The Package Arrived!!!!!!!!!!

I am one lucky Ravenclaw girl! Clidonia's owl arrived to my dormitory today, and with her owl came an AMAZING package! Check out everything that she sent me!

Here's the package it originally came in. I did all I could to stop myself from opening the package right away--I was so excited! But I somehow managed to snap this shot.

The first thing I saw was this beautiful silver and blue tote bag that Clidonia sewed herself! I love it! It's huge, perfect to hold all of my knitting and craft stuff inside. And it has stars on it, which I love! They make it look very magical, like a bag a Hogwarts student would really have.

Next up is yarn. I was so lucky--Clidonia gave me TWO beautiful skeins of yarn! The one you see above is Plymouth Yarn's Rockin' Sox yarn. You can't see well in the picture, but the colors are light blues and silvers--again, Ravenclaw colors! I can't wait to make socks out of this--they'll be a nice addition to my Ravenclaw attire for the new movie coming out soon!

And here's the second skein of yarn. Clidonia bought this from http://www.vedabliss.etsy.com/, and it's 440 yards of hand-dyed, yarny goodness! The colors are very summer-y: golds, whites, light violets and purples. They remind me of August, the lazy last few days of summer, the heat wave that just came through here. I think I'll make socks out of this to remember summer 2008 by.

Okay, what next? Hmmm, I think I'll go to the M&M stuff. You might be wondering why Clidonia sent me this--well, I have a collection of M&M merchandise! I have a lamp, a few cookie jars, little figurines, etc. So I laughed when I saw the swirly notepad, journal and cards--I thought it was so generous of her to hunt down M&M-specific items and add them to my swap package. I'm so happy that I have more things to add to my collection! They all will come in handy with school starting soon.
You'll have to turn your head sideways to see this--sorry! These are the sock patterns I was sent. They are the Peak Experience Socks from Fiber Trends, Mona Sock Pattern by Cookie A, and the Twisted Flower sock pattern. They are all very intricate and delicate-looking designs, and I have no idea what pattern I'll try first!



Here are some pretty awesome knitting tools! On the left is a funky green tape measure (with ladybugs on it! Awww...) that is definitely going to aid me in all the hat knitting I'm doing. And on the right is the coolest thing ever--it's a keychain stitch marker/ crochet hook, the perfect size for a knitter to carry around on-the-go. Seriously, it's soooo cool! It's from http://www.robynsnest.ca/, in case anyone wants to know.

And I saved the best for last. This tote is handmade from Greenlotus' Etsy shop! I absolutely adore it--it's the perfect size to carry a sock project in, or even a hat project! There's a card inside of it with a hand drawn picture of it and says the tote is called "Cherry Covered Chocolate"--yum! I've already stored some of my knitting inside of it.

And here's everything all together! I had to stand on a chair to fit it all in! THANK YOU SO MUCH CLIDONIA! I love it all so much and am so thankful for the dedication and generosity you put into this kit :)

Quidditch Round 3

I'm rushing to get this up in time! I'm sorry I've been pretty much MIA from the swap for the past few weeks, but things have been a little crazy. I'm still alive, don't worry!

Quidditch ~ Round Three
1. When Hagrid returns to Hogwarts after being sent to see the giants with Madame Maxime, Professor Umbridge questions him on his late return to school. She suspects that Hagrid had been to the mountains, but where does he tell her he has been?

d.South of France

2. Professor Umbridge comes to Hagrid's Hut and searches his cabin one evening (as she believes Harry, Ron and Hermione are there visiting him at night when they are not supposed to). When she walks past the place where Harry, Ron and Hermione are hiding under the Invisibility Cloak, Harry holds his breath. True or false?

b. False

3. A stately-looking witch in an emerald green shawl is one of the members of the Advance Guard who rescues Harry from Privet Drive. What is her name

a. Emmeline Vance

4.What is the name of the witch who was killed two weeks after the photo of the original Order of the Phoenix was taken?

b. Marlene McKinnonc.

5. Which two fifth year Ravenclaw students does Dumbledore choose to be prefects?

Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil

6. Which house was Rose Zeller sorted into?

d. Hufflepuff

7. What is the color of Murtlap's essence?

c. Yellow

8. Name the Ravenclaw girl who became prefect in Harry's fifth year.

b. Padma Patil

9. According to a healer's portrait at St. Mungo's hospital, which disease was Ron suffering from?

d. Spattergroit

10. Which book did Harry give Hermione for Christmas?

a. "New Theory of Numberology"

Picture Scavenger Hunt

Padma Patil

Hannah Abott

Percy

Dumbledore's Army

Cedric Diggory(Extra 5 pts - What movie will Robert Patterson star in this December?TWILIGHT!!!!! )

Hi there everyone!!!! Again, I am terribly sorry for not being seen for so long---It's not that I don't want to be around more, I've just been so busy!!! I'll talk more later...

Sorry, I haven't written in such a long time!!!! I'm still awaiting the arrival of my package---I'm so excited about it!!!!  Classes are keeping me busy; we've just begun to study domestic plants in Herbology.... In other classes, it's been the same amount of work, but I've been finding myself spending more time outside; just knitting or reading, than actually studying....The garden looks wonderful this time of year, it's blooming with a fresh array of beautiful flowers.

Quidditch Excitement

Wow, what a week! I headed on down to the Quidditch pitch on Sunday to see an exciting game--congrats Hufflepuff! Then we all got a treat when we heard that another game was scheduled for Wednesday, and Griffindor won that round! Don't worry, fellow Claws, next Quidditch game will be OUR victory!

Besides Quidditch, our Hogwarts classes have been going on as usual. Perhaps I'm spending too much time knitting rather than studying, for my grades are slipping a bit. I'm also exhausted from Astronomy class...us first years were up till dawn last night charting the locations of the planets in our solar system. Exams are coming up fairly soon, after our next and final Quidditch game of the term, so I better start studying! I have to put down my knitting and crack open the books.

Well, I'm going to go have a little nap, and after that start studying. Or knitting--whichever comes first!

Quidditch Answers Round 2

Well, it's been a really busy week for me here at Hogwarts! Besides the usual studying and excitement for Quidditch, my spoilee, Cassandra, recieved her package from me! Yay! She posted pictures of it and everything on her blog. Another exciting thing that happened this week is the fact that I was chosen for a HSKS5 Random Act of Kindnesss. Cassandra owled me to tell me she had preordered a Muggle book for me that I've been looking forward to, Breaking Dawn! I already sent out my Random Act of Kindness to someone. Who will it be? You'll have to wait and see...

Now, onto Quidditch!

_________________________

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 McGonalgall’s class when Umbrdige 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 (five letters)

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 (Number)

10. How many of the original Order members were killed (don’t include those who disappeared)?

b. 8

Picture Scavenger Hunt

Kingsley Shacklebolt

Bellatrix Lestrange

Nymphadora Tonks

Remus Lupin

Ravenclaw Homework #4: OotP Movie Quotes

Oooh, this was so much fun! I can't believe it's been almost a year already since the movie came out. I've only seen the movie two times--how dare I call myself a true Harry Potter fan?!?! Haha, just kidding. For this week's homework, we were instructed to write down who said each quote in the 5th movie.
___________

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.

Hagrid

2. Dumbledore's Army was about doing something real. Or was that all just words to you?

Pretty sure it's Neville.

3. Dementors in Little Winging? Whatever next? The whole world's going topsy-turvy.

Mrs. 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.

Snape

5. Face it, Petunia. Our boy has gone lumpy.

Uncle Vernon

6. You're a fool, Harry Potter, and you will lose everything.

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

8. I WILL have order!

Umbridge

9. When are you going to get it into your head? We're in this together.

Hermione

10. When all this is over we'll be a proper family, you'll see.

I don't remember this one at all...Sirius, I think.

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

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?

James Potter (jerk...)

14. One person can't feel all that, they'd explode!

Ron

15. They're very clean, these Muggles. It's unnatural.

Tonks

16. How dare you speak his name! YOU FILTHY HALF BLOOD!

Bellatrix

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.

This one was hard too. I think it's Ginny, though.

20. Ah, I thought we might hit this little snag. You seem to be laboring under the delusion that I am going to -- what is the phrase? -- come quietly.

Dumbledore

Special Surprise and Hogsmeade!

I can't believe I haven't posted this before, but my Muggle camera was acting up. Digital cameras are evil, trust me. I wanted to wait until I could get pictures up before I played show-and-tell. Anyway, two weeks ago from Wednesday I received a special package in the mail from Clidonia--turns out she sent me a tiny, cute sock blocker key chain!



See?

It came with a pattern to make these tiny little socks as well, and it looks like a great way to use up my stash yarn. Thank you so much Clidonia! Sorry it took so long to post.

What else? Oh, yes, Hogsmeade was last weekend. You wouldn't imagine how much fun it was! I got all my homework done Friday night and woke up bright and early Saturday morning so I could be the first one in line for the trip! I overheard some other students chatting about secret ways to get into Hogsmeade, like underground tunnels and such, but I didn't feel like being daring and walked to Hogsmeade the normal way with all of the other students. Maybe next time I'll try the passageways ;)

When I got there I went straight to the candy shop, where I ended up purchasing a whole sack of sweets! I can't help it--Mum would never let me eat wizarding candy. I wanted to try some! I also sent Mum and my sister a letter from one of the owls at the Post Shop (giving my own owl a day off) and a new set of ink and quills at the shop down the street. Then, after popping my head in all the other shops, I met up with a few other students and sipped Butterbeer at The Three Broomsticks.

All in all, it was a wonderful visit. I only wish someone would open up a knitting shop in Hogsmeade--I miss the knitting shop back at home! But, perhaps it is a good thing. If a knitting shop did open up in Hogsmeade, I would probably spend the whole day inside it and miss out on all the other fun!

Ravenclaw Homework #3: Pop Quiz!

Here's this week's homework! Some of the questions were easy, but for a few I had to go and do a little research on my fellow Ravenclaws.
_____________

1. Which Ravenclaw does not like games?

Miranda Moonstone

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?

Stuart Cauldwell

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?

Elanor Cadogan

9. What Ravenclaws spent time in the infirmary for allergies?

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 Bladvak

12. Whose silencing potion backfired?

Emma Scrimgeour

13. Who has purple hair?

Andromache Tonks

14. Whose son attends Hogwarts?

Emma Wigworthy

Check Up

It's been SO BUSY here at Hogwarts, with Quidditch, classes, everything! Quidditch was yesterday, and though I couldn't make it for the actual match, I did hear that it was a very exciting game. Hufflepuff won--congrats to them! Slytherin followed, and Ravenclaw came in third. Although we didn't win, I still think we still played really well. Maybe next time!

I've also been studying like mad. Cassandra was right...Professor Lufkin has grown on me. I'm not as scared of him as much as I was before, but still not infatuated with him. Professor Black, however...;)

And I can't forget my knitting! I've been working at it every night, sometimes knitting by myself, sometimes with the Ravenclaws. I even snuck into the Slytherin common room one night and joined their knitting group! Shhhhhh...don't tell my prefect! I was supposed to be in bed.

I also won Griffindor student Emma Gorodok's contest and got a copy of her awesome bag pattern! Now I have so many things on my list to knit...and so little time!

Quidditch: Round One

Yay! Quidditch is coming!
_____________________

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?

a. 22

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?

c. 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.

~PICTURE SCAVENGER HUNT~

Fred and George Together:

Hog's Head Pub:

Sirius Black:

Mr. Weasley and Harry (together)

Draco Malfoy

Entry for Contest: First time...

...knitting!

Here's my entry for Emma Gorodok's cool contest for her amazing bag pattern. As we are supposed to write about our first time trying a certain knitting technique, I chose the first time I learned to knit in general.

As a service project for a group, my friends and I decided that we would knit lap blankets for a children's hospital in Chicago named Shriners. One of my friends is in a wheelchair and heads down to this hospital almost monthly, so we figured she could take the blankets down and she and her family could help pass out the blankets to wheelchaired patients.

None of us knew anything about knitting at this time. My best friend's mom came in and taught each of us individually how to cast on, knit, and cast off. We all thought it was so hard in the beginning and so tedious. We had to cast on 160 stitches on size 10 needles, so it took a long time for any of our hard effort to show.

A few of us caught the knitting bug from this, though. We ignored the ugly garter-stitch, Red Heart lap blanket and moved on to projects that were more fun--hats, scarves, etc. At group meetings we bring out our other projects instead of the lap blankets we began with!

Now that it's been almost a year since that fateful day, a few more of us finally have those lap blankets finished. I finally sat down and finished mine. Though it's anything but perfect, I'm sure the patients at Shriner's will appreciate it.

Here's a work in progress pic of that lumpy lap blanket:

There you have it!

Meme Time!

Clidonia's tagged me to participate in this meme, so even though I really should be studying, I'm going to procrastinate and fill this out. Answers are about my muggle self, not my hogwarts-persona Daisy Finnigan.

Here we go!

1. What was I doing 10 years ago...

Um...I was in kindergarten. I'm not even joking--I'm think I'm the youngest person in this swap, and that's kind of embarrassing! What do I remember about being 6 years old? Not much, besides playing with my Barbie dolls in that huge dollhouse my dad built for me and having playdates with my friends. Ahh, those were the days...

2. 5 things to do on my To-Do List today:

1. Study for finals--which start Tuesday! GASP!
2. Work on my HSKS swap package ;)
3. Study for finals
4. Practice that piano duet with my sister and work on arranging another piece
5. Did I mention STUDY FOR MY FINALS? Not fun at all, but I really have to buckle down and just do it.

3. Snacks I enjoy:

*Popcorn--fatty movie theater popcorn, microwave popcorn, cheesy popcorn, you name it! I love it all.

*Dark chocolate--SOOOO good. And it's supposedly healthier than milk chocolate. That's a plus.

*M&Ms--my favorite candy! I collect M&M stuff--I have a calender, a cookiejar of the yellow M&M, an M&M lamp; it's all pretty awesome.

*DARK CHOCOLATE M&Ms: Enough said.

*Cheese: I live in Wisconsin, the dairy state. If I didn't love cheese I think all the other cheeseheads here would gang up and exile me.

4: If I were a billioniare, I would:

*Put lots of the money in the bank so the interest would go up and I wouldn't have to pay taxes on it--I know, I'm boring, but practical.
*Go traveling! My little sis and I would definitely go to Japan--she obsessed with Japanese culture and anime, and would love it.
*Buy the old, closed down yarn shop down the street and open it back up
*Go to Six Flags every day this summer. YAY ROLLERCOASTERS!
*Buy enough yarn that if an apocalypse occurred and I would have to stay in my basement cellar the rest of my life for fear of radiation poisoning or something, I would be able to knit my little heart out.

5: Places I've lived:

*Milwaukee, WI
*Oconomowoc, WI (aka a little town between Milwaukee and Madison)
*around Madison (specifically Middleton), WI

6: Jobs I've had:

*babysitting
*library assistant
*camp counselor

7: People I want to know more about...

Hmm, I am going to tag:

Cassandra Puddlemere, my spoilee
Morgana Kneen, my Ravenclaw roommate
Emma Wigworthy, my other roommate

Ravenclaw Homework #2

Our prefect gave us an interesting puzzle to figure out, but I managed to solve it in the end. The cryptogram goes like this:

"Can you keep a secret? The headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix is at No. 12 Grimmauld Place."

********

Other than that, I'm having so much fun here at Hogwarts. Knitting with my fellow Claws has become a nightly activity, when I'm not busy doing my assignments. I'm in a hat mood lately, knitting hats of all colors, shapes and sizes. I don't know what I'll do with all of them! I also visit my Hufflepuff friend Clidonia (or Lidie, as her nickname is) often, to knit with her or just hear her frogs sing Queen songs repeatedly =). She is also my spoiler for the school-wide knitting swap, as I've mentioned before, and she owled me to say that something is coming my way. I'm so excited--I wonder what it could be!

Quidditch is also coming up soon. I've only heard about Quidditch--never seen it played, so that should be quite interesting. Ravenclaws for the world! We will win for sure!

Busy Week

It's been so hectic here at school that I haven't found the time to write. Between getting through classes and knitting up a Ravenclaw scarf for the upcoming Quidditch games, I guess I haven't had a chance to catch up on my diary entries.

Classes have been great--well, at least some of them. Like Transfiguration and Charms. We've already learned to levitate things (Wingardium Leviosa!) and calling things to us (Accio!) Some of us first years have already learned to put the spells to good use. Like retrieving lost knitting needles--not that I would know or anything...

Astronomy has been keeping me up late, though. At home Mum would always tuck my sister and I in bed early before she ran off to work the night shift, so I guess we both are just used to early bedtimes. Now, however, staying up past midnight gazing in a telescope proves to be a challenge. I'm constantly nodding off, both in that class AND History of Magic.

Ugh. HoM proves to be the most BORING class of all time. A few other students and I have already determined that. I have no idea how I'll get through the term--I can barely keep my eyes open.

Let's see--what other classes are there? Potions, which isn't really as hard as some people say it is. You just have to pay attention really well, be very careful, and make sure the other people at your table know what they're doing =p

We've only had a few lessons in Herebology, but it is quite interesting how the different plants can be used as magical remedies. It's definitely more exciting than I thought it would be.

And, finally, Defense Against The Dark Arts. What can I say? Supposedly the professor is new here, Professor Cornelius Lufkin. Our prefect Wisteria Lovegoods has taken him around on tours of the school, and already seems to be spending a lot of time with him. Hmmm. All the other older students seem infatuated with him as well, but as for me? I don't know what to say. There's something wrong about him--he seems a little creepy.

Well, I have to be going off to another class soon. History of Magic, to be exact. Wish me luck, though I'll probably fall asleep again. I just have a hunch.

Ravenclaw Homework 1: Biography

Our Head Girl and Prefect have decided that all of us fellow 'Claws should write biographies of our lives in order to get to know each other better. I can assure you, my life isn't all that interesting, but here we go:

I was born in a London flat on December 22nd, only a week or so before Christmas. My mother insisted on having a midwife, while my father insisted that a Healer be present for the birth--needless to say, I came early on a day when the roads were blockaded by snow, and was born before the doctor could get to us. My mother, Susie, is a Muggle waitress while my father is the wizard in our family. He didn't tell my mother about his magical background until their engagement, and Mum says it took a while for her to believe him, no matter how many teacups he transfigured before her eyes. My father didn't stay around very long at all--he left us when I was four years old, wanting to return to the wizarding world and be with someone who could "understand him better". At least, that's what Mum says. I don't believe that Dad could have been so cruel, could have left us like that--but it's what happened.

Since there is only magical blood on my father's side, my family didn't know if I was magical or not. My little sister came two years after I did, and until this day she still hasn't shown any signs of magical powers. She's quite jealous, but I keep on telling her to cheer up. My powers didn't show up until only about a year ago, when I accidentally changed the fur color of my nextdoor neighbor's dog from black to pink. My mother took me out of the public school then for the next few days, not knowing what to do. I think she wanted to forget about magic forever, but now that I showed my abilities, she was reminded of my father again. So I went back to school until summer, acting like nothing was wrong in front of my friends, doing the same old Muggle homework that I knew was pointless. I knew--as well as my mother and sister--that the letter would come, that I would have to go to Hogwarts--which we couldn't afford--but until then, we'd forget about it.

Last summer dragged on like that, and then the letter finally came. Mum was forced to do something she swore she vowed never to do again--she took some powder called "Floo Powder", put it in the lit fireplace, and walked into the flames, soaring up to who-knows-where! My sister and I were petrified, until she came back and explained the Dad had showed her this, the proper way that wizards travel. She had gone to my dad's mother and father (not knowing where he is at the moment) and asked for the money, saying it was his fault I was "this way" anyway. They said it would all be arranged, and it was.

A few days before school started, I found an barn owl perched on my windowsill, along with all my school books and supplies and a letter from Gringotts bank explaining of a payment to Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry made in my name. My father had gotten everything I needed, including Hogwarts, A History. I read the whole book by the time September 1st rolled around. My sister and mother were sad to see me leave, and waved goodbye to me as I rushed to Platform 9 3/4. However, my owl (Freya) allows me to send letters back to them whenever I want. Sometimes Mum even sends me things, such as leftover pie from the diner where she works, but it's always squished and stale by the time it gets here. Still, it's the thought that counts!

So here I am. Ravenclaw Daisy Finnigan, at your service!

Looking Up

The eternal, never-ending rain has stopped, and I'm writing this diary entry outside in the courtyard during passing time, near the Whomping Willow. I have so much to say...

I've started to know all my fellow 'Claws very well. Mum would be happy. Every night we knit in the common room when our assignments are complete (although it doesn't take us very long--we're Ravenclaws, remember?)

And I guess the other students respect me as well. I might be a bit of an oddball to them, as I was the only one who asked our herbology teacher, Prof. Longbottom, for his autograph (HELLO! He was one of the students who was with Harry Potter and fought against You-Know-Who! I was ecstatic to meet him). But they respect me for my weirdness, I suppose.

We've started a Hogwarts-wide knitting swap. I'm surprised how many Hogwarts students knit--almost a hundred joined the swap! Before the term ends, I have to give my swap partner (or spoilee, as it's called) a knitted parcel, sock yarn, handmade stitch markers, knitting patterns, and brand new needles.

I've been assigned to Cassandra Puddlemere, and she's a Slytherin Head Girl! I already have some ideas, but I think I might have to sneak into the Slytherin Common Room one night to get to know her better. It might even be fun knitting with the Slytherins!

My spoiler, on the other hand, is Clidonia Acromantula from Hufflepuff. She likes frogs--her two pet frogs even sing! I think I'm going to ask her if they know any songs by Queen. I would laugh at hearing them sing "We Are the Champions"!

Well, I think this term is going to be very interesting. I have to go, diary--class is beginning soon! I don't want to be late!

Rainy Days

It's raining outside already, and it's only September. Mum told me I would get soaked at this school, but I guess I didn't believe her. Or I didn't want to. I miss the sun already.

I don't have classes this morning, so I'm stuck inside my dormitory while all the other Ravenclaws are eating breakfast, taking my time getting ready. It's not that I don't want to socialize--I just--don't open up to people quickly. Don't mesh.

No, I'm NOT avoiding anyone! Why does my conscience immediately jump to that conclusion? No, I'm just...not hungry.

And I HAVE been socializing a lot lately--every night, the other Ravenclaws still pull out that knitting of theirs and I join them. I don't get how they can talk and count rows at the same time, so I'm mostly quiet while chanting my mantra: "Knit, purl, knit, purl..."

...okay, there is some room for improvement on the socializing thing. They are all very nice people. They weren't complete yarn snobs at all. So you know what? I'll go and eat breakfast with them--promise. I'll just finish my diary entry...get changed...

Okay, tomorrow, then. Tomorrow I'll be more outgoing. Tomorrow it will stop raining and things will start looking up. The last thing I want to do is feel sorry for myself.

First-Year Jitters

September 2nd

Well, here I am.
Daisy Finnigan, about to embark on the greatest adventure of her 11-year-old life.
Hogwarts.

See, it would be a bit more exciting if I wasn't so nervous. Mum says that it's okay to be nervous, that everyone is before heading off to school, but I wouldn't know. I was never this nervous back at the public schools in London. I knew everyone, my friends, my enemies, my teachers...

...and now I know no one.

Mum thought she could calm my jitters by handing me a diary. Said to write in it at least once a week, and it would make me feel better. Well, I don't believe her! The only thing to make me feel better would be to be back home in my flat with my mum and little sister. Freya, my owl, isn't even with me--she's in the owlery, in a whole other building. This upsets me--what if she gets cold, sad? What if she misses me?

Knock it off, Daisy. She's an owl. She's probably doing better than you, making other owl friends. You're just sitting here in the Ravenclaw common room, not talking to anyone.

Well, it's not my fault I'm being anti-social. After getting sorted into Ravenclaw last night, the prefects marched us up to the common room where a bunch of older girls were already sitting down, chatting up a storm and, get this--knitting! I haven't touched my needles since the train ride. I would love to go and join them, but they're all so much better than me! Look at them--that girl's making SOCKS! And that one over there--a sweater! They put my lumpy hat to shame.

Oh well. I'd better get this over with. If I don't join them now, I never will.
I'm going to go grab my knitting bag and join them. Who knows--maybe they'll even show me a few new tricks.

Or they'll laugh at pitiful hat. And if they do, I'm sure that girl's lace over there could use a mighty good frogging...