Bry Casten
The Owl Gazette just keeps getting bigger and bigger. The past few months have seen an explosion in articles and participation from all houses. Last issue alone saw eight pages and over one-hundred articles. One thing is for sure: it doesn't look like things will be slowing down anytime soon. The question, however, is not what is happening with the paper, but why it is occurring.
First and foremost, there is always the struggle for house points. At fifty points an article, participation in the OG can make you or break you in the fight for the top. While this has always been an incentive, with house points so close none want to risk not taking advantage of such a situation. Moving on from reasons solely out of personal interest, there is also the matter of the sudden population boom of members here at PAD's. The school is growing at an alarming rate, and new members mean more participation, and thus more articles and longer papers. Finally, there is the simple fact of more activity. The Hogwarts Staff work hard to continually ensure there are activities for the students and plenty to take part in and keep them busy. This allows for a wide variety of article topics, so writers rarely have to struggle to find a suitable topic to discuss.
These are only a few of the reasons our paper has grown so large and has been so successful, for surely ever individual person has their own personal reasons for contributing as well. It is a tip of the iceberg�general reasons to explain the flurry of activity. When considering them, we can take one fact to heart; that there is no time in the near future we will have a limited school newspaper. At this rate, it will only continue to grow and that's something nobody is complaining about. At least�not yet.
by Adrianna La Cerva
Fall is in the air and the streets of Diagon Alley are all abuzz with students and families out to harvest their required supplies for the upcoming school term. I travel through the crowd of shoppers until I reach Flourish and Blott's where our very own Professor Gilderoy Lockhart is making an appearance for his book signing. He has also graciously agreed to allow me to interview him here afterward.
Upon entering the shop, my view is blocked by a line of people anxiously awaiting their opportunity to see Lockhart. Flashing lights of cameras being snapped by fans and reporters flood the tiny bookshop. I bypass the line and head up to the front amid shouts of "No cutting" and "Get back". I'm told by a big burly wizard that Lockhart is expecting me, but I am to wait by the window. And so I do. I patiently wait, watching the women in line smile at each other and curiously whisper as they eventually make their way to the front for an autograph where Gilderoy Lockhart, known as Professor to us, is sitting at a table surrounded by portraits of his own face. Numerous copies of Magical Me and Gadding with Ghouls liter the table and floor in towering stacks, awaiting a taste of permanent ink the form of a signature. As fans retrieve their brief moment with him, the Hogwarts Professor, Head of House, Flying Lessons teacher, Care of Magical Creatures teacher, and Transfigurations teacher, flashes his infamous smile; one that is deemed the 'Most charming smile' by Witches Weekly, 5 times in a row I'm told, and scribbles his name down on the cover of his book. Then the girls giggle as they take their book and walk out of the shop. This process repeats itself until everyone in line has had a turn. Once the last person has left, it's my turn.
Professor Lockhart spots me by the window and waves me over. I grab a chair and take a seat opposite him, and thank him for agreeing to meet with me. My parchment pad on the table and quill in my hand, I delve right into the questions.
"Okay, Professor, We're talking about books. What are your most favorite books? The ones whose authors and message really speak to you."
Professor Lockhart runs his fingers through his hair and responds both swiftly and boldly. "Well my favorite author is obviously yours truly," he says, expertly styling his golden strands into place. would say there are some other 'good' authors out there, but none with the creative talent or exceptional writing skills as me. I mean, I have lived the experiences of my books."
Trying to recover from momentary astonishment from the curveball he has thrown me, I quickly think back to Gadding with Ghouls and how he describes his experience with pixies. "And what is your most memorable experience from your books?"
He doesn't hesitate. "Everything! My books are that good that its hard to pick a favorite, though magical me is all about well...magical me so I would say that would be my favorite experience, listing all my charms," he tells me with a grin.
"And which one of your books would you say is your favorite, or that you're most proud of?"
Professor Lockhart's eyes dart upward as he strikes a thoughtful gaze. "If I had to pick one of my many books as my favorite...eh.." It seems that I have momentarily stumped him. ".lets see Magical Me, Break with a Banshee, Gadding with Ghouls, Holidays with Hags, Travels with Trolls, Voyages with Vampires, Wanderings with Werewolves and Year with a Yeti...mmm...I would have to say 'Magical Me' because its basically about ME," he says with a smile I've come to recognize from the magazines.
I'm contemplating whether I should ask Professor Lockhart what it is that he likes most about himself when we are interrupted by a young boy and his mother who ask for a picture and a copy of the very book we're discussing, Magical Me ,made out to "Judy". Routinely, Professor Lockhart reaches for a copy of the book and signs it's cover as he continues to answer my question.
"The reason I came about this book was because when I was discussing myself to another writer he said to me "Write your life story in a book and I MIGHT buy it". Obviously, me being as intelligent and handsome as I am, I decided to use that as a starting focus for the book. Do you know that my Magical Me has been voted best book 5 years in a row by the magical community!"
The mother of the young boy giggles at this and ecstatically reminds Lockhart that he is nominated for the best book again this year and how she just knows that he will win. He smiles at her as he hands me the camera to take a photo of the three of them.
Caught off guard by this display of fandom, I continue with my questions once we're alone again. "Why do you feel that your fans and others should read Magical Me?" gesturing to the boy and mother whom have just left us.
"Others should read it because afterall it is written by me, Gilderoy Lockhart and no other book can compare to that of mine."
"Do you have any literary publications in the works for the future?"
He chuckles at my question. "Now you know I'm not allowed to let out any of my masterpieces early...lets just say...there is plenty more of Professor Lockhart on its way." Well, you can't blame a reporter for trying.
We're interrupted again, this time by a Flourish and Blott's employee informing Professor Lockhart that a Daily Prophet reporter is just outside waiting for him.
He lifts himself up out of the chair and extends his hand to me. "Thank you for the interview" he tells me as we shake hands. I gather my notes and rise up to leave when he hands me a piece of paper before walking out. I look down to see a two-dimensional version of my Professor smiling back at me with his name expertly handwritten near the bottom.
Bry Casten
The official start of term was just a few weeks ago, and yet already students are buried in their books and working harder than ever on their lessons. This year heralded in a plethora of new classes, as well as brought back the classic favorites of all the students. Registration proved to be an arduous task for all those in charge of it, as the number of students wishing to be educated and expand their knowledge grows larger and larger.
For those who have been approved, no time was wasted getting started. They worked through all hours of the day, striving to get ahead. Even during the Start of Term feast, a time normally devoted to kicking back and having a good time, Zoey Taylor could be found working hard on her lessons. It is rumored that Head Girl Ava Black has already finished her History of Hogwarts 101 lessons, and many other students are well on their way along the same tract. Hopefully the entire year will continue as well as it's started, with the student body continuing to yearn for learning in the same manner it's started out. After all�Hogwarts is a school, right?
By Penny Hung
New School Year. New Classes. New Events. New Parties. New Contests. New Dances. What do all those mean to you? Perhaps, a delightful dance that means that school is starting and you're ready to learn.... or the opposite. Perhaps it's just me, but the former is more like me.... and the latter is more like some Muggle friends I have.
I have noticed.... that most Muggle students absolutely HATE going to school, while many Wizard/witches love school. Perhaps it's because Hogwarts is so much more interesting that drab old Muggle Schools, with ghosts, QUIDDITCH, talking mirrors, and more. Or is it that the House Cup adds an interesting aspect to our school lives, making us ready to learn and win the House Cup?
Anyway, walking in the familiar halls of Hogwarts, this time a Second Year, I feel a sense of happiness, but also a sense of nostalgia. I recall the first time I stepped into the castle, cold, trembling and scared, fresh from the trip on the lake. Putting the Sorting Hat upon my small head and hearing it speak my mind. Or is it that I recall feeling lonely and helpless and absolutely lost?
As a Second Year, I'm ready to take on the struggles of life! All for the House Cup! (But especially Ravenclaw)
Bry Casten
The past month has seen an enormous influx of students here at Hogwarts. No house has gone unaffected; all mentors and prefects have been kept busy showing them the ropes and helping them get settled in and feeling at home. After seeing their participation at the Start of Term feast, it is clear they are fitting in and are not hesitant about getting right into the thick of things.
Each time I was at the dance there were nearly always at least two new members with me as well. Hoards of Hufflepuffs fill the room at all times, followed closely by the new Ravenclaw students. The obvious ease they feel with their new classmates must be some indicator of how well they are being received, so prompts should be given not only to the newbies but to the veterans as well, for giving them a true Hogwarts welcome and inviting all in with open arms.
By Roxanne Whitez
A poll was started by yours truly in the last few days of August to see what colors our fellow Gryffindors thought of for the following month. As votes and opinions gathered in, the poll was carried on through that month, thus bringing us to the autumn-y season of October.
When the results were finally finalized, one could see that red was the color the most popular, when it comes to fall. Any opinions regarding that came from Abigail Rose-Turner, who also chose that color "because it's Gryffindor's color. Blue followed, with orange, yellow, dark green coming right after. Hermione Granger and Professor Opal were two of which chose their preferred colors simply because "I love it! quote Hermione, and "because dark green looks great on me!" from our wonderful Professor Opal. Other different reasons were unique, coming from our lovely Gryff, Adrianna La Cerva, who proudly stated that she voted for yellow, "because it reminds me of pencils and back to school shopping."
Most reasons were thanks to the changes of colors that commence in fall, from their usual summer green to red, orange, yellow and even brown tones of leaves. But for now, these are what Gryffindor has to say for fall!
by Linda Danes
Lately the race about winning the House Cup has reached another high.
A growing number of Gryffindors are known to urge everyone they meet - whether old or new ones - to participate and take lessons to gain their House more points. They say that with the just started term there are more Gryffindors registered for classes than students from any other house. I don't know if it's true, but at the looks of the list, I can imagine that it is.
Even in the Common Room you are greeted by reminders to submit articles to the different newspapers but also submit things to clubs the different students have joined. Even the Monthly Contest and the IHC attracted attention of some students who usually aren't participating that much. That is a great sign because it shows that every Gryffindor is willing to work hard to reach our goal of winning the House Cup in the end.
Beonca Aims
I�m not sure of all the particulars, but I know this, the registering for classes this term was pretty streamlined! All you had to do was check out the classes you wanted to take, shop for the supplies, stick them in your locker and then�just head over to the Administration Office and fill-out the form. See, this year, the Head Boy and Head Girl were in charge of getting our registrations, they would tap the House Prefects to check out lockers, and then contact the professor to let them know who was ready for class! Now, like I said, streamlined! So who ever came up with this idea�THANKS! It made it all so much easier!