With the end of the Seventh Term is approaching, we have opened up some past challenges to those who were unable to participate in them when they were first opened. No bonus points will be rewarded.

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Crossword - The Marauders Moin! Miss Kain has asked me to do her a favor. So this week's puzzle will be given out by yours truly! Of course, as a reformed troublemaker myself, I'm proud to present one of the most notorious groups of troublemakers to have ever come out of Gryffindor House, the Marauders, as the theme for this week's crossword puzzle.

All answers should be SMAILED TO BENNET. Any answers posted here will be deleted and will not be awarded points. Don't forget to include your house in your sMail.

You can either answer the questions by typing out the direction and number with the answer, or you can fill out the image using Paint (or another program) and upload it.

Each correct answer will earn you 1 House Point for a total of 10 House Points!

Please note: Some answers may be more than one word. There are no boxes to represent the spaces between the words.

Across

2. Where would the Order of the Phoenix originally meet? (3 words) 3. James and Sirius tormented another student besides Snape. Which student did Sirius and James use an illegal hex on? (2 words) 5. The Marauders used this charm in order to track the movements of anyone in the area plotted on their map. (2 words) 7. Snape provided a limitless supply of this potion while Lupin taught at Hogwarts. (2 words) 9. Lily called this Marauder an arrogant toerag. (2 words) 10. What is the charm used to become a Secret Keeper? (2 words)

Down

1. What is the incantation used in the process of becoming an Animagus? (4 words) 4. Who was the best Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher many students believed they ever had during the time Harry attended Hogwarts? (2 words) 6. What is the incantation Peter used to fake his death and kill 12 Muggles? 8. The Golden Trio gave Sirius this nickname.

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Writing Challenge : Pure Chaos at Hogwarts "Hello students," Professor Persnickety said, "I'm sure you all are looking forward to the holidays. Your minds turning to the delicious foods, gifts, spending time with family and friends. But before you start packing your cauldrons how about a fun writing assignment. I want you to imagine pure chaos in Hogwarts. Tell me how it happened and why. Be creative and have fun with it. Minimum of three paragraphs and no deaths."

Some rules for this challenge: 1.) No deaths 2.) Minimum of three paragraphs 3.) Must tell some sort of story

Any attempt will earn you 10 House Points as long as you meet these rules. A paragraph is typically 3 to 4 sentences minimum. It can be as long as needed to tell the story. Bonus points may be awarded to particularly creative entries. Please post your entries for this challenge in a post on this thread.

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Trivia Challenge - Beedle the Bard Hello again! I'm pleased as punch that so many of you are bookworms. There's nothing like a hot cuppa and a good book to get you through December. My latest recommendation is a childhood favorite, The Tales of Beedle the Bard. Give these trivia questions a try and feel free to send me your book recs via owl anytime!

The rules are simple. 1.) No cheating! 2.) All answers should be SMAILED TO BENNET. Any answers posted here will be deleted and the poster will not be awarded any points.

Below is a list of 15 trivia questions. Each correct answer will earn you 1 House Point for a maximum total of 15 House Points!

1.) Who translated the text of The Tales of Beedle the Bard from Ancient Runes? (Name, two words.) The Wizard and the Hopping Pot: 2.) The wizard acts like this thing is the source of his powers. (Object, three words.) 3.) Where was the old man's donkey lost? (Place, two words). The Fountain of Fair Fortune: 4.) The Fountain of Fair Fortune flows high on a hill, but where? (Place, two words.) 5.) List the names of the three woeful and burdened witches. (Names, three words.) 6.) Who was permitted to bathe in the Fountain's waters? (Name, two words.) The Warlock's Hairy Heart: 7.) What kind of container was the warlock's beating heart enclosed in? (Object, three words.) 8.) What color was the hair that covered the warlock's heart? (Color, one word.) 9.) "Tamper with the deepest mysteries - the source of life, the essence of self - only if prepared for consequences of the most extreme and dangerous kind." This is the first of whose Fundamental Laws of Magic? (Name, two words.) Babbity Rabbity and her Cackling Stump: 10.) What was Babbity's occupation? (Job, one word.) 11.) What animal did the King proclaim to make fly? (Animal, one word.) 12.) The statue of Babbity was made from what? (Material, one word.) The Tale of the Three Brothers: 13.) From what kind of tree did Death fashion a wand for the oldest brother? (Tree, one word.) 14.) What was Aberforth Dumbledore's favorite story? (Title, four words.) 15.) How many witches have claimed to own the Wand of Destiny? (Number, one word.)

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These reopened challenges will end on Saturday, February 17th at 11:59PM!

The Poltergeist Peeves decided this year while all the kids were getting ready to go on vacation he would have his own party by inviting all the poltergeists from across England for a playful prank extravaganza. He sent handwritten cards to all the jokesters he knew, and some he didn't. They came by ones and twos flooding the castle with jeers and guffaws.

Filch was very unhappy and Mrs. Norris was in constant hiding mode. The bathrooms were full of bubbles, the student beds all short-sheeted, buckets over every door way coating people in goop and unnamed liquids. Harmless pranks, for sure, but very disruptive. The teachers couldn't teach and the students couldn't learn. It was chaos, but innocent so the headmaster let is go. After all it was almost vacation.

This plague of pranks went on the whole week before the students went home for the break. Little tricks and jokes, some now from students who knew any trouble would be blamed on poltergeists. Peeves was having the time of his life. This could not get better. Then one prank went too far. A magical creature that Hagrid was taking care of got spooked and ran into the forest where it got hurt. That was it. The headmaster called a stop to it one day before break banishing all the poltergeist guests. Peeves understood, but still pouted. He would have to come up with something good for the headmaster, and a way to make it up for Hagrid.

Nicola Stromwing, Hufflepuff

gryphongrl 10 points. added to totals.