The Hogwarts Headliner, Issue #0

Letter From the Editor

Students of Hogwarts,

Life in Hogwarts moves fast. It can be quite difficult to keep up with who or what is on fire today. Fortunately, there is a team of students willing to gather that information for you. It is my pleasure to introduce you to The Hogwarts Headliner, the first school-wide newspaper in Hogwart’s history.

Our first issue is a massive one, there's just so much to cover! First up, we have the troubling recent events in the Abandoned Toilets and the disturbing trend of fire outbreaks in this year’s Blossom Ball. For lighter fare, the team has constructed a series of interviews with the professors of Hogwarts. If this is your first year here, this would be a great way to get to know your teachers. And since we’re on the subject of interviews, we also have a quick intro to the team reporting on the news. After all, how can you trust them if you don’t know who they are?

Next up, the news every student has been clamoring about: pets! We talk to some of the inaugural pet owners about their experiences. And just in time for the upcoming third year students, there is a spread of articles all about life in Hogsmeade and what you’ll expect during your first legal trip. And those are just the headline features!

As you read, please take note of your likes/dislikes about this issue, from article types to the different graphic styles. Our team will be working on the final look over the next few issues; they’ll need your comments to get it just right. I will set up a comment thread for you to list your feedback. What did you like? What could be improved? What would you like to see in future issues? All I ask is that you be courteous with your comments.

Next issue, the newspaper team will be finalized and the actual editor-in-chief will be writing to you in this space. I will of course go back to my role as regular reader. For now, enjoy the issue!

Headline Features:
More Trouble in Hogwarts- by Finley McGill, Florentia Thistlequill, and Aurelia Bezuidenhout

Meet the Professors- by Delilah Stewart, Elena Jones, Frost Cira and the lovely professors
Headmaster Solomon Lear
Gryffindor Head Sorrel Wright & Slytherin Head Hjordis Jensen
Hufflepuff Head Bonabe Bonet & Ancient Runes Prof. Beatrice Lydursdattir
Magical Creature Prof. Morfran Griffith & Herbology Prof. Bryony Davis
Astronomy Prof. Thurston Barclay & Transfiguration Prof. Cypresse Lian
Divination Prof. Nadege Benoit & DADA Prof. Elaine Pendrast
Muggle Studies Prof. Maya Galim & Flying Prof. Barnaby Ryker

Meet the Team -by Ami Procoppio

Students, Rejoice! Pet Ban Lifted -by Donnovan Perrywinkle, Bloom Silverton, Amanda Sparrow, and Mari Haynes

Third Year Preview: Life in Hogsmeade
How Not to Sneak into Hogsmeade -by Ami Procoppio
Hogsmeade Myths and Legends: A Focus on the Shrieking Shack -by Persephone Nicholas
A Trip to Hogsmeade -by Persephone Nicholas
Wheezes vs. Zonko's: Where Should You Really Be Spending Your Galleons? -by Emma Hill
The Mystery of Rosemary -by Alexx Severin
Hogsmeade Bucket List: Where to Go & What to See -by Ami Procoppio

Writer Blogs:
Herbology Curriculum: A First Year's Review -by Mari Haynes
What's Happening: A Definitive Guide -by Selena Susurrō
Celebrity Highlight: Celestina Warbeck "The Singing Sorceress!" -by Donnovan Perrywinkle
Happily Ever After: Pets Edition -by Bloom Silverton
Panacea for a Dreamer -by Elena Jones
Book Recommendations -by Delilah Stewart
Quotes -by Alexx Severin

Games:
Games Corner -by Elena Jones and Delilah Stewart

Recipes:
BlueberryPancakes/Dried Cherry-Chocolate Muffins -by Ami Procoppio
Chocolate Cake -by Delilah Stewart

Horoscopes
May 2019 Horoscopes -by Amanda Sparrow

Competition Results:
The First Hogwarts Herald Writing Competition- Results -by Delilah Stewart and Elena Jones

MORE TROUBLE IN HOGWARTS

Hogwarts is viewed as a second home for some of us students. For years, this Scottish Castle has been a sanctuary for students to grow and learn. However, to the chagrin of professors and parents, the number of discipline cases have risen drastically recently. Despite the efforts of the staff to implement rules, every month at least 3 discipline cases ranging from students caught past curfew to brutal incidents arises and not to mention the amount of discord that happen ever so frequently along the halls of Hogwarts. This not only gives our dutiful prefects a hard time to deal with but professors as well. With so many of these happenings, ensuring the safety of the students proves not to be as easy as it once was. Through the next few pages and a few exclusive interviews, you will be able to know the true context of the many rumours and occurrences of trouble making in Hogwarts. We want to raise an awareness that these events, even though extremely are true and are happening in Hogwarts and to serve as a reminder to be careful at all times. With that all said, this brings us to question what the professors are intending to do to avoid future contingencies as it is apparent that many of the students, disregard the rules set for our protection.
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AN EXPLOSION IN THE ABANDONED TOILETS

This semester, there happen to be three major incidents, which students were hurt in the process. In February, the library had been almost destroyed in a supposed duel. Through this very escapade, the library almost came to ruin after this unauthorized duelling episode caused the collapse of shelving, almost crushing students in the process. This is in addition to confirmed events of curfew-breaking, backchatting to professors and an ongoing inability to hand homework in on time.

However nothing is perhaps more concerning, or terrifying, than the events which took place at a set of abandoned toilets on the Second Floor. A self-constructed bomb was ignited, wreaking havoc and mayhem on its porcelain surroundings. This event was apparently an extremely brutal case. It was said that a lunatic Ravenclaw boy had created an explosion before going on a rampage stabbing a few students and had even used Diffindo on a prefect. It is has been highly suspected that this boy was on alcohol which would explain his state of derangement. 4 students were severely injured in this process but was fortunate enough to receive help in time. Donnovan Perrywinkle, a Hufflepuff first year, was present at this brutal scene and recalls with horror the moment of the blast. He has been interrogated into this matter.

“I was just minding my own business when this stall just blew, and the excess went all over me. I remember him looking down at me with a crazy grin.”

The person in question is, of course, Master Kaegen Deathmote, Second Year Ravenclaw. Not only was he identified by the interviewee at hand but also several witnesses who rushed to the scene of the crime as things continued to get further and further out of hand.

“He began to physically injure people, including a prefect trying to help me,”

“I tried to stop him from attacking [Mari] but he stabbed [Mari] along with me after I pinned him.”

Perrywinkle had recalled, a particularly frightening moment occurring as the attacker turned towards weapons rather than wands. This reporter can confirm that Miss Mari Haynes, also from Hufflepuff, was admitted to the Hospital Wing with a serious stab wound, executed by Deathmote. That such an occurrence should happen at Hogwarts is beyond belief but perhaps more concerning is that there appears no rhyme or reason behind such dastardly behaviour. In a Hogwarts Headliner exclusive, we have obtained a private interview with Master Deathmote.

When questioning his motives for the attack the Second Year Ravenclaw described it as a “failed experiment” which was an “attempt to further my learning”. Further prodding revealed an attitude of nihilism and disregard for the safety of his fellow students.

When asked what he would do if given free reign, Deathmote closed with this horrifying statement:

“Destroy the death witches, the stairs, that one vase. Kill the professors and unrestrict the back of the library. Separate, defensible rooms to sleep in and the ability to cook your own food. Make hogwarts a safe place and kill death.”

The true extent of this students sociopathic tendencies are perhaps yet to be revealed but what cannot be denied is that Hogwarts harbours within its a walls a twisted and calculating mind. Already students have been placed at significant risk. When will this terror end? We cannot say. It seems limited disciplinary measures have been taken out against Deathmote who has gone without suspension or expulsion into the rest of semester.

We can only comment that this reporter will be sleeping with her wand close at hand tonight.
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FIRE BREAKS OUT IN BLOSSOMBALL

This year, the venue for the Blossomball was located at the grounds a fair distance between the lake and cabins instead of the usual ballroom. We suspect that this is due to last year’s tragic incident; Charles York and the Tables of Fire. However, the efforts to prevent the incident from repeating had been clearly futile. Almost an hour into the ball when students were dancing and eating, the tables had caught fire all of a sudden, which caused chaos to break out. Students, mostly the first and second years in suits and dresses, had attempted to take matters into their own hands. Some had gotten minor burns in the process. Thankfully, Professor Morfan Grumpy Griffith had managed to put out the fire before it gotten worse than it already was. To see into this matter, we have interviewed a few students regarding this matter.


Could you tell me how things were before the fire broke out?

I'll be honest with you, I didn't pay too much attention to things until they were... well, ablaze. Though I suppose I heard some feisty argument... and my friend, unlike me, she did notice something. Said she could see some girl in trouble. With a boy, I'd think...

Scott Alexander, Second year Gryffindor

Let's be honest, I'm never paying attention to my surroundings. I'm the most absent-minded, distracted person you'll ever meet... but I think Lear might've been running around with a spray bottle? I dunno, maybe he was doing some gardening, or something. It's very on-brand for hi I just saw fire, and Eris, and freaked.

Ami Procoppio, Second Year Hufflepuff

How do you think the fire started?

Probably a clash of egos. Or something or another. Either that or someone clumsy knocked over a candle or summat. You would think a magical school would have anti-fire charms on their stuff!

Dinara Lucey, First year Hufflepuff

I have no idea. Perhaps it was the crazy kid with the glass shard. Ooh, I bet you need a description! She has dark hair and glasses. And she had a frilly shirt on. It looked nice. She was wearing a skirt, too, but I didn’t pay attention to that.

Elizabeth Linscott, First year Hufflepuff

I was dancing when the fire started, but when I turned, someone had fallen into the table and the candles were over turned. I think that's probably what started it.

Rosie Turner, Second Year Hufflepuff

4 out of 6 participants that were interview had suspected that the cause of the fire was simply an accident. Some rather delusional students have had thrown suspicions but after much investigation, those that were accused were not guilty. It seemed that many students had not witnessed the fire breaking out first hand. We would be lead to believe that this was indeed an accident. We have then asked the participants if they would attend the ball next year. 3 out of 6 participants had agreed saying they would go if there was someone to accompany them. 1 participant said they would only for the food. 2 out of the 6 had stated that they rather not. We truly hope that the repeat of another fire would not happen during next year’s blossomball.

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