SNITCHSEEKER, A HISTORY

The new term in the Fall of 2107 marked the beginning of Headmaster Kazmi Kamran’s reign at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. And while already well liked by the majority of the student body, the admiration only grew with Kazmi’s opening speech where it was announced outside interference from the Board of Governors would be strictly prohibited henceforth due to the… circumstances of the terms prior. The student body could breathe a little easier, and easier still with the news the castle had also been repaired and inspected over the summer by a team of curse breakers. The term was off to a good start already and the first night continued while students ate their weight in the delicious food prepared by the house elves.

The next morning meant it was off to classes and getting back into the swing of life at Hogwarts, which this term included Greenhouse clean up projects hosted by our own Professor June Flamsteed. After having had to burn one of the Greenhouses the term previous, rebuilding was a necessity and students were happy to pitch in in their spare time. Which the Professors must have been grateful for, as suddenly their time was taken up patching various cracks and crevices appearing within the interior of the castle. Nothing too drastic, surely just age and it was all easily patched so no extreme causes for concern.

Until the minor began to turn major as cracks turned into chunks falling from the ceiling, and a trashed trophy room. This was all still chalked up to fairly normal wear and tear after years and years of occupancy in the castle. Until the charms themselves began to experience issues - primarily lags in response of the common rooms opening to the students and the becoming more frequent failure of the Room of Requirements and moving staircases, leaving all the occupants baffled as to the reasons.

Questions and concerns could soon be heard in the halls regarding what could be happening with the magic, but even more baffling than that was the sudden appearance of someone lurking outside the castle gates questioning what was going on within. Cooper Branxton and Violet Blackthorne spoke with the stranger, a Mr. Randall Bitterwood with the Board of Governor’s, but before the conversation could go any further than the general assurances all was well, Bitterwood was scared off by the arrival of Professor Hernandez. The visit was soon forgotten as complications within the castle continued, slowly increasing with more frequent failures and damages.

With the growing concerns, Headmaster Kazmi called a meeting in the Entrance Hall to address the issue and assure students of the steps being taken to ensure safety and restoration. Headmaster Kazmi was just in the midst of his plans, when in barged Mr. Bitterwood whose appearance in the castle was both surprising and unanswered as to how the man had managed this feat. There was no time for this inquiry however, as Bitterwood announced that the castle falling apart was clearly due to the lack of involvement of the Board of Governors. As the man stepped on his soap box, the information slipped that it was Randall Bitterwood who had personally sent the Pharaoh’s Triumph to the castle the previous year, as the first step to a ploy to have the Board taken an even more active role in the government of how Hogwarts was ran.

Realizing his mistake, Bitterwood attempted to make a run for it when the present Professors they would be contacting law enforcement to take him away, but thankfully due to the quick thinking of Darius Potter, Ashley Fox and Aria MacLeod he was unable to escape. Bitterwood was taken away and exams went into full swing, while a team came in to recast all the necessary enchantments and repair the unattended castle damages. In the blink of an eye, another term was drawing to a close and Professor Kazmi’s final speech brought the news Bitterwood would be spending time in Azkaban under the charges of child endangerment. It was then time to finish their meal and off on the Hogwarts Express the next morning.

See you next term, Hogwarts.

The start of the new term came with a new influx of staff members as Headmaster Kazmi continued reigning Hogwarts. A school dance was then announced for the Spring with committee meetings to follow for decorating and planning the event. All was calm for the rest of the term... or so was thought, as strange screeching and yowling noises could be heard a short distance from the Entrance Hall. A group of students gathered at the locked door near the Entrance Hall with theories on what could be making that noise. A dragon? A cat? A troll? There wasn't a clue to figure out.

By winter, the first Dance Committee meeting took place in Classroom 11 on the Ground floor. The planning went well, only to be disturbed by noises. Noises that have now shifted into songs. Mysterious songs in a rhyming fashion would finish with a gleeful, child-like laugh echoing the halls that spooked the students. Despite the staff's efforts to calm them, the students and some staff concluded the meeting with second thoughts.

Mysterious noises continued, a scratching noise throughout the Fourth Corridor. On inspection, the scratching left a message on the stone wall. The scratching continued with messages left in the common rooms. It wouldn't be until the previously locked door was discovered ajar by Spring. Whatever was in there had escaped. The curious students, namely Vera Thanatos announced they were going in, with other students following in or guarding the area to alert them of any staff that discovered the incident.

On further entry, there didn't appear to be anything dangerous, but instead a huge outdoor environment, with humid temperatures, a body of water, and jungle-like terrain. Arden Toros announced what was found inside. A debate ensued on whether to inform the staff or continue exploring when a new message appeared that Jude Anders encouraged others to write it down. Just then, Headmaster Kazmi arrived, not surprised by the influx of curiosity. He informed them that an announcement would be made soon on the circumstances.

The school dance took place, and Headmaster Kazmi, addressed the students, reminding them of the out-of-bounds area and how the discovery of the area led to a new message to be discovered. A Riddle. All the previous messages were riddles leading to this one. Asking what could be the meaning to it:

Another year begins at Hogwarts. Coming off the pleasant end of last term, Headmaster Kazmi returns welcoming new students and staff. Along with Peeves who was captured by the positive aura surrounding the school and begun showcasing charity with a new gift for each student and staff he came across with a newly discovered book on hand.

When the book was opened, the gift shared happened to be supernatural powers inflicting those in vicinity. Superhuman strength, hypersensitivity to smells, sounds, flying, flowers conjured through sneezes, butterflies, transforming into animals, spider-crawling abilities, speaking in bubbles, midas touch, loud noises emitted each step, and many more. The powers did more harm than good when those inflicted couldn't control them and ended up disrupting lessons, especially once the faculty became inflicted as well.

The generosity was more than the student body could take, so groups were formed to find Peeves so they could put a stop to this. Splitting off to search the Courtyard, the Grounds, and Forbidden Forest. Peeves was discovered in the Courtyard and later cornered into the Grounds area where he revealed the ingredients on the potion that would rid the book's existence and solve everything.

So ingredients were gathered whilst the group in the Forbidden Forest approached the Sphinx to answer the riddle for the book's location. Once the book was discovered, it was sent straight to the castle where Professor Hernandez with the group's assistance successfully brewed the potion where the book was dropped into, promptly ridding all the powers inflicted on the students and staff.

The term ends bittersweetly, with Hogwarts back at peace, but Headmaster Kazmi announcing his departure from the school. With that, an era was bid adieu.

Another term at Hogwarts introduced a new leader. This year saw the introduction of Headmaster Winterbottom, a former Hufflepuff, ready and willing to take over the reins of the school.

Thankfully for Winterbottom, it was an uneventful few month without anything going wrong. School activities included de-gnoming the grounds, a ‘floor is lava’ tournament and stargazing in the domes.

Term concluded with a lavish feast and students returning home to some likely very relieved parents.

There was little change in the faculty lineup this year as the students returned back to the hallowed halls of the school. The term began smoothly, perhaps too smoothly for this was Hogwarts and it wasn’t long before strange events began to occur leaving staff and students baffled.

It started with a few broken branches, some torn grass and flattened foliage over at the climbing tree, as if a great storm had blown its way through the school overnight without anyone noticing. Then came the strange riddles plastered on the stone walls, the soft sounds of giggles echoing through the corridors and over the Weasley swamp followed by the destruction of the fruit bowl painting that marked the entrance to the kitchen. Only this destruction was not through a random act of nature nor was it any human found in the school. This culprit had claws.

Meanwhile, Hogwarts was playing host to a job fair designed to bring together students and professionals from across the wizarding community. Representatives from the world of sports, arts & entertainment, business, creature care, healing and education came together to present informative booths and encourage the students to join their field whilst offering helpful advice.

Our mischevious friend had their way with the fair too, with mass destruction across the Great Hall as everyone returned from lunch but no guilty party in sight. It wasn’t until shortly before term ended that our furry friend made their appearance known, sitting in the Headmasters chair. The Sphinx, a character who had been spotted at Hogwarts in terms previous, had made her way into the school and caused destruction out boredom and loneliness. It was decided amongst the staff that she, who had been affectionately named Jasmine, would be moved to a reserve to be amongst her own kind.

After what seemed to be a short summer, another year at Hogwarts came rolling around as September approached. The illustrious Headmaster Winterbottom introduced new members of staff; Apollonia Fergersnout teaching History of Magic, Roulan Liu taking the mantle for Charms and Amelia Adara pioneering potions. The term started off rather dramatically with temper tantrums galore, a misplaced spider from Fergersnout’s hat creating havoc amongst the Hufflepuffs, the abuse of the sacred Hogwarts Sorting Hat by an unhappy first year and the docking of points from Gryffindor before the feast had even ended. If the start-of-term feast was anything to go by, it was going to be an eventful few months at Hogwarts.

The first sign of anything going mysteriously, as always seemed to be the case in the castle, was the usually grumpy, work focused Algamus the House Elf handing out baked goods to the students in the entrance hall rather than instructing his fellow elves on their daily chores. With the Head Elf out of action it wasn’t long before the castle was in a state of disrepair. Dust filled the corridors, cobwebs lined the corners of every room and the windows coated in a layer of grime leaving students and staff alike sneezing.

Meanwhile the old mirror on the fourth floor caught the attention of students Mitsuki Rasting, Rowan Fairfax, Brandon Fox and Aurora Ackerly with its strange behaviour. Instead of a reflection being cast back, the mirror showed the image of an old ballroom and occasionally a brief flash of a shadow from the corner of the eye. All four students somehow touched the surface of the mirror which rippled and flashed a bright light upon its disturbance. Not long after this event did the students begin to act strangely themselves, appearing to behave the opposite of their usual selves. It wasn’t just the students that were affected however with Professors Khanna, Carton and Paton also portraying opposing personalities around the school and in lessons.

But what was truly going on? Throughout the year newspaper clippings, shrieking portraits and textbook scribblings all pointed towards the history of the Burke family, a member of which Macarius Burke had been missing since 1858. It appeared that amidst the young man’s arranged betrothal to a Black, Burke created a portal within the mirror in which he and his best friend Ewart Milliphut whom he had been banned from seeing could be themselves without the interference of their families, an alternative life. That same mirror could now be found at Hogwarts on the fourth floor and the number of shadows seen within the frame had increased.

It wasn’t until the end of term, in the midst of a school wide clean up party, that the affected students and staff returned to normal. It seemed that all that needed doing was for those who had previously touched the mirror to do so again, therefore reconnecting their alternative selves back into the mirror and their normal selves to return back to Hogwarts. Thankfully for those within the mirror, the events of the term had only felt like a day rather than the months it had been. Furthermore the memories of the alternative selves morphed with those of the originals and any knowledge gained from the term’s lessons were shared to the students meaning they hadn’t lost a year of education. Whilst in the mirror the students and staff were able to speak to Macarius and learn of his story. It was this knowledge that presented a self made spell, ‘Amacita’ meaning friendship, which when spoken broke Burke’s mirror confinement allowing his spirit to be released.

With the school seemingly back to normality, the term was able to close without a hitch.

After that grueling Mirror situation last term, students were left on their toes, anticipating the next catastrophe on Hogwarts grounds. The start of the term was reassuring, as Headmaster Winterbottom declared there would be little change to the educational team, with the exception of Professor Leroy assuming the mantle for Muggle Studies while Professor Feirgrund took over Charms class.

Registration for extracurricular activities began, with students excitedly signing up and participating. Professor Carton manned the Quiz Bowl activity in the fall, with both students and staff winning prizes. The Drama Club, run by Professor Fergersnout, collaborated with Professor Feirgrund, who led the Art Club in designing the stages for their play based on "The Tales of Beedle the Bard." Professors Khanna and Paton built an obstacle course, and Professor Adara taught the students how to make delectable ice cream in the dungeons. It was all the makings of a sweet term... until some students disobeyed the rule about avoiding the Forbidden Forest.

Mr. Freddy Zimmer and Miss Anna Walles were among those in the forest when the clicking pincers of a hungry Acromantula uttered the word "Dinner" before attempting to pounce on the unsuspecting students. Another student in their third year, Archie O'Brien, felt his snake senses tingling and came to the rescue, summoning brooms in the nick of time, allowing all three to escape with nothing but fear in their eyes. Lesson learned.

The term ended without further complication. Headmaster Winterbottom announced Slytherin as the winners of the House Cup for the second term in a row. The term concluded with a lavish feast, and students returned home safe and sound.

In 914, Hogsmeade Village was founded by Hengist of Woodcroft. In 2114, that makes it the 1,200-year anniversary of the founding. As such, the "Woodcroft Games" were formed in celebration of a Hogsmeade Renaissance Fair, as announced by Headmaster Winterbottom. After Professor DeVries' departure last term, Professor Callie Phlour joined the Hogwarts team to teach Herbology, while Professor Fergersnout became Head of Hufflepuff House, Professor Khanna added Groundskeeper to their staff position, and Professor Adara reclaimed her former position as Flying Instructor.

Along with the staff changes and the planned event of the 1,200th anniversary, the third-year minimum restriction was lifted to prevent younger students from missing out on the activities, and former alumni were free to visit and participate as well. Lessons were tailored to promote the history of the village and improve students' skills. Extracurricular activities returned with an exciting Astronomy Stargazing field trip, a Spring Fling Festival, and the official Hogwarts Highland Games to end the term.

Alas, the end of the year arrived, and exams were completed. The Slytherins once again won the House Cup for the third year in a row. Professor Celeste Gert and Callie Phlour would tearfully depart the school for good with the other graduates, and students returned home safely ready for the next year to arrive.

The new school year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry began with Headmaster Winterbottom warmly welcoming both new and returning students. This term brought changes to the staff lineup, with Professor Marcus Cole taking over Herbology and Marion Burbage returning in her ghostly form to teach Astronomy. In a pleasant surprise, Winterbottom announced the return of Quidditch, with tryouts led by Professor Adara, while Gobstones competitions were to be hosted by Professors Feirgrund and Leroy. Excitement spread as students eagerly participated in tryouts and matches, both as players and spectators.

However, the usual Hogwarts cheer was soon overshadowed by a strange phenomenon. Footprints and dusty gray fingerprints began appearing on the Moving Staircases. Sixth-year Gryffindor Beauden Wild was the first to notice the mess, reporting it to Professor Paton. Quirly the house-elf promptly cleaned up the area. But days later, the mysterious gray footprints reappeared, this time at the Clock Tower Entrance, baffling Ravenclaw students Alissa Rhodes and Sydney Masters. While some dismissed it as a prank or carelessness, the persistent gray grime hinted at something more unusual. Tippin, another house-elf, cleaned the mess again, but the mystery lingered.

Soon, the phenomenon escalated. The gray grime spread further, and students began experiencing bizarre symptoms: excessive sweaty palms and the peculiar development of Trans-Atlantic accents. Although the issue seemed to dissipate during the holiday break, with students regaining their natural colors, the relief was short-lived.

When students returned in the New Year, they discovered a shocking sight—their common rooms were entirely monochrome. The eerie gray hue had spread across the castle, draining color from walls, floors, and corridors. Even students were affected, with some developing horrific gray blemishes on their faces.

Second-year Ravenclaw Greer Murray became one of the most striking victims, losing all traces of color and being mistaken for a statue by Professor Marcus Cole. In her desperation, she begged him for help, only to spread the "affliction" to him as well. Professor Cole escorted her to the Hospital Wing, where Monsieur Feirgrund was already treating other victims.

The two professors worked tirelessly to devise a cure. After numerous experiments, they developed a solution combining bubotuber pus (diluted into a water-like form), fluxweed, and dye plants. Once tested and deemed safe, they began applying it to the affected areas with help from Professor Dhruv Khanna and students Aryan Atreyu-Rehman, Jansher Grunt, Emma Montmorency, Bryony Paton, and Rose Snakebark, and the house-elves. Gradually, the color returned to both the castle and its inhabitants, restoring Hogwarts to its former glory just in time for the End-of-Term Feast.

The school year concluded with notable celebrations. The Great Hall was decked out in green as Slytherin claimed the House Cup for the fourth consecutive term. Gryffindor broke a 44-year drought to win the Quidditch Cup, while Hufflepuff ended a 27-year wait to claim the Gobstones Cup.

All was calm, all was bright. The year started pleasantly with Headmaster Winterbottom welcoming new and returning students. Quidditch and Gobstones tryouts began as usual. Within a few days of the school term beginning, Professors Feirgrund and Khanna kept the casual patrol of the Forbidden Forest to catch any more students sneaking in. They were met with first year Gryffindor Kara Walsh following them along with 1st year Hufflepuff Taliesin Dane and 3rd year Hufflepuff Ariadne Rose. At the sight of the students, the Professors promptly took points away, but before they could issue out a detention date, a hungry Acromantula, Groggy, chose to dine on the students.

The Professors made quick work of casting spells towards it, just as Master Dane used their acrobatic skills and dashed out of the Acromantula's reach, escaping the forest. Groggy, upset, called for backup just as Jaws the Thestral came in to help shield the girls against an even larger Acromantula, Moggy, came to finish the job. With the Professor's permission, Miss Rose cast a quick protego after Miss Walsh's lumos attracted Moggy's attention. Just inches from being mauled, the students were saved with Professor Feirgrund's freeze charm, followed by Jaws ramming into Moggy, sending them away. Professors Feirgrund and Khanna directed the girls with the injured Jaws out of the forest safely. Instead of a detention, the students were rewarded with a portion of their points returned for their quick thinking and efforts... and much needed calming draughts at the Hospital Wing.

Following the heart-thumping event, the school remained on track with lessons taught and pleasant weekends at Hogsmeage Village. An Astronomy lesson led by Marion Burbage focused on the orbits of planets, and students practiced with a visual aid involving miniature balls that would spray colors on impact. However, the lesson was interrupted by Peeves who sent the modules flying creating a real-life supernova recreation to the despair of Professor Burbage. Two Ravenclaw students, Krittika Joshi and Dionysus Laramore, berated Peeves and offered to clean up the mess while the class was hastily dismissed.

The term ended on a peaceful note, with Gryffindor winning the Gobstones Cup and breaking Slytherin's five-term winning streak of the House Cup. While Slytherin instead took the Quidditch Cup. The students and staff said their goodbyes to Professors Adara, Carton, and Fergersnout. We thank them for their wonderful tenure in educating the masses at Hogwarts and will be dearly missed. With that, the mostly peaceful term concluded.