Come one, come all,
As the snowflakes drift and fall,
Flip the pages and hear them whisper,
They call out, the stories, beg you to come hither…

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Hello, all readers! Welcome back to the most enchanting chapter in this issue of Hogwarts Monthly News: The Library. Libraries are often mystical and entrancing, what with the smell of ink on pages filling the air and urging you to come closer to any one of them, for you to sweep your hands across the shelves and pick out one lucky book—or if you’re like me, several lucky books. But how do you know which books are the best of the best? Those that you really can’t look away from, the words that make the outside scenery melt until it’s simply you and the ink pulling you into a whirlpool of fantasy.

Well, don’t fear, for I’m about to assuage your worries and give you three of the best recommendations for this beautiful month of January.

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We shall commence with the first book, a very recent addition and one that I’ve praised quite heavily: the guide Surviving Hogwarts is Here by Jean V. Ollivander. This book is a project by Jean, a guide to the very website you’re scrolling on right now (for the muggles, of course!) to help all new and struggling wizards and witches. I would highly recommend it to everybody!

As of now, it has two chapters. However, don’t let the small amount fool you—there’s a world of information within those chapters. The first is a very simple introductory chapter with the history and general guide around the different features/functions of HiH. The second is an in-depth guide to your very first year at HiH, and there’s more chapters to come for the following years.

Now, a note: even if you’ve been here for a while, you might be surprised when reading! I read this guide cover-to-cover and even I uncovered a few tidy little tidbits of information I’d forgotten or not even known about.

Check this book out now, because you will NOT regret it!

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Now, you all know I’m a faithful lover of poetry. Therefore, I just had to include this beautiful poem perfectly encompassing January’s essence: Snowflakes Cloak Hogwarts in Winter’s Silence. Just how beautiful is that title already, aren’t I right? This gorgeous poem is written by Cordalie Sauron and you can find it easily in the library simply by searching up the title. The poem is a timeless expression of holiday spirit and I can guarantee you that it will make you feel invigorated and appreciative of the wintry season (or simply holiday season for all the summery southern hemisphere lovelies!) going on right now ♡

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And for our (sadly) last recommendation of the day, we have the lovely Maya Granger’s A Guide to Magical Creatures! With 22 fabulous creatures, this expansive guide has it all. Witty commentary to accompany the succinct description of some of the most gorgeous and terrifying creatures to roam the planet ensures that it’s a droll, not dull, experience for all.

What’s your favourite creature from the guide? Personally, I’ve always loved Phoenixes, but now I’m strangely fascinated by Basilisks…

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Yawning, Sara briskly sets down her quill and glances around the library before returning her gaze to quickly read over the manuscript on the slightly yellowed parchment, describing the very three books in a stack on the table nearby. She stretches slightly, satisfied, before leaning over to tug on the cord that turns off the lamp. “Lumos!” she whispers to produce a less brighter light, carefully rolling the manuscript and patting it in her pocket before standing up to walk to her dormitory. Perhaps she could pass it to her sister, Hazel, in the morning when they’d all woken up. It was terribly late after all.

As she stood, she paused, gazing at the window in slight fear. For a moment, she’d sworn she’d seen a flash of purple—like a giant eye. She shivered before running her hands down her goosebump-covered arms and electing to simply make her way cautiously out of the library, only to jump in fright from the BOOM! of lightning that then ensued.

Silence enveloped the halls straight after, almost as though a ghost had scared away all mention. The only light came from the shaky tip of her wand, illuminating the dark corridors and the snowy night outside. Carefully, Sara crept along the corridor, trying her hardest to not wake anybody, stopping for a moment to admire the snowflakes collecting on the outside of a window-sill. They were so delicate and pretty…

Finally, she managed to locate the tricky stairs, sidestep a cheeky Sir Cadogan who had been quite prepared to shout the castle down, and blessedly slip into her house dormitory from Ravenclaw’s Common Room after answering a very sleepy owl wood knocker. Daphne gave a little start at the sound of the door, but remained asleep, only a slight twitch in her hand.

Hazel stirred sleepily. “Sara? Are you back?” She sat up abruptly as if she’d just remembered something important. “Do you have The Library?”

Sara tsked. “Morning, boss.”

With a faint sigh of relief, Hazel flopped back onto the bed to continue sleeping, snoring quietly. Sara chuckled warmly, setting the scroll of parchment by her bedside before climbing into bed, her last thoughts before sleep overtook a map of curiously-coloured creatures, snowy and silent corridors, and the tricky hauntedness of the ancient Hogwarts Castle.

A library always has secrets, after all.

Written by Sara Rowan.
Edited by Hazel Antler.
Proofread by Daphne Clarke.