try to think about things that we might not necessarily have spells for. Sometimes, I try to build on previous Muggle Items of the Month. This one teaches more about Muggles powering things with electricity because you need electricity to run this object.

The object in question? A microwave.

This is what Muggles would call a small appliance. Appliances include things like ovens, refrigerators, dishwashers, all things that I might write an article on someday. Microwaves are smaller rectangular objects that usually sit on the counter in the kitchen. Depending on how fancy your house is, you might have a sort-of nook for it under a cabinet that it sits in to keep it off of the counter. It has a door on the front and buttons to the right of the door to dictate the type of cooking you’d like it to do.

The main part of the buttons are a set of numbers 0-9 to determine how long you’d like to cook something. Generally the first 6 numbers can be pressed to choose 1 minute to 6 minutes without having to type in the full 5:00, quick and easy! You can cook for longer or for middle times such as 2 minutes 30 seconds by pressing cook time first then the numbers you need. There’s also a popcorn button to microwave bagged popcorn, another brilliant Muggle invention. There’s also a defrost button, so if your mum asked you to put out frozen meat for dinner and you forgot, you can use that to quickly defrost it.

I’ve used the word cook a lot, but that’s not necessarily what it's for. A lot of time I use it to reheat leftovers for lunch or dinner. I open the door, put the food in on a microwave safe tray (it is usually labelled), close the door, and select the amount of time. You might want to stir or mix the food about halfway through because the microwave is not a reliable cooking method and will usually leave the middle cold. Then, you take it out, let it cool down for a minute because I usually make it too hot, then voila! You have warm leftovers!

There are also things like microwave meals sold at stores, frozen options for breakfast, lunch, and dinner that are quick and easy! These are almost always frozen so that they can be stored for a long time for whenever you need them. These can take longer, upwards of 6 minutes depending on what you have. There are also little cups of powdered cake mix that you can add a little water to and microwave for a couple minutes, and you have a warm cake!

I’m going to be honest, I did look up how microwaves work, and I don’t understand it. There’s a certain level of science I can’t get behind with these machines. All I know is that everything will explode if you put metal in it, which is terrifying. There are some that are fancier and have more functions than what I’ve listed, but a basic microwave is all I need.

Is there a Muggle object you’d like me to tell you about? Owl me!




How To Deal With Procrastination
by Violeta Roux

What is the definition of the word procrastination? Procrastinating is to ‘delay or postpone action; put off doing something’. When you procrastinate, you avoid doing something until the very last minute and deadline. You’re delaying a task.

Before knowing how to deal with procrastination, you have to understand what procrastinating is. You must know why it happens, what causes it, and that it’s more common than you’d think.

What causes procrastination? Well, remember when you had a project due in three weeks, and suddenly you only had a week left? So you just decided to wait, and suddenly it was the night before and you were doing the project in a rush? We usually assume that things won’t take as long to finish, which often isn’t true, and it leads us to a false sense of security.

Now that you know the causes of procrastination and what it is, the real question is: why do we procrastinate? Sometimes people procrastinate without even knowing why. That’s why there’s a list of different types of procrastinations, according to Obehi Alofoje, M.S., psychologist, and workplace productivity expert, pasted below:

• Thrill-seeking. “Some people procrastinate because they like the adrenaline that waiting until the last minute brings,” says Alofeje.
• Perfectionism. “Someone may put off sending an important email because they want to read it over repeatedly,” she says.
• Avoiding. “This type of procrastination is the idea of believing you aren’t good at something, so you’re just going to put it off,” says Alofoje.
• Head-in-the-sand. “It’s called ‘head-in-the-sand procrastination’ because it’s like someone is burying their head in the sand pretending like the task doesn’t exist,” explains Alofoje.
• Distraction. “I call this type of procrastination ‘shiny object syndrome’ because it involves being distracted by something, which draws attention away from the task that needs to be done,” notes Alofoje.

Depending on your type of procrastination, the cause will be different.

There are many ways to deal with procrastination. I’ve created a list of things that might help you:

1. Figure out your type of procrastination, and research a bit further;
2. Create a list of tasks and order them in a way that keeps you entertained so you don’t lose interest;
3. Get rid of any distractions. Put your books, broom, games and wand away, and try not to talk to anyone (because they will distract you!), unless you're doing something which requires other people;
4. Plan something fun to do after you finish your tasks, and only do it once you finish (because I know you will!);
5. Listen to some music while you finish your tasks. This might not help some people, and instead distract them, but it does help me! I would recommend testing this with a simple task and seeing if you get distracted;
6. Break large tasks (such as studying for a few hours, working on a school project, and deep cleaning your house) into smaller tasks. For example, say, you're going to study for two hours. Try breaking those two hours into thirty-minute sessions over a few days;
7. Take short breaks between your tasks. Sit down and listen to a song, or even stretch, just don't pick up any distractions;
8. Talk to someone! Tell them why you think you're procrastinating, just rant! This could be anyone, just talk to someone who will listen and that you're comfortable with.

Procrastination isn't easy to deal with, but if you know how to deal with it, and if you master how to deal with it, surely you can do it! I hope you've enjoyed this article.




Why Quidditch is the Best Sport
by Alyssea Brown

Welcome back to another year at Hogwarts! If you’re a first year reading the Headliner for the first time or you’ve been waiting for the final instalment of this mini-series, this will be an educational article on why Quidditch is the best sport. I talked to three Quidditch players, two of which are captains, to see what they thought about their beloved sport.

Having played a couple games myself, Quidditch is terrifying, but there’s a thrill to the fear. Two teams of eleven players, four of which are second-string (benched) players, face off in a battle for the Quaffles, Bludgers, and the Snitch. Players take on designated roles which leave them responsible for certain areas of the pitch.

Chasers grab the Quaffles and score points for the team in addition to other responsibilities like saving knocked-off players and occasionally cheating. Keepers block the Quaffles that Chasers are trying to score with and may play the field when necessary. Beaters are, much like their name suggests, brutal bat-swingers who hit giant metal balls called Bludgers at players, knocking them out of the game. The most popular position of them all is the Seeker who searches for and catches the Snitch in the hopes of winning the game.

Compared to the free-for-all nature of duelling and broom racing where positions are non-existent, people might like the structure of Quidditch’s positions. The newest Quidditch captain, Rebecca Lark, is also Ravenclaw’s second-string Beater. Her opinion of the game’s positions is that “everyone gets to discover and pursue their own individual talents and are able to better contribute to their team’s success as a result. Also, it’s the only sport that lets me knock people out with giant high-velocity metal balls.” Always an adrenaline rush to knock people out, I’m sure.

Koko Riddle, a name you may know from previous Headliner issues, has been the Cloud Cobras’ first-string Keeper since its establishment and its captain since last year. When asked what makes Quidditch the best, Captain Riddle said, “You get to learn, love and grow with your teammates, and all of you have such different strengths that it's such a great way to get to know all sorts of people, and really appreciate them, too. It's structured enough to be easy to learn and feel safe in the rules of, but still have some level of freedom.”

Aside from the actual mechanics of the game, Quidditch is unmatched in fame. No matter where you are, it is the face of the Wizarding World. Duelling is a classic way to fight for honour or for survival, but actual competitions and clubs are either secretive or quickly shut down. Broom racing as a competitive sport, and not as a way to settle disputes, is still on its way up in the world.

As Ravenclaw’s first-string Seeker, Aly Salinger, eloquently put it: “Quidditch isn't just the best wizarding sport – it's the wizarding sport. When you think of sports in the magical world, your first thought goes to Quidditch. Entire stadiums are built just for the World Cup! Wizard-born children grow up dreaming of playing for their favourite team! There are books and businesses and billions of things made specifically for Quidditch, and let's face it, no other wizarding sport has that kind of reach or fame.”

With all that said, head down to the pitches and give it a try! That concludes my mini-series reviewing all of the sports offered at this school. If you think none of these fit you, be sure to check out smaller clubs at the school for Gobstones, Exploding Snap, and Wizard’s Chess!




A Doggy Life for Me
by Dorion Anderson

The opportunities that witchcraft presents to us are truly endless. Spells can be used to change our hair colour, help us study, antagonise our best of friends (apologies to George Henry, you know what for), and a lot more. However, it seems like the best of magic comes when you’re older and more proficient. Not that the fire-making spell isn’t fantastic, especially without the extinguishing charm to go with it.

No, no. What I’m talking about is being an Animagus.

I’m going to tell you something very honestly, my dear readers: my worst grade is in Transfiguration. I really struggle with it. It might be my Muggle upbringing, or it might be because the idea of turning an animal into furniture is incredibly upsetting. But me? Being an animal? Now that was something I was willing to struggle with.

For the process of becoming an Animagus, you are required to have a mentor, so I went to my brave and honourable leader: Professor Browne, the Hufflepuff Head of House. The professors are there to make sure that you don’t… I think, die? Or get perilously injured by trying to transform yourself, or something like that. I’m honestly not sure of the dangers of an Animagus attempt gone wrong.

But it is an arduous process, one I will not reveal here because I fear smaller children will try to learn it; I promise, you really need someone to help you through it. It can take a month, three, several, a year. It genuinely depends on the weather. Can you believe it? Mine didn’t take terribly long, only a few months, and I luckily had a lot of friends helping me along the way because there are steps that you have to perform daily. I recommend having a crew, either to help you, or that is dedicated to becoming an Animagus as well.

But here’s why I’m really writing this article:

For those of you who don’t know, I’m a Golden Retriever! I’m super cute and adorable, and I don’t mind if you pet my head if you ask first. But, I’m shouting out my Muggle-borns here, if you’ve watched any of the Air Bud movies you know where I’m going with this. I want to be the first Animagus dog to become a broom racer. Being an Animagus is amazing; it is incredibly fun and unique to see the world from an animal’s perspective. There’s so much that I can do that I can’t do as a human.

I want to see how much that I can do as a dog that I can do as a human. Why can’t I fly on a broom? Equilibrium or something science related like that? I’ve been doing a lot of practice and honestly it’s really hard, my friends. So desperately do I want to soar in the sky with the wind flowing in my beautiful golden fur. I want to stand on two legs and cast spells, which I know I can’t. Or maybe play Quidditch? I’m a retriever, surely catching a Snitch in my mouth would count as catching it in general.

There’s so much more to discover at my new, lower, level. And, also, a lot of my regular skills that I want to develop in this new form. I am begging you, my fellow students, to please give me suggestions on how to stay on my broom with four legs instead of two arms and two legs. Also, become an Animagus. It is the best kind of magic that exists. But make sure you do it safely with a mentor.




Muggle vs. Pureblood 101: Currency Systems
by Tristan Theramin

Perhaps you have been thrust into a world, the wizarding world, and you are handed some coins. The wizards and witches say it all makes sense, but you are in the daunting situation where the money is all gibberish and non-intelligible. If you are afraid to ask for help because you think it will make you stand out even more, then you're in the right place. This is Tristan Theramin, at your service, with all the right tips and tricks for learning about the wizarding world as a Muggle-born. If you're a pure-blood or wizard-born, well, you're in the right place to learn about the Muggle world too. As foreshadowed, we are starting with an important item in the world: money.

I interviewed a Muggle-born student named Matthew the other day about this very subject, and I am sure many of you can empathise with his sentiments. He said quite emphatically, “As someone already bad at maths, magical money does nothing but add further confusion. Why would 29 Knuts equal 1 Sickle, and 17 Sickles a Galleon? It's utter impractical chaos! Also, what's with the names? How does a Knut relate to a Sickle that relates to a Galleon? What relevance do a boat and a farming tool have in money?”

Now, don't fret. All we need to remember the rate or currency exchange is a quick jaunty phrase, something you could sing, too. Repeat after me, “A gorilla ate 17 sausages and 29 Kit Kats.” The sillier the phrase, the more you're likely to remember it, so let's say it again, “A gorilla ate 17 sausages and 29 Kit Kats.” Gorillas for Galleons, sausages for Sickles, and Kit Kats for Knuts. Now, the next time you need to calculate prices, all you need is this silly phrase, and you'll be good to go. You could even make your own little song to go along with it. After all, singing is a great way to memorise.

Now we can’t forget to help our pure-bloods and wizard-borns out with their lack of knowledge about the Muggle world, so here we go. Every country in the Muggle world has its own currency. The United States is based on the dollar, Great Britain has the pound, Serbia with the dinar, South Korea uses the won, and more. Now, it would take fourteen pages to intricately describe each and every Muggle currency in the world, so let us focus on the one in Great Britain since that is the geopolitical area we are in.

The currency in Great Britain is based on the pound, which is colloquially called the quid. There are one hundred pence to a pound. The common divisions of paper money provided, or denominations, are five pounds, ten pounds, twenty pounds, and fifty pounds. The common coins in circulation are one pence, two pence, ten pence, twenty pence, fifty pence, one pound, and two pounds. However, these days, Muggles are much more likely to use what is called a credit card, which is a plastic card connected to an account under your name. The credit card is used to buy an item and then pay the price later from one’s bank account. One does have to pay what is known as interest if one does not pay the debt in time. Interest is additional money that one needs to pay on top of the original debt one is in.

Well, I hope both you Muggle-borns and pure-bloods found this helpful. If you didn’t, owl me or pester me in person, I am happy to help.




Magical & Muggle Meals: Pumpkin Pasties
by Aly Salinger

As autumn creeps ever closer, dreams of delectable Hogwarts Hallowe’en feasts dance in the heads of students and alumni alike. One of the most craved foods from these feasts, from the Hogwarts Express trolley, and from any sweets shop across the wizarding world is none other than the beloved pumpkin pasty – but what happens when your local Honeydukes runs out? Well, you’d best know how to make them yourself, of course! Welcome, once again, to Magical & Muggle Meals: your one and only recipe column to teach wizards how to cook!

A pumpkin pasty has three integral components: a buttery, flaky crust full of salt and savouriness; the sweet inside of spice; and of course, pumpkin! Miss out on one or the other, and you’re bound to wish you’d just gone to the Hogwarts kitchens instead… but get both right, and you have a slam dunk of a wizarding treat that’s sure to have all your alumni friends asking, “Did you tickle the pear to get these, or did you make them yourself?”


Ingredients:

• 1 pre-made, cooled Kowalski Quality Baked Goods dough (Muggle alternative: pre-made pastry dough)*
• Some Wizarding Wheat Self-Charmed Flour (Muggle alternative: all-purpose flour)
• ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 pinch allspice
• 1 pinch nutmeg
• 1 pinch cardamom
• ½ cup tinned pumpkin puree OR 1 small pumpkin**
• 1 tablespoon sugar from a Sugar Shrub (Muggle alternative: white sugar)
• 2 tablespoons dragon milk (Muggle alternative: cow milk or alternative)
• ¼ occamy egg yolk (Muggle alternative: 1 chicken egg yolk)

*You may also make dough yourself, but this is not recommended for first-time cooks. Pro tip: house-elves (Muggle alternative: cookbooks) always have wonderful dough recipes, so if you really want to make it from scratch, ask one of them!
**Please ensure that it is not an enchanted jack-o-lantern. These do not cook well, and you may find yourself uncontrollably smiling for weeks after consuming a jack-o-lantern.

Directions:

1. If making puree from scratch from a pumpkin, cut pumpkin in half and remove its seeds. Bake at 200°C for 30-45 minutes or until pumpkin flesh has softened. Let cool, remove pumpkin’s skin, and puree flesh. Use ½ cup for recipe.
2. Add all spices to puree and mix well. Set aside.
3. Preheat oven to 200°C.
4. Remove dough from cooling area (Muggle alternative: refrigerator) and roll on a floured surface until roughly 3 millimetres thick. Cut 8-centimetre circles from dough, and re-roll dough as necessary until all has been turned to circles.
5. Add roughly ½ teaspoon of spiced puree to centre of each circle; wet edge of each circle and fold over onto itself, enveloping the puree inside. Crimp edges with fingers or forks to ensure hold.
6. With your wand (Muggle alternative: knife), cut small vents on top of each pasty in whichever shape desired.
7. Beat yolk in a bowl, then add milk and stir to create egg wash. Set aside.
8. Place pasties on tray and ensure that no Permanent Sticking Charms have been cast upon it (Muggle alternative: line tray with parchment paper). Brush top of each pasty with egg wash.
9. Bake in oven for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown. Remove from heat and let cool.
10. Serve, sit back, and enjoy the fall flavours of your favourite sweet-and-savoury treat!