Hello, fellow readers of the Paw Print, my name is Ashley Thompson of the Gryffindor House. I am new to this, so bear with me. I do not have many friends, and I would like to gain some kind of worth of being a part of this community. This is just going to be a random column for the moment. I would really like this to be an advice column, or a column about anything the readers want to hear about, because I am here to please your need! Okay, now I sound lame, so I will wrap up my introduction now. It’s autumn now, so I hope everyone is having a wonderful start to the school year!
 
Autumn… a lot of people only think of autumn as the changing of the leaves and the time where it’s not too cold yet not too hot, but autumn is a lot more than just a season.  Autumn is a time of year where we make friends, fall in love, and fall out of love; it’s a time where people will be a little nicer and smile a little more often. Often, people think of autumn as a time for food and sweets. People give in to their guilty pleasures. What are your guilty pleasures? I will give in to almost all of mine; I eat all the Twix out of my little siblings’ bags of candy. I eat a couple too many plates of food. My favorite food in this time of year would have to be roasted chicken and mashed potatoes with gravy. YUUUM! I eat about everything anyone gives me, though. After I am stuffed and can hardly move, I think about the things I just did. I might realize that it was not such a good idea to do all the things I did, but something about this time of year is delightful and makes me forget about all the things I shouldn’t be doing.
 
Another thing about this time of year is Halloween; this is one of my favorite holidays EVER. I wonder how many people actually enjoy this holiday, including dressing up and being something or someone that you normally are not. It is fascinating; people have this one day out of the whole year to be around others and be completely hidden from their natural self. I haven’t really thought about the costume I am going to create this year. It is always fun to be creative and make your own costumes! Does anyone have any super fantastic ideas? I am totally open for suggestions. I love seeing other people’s versions of certain ideas and characters. I think it would be pretty cool to have a costume contest type activity where people design costumes, take pictures of someone or themselves in the costume and then have judges to see whose costume is the best! I think I would design some sort of school girl costume. I have anyways found those costumes really fun to put together.
 
Now I will leave everyone with this, I hope you all are having a wonderful start to the school year and enjoying your time reading the Paw Print!  

Where I’m from, every year we dress up (yeah, even me) and go around asking for candy. On my street, there is a really creepy doll that sings “Ring Around the Rosie.” It’s also very loud. The thing is, I’m not a fan of horror. I hate horror! 

This year, I’m going to go watch this play that the girl who lives across from me is going to be in. She does a lot of acting and circus stuff. At my school, we get to dress up (no fake weapons or masks though). Sadly enough, as kids get older they start to dress up less and less. The kindies and firsties dress up but the eighth graders do not, nor do a lot of seventh graders (but my friends and I do!). My school has a carnival, too. 

Now on to something that is not so boring! From what I’ve heard, Halloween on Gryffindor is pretty cool. I don’t know if I’m allowed to say anything else, so I’ll keep my mouth shut. 

In the past year, I have been fortunate enough to visit the Warner Bros. Studio Tour London – The Making of Harry Potter not once, not twice, but three times. It is an amazing tour that every Harry Potter fan should be lucky enough to experience. However, I know that not every fan has the ability to see it given its location, so I decided to write a review to share parts of it with HOL.

When you first arrive at the studio, located just outside of London, it appears to be just a normal building. However, when you step inside, you see pictures of the cast members all around the walls, as well as the handprints of Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint. While you are queuing to enter the actual tour, you walk by the cupboard under the stairs that was used in the films, complete with a pair of the glasses worn by Daniel Radcliffe as Harry Potter. The first parts of the tour are two film rooms. The first room has screens around the walls and it shows a short film about turning the books into movies. Then you enter into a proper cinema room where you see a film narrated by Dan, Emma, and Rupert that talks about the making of the films and everything that went into them. Then the tour properly begins!

I won’t go through everything in order because I do not want to ruin the tour for those who might take it in the future. During the first half of the tour there are so many different areas to visit. You get to walk through the Great Hall and view the costumes worn by the professors in the films. Other areas include props from the Yule Ball, the gates to Hogwarts, the Mirror of Erised, the Gryffindor Common Room, Harry Potter and Ron Weasley’s room in Gryffindor tower, the Headmaster’s Office, the potions classroom, Rubeus Hagrid’s hut, and the kitchen at the Burrow. There is also a section that resembles the Room of Requirement. It is full of random props from the movies. Every time I have visited I have spotted something that I missed the previous time. One of my favourite parts is the moving props in the Burrow and the potions classroom. There is a knife cutting vegetables, a cauldron stirring itself, and several others.

After all of this you come to an area that focuses on the flying vehicles and quidditch. It shows how quidditch was filmed, and you actually get to see some of the vehicles moving in person. There is even a section where you can get your picture taken while sitting on a broom! It is in front of a green screen so it appears you are flying on the quidditch pitch or in front of Hogwarts.

I've always admired people who can successfully grow a house plant. My friend Bettina has such an ability - she once stuck an orange seed into a little pot, added some dirt, and was rewarded with a plant. She keeps saying, "It's so easy, Natasha! The biggest mistake people make is giving them too much attention. Just because you somehow managed to kill five plants in a row does not mean you're doomed to failure! Just go pick out a plant and I will teach you how. You'll see."

I love a good challenge and hate to fail at anything, so off to the greenhouse I go. My eyes are drawn to a plant I've seen in so many different places: the library, my doctor's office, and even my grandmother's. This one has to be easy. I read the label: Sansevieria trifasciata. It's listed as "hardy." I flag down a salesman.

"Is this plant easy to grow and hard to kill?" I ask.

"Oh, yes, ma'am! It's almost impossible to kill a Snake Plant," was the response.

"Snake plant?" I gasp. "Uh, I don't really like snakes. Maybe I should choose another one."

"Don't let the name concern you," he replied, smiling. "It's most commonly called a Snake Plant, perhaps because of its long leaves and the striped bands on the leaves. Another popular name is 'Mothers-in-Law Tongue,' probably because of the sharp point at the ends of the leaves. Haha! Not only that, these plants filter out formaldehyde from the atmosphere. Formaldehyde is often found in cleaning products and tissue paper. They actually clean the air!" This plant is hardy, has fun nicknames, and even cleans the air and was sold to the lady who hopefully won’t kill it in under a week!

I've documented my first week with my new plant, so I could look back and understand why I'm not successful at keeping them alive for very long. My home really is where plants come to die.

Monday
Today I purchased a Snake Plant from the local greenhouse. It's beautiful, and I've always wanted one. They told me at the greenhouse that my plant has a natural talent for filtering out formaldehyde, which is often found in tissue paper and cleaning products. Wow, I had no idea my new plant could do that; I just wanted something even I could not kill. They also told me my plant is hardy and thrives under most conditions. I decide to place my plant in the bathroom, on a dark, dark corner shelf. I wish I could place it somewhere else, but this sounds much more important!

Tuesday
My friend Bettina stops by to offer assistance and asks why on earth I have the Snake Plant in my bathroom, and I explain what the staff at the greenhouse said. "Natasha! Have you ever heard of someone dying or even getting sick from toilet tissue in the bathroom? Your plant will live where you've placed it, but it won't be happy. It prefers indirect sunlight and bright areas." Oh! She has a point. I move my plant in front of a north facing window.

Wednesday
Poor plant - it looks like it hasn't been watered in years! I get a nice, tall cup of spring water and pour all of the contents around the plant. It must hate me. Later that afternoon, Bettina stops by to borrow some milk. "Natasha!! Are you trying to kill that plant? When it comes to water requirements for this plant, think of a Cactus. The most you'll need to water it is once a week, but it's fine waiting two or even three weeks, especially in the Winter. Plus, you never water around the base of the plant -you only water around the edge of the pot.The number one way to kill a Snake Plant is to over water it! They turn all brown and mushy. Tomorrow, we'll buy the proper potting soil and replant it. Maybe it will survive." If my plant didn't hate me then, it certainly does now.

Thursday
Bettina arrives and we're off to the greenhouse to buy potting soil. My friend knows exactly what to look for: Cactus soil, so the water can drain easier. We also buy a nice terracotta pot. We return to my house and I add the soil to the new pot. Under my friend's supervision, I gently remove my plant from the old pot into the new pot. I apologize to my plant, and promise it I will learn more about taking care of it, so it can thrive and be happy.

Friday
I've started paying closer attention to my plant and notice the leaves are getting dusty. I have a spray bottle I could fill with water; some plants love a good misting. Then I think of "water levels" and "Cactus." I phone Bettina and ask her what would be the best way to clean its dusty leaves. No more taking chances! She tells me to take a damp cloth and wipe down the leaves. "NO spray bottles!" Damp cloth it is.

Saturday
Oh, no. I spot my cat, Rowdy, staring at my plant. I know that look; she's wondering how this plant tastes. Not a chance, kitty! I chase Rowdy out of the room and grab some left over lattice and build a frame to place around my plant, so she can't get to it. Whew, that was close!

Sunday
Today, I notice the leaves are starting to lean towards the window. Hey, I know this one! Plants often lean towards the light. I turn my pot around, because I want it to stand straight and tall, and make a note to turn my pot every Sunday.

My Snake Plant has survived its first week. Bettina was right; I can do this! Next week, I think I'll stick an orange seed in a pot of dirt and see what happens.

Even though this issue is a Valentine’s Issue, I have decided to turn the topic a little and write a whole different article! Namely an article about the craziness around the Catholic holiday that we celebrate here, named Carnival.
Like I said, Carnival is a Catholic holiday. Or at least the Church decided to make this a Catholic holiday yeeeeeeears ago. Just to keep the people under the Church or something like that. But I’m not here to teach you guys some Catholic history. Heck, most of that I can’t even seem to recall correctly.
The reason why there is Carnival, is so that the lower classes could relieve stress in the past. So that’s why they created these three days of madness. After that the Church took it over and made it a Catholic holiday.
Carnival is a festival that has been going on for the centuries. It begins with three days (well in the past it was three days), which occur from Sunday to Tuesday, and then after those three days, Ash Wednesday would occur, which is the first day of fast. But that’s a thing of the past. Nowadays, Carnival mostly begins on Friday for the elementary, middle and high scholars. On Saturday, people will already dress up and in some villages or cities a Carnival Parade will occur and people will already celebrate Carnival on Saturday evening!

So to put everything in a row, during this three day (or more) festival, we dress up, watch parades, and attend parties! So let me start explain the dressing up.

Holidays are here! Well, for most of Europe, they are. If you’re living in a country where long holidays start and end with December (like me), holidays are nearly over!
I live in sunny South Africa and you’d be surprised at how Gryff-tastic it is. Today for example, my family and I had a lovely day at a Lion and Rhino Park, which inspired this article. If you’re considering a holiday destination, I highly recommend SA. Yes, crime rate is high, but only if you’re stupid enough to gallivant where and when you shouldn’t.
So back to the Lion Park. It’s a wonderful game reserve. The day began at 11am. The first thing we did was watch the lion feeding, which was (need I say it) thrilling. You see these majestic lions lounging about, not even bothering to attach the numerous vehicles filled with tasty lunch because they know full well they’re getting a cow in 10 minutes. It truly reminds you of Gryffindor spirit! (cough-lazy-cough)

So I did something different for interviews this month, in which I just asked HOLers the same question. Also if I didn’t get around to asking you, feel free to comment your response to this question! J

Where do you see yourself in five years? (RL wise, lol.)


Mel Anteater
So... in 5 years I see myself having finally moved out of Missouri, having graduated college, and having a hopefully secure job. Assuming I can ever pick my major. But if I do that's what I hope for.

Hermionie Miranda
Well, I see myself as a high-schooler, working to bring awareness of important issues to her community. I strive to be a role model and bring forth change in a creative way. I see myself as a leader in the future, so we shall see if that is so!

Fumei Shirokuro
In five years, I would see myself practicing my nursing skills in either a hospital or a nursing home.

Cody Lewis
In five years I see myself probably looking for a job after college.

Happy Halloween, all! And here we are with another review. Perhaps it would’ve been more appropriate for me to have done the Cauldron Cakes this time? Ah, well, Halloween gives me a nice opportunity to review quite a few things; so how about it? A Trick and a Treat review - just for you!

For Halloween, I knew that I would definitely have to go on a candy shopping spree. It’s one of the only times of the year where I can do it without feeling guilty, so I brought every galleon, sickle and knut I could find, and made my way to Honeydukes. I left with bags of sweets that seemed to weigh as much as me and realized then that maybe this hadn’t been my best idea.

I will only be reviewing one ‘treat’ candy and one ‘trick’ candy, as there would be way too many to get through and I’ve had enough candy already! However, do know that I did spend my money on all sorts of sugary goods - from Blood-Flavoured Lollipops to Exploding Bonbons to Fizzing

So it's almost Halloween, and HOPEFULLY you people will go Trick or Treating. I don't care if you think it's lame or "you're too old," IT'S FUN! And at my school, Halloween's always a fun time; teacher competitions have had past groups being the bed bug exterminators and the angry birds.But, as much of a TREAT as dressing up can be, Halloween stores can be quite a TRICK, with $80 costumes.
So, let's have some homemade fun.
These are costumes I've seen in the past that are fun, amazing and CHEAP!

1. 1. Captain America
   
   MATERIALS
   Blue t-shirt
   White long sleeve t-shirt
   Navy Blue Sweatpants
   Gray and red construction paper
   Copy paper
   Red shoes/boots
   Dinner platter
   Red Duct Tape
   Gray Duct Tape
   Blur Construction Paper
   Blue plastic construction hat
   
   STEPS
   Basic Attire
   Wear your white long sleeve t-shirt as the first layer, and the blue t-shirt (short sleeves) as the second. (You may want to turn the blue shirt inside out so no words are showing.) Cut out a star
   

Now, before we proceed to examples I want to point out a few things about muggles to you. The most important thing to remember is that muggles love to be noticed, they love everything shiny and sparkly, they simply adore lots of sequins. These boots are simply perfect for all muggle functions, from weddings and funerals to retirement home field trips and visiting your relatives. Muggles of all ages wear them; some families even wear matching ones. At this point I can say that at least 90 % of all muggles own at least one pair of these boots. With Christmas approaching we're expecting that number to get higher as muggles prefer to dress to match their Christmas tree. The best thing however is, men can wear them too! Now let's go through some examples so you can see how to wear them best.