Be Careful!

Please take care of yourself in all of this Quidditch excitement! Sometimes stress can make you fall under the weather, and our wonderful nurse, Madame Pomfrey, is out sick herself! She is so good at mending and healing others, I wonder what could possibly be ailing her? Any students who are ill or injured will have to go to St. Mungo's in the meantime. How would one manage to get all of their assignments delivered, completed, and turned in on time? Yikes! Be sure to drink your pumpkin juice, get some sleep, and watch out for rogue Bludgers during Saturday's Quidditch match!

Quidditch...first round!

1. What was Harry dreaming about the first time he woke up with his scar on fire?
a. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill Dumbledore
b. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill him (p. 17)
c. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill Sirius
d. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill Cornelius Fudge

2. What is the problem with leprechaun gold?
a. It vanishes after a few hours (p.544)
b. It vanishes after a few weeks
c. It's only good in Ireland
d. It enchants you and makes you forget everything else

3. Why did Mad-Eye Moody turn Malfoy into a ferret?
a. Malfoy had said something rude about Mad-Eye
b. He was teaching him 'constant vigilance'
c. Malfoy attacked Harry when Harry's back was turned (p.204-5)
d. He hated Malfoy's father

4. Sirius warns Harry to be careful around Karkaroff because he had been a Death Eater. Which one of the professors at Hogwarts, who also used to be a Death Eater, is frequently bothered by Karkaroff?
(Answer is One Word, Last Name Only)
Snape (p.518)

5. Voldemort could have used the blood from any foe to make the potion that revived him work, but he held out for Harry's blood. Why?
a. To show that Dumbledore could not protect Harry
b. To prove that Harry could not apparate
c. The special protection Harry received from his mother would also pass to Voldemort (p.657)
d. Simply because he hated Harry that much

6. How old would Frank have been on his next birthday?
a. 76
b. 73
c. 70
d. 77 (p.5)

7. Amos Diggory works for?
a. The Department of Mysteries
b. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures (p.98/138/141)
c. The Goblin Liaison Office
d. The Committee of Experimental Charms

8. Who shared a carriage with the three friends on the way from the train to Hogwarts?
Answer: (One Word)
Neville (p.170)

9. What date in October did the delegates from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrive?
a. 30th (p.235)
b. 31st
c. 1st
d. 2nd

10. What color were Percy's dress robes at the Yule Ball?
a. Navy Blue (p.415)
b. Maroon
c. Emerald Green
d. Claret

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

Time to study!

I'm going to head to the library today to brush up on the more recent history of Hogwarts so that I can answer the questions that are the first part of the big Quidditch tournament. I have some time before the assignment is due, so I can be sure to check and double-check my answers so that I might do my part to earn Ravenclaw some points! I definitely want to have my assignment finished before the Snitch is released on Saturday!

Knit 2, Read 2

At least once a day, I find myself wishing I had a time-turner! In my free time, I can barely decide whether to knit or read! Even when I do make my decision, I have yet another waiting... I currently have 2 knitting projects and 2 books in progress. I have found myself laughing out loud at Yarn Harlot: Secret Life of a Knitter. But at the same time, I can't seem to put down Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (for the 3rd time). As a child with magical parents, of course I've been hearing and reading about Harry for a while now...but it's all so much more interesting now that I'm here at Hogwarts!
As for the knitting projects, I'm working on some fairly plain toe-up socks just to practice Magic Loop. I feel like they're going really slowly, but I have to keep reminding myself that BOTH socks will be finished when I'm finally done. So even though it doesn't seem that the socks are growing very quickly, I'm getting a lot done on the pair! I also just started a sweater vest with some yarn that was given to me a while ago. I've only finished the first 8 or 10 rows of that; the yarn is scrumptiously soft, but I wish I knew a spell to keep it from splitting!

Quidditch is Coming!

I am getting so excited I can barely stand it! Our first round of Quidditch is approaching fast! Probably in the next 24 hours, the questions will be released and--get this--every Ravenclaw who answers earns 25 House points! This is a huge opportunity for us to move out of last place! The Golden Snitch will be released sometime on Saturday, I think, so I'll be able to search for it since I won't have class! Hooray!

Gooooooo Ravenclaw!!

In the Common Room

I happened to stop in the Ravenclaw Common Room at the same time as my housemates Emma Wigworthy and Perpetua Phoenixfire. We had a nice time chatting about knitting, school, Quidditch, and the extra-curricular swap that we're all participating in. The next official meeting of the Ravenclaw Knitting Club is coming up very soon (12 hours or so I think) and it will be so nice to spend some time with even more of my housemates! We're all quite busy with our studies so it's really nice when those of us who can make it to the Common Room are able to relax, get to know each other, and (sometimes) get some knitting done!

Oh lucky, lucky day!

Guess whose name came out of the Goblet of Fire today?

MINE!

I was so shocked when I saw it, I literally gasped and said, "Oh my goodness...that's me!"
I'm going to get (at the end of the term, I think) a beautiful skein of Fawkes yarn from Faery Fiber's shop! I am just thrilled. And all I had to do was finish my homework!

Owl Post x 3!

Two owls I didn't recognize came right to my table in the Great Hall today. One carried yarn and one carried stitch markers...both for my swap partner! The colors in the yarn aren't exactly as I had envisioned, but it's pretty and soft and I do hope my partner will enjoy it. I adore the stitch markers! They are so pretty, it will be hard to pack them up and send them off with Marty when the time comes.
My grandma's old owl also came with a delivery. Belated birthday greetings (I told you my grandma's owl is old!) and a bit of spending money that I can use if we ever get to go to Hogsmeade (I don't really feel comfortable sneaking off!).
I just love good mail days!

A Survey

A little while ago, I mentioned this survey that Felula the Forgetful received from her cousin, but I hadn't shared my answers yet. So here goes...

1. Butterbeer or pumpkin juice?
Butterbeer! I do love all things pumpkin, but butterbeer is just so delicious.

2. What House are you in?
Ravenclaw

3. If you were an animagus, what animal would you turn into?
I would love to say I would turn into a unicorn, because I've always loved unicorns. I have a family full of animagi, so we'll see if I turn out to be one.

4. Who do you empathize with, or resemble best out of Harry, Hermione, or Ron?
Here's a hint--I just edited the above question for spelling...I'd say I'm definitely a Hermione.

5. What position do you play at Quidditch?
I haven't been able to try out yet, but I think I'd like to be a Chaser.

6. Which teacher is your favorite?
Professor McGonagall

7. Favorite Quidditch team?
The Kenmare Kestrals (I like the harps!)

8. What was the best flavor of Bertie's Every Flavor Beans you have ever had? And the worst?
Best- don't think I'm too gross, but I really enjoy the Grass flavored bean. Worst- sausage made my stomach turn.

9. What kind of wand do you have?
Birch with Phoenix Feather. You can read more about it here.

10. Have you ever been down Knockturn Alley?
Heavens, no!

Quidditch is coming!

The Headmistress announced today that there have been some changes at Hogwarts. Unfortunately, we have lost three of our students. These things happen sometimes, so I guess we just all have to get used to it.
Something I definitely don't want to get used to though, is being in 4th place! I think there is still hope for Ravenclaw to move out of 4th place, especially with Quidditch coming up soon! Very soon! I'm getting very excited, especially since this is my first year. Despite some information from our Headmistress, and from hearing about Quidditch past from 2nd year students, I still am not quite sure what to expect...other than lots of fun and excitement!

Schoolwork

I just realized that if my mum and dad ever read this, they'll be disappointed that I haven't mentioned much about my courses. Potions is going well...it takes care and precision and I always pay attention in class, so I've been successful at it. I still find it terribly cold in the dungeon and have yet to try making some fingerless mittens so I can have warm hands while still keeping dexterity of fingers. Defense Against the Dark Arts is also going well. I am still a bit intimidated by Professor VH, but as long as I do my work and do my best, I shouldn't have anything to be worried about. I think soon we'll be working on our Patronus Charms, which I'm looking forward to. Some girls have already been practicing together, but I'm always a bit nervous about it backfiring on me. I want to be sure I'm doing everything just right! I do wonder what mine will be. I hope it's a unicorn as I've always loved unicorns. Or a moose. I am just fascinated by moose! Astronomy is probably one of my least favorite classes. I just hate having to drag myself out of bed to go to the Astronomy Tower. While I do find the History of Magic to have some fascinating moments, the course itself is just so dull and boring. Herbology is probably my worst class (though I will still get good marks). I enjoy Herbology in theory, but I don't have much of a green thumb. Charms is still a favorite of mine. To me, Charms is the class that makes me feel the most magical. Transfiguration is my other favorite class. It's especially entertaining to see the results of less-successful spells during class!

Reminding all Ravenclaws!

Post, post, post!
Let's not let the Headmistress catch any of us without our assignments done this week! We all need to work together towards getting out of 4th place for the House Cup!

If you think you have nothing to write about, complete this week's Ravenclaw Quiz, or answer these survey questions that Felula the Forgetful received from her cousin:

1. Butterbeer or pumpkin juice?

2. What House are you in?

3. If you were an animagus, what animal would you turn into?

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

5. What position do you play at Quidditch?

6. Which teacher is your favorite?

7. Favorite Quidditch team?

8. What was the best flavor of Bertie's Every Flavor Beans you have ever had? And the worst?

9. What kind of wand do you have?

10. Have you ever been down Knockturn Alley?

The worst Bertie Bott

Dare I say it was worse than vomit? More detestable than earthworm? Without thinking, I reached into my box of Bertie Botts and ate a bean. I was practically gagging. It was so disgusting... Sausage! Ick! Something about sausage in bean-form was just too much for me to handle. I gulped down a big glass of water, then followed it up with a nice toasted marshmallow bean for good measure. I've learned my lesson... constant vigilance when consuming Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans!

Might need to visit Madame Pomfrey

I have had such a terrible headache today. Come to think of it, I had a headache yesterday too. I wonder if there is anything that might help me in the Hospital Wing. Although I hate to spend too much time there, as Madame Pomfrey will probably make me rest and won't let me knit. And I do want to get some knitting done on those socks I started, in part because I am excited about seeing the self-striping yarn work its magic, and also because I want very much to start a new project too! Maybe a few quiet moments and a cup of hot tea will do the trick.

Noisy times at Hogwarts

There certainly has been a lot of action around here as of late. I think some of the Gryffindor girls have been wandering the halls at night. (I assume they are Gryffindor girls as Gryffindors have a certain reputation for pushing the limits when it comes to rules). I haven't managed to sort out the whole story, but from what I gather from the whispers in the corridors, it seems as though perhaps one of our professors is also wandering the halls at night. There were also ferrets loose in the kitchen. Ferrets of all things!
Blame it on the Butterbeer, I guess. Funny isn't it, how normal things with unenchanted ingredients can turn a people silly when consumed in a group? Like chocolate chip cookies with a bunch of good friends; one minute you're sitting around like rational people having a cookie, the next you're in a fit of uncontrollable laughter for no apparent reason. I do hope the Gryffindors (and all the students...and professors at Hogwarts) manage to have a great time while staying out of trouble and keeping their grades up.

Tough Riddle!

Today's riddle almost had me stumped! I ended up having to take out some scratch paper and sketching some complex family tree diagrams to figure it out! Thank goodness I was finally able to solve it, because I didn't see anyone else returning to the common room while I was out there... I don't know where everyone was, but I was getting nervous that I might end up sleeping curled up on the floor if I didn't figure it out soon! I wish it hadn't kept me from my homework for so long...now I have to catch up on that before I can continue knitting my newest sock project.

Muggle Mail!

My sweet Muggle Friend Susan (Muggles do have interesting names, don't they?) sent a wonderful package of scrapbooking supplies. She must've taken it to my parents, and they must've rounded up all of our family owls to deliver it! The package was just too huge for one owl to manage on his own! Inside there was a wonderful bag with lots of pockets to hold paper, pens, and other things Muggles need to make their memory books. She also sent me loads of paper, some paper flowers, ink pads, rub-ons (another Muggle device that is practically magic!) and lots of other little goodies. She must've had a feeling that I'm making many terrific memories here at Hogwarts, and she certainly was right!

From bad to worse

Another dreadful surprise awaited us Ravenclaws today... turns out, Gryffindor earned more points than originally were tallied too and now we are in LAST place. We've moved from 2nd place to last place in just one day. We've really got to rally now and do all that is asked of us if we want a chance at that House Cup (and you know we want a chance at the House Cup!) If anyone can do it, Ravenclaws, we can!

Test Anxiety

After thinking and thinking about my answer to # 3 below, I had to go back and edit it. While I'm quite confident that the only word related to the text that is made from the first set of letters is MadEye, I'm also practically certain that the only word that goes with MadEye is Moody, which can't be made from those letters. But, I'm also very nervous about taking such liberties on a quiz, so I decided to insert the answer I think might be made from the letters as well, just in case.

I was very tempted to complete the Gryffindor quiz as well. I just love Cryptograms.

Ravenclaw Quiz 2!

This quiz definitely required the use of some study materials! Some came very easily, but there were definitely a couple (#5 and 10 to be exact) that I thought I might never get! Once I was able to let go of "LIFE" and rescramble the letters to make "FIRE" it was obvious. That's the thing about word games, sometimes your mind just gets stuck on an idea that's not the right one, but you have the hardest time letting go of it. Hmm, that may be pretty universal--not only applicable to word games. Anyway, here are my answers to the quiz:

1. RWIDZTAIR UANONETRMT --Triwizard Tournament

2. NRNAGIHAU RAHNIOTL --Hungarian Horntail

3. AEEMDY ONYOME --MadEye Moody (??? although the only thing I can come up with for those letters is 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

House Points....edited

A lot of us noticed the hourglasses in the Great Hall this afternoon because something was...different. At the last totaling of points, we were in 2nd Place, followed by Gryffindor and then Slytherin. But it came to the Headmistresses attention that Slytherin had, in fact, earned more points than were originally awarded and they've moved up...right into 2nd Place! Which leaves us Ravenclaws in 3rd place. Oh, no! Now we've really got our work cut out for us. Come on, Ravenclaws...let's fill that hourglass up with beautiful sapphires!

The Raven's Nest

I'm just so happy that the Sorting Hat sorted me the way he did...I love being a Ravenclaw! Today I got my first issue of the Raven's Nest--a Ravenclaw house newsletter. Minerva, our Head Girl, sent it out and it had a lot of helpful information in it! One of the exciting bits of news is there are going to be two meetings of the knitting club now! That's great, because sometimes I get all wrapped up in my studies (and lately, watching Viktor Scamander at Quidditch practice!) and don't make it to the meetings. It's going to be great to spend more time with my fellow housemates--after all, they're a big part of the reason I so love being a Ravenclaw!

Let's rev it up, Ravenclaws!

Have you seen the House Points? Can you believe Hufflepuff had 100% this time around? That's pretty amazing. We're in 2nd place again, which I guess isn't too bad...but we lost points since the last totals. We're at 76%...and that's a C! I just know none of us Ravenclaws want to get a C! All we've got to do is do our homework and stay out of trouble. I know we can do it! I just hope we get into the swing of things in time for Quidditch! That's going to be so much fun, and a big opportunity to earn points(or lose points...so let's try really hard to work together and not lose points!)

A Magic Machine

Although their type of magic isn't as practical as ours, I do have to give Muggles some credit. They have come up with some fabulous little gadgets, even without the use of magic! Many of the other students involved in the sock kit swap have been talking about bags...sew a bag or knit a bag? I've already decided on sewing a bag, but the conversation about felting caught my interest. You knit a bag in the normal Muggle (or magical, I suppose if you have enchanted needles) way and then put it in this contraption called a washing machine. It comes out looking almost transfigured; it's smaller and you can't see your knit stitches anymore! So a few of us decided to ask the Muggle Studies professor if there might be one of these practically magic machines in the school somewhere. Since it's a Muggle product, it wouldn't actually work at Hogwarts without some wand-work, but we managed to get it to go... just a few minutes later and...voila! My very first felted bag!

Boys will be boys

Even here at Hogwarts, some boys have no common courtesy. Not to mention any regard for the school rules! Early this morning, I was awakened by a couple of boys riding past Ravenclaw Tower on what they were passing off as a flying motorcycle. It seems as though they tried to enchant some old Muggle bicycle (which I can only assume they snuck from the Muggle Studies classroom) to fly, and somehow managed to charm it into having the noise of a motorcycle too. We had a loud, long night in the Ravenclaw common room...amazing how such a quiet hobby like knitting can become so loud & lively when done in a group...so I was looking forward to sleeping in.

Frustrated with my new magic!

Marty my beautiful owl arrived with new yarn & needles for me today and I was thrilled. I got started right away on winding the yarn into center-pull balls (couldn't find anything about that in any of my text books), chose a pattern & got to work on the "Magic" Loop. This may be one area in which Muggles are more capable of magic than I am. I tried a couple different charms, but I still had to do and undo my cast-on about 100 times (or at least it felt like 100). I think I've finally figured it out, but I'm in desperate need of a break. No more Muggle magic for me tonight!

Whew!

The Canary Cream culprit has been caught! Professor Wartbobble questioned a lot of the 7th years and ended up getting enough information pointing to Beauregard Flitwick. He didn't really mean to cause harm, he's just under a lot of stress since it's his N.E.W.T. year, and I guess everyone deals with stress differently. Some people eat, some people lose their tempers, some people find themselves in tears, and some people give out candies that turn people to canaries! I believe the Headmistress confiscated the rest of the Canary Creams and we're now "safe". I hope the girls who were making the pillows and quills with the molted feathers collected enough to last them a while!

Fortune Telling

My Muggle friend (the same one with the scrapbooks) used to fold these paper fortune-telling devices where you make a series of choices, then open up one of the paper flaps and it tells you a little fortune. I always thought those were highly inaccurate, but fun to play along anyway. Well, a more magical fortune telling device has been being passed through Hogwarts, so I decided to give it a shot. It's certainly not even close to being as accurate as one skilled in Divination, but it's just for laughs and all in good fun. Here is my "fortune":

The Harry Potter MeMe..... by 2dazednconfused4this
name
gender
age
house
your best friend	Ginny Weasley
your worst enemy	Greggory Goyle
who secretly likes you	Viktor Krum
best subject	Herbology
job after school	Headmaster at Hogwart
quidditch position	Seeker
potion you make best	Hiccuping Solution
who you will marry	Oliver Wood

Viktor Krum, hmm? Maybe there is a tiny bit (the Viktor bit) of accuracy after all... I think I have developed a full-fledged crush on that Gryffindor boy!
And if only I would marry Oliver Wood! He's handsome, smart & talented...and I love his accent! And how could a couple named Oliver & Olive be anything but a cute couple?

Our Potions Master

As if a class in the cold dungeon with all those jars of creepy stuff on the shelves wasn't scary enough, our new Potions teacher is so scary. Professor VonHumperdink is very big, very stern, and has very high expectations of us. I know that is a good thing and we will be better students because of it, but still I hope I never ever make a mistake in Potions. I think I will study double-hard for my Potions work.

Editing to correct myself... Yikes! I must be under more stress than I thought with the start of the term. Professor VH is the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. The Potions Master--Professor Black-- is very nice to look at, like a little ray of sunshine in that dark gloomy dungeon!

Memories: Muggle-Style

One of my Muggle friends introduced me to this Muggle hobby called scrapbooking a while ago. It was always fun to go to her house and play with all of the papers and ribbons and what-not. I stuck a few scrapbooking supplies in my trunk and I've been making a few pages for my Muggle-style memory book. It's very different... the photos don't move or speak at all, so one has to write everything down on each page. It does turn out quite pretty though, and I've spent some time looking through it when I feel homesick. I haven't felt homesick often, but every now and then I do get to feeling a bit lonely (which I wouldn't have imagined possible with all the other students around here!) and it's nice to reminisce.

Tweety Sweets

Wow that was a close one today! A group of us were walking down the corridor when a seventh year student offered us some sweets. We all thought that was a really sweet gesture, you know, kind of a way to welcome us to Hogwarts. I still had mine in my hand when a few of the other girls ate theirs. I feel so lucky that I waited...the girls were transfigured into bright yellow canaries! They were tweeting and flitting their little wings, I'm sure they must have been terrified. I was terrified just watching! They turned back to their normal selves momentarily, but still...terrifying! I looked down at my uneaten custard cream and although it looked so incredibly delicious, I decided I'd better not eat it. The 7th year didn't even notice, she had already run off laughing. Of course, we were all first years, and there are so many students at Hogwarts that we have no idea what the girls name was...and boy does the Headmistress want to know! I guess Mum was onto something all those times she said, "Never take candy from a stranger!"

Exciting news!

I heard some of the girls who were at the beginning of the term feast talking about something they heard Professor Wartbobble say, and I must say this is very good news. The Hogwarts staff might be letting first-years go to Hogsmeade!!! Oh I am practically giddy at this news! I would just be so excited to go to Honeydukes Sweetshop. And to have a butterbeer at the Three Broomsticks. And maybe I could get up the courage to ask Viktor Scamander to go to Madam Puddifoot's with me... or maybe he could just ask me (he's certainly got the courage already, being a Gryffindor and all!).

Sock Knitters

Turns out our sock knitting club has quite a few novice sock knitters. I thought I would have been the least experienced sock knitter as I've knitted 6 socks...but only two of those are a pair. The rest are single socks that I've completed and then lost interest in before moving on to the second. That's why I'm getting so impatient for my long circular needle from KnitPickery to arrive. I believe the Magic Loop method will help me to finish more matching socks since they get finished at the same time! And of course, I just love that name...Magic Loop!

The first quiz of the term!

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

2. Who attended the first meeting of the Ravenclaw Knitting Club?
Allitrya Spelling
Cassandra Hopkirk
Elanor Cadogan
Enid Black
Esmerelda (Beanswallow, I presume)
Fleur Lovegoods
Gabriella Clearwater
Mafalda Ackerley
Millicent Brocklehurst
Minerva Kwikspell
Serafina Starfire

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

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.
Birch-Ferula Vector (and me too!)
Holly-Cecelia Kettleburn
Oak- Selina Starflame
Maple-Selina Starfire
Cherry- Avada Finch-Fletchley

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

The Great Hall is buzzing!

Lots of people in the extra-curricular magical sock kit swap have been letting their partners know who they are. My partner hasn't contacted me yet--although I suppose it's possible they've left a comment here and I just don't know it! Part of me is intrigued by not knowing...what a grand surprise it would be! but part of me is longing to know who it is so I can go about the halls looking as excited as the other students do! That said, I haven't told my partner yet who I am either, so she probably feels the same way I do!

The owls are still flying in!

I received a belated owl from Mum today. Inside were some materials for my Muggle-style memory book and a package of Bertie Botts. I accidentally reached in without looking and ate an earthworm flavored one straight off. Luckily I followed it with a lemon drop to, er, cleanse the palate! I also received some new robes from Madame Malkin's.
Classes are set to begin tomorrow with Potions. Lots of the girls are very excited about the new Potions professor. I was lucky enough to spend some time gazing at him already during the pre-term session of Potions that I took for extra credit.

House Points

House Points were announced today and we Ravenclaws are behind. The Hufflepuffs got off to a great start and took the lead, so we need to work together and go for the House Cup! I believe Hufflepuff won last year and Ravenclaw has yet to win.
Our Prefect says we are having a quiz this week. Our first quiz... I'm wondering what to expect and just trying to study everything!

My first Hogwarts birthday

Well, this birthday turned out to be a great one! I was really nervous about being away from home for the first time, but Hogwarts has already become a second home to me! We had a nice cake in the Ravenclaw common room...our second day in a row!

I'm very excited about the start of classes and especially on the extra-curricular sock kit swap! I do hope I can keep my mind on my studies as well. I have already got a list of things to include in the package, and hope some owls are on the way with some of the goodies! Mum and Dad took me out for a while in the afternoon and I managed to pick up some things for my swap partner. Luckily, my partner is not a Ravenclaw so I don't have to worry about her (or him) coming across it in the dormitory. Otherwise I'd have to try a colour change charm!

Oh, wow!

In addition to some greetings from the other girls in my extra-curricular club, I got a birthday card from someone I didn't at all expect... Remember that Gryffindor boy I mentioned before, Viktor Scamander? He was in my pre-term Charms class and was having some trouble. Well, today he passed me in the hall and gave me a birthday card and an orchid (which I have a sneaking suspicion he got as a result of the Hufflepuffs and their recent experiments with Orchideous)! I couldn't believe it... I think I actually turned olive, I was so nervous and surprised! Viktor is a second year, so I probably won't see him in any of my classes, darn. (He missed a lot of school last year due to a family emergency and that's why he needed to get the extra credits in Charms before the start of the semester). I do hope I see him around the halls more.



He's a little bit of a clown, but he's so cute, isn't he? He's on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, and I can't wait to see him play!

Happy times in Ravenclaw Tower

Another Ravenclaw celebrated a birthday yesterday. She got lots of birthday greetings, and I hope that made her feel right at home! We Ravenclaws are really beginning to know each other and it's starting to feel like a little family, just like Professor McGonagall said before we were sorted. Now it is my birthday...between receiving the owl from Professor Wartbobble yesterday and my birthday today, I was so excited that I could barely sleep. I wonder what else the day will have in store for me!

It's here! It's here!

An owl arrived at breakfast this morning and it flew right to where I was sitting. I didn't recognize it as any of my family's owls, so I started to feel that wonderful anticipation I just knew I would feel when I was holding my note with my swap partner's name. I tried not to get too excited, as it could've been something else, but it was hard not to. I carefully opened the seal (it had a beautiful W on it) and began to read,

" The time has come!!! Your owl has arrived. Are you excited to find out who your partner is??? Well, without further ado . . ."

And then there it was...my partner's name! She's not a Ravenclaw, so I won't see her around in the common room. I'll have to keep my eye out in the Great Hall. I am so excited! What a great day this turned out to be!

Owls, where are you?

I've barely been able to keep my eyes off the windows today... I thought surely I would get a few birthday greetings today (I know there's still time, but I just thought maybe some people would be sending their owls ahead of time) and I keep hearing my classmates announce that an owl from the Headmistress has arrived with the name of their partner for that extra-curricular sock kit swap I mentioned before. Seems like every time I pass someone in the hall they are bubbling over with excitement about receiving that message. I am trying to be patient (but I think patience is a Hufflepuff trait, and not my strong suit) but it's so hard! I can barely sleep I'm so excited and when I do sleep I dream about finding out who I will be sending to and who will be sending to me! Maybe the next time an owl flies in it will be for me! I sure do hope so!

More from Marty!

With my birthday coming up, Marty and our other family owls have been busy! I got a card yesterday from my Godparents and 10 Galleons poured out of it! I can barely wait to spend it in Hogsmeade (I hope we really don't have to wait 'til 3rd year!).
Professor Wartbobble posted a list of all the birthdays this term, and boy will the Ravenclaw common room be exciting this weekend... Cecelia has her birthday on Friday, and then mine on Saturday! I will be sure to wish Cecelia a happy birthday; I know it's going to feel weird for me to spend my first birthday away from home...but it sure will be fun to receive lots of birthday owls!

My wand

I mentioned earlier that I'm not very confident in my wand skills just yet, as I just picked mine up from Ollivander's right before coming to Hogwarts (I'm so glad his shop has re-opened). Even so, I do love my wand and wanted to share some information about it:

Wood type: birch Length: 11½ inches Core: Phoenix Feather get your own wand!

I was really hoping for Unicorn Hair as the core of my wand (I have always been fascinated by unicorns!) but as they say, your wand chooses you.
Ollivander's also had a little book for sale that had loads of information about all the different types of wands. I just love learning about that sort of thing, so I asked, no--begged, Mum and Dad to buy it for me, and they did! Here's what the book has to say about my wand:

Birch: With the exception of the mysterious elder, the Birch is the earliest of the forest trees. Though they make beautiful, smooth wands with a nice sheen if polished, birch is nevertheless known for it's 'flaky' qualities. The bearer of this wand could not be more different, in fact those who find a Birch wand has chosen them tend to be some of the most logical thinkers or strategists. These wands excel at driving out evil spirits, and for Purification spells. They are also very good for spells involving structures, support, shielding, warding, and cleansing.
Birch's personality is Happy
Element: Air
Phoenix Feather: The Phoenix Feather comes from the tail feathers of a Phoenix, and is especially good with fire or defensive magic, as well as healing magic. This may be due largely to the healing properties Phoenixes have.

Aguamenti gone wrong.

Oh no! Everything in the Ravenclaw common room is soaked! Someone was trying to use Aguamenti to pour some drinking water and somehow, something went terribly wrong. All of our curtains are dripping wet, and you can't sit on a chair or couch because the cushions are completely soaked!

I've been reading my textbooks to see if there's anything we can do before Professor Flitwick finds out.
I wonder if Finite Incantatem would work. But who knows what other spells are going in the room that it would stop. Mum usually uses a grooming charm of some sort to blow dry her hair in the mornings, maybe we could blow dry the curtains and cushions. That would take a while, but maybe if we all work on it at once it will go faster. Oh, for that matter, I suppose a Hot Air Charm would do the trick. I've seen Mum use that just a couple times when she dried our coats and mittens after playing out in the snow. I wonder if I can replicate her wand movements...I'm a bit nervous as I'm not too confident in my wand skills yet. Maybe I'll wait and see if a second or third year student has any suggestions before I try it!

Exhausted Already!

The lack of bedtime at Hogwarts is really starting to take its toll on me! I have been staying up in the Ravenclaw common room knitting, reading, or catching up with my classmates (and sometimes daydreaming about the Sock Kit Swap!) and I'm starting to realize why Mum & Dad always encouraged me to head to bed early. This afternoon I sat down on my bed to read and dozed off for two entire hours! I won't be able to do that once classes start, so I'd better get used to calling it a night a little earlier. Unfortunately, I can't get to sleep early tonight because I'm bright-eyed and bushy-tailed after that nice nap!

Classes begin soon!

No wonder I am a Ravenclaw... classes begin soon and I am so excited! Of course I've already taken the pre-term sessions of Charms and Potions, so I know I'll like those classes, but now that I've received my official class schedule (only 2 weeks away!) it seems even more real. I just can't believe I'm really starting my first year at Hogwarts! I've heard so many stories from my parents and my cousins, and I just know I'm going to have my own great memories of this place.
I've already started reading some of my text books, just to maintain my homework habits you know, and I can tell I'm going to enjoy Transfiguration, Defense of the Dark Arts, Herbology (Mum keeps a garden), and especially an elective course called Enchanted Kit Planning. I'm really dreading History of Magic, as I've heard around the Great Hall that Professor Binns is rather dull. I wish I were a second year so I could take Care of Magical Creatures... Petunia, one of the Hufflepuffs I've seen around in the Great Hall, has been talking about some of the really neat creatures she and her family keep at their pet shop! My little sister has tons of allergies, so the only "pet" we've ever been able to keep are our owls. Now I love Marty and wouldn't trade him, but there are so many neat pets I'd love to learn more about!

Getting more crowded by the day!

Hogwarts is getting more and more crowded as we get closer to the official start of classes. I thought there were a lot of us here already for the pre-term courses (I never pass up an opportunity for extra credit!) and more students keep arriving. It is so exciting...I'm seeing a lot of knitted items and knitting needles, so I'm really looking forward to having a big group of knitters to befriend! It's also a little unnerving to think that as busy as I feel now, classes haven't even officially started yet. I can only imagine how much homework I'll have then!

I received an owl from my great-aunt Marilda today. Her poor owl is almost as old as she is (over a century) so he's taking some rest in the Owlery before heading back to the Home for Elderly Wizards and Witches. I think I ought to spare her poor old owl a trip and send my next letter with Marty and have him wait for her response. The letter tells me that Aunt Marilda is in good health except for her eyes. I wonder if it would help if she wore some large glasses like Professor Trelawney. She also wished me a happy birthday, my first birthday greeting of the year... I love this time of year as I can always expect lots of owls delivering cards and gifts!

Adding to the Knit List

I had Potions class today. While I do enjoy the course itself- the mixing and the bubbling always remind me of making hot homemade soup with Mum on a Sunday afternoon- I can't stand going down to the dungeon. First of all, it's creepy. I don't even like going into the cellar in our own little house. The dungeon is so dark and cold and just plain eerie. I was so freezing today my hands were shaking so much I was afraid I would accidentally spill too many stewed horned slugs into the boil cure potion my partner and I were mixing up. (I'm also really looking forward to moving past the boil cure potion... I've read about so many more interesting potions in my Magical Drafts and Potions text. I can hardly imagine what we might learn in Advanced Potion Making in a few years!) Anyway, I really don't like being cold, especially when it might cause me to make a mistake in Potions, so I've been thinking of adding some fingerless mitts to my list of things I want to knit this term. If only I had a Time-Turner so I could spend more time knitting in the common room and finish all my homework too!

Charmed, I'm sure

Today in Charms class, we were practicing Wingardium Leviosa on one of our text books. I got mine to work (on the second try) and I can't wait to be old enough to do magic outside of Hogwarts. Imagine how much easier cleaning my room will be when I can use the levitation charm! A Gryffindor boy in my class named Viktor Scamander seemed to have been Confunded, he was having such trouble! He wound up making one of his books stick to the table... Professor Flitwick had to come and un-stick it! He did seem very nice though, and I hate to see him struggle with his coursework so early on, so maybe I ought to consider offering him some help after class one of these days.

Owl Post!

This morning at breakfast in the Great Hall, I was surprised to see Marty flying toward me with a note from Mum and Dad. Mum (of course) says she misses me already, and Dad (of course) reminded me that homework comes first. Grandma wanted to sneak a little something in the post for me as well, and now I have some spending money! Grandmas are the best! I knew just what I wanted to buy with the money from Gran, so I sent Marty to deliver an order form for me to KnitPickery for a knitting needle I need to add to my collection so I can try to make socks using something the muggles call "Magic Loop". Oh, muggles and their magic!

~Olive B.

Have you been sorted?

Sort me!

Extra-Curriculars

Like I said before, I'm very excited to be a Ravenclaw. My dad says he just knew that's where I'd end up, given my academic disposition. I was kind of hoping to be a Gryffindor, although I'm not at all brave... It's just that I heard from my cousin (a Hogwarts alum) that Ron & Ginny Weasley's mum sends them knitted goods, plus I know Hermione Granger has tried her hand at knitting. I thought it would be nice to know that I had someone I could turn to when my knitting has me tied in knots. Turns out, I'm one of many Ravenclaw knitters! There are loads of knitters at Hogwarts, in all the houses. I've joined an extra-curricular group, the Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap 4, that I can just tell is going to be so fun!

~Olive

Hogwarts, here I come!

My first year at Hogwarts... I got sorted into Ravenclaw!
I'll be sure to post more later, I want to unpack my trunk and start my studies!

~Olive Bladvak