Here is the house quiz for this week.

1. James Potter and his friends have nicknames for each other - give three names and who they belong to.

2. What are the three Deathly Hallows?

3. What are the four items that belong to the founders of the houses at Hogwarts?

4. What is the Hogwarts Motto?

5. What is the Hogwarts school song (Book 1)?

6. What does O.W.L. stand for?

7. What exams do Hogwarts students take at the end of their 7th year?

8. What form does Snape's Patronus take?

9. Who takes over teaching divination after Trelawney is sacked by Delores Umbridge (Book 6)?

10. Who is Elanor Cadogan's boyfriend? What is his brother's name?

I nominate her for the best spoiler. Read all about my awesome package on my blog. Warning, I got picture happy.

Thanks you so much Diana. Can I request you for spoiler next term. ;)

Aaah, the 9-letter word of our favorite house! This week, this word is being used for your homework.

Good evening Duelers! This round's theme is Twilight! I know we're all here because we share a love of all things Harry Potter but these patterns were gorgeous and both are based on items worn in the Twilight movie. So, here goes:

Knit Hat Bracket Pattern
Bella's Hat
Bella's Hat, Ravelry Link

Knit Mittens/Gloves Bracket Pattern
Bella's Mittens
Bella's Mittens, Ravelry Link

Best of luck everyone!

Hello, students!!
I thought that now was a great time to shout out a little reminder of the mailing requirements, especially since kits are flying through the air on trusty and reliable owls as you read this.

For those in the U.S. you will be required to purchase a Delivery Confirmation when you send your package off. Delivery Confirmation provides both proof of mailing and allows you to track your package to make sure that it gets to it's destination. When you purchase the Delivery Confirmation option you will need to email your tracking # to your Head Girl

Requirement: Delivery Confirmation provides proof of mailing at the time of mailing and date and time of delivery or attempted delivery. A delivery record is maintained by the USPS. Delivery Confirmation is available with First-Class Mail and Priority Mail. For an additional fee, Delivery Confirmation may be combined with restricted delivery or return receipt. Each student is required to purchase delivery confirmation. When the package is sent you must email the delivery confirmation to your Head girl so that she may update our databases with the information. Believe me!! Packages go lost more often than we like. Delivery Confirmation is also proof that a package was mailed at all and may save you from being black listed from future swaps if you cut it close to the deadline for sending out your package.

Best Kit
In order to have your kit considered for the Best Kit category you MUST take a picture of your kit before you send it. Email that picture to your Head Girl as well as to Bevin - our Best Kit Coordinator. Many times the kit receiver might not have a camera handy when he or she receives your kit. Wouldn't it be a shame if you poured your heart and soul into your kit, but didn't get a chance to show it off to the whole of Hogwarts???

Suggestion: Flat Rate Boxes
Hopefully many of you know about this option, which the postal service provides. Flat Rate boxes!! Whatever you can fit into this box will only cost you $9.95 to ship, plus your Certified Mail. The joy of it is that you can get the boxes from the postal service for free. You can either order them online or visit your local postal site and request them in person. There is also a larger box option at $12.95.

Hello Duelers! This week I have a super fantastic theme, which shall become obvious on Friday :) Regardless, here are your specifications for the semi-final round of the duel.

The knit hat will require a skein (less than 100 yards) of bulky weight yarn. You will also be using US 8 (5.0 mm) knitting needles – 16” circular and DPNs. Tools include a yarn needle (for tucking in the ends) and cable needle. The gauge is pattern specific, so you'll need to do a gauge swatch when the pattern is released.

The knit mittens/gloves will require approximately 200 yards of bulky weight yarn. You will also be using US 8 (5.0 mm) double pointed needles and 24" or larger circular needle (or size needed for gauge). You will also need a cable needle, yarn needle, stitch holder and stitch row counter. The recommended gauge is 16 stitches and 24 rows is 4” in stockinette.

The pattern will be released Friday, March 27th at a time TBA but it will be an evening (CST) release. When I can commit to a definite time, I will post the exact release time in the ravelry thread.

We're here! Check out my blog for updates on what we are doing! First post is there now!

It's time for a photo-scavenger hunt! I know it's just after St. Patrick's Day, but leprechauns are year-round, right? I'd like to invite all 4 Houses to participate in this fun scavenger hunt. Here's your lucky list!

cloak
cup (as in Helga Hufflepuff's cup)
devil's snare
diadem
diary
glass eye
gold
leprechaun
locket
owl
picture frame
pint of brew
scar
shamrock
snake
statue
stone
sword
tombstone
wand


You have until midnight PST on Sunday, March 29th.


Please post all pictures in one blog post on your own blog with labels and, if you so choose, descriptions!

Your originality marker must be visible in each picture. What's an originality marker, you ask? Something that's in every picture to show that you didn't just find the photos on the interwebs! I used my keychain, others have used a peacock feather, a toy animal, or even their thumb!

All participants will get a badge, and the overall winner will get a set of stitch markers from Bumblebirch. Oooh! Pretty!

Bonus points will be given for completeness, speed, and creativity. And if you cheat these leprechauns will eat you. Good luck!

It seems like a good day for an impromptu party in the Great Hall! Come on by whenever you can!

I know that the HSKS 7 2009 Get-Together planning is well underway, but I thought that I would still post this map to aid with further planning.

View Larger Map

Last week, Ravenclaw gave out a 3 part homework assignment... one mandatory (blogging of course) and two additional optional parts.

Those 'Claws who completed all three were entered into a surprise drawing for some delicious yarn from Crazy 4 Dyeing... and

Congratulations to Wavery Trimble for being so speedy! I also want to say every one was on thier game. It went so fast GOOD JOB!

I hear that there are grumblings in the ranks, so I feel that a further explanation of the last two Quidditch rulings is in order.

Quidditch ~ Round One

There was a disagreement because Lydia had not seen the further direction to post an additional piece of information from the site. After some discussion I decided to keep the ruling with Rowena of Ravenclaw as winner, but to post the directions above the image during the next round. During round one the direction was there from the beginning and was posted at the same time as the image.

Quidditch ~ Round Two

The win was awarded to Waverly because the extra direction was not posted until after the Snitch had been reported as found by Waverly. That was completely my mistake, because I did not tell Bevin to post that direction until 30 seconds or so after she had posted the image. If the direction was posted at the same time as the image the win would have went to someone else and not Waverly unless she had followed the direction. Though, the direction was mistakenly posted at the bottom of the image the fact that it was becomes a moot point because of the speed at which the image was found.

I'm posting the timeline of this mornings events as proof of how it all went down.

Ho-wy cow, did swytherin just catch the snitch?


(Michelle Tanner)

ETA No we didn't this is just a cheer!

Nice socks Andi!


Where the heck is that darn snitch?

Slyther on!

Congratulations to the winner of the Top Secret Homework Assignment

The Snitch is set to be released Tuesday, March 17th, between the hours listed below:

Please forgive me, everyone! Full day today - started early with TB test check and I completely forgot to post the trivia early. Sorry for any typos! Typing fast and running out the door.

1. On which day did the Order of the Phoenix come to get Harry?
a. Tuesday
b. Sunday
c. Saturday
d. The day of his 17th birthday

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?
a. Voldemort
b. Death Eaters
c. Scrimgeour
d. Grindewald

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?
a. Yes
b. No

4. Why did the Dumbledore's move to Godric's Hollow?
a. The reason is unknown
b. They were tired of their old home.
c. The father went to Azkaban
d. It was a better place for their children to grow up

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?
a. Why the Dumbledore family moved to Godric's Hollow
b. That Dumbledore was friends with Grindelwald for a while.
c. Why nobody outside the family noticed Ariana much.
d. The reason for Dumbledore's father's imprisonment in Azkaban.

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?
a. The ressrection stone
b. The cloak
c. The wand
d. The sword

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
b. They though he would come to her rescue
c. She was a muggleborn
d. Her father failed as a Death Eater

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?
a. Dumbldore telling Snape that at some point Snape had to kill him.
b. Snape telling Lily she was a witch
c. Snape and Lily having fun in a potions class
d. Snape talking to Dumbledore on a hilltop

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?
a. She didn't remember because she had been dead for so long.
b. Rowena Ravenclaw.
c. Helena Ravenclaw.
d. A girl who was put in ravenclaw 800 years previously

10. Which of these is not one of Harry or Ron's children?
a. Rose
b. Hugo
c. James
d. Victoria

Ah, a merry game it is, Quidditch
Whether played by wizard or played by witch
Hogwarts All Stars playing against the Ballycastle Bats
And a St. Patrick’s Day match at that!

Who will win the game? Let us guess…
The team to profess speed and alertness
Four houses coalesce, and will not rest
Until the snitch, they posess!

Hogwarts! Hogwarts!!
Dominating Quidditch field and sky
We’ll send those Bats back to Northern I
Then off to the Three Broomsticks we will fly
To celebrate with Butterbeer and mincemeat pie!

Hogwarts! Hogwarts!!
The team to beat
Spectators, never leave your seat
The game will be quick, it will be merry
The Ballycastle Bats will be buried!!

Goooooo Hogwarts!!!!

Here's something I came up with for our match against the Ballycastle Bats on Tuesday! GO HOGWARTS!!!!!!!! :D:D:D:D


Hogwarts, Hogwarts, we're the best! We're the team that never rests!

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, go, go, go! Beat those Bats and steal the show!

Hogwarts, Hogwarts, they're our team! They don't suck like lima beans!

Gooooo, Hogwarts! WOO! YEAH!

Gryffindor students, your assignment this week is in Arithmancy.

Firstly solve the sudoku puzzle below, which relies on the 9 numbers used in arithmancy. Then by reference to the given grid, establish the letters indicated by the numbers in shaded cells and unscramble them to indicate a character from Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows. Note that numbers in the top 3 rows of the sudoku represent letters shown in green, with the middle 3 rows representing letters shown in red, and the bottom 3 rows representing letters shown in blue. Post the character’s name on your blog, and describe their personality. You may find the arithmancy guide given here useful.



The assignment is due to be submitted by 12 midnight on Saturday 14th March. Good luck everybody.

Sorry everyone,
I can't get to any Rav page. Am I the only one? Our Antonio said that he couldn't.
If I am not, does anyone know anything about it?
Sitting here bummed....
Violet

for her History of Magic assignment is

Phelicia Phoenixfire

An owl is on the way with your prize!

Ms. Violet Starfire,

the house prize hat has spit your name out as the Winner of Homework #2.

For the 4th week in a row Ravenclaw House has had 100% posting participation. Congratulations to everyone!! The prize for posting this week goes to....

Watch for an owl to be headed your direction with a special little something for you.

Good morning Duelers! This round, I attempted to have a theme week with the theme being ‘Diamonds In The Rough’.

Each pattern (with the exception of the newly added crochet gloves, which were a last minute addition) has a diamond motif of some sort within the pattern!

Here are the links for the patterns for round two (including links to the patterns on ravelry in case you would like to look at them).

As always, here are a few reminders: First, NO OVERNIGHT SHIPPING. Second, please email me at hsksduelclub at gmail dot com AND post to the HSKS7 dueling club ravelry thread when you receive your item. This will help both me and all the other duelers keep track of winners. Third, you must send an item to your partner win or lose. If you lose a duel, you can send the partially (or fully) completed item or yarn required to make the item. And fourth, HAVE FUN!!!

Best of luck everyone!

The Ravenclaw house had some pretty clever and time-consuming homework this week which was done with great wits and many laughs!



What the 'Claws didn't know was that we planned to hold a special drawing for some goodies from the Crazy 4 Dyeing shoppe which is owned by our fellow 'Claw Patonga Pinkstone. All the names were put into a special hat and the winner is:

This week's homework assignment - with a prize! - is a simple cipher of a quote from Half-Blood Prince.

CVMMT GJJFZY VMJPIY; OCZMZ RVN BDIIT MPIIDIB OJRVMY CDH; NCZ CVY V CVMY, WGVUDIB GJJF DI CZM AVXZ VN NCZ OCMZR CZM VMHN VMJPIY CDH. VIY RDOCJPO OCDIFDIB, RDOCJPO KGVIIDIB DO, RDOCJPO RJMMTDIB VWJPO OCZ AVXO OCVO ADAOT KZJKGZ RZMZ RVOXCDIB, CVMMT FDNNZY CZM.

Hope this is fun for you - please let me know if it's too tricky and you need a hint :) It's due on Saturday, by 11:59p ET.