Agatha's Hogwarts Happenings

Am I in time?

2009-12-05T15:54:00.000-08:00

Why do I always remember about blogging late on Saturday nights? /sigh... I went to try out spinning wheels this morning! I'm getting one for Christmas. I really like the Kromski wheels and have narrowed it down to the Fantasia or the Minstrel. Any thoughts?

Happy Thanksgiving!

2009-11-27T17:27:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving everyone (albeit a bit belated)! I'm on a bunch of cold medicines so I'm all doped up :( The only good part about being sick is lots of time to lay around and knit :)

Argh

2009-11-15T07:34:00.000-08:00

Sorry that I didn't get a chance to post last week. I haven't been feeling well :( I went to a new spinning group meeting yesterday then crashed...

Favorite Season Odd Duck Swap!!!

2009-11-05T19:13:00.000-08:00

Here is my AMAZING package from the favorite seasons odd duck swap on ravelry! My favorite season was spring and my pal (amandaleigh) did a fantastic job putting an amazing package together for me :) Here are the pictures:

And I even got a visitor! :)

I'm back :)

2009-11-03T08:30:00.000-08:00

I'm back from my fabulous Vegas vacation! I have two other swap packages to send out this week then I will be totally focused on my HSKS pal :) I have a bunch of neat ideas from patterns I picked up on my trip!

Last Post for a Few Days

2009-10-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

This is my last post until November 3rd! I'm headed out to Las Vegas for a delayed honeymoon :)

HSKS8 Angel Package!

2009-10-19T05:50:00.001-07:00

I received an angel kit from Wisty for HSKS8 on Saturday! It came at the perfect time because I was planning on shopping for a project to take with me to Las Vegas next week. Now I have something to work on! :)

Here are the pictures:

HSKS Assignment

2009-10-17T12:32:00.000-07:00

1. Someone with the same craft as you (either those listed above or another one).

Cassandra Grubbly-Plank has several of the same crafts as I do.

2. Someone who was born in the same month. -

Siobhan Mooney and I are both December babies!

3. Someone from a different country. –

Emma Wigworthy is from a different country than me.

4. A new HSKS Quidditch player. -

Albatross Harbinger is a new Quidditch player.

5. A player who has been in 3 or more HSKS swaps. –

Wisteria Lovegood has been in more than three HSKS swaps.

6. A player who has a bigger stash than you! (And if your stash is the biggest, proudly say so!) -

Celeena Cree has a bigger stash than I do.

7. A player who both knits and crochets. -

Olive Bumblebirch knits and crochets.

8. Someone who has the same favorite color as you. -

Violet Starfire shares two of my favorite colors: green and pink!

Wish List

2009-10-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorites / wishes for HSKS9:

Yarn brand and/or fiber choices: I like soft yarns for most things. I use a lot of cotton, natural fibers / blends in my projects but I would also like to use new and/or more "exotic" yarns. Pretty much anything from a LYS would be new to me, aside from cascade 220. I do not like novelty yarns unless I'm using them for a very specific project (like the hedgehog I knit for my hubby this summer).

Hook/needle loves: I have a set of Denise's interchangable needles but I could use smaller sizes. I like the steel addi turbos and also bamboo (like the knitpicks harmony needles). I don't have a lot of "nice" crochet hooks. I break the plastic and most aluminum crochet hooks pretty easily :( It would be nice to have a nice crochet hook or two or set.

Snacks, coffee/tea: I love chocolate, but usually in moderation :) I also like fruity snacks (such as gummi bears or craisins). My favorite guilty pleasures are skittles, Milky Way midnight bars, air heads and gummi bears.

Allergies: Only seasonal allergies but avoid smoke please :)

Music: My tastes in music range from country to alternative rock.

Books: I used to read a lot but these days I don't have a ton of time! I like Steven King, James Patterson, Jodi Piccoult and knit lit among others. The last book I read was Julie and Julia and it was amazing :) I try to carry a paperback with me where ever I go but lately I haven't been reading too much.

Patterns: I have some patterns faved on ravelry. I knit a lot of fingerless gloves, scarves and bags (I -love- bags!). I would love to start knitting bigger projects for myself (like a shawl, or a sweater) but I fear large projects! They all usually end up in my stash :(

Scented/unscented items: My favorite scents are lavender vanilla, vanilla, and chocolate.

I hope this helps! I love handmade items since I usually knit for others and not for myself :) I like learning about other parts of the world and country so if you can include something regional in your package that would be awesome (even if its just a postcard).

2009-08-17T18:56:00.000-07:00

Trying dyeing this weekend! For the first time :) I'm so glad I found a fellow knitter at my new job. Its been so much fun having someone to talk fiber with :) :) :)

I'm going spinning :)

2009-08-07T09:33:00.000-07:00

I'm going to my very first fiber spinning meetup this weekend! I'm nervous but excited :) Hopefully I will be able to post pictures of my yarn this weekend. I've been spinning on a drop spindle for awhile but its not going so hot. It looks okay but I'm still not 100% satisfied with how it looks. Plus, I TOTALLY forgot how to ply it. So hopefully I'll be able to figure that out this weekend!

Anxious ...

2009-08-01T08:01:00.001-07:00

I'm starting my new job on Tuesday and am really nervous. I think its been because I've had such a long time off and its a totally new area for me. Keep your fingers crossed that I'll do okay!

Summer Camp Game #5

2009-07-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

1. Man or mouse? (4) ANIMAGUS

2. Start spreading the news (4) DAILY PROPHET

3. Stick Tree Guardian (3) BOWTRUCKLE

4. Telescoping eavesdropper (5) EXTENDABLE EAR

5. Brassicaceae danglers (4) RADISH EARRINGS

6. Prohibited Ggowth of trees (5) FORBIDDEN FOREST

7. Metallic rosy-faced child with wings (4) GOLDEN CHERUB

8. Fleshless black-winged skeleton (2) THESTRAL

9. Lofty philosopher (5) HIGH INQUISITOR

10. Instructive Order (7) EDUCATIONAL DECREE

Oh, and by the way...

2009-07-15T14:51:00.000-07:00

... I'm a DOCTOR now!!! :) I successfully defended my PhD dissertation last Friday :) :) :)

No more school for me!

Followup on truths / lie

2009-07-15T14:46:00.000-07:00

My lie was that I cook to de-stress. I can't cook to save my life!

Here's a little more about my truth's:
1. I can play six musical instruments - Yup, although probably not very well anymore. I could at one time play clarinet, flute, baritone horn, guitar, trumpet and oboe, among others (like bass clarinet).

3. I have a publication in the library of congress. - Yes indeed I do. I did a project in college detailing my grandfather's experiences in Korea for my folklore class. The professor liked it so much that she submitted it as part of a Korean war veterans stories project. I'm not sure where its found in the library, but I'm told its all there somewhere :)

4. I ran a half marathon in high school - I ran cross country so I ran approximately 12+ miles daily for training. Our first practice required a 13.1 mile run through the HILLS around our town. I ran the whole thing without stopping. Now, I can't run for more than a few yards without getting winded but I've started walking in hopes of getting back and shape and running the country music half marathon next spring.

Truths and a lie

2009-07-07T07:15:00.000-07:00

1. I can play six musical instruments.
2. I love to cook as a way to de-stress.
3. I have a publication in the library of congress.
4. I ran a half marathon in high school.

2009-07-05T06:35:00.000-07:00

Sorry Pixies! I was traveling home to Tennessee yesterday (after 5 wonderful weeks at home in MD) so I was a bit out of it last evening and forgot to post =( This week is going to be very very very hectic, as I'm defending my PhD dissertation on Friday!!! Good news is that it will all be over on Friday (I hope).

Still alive...

2009-06-27T18:09:00.000-07:00

I'm still alive! I'm preparing for my dissertation defense and have traveled home to Maryland to do so. I've gotten a LOT of knitting and crocheting done so I'll have to post pics sometime this week.

/sigh ... my poor mother

2009-06-20T05:46:00.000-07:00

This is the kind of morning we've been having:

I'm trying to teach my mom to knit and she decided to re-roll her yarn into a ball before startng her project... In doing so, she ended up with a ginormous knot... Know what I'm doing all day, lol.

My Kit!

2009-05-04T09:05:00.003-07:00

My package arrived via Owl Post on April 20th.

Before ....

After ...

A Very Pretty Felted Bag (my first felted bag ever!)

A tool pouch complete with Ravenclaw badge and stitch markers:

Candy!!!

What my DH calls the most evil jelly beans ever...

Yarn! Very Pretty :)

Coffee and a pretty coffee cup from Starbucks!

Chocolate Froggies and Loofas:

A Card from the Floo Network:

Inside of Floo Network Card:

Drawstring Bag Pattern:

2009-04-29T07:20:00.000-07:00

I'll be sending an owl to Amethyst Aurag later today! I feel bad for taking so long but I'm writing my dissertation 12+ hours a day so I haven't seen daylight since Friday... Even though I'm only heading out to the post office, it'll be nice to be outdoors!

Owl Received!

2009-04-20T19:53:00.000-07:00

I just received an amazing package from my spoiler, Ophelia Ballycastle! I'll post pictures tomorrow when DH is able to upload them for me :)

I'm taking the purse to work with me tomorrow (its the very first felted bag I've ever owned) and the coffee mug is currently in use :)

My own spoilee's package is coming together nicely. I received the items I ordered today and just have to do a little more sewing this weekend to put liner in her bag. I should be able to ship it next Monday.

Quidditch Round 3

2009-04-17T11:18:00.000-07:00

1. This “Harry Potter” character’s first name comes from Roman mythology. The mythological character’s twin brother is named Romulus. What is the Harry Potter character last name?

b. Lupin

2. Which “Harry Potter” character’s first name is the Roman equivalent of the Greed Goddess Athena?

c. McGonagall

3. In ‘Harry Potter’ World, this wizard has created the Philosopher’s Stone (called the Sorcerer Stone in the US). The historical figure from the 14th and 15th centuries was a scribe and a manuscript-seller who became famous as an alchemist. Who is this individual?

Nicholas Flammel

4. What is the first name of a character whose last name is the name of a Bulgarian leader from early 9th century who doubled the country’s territory?

c. Viktor

5. Which character’s name is the name of goddess in Indian mythology?

b. Patil

6. “Where the Wild Things Are” tells the story of Max, a young boy sent to bed without his supper for his wild antics. Who created this winner of the Caldecott Medal?

a. Maurice Sendak

7. What was NOT one of the unexpected defense mechanisms that Harry, Ron, Hermione, and Griphook encountered in their attempt to rob Gringotts?

d. The Geminio Curse

8. What was Snape aiming at when he cut off George’s ear?

c. Another Death Eater’s wand hand

9. How much older than James was Lily? (Referring to Harry’s parents, not children).

d. 2 months

10. Food is one of the five exceptions to what magical law?

b. Gamp’s Law of Elemental Transfiguration

George

McGonagall

Patil

Where the Wild Things Are

Progress...

2009-04-10T07:08:00.000-07:00

I finished my pal's new bag (see previous post for why I was making a 'new' bag) and have started gathering the rest of the kit items. I'm hoping to send before the early deadline but it will probably come down to the end of the month (as always) because I waited so long to order stuff online.

In other news, I accepted a new job last week! I start when I actually finish my PhD... which I'm hoping is sometime this summer. I'm writing my behind off trying to finish the thesis so I'm hoping I can wrap things up by July. In joining this lab, I get a 67% increase in salary and a new laptop computer so I definitely chose well :)

I'm off to write the last dueling club posts and to knit knit knit.

Proof that I'm a little crazy ...

2009-04-02T19:32:00.000-07:00

So I just finished my pal's handmade item (a bag). Its great! I love it! Too bad, my pal is in ravenclaw and I made a gryffindor bag (*facepalm*).

Luckily, my sister will happily take the bag off my hands but still, I was so proud to make the early deadline and to earn those extra 10 house points and then I realized that when I checked my match email last week I accidentally looked at my spoiler's information and not my spoilee's info. ARGH!

Le Sigh ...

2009-03-27T20:38:00.000-07:00

So, my laptop is all fixed ... after spending a whopping $350 on it, yes, its finally working. I realize that for $350 I could have a new laptop but I'm still paying for this one so it seemed better to keep it running at least until I can pay it off. I paid $250 at the repair place to have the DC jack replaced. It seemed like a rip off (and probably was) but I need my computer for work and home so I just sucked it up and paid it. BUT, after getting it home this evening, I realized my AC adaptor was making a chirping noise which my DH tells me is the sound an adaptor makes when its dying... Why they didn't tell us about the broken AC adapter at the repair place, I'll never know. But a quick trip to Best Buy (where I realized that I could now buy my exact laptop for half the price I paid two years ago, grrrrrr) and $100 on a new adapter later, I'm blissfully blogging, checking ravelry and over a week's worth of emails.

Quidditch - Round 2

2009-03-15T11:49:00.000-07:00

1. On which day did the Order of the Phoenix come to get Harry?
c. Saturday

2. During all this chaos with voldemort and the Death Eaters, people still had lives to live and Ron's oldest brother, Bill decided to marry Fleur Delacour? Who were the uninvited guests at Bill and Fleur's wedding?
b. Death Eaters

3. Voldemort had seven Horcruxes hidden in different places. Six of them were hidden at the Gaunt shack, Hogwarts, a cave, inside Harry, inside his snake, Nagini and Tom Riddles Diary. Did Voldemort hide the last Horcrux inside the Malfoy's vault at Gringotts?
b. No

4. Why did the Dumbledore's move to Godric's Hollow?
c. The father went to Azkaban

5. Harry and Hermione read a part of "Life and Lies of Albus Dumbledore," written by Rita Skeeter. Then they met Dumbledore's brother Abeforth and he told them the same story, just with a few details changed. Which of the following did Aberforth and Rita Skeeter agree on about Dumbdore's past?
b. That Dumbledore was friends with Grindelwald for a while.

6. When Harry and Hermione visit Godric's Hollow, they visit the graveyard to see Harry's parent's graves. Harry walks by a tombstone that we later learn belong to tone of "The Three Broother'. The brother buried there once owned what?
b. The cloak

7. The Trio finds out that Luna had been kidnapped by the Death Eaters , and that they won't give her back until they got Harry Potter. Why did they kidnap Luna?
a. Her father sided with Harry and Dumbledore

8. After Voldemort killed Snape, he left the room and Harry came out from under the cloak. Snape gave Harry some of his memories all the way from when he was a child to just months before. Harry dived into the Pensieve and which of the following did he not see?
c. Snape and Lily having fun in a potions class

9. On the search of the Lost Diadem, Harry finally gets to takl to the Gray Lady. Who was the Gray Lady when she was alive?
c. Helena Ravenclaw.

10. Which of these is not one of Harry or Ron's children?
d. Victoria

Picture Scavenger Hunt These pictures must either be posted to your blog or linked to from your blog.

Lily

Ron

Snape

Luna

Godric's Hollow

Weekly Post

2009-03-14T08:03:00.000-07:00

I hope I made the deadline for the weekly posting. This was a crazy week! I don't have a lot of time to write because today I get to catch up on everything I put off around the house all week long but I did have my first interview on Thursday and they told me THAT DAY that the job is mine if I want it!!!

Woo Hoo!!!

Long week

2009-03-06T21:39:00.000-08:00

In the next week and a half, I have two job interviews that require 45 minute lectures on my PhD thesis (which studies atherosclerosis). In the hopes of making my talk more entertaining, I've been painstakingly searching for cartoons and making animations of cholesterol processing. This was one of my favorites:

Dueling Club - Round Two Brackets

2009-02-28T12:33:00.000-08:00

HSKS7 - Quidditch Round One

2009-02-18T08:38:00.000-08:00

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?
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?
b. Snape

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

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

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?
b. Sirius Black’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?
d. By giving him Regulus Black’s old locket

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

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

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?
d. To the site of the Quidditch World Cup

Images:

Mad-Eye Moody

Nymphadora Tonks

George Weasley

The Dursley's House

Kreacher

HSKS6 Prize

2009-02-11T16:52:00.000-08:00

So, I'm not home yet but my hubby just called and told me that I got a package with my HSKS6 quidditch prize (yes, he opened it... but won't tell me what's in it). I am so wanting to get the heck out of here now! What a great way to end a super busy day :)

HSKS7 Duel Club Brackets

2009-02-11T14:38:00.000-08:00

Yes, I know, the images are too big and they cut off the side. But if you click on them, it will open up a new window with a pretty, nice and shiny bracket picture :)

Glove / Mitten Bracket

Hat Bracket

Yup, Just as I Expected ...

2009-02-06T07:34:00.001-08:00

38%

Just because I'm bored :)

2009-02-05T20:10:00.000-08:00

So, I'm bored and I noticed the slytherin's have a quiz posted, so I figured, why not?

What are your three most favorite colors? Pink, green, blue.
What are you three least favorite colors? Orange, orange and ... orange. (I know, I live in TN, land of the vols, and hate orange so I'm blasphemous but its yucky).
Your favorite candy is Skittles, or Milky Way Midnight candy bars, or craisins.
Draco, Lucius, or Snape? Draco
Do you knit, crochet, or both? Both
What type of kit did you ask for? A bag kit
Acrylic—has its uses, should all be burned, best yarn to work with (choose one)? Has its uses... I use acrylic blends a lot because if I'm making a huge project, its more economical to use at least an acrylic blend.
Who is the Slytherin Head Girl this term? Quinn?
Name four “extras” you would love to receive in your kit. Hmmm, I haven't really thought about it. I like handmade things and surprises :)
What are your three most favorite scents? Vanilla, chocolate, lavender.
Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks? Sweet
Which Slytherin is the Keeper of the Crucio List? I'm not sure, shewhoknits maybe?
Do you really need more stitch markers? Yes and no. I can never seem to find them when I need them and I like handmade ones.
Dpns, circular, or straight? Depends on the project but for most things, I use circs.
What yarn makes you squee? Malabrigo... or Noro... I've never owned / used either though. I do like to 'pet' them when I visit my LYS.
Favorite HP Movie? Order of the Phoenix, so far.
Favorite HP character? Luna Lovegood
Who was your first choice for DADA professor? Eh, didn't really have a preference.
What is the Slytherin Common Room called? No clue :( If I had to guess, I would say the snake pit.
What makes you worthy of being in Slytherin House? I'm not worthy, I'm not worthy, lol

Rough Week ...

2009-01-30T15:50:00.000-08:00

This week has been tough. I had two job interviews (one on Tuesday, one on Thursday); I found out my grandfather was dying (on Wednesday and I'm 600 miles away, which increased the suckage); DH wrecked my car (my first ever new car) on Thursday (he's okay but my car is banged up... just cosmetic damage, if you're looking for the bright side).

I'm thankful its Friday and I have a long weekend ahead of sitting on my butt doing nothing but knitting and watching TV.

Has anyone seen this new comic book?

2009-01-23T19:47:00.000-08:00

I'm totally going out this weekend to find a copy :)

Productive Weekend

2009-01-11T16:24:00.000-08:00

Wow, so I'm back, and having one of the most productive weekends in quite some time. I finished several knitting / crocheting projects and even managed to work on my schoolwork quite a bit. This is the first weekend in a long time that I feel like I've accomplished something :) That, combined with the NFL playoffs, has made this quite a happy weekend for me :)

I'm Back!

2009-01-05T08:51:00.000-08:00

I'm back from the holidays and am catching up on all of the hogwarts action that I missed! Longer post to come later this week :)

Photos of my Swap Package!

2008-11-21T09:12:00.000-08:00

To begin, I must apologize to my wonderful pal CentyB for the delay in posting these photos. My camera cord has been MIA since returning from my wedding so I had to go to Walgreens and have my photos put on CD so that I could upload them.

So, without further delay, here is my wonderful package!

Here's a picture of all of my beautifully wrapped goodies (taken immediately before I shamelessly ripped into them).

And here's all of the goodies in my scarf kit unwrapped:

And now, for some closeups. Here's the yarn (Knitpicks Swish Worsted Weight) for my scarf kit:

Knitpick's Harmony Wood Circulars. As luck would have it, I was getting ready to cast on my sister's Christmas present when the package arrived which required the exact same size needle that came in my package. So, the picture below shows the needles, which are already in use :)

Charmed Knits!!! Woo Hoo!!!

Hand knit socks (CentyB's first toe ups) which are very very warm and cozy. I've already worn them and shown them off and my weekly SnB.

Yummy craisins ... mmmm ... my favorite snack!

Partylite tealight candles and a Mad-Eye Moody bath fizzy! :)

Yummy candies and mints (notice that the toblerone bar didn't last long... I'd never had one before and started eating it while I was opening the rest of my goodies).

And a note pad and clip!

Thanks again CentyB for this wonderful, best-kit-worthy scarf kit!

Quidditch Round 3

2008-11-14T12:29:00.000-08:00

1. Who was Tom Riddle Sr.'s girlfriend before Merope gave him the love potion?
b. Cecilia

2. What does Luna say floated into Harry's ear when he was in the train car that supposedly caused him to lose focus?
c. Wrackspurt

3. How much do the primary Apparition lessons cost?
d. 12 galleons

4. What is Professor Merrythought's first name?
b. Galatea

5. What Hogwarts club was Eileen Prince captain of?
b. Gobstones Club

6. Who is head of the Goblin Liaison office?
b. Dirk Cresswell

7. Mrs. Weasley offers Fleur a goblin-made tiara for the wedding with Bill. What family member is currently in possession of the tiara?
a. Aunt Muriel

8. How many points does Snape take from Gryffindor for Harry's late arrival and muggle attire?
b. 70

9. When Profressory Slughorn first meets Hermione, he asks her whether she is related to Hector Dagworth-Granger. What society did Dgworth-Granger found?
d. The Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers

10. Which of these describes Golpalott's Third Law?
d. The antidote for a blended poison will be equal to more than the sum of the antidotes for each of the separtea components

Ravenclaw Secret Stuffs ...

2008-11-06T23:29:00.001-08:00

1. Astrid Cloverleaf
2. Cassandra Grubbly-Plank
3. Enna Kirts
4. Selena Starfire
5. Henry Longstaff
6. Ceciley Fortescue
7. Mona Ravenscroft
8. Argentia Pascal
9. Prendolyn Wilcox
10. Lizzie Wychwood
11. Ursula Longbottom
12. Rowena Weasley
13. Aurora Curlyfur
14. Lily May Clearwater
15. Megaera Black

Bonus 1. Smileynetta, or Hermione Bagnold
Bonus 2. 37 – which is less than half

Ravenclaw Quiz

2008-10-28T11:54:00.000-07:00

1. What security question does Mr. Weasley ask Mrs. Weasley before he enters the Burrow? What is the answer?

Question: What is Arthur’s nickname for Molly when they are alone together?
Answer: Mollywobbles

2. What two names does Mrs. Cole call Dumbledore when she takes him to see Tom Riddle at the orphanage?

Mr. Dumberton and Dunderbore

3. What is the name of Ginny's Pygmy Puff?

Arnold

4. What three D's are needed for apparating?

Destination, Determination, Deliberation

5. What spell did Harry perform when he was attacked by Dementors?

Expecto Patronum (a.k.a. the Patronus Charm)

6. Who did an arrow salute at Dumbledore's funeral?

The Centaurs

7. What did Dumbledore set on fire to prove to Tom Riddle that he was a wizard?

Tom’s Wardrobe

8. What Christmas present did Kreacher give Harry?

A bunch of maggots

9. What is on top of the Weasleys' Christmas tree?

A stupefied garden gnome that was painted gold, wearing a tutu and had wings glued to his back.

10. What was the most popular item at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?

Nosebleed Nougat

11. Why did Harry threaten to kick Ron off the Griffindor Quidditch team?

Because he was being jerky and had a bad attitude around teammates.

12. What happens if you break an Unbreakable Vow?

You die

13. Who did Hermoine go to Slughorn's party with?

Cormac McLaggen

14. Who is Mrs. Weasley's favorite singer?

Celestina Warbeck

15. Who are the only two people who know the full contents of the prophecy made about Harry and Lord Voldemort?

Harry and Dumbledore

Since I started the hufflepuff quiz, I decided to finish it :)

2008-10-28T11:38:00.000-07:00

Professor Severus Snape was having a terrible morning, and it wasn't even breakfast yet. Someone broke into the Transfiguration classroom the night before, hid a Boggart in the closet, and set loose 269 doxies. How did he know there were 269 doxies? Because each one took a bite out of his thumb as he tried to capture it, and Madame Pomfrey had to fly each wound separately. And comment annoyingly about how Professor Minerva McGonagall would've had the room cleared out with 2 waves of a wand.

It took forever to get out of the infirmary, and by then Professor Severus Snape was in a foul mood. Luckily, he knew how to improve it: by finding the culprits and making him, her or them pay. Severus Snape had overheard some students giggling in the hallways the other day about Agatha Vablatsky's stash of doxy eggs, so he had a good idea of who to interrogate first. Unfortunately for him, but rather fortunately for Agatha Vablatsky, the common room password had recently been changed to Chudley Cannons , so Severus Snape couldn't enter. The Fat Lady looked up from her portrait and laughed at the cursing, frustrated Professor.

The old Professor Severus Snape would have thrown a hissy fit at being taunted by a mere portrait, and blasted the thing all the way into the 3rd floor girl's bathroom. The new Professor Severus Snape went to 17 weeks of Anger Management classes, punched a lot of pillows, and took up Basketweaving. And started subscribing to the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes catalogue.

Professor Severus Snape 's first class off the day was Transfiguration with the 3rd year Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. It took them 2 hours to clean up after the entire carton of Nosebleed Nougat that went off and clung to their robes, schoolbooks, and any exposed flesh. The students all knew that Agatha Vablatsky was planning to do something in Transfiguration to get Professor Severus Snape, so everyone blamed her for the prank and gave her the cold shoulder for 17 days, until Arae Hydra blew up the Divination classroom with a misplaced charm and became the new pariah-of-the-hour.

HSKS6 Coursework

2008-10-22T19:03:00.000-07:00

I'm trying to do a little midweek de-stressing so I've been doing all of the other house's coursework to try to keep my mind off of things for a little while (sad, I know, but I'm really REALLY stressed right now so I'm doing anything I can to get my mind off work / school / life for awhile).

Slytherin Quiz:

1. Where did the first kiss between harry and Ginny occur?

a. The Gryffindor Common Room

2. Severus Snape made an unbreakable vow to whom?

b. Narcissa Malfoy

3. Why is Hagrid upset with Ron, Harry and Hermione?

c. They did not take his class in their 6th year

4. Who is the Half-Blood Prince?

b. Severus Snape

5. At what age are you legally allowed to Apparate?

d. 17

6. How long does it take to brew a batch of Felix Felicis?

c. 6 months

7. What happens if you break an Unbreakable Vow?

c. You die

8. Which one of your roommates snores the loudest?

They’re both pretty quiet, so I would have to say that I’m the loudest between Patonga, Fleur and myself.

9. Which Hogwart's student is secretly dating the new DADA Professor Lucius Whitmarsh?

That’s pretty easy and not much of a secret – Wisteria Lovegoods, of course!

10. Describe your favorite item found in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes!

The Daydream Charm. I use them on myself everyday to get away from the stress of classes.

Gryffindor Assignment - 3:

“OFXMWPOZCP DLJD APZAWP QTYO TE QLC PLDTPC EZ QZCRTGP ZESPCD QZC MPTYR HCZYR ESLY MPTYR CTRSE.”

SPCXTZYP RCLYRPC

“Dumbledore says people find it far easier to forgive others for being wrong than being right.”

Hermione Granger

Hufflepuff Quiz 4:

1. Severus Snape
2. Transfiguration
3. 269
4. Minerva McGonagall
5. Thumb
6. Fly
7. Agatha Vablatsky
8. Chudley Cannons
9. The Fat Lady
10. 3
11. 17
12. Basketweaving
13. Ravenclaw
14. Nosebleed Nougat
15. Arae Hydra
16. Divination

Quidditch Round 2

2008-10-15T11:30:00.000-07:00

1. What animal does the portrait in the Muggle Prime Minster’s office resemble?
b. Frog

2. What drink does Romilda Vane try to give Harry?
a. Gillywater

3. What is the name of the person who heads the Holyhead Harpies?
b. Gwenog Jones

4. How many ‘Exceeds Expectation’ grades does Harry receive in his O.W.L’s?
c. 5

5. What is Professor Sughorn’s favorite candy?
d. Crystallized Pineapple

6. What tattoo is Harry reported to have on his chest?
c. Hippogriff

7. What color robes do the staff at the Weasley’s shop wear?
b. Magenta

8. What is the man outside Flourish and Blotts selling?
a. Amulets

9. How much is the skull, which Hermione enquires about at Borgin and Burkes, worth?
c. 16 Galleons

10. What are Professor Slughorn’s initials?
b. H.E.F.

I would totally try out for this show ...

2008-10-10T12:47:00.000-07:00

I'm Heading Out

2008-10-02T07:07:00.000-07:00

I'm on my way out the door to go to a conference for the weekend but I wanted to blog real quick since I won't be back until Sunday.

Have a good weekend everyone!

Ravenclaw House Quiz

2008-10-01T11:01:00.001-07:00

1. What potion has the strange side effects of excessive singing and nose-tweaking?
An Elixir of Euphoria

2. What ingredient can be used to counteract the effect of the above side effects?
Peppermint

3. How much can you get for Acromantula venom?
One hundred galleons per pint

4. What is the most powerful love potion in the world?
Amortentia

5. What antidote does Harry use to help Ron when he is poisoned by Madam Rosmerta's finest mead?
Bezoar

6. How does Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes' Owl Order Service get their potions past the security at Hogwarts to their customers?
They disguise them in perfume or cough syrup bottles

7. What did Draco Malfoy make in Potions class when Professor Slughorn assigned them to make something amusing?
A hiccuping elixir

8. What spells will not work in an area affected by Instant Darkness Powder?
Light spells, such as Lumos, and fire magic

9. What are the ingredients for the Draught of Living Death?
Asphodel, Wormwood, Valerian Roots, and a single Sophorous Bean

10. How much will unicorn tail hair fetch?
Ten galleons per hair

Extra Credit

Answering the following questions are extra credit and will earn you an additional ticket in the drawing for the prize.

1. Do you prefer to knit or crochet? It depends on the project. For blankets and large items, I like to crochet so it doesn't take forever to finish. I tend to knit smaller projects.

2. What is your favorite weight yarn to knit/crochet with? Worsted weight, especially natural fibers.

3. What fiber contents do you most like to knit/crochet with? What fiber contents do you dislike knitting/crocheting with? Natural fibers are my favorite. I don't like crafting with novelty fibers or really rough / itchy fibers.

4. How many complete pair of socks have you knit/crochet? For myself? None. For family and friends, 4 or 5.

5. What is your favorite item to knit/crochet? BAGS! And blankets :) And an occassional Harry Potter scarf or two.

6. What is your favorite treat? Craisins and chocolate!

7. Do you drink coffee, tea, or both? Only tea.

8. Do you have an online wish list? If so, where? I don't have one.

9. How many Ravelry groups are you in? 28.

10. Is there any special item you have been really wanting, but can't find in your local area? Not really.

Quidditch

2008-09-27T06:45:00.000-07:00

1. At the beginning of the book, Cornelius Fudge is talking to the Muggle Prime Minister. Which member of the Order of the Phoenix has recently been found dead?

c. Emmeline Vance

2. What animal does Bellatrix Lestrange kill when she and her sister, Narcissa, are going to see Professor Snape?

b. Fox

3. What time does Professor Dumbledore collect Harry from Privet Drive?

b. 11 p.m.

4. What did Professor Sluhorn transform into when he was trying to hide from Harry and Professor Dumbledore?

a. An armchair

5. What grade did Harry get for Herbology?

a. E – Exceeds Expectation

6. Herbert Chorley, the Prime Minister’s Junior Minster, has been entertaining the public by impersonating which animal?

b. A duck

7. What is Professor Sprout’s first name?

d. Pomona

8. What is Dumbledore’s idea of ‘a few words’?

d. nitwit, oddment, blubber and tweak

9. Who is Marcus Belby’s famous uncle?

b. Damocles

10. What is Snape’s mother’s name?

b. Eileen Prince

Narcissa
http://www.bbc.co.uk/somerset/content/images/2007/03/08/03_294x440.jpg

Snape
http://melissa.imageworks.dk/graphics/actors/alan3.jpg

Bellatrix
http://www.slashfilm.com/wp/wp-content/images/order2.jpg

Professor Sprout
http://www.hogwartscharacters.co.uk/images/professor_sprout_trans.gif

Professor Dumbledore
http://images.allmoviephoto.com/2004_Harry_Potter_and_the_Prisoner_of_Azkaban/2003_harry_potter_and_prisoner_of_azkaban_003.jpg

HSKS Questionnaire

2008-09-14T07:53:00.001-07:00

Potter Name: Agatha Vablatsky

Rav ID: knitterphd

I am allergic to: Spring and fall (lol) but no fibers or anything like that. Smoke irritates me a bit but I'm not allergic per se

Pets that I have: Two dogs (Daisy - My German Shorthaired Pointer mix and Gigabyte - An Alaskan Eskimo Mix), Two cats (Blaze and Skillet), and Two African Dwarf Frogs (Maggie and Norville)

My favorite yarn: I love soft comfy fibers. I work with wool and cotton mostly and love working with soft superwash fibers.

If you are a Ravenclaw, do you prefer the film colors or the book colors? Movie colors (blue and silver)

My favorite flavor: I can't pick just one! Lavender-vanilla, Chocolate or blueberry would be my top three

My favorite holiday: Christmas

I would like to receive a: I said I wanted a surprise kit on my application but, in thinking about it, I really need a scarf to wear to the HP premiere. Of all of the HP things I've made for myself, I've never made myself an authentic HP scarf!

List your favorite brand of needles or hooks, including size and length: I LOVE my Denise's Interchangables but as far as single needles, I'm a big fan of Addi Turbos. I only have them in sock sizes so, for a scarf kit, I would need larger ones. I tend to work more with circulars too because they're so easy to fold up and tuck in my bag. I think that for the "authentic HP movie scarf" pattern, I would need size 8 circs in 16" length.

Is there a brand that you are dying to try?: I'm always up for trying new needles but there aren't any that I've been specifically looking at.

I've participated in HSKS: (How many times have you participated in HSKS swaps?) This is my third time.

Do you have a birthday during this swap? If so which day? No (Mine is December 30th).

Hem Hem ...

2008-08-04T14:49:00.001-07:00

Owls Flying High!

2008-07-28T09:22:00.001-07:00

In my previous post I mentioned the duel club owl had its target in sight, but I forgot to mention my owl to Miss Arabella Moody. Arabella's owl, which left my house last week, made its scheduled stop in Memphis early this morning and took flight to its final destination. I love online tracking :) I know its totally geeky but I love following the process of packages online.

Duel Club Update

2008-07-27T15:07:00.000-07:00

The tracker on my duel club owl says that my parcel is in Canada and is out for delivery tomorrow! YAY! He's an express owl so he flew super fast :)

Still Recovering, in Many Ways

2008-07-26T07:49:00.000-07:00

This was a very long week. My family left town on Sunday and I spent most of the week dealing with homesickness and missing them :(

My hands still hurt from Tuesday and the duel club. I will probably not do speed knitting again, although I seem to be pretty good at it. I guess its the combination of not having much time in my day to day life to knit and working well under stress. I also realized I have the perfect duel set up at my office. My boss is not in my same location so most of the time, I am able to knit at work. I'm also right around the corner from a post office (literally a few paces) so once I was finished, I could mail it immediately. But in looking at other knitting competitions out there (like hat attack and sock wars) I'm not so sure I could ever do it for a long period of time. There are so many participants that it can take weeks of knitting to compete and I think that the HSKS duel club was more my speed (I can handle knitting 4 hats).

Yesterday was a difficult day as well. It would have been my grandmother's 80th birthday had we not lost her a few years ago. I haven't dealt with my grandmother's death very well, and these little milestones which are supposed to be getting easier to handle seem to be getting much much worse. My SO and I went out for banana splits (her favorite dessert) and it helps having some way to honor her but its still tough.

I'm going to have to do something very special for my fiance when I get through this rough patch. He's been really good about keeping me distracted this week so that it went by a little easier.

Okay, enough of the bad stuff. Arabella, expect your owl early next week! Sorry about all of the delays. I seem to have a little black raincloud that follows me around when it comes to swaps. I always have trouble receiving items I've ordered for swap packages. This time, I even put the order in early to make sure it was delivered and a backordered item (which became backordered AFTER I'd placed the order) slowed its delivery down. It was a key component of the package so I had to wait. I just wish it hadn't taken so long.

I'm going to try to slowly knit a swatch to felt in preparation for the ravelympics. Have a good weekend everyone!

Quidditch Round 3

2008-07-19T05:21:00.000-07:00

I'm on vacation (until tomorrow night) so I've gotta be quick! I just wanted to make sure not to let my fellow ravenclaw's down, so here are my quidditch answers for round 3:

1. When Hagrid returns to Hogwarts after being sent to see the giants with Madame Maxime, Professor Umbridge questions him on his late return to school. She suspects that Hagrid had been to the mountains, but where does he tell her he has been?

d. South of France

2. Professor Umbridge comes to Hagrid's Hut and searches his cabin one evening (as she believes Harry, Ron and Hermione are there visiting him at night when they are not supposed to). When she walks past the place where Harry, Ron and Hermione are hiding under the Invisibility Cloak, Harry holds his breath. True or false?

b. False

3. A stately-looking witch in an emerald green shawl is one of the members of the Advance Guard who rescues Harry from Privet Drive. What is her name?

a. Emmeline Vance

4. What is the name of the witch who was killed two weeks after the photo of the original Order of the Phoenix was taken?

b. Marlene McKinnon

5. Which two fifth year Ravenclaw students does Dumbledore choose to be prefects?

d. Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil

6. Which house was Rose Zeller sorted into?

d. Hufflepuff

7. What is the color of Murtlap's essence?

c. Yellow

8. Name the Ravenclaw girl who became prefect in Harry's fifth year.

b. Padma Patil

9. According to a healer's portrait at St. Mungo's hospital, which disease was Ron suffering from?

d. Spattergroit

10. Which book did Harry give Hermione for Christmas?
a. "New Theory of Numberology"

Picture Scavenger Hunt

Padma Patil

Hannah Abott

Percy

Dumbledore's Army

Cedric Diggory

Dream Swatch Headband

2008-07-09T15:49:00.000-07:00

I really need to get on the ball with this project! I casted on but didn't like the yarn I chose. I haven't had any time to make it to the LYS to get a more suitable yarn though! My family is coming to visit next week and our house was kind of, well ... embarrassingly messy :( Luckily its not DIRTY as much as it is DISORGANIZED. I've been organizing and cleaning for just under two weeks now! UGH! Maybe I can start on the headband while they're in town...

Ravenclaw House Quiz!

2008-07-09T15:24:00.000-07:00

1. What is the literal translation of "Albus Dumbledore"?

Albus Dumbledore literally translates to “white bumblebee”. The name "Dumbledore" is an old Devon word for "bumblebee". JKR chose this name because she imagines Dumbledore wandering around the castle humming to himself, thus sounding like a bumblebee.

2. "Occlumency" is not, in reality, a word. However, it seems to be derived from a familiar real word that means "to block". What is that word?

Occlumency is derived from the word “occlude”, which means “to block”.

3. Remus Lupin, the werewolf, has a name that is a double reminder of his traits. From what languages are his two names derived?

Remus is latin (a son of Mars slain by his twin brother Romulus, in Roman mythology). Lupin is also latin (translated as “wolf”).

4. Percy Weasley's owl takes its name, quite appropriately, from the Greek messenger god. Who is this god?

Percy Weasley’s owl is named Hermes who, in Greek mythology, is the Greek God of boundaries, roads, commerce, science, invention, eloquence, luck, cunning, medicine, and healing.

5. Many of the creatures studied in the Care of Magical Creatures class or encountered by Hogwarts students are based on mythological animals while many others were made up. Name a mythological animal which is studied and/or encourntered by Hogwarts students.

The sphinx is a mythical creature encountered by Hogwarts students. Specifically, the Sphinx is used by wizards to guard doorways and treasure, and can become aggressive when whatever it is guarding is threatened. In the third task of the Triwizard Tournament, the maze's center was protected by a Sphinx with a riddle to answer.

6. Harry is tried for the "crime" of using magic outside Hogwarts by the Wizengamot. From what culture is the name "Wizengamot" derived?

Wizengamot is derived from Anglo-Saxon culture. The Witenagemon was the Anglo-Saxon council of wise men that advised the king. It was composed of men from religious as well as secular organizations.

7. The hospital in OotP is called St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Who was the real St. Mungo?

St Mungo is the commonly used name of Saint Kentigern or Cyndeyrn Garthwys, the late 6th century apostle of the Brythonic Kingdom of Strathclyde in modern Scotland, and patron saint and founder of the city of Glasgow.

8. Dobby the house-elf gets his name from another kind of creature. In English folklore, what is a dobby?

In English folklore, a dobby was a house-elf similar to a brownie (a spirit popular in Scottish folk-lore). Dobbies were thin and shaggy, very kind to servants and children, and did many a small service in the household when people were too busy.

9. Mundungus Fletcher is a disreputable little wizard with a penchant for trading in stolen goods. What exactly does mundungus mean?

Mundungus is defined as a tobacco with an offensive odor.

10. Harry's arch-nemesis throughout OotP is Professor Umbridge. Why is her name appropriate for her?

The root of “Dolores” (i.e. Dolor) is the Latin for pain, sadness, grief, resentment. Umbridge is the homonym for the English word 'umbrage' meaning to take offense, and from the Latin "umbra" meaning shade, shadow, ghost.

HSKS5 Package!

2008-07-08T12:29:00.001-07:00

My kit came today! My kit came today! Woo Hoo!!!

Here's a picture of all of the wonderful goodies!

Here's a closeup of my bag (already using!), stitch markers (already using!), yarn and needles (both packed for my trip this weekend!).

Here's the sock patterns! Which one to cast on first? Hmmm ...

And all of the wonderful British treats to try!

Thanks so much to my pal Arae Hydra!

Ravenclaw Puzzle

2008-07-03T21:40:00.000-07:00

Above is my Ravenclaw homework for the week. I don't have a scanner so its a picture with my camera phone. Since the answers are so bloody hard to read, here they are:

Across:
3. Wizengamot
4. Boggart
5. Marietta Edgecombe
8. Sirius Black
10. Arabella Figg
12. Tonks
13. Dumbledore
14. Doxy
15. Order of the Phoenix
16. Shacklebolt
17. Scrivenshafts
19. Kreacher
20. Madam Puddifoots

Down:
1. Severus Snape
2. Honeydukes
6. Grimmauld Place
7. Ministry of Magic
9. Mundungus
11. Umbridge
15. Occlumency
18. Hogshead

Traveling Scarves

2008-06-27T11:28:00.001-07:00

My fiance is going to kill me but in addition to all of my commitments at Hogwarts, I've joined a new swap! I just joined the traveling scarves group on ravelry. If you've never heard of a swap like this, basically you start a scarf and mail it to the next person in the circle, who will then add a few inches to your scarf. At the end of the rotation you get back the scarf you started with everyone elses add ons.

Right now they still have openings for two groups: a crochet only group and a european swap group. If any of my other housemates are interested, head on over to ravelry and check it out! :)

2008-06-23T08:00:00.000-07:00

Its Monday morning and usually my time to update myself on all of the Hogwarts happenings on Ravelry and the main HSKS5 blog. However, this morning, unlike other mornings, I find myself really sad and disappointed.

I usually have so much fun reading character blogs and interacting with fellow housemates. I've participated in a number of swaps over the years and the Hogwarts swaps are, by FAR, the most fun and, most importantly, have been relatively drama free.

But all of the drama concerning the latest round of Quidditch is just too much and, frankly, I don't get it. I know it was frustrating, and I can understand that. But its over and continuing to cry foul at this point is a bit absurd to me. Its over, so why continue the drama nearly a day later?

My view of the situation is this: the headmistress said this round would be different, it was, congratulations to Selena, the end. I think that the only way the headmistress can appease some of the angry swappers is to have another 2nd round of quidditch, and so its probably necessary, but can't we all just move on?

I have too much drama in my real life that I can't deal with drama in the online world. I'm hoping everything will die down in a few days, so I'm going to take a hiatus from checking the boards until then. :(

Dueling Club Round Two

2008-06-18T12:53:00.000-07:00

This round of the dueling club was tough! It reminded me a lot of the release of the Deathly Hallows. I anxiously awaited the release of the pattern, knitted until my fingers nearly fell off, made a late night / early morning run to the post office and still made it to lab the next day, even without much sleep.

It looks like, in spite of my late night efforts, this round is going to come down to the efficiency of the USPS as my partner mailed her hat the same day.

I am really proud of my efforts though :) Even if I didn't make mine in the suggested color (heather green) I think it turned out just as good (or even better) than the hat pictured in the pattern. It looks gorgeous in white and it will match any coat to boot.

Quidditch ~ Round Two

2008-06-18T12:46:00.000-07:00

1. At the beginning of the year feast, who is the only person who rudely interrupts Dumbledore during his speech?
b. Professor Umbridge

2. Off what street is the alley where Harry first met Sirius?
c. Magnolia Crescent

3. Tonks’ mother had two sisters, both pure-bloods, and both left on the Black Family Tree. What are their names?
c. Narcissa and Bellatrix

4. What spell are the students studying in McGonalgall’s class when Umbridge is doing her inspection?
d. The Vanishing Spell

5. Who comes to warn Harry and the rest of Dumbledore’s Army that Umbridge and her group of followers are coming to break up their meeting?
Dobby

6. Who are the members of the Order that met Harry Potter in the Dursely’s house during the summer before his fifth year?
c. Alastor Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Elphias Doge, Dedalus Diggle, Remus Lupin, Emmeline Vance, Sturgis Podmore, Hestia Jones

7. Moody used the Disillusionment Charm on Harry
a. Yes

8. Which of these Death Eaters is Sirius related to?
d. All of these

9. At what age did Sirius leave his home?
16

10. How many of the original Order members were killed (don’t include those who disappeared)?
b. 8

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Bellatrix Lestrange

Nymphadora Tonks

Remus Lupin

Ravenclaw House Quiz

2008-06-12T14:25:00.000-07:00

1. It's changing out there. Just like last time. There's a storm coming, Harry. And we all best be ready when she comes.

Rubeus Hagrid

2. Dumbledore's Army was about doing something real. Or was that all just words to you?

Neville Longbottom

3. Dementors in Little Winging? Whatever next? The whole world's going topsy-turvy.

Arabella Figg

4. The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by an invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing.

Severus Snape

5. Face it, Petunia. Our boy has gone lumpy.

Vernon Dursley

6. You're a fool, Harry Potter, and you will lose everything.

Lord Voldemort

7. Practicing is good, but there's something else that's even more important: believing in yourself. Look at it this way: every wizard in history has started out as nothing more than we are now -- students. If they can do it, why not us?

Harry Potter

8. I WILL have order!

Delores Umbridge

9. When are you going to get it into your head? We're in this together.

Hermione Granger

10. When all this is over we'll be a proper family, you'll see.

Sirius Black

11. That's right. Anyway, my mum always said things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end. If not always in the way we expect.

Luna Lovegood

12. You may not like him, Minister, but you can't deny: Dumbledore's got style.

Kingsley Shacklebolt

13. Who wants to watch me take off Snivelly's trousers?

James Potter

14. One person can't feel all that, they'd explode!

Ron Weasley

15. They're very clean, these Muggles. It's unnatural.

Nymphadora Tonks

16. How dare you speak his name! YOU FILTHY HALF BLOOD!

Bellatrix Lestrange

17. Just because you can use magic now does not mean you have to whip your wands out for everything.

Molly Weasley

18. Did you actually believe, or are you truly naive enough to think that children stood a chance against us? I'll make this simple, Potter. Give me the prophecy now, or watch your friends die.

Lucius Malfoy

19. You sort of start thinking anything's possible if you've got enough nerve.

Ginny Weasley

20. Ah, I thought we might hit this little snag. You seem to be laboring under the delusion that I am going to -- what is the phrase? -- come quietly.

Albus Dumbledore

Ravenclaw House Quiz

2008-06-07T08:02:00.000-07:00

1. Which Ravenclaw does not like games?
Miranda Moonstone

2. Who is taking a course in Remedial Magical Symphony?
Cecilia Kettleburn

3. Who got 3 puncture wounds in the bottom of her foot by stepping on a hair brush?
Ophelia Hopkirk

4. Who was formerly employed by the Ministry of Magic?
Emma Diggory

5. Who has been enrolled in a Magic Fibres Class in order to learn to knit?
Stuart Cauldwell

6. Whose mother is a squib?
Minerva Kwikspell

7. Whose father is an auror?
Chrysta the Cursted

8. Whose room smells like wet wool most of the time?
Chrysta the Cursed, Elanor Cadogan and Emma Diggory.

9. What Ravenclaws spent time in the infirmary for allergies?
Wisteria Lovegoods and me (Agatha Vablatsky), although I think that Minee and Chrysta might be making their way their now ...

10. Whose wand is made of holly with a kelpie feather?
Hydrangea MacDuff

11. Whose mother was a Ravenclaw and father was a Hufflepuff when they met at Hogwarts?
Olive Bladvak

12. Whose silencing potion backfired?
Emma Scrimgeour (with the help of her roommates Patonga Pinkstone and Andromache Tonks)

13. Who has purple hair?
Andromache Tonks

14. Whose son attends Hogwarts?
Emma Wigworthy, although Emma Diggory's son is in Hogwarts Preschool...

Personality Test

2008-06-05T10:53:00.000-07:00

Here are the results of my personality test.... I'm seriously NOT surprised, lol :)

Harry Potter Personality Quiz by Pirate Monkeys Inc.

Quidditch Round One (Go Ravenclaw!!!)

2008-05-28T10:01:00.000-07:00

1. Which of Arabella Figg's cats ran out from under the car?
a. Tibbles

2. Which of the following is NOT one of Albus Dumbledore's middle names?
a. Ignatius

3. Which educational decree introduced a High Inquisitor to Hogwarts?
b. 23

4. Apart from Harry, Ron and Hermione, who was the first person to enter the Hog's Head that showed an interest in Harry's Defence Against the Dark Arts classes?
b. Neville Longbottom

5. In the first Quidditch match of the year which player attempted to score first?
a. Angelina Johnson

6. What kind of bush does Harry hide behind to listen to the news?
b. A hydrangea bush

7. Why is Mundungus Fletcher disguised as a woman when he witnesses the DA (Dumbledore's Army) meeting in the Hog's Head pub?
b. He was banned from the Hog’s Head pub 20 years ago.

8. When Harry and Cho go on their first date to Madam Puddifoot's in Hogsmeade, what is it decorated with for Valentine's Day?
c. Golden cherubs and pink confetti

9. How old is Sturgis Podmore and where does he live?
a. 38 and number 2 Laburnum Gardens Clapham

10. What did Fred and George Weasley do to Montague?
a. Forced him head-first into a Vanishing Cabinet on the first floor.

Fred and George Weasley (Together)

Hog’s Head Pub

Sirius Black

Mr. Weasley & Harry (Together)

Draco Malfoy

My First Sock

2008-05-27T13:05:00.001-07:00

I was looking around my room, wondering what I could possibly write about for Emma Gorodok's contest for the bag pattern, when I saw the first sock I ever knitted perched upon my fireplace mantle. Why is it there, you may be wondering? Because you'll notice I'm not talking about my first PAIR of socks. I've placed the sock upon the mantle until I finish it's mate :) It's a constant reminder that I must get over my "second sock syndrome" and actually complete them because they are so pretty!

The pattern was super-basic. A simple 2 x 2 ribbing followed by straight knitting for the rest. But the yarn is my favorite part! Its Sockotta Sock Yarn by Plymouth and its self-striping in a beautiful fair isle pattern. I got the yarn and the pattern for Christmas ... in 2006 :( I am planning on finishing them someday!

Here's a picture of my sock in its current storage space :)

Ravenclaw Homework

2008-05-19T10:36:00.000-07:00

I solved the cryptogram!

It reads:

"Can you keep a secret? The headquarters for the order of the phoenix is at no. 12 Grimmauld Place."

According to the cryptogram, secret is spelled secrit but I'm hoping that's just an error in the puzzle.

2008-05-19T09:14:00.000-07:00

After a long weekend of sleeping in the infirmary, I feel a little bit of relief. I think most of my allergies must be to trees near my dormitory, which is terrible! I barely got to meet my two roommates for this term, Olive Bladvak and Emma Lovegoods. They are both great girls and I have a feeling this is going to be a great term with such wonderful roommates! However, I fear that someone may have cast a sleeping spell on Olive. She seemed to be exhausted all weekend! I'm going to research it while I'm under the weather to see if there's anything I can do to remove the spell.

A trip to Madame Pomfrey

2008-05-15T16:30:00.000-07:00

I'm afraid a trip to Madame Pomfrey is in order :( I have been suffering with allergies to the trees on the Hogwarts grounds ever since the beginning of the term and muggle medicines have been no help at all :(

I've lost so much sleep that I'm falling asleep in my classes and I just can't get any further behind! Hopefully, she will be able to put together some sort of anti allergy potion so that I can finally get some rest!

My Second Term at Hogwarts Begins!

2008-04-30T13:12:00.001-07:00

Yay! I'm back for another term at Hogwarts! And in Ravenclaw AGAIN! :) Woo Hoo!

Some of you might be wondering who I am, seeing as how I was formerly known by a different name. Well, after a mishap during transfiguration practice this summer, I sort of transfigured my identity. It seems as though my name had been changed on all of my documents, so that now (instead of Perpetual Phoenixfire) I am Agatha Vablatsky. It took awhile, but I'm sort of digging the new name!

Anyway, I filled out my hogwarts application last evening. I had some trouble deciding on some of the conditions this term. I knew I would definitely want to receive a pattern for socks (I am -so- addicted to sock knitting at the moment!) but needles are less defined. Since I had been formerly diagnosed with second sock syndrome, I tend to knit two socks at once nowadays. I am most successful with two socks on two needles, but, thanks to my super-fantastic pal from the last swap, I am learning magic loop! All that to say, I would appreciate circulars or DPNs. I have two sets of circulars (two sets of size 2 - 24", and one size 2 - 40") and only one set of DPNs (a clover bamboo set I bought when I started my sock making expeditions. I guess I tend to use the circs more often. But I am really into trying out new and spiffy needles :)

I can't wait to find out who my pal is! :) I had such a great time last swap!