Already?

It's hard to believe that the term is already coming to an end...and that talk of next term is already starting! (I haven't even used my yarn from last term!) It's also hard to believe that it was easier for me to blog regularly last term, when I was working the whole time, than this time around... so I hope that if the new term starts up in September, I'll be able to get into a good routine and keep up with everybody. Strange that I have more time for blogging and reading blogs when I'm at work than when I'm off for the summer! I think it's the fact that when I'm going to work, I have a set routine and fit everything in at a certain time... not having the routine, lots of things (like my laundry!) go undone!
Anyway... I'm waiting now for Marty to arrive at Matilda's house...shouldn't be much longer! I do hope she enjoys the package I put together for her!

Quidditch!

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?
a. Europa
b. Fiji
c North America
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?
a. True
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
b. Dorcas Meadowes
c. Amelia Susan Bones
d. Bellatrix Regulax

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?
a. Alice Longbottom
b. Marlene McKinnon
c. Emma Fenwick
d. Dorcas Meadowes

5. Which two fifth year Ravenclaw students does Dumbledore choose to be prefects?
a. Terry Boot and Mandy Brocklehurst
b. Luna Lovegood and Ernie Macmillan
c. Cho Chang and Michael Corner
d. Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil

6. Which house was Rose Zeller sorted into?
a. Gryffindor
b. Slytherin
c. Ravenclaw
d. Hufflepuff

7. What is the color of Murtlap's essence?
a. Pink
b. Peach
c. Yellow
d. It is transparent

8. Name the Ravenclaw girl who became prefect in Harry's fifth year.
a. Hannah Abott
b. Padma Patil
c. Luna Lovegood
d. Marietta Edgecombe

9. According to a healer's portrait at St. Mungo's hospital, which disease was Ron suffering from?
a. Splattergroit
b. Splittygrot
c. Spottygroit
d. Spattergroit

10. Which book did Harry give Hermione for Christmas?
a. "New Theory of Numberology"
b. "A Compendium of Common Curses and their Counter-Actions"
c. "Acheivements in Charming"
d. "Moste Potente Potions"

Picture Scavenger Hunt
Padma Patil

Hannah Abott

Percy

Dumbledore's Army

Cedric Diggory

(Extra 5 pts - What movie will Robert Patterson star in this December?)
Robert Pattinson will play Edward Cullen in the movie Twilight, set to release on 12 Dec.

Owls Waiting

(I wrote this post yesterday and then it disappeared... so I'm a little crabby about having to do it all over again and I'm just going to stick to the main points!) There were loads of owls waiting for me when I got back from Australia. Most importantly, something I was waiting for to send to my spoilee! The most exciting owl, though, was the one from my spoiler (who is the same as my spoilee!) Here's what I got:
In addition to some pretty paper (mulberry paper, I think is what my Muggle scrapbooking friend calls it) , tea, and a nice note from Matilda, there was also this:
Some Regia and Fortissima sock yarns in movie colors
Some star and moon stitch markers and matching earrings in a cute little ladybug box. The stars and moons really remind me of Lucky Charms marshmallows and I have since added Lucky Charms to the grocery list!
A cute little book full of sock patterns! This really made my day, as a sock pattern was missing from my last swap package.
Some super-pretty needles & stitch markers
A big and magical bag! I can fit a good-sized knitting project in here (like the February Lady sweater that the yarn for was waiting for me when I got back, or the Juliet that I bought yarn and buttons for in Australia!) The photo doesn't do the bag justice... and the inner fabric is magic wands!
And this needle case, which I have now put several sets of needles in!

I love it all, Matilda!! Thanks so very much!

Ravenclaw Cross-word

When I first saw the House quiz, I thought "Oh goody! I do love crosswords!". But only for a minute... I really had to think out of the box on some of the clues. Hope you can see my answers here.
Today I leave via PortKey to Australia. Boy I wish I could apparate! I actually have to take 3 separate PortKeys and one of them will take 10 hours! I will be out of Hogwarts for about 11 days, but I already gave a note to the Prefect!

Tagged!

I was lying in my dormitory, unable to sleep and noticed a little owl pecking at the window. Seems I've been tagged by Minerva Kwikspell! This is a fun little meme, and I'll sleep easier knowing that I'm helping Ravenclaw House by posting this week! (I've done this on my Muggle blog too, so this time around I answered as Olive)

Go to Flickr.com and type your answers to the following questions (one at a time) into the Search Box.

1. What is your first name?
2. What is your favourite food?
3. What high school did you go to?
4. What is your favourite colour?
5. Who is your celebrity crush?
6. Favourite drink?
7. Dream vacation?
8. Favourite dessert?
9. What you want to be when you grow up?
10. What do you love most in life?
11. One word to describe you.
12. Your flickr name.

Choose 1 image from the FIRST page of results, remember the image you choose doesn't have to be exactly what you were looking for - just the image you like best from the first page.

Copy your URLs to the Mosaic Maker here and publish your mosaic to your blog.

1. Olive, 2. toast bed (double divan), 3. Hogwarts Castle.., 4. Dressing room, now teal, 5. Harry Potter Dog at Barnes and Noble Cumberland, 6. Butterbeer, 7. A Bit of Ireland, 8. HOT FUDGE SUNDAE, 9. Little Professor Hand-held Calculator, 10. Magic Music Mayhem 2, 11. Determined Plumeria, 12. Tooting Bec Lido doors
1. Olive
2. Toast
3. Hogwarts
4. Teal
5. Harry Potter
6. Butterbeer, of course!
7. Ireland
8. Hot Fudge Sundae
9. Professor
10. Magic!
11. Determined
12. This one is funny... I looked up "knittingbec" and got no results, so I went for just "bec" (on my Muggle blog I went for just "knitting") and saw these doors in Tooting Bec... the funny part is that when I was first asked to make a username (I think on ebay?) I really wanted TootingBec...because I loved that underground stop so much that I had to have my picture by it, but TootingBec was already taken (by who, I can't help but wonder!)

Who to tag, who to tag? I'll try to look through some blogs tomorrow and see which of my classmates haven't answered yet!

Owls, Elves & Portkeys

Owls: There haven't been any owls flying my way lately (not even from my Grandma!) so I decided to take matters into my own hands. Yesterday I sent my sweet owl Marty off with an order to Knit Pickery. I had gotten word of a 40% off sale on their books & there were a few that I've been wanting. I ordered 50 Baby Booties to Knit, which has been on my wish list for a very long time, and The Best of Interweave Knits, because I'm dying to make myself the Marilyn sweater, and there are some others in there that I could see myself making as well. I was *thisclose* to putting the Charmed Knits book in my cart as well, but decided against it this time. Instead, I ordered some needles I need for some upcoming projects I have planned. That got me to $53.00 and you get free owling when your order is $50!
I also placed an order at another store for some yarn for those projects I have planned! So, owls should be coming my way soon!

Elves: Boy oh boy could I use a house elf right about now. I know they've been coming into the common room to start the fires each night, but I wish I'd be in there when they do... I'd love to see if I could convince one to give me some tips about how to keep my section of our dormitory clean. I feel so terribly about my mess...and the fact that my roommates have to live with it! I have a big pile of clean clothes, an even bigger pile of dirty clothes, and supplies for my Muggle scrapbook are strewn about!

Portkeys: In under 2 weeks, I will be taking a PortKey to Australia! I'm very excited, but nervous as I haven't signed up for my 2nd PortKey just yet. Need to do that today or tomorrow. I will go to the Gold Coast/Brisbane area first, then...don't forget to sign up for this PortKey!...to Sydney. I'm running in a Muggle marathon (but I'd love to see if I can sneak my broomstick in!) in Gold Coast, then sight-seeing and visiting a cousin studying at a school of Magic in Sydney.

Quidditch

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

a. Professor Snape

b. Professor Umbridge

c. Hagrid

d. Harry Potter

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

a. Diagon Alley

b. Little Whinging

c. Magnolia Crescent

d. Privet Drive

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

a. Elladora and Meliflua

b. Bellatrix and Elladora

c. Narcissa and Bellatrix

d. Meliflua and Narcissa

4. What spell are the students studying in McGonalgall’s class when Umbrdige is doing her inspection?

a. The Acquiring Spell

b. The Shrinking Spell

c. The Demolishing Spell

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?

Answer: _______Dobby________________ (five letters)

6. Who are the members of the Order that met Harry Potter in the Dursely’s house during the summer before his fifth year?

a. Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Alastor Moody, Sturgis Podmore, Dedalus Diggle, Hestia Jones, Elphias Doge, Nymphadora Tonks, Mundungus Fletcher

b. Alastor Moody, Albus Dumbledore, Remus Lupin, Sirius Black, Nymphadora Tonks, Dedalus Diggle, Sturgis Podmore, Emmeline Vance

c. Alastor Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Elphias Doge, Dedalus Diggle, Remus Lupin, Emmeline Vance, Sturgis Podmore, Hestia Jones

d. Remus Lupin, Alastor Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, Sirius Black, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Elphias Doge, Dedalus Diggle, Sturgis Podmore, Hestia Jones

7. Moody used the Disillusionment Charm on Harry.

a. Yes

b. No

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

a. Lucius Malfoy

b. Bellatrix Lestrange

c. Regulus Black

d. All of these

9. At what age did Sirius leave his home?

Answer: __________16_________ (Number)

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

a. 9

b. 8

c. 6

d. 10

Picture Scavenger

Post these pictures to your blog. They must either be posted or linked to from your blog in order to receive points.

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Bellatrix Lestrange

Nymphadora Tonks

Remus Lupin

Herbology

I got a great gift this morning from a friend who is moving away. She brought me a big planter full of... well, plants! My friend and I have eaten many lunches together and I often mention that it's not always easy to find the herbs we need in the produce shop in our little village. So, today she brought a planter full of rosemary, basil & mint! Now my mind is racing, trying to think of what I will make with my new herb garden (luckily, the house elves understand how I like to cook and don't mind if I experiment in the kitchen with them)! Professor Sprout is letting me keep it in a corner of the greenhouse, and it's hard for me to keep from walking over there just to smell it...it just smells so good!

Birthdays at Hogwarts

Birthdays at Hogwarts are always a special treat... especially when there's a double birthday! You should see the "cake" that was in the great hall today to celebrate the birthdays of Megaera Black and Ceciley Fortescue! Talk about yum! I think it may just be my new favorite type of cake... I don't really care for frosting, and that cake solves that problem for me more effectively than scraping it off and giving it to someone else!

Not lost in the dungeons!

Don't worry... I haven't gotten lost in the dungeons, nor have any of the horrible fates that Professor Trelawney has predicted for me come to pass. I've just been terribly busy. But I have a feeling that everything will get a lot easier in just 42 hours! Maybe that will get me an A in Divination!
I did conjure up some simply magical cupcakes this morning for a function... the link to the recipe can be found on this blog: Bakerella

House Quiz

I'm trying to finish the House Quiz, but my internet is moving SO slowly! I figured I better quickly post so as not to miss the deadline while waiting for pages to load so I can read about my classmates!
I've been so, so busy. In the next few days, though, my job of helping Muggle students learn to read and do math will be over and I can just focus on my work at Hogwarts. I can't wait!

Quidditch Round 1

Quidditch Trivia

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?

D. (3?) 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. (1?) 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?

A. 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. Picture Scavenger Hunt: Fred & George Weasley together
Hog's Head Pub
Sirius Black
Mr. Weasley & Harry (together)
Draco Malfoy

A First!

Emma Gorodok has challenged us to post about a knitting first.

I've had a few knitting firsts, and many of them fairly recently. Finishing my first wearable sweater, my first magic loop socks, my first cabled project, my first time using Malabrigo, my first swap, etc.

But today I will share with you my first knitted gift. My first knitted gift was completed a year and a half ago for my "grandneighbor" Phoebe. It was my first completed blanket too. I gave the gift twice...the first time, at the baby shower, it was unfinished and still on-the-needles. The second time, I finished it up and took it over, just in time... I didn't realize that the baby had come the day before and was coming home from the hospital that day! Her dad took the blanket to the hospital, and the first thing I saw when I met little Phoebe was my blanket. Which I guess is her blanket. And her first handknit blanket to boot!

6 Questions

Although I haven't been formally tagged, I saw this questionairre while visiting some of my classmates and thought I'd give it a go.

1. What was I doing 10 years ago? Well 10 years ago, I was just a wee 3 years old. My little sister Emerald Bladvak had just been born and my sister Jade was having a tough time adjusting to not being the baby anymore. The family lore says that when I was 3, I got hold of my dad’s wand and cast my first accidental spell and flooded the kitchen. Having no real recollection, I’m not sure I believe it!

2. What are 5 things on my to-do list today: 1. Finish up some homework for Potions. 2. Finish writing a letter to my grandmother so I can send it when the owls get back to work on Tuesday. 3. Work on knitting my Ophelia cardigan. 4. Catch up with my classmates. 5. take a nap

3. Snacks I enjoy: Chocolate Frogs (or any other chocolate item), chips & dip, pretzels, apples with peanut butter, Chex Mix. Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (the Muggle version of Bertie Botts)

4. Places I’ve lived: Just outside of London, Ravenclaw Tower

5. Things I would do if I were a billionaire: Open some kind of cute shop in Hogsmeade, invest in some broomstick stock, travel- including a Muggle cruise with my family, stock up on yarn

6. Who I want to know more about: Any of my fellow Ravenclaws or any other Hogwarts classmates!

No Owls

I love holidays. I especially love holidays when we get a day off school. But the worst thing about holidays is definitely that there are no owls swooping in during breakfast! I realize that the owls need a day off every now and then too (although they do have Sundays to rest, don't they?) but I so look forward to getting mail that it just makes me cranky when there isn't even a chance of getting any...especially when I know there are some good things heading my way, such as some yarn for a gift project, some stitch markers for a knitting friend and a new magazine. I'm sure there are more owls I'm expecting that I've forgotten about!
In the meantime, I suppose I'll just enjoy the owl holiday and work on knitting Ophelia. We have 2 Ophelias here at Hogwarts, but hopefully in a few days, there will be one more... the Ophelia cardigan (pattern by Elizabeth Klett)! And, when my fingers need a break from knitting, I'll be sure to finally catch up on Google's Magical Reader. I got everyone's name loaded in and now I need to read some 300 posts...guess I don't actually need any owls to bring me reading material after all!

Homework

It's just been so hard for me to get into a nice routine here at Hogwarts this term. I have a feeling things will all fall into place in 16 school days! After that, some tutoring I've been doing for a group of young Muggles (my dad volunteered me for that through the Ministry) will be over and I'll be able to only focus on Hogwarts...and knitting!
I will have about an hour and a half of solid knitting this evening, as I've agreed to go watch Viktor Scamander and some of his Gryffindor pals play baseball. One of the boys played on a Muggle team all his life, and is teaching them to play. It should be interesting to see if anyone tries putting any charms on the ball...or the players!
I did manage to finish the Ravenclaw House Homework. If you haven't done yours yet and want to figure it out on your own, you should stop reading here... Otherwise, scroll down a bit to see it.











Can you keep a secret? The Headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix is at No. 12 Grimmauld Place

Already Swamped!

My sweet grandmother has a sign on her icebox that says, "I was put on this earth to accomplish a certain number of things. Right now I'm so far behind, I'll never die!" Well, I'm definitely feeling that sentiment right now! It's been slow-going getting all of the blogs into Google Reader. I can't keep track of which students changed houses, are taking a sabbatical from Hogwarts, and there's a few that have even changed names! Ravenclaw is obviously where I'm meant to be, as I printed out a spreadsheet of all of the names, blogs, etc. so I can mark them off as I add them (or find they are still there from last term) in Google Reader. I've only gotten about 1/2 way through Ravenclaw house so far! The problem is, I keep getting sidetracked and going to post on the blogs. I wish I had a Rememberall so I'd be able to find my Time Turner.
Besides getting my social activities organized, I've also been quite busy with homework, knitting (just finished a gift for a friend yesterday...then started something for myself), and going for walks and runs around the grounds. I'm always exhausted... I only just managed to be awake at the same time as the 2 girls I share a dormitory with, Agatha Vablatsky and Emma Lovegoods. They do seem quite nice! I only hope that all my yawning didn't make them feel that I was bored with them! It's always hard to get back in the swing of things when you return to school. I remember feeling that way when I attended Muggle elementary school too. Well, my eyelids are beginning to feel heavy... maybe just a quick nap so I can be awake later for some good conversation with Agatha and Emma.

Ravenclaw Homework

I thought I had taken care of the magic links on the sidebar, but must've neglected to hit "save changes" after adding about 20 names! That's what I get for mixing Muggles & magic... I was talking on the telephone to a cousin of mine. I'm going to get back to that when I have lots of time to focus on that alone, but for now, I'll start off with my first Ravenclaw Homework assignment.

My name is Olive Altheda Bladvak. I was named for a shade of my mother's favorite color and a character in her favorite childhood story from Tales of Beedle the Bard ("The Fountain of Fair Fortune"). I am the oldest of 4 girls, and my sisters are all named for shades of green as well: Jade, Emerald & Kelly. My parents met at Hogwarts years ago, when my mother was a third year Ravenclaw and my father was a 5th year Hufflepuff. We live in London, very close to the Ministry of Magic, as my father likes to start each of his days at the Goblin Liason Office with a brisk walk to work. My mother's favorite class was always a History of Hogwarts, and she works part-time at the Museum of Quidditch.
As much as I enjoy the company of my sisters, I am glad to have Hogwarts to myself for the time being. Although I was quite nervous when I arrived at Hogwarts last year, I've found that I fit right in in Ravenclaw House (just as my dad was sure I would!) because I love to think, read, write, and yes, even do homework! I think I might like to grow up to become a professor here at Hogwarts some day. When I'm not studying or trying to meet up with my housemates for some chatting by the fire in the common room, I much enjoy knitting, reading for fun, running, and cooking. Of course, I've only been allowed to cook in the Muggle fashion thus far, so I can't wait until I can start incorporating magic into my cooking and baking like my mum does! I also like to sew; I only wish my good old Muggle sewing machine would work at Hogwarts. Too much magic buzzing around. A good friend of mine showed me how to make a Muggle scrapbook, so I love to do that now too! Oh, and I mustn't forget that one of the things I most enjoy doing is getting Owl Post! My grandmother and I write each other often and between letters to her and new yarn deliveries, my owl Marty (short for Martini) is kept very busy!
I've been fortunate to travel to many places with both of my parents, as their jobs often have them collecting information from interesting places. I've been to Greece, Italy, Germany, a few other places in Europe, Japan (we even used a PortKey to get to the top of Mount Fuji!), Mexico and the United States. Interesting magic all over the world! I love to travel, especially by Floo, and we've even taken a few rides on Muggle airplanes. I guess they're more comfortable than broomsticks for long flights. Still, my dream is to go somewhere where I will see a moose. I just love moose, and though I have a growing collection of moose things, I've yet to see a real one!
I don't know what other information to include in my biography... I'm only 13, so I haven't a whole lot to write about just yet. I do hope you enjoyed learning a bit more about me and my family!

Housekeeping, part 2

Well, I managed to magically link to all of my classmates. Now I'm off to get everyone entered into the magical device that will allow me to see all of my classmates updates without clicking on every single link! That will really help me manage my time, especially with my new classes this year. In addition to continuing the courses we started last year, I've opted to take Divination and Care of Magical Creatures. I know many people think Divination is silly, and I'm not sure I disagree...but I think the classroom must be so pleasant to be in, with the floor cushions and all, so I've decided to give it a try. I'm going to go finish getting ready for the term, I'm looking forward to stopping by and visiting some old Hogwarts friends, and new ones too!

Housekeeping

Now that we are returning to Hogwarts, it's time for some housekeeping. Some of my classmates from last year have not returned to Hogwarts and some have returned but switched houses. Not to mention all of the wonderful new students who are joining us. That's why I've been taking some time to do some housekeeping in this magic journal of mine. I've gone through and deleted, added & corrected my fellow students and the spells that will take one to their magic journals. I only managed to get through the Ravenclaws and the Gryffindors so far... the Hufflepuff & Slytherin sections are still out of date. Not all magic is just a quick flick of a wand away, and it's taking a very long time. Next I will have to update the fantastic Muggle tool called Google Reader, which has been instrumental in keeping me up-to-date on what all of the other students are up to. The beginning of a term is such a busy time...but also a very exciting time!