By Mendona Brewster
1) Fluffy Bite
2) Whomping Willow crash
3) Ford Angila accident
4) Potions Explosion in class
5) Falling off the broom at Quidditch
6) Falling down the stands at Quidditch
7) Crashing into another player at Quidditch
8) Fighting a Dragon without the chance to win
9) Incident at a night time trip through the castle
10) You are sick
Beonca Aims
1.) Black roses�duh!
2.) Licorice wands.
3.) Stuff snakes to cuddle up with.
4.) Chokers.
5.) Black nail polish.
6.) Onyx heart necklace.
7.) Candy heart candies with the Slytherin Code of Conduct.
8.) Ray Bans.
9.) The DVD �The Prophecy�.
10.) Large signed poster of Professor Snape.
By Mendona Brewster
1) Take a Space Trip at the Observation Deck
2) Go down to the Great Hall and check your House Points
3) Read the Owl Gazette at the Entrance Hall
4) Check out the Annex Building and sign up for the different clubs
5) Get stuck at the Broom Closet
6) Do NOT enter the Forbidden Forest
7) Take some classes
8) Go down to the Lake and take a swim
9) Visit the Gardens and enjoy the flowers (mainly in summer)
10) Go shopping at the different shopping malls
By Mendona Brewster
1) Snidgets
2) Phoenixes
3) Cats
4) Dogs
5) Dragons
6) Snakes
7) Pixies
By Mendona Brewster
1) she is beautiful
2) she is our Mom
3) as well as our Headmistress
4) she can protect you from Professor Snape
5) she has the most gorgeous Avatar
6) she won�t mess around
7) she is always there when you need her
8) she would never betray you
9) she has her own Ask Alba Forum
10) she loves chocolate - and might give you some if you behave
by Ava Black
10. You might learn the secret to all those points
9. They taste just like chicken
8. They are a bit Crafty � it might come in handy
7. You might have a chance to glimpse at the Gorgeous Roger Davies.
6. You are a Huff and that is what Huffs do.
5. You might learn something about Quidditch.
4. Sam Craft is everyone�s favorite Senior Prefect and yours.
3. You have to know what all the fuss is about!
2. The Head Girl is there as well.
1. You want to see the future and it might be the only chance to get closer to Prof. Ripley.
By Adrianna La Cerva
There�s a new kind of shop that�s opened up in Knockturn alley which prizes itself on the mission to repopulate snidgets. The tiny magical birds, which were once near extinction, are making a come back in a big way. After years of being a hunter�s target and a seeker�s win, the birds were saved from extinction by a law that protected them from being used as �snitches� during quidditch matches and making it illegal for them to be hunted. Violator�s of these laws would pay a hefty price, and because of that, the species did not slip out of existence. Recently however, the snidgets have actually grown in number and are beginning to regain their place in the magical world and that�s all thanks to witches and wizards stepping up and committing themselves to snidget preservation and repopulation.
One of Hogwarts very own, Fiona Chauvet of Gryffindor, has taken it upon herself to contribute to the advancement of snidgets in our world. She has set up the Sacred Snidget Shop at the Gryffindor Co-Op in Knockturn alley, which gives people the opportunity to own the small creatures.
The snidget itself is quite an impressive species, being roughly the size of a golf ball and yet having the ability to carry five times it weight and still fly at amazing speeds. This is why so many people are now relying on them for their post deliveries.
Customers of the Sacred Snidget Shop will receive nothing less than the best in snidget care. When purchasing an egg, you will receive a cushioned incubator and also a perch, with numerous toys for when your snidget hatches, as well as a food supply of seed blend. Not to mention, the attentive service of the store, ready to answer all of your questions The shop was so busy with people in it's first few days of operation, that the store had to restock on it�s third day of business!
Due to all the buzz, the snidget shop is finding it hard to keep up with demand and for that reason, they are currently allowing each customer to buy only one snidget egg in order to ensure that everyone gets an opportunity to own one. Fiona, assures me however, that once the store gets its bearings and has been around for awhile, she will probably change the rule.
Though business is booming for the store, I was lucky enough to catch up with Fiona and ask about her success.
AL: How is the shop doing on its grand opening?
FC: It's doing really well! I've already sold quite a few eggs to great homes and I'm happy at the response I've gotten. It shows people are eager to give these birds another chance.
AL: Where do you get your snidgets?
FC: All of my snidgets come from my two pets, Alpha and Omega. They've sired all the eggs I have in stock right now. I hope in the future once the eggs have hatched and grown into adults, I can have the owners bring their snidgets back to breed.
AL: How often do you get new snidgets in?
FC: I try to restock the eggs whenever I sell some, but it really depends on Omega, my snidget who lays the eggs.
AL: What was the inspiration for setting up this snidget shop?
FC: It's kind of a long story, but I have a few relatives who are activists for magical creature rights, and a few years back I learned about snidgets for the first time from my uncle. I thought it was so sad how these birds were dying out and no one was doing anything about it. Well, not really anyway. The Ministry has made it illegal to kill snidgets, but that hasn't stopped their numbers from decreasing. So I thought I could so something to help them.
AL: Why do you feel it�s so important to get the word out about snidget preservation and helping them regain their place within the magical community?
FC: I just think it's a shame that these birds are almost extinct. They're so pretty and can serve a lot of purposes to wizards, but no one is doing anything to help. If nothing is done, then they'll be gone forever, and we'll live with the regret that we could have done something. I think if I show young witches and wizards that they can do something to help, not just snidgets, but any cause they feel strongly about, they can make a difference.
AL: Any other plans to open another shop Fi?
FC: Not right now. The Sacred Snidget has been keeping me on my toes, but we'll see. Maybe in the future I'll find another species to rescue!
Since our interview on the day of her grand opening, the snidget shop has completely sold out in its first week of business! And numerous students at Hogwarts have been spotted caring after the eggs. It looks like the snidget is here to stay.
To celebrate the grand opening of the Sacred Snidget shop, Fiona will be giving people the chance to own a snidget for free. Be one of the first two people to send and e-owl to [email protected] with the words �Snidget Revival� and you will not only get to keep one magical creatures for free, but you can also choose the name!! This is a special promotion, as typically the eggs are pre-named, so act quickly!! For the rest of you, be sure and do your part in preserving the magical creatures; adopt a snidget today!
By: Hermy Granger
Who (or what) exactly is MoD? Well, as Linda Danes puts it "MoD is a "reporter" for the OG who is only out to get people in trouble. Avoid her at all costs. Oh, and join the Hunting MoD club by going down to the BB and add ' Hunting MoD... (insert shifty smilie from the BB here) ' to your Sig. Easy like that!" But that doesn't explain much. So Gryffindor has a MoD topic and we have been posting recent suspicions there. And I will try to keep you up to date with them.
- "You don't know if it is a she or a he, do we?" "No, we don't know for sure. It's just a suspicion, as most of the active students are girls."
- "What if MoD is professor? That would make their identity easy to hide." "Oh, very true, plus, some staff members can get into all the houses, making it easy to get gossip."
- "Dear, all five Headmistresses can enter the CRs...and they are not deleted....I wonder if PAD...?" "Oooh!! PAD would be a very good MoD. Nobody would suspect her!"
- (Can you guess who posted this?) "I might be a complete idiot, but I'm under the impression that it's not one person, but perhaps two or three people. Just a speculation that is probably completely of the mark." "I thought about that, too. I mean, how can one single person know so much? blink.gif And stuff like that? Sure, it could be PAD, as she knows everything...but then again..not. She might have some help..if it's her at all. But I can imagine that they made something like a society to collect the info and write about it. Sounds completely stupid, but that's what I think."
- "Hey Linda, I just noticed something. Don't YOU post articles from MoD? How would you get them?" "It is like that: I started to write as MoD. Anyway, suddenly I noticed some articles from another MoD that wasn't me ( offtopic.gif ) and I didn't even know who it was using my name. I mean, how stupid is that? I start to write as the one and someone is taking over my business and is writing stuff like that? Why do you think I want to hunt her? Because I want to know who it is using my good reputation, if I ever had something like that. It completely sucks. dry.gif"
- "My contact in the SC says MoD's hard to find because the articles are written in different houses. That makes it sound more like a group effort to me."
Now we smart Gryffindors have figured out that MoD is probably a group of girls in different houses. It might be PAD or one of the Headmistresses, but a group effort is more likely involved. Linda Danes and Roxanne Whitez have been accused and denied, so we're pretty sure they're not part of it. Even though Linda started this whole MoD thing. So we're a little ahead of where we started, but we're still missing a couple clues. So if you know anything, contact Gryffindor so we can piece together the puzzle. We will get to the bottom of this!!!
By Hermy_own Granger
Gung Hay Fat Choy! Or, Happy Chinese New Year!! That's right; the Chinese New Year is approaching us on February 18, 2007 � The Year of the Pig. So grab your dragon suits while I tell you a little about this New Year upon us.
Chinese New Year is one of the most popular festivals in China and is also known as the spring festival or the Lunar New Year. The Lunar New Year dates from 2600 BC, when the Emperor Huang Ti introduced the first cycle of the Chinese zodiac. Because of cyclical lunar dating, the first day of the year can fall anywhere between late January and the middle of February. On the Chinese calendar, 2007 is Lunar Year 4704-4705, the year of the pig.
If you were born in 1923, 1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983 or 1995 - you were born under the sign of the pig. You are regarded a lot for your chivalry and kindness of heart. You will often make friends for life. The pig was formerly called Ding Hai.
At Chinese New Year celebrations people wear red clothes, decorate with poems on red paper, and give children "lucky money" in red envelopes. Red symbolizes fire, which according to legend can drive away bad luck. The fireworks that shower the festivities are rooted in a similar ancient custom. Long ago, people in China lit bamboo stalks, believing that the crackling flames would frighten evil spirits. The Chinese New Year is a time of family reunion. Family members gather at each other's homes for visits and shared meals, most significantly a feast on New Year's Eve.
Chinese New Year ends with the lantern festival on the fifteenth day of the month. Some of the lanterns may be works of art, painted with birds, animals, flowers, zodiac signs, and scenes from legend and history. People hang glowing lanterns in temples, and carry lanterns to an evening parade under the light of the full moon.
Now, the one thing most people want to learn about � The Dragon Dance!!
In many areas the highlight of the lantern festival is the dragon dance. The dragon, which might stretch a hundred feet long, is typically made of silk, paper, and bamboo. Traditionally the dragon is held aloft by young men who dance as they guide the colorful beast through the streets. In the United States, where the New Year is celebrated with a shortened schedule, the dragon dance always takes place on a weekend, so that the children and adults have the day of work and school to enjoy it.
By MoD
First of all, thanks to the student who mentioned something to me concerning Mister Tom Riddle. The Slytherin-Ex-ghost has gained back his body some time ago and is now seen having started a �relationship� with Miss Jennifer Kull, one of the Slytherin Prefects. You may ask why on earth I am here reporting about something obvious, as Tom Riddle went public with his having a girlfriend days ago by adding a certain picture to his Signature showing the one known as Junk and himself in an obvious pose. But nothing is the way it seems. Before Mister Riddle returned to us, he vanished, leaving his Ex-girlfriend, Miss Amanda Dasaro of Hufflepuff, behind.
Well, the Hufflepuff Ex-Prefect obviously has still feelings for this guy, as she herself has one of Tom�s badges in her Signature, stating �My heart belongs to Tom�, whereas Miss Kull�s Signature is stating something a little different: �Jen loves Tom�. But, what not many of you might be aware of: Tom had a hard time. Not because of the girls, but more caused by a certain elf, also known as our very own caretaker and Elvish-teacher: Legolas Greenleaf. Both Amanda, and JUNK had an eye on him. The one during having this relationship, the other before having a relationship with Tom. But beware of sympathizing with Tom before you know all the facts. The one student coming to me, eavesdropped a conversation between Amanda and Tom, where the girl asked the newly body-regained Slytherin, whether or not he would have forgotten about her, and I, myself, was shocked, when I heard what he answered her. �Forgot about you? I gave you a b-day present when I got back & you never even thanked me. Besides, if I recall you cheated on me with the elf, remember? Shall I recall a certain Valentine's Day Dance where SOMEONE forgot to buy presents for her bf who, btw, had went out of his way to surprise her at a dance with a dozen roses...but she remembered to buy tons of them for him? So don't get started on me dating JUNK now.� So Tom�s comment on the Hufflepuff�s question.
What does this tell us? Has Tom picked Junk as his girlfriend because she was about to start dating Legolas? Wants Tom revenge on the caretaker because of this one incident he was talking about, by �stealing� Greenleaf�s possible future-girlfriend? But more important: Does Tom still feel for Amanda, although he is with Jennifer Kull, and is he doing the same that he claims she did �wrong�, now? Please, Tom�where are your good manners? Did you think MoD was never finding out about this? Fatal error.
On we go with something serious. I am sure you know the saying: �Before you judge somebody, walk a mile in their shoes�? I am also sure you agree with this saying, the way I do. But what if there are no shoes to walk in, because the person wearing the shoes is gone? It might get a bit difficult to get a �test-drive��
Anyway, what am I even talking about? I was wondering how you become Prefect of your house and what goals you should have when you apply for this job. What do you think makes someone �worth� to be a Prefect? Why do you think should someone get this job? First of all there should be devotion to the house the student is in, which means that the student should be fairly active and show some contribution. Second, it would be nice if the student would be present when there is work to be done, even though each house has more than just one Prefect. But as we all know: you work faster in a team, than you work on your own. Plus: the more work, the more people are needed. Probably this was the reason for the introduction of the Prefect�s Assistants jobs. At first it seemed that this was a balanced thing where the Prefects (having a bit more power) and the PA�s are working together nicely and for the best of the house. However, this seems to be wrong.
I had the possibility to talk to some PA�s around here, and I was shocked what I learned during these conversations. Not only are working some of them even more than the actual Prefects of the house, because the Prefects are gone most of the time, but I even learned that there are actually Prefects known to be inactive, but still staying Prefect. This was the moment when I started to wonder if it wouldn�t be nice to start something like a �Prefect�s Check�, to make sure that the right people are in possession of the right positions.
I was lucky to catch Professor Pendragon one day and went ahead to ask for her opinion on this. Here is what she had to say:
Mod: May I ask your opinion on something, Professor?
Prof. Pendragon: Sure.
Mod: Great! I would like to know�you have been Prefect once, is that right?
PP: Correct. Right before Junk got to the badge in fact.
Mod: ok, so do you think the Prefect�s Assistants are a good invention?
PP: I could have used the help back when I was a Prefect.
Mod: Well, it came to my attention that there are Prefects around here not doing their job anymore since they have the �help�. Do you think there is anything true to this?
PP: I think the Prefects do their jobs when their RL allows them the time. Also, some Prefects do just go out for the badge to get into the lounge and the title. Those are people I shake my head at, for this is the wrong reason to go for it.
Mod: Oh, we agree on this point. Thank you very much.
PP: I do applaud those that go out for the job and then go of the field of duty to help their houses, students and the school. But also I think people need to realize that a lot of times jobs get done faster when it�s split up among more than one or two people.
Mod: yes, I agree here, too. What would you say to something like a �Prefect�s Check�? Do you think this would be a good idea or a bad one?
PP: No, I agree that sometimes the Prefects need to be reminded of their duties. If you have RL troubles that happen a lot, then I think you should maybe try out for a lesser job like PA or just help out here and there, but don�t go out for something that needs a lot of your time like Prefect or Head Boy / Head Girl. But sometimes people want to climb a mountain they can�t climb just yet.
Mod: Exactly what I think. Thanks very much for your opinion, Professor.
I found myself pondering about this interview, because Professor Pendragon mentioned something about �power� and wrong motives to aim for the Prefect�s job. I overheard a conversation of one Prefect�s Assistant, complaining that this very student was forced to do all the work �without having these fancy mod powers�. I honestly wonder: Is the only reason you sign up for the job the power you might get along with it? Shouldn�t it be more about your own house, and the people in there, than anything else? Shouldn�t it make you proud to be of help to your house in any way instead of complaining about something? But on the other hand, shouldn�t you step back from your position when you realize that you have too many other things to do, or even lacking the will to dedicate enough time to your duties around your house? Isn�t it time for you to let someone else do your job when you aren�t around? Think about it and you will see that I�m right. Realize when it�s time for you to go, when nothing is what it seems.
I titled this article �My own Doom�. To prevent you from plotting: this is not what MoD stands for. It is more than that. This is my last ever article for this paper, and for any other paper around here. But don�t start to think that I stop to inform you because I am scared of SoD, or that I fear you might figure out who I am. I leave you here because it is time for me to go. Our Headmistress was so nice as to mention the reason for this at the discussion about the last issue�s topic on the BB. I agree with her and everyone else there, saying that these anonymous writers are far too much by now, and as I was the one starting with it, I figure that I have to be the first to stop. However, I would like to thank PAD for giving her permission on letting us submit our articles as MoD. But furthermore I would like to thank her for trying to convince me on continuing with my �reporting duties�. Like I already said: It has been a pleasure amusing you. This includes ALL of you. I hope you had fun, but I also hope some of our articles made you think. If only for a short amount of time. This is my own doom � leaving you on the height of fun. Thank you for having me, and us.
Yours sincerely,
MoD
- Don't forget to cast your vote for your favorite IHC entry! This month we'll be voting on the Knockturn Alley Graveyard! See the BB for voting dates.
- Voting will take place this month for your favorite Monthly Contest entry for the Hogsmeade Village Zoo! See the BB for more info.
- It's a school-wide post-a-thon! Be sure to find out which team you're on & post until your drop! See BB for more details.
- If you need a free email account, sign up for a PAD's FREE E-owl Account today! Details are located on the BB in the Entrance Hall.