Another Transfiguration Project

Some of my classmates have been so industrious that I thought I should try to get in a little more Transfiguration practice. So I took on a second project - perhaps the most challenging of all - making a Golden Snitch.

Gamp's Law is a little unclear on the subject, but you really conjure a Snitch as much as you Transfigure it. You have to start with something, but what you start with is the fuzzy, fundamental stuff of the universe.


The actual incantation for creating a Snitch is something that probably shouldn't be discussed in such a public forum. But if you've never seen it happen before, I can tell you that it requires a special, very small, wand.


And here is my finished Snitch, the first one I've ever tried to make. It doesn't seem to be a perfect Transfiguration, so I hope if I try again I can make the next one look neater. If you look at the picture closely, you can still see some fuzzy stuff around the Snitch. I'm not sure if that's because of an incomplete Transfiguration, or if it's from the dogs. Even if there is some fuzzy substance drifting around, I think I've come a long way from the time I accidentally turned part of myself into an ocelot.

Transfiguration

If you remember my previous terms at Hogwarts, you know that Transfiguration isn't my best subject. So I was more than a little nervous when we got a Transfiguration project for our first big homework assignment of the year. I think it's worked out, though.

First, we're supposed to post an originality marker, so everyone knows that we're actually there transfiguring the thing. This is mine.


Next, I need a picture of the thing I'm going to transfigure. So I went rummaging around in the pantry and found these:


Then you cast the spell. This is the one I used.

And here's the Transfigured object!


I Transfigured the kitchen stuff into rock cakes, just like Hagrid makes. I had to go looking for the proper spell because, being American, I'd never heard of rock cakes before Hogwarts. They're a lot like our biscuits (but not Hogwarts biscuits). The spell says that there's a joke that even dogs don't like rock cakes, but I can tell you that's not true. My dogs love rock cakes.

I'm a little worried that I crossed some spells, and got a Disappearing Charm in there somehow. I just transfigured the rock cakes, and more than half of them are already gone.

Back for Round 10

After summer camp and a lively round of Quidditch, we're back at Hogwarts again!

It seems like the faculty come up with something new every year as a way for us to get to know one another. This year, we're supposed to focus on three famous residents of Hogwarts, and explain what we like about them. So here are mine:

1. Luna Lovegood. I like that Luna's smart, and that she doesn't really think about being smart. It seemed only natural to her that you'd be happy to learn something new, even if it means you're locked out of your common room. I think it's fun that she makes her own jewelry, and paints her bedroom walls. I also really like that she's independent, and willing to go her own way.

2. Tonks. Tonks is just plain cool. Wouldn't it be great to change your face any way you wanted to? And, while I'm happily married, I kind of with her having the hots for Professor Lupin, as he's on my "easy on the eyes" list.

3. Nearly Headless Nick. He may be my strangest choice. I like Nick because I do medieval re-enactment, and Nick saw the Middle Ages (albeit not just the good parts) up close and personal. I also think John Cleese is great.

It's so hard to pick favorites at Hogwarts, but that will have to do for a start. I think it's going to be a fun term!

Early Christmas Goodies!

Christmas came early in my house (even though I'm posting this late), with a fabulous package of Quality Quidditch Supplies from Gryphon the Great, of the Pride of Portree!

Just look at all of the great stuff Gryphon sent! There's a bag for all of my Quidditch gear, patterns and yarns for a dog-themed hat and gloves, treats for me, treats for the VeryBadDogs (which I think were homemade, and which we had to put up pretty quickly to prevent them all being devoured at once), and two nifty sculputures - a hedgehog with hairbrush bristles (perhaps a Transfiguration project?) and a dragon.


Here's a better look at the bag, with its Appleby Arrows logo. It has a nicely reinforced handle (I can't tell if that's from the stitch, or if he's added something) and is lined in bright purple. It's going to get a lot of use as a project bag, even when I don't have Quidditch matches to go to.


And here's the dragon. Gryphon recommended that the dragons get "G" names, so his name is Gordy. I haven't figured out what the hedgehog's name is yet, but I'm sure I'll know soon.


Thank you, Gryphon, for a wonderful package of magical supplies!

More Holidays

We had a fun Thanksgiving with the Muggles, and now it's time to get ready for Christmas. It's another thing that's much harder without magic - but we're trying to make things look as enchanted as possible, without giving anything away.

Thanksgiving

Wow, time's going by fast. We're about to head off for Thanksgiving with the Muggle family. This means no Quidditch for awhile - instead, they watch "football," a popular Muggle sport. It looks much more dangerous than Quidditch, but they seem to like it.

I've been unlucky here at home. I was making something for my friend from Pride of Portree - and I made two left mittens! My Transfiguration spells don't seem to be up to fixing one magically, and it doesn't seem right to ask her to switch one of her hands, even if it would help our side in the Quidditch matches. So I guess I'm going to have to start over and knit a new one. It's a good thing I bought plenty of yarn.

The Headmistress's Travels

It seems that this week our beloved Winnie is in North America. She started in Mexico City, then headed to Chile, and Brazil. I'm still not sure what she's doing, but I hope she's having fun!