“Do you remember how Harry got his invisibility cloak?” “Write down the gift Hagrid gave Harry on his birthday.” “Can you recall the name of the house elf Harry set free from Malfoy?”

Sitting there at the rehearsal quietly, I knew I was not ready for this mock trivia game. But when I allowed the floodgates to open up, the memories came rushing back. “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” was a Christmas gift from my mom. I watched “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire” with my class on the last day of primary school. The answer to another question was from “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” which I had watched at the midnight premiere with excitement and a reluctance to let go.

But years have passed since the “Harry Potter” series came to an end, so these memories sit in the back of our brains, gathering dust. And now it is time for a night to reminisce.

The Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Trivia (N.E.W.T.) on Oct. 30 from 5-8 p.m., hosted by CWRUCIO Quidditch, is a perfect chance to recollect childhood memories and to create new magical experiences.

Participants will find themselves taking an “entrance exam” in the form of “Harry Potter” trivia as part of their journey to become Aurors for the Ministry of Magic. The exam will have eight rounds of eight questions—each with different themes—and all the questions will be taken from the seven “Harry Potter” novels. Before the trivia starts and during the halftime break, participants will be invited to participate in an optional “quest” in which they can embark on a series of additional immersive challenges related to becoming an Auror, involving puzzle solving, teamwork and quick wit. This exam will not only officially grant you the esteemed title of “Dark Wizard Catcher,” but the chance to win cash prizes ($150 for first, $100 for second and $50 for third).

There are even more fun events besides the trivia itself. Butterbeer and other “Harry Potter”-themed snacks and desserts will be served during the event to complement this magical experience. The Culinary Club promised to bring intriguing food: from chocolate frogs to acid pops, the options won’t disappoint. Moreover, the setting will bring you to Hogwarts, where you can meet Harry and his friends and wear the Sorting Hat while taking a photo with Headmaster Dumbledore. You can even dress up as your own favorite character and enjoy a magical Halloween with the CWRUCIO members.  

“In my view, ‘Harry Potter’ serves as a model for the essence of the college experience. On top of just getting a degree, college is a place for discovery and adventure. It’s a place to take outlandish ideas—like this Trivia competition—and actually find people who believe in you and want to work with you to make it happen,” said Christopher Gittings, the president of CWRUCIO and organizer of N.E.W.T. “There’s nothing more magical than that. Only at college. We take pride in trying to take the sense of adventure that makes Hogwarts such an amazing place and bring [it] to life here at CWRU.”

With the films’ musical score completing the experience, CWRUCIO invites you to explore a new era of the Wizarding World on Oct. 30 at the N.E.W.T. in the Thwing Center Ballroom. Doors open at 5 p.m. Trivia begins at 6 p.m. and will go until 8 p.m.