Some Harry Potter things : How Neville became Professor

After the battle of Hogwarts, Aberforth had become a special advisor for the trio. They didn’t call him their friend since he always advocated the Devil and in his own special way, helped them to see the flaw in their actions.

However they didn’t anticipate that Aberforth was now accessible to many people. His name had helped him fet acquinted and respected by people. On one of their visits to Aberforth, Harry, Ron and Hermione found Neville in the drawing room. Neville had a couple of books in his hands and looked rather, well, Neville!

Neville’s tremendous display of courage at the battle had given him the confidence he had always needed. Proven to be a worthy son to his parents, now Neville had found in his heart the courage to pursue his dreams. He had returned to Hogwarts to complete his NEWTs and had received a minimum of E in all his subjects. His grandmother was happier than she could ever be. She admitted that all she wanted for her grandson was to be himself. Now that he didn’t feel that he needed to be like his parents or anyone else, she stopped telling him what she wanted. This didn’t mean that she stopped telling him what to do. Often she told him about how to take care of the plants that Neville had grown in his little garden at home. Despite knowing that she was not providing the best solution, Neville was still scared of not obeying his grandmother.

From Aberforth the trio came to know about Neville’s interest in teaching Herbology. After completing his time in Hogwarts, Neville had spent months meeting fellow Herbologists and sharing his knowledge with them. Over time he authored several articles that got published in different magazines. He had become a kind of celebrity in the field. It was more due to his involvement in the battle of Hogwarts and him being friends with the trio. This was now the reason why Neville was sitting in Aberforth’s home.

Neville often visited Hogwarts to take suggestions from Professor Sprouts on his articles. In honesty, he felt best at home in those greenhouses where he had first discovered himself and something that he was good at. Now when he wad finally doing what he loved, he was still not happy. Atleast not completely. He felt that his work was slowly becoming about making experiences and retelling tales enumerated several times earlier. What he wanted was a quiet life where he could do his research and at the same time help others find their love for the subject. Aberforth had suggested that he tried for the job at Hogwarts. 

Professor Sprouts had wanted to retire for sometime now. She had seen quiet a lot of things. She had taught a lot of students. After the battle of Hogwarts, she had started valuing her life significantly. Initially she tried quite a few different activities like broom riding, potion making and ground keeping. However she failed in all of them. She found her calling recently and it was time she took it up seriously. She had informed Headmistress McGonagall that she wanted to now travel the world and meet the different wizards and witches. Unable to find a suitable replacement, Minerva had always succeeded in agreeing her friend to extend another year.

Aberforth felt that the time was right when Pomona got the break she deserved and Neville got the opportunity he wanted.

Ron was more than happy to take this up with Percy who had now become the senior Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic. Ironically, the decree that Fudge had implemented that the Ministry can provide a faculty member if the headmaster or headmistress is unable to find had failed to do so.

Percy drafted the entire suggestion and Harry helped getting it approved by the Minister of Magic.

On a fine Tuesday evening, the trio and Neville answered a summon to the Headmistress’ office. Even though they were all sitting comfortably, the aura around Professor McGonagall was still the same. Sitting in front of her they were sure that they had done something wrong and had already started feeling guilty.

‘So the ministry is interfering with Hogwarts again?’ She said sternly, raising everyone to alert. She then smiled and gave a parchment to Neville. He read it quite unbelievingly. It was an offer for the post. ‘I do not need the ministry telling me about my students Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley and Ms. Granger. I do however appreciate your concern and willingness to help your friend. I wont be needing this however. It would be very kind of your Mr. Potter if you could return this.’ Saying so she handed Harry a parchment which was sealed with the Ministry seal. Later he came to know that she had returned the Ministry orders for Neville’s appointment at the school and instead given him the offer on behalf of the school directors. Now so much for crossing a toe out of line, the three were to return these to the Minister’s office, which seemed a well deserved punishment for not taking the easier approach.

No longer in the light of his elder brother, he was wise in his own ways and people were coming to see that. Soon he had become an important part of the Wizarding world. However, he preferred his quiet life in his home with the portrait of his sister. An additional portrait of his brother now stood beside this. Often the three of them chatted and introspected on problems at hand. Albus and Aberforth still had their disagreements often ending with Albus’s abrupt departure from the frame or Aberforth’s threat to bring down Albus’s painting. It was as normal as things could get and it was as wonderful as never since Percival’s arrest at the Dumbledore’s home.

The life of Hermione Jean Granger Weasley :: The spinning toothbrush

In addition to being the Minister of Magic, Hermione was also the mother of two Weasley children who grew up with other Weasley children and three Potter children. It was such a struggle to ensure her children learned to make the right choice that she sometimes considered that being the minister was the easier than being the mother.

Worst happened when her husband took fancy of spending more time with his brother George as the Weasley Wizarding Wheezes became uncontrollably popular and Hugo started accompanying his father on frequent trips to the store.

While Hermione’s daughter Rose had taken after her, Hugo had somehow taken after Peeves - or so said Ron, his father. Hugo and Rose shared the room under the attic and Hugo gave a soaring competition to the ghoul in creating havoc. Even grandmother Weasley had modified her ancient magical wall clock to include a new action - ‘Doing something they should not’, where George and Hugo spent most of their time!! None the less he had grown up witty and loving. He had also inherited his grandfather’s love for the muggle artefacts.

Just before his seventh birthday, Rose and he had spent an entire month with their muggle grandparents. While coming back, Hugo had packed a lot of things that he did not carry while travelling to the place. Later under strict supervision of George Weasley, Hugo practiced to transform an electric toothbrush to an electric broom, with the help of Ron’s wand that he had helped himself with as Ron was sleeping.

A loud noise and the shake of the entire burrow was something that made everyone stop doing whatever they were. Arthur Weasley was the first one to reach Hugo’s room, from where the noise had come, and see the situation inside. A moment later he came out calmly to tell everyone that the situation is under control and it was all fine. Just as he had come, he disappeared back into the room and closed it - with magic as well as the new technology password lock Hugo was presented for his previous birthday by his muggle grandparents. It was not one lock but a combination of multiple locks. So someone would need to repeat ‘Alohomora’ a couple of times before the lock would open and this would be sufficient time for Hugo to clear away something that his sister, mother or grandmother should not see.

What Arthur Weasley saw made a smile grow on his face. The toothbrush had been magically engorged and spilling water all around while spinning at a tremendous speed. George was standing in a corner looking at the object spinning crazily in the room. His eyes sparkled like they had some idea as to its use. Hugo simply stood transfixed, unable to believe his own creation. Having spent his many years in the Misuse of Muggle Artefacts office, Arthur Weasley’s first reaction was of horror. However his retirement, George and his grandchildren had had a bad affect on him and had only spiked his spirits to experiment with muggle objects. Slowly a grin spread over his face.

The loud noise had not gone unnoticed and the voices from the room did not stop. A couple of minutes later Hermione decided to open the door anyhow. She was the Minister of Magic and if something was happening that shouldn’t, she needed to do something about it. She looked at her husband who had now woken up and was standing by her side. Taking his silence for approval, she started performing the counter spells to open the door. Ron however, had learnt to keep his distance from places where George might be involved.

The Wild noise inside had made the clicking of the locks almost inaudible. Every click only made Hermione be faster to reach the next one. She silently prayed that her son was alright in there and more importantly he wasn’t breaking any rule!

Hermione entered the room to find a wildly spinning toothbrush which was trying to clean everything and everyone inside. There was water everywhere. The ghoul was jumping in the attic to meet the rhythm that the brush was creating. Meanwhile, Arthur, George and Hugo were busy trying to spell the brush to tame it so that it follows their directions. So far, they had no luck.

In just one of these moments she wished that living in a muggle home where trace prohibited an underage wizard to perform magic was seriously better. She stood dumbstruck assessing the scene before her while Molly was shouting behind at the three people. She took Arthur and Hugo to get them cleaned and to ensure Hermione didn’t give them a hard time. George didn’t need telling. He had disapparated the moment he saw his mother. Molly Weasley had grown soft as a grandmother but she was still a very ferocious mother to her children and they didn’t step a toe out of line in front of her, atleast.

When Hugo left, Hermione saw something that he had dropped. It was a wand. She held her head in her hands not able to believe from where her son would get a wand. Then she realised that it was Ron’s wand. She looked at him, with anger. Ron, the only one in the room didn’t know where to look or what to do. Without any word, Hermione knew that it had been Ron’s carelessness that had caused the whole episode. She raised her wand slightly, pointing it right at her husband. A black flash shone and a second later there were streams of spiders following Ron as he sped wildly screaming ‘Blimey! Its school all over again! This woman is crazy! Sometimes birds and now SPIDERS!!’

Screaming, he ran out into the lawn to get away from the spiders as much as he could.

The Train

While browsing the Merriam Webster portal today, I checked that they have few interesting quizzes, word of the day section, puzzles like daily sudoku and interesting articles. Having checked the word of the day for the day and past week, found that I have a better score than the average score for my age in a vocabulary quiz and having played a game of sudoku in under five minutes, I turned to the interesting and informative articles! For someone like me - who loves to read, who loves to learn, who loves to learn new languages and who wants to improve their proficiency in the English language, these articles are interesting and informative. Very simply to understanding and containing small bits of wisdom that make us build a well-informed and more understanding outlook of the world, these articles are found in all dictionary (or learning English) websites. Through small anecdotes, they will leave us with facts and information that we will never forget.

Today I found multiple articles on the above mentioned website. The first one to catch my sight was an article titled "Why Do We Call It a 'Train'?" Since I watched a Big Bang Theory marathon yesterday, my first thoughts towards this title were - 'Let us find out what interests Sheldon', 'Let us find out what Sheldon probably already knows.' (And Jim Parson's famous Sheldon Cooper voice echoes in my head saying - 'Really? Is it possible that Sheldon doesnt know this?').
I open the article and Sheldon Cooper is driven out of my mind in an instant. The image staring back at me (the one accompanying the article) was none other than HOGWARTS EXPRESS. I shook my head and thought I was hallucinating having not seen the moves for a couple of weeks now - but no!! It was there!! I shook my head, blinked my eyes but the image did not change. Curious... very curious! (In Ollivander's Voice, please)

 I held my breath, not wanting to jump to any conclusions, I decided to do some research. The obvious place to begin was - Google. I searched 'Train', 'A Train', 'The Train', 'Why we call it Train' and some other combinations. Surprisingly, all the above searches gave me images of trains that were NOT the Hogwarts Express. There was the image from the article which came for 'Why we call it Train' (as expected) from merriam webster search result [and you dont want to google 'The Train' unless you want to see images of Emraan Hashmi]. So, it was not a coincidence that while publishing this article, the image of the Hogwarts Express was taken by mistake.

Thus, I feel it considerably safe to declare that whoever penned and published the article, is a Harry Potter fan.
Such incidences never fail to amaze me. I am astounded how some ink and paper can create a magic so deep and so wide-spread. Even when I am not looking, I know it exists. Harry Potter, dear friends, is NOT a person and definitely not a book. It's a world - a world filled with magic and not just the wand kind. It is magic that holds people together and makes them believe. It is a magic that makes us see the best in each other and in turn in ourselves. It is a magic not just to create wonders but to support them as well.
Seeing the image, even after a long dull day at work, I feel like I can go for a Harry Potter movie marathon as soon as I get home ;)

PS : Train means something that is dragging behind. It was initially used to denote the part of gowns that trailed behind. [This is all that I read of the article.]
Hope you read the article and enjoy it!https://www.merriam-webster.com/words-at-play/the-history-of-the-word-train
Do let me know if you too know that its the Hogwarts Express!

Harry Potter Questions :: Why are muggle born underage witches and wizards allowed to do magic?

Why isnt there any magic supervision for the muggle-born children?
I just thought of all the fuss everyone makes when Dobby performs the Hover Charm in Harry's house and when Harry performs the patronus. I also remember Dumbledore telling Harry how magic is NOT detected by underage wizards if an adult wizard is around.

However, to read an excerpt from Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone -
"Are you sure that's a real spell? said the girl. 'Well, it's not very good, is it? I've tried a few simple spells just for practice and it's all worked for me. Nobody in my family's magic at all, it was ever such a surprise when I got my letter, but I was ever so pleased, of course, I mean, it's the best school of witchcraft there is, I've heard - I'e learnt all our set of books off by heart, of course, I just hope it will be enough - I', Hermione Granger, by the way, who are you?"
[I really enjoyed typing the above. It was like Hermione was speaking all this rather slowly as I typed it away.]

Well, in the second monologue that our Hermy every delivers, she clearly mentions two things -
Firstly, she tried a few spells and THEY ALL WORKED.
Secondly, no one in her family is magic, that is, there are no witches or wizards in her family.

Hence, now, I would like to know - why is Hermione allowed to do magic?

Considering the statute of secrecy (or whatever the Ministry has made of it), I really believe that magic done by a muggle born, unsupervised, is way more dangerous.
Take for instance, the Weasley twins - I am pretty sure that they have done underage magic many times. Yet, having seen their elder brothers, parents and other relatives do it so often, I am sure even if they did it all by themselves, they were less a threat to the world as a muggle born who was doing something no one around them knew of. Further, since Fred and George come from total wizarding family, surrounded by other wizards, even if they perform magic outside their houses, no one is going to look astounded. On the other hand, if Hermione performs magic inside her house, her dentist parents will look.

May have been the case that I might have missed something, but I would just want the Ministry of Magic to look into this matter seriously (not that we are not accustomed to carelessness on their part).

A Muggle and a No-Maj

Ever since November 18, 2016, I have read a lot. This reading has mainly comprised of the Fantastic Beasts and where to find them - the original screenplay, reviews for the Fantastic Beasts and where to find them - movie 1, about Jonny Depp, Fantastic Beasts and where to find them - coursebook, Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Stone, Harry Potter and the Order of Phoenix, about Leta Lestrange, about Black family, about Ariana Dumbledore, about the 28 pure blood families in 1930s, about why Ollivanders might have been wrongly placed in the list of 28 pure blood families, about casting of Albus Dumbledore in the subsequent Fantastic Beasts and where to find them movie series, about Lolanthe Potter (nee Peverell), about Dorea Potter (nee Black), about Fleamont Potter, about Dolores Umbridge's father being a sweeper at the ministry and lots more. I am sure you get the idea. During all these readings, I have come across several scoop-woop types articles and lists. One of them had a point - All Americans saying No-Maj instead of muggles are not true Harry Potter fans!

Caution : Of course, this contains spoilers from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts and Where to find them - the movie/screenplay.

Also - if you have NOT read/seen the above, something is really wrong with you. I even suspect you are at the wrong blog and reading a wrong article.

Now, I live in India and I have grown with the Harry Potter books. Hence, I do use muggle in place of No-Maj. Muggle comes in naturally to me. This is because I was introduced to Muggles in the very first chapter of the first ever Harry Potter books. I have read and re-read the chapter in question a significant number of times. In a  way of saying, I have grown into the Harry Potter world through the foundations laid by that book (and that chapter). Hence, it is obvious that Muggle comes naturally to me than No-Maj. However, I firmly do NOT believe that calling non-magic people No-Maj makes me any less a witch than I am.

I accept, I am guilty of being absolutely in love with Fantastic Beasts and where to find them - the movie. The simple reasons for the same, if to be iterated, are -
* After so long we had an experience of the magical world - the world where our hearts and souls belong to. No offense meant, however, I really liked the Cursed Child as well.
* The experience was not just a glimpse or a disputed attempt, unlike the Cursed Child (Apologies).
* We got to know about other unsung heroes of the wizarding history. Well, no offense here either, however, Idont find Harry to be the hero is thought to be. He had had lots of help and most of the times the others with him, were never credited enough.
* We met some wonderful creatures. Having been in love with Hagrid right from finding out that we are all wizards and witches, we finally meet the creatures he loves.
* Now, I don't disapprove of the Ministry classification, however, I loved the creatures - all of them. Newt (indirectly Joe) has an astounding way of describing these creatures that you just can not help fall in love with them.
* You can not watch the movie and NOT fall in love with a Niffler. I so want one, even if it causes all the mayhem in the world but I will love it to the moon and back.
* Meeting Tina and Queenie - two wonderful witches - both of them with exceptional talent and the heart to help everyone without judging them.
* Meeting Jacob! Honestly, if I can not be a witch, I would rather end up like Jacob, helping Newt in all his adventures.
* Knowing about Leta Lestrange
* Knowing about MaCUSA
* Knowing about Ilvermony
* Meeting Gellert Grindelwald
* Knowing abot Obscurials
and lots more!!

I cant think of reasons for why someone would not like Fantastic Beasts series (just one movie/script for now!).

And then coming back to the topic - the article I spoke about distinguishing speakers of 'No-Maj' from the speakers of 'Muggles' - I found this article really disturbing. I mean we are ready to work with Karkaroff and Malfoy as long as they say 'Muggles' but not with other wizards because they have different words than what we do?

When I look forward to knowing more about Ilvermony, I dont stop being from Hogwarts. Hogwarts is always going to be home and it is undoubtedly the best and the only school for me. Yet, I accept that Beauxbatons must be Hogwarts for some and Ilvermony would be Hogwarts for still others. I dont want to challenge them to a duel and find the best school as even if we duel, there will just be two people duelling and we will only find out which one of them is a better wizard. Remember what we learned - we often fight amongst ourselves and let the true enemy win.

To make Hogwarts the best school, propogate the idea that the headmaster we have known has propagated - to increase our tolerance of others and to accept them whole-heartedly. We are all different and that is what makes us all unique. There is no place like Hogwarts and there is no place I would rather be. This is because we all make Hogwarts. I love the castle, the ghosts, the portraits, the staircases, the passageways, the classrooms, the teachers, the corridors, the poltergeist, the kitchen, the common rooms, the Greal Hall, the Entrance Hall, the grounds, the lake, the forbidden forest, the towers, the subjects, fellow students, the Owlery and most of all, the feeling that I belong there. This feeling comes because we all entered the castle as tiny naive versions of ourselves. We have grown in and with the school. Had I entered another school then, maybe that would have been home. But it isnt and that is the reality. I dont want everyone to call Hogwarts home; the ones who do, I have no complains... because home is where the heart is.

And this is the most important thing that Harry Potter series has taught me - to fight for what we love and to never let it go; but never fight to ruin something else as we end up ruining what we love.
No-Maj or Muggle, doesnt matter. All the difference that it makes is the region that we come from. Ilvermony or Hogwarts, doesnt matter. All the difference that it makes is that we love our homes.

To the writers and believers of that article, if you are a true British witch or wizard, work towards the International Magical Cooperation - to establish and strengthen it, even if it means sometimes calling a muggle as a No-Maj.

Mirror of Erised :: Albus Dumbledore

The mirror of Erised :: Albus Dumbledore
Though considered one by few, but she was not a squib. It was just difficult for her to cope up with the high standards set by her parents and brothers. And why shouldnt that be? Ariana was a Dumbledore. The family name alone had commanded respect in the wizarding world for as long as people remembered. The Dumbledore scion was never a wealthy one, as the few elderlies recall, yet many brilliant minds had come from this notable linage.
Ariana was a sweet little child. She would often help her father pick out the required flowers petals from his garden. She enjoyed de-gnoming her garden and would spend most of her day running after her brothers. If you wouldnt see her through one of her outbursts, which only a few did, you would believe her to be a very amicable and innocent little girl, filled with laughter and tenderness of heart and soul.
From a very young age, Ariana's brothers were able to control and channel their magical outbursts. At the age of nine, her eldest brother, Albus, could summon flowers from the garden outside and make them dance to make his mother smile. Aberforth, her second elder brother, had a true talent with animals. When they were living in the mould, there was no animal in the vicinity that Aberforth could not understand. He was obviously prohibited by their father - Percival, to cause anything suspecious in front of the muggles. Percival himself possessed a rather rare gift with Potions. He could brew any potion to near perfection. He used this gift of his to brew potions to help cure the muggles in the town. Thought to be an alchemist of some sort, the neighbors didnt mind the visits of several strangely dressed men and women from the other side of the town to the Dumbledore residence, or the fact that Percival always worked inside a closed room and no one knew how he prepared these unique medicines of his. A little extra time after his job at the Magical Enforcement Department at the Ministry of Magic, allowed Percival to ensure his family's safety and obscurity of their true identity. He was married to his school best friend Kendra. She was a muggle born witch with an penchant liking for transfiguration. In her fifth year at Hogwarts, Kendra was able to transfigure her Owl into a cupboard, impressing the examiner so much that she got an Outstanding in her Transfiguration practical and an offer to work in the Department of International Magical Cooperation after her N.E.W.T.s. While working in the ministry, Percival and Kendra discovered each other as the perfect couple and got married.
Ariana had inherited all the magic of her family but not the control. Since always, i.e. from when she remembers, she was able to make objects zoom around the house when she was angry or upset. Once she got so angry with Aberforth for touching her doll that unknowingly she made the doll scream at him. Being the little girl of the house, no one seemed to think anything to be wrong with her. Her father kept reassuring everything (including himself) that she would learn with age. However, she did not. With her age, her magical ability grew and so did her outbursts. Sometimes the outbursts were so severe that Ariana ended up hurting herself. Kendra left her office, to significant protests of her colleagues and seniors, to take care of her children. Albus and Aberforth were instructed never to let Ariana be alone. Her uncontrolled outbursts were not only a threat to revealing her identity and breaking the statute of secrecy but also caused portential risk to her well-being and that of those around her.
Things were still good. Her brothers were her best friends and the only friends she needed. They did not fear her outburst or treat her differently. The three of them always stuck together, that is until Albus turned ten. He would be joining Hogwarts school of Witchcraft and Wizardry soon. Having inherited the streak of brilliance from the Dumbledore lineage, Albus immersed himself in all sorts of books that he could find. He practiced some minor incantations and was ecstatic to see them worked. Albus's efforts and brilliance soon became a talk in the people who knew the Dumbledore family. This made Albus more determined to become better. This also made the times that Albus shared with his younger brother and sister, more scarce. It was not that he didn't care for them but he had better things to do. Suddenly, it was just Ariana and Aberforth left for each other. Close as they were earlier, Ariana and Aberforth were very young. Albus's long absence from their lives made them forget the times they earlier had spent together and to them, it appeared as if Albus had never been one of them. Ariana, though never said it loudly, found a lot of love for bother her brothers in her heart until the dreadful day. Kendra had asked Albus to look after her sister but he was busy practicing some wand work and refused. He had said "Let her grow mother. She cant always be your little girl or my little sister." What Kendra and Albus didnt know was that Ariana had heard their conversation and was now running out of the house unaware of where she was headed to. She was determined to prove to her family that she was as good and capable as any of them.
Once she stooped crying, she looked around. She had definitely come farther out of the town than she ever had had. She could see the Sun turn scarlet on top of the canopy of the thick forest, a little distance from where she stood. The anger on her brother was replaced by the fright. Ariana had no idea how to go home. The sky was getting darker with every passing minute and she wished that somehow she could communicate to her mother, Aberforth or even Albus - to let them know where she was and to ask them to come find her. Unknowingly and unable to control it, she sent out several jets of red sparks into the sky. Though scared of her actions, she hoped someone would notice the and help her find her home. Soon it would be completely dark. Her father would come back home. Surely he would notice her absence and come looking for her in an instance. Ariana tried to replace her worry with thoughts of her family coming to find her. They would come soon and she would then be safe and home in no time.
Certainly, someone had seen the sparks. Three boys, well older than Albus, were rammaging just by the forest when they saw the red sparks in the sky. Curious, they came looking for the source of the sudden fireworks. They saw a little girl move in direction away from the town. She looked lost. Just then, one of them swore to the others that he saw the leaves fly away from the girl as she walked. The three of them decided to go and check, hoping for nothing more than a few laughs.
Ariana had not seent he boys arrive until they were quite close to her. At first she felt happy at being rescued and ran towards them. 'Could you take me to my home?' Ariana asked innocently. The boys were looking surprisingly at her feet. She noticed that she had been making the leaves fly without meaning to. Their expressions meant that they were muggles and which meant that she had just broken a law. Now, she would be sent to Azkaban and would never be able to return to her home or go to Hogwarts and be with her family again. She took a step backwards. She had heard stories of how muggles were cruel to witches and wizards. Before she could take another step, the boy on the right smirked and said 'Lost eh? What is your name gal?' The boy in the centre nudged the boy on the right and said 'She'z 'a witch. Let'z go away.' 'She is only a little girl Will.' the one in the left pointed. The one on the right was not taking his eyes off Ariana. He broke off his friends and started coming towards her. He was circling her and she couldnt think of where to run. 'Got a name eh?' he asked. He was grinning at her flashing his dirty yellow teeth. 'Ariana.' 'I saw you do magic Ariana. Show us more.' 'We dont want trouble Lee. Where there is one, there will be more.' said the one on the left. Lee didnt stop grinning. He looked at Ariana in a way that reminded her of some hungry wolf. He sat down in front of her and held her shoulders. 'Lost eh? Tell us about your home? We'll take you there' he said. Ariana began telling about her house, its color, the church around the corner and the flowershop next to her house. As she was telling, she realized that Lee was holding her tightly. She tried to break free but couldn't. Will then said 'Whatz you doing?' Without looking backwards, Lee replied 'Some fun. Come and have.' The other boys started laughing as Lee started pating her on her back. It was not the gentle pats her mother gave while putting her to bed each night. The other two boys came and joined him. Ariana didnt like them being so close to her or touching her. She felt very helpless and very scared. 'Please... stop... let me go... dont...' she kept pleading them as they continued. Will had removed her socks and was pressing her legs. Ariana was crying and pleading them to let her go between her sobs. They didnt stop. What seemed like forever of enduring that, she became really angry. She remembered feeling very hot and the only thought in her mind, now, was to hurt the boys. Suddenly, she had a lot of strength. The boys let her go in an instant and fell down to the ground. She saw scars coming on their faces and bodies. The scars cut deeper and started bleeding. Lee got lifted in the air and then dropped suddenly. He was unconcious and the other boys were trembling with fear. It was their turn now.
'ARIANA' a deep voice called her. She turned around and saw her father standing at some distance. All the anger and fear disappeared. She smiled back at him and she was herself again. There were two boys bleeding and trembling in front of her and the third one was unconcious. Her head was spinning very fast. She tried to reach her father but dropped to her knees and fainted.
When Ariana woke, she was wrapped inside her mother's arms. Her father was packing everything. 'She is awake, dear' her mother called out. Percival rushed to her daughter's side and hugged her. Tears poured out of his eyes as he held her tight. She noticed that her mother was crying as well. Before she could ask them, her father spoke 'Dear, you were very brave today. Forget everything that happened like a bad dream. I just want you to concentrate on yourself and what is coming for you in future. Always stay happy and never get upset or angry. Learn alot and always listen to your mother. Wherever I will be, I will always be looking over you dearest.' Kendra let out audible sobs after listening to Percival. He started consoling his wife 'You know it is for her good and it is the only way.' Ariana understood that they were moving away.
Within minutes, Ariana, Aberforth and Kendra were on the knight bus with all their luggage. Albus was staying.
Ariana never quite understood the reason but they had shifted to Godric Hollow. It was a small village far from where they had lived. There were many people here who knew the Dumbledore's. They didnt have to entirely hide the fact that they were wizards. For some reason that Ariana never found out, her father didnt come with them. Her mother had forbidden her to speak about the same. Kendra also forbade Ariana to go to Hogwarts. The neighbors were led to believe that she was a squib and that her letter never came. No matter how hard Ariana tried, she could never remember how or why they had shifted. She remembered being in the Mould and then moving to Godric Hollow. Her brothers also never told her anything.
When Ariana was fourteen, one evening, Aberforth's friends from school visited Godric Hollow. Aberforth had been her best friend and her only friend. He had always treated her as an equal and took care of her. But that day, Ariana heard him tell his friends that she was a squib and preferred staying at home. This was a life. Ariana had got her Hogwarts letter which her mother had replied to and after that, there was no letter or no one seem to bother why a student had failed to attend school. That evening, Ariana decided to know the truth. She went to her mother and asked her. She knew that her father's disappearance and their moving to Godric Hollow was connected. It certainly had something to do with her not being a good witch. Just no one seems to tell her. She asked her mother over and over again and like always, her mother refused to talk about it. Ariana couldnt remember being so angry. She remembered her feeling very hot and then her mother got lifted in the air and fell down instantly. It was all so sudden that before Kendra could shout for help, her neck was already snapped. Hearing the commotion, Aberforth rushed into the room and found a demon inside her sister hovering over their dead mother's body. Unsure of what it was, he just shouted and called Ariana.
Like the last time, Ariana became herself. Her head was all spinning and she collapsed. Aberforth wrote to Albus who was staying with his friend Elphias Doge after completing school. Albus returned immediately to their home and refused to answer any of Aberforth's questions about Ariana.
'You Knew Al. Didnt you?' Aberforth asked his brother. Albus, trying to sound calm rather than the peckish self that he had became being trapped in the house rather than fulfilling his dreams 'Doesnt matter. And its best Ab that you forget it too.'
After days of repeated dialoge, Albus convinced Aberforth to allow Albus to wipe his memory of having seen Ariana as she was. Albus found his mother's pensieve and extracted that bit of memory from Aberforth.
No one knew what had happened that evening after Ariana had fainted till Percival brought her home except for Percival and Albus Dumbledore. After bringing his daughter to the safety of their home, Percival went to Albus and closed the room. He told Albus that Ariana was an Obscurial. It was an uncontrolled bit of magic trapped within underage wizards and witches. If not tamed, the Obscruial becomes highly dangerous and harms not only the people outside but the host as well. As an obscurial, Ariana did something tonight which needs to be kept a secret. For the same, Percival had broken his wand and would take the blame. The rest of the family needs to move away so as to be safe from the fate that awaited himself. Albus understood being an Obscurial was not a good thing but he didnt understand the need for his father to take the blame or to break his wand. 'One day you will understand Albus. With a mind like yours, it was just a matter of time for when you would find out the truth. It was only fitting for me to have said it to you myself. I only ask you one thing, take care of your family and never let anyone know Ariana's truth, not even your mother or your brother' Percival explained. 'I promise father' Albus promised. With these last words to his father, Albus saw his father away for the last time.
After Kendra's death, Albus was forced to stay in his home for Ariana so to allow Aberforth to continue his studies. It didnt help him feeling helpless at being stuck to babysit his siblings when he could be on his way to greatness. If things were rough, they deteriorated significantly after Ariana's death. Aberforth left the house and left Albus to whine and rot in his own misery. What if it was the curse from Albus's wand that killed Ariana?
One day, the guilt got better of him. He looked for his mother's pensieve and started looking in the contents, hoping to relive some of their happy days. What Dumbledore saw, was not happy. The pensieve contained only three memories. The first was the one he had extracted from Aberforth's mind and never seen - Ariana becoming an Obscruial and hovering over the dead body of their mother. The second memory was of their father who was crying, Ariana tightly clutched to his chest. They were on the outskirts of the Mould and he raised a wand and cursed the two trembling muggles to be white as the third beside them. Instantly the two became pale and it was obvious that they were cursed beyond cure. The third memory was Ariana's  - overhearing Albus's conversation with their mother, running away from the house, encounter with the boys, how they assaulted her and how she cursed one of them, injuring the other two.
Albus knew that there was something dangerous about her seemingly sweet sister but he didnt know what. After meeting Grindelwald, he came across Obscruials and now knew why did father had to take the blame. If Percival wouldnt have cursed the other two boys and taken the blame, the ministry would have captured Ariana and treated her like some experiment, damaging her beyond repair. All the final words of his father, echoed loud and clear in Albus's mind. He now understood it all. He was the only one who did.
Whenever these thoughts and memories clouded his mind, Albus liked to come to the Mirror of Erised and spend hours there. His sister was the first to always come and greet her. He regretted treating her the way he did and knew that he was the only one to blame. He was the reason why she turned into an Obscurial and yet, she was the first one to always come smiling to him. Next was his mother and his father who seem to have forgiven him being being a knowledgeable fool and irresponsible son. Last came his brother, who was no longer angry with him. Things were perfect.
Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi :: I show you not your face but your heart's desire

Snippets from Professor McGonagall's desk #2

Quirrell took out his wand and was performing complex powerful spells to put the troll into an enchanted sleep before tying him up. Unable to believe the last few moments, she irritably told Quirrell to tie the troll first and then continue. 'it was elementary, Said Snape irritably. 'I believed the defence against dark arts professor should know that' he continued with pauses 'the repurcussions of our choices, Quirinus.' Just as he finished, Albus Dumbledore entered the girls bathroom, closely accompanied by the ghost of Gryffindor tower - Nearly Headless Nick. On seeing the other teachers, he turned to Nearly Headless Nick, the shine back in his deep blue eyes, and said 'Thank You sir Nicholas. Your help has been instrumental. I would not like to keep you from all the celebrations anymore.' Nick smiled as he turned and glided away.
Dumbledore went to the the troll who had thick ropes tied all around him. Dumbledore waved his wand in random motion on the troll as if trying to shake off something sticking from it. Nothing happened. After a moment or two, he turned to Quirrell and asked with utmost astonishment 'I don't detect any magic. How did you stun the troll?' Snape let out a grunt and Quirrell stammered before beginning his sentence. Dumbledore turned to McGonagall and she said 'It was Potter, Weasley and Granger. They knocked him unconscious.' 'That is something, considering we are talking about three first years taking on a full grown mountain troll' smiled Dumbledore. 'Three arrogant and rule breaking first years, headmaster' reminded Snape. 'Yet impressive Severus. I am sure you would agree.' Snape grunted again. 'I am not sure you understand the situation here, headmaster' pleaded McGonagall. It appeared she was talking on something that alone she understood in the room. When no one said anything, she continued 'A full grown mountain troll! They pursued a full grown mountain troll. And he flies just like James, maybe better. Potter has unbelievable resemblance to James. I don't want another generation of Marauders in the castle, especially not when how they ended.' McGonagall's voice was trembling. It hinted anger and worry. Snape seized the chance and added 'Headmaster, he has inherited arrogance and rule breaking as well.' Dumbledore smiled kindly at them both 'What worries you Minerva is a boy taking after his father?' 'What worries me headmaster is our efforts for the past decade to keep the boy and our world safe. The Marauders didn't soar for long enough and these three have every making of a marauder' this time, it was just worry that reflected in her voice. 'The Marauders remain, Minerva. As you and I discuss of them, they are very much present. Now Severus, help Professor Quirrell show the door and if possible the borders of England to the troll.' Snape grunted again before he left with Quirrell, both were making the now tied troll floating behind them. Dumbledore turned to Professor McGonagall and then both of them started walking away from the girls bathroom. Enjoying the festive mood, Dumbledore was humming to himself. In the front of the stone gargoyle, Dumbledore stopped to say farewell to Professor McGonagall but she turned away, a little angry and irritated, muttering to herself 'I already had the Weasley twins and now another likely generation of Marauders. To top it all, they keep looking for chances to hurt themselves. I wonder why people think bad of the Slytherin house, try coming to Gryffindor. And I also deserve a raise with so much to manage.' Dumbledore heard no more as Professor McGonagall had turned the corner at the end of the corridor. He resumed his humming after saying 'Pumpkin Pasties' to the gargoyle.

Snippets from McGonagall's Desk #1

McGonagall was looking out of the window from behind her desk, pondering over the best way to introduce advance transfugations to her third years students without giving Fred or George Weasley any new idea to cause mayhem. She had almost decided to stick with strict-reading-from-the-book approach (the Weasley twins never bothered to read a word from their books; only Merline knew how they managed to pass every year!) when she saw something come zooming near her window. McGonagall let a small scream thinking it was a big owl or an Eagle gone astray. However the creature stopped as swiftly and effortlessly as possible. Like a reflex action, McGonagall said "James Potter again!" Her voice was filled with anger and fatigue which was replaced by sadness when she realised what she had just said. "It must be Harry." She said in a doleful tone. It was indeed Harry on the broom. He held something in his hand which McGonagall could only make out since the object was shining in the bright Sun. She saw Harry fly the broom back to the ground to his fellow classmates. There was no doubt that the boy flew as ably as his father if not better. Madam Hooch was not present anywhere to be seen and neither were any of the other students mounted on their brooms. McGonagall now had another dilemma to solve - having Harry on the Gryffindor Quidditch team would mean that Gryffindor would have the best seeker it has had since James left Hogwarts. It would also mean having the best seeker in all the four house teams. However, she couldn't let Harry become just like James, not when she knew how James ended up. As McGonagall looked down, she could see Harry standing with Ronald Weasley arguing with Draco Malfoy. That instant she knew that the genes were passed very strong, better aim for the Quidditch Cup. As she walked out of her room, towards the grounds, she let out "Bless you Hogwarts!"

Harry Potter Question :: Why no one notices ill effects of Polyjuice Potion on Hermione in CoS

I was seeing the Chamber of Secrets movie for possibly the billionth time [sadly, after my recent Hard Disk malfunctioning, I only have one movie which I keep seeing.]. During the course of the movie, on the scene where the three drink Polyjuice Potion and Ron and Harry turn into Crabbe and Goyle respectively. *drama building* Then the two ask Hermione to come out and when she doesn't *drama building* SPOILER ALERT the two boys ask her to come out... and when she does...

[Anyone who has not yet read the books or seen the movies - Why are you still on the planet? Go read the books and come back!! ]

She is a cat! She has cat hair all over her face.
Apparently, we learn, the hair Hermione got off Milicent's robes were not of Milicent but they were cat fur and also, we learn, Polyjuice Potion is ONLY for human transfiguration.

Now, everyone knew the second part - it was also in the book. Definitely, someone must have tried becoming an animagus this way. So, will someone let me know why or how could Madam Pomphey, Professor Minerva McGonagall, Professor Severus Snape, Professor Dumbledore and the doctors at St. Mungos (in the mentioned order), fail to identify the situation as the ill effects of Polyjuice Potion?

I presume Polyjuice Potion is a legal one - else Hermione would never brew it in Year 2 [she was still a good girl then!]. But certainly, it would account for - a) goods stolen from Snape's ingredients cupboard, b) the trio upto something when the chamber of secrets was open and there was a hazard to everyone in the school, especially muggle borns.

I mean, no teacher had a concern to this?
Couldnt any of them identify the potion?
If they identified the potion, couldnt have asked the trio about it?

In anticipation of some answers!!

Harry Potter Questions :: Section Introduction

September !! Ah!! The month for which all Potterheads await. The month, when the new year begins. It denotes, new beginnings!

This september.. September of 2016.. I am going to do some makeover for this blog and make it - 'Pages from a SlytherClaw in a Muggle World'

Also... The new section - Harry Potter questions.

Now.. let me tell you.. I love Harry Potter. Cross my heart and swear to die, I have read the books end to end many times and seen the movies a million times. Yet, there are some things that I am not very sure about.
Thus, all my doubts and queries, I will post here and hopefully you can help me solve them ;)

To Septembers :D

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child

Well.. first things first - Ignore the tags! Whatever they may say, this is NOT a book review. I will

never be big enough to write a review for any Harry Potter book. The entire series is a huge part of my life and indeed, it is something so huge that I can conveniently interchange 'life' and 'Harry Potter world'.

There is a friend in London and all I have spoken to him in weeks is about the play in the Palace Theatre and how I just need to see it. There was a puja (ritual) that we hold at our place every year; my dad wanted to have it today and I made him shift to the next week. I could barely sleep the last night - with so much excitement for the new book. Indeed, at a point, my mother actually shouted on me for being over obsessed with the book and forgetting everything for it. I just said her one thing - A life is well lived when we have a lot of dreams and we fulfill them. Otherwise, we are just breathing. To me, Harry Potter was that dream.

Despite all the above, I had a wonderful day!

This was the first book that I have obsessed over and got the first book from the bookstore. I was a fan even when the seventh book released but I was in school then. I had my dad buy it but I only read it when I came home from school. Hence, I loved today even more.

If I have to define my day in a checklist -

• Bug your friend in London with Harry Potter trivia - ✅Check

• Insanely wait for the Harry Potter and the Cursed Child - ✅Check

• Cancel everything in the world for a week when the book was releasing - ✅Check

• Not sleeping waiting for the book to release - ✅Check

• Waiting outside the bookstore even before the books or the owner arrives - ✅Check

• Get the bookstore people to start quickly for me to buy the book - ✅Check

• Fuss with the bookstore people over not handling the Harry Potter books with enough consideration - ✅Check

• Buy the first book the bookstore sold - ✅Check

• Read the entire book - ✅Check

• Reread important scenes with Snape - ✅Check

• Fall in love with the magic all over again - ✅Check

Current status - waiting for Harry Potter Go App and to somehow disapparate to London to see the play

Coming to the story... I got a call in the evening from another Potterhead. He asked me one single sentence - As a reader, how did you like the book? (ofcourse, I loved it as a bigtime Potterhead :P) That is also the perspective I am going to put here.

SPOILER ALERT : I have tried to not include any spoiler but sorry if there is anything :S

The book looks really big but it is not. This is the only disappointment I have felt. The book is actually longer than any book and it looks pretty thick.. However, it is just 330 pages of text. Also, since the entire thing is a screenplay script, therefore, all dialogues! Thus, the actual story is even small. The story starts a little slow and with the scene where we left it - at the Kings Cross when Albus begins his first year at Hogwarts. Before you know it, Albus is going to start his fourth year. However, it is then, the things begin happening. And it is also when, you can not even think of putting the book down... not even for a second.

Being a screenplay, the book is divided into 2 parts and each part has 2 acts... 4 acts in total. Each act has couple of scenes. Initially, it is a little difficult to read a Harry Potter story like this but once you are in it... you are in it till the end!!

This is NOT a spin off!! The story has MOST OF THE HARRY POTTER SERIES CHARACTERS. The book begins with Albus being unsure - what if he lands in Slytherin? Actually, he just feels that he is not at all like Harry - the boy who lived and now Albus is stuck with being Harry's kid. Someone, both the father and son, dont reach out to each other. Albus feels that Harry always is the Chosen One. And then, Albus takes it to himself to correct what he thinks his father does wrong.

During the journey, we see some back-stories - Draco, James-Lily, Ron-Hermione, and more. We see Professor McGonacall, Albus Dumbledore, Severus Snape - Do NOT get your hopes up. Yes, he is alive when he appears. No, he is STILL actually dead. I can't reveal more. The scene with Severus is really beautiful, though. Snape's reaction and all he does is amazing. However, let me tell you, dont get attached. We got some deaths that are equal in magnitude if not less, to the Prince's Tale.

The antagonist is weak. I mean, the suspense was already building and then the antagonist was revealed pretty early. Also, the antagonist did not stand up to the suspense built around it (wont reveal gender). The strong points were - we have lots of things from book 1, book 3, book 4 and book 5. Also, I love Scorpius. Albus and Scorpius are ultimate examples of - it is our choices that show us who we truly are, not our abilities ;)

I have not stopped beaming since I read the book. Indeed, I read Severus's part twice. My friend, also asked me that should this be made to a movie - this was something I was thinking about while reading. There is floo network, walking the wall at Kings Cross, apparation, transformation... I am not sure how all of this would fit in a Broadway... So, my first answer was YES! Most Certainly! And then... I realized.. We dont have Alan with us anymore and no way I am having anyone else play Snape. So, no, this can not be made into a movie.

If you check facebook or other social networking sites, there are so many people all over the planet reading this book and going crazy with joy. I have always been amazed at how some ink and paper has stirred the heart of millions and united them all. There have been pre-launch events and fans coming all together to celebrate a book. Jo, Happy Birthday.. and look, how words are so powerful to change everything!! Thank You for the eighth book. I strongly recommend all to read it.

If you still have not bought it... then buy it HERE. 

Happy Birthday Jo!

Happy Birthday Harry.

This one is truly for you Alan... We have lost Snape thrice now.

Help will always be given at Hogwarts to those who ask for it

You know, there are these quotes from Harry Potter that have actually become so close to our heart. We know them like we know to breathe and they come to us as easy as breathing does. And yet sometimes these quotes are the ones that surprise us the most.

Some while back, I did a stupid mistake in office. And it would have had a huge impact. (God, even though my boss knows about this, please don't let him read this blogpost ever!!) Anyways, the moment I realized what I did (which was a moment after doing it)... I officially freaked out! I was so scared and my hands started to tremble.. even if I wanted to type, I couldn't get my hands to be steady.

Biggest of the issues was, Ram, one office colleague who knows everything and is the superman (he would prefer batman) who comes to rescue... was on leave. And not just leave... he was in a different continent altogether. But when I do something stupid, he always helps me and now he wasn't here only. Still as with my first instinct, I whatsapped him. I told him what I did and he was cool about it.

What I didn't realize till then was... while Ram was on leave... his friend had come and was sitting there on Ram's seat (beside me). While I was texting Ram and freaking out, he had taken the control over my system and set to work.. he was helping me without even being asked to. It was like he was God sent at that moment.
By the time I regained my senses... he had already done most of the damage control. He didn't even let me tell anyone to prevent me from getting scolded and then he was also going to do something more so that it doesn't even get detected...

When Ram returned... I was telling him about this incident.. and he just quoted the subject line to me... to be honest, I know this quote by heart but while all this happened,  I didn't even think of it for a moment... and here Ram knew I am a HP fan and he said it so simply that it sounded like the most obvious thing...

Funny na!! That day I felt a little closer to Harry Potter and thanks to someone who isn't as big a fan as I claim myself to be...

What our fandoms tell about us?

Hi

I noticed a real weird thing yesterday... actually not notice but observed.
There are plenty of trending quotes on the internet about how two Harry Potter fans can get along very easily. And I have found it so true.... Every time any Harry Potter soundtrack plays, even if one doesn't say it out loud, but all fans raise their necks and strain their ears to find the source of the music of their people. Similarly, you can just say Harry Potter and it's like an anti-taboo which attracts all the fans. And I am not merely saying it based on the internet. I have experienced it myself.
Once I was at a pretty boring get-together and I didn't know anyone my age there... then I met this girl who was a huge James Potter fan. She totally loved him and complained that there was so luttle of his character in the books. And about the movies, don't even bother!! Anyways, we both talked the whole evening without getting bored. And years after that evening, today, I remember not her name but her as the fan of James Potter.
See, Harry Potter is in this way truly magic! There are millions of fans around the globe and we all connect like we have known each other for ages, simply by knowing one fandom!
There are countless more examples... things I have myself witnessed. I have met these wonderful people through Harry Potter fandom. People who made me believe magic exists in this world as well. People I would have never known otherwise and then not even known what I was missing. People I haven't even met but are very dear friends.

On the other hand, I happened to have a supernatural fan, Dean Winchester fan at my workplace. I have felt that I can talk to this one guy if not anyone else, since e share a mutual fandom. But then, it turned out pretty weird. This guy likes his own comfort zone and he is nice and everything but you see, trust no one outside family.
It kind of reminded me of what supernatural is all about. And that is how I landed upon writing this blog entry.

Harry Potter is all about making friends and standing up for them. So I believe this is how we fans are. We like to trust. We like to look out for one another. We like to hangout and talk. We like to be open even if that means to be getting hurt once in a while for the other option being friendless is not desirable.
Whereas Supernatural is about not trusting the other person for you don't know the monster inside the human face. It is about just trusting the family and being there for your family even if that means sacrificing your happinesses and friends along the way. Supernatural is more about being on the right path, even if that means being all alone. But Harry Potter is about that the path is always right if there are people you care for, walking alongside.

I mean to offense to either, I am a big fan of both these epics but I kind of found it strange how these fandoms condition us. How can they affect the person we are, altogether??

On a lighter note, no insult or offense intended, but do the twilight fans go around making choices between worse and worst??;)

Harry Potter Memoirs