Legends Among Us
By James Rowle XI
I must admit everyone, I have made a grave mistake this month. For the first time in my life I tried to show a little bit of initiative. You know what it got me? Another whole article to write each month, I just doubled my work load due one small moment of weakness. I am disgusted in myself, acting like a Ravenclaw.
Anyway, I couldn't have chosen a better monthly theme to start this brand new article with. As you have probably noticed, this month's theme is all about our ancestors, our bloodlines, and the accomplishments of those who have come before us. This article will be about the Heir of Slytherin and the Order of Merlin award recipients. They display traits and attributes that deserve respect and recognition. All we can do is strive to receive these honors ourselves, and to do this we should perhaps look at what makes the current award winners tick.
First, let's talk about this month's Heir of Slytherin. A well-known and popular figure within the Slytherin Common Room. I'm sure all active member have seen her, and her friends, sitting around the fireplace talking. I am of course talking about Spike Snape. An active person around the site whose achievements include being a prefect, a top student, and a finalist in the writing competition, Project Ink. Currently, Spike is a HEX mentor, guiding new users on how to navigate the site, and recently got a role as the Herbology Professor at graduate level. Now a little bit about Spike in her own words:
I'm honored to have been selected as Heir of Slytherin for the month of August.
I've been on HEX for about a year and a half, having joined the site when some of my Pottermore friends told me about it. I had not heard of HEX and was surprised to find it had been around for such a long time. With the help of my friends, I started learning my way around. HEX was very much the type of Harry Potter fan-based site for which I had been looking. I really like to write and the variety of activities and contests on HEX appealed to me.
I started roleplaying about three months after I joined and I still roleplay in a contest almost every month. I'm now a roleplay tutor in the Teaching Center and I was co-captain of our Dueling Team as a second-year student.
One of my best memories of my first year on the site is the Project Ink competition. The support from my Slytherin peers was incredible. It really helped me keep going!
I wasn't surprised to have been sorted to Slytherin; I'd done enough sorting quizzes to know that it was a possibility. And I really dig the color green.
I've made a lot of new friends and have strengthened friendships with those I already knew. I enjoy helping newbies and was excited to be accepted as a HEX Mentor. I love the enthusiasm of new users as they explore the site, and I always try to keep in mind that although I may have heard the same question a hundred times, it is the first time a new user has asked it. Working with new users also prompted me to get involved with the Noble Houses of Slytherin.
For this school term, I'm trying something new! I was a Teaching Assistant last year and while I'm doing that again this year, I'm also taking on the role of Herbology Professor for Graduate Level students. It's really exciting creating a syllabus and I'm looking forward to writing the lessons and working for the Magical Education Department.
Thank you very much for having selected me for this special title.
Now let's move onto the Order of Merlin winner. This is a slightly lesser known member of Slytherin House, Lyra Black 1998. Lyra has only been a part of HEX, and a member of our great house, since January of this year. Yet she has still heavily involved herself in different sections of the site. Her victory in the Contest Forums 'A Matrimonial Invitation' earner her, and Slytherin House, a whopping 4,500 house points. This just proves that she is a rightful winner of this prestigious award. Again, let's learn a bit more about Lyra in her own words:
I'm not so good at starting conversations. I guess that goes for writing too. I never know how to start writing something. Do I say hi? Do I introduce myself? Well, hi everyone! My name is Saba. It means "a cool breeze". I like to be called Lyra here on hex though. I've been on hex for about six months now, and I simply fell in love with this environment from the first moment. It still amazes me how everyone is so friendly, so kind and non-judgmental.
For me hex has been a safe place. I come here to share my good and bad news. I come here when I need advice, when I need an ear to listen to me or a shoulder to cry on. I come here when I need to be "me" for a while, when I'm tired of pretending to be someone I'm not.
I want to tell you a little about myself. So here are 20 facts about me:
1. I'm chubby and proud of it. The bigger you are, the bigger your heart is.
2. I spend my free time lounging in front of the air conditioner.
3. I love rain. I love the sound of it, dripping, especially. And I don't believe in umbrellas because I love getting wet.
4. When I like something, I don't care about others' opinions. (My hair style is the example for that, everyone else hates it)
5. I'm a Cancer so I'm pretty emotional.
6. People say I'm stubborn. (I totally am)
7. My favorite number is 7. I have a good feeling about it, you know?
8. I like straight hair for myself, curly for others.
9. My favorite singer is Celine Dion.
10. You can't read how I feel about you from my face. If you think you can, you're mistaken.
11. I hate two things: people lying to me and people thinking I'm lying to them.
12. There isn't anyone who knows the real me.
13. I'm almost always sleepy.
14. I'm a loyal friend, and a cunning enemy. ( I stab them in the back)
15. When I fall in love with someone, I can't not love them anymore.
16. I laugh a lot when I'm sad.
17. I'm highly-strung most of the time, but I don't show it.
18. I hate wedding ceremonies, funerals, parties, basically anything involving so many people.
19. I don't like people, in general. I prefer to be alone.
20. I've been in love once.
And that's it. I hope you know me a little better now. Turns out I'm bad at ending conversations too. Do I say goodbye now? Yeah? Ok, bye then.
Love, Lyra.
There you have it everyone, the August HoS and OoM winners. Have you learnt a few things you didn't know about them? Perhaps you have picked up a few tips on how to improve your own contribution to the house? Hopefully this article does what it is meant too by helping you recognize the achievements of these two Slytherin members, and inspire you to your own greatness. I look forward to continuing to learn about the recipients of these awards in the months to come, until next time.