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- History of Magic
- Grammar School
- Creative Corner
- How can I be a better Writer
- Headmistress’ Practice Run the Finals
- Story Corner
- Great Book Review
- Dear Aunt Molly
- League Table
- Round-Design Challenge
- Trivia and Puzzles
History of Magic: Merlin
While diving through the depths of history these past weeks, readers, I decided to learn more about the fascinating man, known as Merlin. We use his name in everyday conversation, and yet the average witch or wizard has no real idea of who he is. Some of the things you will read are quite surprising, so I hope you’re ready.
Merlin was a wizard who lived in the medieval times, somewhere around the founding of the great Wizarding school Hogwarts, which he attended starting at age eleven. It is possible the founders themselves taught him, but this is unverified. For those who are curious, the young Merlin was a Slytherin, the traits of which would manifest in his later life. Many modern Slytherins take pride in the fact that the man regarded as the most powerful wizard to ever live was a member of their House, even though most other Houses disregard it.
He was known as being quite cunning, quickly growing in power and ability. He had a part in forming the organization which would become the Order of Merlin. The Order of Merlin was created to aid Muggles of the day, as Merlin was firmly for protecting the Muggles against those who would wish to harm them for being non-magical.
As well as being the founder of that organization, Merlin was also a close confidante of King Arthur, helping him form the Knights of the Round Table, which included the infamous Sir Cadogan. Merlin’s skill in magic would earn him the nickname the “Prince of Enchanters”. This is the time during which he gathered most of his fame, through He thoroughly opposed dark magic, which led him to several duels with the King’s half-sister Morgan le Fay.
One of his lesser-known achievements is the discovery and study of the Cursed Vaults — a series of five different rooms each with various obstacles and traps. Only one is the true Vault, according to legend, and the other four exist to protect the final.
They consist of the Vault of Ice, which is self-explanatory, the Vault of Fear, which contains three boggarts, creatures that can shapeshift into your greatest fear, the Forest Vault, which lures people to it in a sleepwalking state and can only be opened by an enchanted arrow from a centaur, and two others which have been lost to time. A portrait of Merlin exists that was created to aid seekers of the Vaults, but it was found not to be particularly helpful.
Merlin died with many achievements, although many have been lost to time. Sometime after Merlin’s death, the Order of Merlin’s function changed. Previously it had been an award for those that help or stopped Muggle-baiting. The Order of Merlin is now awarded to those that give something back to the wizarding world; this could be performing a deed at great significant personal risk, or a discovery that aids Wizarding society. There are three classes; 1st, 2nd and 3rd – 1st being the most significant. Receivers of this award include; Gilderoy Lockhart, and Hogwarts Headmaster, Albus Dumbledore.
INTRODUCTION TO HISTORY OF MAGIC
Welcome to History of Magic class, dear students! In this class, you will learn about famous events in Wizarding history, as well as changes in Wizarding society through the years.
Some things you will have the chance to learn are about Goblin Wars, about the effects of the reign of Grindelwald during World War 2, the history of witch hunts, and a slew of other subjects. As long as you get a non-ghost teacher like Professor Binns, you should have a great time!
You will need the current edition of A History of Magic by Bathilda Bagshot, the famous historian. As long as you have that, it should be all you need. Now, time to get started, so silence, please!
THEMES
Durmstrang – First Wizarding War 1945 – 1990
This era is also known as the Marauders Era, as they were around during this time. This is the build up and reign of terror of Voldemort up to his first defeat when Harry Potter was just a child. Again, the same rules apply as all the other eras, but you must place the story in this historical timeline. You could write about Voldemort’s rise, maybe the start of the Order of the Phoenix, or even just the Marauders time at school. You even have a time-turner prompt to get any character you choose into this era, Alternate Universe also applies.
Ilvermorny – Crisis Era 1300 – 1692
This era is before the Statute of Secrecy was put into place, and when Witches and Wizards were feared and hunted by Muggles. Characters from this era (e.g. Wendelin the Weird) can to be part of your story or you can find a way to get characters that you know into this era. You even have a time-turner prompt to get any character you choose into this era, Alternate Universe also applies
Beauxbatons – Secrecy Era 1692 – 1880
In this era, the Statute of Secrecy was introduced. This is the era your story should take place in. It would be good to look at how the Statute of Secrecy affected those that were around at the time, suddenly having to live in secret. You can take characters you know to this time. Perhaps exploring the decision to have the Statute of Secrecy? You just have to place it within this time frame. You even have a time-turner prompt to get any character you choose into this era, Alternate Universe also applies
Hogwarts – Early Era 950 – 1100
This theme is met by having the story set in this time. 100 – 110 is the era of the Founders. For this story, you must base it during this time, either focused on these characters or others known from this time, such as Merlin. You even have a time-turner prompt to get any character you choose into this era, Alternate Universe also applies.
Mahoutokoro – Modern Era 1880 – 1945
This era is most well known as the Era of Grindelwald. It would start at Dumbledore’s childhood all the way through to the close of the Second World War. Include characters you like by using Alternate Universes or Time Turners. You can write about characters that already existed in this time, Albus Dumbledore, maybe even Tom Riddle’s school years.
Creative Corner
Welcome to The Creative Corner, this is where you can earn points by sharing your other creative endeavours. We have poetry, art and haiku’s. If you want to showcase something that you have created, Harry Potter related of course, then put it in a doc and send the link to the competition account. Everyone who published something has earned their school 5 points. Download the full version to see works of art, but just for now we have a lovely poem by WhiteTiger91:
Don’t let your father know
Shh, quietly now,
Quickly get out the cauldron
Don’t tell your father.
Hurry, there’s no time
Put in the ingredients
Don’t wake your father.
Don’t fret about why,
Just add the water and fangs.
Give it a big stir.
See how it simmers?
How the colour has now changed?
Good, it’s nearly done.
Please, no more questions,
About why he shouldn’t know.
It’s best to be safe.
Add in the nettles,
Just a few more beetle eyes,
Let’s just concentrate.
You mustn’t be cross,
One day you will understand,
He’s still your father.
Shhh, just one moment,
I’m sure I heard something move…
Phew, it’s just a mouse.
Don’t give me that look,
And don’t you dare ever fear.
I’ll be here, always.
Back to the potion,
We should minimise the smoke.
Let’s not alert him.
Careful now, my boy,
Just give it another stir,
We are almost there.
Let’s turn off the flame,
And pour it into a flask.
Quietly, quickly.
Well done, Severus,
It’s your very first potion.
You can label it.
We’ll hide it away,
Until I can next teach you.
But please, don’t let him ever know.
How Can I Be A Better Writer?
Time for some more of Headmistress Lun’s creative writing tips! This round we are looking at stories that draw a reader in with a vivid description. A good description can take a reader from their cosy armchair and transport them into the story, immersing them completely. A well-known writer for descriptions is J.R.R. Tolkien, and it must work is it is one of the most read works of fiction! As we are lacking a Grammar School article this round, I have decided that this will be our Drabble challenge. The scoring will be the same as Grammar School, 10 points! The word count is the same as Grammar School also – Min 500 words – Max 900 words!
Plot – 2 points
Spelling – 2 points
Grammar – 2 points
Punctuation – 2 points
Descriptions – 2 points
Compelling Description
Descriptions are often a problem for new writers, but even practiced writers can feel insecure about their descriptions. There can be too little description, so it becomes difficult to understand what happens, and there can be too much description making readers skip to more exciting parts of the story. Balance is key! That quantity does not equal quality is nothing new, but what exactly makes for the quality description? I want to discuss three points on this topic: Vivid, engaging and emotive description.
To write a vivid description involves the five senses. Try to picture what you want to describe, and then imagine what it would feel like, sound like, smell like and taste like. You do not need to explain all of that, but by focusing on all your senses, you can find new ways to describe something. It is obvious to describe food by the way it tastes, but the way it feels in your mouth can be far more interesting. A potion can run down your character’s throat, and wine can leave a furry feeling on the tongue. Try to be a little unconventional and paint a multidimensional picture so the reader can relive what your characters are sensing. This way, your writing has the power to be more than just a written movie.
The engaging description usually involves action. Describe by how things interact and impact their surrounding. Describe settings, objects and people by having your characters interact with them in a certain way. Is someone tall? He bumps into things and crouches down. Is the sun bright? Have your characters squint against the light. That way your readers will be able to identify with your characters and understand the impact and relationship between the things you describe. An excellent way to do this is by writing from a perspective, and I do not mean using the first person, but by focusing on how one person perceives the world. Take a look at the graveyard scene in The Goblet of Fire:
“Squinting tensely through the darkness, they watched the figure drawing nearer […]. Harry couldn’t make out a face, but from the way it was walking and holding its arms, he could tell that it was carrying something.”
The reader only knows as much as Harry does, and so the story engages the reader, making them wonder what is going to happen.
The emotive description is all about atmosphere and emotion. Focus on what your characters feel in a particular situation. What does the setting do to your character? Do they feel small or crowded, do they enjoy the view or are they appalled by the smell? This also works better if you have a more limited point of view.
Lastly, I want to stress that description should be effective. It should not interrupt your flow and keep the readers engaged instead. Make it brief but interesting and coherent, and always give it purpose — be it to make characters multidimensional, to introduce action or to build atmosphere.
HEADMISTRESS’ PRACTICE RUN THE FINALS
As the finals loom closer, we had to think of what we would do to make this event, extra special. Initially, we were going to ask writers to work together and create a ‘three-shot’; however, that might mean that some writers did not get to submit something physically. So we put our heads together and came up with the idea to link the stories of each house, meaning that you will have to work together and discuss plotlines so that you can ensure that your stories fit together. There are many ways that you can do this, and we will be publishing an article on this in the next issue of the paper.
We decided that it was only fair to have a practice run of our somewhat crazy idea! After all, how can we expect you to try something that we have never dared try? We used the previous round for our very own ‘Headmistresses Final Practice Run’. Initially, we sat and talked about it, even discussed which round we would use–we had our very personal favourites you know. We settled on Defence Against the Dark Arts, mainly cause Headmistress Verity threatened tears if she didn’t get to write or involve Severitus! From there we decided how we would link our stories because there are many ways! We decided that we would focus on one crucial wizarding event in history; the first fall of Voldemort. We worked out who wanted to write what and we shared the stories so we could ensure that we linked them together. Without further ado, we present your Headmistresses contributions.
Hogwarts – Headmistress Verity – Severus’ Secret Pain
Ilvermorny – Headmistress Carol
Beauxbatons – Headmistress Hope- Struggle and Strife
Durmstrang – Headmistress Claire – The Prisoner
Mahoutokoro – Headmistress Lun – Turmoil
Your stories have been read by many of us and our fantastic judges. They have been held up to scrutiny, so we welcome you to do the same with ours. Maybe you feel like pointing out that Verity’s flow isn’t on point? Maybe Claire’s prompt usage just wasn’t there? Perhaps Headmistress Carol and writer of Grammar School failed to get her SPaG in check! But then again, maybe you want to point out some of the things that we did right, I am sure that Headmistress Lun knows how to ‘Show and not tell’ and you know that Headmistress Hope must have skills with her team at the top of the board!
The Great Book Review
Durmstrang
A Painful Realisation by Shana
The moment I realised this was a story about George Weasley, I knew this was going to be heart-wrenching, and Shana proved me right.
I love how the story starts, it was sweet and light, and the interactions were brilliant. I could visualise every detail very easily. I love Harry and Ginny together, and how motherly Molly was as always.
Then the second half happens… this is when you get hit right in the feels! My heart ached so badly for George, I can’t even begin to imagine how painful it is to lose a sibling you’re that close too. But going to that island with Dementors just to see if he could produce a Patronus, was fool-hardy at best, he could have got himself killed! I was so glad George came to the realisation that where he needed to be was home; home with his wife, and his children.
It took everything in my power not to sob my heart out right at the end of this story. This was a truly wonderful, heart-wrenching story that proves in the end, love can really conquer mountains.
-Claire.
Ilvermorny
What Was Lost by Sonya-Heather-DeVito
I knew that I would love What Was Lost by Sonya-Heather Devito immediately upon the first sentence. I’m a total sucker for Fem!Harry stories and this was no exception. It was excellent, the interactions with both Remus and Tom were amazing, and Harriet’s final realization was excellently executed.
The first thing that I really enjoyed was surprisingly, the Tom Riddle bits. I was so surprised by that as you can imagine, because I usually dislike Tom Riddle pairings because he was so despicable at an early age. Sonya wrote him to be dangerously compelling, someone that you knew would end up being your ruin but you really don’t care. I found that extremely interesting.
Another thing I really liked was the descriptions of emotions and expressions that Sonya gives. Everything the characters were feeling was clear, and the effect was this wonderfully written piece.
Clearly, this was a great read and highly recommended. Go read it right now, the links there!
By Hope
Beauxbatons
To Make a Monster by Hemlockconium
I have to say this was an interesting read! I’d never given much thought to Greyback’s story before, and this was quite the eye opener (Had this had pages, it would have been one heck of a page turner!). I love how all he wanted was to get his story out there, and tell the Wizarding world at large what had happened to him, and why he felt compelled to do the things he did. All he ever wanted was what any misunderstood creature/and or person wanted; to be understood, not be persecuted for something that hadn’t actually been his fault.
I loved that Hemlock stated that Greyback, whilst in his confinement, literally wore his fingers down to mere stubs to get his story out there. I have to say, for once, I was actually made to feel sorry for a villian, not many people can say that they’ve achieved that!
This story gave me all the perfect visuals, I could so easily see Greyback scraping letters into the stonework, the flashbacks worked brilliantly, and I could see everything so clearly.
All in all this was a brilliant story, it was well thought out, and executed to perfection! Well done.
Claire.
Mahoutokoro
Invincible by WhiteTiger91 – OVERALL JP!!
This story I read while I was at work, and with the author being Tiggs, I knew it wouldn’t disappoint. Graham Montague is far more than I ever expected. Tiggs took a smaller character and gave him so much detail that he came to life, not only that she didn’t lean into that stereotype for prejudiced Slytherins, instead she showed the normal struggle of a young boy losing something so precious.
Not only was the story well written, but it also reached inside and connected to the emotions I felt myself as a child with my own grandfather. The details managed to be so consistent with the canon of a fantasy world, and yet it’s so emotionally real and feels grounded in the real world.
It was a wonderful story, and even though the ending made me shed a tear, overall it filled me with wonderful memories of my own childhood with a rather insane grandfather!
By Verity
Hogwarts
Black Reward by Lun
Sirius Black has suffered endlessly in JKR’s books. We all love him dearly, so it is quite refreshing to see him return alive and healthy from this story, but also with happiness that has finally found a way into his life again.
This story is has it all: action, suspense, drama and — of course — romance. That is how the reader finds themselves engaged in this colourful narration, full of all the great things a story needs.
Sirius is the cocky and endearing chap we know, loving the risky life and going on missions no other member of the Order would even contemplate to take part in. And his bravery (and recklessness) is rewarded in the most beautiful way.
-Lun
Dear Aunt Molly
Shout out! Dearest Molly, Although I know Fred and George will probably get hold of this owl and tell the mods who wrote it anyway, I do have an anonymous shout out:
A huge thank you to the moderators not only for running this competition, but for putting up with all my annoying little problems. I’m so glad to be part a forum that actually listens to their students’ concerns, with mods who offer more than just amazing prompts: friendship.
As some wise old headmaster once said, ‘Happiness can be found in the darkest of times, if one only remembers to turn on the light,’ I think you all are the light for many people here.
Don’t change!
(Hello dear, Fred and George most certainly did go and tell the Mods who this was, but have promised not confess who).
Dear Aunt Molly,
I have met with the worst nightmare for a young journalist- writer’s block. It all started when my idol, Rita Skeeter’s true colors were exposed. From a young age, I admired how she managed to get ‘the scoop’ before anyone else, how she managed to be in every big-time event and how she was able to sniff out a story where few others would even notice anything out of the ordinary! She was the reason I got into journalism. I was thrilled when I was placed underneath her tutelage. But when she interviewed the Boy-Who-lived during the Triwizard, I came to know that her unreal scoops were just that- not real. They were fabricated with that awful lime-green quill. Hoping that you could help, B-copy byliner
Hello dear,
How many times over the years have I suffered with writer’s block? The answer to that: too many! Also may I point out that Rita Skeeter is no role model! I’m sure there are others at the Daily Prophet that would willing teach you the proper ways of journalism, and not that fake bumpf that passed as news by that low down lying beetle… (This is Arthur, I’ve had to drag Molly away due to the fact she’s almost blown up the kitchen table in anger. I think this will have to do, and I only hope it helps you).
Dear Molly, Firstly, you are a witch, right? Not a filthy half breed? I shall not divulge my problems with anyone who slashes around the water with a fish-tail or a half-horse too busy counting stars to notice what’s in front of them. Regardless, my current problem surrounds a good friend of mine. He’s recently recovered from memory loss, but whilst the Healers believe he is fine to return to society, I am sure they are wrong. You see, even though he knows I am right, he insists that purple is the new pink. He won’t listen to me that pink will ALWAYS be in fashion, and now he’s trying to make everyone wear the colour. How do I get him to listen to me? Yours, Done with the #purplepain already.
Hello dear,
I’m going to state this once, and once only: NEITHER COLOUR WILL ALWAYS BE IN FASHION! Purple will never be the new pink, same as pink will never be the new purple. Black is where it’s at! It goes with everything. So you’re both wrong. Sorry! (MOOD!).
The International Wizarding School Competition League Table
| School | Place | Points | MVP |
| Hogwarts | 1st Place | 968 | Heidlebergchick |
| Beauxbatons | 2nd Place | 967.12 | hemlockconium |
| Mahoutokoro | 3rd Place | 902.62 | WhiteTiger91 |
| Durmstrang | 4th Place | 780 | DitzyMagic |
| Ilvermounry | 5th Place | 646 | Sonya-Heather-DeVito |
Round-Design Challenge
For this round, we have a special challenge for you. To make sure we continue to have great round designs in the future, we want you to come up with your personal version of the perfect round!
You still have two more weeks to send in a maximum of three rounds per person. A complete design includes an overall theme, school themes for all five schools, at least fifteen prompts (max twenty), and to spice things up, you will have to include an idea for a special rule. For Bonus Rounds, duplication of prompts is not allowed for example. Send in your round design to the IWSC account as a PM or google docs link.
As a reward, each round will earn a writer three points, and if you complete three you will get ten points, rather than nine! The best round(s) will also get an additional five, so get your quills and start writing!
-o-
Template
Overall Theme: Write a short description of the theme. We used the school subjects as a basis for our rounds. You can follow that tradition or do your own overall theme. Creativity might impress us just a little more!
School Themes: These have to be related to the overall theme. Include a description of each School Theme that specifies the direction the theme can go and how it can be interpreted. If you need some help, look at how the previous rounds have linked school themes and prompts to the subjects that inspired the round.
Hogwarts –
Beauxbatons –
Ilvermorny –
Durmstrang –
Mahoutokoro –
Prompts: Put together a mix of prompts that are at least distantly related to the Overall Theme and are easily included into every school theme. Try to add a bit of variety for the kinds of prompts (characters, settings, quotes, etc.). Take a look at the list of prompts at the bottom of each round for inspiration. We would like you to include at least 15, use more if needed for your round design (see below.)
Special Rule: Write a clear description of your Special Rule that goes along with the overall round design and should be used with all School Themes. For Bonus rounds, we do not allow duplication of prompts, can you come up with another way to bend the rules to make this round extra challenging? If this rule requires extra prompts, please include as noted above.
Feel free to contribute to other aspects of the paper by sending a private message to the Competition account. We are always looking for pieces of fanart, and even your thoughts or recommendations. Even if you want to send a message to someone in the competition that you think has excelled, or maybe they helped you out? Send it to Aunt Molly! Anything else should be sent to Wizarding School Championship In the Subject should be Wizarding World News: [Name the section of the paper you are writing about] depending on what you’re messaging about.
Wizarding World News 