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Month: February 2019

Vexing Vapors: Vampires Top Choice

Smoking, it seems, is a thing of the past. As wizarding society has begun to integrate some fringe forms of muggle culture, vaping has been on the rise. Much as we adapted the wireless from muggle radio services, vape stalls have been appearing in Diagon Alley, and even Hogsmeade. There are a variety of companies, each with their own claim to fame, though Vexing Vapors seems to be dominating the market.

But what exactly is vaping? A vape pen is similar in shape and size to a normal muggle pen- a self-inking, handheld, writing utensil. The pens heat oils, waxes and/or dried herbs, allowing the user to inhale pure vapor, without the harmful toxins traditionally found in tobacco smoke. A simple heating charm replaces the function of the Muggles’ battery, allowing wizards and witches to enjoy the benefits of smoking with fewer side effects. Though the long-term risks of vaping are unknown, many witches and wizards have turned to them as a slightly-healthier form of smoking.

“The vape juice, or little liquids that go in [our pens], come in almost any flavor you can imagine. We’ve even begun adding wizard-exclusive flavors to our selection,” says Stanley Shunpike, co-owner of Vexing Vapors. “I started seeing more and more people with ‘em on the Knight Bus, and saw an opportunity. I’m still there part time, and Lee handles the rest when I’m away. Best business partner I could ask for!”

Mr. Shunpike went on to say, “One plan in the works is ‘Bertie Botts Beans’. The set will contain ten unmarked, miniature vials of vape juice, bringing all the fun of the popular candy to your vape pen. Another flavor, ‘Acid Pop’, packs a bit of a punch – a little goes a long way!”

We were informed by Lee Jordan that mandrake is an undesirable flavor, yet continues to be a top-seller. He said, “Even though it’s a rather nasty taste, we decided to experiment with [mandrake]. We found it can replace a vital step in the process to becoming an animagus. Instead of keeping the leaf in your mouth, the mandrake juice will suffice to complete the change. Its sale is heavily regulated, though, so customers must be registered with the Ministry before purchasing from us. Then, they receive exactly the amount needed to complete the process, nothing more,” His cart is set up directly outside of Weasley’s Wizard Wheezes, owned and operated by Lee’s life-long friends, George and Angelina Weasley.

“George and Angelina are our biggest supporters. They help test our juices, and they let us use this part of their lot free of charge. George says he’s just paying me back for all of his and Fred’s bungled experiments when we were kids. I count myself quite lucky to consider them as some of my closest friends. They are always pushing Stan and me to try something new and chase success.”

“Right now, we’re looking into medicinal uses for our products. For instance, there is reason to believe that a vape juice could be brewed like a potion and yield similar effects. We’ve begun experimenting with the recipe for Pepper-Up Potion, and hope to have it ready soon.”

“What you really have to watch for,” Stan chimes in, “are the Vampire variants. Any juice with blood in the name does contain donated human blood. While it doesn’t hold the nutritional value of a full feeding, our customers say that vaping our Vampire Specialty Blends helps decrease how often they feel the need to feed!”

“We try to keep that stock separate from the rest, but Vampire Specialty Blends are some of our most popular products. Some of the vampires I’ve met have even said that it makes them feel a bit safer around humans, and vaping is innocuous enough to be a continual aid and appetite suppressant without drawing suspicion.”

A one-time investment with a lifetime guarantee, quality vape pens like, those sold by Vexing Vapors, are not cheap. “We use only the highest quality materials in our pens to help ensure that they last your entire lifetime. Our cheapest versions start at twenty-five galleons, and our top quality pen that produces smooth and plentiful vapors runs for nearly fifty galleons. We have special testers here at the cart with disposable mouthpieces so that our customers can try our juices and our pens to know exactly what they are buying.”

When asked about their long-term goals, Lee told us that they, “hope to continue finding ways that this simple, muggle device can enhance the quality of wizarding life.”

Beguiling Brewery Extends Sleekeazy’s

Breaking news has reached us from from Beguiling Brewery’s PR rep, Bethany Belvedere. “The rumors that we are extending the Sleekeazy’s line of hair products is absolutely true. Not only have we formulated a shampoo and conditioner to make bushy hair more controllable with less effort on a daily basis, the new products do not have any untoward side effects for those with red hair like the original product did. It’s a slight change to the recipe, but we feel it is only best to extend Fleamont Potter’s legacy.”

“In addition to the reformulation and extension of Sleekeazy’s, we are also developing a line of products called Curleazy’s. Curleazy’s will be offered as a hair tonic, a daily shampoo, and a conditioner. It is a curse of womanhood to want what we don’t have. Now, every witch can have the best of both worlds. The shampoo and conditioner for Sleekeazy’s will be available in most wizarding retailers by next month, and we hope to launch Curleazy’s by the beginning of next year.”

When asked if there would be more lines added to the brand, Ms. Belvadere stated, “We have ideas for other lines, but we want to see how Curleazy’s does first. Our number one goal is customer satisfaction, and we want to make sure that we are meeting the standards our clientele have come to expect before we take on a new venture.”

“However, we are accepting applications for product testers as we finish tweaking the formulation of Curleazy’s. Interested parties must be aged sixteen or older with naturally straight hair. Participants will receive testers and instructions via owl post, along with a small compensation for their participation. Applications can be found in your local apothecary, and should be delivered to the brewery via owl no later than April fifth.”

Headmistress Issues Warnings Over Continuing Pranks

The prank war continues to wage at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, even after students were injured. “It had gotten quiet around the castle in the last few weeks,” quotes a 6th-year Ravenclaw student. “I guess the pranksters decided it was time to strike again.”

It had indeed been quiet in the castle, a very welcomed turn of events by the staff. Hogwarts has always had a handful of students each year create their fair share of rouacus, but this year has proven to be much different. According to sources inside the school, the previously reported stories weren’t even the tip of the iceberg. Readers will remember, after the Christmas holiday ended and students returned to school, we released the story of the slinkies that were set about the castle and made to descend the many staircases. This was a spectacle in itself, as the muggle toy delightfully mesmerizes children with its paradoxical simplicity and intricacy. Since many young witches and wizards had never heard of them before, let’s just say they got everyone’s attention.

Our inside sources have recently let slip that several other large pranks were orchestrated before the holiday break throughout the castle. Coats of armor were charmed, causing them to move about the castle on their own. The owlery was flooded with mice one Saturday afternoon, making it nearly impossible to visit the tower, let alone getting a letter sent. Someone even jinxed the toilets in the boys bathroom on the 3rd floor to give what is called “a swirly” to students at random when they enter. For those readers who are unfamiliar with the term, a swirly is a rather nasty prank where someone sticks another person’s head in the toilet while it flushes. The jinx that was used actually causes the water to rise from the toilet bowl and attach itself to the head of the person who just flushed.

Following their recent break in devious behaviors, the pranksters have upped their game by charming the paintings in the castle. It has not been confirmed if all of the art has been affected, but we have it on good authority that at least 50% of the paintings in the castle have been bewitched to speak foreign languages.

This has caused chaos to many students attempting to gain access to corridors and dormitories that require passwords and the answering of riddles. “The Hogwarts staff has been working well into the night trying to counter-jinx each portrait,” sighed an exasperated Headmistress earlier today who was later witnessed in The Great Hall giving a special announcement at dinner time. She made a somewhat ominous appeal to her students. “I want to take a moment to appeal to those students who are involved in this insanity: End this right now, and I will overlook the previous indiscretions once your identities have been uncovered. But, take heed. If you continue with this… frivolity, the punishment you receive shall be quite severe.”

But, will this be the end of the chaos in the castle? Only time will tell.

Potion Discovery Leads to Medical Breakthrough

Accomplished Hogwarts Herbology Professor Neville Longbottom has stunned Potioneers, Healers, and peers everywhere with his discovery of an amazing new restorative potion. Neville brewed the potion especially to aid the wellbeing of his parents, the esteemed ex-Aurors Frank and Alice Longbottom. The former Aurors were forced out of employment when the Death Eater, Bellatrix Lestrange (b1951 – d1998), tortured them both through the use of an Unforgivable Curse. Extended victims of the torture curse, their once excellent minds were reduced to something described by healers as ‘perpetually infantile’. Their compulsory medical retirement was effective immediately, as they became mandatory inpatients of St. Mungo’s Janus Thickey Ward.

Following extensive consultation with the team of Head Healers at St Mungo’s, Professor Longbottom served his parents a substance of his own creation containing Mandrake root and Jewelweed, amongst other ingredients. “My studies began with the Mandrake root,” Professor Longbottom explained. “I had witnessed its immensely powerful recovering properties during my years at Hogwarts as a student and wanted to explore how much further this could be exploited. My struggle was that this particularly tricky plant loses its effectiveness when combined with too many other ingredients. Stewing the different plants together with Jewelweed, for its soothing qualities, seems to be a viable solution!” Rather than just providing some form of temporary relief, as he and the Healers had been hoping, the potion restored Frank and Alice Longbottom to a lasting state of sound mind.

Having excelled at Herbology in his schooling years, this recent venture into potions was wholly unexpected for Professor Longbottom, especially considering the D (Dreadful) result of his OWL, causing him to drop the subject for NEWT studies which required nothing less than E (Exceeds Expectations) to advance.

“I had no idea it would be so effective!” Stammered a visibly stunned Professor Longbottom as his family showered him with hugs and affection. “I just noticed the key effects of several different healing plants that could be brought to work together if mixed with aged Jewelweed that had been stewed precisely. I had only envisioned it being a temporary relief or boost, like a pepper-up potion for the mind!” He explained further, as he was wrapped in his mother’s arms with his father’s hand clasped firmly on one shoulder. “Yet, after my parents had taken a sip, the change I witnessed in both of them was beyond all belief!”

The method for brewing this wonderous potion, at the time of printing, has not been released. A hospital insider, however, has informed this reporter that the methodology in full has been gifted to St Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, with the further instruction that all profits from the potion’s use are to be contributed toward the healing of other Hospital patients.

Professor Longbottom’s potion, named Combinreficiat, for both it’s creation and effects; has been dedicated to his parents, Frank and Alice. “Their Auror days have always been an example for me to strive towards,” Longbottom explained. “Their hospitalization provided me with a cause upon which to focus my research. Without them, I couldn’t have hoped to do half of what I’ve accomplished.”

“A miraculous stroke of inspiration!” Exclaimed esteemed Medicinal Potioneer May Q. Better. “I have been experimenting with similar ingredients for decades without success! Professor Longbottom’s ingenious insight to stew these ingredients amongst others, together in Jewelweed was simply sublime! I have no hesitation in saying that Combinreficiat will prove to be the potion of the Century!”

Professor Longbottom’s first instinct, on seeing the success of his potion, was to introduce his parents to his wife, Hannah Longbottom (née: Abbott), only to find out that they had retained a great deal of what they had been told during their many years as invalids. Healers present said they were overjoyed to finally be able to properly welcome Hannah into their family as they had longed to do for so many years. Furthermore, it is reported they were bursting with happiness that they could finally express their elation at Neville’s employment as a Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Combinreficiat has since been successfully administered to all patients within the Janus Thickey Ward, and Healers and common-folk alike are eagerly waiting to see just how widespread this potion’s remedy will prove to be across different magical injuries.

Frank and Alice Longbottom have resumed advisor roles within the Auror Office of the Ministry of Magic, determined to be of use, even if past their physical prime as Aurors. In related news, however, former Hogwarts Defence Against the Dark Arts Professor Gilderoy Lockhart, having recovered fully from his mental trauma as a result of the Combinreficiat, has baffled professionals in getting directly back to his work as a heroic vigilante. Inside sources report he is already preparing for the release of a new novel, Expedition with Erumpents, for publication by mid-2019.

Only time will tell how broad the positive results of Combinreficiat will prove to be. Professor Longbottom has certainly written his place in the annals of Hogwarts’ greats.

Giant Spiders… A Giant Problem

Magical Creatures, it seems that the Ministry has kept close tabs on all breeds of beasts, but the stories that we have been hearing lately spin a different web of information.

We here at The Prophet heard from a number of reliable sources that some of the beasts in the forest have started to migrate. The question is; are they being smuggled out of the forest, are they leaving on their own, or are they being brought into the country another way? The beasts in question, acromantulas, generally prefer a habitat of dense vegetation. The Dark Forest provides this perfectly, so the rapidly increasing number of reports that they are dwelling elsewhere is concerning to say the least.

Acromantulas are arachnids, originating from Borneo, that grow to exceedingly large sizes. They have a high intelligence level, can communicate through speech like humans, and are carnivorous. The first acromantulas were brought to our region of the world by notable magizoologists. Due to their incredibly rare venom and its useful properties for potion making, Magical Law Enforcement has seen a rise in the number of smugglers who attempt to bring acromantulas into the country without proper documentation.

Creature trafficking has become an epidemic in the last few decades. While some beasts are harder to conceal, such as dragons and zouwu, small beasts, such as nifflers and puffskeins, are easily concealed and traded illegally, both in our country and outside of it.

The Ministry has been changing its regulations and has been cracking down on creature breeding across the country to try to temper some of the activity within our borders. Anyone who is found with a magical creature that does not have the proper paperwork will be fined. The fine imposed is dependent upon the classification level of the beast, ranging from “X” – “XXXXX.” According to our sources inside the Department, breeders have been overwhelmed with some of the new decisions made by the Ministry, but it has been noted that most are making the necessary adjustments to continue to operate within the confines of the laws.

The Ministry has been on the receiving end of countless owls, as of late, with reports of acromantula sightings all over Scotland and North Britain. Sources inside the department were able to secure us a few of the reports that have been filed, some seem harmless, “…a spider, it was as big as my hand…” but others are ominous indeed. “….I saw it retreating into the woods near our greenhouse… it had our dog in its pinchers. He wasn’t moving….”  

“While talking spiders aren’t completely unheard of in the magical community, it is unheard of to have 50 reports of giant spider sightings in the span of a week, and even more unnerving to hear that they have taken out a family pet,” Beast Division spokeswitch, Mathilda Grimblehawk, stated last Monday when confronted about the rumors. “We are working to sort through these reports and determine exactly what is going on.

Further investigations have uncovered the beasts that have been spotted outside of Hogwarts grounds are incredibly hostile. The Ministry’s attempts to control and relocate these creatures has not gone to plan. One such attempt enraged a small clutter of the arachnids, leading them to flee into a nearby muggle village.

The local muggles, who are not accustomed to such large beasts, were understandably terrified. Panic ensued, leading to several wrecked automobiles, and minor injuries. Obliviators were dispatched and concealment charms were put on the woods near the village in an attempt to keep the muggles at bay until the Beasts Division was able to get the situation under control; a task that took 3 days to complete and required the aid of long-time Care of Magical Creatures Professor from Hogwarts, Rubeus Hagrid.

Professor Hagrid, who was expelled from Hogwarts in his third year, reclaimed favour with the magical community after the second wizarding war, and has maintained his post as professor for the last several decades. He also serves as the schools groundskeeper, where he tends to all of the creatures in The Dark Forest, including the acromantulas. He was instrumental in their placement in the forest more than half a century ago and is on speaking terms with Mosag, the clutter leader.

According to information provided by Professor Hagrid, Mosag has stated the creatures that were relocated to the forest did not originate there. Ministry officials have since continued their investigation into the origins of the creatures found in the countryside. We here at The Daily Prophet will continue following their investigation and keep you, our dedicated readers, informed on any new developments. If you have any leads, we encourage you to report them to the Department via owl.

Ministry of Magic Opens Daycare Center

Dementors have been spotted at an alarming rate in the last several weeks. Officials from the Department of Magical Creatures are just as baffled by their surprising appearances as of late. On Friday, as many as three dementors were spotted near The Leaky Cauldron in London, and two were seen in Knockturn Alley over the weekend. Residents as far as Kent have also reported dementor sightings.

As most of our readers know, dementors were removed from their employ at Azkaban Prison after the second wizarding war after their allegiances changed and they began doing the bidding of Dark Witches and Wizards.

Officials stated that they are looking into the issue after the first sighting was reported and they characterized it as a “one time occurrence.” However the rising number of sightings shows that it is anything but. Officials from St. Mungos remind everyone to be vigilant and to leave the area immediately if they notice their surroundings becoming cold, and their emotions going dark. Healer Atticus Bratton stated earlier today, “They don’t care who you are, if you cross their path and they feel the need, they will preform their kiss on you. At that point, there is nothing that can be done for you.”

It is recommended not to travel alone at this time. If you find yourself in the vicinity of a dementor you are advised to use the patronus charm to stop a dementor attack and allow yourself the opportunity to flee. If you are affected by the torments of a dementor attack, chocolate is an excellent way to restore your body to its normal state.

More on this as it develops.

 

Kids of Ministry of Magic Daycare

Rags to Riches: We Are The Weasleys

Over the years, plenty of families have fallen in and out of favor. The idea of “The Sacred Twenty-Eight” often draws criticism, and one family has even forsaken the title that was once the ultimate mark of prestige. They don’t buy into the concept of blood purity, and they’ve withstood the test of time. They’ve weathered their share of loss, and in return they are closer than ever. This is the story of love, laughter, and loyalty. This is the story of the Weasleys.

I interviewed each of the Weasleys one by one and got their take on what makes their family an ongoing symbol of strength. First, I sat down with the members who started it all. Patriarch Arthur Weasley is now the Head of the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts Office. His wife, Molly Weasley (neé Prewett) can often be found with one of their many grandchildren or knitting in a quiet nook.

Upon arrival at their home, lovingly known as “The Burrow,” I am ushered into their home with open arms. They give me a brief tour of their home, offer me a cup of tea and some delightful biscuits baked by none other than Molly herself. We settle in on the sofas of their living room near the roaring fireplace. I find myself enthralled and entranced by the comfortable, laid-back atmosphere. With my sock covered feet tucked up beside me and my quill charmed and ready, I ease into what is perhaps the most relaxed and welcoming interview I have had the pleasure of conducting thus far.

Bri: “Thank you for sitting down with me Mr. and Mrs. Weasley!”

Arthur: “Please, call us Molly and Arthur.”

Bri: “Certainly, Arthur. You have quite the lovely home, here! I’ve never seen anything quite like it! It’s absolutely enchanting!”

Molly: “Thank you, dear! We are quite fond of it ourselves.” her beaming smile is one of pride and genuine happiness.

Bri: “Let’s jump right in, shall we?  Most people would say it’s impossible to get by the way your family did. So how did you do it?”

Arthur: “Well, it certainly wasn’t easy raising seven children on a single ministry salary, but we made it work.”

Arthur pauses and scratches his balding head. There’s a nostalgic sheen to his green eyes as he looks back upon their life.

Arthur: “We worked hard. Very hard. I took extra hours, and Molly found odd jobs baking cakes or making commissioned knitting pieces.”

Molly: “In situations like those, you learn what is truly important. You learn the difference between necessity and commodity, and you learn how to prioritize the things you need over the things you want.”

Bri: “How did it go when the kids headed off to school? Hogwarts can get quite costly.”

Molly: “It wasn’t so bad when the first three, Bill, Charlie and Percy, went to Hogwarts. They didn’t get into too much trouble and got excellent grades. They were fine with second hand books so long as they got to chase their goals. They worked hard for their education  and followed their dreams as any parent hopes their child will.”

Arthur: “Once Fred and George got there, everything changed. They hated being compared to their brothers, and always had a flair for the grandiose. They spent most of their Hogwarts years in detention. But their penchant for pranks and mischief led to great success, even if it caused us many headaches over the years. They were making trouble as soon as they could toddle. We knew their school years would be different, but nothing can prepare you for that many letters from Minerva McGonagall. They were constantly damaging things; I can’t tell you how many sets of robes they caught on fire.”

Arthur shakes his head with a fond grin, and I can almost picture the smoking Hogwarts garb myself.

Molly: “Ronald, I think he had it the hardest. The last of the boys, I think Ron used to feel as if he were second best. As if he couldn’t quite keep up with the rest of the boys and Harry. We don’t blame Harry, of course, quite the contrary! But we do wish we had been able to get Ron more things of his own.”

Arthur: “He… he often got teased and bullied because of our lack of wealth. His robes were often too short and a bit tattered; Had to be if they survived the twins. Ron’s the tallest in the family and he grew like a weed. We couldn’t quite keep up, but he took it all in stride. He didn’t let it get to him often, and has this sort of laid back strength about him that I have admired since he was small. Few people have that, particularly so young.”

Molly: “When we had heard what happened in the corridor his first year, we were both shocked and entirely unsurprised. The teachers had hidden the Philosopher’s stone in the school for its own protection against You-Know-Who. Several of them had placed protections on it. At the time, Ron, Hermione and Harry believed that Snape was after the stone- He wasn’t, but Quirinus Quirrell was -and when they heard that Dumbledore had left the school, they were certain that he would go after it. They managed to get past a few of the obstacles, and Ron has always been a brilliant strategist, particularly when it comes to chess. It seemed very fitting that he had sacrificed himself on the giant wizarding chess board set by McGonagall. Somehow, it just made sense in an odd sort of way. It was that surprising.”

Arthur: “Flying the family car into the Whomping Willow was quite a shock, though.”

Arthur struggles to hide his chuckle from his wife’s disapproving glare.

Molly: “By their second year, we nearly had a heart attack. Fred and George were still terrorizing the school with their pranks, and that was the year of all the attacks. Turns out that Ginny had been possessed by an old diary that had belonged to Voldemort. It forced her to release the basilisk that was within the Chamber of Secrets. By the end of it, she had been taken down into the Chamber. While the professors were in the process of shutting down the rest of the school, Ron and Harry snuck away to save her.”

Molly: “After Ron and Harry went to save Ginny in the Chamber of Secrets, we knew they were going to be nearly as much trouble as Fred and George, but in a much more concerning way. The twins, their pranks were relatively harmless. But Ron and Harry, thick as thieves those two. Where one went, the other followed, and Hermione was never far behind. Unfortunately, trouble seemed attracted to Harry like Nifflers to Gringotts.”

Arthur: “And when Ginny got to school, she was an entirely different set of issues. Her first year aside, there was little trouble from her for her first few years. She was so young when she was possessed by the diary, we can hardly hold her accountable for it. But when she turned fourteen, we started getting letters home about boys.

The grimace Arthur wears now is comical and all-too-relatable to any parent with a teenage daughter.

Arthur: “By her fifth year, her relationship with Harry was getting serious until the war sort of exploded. She was very…..”

Molly: “Precocious.”

Arthur: “Yes, that.”

Molly: “But she was an excellent student, and a great athlete. She has always adored quidditch. Ginny made friends easily, and was even quite popular. She did quite well.”

Bri: “On a more serious note, how has the war directly affected you and your family?”

Arthur: “There’s not a day that goes by where we don’t miss Fred. His death…. war is hard enough without loosing a child. He was such a bright presence in our lives.”

Arthur’s arm is now around his solemn wife’s shoulders. Tears fill Molly’s eyes, and it is moments like these that make my job so difficult. Their pain is palpable, and I wish I could take my question back, but to do so would be a disservice to the memory of their fallen son.

Molly: “As-aside from us and George, I think it hit Percy the hardest. He told us once that he blamed himself for distracting Fred during the battle, but no one could have predicted the wall falling. He carried that burden for a long time. I’m not sure he will ever let go of that unnecessary guilt.”

Molly shakes her head sadly, but seems to rally and refocus as she takes a deep breath.

Molly: “The war changed us, for better and for worse. In the start of it all, I lost both of my older brothers, Gideon and Fabian. It saddens me that my children don’t remember their uncle’s. They were both such good men. The war divided us from Percy for a while, but eventually he found his way back home.

Arthur: “Bill was lucky to survive after Greyback’s attack. The kids managed to summon us and the other members of The Order of the Phoenix the night that Dumbledore died. We arrived too late to save him, but the Death Eaters were still in the school. Greyback was absolutely deranged, you see, and he bit Bill, even though it wasn’t a full moon. His face was permanently scarred, and though he is not a werewolf in full, the bite changed him. His moods are influenced by the moons cycle, and he grows quite agitated near the full moon.”

Molly: “We are so thankful to have his wife Fleur as a part of our family. They met here at Hogwarts during the Triwizard Tournament while we were visiting Harry, then worked together at Gringotts, at first, we were very worried of how she would react, but she handled the attack quite well. She helped take care of him while he recovered, and we couldn’t ask for a better match for Bill.”

Molly: “Charlie visits more since the war ended. He still lives at the dragon reserve in Romania, but he is here at least twice a month instead of just on the holidays, and he absolutely adores his nieces and nephews.

Arthur: “George and Ron have been managing the joke shop since Ron left the Auror force. The products they come up with never cease to amaze me. They’ve got several lines of products made specifically for the Auror forces. They hope that their products can help the Auror’s prevent future wars.”

Molly: “Indirectly, I think the war still affects Ginny the most. There are so many people who are quick to forget that Harry is a person, not just a war hero. Ginny still remembers how it felt to be possessed by the diary, and I think she has a bit of anxiety over it and Harry’s career choice. She fears something similar could happen to him, but we know he loves his job. There are days where we can tell that the two of them just need some space, and we often remind them that we are always available to babysit during the summers. They visit us several times a week.”

Throughout their response the mood has lightened. Their fond smiles are contagious as I continue.

Bri: “What is it like now that they have grown? Are you enjoying the empty nest?”

Molly: “Honestly, we couldn’t have been blessed with better kids. They help us out at every turn, and we talk to them all several times a week. It’s nice to have some space for a change, but by Wednesday, we miss them all. We look forward to our weekends with all of the kids and grandkids.”

Arthur: “Though, most of the grandkids are away at Hogwarts for the year. They call us when they can, and we see them every Holiday.”

Bri: “If there was only one piece of advice you could give, one thing you could share with the world as a standard you live by, what would it be?”

Molly: “Family. Family always comes first. What is the point of having tons of money if you’ve got no one to share it with? Without family, what is there in life?”

Her answer is immediate and spoken with deep-seated conviction. The passion burning in her eyes is as undeniable as the love they clearly share.

Arthur: “And not just blood family, either. Blood is just a small part of it. Family is a feeling of belonging, of peace. Long before they married in, Harry and Hermione were a part of our family. Family is about the people who love you unconditionally, and there is nothing greater than that. We may have more galleons in the bank than we used to, but if we had to choose between our vaults and our family, we would happily choose the later without hesitation.”

Molly: “All we need to be happy in life is our family. No matter how old we are or they are, they know that we will always be here to help them. They always have a place to go that they can call home.”

There you have it, folks! Stay tuned for our next interview with Bill Weasley!

Wampus Attacks Plague Appalachian America

Residents of a small Appalachian Mountain community in Georgia (located in the southeastern United States) are locking their pets up tight tonight and a curfew has been enacted for all residents following a series of vicious attacks. The culprit, thought to be a mountain lion, has been spotted several times on well-traveled portions of the Appalachian trail and has already taken four human and at least seven canine victims. “The attacks, or their remains rather, were unlike anything we’ve ever seen,” said the muggle (or no-maj as Americans call them) Police Chief Rory Quattle. “The victims are eviscerated and barely recognizable. Only the DNA of the persons was useful in identification of the remains.”

One witness, who reported spotting the large cat, was dismissed by local authorities as being “crazy.” The man, who has since asked to remain anonymous following several prank calls from rude and cruel teens, stated that the cat he saw was walking like a man, on its hind legs. When he stumbled upon the creature during a walk, he said he couldn’t look away from its yellow eyes. Beyond that, the witness couldn’t remember anything else that happened.

It was this person’s account that piqued the interest of the Magical Congress of the United States (MACUSA). After a cursory investigation, MACUSA’s President has sought help from the Ministry of Magic here in Britain, stating that we have more experience with and are far more tolerant of mythical and dangerous beasts.

After conferring with MACUSA, The Ministry of Magic feels assured that the man, a muggle, is lucky to be alive following his suspected encounter with a Wampus Cat. The Ministry believes the man must have stumbled upon the cat immediately after a feeding, or he would have been eviscerated like the other victims. Though his memory was vague, the area in which the witness saw the cat was within a kilometer of where the first human victim was found later that same day.

Wampus Cats are dangerous magical beasts native to the Appalachian Mountain range of North America. They are said to closely resemble a mountain lion with a few crucial distinctions. Wampus Cats have eight legs, and are known for their speed and agility, as well as their unusual habit of walking upright like a human. Their yellow eyes are a source of immense concern, as they are reported to have the powers of hypnosis and Legilimency. These creatures, which are actually one of the four house symbols at the Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, are nearly impossible to kill. It has been reported that their hairs make exceptional wand cores, though a Native American tribe known as the Cherokee are the only people to successfully procure and utilize these valuable cores.

At this time, The Ministry of Magic is not planning to intervene, though that may change if the Wampus Cat continues to feed on muggles and their pets. Muggle authorities have warned local towns and villages to stay clear of the trails in hopes of preventing further attacks. For now, MACUSA is content to allow the Wampus Cat to continue hunting on the trails, as their wary and somewhat fearful relationship with muggles makes them less interested in intervening on their behalf. More on this story as it develops.

The Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition

The Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition 2019

Hey Potterheads,

Have you been itching as bad as we have to add the new Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition to your Harry Potter collection? Well good news has been delivered by way of Owl – that wait is almost over….. Maybe.

For several years in a row now we have been able to add a new beautiful edition release to our bookshelves, but we’ve been waiting for this release for quite the spell (no pun intended).

Book artist Jim Kay has been working on the new Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition now for more than two years. The esteemed artist has promised tons of “Luxury Easter Eggs” that will bring any Potterhead back to the books graphical content over and over again for years in to come. In addition we have also been assured that with this volume we will have the “complete and unabridged” original text to match the enchanting illustration work.

In fact, Bloomsbury publishing has been quoted claiming that the Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition “Brings more breathtaking scenes and unforgettable characters like Cedric Diggory and Mad Eye Moody,  to life than ever before.”

This highly anticipated version of The Goblet of Fire will come with a foil jacket, head and tail bands, illustrated endpapers and an elegant ribbon marker. For you serious Potterheads and fans that don’t mind spending a little more, a Deluxe Edition will also be available. This edition boasts a real cloth cover, slipcase, gilded edges and an opulent large format typography set.

The Daily Prophet has been told that you can find The Goblet of Fire Illustrated edition in book stores or your favorite online retailers October 8th, 2019. Pre-ordering will be available through Amazon and Books-a-Million. At this time Barnes and Noble’s website has no indication of when they will make this edition available for online or in-store preorder.

In the meantime, be sure to pick up the previous illustrated editions of Harry Potter Years 1-3 (See Below Article), Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and The Tales of Beetle The Bard.

While Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire was originally published in 2000, it is a fan favorite and the first installment in the series to boast a midnight release party world wide! If you have not had a chance to read this series The Daily Prophet highly recommends picking up the current edition of The Goblet of Fire from amazon.

Sign up for The Daily Prophet’s Newsletter to get up to date information on the release of the new Goblet of Fire Illustrated Edition.


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Slytherin’s Head of House Brings Forward-Thinking Ideals to Hogwarts

This week The Daily Prophet had the chance to catch up with Slytherin’s Head of House to discuss pressing matters inherited by Slytherin’s tenebrous history and how the magical communities socialization standards may no longer be advantageous to the student body at Hogwarts.

Reporter: Professor Loughran, can you please tell me what it means to you to be the Head of House for Slytherin?

Professor Loughran: I take an extreme amount of pride in being the head of Slytherin. I worked incredibly hard to become Head of House and aim to make changes within the house that will affect the long term relationships of the student body and the pessimistic disposition that has been attached to its name since the inception of Hogwarts and even long before.

Reporter: With that said, what are your goals for Slytherin house members as it pertains to disrupting the stigma that has been attributed to your house?

**Professor Loughran pauses and then lets out a crooked smile from one side of her mouth**

Professor Loughran: My goals are indicative of what it’s always meant to be a Slytherin – to be strong-willed, ambitious and a natural leader. Slytherins are usually only noted for their demeaning qualities rather than the exceptional display of character that can be developed in such a class of individuals. It’s my duty and responsibility to help our teachers at Hogwarts prepare Slytherins for this hostile belief system and encourage them to rise to every occasion with complete excellence.

Reporter: You’ve made some excellent points that should be taken into consideration by contemporary witches and wizards. Would you mind elaborating?

**Professor Loughran sighs**

Professor Loughran: Sure. The state of affairs and view of Slytherin students are unjust. Most of our students and past Wizards and Witches tend to act a certain way because that’s simply what people have come to expect. For instance, you’re a great writer and will make me look good, right?!. **Says Professor Loughran in an exigent tone** People demand that of you and thus you deliver it. In the same sense, the world of Magic presupposes that is what Slytherins will deliver. If you’re surrounded by the manifestation of these dark assumptions, and no one reaches out to help you, more times than not if the individual is not strong enough, they will succumb to their self-fulfilling destiny. One of the many reasons I agreed to meet with you is to shed light on this area, so please forgive me if I am coming off as contentious or bitter – it is a soft spot for me when it comes to my students.

Reporter: Thank you for the explanation, Professor. I will take that into account. Another excellent response! In relation to witches and wizards inherently going bad from the Slytherin House, do you think house segregation contributes to this at Hogwarts? Wizards and Witches have mentioned that the separation of houses is a very old system that doesn’t allow for the integration or diversity of all character types to learn from each other in a socially sustainable environment.

**Professor Loughran glares at me with a pensive look for seconds**

Professor Loughran: Yes, I think it does. Our students grow at an exceedingly high rate from the first year they are introduced to magic at Hogwarts, until the time of their graduation ceremony. When individuals are stuck in a system that is not catering to their individual needs–which may differ from their direct peers–they lack the opportunity to grow and come into whom they naturally are and desire to become.

Reporter: How so?

Professor Loughran: Are you familiar with Severus Snape?

Reporter: I am, why?

Professor Loughran: Severus Snape was a Slytherin who may have been sorted into the correct house, but didn’t necessarily display all the characteristics of a Slytherin House Member. It is possible that because house segregation was even more prevalent back then, this led to his affiliation and association with Lord Voldemort. Imagine if the houses of his time had been geared towards socialization between the different houses. It is possible to speculate that the positive qualities he possessed would have been tended to by the students of other houses, and in turn, may have prevented him from ultimately becoming a Death Eater. In the end, however, it must be recognized that his allegiance was not with whom he swore it to because it was never who he was, but whom the world saw him as. Simply put. Younger classes need inter-house socialization. The sorting system stifles that.

Reporter: Thank you for that very detailed explanation and example. I think it’s a very important topic that should be discussed more. Professor, I must ask – is Hogwarts experiencing the same acclimation issues as the muggle world, with transgender and non-binary identification in adolescents and underage witches and wizards?

Professor Loughran: It is. At Hogwarts, just like in the rest of the world, there are children who feel out of place and are trying to finding themselves. We accept everyone and are very accommodating. It’s known that the dorms are spelled to adapt to kids who are non-Binary or who were assigned one side of the dorm but feel they should be allowed on the other. We also allow changes to the uniform to make students feel more comfortable. While this is a new obstacle for Hogwarts, we feel we are doing everything we can to make it fully inclusive.

Reporter: Speaking of fully inclusive systems, what is the temperature between half-blood and full-blood witches and wizards at school?

Professor Loughran: Bloodlines have long been an issue in Slytherin’s history. Slytherins are infamous for slandering Half-bloods and Muggle-borns. Hogwarts’ staff continually strive to eradicate blood prejudice and educate students on the importance of blood diversity in strengthening magic. However, no matter how diligently we work on building this positive attitude, this derogatory mindset against Half-bloods and Muggle-borns is rooted in a deep history–far deeper than just the Slytherin house–that is continually passed down from generation to generation. It is difficult to counteract the teachings of parents who are stuck in out-dated mindsets. Therefore, I do not doubt that these prejudices persist. However, bullying is not tolerated on Hogwarts’ premises.

Reporter: Doesn’t it always start with the parents and social upbringing, Professor?

Professor Loughran: Indeed Selevas, Indeed.

Reporter: Professor, I would like to personally thank you for your time. I know how busy you must be.  The Daily Prophet and I extend our gratitude for this opportunity.

In conclusion, sitting down with Professor Loughran was an extreme pleasure and brought to light ongoing concerns that have affected her house for centuries. Her forward-thinking ideas and approach may, however, be the much-needed change that helps amend the perception of Slytherin.

One thing remains for certain, however – it is always better to be hated for what you are than loved for who you are not.