My Years At Hogwarts

My spoilee has received her swap

2008-04-01T08:27:00.000-07:00

So now I shall post the pictures I took of it before the owl picked it up.

A simple bag with a total of 14 pockets on it.

With all its goodies spilled out

A little bag, just big enough for a sock project and I think I see some yarn in there. And of course to keep the nerves in check while knitting a bit of chocolate and candy.

Some needles, stitch markers, a row counter and some bookmarks for those ever important school books

a needle holder, with examples in place

My package has arrived

2008-03-27T12:03:00.000-07:00

An owl stopped by my house yesterday. It was bringing me my Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap 4 package from Henrietta Sweeting.

I opened up my package and found an adorable bag. It is so cute and perfect and lovely Ravenclaw (movie) colors. It is the perfect vessel for a sock project. It is felted, so very sturdy and oh, so stylish.

I opened it up to see what wonderful things had been left inside. Some lovely stitch markers in a bag and two that came from the same place as the yarn. Lovely blue crackle beads and one with a smiling sun. And what is this? My first set of KnitPicks needles!!! Size ones. Very tempted to rip the ones I am using on my Viking sock out so I can switch them to these. But I am restraining. Otherwise, what would I use to knit up this amazing yarn?

Ta da. Unfortunately my mad picture taking skillz and lack of sunlight this morning did not allow me to take a picture where the flash wasn't reflected back to the camera in the tag. So I had to cut it out of the picture, but I wanted everyone to be able to see the color of the yarn. Isn't it georgous. It was dyed by Crazy4Dyeing. A 4-ply Socrates Merino Wool. So soft and squishy.

Final Ravenclaw House Quiz

2008-03-19T06:57:00.000-07:00

1. Who loves containers of all sorts? Esmerelda Beanswallow
2. Who dyed her fingers blue? Lavender Ackerly
3. Who is related to William Shakespeare? Celestina Cadogan
4. Who wants to own an alpaca farm? Victoria Black
5. Who hates carrots? Selina Starfire
6. Who is from the Muggle town of Bagshot in Surrey? Patonga Pinkstone
7. Who was searching for radishes in the winter? Madame Ferula McGonagall
8. Who got a gift certificate to a LYS from a Slytherin boy for Valentine's Day? Cecilia Kettleburn
9. Who discovered ghosts and house elves drinking tea in the Great Hall at midnight? Ophelia Hopkirk
10. Who took an extra credit class called Muggle Fantasy Literature? Selina Starflame
11. Who attended a Muggle music convention? Patonga Wigworthy
12. Who taught herself to purl backwards? Serafina Starfire
13. Who sports Ravenclaw Spirit socks? Minerva Kwikspell
14. Who would like to work in Muggle Relations after graduation? Allitrya Spelling
15. Whose Mum is named Henrietta? Avada Finch-Fletchley

Quidditch round 3

2008-03-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

Quidditch ~ Round Three

1. When Rita Skeeter prints a bad articles about Hagrid in the Daily Prophet, which Professor teaches Hagrid's Care of Magical Creatures class while he is away?
c. Professor Grubbly-Plank

2. What was the article Rita Skeeter wrote about Hagrid called?
c. Dumbledore's Giant Mistake

3. When the school champions were being chosen from the Goblet of Fire, whose name cam out first?
b. Viktor Krum

4. What is the spell Ludo bagman says to magically magnify his voice when he commentates?
a. Sonorus

5. What kind of dragon did Cedirc have to face in the first task?
b. A Swedish Short-Snout

6. Who raised the trophy after winning the world cup?
b. Troy and Quigley

7. How many bedrooms did Mundungus Fletcher claim to have?
d. 12

8. For what did Moody mistake his birthday gift of a carriage clock?
b. A basilisk egg

9. What did Mr. Ollivander produce for the end of Cedric's wand?
d. Silver smoke rings

10. The dark mark is on Snape's left arm.
a. Yes

Picture Scavenger Hunt

Karkaroff and Snape

Basilisk

The only picture I could find of Mundungus online. He was never in the movies

HOmework number 5

2008-03-06T06:22:00.000-08:00

Okay, Ravenclaws, it's quiz time again! This time I want you to summon up all your creativity and develop a spell for the following situations. Just the name of your spell will do:

1. Do my homework for me. Homeworkus Finishus
2. Tidy up my bedroom. Underus dabedus
3. Make a delicious chocolate cake. Mortis by chocolus
4. Make my professor stay in bed today. Sicklius Professorus
5. I would like breakfast in bed, please. Eggus Baconus Hashbrownium
6. Stick all my Quidditch opponents' feet to the floor. Younoflyus
7. Give everyone the giggles. Rictusempra giggilus
8. Dye some yarn in my favorite color. Prettius Yarnus Everus
9. Unravel the mess I've made with my yarn. unravelum nowum
10. Knit my Prefect the perfect bag! Kittum Perfectus Prefectus

Good luck! A prize goes to one lucky Ravenclaw!UPDATE: Your spells will be due by midnight on Saturday, March 9, 2008. That will give you a couple days to relax and prepare for the all important Round Three of Quidditch which begins on March 12.

House quiz number 4

2008-02-26T06:31:00.000-08:00

Ravenclaws, it's time for your next House Quiz. I hope you've all been studying your charms and potions! Your answers are due by midnight PST on Saturday, March 1. Good luck!
1. What colorless and odorless potion forces the drinker to tell the truth?
Veritaserum
2. If the spell to Apparate goes wrong and leaves half of you behind, you have been what?
Splinched
3. Who wrote the Standard Books of Spells Grades 1 and 2?
Miranda Goshawk
4. What is it called when brother wands meet?
Priori Incantatem
5. Name the charm used by Ludo at the World Cup to amplify his voice.
Sonorous
6. For what is the charm Aparecium used?
Makes invisible ink visible
7. What charm requires the use of a Secret-Keeper?
Fedelius Charm
8. What color should the Strengthening Potion be?
Dark Purple
9. What plants are used in preparing a confusing potion?
Sneezewart, skurvy grass & lovage
10. What condition is cured by Glumbumble?
Hysteria
11. What poton makes a werewolf safe so he can keep his mind when he transforms, and what substance makes it useless?
Wolfsbane potion, Sugar
12. When does Fluxwood, an ingredient used in making Polyjuice Potion, have to be picked?
During a Full Moon
13. What color should a Shrinking Solution be?
Bright Green
14. What potion is made from asphodel and wormwood?
Draught of Living Death
15. For what are Jobberknoll feathers used?
Memory potions, Truth Serums

Quidditch Round 2

2008-02-19T16:02:00.000-08:00

1. With whom does Ginny go to the Yule Ball?
a. Neville

2. When Harry arrives at the Burrow and Mrs. Weasley makes them all dinner the night before they leave for the Quidditch World Cup, what does her wand turn into?
a. rubber mouse

3. Since some of the sixth-year girls didn't have any quills on them, what did they think Krum might sign their hats in?
c. lipstick

4. How old does the Quick Quotes Quill say that Rita Skeeter is?
a. 43

5. What color cloak is wormtail wearing in the Riddle house?
b. Black

6. What color is "Mad Eye" Moody's magical eye?
d. Electric Blue

7. What color are the robes that Rita Skeeter was wearing when Harry meets her at the Weighing of the Wands ceremony?
b. Magenta

8. What does Sirius Black tell Harry, Ron and Hermione to call him when speaking around anyone else?
b. Snuffles

9. Which team beat Wales, disqualifying them from competing for the Quidditch World Cup?
c. Uganda

10. What does Madame Maxime say is the only thing her steeds will drink?
c. single-malt whiskey

Picture Hunt
Goblet of Fire
Madam Maxime
Dragon from first challenge
Viktor Krum
Madam Pomfrey

House Quiz Number 2!

2008-02-12T07:44:00.000-08:00

Here are my answers:

1. What is Professor McGonnagall's first name? Minerva
2. Who is the librarian of Hogwarts? Irma Pince
3. What is Madam Rosmerta's job? She runs and owns the Three Broomsticks Pub in Hogsmeade
4. What is Rita Skeeter's secret? She is an unregistered animagus and turns into a beatle
5. Madam Hooch is instructor of what subject? Flying
6. Who is Parvati Patil's best friend? Lavender Brown
7. What Quidditch position does Cho Chang play? Seeker
8. What is the name of Fleur Delacour's little sister? Gabrielle Delacour
9. Who is professor of Divination? Sibyll Trelawney
10. Who wrote "A History of Magic"? Bathilda Bagshot

First Trip To Hogsmeade

2008-02-06T12:43:00.000-08:00

We are going on our first trip to Hogsmeade this week. The headmistress has allowed even us first years to go. Since we are participating in the swap, we need to go buy stuff. But the place I am looking forward to visiting the most is Honeyduke's Sweet Shop. As a muggle, all of these new and exciting and magical candies are amazing. I can't wait. Maybe I'll pick up a little something for my swap partner

Quidditch Round 1

2008-01-30T18:21:00.000-08:00

Please post these questions to your blogs.
If you have a character blog do not post them to your muggle blog.
The Snitch is still looking for it's home. I'll notify you of the release time soon.

1. What was Harry dreaming about the first time he woke up with his scar on fire?
b. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill him

2. What is the problem with leprechaun gold?
a. It vanishes after a few hours

3. Why did Mad-Eye Moody turn Malfoy into a ferret?
c. Malfoy attacked Harry when Harry's back was turned

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?
c. The special protection Harry received from his mother would also pass to Voldemort

6. How old would Frank have been on his next birthday?
d. 77

7. Amos Diggory works for?
b. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures

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

9. What date in October did the delegates from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrive?
a. 30th

10. What color were Percy's dress robes at the Yule Ball?
a. Navy Blue

Picture Scavenger Hunt
Please either post the pictures to your blog or link to where the pictures can be found.
Mr. Ollivander

Mad-Eye Moody

Cedric

World Cup Tournament

Dark Mark

Quidditch Time!

2008-01-30T08:25:00.000-08:00

Oh gosh! The first round of Quidditch starts today. The window for when the questions are released opens in 5 minutes. Oh my. The snitch is released Saturday. Hopefully I'll be around to help look for it.

All better

2008-01-28T18:02:00.000-08:00

Almost anyway. Thank you all for your well wishes. Our wonderful healers have done a great job and I am feeling much better. How could I not feel better with an owl arriving with some yarn? Unfortunately not for me, but I am excited to have my spoilee's yarn. So stitch markers and yarn and pattern are a check. I need to sew up the bag and send an owl out for the needles and I will be done with the required portion. As a Ravenclaw, I pride myself on being able to plan ahead, do math in my head and save myself some money. In the case of this swap, I was able to be a bit thrifty in certain places so that I may ply my Spoilee with extra goodies. Such as buying the fabric (oh, a clue) with a coupon so that I could get a bit extra to maybe make a few more goodies. I do love spoiling people. And it also helps that my Spoilee is the talkative type and gives me wonderful ideas when I read her posts. Well I am off to read the second issue of the Ravenclaw newsletter The Raven's Nest. Must get caught up before the next two knitting nights.

A trip to the hospital wing

2008-01-24T19:51:00.000-08:00

It started Wednesday. I started to feel a bit weak and woozy. So I missed knitting night in the common room. Today I was so sick, I stayed out of class and took a trip to the hospital wing. I really hope I feel better by tomorrow. I have essays due and social engagements to keep. Oh I wish I were further along in my studies so that I knew some healing medicine. I think I'm gonna lay back down.

I'm Official!

2008-01-22T06:58:00.000-08:00

I have received my official certificate of house membership into the Ravenclaw House. How wonderful?!! Although there was a bit of a mixup and I got the wrong one. Silly Confunded owls. The head girl got it all sorted out. So excited. I want to frame it. I wonder if that would be a bit too nerdy.

A new homework

2008-01-22T06:48:00.000-08:00

Our second Ravenclaw house homework is up and here it is:

1. RWIDZTAIR UANONETRMT - Triwizard Tournament

2. NRNAGIHAU RAHNIOTL - Hungarian Horntail

3. AEEMDY ONYOME - MadEye Mooney

4. ARTI KEESTRE - Rita Skeeter

5. ELSAUAEPBNKS - Unspeakables

6. ULSFENFS - Snuffles

7. NEPSVEIE - Pensieve

8. RMUEIIPS - Imperius

9. TREUEEBTBR - Butterbeer

10. ROFELIBT - Firebolt

Another night of knitting

2008-01-16T19:59:00.000-08:00

Dear Diary,
We had another knitting night tonight. What fun! It seems like some of Weasley Wizarding Wheezes' canary cremes got snuck into the castle. Apparently some of the prefects had quite a time herding all of the first year canaries. Thankfully I was stuck on a moving staircase. Well not really thankfully. I'm not sure which would be worse. Being a canary or stuck on a staircase.

Instead of knitting during knitting night, I worked on some stitch markers and a bag for my swap partner. Would you like a little peak?
What do you think? Green and sparkly. This is what inspired what bag I am going to make. No other details. I wouldn't want this to fall into the wrong hands. Well, off to bed. I have potions first thing in the morning. mmmm...potions professors. I will be having sweet dreams.

First Quiz

2008-01-14T17:32:00.000-08:00

Dear Diary,
We have our first quiz today. It is interesting. I have to run around to all my fellow Ravenclaws to find out the answers. What a great way to find out about them.

1. Name 4 housemates who have revealed their Patronuses and list the form their Patronuses take.
Avada Finch-Fletchley -Phoenix
Fleur Crockford - Hydra
Ferula Vector - Eagle
Esmeralda Beanswallow - Wolf

2. Who attended the first meeting of the Ravenclaw Knitting Club?
Elanor Cadogan
Gabriella Clearwater
Fleur Lovegoods
Esmerelda
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.
Fleur Lovegood

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

6. Name 5 different types of wood used in the wands of Ravenclaws and name the housemate having that wand.
Cherry - Avada Finch-Fletchley
Holly - Cecelia Kettleburn
Maple - Fleur Crockford
Birch - Ferula Vector
Hawthorne - Elanor Cadogan

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

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

Start of Term

2008-01-14T15:50:00.000-08:00

Dear Diary,
Today was the first day of class. Oh my goodness I've learned so much. Although I do have to say that a few of the new professors are in a word "Yummy!" Particularly the potions professor. But it did mean that he had the rapt attention of the females in all his classes.

They are having a Beginning of the Year feast tonight. I'm very excited. Maybe I'll get a chance to see my swap partners. I figured that if I tell you who my swap partner is I'll be ok. Her name is Bridget Willowmane. I am going to send her an owl to gather some information. Maybe even sneak around and try to get a lot of information about her. But I don't want to creep her out. I know I would be creeped out if someone started following me around.

whoops

2008-01-13T20:31:00.001-08:00

Dear Diary,
I didn't even tell you what I had to do for this swap, did I? How mean of me to leave you in the dark like that. Well the Hogwart's Sock Kit Swap requires these:

-a bag or tote made by you. It can be knit, crocheted, sewn, whatever your heart desires in your partner's house colors
-Stitch markers, also in your partner's house colors. Can be handmade or bought
-A sock pattern
-the yarn for said sock pattern in your partner's house colors
-Needles for said sock pattern
-Whatever else you want to add to make the package special

A bit of fun this semester

2008-01-13T20:06:00.000-08:00

Dear Diary,
Remember how I mentioned that knitting group. Well it went great. Apparently there are tons of people at Hogwarts that knit. The headmistress has set up a swap to promote inter-house relations. We all have to make a sock kit for someone in their house colors. It is a secret swap, so they aren't supposed to know who is making stuff for them. I will say, that I have a Slytherin. There aren't a lot of them participating so it might be a bit easy for them to figure it out. But we'll see. If I at least tell you it is a Slytherin, I can let you see pictures of what I'm making. I get so excited about making things for my swap partner I keep forgetting that I will be getting something in return. In lovely Ravenclaw colors.
The best part of this whole thing is we have special permission from the Headmistress to go into Hogsmeade, even as a first year. Otherwise, we would have an awful time trying to find stuff for our partner. I went yesterday and found the perfect fabric. I was going to knit a bag, but one of my fellow Ravenclaws offered to share her sewing machine. And I wrote my Mum to send me a pattern. I bought a lot of fabric so maybe I'll have some to spare to make a few extra things.

2008-01-09T17:58:00.000-08:00

Your Patronus would be an Eagle!
Your patronus would take the form of an Eagle. Eagles are thought to be the divine spirit rulers of the skies. They symbolize power, courage and guidance. They are associated with prosperity, success and wealth. Eagles are brave warriors, who fight until death. They are persistent and stubborn. With keen endurance, strength and valor, eagles are tough adversaries.

Take this quiz!

Wand shopping

2008-01-09T17:54:00.000-08:00

Dear Diary,
I forgot to tell you about my wand. It is Holly with Kelpie Hair core. Of course I looked up information about my wand. I'm a Ravenclaw after all.

Holly is the strongest of the protective woods. It is used to guard against evil in fact Holly means "holy". Holly wands excel at combat, defense, and protection spells. It is also useful in glamour's and warding. This wand tends to pick an owner who's brave and pure of heart, not to mention has a high intelligence.
Holly's personality is Determined
Element: Fire
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

I hope I don't have too much conflict with a Fire wood and Water core. Maybe it will keep the wand balanced.

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

get your own wand!

Common Room Emergency

2008-01-09T13:29:00.000-08:00

So the students in my house are great. We even have a knitting night. Which is tonight. Unfortunately, a 1st year Ravenclaw got a little carried away and thought that she could fill her glass with a simple Aguamenti charm, but somehow the charm did more than she wished! The Ravenclaw Common room has been soaked with water! Drapes are dripping and cushions are soaked, however there is no water on the floor. Everyone has been running around trying to figure out what to do.

I'm not going to worry about it, since the water is a conjured item, it should dissapear within a few hours. But since several people seem to be uncomfortable, perhaps I should suggest a hot air charm would allow us to quickly dry our robes. I was reading ahead in the Standard Book of Spells by Miranda Goshawk. I know I saw something that would work.

Of course, conjuring spells are NEWT level. Even I wouldn't attempt Aguamenti. I don't know what that student was thinking.

Made it to Hogwarts

2008-01-07T13:17:00.000-08:00

Wow Diary, it has been a crazy few days. It turns out that not only was I going shopping with Nana, but that I was leaving for Hogwarts from my Nana's. We went shopping in a place called Diagon Alley. It had everything a witch or wizard could want. My Nana even got me a couple presents in honor of my acceptance. She got me my very own cat. I named her Ashes. She is almost black, but if you look at her in some light she looks like a white and grey stripped cat that rolled in a bucket of ashes. Hence her name. Nana also gave me one of Aunt Emma's books. It was One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi by Phyllida Spore. But the best part it, it is full of Aunt Emma's notes and pictures and all sorts of tips and tricks. I can't wait for this class now.

We had a big ceremony at the beginning of school. There we all got to sit under the sorting hat. I was sorted into the Ravenclaw house. I would have liked Hufflepuff since that is where Aunt Emma was, but everyone seems so great. Now it is time for bed. This all seems like a dream.

I got my letter of acceptance

2008-01-01T07:20:00.000-08:00

Dear Diary,

Oh my Goodness!!! I got a letter today that has changed my life. I have been accepted into Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I am so excited. I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. Mum gave me this new diary. Said it belonged to my great aunt Emma. She also said it was magical and that I should treat it as if I were talking to a person. So I'll introduce myself and tell you a bit about me.

My name is Cassandra, Cassandra Hopkirk. I am 11 years old and I live in Cambridge, England with my mum and dad. They didn't seem to shocked to find out I am a witch. In fact, when I got the letter, they sat me down for a talk. Seems that my great aunt Emma (she's my Nana's sister) was a witch too. A right good one apparently. She went to Hogwarts when she was a girl. She was a Hufflepuff (not sure what that means). Apparently Emma was real popular at family reunions where she was famous for turning people into ferrets. Apparently she was real good at herbology (something about plants) and when she got out of school, she opened a flower shop with my Nana. Which happened to be the same one I have worked at with my Nana for the past 2 summers. Unfortunately I never got to meet Aunt Emma. She died when I was a little baby. I bet she would have been fun. But it does explain a lot about some of the plants that are kept in the back room of the shop. I'm not supposed to be in there, but I snuck in. I swore up and down that one of the plants tried to bite me. Of course Nana said I was being silly, but now I think not. But I am excited to learn a bit about this Herbology business.

I'm glad Mum gave me this diary. Especially if it was Aunt Emma's. It gives me a great place to talk about all this stuff, since Mum and Dad seem a bit out of their element, but excited. They said that Nana can answer more of my questions then they can so we are going to visit next weekend. She lives in London so Nana said we'll go shopping then too. Hopefully she knows where to find all this stuff. Where in the world do you buy a cauldron?