The Head of Ravenclaw House is the quirky, but lovable Professor Finneas Schmoe. When he is not teaching Hogwarts students about the many wonders of Muggle life, he is tending to his Eagles and keeping them on the straight and narrow path. What, might you ask, is it like being in charge of the brainy students of the blue and bronze? Well I wondered the same thing and set about finding the answer to that question and more by talking to the man himself. Here is what I found out about the man, the myth, the legend, Professor Schmoe.
Thank you Professor Schmoe for allowing me to interview you. First of all, I was surprised to learn that you were a Hufflepuff and not a Ravenclaw during your time at Hogwarts. Apparently I was one of the few who didn’t know this. How did a former Puff end up as the Ravenclaw Head of House? Hello, er, it is.... er... Quite an honor to be interviewed!
Oh, heh, yes. It seems to be a surprise to many, so you're not alone. Anyway, ANYWAY, AnYwAy. I'm, er, a Hufflepuff through and through, but I've always felt drawn to Ravenclaw House... Even back in the day. If I weren't a Hufflepuff, I'd errr... I'd have likely found my place among the eagles. I, er, I suppose that must have had something to do with it. Perhaps.
What is one thing that most people don’t know about you? I've recently taken up a hobby of underwater basket weaving and I have specific socks for each day of the week.
What do you like most about being the head of Ravenclaw House? It has, er, given me the opportunity to get to know my students on another level, which is quite nice. I've enjoyed getting to know them beyond homework and lessons.
I have my ideas of what it takes to be a Ravenclaw. In your opinion, what are the 3 most common qualities that you’d find in a Ravenclaw? This is, er, quite the loaded question. Hmmm... I'd say, er, a thirst to understand what is not yet understood, the courage to stand out among their peers, and errrrrr. Can I get back to you on the third? I need some more time to mull this one over. My noggin' isn't what it used to be, if you know what I mean?!
After this crazy school year, I know exactly what you mean. That leads me to my final question. There is never a dull moment at Hogwarts. How do you compare this term with your previous terms as Head of House? That is quite true, quite true indeed. The common room was quieter this term. Perhaps next year I will finally introduce everyone to Dungeons and Dragons in order to promote more Ravenclaw mingling. I think they're ready for DnD. Plus, I have an ideal plot I'd like to test out for a campaign.
ravenclaw prefects
Avalon Sinclair of Ravenclaw returned for her fifth year with a dazzling smile and a new badge on her school robes. She’s certainly had a busy term, as she had to carry out her leadership duties, study for OWL examinations, serve detention with the defence class, set the Forbidden Forest on fire (though not of her own volition, of course) and much more. I was fortunate to have a little chat with our lovely Prefect.
Hello, Miss Prefect Avalon. How did you feel when you received your badge? I was absolutely elated! Being a prefect has been a dream of mine since the day I first set foot in the castle, so it’s safe to say there was a fair amount of yelling and jumping up and down when I received the owl.
Did you find an expectations vs reality gap in the role? A bit, yeah. It’s so much more than just wearing a badge and patrolling the corridors. You also have to be a helping hand and a shoulder to cry on. It’s as much of a morale-based role as it is a task-based one.
How did you manage your time between Prefect-ing and normal student-ing? Oh, it wasn’t easy, especially with OWLs this year. I had to make a pretty detailed daily schedule to keep on top of everything. I basically didn’t go anywhere without my planner this term!
Since we are on the topic of leadership, what do you think are the qualities of an ideal leader of Hogwarts? The current Headmaster is really mean, don’t you think? Hmm, he’s certainly stern, I’ll give you that. But it must be difficult to run an entire school. In my opinion, the best leaders are sincere, understanding, innovative, and grounded, especially in the face of crisis.
If I’m not wrong, you are one of the students who found the treasure chest. Do you have any tips for treasure hunting? Honestly, I just stumbled upon it while I was on a walk around the grounds. And after what happened with this chest, I don’t know if I want to go looking for any more! But if I were hunting for a real, non-haunted treasure chest, I’d recommend a detailed map and a watchful eye. You’d have to look out for the tiniest glimmers of gold peeking out of the ground.
So if you found a real, non-haunted treasure chest, what would you do with the gold? Good question! I’d definitely take some of it to Gringotts to save for later. And of course, I’d donate some to charity, possibly the Society for Distressed Witches or S.P.E.W. With the rest, I’d buy a bunch of fancy fabrics and start my own fashion line.
Aside from the whole ghost summoning effect, what did you think of the renovations? What was your favourite or least favourite addition to the school? It might sound lame, but I really liked the fancy curtains and tablecloths they put in the Great Hall. It really gave the room an elegant touch. The pool was nice, too, but I'm not a huge fan of swimming.
I know this is not the most appropriate question, but I’m quite curious. Can you do an impression of the angry ghost Sylvester Hargraves? Er, I guess I can give it a go? “THE TREASUREEEE! RETURN IT AT ONCE!!! TRENTTTT!! I NEED THE TREASURE!” Whew. I think I need a drink of water after that. My throat’s a little hoarse.
Tell us what you are most looking forward to in your next two years at school! Planning out my future! I’m not sure exactly what path I want to go down after Hogwarts, so I’m going to use the next two years to figure it out. And also practicing my Patronus charm. It’s my goal to produce a corporeal Patronus before I graduate.
The final and most important question is … What does it mean to be a Ravenclaw? Being a Ravenclaw means relentlessly pursuing the truth. It means always staying curious, always keeping an open mind, and always striving for something greater. I couldn’t be more proud to be an Eagle!
[MALE RAVENCLAW PREFECT ROLE WAS FILLED BY NPC CHARACTER, NICHOLAS MILES, THIS TERM]