Wednesday, February 25, 2009

Curses!

My dear fellow Slytherins,

I am calling for an all-out assault on Ravenclaw House.  One of those too-clever witches cursed me this morning!  I didn't turn around fast enough to spot which 'claw it was that hexed me when I felt the zap this morning, but she had long blonde hair and was wearing a blue-and-bronze scarf.  Stupid chit ran down a corridor before I could catch her or see who she was.  But I know it was a Ravenclaw, and they shall pay!

It's a pretty clever curse - I have zapped everything I've touched today (including the soap in the ladies' room, which was very weird) with static electrisity.  We need to see about casting this charm on the other House's seekers before the next Quidditch match.  It's made knitting pretty interesting - I charged my yarn cake, and it started unraveling!  Students are avoiding me (and my shocks) in the hallways, which does make getting to class easier, but still.  If anyone knows a counter-curse I would be very, very grateful.

Your Head Girl,

Quinn

Monday, February 23, 2009

Dear Belladonna,

Thank you very much for offering to meet me in the Greenhouse after classes today to help me with my Devil's Snare project.  Sewing is not my forte, so attaching the vines (straps) to the rest of the bag is something I have been dreading.

Shall I bring some Butterbeer and Chocolate frogs from the kitchen?

The lace shawl that I am making hit a snag. I have to rip back 6 rows! :C I need some chocolate and probably also a Cheering Charm to help me through, I am NOT looking forward to this :(

On a more positive note, I finished a couple of projects this weekend, a third Robin's Egg Blue Hat in Slytherin colors and a green dishtowel that will be a handtowel. Plus I found some cute Ceramic buttons to go with both of my REB Hats - I am super picky about buttons it seems, because it took about 20 minutes to decide which to get, lol.

Other fun news - I taught another classmate (er, muggle coworker), Joanne, how to knit today!! She was already a crocheter so she picked it up super quickly.  She saw my red calorimetry and wanted to make her own.  First we are doing some swatches of knit and purl stitches, but I think that she'll be ready to cast on by Wednesday!  My other classmate, Carol, passed us knitting on her way to the ladies' room, and pointed out that I have a cabal going - I've taught 4 of my other classmates to either knit or crochet.  Hehehe, soon I will have my entire class (er, department) knitting along during our lunch breaks.  Am I a good subversive Slytherin or what?

See you tonight!

Quinn

::passing the parchment over a candle flame and muttering the correct incantation reveals the rest of the letter::

Bella, how was the fact-finding mission to Stirling?  Are you having any luck on the Rufus angle?  I can check with my Auror uncle, if you still want to keep your father clear of things.

I have noticed some very strange goings-on in the Forbidden Forest of late.  It seems we have two trysting lovers, but that might just be a cover for something related to the Ackerly girl....  More to follow tonight.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

Quidditch 1

Dear fellow Slytherins,

Here are my answers for our Quidditch exam. Help yourselves :D

Quinn

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
The pictures must be posted on your blog or at least linked to from your blog. Make sure that the links work or you will not get credit.

Mad-Eye Moody


Nymphadora Tonks


George Weasley


The Dursley's House


Kreacher

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Quiz #2

Your Majesty,

Attached please find my parchment with the answers to our second House Quiz.  It was very difficult!

Quinn

*****

Slytherin House Quiz #2: How Well Do You Know Your Housemates?

1. Which housemate has an 11 ½ inch holly wand with a Dragon Heartstring core?
* Bathilda Boomslang
2. Which housemate creates rockin’ sock patterns?
* Emma Wigworthy
3. Which housemate has the hots for David Boreanez?
* Queen Frysia
4. Which housemate used to be the top badger who made a habit of eating snakes?
* Quinn
5. Which housemate shows off her awards from HSKS6 on her blog?
* Madam Ferula Finnigan
6. Which housemate makes kicka* * cookies IRL?
* Esmerelda Beanswallow
7. Which housemate is a third year Slytherclaw, whatever the hell that means?
* Callisto Verity
8. Which housemate wants Plymouth to make her feet happy?
* Belladonna Boomslang
9. Which housemate is a knitting addict? (Ok, all of us, but one in particular.)
* Lily of Flitwick
"Sometimes at work". ??? She work at an LYS! :-P
10. Which housemate loves to sing?
* Cassandra Puddlemere
11. Which housemate has issues with muggle devices?
* Ginny Crookshanks
12. Which housemate likes Darth HelloKitty?
* Cecily Fortescue
13. Which housemate has a member of the family with his own fan club?
* Diana Lockhart
14. Which housemate has never-ending PMS?
* Olivia Gaunt
15. Which housemate originally comes from South New Joisey?
* Penelope Caerphilly - and that Jersey Girl had better watch it around Belladona and me!
16. Which housemate “adores” European chocolates?
* Clara Clovenhoof
17. Which housemate has a roommate who seriously put a crimp in her communication abilities?
* Rowena Weasley
18. Which housemate was fortunate enough to lose her HP husband?
* Lavender Diggory-Dolohov
19. Which housemate likes some Nascar dude?
* Andromeda Finch-Fletchley
20. Which housemate needs a new time-turner?
* Ophelia Crookshanks

Sunday, February 8, 2009

The 13th Triangle

Dear J,

A lot has happened since I wrote you last.  Today I made a significant breakthrough in the case!  I was knitting a purse in the common room and Belladonna Boomslang, a fellow Slytherin, stood up and asked if anyone wanted to raid the kitchens for some hot beverages.  Even with the fireplace, it is always damp in the common room under the lake, so I went with.  We started talking, and it turns out she is Mad-Eye Moody's daughter!  So I turned the conversation towards the Ackerly girl's disappearance, and the end result is we're launching our own covert investigation into the matter.

In other news, I am having a blast in class.  Literally, Hagrid had us tending Blast-Ended Skrewts again :D  I love animals that can take of themselves in a fight, if ya know what I mean.

My fellow Slytherins and I have been knitting a lot in our common room.  I am getting all caught up on the House gossip.  Miss Lovegood is already mooning over the DADA professor, and some of the girls have a plan to... shall we say, nip the romance in the bud.  Tee hee. 

It's hard to concentrate on the pattern for my lace shawl with all the bawdy suggestions being flung around the room - I've dropped more stitches than I care to think about!  It's a fun project, I am basically combining 4 different types of lace repeats in my own order.  It's hard to say exactly how much yarn it will take but I'm aiming for a 5-6" wide shawl, and the estimates at the back of the book say around 800 yards.  I have 3 400+ yard skeins of a pretty purple yarn, so I have room to play without worrying about running short.

One thing that would make the project a bit easier - a row counter.  I can never remember from one day to the next what row I left off on, but luckily I am good at "reading my knitting" so I can match my previous row to the pattern, and figure out what I should be doing for this row.  Some of the gals have very pretty ones in their knitting bags.  Looks like I'll be pulling out the beading supplies this weekend and tinkering with a design.  I'm sure the gals will be happy to help, right?

Hope all is well by you.  Are you remembering to water my plants?  Twice a week, and extra before a holiday.  Ttys,

Q

Monday, February 2, 2009

Quiz #1

Dear J,

Well, the term has begun.  I haven't had much time to investigate things yet though.  All the students are too busy getting set up for the new semester to even breathe, much less gossip about Ackerly's disappearance.

The traditional "Beginning of Term Feast" was held Tuesday, and I've begun to make some contacts.  Slytherin has Herbology with Hufflepuff on Thursdays, so I expect I'll get more information soon.

In the meantime, I've signed up for an extracurricular activity that sounds promising.  Lavender participated in the Hogwarts Sock Kit Swap her last 3 years she was at Hogwarts, and many of the students participating this year were here when she was.  Bet you never thought my knitting and crocheting would come in handy on an investigation, but like Master Lend says, There is no useless knowledge.

 Queen Frysia the Fierce, one of my prefects, asked that Slytherins participating in HSKS fill out a quiz to help students in other houses get to know them better.  I hate icebreakers like this, but as Head Girl I need to set a good example.  It's hard enough keeping the Slytherins in line as it is!  ::Sigh::  This quiz isn't so bad, but I can only imagine the kind of touchy-feely drivle the Hufflepuffs are going to write for their House's quiz, or the sheer verbosity of the Ravenclaws'....

That's all for now.  Looking forward to our rendezvous next week, it has been far too long!

Q

************************************************************************************************************************************
 1. What are your three most favorite colors?
Green, Blue and Purple

2. What are you three least favorite colors?
Brown, Yellow and Orange

3. Your favorite candy is _________________.
Chocolate and twizzlers (but I'm trying to cut back)

4. Draco, Lucius, or Snape?
Snape. Hate the Malfoys.

5. Do you knit, crochet, or both?
Both

6. What type of kit did you ask for?
Anything besides socks.

7. Acrylic—has its uses, should all be burned, best yarn to work with (choose one)?
Definitely has it's uses! I've recently discovered that there is "good acryllic" - I LOVE Berroco Comfort - and bad acryllic - such as Red Heart.

8. Who is the Slytherin Head Girl this term?
Meeeee!

9. Name four “extras” you would love to receive in your kit.
Something local to my spoiler
Something to read
Some tea
Something totally random that makes me laugh (like when Elle sent me a 16" turkey feather from her backyard - but not another feather please! One is enough :)

10. What are your three most favorite scents?
Grapefruit, Lolita Lempicka, Vanilla, any citrus scent.
Basically anything that's not coconut is cool

11. Do you prefer salty or sweet snacks?
Both. Depends on my mood I guess.

12. Which Slytherin is the Keeper of the Crucio List?
Cassandra Puddlemere

13. Do you really need more stitch markers?
Need? No, 'cuz I make my own.  Want? well... If you happen to make your own and want to send me some, I will definitely use them.  And I love seeing how other people bead things.  But don't go out and buy them!

14. Dpns, circular, or straight?
Like acryllic, they all have their uses ;)  I use mostly dpns or circs now, since you can always flat knit with them but the reverse isn't true (with straights).

15. What yarn makes you squee?
I'm really not picky, I love all yarn that's soft and/or doesn't feel artificial (think like red heart).  I have a thing for Lamb's Pride and Cascade 220, 'cuz they come in SO many pretty colors and they're a PITA to find locally.

16. Favorite HP Movie?
HBP

17. Favorite HP character?
 All of them? Lol.  Ah, Harry, Ron, the twins, Ginny, Hermione, Tonks, McGonagall, Hagrid...

18. Who was your first choice for DADA professor?
Justin Hartley

19. What is the Slytherin Common Room called?
 The Snake Pit

20. What makes you worthy of being in Slytherin House?
Despite my Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff traits, I am a master planner and strategist (one could say schemer) and they are lucky to have me.