Gryffindor Head of House
Considering that he is a beautifully remarkable man with an astounding array of talents and interests, there is no questioning why Airey Flamsteed has reigned as the extremely admired Gryffindor Head of House for four consecutive terms now. While he makes the subject of astronomy as enticing as ever inside the classroom, outside the classroom Professor Flamsteed captivates his students with his passion for life, his wisdom and brilliance, and his endless pride for Gryffindor house. Though his eccentricities may deter young lions upon first encounter, his true colors of kindness and compassion soon come to light, and they know his office is always open and his time is best put to use when he can provide a listening ear or a shoulder to cry on. Naturally, he was enthused to spare us some of his time and offer us some insight to his thoughts on this term!
1. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with us, Admiral! In his first term in this new role, Headmaster Botros seemed keen on implementing all kinds of goofy new rules both inside and outside the classroom this term. He also increased the amount of school-wide gatherings to instill a renewed sense of school pride within us all after the many rough and troubling years preceding us. What was your take on this matter? Do you believe this is something that will continue for terms to come? Should we prepare ourselves to call you "Admiral" and greet you with "live long and prosper" for eternity?
Instilling a sense of pride, and in some cases rediscovering it, is something I have always sought to do for each and every Gryffindor that has come under my watch - even before I took up the position of Head of House. So expanding this desire to encompass all of Hogwarts was not too difficult a task for myself to wrap my head around. This term certainly did take this practice into warp drive, presenting both students and staff a plethora of opportunities to explore a part of ourselves and our relationship with Hogwarts that may have been lost in the wake of tragedy and uncertainty. But the important fact that I hope everyone took away from this term is that no matter what happens at Hogwarts, we are all in this together. From the starry eyed first years full of possibilities to the seventh years who feel they have lost that glimmer in the face of an uncertain future, each and every one of you is a part of a big puzzle. Sometimes it just takes a little shifting of the pieces to find where we best fit in, and that journey starts with having pride of yourself and then evolves into something stellar and transcending. That was a message I hoped to deliver with the bit of abstract role play each student participated in the moment they walked into the Astronomy classroom this year. There are no passengers on USS Hogwarts and each of us bears the responsibility to ensure its prosperity.
I cannot speak for the rest of the faculty, but I will be taking down my unconventional rules at the end of this term. That being said, I would not be opposed to anyone referring to me as Admiral or telling me to “live long and prosper”. The sentiment and influence behind those words is more profound than you know.
2. For this term's prefect event, you were kind enough to offer yourself up to be a victim in the dunk tank during the spirit festival. Quite admirable, really, that you're always willing to go the extra mile to make the Hogwarts experience enjoyable and fun for all, even at your expense. What is it about being a professor that fuels your enthusiasm to dedicate yourself wholly and fully to enriching the lives of students? What do you love most about teaching?
I would hardly label myself as a victim, no suits were harmed in the dunking process to have been made victims themselves, and was more than happy to be a willing participant. I suppose you could say that I am not at Hogwarts for myself, but for the students. Well, of course I am also here for myself for one reason or another, but whatever I do in the presence of students I do because I believe it will benefit them in some way. However misguided that thought may, in fact, be. In terms of the dunk tank, perhaps there was a student or two - especially this term given the amount of detentions I handed out - that needed an outlet for their frustrations in a constructive manner. I have no doubt that Mr. Truebridge seized that opportune moment and naturally won’t hold it against him.
In the classroom, I LIVE for those lightbulb moments. Those moments where the brain makes connections beyond what is written in the textbook. Those moment where it is not so much students regurgitating information but FEELING it. Those moments of brilliance are what make my job worthwhile and, as you have experienced first hand, causes every fiber to go into a state of temporary gravitational collapse and the release of all that gravitational potential energy comes out in supernova explosion of me jumping on a student’s desk. Those little strokes of brilliance, not even those specific to my classroom, are what make my job worth doing.
3. While we're on the topic of the prefect event, you also came donned in a full lion costume. It was very stylish, first and foremost, but please tell us a bit more about that. Was that the work of some incredible transfiguration or did you already own such a thing? And, while we're at it, there's no question that you are the Head of House with the most pizzazz and flair on such matters as your Gryffindor pride is always through the roof. Why do you think it's so important to represent your lions in such a bold and carefree manner? What is it about being a Gryffindor that ignites such a fiery passion within your soul?
No, no. No transfiguration was used in the creation of that suit. That I picked up from a muggle costume shop one summer while I was traveling on official Astronomer Royal business. Picked it up on discount, actually. You never know when a lion suit may come in handy and, well, I did not have one of those yet in my suit collection so it seemed like the opportune moment to invest in one, even if the name is rather embarrassing.
I suppose my attitude has its roots during my time here as a student. Naturally, this has evolved over time into what it is today, but I’ve always felt that that is at the very heart of what it means to be a Gryffindor. Doing things with a fiery passion. Over my years here at Hogwarts, I’ve heard my fair share of stories from students who have stepped into my office about how a friend or professor has told them they are “not Gryffindor enough” and that can be very demoralizing for anyone regardless of what house you are in. There is no ONE box that a Gryffindor fits in and it is my fervent wish that each lion leaves Hogwarts understanding WHY they were sorted here even if some traits from other houses resonate with them strongly as well. I do not want anyone to extinguish that flame that burns within each Gryffindor, so I suppose you could say that is why I go to the length I do.
4. It's no secret that the last three years with your Gryffindor prefects, Zander Adair and Puck Grevyson, have not always been fun and games. You three have certainly come a long way as a leadership team. How have you seen these two grow and meet your expectations as student leaders? What kind of impact do you think they have made on their fellow Gryffindors, and what kind of legacy do you see them leaving as they graduate this year?
Both certainly have had their ups and downs, but that is true of anyone who enters through the doors to this castle. While I do set my expectations high when it comes to prefects, I by no means expect them to be perfect. I do, however, expect them to continually learn and better themselves as leaders through all those ups and downs. Mr. Adair put it quite pungently in an essay assignment I gave them both after having their badges revoked and returned by the former Headmistress Truebridge. In his assignment he wrote that leadership is a “pretty hefty word.” But more importantly, he wrote that being a leader is all about growth and that growth is what ties all the different leadership qualities each of us possesses together. Furthermore, and this may perhaps be my favorite bit of his essay, “being a leader is all about doing stuff and making some mistakes along the way, but learning from them. And most importantly, owning up to them.” Those words are the legacy I hope Mr. Adair and Miss Grevyson left, not just to their fellow Gryffindors but to all of Hogwarts. After all, Gryffindor has also had a Head Girl who had been suspended in her first year and a Head of House who was suspended in his second. It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose and also possible to commit many mistakes and win. Neither of these is a sign of weakness. It is life. I wish them both the best as their futures unfold and hope they do not forget the lessons they learned from Hogwarts as they proceed forward.
5. Unfortunately, you're losing quite the class of remarkable Gryffindors (as well as many incredible students from other houses) this year to graduation, and there is no doubt that their presence will be missed both within your house and in the classroom. It's been a long run with many of them and you've had the opportunity to watch them grow from prepubescent children to (mostly) mature adults. They are a diverse class with various strengths and weaknesses, but if you could extend one sentiment or encouragement to them to send them on their next great adventure, what would it be?
Live long and prosper.
1. Thanks for taking the time out of your busy schedule to chat with us, Admiral! In his first term in this new role, Headmaster Botros seemed keen on implementing all kinds of goofy new rules both inside and outside the classroom this term. He also increased the amount of school-wide gatherings to instill a renewed sense of school pride within us all after the many rough and troubling years preceding us. What was your take on this matter? Do you believe this is something that will continue for terms to come? Should we prepare ourselves to call you "Admiral" and greet you with "live long and prosper" for eternity?
Instilling a sense of pride, and in some cases rediscovering it, is something I have always sought to do for each and every Gryffindor that has come under my watch - even before I took up the position of Head of House. So expanding this desire to encompass all of Hogwarts was not too difficult a task for myself to wrap my head around. This term certainly did take this practice into warp drive, presenting both students and staff a plethora of opportunities to explore a part of ourselves and our relationship with Hogwarts that may have been lost in the wake of tragedy and uncertainty. But the important fact that I hope everyone took away from this term is that no matter what happens at Hogwarts, we are all in this together. From the starry eyed first years full of possibilities to the seventh years who feel they have lost that glimmer in the face of an uncertain future, each and every one of you is a part of a big puzzle. Sometimes it just takes a little shifting of the pieces to find where we best fit in, and that journey starts with having pride of yourself and then evolves into something stellar and transcending. That was a message I hoped to deliver with the bit of abstract role play each student participated in the moment they walked into the Astronomy classroom this year. There are no passengers on USS Hogwarts and each of us bears the responsibility to ensure its prosperity.
I cannot speak for the rest of the faculty, but I will be taking down my unconventional rules at the end of this term. That being said, I would not be opposed to anyone referring to me as Admiral or telling me to “live long and prosper”. The sentiment and influence behind those words is more profound than you know.
2. For this term's prefect event, you were kind enough to offer yourself up to be a victim in the dunk tank during the spirit festival. Quite admirable, really, that you're always willing to go the extra mile to make the Hogwarts experience enjoyable and fun for all, even at your expense. What is it about being a professor that fuels your enthusiasm to dedicate yourself wholly and fully to enriching the lives of students? What do you love most about teaching?
I would hardly label myself as a victim, no suits were harmed in the dunking process to have been made victims themselves, and was more than happy to be a willing participant. I suppose you could say that I am not at Hogwarts for myself, but for the students. Well, of course I am also here for myself for one reason or another, but whatever I do in the presence of students I do because I believe it will benefit them in some way. However misguided that thought may, in fact, be. In terms of the dunk tank, perhaps there was a student or two - especially this term given the amount of detentions I handed out - that needed an outlet for their frustrations in a constructive manner. I have no doubt that Mr. Truebridge seized that opportune moment and naturally won’t hold it against him.
In the classroom, I LIVE for those lightbulb moments. Those moments where the brain makes connections beyond what is written in the textbook. Those moment where it is not so much students regurgitating information but FEELING it. Those moments of brilliance are what make my job worthwhile and, as you have experienced first hand, causes every fiber to go into a state of temporary gravitational collapse and the release of all that gravitational potential energy comes out in supernova explosion of me jumping on a student’s desk. Those little strokes of brilliance, not even those specific to my classroom, are what make my job worth doing.
3. While we're on the topic of the prefect event, you also came donned in a full lion costume. It was very stylish, first and foremost, but please tell us a bit more about that. Was that the work of some incredible transfiguration or did you already own such a thing? And, while we're at it, there's no question that you are the Head of House with the most pizzazz and flair on such matters as your Gryffindor pride is always through the roof. Why do you think it's so important to represent your lions in such a bold and carefree manner? What is it about being a Gryffindor that ignites such a fiery passion within your soul?
No, no. No transfiguration was used in the creation of that suit. That I picked up from a muggle costume shop one summer while I was traveling on official Astronomer Royal business. Picked it up on discount, actually. You never know when a lion suit may come in handy and, well, I did not have one of those yet in my suit collection so it seemed like the opportune moment to invest in one, even if the name is rather embarrassing.
I suppose my attitude has its roots during my time here as a student. Naturally, this has evolved over time into what it is today, but I’ve always felt that that is at the very heart of what it means to be a Gryffindor. Doing things with a fiery passion. Over my years here at Hogwarts, I’ve heard my fair share of stories from students who have stepped into my office about how a friend or professor has told them they are “not Gryffindor enough” and that can be very demoralizing for anyone regardless of what house you are in. There is no ONE box that a Gryffindor fits in and it is my fervent wish that each lion leaves Hogwarts understanding WHY they were sorted here even if some traits from other houses resonate with them strongly as well. I do not want anyone to extinguish that flame that burns within each Gryffindor, so I suppose you could say that is why I go to the length I do.
4. It's no secret that the last three years with your Gryffindor prefects, Zander Adair and Puck Grevyson, have not always been fun and games. You three have certainly come a long way as a leadership team. How have you seen these two grow and meet your expectations as student leaders? What kind of impact do you think they have made on their fellow Gryffindors, and what kind of legacy do you see them leaving as they graduate this year?
Both certainly have had their ups and downs, but that is true of anyone who enters through the doors to this castle. While I do set my expectations high when it comes to prefects, I by no means expect them to be perfect. I do, however, expect them to continually learn and better themselves as leaders through all those ups and downs. Mr. Adair put it quite pungently in an essay assignment I gave them both after having their badges revoked and returned by the former Headmistress Truebridge. In his assignment he wrote that leadership is a “pretty hefty word.” But more importantly, he wrote that being a leader is all about growth and that growth is what ties all the different leadership qualities each of us possesses together. Furthermore, and this may perhaps be my favorite bit of his essay, “being a leader is all about doing stuff and making some mistakes along the way, but learning from them. And most importantly, owning up to them.” Those words are the legacy I hope Mr. Adair and Miss Grevyson left, not just to their fellow Gryffindors but to all of Hogwarts. After all, Gryffindor has also had a Head Girl who had been suspended in her first year and a Head of House who was suspended in his second. It is possible to commit no mistakes and still lose and also possible to commit many mistakes and win. Neither of these is a sign of weakness. It is life. I wish them both the best as their futures unfold and hope they do not forget the lessons they learned from Hogwarts as they proceed forward.
5. Unfortunately, you're losing quite the class of remarkable Gryffindors (as well as many incredible students from other houses) this year to graduation, and there is no doubt that their presence will be missed both within your house and in the classroom. It's been a long run with many of them and you've had the opportunity to watch them grow from prepubescent children to (mostly) mature adults. They are a diverse class with various strengths and weaknesses, but if you could extend one sentiment or encouragement to them to send them on their next great adventure, what would it be?
Live long and prosper.
Gryffindor Prefects
For his final term at Hogwarts, teenage heart-throb Zander Adair stepped into the shoes of Head Boy after two memorable terms as Gryffindor Prefect! His charm, new-found confidence, and strong leadership skills are only the beginning of the many brilliant qualities he has brought to the student leadership team, and Hogwarts will be forever better for his time spent leading us all. As is his generous spirit, he was more than happy to spend some time sharing us heart with us to discuss his favorite things, his greatest influence, and leave behind some words of wisdom! What a dynamite guy.
1. We're going to start out nice and heavy here, champ. From the day you received a Prefect badge just before your fifth year till now, how would you say you have grown as a leader and an individual? Was your response to receiving the Head Boy badge at the beginning of this term similar to your shock over receiving the Prefect badge, or was it less of a surprise this time?
I thought these things were supposed to start easy. I guess I’ve become more confident than when I started. I’m a lot more comfortable in the role and that helped a lot, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t shocked when I got the badge over the summer. I did not see that one coming, and honestly I think Botros was off his rocker when he made the decision.
2. You had been a dynamite team with fellow Gryffindor Prefect Puck Greyvson over these last three terms, and last term you both agreed in your yearbook interviews that you had learned to work well together. This term, you faced a new challenge as Head Boy in being part of an additional duo with Ravenclaw Head Girl Sophie Brown. How well did you two mesh, and what was the best part about working with her? Was it a dream come true? The highlight of your life? Could life really have been any better?
Working with Sophie Brown was a real challenge, you’ve got that right. Oi, only kidding! Being paired with Soph couldn’t have been better. I’m a rash decision maker, so she helped keep me grounded with her logic. But the best part was getting to use our Prefect duties as an excuse to have more alone time, er, so that we could plan surprises for the students... Uh. We love planning things for students...
3. What has been the most challenging aspect of being Head Boy? What has been the best part?
It’s a lot more work than I thought it’d be. It’s all the same stuff as being a Prefect, but I also had to keep an eye out on all the other student leaders... which can be hard because no one likes to be told what to do, but the best part has been getting to know some of the younger students in my house. If I wasn’t Head Boy or Prefect, I probably wouldn’t have gotten to know any of them, but I’m real glad I did.
4. When you were little, what were your dreams? How do those compare to your dreams now? Have any come true?
I don’t really remember what I dreamed of as a kid, but it was probably pizza. And I haven’t really got a solid idea of what the real dream is now either. I just know that one day I’ll wanna start a family of my own, I guess that’s the dream. Until then, I’m figuring things out as I go.
5. Let's do a few quick favorites. Favorite subject? Favorite food? Favorite creature? Favorite place in the whole world?
Herbology, but Astronomy and Care of Magical Creatures are both up there too. Pepperoni pizza! Crups because I have one. And... probably the chocolate frog aisle in Honeydukes or the Treehouse.
6. For this term's Prefect Event, you guys organized a spirit festival for us. How do you feel that went? What was the highlight of the event for you?
I think it went pretty well, actually. I was worried we wouldn’t be able to pull it off, but we’ve got a great team of Prefects. My favorite part of the event was getting to dunk Professor Moxley into the tank of water. The look on her face, it was priceless!
7. During your time here at Hogwarts, there have undoubtedly been quite a few people who have helped shape and influence you to be the brilliant young man you are today. Who have been your role models and inspirations, whether it be other students or professors? What have they taught you?
I can’t really say there was ever one person who did that for me. I definitely learned something from everyone here, but Professor Flamsteed has taught me the most because he’s been around since day one. That, and Astronomy is a mandatory class. One of the most important things he taught me is that you haven’t got to shape yourself to fit a certain mold because that’s not how people work.
8. With graduation on the horizon, I'm sure you've been thinking back on all the memories you've made. Do you have any regrets in your time here at school? What would you have done differently?
I wouldn’t have gone into the forest in fifth year. I learned a lot from that night, but an innocent life could’ve been spared. That’s my biggest regret. I would’ve called a Professor to help.
9. What do you think you'll miss most about Hogwarts?
That’s a hard question, can I answer what I’ll miss the least? ‘Cause that’s easy: early morning DADA. I’ll probably miss the people (not all of them) the most, especially the younger students who I never had as much time with.
10. What parting wisdom would you like to bestow upon the peers you leave behind, and what do you think your legacy will be? What do you hope to have taught others?
Stay away from forbidden things, eat lots of food, and turn in your potions essays on time. If anything, I just hope people learned from my mistakes, I made loads of them. As for my legacy, I hope it’s something cool, but I got voted “most likely to get stuck in a vanishing cabinet” last year so… doubtful.
1. We're going to start out nice and heavy here, champ. From the day you received a Prefect badge just before your fifth year till now, how would you say you have grown as a leader and an individual? Was your response to receiving the Head Boy badge at the beginning of this term similar to your shock over receiving the Prefect badge, or was it less of a surprise this time?
I thought these things were supposed to start easy. I guess I’ve become more confident than when I started. I’m a lot more comfortable in the role and that helped a lot, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t shocked when I got the badge over the summer. I did not see that one coming, and honestly I think Botros was off his rocker when he made the decision.
2. You had been a dynamite team with fellow Gryffindor Prefect Puck Greyvson over these last three terms, and last term you both agreed in your yearbook interviews that you had learned to work well together. This term, you faced a new challenge as Head Boy in being part of an additional duo with Ravenclaw Head Girl Sophie Brown. How well did you two mesh, and what was the best part about working with her? Was it a dream come true? The highlight of your life? Could life really have been any better?
Working with Sophie Brown was a real challenge, you’ve got that right. Oi, only kidding! Being paired with Soph couldn’t have been better. I’m a rash decision maker, so she helped keep me grounded with her logic. But the best part was getting to use our Prefect duties as an excuse to have more alone time, er, so that we could plan surprises for the students... Uh. We love planning things for students...
3. What has been the most challenging aspect of being Head Boy? What has been the best part?
It’s a lot more work than I thought it’d be. It’s all the same stuff as being a Prefect, but I also had to keep an eye out on all the other student leaders... which can be hard because no one likes to be told what to do, but the best part has been getting to know some of the younger students in my house. If I wasn’t Head Boy or Prefect, I probably wouldn’t have gotten to know any of them, but I’m real glad I did.
4. When you were little, what were your dreams? How do those compare to your dreams now? Have any come true?
I don’t really remember what I dreamed of as a kid, but it was probably pizza. And I haven’t really got a solid idea of what the real dream is now either. I just know that one day I’ll wanna start a family of my own, I guess that’s the dream. Until then, I’m figuring things out as I go.
5. Let's do a few quick favorites. Favorite subject? Favorite food? Favorite creature? Favorite place in the whole world?
Herbology, but Astronomy and Care of Magical Creatures are both up there too. Pepperoni pizza! Crups because I have one. And... probably the chocolate frog aisle in Honeydukes or the Treehouse.
6. For this term's Prefect Event, you guys organized a spirit festival for us. How do you feel that went? What was the highlight of the event for you?
I think it went pretty well, actually. I was worried we wouldn’t be able to pull it off, but we’ve got a great team of Prefects. My favorite part of the event was getting to dunk Professor Moxley into the tank of water. The look on her face, it was priceless!
7. During your time here at Hogwarts, there have undoubtedly been quite a few people who have helped shape and influence you to be the brilliant young man you are today. Who have been your role models and inspirations, whether it be other students or professors? What have they taught you?
I can’t really say there was ever one person who did that for me. I definitely learned something from everyone here, but Professor Flamsteed has taught me the most because he’s been around since day one. That, and Astronomy is a mandatory class. One of the most important things he taught me is that you haven’t got to shape yourself to fit a certain mold because that’s not how people work.
8. With graduation on the horizon, I'm sure you've been thinking back on all the memories you've made. Do you have any regrets in your time here at school? What would you have done differently?
I wouldn’t have gone into the forest in fifth year. I learned a lot from that night, but an innocent life could’ve been spared. That’s my biggest regret. I would’ve called a Professor to help.
9. What do you think you'll miss most about Hogwarts?
That’s a hard question, can I answer what I’ll miss the least? ‘Cause that’s easy: early morning DADA. I’ll probably miss the people (not all of them) the most, especially the younger students who I never had as much time with.
10. What parting wisdom would you like to bestow upon the peers you leave behind, and what do you think your legacy will be? What do you hope to have taught others?
Stay away from forbidden things, eat lots of food, and turn in your potions essays on time. If anything, I just hope people learned from my mistakes, I made loads of them. As for my legacy, I hope it’s something cool, but I got voted “most likely to get stuck in a vanishing cabinet” last year so… doubtful.
In her third and final term as a Gryffindor Prefect, Puck Greyvson has made sure to leave her mark on her lions as a quick-witted, fun-loving leader who enjoys spending time with her lions most of all! A fiercely loyal friend to those in need, she asserts herself with confidence and grace while serving up a generous helping of sass to those who cross her, but only with good reason! We were fortunate enough to snag this free spirit for a chat regarding her time here at Hogwarts and where we can expect to find her in the coming years.
1. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Puck! All right, since no one has asked in any of your last two interviews, I'll go ahead and ask it and finally clear this up for the rest of us: I've never heard the name "Puck" before, and it seems kind of like an unusual name. Do you happen to know why your parents gave you this name? Does it have a meaning? Are you fond of it, or would you rather be named something else?
I’ve never met anyone else with my name which is kind of nice, except when you go travel abroad and really want one of those ridiculous keepsake mementos. But I think it’s more a family thing on my mom’s side. I mean, my great-grandmother and great-grandfather were named Titania and Oberon, so I guess it really stems from my great-great-grandparents and their love for Shakespeare, and my mom actually was in the Shakespearean play A Midsummer Night's Dream when she was pregnant with me. If anything else, I have a feeling that I would have had a stuffy guy’s name if I didn’t have Puck as my name. For all I know, it would have probably been Alexander, or maybe Alexandra Greyvson. I wasn’t a fan when I was a kid, and then I realized how easy I had it. I only had to write four letters for my first name. I mean, there’s a kid in my niece’s class named Herchford Stockwigs. Now that is an unfortunate name.
2. Your birthday is on Christmas Day! Is that a blessing or a curse? While you've attended Hogwarts, have you gone home to celebrate or have you stayed to be with your Hogwarts family, or a mix of both? And if you've stayed, what have you loved most about the holidays at Hogwarts?
Well, it's kind of been both. I’ve mainly stayed here with my Hogwarts family or I’ve gone and visited with Bianca Caruso and other friends from the school. Honestly, staying at school for the holidays is kind of magical – no nagging brothers, for one thing, but it's more than that. The house elves don’t have as much work, really, so you can even have conversations with them or take the time to give them hugs – Toddles is wonderful with hugs. Oh, and the hot chocolate is absolutely delicious, too.
3. It hasn't escaped our notice that you're almost always wearing a key necklace around your neck. Is there significance to that or is it some sort of fashion statement?
Oh, it's actually both significant and fashionable. It’s the key to the desk in the apartment my family lived in when I still lived in New York. We still have the place there, and it was something that my mum gave me before I moved to London.
4. Now that your time as a Prefect has come to an end, what would you say has been the most rewarding part of being a Prefect? The most challenging?
The most rewarding and most challenging parts? That’s a tough one. I guess at first the most challenging part was really coming to terms with "how to be a Prefect" and how to guide young impressionable minds. I mean, I didn’t want to lead them into a pit of spid-- I mean vipers or anything like that because that’d be bad. But yeah, I guess the most rewarding is creating the events and really seeing everyone enjoying themselves. That actually was why I considered going into event planning for a bit there.
5. You, Zander, and Professor Flamsteed have been through a lot these last three terms. What have they taught you?
Oh boy, have we ever? Honestly, I think Zander has been a great companion and friend, and he really helped me open up to people. He was one of the first people I opened up to about being an orphan, other than Bianca, which I guess means he taught me the value of being honest with my identity. And Professor Flamsteed has been great, really. He’s taught me even in hiring me as a Prefect in the first go-round that I am actually much braver than I thought I was and that I could have really great potential in helping people in the future. Who knows, maybe I’ll even be a life coach, and it’d be all thanks to him.
6. Do you have any favorite Hogwarts memories here that you'd like to share? A favorite lesson, favorite adventure, favorite time spent with friends?
All of the lessons were really fun, honestly – I think one of my favorite times was back before I was a Prefect. When Professor Flamsteed was, well... not himself, and everyone was throwing food around. That was, of course, until he locked me in the closet with Declan Hazelwood, but I made a companion out of that and am now still friends with his sister, bonding over "closet" moments. With friends, I really enjoyed all the times we’d go skating on the lake in the winter, and the Prefect meetings we’d have all over campus were loads of fun.
7. If you could give your eleven-year-old self one piece of advice, what would you tell her?
Oh, what would I tell myself? It would be smart of me to say “be careful about coming off as ‘flirty’ when you're aiming for ‘silly’ because friends can get confused,” and I definitely would have steered myself away from a few relationships, but those were all pre-Hogwarts, and honestly because of those mistakes and things I’m the person I am today. I guess, most importantly, I’d tell myself to stay true to my character.
8. Sorry to tug at the heartstrings here, but do you think you'll miss Hogwarts? What do you think you'll miss most? What are you happy to leave behind?
Hogwarts has been great, hasn’t it? I’m not crying, I promise. Anyhow, yeah, I think I’ll definitely miss the fellow Prefects because you learn so much about someone when working with them and setting up events. Another thing would definitely be the surprise girls nights that the Gryffindor girls would throw - candies, music, pillow fights, the whole shebang. I’ll miss my friends most, honestly, but I’m ready to move on now and try for bigger and better things. Oh, but the thing I won’t miss: detentions, the dungeons, and the spiders.
9. What's next for you out in the real world? Where can we expect to see you in five, ten years?
Well, in five years I’ll be about 23, right? So I guess I’ll be finishing university or going into final year there. I’ve been debating a few things, really, and that’s the whole working in a way that I can help others out, possibly as a self-help life-coach person? Or as a professor, but other than that, I was thinking of going to university to study journalism and become a reporter. Who knows, I might be running my own company in ten years, but if I do, there’s one thing to be certain: I’d obviously invite friends to collaborate with whatever it is.
10. It's been a fun ride, Puck. What last words would you like to leave behind to your Hogwarts peers?
Oh, last words... I guess I’d tell Hogwarts students to treat everyone as kindly as they can. Sometimes a little misunderstanding can hinder a possibly beautiful friendship from forming, and don’t let yourself be used or hurt by someone who doesn’t have your best interest as well as their best interests at heart.
1. Thanks for taking the time to chat with us, Puck! All right, since no one has asked in any of your last two interviews, I'll go ahead and ask it and finally clear this up for the rest of us: I've never heard the name "Puck" before, and it seems kind of like an unusual name. Do you happen to know why your parents gave you this name? Does it have a meaning? Are you fond of it, or would you rather be named something else?
I’ve never met anyone else with my name which is kind of nice, except when you go travel abroad and really want one of those ridiculous keepsake mementos. But I think it’s more a family thing on my mom’s side. I mean, my great-grandmother and great-grandfather were named Titania and Oberon, so I guess it really stems from my great-great-grandparents and their love for Shakespeare, and my mom actually was in the Shakespearean play A Midsummer Night's Dream when she was pregnant with me. If anything else, I have a feeling that I would have had a stuffy guy’s name if I didn’t have Puck as my name. For all I know, it would have probably been Alexander, or maybe Alexandra Greyvson. I wasn’t a fan when I was a kid, and then I realized how easy I had it. I only had to write four letters for my first name. I mean, there’s a kid in my niece’s class named Herchford Stockwigs. Now that is an unfortunate name.
2. Your birthday is on Christmas Day! Is that a blessing or a curse? While you've attended Hogwarts, have you gone home to celebrate or have you stayed to be with your Hogwarts family, or a mix of both? And if you've stayed, what have you loved most about the holidays at Hogwarts?
Well, it's kind of been both. I’ve mainly stayed here with my Hogwarts family or I’ve gone and visited with Bianca Caruso and other friends from the school. Honestly, staying at school for the holidays is kind of magical – no nagging brothers, for one thing, but it's more than that. The house elves don’t have as much work, really, so you can even have conversations with them or take the time to give them hugs – Toddles is wonderful with hugs. Oh, and the hot chocolate is absolutely delicious, too.
3. It hasn't escaped our notice that you're almost always wearing a key necklace around your neck. Is there significance to that or is it some sort of fashion statement?
Oh, it's actually both significant and fashionable. It’s the key to the desk in the apartment my family lived in when I still lived in New York. We still have the place there, and it was something that my mum gave me before I moved to London.
4. Now that your time as a Prefect has come to an end, what would you say has been the most rewarding part of being a Prefect? The most challenging?
The most rewarding and most challenging parts? That’s a tough one. I guess at first the most challenging part was really coming to terms with "how to be a Prefect" and how to guide young impressionable minds. I mean, I didn’t want to lead them into a pit of spid-- I mean vipers or anything like that because that’d be bad. But yeah, I guess the most rewarding is creating the events and really seeing everyone enjoying themselves. That actually was why I considered going into event planning for a bit there.
5. You, Zander, and Professor Flamsteed have been through a lot these last three terms. What have they taught you?
Oh boy, have we ever? Honestly, I think Zander has been a great companion and friend, and he really helped me open up to people. He was one of the first people I opened up to about being an orphan, other than Bianca, which I guess means he taught me the value of being honest with my identity. And Professor Flamsteed has been great, really. He’s taught me even in hiring me as a Prefect in the first go-round that I am actually much braver than I thought I was and that I could have really great potential in helping people in the future. Who knows, maybe I’ll even be a life coach, and it’d be all thanks to him.
6. Do you have any favorite Hogwarts memories here that you'd like to share? A favorite lesson, favorite adventure, favorite time spent with friends?
All of the lessons were really fun, honestly – I think one of my favorite times was back before I was a Prefect. When Professor Flamsteed was, well... not himself, and everyone was throwing food around. That was, of course, until he locked me in the closet with Declan Hazelwood, but I made a companion out of that and am now still friends with his sister, bonding over "closet" moments. With friends, I really enjoyed all the times we’d go skating on the lake in the winter, and the Prefect meetings we’d have all over campus were loads of fun.
7. If you could give your eleven-year-old self one piece of advice, what would you tell her?
Oh, what would I tell myself? It would be smart of me to say “be careful about coming off as ‘flirty’ when you're aiming for ‘silly’ because friends can get confused,” and I definitely would have steered myself away from a few relationships, but those were all pre-Hogwarts, and honestly because of those mistakes and things I’m the person I am today. I guess, most importantly, I’d tell myself to stay true to my character.
8. Sorry to tug at the heartstrings here, but do you think you'll miss Hogwarts? What do you think you'll miss most? What are you happy to leave behind?
Hogwarts has been great, hasn’t it? I’m not crying, I promise. Anyhow, yeah, I think I’ll definitely miss the fellow Prefects because you learn so much about someone when working with them and setting up events. Another thing would definitely be the surprise girls nights that the Gryffindor girls would throw - candies, music, pillow fights, the whole shebang. I’ll miss my friends most, honestly, but I’m ready to move on now and try for bigger and better things. Oh, but the thing I won’t miss: detentions, the dungeons, and the spiders.
9. What's next for you out in the real world? Where can we expect to see you in five, ten years?
Well, in five years I’ll be about 23, right? So I guess I’ll be finishing university or going into final year there. I’ve been debating a few things, really, and that’s the whole working in a way that I can help others out, possibly as a self-help life-coach person? Or as a professor, but other than that, I was thinking of going to university to study journalism and become a reporter. Who knows, I might be running my own company in ten years, but if I do, there’s one thing to be certain: I’d obviously invite friends to collaborate with whatever it is.
10. It's been a fun ride, Puck. What last words would you like to leave behind to your Hogwarts peers?
Oh, last words... I guess I’d tell Hogwarts students to treat everyone as kindly as they can. Sometimes a little misunderstanding can hinder a possibly beautiful friendship from forming, and don’t let yourself be used or hurt by someone who doesn’t have your best interest as well as their best interests at heart.