One of the five core principles of St. Paul’s School centers on creating an inclusive community, evident in the school’s numerous special-interest extracurricular activities. A prime example of how anyone on campus can find a or found a club is the group known as Dumbledore’s Army (DA), inspired by the popular Harry Potter series.

“DA has a special feel about it to me, and it’s easily noticeable that anyone and everyone can just be themselves with fellow Harry Potter nerds,” stated member, junior Ross Albritton.

“Similar to the Harry Potter books and films, each student is sorted into one of four particular houses, which include Gryffindor, Slytherin, Hufflepuff, and Ravenclaw,” noted senior Michael Stewart, DA’s Minister of Magic. “The most official form of sorting we’ve found is an online questionnaire that consists of 120 questions pertaining to common attributes of each house.”

The group’s basis on Harry Potter allows them to mock activities and events from the series. The activity, or sport as some DA members might call it, that the group is most known for is quidditch, a game inspired by the Harry Potter world in which  players simulate flying upon brooms while dodging projectiles and battling for points.

“The average person is usually at a loss for words when they hear I play quidditch, but that is to be expected from muggles,” said senior Nick Sibley, DA member.

Along with quidditch, the group also participates in Harry Potter trivia contests for house points, Harry Potter movie marathons, Butter Beer drinking contests, and a personal favorite of Stewart, “Muggle Mocking.”

“What really attracted me to the club was not only my love for the Harry Potter books and films, but also I felt as though it was something that was different and adventurous to try,” added Sibley. “Along with that being said, it’s so much fun and I’d totally recommend it to anybody, whether they like Harry Potter or not.”

“This year is really looking out to be one of the most magical years yet, and I look forward to leaving a legacy for these younger guys to live up to,” said Stewart.

Students interested in joining Dumbledore’s Army should contact moderator Barrett Baumgartner and listen to school announcements for upcoming club meeting dates.