The Hogwarts Headliner, Issue #28

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┏ ┗ Bewitching Brooms by Koko Riddle ┓ ┛

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Ethan Smith

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Lavinia Cloven

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Dan Palmer

Quidditch: it’s a word many of you have heard before. Some of you might play Quidditch – or you might broom race, which still uses brooms. That’s what this article is about (hence the title). Today, you will get to know some Quidditch players, and you’ll also get to learn about their wonderful brooms.	xx	Ethan Smith, a third-year Gryffindor Beater; Lavinia Cloven, a sixth-year Ravenclaw Chaser; and Dan Palmer, a sixth-year Slytherin Seeker, provided valuable input.	xx	Palmer said he uses two brooms – more specifically, he said he owns a Silver Arrow, but that he uses his Firebolt ‘almost exclusively’. Smith, too, uses a Firebolt. Cloven, however, had a different broom: the Varápidos, a racing broom that she had said also ‘works well for Quidditch’.
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Smith stated that he doesn’t wish to buy any broom other than his Firebolt, calling his broom ‘just rough enough’ for his ‘style of play’. In addition to what Palmer said about the broom, the Firebolt seems rather versatile. Both players highlighted the broom’s speed and agility, and Smith in particular noted that it makes his job as a Beater a lot easier. It seems that speed can be incredibly useful when creating an onslaught of bludgers.	xx	Cloven also emphasised her broom’s agility, but added that she seemed to be able to perform more blatches with her Varápidos. This might be a coincidence, but there might also be something about a racing broom that adds to fouling proficiency in Quidditch. Perhaps some brooms are better-suited to blatching than others are.
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Palmer, like Smith, said he was fine with his Firebolt, but he mentioned he might eventually wish to collect other brooms. Cloven, however, mentioned tree brooms – the Pine Chopper in particular – as brooms she was interested in buying in the future. ‘They just seem so fun to ride and compete in,’ she added. I asked each Quidditch player for their advice for younger years.	xx	Cloven said, ‘Reach out to the broom funds! That’s where I got my first broom and have been donating old ones to ever since.’
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Smith said, quite truthfully, ‘I think it’s important to remember that a good broom is nothing without a skilled and determined player. And when it comes to brooms, there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all answer. Different players have different preferences and styles of play, so it’s important to find the broom that works best for you.’.	xx	─ ❝ ─ ─────────┓ x ─. ... a good broom is nothing without a skilled and determined player. ── x┗───────── x❞	xx	Last but not least, Palmer said, ‘Get yer own broom. Don’t rely on the school brooms. All respect to the professors and the Flyin’ professor in particular, but the school brooms’r [censored]. There’s no gettin’ ‘round it. If ye hafta settle fer the cheapest Cleansweep they got, it’s still a step up. Ye’ll feel way better about it.’
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Ultimately, while brooms are important and are rather fun to use, they are not everything a Quidditch player or a broom racer is. It is important to strengthen one’s own skills first. Then, one should set their sights on a broom – any broom, really, although the three athletes I interviewed all use rather famous brooms. All brooms, from the Shooting Star to the Pine Chopper, are valid, and as Ethan Smith stated best, there is no perfect broom for all players. Every player has a broom that fits them best. The only thing one can do is practice to find out.

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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 03

HORROR-SCOPES PG. 06

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SPOOKY STORIES PG. 08

DEFEATING DEMENTORS PG. 10

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Each year on 2nd November, many worldwide commemorate the deceased in general and the passings of their loved ones specifically. These are the stories of some professional motorcycle racers who fought on tracks and passed there; and this article is respectfully dedicated to each and every rider who followed their passion but tragically, unable to fulfil their dreams until the very end. ───────────────── xx Daijiro Kato (4/6/1976 - 20/4/2003) Kato started racing miniature motorbikes as a child and was crowned national champion in the Japanese pocket-bike racing four times. In 1992, Kato began road racing, and four years later, he managed to join the Grand Prix as a wildcard rider. The Japanese man was eventually promoted as a full-time rider in 2000. ─────────────────

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┏ ┗ The Motorcycle Diaries: Race in Peace Maverick Castle ┓ ┛ The following season, he dominated the 250cc class with 11 wins, a record that still stands today. Winning the 2000 and 2002 Suzuka Eight Hours, Kato graduated to the top MotoGP class the same year he won his second aforementioned endurance race. ─────────────────

Sadly, he passed on 20th April 2003, following a race on the same circuit where he crashed and hit a wall at 200 kilometres/hour. He was 26 years old. Shoya Tomizawa (10/12/1990 - 5/9/2010) Tomizawa began his career with pocket-bikes when he was three, later switching to minibikes in 2001. While majoring in English at Sousa High School, he also began participating full-time in the 125cc category of All-Japan Road Race Championship. As his achievements rocketed, Tomizawa began to eye global challenge, a dream that came true in 2009: following his high-school graduation and runner-up position in the 250cc class, the Japanese was recruited to compete in international racing, where he was dubbed a ‘future star’ by British sports commentator Toby Moody. x───────────── xx The bright path, however, was short-lived. On 5th September 2010, Tomizawa fell off his motorcycle during a race and was struck by two competitors. Although he was taken to hospital, the 19-year-old passed away the same afternoon. Marco Simoncelli (20/1/1987 - 23/10/2011) Simoncelli, a San Marino nicknamed Sic, began racing minibikes at seven years old. Following a successful European 125cc campaign, Sic made his GP debut and continued climbing up the ladder, joining the top category in 2010. His incomplete final race took place in Malaysia, on 23rd October 2011. Falling from the fourth position on the second lap, Sic slid into the path of other riders, all of whom had no time to avoid him. Less than an hour after the incident, x────────────

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x───────────────────────────x his passing at the age of 24 was confirmed. Luis Jaime Salom Horrach (7/8/1991-3/6/2016) Salom, from Palma de Mallorca, Spain, raced competitively in national championships since the age of eight. His talents eventually attracted an international team, enabling the Spanish to begin competing at the next level in 2009. Even though he never won any x──────────── xx x────────────x x────────────

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world title, Salom overall in his last year fighting in the Moto3 category, in 2013. When practising for a Moto2 grand prix in Barcelona on 3rd June 2016, the 24-year-old crashed his bike. The machine hit an air fence and bounced upwards, while Salom slid and was positioned directly in the falling motorcycle’s path. He passed during surgery performed in attempts to save him from the crash’s injuries. Jason Dupasquier (7/9/2001-30/5/2021) Dupasquier was a Swiss rider who started racing at eleven and debuted in the Red Bull Rookies Cup in 2019, after which he was immediately awarded a two-year contract to race full-time in GP’s lightweight class.	xx	Despite the promising start, his career was cut short when Dupasquier was involved in a crash during the qualification preceding the Italian GP. He received medical treatments on the spot for approximately half an hour before being transported to a hospital via medical helicopter to undergo cardiothoracic and brain surgeries; the following day, he passed from complications of his injuries. Dean Berta Viñales (20/4/2006-25/9/2021) Born in Palau-saverdera, Spain, the love of motorcycles runs in Berta’s family, as his maternal cousins Maverick Viñales Ruiz and Isaac Viñales Mares also pursued careers as motorcycle racers. He made a debut in the Supersport 300 World Championship in the year of 2021, starting in 11 races and achieving his best result in the fourth place in a French race. Berta’s racing journey was terribly short-lived. Less than a year after debuting, the Spanish fell to the ground and was run over by multiple fellow riders. The same afternoon, 3:11 p.m. on the 25th September 2021, the race organiser published a message which confirmed the 15-year-old’s passing. We miss you, racers. The times you had with us was not enough, but we’ll keep them in our hearts forever. RIP - Race in Peace.
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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 03

HORROR-SCOPES PG. 06

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SPOOKY STORIES PG. 08

DEFEATING DEMENTORS PG. 10

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┏ ┗ Meet the Professors: Melisande Lennox Alyssea Brown ┓ ┛ A new year always brings new faces and, aside from our new first year cohort, we are introducing two new professors to the Hogwarts family. While the former History of Magic professor – Professor Browne – remains in Hogwarts, unfortunately, we are saying goodbye to the Divination professor, Professor Bardot. Regardless, we thank both of them for their hard work and passion for teaching.	xx	The new professors are Professor Melisande Lennox and Professor Winifred Bonnet. In this issue, we will be meeting Professor Lennox. Professor Lennox is the new History of Magic professor, replacing Professor Browne when he returned to the position of Hufflepuff’s Head of House. She is a Hogwarts alumna and also graduated from the University of Edinburgh, majoring in history and archaeology. Following her studies, she worked with the Ministry of Magic as an archaeologist prior to her return to Hogwarts this year.
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History is a valuable tool we can use to change our society, our world.

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Thank you for doing this interview with me, Professor! You’ve just started teaching here – how has Hogwarts treated you so far? This is my first time as a professor and it is a new challenge for me, personally and professionally. Hogwarts was my home when I was a student, so this came with nostalgia, like coming home after a long time away. It would be impossible to say I’m not happy to be here again. I did have some… particular encounters, but I hope to make more during my time here. Overall, Hogwarts is a beautiful community, like a micro-society inside a more vast and complex one, a place we can look up to, grow and learn from it. You mentioned that you were also a Hogwarts student. Has anything changed since you graduated? A lot changed! But isn’t that the natural order of things? I started studying at Hogwarts in 1997. That was a dark time in our history. A war was happening.	xx	Hogwarts was supposed to be the safest place in our world, but the final battle took place in these grounds. I was just a first year, a little twelve-year-old girl. Imagine having to face Dark wizards and all that chaos that invaded these halls. I did not, obviously. Like many others, I kept inside my common room. I remember the muffled sounds, we knew what was happening outside even without seeing it. We gathered around waiting, just waiting for who would be the one opening the heavy door to the room. I remember how frightening those moments felt, the anticipation of wondering what kind of world we would find after that never-ending night. And the world changed. It changed, fortunately, for the better. So yes, many things changed since my first year at Hogwarts and I’m glad they did. What important things about history do you think students should know?	xx	History is a valuable tool we can use to change our society, our world and everything that is a part of it. History is what we are, it tells us from where we are coming and towards where and what we are walking into. Because even if we can't change what's in the past, the future is in our hands. And there is no way we can walk for a better world if we don’t know history and not care to learn from it. Knowledge is a weapon; it holds power, and power can be a dangerous thing in the wrong hands. See this as a wheel that never stops: it keeps moving in circles, it respects an order to prevent chaos. But sometimes, a wheel spins the wrong way and the one with knowledge has power to change things. Because they know their history, they know how to break the wheel and fix it. Learning history and learning from it lets you decide if you are the one running in circles or the one that breaks it and is able to master its rotations. I want my students to be the ones deciding their destiny and not being tools in an addicted system.
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As someone who enjoys learning about history, I’ll definitely keep that wheel analogy in mind. To wrap things up, any last messages you’d like to offer? Always be honest to yourself and your peers. Seek more and don't be afraid to question things. Keep your mind busy finding the answers and don't settle for something that isn't right for you or those you love and care about. Always keep a respectful manner to deal with things and others; listen more and speak only when you have the knowledge you need. Show kindness and love a lot. Those are things that are never too much.	xx	In the next issue, we will be meeting Professor Bonnet, the new Divination professor. Until then, we warmly welcome Professor Lennox and wish her well in the History of Magic classroom.
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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 03

HORROR-SCOPES PG. 06

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SPOOKY STORIES PG. 08

DEFEATING DEMENTORS PG. 10

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

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What is a dhampir? Do dhampirs possess any unique skills or talents? A dhampir is part vampire and part human, either from bloodline or a turning. I like to think I hold more human traits than vampiric ones, but some characteristics that distinguish me from full humans are retractable fangs; fingernails that grow quickly, strong, and sharp; pale skin; eyes that dilate wide in low light; tears of blood; increased strength and speed; and of course, aversion to sunlight. I know that can sound like a lot of differences, but they’re relatively small when you think about all the similarities. How do you keep from being burnt by the sun? Unlike folklore, at least for us dhampirs, exposure to sunlight doesn’t prove to be fatal. However, when exposed to sunlight or even some wand-lighting charms, we can feel weakened. Our movements are slower under too much exposure and we’re quick to get sunburnt.	xx	What do you eat? I haven’t compared eating preferences and favourite meals with others of my kind to know for sure, but dhampirs probably have various palates like any other creatures. We can eat human food, but blood is also one of our food sources and is necessary. I personally enjoy steak and can also eat some vegetables and enjoy lemon drops, but will pass on anything sweet. What happens if dhampirs don’t drink blood? Dhampirs need such nutrition in their diet, but that doesn’t mean they need it directly from the source. We’re provided a daily ration of blood pops which are supplied to us to satisfy this essential part of our diet and prevent cravings; therefore avoiding any urge to attack. How can I protect myself from a dhampir? We are no more of a threat than any other living being on this Earth and there is absolutely no need to be afraid of us. As for me, I love making new friends so please don’t be afraid.
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We are no more of a threat than any other living being on this Earth

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Do you think creatures should be accepted by society? Can they coexist peacefully with humans? Absolutely. It saddens me that our other wizarding schools don’t accept half-breeds as students, treating us like some sort of lesser beings. All of the half-breeds are intelligent creatures of this Earth with thoughts, feelings, goals, and dreams. What is the most difficult part of being a dhampir? The secrecy of it all; it feels like lying, but when you’re not completely certain how others will react or think of you, you do try to keep it hidden.	xx		xx	But Hogwarts, I no longer wish to feel like I’m lying and over secrecy. I reveal to you that the dhampir interviewed in this article didn’t sit in front of me; instead, his image was reflected back to me from a small hand mirror propped up on the table. I, Simon Kincaid, am one of the dhampir students of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry; one of the half-breeds. If you have any questions I didn’t answer in this interview, please, smile and say hello and ask away. We are one student body so let’s gain some understanding, acceptance, and solidarity - and as always, remember to be kind to one another.
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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 03

HORROR-SCOPES PG. 06

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SPOOKY STORIES PG. 08

DEFEATING DEMENTORS PG. 10

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Horror-Scopes by Koko Riddle

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

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ARIES Aries natives might not find too much to be different from last month. You could very well be at a point of stability for the foreseeable future, but remember to take care of your health as you usually would.	xx		xx	TAURUS Although Taurus natives might not find their financial lives to be as good as they have been, they can expect greater harmony in their relationships with their family and friends.
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GEMINI Geminis will have a wonderful month. October should bring you prosperity and good health, and you should notice greater success in most of your pursuits. This would be a good month to work towards something new.	xx	❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. Gemini will have a wonderful month ── x┗─────────── x❞	xx	CANCER Cancer natives, however, will likely notice greater discord in their lives. If October brings trouble, do your best to focus on your well-being – things will sort themselves out eventually.
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LEO Most Leos will see increasing opportunities for growth in their school or work lives. Your family situation should also be more favourable.	xx		xx	VIRGO Despite likely having better health, October could bring financial woes for Virgos. Although these might be minor, like noticeable inflation, they will likely still have an effect.
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LIBRA Libras may experience ups and downs in their work life this month. However, the ‘downs’ might be a bit more pronounced than the ‘ups’. Perseverance is key to maintaining focus, but your work-life balance is still important.	xx		xx	SCORPIO Scorpio natives should experience better health throughout the month of October, but remain alert for any disharmony in your familial relationships.
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SAGITTARIUS Financially, Sagittarius natives should see decent growth. Money might seem to come more easily, or you might have a raise. Keep an eye out for opportunities.	xx	❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. Financially, Sagittarius natives should see decent growth. ── x┗─────────── x❞	xx	CAPRICORN Capricorns might not notice anything too different, but there could be increased discord in romantic relationships. Communication is important to ensure everyone remains happy.
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AQUARIUS Aquarians will likely face a relatively difficult October when compared to prior months. October could very well bring hardships in one’s career, academics or finances, so it is important to remember the importance of one’s interpersonal relationships in trying times.	xx		xx	PISCES Despite decent growth in finances or advances in one’s career, Pisces natives might find it prudent to work on their self-confidence and self-care this October. Taking care of oneself is a way to help good things last.
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Despite a range of variables affecting the horoscopes this October, the month shouldn’t be too scary… At least until Halloween. I hope that this month, you get treated instead of tricked. Thank you for reading, and have a wonderful October.

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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 03

HORROR-SCOPES PG. 06

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SPOOKY STORIES PG. 08

DEFEATING DEMENTORS PG. 10

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The Autumnal Equinox — on the 23rd September — marks the start of the season of autumn. Think cosy days of sweaters, pumpkin spiced latte and harvest. There are many things associated with wellbeing and cosiness when it comes to autumn -	xx	┏ ┗ Be-leaf in yourself & Carve Out a Good Time ┓ ┛ by Serena Towers snuggling into warm cosy blankets, wearing fluffy socks, drinking pumpkin spiced hot chocolate, being thankful, carving pumpkins and so on. There are also many crafts that you could do with pine cones, dried leaves and branches. Make a wreath to go on your dorm door or above	xx	your dorm bed, create a wooden log candle holder, make a hedgehog house, build a bug hotel or make a bird feeder. You could even go a step further and organise a harvest or picnic for others - imagine the amount of crafts you could make for a picnic! There are so many festivals and celebrations happening around the world every season that it would be impossible to go through them all. However, whatever the occasion is, you can celebrate it in Hogwarts. Just think creatively and embrace the celebration.
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To name but a few, we have Halloween, Day of the Dead, Diwali, the Moon Festival and Loy Krathong (also known as Lantern festival) are all coming up.

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There are many ways to celebrate the festival at Hogwarts. Start by telling people about the festival, its importance and what it means to you. You could even host an activity related to it! For instance, if you want to celebrate Halloween - you could try carving pumpkins and leave them all over your dorm (the greenhouses might have some that the professor will let you have!) or try making your own costume if you know how	xx	to sew! For Diwali, why not create some rangoli patterns around the castle? You could potentially even make some food dishes related to your festival, if you can get permission from a professor - like Pan de Muerto (which translates to Bread of the Dead) for Day of the Dead.	xx	If you can’t get permission to do your specific task, there are plenty of alternatives. Did you know you could get ceramic shaped tealight holders, such as a ceramic skull? The skulls could be used for Day of the Dead or Halloween, depending on how you decorate them! Why not eat some mooncakes to celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival or decorate some paper lanterns? You could make the rangoli patterns on paper plates and leave them in your dormitories.
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Think creatively and you’ll quickly find ways of celebrating any festival and bringing some of your culture to the castle. These cultural celebrations are incredibly good for well-being— not just yours, but everyone around. These events are good for bringing people together and giving them a sense of belonging. Just be-leaf in yourself and carve out a good time for everyone by celebrating the festivals you love and enjoy!

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❝ ─ ────────────┓ x ─. Just be-leaf in yourself and carve out a good time for everyone by celebrating the festivals you love and enjoy! ── x┗──────────── x❞

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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 03

HORROR-SCOPES PG. 06

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SPOOKY STORIES PG. 08

DEFEATING DEMENTORS PG. 10

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Halloween season is the time spooky stories abound. People travel through haunted houses and watch gory movies to induce fear all through October. But it’s not just Halloween— cultures around the world have traditions of telling creepy stories. In fact, many have told different scary folktales to scare kids throughout history.	xx	┏ ┗ Spooky Stories Around the World Hannah Blossom ┓ ┛ Spooky stories are tales of ancient origin that form a substantial part of the body of folk literature. They can feature supernatural elements such as ghosts, witches, or vampires, or address more realistic psychological	xx	fears. “Spooky” can also be used to describe something that is related to ghosts or spooks. In this article, I will be sharing with you a few popular spooky stories from around the world, just in time for Halloween! The stories, of course, are within age ratings, so I hope you enjoy them.
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	xx	La Llorona The story of La Llorona, or “The Weeping Woman”, hails from Mexico. The story goes that a woman named Maria married a rich man and had two children. The husband started paying more attention to the children than to her, so she drowned her children in a jealous fit of rage. Because of this, she wasn’t allowed into heaven. She’s now forced to wander the world aimlessly.	xx	Everywhere she goes, she cries out for her children to forgive her. But you don’t want to hear her cries: they say if you do, she’s chosen you. Some versions of the story say she kidnaps kids to replace her own. Others say she attacks cheating husbands. Whatever the case, you don’t want to hear a woman crying near a body of water.
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Baba Yaga Baba Yaga is one of the classic scary folktales in Slavic culture. She is a witchy woman who flies around in a mortar and snatches up children who misbehave. She’s always portrayed as skinny, bony, and frightfully ugly. Her name means “wicked old woman”, which describes her very well. In many versions of the story, Baba Yaga cooks children and eats them to fatten herself up, which really sounds like a horrible way to go.	xx	She often resides in a hut surrounded by a fence of human bones. Baba Yaga can also refer to a trio of sisters. Other strands of the scary story interpret the Baba Yaga into three separate sisters who all share the same name. They either help lost travellers and children or eat them, depending on how they’re feeling.	xx
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El Cuco This scary story is very similar to the Bogeyman, but it originates in Spain. El Cuco is a monster that haunts children at night. He can take any form, which makes him especially creepy. El Cuco can take the form of a shadow or an animal, and he can snatch children if he’s hiding nearby. He often steals away under children’s beds or in the darkest corners of a room. Parents sang songs about El Cuco to warn their children: “Sleep child, sleep now, else Cuco will eat you,” is the most well-known lullaby.	xx	Mètminwi This Haitian monster scoops up children who are out after dark. He easily gets the job done thanks to his legs that are two stories high. Each night, he roams the streets in search of prey. His name means “Master of Midnight”, a nod to his preference for nighttime strolls.
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	xx	He’s been called the “Haitian Slender Man”, the creepypasta from the 2010s, due to his tall, gangly appearance. And these are the spooky stories I have for you today. They are from all around the world and help us learn about different cultures, just in time for Halloween.
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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 03

HORROR-SCOPES PG. 06

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SPOOKY STORIES PG. 08

DEFEATING DEMENTORS PG. 10

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Wicked Awesome Ways to Overcome Authority ─ Koko Riddle Some of you have known me as a prefect of Slytherin in the past, and some of you see me as one now. In other words, you see me as authority. It might surprise some of you to know that, when I was a first and second year, I was absolutely terrified of prefects, professors… really anyone in positions of authority, largely because I didn’t want to get in trouble. I’ve since gotten over that fear, and I would like to extend some advice. ────────────────────────── ======================= xx Familiarity is often the bane of fear. This is exemplified when students at Hogwarts learn the Boggart-Banishing Spell – they must face their fears before they can dispel them. This was, largely, how I began to overcome my fear of authority. I befriended a few prefects and I began to ask questions of my professors. Although I was still terrified, it was exposure that made me eventually willing to become a prefect. That’s not to say that one must become a figure of authority to overcome their fear… but it was certainly helpful. =======================

Increasing one’s confidence can also help. This is admittedly very difficult, and I struggled with it until recently. I actually will admit that I still struggle with confidence, just far less often than I used to. I’ve become more confident through Quidditch, mostly, but also through getting better marks in some of my classes. I’ve heard that increasing one’s number of friends can help with confidence, as well. Once you are confident in yourself, you have less of a need to fear authority, since you can handle things on your own (or, at least, you might believe you can).	xx	▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬▬ Additionally, observation was very useful for me, and it might prove useful to anyone reading this, too. I watched others interact, often from far away, and I realised what I could do better in my own interactions with others. Once I got better at talking to others, I was less worried about any potential interactions I might have with those who have authority over me. Even when one manages to decrease one’s fear of authority, anxiety might linger – and that’s okay. It’s normal to still feel residual fear despite having overcome the worst of it. That’s part of growth, and eventually, that will lessen. A twinge of worry might always remain, but maybe that’s a good thing. Maybe that keeps us in check.
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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 03

HORROR-SCOPES PG. 06

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SPOOKY STORIES PG. 08

DEFEATING DEMENTORS PG. 10

PAGE 10.

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DEFEATING DEMENTORS Serena Towers

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Dementors are known to be creatures that drain us of our happiness and joy. They are foul creatures associated with despair. They literally suck away people’s happiness, unless they are defeated. And, from my experience, happiness is an emotion that many of us want in our lives, but sometimes, we find it eludes us. Classwork is too hard, Hogwarts is constantly under attack, our friends turn out to be lying backstabbers… Whatever it is that drives our x─────────────────x

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happiness away, there are many, many books and research on the concept of happiness and how to make life happier. So welcome to this brand new column, where we discuss ways to remove the things that bring unhappiness into our lives and actions that can bring happiness to us instead. In the past, I have written some articles showcasing ways we can do more self-care. In a similar way, I x─────────────────x

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wanted to discuss happiness and ways we can actively seek it, inviting it into our lives. Together, we.will seek the sunshine— much like.catching that golden snitch. So,.sunshine seekers, let us work on.ways to defeat our dementors.. ─ ❝ ─ ──────────┓ x ─. Together, we will seek the sunshine. ── x┗────────── x❞

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

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I am by no means an expert. I am a seventeen-year-old Hufflepuff with very little experience in the matter. However, I almost died in my first year and I never thought I would make it to where I am— but I did make it to my seventh year, and throughout the years, I have trialled some of these strategies. I am slowly finding things that work for me— and what things don’t work. I want to share these with you. It is also important to note that what works for you today might not work for you in a few months. What works then might not work for you right now. What I have found are some small, real-life actions that you can take right now to make little differences in your life. They work for me sometimes and I wanted to share them, in case they worked for you too.

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

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

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

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

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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 03

HORROR-SCOPES PG. 06

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SPOOKY STORIES PG. 08

DEFEATING DEMENTORS PG. 10