By Penshire #2
PAD's Hogwarts has always sufficed to post their rules and regulations on all the forums and request members to read over them and sign that they understand them. After much discussion, however, it has been decided that these measures are no longer effective�either students simply bypass the rules and never sign them, or they claim they read them but never actually did. Either way, the rules are not being followed and it's becoming a huge problem.
PAD's Hogwarts has decided that in order to ensure all members have read the rules and intend to follow them they must take a class based solely around the rules. Much like the required classes for Mind-Powers and other such character traits, this class will be a pre-requisite for posting on any board outside the introduction area. The class will consist of approximately nine lessons, each accompanied with homework assignments that test your understanding and willingness to comply with regulations.
Not only will all new members be required to participate in this class, but all current and returning members as well must complete the assignments as well. The lessons are currently being written and this new policy will be implemented by the end of term.
By Cauly Hauster
One day everyone sat peacefully in their classes when the weather turned catastrophic. Against everybody's belief, a tornado put itself onto the grounds! Horror rang itself through masses. Inconsolably, all watched as the tornado wrapped itself around our Astronomy Tower.
People looked onward in terrified mannerisms. Obviously, they wondered if that part of the castle would survive the onset. Fortunately, nothing seriously injured Hogwarts. Afterwards, only debris remained then for a reminder about the event. And again, thankfully, all were kept safe.
By G. O. Fish
Rumor has it that the portraits at Hogwarts are all under specific instruction from the Headmistress to listen in on all student�s conversations and report back to her what they hear. Even though my source just told me this last week, apparently the portraits have been eavesdropping since well before the beginning of the school term!
Reasons behind why the Headmistress might want to know what�s going on in the student�s lives are still unknown, although there�s many a good guess and speculation out there. So just remember� keep your secrets close, for you never know who may be listening!
By Beonca Aims
In an event to get new students quicker acclimated to Hogwarts, many classes have been mixed with 1st years and 2nd and so forth. This has not been fully appreciated yet, and the staff is not sure if it is working or not, but the example of the good and bad of it was evident yesterday in Herbology.
Professor Kelina Bliss was conducting the first session of the day in Greenhouse number last Wednesday when things quickly got out of hand. Word is that it cannot be confirmed whether a 3rd year Slytherin goaded the first year, or it was just simply a 1st year mistake, the results were still the same, loose mandrakes. Apparently a young Hufflepuff was nervous about replanting the small mandrakes set before them. Professor Bliss gave detailed instructions and being ever dutiful, made sure all students had their earmuffs on for safety. However, as she was busy checking said head-gear, at the far end of the table came some commotion and soon spread across the room. It seems the Huff panicked at the sight of the wiggling whining root and dropped it on the floor instead of in a pot full of dirt. Students standing near the now loose mandrake started jumping back out of the way and while doing this, lost their grip on their mandrakes and soon more were loose. The
greenhouse was certainly buzzing with activity and student scream, running and jumping up on the tables.
Finally Professor Bliss and a few older Slytherin students began �stupifying� the errant mandrakes and order was soon restored. The rest of the class was spent planting the enchanted mandrakes and cleaning up the greenhouse.
By G. O. Fish
The staff at Hogwarts have been seriously discussing a change in curriculum the past few months�and finally progress is being made! For its whole history Hogwarts has always operated under the traditional September-June school year, but that may soon change! The merits of year-round schooling have been debated back and forth by the staff for quite a while, and the verdict is finally up�Hogwarts will no longer support a summer vacation!
That�s not to say students won�t still get their days off. Instead of a three-month break in the summer, however, breaks will be spread out more sporadically throughout the school year, making the actual number of days students are required to be in class almost the same as if they were still operating under the traditional schedule.
The staff believes this will be a positive change for Hogwarts and looks forward to seeing the results play out!
By Penshire #6
PAD's Hogwarts has always supported the creation of non-cannon shops for students to show their creativity, earn house points, and add to the shopping areas here at Hogwarts. This practice has gone so far as to allow every house a "co-op," where all their house shops are kept and other students can visit, browse, and occasionally buy whenever they want to.
All that is about to change. Alterations to the policy here at PAD's Hogwarts are forbidding the creation of new, non-cannon shops and limiting the shopping areas to only those stores used in the books. If you currently own a non-cannon shop you must sell all of your items in stock to one of the cannon-shops and close your doors immediately. Any member not complying with these new rules will be made to write four-hundred thousand lines of "I did not follow the rules" with Professor Riddle in detention for the rest of the school year.
By Billy Raven
In an effort to change things up at PAD�s, the Headmistress has decided to change up the professor�s classes and move them around. Professor Kelina Bliss and Professor Snape, in an effort to understand each other better and become a real team in the house of Slytherin have switched assignments with Bliss teaching Potions and Snape teaching Herbology. Having been around plants and herbs, Professor Bliss is finding the potion making easier then other might in her position. It�s the animal parts that are making her a bit queasy over mastering the art. For Professor Snape�s part, he seems to have fallen into a groove in the gardening aspects of Herbology. We aren�t sure if the mandrakes fear him more then having to be repotted as their screams seem more out of fear then anger at being dug from the dirt.
In the same vein, it seems Professor Ripley and Professor Simbi has switched up a class with him teaching runes and her World Wonders. Though Professor Simbi looks confused and often mixes up the rune names and meanings, he is entertaining the class. Unfortunately Professor Ripley drones on and on more about her travels to these lands then actual historical facts about the wonder they are suppose to be studying. �She�s a dear�� the students are heard to say, �but totally out in left field.� They added, most in her class are busy using it as a �free� period and work on other lessons.
We await the results of these changes and wonder if more on down the road, like Professor Opal and Professor O�Connell changing classes, which doesn�t seem to be a too far off idea, however, I cannot imagine Professor Lockhart teaching Professor Dickerson�s Writing class, I can see it now, plagiarism will run rampart!
By Riley Jake
If my facts are correct, and I'm assuming that they are - PAD's Hogwarts is going to be relocating to the moon. Why? No one is quite sure. However, with the 'space travel trip' that the Astronomy class is conducting, as well as other classes that coincide with training that muggle astronauts undergo, one can only help but wonder. Is Hogwarts really going to be mystically transported into outer space one night? Are you going to wake up one morning and find that Earth is outside your dorm room window? Well, my sources tell me that it's not going to happen for a while, but don't be too surprised if you wake up one morning to go to a Quidditch game, and find that you no longer need your broomstick to fly around outside.
By Anonymous
Everyone knows that last month's contest was to come up with founder names and mottos for a new house here at Hogwarts. What is not common knowledge is that this house is to replace one of the houses here at Hogwarts. And seeing as how historically Slytherin has had the most problems with the rest of the school (need we bring up the whole 'chamber of Secrets' thing?), it follows logically that the house that will be leaving is Slytherin. An anonymous source said "Well, I won't say I'm sad to see them go, but I've always been fond of purple."
What will happen to those currently in the house of the Serpent? While no concrete answers have been given, there are some speculations. Some say that they will be mixed among the other five houses. While a logical idea, it would likely cause problems with other students. After competing against each other for years, people would be unlikely to accept the displaced Slytherins. They could populate the new house, but 'dreamer' doesn't exactly fit with the Slytherin house ideals. So, the only logical option is for them to make their own evil school of magic where they can train new death eaters away from the watchful eyes of the ministry and headmistress. Soon the Wizarding World will be subjected to a new group of young evil witches and wizards led by Professor Snape and now their deputy head, Professor Kelina Bliss. Be on your guard, people of Hogwarts.
By Penshire #7
Who would have guessed we would live to see the day that Common Rooms, (the places we all hold near and dear to our hearts as safe havens and private sanctuaries), would become not-so-private and open for all houses to come visit! I for one think it is an outrage, and encourage you all to take action against the latest announcement.
On May 1, 2008, every common room in PAD's Hogwarts will drop its password-protected walls and support the "guest" function on the forums, allowing anyone to drop in and read what's going on. This was decided in an attempt to "bring the houses closer together" and "promote school unity rather than house unity." Though it will only happen for one day, and while guests won't be allowed to post, for twenty-four hours nothing will stop people from other houses peeking in and seeing exactly what it is that goes on in YOUR common room.
I urge all members to speak out against this unbelievably ridiculous new idea and keep our common rooms the way they were meant to be!
By Ava Black
Professor Lockhart has abandoned his post as Head of House of Hufflepuff to become a Folk Singer. He told Pad last week that this job no longer suited him and he wanted more. Sad to see him go students and staff wished him well. He will be playing his first concert at the Hogs Head this weekend. Best wishes in your new profession Prof. Lockhart!
By Ava Black
House Elves played a practical joke on the students and staff on April 1st! They decided to serve reversed meal. For Breakfast students were served stew, burgers, salad and other dinner entries. For Lunch they were served pancakes, sausages, omelets and breakfast type foods. And for Dinner came lunch. Most people had a great laugh with it all except the few people that were truly looking forward to the regular menu.