Wizarding Classes - View All

• ASTRONOMY: A brief course on the Stars and Planets in our Sky
• COOKING: Wizard Eats
• THE DARK ARTS: History, Theory, and Practicum
• DIVINATION: Tarot as Divinatory Storytelling
• DUELING: A Review for Beginners and Masters
• THE HEALING ARTS: Sex Education
• HERBOLOGY: A Crash Course for Wizards & Muggles
• MUGGLE STUDIES: Muggle Magic - From Wizards to Magicians
• THE MYSTERIES: An Introduction
• ORIENTATION: Hogwarts - A (Guided) Tour
• POTIONS: Moste Potente Potables
• QUIDDITCH: Introduction to Flying
• RUNES: Ancient Runes
• WAND-MAKING: Pre-Apprenticeship Workshop

Formal Presentations - View All

• AniMagic - Conjuring Cartoons of the Harry Potter Universe
• Battle of the Epilogues: Harry vs. Katniss
• Bellatrix Lestrange: Rowling's shadow
• Brewing with the Potions Master: writing process as explored through fanfiction
• A Certain Disregard for Rules
• A Crystal Flask: Severus Snape, Individuation and Transcendence
• The Deathly Hallows is The New Yin Yang: A Symbol of Gender Balance In The Wizarding World
• Devils in the Details: Taking your first steps into Cos-Play
• Harry Goes to College: The Place of Hogwarts in American Higher Education
• Henry & Harry: Using Henry Jenkins Work on Transmedia Storytelling to Examine the Potterverse
• How to Create and Manage Your Own Quidditch Team
• J.K. Rowling and the Spiritual Quest
• Muggle Maladies in the Wizarding World
• My Niffler, Myself: What Pets in Harry Potter Say About Their Owners and Vice Versa
• Mysterious Albania – Vacation Playground of the Wizarding World
• Neville and Luna: The Ship That Should Have Been
• Rowling's Not So Flawed Plan: The Elder Wand as a symbol of masculine power and the importance of love between its masters
• Snape's Anger
• Teaching the Tough Ones: How Harry, Hermione and Ron can help us connect with kids!
• There but for Fortune: Gellert's War and the Soldiers of the Dark Lord
• Translating Harry Potter
• Unforgivable, Unforgettable
• Wayward Sons: Professor Snape, Captain Harlock, and the quest for an ideal

Presenter Biographies - View All

Wizarding Classes

ASTRONOMY: A brief course on the Stars and Planets in our Sky
Professor James Snape, Pigfarts, House Slytherin
[James Hinsey - 60 minutes]

In the Astronomy Tent students will learn about the Stars and Planets in our night sky, how they move, how they are named, and how we observe them. This brief course on the Stars and Planets in our Sky will cover:

• An explanation of what stars and planets are and how they move in relation to the Earth, the Sun and the MilkyWay.
• A history of the night sky, naming the stars and constellations.
• Eclipses of the Moon and Sun.
• Planets, and their moons.
• Nebulae and Galaxies.
• Telescopes, reflecting and refracting.

Professor's note: No snogging in the Astronomy Tent!

[This Wizarding Class will take place in the Astronomy Tent, a portable planetarium constructed specially for this presentation at Aeternitas 2011.]

James Snape is a professor of Science and Technology at PigFarts, from a time when space travel is common, and Wizards and Muggles live among the stars. He received his Bachelors in Sciences from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, Earth.

Back to Top

COOKING: Wizard Eats
The Fat Friar, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, House Hufflepuff
[John Walter Jr. - 60 minutes]

You don't have to be a House Elf to learn to cook delicious dishes and tasty treats. Join The Fat Friar for this special workshop, and learn how to charm your way into anyone's heart with homemade pumpkin juice, rock cakes, chocolate frogs, cockroach clusters and more!

[This Wizarding Class features a live cooking demonstration of "Harry Potter" series inspired recipes.]

The Fat Friar attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and was sorted into Hufflepuff House. It is unknown when he died; and he does not seem to remember. He was a jolly man and was very forgiving. He also loved food... a lot.

Back to Top

THE DARK ARTS: History, Theory, and Practicum
The Dark Lord, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, House Slytherin
[Tom Forrister - 105 minutes, including a 15 minute break]

The Dark Arts - A two-part, intuitive guide to the art and magic of power. This course will explore the history of The Dark Arts for the lecture portion and features a practicum segment for application of these methods and theories. The purpose of this lesson is to teach a different way of thinking while treading carefully, knowing what you are getting yourself into from the beginning, and dealing with consequences.

Part I – History and Theory of The Dark Arts: A brief survey of significant historical advances in The Dark Arts and theory behind their use.

Part II – Practicum: Methods to apply The Dark Arts to everyday life. Participation encouraged but not required. Feel free to watch or leave the room if a particular topic or method makes you uncomfortable.

[This Wizarding Class focuses on the history, theory, and practical application of The Dark Arts. Dark magic examples from the Harry Potter books will be closely examined. DISCLAIMER: References are examined from a secular literary standpoint, including religious texts. Presenter is not advocating inflicting harm upon any living creature nor encouraging irresponsible behavior. Practice The Dark Arts at your own risk!]

The Dark Lord is an occultist and regular practitioner of The Dark Arts. He mentors aspiring dark magicians at the Salem Witches Institute. Currently The Dark Lord is in his third incarnation and is in the process of recovering his soul. Mostly self-taught, his studies have taken him all over the world where he has achieved notoriety and gained hands-on experience. Past lives' education includes Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

Back to Top

DIVINATION: Tarot as Divinatory Storytelling
Professor Ravenna C. Tan, Veritas University
[Cecilia Tan - 60 minutes]

Poetry and storytelling are important skills in the Wizarding world. From the Sorting Hat's song to the Tales of Beedle the Bard, we see how the craft of writing encapsulates our past and creates our future. In this class we will explore the Tarot as a writing tool, as a method for divining what lies within. No prior knowledge of the Tarot is necessary for this class, though those experienced with the cards will also find plenty to engage them here. All aspiring poets, bards, storytellers and writers as well as oracles are welcome to learn the magic behind using the archetypes in the Tarot as a means to channel character, plot, conflict, resolution, and theme. Please bring a deck if you have a favorite.

[This Wizarding Class will focus on using the Tarot as a tool for revealing your subconscious, sparking inspiration, and getting past writers block.]

Ravenna C. Tan is currently an adjunct professor of Prophecy and Poetry at Veritas University, the magical institution of Harvard. Her books The Siren and the Sword, The Tower and the Tears, and The Incubus and the Angel, relate the historical events of the last few years at the university as if they were epic fiction.

Back to Top

DUELING: A Review for Beginners and Masters
Charlotte Ravilla, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, House Slytherin
[Cassandra Johnstone - 60 minutes]

Every witch or wizard simply must know how to duel and know how to duel well. Whether you are sparring for sport or defending yourself, it is essential to have thorough training in the Combative Arts. Over the course of the hour we will review technique and safety tips, split up into pairs, and eventually duel one-on-one. If you are disciplined and dedicated, you will leave the session an exceptionally confident duelist. Please note that you will be up and moving the entire time, so wear robes you are comfortable in. Do not forget your wand.

[This is a class in theatrical combat, after which every participant will be able to perform a one-on-one, choreographed wizard duel combination. The technique is inspired by the combat showcased in the Harry Potter films and relies heavily on basic fencing principals. Non-contact fight choreography will be taught over the course of the hour. This lesson can help any Muggle learn some basic ideas to make choreographed and improvised "wizard duels" seem as realistic as possible.]

Charlotte Ravilla is a pureblood witch who attended Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and graduated in 1968. Presently, at the age of 26, she is employed by both the Ministry as an auror and by her alma mater, Hogwarts, as an extra curricular instructor. She specializes in dueling and is most passionate about giving students at the school an opportunity for an education in the combative arts that she was only able to receive through years of costly, private training. With the Dark Rebellion growing larger and more intense, she is glad to have the opportunity to prepare young individuals for the times ahead.

Back to Top

THE HEALING ARTS: Sex Education
Professor Oliva Wood and Professor Inflamata Welterheart, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, House Slytherin
[Susan Heithmar and Emeline W. - 60 minutes]

Muggles are not the only ones getting down and dirty. Come learn how Wizards and Witches around the world practice safe sex. Topics up for discussion will be magical birth control, protection potions and charms, Wizarding STDs (do they exist and how can you prevent the spread) and fantasies and fetishes of the Wizarding world. This class is for 18+ students only (unless written parental/guardian permission is provided).

[This Wizarding class is an introductory sex education class. This class is for 18+ conference attendees only (unless written parental/guardian permission is provided).]

Professor Wood looks darn good for her 116 years. At age 17, Wood finished Hogwarts and went to study at a small liberal arts school in America. There she became a teacher. At first, educating young minds in language arts and history, Professor Wood made the switch to sex education after she saw too many of her students making poor decisions and becoming mothers and fathers too soon in their adolescent lives. She decided it was time to educate the masses on safe, responsible sex and has been teaching sex education at Hogwarts for 82 years.

A graduate of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Professor Welterheart pursued a graduate degree in Sex Magic at the Salem Witches Institute and did her post-doctoral work at the Koan School of Healing. Currently, she is a Professor of the Healing Arts at her alma mater, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. She is also a specialist at St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries, and is the host of the popular Wizarding Wireless Network program, That Old Black Magic, which offers advise to sexually frustrated and otherwise lovelorn Witches and Wizards.

Back to Top

HERBOLOGY: A Crash Course for Wizards & Muggles
Madam Stump, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, House Ravenclaw
[Elizabeth Stump - 60 minutes]

This course will cover several topics:

• The Moon: Using it to help instead of hinder, to time sowing, grafting, propagation, harvest, weeding and trimming.
• Breeding and Propagation of Plants: including pollination, grafting, cuttings and sowing of seeds.
• Container Gardening: How to keep and maintain plants in a mobile society or during the latest Witch hunt.
• Ethical Practices: Breeding of Muggle and magical plants, and escape of invasive exotics.
• Business Practices: Dealing with wand makers, Potions masters and Muggles.

Both magical and non-magical plants will be discussed in the class.

[This Wizarding Class will focus on the basic consideration of plant care: selection of light, water, soil, timing and temperature requirements.]]

Madam Stump is an avid plant enthusiast who was the Professor of Herbology during Lumos 2006's Night Classes, and gave a lecture on J.K. Rowling's Use of Victorian Flower Symbolism in Potions at Sectus 2007 in London. Madam Stump graduated from Hogwarts in 1986 and did a year of additional study at the California Academy of Thaumaturgy specializing in plants of North America. When Madam Stump is not tending to her many bonsai plants and her rambling garden filled with many different plants and an equally astounding number of weeds, she can be found slumming it in Muggle nurseries.

Back to Top

MUGGLE STUDIES: Muggle Magic - From Wizards to Magicians
Professor Nathanal Lupo, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, House Hufflepuff
[Nelson Lugo - 60 minutes]

This lesson will be a history of "magic" and its use (or non-use) by Muggles. From the first shamans and tribal elders... to stage entertainers like Harry Houdini and Chris Angel... the magicians of the Muggle world have been using "magic" and magic-like rituals to attempt to alter thier world and those around them. This class will present and discuss the time when the Wizarding world and the Muggle world split and highlight the Muggle uses of "magic" in a non-magical community. This course will cover several topics:

• The time when Wizards and Muggles co-exsited and flourished under mutual cooperation.
• The three current and popular theories behind what is known as the great split of a once might society.
• The factors that lead to not only a permeant rift between Wizards and Muggles but the aggressive persecution of the Wizarding world.
• The rise of "magic" as entertainment and those early performers who created the "magic" myth.
• A brief timeline from early street buskers to what is now know as the modern "stage magician".

As an added treat, a demonstration of "Sleight of Hand" magic will be taught and the "four rules" of Muggle magic will be discussed - followed by a Q&A session. Note taking is encouraged but not required.

[This Wizarding Class will be a brief history and practical demonstration of Muggle "magic."]

Prof. Nathanal Lupo is a contemporary scholar of magical history with a focus on Muggle studies. After graduating with full honors from the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, Lupo traveled the world for several years gaining valuable field research. His travels have given him a unique insight into his two passions: the history of magic and the history of Muggles. After a very successful lecture tour, he wrote two influential books, Of Muggles and Magic and The Subtle Split: How the Wizarding World Lost it's Other Half. The latter is currently required reading at the Beauxbatons Academy of Magic. Prof. Lupo currently holds guest teaching positions with Beauxbatons, Durmstrang and of course Hogwarts.

Back to Top

THE MYSTERIES: An Introduction
Professor Persephone R. Pickering, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, House Mystery
[Marilyn R. Pukkila - 60 minutes]

You may not be aware that The Mysteries are taught at Hogwarts; this is because the qualifying exam is to discover (on your own) the existence of this branch of study and its faculty! In a rare opportunity, Professor Persephone R. Pickering, professor of Mysteries at Hogwarts, will give an introductory lecture on the subject and take you through some of the exercises used to both discover and develop aptitude for one or more of its various specializations, which could form the basis of possible career paths for Hogwarts graduates.

[Beginning with Waffling's First Fundamental Law of Magic, this Wizarding Class will name the topics covered by The Mysteries as described in Book V, discuss definitions of their different contents, and engage in various exercises related to observation, recall, and breathing meditation.]

Prof. Persephone R. Pickering was born in Yorkshire and attended Hogwarts, where she affiliated with Mystery House (you'll have to ask her!) at an early age. Her aptitude for the subject was as prodigious as was Albus Dumbledore's gift for transfiguration, and everyone assumed she would become one of the Ministry's Unmentionables. Like Dumbledore, however, Professor Pickering felt that teaching young Witches and Wizards was a more important and rewarding activity; she prefers to touch the future rather than try to control the present. Professor Pickering looks forward to a few more decades of teaching before retirement to contemplate The Mysteries in greater depth.

Back to Top

ORIENTATION: Hogwarts - A (Guided) Tour
Professor James Snape, Pigfarts, House Slytherin
[James Hinsey - 60 minutes]

Join us for a tour through the halls of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Using the latest in Muggle technology we'll take a visitors' guided tour of the halls, the classrooms, and the common rooms of Hogwarts, and explore the grounds of that most extraordinary and renowned school.

[This Wizarding Class will be a virtual walkthrough of Hogwarts using the Order of the Phoenix and / or Half-Blood Prince video games.]

James Snape is a professor of Science and Technology at PigFarts, from a time when space travel is common, and Wizards and Muggles live among the stars. He received his Bachelors in Sciences from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, Earth.

Back to Top

POTIONS: Moste Potente Potables
Professor Severus Snape, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, House Slytherin
[Rachel Wyman - 60 minutes]

Those "liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses" are not confined to just potions. Modern mixology is also a subtle science and exact art. In this class you will get an introduction to the basics of drink making.

Severus Snape has been the Potions Professor at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for over 15 years.

Back to Top

QUIDDITCH: Introduction to Flying
Madame "Volda Mort", Salem Witches Institute, House Awesome
[Kristina Moy - 90 minutes]

So you want to learn how to fly, eh? This introduction course will teach you how to mount your broom properly (because everyone needs to know how to fly, whether you're escaping from evil villains or tossing around a Quaffle).

Learn about ancient brooms that have evolved throughout Wizarding history. Brush up on facts from Quidditch Through the Ages before delving into some Quidditch! Meet new friends, and play in a mini game to earn a glorious victory!

No experience with flying or Quidditch is required, but if you have it, that's a plus. Just make sure to do your homework! There just might be a quiz, and don't say I didn't warn you!

[This Wizarding Class will cover how to play Muggle Quidditch using the rules of the International Quidditch Association. After learning the basics of the game, students will be given the opportunity to participate in pick-up games. Find out more at www.internationalquidditch.org.]

Madame Volda Mort (not the Dark Lord Voldemort; get it right!) has experienced much of the modern times (mostly the 1990's, when a Muggle creation called a computer was developed). She graduated from the Salem Witches Institute, where she first picked up the sport of Quidditch and eventually became her team's captain.

Mort has been guiding old and new players towards success ever since. She is currently a State Representative for the U.S. Northeast for the International Quidditch Association, a division of the Department of International Games and Sports. She has also helped organize tournaments (including the annual Quidditch World Cup), and prepared tutorials to teach rookies how to play this rough sport.

During her spare time, Mort can be found stirring up trouble with the undead (zombies, not Inferi), listening to the Weird Sisters, or gathering up minions to relax for the night.

Back to Top

RUNES: Ancient Runes
Professor Janus Asche, Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, House Slytherin
[Janus (Denzil Bee) - 60 minutes]

This class will begin with the tale of Odin's discovery of the runes.

It will focus on a variation of the Younger Futhark runes, including a demonstration of a system of transliteration and an explanation of the origin of some of the characters. We will cover particular strictures of rune design, a minimalist method of inscription using staves and marks for word division, and the use of runes as proto-magical talismans to leave marks of one's being and passing.

It will also include presentation of the Elder Futhark, from which Younger Futhark was distilled, including an overview of popular rune divination and Robert Graves' tree alphabet. Finally there will be a brief explanation and demonstration of Ogham and its potential for silent communication.

[This Wizarding class is an overview of the Younger Futhark runes, the Elder Futhark runes and Ogham. Handouts for all these runic systems, parchment and quills (paper and pencils) will be provided. Questions are welcome throughout.]

Janus Asche attended Durmstrang and graduated with the class of 1951. His parents had been followers of Gellert Grindelwald and thus his family had fallen in fortune following their defeat in 1945. After his graduation, Janus came to Britain. He had become friends with one Abraxas Malfoy, governor of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry as they pursued mutual interests and shared mutual political ideals. This friend secured for him a position at the august school over which he presided. Janus was sorted into Slytherin and began to teach Ancient Runes in 1964. In 1970 he suffered a mysterious and unpredictable time-turner accident and disappeared for a number of years.

Back to Top

WAND-MAKING: Pre-Apprenticeship Workshop
Professor James Snape, Pigfarts, House Slytherin
[James Hinsey - 60 minutes]

This workshop will cover making wands of various types, including: acquiring the necessary materials and equipment, a discussion of the suitability of a selection of wand-quality wood from around the world, the properties of the most popular magical wand-cores, and the techniques and spells required to create that most indispensable of magical tools—a wand.

[This Wizarding Class will cover how to make your own wand, including: finding the appropriate materials, the types of wood listed in the Celtic calendar and used in J.K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series, tools for carving and finishing your own wand, and easy craft wands. Attendees are encouraged to bring their wands to show off and tell how their wands were made or found.]

James Snape is a professor of Science and Technology at PigFarts, from a time when space travel is common, and Wizards and Muggles live among the stars. He received his Bachelors in Sciences from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York, Earth.

Back to Top

Formal Presentations

(Lectures, Panels, Roundtables and Workshops)

AniMagic - Conjuring Cartoons of the Harry Potter Universe
Joshua Madruga - 90 minutes
Imagine the magical world of Harry Potter in Animated form!

In this workshop we will learn how to draw cartoon versions of your favorite characters form the Harry Potter universe.

Learn how to draw your favorite Harry Potter characters from start to finish. We will begin with a basic lesson on how to create faces and bodies with simple shapes, using guidelines as reference points for facial features and costume details. We will learn how to create simple sketches with gestural pencil lines, eventually getting into more detail with full-body line-art of individual characters including Harry Potter, Sirius Black, and Voldemort!

Includes a worksheet with step-by-step instructions on how to draw additional characters!

Back to Top

Battle of the Epilogues: Harry vs. Katniss
Jennie Steinberg - 60 minutes
When Mockingjay, the third book in the Hunger Games series, was released this past August, innumerable parallels were drawn between its epilogue and the one in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Whose life sounds happier? Which character is more resilient? Is "all well" for either of them? We will read both epilogues, explore them briefly, and open up the floor to a roundtable discussion. It should be noted that this panel will contain Hunger Games spoilers. It should also be noted that the purpose of this panel is not to discuss how much you dislike the Harry Potter epilogue, but rather to explore the differences and similarities between Harry and Katniss’s adult lives.

Back to Top

Bellatrix Lestrange: Rowling's shadow
Dr. Karen Kebarle - 60 minutes
In Jungian psychology the shadow is the parts of ourselves we do not accept, our repressed weaknesses and shortcomings. In fiction, writers often create characters that embody their shadow and then kill them off in symbolic eradication of what they represent. This presentation examines Bellatrix Lestrange's role as J.K. Rowling’s Jungian shadow.

Dr. Kebarle's talk will focus on how, in Deathly Hallows, the powerful and forceful Bellatrix is made pathetic by her "worshipful fascination" for Voldemort and her eagerness to please him. Dr. Kebarle will argue that through Bellatrix, Rowling represents her self-disgust at her own experiences of obsessive love. Dr. Kebarle proposes that Rowling's mistrust of obsessive love leads her to create a fictional universe in which this love is so dangerous to the self that it must be eradicated and replaced by maternal love.

Back to Top

Brewing with the Potions Master: writing process as explored through fanfiction
Machshefa, RichardGloucester, BethBethBeth and Lariope - 90 minutes
Fanfiction takes many forms—from the drabble to the magnum opus—and behind every story there is a writer undergoing the journey from initial concept to finished narrative. It’s the same process undergone by writers of original fiction, except that writers in fandom share the same universe; and, interestingly, tend to be drawn to the same features of that universe, be they settings, themes, or characters.

Few people who read Harry Potter fanfiction will deny the powerful presence of Severus Snape, whose dominance in the cast list has led to the emergence and development of some of the most widely-recognized themes and tropes in fanfiction.

This free-ranging discussion will be led by a panel of four established fanfiction writers, and will take Snape as the focus for an exploration of the writing process, teasing out the literary and psychological questions that they, as writers, face. Audience participation is welcomed and encouraged.

Back to Top

A Certain Disregard for Rules
Jennie Steinberg - 60 minutes
If Hogwarts employed a school counselor, Harry Potter would likely have been diagnosed with Oppositional Defiant Disorder, whereas in reality Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is probably a more accurate diagnosis. Muggle children with trauma histories are often misdiagnosed in this manner. In this presentation, Jennie Steinberg will discuss the diagnostic criteria of ODD and PTSD in the context of Harry Potter’s shenanigans, how Muggle children often get misdiagnosed and how this becomes a barrier to their receiving services, and which of these diagnoses is a more accurate diagnosis for our friend Mr. Potter.

Back to Top

A Crystal Flask: Severus Snape, Individuation and Transcendence
Logospilgrim - 30 minutes
Henri Nouwen once wrote, "When we become persons we become transparent to each other, and light can shine through us, God can speak through us. When we become persons who transcend the limitations of our individual characters, the God who is love can reveal himself in our midst and bind us into a community." Using material from a variety of sources, including Logospilgrim's own book of mystical essays, The flawed master: lessons Professor Snape taught me, and C.G. Jung's writings, Logospilgrim will discuss the concept of "the true self," the process whereby Professor Snape attained full adulthood, that is, discovered and embodied his own true self, and illustrate how Snape became Self-aware and transcended duality.

Back to Top

The Deathly Hallows is The New Yin Yang: A Symbol of Gender Balance In The Wizarding World
Debi Baron - 60 minutes
There are many parallels between the classic Yin Yang symbol and the sign of The Dealthy Hallows. Both can be viewed as graphic representations of the balance of energies, equal and opposing, that exist in all of life.

This presentation will discuss how each of the three elements of the Deathly Hallows: The Wand, The Resurrection Stone, and the Invisibility Cloak (much like our heroic Trio) can be specifically identified with human personality traits and both traditional and non-traditional gender roles.

Join Debi Baron in a presentation designed to inspire us to embrace The Deathly Hallows symbol as an expression of our own deep understanding of human nature, gender identity and the forces of life itself!

Back to Top

Devils in the Details: Taking your first steps into Cos-Play
Christine (Lily) Scott - 60 minutes
They say the 'clothes make the man'… nevertheless when you add a set of round glasses or flowing black robes with rows of buttons to a costume, this is when your clothes become distinctive and a cosplay character emerges. But how do you create a unique, yet affordable, cosplay wardrobe?

In this session we will take a look at the skills you need for beginning cosplay. Topics covered will include defining your character, researching the fashions of different eras and using these to influence your Wizarding attire, acquiring the necessary resources and props, and comparing the benefits of altering thrift store finds to custom sewing.

We will also discuss the advantages of movie costume design compared to costuming from written canon examples.

Back to Top

Harry Goes to College: The Place of Hogwarts in American Higher Education
Cathy Leogrande - 60 minutes
This session will focus on a discussion of the content and reaction to college courses that focus on using Harry Potter novels and related resources to teach academic content. While many authors have used Rowling’s work as springboards for their own work in disciplines from science to art, courses related to Harry Potter have sometimes had a difficult time finding a home in specific departments. English Literature, Business and Marketing, Philosophy, Gender Studies, Sociology -- at colleges and universities, various courses draw students with Potter connections in title, description, syllabus and assignments.

In this session, participants will examine and discuss the variety of ways that Harry Potter has become infused in the curricula at many colleges. Discussion will be held regarding ways that Potter-related materials have been integrated in core or interdisciplinary courses and/or marginalized as "fluff" courses.

Back to Top

Henry & Harry: Using Henry Jenkins Work on Transmedia Storytelling to Examine the Potterverse
Cathy Leogrande - 60 minutes
Transmedia Storytelling refers to telling a story across different platforms. The "guru" of this is Henry Jenkins. He is the perfect combination of academic and fan. His research has included fanfiction, video games, vidding, music, comic and graphic novels, and cons; and his scholarly writing provides legitimacy to the incredible talents of fans who use the canon as a springboard for their own work. Jenkins' work serves as the foundation for this discussion.

This session focuses on the use of transmedia storytelling venues as opportunities for differentiated instruction, critical thinking, and digital communication. Examples of how Harry Potter novels have launched diverse materials will be explored and discussed (such as Wizard People, Dear Reader; Wizard Rock; StarKids' A Very Potter Musical, and Fan Art & Fanfiction). Time will also be spent discussing the Harry Potter Alliance and other ways that Rowling’s work serves as a vehicle for social justice efforts and activism.

Back to Top

How to Create and Manage Your Own Quidditch Team
Kristina Moy - 60 minutes
Interested in sweeping the nation? You've come to the right place. Thanks to the International Quidditch Association, Muggle Quidditch has become a popular sport, which brought over 20,000+ viewers, 46 teams and 757 players together at the most recent IV World Cup held in NYC. More than 700 colleges and high schools have formed their own competitive teams, and the number is still growing.

Join former UMass Amherst captain and current IQA MA State Rep/ Convention Rep, Kristina Moy, as she takes you through the finer points of creating and managing your own Quidditch team. Whether you want to know the basic rules of the game, or need help with fundraising for your team, Kristina can point you to the best resources and give you some good strategies.

Meet new people, play Quidditch, get in shape, but most importantly, have fun! Learn more at www.internationalquidditch.org.

Back to Top

J.K. Rowling and the Spiritual Quest
Marilyn R. Pukkila - 60 minutes
Rowling's "Harry Potter" series has inspired much comment in religious circles, both favorable and otherwise. What is remarkable about her writing is its inclusiveness. Students from Christian, Jewish, Pagan and other backgrounds have made religious and spiritual connections throughout the seven novels, a reflection of the rich selection of sacred stories from which Rowling has drawn to create the world of Harry Potter and his fellow magicals. The books are also informed by Rowling's own encounters with the major life questions that are considered the heart of spiritual and religious traditions. Even students without any religious identification are relieved to find in Rowling's writings a place in which it is safe to talk about these topics which have become so volatile in our Western cultures today. If you are willing to leave doctrinalism at the door, by all means come to this presentation and join in the respectful discussion!

Back to Top

Muggle Maladies in the Wizarding World
Amanda Burke - 60 minutes
We know that St. Mungo’s sees a lot of patients each day--they deal with curses and magical mishaps as well as diseases like spattergroit. We also know that Wizards can have poor vision, and it cannot be cured magically.

But, do Wizards ever get any of the serious Muggle diseases--coronary artery disease, diabetes meningitis, alzheimers, and cancer (just to name a few)? If so, how do they handle them? Are there some things even magic can’t fix? Or do they have cures for these diseases? And if they do have the cures, how would a Muggleborn Witch or Wizard handle knowing that magic could cure diseases that people die from every day?

In this hour long session, Amanda Burke will first present her own theories and findings on Muggle Maladies in the Wizarding World, and then open the discussion topic to the group.

Back to Top

My Niffler, Myself: What Pets in Harry Potter Say About Their Owners and Vice Versa
Debi Baron - 30 minutes
There are many sweet and adorable picture books out there demonstrating how people look like their pets. But in Harry Potter's world, many of the actual experiences in the lives of animals closely reflect the lives and personalities of the pet owners themselves. Take Hedwig for example. At her worst, she is a caged bird living under great restriction at number 4 Privet Drive; at her best, she is independent and relying on her natural instincts to navigate the world with minimal instruction. Sounds more than a bit like Harry!

The examples go on and on, from Neville and Trevor right up until the death of Nagini and beyond. Be prepared to drool, glide, slither, purr and laugh along as we explore this topic in greater detail. The audience is invited to contribute ideas and ask questions.

Back to Top

Mysterious Albania – Vacation Playground of the Wizarding World
Swythyv - 60 minutes
Ministry Witch Bertha Jorkins went there on holiday to visit relatives. Helena Ravenclaw fled there with Rowena's pilfered Tiara, and the not-yet-Bloody Baron followed her there. Young Tom Riddle absconded there with his ill-gotten swag, while he "consorted with the very worst of our kind, underwent so many dangerous, magical transformations," and later Voldemort's fractured revenant fled there, where the Dark Lord lay "alone and friendless, abandoned by his followers."

So, Albania. Nice beaches? Or the surprising key to understanding what Tom wanted?

Back to Top

Neville and Luna: The Ship That Should Have Been
Irvin Khaytman - 30 minutes
The Neville/Luna relationship does not get nearly enough love! J.K. Rowling seems to have inadvertently written this pairing, having debunked the rumor that the two characters would get together in Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince in her website's "Rumours" section; but then admitting that she could "see them getting together" after Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows was released. You are invited to join Irvin Khaytman, in this half-hour presentation, as he makes the case for this unintended, but much cherished "ship."

Back to Top

Rowling's Not So Flawed Plan: The Elder Wand as a symbol of masculine power and the importance of love between its masters
Essie - 30 minutes
This lecture focuses on the phallic nature of The Elder Wand, and its use as a symbol of masculine power and identity. Comparisons will be drawn between the true path of the Elder Wand and the false one, including a discussion of the factors required to become a true master of The Elder Wand.

This lecture will delve into the homosocial, homoerotic and adversary bonds between the men in the Harry Potter series, and discuss how those bonds affected the passing of the Elder Wand.

Join Essie as she examines the role of love between men in the Harry Potter universe as one of the factors that ultimately led to The Dark Lord’s defeat.

Back to Top

Snape's Anger
Irvin Khaytman - 30 minutes
There are two key points in J. K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series when Severus Snape's anger seems to get the best of him and makes him act irrationally. The first occurs in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, when Sirius Black escapes right out from under Snape's "abnormally large nose." The second occurs in Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in the chapter "Snape's Worst Memory," when Harry witnesses a memory of the Marauders humiliating a teen-aged Severus Snape. Join Irvin Khaytman as he delves deeper into these crucial moments in a further exploration of the emotional state of the still-controversial Potions Master of the "Harry Potter" series.

Back to Top

Teaching the Tough Ones: How Harry, Hermione and Ron can help us connect with kids!
Crystal Ponto - 60 minutes
Using Rowling's sensational characters as a backdrop for this lecture, seasoned presenter and teacher/professor Crytstal Ponto will share tips and techniques for teaching tough kids. Discussions around Harry as the reluctant learner, Hermione as the gifted gal, Ron who is in need of a teacher mentor, Neville who could probably use a 504 Plan and Draco who is in desperate need of a Functional Behavior Analysis. And let's not forget those Weasley twins: some vocational training may be in order! Attendees will walk away with concrete tools to apply to their classroom. Learning gaps, behavioral issues, social inadequacies and socioeconomic stressors will all be discussed!

Back to Top

There but for Fortune: Gellert's War and the Soldiers of the Dark Lord
Janus (Denzil Bee) - 30 minutes
Wizarding society was a minority, segregated and denied all expression, visibility or accomplishment. This was enforced by a paramilitary that was authorized to kill and torture, and punished by courts against which there was no defense.

Gellert Grindelwald raised an army of those wanting freedom to grow and shine, who had talent and power. He lost. Vanquished, he was confined alone forevermore in his own great empty fortress. His army was broken. He was named the greatest evil the world had ever known.

The keepers of the jails, the inflictors of torture and murders were the victors, the liberators and the saviors of the world. They won the war.

What does it mean to lose a war?

Join Janus in this discussion of what happened after Gellert’s War, and how the lost children of Gellert’s soldiers, the inheritors of their parents’ broken dreams, turned to a new resistance--the Death Eaters.

Back to Top

Translating Harry Potter
Jacob Schwartz - 60 minutes
The Harry Potter books have been translated into at least 65 languages. But with proper names being important to the atmosphere and wordplay being part of the fun and sometimes part of the plot, how do translations maintain these aspects of the books? We'll discuss these issues and how they are handled in various language editions. Come prepared to share your own experiences (reading / or writing!) Harry Potter in other languages.

Back to Top

Unforgivable, Unforgettable
Elisabeth Carnell and Amy Martin - 60 minutes
This session will consist of two presentations on the notions of Unforgivables and unforgivability, followed by an open discussion for audience and presenters.

Some readers conclude that because Lily Evans could not forgive Snape, no forgiveness is possible once 'that' word—the epithet ‘Mudblood’—is used; others temper their conclusions with an awareness that life isn't black and white. In "To Understand the Unforgivable: 'That Word' and Severus Snape", Elisabeth Carnell will consider whether forgiveness is possible when unforgivable words are used.

In "Unforgivable: The Legal System in the Wizarding World," Amy Martin contrasts the personal and societal treatment of Unforgivables and dissects the moral and legal concerns facing the characters in the series. The Wizarding world’s inconsistent treatment of the Unforgivable Curses reflects something about the values and moral standards of both Harry's world and ours. This presentation will examine the legal issues presented by the Wizarding world's classification and treatment of the Unforgivable Curses under the Ministry's regime as well as under relevant Muggle law.

Back to Top

Wayward Sons: Professor Snape, Captain Harlock, and the quest for an ideal
Logospilgrim - 30 minutes
This presentation will draw extensive comparisons between Professor Snape (of J. K. Rowling's "Harry Potter" series) and Captain Harlock (a fictional character created by manga artist Leiji Matsumoto), highlighting the nobility of each in the face of suffering and rejection. Using these characters as archetypal examples of the flawed hero whose "disorderly" behavior is more in tune with love than what the power-hungry deem acceptable, or indeed "virtuous," Logospilgrim argues that love is not possible without freedom, that love, loss and freedom are intertwined, and that this dynamic is at work in the often parallel lives of Snape and Harlock, who each believed in an ideal that both transcended and encompassed their desires.

Back to Top

Presenter Biographies

Debi Baron
The Deathly Hallows is The New Yin Yang: A Symbol of Gender Balance In The Wizarding World, My Niffler, Myself: What Pets in Harry Potter Say About Their Owners and Vice Versa
Google DB Fwoopersong and you'll find pages of links that all relate to Debi Baron--most notably, her controversial 2007 essay, "The Bendable Vow: Dumbledore's Hand In One Last Legal Loophole", published by The HPLexicon just days before the release of Deathly Hallows. (http://www.hplexicon.org/essays/essay-bendable-vow.html) Although that particular theory proved almost completely erroneous, it was entirely cannon and logic based. Ah, if only Harry Potter had existed back when she was a philosophy major at SUNY Purchase. Debi is a truly daring Gryffindor and selfconfessed hedonist with a proud collection of Harry Potter toys and clothing... and far too many ideas than she will ever be able to attempt without a proper time-turner. Currently a barista and café manager, Debi lives in Needham, MA with her obedient Hufflepuff husband and their two teenagers: a Ravenclaw and a Gryffindor. Someday, she will live in a tree house and learn to fly.

Back to Top

BethBethBeth
Brewing with the Potions Master: writing process as explored through fanfiction
Beth H (aka bethbethbeth) is a university instructor who has not yet come up with a justification for including the Harry Potter books on the syllabi in her Medieval and Early Modern literature courses, but she has faith that she'll find a way eventually. Her favorite HP character - and the focus of the vast majority of her fanfiction - is Professor Severus Snape. He is not, however, her role model when it comes to teaching.

Back to Top

Amanda Burke
Muggle Maladies in the Wizarding World
Amanda lives and works just north of Boston with her boyfriend John, who she met at Terminus in 2008. She is the creator and organizer of HP-MA, which she established in May '09 after LeakyCon. When she is not busy organizing events for HP-MA or planning for Aeternitas, she works full time at a local medical center and attends school full time online. After losing her maternal grandmother and mother to lung cancer in November '07 and December '09, Amanda cherishes her personal relationships more than anything. She loves to spend quiet time at home with her boyfriend and their cat Spike. She also enjoys the time she gets to spend with close friends (both Muggle and Wizard) and family. When she first fell in love with the Harry Potter books in 2002, Amanda never would have guessed where that new love would one day lead her. The Harry Potter fandom has offered her lifelong relationship and once-in-a-life-time experiences. She will always be grateful for these opportunities and is ecstatic to be working with the following people to bring Aeternitas 2011 to life.

Back to Top

Elisabeth Carnell
Unforgivable, Unforgettable
Elisabeth Carnell has presented context-focused readings of the series and its characters at Azkatraz and Infinitus, fueled by a love of the Potterverse and grounded in an interdisciplinary academic background (that has included work on medieval magic and magical texts). She bottles fame by crafting clay into potions ingredient jars, hook-nosed professor mugs, and Molly Weasley-inspired yarn bowls; she brews glory as a writer of award-winning fanfiction (as juniperus); and she puts a stopper in death as admin for The Petulant Poetess online fiction archive. (And, in case it isn’t clear, she finds Severus Snape one of the most interesting characters in the series.)

Back to Top

Essie
Rowling's Not So Flawed Plan: The Elder Wand as a symbol of masculine power and the importance of love between its masters
I have been a fan of the Harry Potter series since the first book was released, and have been participating in online fandom (under various pseudonyms) for twelve years. I am twenty-two now, and I like to think my insights and writings have improved since I was ten. I currently post to livejournal under the name essie007, where I archive my fanfiction when I’m not suffering from long bouts of lurking. I write primarily Harry/Draco within the fandom, however I am a pairing strumpet and enjoy a wide variety of ships (slash, het and femslash all included). In my real life I studied English at the University of Rochester for two years before leaving to study as a Paramedic. I am currently an EMT-Basic and work at a group home for adults with developmental disabilities. I do, however, still enjoy literary academia in my free time.

Back to Top

Tom Forrister
THE DARK ARTS: History, Theory, and Practicum
Tom Forrister is a professional writer and editor. He lives a magical lifestyle with his wife and snakes in Salem, Massachusetts. Despite his inclinations towards The Dark Arts, Tom considers himself an ethical Dark Wizard--he is a columnist for The Good Men Project Magazine (goodmenproject.com), contributing to the conversation about what it means to be a good man in the 21st century. He frequently cosplays The Dark Lord, and is reprising his role as Lord Voldemort in The Final Battle at LeakyCon 2011. He is exceedingly grateful for and proud of HP-MA and everyone who has made Aeternitas possible.

Back to Top

Susan Heithmar
THE HEALING ARTS: Sex Education
Susan Heithmar has been a member of HP-MA since its inception, and has since involved herself with any and all HP events she can get to from her dorm in Boston (LeakyCon 2009, Azkatraz, Wrockstock the Third, and Infinitus, to name a few). Though she very proudly identifies as Slytherin, Susan is perhaps the closest thing to Molly Weasley the Muggle world will ever get. A student of nursing, Susan wields needles like wands and loves nothing more than to discuss Muggle maladies and the magic of medicine. Outside of the hospital Susan works tirelessly on obtaining Master Chef status in her too-small kitchen, and can probably be found there (covered in flour and wrocking out, of course) if she isn’t passed out on top of her textbooks. As Decorations chair, Susan will be the redhead covered in glitter and streamers at Aeternitas- please stop her for a high five and an awesome cheesecake recipe!

Back to Top

James Hinsey
ASTRONOMY: A brief course on the Stars and Planets in our Sky, ORIENTATION: Hogwarts - A (Guided) Tour,WAND-MAKING: Pre-Apprenticeship Workshop
James Hinsey is a life-long fan of Science Fiction and Fantasy. He had seen the HP films, but then from August to October of 2007 he read all the books and was hooked. James also identified with Snape's character and realized, as a costumer, he could make Professor Snape's outfit which he presented at the Arisia '08 Masquerade. Following that he attended LeakyCon in 2009. He resides in Rhode Island and is a big fan of local Wizard rock bands especially those appearing at Aeternitas. He also loves Quidditch, mostly as a spectator and made it to the 2010 Quidditch World Cup where he shot footage and interviews for Sci-Fi Journal, a television show produced by the Rhode Island Science Fiction Club (RISFC) and airs in several communities across the country. James is a member of Starfleet International, Northern Lights Costumers' Guild, New England Browncoats, RISFC and HP-MA.

Back to Top

Janus (Denzil Bee)
RUNES: Ancient Runes, There but for Fortune: Gellert's War and the Soldiers of the Dark Lord
Denzil Bee lives in the Harry Potter world under the name of Janus and has written 125 stories about Death Eaters. Janus holds no degrees, but in lieu of this has engaged in the care and breeding of dusty tomes. These began decades ago as a simple row along the baseboard, and have increased to over 10,000 volumes, most adopted from the shelters for elderly homeless books in which Janus worked faithfully for fifteen fulfilling years. After the decline of the independent and antiquarian book business, Janus began emulating Kafka by adopting his chosen livelihood. As well as caring for these books and spending quality time with them, Janus engages in the creation of stacks of related loose pages decorated with millions of tiny letters. These vie for living space with their bound brothers. Janus also engages in a variety of craft projects and artistic endeavours. If you wish to contact Janus, please visit http://janus.dreamwidth.org or http://verus_janus.livejournal.com. You may also email janus at verusjanus@me.com. Janus' twitter is VerusJanus.

Back to Top

Cassandra Johnstone
DUELING: A Review for Beginners and Masters
Cassandra (Cassie) Johnstone (Neverlandforever on Deviantart.com and MozartsRequiem on fanfiction.net) is a diehard Slytherin, an acting student, an escapist, and a delightfully devoted Bellamort shipper. Currently, she is working as a living statue in New York City... She enjoys fencing, theater, contemporary dance, stage combat, writing, cosplay, cartooning, and photography. Since moving to New York City, she has become a member of The Group That Shall Not Be Named. For the past two summers she has headed a Chicago-based Harry Potter street performance troupe (in which she portrays Bellatrix Lestrange) that stages scenes and duels in Millennium Park to entertain the muggles. She founded, directs for, and writes for a non-profit theater company in Illinois, which performs innovative theater pieces for young adults by young adults. Cassie couldn’t be more excited to experience this magical con.

Back to Top

Dr. Karen Kebarle
Bellatrix Lestrange: Rowling's shadow
Karen Kebarle has given talks on Harry Potter at conferences in Ottawa, Toronto, Las Vegas, and Dallas. Her article: "If Rowling says Dumbledore is gay, is he gay? Harry Potter and Authorial Intention" was published in Hog's Head Conversations by Zossima Press in 2009. Karen is presently investigating Jungian approaches to HP, especially Bellatrix as Rowling’s shadow and Lily as Snape’s anima. Karen has a Ph.D. in English from the University of California at Berkeley and a Bachelor of Education from the University of Ottawa.

Back to Top

Irvin Khaytman
Neville and Luna: The Ship That Should Have Been, Snape's Anger
­­Irvin, known around the Internet as "hpboy13," has been a prolific member of the HP fandom since 2003. He is the Dark Lord of the Dance, the leader of the Dancing Death Eaters – a group that performs ballroom dance numbers to popular evil Wizard rock songs. He also plays Beater on the NY Badassilisks Quidditch Team. He has had essays about Harry Potter published on Mugglenet, The Leaky Cauldron, and The HP Lexicon. Irvin has been a dedicated member of The Group That Shall Not Be Named for over two years, and in his spare time enjoys writing Potter fanfiction, filks, poems, and cosplaying. His one true pairing is Neville/Luna, since he believes Neville is the only guy (other than himself) good enough for Luna Lovegood. Irvin is currently a freshman at NYU, where he tends to scare people with his HP obsession. His favorite HP book is the sixth.

Back to Top

Lariope
Brewing with the Potions Master: writing process as explored through fanfiction
Lariope is an early educator who holds a BA in English and an MFA in Creative Writing (fiction). A lifelong reader and writer (and Gryffindor!), she has been writing Snape-centric fanfiction since 2007.

Back to Top

Cathy Leogrande
Harry Goes to College: The Place of Hogwarts in American Higher Education, Henry & Harry: Using Henry Jenkins Work on Transmedia Storytelling to Examine the Potterverse
Cathy Leogrande is an Associate Professor at Le Moyne College, a small Jesuit liberal arts and sciences institution in Syracuse, NY. She developed and teaches Harry Potter: Multidisciplinary Perspectives, a graduate education course that is in its seventh year. Teachers explore not only Rowling’s work, but also the wealth of related academic and fan-based material, from participatory culture to wizard rock and vidding. They then use their new knowledge to transform their classrooms into places where authentic learning, creativity and imagination, and 21st century skills are the real magic. Her students have described her as a cross between Professor McGonagall and Professor Lupin, (with a dash of Sybill Trelawney).

Back to Top

Logospilgrim
A Crystal Flask: Severus Snape, Individuation and Transcendence, Wayward Sons: Professor Snape, Captain Harlock, and the quest for an ideal
Logospilgrim likes to write about Professor Severus Snape, redemption and mysticism; she is the author of several books, including Bring forth the best robes: a spiritual understanding of Severus Snape and The flawed master: lessons Professor Snape taught me (visit logospilgrim.com for more information). She will soon be at work upon a third volume of essays, A Princely Calling: Severus Snape and monastic self-surrender. She has spoken at a number of Harry Potter conventions, including Witching Hour, Lumos, Prophecy, Convention Alley and Infinitus. She has a degree in Religious Studies and enjoys collecting curiosities. She may be somewhat of a curiosity herself. She is also known as the quiet professor.

Back to Top

Nelson Lugo
MUGGLE STUDIES: Muggle Magic - From Wizards to Magicians
Nelson Lugo is a New York City based Host/MC, Magician, Sideshow Artist, Nerd, Pie Lover and Burgeoning Vaudeville Impresario. He has been performing magic for the past 20 years and in that time has become a seasoned student of the history of magic and it's magicians. He first started performing magic when he was nine and a half years old, after receiving a Harry Blackstone Jr. Magic Kit for Christmas (he was a very, very good boy that year). He discovered Harry Potter in September of 1998 while in a book store at the Mall of America – not knowing a thing about it (and needing something to read), he literally picked the book based on it's cover and has been hooked on HP ever since.

Back to Top

Machshefa
Brewing with the Potions Master: writing process as explored through fanfiction
Machshefa enjoys prodding peoples 'brains' using her insight into the inner workings of the human mind. When she's not couch-side, she enjoys cavorting with snarky, brilliant, dark-haired men, whether they're Disapparating from Hogsmeade or chasing villains over the rooftops of London. She occasionally packs her quill on such adventures and posts her tales on Archive of Our Own, Ashwinder, and The Petulant Poetess.

Back to Top

Joshua Madruga
AniMagic - Conjuring Cartoons of the Harry Potter Universe
Joshua Madruga is a professional artist living in Salem, MA. He attended Massachusetts College of Art for 5 years, studying Illustration and receiving a BFA in 1998. During his years at Mass Art, he discovered that the themes and possibilities within the fantasy genre were what drove his artistic vision. This lead him to write and illustrate a fantasy book based on the Chinese Zodiac, a first of many artistic endeavors in his personal creativity.

Joshua currently teaches 'Anime and Cartooning' at North Shore Community College for the ‘Kids to College’ program. He also runs his own online Caricature business, and is often hired for freelance work crossing many artistic platforms, including children book illustration, comic-book related artwork, and cosplay portrait commissions (you may also see him portraying Voldemort at many costume conventions).

Joshua resides in Salem, MA with his wife Christine, and beautiful baby daughter, Kira.

Back to Top

Amy Martin
Unforgivable, Unforgettable
Amy Martin is a prosecuting attorney for the State of California. She doesn’t write fan fiction nor create fan art and she certainly doesn't dress up as any characters. She does, however spend an inordinate amount of time thinking about the Potterverse and sometimes applies her legal prowess to the issues presented therein. She has been puzzled since the release of the 7th book by the inconsistent treatment of Unforgiveable Curses within cannon as well as by fans. While attending Azkatraz, Ms. Martin sought a conviction against J.K. Rowling for crimes against her readership based on this, and other "issues" raised in the final installment. Ms. Rowling was convicted on all counts but has yet to pay her fines.

Back to Top

Kristina Moy
How to Create and Manage Your Own Quidditch Team, QUIDDITCH: Introduction to Flying
Kristina Moy currently works for a printing company as a Customer Service Representative, but is most commonly known is "that internet girl". She is a 2010 UMass Amherst graduate who ran UMass Quidditch for 2 1/2 years, starting out as treasurer before becoming president/team captain. As a leader, Kristina restructured the team, organized tournaments and built a tight-knitted community where people could meet their bestest friends (and significant others).

She is also an active IQA staff member. As a Massachusetts State Representative, Kristina manages all Quidditch teams in her state to assist them with questions, provide feedback and update them with news. She also helped run the IV Quidditch World Cup in NYC, from reffing games to managing equipment. Thanks to Kristina's help, the IQA made its very first convention appearance at Infinitus in July, 2010.

In the LJ HP community, Kristina is a recognized fanfic author and fan artist.

Back to Top

Crystal Ponto
Teaching the Tough Ones: How Harry, Hermione and Ron can help us connect with kids!
­­Crystal Ponto is by day an alternative education teacher of 13 years and by night an adjunct professor at Le Moyne College in beautiful Syracuse, New York. Ponto specializes in classroom managment and exploring the connections between social emotional growth and academic success in the non-traditional classoom. She has presented at several Harry Potter conferences in the past and is very excited to be here at Aeternitas. Although married to a Muggle, she is the mother of two brilliant Wizarding children. Crystal Ponto ia a self-proclaimed Slytherin and Bellatrix 'wannabe' and a loyal fan of Professor Trelawney and Teddy Lupin.

Back to Top

Marilyn R. Pukkila
J.K. Rowling and the Spiritual Quest, THE MYSTERIES: An Introduction
Marilyn R. Pukkila is a teacher, librarian, and scholar. She uses story to work with college undergraduates, exploring through various classes who we are and what our stories tell us about ourselves, our cultures, and our world. Her course, "Religious Responses to Harry Potter" led 13 Muggles on a delightful exploration into aspects of the sacred (and the lenses through which we view it) as they appear in Rowling's novels. The resulting discoveries and discussions were too good to keep to the class alone, so she is currently working on a book. Marilyn finds magic in roses, trees, gardens, chocolate, her Maine coon cats, the ocean, watercolors, knitting, travel (if only she could Apparate!) her family, her friends, her students (many of whom are now her friends!), and, of course, in Harry Potter.

Back to Top

RichardGloucester
Brewing with the Potions Master: writing process as explored through fanfiction
RichardGloucester is a one-time scholar of Elizabethan literature, subsequent teacher of English as a foreign language to largely indifferent students, and was reborn in 2007 as a writer of fanfiction. She has written various award-winning stories ("Through Silence", "A Taxing Affair", "The Janus Rose" – among others) which can be found archived at OWL (owl.tauri.org), TPP (www.thepetulantpoetess.com) , and AO3 (archiveofourown.org). RichardGloucester, or "Dicky" as she is to her friends, is currently working on an original novel as well as continuing to plague the life out of Severus Snape.

Back to Top