Hogsmeade

What a week this has been. This is the first chance I've even gotten to write about last weekend in Hogmeade. As things turned out I didn't get to spend much time hanging out with friends while there. Uncle Vincenzio was expecting a very busy weekend and had asked me to help out. It turned out to be even busier than he had expected and I wound up spending the entire weekend working in the shoppe.

While I was bummed out about that at first, Uncle Vincenzio made it up to me. What's happened is cousins Ron and Hermione have developed a lot of wizard technology by combining magic with muggle technology. They've combined the Wizard Wireless Network with something called a DVD player, which you can play these things that the muggles call "disks." Mum and Dad gave me one this past Christmas, so Uncle Vincenzio gave me this whole collection of the American Muggle television show called "Smallville."

It is quite an exciting program, about this bloke who lives in the states, but came from another planet as a little boy. Because he's from another planet he can do things that the muggles can't. But he's not a wizard or anything like that. He doesn't use magic, spells or potions.

My house mates are enjoying it immensely. We've been watching episodes every evening. Although Professor Sprout has warned that none of the Hufflepuffs had better let their school work suffer. So we all get started on homework right after dinner, then we watch an episode.

It's a great gift. Uncle Vincenzio is the best!

Dueling Round 1

I won the first round of dueling! It was pretty darn close too. I was up against Patonga Pinkstone of Ravenclaw and I knew she had finished her mitts before I was done with mine. Fortunately the Owl Post had already closed for the day and she could not send it out to me until morning. I was up until 2:00 am finishing the pair I made for her. Which I think came out pretty nice. She was pleased with them and said they fit great.


Here is the pair that Patonga sent me. Pretty cool in Puff house colors.
Next round I'm up against Lily of Flitwick from Slytherin. She'll be a tough one to go up against, but I hear those snakes can't handle Broadway show tunes and 80's music.

QUIDDITCH! -Round 1

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

Picture Scavenger Hunt
Mad-Eye Moody

Nymphadora Tonks

George Weasley

The Dursley's House

Kreacher

Hufflepuff Quiz #2

1. Do you knit or crochet? How long have you been at your craft?
I've been a knitter for almost 25 years.

2. Do you spin? What type of spinning do you do?
I have a drop spindle from the program we did with our knitting guild. I haven't picked it up since. I know I would get addicted to it and would wind up getting a wheel, so I've been avoiding it.

3. Are there any other crafts that you participate in?
I'm an Indie Yarn Dyer

4. What are your favorite yarns/fibers?
Wool, Merino, Alpaca, Silk
I'm an equal opportunity knitter.

5. What are your LEAST favorite yarns/fibers?
Mohair irritates my throat, feels like the fiber is in the back of my throat (ewww). When I can avoid eyelash, fun-fur type yarns I do.

6. Are there any types/brands of yarn that you are dying to work with but haven't gotten a chance?
I'm up for trying any kind of sock yarn. An awesome color-way is always lots of fun. Trekking, TOFUtsies, Tencel, Noro Sock Yarn. Would also like to try those dyed sock flats.

7. What are you currently working on?
Baby Blanket
2 pair Felted Slippers
Turtleneck Pullover
Baby Sweater that needs to be seamed

8. Are their any knitting/crochet techniques that you would like to learn?
Nothing I can think of right at this minute.

9. Do you have a yarn winder and/or a swift?
I'm on my 2nd Yarn Winder, still have the same swift from 20 years ago.

10. Where/how to you keep you needles/hooks?
All over the place. One day my needles will be sorted and organized. Don't know when that will be.

11. Do you like sweets? What are your favorites?
I like good dark chocolate. I'm doing Weight Watchers right now, so when I do indulge in chocolate I go with the good stuff.

12. Are you having a birthday during this swap?
My birthday comes after the swap this time

Hufflepuff Quiz #1

First house quiz of the new term. We were given 2 questions and were supposed to just pick one.

1) When did you first learn to knit. Who taught you, how did you learn, what was your first project?

2) What is your favorite knitting project and why? Was it the yarn your chose? Shaping? What drew you to it?
I would have to say the Felted Clogs by Fiber Trends. It was the first felted project I ever did. I knew a lot of knitters who had made them and I thought they looked really great, plus I always wear warm slippers in the winter. The pattern is pretty intense, you really have to pay attention and follow it closely. This isn't a project that you work on while watching television or bring to your knit night. But the results are great. Of course you knit this enormous slipper that you thin will never fit you, but once you felt them they are perfect!

Start of a new term

Well HSKS7 is off to a great start. We have several first years who seem very excited to be here and be a part of Hufflepuff, I'm sure they will all do great. We have a new head girl this year. Lavender Ackerly left in what some are alluding to as mysterious circumstances. Although I've also heard that she and Rufus Huffindor ran off to Romania and are raising dragons in the Balkan Mountains... so who really knows what happened.

Another change this term is that I was asked to be a Hufflepuff prefect. Mum and Dad were very pleased to hear when I told them. I also heard from my sister Antonia, she sent her owl Demeter from Beaubatons with a note telling me how happy she was to hear my news. It's still so strange not to have her hear at Hogwarts. We always thought we'd be in school together, but like Dad says... going to Beaubatons was a great opportunity for Toni... but I still miss her lots.

Well it's getting late and I should be getting to bed. Lots to do tomorrow. I still have this week's homework assignment to finish. Wouldn't do to have the new prefect not doing the homeowrk assignments now would it.