By Riley Jake
On Friday the thirteenth of June, the students of Slytherin house awoke to a very strange sight...an incredibly tidy common room. Most students could not believe what they were seeing, and some went as far as to say that they thought they were hallucinating or something. The neat SCR was truly a sight, as it was cleaner than any of the students could ever remember, and was busy as well, as staff members, new and old, spent the day rushing around to make sure that everything could continue smoothly as it had on Thursday the Twelfth. However, soon after, a glitter bomb was set off, returning the SCR to its normal state of slight disarray. Folks, this reporter believes that the Slytherin Common Room may never be entirely clean as long as it's in existence....
Thoughts on PADs Speech
By Orly
With the end of term comes the end of term speeches, and as usual, the headmistress was the first speech of the evening. The names of the new prefects were announced, and Arya Drottningu, Gawyn Crossguard, Keato Abbot, Yaxley Chambers and Brady Lennox are new prefects for the 08-09 term - this reporter's seen exactly hard they work for their respective houses, so it's really no surprise that they got prefect. It was also announced that Professor Riddle would be the HoH of Paddington, and that Professor Haddington is to assist him. PAD also mentioned that Professor Morgan would step in for Professor Wallace, who went MIA on the same day as this reporter's birthday. This reporter is sad to see Professor Wallace disappear, because she was truly a nice, very charismatic person, but glad to see Professor Morgan around. She also announced that the House Cup went to Ravenclaw, which seemed quite likely, as the house worked ridiculously hard to earn points and win. It's not surprise that Penshire won the Quidditch Cup either, as they had the most dangerous team of chasers this reporter's ever seen.
By Julia Rose Antea
There are so many students at Hogwarts who aren't aware that there are classes available in the summer! OMG!!!! The classes being offered this summer are FABULOUS! They seriously make me want to do a happy dance. Professor Snape is offering a Potions RPG class�how awesome is that?! Professor Kelina Bliss is giving an RPG Herbology Class. I know�I'm happy dancing right there with you! Make sure you go register in the Dueling Club to be eligible to take Potions Classes. This is going to be an awesomely awesome summa!!!
Ravens win it all!
By Jolie Taylor
This month, we celebrated our end of term. And that only means one thing...the House Cup. Of course, everyone wants to win, but there can only be one. Every house worked as hard as they could, and each gave it their all. So, when it came time for PAD's speech, everyone wanted to know and was equally anxious. Finally, the final verdict was announced- Ravenclaw had won! Of course, everyone in Ravenclaw is ecstatic, one girl even claiming she almost cried. Every house did a great job, and great job for all your effort. We hope next year will be just as close...it's more fun that way. And good luck to all houses for next year's term.
Thoughts on Professor Ripley's Speech
By Orly
After the Headmistress, the Penshire Head of House was the next one to speak. She touched on the "family" aspect of Hogwarts that has made so many students stay through the years - that this place is unlike any other of the same size, and is unique in the fact that everyone here have such close-knit friendships. She also remarked on the fact that all clubs have been incredibly busy this term, and that next term will bring the battle for the House Cup to a whole 'nother level, with the entering of the new house, Paddington, into Hogwarts.
By Orly
When Professor Snape stood up to make his speech, the entire Great Hall fell silent. This reporter paid close attention as the Head of Slytherin spoke about the equality of every house - that even when one house wins the House Cup, it doesn't make them better people than the people in the other houses. Even with the school being separated by houses, every house is good in its own way, and there isn't one house that is superior to remember. This is something important to remember when competing against the other houses. That no matter who wins or loses, no one house is superior to another.
Head Boy Once Again!
By Arya Drottningu
Yep! Cedric has managed to stay as Head Boy for another term! He definitely deserves it! Not only as he been Head Boy, he has also been a temporary Head of House and Assistant Head of House when needed. Now, that's what I call awesome and dedicated! Seeing that he has done that, Ced has been one of the huge assets to Ravenclaw house, and we're glad to have him back as Head Boy for another year! Woot!
Bryony: The New Head Girl
By Sir Hugo Tien
Bryony has taken Ava's place as Head Girl for this term! Congrats! I'm sure Penshire is glad that, once again, they have a Head Girl in their midst. When I came to Hogwarts, Bry was a prefect and now, she's moved on up! It's a great privilege to have this position and she totally deserves it! Congrats again, Bry! *claps ghostly hands*
By Lynn Jennings
Starting this term, I have become one of the three Gryffindor Prefect Assistants, along with my friends Hermy and Roxxane. I must say, it was quite a different experience than just being a student. I have a whole new gaggle (yes, I still use the world gaggle) of new responsibilities I have to assume and handle with care. However, I feel that it is worth it. Sure, these new responsibilities require me to give up more of my time, but it is still a lot of fun.
Of course, with great responsibility comes great power (if I say anything else...I get sued...). I of course have some perks to my new job. I think my favorite would be the fact that I now have no flood control. I can now post a lot faster, which helps me in spamming and other things.
Overall, I say it feels pretty good to be a Prefect Assistant, and I'm glad for this opportunity.
By Lawl
School dances here at Hogwarts are the backbone of the social infrastructure. It's where everyone is able to meet up, and chat, while celebrating anything and everything ranging from winter to the start of term. Students from other houses don't always get the chance to socialize, and more than a few students enjoy spending all of their time in their respective common rooms, so getting out, and meeting some new people is always a good thing.
Summer Classes
By Orly
It has been announced on the Bulletin Board that Professor Snape is going to be starting a Summer Potions class, and Professor Bliss is going to be beginning her first RPG class, a Summer Herbology class. The Potions class begins on July seventh, and the Herbology class will begin on the first of July. Personally, this reporter can not wait for either of these classes to begin, as it is a great way to earn points, learn new skills and hang out with students from other houses.
Ravenclaw Wins House Cup
By Lynn Jennings
At the end of the term, hundreds of students from all six houses gathered to hear PAD's ever famous end-of-term speech. More specifically, the winner of the house cup. There more time passed, the more anxious the crowd got. Finally, PAD announced the winner was the house of Ravenclaw with a point total of 174,576 points. Congratulations to those in Ravenclaw who pulled their house on top! Also, great job to those in the other houses who helped their house. I wish every house the best of luck for next term.
By Bryony Casten
�Well?�
�We lost.�
*silence* �No we didn�t.�
�Yeah, we did. Raves won by a few thousand.�
End of term has come and gone. The announcement of the House Cup winner was, I�ll be the first to admit it, a disappointment to all of us. Not that the Ravens didn�t work hard for their victory�for sure they did, and we offer them a sincere congratulations for that. But the realization that, after working hard all year and then�on top of it all�the three days of non-stop work we did to try to pull ahead came out tonight was too much for us to handle.
I got over it pretty quickly. An few hours of sulking, shutting myself in my room with a book that had nothing to do in any way with magic, and a bowl of ice-cream made me feel better and resolve that next year would be different. Sapphie glowered for a few days, refusing post or speak to anyone until she got it out of her system.
But we got over it, like everyone knew we would. There�s nothing else you really can do. And so we lick our wounds and make our plans for next year. Because after experiencing defeat two years in a row�(three if you count our first year in existence, but I don�t count that because we were never even close to coming in fourth that year), there is no way we are going to let it happen again. There is no way either of us will settle for anything less than first place next year.
And with that declaration, the Super-Secret-Plan was born. Sapphie came up with the idea, snuck into my room late one night to tell me exactly what she wanted to do and why it would work. And after just a few minutes of checking our math and careful consideration� we�ve settled on the fact that it is a brilliant, foolproof plan. The Super-Secret-Plan is in effect� but no one will guess what it is. Not in a million years.
By Lawl
Students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry were astonished to discover that their beloved library was closed, similar to the way that the Writing Club had been at the end of the �07-�08 term. The Headmistress had hinted at some renovations taking place, but now many students have become impatient, a couple of them going as far as Riley Jake did, and camping out in front of the Library, awaiting its reopening. Hopefully it will reopen soon, because the second floor corridor has become almost impassable.
Excitement for New Term
By Julia Rose Antea
The excitement for the new term is undeniable. Each house is making plans and plotting to try to reach the goal of winning the House Cup. Hufflepuff isn't very into the whole 'plotting to seek victory and blindside the other houses' thing. They do the things that earn points, because they enjoy them; not just because they bring in points. The new staff members are ready for the start of term, so that they can officially begin their reign as Hufflepuff staff. Watch out for each house! Everyone is starting from a clean slate, and the underdogs are not yet determined!