(Read more about The Leaky Cauldron and the history of the site here!)
Melissa Anelli Webmistress
Melissa Anelli is the New York Times Best Selling author of Harry, A History. A former NYC news reporter, she joined the Leaky staff in 2001 and has had a ball serving as its webmistress. She is a graduate of Georgetown University, and is currently writing her second book, a novel. She co-ran LeakyCon, which quickly become one of the fastest-growing fan events in the world. In August 2025, EnchantiCon, a new fantasy con that incorporates Harry Potter and other fandoms, will debut in St. Louis, MO.
In Melissa's free (ha!) time she works on more projects than she can handle, sees more theater than she can afford, and consumes more coffee than is healthy for anyone.
Her first book, Harry, a History, has been published in more than eight countries and four languages. It is also available as an audiobook in English and German.
Find out about what mischief Melissa is current managing here. You can also get updates via Bluesky and Facebook.
John Noe Creative Director, Muggle Technology Wizard
John Noe has been the wizard behind the screen for Leaky since 2003. He was also the lead host and main producer of PotterCast. If the Muggle tech behind this magical site needs repairing or updating, he is the wizard who knows the right charms and how to wield an effective reparo spell. How did he ever get into this "Potter stuff?" The thanks/blame lies with his siblings: Anna, Maria, Melissa, Allison, GoodOle Steve, and little Charlie.
Amanda Kirk Senior News Editor
Amanda currently teaches at Ilvermorny after initially arriving there by accident via a too complicated to explain floo network/apparition/flying carpet mishap. Having been educated at Hogwarts, she uses British spellings and expressions that confuse her students. The Sorting Hat wanted to put Amanda in Ravenclaw but, since it takes one's preferences into account, she is a Gryffindor.
Email [email protected] with all press enquiries, review requests, and general questions and comments about Leaky.
Leaky News Editors
Ashlynn Webb
Gianfranco Lentini
Kim McChesney
Leaky News Intern Writers
Sydney Dean
Georgia Gates
Ashley Kurtz
Lauren Osborne
Milka Väinämö
Catherine Horvath, Leaky Angel
Catherine Horvath was born and raised to live and breathe Harry Potter. She became a fan in 1998 and has been hooked ever since, with fond memories of the midnight releases, visiting the Harry Potter Studio tour, theme parks, and traveling exhibition. Catherine is a proud Hufflepuff, while her twin sister, in Patil style, was sorted into Slytherin. Catherine graduated from Indiana University with a degree in English with a Concentration in Creative Writing, and a minor certificate in Business Marketing. A regular follower of the site (for 10 years!) with a MyLeaky account, Catherine was ecstatic to start working at Leaky, as a Leaky News Editor, when she was in high school. She helped transition Leaky to its new Wordpress website, and kept the news running during the dry-spell years between the last Potter (2011) film and 2016, when the Wizarding World came back to life with Cursed Child and Fantastic Beasts. During that time, she became Leaky's Senior Editor and started rebuilding the news staff, which had become a one-man show. With a team to work with, trying hard to stay on top of the daily Potter news, and regularly updated social media, Catherine helped triple Leaky's social media following (as well as started its Instagram account, @theleakycauldronnews) and bring Leaky back into the fold of reliable, frequented news sources. Catherine stepped down as Leaky's Senior Editor January 1, 2017 and will miss it very much.
Brad Ausrotas, Leaky Angel
Brad Ausrotas was born and raised in the proud nation of Canada. He is a writer, musician, gamer, huge nerd, and chaotic neutral. He is a fan of Harry Potter, Lord of the Rings, Star Wars, Game of Thrones, Doctor Who, and fast cars. He has also been a managing editor at LeakyNews.com.
Sarah Wilkes, Leaky Angel
Sarah Wilkes is a programmer analyst from Kansas. She grew up reading Sherlock Holmes and has always enjoyed a good mystery, so that's what drew her to the Harry Potter books in 2002 and kept her sleuthing online with others for many years. Sarah joined The Leaky Cauldron staff in 2005 as a Chamber of Chat moderator - helping Leaky Lounge members learn how to use that site. She loved her years as a Leaky Corner Booth discussion moderator and PotterCast transcriber, and currently loves doing odds and ends for LeakyCon's logistics team.
Andrew Hanson, Leaky Angel
Andrew Hanson is an English teacher and theatre director from northwestern Minnesota. He credits Harry Potter as being one of the main reasons why he’s in the English teaching profession today. He vividly remembers reading (and falling in love from) the very first page of Sorcerer’s Stone in 9th grade (2000). He is also a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings (and The Hobbit) and many other fantasy stories. Andrew, his wife Becky, and his daughter Elanor, are all proud Ravenclaws.
