Magical Hogwarts

Volume 40: June 2005

PAGE 1: CURRENT EVENTS AND MINI PLOTS

world A confectionary calamity has surfaced internationally, getting a rise out of consumers – literally. A thorough investigation into multiple worldwide accounts of excessive levitation and giddiness lasting for days after consuming Fizzing Whizzbees has revealed that the dried Billywig stings – a key and characteristic component of the sweet – were measured incorrectly in an unknown number of batches, resulting in extra-concentrated effects. Manufacturers of the popular sweet (in conjunction with Ministry authorities) worldwide are working to track down and recall affected lots: which is proving difficult, as not all consumers are opposed to the altered ingredient ratio and thus not all consumers are voluntarily reporting incidents. The incident was, at least, determined to have occurred at one of the larger mass-production locations. Confectioners will be kept apprised of any affected lot numbers as they are identified. Healers have provided assurances that short-term high doses of Billywig stings in isolated incidents such as these have no concerning long-term effects; however they have strongly advised against repeat long-term exposure as this can lead to uncontrolled levitation, impaired motor skills, increased tolerance of or even dependence on Billywig venom, and permanent giddiness which can impact cognition – any of which could become permanent. Anyone who believes they have consumed an affected batch of Fizzing Whizzbees is encouraged to contact their regional Ministry’s hotline immediately: the DMLE’s Intoxicating Substances and the DMAC’s Accidental Magic Reversal Squad are collaborating, given the nature of the incident. Those who wish to have these amplified effects terminated may visit their local apothecary or hospital to receive an antidote.

hogwarts As the school year wraps up and End-of-Term exams approach, the prankster (or pranksters) unknown seemingly struck again: Canary Creams have reappeared in dessert trays, trick wands and hats found their way into all of the Common Rooms, nose-biting teacups wreak havoc in Divination, Frog-spawn Soap (and, subsequently, armies of frogs) in the bathrooms, and the list goes on. The unexplained seemingly-random prolonged levitations and giddiness experienced by some students, however, are unrelated and have been linked to a Fizzing Whizzbee manufacturing error. [See "World Plot" for details on that.] After an eventful year of academic successes, commendable behavior, and hard-fought Quidditch victories, the points are in! Congratulations to Slytherin on winning the House Cup! [See "Hogwarts Quidditch" for details on the Quidditch Cup.] Final House Points standings: 110 | 100 | 90 | 70 ilvermorny Calling all witches, wizards, and even grumpy trolls of Ilvermorny! The time has come to get stoked for the most magical blowout of the year – The End-of-Term Xtreme Magic Games! Students are invited to join the fun on enchanted hovering skateboards in a specially created event arena. With floating ramps, holographic obstacles, and gravity-defying rails, the event showcases awe-inspiring tricks and aerial stunts. Hold onto your pointy hats, 'cause the shenanigans are about to get wilder than a Hippogriff with a caffeine addiction! Join the mischievous Nifflers showing off their surprisingly nimble acrobatic skills by shredding up the magical halfpipe! And guess what? Flying carpets are dropping their usual "chill mode" and revving up for rad stunts that'd make even dragons say, "Whoa, hold my fire!" So, round up your housemates, bring your familiars, and let's make this end-of-term celebration a blast! No need to Apparate – just follow the laughter and grind on as we say "peace out" to another magical year at Ilvermorny!

beauxbatons Those who got their hopes up will be disappointed as Beauxbatons won’t be moved back to the South of France before the summer break. Exams are held at Manoir Vertneuf and, because of the limited space, precautions have been taken. There are so-called security bubbles for each student which are noise-cancelling and prevent a clear view of things outside of the bubble. Not to worry, though: these bubbles are permeable to air. The Arts Initiative is coming to an end with music, dance, and theatre performances and an exhibition of all photographs, paintings, drawings, and sculptures that have been created over the past few months. Most areas of the manor have been turned into either museum rooms or small stages. Students are encouraged to use these platforms to show their art to the entire school. The end of term celebrations are held in the grounds of Manoir Vertneuf since the dining hall is too small for everyone. There are large beer tables with white linen tablecloths placed outside where, during the past months, the improvised Quidditch pitch and artistic flying arena has been. However, keep an eye on the sky - the forecast said that there might be steady rain in the later evening. Final House Cup Standings: 290 | 270 | 200 durmstrang During the end of term’s final quidditch tournament, the rules of the game meant little—as fighting dirty was part of the fun.  Drakonya Krov scraped a victory when team captain Dzmitry Zelenko caught the snitch. However, the sudden and unexpected death of a student at the hands of a misplaced spell has left the school year hanging on a solemn note. Headmaster Yeshevsky has been removed from Durmstrang effective immediately, just in time for the end of term. With exams over, students are geared up to leave school on the first Saturday of the month. In lieu of a traditional end of term celebration, the halls were black in mourning for the student who passed away.

PAGE 2: SPORTS

SEMI-FINAL SWEEPS! -- Fflur Blevins Saturday, 4 June -- What a depressing way to be introduced to the world of (guest) sports reporting. The Caerphilly Catapults had steadily climbed the ranks all season, the championship well within their grasp for the first time in ten years—I’m obligated to mention that I lost them that 1995 match—but the Gravesend Griffins were clearly the more motivated squad. You could hear the collective ach-y-fi as newcomer chaser Juin Proulx made a goal roughly ten seconds after other newcomer chaser Callista Bowen, thanks to the other other newcomer beater Clementine Russell kept Catapult chaser Jane Jones from catching the quaffle as it was put back into play. And that was only the first five minutes. Maybe next year, Catapults. [Final Score: Caerphilly Catapults 110, Gravesend Griffins 300] Sunday, 5 June -- The Falmouth Falcons started out strong, but then the Ballycastle Bats unveiled their new strategy: pit Lynch against Lynch. It was clear that Ballycastle chaser Shannon Lynch had it out for Falmouth keeper Colm Lynch— and I thought my family was dysfunctional. Thankfully Ballycastle seeker Brendan Byrne put him out of his misery before his little sister could score her ninth goal against him. I wouldn’t be the only one surprised if keeper Lynch took a page out of his former captain’s book and retired after that embarrasing performance. [Final Score: Falmouth Falcons 80, Ballycastle Bats 250] BALLYCASTLE BITES IT -- Fflur Blevins It really looked like Ballycastle had this one— until they didn’t. The Gravesend Griffins started this match looking every bit the team that missed that training session where they learned to fly together as a team, and not just seven people who stumbled upon a broomstick and decided to have a go. Ballycastle quickly found their footing, bringing the score to 120-nil with practiced ease. Call it luck or good leadership, but whatever Captain Harlan Bellamy said during that last timeout really kicked his squad into gear. They rallied, scoring three goals in as many minutes, just in time for seeker Alannah Dupont to catch the snitch and secure yet another Championship for the Gravesend Griffins. Hopefully this sort of showing by the Griffins doesn’t carry over into the new season, but if it does, at least we know it won’t be boring. [Final Score: Gravesend Griffins 180, Ballycastle Bats 120]

Opening of the Centre de Vol Artistique Barbizon The F. A. F. F. proudly announces the grand opening of the flying school just outside Barbizon, approximately 30 miles / 50 km outside of Paris. The newly built Centre de Vol Artistique Barbizon (C. V. A. B.)  is shielded from view by a forest that is enchanted so that moldus walk in circles around the area. The centre itself consists of an arena that is just a little smaller than the one in Rybinsk (Russia) and an adjacent building with gyms and ballet studios for athletes that train there. There are still some empty rooms in which the C. V. A. B.’s administration will move within the next month. On the 18th of June the grand opening starts with a showcase and will end with fireworks and a banquet for invited guests only. The first flying competition that will take place there are the French nationals in July. SCHOOL QUIDDITCH In a thrilling final match of term, Gryffindor faced-off against Ravenclaw. With the Quidditch Cup within reach for both teams (three goals and a Snitch capture for the former, and nine goals and a Snitch capture for the latter), Captains Donna West and Aimée de Havilland held nothing back. Ravenclaw managed three quick unanswered scores thanks to well-placed Bludgers from the eagles plus a successful penalty shot, putting Gryffindor on its heels with only a twenty-point margin. After a brief time-out to regroup, however, there was no stopping the lions. Ravenclaw scored only two more goals the remainder of the match while Gryffindor scored four, with the final goal occurring just seconds before Tomie Vos caught the Snitch. Final score: 190 to 50. With the final match complete, the points are in - congratulations to Gryffindor on securing the Quidditch Cup! Final Quidditch standings: 520 | 500 | 480 | 320

CURRENT BRITISH & IRISH QUIDDITCH LEAGUE STANDINGS 🏆 Gravesend Griffins - 3990 Caerphilly Catapults - 3650 Ballycastle Bats - 3560 Falmouth Falcons - 3340 Holyhead Harpies - 3180 Kenmare Kestrels - 2790 Chudley Cannons - 2770 Tutshill Tornadoes - 2750 Puddlemere United - 2680 Wigtown Wanderers - 2610 Appleby Arrows - 2470 Pride of Portree - 2390 Wimbourne Wasps - 2320 Montrose Magpies - 2040

PAGE 3: OTHER NEWS

Russian heiress found dead It has been confirmed that Polina Vadimovna Raskolnikova was found dead. The investigators are interrogating several suspects at the artistic flying school in Rybinsk. The girl’s father, Vadim Nikolaevich Raskolnikov, however, does not seem to be satisfied with the work the official investigators are doing and rumour has it that a private investigator is also in Rybinsk these days. The ongoing investigations are causing some disturbances at the school and there have been discussions between the school’s administration and the investigators on how this case should be handled so it doesn’t affect the preparation for the new season too much. Athletes and officials are quite certain that none of them could have done anything like this. Anatoliy Vsevolodovich Tikhomirov has been quoted to say: “This is all nonsense - none of the athletes would ever commit a murder. We’re all focused on our sport. The investigators should rather look for the murderer in Vadim Nikolaevich’s surroundings and let us go on with our training.”

Fishy Fiasco: A Public Safety Announcement Brewing potions can be both rewarding and treacherous. For those new to the art, it's crucial to follow instructions meticulously and refrain from taking shortcuts. The "Potion Mishap of the Month" award goes to a young witch who mistakenly swapped dragon scales with fish scales, leading to an unexpected growth of gills. Always double-check your ingredients, and remember, a little caution goes a long way.

Reader's Corner: Magical Tips and Tricks Teleportation Charm Upgrade: Want to teleport like a pro? A Ravenclaw reader spills the beans on an Apparition upgrade! Simply visualize your destination with an Oscar-worthy imagination and add a sprinkle of emotion to the incantation. Voilà! You'll be zooming through space with style. But remember, no teleporting in the loo – safety first! Enchanting Objects for Conservation: Calling all Hufflepuffs! Preserve your prized possessions with charm-tastic flair. Enchant your wardrobes, bookshelves, and chests to become magical fortresses, protecting your treasures from wear and tear. Say goodbye to musty-smelling ancient tomes! Improving Patronus Charms: Gryffindors, listen up! Boost your Patronus game with this tip: visualize your happiest memories in HD! Picture the joy, the laughter, the absurdly fluffy kittens – get every detail just right. Your Patronus will thank you, and those pesky Dementors won't stand a chance against your beaming positivity! Disclaimer: The "Potions and Spells" column is all in good fun. We won't be held responsible for floating cauldrons or giggling broomsticks. Practice magic responsibly, folks!

PAGE 4: GOSSIP AND SOCIAL

The Great Cauldron Cook-off Located in magical Shackamaxon, prepare for a culinary spectacle like no other at The Great Cauldron Cook-Off! With magical chefs conjuring up delectable dishes and spellbinding surprises, you'll taste treats that dance on the plate and watch cauldrons bubble with hilariously unexpected results. From levitating desserts to wands casting culinary spells, it's a gastronomic extravaganza that will leave your taste buds and funny bone thoroughly enchanted!

ALL THE SINGLE WITCHES (AND WIZARDS) Are you single and looking to mingle? Whether you're new to the area and wanting to make friends or casually looking for a life partner, you're in luck! On Saturday, 18th June, Blue Mooncalf Brewing invites YOU for an afternoon of socializing, lawn games, and refreshments - including a sneak-peek (sneak-sip?) of a new brew slated to hit the public taps later this month. And, of course, unlimited Mooncalf petting! The brewery will remain open to the general public throughout the day, however part of the outdoor area will be cordoned-off to facilitate the event. BMB and the Mooncalves hope to see you there!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Wiltrud Wagner (14) Freddie Snyder (17) Carrie Marshall (20) Juin Proulx (28) Fergie Flume (29) Grace Howard (32) Logan Layton (33)

PAGE 5: CREDITS AND NOTICES

information We have revamped The Daily Prophet based on member feedback and welcome any comments or suggestions in an effort to further improve the Prophet. credits This issue was created by the Administration team, with additional submissions and ideas from Christine. We would like to thank Taed for helping to prepare the monthly birthday column, Christine for the easy-to-use coding, and Samm for the amazing header. how to contribute We are always seeking member-produced stories and submissions. This can be in the form of in-character letters to the editors, rumours and gossip, or character-driven plots. You can submit your ideas to any member of the team, however if you have something in mind for a specific geographical area of the board please reach out to the respective admin: • Olivia - Hogwarts & British Isles • Inga - Beauxbatons & Western Europe • Dylan - Durmstrang & Eastern Europe • [lia]Lianne[/lia] - Ilvermorny & North America

🏆!!

time for sipping cocktails on a beach somewhere 😎 🍹

🏆!!

time for sipping cocktails on a beach somewhere 😎 🍹

Keela and Ginny are absolutely disgusted that they’ve won a THIRD year in a row 😂

Eileen is happy with the Quidditch results! 🥳️

"Appleby Arrows didn't come bottom of the league!"  *celebrates with half a polypin of real ale*

this one is ENTIRELY too excited for the enchanted skateboards! join her - or just watch her do tricks and generally bounce off the walls 🙃
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