We're pleased to welcome Kotoka Sako, played by Hanako Tone, as our new Headmaster of Mahoutokoro! Hanako has been involved with the Mahoutokoro community as Sara Kohana for many years now and is a long-tenured member of H.io, being a current seventh year! They bring lots of unique ideas to the table, so we can't wait to see what they do during their time on staff.

We are also pleased to welcome Alan Dolus, played by Oliver Armani, as our new Headmaster of Ilvermorny! Oliver has been a very invested member of the community, working on the mentorship team as well as the Slytherin Quidditch team, and also brought great ideas to the table for Ilvermorny. Please wish them a warm welcome as they get situated on the staff team.

Index Clearing Notice

Next week, we will be conducting our biannual Index Clearing on December 6. This is our routine activity check, but this round is especially important due to its connection to the shop–trunk transition project completed earlier this year.

What is Index Clearing?
Any member who has posted on-site at least once in the past 6 months—yes, even in forum games—will be marked as ACTIVE.
Members who have not posted within this timeframe will be removed from Index and must reactivate their character via the Index Re-Registration link to return.

Why is Index registration important? It’s required to:

‣ Graduate to the next school year
‣ Participate in events, balls, or summer camp
‣ Participate in sports such as duelling, quidditch and broom racing

How This Connects to the Shop–Trunk Transition

During the transition project, players received their full spell and potion inventories based on their GM Trunk posts.

‣ Active users at that time received all eligible items.
‣ Inactive users did not receive them then, but received them automatically upon reactivation.

This system was never intended to continue indefinitely, so we are now moving into the final phase of the transition: the Welcome-Back Package.

This package replaces the previous workflow used when returning players were reactivated by staff.

What Is the Welcome-Back Package?
Players who were inactive during the trunk transition (and therefore did not receive their spells/potions) will now receive a galleon stipend upon returning to the site. They will also receive spells and potions from any classes they had genuinely completed.

This offer will remain in place until June, when the next Index Clearing occurs.
After that, returning players will only receive the spells and potions they earned from classes - no stipend.

Welcome-Back Package Amounts

‣ Year 1: 25G
‣ Year 2: 50G
‣ Year 3: 75G
‣ Year 4: 100G
‣ Year 5: 125G
‣ Year 6: 150G
‣ Year 7: 175G
‣ Adult: 200G

Important Note:
Players who were active during the trunk transition but have since become inactive are not eligible for the welcome-back package because they already received all trunk-listed spells and potions during the transition.

What About iNPC

To remain active with an iNPC, players do need to post on site with them to remain active. iNPCs have their own unique account and should be used. To remain active on an iNPC account, like on a PC account, players need to post at least once every 6 months on their iNPC account. This can be anywhere on site, including forum games. If a player's iNPC have been removed for inactivity, they would need to reactivate their iNPC via the iNPC Re-Registration link.

Animagus System Update: One-Time Change Opportunity

In light of recent changes to the animagus system, and acknowledging that players have likely roleplayed extensively in their current animagus forms, we are offering a one-time opportunity for members with an existing animagus to change their form — only if the new form was previously unavailable to them under the old system.

This change will be facilitated through a special in-character mini-event in Hogsmeade, taking place in-character (IC) during the week of Christmas and the New Year (Dec 20 - Jan 1) ands available during the month of December.

During the event (on December 30), a concentrated and restricted potion added to the hot cocoa causes those who drink it to temporarily lose all magical ability for approximately 72 hours. When their magic returns, for some, something has gone wrong - their animagus form is no longer what it once was, but something entirely different.

Restrictions & Eligibility:

• OC available for a limited time: Dec 1 - Jan 1.
• This change is only available to players with an already approved animagus form.
• The new animagus form must be something that was previously unavailable to the character prior to this update.
• This is a one-time change only

Additional Note:
Players without an animagus form are still welcome to attend the event, drink the potion, and participate in the storyline involving the temporary loss of magical abilities.

Process for Changing Animagus Forms

1. Post between Dec 1 and Jan 1 in Hogsmeade drinking the poisoned cocoa. This post must adhere to all site regulations involving word count and content. Link to the Event Thread.
2. Post a new application by Jan 1 in Animagus Applications and Updates, the word count of consuming the cocoa can replace the process of completing the animagus ritual, however the new animal needs to be rationalized (explained).
3. Stats need to be updated to reflect this new animal.

Holidays at Hogwarts

Secret Elf Holiday Gift Exchange

Sign-ups are going on until December 7. This is a secret gift exchange that player and iNPC accounts can participate in. There are terms in regards to participation, so please read carefully. Assignments will be given out between the 8th and the 14th of December. Gifts are expected to be delivered by January 1.

Holiday Communications Event

An errand where users write an in-character holiday card or letter to friends, family, or loved ones (PCs or NPCs both count). This errand can be completed on either (or both) a player's iNPC and PC. The deadline to participate is January 1.

Winter Aesthetic

To celebrate the winter and holiday season, we're opening a Winter Aesthetic Forum Game! This is a lighthearted, creativity-focused thread for sharing winter and holiday vibes through posts.

Whispering Pines

A roleplay prompt during the Winter Carnival Event. Linger for a few posts or make a single post and be on your way, as long as you are clear, this is absolutely up to you! There is no specific date on this.

Grand Golden Sock Hunt

An in-character game were teens are given a puzzle and then sent to find where the elf has hidden the golden sock. Winners, the cleverest among the teens participating are promised fantastic prizes. This takes place on December 26, 27, 28 and 29 in-character and out of character the riddles are supplied weekly.

HogNaNo

November is National Novel Writing Month (NaNoWriMo), a global celebration of writing and creativity and Hogwarts.io is joining in with our very own magical twist: HogNaNo!

November is almost over, please make sure you update your post in the Errands Thread before the deadline 23 hours away!

• Please remember to update your post.
• Please remember to provide totals.
• Please remember to provide links.

A couple of shout-outs:

• @Maria Leung de Almeida 50,235
• @Dennis Tumberton 50,079 words
• @Avery Gray 34,622 words
• @Zephyr Deakin 26,480
• @Violence Bloodthorn 25,784
• @Pyce Rotanski 25,722
• @Leo Noxley 25,004 words
• @Dealla Prince 25,097
• @Charlotte Winfield 25,058

Winter Carnival at Hogsmeade

Hogsmeade will be hosting a holiday celebration throughout the month of December! For the sake of inclusivity, Hogsmeade has been made accessible to all players without the need for a forged activity slip. This is a temporary change and will be reverted to normal on Jan 1, so please be sure to complete all Hogsmeade threads and activities before then.

Several event threads will be taking place in Hogsmeade and will be clearly tagged with the word EVENT. To participate in any event thread in Hogsmeade, your character must be registered with Index.

• You can verify your registration by checking for your name in the
Official Index Thread.

• If you have previously registered but do not see your name listed, please re-register using this re-registration thread.

• If you have never registered before, please register with Index here: Registration Thread.

Black Friday Sale

In celebration of the Secret Elf activity for the Winter Carnival at Hogsmeade, HIO is offering a special limited-time discount on the following items:

• Fake Permission Slip
• Camo Cloak
• Bus Pass

All three items are 50% off until Jan 1. This is a perfect opportunity to pick up a gift for a friend, a Secret Elf recipient, or a treat for yourself if you’ve grown fond of visiting Hogsmeade!

Once the sale ends on Jan 1, all prices will revert to their normal values.

Important Notice:
The intention of this sale is to allow players to gift these items to friends, Secret Elf recipients, or to enjoy them personally. This is not intended for stockpiling items for resale either back to the shop or to other players for profit.

Because the shop buyback rate is 80% of full price, purchasing at 50% and reselling would result in unintended profit. Admin is able to see how many of each item a user possesses, and any stockpiled sale items found to be intended for resale will be magically replaced with bunches of grapes worth 1 copper, with no refund.

Thank you for helping us keep this event fun and fair for everyone!

Opening Ceremony Has Begun! Come one, come all and experience the beginning of the first lightly moderated event of the Tenūsa Open Day. Explore the culture and village of Omah Geni as you are invited to partake in the feast, join in the local dancing or perform some of your own cultural art. With new rpg prompts dropping every Sunday, there is a lot to look forward to. I hope to see you all there!

To learn more about the interactive events and timeline of this event please check out the Itinerary and familiarise yourself with some of our unique Lore before you make your way to the mysterious Isle!

Now that the various Summer Camp 2025 moderated events have finally concluded, your hard earned tickets can now be put to use. Head on over to the TICKET EXCHANGE for more information.

The Ticket Exchange will be open for two (2) weeks, until the end of December 16th (once the very last time zone has reached end of day).

Homestead Sign-Up Reminder This is a reminder that there is still time to sign up to join a homestead or create your own for the Tenūsa event. While not essential to the event, homesteaders will gain access to an exclusive first stage in the main event that is sure to bring forth lots of adventure and chaos. The sign ups will be closing at end of day Wednesday 10th of December. Hope to see you there!

To learn more about the interactive events and timeline of this event please check out the Itinerary and familiarise yourself with some of our unique Lore before you make your way to the mysterious Isle!

Or treat yourself to a visit of our Opening Ceremony where students and staff alike are already beginning to filter in. With fresh, unique prompts and mini adventures being released each Sunday of December you'll want to get in quick!