Miranda Moonstone

Quidditch Quiz

2008-07-19T11:18:00.002+01:00

1. d. South of France
2. b. False
3. a. Emmeline Vance
4. b. Marlene McKinnon
5. d. Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil
6. d. Hufflepuff
7. c. Yellow
8. b. Padma Patil
9. d. Spattergroit
10 a. "New Theory of Numberology"

And the scavenger hunt picture links:-
Padma Patil http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/patil.html
Hannah Abott http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/abbott.html
Percy http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/percy.html
Dumbledore's Army http://harry-potter.hellzworld.com/ootp/3.jpg
Cedric Diggory http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizards/diggory.html

And for an Extra 5 pts - What movie will Robert Patterson star in this December?
Twilight!!! (and I still haven't read it...)

A Spider came travelling

2008-07-15T22:26:00.003+01:00

.....bearing a large box from Lily May Clearwater. The spider was truly exhausted as it had been going round and round the block for three days until he found somebody at home! Wonderful exotic goodies from the other side of the world and Lily had put such a lot of hard work into the handmade items - not one but TWO hand-knitted bags!

All my favourite things were in the box - a crime novel, chocolates, yarn, needles, stitch markers and a matching chain to clip onto my disappearing scissors - look at all the goodies she sent. Isn't she great? Well Done Lily May!

Handmade Needle Roll and a large selection of tiny dpns
Yarn from China
TWO knitted bags
Yum Yum
Stitchmarkers, matching clip for scissors, handmade jade bracelet, thread snippers.
Notebook, Pen, Ruler, Row Counters, Note Block and Sticky Notes for marking patterns. There was also some Tea, an Ian Rankin book and a comb in the box too - no wonder Lily's spider was so tired!

Probably too late

2008-07-13T11:54:00.002+01:00

but here is another very difficult piece of Ravenclaw homework...
1.What is the literal translation of "Albus Dumbledore"?
White Bumblebee
2. "Occlumency" is not, in reality, a word. However, it seems to be derived from a familiar real word that means "to block". What is that word?
Occlude
3. Remus Lupin, the werewolf, has a name that is a double reminder of his traits. From what languages are his two names derived?
Italian and Latin
4. Percy Weasley's owl takes its name, quite appropriately, from the Greek messenger god. Who is this god? Hermes
5. Many of the creatures studied in the Care of Magical Creatures class or encountered by Hogwarts students are based on mythological animals while many others were made up. Name a mythological animal which is studied and/or encountered by Hogwarts students.
Thestrals
6. Harry is tried for the "crime" of using magic outside Hogwarts by the Wizengamot. From what culture is the name "Wizengamot" derived?
The Wizengamot gets its name from The Witenagemot or Witena gemot (also called the Witan, more properly the title of its members) was a political institution in Anglo-Saxon England which operated from before the 7th century until the 11th century. The name witenagemot derives from the Old English for "meeting of wise men."
7. The hospital in OotP is called St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries. Who was the real St. Mungo?
Mungo Bonham
8. Dobby the house-elf gets his name from another kind of creature. In English folklore, what is a dobby? a Brownie (a benevolent goblin or elf)
9. Mundungus Fletcher is a disreputable little wizard with a penchant for trading in stolen goods. What exactly does mundungus mean?
A stinking tobacco
10. Harry's arch-nemesis throughout OotP is Professor Umbridge. Why is her name appropriate for her?
"dolor" = Latin for pain, sadness, grief, resentment.
"umbrage" = offense, from Latin

Very Very hard Homework

2008-07-05T19:52:00.002+01:00

Took me ages.
Across:- 3. Wizengamot 4. Boggart 5. Marietta Edgecombe 8. Sirius Black 10. Arabella Figg 12. Tonks 13. Dumbledore 14. Doxy 15. Order of the Phoenix 16. Shacklebolt 17. Scrivenshafts 19. Kreacher 20. Madam Puddifoot's
Down:- 1. Severus Snape 2. Honeydukes 6. Grimmauld Place 7. Ministry of Magic 9. Mundungus 11. Umbridge 15. Occlumency 18. Hogs Head.

Phew, glad that's over....

Mosaic Meme

2008-06-21T18:59:00.003+01:00

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

The questions are:
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.

I'll tag my two Room Mates - Agatha and Emma, Wisteria Lovegood and Minerva Kwikspell!

Quidditch Quiz & Scavenger Hunt

2008-06-21T13:49:00.001+01:00

1. At the beginning of the year feast, who is the only person who rudely interrupts Dumbledore during his speech?
b. Professor Umbridge
2. Off what street is the alley where Harry first met Sirius?
c. Magnolia Crescent
3. Tonks’ mother had two sisters, both pure-bloods, and both left on the Black Family Tree. What are their names?
c. Narcissa and Bellatrix
4. What spell are the students studying in McGonagall’s class when Umbridge is doing her inspection?
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
6. Who are the members of the Order that met Harry Potter in the Dursely’s house during the summer before his fifth year?
c. Alastor Moody, Nymphadora Tonks, Kingsley Shacklebolt, Elphias Doge, Dedalus Diggle, Remus Lupin, Emmeline Vance, Sturgis Podmore, Hestia Jones
7. Moody used the Disillusionment Charm on Harry.
a. Yes
8. Which of these Death Eaters is Sirius related to?
d. All of these
9. At what age did Sirius leave his home?
Answer: 16
10. How many of the original Order members were killed (don’t include those who disappeared)?
b. 8

Picture ScavengerKingsley Shacklebolt
Bellatrix Lestrange
Nymphadora Tonks
Remus Lupin

Busy Busy Busy

2008-06-13T20:34:00.002+01:00

I have run out of new expressions for just how busy I am at the moment. Seriously, I have never been this trouble by busy-ness before. Perhaps I am coming down with something. Every day I write a little 'To Do' list (something I learned from Muggle Studies) and try to get the most important 5 things done.
Today I had to finish writing down the pattern for my Sorting Hat Bag but I just don't think I can stay awake long enough to do it. Miss Wartwobble is going to be so angry with me. One of the other things was to complete the Ravenclaw House Quiz - at least I have managed to do that (thank you Google-amus Spell!)
1. It's changing out there. Just like last time. There's a storm coming, Harry. And we all best be ready when she comes.
Rubeus Hagrid
2. Dumbledore's Army was about doing something real. Or was that all just words to you? Neville Longbottom
3. Dementors in Little Winging? Whatever next? The whole world's going topsy-turvy.
Mrs. Arabella Figg
4. The mind is not a book, to be opened at will and examined at leisure. Thoughts are not etched on the inside of skulls, to be perused by an invader. The mind is a complex and many-layered thing.
Severus Snape
5. Face it, Petunia. Our boy has gone lumpy.
Mr Dursley
6. You're a fool, Harry Potter, and you will lose everything.
Lord Voldemort
7. Practicing is good, but there's something else that's even more important: believing in yourself. Look at it this way: every wizard in history has started out as nothing more than we are now -- students. If they can do it, why not us?
Harry Potter
8. I WILL have order!
Delores Umbridge
9. When are you going to get it into your head? We're in this together.
Hermione Granger
10. When all this is over we'll be a proper family, you'll see.
Sirius Black
11. That's right. Anyway, my mum always said things we lose have a way of coming back to us in the end. If not always in the way we expect.
Luna Lovegood
12. You may not like him, Minister, but you can't deny: Dumbledore's got style.
Kingsley Shacklebolt
13. Who wants to watch me take off Snivelly's trousers?
Young James Potter
14. One person can't feel all that, they'd explode!
Ron Weasley
15. They're very clean, these Muggles. It's unnatural.
Nymphadora Tonks
16. How dare you speak his name! YOU FILTHY HALF BLOOD!
Bellatrix LeStrange
17. Just because you can use magic now does not mean you have to whip your wands out for everything.
Mrs. Weasley
18. Did you actually believe, or are you truly naive enough to think that children stood a chance against us? I'll make this simple, Potter. Give me the prophecy now, or watch your friends die. Lucius Malfoy
19. You sort of start thinking anything's possible if you've got enough nerve.
Ginny Weasley
20. Ah, I thought we might hit this little snag. You seem to be labouring under the delusion that I am going to -- what is the phrase? -- come quietly.
Albus Dumbledore
Off to try and do the rest of my list before my eyelids droop any more.....

House Quiz No. 2

2008-06-06T17:53:00.002+01:00

This took me ages - I didn't know the proper spell for reading Blogs so I had to do it the hard way - one at a time!
I hope these are the right answers, I can't afford to get into any more trouble this term.
1. Which Ravenclaw does not like games?That Would be me!
2. Who is taking a course in Remedical Magical Symphony? Cecilia Kettleburn
3. Who got 3 puncture wounds in the bottom of her foot by stepping on a hair brush?Ophelia Hopkirk
4. Who was formerly employed by the Ministry of Magic?Emma Diggory
5. Who has been enrolled in a Magic Fibres Class in order to learn to knit? I dunno but Agatha said it was Stuart Cauldwell. I don't have much to do with boys so I'll have to take her word for it.
6. Whose mother is a squib? Minerva Kwikspell
7. Whose father is an auror? Chrysta the Cursed
8. Whose room smells like wet wool most of the time? The one shared by Emma Diggory, Eleanor Cadogan and Chrysta the Cursed - stinks like a wet dog...
9. What Ravenclaws spent time in the infirmary for allergies? Minerva Kwikspell, Wisteria Lovegood and Agatha Vablatsky
10. Whose wand is made of holly with a kelpie feather? Hydrangea MacDuff
11. Whose mother was a Ravenclaw and father was a Hufflepuff when they met at Hogwarts? Olive Bladrak
12. Whose silencing potion backfired?Emma Scrimgour, Andromache Tonks and Patonga Pinkstone
13. Who has purple hair?Andromache Tonks
14. Whose son attends Hogwarts? Think it's Emma Diggory but not sure.

Quidditch Quiz & Scavenger Hunt

2008-05-30T21:58:00.004+01:00

I'm really struggling to keep up with all my homework this week and I'm now behind on my Muggle Studies project but somehow I found the time to get the answers to the Quiz done so here they are.

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. 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. 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.

Working too hard..

2008-05-23T12:50:00.003+01:00

First there was the Ravenclaw House Quiz - Can you keep a secrit? The headquarters for the order of the Phoenix is at No.12 Grimmauld Place.

This led me to my English Grammar books and a search to see if 'Headquarters Is' or 'Headquarters are'. After a long slog I finally found out that Headquarters is a noun which can be used with a singular OR a plural verb but the plural is more common. So Minee could have technically used either but it was really the peculiar spelling of 'secrit' that really had me struggling. Got there in the end though!

Then there was my Muggle Studies Extra Credit homework. This week we had free choice of topic so I decided to learn about Memorial Day as our Roommate dis-apparated at the weekend saying she would be back after it was over. Here's what I learned:-

Memorial Day is a holiday that is observed on the last Monday of May (observed in 2008 on May 26). It is a holiday for American Muggles, British Muggles have something called the 'May Bank Holiday' instead. It was formerly known as Decoration Day. This holiday commemorates U.S. men and women who have died in military service to their country. It began first to honor Union soldiers who died during the American Civil War. After World War I, it was expanded to include those who died in any war or military action. It is also traditionally viewed as the beginning of summer by many, since many schools are dismissed around Memorial Day.

Imagine that - school finishing at the end of May - some kids have all the luck. Here at Hogwarts term won't finish until the end of July.

Many American Muggles observe this holiday by visiting Cemeteries and Memorials. A national moment of remembrance takes place at 9 p.m. US Eastern time. Another tradition is to fly the USA flag at half-mast from dawn until noon local time. Volunteers place an American flag upon each gravesite located in a National Cemetary. In addition to remembrance, Memorial Day is also a time for picnics, barbecues, family gatherings, and sporting events. ( that must be the event our room-mate is attending) Some American Muggles use Memorial Day to also honour any family members who have died, not just servicemen.

I tiried hard to find something funny or weird about Memorial Day but alot of the humour is contentious so I settled on this from IndyStar.Com

Nuff Said.....

Big News in our Dorm!

2008-05-19T21:03:00.002+01:00

Well goodness! One of my roomates has disapparated! Emma Dumbledore told us yesterday that she would be 'out of town' until the day after Muggle Memorial Day and then she vanished in a puff of green smoke! Even though I am doing Muggle Studies Extra credit I have no idea what Memorial Day is so I will have to nip off to the library and find out why she's gone. In the meantime Agatha Ackerley and I are planning a few surprises for her when she gets back.....I think an Apple Pie Bed is in order here.....

The can't knit-itis is easing up a little I slog my way through my Magical Knitting project row by row. It seems quite dull compared to others I have seen but I am hoping that the novel construction and shape will earn me some extra credits this term.

Welcome!

2008-05-15T13:32:00.000+01:00

I've been asked to write a little about myself so that other students at Hogwarts, who don't know me very well, can get to know me better. Creative Writing is not really my thing and I never come top in the History of Magic, all that essay writing just gets me down....
I was born to Muggle parents but sadly they were both swept away by a freak Tornado a few years ago just before I came to Hogwarts and I no longer know where they are. I do not have any Brothers or Sisters, just a couple of Cousins that I have not seen for years so I spend the holidays at Hogwarts, helping out in the Kitchen and in the Grounds to earn my keep.
I love most subjects at school but my favourite by far is Arithmancy, at which I excel. I love a challenge and never take the easy route in life or in Knitting. I don't like games though and play Quidditch only because I want to make sure that Ravenclaw wins the House Cup. When I am not being forced to play Quidditch you will find me in the farthest, quietest corner of the Library with my nose buried in a Crime Novel.
For the past few weeks I have been stricken by a mystery illness that has removed all desire to knit. I have scoured the library for a cure for this illness, a potion or a charm to reduce its effects - but I cannot find anything. My needles lie unused in their bag and my stash is un-fondled. I hope I can recover by the end of term, Dark Chocolate Bounty Bars might help...... Until I find a House Elf to knit for me, I am researching the weird and wonderful things created by Muggles in honour of Hogwarts and posting them on my Blog. I hope to earn extra credits in Muggle Studies for this from Miss Burbage. Each week you will find something to make you gasp with astonishment, so keep your eyes on Miranda Moonstone.

How cute is this?

2008-05-07T11:14:00.001+01:00

Golden Snitch, originally uploaded by Eudocia.

Harry Potter Cow Reaches London

2008-05-07T11:09:00.001+01:00

Harry Potter Cow, originally uploaded by RahulG..

For some reason this amuses me.......is there another unregistered Animagus among us??

Award for the Strangest Costume Goes to.....

2008-05-01T10:08:00.001+01:00

Joke of the Week

2008-04-21T17:13:00.002+01:00

Why did Harry Potter?

Because he didn't feel like rushing!

Hope they've got some Earplugs!

2008-04-21T09:51:00.005+01:00

The first thing I have to show you is this......

Yes, it's a chocolate cake - here is what the photographer (Chotda) has to say:- "Professor Sprout's chocolate mandrake cake, made by my friend Veronica's bakery, 'Cup and Saucer', for the book launch/movie premiere of whatever is next in line for the Harry Potter series. It is a terracotta pot with devil's food cake, covered in devil's food crumbs, and a gumpaste/pastillage mandrake root embedded on top. don't forget to wear your earmuffs when you pull him out--or else! "

How fabulous is this?