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Month: March 2019

Which Daily Prophet Column Are You “Most Likely” To Write For?

Which Hogwarts house do you belong to?

Which Patronus would you chose to be yours?

What is your favorite color?

What is your ideal wand made of?

If you could have one of the deathly hallows, which would it be?

Which Harry Potter movie was your favorite?

Between The Following Numbers, Which Is Your Favorite

What Daily Column Are You "Most Likely" To Write For?
Dark Arts

You love the Dark Arts! When you attended your school of witch craft and wizardry you excelled beyond most of your class mates in nefarious charms and potions.
Everything Muggles
You are fascinated by the underdeveloped muggle society and would be an excellent contributor for topics surrounding the use of non-magical devices and items.
Magical Creatures
You live to learn and apply your knowledge regarding magical creatures! Dragons and half-horse men have always peaked your interests.
Potions
You would make an excellent writer for our potions column! You probably are or knew the half-blood prince personally.
World Wizarding News
You have a general understanding and knack for the world of magic and it's happenings. You would be suited to write short columns about almost anything.

Hogwarts Announces New Pet Policies

Our offices here at The Prophet were flooded with owls this morning when staff arrived to begin their day after an announcement was made by the Governors of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

The staff of Hogwarts and the Governors have apparently been working on expanding several school policies to be more inclusive, such as pet policies and dormitory assignments. The announcement sent to parents via owl post late yesterday afternoon stated there were several other policies updated and even some new policies that will be announced in the coming months after final adjustments have been made.

The owls we received from parents of Hogwarts students seem to have a common thought: that these policies will be more trouble than they are worth. Changing dormitory assignments is an easy adjustment as it is described by the Governors. Students will no longer stay in the same room their full seven years in the castle, but instead, there will be specific rooms for each grade level. Our source from the last Governors meeting stated the dorm rooms will offer different amenities than the standard dorm rooms’ four-poster beds and wardrobes.

Each dorm room will still have these basic items for each student, but as students progress through school, their personal storage space in the dormitories will be expanded. Bathrooms will also be larger and have more features for each ascending grade level. While we received a few complaints about the changes to the dorms, the main cord of discontent was in regards to the pet policy.

The official standard, when it came to pets in the castle, was that students would be allowed either a cat, an owl or a toad. Yet, many students ended up with more than one pet during their time at school, or with an animal that is not on the approved list, such as a ferret or a rat. Several of our staff members even stated that during their years at school, several students had dogs or exotic pets, such as snakes, lizards, and turtles. There were even reported cases of students having magical plants as pets in their dormitories.

These students were occasionally reprimanded, but during our investigations, it was discovered that cases of actual punishments were rarely ever filed within student disciplinary records. While the motivation behind the amendments to the pet policy have yet to be discovered, logic can be found in the frustration being displayed by many parents over the recent changes.

Per the official announcement, students will be allowed to have no more than 2 pets at the same time during their magical education. Students will have to send in a form registering their animals, and each animal will be required to have a tag, either on the animal itself or on the animal’s cage/tank. While dogs are still not on the official approved list of pets allowed in the castle, exotic pets have been given the all clear, as long as they are properly maintained. Free roaming animals, such as cats, will have to be spayed/neutered in order to stay in the castle. Students are discouraged from allowing their animals to venture out of the dormitory and common room areas.

It is suggested that identification cuffs are used for owls and other birds (a recent addition to the approved animals list) being kept as pets. Cats will need to have tags on their collars. All animals must be transported in cages, baskets, tanks or crates during arrival to and departure from school grounds, including breaks for Christmas and Easter holidays. Eeylops Owl Emporium of Diagon Alley and the Magical Menagerie have both already placed orders to aid students in the proper identification and care of their familiar companions and will have these items available for special pricing to all Hogwarts students before the start of the new term.  

Any student found to have a pet that has not been properly registered with the school, or an animal that is not on the approved list will face disciplinary action and possibly have their animal removed from the school. Have the Governors added to the workload of the schools administration and staff with these new policies? How do you feel that they will affect the school as a whole? We want to know! Send us your owls today!

Growing Up Granger

As I approach Flourish and Blotts, I am greeted by a line that emerges from door and reaches further down Diagon Alley, so far that I cannot see the end. Today marks the release of Mrs. Hermione Granger first book, “Growing Up Granger”. In her autobiography, Granger discusses what is was truly like to be a Muggle-Born student at the infamous Hogwarts School of Witchcraft And Wizardry. Among other topics is the truth behind her experience growing up with and learning with The Boy Who Lived.

I was given the opportunity to meet with the author and ask her a few questions about her best seller! Upon arrival in the shop, I was asked for my ID. I was promptly escorted to a room in the rear of the store. The blue wall paper of the small space made it feel homey and welcoming, there were a few fluffy velvet chairs. There were windows on almost every wall and the room was filled with warmth and natural light. There is a small table of assorted snacks from various shops in Diagon Alley. Mrs. Granger entered the space with an air of sophistication and we began what I can only call one of my most honest and hilarious interviews ever. The following is an excerpt from the memorable conversation.

Orion: “Mrs. Granger it’s so nice to finally meet you!” I stood to shake her hand.

Hermione Granger: “ You as well! Please sit.” She shook my hand with a kind smile and gestured for me to sit in the cushy red-velvet chair beside her.

Orion: “Thank you for agreeing so graciously to this interview! The Daily Prophet is more than thrilled to be getting this exclusive!”

Hermione Granger: “I wouldn’t want to speak with anyone else! Where would you like to begin?” She crossed one leg over the other and smiled attentively.

Orion: “Wonderful! To start, in your book you stated that being a Muggle-Born student was not as challenging as others have made it seem. What exactly did you mean by that?”

Hermione Granger: “While I was a student at Hogwarts, I had my negative experiences but I must say most of my school years were wonderful; full of adventure and friendship!” She had a wistful smile in her face as she reminisced about her school years. “I learned to hold my own against those who targeted me and after a while, they realized that I wasn’t letting them get to me. The naysayers thrive off of reactions. If you don’t give them one they leave you alone!”

Orion: “It sounds like you had quite the challenge! What was it like when you found out you were a Witch?”

Hermione Granger: “Oh, it was simply magical!” Granger winked and laughed a bit at her own joke. “My parents were rather confused at first but they were simply overjoyed once they had thought it over. Mum made sure to give me enough money so that I could go to Gringotts and trade it in. My father was quite shocked when I received my letter.”

Orion: “I can imagine! And what was it like growing up with Ron and Harry as friends? Your adventures are quite well known.”

Hermione Granger: “I guess your readers will just have to buy my book to find out!” Granger had a mischievous smile on her perfectly lined lips.

Orion: “I suppose so! Thank you for your time Mrs.Granger!” I stood and shook her hand again.

I was quickly escorted out of the room by a rather burly man. The large crowd in the shop had only grown in size since I had initially entered. It’s hard to tell who is more famous now; The Boy Who Lived or Hermione Granger? Tune in next time for the whole interview!

Muggle Tours Coming Soon

Today, the Departments of Magical Transportation and Magical Tourism issued a release announcing a new and exciting way to learn about muggles!

The Knight Bus Line has officially launched its Meet the Muggles Tour Lines. “This tour line is going to be a fun introduction to our non magical counterparts,” stated department head Percy Weasley. “We have been working on this project for some time, and we are happy to announce that you may now start booking your own Muggle Tour!”

This recent announcement has sparked some controversy with members of our community who have more traditional views on non-magical integration. “Why would someone want to learn more of their ways and put us at risk for exposure?” questioned a heated Richard Greengrass. “This will just put our way of life in jeopardy, and the Ministry shows a blatant disregard for the Statute of Secrecy with this mess.”

This is not the first time the Ministry has been under fire for its decisions, especially when it comes to The Department of Transportation. When the Knight Bus debuted in 1865, The Prophet received its fair share of owls bringing messages of discontent and plans to boycott claiming the program’s inception was a “muggle-esque outrage.”  While concern for the Statute of Secrecy is logical, the transportation department has put the same charms on the triple decker tour buses that they have for the knight buses. Concealment, Disillusion, and Silencing charms will conceal the buses and all passengers, as well as an imperturbable charm to keep objects out of the way, like the traditional knight bus.   

“We have taken every precaution to ensure that the Statute of Secrecy remains intact, and you will not find any flaws in our precautions. The charms were applied by the best charms experts employed by the Ministry. I have the utmost faith in them and their ability to maintain our secrets,” Weasley stated.

Mr. Weasley went on to further state that anyone who is planning on attending a tour should dress like muggles, much like when they take their children to Platform 9 ¾  for school. They will enter through the general entrance of King’s Cross Station. Recommended dress and additional information will be included with your ticket purchases.

These tours will provide a sneak peek inside muggle life, taking you inside muggle villages where you’ll see how they live, attend school, and shop. Tours are available on weekends starting in April. Much like traditional Knight Bus fares, there will be different packages available, including group rates. Tours will feature many historical muggle landmarks and locations, such as Buckingham Palace, The Tower of London, and The View from the Shard. Special Holiday Tours will also be available during the Halloween and Christmas seasons.

How do you our readers feel about these new tours? We await your owls!

We Are The Weasleys: An Interview With Bill Weasley

Welcome back to our ongoing interviews for “We Are The Weasley’s.” After my delightful meeting with Molly and Arthur Weasley, we realized just how important the weekends are for the family. So instead of our original weekend meeting, I caught up with their eldest son, William “Bill” Weasley, at Gringotts Wizarding Bank, where Bill works as a Senior Account Coordinator. His office is just across from that of his wife, Fleur Weasley (neé Delacour) who serves as the International Account Management Director for Gringotts, transferring accounts to Britain from wizards and witches who have lived abroad.

The interior of his office feels more like a home than an office space. I am greeted by plush chairs and a variety of knick-knacks. Photos of his three children, his wife and their extended family cover the walls. There is an enormous foe detector in one corner, and a miniature clock. Modeled after the one found in his parents home, the clock contains hands with photos of himself, his wife, and his children with the hands pointing to their location. With two hands on “School,” two on “Work,” and one on “St. Mungo’s,” I find myself smiling at the familial tradition and mildly concerned.

Bri: “Thank you for meeting with me, Mr. Weasley.”

Bill: “Thank you, Ms. Wilkerson for being so accommodating of our schedule and understanding of our time. It is rather refreshing. My parents spoke quite highly of you. I’m sorry that Fleur will be unable to attend today; she has had a last-minute consult come in.”

Bri: “That is quite alright. Business first! D’you mind if we jump right in, Mr. Weasley”

Bill: “Not at all! And please, call me Bill!”

I smile at his congeniality. Bill leans back in his chair, getting comfortable as I sink further into the plush black chair.

Bri: “Excellent! It’s rare in this day and age to see a family have so many children. Few of us can even imagine it. What was it like growing up as the oldest of seven?”

Bill: “I’d say it’s not that different from growing up with one sibling or two. There’s just, y’know, more people. Especially as we grew up, there were definitely personality clashes over the years, but such is life.”

Bri: “Can you give me an example? Certainly, you have some stories to tell.”

Bill laughs, his face splitting into a grin.

Bill: “I think the biggest clashes had to be between Percy and… well, all of us.” His grin turns sheepish, his smile a bit rueful. “Percy has always been a bit more straight-laced than the rest of us. He and the twins definitely butted heads. Fred and George went out of their way to annoy him. One summer, they kept hiding his books. Percy about went ballistic before Mum and Dad stepped in.”

Bri: “Do you feel like these conflicts in personality helped you down the line?”

Bill: “If anything, I feel like I was better able to see things from multiple perspectives. I learned young how to help keep the peace, and I feel like that helped me not just in Hogwarts, but continues into my day to day life.”

Bri: “From what I understand, your Hogwarts years were quite the adventure. You were involved in the events of the Cursed Vaults, correct?”

Bill: “Indirectly. I was just helping out my friend, though it did lead me to this career path. Figuring out the vaults was a challenge, and it was one of my favorite things about working in the tombs in Egypt as a curse-breaker.”

Bri: “Sounds like you miss it,” I observe mildly.

Bill nods, looking a bit wistful.

Bill: “Ah, I do. But I also love the life I have now. I wouldn’t trade it for anything, and I get to consult abroad on some interesting cases now and again. I’d much rather be here with my family.”

Bri: “Rumor has it that your family did not take to well to your lovely wife at first?”

Bill: “That is a bit of an understatement,” Bill replies with a fond grin and a nervous laugh. “Fleur is wonderful, really, but she is a very vocal person. She is blunt and direct, and oftentimes, her words are misconstrued and considered rude. In her youth, she really struggled with it, and being that English is not her native language did not help. She oftentimes struggled to find the appropriate wording, and it led to some disparities in the beginning. The worst of it resolved years ago, back during the war. War really brings out the best and worst in people, and it helped my family to see the best of her.”

Bri: “What part did you play in the war?”

“In the beginning, I was indirectly involved. When I was young, we lost my uncles in a death eater attack. Once I had met Harry at the 1994 World Cup, the war started heating up. He and Ron are so close; [they] were back then, too. I knew that Ron would end up in the thick of it all with Harry, and I wanted to be here to support them and my family. I wanted to help see Voldemort’s defeat.”

Bill: “So I took a desk job here, pushing papers as a Junior Accountant. Fleur had the same job and was training to work abroad as well, and we hit it off. She joined the Order with me, and together we helped to gauge the goblins loyalties. People were terrified that [the goblins] would turn on us and deny us access to our vaults, but that fear was unfounded.”

Bill: “To my knowledge, it was during the war that you obtained those scars. Might I ask how?”

Bill: “It’s a question I’ve come to expect. You see, Harry had always been a nosy fellow. He’ll even tell you so himself,” Bill replies with a laugh. “Great bloke, Harry. When he began telling my father that he thought Draco Malfoy was involved with the Death Eaters, we didn’t quite believe him. But when Ron summoned us to the castle the night that Dumbledore died, Harry proved us wrong. It was the first real battle that I had been a part of. Draco managed to get the Death Eaters in, and during their battle to leave the castle, I was wounded by Fenrir Greyback, leaving me with the scars you see on my face. However, since he was not transformed, I was spared in sharing his fate, though I have since found that I am restless near the full moon, and prefer my steaks very rare. Minor inconveniences in the grand scheme of things.”

Bill: “It was after my attack that my family reconciled with Fleur. We were engaged, and she took such wonderful care of me as I healed. Though I wouldn’t have chosen this for myself, I couldn’t have asked for a better caretaker and partner through it all.”

Bri: “Being that he was the one who smuggled them into the school, do you blame Draco Malfoy for your injuries?”

Bill: “Absolutely not.” There’s a protective determination to Bill’s expression that reminds me of my own older brother. The expression he wears when defending someone, be it sibling or not. “The only person I blame for [my injuries] is Fenrir Greyback himself. Draco has received enough flak from the press over the years. He was a scared kid who did what he thought he had to do to save his family. Had I been his age and in his shoes, I honestly think I may have made the same choice. We’ve spoken since it all; I actually manage his accounts now. While I can’t say we are particularly close, he has grown to be a good man, who I believe has suffered enough hatred, persecution and slander over the years.”

Bri: “Forgive me, I didn’t mean to appear as if I am against him or am attacking his character. I’ve actually got an interview scheduled with him a few months from now. But I would be remiss to not ask what I know many of our readers will want the answer to.”

Bill: “I’m not angry with you, Ms. Wilkerson. You strive to get the full story, not just one part of it. It’s something that I rather respect about you. Few journalists do that anymore.”

Bri: “Please, call me Bri.”

Bill: “But of course, Bri. I appreciate your thorough interview.” He smiles brightly at me, and I am absolutely certain that my cheeks have turned pink.

Bri: “Thank you, Bill. If I may return to the topic at hand, what happened after your attack and recovery?”

Bill: “Well, the Ministry of Magic crashed our wedding. I have to say, that was quite the surprise.” I find myself chuckling at his wry smile, the tension of my possible faux-pas broken. “When Scrimgeour was killed and the Death Eaters took over the Ministry, they came to my parents house during our reception in search of Harry. Hermione was prepared for such events. -I swear that woman is prepared for everything. It’s a bit scary.- She got Harry and Ron out, and then the war truly began.”

Bri: “Once you were situated back in England, how did you adjust to the war-time environment?”

Bill: “For us, there was a lot of waiting around. Fleur and I moved into my Aunt’s cottage near the beach and got settled in, but war really puts a damper on the newlywed spirit. It was a constant wait for news. For word from anyone that Harry, Ron, and Hermione were okay. No news was good news, but no news is still frightening.”

Bri: “Is there a particular bit of news you received back then that sticks out in your mind now?” I ask, shifting to lean on the other armrest.

Bill: “Yes, actually. Ron showed up at our place that Christmas. An item of dark magic that he had come in contact with had driven him to leave Harry and Hermione. He wasn’t with us long, but it was clear he regretted leaving. He wasn’t in his right mind when it happened, but it was nice to get some solid information. Nothing very specific, but to have [news] from a first-hand source was a nice change of pace. Once he left, things were quiet again until April.”

Bill: “When they narrowly escaped Voldemort at Malfoy Manor, Ron brought Harry, Hermione and a few other prisoners to our place. For about two weeks, we were taking care of everybody while they recovered and rested. It was a relief to be doing something, to feel like we had some hand in it all. After they left, it was less than twenty-four hours before the final battle. Harry, Ron and Hermione had their infamous Gringotts break-in and breakout, and by that evening, Fleur and I were at the castle with our family for the final battle.”

Bri: “I can’t imagine going from such a slow pace to the final battle that quickly was easy.”

Bill: Bill nods in agreement. “It was surreal, how quickly everything built up. There was no time to think about anything, we just acted. It didn’t feel like the end of a war, just another battle, one with many young lives on the line. Fred- I don’t think we’ll ever stop missing him. He was such an intelligent and lively man. His life was cut far too short. Twenty-one is so young for a wizard to die, and he wasn’t even the youngest lost in the battle.” The distant expression he wears now is fathomless, and I find myself struggling to find a less upsetting topic.

Bri: “Your eldest daughter, Victoire, was born on the anniversary of the battle, correct?”

Bill: A small smile quirks his lips. “Yes, she was. It’s crazy to think that was more than nineteen years ago. She graduated from Hogwarts last summer.”

Bri: “Forgive me if the question is too forward, but,” I begun as I gesture to the clock upon his desk, “I see her clock hand is pointed at St. Mungo’s. Is she alright?”

Bill chuckles. “Victoire is training to become a Healer. Her hand doesn’t show as ‘work’ because her position is an apprenticeship. If she were apprenticing anywhere not listed on the clock, she would show as being in school. But Vic is excelling in her studies, and is on track to be a fully trained Healer by the time she turns twenty-one.”

Bri: “Oh, marvelous! I’m glad she is alright, and that she is doing well! I wish her nothing but the best! And what of your younger children, Dominique and Louis?”

Bill: “Dominique is in her final year and Hogwarts, where she is currently trying to decide between several professional quidditch teams. Several scouts have approached her about going pro, though she is leaning towards the Holyhead Harpies, her Aunt Ginny’s alma mater. Female beaters are in high demand, though, so she isn’t counting anything out yet. Dom has until September to decide so that she can train up for next season.”

Bill: “Louis is busy preparing for his O.W.L.’s. He’s very much the bookish type, and hopes to become an Unspeakable in the future. He is working diligently on achieving the highest scores he can, and I have no doubt that he will succeed. Fleur and I are extremely proud of our children and their ambitions.”

Bill: His pride bleeds through into his smile, and I find myself smiling back. “I look forward to seeing more from them all in the future. It seems that our time is just about up. You are a busy man; I don’t want to keep you too long. I just have one final question for you. 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?”

Bri: “A Muggle once said, ‘Do what you love, and you will never work a day in your life.’ So many people keep jobs they hate and let it drag them down. Then they take that negativity home, and struggle through their day to day. Fleur and I love what we do, and I feel that it helped us foster a positive and healthy environment for our kids. All we want is for them to be happy. Life is too short and too precious to spend your days unhappy.”

Stay tuned for our next interview featuring Charlie Weasley!

Fantasy Quidditch Sweep The Nation

A new trend is sweeping through the magical community. Well, the sports enthusiasts anyway!

The Daily Prophet has recently discovered an increasing number of participants in the new trend of Fantasy Quidditch.

This new fad is the brainchild of Terry Boot of the Department of Magical Games and Sports. Boot, a half-blood who still has ties to the muggle community developed the idea from the ever popular “Fantasy Leagues” of muggle sports such as basketball (much like quidditch but played on a wooden floor, with one goal on each end and played with only one ball) and football. American Muggles (no-maj in their terms) have fantasy leagues of their popular sports of baseball and football (not to be confused with British football which Americans call soccer.)

Fantasy Leagues seem pretty confusing at first, but after building your own team it’s simple enough. For those of you who are unfamiliar, here is how it works.

Fantasy Quidditch is a game in which participants assemble an imaginary team of real life players (called a draft) and score points based on those players’ actual statistical performance or their perceived contribution on the field of play.

After each performance the players are then awarded points. Points are then gained or deducted depending on a players’ performances. Point systems vary between games but typically, points are awarded for some or all of the following achievements:

  • Playing in a match (or part of a match e.g. at least 60 minutes)
  • Scoring a goal
  • Making an assist (the pass or touch leading to the goal)
  • Saving a penalty
  • Goalkeeper saves 3 shots or more
  • Win of the team

As well as the aforementioned above, points can be deducted for some or all of the following:

  • Conceding a goal (goalkeepers and defenders only)
  • Receiving a yellow or red card
  • Missing a penalty
  • Scoring an own goal
  • Getting substituted
  • Loss of the team

Most muggle fantasy leagues start at the beginning of each sporting season with signups and then a draft. Points then begin accruing after the first game or match of the season.

Boot stated “I joined a football fantasy league with a friend from primary school after much prodding, and I really enjoyed it. I haven’t followed many muggle sports, but still had a good time. Because of this I decided to make the pitch to my leaders at the Department of Magical Games and Sports and they went for it! We launched the league last year, but this year it has gained popularity and we believe that next year it will even bigger, especially as we plan on launching an international fantasy league.”

Full League regulations and rules can be obtained via owl post from The Department of Magical Games and Sports. A registration fee is required before your draft picks can be submitted and the participant at the end of the season will receive a monetary prize, which will vary based on the number of participants.

A live Draft event will be hosted at the Leaky Cauldron before the start of the next season. If you’re interested in joining a Fantasy Quidditch league we recommend attending the event.

Follow our updates in the Prophet and subscribe to our owl post updates for more information.

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