NEWS FOR THE DAY 18.05.06

Jo to Read From HBP at Queens Birthday Party; Contest to Win Tickets to Party

Previously wetold youthat author J.K. Rowling would be attending a special birthday party for the Queen at Buckingham Palace where she will be making a special reading. The Telegraph isnow reportingthat Jo will be reading from Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. This reading is scheduled to be broadcast on the BBC on June 25. After this reading there will be a stage show that will feature "dozens of the best-loved children's characters."

The Telegraph is also holding a contest for two children aged 4-14, and 1 adult to attend this special party. Contestants must be residents of the UK, and the children must answer the question "Which children's character would you most like to meet at the Palace and why?" To enter:

Send your entry on a postcard - including your name, age, address and telephone number - to Queen's Tea Party Competition, The Daily Telegraph, 1 Canada Square, London, E14 4FD, to arrive no later than Friday May 26.

W.O.M.B.A.T. Review: The LeakyLounge's Study Course

Nervous about your next W.O.M.B.A.T. test? Do standardized wizarding exams make your palms sweat? The idea of the looming Grade 2 W.O.M.B.A.T. sending you into hysterics?

Never fear; the LeakyLounge, with the Chamber of Chat and the Corner Booth, have joined together to form a W.O.M.B.A.T. review course, where students can study for their next set of those tricky and difficult tests from the (slightly evil) sole examiner at JKRowling.com.

Starting at noon on Sat., May 20, a visiting "Hogwarts Professor" will give a practice OWL exam every hour in LeakyLounge's new WOMBAT Review Tutoring Center (which will open the day before the exam; we'll post a link, and the schedule of exams will be posted there.)

Prior to each exam, each professor will give a 30-minute review in the Chamber of Chat. Students will be able to study together in The Corner Booth, which will open at 12 p.m. EST and will stay open during the exam process for students to study together.

Students will be provided with anti-cheating quills. The exams and the tutoring schedule is:

OWLs:
* In The Leaky Lounge's new WOMBAT Review Tutoring Center (all times are Eastern Standard Time)
12:00 Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA)
1:00 Transfiguration
2:00 Quidditch
3:00 Charms
4:00 Potions
5:00 Divination
6:00 Care of Magical Creatures
7:00 Herbology
8:00 History of Magic

Tutoring Schedule:
In The Chamber of Chat:
11:30 Defense Against the Dark Arts (DADA)
12:30 Transfiguration
1:30 Quidditch
2:30 Charms
3:30 Potions
4:30 Divination
5:30 Care of Magical Creatures
6:30 Herbology
7:30 History of Magic

The answers for the exams will be placed after the exam once the testing is closed. Students will be able to share their results in that thread. Owls (you''ll see) will be rewarded for all who pass their exams. Good luck!