What a fun assignment!

Spell Creation: Come up with an incantation for the following situations.

1- A fellow classmate never lets you speak in a conversation. What incantation do you mutter under your breath? What happens to your classmate when you say the incantation?

Tempero silencio- Their lips are stuck together until I have my say and utter the counter, relashia silencio


2- You’ve just entered a Muggle city in complete wizard clothing and a restroom cannot be found to change out of your outfit. What charm or spell do you say to change what you are wearing?

Vetemus changimus (the pronunciation of this spell is key, as it was created by a clever French witch, who did not have a lot of closet space and hated to wear the same clothes over and over)


3- You are riding a bicycle along on a country road and suddenly notice your tire is flat and needs air. What spell do you perform to give your tire air?

Aria filatia (But be sure to aim your wand just right, or the air won't make it into the tire!)


4- You are reading a valuable and one-of-a-kind book, and, quite unusually, you’ve left your quills and parchment in the dorm. You only have your wand for assistance. Create a spell for highlighting or remembering the important pieces of text without harming the book.

Textus Acendius - it literally takes a copy of the text that will seperate from the page that I can fold like a piece of parchment and put in my pocket or bag.


Muggle Studies: Write a small paragraph about the following objects. What are they used for? Do you have any personal experience with them?

Being Muggle-raised and having done well in Muggle Studies, I am very familiar with all of these objects! And as Muggles don't have wands and simple incantations to make it through day-to-day life, all of these things come in handy!

The first is what Muggles call an iron. It is used to press the wrinkles out of ones clothes by heating up the metal plate on the flat side and moving the iron, by the handle, across the fabric. Do not touch that plate while it is on, and don't touch it until after it has cooled down, or you may be sent off to Madame Pomfrey, or even Saint Mungo's, to treat the burn! I have used an iron many times, and once even forgot to take the sticker off of that metal plate (it was a brand new, never before used iron) before turning it on and ended up with a seriously sticky mess! (True story!)

The second Muggle contraption shown is called a lawn mower. There are blades on the underside of this object that, when you push it across a lawn, cut the grass. Be careful to not put any body parts near these blades, or you will very likely find yourself in St. Mungo's! There is an opening in the bottom section that allows the cut grass to be pulled up into the bag on the back of the mower so that the cut grass is not just laying everywhere in an untidy fashion. I have personally never used a lawn mower (also true!), but have seen a lawn mowed many times.

The next invention of the Muggle mind is called a can opener. This device is used by lining up the blades on the top of a can of food and turning the handle. The handle will then turn the blades so that they go all the way around the top of the can, and cut open the lid. I have my own can opener, and Muggles have improved the technology on can openers in recent years so that when the can is opened, there are no sharp edges on the can or the lid after the cutting is done!

Lastly, we have the baseball bat. This object is used in an American Muggle sport called baseball. There are two teams, consisting of nine players each that spread out all over the baseball diamond. (Note: This is not a real diamond, like a gem, but rather the term used for the feild baseball is played on. Sorry if I got the hopes of any witches up...) The idea of baseball is to use the bat to hit the ball that is pitched to you so that you can run around and touch each base to get back to where you started and earn a "run." A full, more in-depth explanation can be found here. I have many times played two-man baseball with my brother growing up in the backyard. Little did I know that when I said "ghost on first" to run back and bat again, he didn't see the actual ghost "dummies" that actually came to save my spot when I needed them to! Ahh, the pains of being the only witch in a Muggle family...


Magical Clubs and Associations: Use your creativity to tell us what the following clubs/associations are based on their acronyms. Is the club/association open to all? Members only? Requirements to belong? Have some creative and clever fun with this. Elaborate as you wish!

1- The HAGS association (or Herbologists Against Gutted Shrubbery) is an association that opposes the felling of forests and shrubbery. This committee is also active in the Muggle world in attempts to keep Muggles from happening across magical plants, though the main objective of the group is to conserve Magical Herbs in their natural habitat. Membership is open to all lovers of herbs, Magical and Muggle, who wish to preserve the planet.

2- The club of SQUEALers (or Sinister Quangs Unearthed from Every Aspect of Life-ers) is a group that is a safe place for witches and wizards to go if they suspect Dark Wizard activity in their workplace or home and fear for their safety. Their name "pays tribute" to a Dark Vietnemese wizard that supressed magic folk and Muggles alike when he sought to control a large section of southeast Asia.

3- The THE club (or Trendy and Hot Elitists) is an exlcusive club that caters to the hobbies and desires of those that are carefully hand-selected for membership. This can include interests from finding out why Muggles dress the way they do to discussing the latest hairstyles in the Wizarding world to coming up with new sports (less taxing than Quidditch, naturally) to play. There is no need to apply. If you are worthy to be in this club, they will contact you.

4- The association of FIRE and ICE (or Firing Incantations in Relaxed Environments and In Catastrophic Events) is a dueling club for of-age witches and wizards that wish to better their dueling skills, which come in handy when confronted by a Dark Wizard. To apply, contact the Ministry of Magic's Defense Department. The minimum age requirement is 17.

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!

OMGoshOMGoshOMGoshOMGoshOMGoshOMGoshOMGoshOMGoshOMGoshOMGosh!!! I am sooooooooooooooooooooooo excited!!! Okay, so the plans to make the get-together by the Floo Network weren't definite enough, and when travelling with two poltergeists, there's just so much to think about anyway, that being able to make the connection to get to where you're trying to go just isn't a pleasant thought. So we will be travelling by Muggle (commercial) means! I have spent the day looking up prices for plane tickets and hotel fares and sightseeing destinations in Edinburgh...and I was told I could go!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Okay, so that was the biggest thing...

Next on what's been happening around here...I got a visit from my BFF at Beauxbatons! (Note: this is the visit previously mentioned that did not happen IRL...) We spent the day around Venice after the stop at the Pub in Hogsmeade for the quiz. How did we get to Venice from Hogsmeade and back again, you ask?....I cannot answer. ;) But we had some of the best gelato, and she told me the most amazing thing! She was right to not trust it to the confines of parchment...If she had and that letter had been intercepted, who knows what Ministry officials would be pounding on her door?

I lost my hat duel in the first round. :( I swear that once I have a reliable owl service again (and I am absolutely positive that is no fault on Persephone's part), I will actually progress in the duel bracket...But Clara Clovenhoof sent me a hat of the lovliest Ravenclaw blue! Sadly, it does not fit, so I will be passing it along to a playmate of my poltergiests. She is four and loves hats. :) Here is the fullness of what awaited me once the stun wore off...

The "R" is for Ravenclaw, and the sticker is an otter, my patronus. :)

And here is the younger poltergiest modeling the gorgeous hat! :)

And it just seems to be my time to get packages! I got my SSV package on the mail a couple days ago, too! Thank you, Cassandra Goode! I love it!

The poem was too cute (I really and truly loved it!), and I didn't know that the conversation hearts even came in chocolate! And the bookmark is currently holding my spot in Wicked. :) (I'm finally getting closer to done with the book!)

I noticed that Knitsy's been on the prowl again...she is so much fun! I love reading the dirt on other people! Er, I mean...uh...crap, there's no recovering from that. ;) Still awaiting the results of the Pub Quiz, too...I wonder how Knitsy knows who the winner is! But I need to grab my books and head to the library. There's a new 'Claw assignment that's pestering me to be done!

Ciao!

I'm It! I'm It!!!

Yay! I was finally tagged! I've been waiting for this moment like an excited child waiting to be picked for a game of dodgeball at recess! So without further ado....The Picture Game!

1. Go to your pictures on your computer

2. Open the 6th folder

3. Choose the 6th picture

4. Show the picture on your blog and write something about it.

5. Invite 6 new people to this challenge.

6. Link to them and let them know they have been tagged.

Woo-hoo! This is a picture from my European adventures! And this is actually one of my favorite pictures from my trip to Salzburg. This is actually when we were on the road going to Austria. Such a beautiful sunrise! It was truly breathtaking, and I wish I could have captured what it was truly like on film, because this picture is no comparison to actually getting to witness firsthand the beauty of the sun peeking up over the top of the majestic Swiss Alps on a cold, crisp November morning!

And I'm not sure yet who I'm going to tag...I'm going to investigate how many haven't been tagged yet (or at least not posted yet, lol) and add that later...

Let the games begin!

1. What momentous event was the reason that the members of the Order of the Phoenix felt it necessary to move Harry out of the Dursley’s house?



a. The start of the new school year
b. The Dursleys kicking him out
c. Voldemort’s escape from Azkaban
d. Harry’s upcoming birthday



2. Who revealed the actual date of Harry’s transfer to Voldemort, despite the misinformation the Order had been spreading around that the move would occur on the eve of his actual birthday?

a. Mundungus
b. Snape
c. Yaxley
d. Shacklebolt


3. With the use of Polyjuice Potion (and to confuse any possible attack by Death Eaters), six member of the Order were disguised as Harry and escorted out of Privet Drive, along with the real Harry. Which member of the order did not survive that night?

a. Mad-Eye Moody
b. Nymphadora Tonks
c. Hagrid
d. George Weasley


4. Who informed Harry, Ron and Hermione of the bequests left to them in Dumbledore’s will?

a. Kingley Shaclebolt
b. Minerva McGonagall
c. Arthur Weasley
d. Rufus Scimgeour


5. During the wedding celebration for Bill and Fleur, Kingley Shacklebolt sent a Patronus to tell the guests that the Ministry had fallen, Scrimgeour (the Minister) was dead and the wedding celebration was about to be attacked by Death Eaters. What form did the Patronus take?

a. A lynx
b. An otter
c. A doe
d. A stag


6. Escaping from the wedding to London, our three friends found themselves confronted by a pair of Death Eaters, disguised as workmen. This close brush impressed on them the need to find someplace to hide. Where did they decide to go?

a. The Leaky Cauldron
b. Sirius Black’s house
c. The Dursley’s house
d. Ron’s Auntie Muriel’s house


7. Kreacher’s animosity towards Harry, Ron and especially Hermione (a Mudblood) was well documented in book five, “The Order of the Phoenix.” His initial interaction with them showed that his attitude had not changed. How did they win him over?

a. By giving him clothes and his freedom
b. They didn’t win him over!
c. By giving him something to eat
d. By giving him Regulus Black’s old locket


8. Who did they eventually find was in possession of the locket Horcrux?

a. Severus Snape
b. Lucius Malfoy
c. Lord Voldemort
d. Dolores Umbridge


9. What did Harry find embedded in the door of Umbrdige’s office?

a. Moody’s magical eye
b. Nymphadora’s purple hair
c. Hedwig’s head
d. George Weasley’s ear


10. After retrieving the Horcrux, they tried to return to their safe place but they were pursued (actually Yaxley tagged along when they disapparated). This meant that the Death Eaters knew their hiding place and they had to go somewhere else. Where did Hermione take them?

a. To Godric’s Hollow
b. To the Forbidden Forest
c. Back to the Burrow
d. To the site of the Quidditch World Cup




Picture Scavenger Hunt

The pictures must be posted on your blog or at least linked to from your blog. Make sure that the links work or you will not get credit.


Mad-Eye Moody








Nymphadora Tonks

George Weasley








The Dursley's House







Kreacher

Hauntings in the Tower

I've sighted some ghosts in the dorm! I hope that their "boo"s haven't bothered my roomies, Rowena and Fleur!

With a face like that, though, it's hard to be truly scared. ;)

So my bestest best friend in the entire world is going to be visiting me here at Hogwarts soon! (Note: this is purely a role playing visit...she won't be able to come to Italy until next year at the earliest...) She is a student at Beauxbatons and has been jealous of my talk of the Nutella gelato I got the other day (which is truth! That stuff was gooooooooooooooooooooooooooooood!!!) and she says she has some news that she says she can't trust to owl post...

In crafting news...I've hit a lull in my spoilee's bag. I really like the look of it, but it's brainless and not challenging at all, so I'm kind of bored with it. I may change the pattern I use as a result. We shall see. I have yet to find a yarn store nearby, and I am beginning to wonder if it's because Muggles can't see the shops and I'm asking the wrong people. Of course, if I would actually ask some locals, I'm sure I'd be more liekly to find one, but I feel so arrogant, ignorant, and extremely egocentric to be talking to Italians in Italy and expect them to speak English to communicate with me...

And may I just say that Knitsy sure is an elf in the know...I wonder how she finds out the things she does... ;)

And I am really looking forward to Hogsmeade this weekend! A visit to the owlery is definitely in order, with all the packages I have to send out...I need to stock up at WWW and Honeydukes! I'm sure I'll be catching up with friends at Madame Rosemarta's. :)

Ravenclaw House Quiz

Ravenclaw Week 2 Assignment

1- What form does your Patronus take? What does it symbolize for you?

What Patronus Charm would you create?

Sea Otter You would create an Otter Patronus just like Hermione. Your personality must be intelligent, determined, thoughtful, and graceful.

How do you compare? Take this test! Tests from Testriffic

2- Did you bring a cat, an owl, a toad, or other pet with you? What is their name?

I brought my brand new owl, Persehpone, with me. :)

3- What is your favorite class here at Hogwarts?

I have so many! LOL But I think Arithmancy and Ancient Ruins are probably the most interesting. :)

4- What is worth sneaking out of the castle for, even if you got caught?

Run the risk of expulsion?! "Now I'm going to bed before either of you come up with another clever idea to get us killed. Or worse, exeplled!" It would take a pretty serious (as in life or death situation) for me to be sneaking out!

5- What has made you laugh so hard that you've had butterbeer come out your nose?

Remembering Draco being turned into a ferret...

6- What yarn do you covet? Link please...

Mmmm...there are quite a few I wouldn't mind adding to my collection...but today (as this opinion changes daily, lol), I'm going to go with Noro.

7- What is your favorite flavor... the one thing you could simply not live without? Is brand important?

Hmmm, I have a couple of favorites. Pumpkin, cherry, strawberry, orange...pretty much any fruity flavor. :) And no, brand doesn't really matter.

8- How many HSKS terms have you participated in?

This is my second year. :)

9- Do you have a birthday, anniversary or other big Muggle event during this year at Hogwarts? If yes, please tell us what.

The biggest event I have this term is my older son turns 4 on April 30th. :) (My birthday was last term.)

10- You in 5 words.

Loud

Opinionated

Motherly

Listener

Wacky

Can you guess who I swiped these quizzes from...?

60 As a 1930s wife, I am Superior Take the test!

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You Belong in 1952

You're fun loving, romantic, and more than a little innocent. See you at the drive in!

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Which High School Musical Character Are You?

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First homework of the term...

...and it's not even for 'Claws! LOL I just can't help it...I like homework! ;)

What are your three most favorite colors? blue, blue and blue. LOL (I do also really like purple, green and black, though.)

What are your three least favorite colors? the puke-y ones...like puke green, booger green, dirt brown...the ones with no life, really, lol

Your favorite candy is Reece's (it's my Achilles' Heel...the one candy I can't say no to...).

Draco, Lucius, or Snape? Snape

Do you knit, crochet, or both? both, but have been crocheting a LOT longer, and generally find it faster and easier

What type of kit did you ask for? Uhhh...I don't remember now...LOL I think I left it open...

Acrylic—has its uses, should all be burned, best yarn to work with (choose one)? It certainly has it's uses, and it's almost all I've ever used! For years!...I am SO ready to move up in the fiber world! LOL

Who is the Slytherin Head Girl this term? Quinn, I think...who used to be a 'Puff.....prefect?

Name four “extras” you would love to receive in your kit: sock blockers! (I own none as of yet), maybe a kit or instructions or pieces to make stitch markers...I really wanna learn how to make them!, ummm...I dunno. I'll trust Lizzie's judgement. :) She did an AMAZING job last term with spoiling Eugene, so I know I'm in good hands. ;)

What are your three most favorite scents? Mmmmm...pumpkin pie...pear...and rain. :)

Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks? it depends on my mood, but I like both, as a general rule :)

Which Slytherin is the Keeper of the Crucio List? I believe it to be a certain Cassandra Puddlemere, but am not 100% certain...
Do you really need more stitch markers? I have some, but would never say no to more! :)

Dpns, circular, or straight? I've become quite attached to my circs...

What yarn makes you squee? I haven't had enough experimenting outside of acrylic to really know! :(

Favorite HP Movie? Ooooooooh...ummm.....the fourth one, actually, I think. Or maybe the third. I can't wait to see the 6th! :D

Favorite HP character? Hermione! (duh! LOL) She is SO me! I also really like Molly Weasley. She reminds me of my best friend's mom, and I love her to pieces! And, of course, Minerva McGonagall.

Who was your first choice for DADA professor? Eh, I don't really pay attention to all that. I mean, I voted for Colin Firth, just because I thought it would be interesting, but to be honest, I'm not here to drool over the profs. I'm here to learn! ;)

What is the Slytherin Common Room called? The Snake Pit

What makes you worthy of being in Slytherin House? I'm in Ravenclaw...that's more qualified than being in the Snake Pit! ;P

My Nerdi-ness! :)