SSRPG Yearbook Term 50
Ravenclaw Head of House
Professor Stewart returned for her eighth year of teaching, and her first year as Ravenclaw Head of House, replacing the beloved Professor Hirsch who led the Eagles for six years. Of course there were students who had a hard time letting go, but the Ravenclaws as a whole embraced Professor Stewart for the short period we had her. Juni, our very own Quidditch Captain, said "At first I was kind of upset. But I knew that she was one of the best choices." The statement was backed up by third year Drewett Slinkhard, who said "I-I liked Professor Hirsch b-but I guess P-Professor Stewart deserves a chance too... She's been r-really nice and welcoming though....". Her enthusiasm for the great house of Rowena Ravenclaw started with a crafty bang - hosting a delicious feast whilst helping to decorate the common room.
Unfortunately things went from bad to fired for Professor Stewart. What started as the Eagle Head making a stand against the regime enforced by Headmaster Julian Scrimgeour, led to her dismissal and replacement with Professor Rafferty Ainsworth. He possessed none of the warmness of his predecessor. "Things g-got... scary... I n-need not expound. I avoided that c-common room since then...." said Drewett. We stood together, though, and Juni summed it up well when she said "I think it made us Ravenclaws closer and come together and work through what was a rough year for everyone." We Ravenclaws were a cheerful lot at the end of term feast, watching Rafferty get fired, and seeing the transformation of one so-called Slytherin, Aretha, into Professor Stewart. We hope her second year of Heading the Ravenclaws will be complete and uneventful.
Unfortunately things went from bad to fired for Professor Stewart. What started as the Eagle Head making a stand against the regime enforced by Headmaster Julian Scrimgeour, led to her dismissal and replacement with Professor Rafferty Ainsworth. He possessed none of the warmness of his predecessor. "Things g-got... scary... I n-need not expound. I avoided that c-common room since then...." said Drewett. We stood together, though, and Juni summed it up well when she said "I think it made us Ravenclaws closer and come together and work through what was a rough year for everyone." We Ravenclaws were a cheerful lot at the end of term feast, watching Rafferty get fired, and seeing the transformation of one so-called Slytherin, Aretha, into Professor Stewart. We hope her second year of Heading the Ravenclaws will be complete and uneventful.
Ravenclaw prefects
She's beauty and she's grace, she's Head Girl in this place. WHO AM I TALKING ABOUT? Obviously, Miss Head Girl Jessa Cambridge, star Ravenclaw and this reporter's personal hero. We chatted recently about her last term at Hogwarts, and it was a dream come true.
JESSA. HEAD GIRL. WHAAAAAAT?
I...uh....that. Yes? Is there a question.....nevermind. Head Girl. Yes.
No, but seriously, tell me how you felt when you got the letter from the Headmistress.
Like a great weight had been placed on my shoulders and all the oxygen had been sucked from the room before any of it could get to my lungs. I suppose I should say it was the most exciting thing to happen that summer and I was ecstatic but I value you, Chloe, and don't see the need to lie now that I'm on my way out anyway.
And then the Headmistress got fired at the feast and everything was changing so fast. How do you feel like you handled all those changes?
Not........very well. I'm not a big fan of most changes to begin with. The school turned militant, we got barked at for everything and were suddenly given more rules than we could ever hope to remember. I think...given the situation...I handled it as best as I could. I saw just enough. Said only enough and only when it needed saying. Kept my toes in line. That's the only way that made sense.
I know you had some run ins with the staff. Would you talk about it… for the sake of HISTORY? We need to write it all down.
I had WAY more run ins than I'd have liked, all for trying to do what was expected of me. I'll admit there was one I technically deserved for being a minute late to class. Cost me 30 points and detention which happened to be running. Lots and lots....and lots and lots of running. I couldn't feel my feet after.
The others were entirely uncalled for. Professor Rafferty had food in the lesson--you remember that, that whole day. Professors are above the law. That's what my run ins with the professors have taught me. Right or wrong, no matter what they're doing, they're right because they're professors and we're students.
Neither Professor O'Hara nor Professor Rafferty could provide a sensible--okay forget sensible, that's a stretch after the term we've had--they couldn't provide ANY reason for the rule breaking other than that they were professors and when pushed enough, all it got me was detention and another 30 points.
Scrimgeour had me and Derf watch him fire Mr. Kennedy, not caring how uncomfortable it would've been for us all and even in private, Professor O'Hara choose ignorance in our conversation. Blatant ignoring facts so she could be right. If I never see another of these professors again, it'll be too soon.
How did it feel being able to take house points, though? Total power trip or awful?
I promise there was no power trip. Think of it more like.....little anxiety attacks every time you see someone thoughtlessly breaking the rules because you know that if a Professor comes and sees that you're standing there too and AREN'T report, you'd be in more trouble. The student body already started seeing us as traitors on Scrimgeour's team and I didn't need any more of that. It was terrible. Absolutely awful. I took them sparingly. It helped to close my eyes while walking through the corridors. After awhile, I got better at listening out for which corridors to avoid. One of my dolls helped me that. Couldn't take points if you didn't see anything.
What would you change about Hogwarts, if anything was in your power? Make it better, or at least more interesting.
I'd make it so there weren't so many restrictions and taboos on learning. Here, if you're interested in a topic that others consider "dark" no matter the context, you're firmly discouraged from learning it. There's nothing to facilitate individual and advanced learning either. Once you've covered the material...it's like....a rut, y'know? You're stuck and have to figure out ways to entertain your brain so you don't go entirely insane. I'd increase the level of access to information but I'd encourage responsibility and accountability, because all that knowledge and the power that comes with it would need to be handled properly.
SO THIS IS IT, RIGHT? Any words of wisdom for the next Head Girl to follow in your footsteps?
Stock up on calming potions. I dunno what the next school year will hold but get used to hearing that "as Head Girl" this and "now that you're Head Girl" that. There might be a time when you forget who you really are because you've been forced so deep into the Head Girl role. Or maybe you won't. Maybe it will be fantastic. I guess I don't really know what to say. Sorry.
What’s next after Hogwarts? I mean, some of these people need to plan their route to avoid you for years to come, right?
No one needs to worry about me, no...at least...I don't think they will. I wanna head off to med school and study to be a Healer. I don't think I'll remain a Healer once I'm done, though. This may not surprise you but I'm more interested in forensic pathology. It'll be an interesting new adventure for me and I'll have less protest from my "patients".
And then after that? Where are we going to see your name in lights someday?
Merlin, nowhere I hope. The sorts of studies I intend to dabble in once I'm done med school are better left out of the public eye. I do still intend to create my own pygmy specie of dragon some day, and I wouldn't be mad if it got some recognition but...everything else.....I think I feel comfortable keeping to myself and those with a pure interest outside of offering up condemnation and judgement.
I’ll miss you, Jessa Cambridge. Will you promise to write to me?
Know what? I'll miss you too, Chloe. Genuinely. So, sure, of course I'll write!
JESSA. HEAD GIRL. WHAAAAAAT?
I...uh....that. Yes? Is there a question.....nevermind. Head Girl. Yes.
No, but seriously, tell me how you felt when you got the letter from the Headmistress.
Like a great weight had been placed on my shoulders and all the oxygen had been sucked from the room before any of it could get to my lungs. I suppose I should say it was the most exciting thing to happen that summer and I was ecstatic but I value you, Chloe, and don't see the need to lie now that I'm on my way out anyway.
And then the Headmistress got fired at the feast and everything was changing so fast. How do you feel like you handled all those changes?
Not........very well. I'm not a big fan of most changes to begin with. The school turned militant, we got barked at for everything and were suddenly given more rules than we could ever hope to remember. I think...given the situation...I handled it as best as I could. I saw just enough. Said only enough and only when it needed saying. Kept my toes in line. That's the only way that made sense.
I know you had some run ins with the staff. Would you talk about it… for the sake of HISTORY? We need to write it all down.
I had WAY more run ins than I'd have liked, all for trying to do what was expected of me. I'll admit there was one I technically deserved for being a minute late to class. Cost me 30 points and detention which happened to be running. Lots and lots....and lots and lots of running. I couldn't feel my feet after.
The others were entirely uncalled for. Professor Rafferty had food in the lesson--you remember that, that whole day. Professors are above the law. That's what my run ins with the professors have taught me. Right or wrong, no matter what they're doing, they're right because they're professors and we're students.
Neither Professor O'Hara nor Professor Rafferty could provide a sensible--okay forget sensible, that's a stretch after the term we've had--they couldn't provide ANY reason for the rule breaking other than that they were professors and when pushed enough, all it got me was detention and another 30 points.
Scrimgeour had me and Derf watch him fire Mr. Kennedy, not caring how uncomfortable it would've been for us all and even in private, Professor O'Hara choose ignorance in our conversation. Blatant ignoring facts so she could be right. If I never see another of these professors again, it'll be too soon.
How did it feel being able to take house points, though? Total power trip or awful?
I promise there was no power trip. Think of it more like.....little anxiety attacks every time you see someone thoughtlessly breaking the rules because you know that if a Professor comes and sees that you're standing there too and AREN'T report, you'd be in more trouble. The student body already started seeing us as traitors on Scrimgeour's team and I didn't need any more of that. It was terrible. Absolutely awful. I took them sparingly. It helped to close my eyes while walking through the corridors. After awhile, I got better at listening out for which corridors to avoid. One of my dolls helped me that. Couldn't take points if you didn't see anything.
What would you change about Hogwarts, if anything was in your power? Make it better, or at least more interesting.
I'd make it so there weren't so many restrictions and taboos on learning. Here, if you're interested in a topic that others consider "dark" no matter the context, you're firmly discouraged from learning it. There's nothing to facilitate individual and advanced learning either. Once you've covered the material...it's like....a rut, y'know? You're stuck and have to figure out ways to entertain your brain so you don't go entirely insane. I'd increase the level of access to information but I'd encourage responsibility and accountability, because all that knowledge and the power that comes with it would need to be handled properly.
SO THIS IS IT, RIGHT? Any words of wisdom for the next Head Girl to follow in your footsteps?
Stock up on calming potions. I dunno what the next school year will hold but get used to hearing that "as Head Girl" this and "now that you're Head Girl" that. There might be a time when you forget who you really are because you've been forced so deep into the Head Girl role. Or maybe you won't. Maybe it will be fantastic. I guess I don't really know what to say. Sorry.
What’s next after Hogwarts? I mean, some of these people need to plan their route to avoid you for years to come, right?
No one needs to worry about me, no...at least...I don't think they will. I wanna head off to med school and study to be a Healer. I don't think I'll remain a Healer once I'm done, though. This may not surprise you but I'm more interested in forensic pathology. It'll be an interesting new adventure for me and I'll have less protest from my "patients".
And then after that? Where are we going to see your name in lights someday?
Merlin, nowhere I hope. The sorts of studies I intend to dabble in once I'm done med school are better left out of the public eye. I do still intend to create my own pygmy specie of dragon some day, and I wouldn't be mad if it got some recognition but...everything else.....I think I feel comfortable keeping to myself and those with a pure interest outside of offering up condemnation and judgement.
I’ll miss you, Jessa Cambridge. Will you promise to write to me?
Know what? I'll miss you too, Chloe. Genuinely. So, sure, of course I'll write!
Fifth year Ravenclaw prefect Jackson Thomas took on perhaps the most difficult of tasks this term - partnering with Head Girl Jessa Cambridge in leading the Ravenclaws. This writer had the pleasure of sitting down with Mr. Thomas to hear his thoughts on current events, his partner in leadership, and other hot topics.
Hey, Jackson! Congratulations on being made prefect! How did you feel when you first found out?
Hey thanks, Chloe! You know I can’t say I was surprised… I’m just kidding. I thought the owl had gotten turned around somehow when it came to my house, but sure enough it was my name and all. Once that had registered, I was honestly pretty proud of myself.
This term was a little crazy with all the rule changes and staff changes. Did you find it hard to roll with all those changes?
It was hard to enforce rules I didn’t believe in, and I like to think I didn’t take away too many points away. Hopefully other students realize it was nothing personal, I just didn’t want even more problems!
Be honest… did you LIKE any of those new rules?
Unpopular opinion I know… but I was fine with SOME things. Like, I didn’t mind running in the morning. I still do it a lot actually. Most of the others were definitely not my cup of tea though.
I bet it was really stressful, though! How do you handle all that stress?
Definitely stressful, especially because I was also dealing with OWLs and all. One good thing though… I think a lot of friendships kind of started or got stronger as a result ironically enough. At least they did for me!
What did you think about taking house points from fellow students?
Oh Merlin… It was kind of the worst. I don’t think that it’s the worst thing for Prefects to have that power, but forcing us to take house points away for fear of looking like we’re supporting some kind of revolt?? It was crazy. Kids were afraid to even blink.
Was being prefect everything you hoped it would be? How did it measure up?
Well I definitely didn’t think that the year would go as it did… I mean, it was as though this term was in a different dimension than my previous years. I loved it don’t get me wrong, but I’d love to see what a more normal year looks like as a Prefect.
If you get asked back as prefect next term, what would you do differently?
Well… honestly I’ll still probably say yes. I already know how the staff is about things, so I feel like I could handle it again. I wouldn’t mind seeing other changes happen though…
I doubt you have much free time with all of your prefecting duties, but what do you enjoy doing in between school and prefecting? Any interesting hobbies you want to share?
I always try to work some exercise in since patrols don’t really do it for me, haha. I’ve been flying a bit more too. I’m actually quite uncomfortable flying so this is big for me! I can also be found in the entertainment room quite a bit, I’ll be honest. My muggle background calls for me from time to time.
Jessa Cambridge is terrifying and wonderful. What was it like working with her? Are you in awe of her ALL the time?
Hahahaha, well Jessa is definitely a …strong minded person… I wouldn’t call her terrifying though. I can’t say we got along all of the time, but I think we did pretty well… overall… considering… you know?
What advice do you have for the prefect replacing her next term?
Hey as long as they stay out my way… I’M JOKING!! No but on a serious note, don’t say yes if you just want the title… you know? You have to be willing to follow the rules. That means for your friends as well. Not everyone makes that easy on you! But hey, at least you get to work with me.
Hey, Jackson! Congratulations on being made prefect! How did you feel when you first found out?
Hey thanks, Chloe! You know I can’t say I was surprised… I’m just kidding. I thought the owl had gotten turned around somehow when it came to my house, but sure enough it was my name and all. Once that had registered, I was honestly pretty proud of myself.
This term was a little crazy with all the rule changes and staff changes. Did you find it hard to roll with all those changes?
It was hard to enforce rules I didn’t believe in, and I like to think I didn’t take away too many points away. Hopefully other students realize it was nothing personal, I just didn’t want even more problems!
Be honest… did you LIKE any of those new rules?
Unpopular opinion I know… but I was fine with SOME things. Like, I didn’t mind running in the morning. I still do it a lot actually. Most of the others were definitely not my cup of tea though.
I bet it was really stressful, though! How do you handle all that stress?
Definitely stressful, especially because I was also dealing with OWLs and all. One good thing though… I think a lot of friendships kind of started or got stronger as a result ironically enough. At least they did for me!
What did you think about taking house points from fellow students?
Oh Merlin… It was kind of the worst. I don’t think that it’s the worst thing for Prefects to have that power, but forcing us to take house points away for fear of looking like we’re supporting some kind of revolt?? It was crazy. Kids were afraid to even blink.
Was being prefect everything you hoped it would be? How did it measure up?
Well I definitely didn’t think that the year would go as it did… I mean, it was as though this term was in a different dimension than my previous years. I loved it don’t get me wrong, but I’d love to see what a more normal year looks like as a Prefect.
If you get asked back as prefect next term, what would you do differently?
Well… honestly I’ll still probably say yes. I already know how the staff is about things, so I feel like I could handle it again. I wouldn’t mind seeing other changes happen though…
I doubt you have much free time with all of your prefecting duties, but what do you enjoy doing in between school and prefecting? Any interesting hobbies you want to share?
I always try to work some exercise in since patrols don’t really do it for me, haha. I’ve been flying a bit more too. I’m actually quite uncomfortable flying so this is big for me! I can also be found in the entertainment room quite a bit, I’ll be honest. My muggle background calls for me from time to time.
Jessa Cambridge is terrifying and wonderful. What was it like working with her? Are you in awe of her ALL the time?
Hahahaha, well Jessa is definitely a …strong minded person… I wouldn’t call her terrifying though. I can’t say we got along all of the time, but I think we did pretty well… overall… considering… you know?
What advice do you have for the prefect replacing her next term?
Hey as long as they stay out my way… I’M JOKING!! No but on a serious note, don’t say yes if you just want the title… you know? You have to be willing to follow the rules. That means for your friends as well. Not everyone makes that easy on you! But hey, at least you get to work with me.