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The Daily Diviner - Issue 21

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The Daily Diviner

New Magician
Staff
#1
The Latest and Greatest
Feature
Written by thatgirlskyyy
Edited by MamaDuckie

Hey Potterworld players! Welcome back to another fabulous edition of the Daily Diviner! I’m Sky and today I’ll be sharing with you the latest and greatest additions to Potterworld. When Revelius was first released, Hogsworth students rushed to complete the new quests. With their increasing difficulty, unique challenges and engaging storylines, these new quests made players determined to finish their new missions, and left them with a feeling of accomplishment once they received their reward. Since the quests give out loads of gold and xp, people leveled up quickly and eventually graduated. After graduating, many started thinking, ‘What comes next?’.

Well, the Potterworld staff heard you and have been secretly planning new updates right under our noses. They are always listening to the community and looking for ways to improve the server. So when graduates wanted more things to do, spells needed fixing, NPCs needed relocating, and people who played before Revelius wanted Tommy Riddle back, the staff wasted no time brainstorming ways to satisfy the needs of Hogsworth students and alumni.

Shortly after Revelius, players were constantly asking where Tommy Riddle went. For those relatively new to Potterworld, Tommy Riddle is an NPC that gives out daily riddles. Now, Potterworld is happy to announce the return of Tommy Riddle! After the Revelius update, he got a few upgrades. Tommy also appears in every town that is accessible by firedust. This allows players to start his riddles from hotspots around the map and start them while completing other quests. You can spot him by scouting out his skin or looking for green sparkles. But make sure to not get him mixed up with your quest NPCs! Some places you can find him include Hogshead, Portsend, and Edgebrook.

If you click on him, then do /q, his ‘quest’ will show up along with your other quests. The answer to each riddle is a place on the map. After you think you have the answer, make your way to the place and find a student with green particles around them. Once you find the student NPC, click on them and claim your well-earned reward. There are 29 new riddles that Tommy can ask you. The more you complete, the higher reward is. So if you are on the brink of leveling up, try doing the daily riddle. It will give you the xp you need to level up and keep you busy while you wait. Plus, it’s a fun challenge to do by yourself or with friends. However you decide to do the riddles, we hope you will have fun solving them while exploring the map.

Players have also expressed disappointment in two particular spells: Aviforma and Pierolotum. Aviforma is a spell that once cast, a swarm of birds will emerge from the tip of the wand and attack your opponent. Pierolotum is like Aviforma but instead of birds attacking, statues will go after anyone who stands in your way. These spells have had issues in the past, such as the entities not staying focused on the target. Luckily, this bug has been fixed, which means your bird and statue allies will now do their best in battle.

Another change is the relocation of several NPCs, including the Dueling Halls, News Seller, and Minigames NPCs. Before, the NPCs stood outside The Great Hall with no rhyme or reason; and some felt that they were a little out of place. In response, staff moved these NPCs to more suitable places. The Duelling Halls NPC was moved to the Head table in The Great Hall, the News Seller now stands outside the entrance of Hogsworth next to a cart with newspapers, and the Minigames NPC was removed entirely. Make sure to take note of this in case you forget where they went!

Previously, there was only one quest after graduating. After that, alumni could only upgrade their gear, craft a thunderflash, buy collectables from people’s shops, and reset their spell trees. They can still attend classes, but nothing compares to trying to solve a riddle or defeat a boss. Many expressed dissatisfaction with this and wanted something to do after they surpassed level 71. Even though they had accomplished something incredible by graduating from Hogsworth, they were met with little to no reward. After graduates complained of boredom, Potterworld staff stepped in to change that. They added twelve new quests for graduates, each one unique and special in its own way. They slowly become more challenging and require more strategy than the previous quests.

Here to talk about the new quests is Sam (SpoonSam), a level 80 player who has been playing since early 2017. As soon as the new quests came out, Sam rushed to complete them all and see what was in store. I asked Sam a couple questions regarding his experience while doing the new quests.

Did you do these quests alone or with other people?

I did the ones in Gnollberg port with andr3u, Salmandingo and Joshios. But once we got to The Dark Prison, I went ahead and did the rest of them all on my own.

How hard were the new quests? Were they more difficult than the ones you had to complete as a student?

Personally, I love a challenge. I feel most quests should be challenging because once they are completed, it gives a sense of accomplishment. I enjoyed the graduate quests more than the beginner quests. The more challenging the better!

What was your strategy for completing the new quests?

I guess I just jumped into it and didn't stop until I completed them all.

How long did it take you to complete all of the quests?

It took me about 1-2 hours. I'm a bit of a tryhard.

Which was your favorite quest and why?

My favourite of all the quests has to be Relics of the Past Part 4. Throughout all the previous quests, Relics of the Past has the best storyline, taking you through Zin's story and showing you the dark side of Potterworld. I feel like the last quest (Part 4) wraps this up really well. All your searching for these relics takes a dark turn really fast and you are forced to fight Valdemar. This fight was similar to the old Revenant quests, providing a decent challenge and it ends the story on a sad but complete note.

Any advice for people who are getting ready to take on these quests?

I see this happen too much, where people skip over the dialogue. My advice is to read the dialogue instead of spam clicking through it. The Unspeakables put lots of work making these quests and dialogue. Not only does this dialogue provide a story, but it also tells you what to do and it won’t leave you asking, "What do I do now?" after you read it.

Thank you for your time Sam! I am glad that you and you friends enjoyed your adventures together. I’m sure other graduates will think they are equally as challenging and be as motivated as you are. Hopefully your insight will inspire players to begin the new quests.

On behalf of the Potterworld staff team, I hope you enjoy these additions. Some of them are bigger than others, such as Tommy Riddle coming back and the whopping twelve new quests. But don’t let that discourage you from looking at the smaller changes too! It’s worth it, trust me! And remember: there’s always something to do on Potterworld, no matter your year or level. Happy adventuring!
 

The Daily Diviner

New Magician
Staff
#2
Community Engagement is Established
Editorial
Written by ChaileyChi
Edited by Kailen

Welcome back to the editorial column of the Daily Diviner! My name is Chailey and this week I will be giving all of you the inside scoop on the updates with The Inquisitorial Squad. There was an announcement made on August 25th that Inquisitor applications will be opening, as well as hosting Community Engagement events twice a month for players. Before we dig into that, let’s go over what this team is.

The Inquisitorial Squad is a small team within the Community Management department which was formed to work on Staff Appreciation Day events. Eventually, the team decided to introduce the idea of TBA’s, Team Building Activities, for the staff team throughout the year.

One example of a recent TBA that was held was Knockback. The concept of it was to knock other people off of a platform, and have the least deaths at the end. Everyone was given a bludgeon bat that had Flipelius and Ascendo attached to it. I asked Sopholicious if she enjoyed the TBA and she responded, “I definitely liked the TBA! It was a really fun way to get to interact with other staff members that I don’t talk to as often. The TBA was very competitive. We all were trying our best knocked to get off, and it did get a bit hectic. It was really enjoyable and we all had such a great time. My favorite part was probably seeing our overall scores. Some of us were... just not the best with that TBA.”

About a month ago, the decision was made to broaden the TBAs from just the staff members to all team members such as Jr. Builders, Performers, and Daily Diviner Writers & Editors. This team is now very excited about their decision to focus on including the whole community!

As the Inquisitors begin this change, they have chosen to open applications to the community. Previously, this position was only available to staff members, but now anyone who meets the requirements can apply. The team is trying to figure out the best ways to make Community Engagement events work. It will be different from the Staff TBAs because Community Engagement will have to be on the main worlds, unlike the TBAs being in a staff world. Despite that challenge, they are pushing forward and announced the September Community Engagement events. The first event was on September 12 at 7 pm PST, and the next one will be on September 26 at 8 am PST.

The first Community Engagement event was a success with a great turnout of about 40 players. This event started with everyone jumping in a discord voice call. Then the group played some minigames for a while before transitioning into a full Hogsworth hide and seek. At the end, everyone got a collectible item for participation. Overall, the players really enjoyed the event! Here is some of the feedback I collected from players:

Meigsmerlin - “It was fun! I love the idea of it. I'm excited to see what kind of different things they could do for it in the next months as well. I'd also like to see more staff participate, particularly the higher-ups. Seeing as the purpose is to better connect with the community, I think more staff should be there as well and not just the Inquisitorial squad who are running the events.”

MagmaMeMilky - “I think there's a lot of potential for the future of these types of events and the community would really appreciate seeing them. I thought it was a cool concept although slightly disorganized, but I was glad to be able to talk to staff in a casual setting.”

Enzologies - “I wasn’t there for very long, only at the start, but it was enjoyable overall!! I had fun playing games with other players and the voice chat was very lively and welcoming!! I’m excited for the event coming up in a few days!!”

Luckiestblock - “I thought it was an interesting idea but there probably needed more structure. It simultaneously contained too many people and was alienating to newcomers. I think overall with time they will get a lot better though and I have high hopes. Plus as a collector the collectible item was a nice surprise!”

The Inquisitors chose to make this change to foster a bonding time for the player base. They are trying to be inclusive with two time options to cater to different time zones. The team hopes, with the release of applications, that as the team grows, so will the ideas. It will allow for more things for staff and the community to participate in! Maddinq, Lead Inquisitor, wants everyone to know, “I'm really proud of our turnout this past Saturday and I'm so excited to see the future of the Inquisitorial Squad and Community Engagement time so we can continue to strengthen the Potterworld community! If you have any questions or suggestions for things we can do with the community, I am open to hearing your thoughts!”

Overall, I am very excited to see what the Inquisitorial Squad does in the future! I hope to see another great turnout on September 26th. I want to thank Maddinq for allowing me to interview her and learn more about the upcoming plans and inner workings of this team. I also want to thank Sopholicious, Meigsmerlin, MagmaMeMilky, Enzologies, and Luckiestblock for their opinions. Lastly, I want to wish good luck to all those who apply! Thank you for reading about the Inquisitorial Squad’s updates. I hope you all have a great day and tune into the rest of the issue!
 

The Daily Diviner

New Magician
Staff
#3
Potterwatch Performer Applications Are Open!
Editorial
Written by cahla
Edited by MamaDuckie

Greetings fellow Witches and Wizards, and welcome back to the Daily Diviner and this week’s Editorial Column! In this week’s issue, we will be covering not only the recently opened Potterwatch Performer applications, but also a few interviews by some of the Performers that are on the team! These interviews are directed to any aspiring Potterwatch Performer who wishes to apply. Not only do they share their most favorite moments on the team, but also offer some advice as well for anyone looking to apply. Before we dive into these interviews, let’s first look at some background information on the team itself!

The Potterwatch Performer team is composed of many individuals with unique characteristics and personalities. They are all fond of the digital acting world, and you could even say they are the theatre kids of the server. With their charm and outstanding skills, they are able to create amazing videos for the server. Their immaculateness is what brings the magic and flair to Potterworld.

It was such a privilege and honor to have been able to interview some of the Performers: Maggie, Artie, and anoob, who not only shared some heartfelt memories, but also shared some fantastic advice to anyone looking to be a part of the team. Without further ado, let’s jump into the interviews!

Any great experiences that have made your time on the Potterwatch team favorable and why should people apply?

Maggie: I have had so many great moments on the Potterwatch team! Since joining the team as a Performer in 2018, I have met so many amazing people and learned so many things about video creation. Some of my favorite moments have stemmed from team TBAs (team building activities) and streams. It's super fun getting to be myself in front of those who enjoy watching the Potterwatch Hangouts. I've also just absolutely loved getting to know so many people that love performing, just like me!

Artie: oooo, probably some of the laughs we have while recording - recordings are a lot more fun than people think, especially when there are multiple people in the recording and we're trying to record and someone does something funny and then everyone's just laughing and having a grand time. people should apply to the Potterwatch team because it's genuinely really fun, we're all friends, and you don't have to worry about people not liking you.

anoob: Being on the team has been a blast. It was the first team I have ever joined on Potterworld and meeting new people and doing what we love has been a great experience for me. As I used to be so shy and never really liked interacting with people but this amazing group of people have made me feel so welcome and outgoing and if you want to be a part of a second family of fabulous people, you should definitely apply!

Any helpful tips on people applying to join the Potterwatch team?

Maggie: I want to let you all know that it is perfectly normal to be nervous about an application for any position. However, it's super important to have fun! Potterwatch is by far one of the most fun teams I've had the opportunity to be a part of, and it's a place where you can 100% just be yourself. Also!!! Prepare for a lot of nodding.

Artie: Some tips I have is: even if you don't feel confident talking to a lot of people at a time, or you don't believe your voice is "nice" enough, you can still apply! Being a Performer is a great way to increase your confidence, I've been here for three years and I can confirm my confidence has grown since.

anoob: My major tip is just be yourself as the team is full of unique people with different personalities. You are a one of a kind individual and that is what makes you stand out.

The Potterwatch Performers have given helpful and amazing advice to anybody who may be feeling shy or nervous about applying. I can definitely assure you, just by speaking with these Performers, there is absolutely nothing to be worried about. All I see is a wonderful and vibrant community ready to accept anybody with open arms and a smile.

I know that the people who apply will be an amazing asset to the team, and will make wonderful videos for the community. Overall, all future Potterwatch Performers will not only bring their uniqueness, but also their inspiration and talent to the team. Every new person who applies, every new face that is seen, is just a whole new adventure to be explored and what better way to do than through performing!

Today, we not only covered the Potterwatch Performers team, but also interviewed some fabulous people who are a part of it. With their different experiences and advice, they provided valuable information for anyone who is wanting to apply! I would like to thank these amazing three people: Maggie, Artie, and anoob, for allowing me to interview them. They did a marvelous job and it couldn’t have gone any smoother. Alas, this brings us to the end of this Editorial Column article for issue #21. I hope you had a wonderful time reading this and also have a splendid week as well. Until next time, from the Daily Diviner team, thank you for reading!
 

The Daily Diviner

New Magician
Staff
#4
Elaborating on Quests
Games and Sports
Written by CelloIsMyLife
Edited by MamaDuckie
Special thanks to Andreu for helping outline!

Hello everyone, and welcome to the Games & Sports section of the Daily Diviner! Today we are going to be elaborating on some of the new quests that have recently been added to Potterworld. On September 4th, the team announced 12 new graduate quests as well as bringing back daily riddles. Each one is exciting and brings something new to the world. I will be talking about some of my favorite new elements ranging from the puzzling nature to the builds themselves. Now, let’s jump into it!

The first exciting part about the new release is the unique builds that have been added! We have many dedicated and hard-working builders on Potterworld that provide us with amazing detailed builds that go along with these new quests. Some of the new areas they have created range from a pirate island to a candy factory! The amount of detail that goes into every build is astonishing and adds such a wonderful level of immersion into the game. A super special thanks to the Architect Team for all the time and work they put into making Potterworld amazing for us all. I’m excited to see possible builds and quests that come out in the future!

Now, let’s move on to the quests themselves and their puzzling nature. One of the best parts, in my opinion, is the unique challenges that the new quests offer. The quests can take you to many different places, like a cell you need to escape from in the Dark Prison. This isn’t the only type of quest though! Sometimes you will be asked questions about Potterworld lore that was given earlier in the quest, or even a previous one. Though these quests may be challenging at times, they prove to be a fun brain teaser that you can complete alone, or sometimes even with friends! I would like to give another thanks, this time to the Unspeakables for their awesome work on these new quests!

Finally, I would like to talk about parkour and mazes throughout Potterworld. In previous Daily Diviner issues, new locations for parkour and mazes were discussed in detail. I would like to focus on a different factor of these: the creativity of it all! The parkour and mazes scattered around the world all have been built with immense detail. The environment and builds themselves are immersive and provide a fun experience alongside the possibly challenging jumps or turns in a maze. Discovering these games can sometimes be as fun as completing them. Go ahead and challenge your friends and see who can complete one of these parkour or mazes quicker!

I would like to give one last thanks to the Unspeakables and Architect Team. They put lots of hard work and time into making these new locations and quests that make Potterworld so exciting and immersive. The new quests are exciting to do, though sometimes may prove challenging with the puzzles within. I’ve had an awesome time exploring the builds, quests, and minigames around the map. I encourage you to go try these out for yourself, and possibly bring a friend along with you! I can’t wait to see what the future holds in terms of new builds, quests, and games possibly being added to Potterworld. I hope you enjoyed reading, now go out and explore for yourself!
 

The Daily Diviner

New Magician
Staff
#5
Back to School Essentials!
Lifestyle
Written by Carolllyn
Edited by MaggieChi

Hello witches and wizards! It’s that time of year: the school year. Yes, you heard me right! We are going back to school. Whether it be virtual or in-person, some tips and tricks for any back-to-school occasion are necessary for the wizarding world this year. So, I’m here to let you all in on some back to school essentials!

First, the obvious: buy materials! I’ll cut this short. Make sure to get your pencils, journals, erasers, and highlighters, as well as whatever else your school considers a necessity for each curriculum. It’s a straightforward, simple, task, yet it’s often left forgotten in the end. Don’t procrastinate on this one, as attempting school with no materials at hand is a recipe for absolute disaster.

Next, find a comfortable spot to work. This essential back-to-school step is particularly relevant for online learning. You’re going to have to make due with the surroundings of your home. I recommend picking a spot reserved solely for learning. Treat it as if you are really going to school;don’t simply grab your laptop and prop it up in bed. Though that is the epitome of comfort, it’s not the best spot to do schoolwork. Your teacher may also mistake you for sleeping during class if you decide to learn from your bed (personal experience, scarring). For those of you who have opted for in person school, find the most productive spaces to get your work done. Maybe you focus best in the school library, empty classroom, or cafeteria.

Sleep, sleep, sleep! You heard me, sleep! You need to! Why? Well, sleeping is the key to life. It readies us to learn better in the morning. A rested mind can handle anything that comes its way. It’s ready to take on school, and whatever else that gets thrown at it. Sleep assists in memory, recharges us, helps with physical and mental health, and lessens stress. Many of us end up going to sleep well past midnight, but it’s important to go to sleep making sure you receive at least 7-10 hours. Sleeping is easy and fun. Who wouldn’t want to reap all these benefits by simply closing their eyes (literally improve upon yourself in the blink of an eye)?

Self-care can take us to crazy levels in terms of school. For the most part, a good self-care routine reduces the stress of the school day. Accept yourself as a student and person! Take a moment to chill out and let your responsibilities fall away. Take a bath! Do a facemask (refer to my international self-care article for great recipes)! Meditate! Relinquish your duties to anything other than yourself, and you’ll thank me. School will be a breeze once you get into your zen and confident state of mind.

This last essential may be a challenging one for those of us doing school online, but it’s still a necessity. Socialize! When not seeing your peers every single day, it’s probably noticeable that there’s less contact between you and your counterparts. Be assertive! Take action to preserve these relationships. Schedule safe hangouts with those you are friends with, or that you wish to become friends with, so that you might avoid an unfortunate state of loss. It’s quite likely that many relationships will drift away during the time of the screen, but do not let them completely disappear. I had to learn to take the initiative in these uncertain circumstances. Instead of waiting to be asked to be seen by someone, ask to see them. Try making plans a week in advance, or do study and/or hangout sessions weekly with your buddies.

I really hope you took something from this article. These tips and tricks were not just your average back-to-school hacks. These were for the benefit of physical learning and mental capability while learning. Let me know if you enjoyed this article by sending me a message in-game, direct-messaging me on Discord, or send me a book and quill via the owlery in-game. Welcome back to school everyone! This was Carolyn Lestrange reporting for the Daily Diviner!
 

The Daily Diviner

New Magician
Staff
#6
Crossing Borders
Original Works
Written by kvmw
Edited by CelloIsMyLife

Dear Adrianna,

I’m glad to hear you did well on your English exam. It’s unfortunate that Hogsworth doesn’t offer language classes. I’d like to learn French so I could speak to you in your first language. Maybe when you come to visit, you can teach me!

Speaking of the visit, I’m literally bouncing in my seat as I write this. We’ve been pen-pals for years, but the idea of seeing you in person and being able to hear your voice is surreal. I’ll probably go through a bit of shock the first time I hear it, so excuse my complete lack of English skills when we meet.

I’ve got so much to say, but I’ll keep it all for when you come. I hope you are doing well, and I look forward to seeing you soon!

Love,
Olivia


. . .

Dear Olivia,

I would be very happy to teach you French. It’s not that difficult—except conjugations —but I am sure you will do well. I will bring a textbook or two for you, so you can continue to study after I leave.

I am very excited for our meeting as well. I do not think I would be able to notice if your English skills were lacking. My English is not perfect, and I hope you will be patient with my pronunciation. You have always been kind, though, and I do not doubt you will be lenient. I hope you are doing well too. I will see you soon!

Love,
Adrianna


. . .

Olivia paced the pier, stopping every time a new ship docked to search for her friend. She bit her lip in concern when she did not see her friend on any of the recent arrivals. Had she shown up early? Had she missed Adrianna? Had something happened to her on the trip? Groaning in frustration, Olivia looked down at her feet and continued to pace.

The sun began to set, bathing the sky in yellow, pink, and orange hues, yet Adrianna did not come. It was nearly dark when Olivia left the pier, her mind bursting with questions, fears, and hopes.

Though her parents assured her that perhaps Adrianna’s ship had come late, Olivia could not help but worry. She lay awake the rest of the night, her mind racing, as she pondered what could have happened to her friend.

. . .

“Level Five, Department of International Magical Cooperation…”

Olivia stepped out of the elevator, smoothing out her work robes which had been rustled by the various co-workers that had joined her in the elevator. She had an important meeting with a French ambassador regarding regulations on a French brand of brooms, and she didn’t want to look shabby.

Arriving at her office, she had only moments to settle herself before there was a knock on the door. Clearing her throat, Olivia called, “Come in!”

The door opened, and a woman around Olivia’s age stepped in. “Hello. I am an ambassador from France, coming to discuss regulations on our brooms. Am I correct in assuming this is where I should be?”

Her English was good, Olivia observed, though she did have an obviously-French accent. “Yes,” Olivia said, gesturing to the chair in front of her. “Please sit down.”

The woman settled herself stiffly in the hard chair and reached out a hand. “My name is Adrianna Moreau. It’s a pleasure to meet you.”

Olivia did not raise hers to shake it. Adrianna Moreau. She had heard that name once before, a long time ago, when introductions were first made. That name was stuck within her memory, and she knew who this woman was.

“Adrianna?”

The woman raised an eyebrow. “That is my name.”

Feeling herself growing nervous, Olivia whispered, “My name is Olivia Ashwood.”

For a moment, Adrianna sat frozen. “Olivia?”

They stared at each other for a long time, Adrianna’s mind burst with questions as she looked at her long-lost friend. Feeling that she could no longer contain herself, she burst out, “Why didn’t you come to Britain?”

Adrianna hesitated. “It’s a long story.”

“We have time.”

She sighed. “A few days before my trip to England, my father died from a stroke.” Her breath hitched in her throat, and Olivia felt her heart soften. “I would have written afterward, but,” Adrianna hesitated. “I took the loss poorly, to put it simply. I couldn’t really summon the will to write to you. Even after I got better, I thought it would be awkward. We hadn’t talked in a while, and I wasn’t quite sure if you had moved or what to say.” Adrianna looked up, and steadily met Olivia’s eyes. “Will you forgive me?”

“Of course I do, Adrianna. I understand.” Glancing at the clock, she grimaced. “We’ve only got an hour. Let’s finish this business, and then we can finish this conversation afterward, alright?”

. . .

Dear Olivia,

It was kind of you to give me your new address. I hope that we can rebuild our old friendship. I’m not quite sure what to say—it has been a while.

We used to always describe the important events of the week to each other, so I will try with that. It’s marvelous that we have both ended up on such similar walks of life, so perhaps this was fate.

Nothing much has happened this week. Our meeting was the most exciting thing that happened. Life at the Ministry is somewhat dull, though it did lead me back to you, so I will not complain. I hope your life has been a little more exciting. You were always the more adventurous of us two.

I hope life has treated you well, Olivia. I look forward to hearing back from you.

Sincerely,
Adrianna
 

The Daily Diviner

New Magician
Staff
#7
The Butterbrew Catastrophe
Original Works
Written by Silquer
Edited by MamaDuckie

Lizzie and Sam, two third year students, were not supposed to be in the Hogsworth kitchens. In fact, they were supposed to be in an entirely different part of the castle. Despite that, both students were hard at work studying a stolen piece of paper. Stolen, because they had snuck into the backroom of the Broomsticks Inn, searched around a few empty boxes, and found a prized Butterbrew recipe.

“We need a mixing bowl and a spoon,” Lizzie said, peering at the old paper.

Sam nodded and reached up a nearby shelf, his fingertips barely touching the top. He felt something metal touch his hands, and tugged, only to watch a silver bowl go careening to the floor. Lizzie gasped and reached out, catching it in her hands.

Sam winced. “Sorry.”

She slid the bowl onto the table beside her. “It’s fine.”

He then grabbed a spoon from the bottom shelf and dropped it next to the bowl. “What about the ingredients?”

Lizzie looked back at the paper. “We need cream soda, caramel extract, butter extract, heavy whipping cream, butterscotch topping, and powdered sugar.”

As the two students began searching the kitchens for ingredients, the Magical Cuisine professor was walking through the halls, on his way back to the kitchens after a satisfying lunch in the courtyard.

“The recipe says to whip the cream in the mixing bowl until stiff,” Lizzie said as they stood in front of a long table deciding where to start on the recipe.

“I’m on it,” he replied, before filling the bowl with the slow-moving cream. Lizzie watched in silence as he slowly stirred the white puffs. After a few minutes had gone by, the mixture was still runny.

“I think you’re doing it wrong,” she remarked.

Sam frowned. “I hope this recipe was worth stealing.”

Lizzie looked down at the aforementioned paper. “I feel a little bit bad about that.”

“Don’t worry, we’re going to return it,” Sam soothed as he continued mixing. Lizzie sighed in response and looked over his shoulder at the smooth cream.

“That’s probably fine,” she said, and looked back at the recipe. Sam breathed a sigh of relief and dropped the spoon onto the table. “Pour in the butterscotch topping and powdered sugar.”

“Why do I have to do all the work?” Sam pouted playfully as he dumped the ingredients in the cream.

“Because I’m the one with the recipe,” she retorted. Seeing his look of contempt, she added, “But… I’ll stir it this time.”

Sam grinned and checked the recipe again. “I’ll get started on the cream soda.”

After a few more spoon strokes and plenty of minor spills, everything was ready.

The table was a combination of cream flecks, soda spills, and a small splotch of butterscotch topping was covered by a rag Lizzie had found in one of the closets. The product of the chaos was two clear mugs of caramel-colored cream soda, topped with a very runny cream mixture.

“We should clean this up,” Lizzie commented as they took hold of their respective mugs.

Sam shrugged. “We can do it after.” With that, the two friends clinked their glasses and drank. Just as they lowered their glasses to contemplate the below-average taste, heavy footsteps reached their ears. They stared at each other in hopeless horror as the professor entered the kitchens.

The professor stopped at the bottom of the stairs and took in the scene; a haphazard mixing bowl, a cream-covered spoon, a messy table, and two shocked students each holding a particularly amateur mug of Butterbrew. He sighed and walked over to the guilty students.

“What are you two doing?” he asked, clearly exasperated.

“We, uh, came down for a lunch break?” Lizzie tried.

The professor shook his head and pinched his nose. “I don’t have time for this. Clean up your mess, and get out of the kitchens.” There was no room for argument. As soon as they got to work, he added, “Oh, and I suggest you return that recipe you stole.”

-----

Several scrubbed dishes and a trip to Hogsend later, Sam and Lizzie stood in front of the Broomsticks Inn. After sharing a nervous look, they entered and approached a woman standing behind a counter. They recognized her as the owner.

She looked up at the approaching students. “Oh, I remember you two,” she said, obviously surprised they had come back. “Have you come to steal another recipe?”

“Not quite…” Lizzie began.

“We’re sorry,” Sam said immediately after, handing the woman the recipe.

Surprise lined her face, and she stared at the paper for a moment before smiling kindly at them.

“Well, thank you. And here-” she bent under the counter and produced two Butterbrews from the bottom, “Take these, on the house.”

They glanced at each other, but took the ‘brews anyway. No scolding? No punishment? The trust the woman placed in them rattled the two guilty students. They sat down in an unoccupied corner of the room and were silent for a minute.

“Let’s not do this again,” Sam said.

“Definitely not,” Lizzie agreed vigorously. After that, the two students never forgot the kindness of the owner, nor did they steal another recipe ever again.
 
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