The Hogwarts Headliner, Issue #51

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A Puff’s Guide to Productivity
by Ruth Fairchild

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Do you, dear reader, feel that thrum of excitement within your veins?

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. Or, perhaps, it has been mellowed out by the bittersweet taste on your tongues? ── x┗─────────── x❞

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At long last, the holidays have approached us! Do you, dear reader, feel that thrum of excitement within your veins? Or, perhaps, it has been mellowed out by the bittersweet taste on your tongues? Nevertheless, one statement remains the same: the school year has come to an end. From July to August, you now gain the opportunity to travel back home and take a well-deserved, long rest. Enjoy settling back into the temporary bliss of reliving days without endless magical learning and manoeuvring around the moving staircases, portraits, and Peeves.

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That said, the question may arise: what on earth do I do during the holidays?

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That said, the question may arise: what on earth do I do during the holidays? Worry not, for I, Ruth Fairchild, am here to give you a helping hand towards experiencing a productive holiday – one that wouldn’t make you moan to your friends about how you got nothing done.Whether you are from Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, or Slytherin, the Puff’s Guide to Productivity will be helpful to all and give you ideas on how to spend your time wisely. Productivity: the measure of how efficiently inputs (such as time) are converted into outputs. Our perception of productivity stems from what we believe are fruitful outputs. One thing I would suggest that can be applied anywhere, any time, is to develop a new hobby! Some common hobbies revolve around recreational activities within the music, arts, and sports departments. Are you someone keen on drawing and sketching? Perhaps try another craft medium, such as pottery. Or, perhaps, you like playing Quidditch? Why not explore other sports, even Muggle ones? The long holiday is a fantastic opportunity to gain new skills or improve existing talents. Who knows, you may return to school with something new to impress your friends with.

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───────────────── The holidays are all about taking the time to rejuvenate and boost morale. What better way to feel good than to help others? Volunteering is another way to be productive. My favourite volunteering services generally revolve around environmental events, such as helping to weed the community garden back in Bath. ─────────────────

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❝ . ───────────┓ x ─. What better way to feel good than to help others? ── x┗─────────── x❞

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───────────────── The sweet taste of accomplishment as you watch the once-unruly land transition into a field awaiting plants is a flavour no candy can replace. If you’re an outdoorsy person, I believe this activity would suit you! No? An indoorsy soul, a book-reader? Why not volunteer at a local library, or perhaps a retirement home? ─────────────────

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Reaching out to help has no limits and can be done in many settings. All you have to do is step forward, get out there, and be a good Samaritan.

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Not willing to commit to connecting with others beyond the family? That’s all right. Everything starts small. After being away from your loved ones, maybe it’s the right time to bond again. Catch up on the news, enjoy spending time together doing what you love, or perhaps just sit down together and chat. Personally, I am eager to return home to my older brother to go birdwatching again. It may seem mundane to some, but it’s who you are with that counts. That said, nothing is stopping you from spending time with friends. Hang out with whomever you like.

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Last but not least, reflect and prepare. The year may have gone by swiftly, but another year awaits. Remember your mistakes and understand your weaknesses in order to improve on them. Revise your schoolwork to avoid slacking off, as well! It will only get harder eventually. Now is the chance to be ready for it.

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I hope that these tips will help you achieve a wonderful school holiday!

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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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Let Them Rest! x─────────────────────────x by Harumi Everdane

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When a school year comes to an end, we tend to forget to thank those who helped us throughout it. So, today, I'm here to remind you about all the awesome work done in the background by our awesome prefects!

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We interviewed some prefects, and, first, we have Maximilianus Vidler! Before asking him about his workload, there was one really important question to be asked. How did he become a prefect? Apparently, he doesn't even know, because that's what he said!

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‘Honestly I don't know! I barely knew a position was open.’ He claimed to be handed the badge suddenly and even poor Professor Mori was confused. Obviously, he didn't turn it down, like a true Slytherin who never passes up an opportunity! Except he's actually from Gryffindor. As for the workload, he doesn't find it exhausting at all, claiming that there weren't any rule-breakers for him to find, ‘So I mostly just skip along the halls and chat with all the late wanderers.’ This was another thing he said that confused me, because aren't those late wanderers the rule-breakers he has to catch? Well, none of my business.

Now we have Sabrina Lyons, who, when asked if being a prefect is hard, said: ‘If you're right for the job, then not at all.’ She does agree it's time-consuming, and that people sometimes act strange around her because of it. Between enjoying catching rule-breakers and having some peace, Sabrina stands somewhere in the middle, saying: ‘I won't deny it's sometimes fun to catch those that view themselves as invincible, but being a prefect isn't a hobby.’ Very wise words! She still would love some peace, though, and believes anyone who's dumb enough to get caught is dumb enough to harm anyone, but let's leave it at that.

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Now onto Zephyr Deakin! He admits that he feels bad when he gives students, especially friends, detention! But, he says: ‘Most people seem to understand that being a prefect means I have a job to do.’ So, hopefully, that makes him feel less bad. He also hopes for forgiveness, but he's literally doing his job, so we're not sharing that! As for how his year went, he shared: ‘I would say this year was challenging, exciting, confusing, and one of the best years I've ever had.’ And he's calling it a success! He is looking forward to taking a break nonetheless; his work ‘was not too hard’, but he always had something to do, so it's about time he gets to just sit and do nothing productive!

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And here we have the real Slytherin, Cecilia Merrick! She’s not only a prefect, but also an amazing Quidditch captain (I'm definitely not biased here!).

When asked if it was easy to interact with the other prefects, she answered: ‘Somewhat. The Slytherin prefects were all familiar faces.’ Like the ambitious Slytherin she is, she's also looking forward to being familiar with all the other prefects. ‘Perhaps I could host a gathering for us’ is her plan for it! To all the prefects, expect an invitation soon! But that's not all, because she's asking the rule-breakers to be more subtle while breaking the rules. ‘Wait, am I allowed to say that?’ she asked me, but how should I know?! And, if you can't manage to be subtle, at least break the rules during the day. She would like to enjoy her evening!

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There seems to be some agreement here, that if you're breaking the rules anyway, at least use your brain! Thanks to all the prefects for tolerating our stupidity!

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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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▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Oh Merlin! Adulthood and University: the Muggle Conundrum by Tristan Theramin ▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬		Now, then, dear Tristanites (meaning pureblood Muggle enthusiasts), what do you suppose becomes of your erudite Muggle counterparts once they finish their sixth-form education? Well, unlike us, there seems to be an overwhelming expectation of further education. In fact, those who do not participate in this post-secondary education are sometimes looked down upon. This place of education is known as a university, often shortened to uni.
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At such a university, students choose a field of study and pursue it to remarkable depths. It is similar to apprenticeships in that one selects the area of work one wishes to enter. Yet, instead of earning money and establishing a livelihood, one is essentially attending school all over ─────────────────

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❝ ─ ──────────┓ x ─. There seems to be an overwhelming expectation of further education. ── x┗────────── x❞

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again, only with adult responsibilities and expectations. In the Muggle world, the government requires students to be proficient in certain educational standards, including Maths, English, Science (the meticulous study of how different ─────────────────

aspects of the world work), History, Government, and more. These required subjects are completed at roughly the same ages that we attend school here in the wizarding world. They are then supplemented by university classes specific to the area of study one chooses. University lasts three to four years, with some staying longer due to bad marks. In fact, some academically-minded Muggles continue their education long past university – up to eight or ten years – to receive what they call a doctorate. These individuals often conduct research or create new ideas in their respective fields, much like our Potions Masters and Curse‑Breakers. They sometimes teach in universities and work in highly technical fields.

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x─────────────────x Some do go straight into the trades, which somewhat reflect our own system of education. These students finish their schooling around the same time as we do and choose a manual or technical apprenticeship that allows them to work in fields addressing Muggle electricity, plumbing, welding (using hot fire to melt and bind metal together), and more. Others take this idea further and pursue more creative trades, such as pottery, glassblowing, writing, or bell‑making. Still others	x	enter the army or work in train signalling. All of these paths allow Muggles to enter the workforce directly. However, once again, the majority do enter university. Some do so with the motivation to pursue higher education, others in hopes of finding a life partner, and still others because they have not yet discovered a personal passion and wish to determine what they want to pursue. Many in other countries, such as the United States, even pay	x	exorbitant tuition housing costs for the privilege of such pursuits. There are many graduate schools and research posts in our world, of course, but imagine if they were all gathered in one place and students could gain apprenticeships and experience in many areas at once. Neither world gathers such opportunities in one place; in this, at least, Muggles and wizards are remarkably alike. x───────────────x
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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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How to Get Through Another Mediocre Summer

by Violeta Roux

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A personal essay on summertime sadness, and how to make this season less miserable.

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Summer is supposed to be the season of hope and of new beginnings. It’s supposed to be the season of fun, travel and leisure, where most activities are called off, and most people expect fun and rest.

However, in the past few years, summers were miserable at best. Travelling felt different, as if I wasn’t on vacation. Balls, which were absolutely unbearable, filled my schedule. Boredom consumed my life during those past summers: everything felt like it stopped, as if I was living in some sort of loop. Of course, this year, I expect this feeling to be no different. So, I have decided to break out of this loop, and share a guide on how I intend to do so.

First of all, start by lowering your expectations. Obviously, don’t expect this to be the best summer of your life – just a little better than the past few years’ worth of summers. Expectations should be kept realistic, and if something better than anticipated ends up happening, it’ll be a bit of a positive surprise. Coming from a pureblooded family, I have been dragged to many balls ever since I was young. Now, I do not want to urge anyone to do something they don’t want, so I’m not saying to let yourself be hauled over to places that you don’t want to go to, but do leave the house. Go somewhere you actually enjoy, even if it’s just your backyard. Read a book, go shopping, or just go for a walk. Stop waiting for things to happen. If you wait until you’re ready, you’ll wait until the end of your life. Obviously, no one wants that to happen, so do it anyway. Even if you’re scared, even if you’re doubting yourself, even if someone else tells you to wait. Do it anyway. Journal, paint, photograph... things are meant to be treasured and remembered, and these are some of the many ways to document them. Nostalgia is honestly one of the very best feelings one can experience.

─ ❝ ─ ──────────┓ x ─. Stop comparing your vacation’s cons to another person’s vacation’s pros. ── x┗────────── x❞

And, the best part? It’s a feeling that you can experience many times from the same documented memory. Everyone’s summer is different. No one should be comparing themselves to others, but especially in this case. Truly, people only share the good things, not the boredom, the fights, the feeling of being left out… stop comparing your vacation’s cons to another person's vacation's pros. Every single person’s life is different. Let yourself act your age. No one should be expected to act older than they are, or even younger than they are. If you’re a younger teenager, for example, let yourself be a little childish. As an older teenager, let yourself go out, go shopping and experience some freedom. You’re allowed to do so. You have the right to be yourself and act like yourself. It’s alright to be alone. Being on your own is completely different from being lonely. If you end up in this circumstance this season, I would absolutely recommend keeping yourself entertained. If not, you will be completely bored, and that’s horrid. Do things you actually enjoy and have faith in yourself.

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Summer is marketed as the season of new beginnings; however, this isn’t always true. It is marketed as the season of hope, and, while I don’t agree completely, you should most definitely have a bit of hope in your back pocket. Have a great summer, everyone.

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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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Memories Made, and Experiences Gained by Harumi Everdane	x	Another year gone, but did you have fun? Look around you – are your fellow students smiling? Or do they look like this year has left them in pieces?	x	Is looking around too much of a hassle? Well, you're in luck! Just continue reading this and get a quick answer! But, think about this first: what is your best memory from this year?
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For Avery Gray, her happiest memory was at the Autumn Ball! She danced with her boyfriend all night on the bridgewalk leading to the ball. She expressed: ‘It was a magical night.’ Good for you, but leave me out of romantic stuff. Too much drama for me. I'll probably cause a break-up. On a side note, she enjoyed both official and unofficial Quidditch games, with all their ups and downs! ‘I for sure know that I've grown in my skills both on and off the pitch.’ You sure did, I wish you lots of wins! (Against non-Hufflepuff teams, though.) Now those are awesome memories! Quidditch all the way!	x	It seems both the Autumn and Spring Balls brought a lot of joy to everyone, because Mikaela Hendricks enjoyed the Spring Ball so much that she even counts it as her happiest memory! Though, her experience seems to be less on the romantic side – instead, she expressed how much she liked the food! I have to agree, no event is any good if it doesn’t at least have a snack. She ended her talk about the Spring Ball with, ‘I didn't quite enjoy the rain, honestly.’ This is where I have to disagree. Rain is awesome! She is very excited for next year, and I hope it brings her just as much happiness, and, of course, food!
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And there still seems to be more for the balls, because Sabrina Lyons, too, enjoyed them! And, while her most important memory is becoming a prefect, she expressed that, although she didn't attend the Autumn Ball, she danced. Lyons states, ‘It was incredible and very… important’, not that I know what that means. Getting ready for the Spring Ball with her best friend is another thing she enjoyed.

This year didn't only leave her with happy memories – it also helped her reinforce values such as honesty, support, and justice. She’s striving to uphold them, no matter how hard it can be!

───────────── ───────────── Cecilia Merrick, one of the interviewees from this article	x	Cecilia Merrick, though, did not mention the balls at all! Her best memory is becoming a Quidditch captain! ‘Despite the brutal seasons, being entrusted with the fate of Cloud Cobras has been such an honour.’ Such sweet words! There also seems to be more wonderful memories, but she can't ‘divulge the details’. Well, I'm not going to ask about that, lest I entangle myself in unnecessary trouble. Her favourite event from the international schools was the International Magical Olympic Games (IMOG for short) hosted by Koldovstoretz! She claims it's not only because she got a silver medal, but also because it ‘unearthed a love for ice skating’ in her! Let's be for real, though, the medal played a huge part in it! She will be focused on Quidditch, but is excited to explore more hobbies through upcoming events.
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As for my happiest memory, I don't have one! There were so many amazing memories, from becoming a Quidditch captain and joining the Headliner, to meeting awesome people I can proudly call friends. I know for sure that I'm looking forward to next year. So, see you next year! Stay happy, and stay fun!

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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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Thrusting Highlights into the Limelight

by Archer Duncan

As the year draws to another end, I cannot believe that this finale has me crying joyous tears rather than miserable ones. This year, dramatic as I may be, featured some of the best and worst moments of my life. Challenges have proven themselves to me, and peace was earned rather than given. I have likely been described to be dyspeptic, pugnacious, and broody, yet all I see, in hindsight and reflection, is someone clinging onto faith in the self within a life he thought would never offer that. When I look back, all there is to me is growth, possibility, and hope.

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This year began, doubtlessly, with uncertainty. From planning Headliner overthrows (ahem) to missing my favourite captain, this second year ended like a withering flower and gave birth to the new sprout of life that bloomed in the third. Unexpected exchanges at balls and surprising waltzes on dance floors aside, my joys were in both the small moments and big milestones. Connecting with my cat again (Zeno, beloved), standing umbrellaless in the rain, ominous conversations in the courtyard, and, somehow, that moment of bliss when buying chocolates on my birthday – somehow, I felt more than better, but also myself again. The melancholy still lies in retreat in the edges, but, when I look in the mirror, I recognise who is staring back. I have observed that, when catastrophe strikes, the thing you do not remember or notice losing is yourself. Money, loved ones, even sanity, are obvious in their deterioration, but it is the slow, yet steady, erosion of the self that most fail to recognise. I think my greatest achievement this year was reclaiming a part of that. However much I have seen snatched away from me by grief and spiralling illness, I cannot fully get back. But, I am proud of what I have now. xxxxxxxx	─	❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. This year, in summary: one friendship strengthened, two friendships made, one friendship salvaged! ── x┗─────────── x❞ I am beyond glad to have such remarkable people in my life. They may strike the crowd as ordinary passersby, but my year started on the highest note when my former captain (and the cutest Crup ever) moved in as my dormmate. Not only did he bring order and routine back to my life (despite sleeping at godawful times), but he was also a source of joy and support. I made new companions in the form of an odd Astronomy Tower encounter and a Potions paired assignment gone astray, and they held me together through moments I never imagined they would have. And, finally, a name I was so hesitant to ever put to paper – I am beyond grateful for Matthew. Never thought I could call him a friend again. And, amidst all this strife and chaos: somehow, a romantic endeavour. If my year started high, it somehow managed to end even higher – to me, that absolutely blows the limits of what I thought my life could bless me with.
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In truth, troughs paralleled peaks. I was hospitalised for health, which affected me heavily throughout the year. But I also reached out, accepted, and loved – and that is more than I can ever ask for. I do not need a perfect record, or perfect grades, or perfect performance. I don’t believe everything will go perfectly, but I do believe that, beyond darkness, light waits. Whether it is the end of the cave or a barrelling train, I will bask in it for as long as it allows me to.

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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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My Hogwarts Rules: Advice & Goodbye from a Seventh Year

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by Aly Salinger

In my very first week at Hogwarts, I was caught in the trick step on the staircase near Gryffindor Tower. I don’t speak much about this experience, because it was horribly humiliating spending twenty minutes failing to tug my leg out of the vanishing step. When I finally escaped, I took out a scrap of parchment and wrote down the exact location of the trick step so I'd	x	never forget it. xxSince then, I have continued this list; it’s not all staircases you should avoid, but rather the culmination of every non-academic thing I learned over the course of seven years. I will have no use for it once I’m gone, so take this knowledge and use it wisely while you still walk these cobbled corridors:
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Jump over the trick step halfway up the staircase near Gryffindor Tower.

Introduce yourself to new people, even in strange situations; they may become your best friends. (Dee, Peri, Eve – I love you all.)

On late Astronomy nights, always steal an extra roll from dinner so you have a snack for the walk back after class.

The Quidditch team is not easy to join, but if you make it, don’t ever let go. Those people will become your family on long training days, shoulders to cry on after losses, and those who lift you high (sometimes literally) after wins!

Buy extra ink. You will spill it. Always bring a knife and your wand to a Hogwarts ball, and expect the unexpected. Let yourself be excited about things!

Get a camera and use it liberally. Take photos of everything, so you don’t forget!

Some people know what’s best for you, and some don’t. It will take trial and error to parse them apart, but you will in the end. Befriend the house-elves and ghosts! You never know when you may need their assistance.

Not everyone will love or even like you; you will make some enemies. It’s not the end of the world. You will be palatable enough to those who are worth knowing.

Leave your comfort zone more than you might like. I had no journalism experience before joining the Hogwarts Headliner, and this marks my thirty-eighth article over the last two years. I will always treasure this time trying something new (and loving it)!

Ravenclaw is, categorically, the best House.

Finally, and this is the most important, so read this and read it well:

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❝ ─ ──────────────────────┓ x ─. Don't let the days you hate distract you from the days you love. ── x┗────────────────────── x❞

I have had horrendous days here. I have sobbed and torn my hair out studying. My father passed away while I was here. I have experienced heartbreak and anger and fear. I have watched several of my best mates go through horrors I hope I never see again. I have survived eight Hogwarts balls. xxBut I have also laughed and screamed and won Quidditch	x	matches and even the Cup. I have laughed my arse off reading the Headliner and spent many an evening stargazing on the Astronomy Tower. I have won the Potions Championship and Spring Royalty with my mates and cried tears of joy when I got straight Outstandings on my O.W.L.s. I have been kissed, a lot! And I have been loved, in every form, just as I	x	gave out all my love to my people and my castle here. xxHogwarts was my home when I needed it most, and for that I will always be grateful. If you were a part of that in any way, I thank you, too. May your time here be as wonderful as mine. All my love, Aly
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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