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Make an impact with a variety of festive hair tricks!

Holiday Hair Tips It is now December which tends to mean that countless holiday parties and balls will be in the works. As always, you will want to make an impression and there are so many things one can do with hair to complete a festive ensemble. A simple method to creating a festive hair updo is to use red, green, silver or gold ribbons. These colors are often associated with Christmas. Another hair style that one could do is to braid ones hair into a sort of wreath shape and lace it with sprigs of holly and ribbon. Perhap some tinsel as well. One could also have braids laced with red and white ribbons for a sort of candy cane appearance. Yet another simple trick is to set your hair up as normal but finish it off with a star shaped hairpin or a red flower of some sort! Here is an example of one of the many ways one could style their hair in keeping with the festive season! Another thing that you could do is to pile your hair high on your head in the beehive hairstyle manner and decorate it as you would a Christmas tree. To go that extra mile, you could also charm your hair green for the night and be a walking Christmas tree! Finish it off with a glittery star on top of it all and be the talk of the town!

  

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Ten Facts About Martin Ruskin

Mr. Martin Ruskin has been Hogsmeade Hospital's director for approximately a month, but how much does the public know about this new prominent figure? 1. He has experience in two departments. Before transferring to Hogsmeade Hospital - during 1877, so understandably likely due to the riots - Mr. Ruskin had made his way to assistant head in the department of Creature Induced Injuries. However, he chose to transfer to Spell Damage once arriving at Hogsmeade. Is this a sign of ambition? Or is this the troublesome signs of indecisiveness? 2. Ravenclaw runs in the family. Not only is Mr. Ruskin a Ravenclaw alumni, but his own father - retired Professor Ellsworth Ruskin - is a fellow Ravenclaw. The line continues with Mr. Martin Ruskin's eldest daughter - Miss Acacia Ruskin - and his son, Mr. Dunstan Ruskin. 3. His has been married twice. Mr. Ruskin has found himself with a new wife, after having been previously married to a vampire. His current children are a product of his prior marriage, making them half-vampires. Thankfully, his current wife is fully human and hopefully they will have their own children. Sadly, it is likely that Mr. Ruskin's half-vampire son is likely to be the one to inherit. 4. His love life is complicated. Despite being seperated for many years, Mr. Ruskin never divorced his wife after her abandonment of him and their children. Is there more to the situation than a negligent vampire? Were they in touch outside of the public eye? It was not until after the vampire's death that Mr. Ruskin began looking for a new wife. 5. His current wife's life is complicated. Aside from marrying into a family of half-vampires, Mrs. Zophiel Ruskin has no contact with her parents or siblings, aside from her disowned sister - whom lives with the Ruskins as well. Mrs. Ruskin has also brought children of her own from a previous marriage.

6. Hogsmeade Hospital, another family legacy. Mr. Ruskin is not the only member of the family to work at the hospital. Miss Acacia Ruskin has recently been permitted to work under the same department as her own father - hired by the former hospital director, Mr. Baxter Keene. Another notable family member to work at the hospital is Miss Sherah Drago, the disowned sister-in-law of Mr. Martin Ruskin. Do the Ruskins have too much influence in one hospital? Should Miss Ruskin even be working in a hospital? 7. He had authority at Hogwarts. Despite his questionable behavior later in life, Mr. Ruskin received the title of prefect, followed by Head Boy. Was this a testiment towards his character, or a lack of judgement on the part of Hogwarts staff? After all, his own father was already a professor at the time of Mr. Martin Ruskin's education. Perhaps this connection had heavy influence on Mr. Martin Ruskin's high position among his academic peers. 8. He has not been seen drinking in public. While this may be quite the virtuous trait, does it speak to an underlying issue? Mr. Ruskin is never seen drinking, not even a champagne at public events. Is this a sign of a positive decision, or a drinking problem behind closed doors? 9. His parents have a strained relationship. Perhaps his poor decision of marrying his first wife is - in part - due to a lack of proper example. Sources say that even when Mr. Ellsworth Ruskin was home while working at the school, he and his wife had been seen as strained. Hopefully Mr. Martin Ruskin's relationship with his new wife will be much more suitable. 10. He is a sagittarius. While his star sign does speak to being intellectual and honest, they are also known for getting bored easily and moving on. Will this speak towards his career choices? After all, he has repeatedly changed his positions in career. Perhaps we will be needing a new Hospital Director by next year.

  

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Witch Weekly’s Guide To Hogwarts: Professors, New And Old

Chances are our readers know a current Hogwarts pupil or two, whether they are siblings, children, or nieces and nephews — and though for most of the year, Hogwarts is but a distant castle in the air, once more the school holidays approach. Were you there but a year ago, or nearer fifty? Never fear! For your convenience, Witch Weekly has compiled a need-to-know list of tidbits so that you will know your Dawsons from your Darrows, and never be short of something to strike up in conversations about the school! MR. HEADMASTER Headmaster Phineas Black, perhaps better known as the husband of esteemed socialite Ursula Black, is hardly a new face here. In 1876, the very year he married, he also became headmaster of the school; prior to that, he was Potions master and Head of Slytherin. Since that time, he has weathered trials and tribulations - or so one would assume, observing the most usual expression on his face. Still, lest one forget, in that time there have been murdered muggleborns and chastity cuffs, the introduction of etiquette classes and a number of bans, quidditch and halfbreed alike. He may have begun his tenure hoping to bring improvement to the school, but doing so may have had inverse effects upon his popularity. No matter: he seems remarkably settled in the position - ‘til death do they part, perhaps - though one might yet wonder how on earth he has lasted so long. HEADS OF HOUSES Deputy Headmaster and Head of Hufflepuff, Hamish Darrow is veritably old hat. If you attended Hogwarts after 1854, you will remember him well as a jovial soul and History of Magic Professor, who no doubt stays in touch with his favourite former students if they share his temperament! Thrice married and thrice widowed, a lady of more advanced years might still seek warmth and companionship in a marriage there — though a good bottle of whiskey might be his first love. In character, he may not be unlike the current Head of Slytherin, Meserimus Valenduris, although at more than half a century older than Mr. Darrow, Professor Valendurius possibly has more children and grandchildren than he can count. It is fortunate that his third (shockingly younger) wife is still living, else one suspects the eminent professor would be searching for his next wife amongst his NEWT students!

In terms of marriageable men at the school, the current Head of Gryffindor, Octavius d’Orsay certainly takes that trophy without the slightest trouble — although having taken over the Defence Against the Dark Arts position, Professor d’Orsay probably isn’t troubled by much. (Except perhaps that his wife was murdered.) Nevertheless, he has experience in Alchemy and as an Auror, and could probably use an exuberant wife to save him from his inner torment. And let us not leave out Ravenclaw, who were this year granted a new Head of House in the form of Helena Dawson, longstanding professor of Magical Theory. Known by “Nell”, at least to those who have graduated, Professor Dawson has published books and had a successful marriage - and a penchant for undoubtedly magical children’s names - and curious students might have discovered that she is an Animagus! One wonders if she ever goes for a winter dip in the Black Lake. NEW NAMES AND FACES Amongst the new professors in the line-up, you may hear of Edna Shacklebolt, who has taken over from Professor Carmichael in Divination this year. Diviner, seller of tarot decks and seer... and owner of the oddest-looking house one is likely to find in Irvingly, Professor Shacklebolt is a widowed mother of three and has a dash of the eccentric about her — but that is Divination for you, isn’t it? Taking over from the retired Professor Ruskin in Charms is Professor Edward Carter, who has done excellent prior work in Charms but has failed to make a marriage. Still, he comes from a family of artists and painters, which speaks to a chance of romance. Perhaps the next portrait he paints will be yours. More formidably comes the appointment of Deanna Benwick as Hogwarts’ new etiquette instructor of 1890, a familiar socialite and mother of Freya Selwyn. One impeccably raised daughter may have given her a head full of hubris, however — a whole school of children might prove another matter for her. Best whip your returning Hogwarts pupils into shape over the holidays or rumour has it they will be facing remedial etiquette on their schedules, and that is surely the way to doom a social debut from the start.

  

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Gift-Giving Dilemmas and Interpersonal Relationships Resolved in Brief, Witty Letters from our Favorite Advice Columnist

Ask Harmony: Holiday Edition Dear Harmony, I've always enjoyed home-making Christmas gifts for my close friends and family. I quilt, knit, and create jewelry in the form of small pins and brooches. All of this requires dexterous fingers and I believe that after decades of practice I'm quite good at it. Lately, however, my hands have been aching all the time and I just don't feel I'm up to it. What should I do? Buy a quilt or scarf and hope they don't notice the difference? Buy something else entirely and explain to them all that I'm too old for handicrafts? Or gift something else, say nothing, and have the recipients possibly think I no longer care enough to put the time and energy into creating their gifts? Sincerely, Arthritic Anna Dear Arthritic, I can understand not wanting to admit to a physical deficiency to all your friends and family, particularly at an otherwise jovial time of year. Perhaps you can investigate a new 'hobby' which can inspire your gifts, which is easier on your fingers — for example, baking different varieties of cookies for each gift or composing short poems. Presented in the right way, your loved ones will assume it was your exuberance for your new skill, not the weakness of your hands, that inspired the change in traditional gift. Of course, the other obvious answer is to let your wand do the quilting, knitting, or assembling for you, but you may find this solution a double-edged sword if any of those you typically give gifts to are also skilled in handicrafts, as the workmanship is notably different, to a trained eye, when working manually or magically. Sincerely, Harmony Aidsworth Dear Miss Aidsworth, This year will mark the first Christmas since I met my beautiful soon-to-be-wife and I am quite at a loss as to how to celebrate it. I want the experience to be unforgettable, and so I've considered planning a Christmas Day outing to an isolated frozen lake where we can skate together, or taking a long sleigh ride which happens upon precisely placed carolers and, ultimately, upon her gift. I'm worried, however, that her family won't want to part with her on Christmas Day, as her tradition has been to spend the holiday at home. I'm also going back and forth on potential gift ideas — I've considered everything from a new puppy to a large garden fountain with our names engraved in the base to an enchanted necklace where the jewels sparkle with her eyes, but to be honest, nothing seems quite good enough. This is the love of my life; she makes me come alive. What can I do to make this Christmas unlike any other she has experienced? Yours in anguish, Fretful Fiance Dear Fretful, First and foremost, there is no need for such dramatics. If you truly intend to wed this woman, this will be only the first of many Christmases to come, so temper your passions. Remember that you will generally be expected to match your level of effort or expense for each subsequent year, lest your love feel your feelings have waned, so I recommend choosing a mild, traditional gift for this first Christmas, such as a basket of fruits or chocolates, a bouquet of flowers, or perhaps a small book, a journal, or some stationary. If the spirit moves you in subsequent years to create such dramatic overtures of love, then by all means, follow your whims; but please do so after you are married, or you may scare your bride away! Sincerely, Harmony

  

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