Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Quiddith Round 1 Answers

1. What was Harry dreaming about the first time he woke up with his scar on fire?
a. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill Dumbledore
b. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill him
c. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill Sirius
d. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill Cornelius Fudge

2. What is the problem with leprechaungold?
a. It vanishes after a few hours
b. It vanishes after a few weeks
c. It's only good in Ireland
d. It enchants you and makes you forget everything else

3. Why did Mad-Eye Moody turn Malfoy into a ferret?
a. Malfoy had said something rude about Mad-Eye
b. He was teaching him 'constant vigilance'
c. Malfoy attacked Harry when Harry's back was turned
d. He hated Malfoy's father

4. Sirius warns Harry to be careful around Karkaroff because he had been a Death Eater. Which one of the professors at Hogwarts, who also used to be a Death Eater, is frequently bothered by Karkaroff? Snape

5. Voldemort could have used the blood from any foe to make the potion that revived him work, but he held out for Harry's blood. Why?
a. To show that Dumbledore could not protect Harry
b. To prove that Harry could not apparate
c. The special protecton Harry received from his mother would also pass to Voldemort
d. Simply because he hated Harry that much

6. How old would Frank have been on his next birthday?
a. 76
b. 73
c. 70
d. 77

7. Amos Diggory works for?
a. The Department of Mysteries
b. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures
c. The Goblin Liaison Office
d. The Committee of Experimental Charms

8. Who shared a carriage with the three friends on the way from the train to Hogwarts? Neville

9. What date in October did the delegates from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrive?
a. 30th
b. 31st
c. 1st
d. 2nd

10. What color were Percy's dress robes at the Yule Ball?
a. Navy Blue
b. Maroon
c. Emerald Green
d. Claret






Monday, January 28, 2008

Monday, Monday

Why is it so hard to drag myself out of bed on Mondays? I feel like I didn't have a weekend and now it's back to classes. I had a very hard time today in DADA and Professor Von Humperdink wasn't too sympathetic. After a trip to the infirmary, I'm feeling much better, thank you.

I saw that Olive put a fun quiz in her diary so I thought I'd give it a try.

1. Butterbeer or pumpkin juice? Definitely butterbeer! I'm not much of a juice person, but I do love pumpkin in eatable form.

2. What House are you in? DUH! Ravenclaw. Is there any other House to aspire to?

3. If you were an animagus, what animal would you turn into. Again, DUH! A peacock, of course! I'd strut proudly showing off my beautiful irridescent colors.

4. Who do you empathize with, or resemble best out of Harry, Hermione or Ron? Hermione most definitely.

5. What position do you play at Quidditch? I'd like to say I was the nominated captain so I could play all 4 positions, but I play beater. Protecting my teammates is important to me.

6. Which teacher is your favorite? That depends on the day!

7. Favorite Quidditch team? Pride of Portree! Have you seen their deep purple robes with the gold star! My peacock feather earrings go so nicely eith the robes.

8. What was the best flavor of Bertie's Every Flavor Beans you have ever had? And the worst? The best is sizzling cinnamon and the worst is vomit.

9. What kind of wand do you have? Ebony with a Kelpie feather.

10. Have you ever been down Knockturn Alley? Unfortunately, yes. Last year when I was a first year some older Slytherins told me about a great place to get peacock feathers and I believed them.

Quidditch starts on Thursday! I'm so excited. I've been brushing up on everything I know about dragons. I'm also going to be looking for the Golden Snitch until my vision blurs!



LET'S GO RAVENCLAW!

Sunday, January 27, 2008

I'm Back and Blue

I have returned to Hogwarts following the funeral for my cousin. It's always interesting when you have a gathering of wizards and Muggles, isn't it? I was happy to see my extended family, but I really wish we would quit having family reunions at funerals. Quidditch tournaments would be much more fun!

And, of course, I was disappointed to come back and find out we dropped another 5% in House points. I don't understand how this happens. We are Ravenclaws, after all! There is no one better or more deserving than us. My peacocks may never share their feathers with me again. Whatever shall I do?

Oh!! What is that I see on the end of my bed? Could it be sticky toffee pudding? I'm feeling better already.

Thursday, January 24, 2008

I Hope, I Hope

I hope that while I'm away this weekend gathering with my family at the enchanted Moors of Neere to honor my cousin that everyone in Ravenclaw House will make a diary entry. We have the best house at Hogwarts and we need to show everyone just how grand we are.

Wednesday, January 23, 2008

Ferrets and Spotted Dick

This year is just not starting off well. First we fall into last place. Then my peacocks have no feathers to spare. And now all the Spotted Dick was eaten by ferrets in the kitchen! I was so looking forward to the Spotted Dick. I wonder if there is any Sticky Taffy Pudding left. I may have to sneak down to the kitchen later tonight after the meeting of the Ravenclaw Knitting Club and see if I can find some. Does anyone want to accompany me? (I know a secret passage. Shhhhhhhhhh)

Brrrr....It's Cold and Drafty



I don't know about the rest of you, but my dorm room is very cold and drafty. I mean, my peacock feather bed curtains can only do so much to keep out the drafts. So I decided it was time to send my little Angus McTavish (A.T. or "80" for short) to mummy for some more peacock feathers. Unfortunately my beloved peacocks had no feathers to spare so mummy sent me some fibers from the shop instead. They isn't exactly peacock colors, but will do. I have one sock finished and I'm working feverishly on the other. What do you think? Not bad for the challenge of Muggle knitting!

Tuesday, January 22, 2008

My Homework Assignment

It's been a hard week to concentrate on homework, but here are my answers:

1. RWIDZTAIR UANONETRMT Triwizard Tournament

2. NRNAGIHAU RAHNIOTL Hungarian Horntail

3. AEEMDY ONYOME Madeye Mooney (?)

4. ARTI KEESTRE Rita Sketer

5. ELSAUAEPBNKS Unspeakables

6. ULSFENFS Snuffles

7. NEPSVEIE Pensieve

8. RMUEIIPS Imperius

9. TREUEEBTBR Butterbeer

10. ROFELIBT Firebolt

Saturday, January 19, 2008

I Will Be Gone a Few Days

Last night while shuffling through a huge stack of parchment (note to self ~ it is necessary to organize parchment in order to find the homework you misplaced) my little Angus McTavish arrived with a message from home. It seems that my cousin was killed yesterday when he was thrown from his broom while returning home. They don't know yet whether he had a heart attack or stroke which caused him to lose control of his broom or if his broom was hit by a spell of some sort and threw him or what happened. At any rate, I will be out of school for a couple days at the end of the week while my family gathers. Is someone willing to take notes for me?

Thursday, January 17, 2008

Charms Good and Bad

Bad: Did you see all the canaries flying around yesterday? Poor first years. It happens every year. All the older students think it is fun to torment all the lost confused new students. Last year I was offered a Ton-Tongue Toffee right before DADA and, wanting to be part of the in crowd, I ate one. It was so good that I gobbled it all. Almost immediately my tongue started to get bigger and bigger and BIGGER until it was 10 times its normal size! About that time Professor Snape walked into the room and stopped dead in his tracks and glared at me. Here was this small frightened first year with a gigantic tongue! Fortunately he knew how to shrink my tongue but after that I learned to be very careful who I accepted gifts from.

Good: I went to Weasley's Wizard Wheezes yesterday and guess what I found? A daydream charm! You just have to try them out. You get a super realistic 30 minute daydream. I missed the Ravenclaw Knitting Club last night because I was mixing potions with Professor Black! In my daydream we mixed a potion that would make our knitting bags expand and shrink to any size needed. (And you had other thoughts, didn't you?)

Wednesday, January 16, 2008

I Love Hogwarts

I thought nothing could be better than my first year at Hogwarts but I was so wrong. This year rocks! All the new first years are grand. I was afraid it would be crowded in the Common Room, but instead it's cozy and everyone is knitting such fine things. Have you seen all the shades of blue and bronze or blue and silver?

And classes are actually fun this year. I sprint to Potions and DADA every day to be first into the classroom. I've been known to hang around after class asking for special help. It's amazing what I can achieve with a little pout! Oh, Professor Von Humperdink, am I holding my wand the right way? Should I twist my wrist this way or that? Don't tell, but yesterday I intentionally mixed a potion that would explode just so Professor Black would ask me to stay after class. Sigh.....

Have you heard that Gryffindor House has named a Head Girl? AND she's challenging our Head Girl. For some reason, she thinks that their House is better than ours! Can you imagine?

Time for Potions! What can I conjure up today?

Tuesday, January 15, 2008

I Know! I Know!

1. Name 4 housemates who have revealed their Patronuses and list the form their Patronuses take.


Me - Phoenix
Cassandra Hopkirk - Eagle
Fleur Crockford - Hydra
Patonga Pinkstone - Tiger


2. Who attended the first meeting of the Ravenclaw Knitting Club?

Elanor Cadogan
Gabriella Clearwater
Fleur Lovegoods
Esmerlda Beanswallow
Cassandra Hopkirk
Millicent Brocklehurst
Minerva Kwikspell
Enid Black
Allitrya Spelling
Mafalda Ackerley
Serafina Starfire


3. Name the housemate who likes to knit with peacock feathers.

Me, of course! (Have you seen my bed curtains?)

4. Name the Ravenclaw who spent the New Year at Hogwart's Costume Ball.

Emma Diggory

5. Which Ravenclaw got the first howler?

Lavender Ackerly (At least she admits it!)

6. Name 5 different types of wood used in the wands of Ravenclaws and name the housemate having that wand.

Ebony - Me! (Isn't it pretty?)
Maple - Esmerelda Beanswallow
Holly - Cassandra Hopkirk
Tulip - Emma Wigworthy
Hawthorn - Elanor Cadogan


7. Who accidentally ate a toenail flavored Every Flavor Bean?

Serafina Starfire (Glad this wasn't me)

8. Who cast a noise dampening spell before going to bed and then overslept?

Esmerelda Beanswallow

9. Besides the HSKS4 blog, on what blog will you find the Ravenclaw Anthem?

Minerva Kwikspell

10. Which housemate has a Muggle cellular phone?

Victoria Black

Monday, January 14, 2008

I've Been Busy

I am ever so excited about my swap partner, a Hufflepuff. I spent much of the weekend looking at fibers and needles and patterns for her kit. I even discovered some wonderful Muggle stores I didn't know existed. I really must get out more often. I think I must have looked strange when I appeared in my robes, but I was so excited I forgot to change. I think I have all I need to start on the bag. I'm still undecided on yarn. There are so many choices! I've asked Mummy to get everyone to put their heads together and spin some yarn that doesn't look too much like a bumble bee. I'm having quite a bit of difficulty deciding on needles because I think my swap partner may have all the needles ever manufactured. Whatever to do! I guess I'll keep looking for something unique.

Oh, did I hear there will be a quiz this week? I haven't even opened a book yet. Besides shopping, I've been too busy developing a new use for peacock feathers! I will definitely have the most beautiful drapes for my bed in the dormitory.

Saturday, January 12, 2008

I Must Be Excited!

I must be very excited about this term at Hogwarts! Last night I had a dream that the term started off with a blast! One of the girls in Ravenclaw told me about a Muggle show she had seen on television that was called something like Victoria's Secret. Anyway, in my dream our term opened with a spectacular like that complete with an appearance by famous Muggle rock stars! All the students at Hogwarts were in the audience screaming while the rock stars performed on a stage with lots of flashing lights. I'm sure the flashing lights were achieved by lots of wands being waved in the air! I woke up this morning feeling very excited (and covered in bits of feathers!)

I am going to sneak off to the store today and see if Mummy will help me pick out the perfect fibers for my swap partner. Hmmmmm...what colors do I need? (I'll never tell!) I so love surprises. My most difficult decision will be what kind of bag to make. I saw a Muggle with a wonderful felted bag. I asked Mummy how it was made and she wasn't sure. I'd love to try it out, but I'm not sure the term is long enough.

Thursday, January 10, 2008

Let Me Introduce Myself

Now that most of the students have returned to Hogwarts I would like to introduce myself. My name is Fleur Lovegoods and I'm a second year student in the House of Ravenclaw. I'm sure we'll quickly become the best of friends. All of us Lovegoods hail from the village of Dergotop, which is about 10km south of the enchanted Moors of Neere. The Lovegoods family has lived on our ancestral estate for just about forever. I miss the misty mornings and my beautiful peacocks wandering around on the lush green lawns, but I've filled my room at Ravenclaw with their magical feathers. I love knitting with peacock colored fibers.

Let's see, what else? I guess it might be a good idea to tell you a little about what makes me, well, ME! Other than knitting, I enjoy a great many activities, both traditional female arts and some things that the boys might find most shocking. My mum taught me how to make amulets and fill them with all kinds of flora (she's such a green thumber -- thus my name Fleur) to protect us when we're out on the Moors. I'm not too keen on the kitchen stuff, but I suppose someone must do it! Perhaps we shall learn how to conjure up a tasty pudding here at Hogwarts! I also enjoy doing Tarot card readings and am trying to improve my psychic abilities as I practice. My favorite class last year was definitely Charms! A skill I am most proud of, which I'm sure will serve me well this year, is my knowledge and training in Muggle weaponry and defense. Papa was a good teacher, thus I'm a fair shot with the Muggle Ettrick bow. My favorite though is the Muggle shiny steel Pike. Nasty little thing sure to take the head off any troll that dares to enter our halls!

My claim to fame, for I suppose we must all have one, is to be the last in a long line of fiercely independent Lovegoods women. My mother attended Hogwarts, as did hers, and so on up the line. I will have to ask Madam Pince if any of the books in the library still tells the story of my great-grandmother Agatha Wigworthy and how she saved our ancestral estate from being taken over by the detested Umgubula Slashkilters. Nana was such an experienced weaver, spinner and knitter that she was able to knit a spell into the socks the evil looters cherished and they were helpless and had to feel far from our treasured Moors. One day perhaps I shall regale you with all the details -- tis truly an inspiring tale.

My family has always been involved with the magical manipulation of fibers. Our shop in Diagon Alley is well known for producing all the charmed knits you might ever desire as well as beautiful fibers for individual use. It's always fun to to into the shop and see all the looms busily kicking out a blur of yards and yards of fabrics, hear the steady humming of the spinning wheels spinning out magical fibers in flashing colors, and listen to the clicking of all the glistening needles knitting scarves, hats, gloves and sweaters in Hogwarts colors.

Because of all I was taught by Mum and Nana, I am most anxious to learn more about the art and magic of spell casting and weaving. Can you imagine the things we will learn in Magic in Thread Work and Weaving? Having the skill to save a rare unicorn by spinning a special suture, or being able to use our lovely orts to capture the wind and spare a poor village from devastation. Helping others is what magic is all about.

I'm looking forward to learning more about all the first years. Please tell us about yourselves! Let's meet in the Common Room soon for a cup of nettle tea or pumpkin juice and swap some knitting patterns.

Wednesday, January 9, 2008

Look What I Got!

Imagine my surprise today when I ran into Lovegoods Fibers to tell Mummy and Daddy that I'd received the name of my swap mate and they told me they were taking me shopping. We went to Ollivander's and look what I got!


Wood type: ebony
Length: 11½ inches
Core: Kelpie Hair

get your own wand!




Yes, I got a new wand. Isn't it totally gorgeous! Don't ask what happened to my old one! Let's just say that last year was definitely a learning experience.

UPDATE: I borrowed Olive Bladvak's new book and read about my wand. This is what is says:

Ebony is a fine-quality, rather costly dark wood that is hard and durable. It also carries a beautiful black luster when polished, radiating a certain air of cold-shouldered class and expensive taste. This wand-holder is usually rather stubborn and shuns outsiders, remaining rather secretive of their core being. They also tend to be natural born leaders, commanding respect even if grudgingly. Ebony is the most powerful wood used in wands, and can give teh user what may seem to be unlimited power.

Kelpie hair comes from the mane of a Kelpie, a water demon commonly found in Britton and Ireland, who often takes the shape of a horse. The most famous Kelpie is referred to by Muggles as the Loch Ness Monster. Kelpie's are adaptable creatures and thus the wand is a good core for most types of magic, but especially water magic.

Wow! What a wand!

MY OWL ARRIVED!

I'm ever so excited!! My owl has arrived with the name of my swap mate. I was dozing off while thumbing through some ancient tomes when my lovely Angus MacTavish arrived in a explosion of feathers. Now it's off to visit my family at the store and see what kind of magical goodies I can find for my swap mate.

Saturday, January 5, 2008

Anxiously Awaiting Start of Term

Wow, the term hasn't even started and it's getting really crowded in Ravenclaw House. The noise coming from the owlery is ear shattering. There are so many first years running around. I'm not sure, but I think a few have gotten lost in the 142 staircases in Hogwarts. I'm afraid we're going to have more roommates than ever before. Our 4 poster beds are going to have to shrink if this keeps up! I haven't gotten to know any of the first years yet, but once we're all in and settled I hope I will. Some seem rather creative. I'm sure I can interest them in a trip or two on weekends to my family's shop in Diagon Alley where we've got some of the most marvelous magical fibers.

Our prefect thought it would be an opportunity to get to know each other by taking down the holiday decorations in the Common Room. It was also a chance for first years to try out their wands. There were Christmas balls crashing into walls, chairs, tables. It almost became a game of Quidditch and I think all 700 ways to commit a Quidditch foul were committed! In the end, the Common Room is now ready for the arrival of more students and the start of a new term.

Friday, January 4, 2008

My Patronus

Through hard work and determination, I have discovered my Patronus. It's...................
the Phoenix!! The phoenix is a creature that symbolizes prophetic wisdom, death, and rebirth. This Majestic patronus soars onto the field blanketing your foes in fire and causing devastation to all that oppose it. You should be honored to receive this magical creature as your patronus!

Thursday, January 3, 2008

New Course Offering

Have you looked at the new course offering?? It's right up my Diagon Alley! "Magic in Thread Work and Weaving" is definitely going to be the best part of my day and I know I will excel. It's the magic of weaving and other thread work involving muggle spinning and basic thread care, learning to weave spells into threads and fabrics, learning to use thread to manipulate other magic, (i.e., spinning a healing spell into bandages or a warming spell into a cloak, capture tying threads to make objects move, capture wind). How perfect!!

Wednesday, January 2, 2008

Another Year at Hogwarts

I'm so excited for the start of another year at Hogwarts. It will be awesome to be back with my friends at Ravenclaw. The House Cup will be ours this year! I can't wait to start my Divination and Charms classes! Now, it's off to Diagon Alley to pick up the supplies on my list:


The Standard Book of Spells -- check
Unfogging the Future, The Dream Oracle -- check
Crystal ball -- check
Tea leaves -- check
Tarot cards -- check


It's time to pack my bags....