The Hogwarts Headliner, Issue #51

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Spilling Hogwarts’s Secrets: Vol. 6 = After a much needed break (after all, even I require my beauty rest), I have returned, knowing that the students of Hogwarts must be simply dying for even the most barely detectable hint of drama. Fear not: such delectable details are to come!

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First, I would like to introduce Hanako Tone. Some of you may know him. Within Slytherin’s duelling team, he is known as a particularly ancient individual – for an alleged heartthrob, that is. Suppose he is actually seventeen or eighteen and not twenty-five. Even then, playing others’ hearts like a game is a bit crass, no? But it appears that Mr Tone has turned a new leaf. As of recently, he appears to be atoning for his lack of loyalty by acting as a stand-in grandfather for a first year. If you are twelve years old and like to golf, I would recommend asking Mr Tone to accompany you. However, be sure you remember to bring the necessary denture cleaning products, as he may require them.

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──────── Of course, this would hardly be a proper article if the news were not demeaning. Why indeed should I focus on the positives in this world, when they’re not what my dear readers yearn to uncover? ────────

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One Angel Dayes has come into the periphery of the more talkative of my sources. She cites a certain proclivity for blood – not in the same sense as the perhaps murderous Silas Norwood, but rather in a more palatable sense. She’s pale, and my sources say she has… well, let’s just call them vampiric traits. I’m hardly anti-vampire, but I still must offer my dear readers some advice: avoid Miss Dayes at all costs if you’re bleeding. You never know what you might unleash.

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There’s another student who just so happens to be a bit lovestruck. Adorable, right? He stares after Miss Corrine Aelina like he’s a lost puppy. He’s simply out of her league, though – by a long shot. I mean, really, do we think that an immature little first year who starts food fights in his spare time has the finesse for a girlfriend? Ugh, as if. Mr Paul Turner should set his sights elsewhere. Perhaps Mr Tone could babysit him.

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It is not a surprise that some of our school’s prefects are quite less the bastion of responsibility than they are intended to be. If Mr Norwood had been a prefect, then I think the standards were far too low – practically abysmal, even. But I digress. The current reign of terror is being achieved by one Cecilia Merrick and one Erast Yan, both of whom are first years. Apparently, youths make better workers; as one Aly Salinger once wrote in quite the slanderous article. At any rate, it appears that Mr Yan and Miss Merrick have been lying and sneaking out. If they were older, they might have gotten away with it, but being as young as they are? Well, it’s no wonder people are finding out. Some advice to them: at least try not to get caught. ─────────

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Continuing the trend of irresponsible children, I must report that Jay Valkyrie and Skylar Blue have had the most interesting of escapades in the Forbidden Forest. I would hardly shame them for going there, but what I will draw attention to is the fact that they managed to be harmed. It seems as if Miss Blue was assaulted by the Whomping Willow that resides nearby – really, is no one aware of her surroundings anymore? These two would not survive in a city. To make matters worse, they may have also been ambushed by Doxies. If you see either of them in the hallway covered in various bites and bruises, it would be perfectly permissible to antagonise them for their mistakes. Some people only learn the hard way. ──────────

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This would hardly be a proper article without revealing something horrific that our dear Editor-in-Chief has done as of late. He has recently been finding hobbies. One might say, “Good for him!” However, that would be quite rude to his victims. Mr Norwood, whose proclivity for knives is rather problematic, has taken to slicing holes in others’ clothing. Perhaps someone ought to remove the knives in his possession…?

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To end this most delicious divulsion, I will mention Miss Laasya Manjunath. She appears intelligent and functional, but she is also incredibly loud and cranky. I posit that she has been weaned off a heavy dosage of the Calming Draught, and she is not used to everyday life. Whatever might have happened, I do not know, but, certainly, something must have occurred over the Easter holidays. Whatever it was appears to have resulted in her lashing out, so if you intend to interact with her, do be careful.

XOXO,
Lady Audentia

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GOSSIP PG. 02

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POETRY PG. 06

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PREFECTS PG. 12

ADVICE & GOODBYE PG. 17

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┏────────────────────────┓ Brave, Cunning, Wise, Loyal: A Personality Profile of the Four Hogwarts Houses by Verity Engels ┗────────────────────────┛ A significant part of growing up involves learning who we are as individuals. This can include the hobbies we enjoy (or don’t enjoy), food preferences, and who we intend to become as adults in the future. What lies beneath these aspects, which we are greatly concerned about, is our personality.	x	Personality, as we understand it, is how we define people and how they behave. When we describe our professors, we may use words such as kind, smart, or boring. When we talk about our prefects, we might consider them bossy or mean, depending on the context. The Sorting Hat is a personality test in its own way. Each House has certain traits tied to it: Gryffindor and bravery, Hufflepuff and loyalty, Ravenclaw and wisdom, and Slytherin and ambition. During the Sorting Ceremony, the Hat reads our thoughts and our unconscious, using them as the basis for determining which House we fit the best.
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These adjectives we use to describe people could be considered the basics of personality. But surely people are more complex than these simple descriptors. How do we define bravery, loyalty, wisdom, and ambition?

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In personality psychology, the most common method for measuring personality is the Five Factor Model. The FFM consists of five traits that are considered universal, and individuals simply differ in how high or low they score on each trait. Openness to experience, as the name suggests, shows how open to new experiences someone is, specifically in their curiosity and openness to learning. Conscientiousness is about work ethic, organisation, and an individual’s self-discipline. Extraversion is defined as how outgoing and sociable someone is, and can also involve thrill-seeking and adventure. Agreeableness, as the name suggests, specifies how likely an individual is to go along with others (their compliance), as well as their capacity for interpersonal harmony. Finally, neuroticism, better known as emotional stability, is how vulnerable an individual is to stress and how they react under pressure.	x	With this model, we may be able to define what bravery, loyalty, wisdom, and ambition mean in the context of our House system. The question is simple: What traits of the FFM are more prominent in each of Hogwarts four Houses?
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The five factors are commonly measured using the Big Five Inventory questionnaire created by Oliver P. John, Eileen M. Donahue, and R. L. Kentle in 1991. The BFI contains forty-four questions, of which participants answer on a five-point scale from ‘strongly disagree’ to ‘strongly agree’, based on whether the statement matches their perception of themselves. I managed to get sixty-eight students to complete this personality test, including thirteen Gryffindors, fourteen Hufflepuffs, nineteen Ravenclaws, and twenty-two Slytherins. Each score then contributed to a final average percentage score on each trait for each House, as shown in Figure 1.	x	Figure 1 Big 5 Scores for Each Hogwarts House On the openness to experience trait, Ravenclaws scored the highest at 72.24% and Hufflepuffs the lowest at 57.86%. On conscientiousness, Slytherins are the highest at 70.58%, and Gryffindors are the lowest at 53.85%. Gryffindors would be the most extraverted House at 66.83%, while Ravenclaws would be the most introverted at 45.23%. Gryffindors also scored the highest on agreeableness at 69.23%, while Slytherins are the lowest at 44.70%. Finally, Ravenclaws have the highest neuroticism score at 55.92%, and Gryffindors the lowest at 46.40%.
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When comparing these scores to the traits assigned to each House, we can see a pattern.

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Gryffindors have extraversion, agreeableness, and openness as their top three traits. This could explain the thrill-seeking, adventurous nature they are generally known for.

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Ravenclaws have openness and conscientiousness as their top two traits. The combination of these traits, curiosity and organisation, may contribute to their love of learning. Interestingly, Slytherins also share the same top two traits, though Slytherins have higher conscientiousness than Ravenclaws. Perhaps Ravenclaws are not much different from Slytherins and vice versa, only that their intentions differ in the pursuit of knowledge.

Hufflepuffs have agreeableness and conscientiousness as their top two traits. These two Big Five traits encompass practically all of Hufflepuff’s values: kindness and loyalty among peers, and hard work.

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So, we’ve figured out what the ‘average Gryffindor’, ‘average Hufflepuff’, and so on, looks like. But, if you were to look at my full dataset, you would find outliers.	x	These scores are not static, and personality can change over time as we grow and learn more about the world around us. The score we receive now may increase or decrease in five years’ time.
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So, maybe you don’t feel like you’re what people expect of a Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, or Slytherin right now. Don’t worry! As time goes on, maybe you’ll find yourself fitting your House’s traits more. After all, the Sorting Hat insists that it’s never wrong.

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GOSSIP PG. 02

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POETRY PG. 06

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PREFECTS PG. 12

ADVICE & GOODBYE PG. 17

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Reasons We Live | by Archer Duncan & Matthew Campbell

-please scroll to read this article-

1. Swimming in the lake at midnight. 2. Watching the sun glisten off it at sunrise. 3. Cats. All cats. Any cat. Especially Zeno though, I can’t deny. 4. On this we both agree. 5. Eriophorum. Plucking them and holding them between your hands. 6. Dandelion. Wishes in the wind. 7. Latin. Gaelic. All the languages you are yet to learn. 8. Reviving their dead traditions. 9. Sunrises you stay up all night to watch, just to be sabotaged by the fog of the Highlands. 10. But the memories of laughter washing away all disappointment. 11. That one person you never reconciled with. 12. For you still have time. 13. Watching the stars. Making up your own constellations. 14. Knowing there is so much more in the universe to discover. 15. A stranger caring so much about you. 16. A simple act of kindness you can pass on to others.	x	17. Staring into eyes that remind yourself of your own. 18. Being alone but not lonely. 19. Being afraid but asking for help. 20. What you remember of your mother when you’re away from her. 21. Memories you share through the stories you tell. 22. When everything stopped hurting, and started to become something you cherished instead. 23. Hearing the frogs croak at night. 24. Watching the foxes roam the moors. 25. Being in love. 26. Loving yourself in spite of your worries and guilt. 27. When you finish an unbearably long assignment. Leaning back in your seat; staring at the page. 28. The successes you’ve made and the failures you can rectify. 29. Petrichor. 30. New books. Old libraries. 31. Filling up a journal. Breaking a new one in. 32. Writing an entry on that perfect day. 33. Being proud of yourself over the stupidest of things.	x	34. Drawing, painting, sculpting. Creating your art. 35. Singing, even though you can’t sing. 36. Discovering music from friends. You hated it but you love them. 37. Listening countless times to the vinyl you swore you’d never touch. 38. Meeting someone who thinks they’re broken. Stitching them back together. 39. Fresh fruit. Figs that seep juice between your fingers. 40. Satsumas that your dad packed in your lunch box. 41. Italy in the summer, Canada in the winter, and Scotland all year round. 42. Places you’ll discover that you never knew existed. 43. Someone forgiving you. 44. Forgiving yourself in return. 45. Summer storms. Or storms in any season, really. 46. Sullen days down by the beach when it's all to yourself. 47. Laying awake in silence until it becomes comfortable. 48. Observing the world from a nook.	x	49. Embracing the art of doing nothing. 50. Trying something new. Especially when you’re unsure. 51. Replaying that song your mother loved, but you never knew the name to. 52. Asking your dad what he listened to when he was your age. 53. You’ve never joyridden on a broom in the middle of night yet. 54. Or discovered every one of Hogwarts's many secrets. 55. Cliff jumping. Facing your fears. 56. Hiking. Till you reach the stars. 57. Amusement parks. 58. Cinema days. Alone, with friends, or something more. 59. Getting drunk on stolen liqueur. 60. Hangovers you promise will stop you drinking, until the next time. 61. Learning slang. Calling them weird. 62. Realising a word you thought was universal belongs solely to your culture. 63. Trying to comfort a friend when you’re barely holding on yourself.	x	64. Supporting each other, even when you disagree with their choices. 65. Long hugs. 66. Hold them even longer. 67. Stating the obvious. Playing the fool. Let them underestimate you. 68. Befriending someone who can quote Hamlet off the top of their head. 69. “To die, - To sleep, - To sleep! Perchance to dream.” 70. The excitement of sharing those weird and wonderful dreams. 71. Painting your nails for the first time, then rubbing it off because it looks horrendous. 72. Dyeing your hair something awful. 73. Speaking French with your best friend so others can’t understand. 74. Codenames for teachers, for enemies, for friends. 75. Eating ice cream in the freezing cold. 76. Giving the pickles of your burger to that one pickle fiend. 77. Sitting down to homemade food when you’ve had nothing to eat for the day. 78. Tasting new foods when you go to a friend's for dinner.	x	79. Intellectual conversations. 80. Wheezing with laughter over something objectively unfunny. 81. Meeting someone with an accent you’ve never heard before. 82. Reading something someone recommended because they know you. 83. Second-hand clothes. Second-hand books. Second-hand joy. 84. Collecting beetles. Making beetle earrings. Gift-giving. 85. Resin art. Crystals. Amber. 86. Being delusional. Buying lots of chocolates. Skipping on checkered roads. 87. Hot chocolate. Late nights studying in the library. 88. Searching for wildflowers in the winter. Finding hope in the most desolate of places. 89. The first bloom of snowdrops marking Spring. 90.Knowing you’d die for your friends. 91. Trusting you’d live for them too. 92. One eye always kept on the horizon, just in case you see her again. 93. Though you never really lost her, because she's with you in everything you do.
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94. Did we mention Zeno?

Don't throw your life away before you have fully lived it.

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GOSSIP PG. 02

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POETRY PG. 06

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PREFECTS PG. 12

ADVICE & GOODBYE PG. 17

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───────────────── While we learn a vast amount of amazing knowledge in our core classes at Hogwarts, have you ever wondered why your timetable seems to stop there? Surely there must be more to magical education than the same classes year after year. ─────────────────

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. ┏───────────┓x . The Hogwarts Curriculum: What’s Missing? by Simon Kincaid x . x┗───────────┛

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───────────────── What about electives that explore specialised branches of magic, unusual magical careers, or simply subjects that spark curiosity beyond the standard? I’ve imagined a few elective courses that could make Hogwarts even more enchanting. ─────────────────

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MAGICAL ARTS AND CREATIVITY

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Wizarding Journalism - writing for the school newspaper could earn you a grade, honing your writing skills, interviewing students, and reporting on castle events.

Magical Photography - create and develop moving wizard photographs, take part in critiques, and learn the history of wizarding photography.

Enchanted Music - learn about magical instruments, those that have been created to self‑play, and uncover the spells to enchant others.

Wizarding Theatre - performing famous magical plays and creating original productions.

Magical Portraits and Where to Find Them – discover the portraits that fill our corridors and learn more about the process of creating such works.

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PRACTICAL LIFE SKILLS & MAGICAL CREATURES

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Magical Cooking and Baking - creating enchanted treats and learning recipes from around the world.

Household Charms - practical spells for cleaning, organising, and everyday life. Wizarding Finance - understanding wizarding money, investments, and running a magical business. Study Skills - learn methods to stay organised, prepare for exams, and master coursework. O.W.L.s Success Workshop - focus on obtaining the correct information and retaining it for the O.W.L.s examinations.

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Magical Pet Care and Ownership - explore responsible pet ownership, proper care, training, health, and safety for a variety of creatures commonly kept as pets in the wizarding world. Dragon Studies - learn about dragon breeds, habitats, and care. Magical Conservation - gain knowledge on how to protect endangered magical species. Magizoology 101 - discover, in depth, the world of magical creatures.

Mastering the N.E.W.T.s - refine academic skills, complete practice exams, and learn strategies for managing a large workload.

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HISTORY AND CULTURE

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Wizarding World Cultures - recognise magical traditions from around the globe.
Famous Witches and Wizards - dive into biographies and contributions to magical society.
Hogwarts History Deep Dive - learn of castle mysteries, founders, and legends. You’ll go through the entire book Hogwarts, A History.

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CHARMS

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Communication Charms - explore magical methods of messaging, translation, long‑distance communication, and information sharing.
Magical Transportation Charms - examine spells related to movement, travel, packing, and transportation safety.
Wilderness and Survival Charms - develop practical magic for navigation, shelter, weather protection, and outdoor survival.
Experimental Charmwork - an advanced elective where students design, test, and refine original charms under supervision.

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DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS

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Dark Arts History - examine the origins of Dark Magic, famous Dark wizards, and magical conflicts throughout history. Curse‑Breaking Fundamentals - study the detection, removal, and safe handling of cursed objects and locations. Protective Wards and Enchantments - master the creation and maintenance of magical barriers, wards, alarms, and protective enchantments. Auror Preparation - a rigorous course covering investigative skills, defensive spellwork, magical law, and crisis response. Advanced Defensive Magic - build upon core defensive techniques with advanced shield charms, counter‑curses, and combat strategy.

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Herbology for the Home - plants that purify or illuminate rooms, or assist with household tasks. Forest and Woodland Plants - field studies in magical ecosystems of the Scottish Highlands. Rare and Exotic Magical Flora - study of unusual and difficult‑to‑grow magical plants from around the world. Dangerous Plants and Defensive Flora - venomous plants that fight back. Cultivation 101 - learn expert care of magical plants and cultivating your own. Greenhouse Management - advanced cultivation techniques and plant care.

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HERBOLOGY

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POTIONS

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Brewing for Beginners - a slower‑paced course for students who struggle with advanced brewing.
Historical Potions and Lost Recipes - ancient brews and forgotten magical formulas.
Healing and Medicinal Potions - potions used by healers.
Experimental Potions - students develop and test original concoctions.
Mastering Advanced Potion‑Making - complex recipes, rare ingredients, and brewing theory.

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OTHER

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Magical Games Club - Gobstones, Wizard Chess, and other magical games.
Introduction to Wizarding Sports and Games - a course to explore popular competitive sports in the wizarding world.
Creature Study - learn more about those that make up our wizarding world: werewolves, Veelas, giants, goblins, vampires, and more.
Other Languages - an introductory course to offer some conversational phrases and a foundation for other languages spoken across the magical world, including Mermish, Gobbledegook, and Troll. Please note that this will not help you with Parseltongue.

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GOSSIP PG. 02

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POETRY PG. 06

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PREFECTS PG. 12

ADVICE & GOODBYE PG. 17

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▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ BETWEEN THE LINES: The End of a Beginning by Ruth Fairchild ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬

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Another year has passed. When did that happen? We spend so much time waiting for tomorrow that we hardly notice it arriving.

A mirror, surface of pristine sheen: A face, the centre decor. How would one see change, Unless time lapses?	x	Within this issue of Between the Lines, I would like to touch on graduation and its effect on all. Through this poem, I explore the difficulties in perceiving change while it is happening, and how growth and transformation can only truly be understood in hindsight. The opening imagery of the mirror evokes themes of self-reflection and identity. When you gaze at your reflection and take in the sight of your features, you may not be aware of the subtle changes	x	unfolding upon your face. After all, a mirror only shows the present moment, making it difficult to notice gradual changes. Perhaps change is only visible when enough time has passed to create a contrast between the past and present? Enough time has passed between the you now and the you almost a year ago. Maybe not enough between yesterday and today, but enough from the year before.
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Look back Looking back – How slow the hands seemed to tick, how the petals seemed to fall. Reflect, reflect. Change often feels so insignificant in the moment, despite becoming obvious later. Within	x	this stanza, clock and nature imagery have been used to symbolise the passage of time and impermanence, respectively. A caesura within the imperative “Look back” invites you to recall any moment in time when you felt as though the day was moving at a snail’s pace, when you were counting down the days till the school holidays, longing for the exams and challenges to pass.
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Take an oozing cauldron cake and sink a finger in slipping in thickness, depth, texture. I find that the extended metaphor of a “cauldron cake” being explored and savoured becomes allegorical in the way each action mirrors how we live our lives. Change is experienced through sensation – sensory descriptions such as “thickness, depth, texture” not only create this vivid, immersive experience but also refer to variety. Everyone’s year began differently. Each underwent distinctive journeys, hence the diversity of sensation. First years would have been met with a mind-boggling school system and unfamiliar faces, while the seventh years would have faced the contrast of familiarity. │ │ │ │ xx Bite take a ===bite. ======Take a bite. ==================Another bite.

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❝ ──── ───────────┓ x ─. “The end of a beginning is not the same thing as the beginning of an end.” ── x┗─────────── x❞

Overwhelm the sensation of overwhelmingness, overwhelmed by the mouthful of thickness, depth and texture overwhelming your senses. But take a bite, take a bite, take One last bite(?) No matter the differences, cake is to be eaten, and moments to be moved through, bite after bite, one moment at a time. That said, no moment is symmetrical or constant. The staggered indentation of “bite” represents the progression and accumulation of experience across time, emphasised by the enjambment. Each bite seems small on its own, but together they gradually consume the whole cake, just	x	as individual moments, lessons, challenges and accomplishments accumulate into the kinds of changes that shape the journey. But with every bite, the stickiness of the cake and the rush of flavour are overwhelming, just as with compiled responsibilities and tasks. Expectations and failures are constant repetitions throughout the cycle, juxtaposing the calm status quo of the poem’s opening with the later overwhelmingness. “One last bite” may suggest completion, but the question mark leaves some ambiguity. Is it truly the last bite? Is this truly the end? Is there truly a certainty within endings? What is the end?
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Juniors, you are now seniors as younger ones continue to arrive. Where there was once unfamiliarity and the months had stretched before you, the uncertainty has vanished and faces are now inscribed with names. Seniors, you now become seniors of seniors – not because you	x	know everything, but because you have lived through more, changed more, endured more. You are those whom the younger students believe to be impossibly mature and have life figured out. But now that you are that person, don’t you realise that nobody ever fully figures it out? Each generation simplyxxpassesxxthexxtorchxxto	x	the next. The end of a beginning is not the same thing as the beginning of an end. This isn’t a farewell. Rather, stand on the threshold, looking back and forward. Until next time, Ruth
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GOSSIP PG. 02

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POETRY PG. 06

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PREFECTS PG. 12

ADVICE & GOODBYE PG. 17

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Graduating: The Muggle Way

by Tristan Theramin

There is a certain allure to a definitive end and a definitive beginning. Perhaps this is the reason both wixes and Muggles alike enjoy the concept of a ceremony of beginnings and a ceremony of endings.

The differences lie in how such ‘Leaving Ceremonies’ are conducted in the Muggle world. Today, we shall be comparing the differences between graduating sixth form the Muggle‑British way and graduating high school the Muggle‑American way.

Soon after British Muggles take their A levels, a Muggle form of our N.E.W.T.s, there is often a celebratory party known as the Year 13 Prom, with dinner and dancing. Of course, the imbibing of alcohol is common as well, though that is perhaps not entirely approved of among older circles. Some schools even have a Year 13 trip, though that is likely a sign of economic status more than a true commonality among all Year 13s. British Muggles often have the school’s head teacher, head of sixth form, and certain student leaders address the leaving students. Much of the event involves awards and prizes that recognise academic excellence, extracurricular achievements, and community service. Similarly to us here at Hogwarts, they also have yearbooks that students sign for each other or ask their teachers to sign. Finally, the ceremonies are not cap‑and‑gown affairs, unlike university graduations. Instead, they require formal wear.

─ ❝ ─ ──────────┓ x ─. The most important lesson is to focus on our similarities more than our differences. ── x┗────────── x❞

Muggles of American nationality do not have an in‑school equivalent of N.E.W.T.s, but they take standardised tests to determine their eligibility for acceptance to higher‑prestige universities. Like us, they also exchange yearbooks to gather signatures from friends and teachers, and they celebrate the end of their school years with a prom as well. They, too, imbibe alcohol, but that is especially frowned upon in America due to its illegality for those under twenty‑one. At graduation, they also have their principal, the Muggle equivalent of our headmaster, present a speech, along with the valedictorian and various other high‑ranking members of the local community. Americans do, however, wear cap-and-gown attire for their high school graduation, as well as for their university graduation, unlike their British counterparts.

This goes to show that just as we view the Muggle world fantastically, perhaps a little defensively, even as a monolith, there is far more variety and complexity than we think, just as there is variety even within our own world.

Humanity is what we all have in common, and the most important lesson is to focus on our similarities more than our differences. The reason behind all these ceremonies, despite the differences in the details, is that people want to celebrate the passage of children into adulthood, including the children themselves. So, show some kindness and celebrate our seventh years as they embark on their next adventure.

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GOSSIP PG. 02

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POETRY PG. 06

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PREFECTS PG. 12

ADVICE & GOODBYE PG. 17

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Eleven Against One, Flee if You Can!

by Harumi Everdane

Quidditch was crazy this spring, to say the least. I don't know if I accidentally jinxed it by becoming captain, or if I was just unlucky enough to join during the craziest part. If it's the former, then I have to formally apologise to Slytherin, because their match was a different kind of crazy; the Gryffindors did not go easy on them by any means.	x	Slytherin, the so-called house of evil, was outdone by Gryffindor in terms of evil during their spring match. The match went so horribly for Slytherin that, by round six, Charlotte Winfield, or, as I like to call her, ‘The Last Survivor’, was the only Slytherin left on the pitch. Mind you, by then, she was already hit by two Bludgers. The only other Slytherin not yet in the Hospital Wing by then was the second-string Keeper, who was still on the bench.
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I can only imagine Cecilia Merrick’s reaction to what happened to her team and fellow captain while she was watching from the sidelines as a non-player captain. I hope she wasn’t too traumatised. From the amount of Slytherins knocked off their broom in just round three, you'd think they were just jumping off voluntarily. Gryffindor was taking ‘the best defence is offence’ too literally. And it wasn't as if the Slytherins weren't trying, either; up until that very round, the score was 100 vs 10 for Slytherin. I remember one of their Beaters was chased by Bludgers from Gryffindor, whether intercepted or intended for him from the beginning, until he and his saviour were made the first victims of the game from Slytherin while they were trying to intercept the Bludger coming for them bravely.	x	Honestly, they should have just fled. It's Gryffindor's job to be brave, not Slytherin. Also, to clarify, all the victims were from Slytherin. And, while Slytherins were trying to be brave, Gryffindors were trying to be cunning. At least four players from Gryffindor went on penalty laps, and don't get me started on the last Slytherin Beater who mysteriously fell off their broom. Apparently, both teams were confused and mistook each other as opponents. Mind you, out of the six who fell off their brooms during round three, four of them were victims to completely legal Bludgers. Credit where it's due, Gryffindor was doing a very good job at winning; even though a Slytherin Seeker was the first to spot the Snitch and Slytherins held a leading score, they managed to make a serious comeback during rounds three and four.
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Obviously, after you’ve read all this, I don't think I need to clarify who won. I guess if Gryffindor and Slytherin had managed to forget old rivalries, this match successfully renewed all the hate. I'll continue to be a neutral Badger and wish both luck.	x	As for each team’s opinions on the match, I don't know. I would have interviewed the teams, but I was too scared of the Gryffindors, and the Slytherins needed some time to recover in my opinion. Note to self: don't mess with Gryffindors (or Ravenclaws, or anyone).
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Anyway, congratulations to Gryffindor! Hard luck, Slytherin! And I wish Slytherin's Quidditch team better luck next year; this year unfortunately made them its victim, but who knows what's in store for them in the future!

Editor's Note: ‘The Last Survivor’ is a bit dramatic, isn’t it?

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GOSSIP PG. 02

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POETRY PG. 06

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PREFECTS PG. 12

ADVICE & GOODBYE PG. 17

PAGE 09.

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Magical & Muggle Meals: Veritable Hogwarts Feast
by Aly Salinger

Graduation is looming down on me like a steam train, and I’m tied to the tracks. On top of studying for N.E.W.T.s, I’ve been trying to think of what I’m going to miss most about this wonderful school and soak in as much of it as possible before I leave – and, naturally, what	x	first came to mind was a Hogwarts feast. xxWhether it’s steak-and-kidney pie washed down with a cold goblet of pumpkin juice or some Yorkshire puddings with buttered peas and carrots, the feasts’ delicacies never cease to amaze.	x	I took it upon myself to learn how to bake some of my personal favourites from the feasts so, whenever I miss Hogwarts, I’ll have a little taste of home. Without further ado, here’s how to make your own feast once you head out from these hallowed halls.
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Entrée: Roast Chicken
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Serves: 4
Time: 2 hours

Ingredients: ▫ 2-3 carrots ▫ 1 Pungous Onion (*white onion) ▫ 1 leek ▫ 5 teaspoons minced garlic ▫ 1 whole roasting chicken, already cleaned ▫ Olive oil ▫ Salt and pepper ▫ 1 cup still water

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* Muggle alternative.

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Directions
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𝟭| Preheat the oven to regulo 5 (190°C or 375°F), then peel, wash thoroughly, and chop the vegetables into small, equal pieces. Put these pieces in a large roasting pan and mix with garlic. 𝟮| Dry the chicken with a Hot-Air Charm (*washcloth), then place the chicken on top of the vegetables in the pan, with the breast side facing up. 𝟯| Brush the olive oil, salt, and pepper over the chicken and vegetables, then pour water into the	xx	roasting pan. 𝟰| Place in oven and allow to roast for 50 minutes. 𝟱| Rotate the pan halfway, cover with aluminium foil, and raise the oven to regulo 8 (230°C or 450°F). Allow to bake for 30-40 minutes, or until internal temperature is 77°C (170°F). You may need a Muggle thermometer. 𝟲| Remove from oven and allow to cool, covered, for 20 minutes before eating!
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══════════════════════════ Side: Roasted Potatoes ══════════════════════════ Serves: 6 Time: 90 minutes Ingredients: ▫ 2 ½ pounds baby potatoes (NOT baby gnomes!) ▫ ½ cup vegetable oil ▫ Salt and pepper, to taste ────────────────────────── Directions ────────────────────────── 𝟭| Peel and chop the potatoes into two-bite pieces. Meanwhile, allow a large cauldron (*pot) of salted water to boil on the stove. 𝟮| Preheat the oven to regulo 7 (220°C or 425°F). When the water is boiling, add chopped potatoes and allow to boil for 10 minutes. 𝟯| Drain boiled potatoes and add them in a single layer on a large roasting pan. Make sure they’re not touching! Drizzle with oil, making sure to coat all sides of the potatoes. 𝟰| Roast potatoes in oven for 20 minutes. 𝟱| Remove from the oven, flip to a different side of each potato, then roast again for 15 minutes. 𝟲| Repeat step 5. 𝟳| Remove from oven, season with salt and pepper, and eat!

══════════════════════════ Dessert: Treacle Tart ══════════════════════════ Serves: 8 Time: 45 minutes Ingredients: ▫ 1 pre-made 9-inch pie crust (available at your local Muggle grocer!) ▫ ¼ cup heavy dragon cream (*heavy cream) ▫ 1 cup golden syrup ▫ 1 cup sweet breadcrumbs ▫ 1 lemon * Muggle alternative. ────────────────────────── Directions ────────────────────────── 𝟭| Preheat the oven to regulo 5 (190°C or 375°F), then press the pie crust into a pie plate, making sure your dimples are even and your crust is not too thick. 𝟮| In a medium-sized cauldron, mix together the dragon cream, golden syrup, and sweet breadcrumbs. Add 2 tablespoons of juice from the lemon and zest the entire outside of the lemon into the cauldron, then mix again. 𝟯| Pour filling into crust and bake until filling is set, about 35-40 minutes. Remove from oven when set and allow to cool before serving, preferably with some whipped dragon cream (*whipped cream)!

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GOSSIP PG. 02

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POETRY PG. 06

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PREFECTS PG. 12

ADVICE & GOODBYE PG. 17

PAGE 10.

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What Would Hogwarts Be Like if Classes Were Held Outside? ============ by Simon Kincaid

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The corridors of Hogwarts are full each school day of striped house-coloured ties, flowing cloaks, and students marching to their next classroom. In some Muggle schools in certain countries, however, students spend their days learning beneath trees, exploring fields and forests, and some taking afternoon naps outside in the fresh air – no matter the weather. It raises such a question: what might Hogwarts be like if witches and wizards traded our stone castle walls for natural classrooms under the open sky of the Scottish Highlands?

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Let’s explore outdoor brewing in our Potions classroom. There, we could find that subtle colour changes in potions might be easier to detect in natural lighting, or perhaps the open Scottish Highlands can offer better ventilation to save us from those bubotuber pus and dragon liver fumes. Still, there could be sudden rainstorms that could dilute our concoctions or heavy gusts of wind that could cause countless problems. This practical science should probably continue to be conducted in a more controlled environment.

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If Transfiguration moved lessons outdoors, would it become more beneficial to the professor and students? There would be more room. A partially transfigured wheelbarrow rolling across a field would be far less destructive than one crashing through the Transfiguration classroom wall. Students could also take part in larger scale transformations without worrying about knocking into the desks of their classmates or overtaking their partner’s space on their workstation. Still, we could have one wrong spell turning trees into giant hedgehogs, or our teacups into tortoises might wander off before the professor can mark it.

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Bringing classes outdoors could be a game changer for History of Magic. It might not be the most obvious outdoor subject, but just think – professors of this subject could utilise reenactments and demonstrations, bringing a more visual aspect to their teaching. They could set students on exploring ancient ruins and landmarks right around the castle, and conduct walking lectures. Although, I could see students begin cloud watching after a bit, or become easily distracted by Giant Squid sightings. I know I’m always on the lookout for Herman. = =

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Now, Astronomy has got to be an easy subject to imagine outdoors – that’s where the stars already are! Bringing Astronomy out of the Astronomy Tower would provide us with unobstructed views of the night sky and more room for telescopes and equipment. This would allow students to spread out and have a wider view of constellations, planets, and celestial events. We could begin to grasp a deeper connection with the cosmos. Still, if we're all wrapped up in blankets under the night sky, it may be a struggle to stay awake.

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Herbology would benefit most from an outdoor classroom. Students could conduct field expeditions and learn in a plant’s natural habitat. There would often be plenty of fresh air and sunshine. Would it be the perfect environment for our minds to grow? Perhaps. Still, what if a group of Venomous Tentacula decided to expand its territory?======= =

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Perhaps outdoor classes would improve life at Hogwarts. While students might enjoy more fresh air in wide open spaces and fewer hours trapped between the stone walls, lessons would have to contend with the weather and whatever other mishaps come along the way. Controlled environments like our current classrooms allow us to focus more on what we’re doing in our lessons and not what is around us. I suppose it might be best to enjoy the rolling hills of the Highlands in our free time.

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GOSSIP PG. 02

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POETRY PG. 06

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PREFECTS PG. 12

ADVICE & GOODBYE PG. 17