Hogwarts Monthly Magazine November 2023 Pre-Christmas Special Issue
Autumn is slipping through our fingers. But Christmas is coming. Are you excited? We are. Do not be gloomy; we will all miss autumn, but let's learn to let go and prepare for the cold and snowy Christmas season. Let twenty Knuts slip between your hands and pick up this issue of the Hogwarts Monthly Magazine to warm your spirits throughout the chilly pre-Christmas month of November.
Last Updated
11/30/23
Chapters
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Magical Mysteries from the Super-Secret Files of Isadore Oakwood - The Monkey's Paw
Chapter 13
Magical Mysteries:
The Monkey’s Paw:
Have you ever heard of the story of the monkey’s paw? It is one of those stories that gives people thrills and excitement at the same time. But what if I tell you this story is real and originated in our world?
This short horror story was written by English author W.W. Jacobs, and it first appeared in Harper's Monthly in 1902. It appears Mr. Jacobs was a Muggle, but he probably heard this story from a friend. It is unclear whether his friend was a Muggle or not either. This story also has a lot of similarities with some oriental stories. This could be an indicator of the fact that these stories share the same origin.
This story is about the White family, who are informed by their family friend, Mr. Morris, about a mysterious mummified monkey’s paw that has the ability to grant three wishes to its owner. Morris tells the White family about his horrible experience with this object and tries to destroy it, but Mr. White retrieves it. Their first wish is to have ₤200. The next day, their son, Herbert, dies in a company accident, and his parents receive ₤200 from the company for their grief. Their second wish is to bring their deceased son back to life, and they hear his voice from outside the house. Since they are terrified of their son’s appearance after the accident, they decide to use their third and final wish to stop their son from coming back into their lives.
It is quite a sad story, but one thing is obvious: magic plays a huge role in it. As I’ve mentioned earlier, there were other stories, mostly originating in Asia, about an object that grants its owner three wishes. For magical archaeologists, it is clear that these stories are about magical artifacts of the same kind. As it appeared over a period of time, it was common for some wizards or witches to make this kind of artifact. Since the monkey’s paw is also from India, this is probably a complicated kind of magic unique to Asian people. It is still unclear whether this kind of magic is dark or not, but it is powerful for sure.
So, the next time someone gives you an object that grants wishes, send it to a magical archaeologist rather than using it. Otherwise, horrible things could happen to you and your loved ones.
- Isadore Oakwood, Journalist, Editor, Hogwarts Monthly Magazine.
