INTRODUCTION INTRODUCTION COME TO THE CAULDRON A witch brews her magical potion 4
A witch bends over a bubbling cauldron Steam rises past her green wrinkled face As she stirs her brew her lips move She’s chanting a spell What potion is she making Maybe you’ve read scenes like this in fairy tales In some tales witches and wizards have special powers They use their powers to do magic Witches and wizards may look a lot like humans But tales about their dark skills make them seem more like monsters There are other magical monsters too Goblins also do magic In some stories goblins are shape-shifters They can change the shape of their bodies Stories about magical monsters have been told for years Yet they are still a big part of modern tales Are these beings real or imaginary Amusing or evil Decide for yourself But first prepare to explore myths and the mystery of magic 5
Witches and wizards are often imagined wearing long robes and pointed hats CHAPTER ONE CHAPTER ONE MAKI NG MY THS 6
Stories about witches are far older than The Wizard of Oz And people have been fascinated by wizards long before Harry Potter’s time Images of magic being done even appeared in prehistoric cave paintings The earliest ideas about magic probably came from old beliefs in gods and spirits that had special abilities Over time these stories and beliefs changed Some early stories involved magicians who knew curses People were afraid of these magicians But they also turned to them for help Want to hurt an enemy Feel like ruining your neighbor’s crops Centuries ago people thought witches and wizards could get the job done 7
