The Hogwarts Headliner, Issue #47

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──────────────────────────────── Hogwarts Electives | Opinion Piece xxxxxxxxxxxx by Archer Duncan ────────────────────────────────

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Being well into my third year, I have now been taking Hogwarts electives for a few months. It has come to my realisation that younger students may require some guidance, so below I provide an authentic review of all five classes.

Care of Magical Creatures, although not in my field of expertise, stands out as a subject that is never tedious. Lessons commonly include practicals, which are interactions with the animals we happen to be studying. With ample amounts of field work, there is more to the class than poring over textbooks. CoMC is a perfect starting point for those interested in natural philosophy or anyone with a curiosity for the many creatures that live in harmony in our world.	x	xx
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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Next, Divination. While I will spare you the details of how I came to detest the subject, allow me to explain some of the reasoning that I believe validates my position. As nothing more than a matter of frivolity, I had a distaste for the subject even before my negative encounters with the “art” of soothsaying. From reading tea leaves to palmistry, the extent of what Professor Nenovsky teaches is a fraud attempting to decipher existence, and I stand by that.	x		x	It is not that I do not believe a subject like Divination has a certain amount of truth to it, but that it is an entirely incorrect approach to life. From hard lessons learnt myself, I have realised that divining the future only leads to pain and harm. Prophecies, while revealing knowledge, give too much information and can negatively impact our perceptions of a situation, resulting in perilous outcomes. There is no way, in my years of existence, would I ever urge anyone to take this subject—it is an undoubtedly dangerous one.
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	x	On to the Study of Ancient Runes. A completely underrated subject, Runes take the power of language to another plane entirely. I have always been fond of linguistics, yet Runes is not simply a study of a dead language. A perfect display of the prowess of magic, I have always found it awe-inspiring that an act as simple as writing with a few surreal lines could have greater power than a spell. Runes is best suited for those with an interest in language acquisition, and especially those who want to take their studies one step further. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Muggle Studies is a subject of which I am admittedly unfamiliar. I had chosen not to take the lesson for the reason that there is little use for the subject in practicality. While it is a perfect opportunity to change perspectives and stand in others’ shoes, there is little chance for the use of the subject outside this purely idealistic philosophy. It is not that I think of myself too highly to dabble in the subject, but the realisation that it is not worth another workload of assignments and examinations.	x	Flying: having officially become an elective subject in the second year, Flying is no longer a mandatory class, yet I found myself inexplicably drawn to it. I had expected that come September of 2024, I would drop it without a second’s hesitation, yet there is something about the wind tousling my hair or the horizon so close to my outstretched hand. There is something about the adrenaline that courses through my body every time we soar into the skies, and there is something about the thrill of a nose-dive that nothing else could replace. xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Often, we are bound by mental barriers that exist only in belief; the same way I distrusted a wobbly stick under me or the same way I distrusted myself and my own skills. Possibilities are greater than ─────────────────────	x	we could imagine; we all have greater potential to reach. Whether it is an acquired taste or an instant love, I would recommend keeping this subject on your timetable, even if, or perhaps especially if, it ─────────────────────	x	is out of your comfort zone. I hope you have taken away some valuable insight from my opinions, and while I urge you not to follow them blindly, experience has served me well.
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ELECTIVES PG. 02

SCANDAL PG. 06

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GALENTINE’S PG. 09

MEALS PG. 13

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Owl Post Overload ─────────by Simon Kincaid Ah, Valentine’s Day—where love is in the air. As we spread the love, let’s not forget that this holiday is the hardest day of the year to be an owl. Behind every fluttering envelope and swooping gift lies a very tired, very heroic owl, tirelessly working to do the impossible. These brave birds face many challenges on this day of love.

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First, in communities throughout the world—and not unique to the wizarding world—Valentine’s Day brings a surge in post volume. The Hogwarts Owlery becomes crowded with greeting cards, handwritten letters, and a growing mountain of parcels. These continue to pile up as students and staff keep thinking of one more letter to send. These simple gestures of love quickly become a monumental challenge for the postal system.	x	The owls are already exhausted! Valentine’s Day arrives on the heels of the winter holidays, when the owls are already worn out from delivering all those gifts and cards to wish warm winter wishes. Then, there is the rush of returns of unwanted gifts from those holidays. Upon returning to school, students contribute to the owl post overload by sending forgotten books, misplaced scarves, and other last-minute items back to Hogwarts.
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To add to the surge in volume, there is the pressure of deadlines. With Valentine’s Day being a fixed date, people post things late but still expect their items to arrive exactly on 14th February. This sudden surge can quickly create a backlog, forcing owls and postal workers to rush deliveries, work extra hours, and make multiple trips to keep up. The pressure to meet such a strict deadline increases the risk of misread addresses, mixed-up parcels, or damaged goods.	x	Furthermore, Valentine’s deliveries are often complex and demanding. Not every delivery is a small envelope with a tiny handwritten note; post in the wizarding world is rarely simple. Owls are often tasked with missions to deliver lumpy, glittering cards, heart-shaped boxes that can become quite heavy, chocolates that risk melting mid-flight, fragile glass trinkets, and bouquets of flowers that must be delivered quickly to avoid wilting. All of this is if the owl is lucky and their delivery isn’t a heavy, cursed object that might begin to move and startle the messenger. Unfortunately for the owls, Valentine’s post is rarely just romantic; it is often magical as well. Love potions, enchanted scents, charm-laced gifts, and cursed items can interfere with an owl’s homing abilities and distort their sense of direction. When a magical disturbance occurs, owls may become confused mid-flight, veer off course, fly in circles, or collide with one another in the crowded skies.
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Postal owls face many cognitive challenges under normal circumstances, but the sheer amount of post adds to this task as Valentine’s Day amplifies the strain. When making a delivery, owls do not simply fly to a fixed address but magically locate recipients. This is done even when the person is moving or the location is vague, with the owl constantly adjusting where they will drop off their shipment. These additional deliveries create significant stress and cognitive overload.

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Let us not forget the month in which Valentine’s Day occurs. The winter skies of February are rarely forgiving; across many regions, snowstorms, freezing rain, and icy winds can make flying difficult. Owls are not only battling these elements but doing so with shorter days, leaving them less time for safe travel. The seasonal weather can become a serious challenge for our feathered friends and test both their skill and patience.	x	Perhaps one of the most overlooked and saddest challenges that these flying delivery agents face is the backlash they might receive. Owls can become unintended victims of Valentine’s Day drama. Some deliveries could provoke anger or disappointment, and an unwanted message could cause recipients to shoo, scold, or yell at these winged postmasters. Sometimes, these parcels and messages are sent back immediately, forcing the owls to repeat their journey. It can turn into a very stressful and exhausting ordeal.
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So this Valentine’s Day, let us not only celebrate love but also the owls of the post. For them, it is a day of endurance, courage, and perseverance. Each flight is more than a delivery; it is an act of heroism that we all should appreciate. These feathered messengers deserve our love and our admiration.

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❝ ─ ────────────────┓ x ─. Each flight is more than a delivery; it is an act of heroism that we all should appreciate. ── x┗──────────────── x❞

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ELECTIVES PG. 02

SCANDAL PG. 06

─

GALENTINE’S PG. 09

MEALS PG. 13

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= BETWEEN THE LINES: ───────────────── Mud in the Hem by Ruth Fairchild Change is never clean. Growth stains you in manners that even the most remarkable, magical bleach would fail to rub off the mark it has left upon a person. Like a scar, it forever remains, a wound that scabs over in time, etched into the skin. Sometimes I wonder to myself— why is growth considered seamless or an unconscious progress within life, when in

❝ ─ ─────────────────────────┓ ─. 31st, 1st, 2nd. 31st, 1st, 2nd. The numbers repeat, and the months cease to change. ══════════════════════════════════════ But the person within refrains from staying the same days go by in forms of Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, the ground was once covered in snow once pale, now scuffed shoes and muddy cloaks traipse the castle walls once again. ─ x┗─────────── x❞

reality it knocks on one’s door carrying baggage of discomfort and emotional residue?

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February has a peculiar way of exposing this truth. It stands awkwardly between the beginning and an end, wedged between the quiet reflections of December and the anticipation that March brings. Winter has yet to let go fully, and spring has yet to arrive. Everything around you is damp, stained, and half-formed, much like the thoughts we attempt to articulate within this season.

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The second piece of this series, Mud in the Hem, plays with repetition. The numbers, ‘31st, 1st, 2nd’, mirror the constant ticking of the calendar, the steady but continuous marching of time. Even though the days are recycled, the numbers between months restart over and over—even though there is little change within these systems, something within us shifts beneath the routine.

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The numbers stay the same. We do not.

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The use of enjambment within this poem also serves to convey to the reader that time is never-ending. ‘Days go by in forms of Monday, Tuesday,/ Wednesday’ can also be read as ‘Wednesday, the ground was once covered in snow.’ Similarly, the line ‘snow/ once pale, now scuffed’ could end there, or continue as ‘scuffed/ shoes and muddy cloaks…’.

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"scuffed/shoes and muddy cloaks traips[ing] the castle walls once again" ──────────────────────── "once covered in snow/once page, now scuffed"

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What is a piece of poetry made by yours truly if you cannot proclaim, ‘Once again, imagery!’ The cusp of literary and literacy, where words transform into scenery, flying across the page, inking the mind with a picture of the school grounds ‘once covered in snow/once page, now scuffed’ and ‘scuffed/shoes and muddy cloaks traips[ing] the castle walls once again.’

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""Days go by in forms of Monday, Tuesday,/ Wednesday" ──────────────────────── "Wednesday, the ground was once covered in snow"

Excerpt: "When the Castle Sleeps" ───────────by Ruth Fairchild =======Hogwarts Headliner, Issue 46 Where dust motes once danced, frost crisp in the air ────of the corridors ──────────────now ──────────────────────────────-Still. ═══════════════════════════

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At the same time, it acts as a form of juxtaposition to When the Castle Sleeps (see Issue #46 of the Hogwarts Headliner), where the cleanliness of winter (represented within the lines ‘where dance motes once danced, frost crisp in the air’) is disturbed by the presence of students who have returned to the school that was once in deep slumber.

You may have noticed the mundanity in the imagery used; for instance, the use of mud. There’s nothing magical about mud. It clings and stains. It announces that you have been somewhere, that you have moved rather than stood still, just as growth leaves evidence. We like to imagine improvement as something invincible and preferably at the start of the new year. February reminds us otherwise.

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There is an odd pressure that comes with resolutions—the idea of a ‘new year, new you’. A long-standing human impulse that has been around since ancient times, dating back to the Babylonians. But like any impulse, those expectations and the burst of motivation that the new year provides begin to fray. There is so much to remember, so much to apply, and so much to reflect on. You are no longer exactly as you were in September, nor in December. Then again, you are not entirely sure who you are becoming either.

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It is a tandem of contradictions: feeling too old for some things, feeling too young for others. December may have offered stillness that made certain things easier to ignore or to reflect slowly. But now the castle has awakened again, and with the noise comes the resurfacing of thoughts and emotions that lie exposed, for February does not allow for hiding. It insists on movement, even if the moving itself is clumsy. =

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I often think about how mud is often treated undesirably, as if it were something meant to be cleaned away as quickly as possible. How it leaves stains. But what if the stains are not meant to come out? What if growth is not something to fix, but something to carry, like a story etched into the fabric of who you are? The muddy hem of a cloak tells you that someone has walked through winter and kept on going. It tells you that they didn’t wait for perfect conditions and kept traipsing on. = Perhaps that is enough.

Until next time,
Ruth.

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ELECTIVES PG. 02

SCANDAL PG. 06

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GALENTINE’S PG. 09

MEALS PG. 13

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Spilling Hogwarts’s Secrets: Vol. 4 = Greetings, my fellow purveyors of verity! In this month’s tantalisingly true tellings, I intend to bring you nothing but the finest stories circulating about our school’s very own corridors.

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My sources have informed me of the atrocious acts of first-year Crystal Theodora. Although a student with decent (hardly perfect) marks, she has been purposefully sabotaging the work of other students to make herself look better. Talk about a teacher’s pet! ────────────────────────────────────

For something of a more personal nature, though… I have been known to perform my own investigative research from time to time, finding primary sources to support hypotheses, and I have discovered that the Poisonwood family’s daughter is in her first year! Just jubilant, no? Except… well, if you have ever been wronged by the horrific concoctions her parents, who fancy themselves “potioneers”, have crafted, just know that, sometimes, it is perfectly permissible to levy the consequence for the parents’ crime on the child. Send young Concetta my greetings, won’t you, dear readers? ─────────────────────────────────

..

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This would hardly be one of my articles without exposing someone’s utter backwardness. I believe high society has a right to learn of the offensive individuals who dare to permeate our world, after all. One Keegan Cadwalader—first year, Hufflepuff—has dared to mar the corridors with his rakish presence! He is quite similar to Silas Norwood in this, and I remain unsure if that statement is more insulting to Mr Cadwalader or Mr Norwood. Both young men are unruly savages. What Mr Cadwalader lacks in filth, he does make up for by dumping absolute tripe wherever he may. He calls it “guitar”, but, dear me, it is almost as if it was put together by a filthy Muggle—the horror! ───────────────────────────────────

I discuss the tribulations of first years quite often. They’re so young, after all, and so prone to the most nim-witted of mistakes. Today, though, I bring forth a far more intriguing specimen: Cassandra Ironwoods, who seems to go by “Cash”, is a sixth-year student at Hogwarts. How old are they? Seventeen. How long have they been seventeen? Well, perhaps not as long as they have been in the sixth year, which is a while. I remain unaware whether or not this was purposeful or a result of bêtise,

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but I am inclined to believe the latter. They seem deranged and unable to process emotions—really. I have heard that they nearly lost their mind after friends left them… and you wonder why they left.

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Of course, this would hardly be interesting without information on the new faculty at our school.

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..

I shall begin with Ms Helen Aletheia Doukas, the librarian. She appears beautiful, calm and collected, something like a Helen out of Troy (pun most certainly intended). However, one must ask: “Is this too good to be true?” If you must inquire such a thing, then surely, it is. Although beautiful on the outside, poring through records has informed me that Ms Doukas’s friendships have hardly lasted. Coincidence? Or, perhaps,

does Fortuna not hold Ms Doukas in her favour? I suppose one might ask Ms Doukas herself…

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Finally, intriguing information regarding our brand-new Charms professor, Ms Katherine Townsend. Don't be fooled by the bright pink or glitter—all that glitters is not gold. One might recall how Professor Sauber was once the Potions Master. Curiously, he delivers potions to Ms Townsend often. It has been mentioned that she is concealing something, perhaps even a change into a hag. Do remain cautious around her.

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Fabricate all you wish, but I will, of course, ascertain the truth.

XOXO,
Lady Audentia

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ELECTIVES PG. 02

SCANDAL PG. 06

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GALENTINE’S PG. 09

MEALS PG. 13

PAGE 06.

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Fall from Grace: the Winfield Scandal

by Polytropos

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The 23rd of December, 2025, was a life-changing date for Hogwarts’ very own Miss Charlotte Winfield and the rest of her family. Through a close web of eyes and ears, I, Polytropos, have discovered the truth behind the story—the rumours, the slander. Today, we will dissect each one, sentence by sentence, and step over the remnants of the Winfield reputation while we are at it.

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“So my pop's in prison”, was how Miss Ethel Winfield started her statement. Yours truly noted down this conversation, ink to paper with guaranteed accuracy. This could only lead to one logical conclusion, if we are to believe it is significant enough to deserve a place on the Hogwarts Headliner: “Azkaban, I mean, the big one”.

From Miss Ethel Winfield, we glean further information related to the perpetrator, none other than Mister Fabian Winfield, the patriarch of the family. “He was always sort of an oddball, but this is just completely bonkers. I used to joke with [my sister] about how one day we'd find out he was like, a murderer or something, but I was just taking this piss.” We all know how the devil comes when we speak of him—perhaps young Winfield was not ‘taking the piss’ after all. The behaviours of a monster in disguise are difficult to spot, yet when they lurk in the shadows of our living rooms, sometimes doubt and speculation are worth the risk for one’s own safety and well-being.

“If we're honest, though, I'm not shocked it was him”, the daughter of Mister Winfield continued. “He was always coming home with these scratches on his face, like he just got done battling a dragon. I thought it might be dragons. Wasn't, though.” Proving that this suspicion was founded beyond simple paranoia, questions arise about what truly caused the scratches on the man’s flesh.

So, we have a primary source, but the question is, beyond the young child’s blabbering, what really happened?

I have gathered all the statements I could back with evidence, and below I present to you my complete report on the case. Fabian Winfield was found guilty of performing dark magic without Ministry knowledge, despite being a member of the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. How ironic, the very police force of the Wizarding World harbouring a man so wretched and treacherous. While there are no concrete details on his firing or the events leading up to it, Fabian is no longer a member of the Ministry, and the Winfield family is in disarray. It is said—or, rather, reasonably guessed—that he has a record of domestic use of inappropriate magic, ranging from harming himself to harming others.

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. "The only thing more frustrating than slanderers is those foolish enough to listen to them." - Criss Jami, Killosophy ── x┗─────────── x❞

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Rumours, of course, are ever circulating. I have heard whispers where students thought they were alone, all hushed tones and secrets behind shielding hands. They say that this is the first fire that will eventually burn down the Winfield legacy. Reputation renowned in the pure-blood world, could this be the end of the bloodline? What an ungraceful fall and what an unfair end. The lives of promising young heirs and heiresses, ruined by one man’s action. What will become of the Winfield children because of their father’s incarceration? That is another mystery for us to solve, and thankfully, we have the specimens amongst our own student population. Keep your eyes peeled, readers.

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Editor’s Note: This shouldn’t be published. Publishing slander under a pseudonym is utterly reprehensible. I apologise to Charlotte, denounce our immature EiC’s abysmal decision to print this, and dearly hope she understands that she has advocates here.

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ELECTIVES PG. 02

SCANDAL PG. 06

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GALENTINE’S PG. 09

MEALS PG. 13

PAGE 07.

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Valentine's Day in Wizarding Villages Around the World
by Simon Kincaid

Here within the corridors of Hogwarts, witches, wizards, and half-breeds celebrate Valentine's Day in many ways. Some pass out charmed notes, distribute enchanted sweets, or deliver enchanted roses to those they hold dear. Still, these familiar customs are only part of the fun, with wizarding villages around the world celebrating Valentine's Day in their own magical ways.

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────────────────────────── HOGSMEADE VILLAGE, SCOTLAND ────────────────────────── In the village of Hogsmeade, being in such close proximity, shopkeepers appeal to the students of Hogwarts. Despite the cold, Valentine's Day is one of the busiest days of the year, and visitors are welcomed with warming charms and shop windows softly decorated with charming touches that entice passers-by to come in. Many shops run Valentine's Day offers that include enchanted treats, heart-shaped sweets, and little magical trinkets. Many couples can be seen strolling through the village hand in hand, or friends meet up to exchange novelty gifts. In Hogsmeade, Valentine's Day is a day where there is an unspoken rule that no one should feel left out. ─────────────────────────	x
	x	────────────────────────── PLACE CACHÉE, PARIS ────────────────────────── You'll find elegance all throughout this hidden wizarding district in Paris. Some choose this destination because it refuses to yield to the exploding hearts, the singing telegrams, and the overeager charms that Valentine's Day brings to the other wizarding areas of the world. Instead, you'll find romance in what already exists—in its galleries and operas, elegant restaurants, hidden courtyards, and renowned jewellers, perfumeries, and patisseries. As evening approaches, music drifts through the air and couples can walk along a river that curves through the district. Love has already made itself a home here and needs no special acknowledgement during Valentine's Day. Its natural charm, however, draws more visitors during Valentine's Day than usual. ─────────────────────────
────────────────────────── GODRIC'S HOLLOW, ENGLAND ────────────────────────── Godric's Hollow feels heavy with memory when Valentine's Day comes around. Here, Valentine's Day isn't about falling in love but about having been loved and carrying that with you. Villagers there write letters to lost lovers, departed spouses, friends who never returned from war or curses, and loved ones no longer with them. These letters are folded and placed into a communal stone basin and burned, where it is believed that magic somehow delivers the messages. Beyond this tradition, the villagers celebrate love by sharing meals from inherited recipes and telling stories. ─────────────────────────	x
	x	────────────────────────── DIAGON ALLEY, ENGLAND ────────────────────────── Diagon Alley goes all out for visitors during any holiday, and Valentine's Day is no exception. Shops compete to outdo one another with extravagant window displays of enchanted jewellery, self-writing love letters, and exquisite perfumes. Valentine's Day bargains are common, and you can find gifts that are sure to impress. You'll find couples walking the area, families and groups of friends moving from shop to shop, and often see someone ready to give a public proclamation of love. ─────────────────────────
────────────────────────── TINWORTH, ENGLAND ────────────────────────── Wizards and witches who live in Tinworth must be mindful of the Muggles that also occupy their town and keep Valentine's Day low-key. This coastal village has a unique Valentine's Day tradition where, at sunset, lanterns are lit along the harbour and cliff paths. Couples often light one together, and friends and families can do the same. There is a charm placed upon them so that they are enchanted to burn steadily no matter the weather.	x

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These wizarding communities show us that Valentine's Day is far from a single, united tradition. There are bustling places like Diagon Alley, and the quieter celebrations of Godric's Hollow and others. Each community reflects its values in how it marks the day, shaping romance to fit its history and way of life.

But what unifies them is not how they celebrate, but rather why. Across the wizarding world, love is protected, remembered, and shared. However you celebrate, may your day be filled with love. Happy Valentine's Day, Hogwarts.

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ELECTIVES PG. 02

SCANDAL PG. 06

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GALENTINE’S PG. 09

MEALS PG. 13

PAGE 08.

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From Sword-Shaped Chocolate to Silver Daggers: Welcome to Hogwarts Valentine’s Day!
by Meyra Lancaster

Between calls for lasting romance, where the heart is restless and yearns for love, to anonymous letters with specific names on it, to cursed cupcakes and a surprising consensus on the legality of love potions and on the fact that big grand gestures must be kept private, romance in our school will never be just about flowers and sweet things. To find out how each Hogwarts House actually experiences Valentine’s Day, important questions were made to students from Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin. The results reveal that love, much like magic, is deeply personal and, occasionally, disastrous!

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. So, what exactly does each House wish for Valentine's Day? ── x┗─────────── x❞

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So, what exactly does each House wish for Valentine's Day? The responses are varied, but, even so, we were able to find several similarities between the preferences and what most people would like to avoid receiving. It’s interesting to notice how some of the answers are scandalously breaking with stereotypes while others are so obvious there’s no effort needed to guess their House.

Gryffindors, known for their bravery, are actually waiting for others to confess while secretly writing their love letters. Hufflepuffs, not surprisingly, are, in their majority, asking for the classic and romantic chocolate frog, even if some would only be satisfied with handmade gifts that would show the effort and dedication from their other half. Ravenclaws vary in taste like the creative creatures they are. Can be a kiss, a flower, a letter… but, more importantly, time with their loved ones. Slytherins seem to be longing for vacations, something of rare value, quality time and even more sophisticated gifts. Someone said they want a Truth Serum. Wondering… is that for a certain Gryffindor who’s hiding in angst for a confession of loyalty? Or is it to uncover something more like a betrayal? I dare to say, we all want to know!

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. Or is it to uncover something more like a betrayal? ── x┗─────────── x❞

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And what about what no one wants to receive? Apparently there’s a lot of originality going around this castle. Some replied that receiving nothing was the worst gift. I wonder if they would rather receive vomit-flavoured beans, a singing card that wouldn’t shut up for three days straight, knit socks from your parents, an Amortentia muffin, a heart-shaped box full of aggressively pink items, hate mail from an ex-friend, a Ravenclaw announcing a fake boyfriend to their parents or being stood up at the Three Broomsticks by a Gryffindor. I know what my answer is!

One of the most striking similarities though, between all the Houses, seems to be the preference for whispered love rather than shouting it in public. Gryffindors prefer big gestures in private, Ravenclaws don’t want anyone staring at them, Hufflepuffs don’t want to feel the anxiety, pressure and humiliation and Slytherins consider public gestures either desperate, entertaining or weaponizable. In all cases, public gestures seem to be unrequired, embarrassing and probably a risk not worth to be taken.

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. Desperate, entertaining or weaponisable. ── x┗─────────── x❞

❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. Who are you, by the way? ── x┗─────────── x❞

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Another thing that seems to unite us, probably to the relief of many of us, is the strong opposition to the use and existence of love potions. Hufflepuff students are concerned about its ethical and legal use, Ravenclaw students tend to find it disturbing, Slytherin students argue that it should be dealt with legally, and Gryffindors lean towards something that can be seen as aesthetic, but definitely not something to be used. Even those who responded with "cute" contradict their answers by immediately confessing stories of past traumas. Who are you, by the way?

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I think it's fair to conclude that we all agree that love is best when it’s honest, private, and free of enchanted baked goods!

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ELECTIVES PG. 02

SCANDAL PG. 06

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GALENTINE’S PG. 09

MEALS PG. 13

PAGE 09.

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The History of ‘Galentine’s’ and How Society Has Influenced Valentine’s Day

by Violeta Roux

.Valentine’s Day has been around since ancient Rome, originally as a Christian feast day honouring a martyr named ‘Valentine’; later on, this date became a celebration of romance and love in many major regions of the world. Over the past couple of centuries, this event has taken on many different meanings, being influenced by factors such as religion, society, culture and more. In our modern society, the holiday has become extremely commercialised, focusing more on couples giving gifts instead of actually going out and celebrating their love. This commercialisation has influenced how people who are not in relationships celebrate or choose to not celebrate at all. ──────gal───────

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❝ ─ ───────────┓x ─. Galentine’s is often a day for women to celebrate friendships with their girl friends. Essentially, it is Valentine's Day, except with your gal pals. ── x┗─────────── x❞

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Galentine’s Day is a relatively new celebration. It first gained popularity in the United States in 2010. What is ‘Galentine’s’, though? What is its origin and how did it gain so much popularity? The name itself is a combination of ‘Valentine’s’ and ‘gals’, and usually takes place on Valentine’s Day Eve, or February 13th. Many girls will meet up with their friends to celebrate. Those celebrations might be a sleepover, a dinner party, a luncheon or anything that reunites friendships and celebrates their platonic love. Some of these celebrations include gift giving, similar to Valentine’s Day, which might influence some to not participate as they can't give for different personal reasons. ──────pals──────

Let’s talk about female friendships. Female friendships are extremely important. Many forget about this as modern society has put a lot of pressure on romantic relationships, and some people end up forgetting that friendships are just as, perhaps even more, important than romantic relationships. Genuine friendships are hard to find. However, when you find them, a friend is a confidant—someone who you trust and can have fun with. They’re someone who likes you for you and doesn’t want you to change. Eventually, they come to love you, platonically, for who you truly are. They support you and they tell you the truth, even if it hurts. Girl friendships are one of the best ones you can have, if you have a genuine one, of course.	x	Still, even with the pressure that modern society has put on romantic relationships, how Valentine’s Day is an event which commemorates romance and may feel incomplete without a romantic partner, many girls might end up having a Galentine’s Day instead of Valentine’s Day, still wanting to celebrate the date in a different way. Obviously, teenagers should not have to be forced into relationships by society. Many girls simply don’t want to be in those types of relationships just yet. That is completely acceptable, of course. There’s always Galentine’s.	x	Now, how did this affair surface? Surprisingly, it originated in a Muggle TV show called ‘Parks and Recreation’ in an episode called, not surprisingly, ‘Galentine’s Day’. Spoilers for the episode below. Every year on February 13th, Leslie Knope—a character of this sitcom—throws a party for all of her girl friends. The premise of this event is ‘ladies celebrating ladies’, as Leslie says, ‘no husbands, no boyfriends, no partners, just breakfast foods and friendship’. After this episode aired, the event became popular in the United States and, soon enough, throughout the world.
x───── the ─────x	x	x───── new ─────x	x	x─── valentines───x

Many women have celebrated this with their friends since the episode aired. These celebrations obviously don’t have to be elaborate parties; they just have to be something fun with your friends.

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. I truly recommend hosting a Galentine’s Day event. If you haven’t this year, there’s always next year. ── x┗─────────── x❞

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ELECTIVES PG. 02

SCANDAL PG. 06

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GALENTINE’S PG. 09

MEALS PG. 13

PAGE 10.

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Hogwarts’s Educational Requirements for Acceptance: Too Lax or Just Right? by Aly Salinger	x	With my graduation from Hogwarts creeping ever closer, I have begun to look around at my classmates and hold pride in what we’ve learned through seven years in these hallowed halls. I’ve seen my fellow seventh years cast spells we wouldn’t even have dreamed of when we crossed the lake at eleven years old. Look how far we’ve come.
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However, now I wonder just how little we knew when we arrived here. Some of us had indeed heard of the magical world, and some hadn’t—and we all learned just the same. Was Hogwarts checking to make sure we would do well here as students? Are there even educational requirements to be accepted here?

Though the Book of Acceptance was unfortunately unavailable for comment, I gathered some stories of pre-Hogwarts education from the student body in an attempt to glean exactly what goes into our acceptance rate.

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Personally, I was tutored and homeschooled before coming to Hogwarts—learning reading, writing, and (ugh) a bit of maths. Of course, there was no prior learning of spells or potions due to Hogwarts’s strict educational rules on learning any magic before arrival. (Seriously? We have rules against that, but no educational basic requirements?) Many others also were homeschooled, like first-year Slytherin Valour Argentum, whose tutors taught them “everything you’d expect a child to learn—arithmetic, English, science… etiquette classes, Latin, dance, music.” The youth even quipped, “First-year work is dreadfully boring now.” Similarly, third-year Slytherin and newly minted Quidditch captain Charlotte Winfield said, “I was homeschooled by my mother and father, and educated in multiple different facets of the wizarding world. It certainly got me prepared for Hogwarts, although nothing can prepare you for the shock of actually being able to perform magic.”	x	Naturally, not everyone had a purely positive purview of their former educators. Said third-year Slytherin Keiran Kith, “Ms Murray’s home smelt like paper. I learnt how not to write spilling ink whilst doodling with her favourite quill when I was six.” Kith did however comment that though they thought she was insufferable as a child, “now I think it was because she wanted me always to do right by myself.” While that’s an excellent lesson to learn as a youth, is it really an educational requirement?
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Those who grew up away from magic naturally had more Muggle-centric education. Second-year Ravenclaw Mirada Johnson attended a Muggle primary school in childhood, and apparently her parents even taught there! When getting to Hogwarts, Johnson was apparently “quite overwhelmed by the difference in the subjects,	x	but I like learning about the different aspects of the magical world.” And then there are our transfers. I shan’t begin to describe the requirements at international schools, but one of our newest students, Gryffindor fourth year Vladislav Gunther, told turbulent tales of training prior to arriving here: “I used to go to school publicly in Tennessee, as that was where I was born. But as I got older, and after my mother’s death, we moved to Russia and I had to learn Russian as a language as a child before eleven so I could communicate at Koldovstoretz.” This does bring up a good point—it’s tough to study at Hogwarts if you don’t speak the language.
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Needless to say, all of these interviews have brought forth one very specific thing: that Hogwarts is accepting of all, regardless of prior education. We must be at least literate before arriving, of course, but whether you attended a fancy pureblood private school or a “normal” Muggle primary, we all ended up here together. Let’s make the best of it and learn as much as we can!

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ELECTIVES PG. 02

SCANDAL PG. 06

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GALENTINE’S PG. 09

MEALS PG. 13