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This year, the festival begins on Friday the 12th and concludes on Tuesday the 16th. All are invited to experience this prominent cultural event and enjoy traditional cuisine including sweets, join in on the dancing, light lanterns and clay lamps at nightfall, and watch a fireworks display. Celebrations will take place in multiple countries including: India (with the largest celebration in Varanasi); Neasden, London, England; Indonesia; Fiji; Mauritius; Malaysia; Nepal; Singapore; and Sri Lanka.
However, given the goings-on at school, the photography might take on more of a documentary character.
Spider webs are being spotted in some areas of the castle and a student has been attacked by a spider the size of a large dog. Rumour has it that Professeur Malinat released the spiders when he took a class down to the catacombs to study ancient creatures. Giving in to the pressure of the worried parents, Professeur Malinat is on probation now until his guilt or innocence can be proven.
Additionally, there's been an uptick in activity from the prankster(s) unknown. While most of October was relatively quiet on this front, towards the end of the month and thus far into November there has been a definitive increase in frequency. Joke products from Zonko's and the WWW alike have made their appearances, though all thus far have caused neither personal harm nor damage to school property. Mr. Filch would like to again remind students that these products are banned on school grounds.
"Artistic Flying is finally getting more popular in France. The recent world championships in Guerlesquin and the fact that France was the second best nation there certainly helped and our artistic flying team already has some new sign ups. We have some really promising athletes and we’re encouraging them to create their very own style.
Currently we’re still training at a Quidditch stadium but we're planning a modern artistic flying training centre. We're actively looking for sponsors so we can realise this goal sooner rather than later. While there is a notable rise in popularity, it seems that securing the financial means to build a training centre is a challenge. Sponsors are still pretty much overlooking artistic flying in France."
When talking about the sport internationally, Russia, the artistic flying school in Rybinsk and, of course, the head of the international artistic flying union (IAFU) come up.
"There’s no way to deny that Russia dominates this sport. The Tikhomirovs and Shishkins invented artistic flying and had a headstart in building up a school and athletes from this family basically fly on artistic flying brooms before they can even walk. They are the best and will likely defend this status for years to come. It is both a logical consequence and a problem that the president of the IAFU comes from this family as well. We'd love more versatility in the sport and more actual competition. Don't get me wrong, I totally respect the achievements of the Russian athletes. I just think that the competitions are less exciting when the outcome is rather predictable.
We should totally look at Russia and the whole Durmstrang area as an example, though. The French artistic flying federation is already in negotiations with Beauxbatons if artistic flying can be implemented there as well. At Durmstrang there's an artistic flying club so athletes get good training conditions. Yet, when it comes to encouraging kids to enter the sport, school age might already be too late. We need to come up with something like artistic flying kindergartens in magical centres of France to find young talents to be really competitive in the future.
Now is the time to act as the attention has increased with the recent world championships and people are more aware of the sport."
This month's upcoming match is Hufflepuff v Ravenclaw. The latter has had a difficult run of Quidditch in recent history - but could they turn over a new leaf this year? Beater Aimée de Havilland, known for her intensity both in the classroom and on the Pitch, was overheard on multiple occasions emphatically trying to motivate her teammates. Hufflepuff has had better luck in recent years, including two years ago with a largely-rookie team - but with two changes in leadership since then, can newly-appointed Captain Aase Trickett-Cassoway keep her team together?
People at Hogsmeade report the sighting of a creature that looks like a fox terrier but that disappears all of a sudden. Does it turn invisible? Does it have the ability to apparate? Or has someone played a prank on some unsuspecting witnesses?
Magizoologists around the world are excited. Some have already arrived in Hogsmeade. A new creature like that would be interesting to study and to breed. "If this is real and if it can be domesticated and trained, the wizarding world might soon have a new favourite pet," says Betty Wilkins, Hufflepuff student and eye witness."I saw it disappear just a few steps away from me. I know it might be a prank but I surely hope it's not."
In the course of our investigations we've heard rumours that this is a marketing gag. If it is, we're still waiting for a revelation which company came up with it. They caught our attention for sure!
For decades he was on top of the French music scene, now Gustave Gaultier (63) is not the amazing singer and entertainer anymore. The chansonnier has gone a long way down.
He rose to the top in the 1960s. His songs like “L’amour - c’est donner tout”, “Ensorceler la sorcière” or the more humorous “Je charme le monde comme je veux” are well known through generations of French witches and wizards.
When he was on top, though, he budgeted badly, people who know him better report that he became an alcoholic and potion addict. He has been spotted in shady areas of Paris where he has contacted black market dealers. His wife divorced him - probably because of his addictions and because of the numerous affairs he had. His record label ditched him after he spoiled a release by showing up drunk and verbally cursing his manager.
Lately Gustave Gaultier has been spotted by the Seine river at night, singing to a group of drunks. He seems to be homeless, sleeping below the bridges of Paris. The former star is at a low point and rumour has it that he has even sold his beloved accordion to have something to eat or possibly rather to drink?
Our reporters are trying to find out more. So stay tuned.
