Dark Mark

Quidditch Round One

1. What was Harry dreaming about the first time he woke up with his scar on fire?

b. Voldemort and Wormtail plotting to kill him

2. What is the problem with leprechaun gold?
a. It vanishes after a few hours

3. Why did Mad-Eye Moody turn Malfoy into a ferret?
c. Malfoy attached Harry when Harry's back was turned

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?
Snape

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?
c. The special protection Harry received from his mother would also pass to Voldemort

6. How old would Frank have been on his next birthday?
d. 77

7. Amos Diggory works for?
b. The Department for the Regulation and Control of Magical Creatures

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

Neville

9. What date in October did the delegates from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang arrive?
a. 30th

10. What color were Percy's dress robes at the Yule Ball?
a. Navy Blue

Shhhhh, don't tell!

I just couldn't wait.  April 4th seems like such a looooong way away and my spoilee really needed a little spoiling now - so I sent her a teeny weenie, little itsy bitsy spoil.  She deserves it, darn it!

Magic Middles

As promised, here are Beanswallow's Magic Middle Cookies

Makes 26 small cookies or 12 large cookies

Bake 7-9 minutes for small; 9-12 for large

Preheat oven to 375°

Line with parchment or lightly grease 2 baking sheets

Dough

1 1/2 c unbleached all-purpose flour

1/2 c cocoa powder

1/2 t baking soda

1/4 t salt

1/2 c granular sugar (plus more for dipping)

1/2 c brown sugar

1/2 c butter, unsalted (or omit salt from recipe)

1/4 c smooth peanut butter

1 t vanilla extract

1 large egg

Magic Middle

3/4 c smooth peanut butter

3/4 c confectioners’ sugar

To make dough:

In a medium mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, cocoa, baking soda and salt.  In another medium bowl, beat together the sugars, butter and peanut butter until light and fluffy.  Add the vanilla and egg, beat to combine, then stir in the dry ingredients, blending well.

To make the filling: In a small bowl, stir together the peanut butter and confectioners’ sugar until smooth.  With floured hands, rill the filling into 26 on inch balls (or 12 larger balls).

To shape the cookies:

Break off about 1 Tablespoon of the dough, make an indentation in the center with your finger, and press one of the peanut butter balls into the indentation.  Bring the dough up and over the filling, pressing it closed; roll the cookie in the palm of your hand to smooth it out.  repeat with remaining dough and centers.

Dip the top of each cookie in granulated sugar and place on the prepared baking sheets about 2 inches apart.  Grease the bottom of a drinking glass and use it to slightly flatten each cookie.

Bake the cookies for 7-9 minutes (or longer for larger cookies), until they are set.  Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes then move to wire rack to cool completely.  Store in an airtight container.

Homework

Phew!  I hate word jumble tests.  Hope I got this right (got a little help from my housemates).  Am in a MAJOR quandary about my buddy's bag.  And since I can't get help, will have to get it from my muggle friends.  And frankly, I'm not really sure they understand...

1. RWIDZTAIR UANONETRMT

Triwizard Tournament

2. NRNAGIHAU RAHNIOTL

Hungarian Horntail

3. AEEMDY ONYOME
Madeye Moody

4. ARTI KEESTRE

Rita Skeeter (had a great-aunt Skeeter, wonder if we're related?)

5. ELSAUAEPBNKS
Unspeakables

6. ULSFENFS

Snuffles

7. NEPSVEIE

Pensieve

8. RMUEIIPS

Imperius

9. TREUEEBTBR

Butterbeer

10. ROFELIBT

Firebolt

Preferences and praddle

What a busy week it has been!  Homework and finishing up a few projects that had been promised prior to the swap have taken every available minute.  Dropped by the Ravenclaw Common Room on Wednesday to check in with the housemates and had a great time.  Much eating, drinking, and swapping of yarns (yuk, yuk).

Just in case my buddy has been wondering, thought I'd say a bit about myself.  Although my physical body has continued to age, my internal age is about 35, I'd say.  I tend toward the unique and generally poo-poo following the crowd or current trends.  Several generations ago my folks raised flax for linen and I am predisposed toward natural fibers be they animal or plant.

And I love containers, vessels of all sorts.  Boxes, bags, bowls - all delight me.  One caution: I am a women of some - ummm - substance.  If a bag is meant to be worn on the body, best the straps be long to accommodate my girth.

I have knitted several pairs of socks, but would not call myself a sock knitter.  I still depend on patterns and written directions.  And that extra voluptuousness make ankle socks a better bet than knee high (although I'd really like to be wearing thigh high stockings!)  My feet spend lots of time in Birkenstocks so I can really show off some socks.

What fun the post swap pics will be!  I'm a bit of an overachiever and hope to make my spoilee fairly swoon with delight.

House quiz

1. Name 4 housemates who have revealed their Patronuses and list the form their Patronuses take.

Minerva Kwikspell - Eagle

Perpetua Pheonixfire - Eagle

Cassandra Hopkirk - Eagle

Patonga Pinkstone - Tiger (finally)

2. Who attended the first meeting of the Ravenclaw Knitting Club?

Elanor Cadogan
Gabriella Clearwater
Fleur Lovegoods
Esmerelda
Cassandra Hopkirk
Millicent Brocklehurst
Minerva Kwikspell
Enid Black
Allitrya Spelling
Mafalda Ackerley
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 (first to admit it, anyway)

6. Name 5 different types of wood used in the wands of Ravenclaws and name the housemate having that wand.

Minerva Kwikspell - Holly

Fleur Lovegood - Ebony

Gabriella Clearwater - Walnut

Elanor in Ravenclaw - Hawthorn

Perpetua Pheonixfire - Birch

7. Who accidentally ate a toenail flavored Every Flavor Bean?
Serifina Starfire

8. Who cast a noise dampening spell before going to bed and then overslept?

Alright, it was me!

9. Besides the HSKS4 blog, on what blog will you find the Ravenclaw Anthem?

Patonga Pinkstone quotes part of it.  Minerva Kwikspell has the who thing.

10. Which housemate has a Muggle cellular phone?

Victoria Black? Does a cellular broadband card count as a phone?

How do you know what you do not know?

Pixie piss!  It was me who was turned all along!  CLASSES START NOW!  Ahhhhhhh!

Time turning trouble

Well!  Can you believe it is another week before classes?  I was so ready... quills, check; parchment, check; books, check; new wand (that I want to use soooo badly!), check.  And then it is still a week away.  I hope whoever is messing about knows what's what because timeturning can be a dangerous thing.

My friends Patonga and Penelope are both caught in the time disturbance - and I'm sure they are not the only ones!  Is it today or is it next week?  Was it today yesterday?  Oh, my!  It seems like forever that I've been preparing myself for Hogwarts.  In the meantime, I'll join the other girls in the Inner House Knitabout.

Checking in...

Mom and I made several large batches of applebutter today.  Neville and I went to lunch and stopped by Sticks-n-Strings for a look see.  He's starting a lovely Cobblestone jumper and I shopped yarn for a new bag.

PS: The Magic Middles were lovely!  I'll bring a plate to our next chat and share the recipe.