Archive of Riddles

Needed Lina’s answer and explanation, but never got a chance to copy either before WX closed forever.

azi - Apr 12, 2007 8:42 am (#2036 of 2986)
Edited Apr 12, 2007 9:47 am

Troels is correct! The answer is indeed the International Confederation of Wizards (ICoW below for ease of reference). Explanation...

Fifth in line,- The British Seats of ICoW are located on the 5th floor of the MoM

Aiming high, - People who represent their countries at ICoW are probably very high up in the MoM or the Wizarding World. Also could refer to Mr. Crouch, who also worked on the 5th floor in International Magical Cooperation. He had high aims before the imprisonment of his son. Anyone with such positions is likely to be ambitious.

Dumbledore and more, - DD was Supreme Mugwump of the ICoW for a fairly long time. '...and more' refers to there being a collection of people in the organisation.

Instrumental for sure. - ICoW introduced the International Statute of Secrecy in 1692, a very important piece of legislation.

Clue 1 - Don't take the first line literally...or horizontally. A reference to the lifts at the Ministry.

Clue 2 - Not a person as such. An organisation rather than one single person.

Clue 3 - 'It' is not often mentioned, just in passing. A background role. Ron mentions random pieces of law every now and again. In OotP we are told of DD losing the Supreme Mugwump title etc. However, we've never actually seen/been to ICoW or been told in much depth how it operates.

Clue 4 - Vertically is the right way, but Hogwarts the wrong place. Self-explanatory, methinks.

Phew! That was a mouthful to write! I hope it makes sense...

Take it away Troels!

Edited for ease of reading. John - it's Gambol and Japes.

Troels Forchhammer - Apr 16, 2007 10:47 am (#2097 of 2986)
Edited Apr 16, 2007 11:49 am

Well done, Lina! (enthusiastic cheering)

The answer is, indeed, the ghoul at the Burrow.

So, Lina, you're on! Congratulations!

I was preparing two further clues: that the name comes from a Semitic language (Arabic, actually) and that the race has been on the DADA syllabus (in the second year they had to buy Gadding with Ghouls).

This particular ghoul lives in the attic of the Burrow: above any other resident that we know of. Hence it is ‘Closest to the sky’

Ghouls are often portrayed as grave-robbers: scavenging human carrion. Digging around in graves obviously puts them ‘Closest to the Earth’. Also a burrow is usually an animal (e.g. fox or badger) dwelling dug in the earth. Finally, while the original ‘ghoul’ is a demon, it is often portrayed in games and literature as a member of the undead species, which would also associate it with graves and earth.

Lastly, the last two lines: Can I ever die? / Was I ever given birth? play on the whole order of demonic and undead creatures in literature. We don't know how they come into this world - are they hatched, born, created, or do they just pop into existence? And what happens to them: do they die of old age? Can they be truly killed? Boggarts, ghouls, djinns, sprites, etc. It is a folkloristic and literary tradition that is as old as the folk-tale and still captivates us by writhing us inside-out, exposing our own demonic side (creating, in one case, a ‘wraith’ in the process).

Heh! I didn't mean to be didactic, but I couldn't let such a good chance pass me by

As for the various clues, I suppose that most of them are quite obvious now that you know what I refer to. I don't know if ghouls are beasts, beings or spirits, but I'm fairly sure it is one of these, and this particular ghoul makes itself noticed by banging on pipes and groaning.

Lina - Apr 17, 2007 9:56 am (#2110 of 2986)
Edited Apr 17, 2007 11:00 am

Well done, Maria! **waving back** And very fast too. It is indeed the DADA curse. Congratulations! Looking forward to your riddle!

Here is the explanation:

No one knew I was coming. But I came. And I'm there.
even DD didn't realize that LV might have cursed the position until he started to loose the teachers.

Nobody can see me. They can only feel me and wonder - what happened?
the curse is actually invisible, there wasn't even any light when it was cast, at least not in a way that the readers or characters could have seen it.

Will I die with my creator? I hope you'll find it out soon.
I assumed that LV might be its creator and many fans wonder if the curse will be lifted or if LV's death could stop it. And, of course, there I hope that we find the answer in July.

Before that, you just tell me who or what am I?
hoping that the riddle will be solved before we can read the last book, LOL

HungarianHorntail11 - Apr 17, 2007 4:57 pm (#2127 of 2986)
Edited Apr 17, 2007 5:58 pm

Troels, you and Columbine Fairy were thinking along the right line.

Thanks for humoring me a bit this time, Troels - it is the Dark Mark. Now, I know you can tell me whose viewpoint you think I might be describing it from.

Caress the night - In my readings, I felt as though it made most impressive appearances in the dark, also night is a play on the word Dark.

A badge of bliss - In the eyes of the beholder, it is a mark of something held in high esteem.

awards a chance to redress
others' remiss. - The Dark Mark summons its members to Big V, which, in the beholder's eye might be a time for those who "strayed" to be set straight by him.

Okay, so now the viewpoint should be quite a bit easier. The riddle, though, is yours!

Troels Forchhammer - Apr 20, 2007 11:29 am (#2173 of 2986)
Edited Apr 20, 2007 12:32 pm

Elanor — well done! I hope you have a riddle ready

I can see that you've been circling around it, John; almost there, but not quite: love, hate and emotion causing magic - all there was left was to find the right emotion - fear, fright, alarm, dread, angst, anxiety, scare, panic — any of these would have been acceptable.

And for the explanations, where you will also get the last stanza of the riddle:

A magical power:
Perhaps even the first.
Love, as we have learned, is the greatest magical power, so emotions can be a magical power and a source of magic. Fear will often be the first power to be invoked, as is also implied by Neville's uncle Algie trying to scare Neville into displaying magic.

Naught heralds the hour
of that magical burst.
Blah! Blah! Of course you can't predict when the magical child will first display their magical powers, but a burst of power in a state of panic and fear is a very good candidate, wouldn't you say?

Though I'm not apical
of magical might.
Love is, of course, the greatest magical power, and hence is the ‘apex of magical might’
Apical chosen for not exactly being a form you find every day

I sure am epical,
oft found in the night.
There are, naturally, not very many rhymes for ‘apical’ (and I'm not even sure that this one works), but I do insist that fear has epic connections, and of course being afraid of the dark is quite common.

A cause of magic
unpredictably wild.
So, the accidental magic is caused by the fear - even such advanced magic as Apparition can apparently result, as shown by Harry's sudden transfer to the roof of the school kitchens

A part of the tragic
of the magical child.
Accidental magic can be quite harmful, and thus the magical child will have to soon learn to curb their emotional outbursts: a tragedy, really

Whether they will or nill,
when I'm in their mind
Harry and Neville,
see the truth of their kind.
Fear, in one form or another, was behind all the accidental magic Harry did before he learned he was a wizard (with the possible exception of freeing the boa, which was probably revenge), and fear of being hurt was the reason why Neville started bouncing. Thus they were both revealed to be magical, for those with the understanding to reckon the clues, by magic they did when afraid.

Approaching disaster,
a danger unsought:
Very common causes for being afraid, and in particular for the sudden kind of emotional imbalance that seems the most common reason for accidental magic.

then I am the master
controlling your thought.
And in those situations the fear takes over, invoking the immanent magic abilities and prevents the disaster or removes the danger by a burst of accidental magic.

Elanor - Apr 25, 2007 9:12 pm (#2242 of 2986)
Edited Apr 25, 2007 10:16 pm

Congrats PatPat!! The me(s) were indeed referring to Mrs. Figg's cats and they were leading you to Mrs. Figg because that's what they do in the series, keeping watch on Harry and warning and leading her to Harry when danger comes.

Follow me,
When danger creeps - lonely,
Count on my sense of duty.
That first stanza was about Mr Tibbles who, alone, keeps watch on Harry when Mundugus left at the beginning of OotP and comes to warn her. Hence the "remote link" to the Patronus since when Mrs. Figg arrives Harry's just been attacked by the Dementors.

Follow me...
My path is smooth and silent,
My cold warmer than maybe you'd want...
This stanza was about Snowy: "smooth and silent" fits well a cat's way of walking and also the snow. Harry didn't like to go to Mrs. Figg's as a kid: hence the "cold" (snowy) warmer than he wanted, that is too close to him.

Follow me:
Still waters run deep, one say
My quiet grace may be your ally today.
This one was for Mr. Paws: "quiet grace" was to make one think of a cat: a silent watcher as his "brothers" but his name hints that he knows when to show his claws and he - as the other cats and Mrs. Figg - are Harry's secret ("still waters") allies.

Follow me!
But don't call me scruffy! Great Scott!
That's the only battle I ever lost!
This one was about Tufty who, I presume, was named like this because of a funny "tuft" of hair. He, as the other cats, is fulfilling his watching duty but he can't fight his appearance. "Great Scott" was for the rhyme and to make one think of Mrs, Figg's "Scottish" device: her tartan slippers.

Clue 1: The answer is not love! - Obviously!

Clue 2: There is more than one "me" in the riddle...

Clue 3: I would like to draw your attention to the "follow" part of the lines: those "me(s)" will lead you somewhere but they are not the answer (strictly speaking)... See the explanation of the riddle

Clue 4: Nick's idea may put you on the right path, though that path does not involve mead or Madam Rosmerta (as far as I know)...

Nick proposed me-ad for mead, but if you take "me" and add the end of "follow" ("follow me" , it gives: me-ow... ok, ok, should be ashamed of that one!

Clue 5: Something tells me the "me(s)" prefer dry land... Usually, cats don't like water.

Clue 6: If you follow the "me(s)", you'll find someone...

Clue 7: Each "follow me" stanza refers to a different something/someone but, these four different "entities" have a common point and will lead you to another "thing" they have in common...

The common point was that they were all cats and the "thing" they have in common is Mrs. Figg.

Clue 8: The 4 "me(s)" and the answer are all living entities.

Clue 9: All the "me(s)" and the answer they led to have a name (a different one each)...

Clue 10: One of the stanzas directly refers to something which happened in OotP.

Clue 11: Clue 8 says that "The 4 "me(s)" and the answer are all living entities" but, to be more precise: if all of the me(s)/answer are living creatures, only one of them is human...

See the explanation of the riddle

When I said the four "me(s)" were closely bound, I did mean it: they are as close as brothers/sisters are (though they are not brothers or sisters, as far as I know that is!)

Clue 12: I do agree about forest being "living entities" Nick, but the ones hinted at in the riddle all have 2/4 legs!

We don't know if the cats are really siblings but chances are they are related and they live together in the same house, like siblings do.

Jenniffler: "My guess on the "Me"s: 1.House elf 2. Fawkes 3.Crookshanks 4. Snuffles (Sirius Black)"

In that list, Jenniffler has found "someone" who could well be another "brother" of the me(s)... The "relative" of the "me(s)" of the riddle is not the house-elf... One down! Three more possibilities...

The relative of the "me(s)" was Crookshanks who is part Kneazle (as Mrs. Figg's cats are).

Sorry if the riddle was a bit too confusing! I just thought that, as the forum is a bit calm these days, a riddle "tiroirs" could be fun.

Congrats again PatPat! Next riddle is all yours!

PatPat - May 1, 2007 5:32 pm (#2292 of 2986)

Well done, Jenniffler! It is indeed a portkey. PO RT KEY

One is that which names one dark
This refers to the saying "a pot calling a kettle black." (OK I know it was reaching.)

though minus a liquid infusion
Tea is a liquid infusion. Take the T off of Pot to get Po, the first part of the word.

Two is a skill
A skill can also be called an art.

but without the first
This had a dual meaning. Take the first letter off of art, which also happens to be the first letter in the alphabet. This gives the second part of the word ‘rt’.

Three is the answer to
a well-hidden secret
The answer to a well-hidden secret is a key.

Put us together
Put all three together to get Po rt key

and you will make some progress
Progress as in moving. A portkey allows wizards to move from one place to another.

Hint: The second first is different from one The first in the second part of the clue was not the same as the first part of the answer.

Hint: The second first is one of the most important first's that can be put into words. The alphabet is required to form ANY words. "A" is the first letter in the alphabet.

Informal hint: Continue your "creative" thinking. It will lead you there. Creative refers to the second part of the clue "art", while "lead you there" is another clue to the fact that a portkey allows a person to travel from one place to another.

Hint: There is a trick to "put into words." This clue and the "creative" clue go together. See above explanations

Hint: Think of "progress" in a literal sense. See above explanations

Hint: The first line has a kind of play on words. A thesaurus may help. If you looked for synonyms for name (call) and dark (black), you get the saying a pot calling a kettle black.

Hint: the first line refers to a fairly common metaphor See above explanations

Hint: Two can refer to a martial skill and one of the first first's you've learned. Martial ARTS and the letter A is one of the first things children learn in school.

Jenniffler - May 2, 2007 1:06 pm (#2307 of 2986)

Lina, you have it! It was the pocket sneakoscope Ron sent Harry for his 13th birthday.

Rubbish glass
Sold in mass - Bill Weasley said it was mainly for tourists and it didn't work properly.

Rodent soup's on! - Technically, beetles are insects; the sneakoscope lit up when Fred and George added that extra ingredient to Bill's soup. This is also an allusion to the "hot water" Wormtail is in if recognized by Lupin at any time on the Hogwarts Express.

The light is gone - Harry receives the pocket sneakoscope while it is inactive. On the train, Harry shoves it in Vernon's socks, where it is not seen to warn against future bad intentions.

Lina - May 3, 2007 11:34 am (#2320 of 2986)

ROFL, John, you definitely have some good ideas, maybe you should offer some to Jo?

As for you, Kate, too bad, you'll have to make a new riddle. It is indeed Legilimency.

Here's the explanation:

The first is used to move,
to come to destination. – leg

The second one is not
a healthy situation. – as John guessed correctly, ill

The third part is so great
that you can't give the measure. – immense, that is more the sound than the exact spelling

Add a question in the end and
don't use me for the pleasure. – this is y, as John correctly guessed, under Kate's influence with the addition that Legilimency should be used carefully.

Go on, Kate!

CatherineHermiona - May 8, 2007 4:41 am (#2346 of 2986)

It's indeed thestral, PatPat! Well done!

To seize me mostly isn't easy to do,
But useful I can be.
well people can rarely see them, so it isn't easy for people to find them and all... and they can be very useful sometimes...

Well, looking forward to the new riddle!

Kate(y)

PatPat - May 15, 2007 5:07 pm (#2411 of 2986)

Well done, Jenniffler! It is indeed the Riddle house.

I stand tall over the cognates - This could be taken two ways. The Riddle house was the house of Voldemort's relatives (see definition of cognates below). Also, the Riddle house overlooked the Gaunt house which houses Voldemort's mother's family.

I watch while he adjudicates - Voldemort killed his relatives in the Riddle house, thus acting as judge, jury, and executioner.

My eyes show roguery - Eyes meaning windows. Frank Bryce saw flickering light in the windows of the Riddle House and thought it was mischievous boys in the town.

while inside, brokery - What was really happening inside the house was the planning and dealing (i.e. brokery) between Voldemort and Wormtail

And, within me, a reluctant ally - Again, this has two meanings. Tom Riddle Sr., who lived in the house, was a reluctant ally to Merope Gaunt. Wormtail was a reluctant ally of Voldemort when they were staying in the Riddle House.

So, tell me, who or what am I?

Hint 1: The "eyes" show the soul within This was a reference to the saying "the eyes are the windows to the soul.

Hint 2: "Eyes" should not be taken literally This is fairly obvious now! They weren't really eyes, but windows.

Hint 3: Cognate:
- noun: a word is cognate with another if both derive from the same word in an ancestral language
- noun: one related by blood or origin; especially on sharing an ancestor with another
- adjective: having the same ancestral language See explanation of riddle

Hint 4: I am not a person. Moving on.

Hint 5: pay attention to the third definition of cognate above The ancestral language of Voldemort which is parseltongue.

Hint 6: The last line could refer to two different people See explanation of riddle

Hint 7: The "roguery" mentioned in the third line was mistaken for one kind of mischief and turned out to be something else entirely Frank Bryce thought the flickering light in the windows was mischievous boys when in fact it was Voldemort and Wormtail.

Hint 8: The basilisk and the Dark Mark are both related to the answer Both the basilisk and the Dark Mark put us in mind of Tom Riddle Jr./Voldemort.

Hint 9: I am not alive (as far as we know! ) Obviously

Hint 10: The "brokery" refers to an important plan in GoF. See explanation of riddle.

Jenniffler - May 15, 2007 8:55 pm (#2414 of 2986)

What, did my riddle last a whole 12 minutes? I'm impressed, Columbine Fairy, you snapped up the reins quickly on that one.

Yes, it's the Hogwarts house hourglasses, musically showering points in the Great Hall.

Columbine Fairy - May 23, 2007 4:01 pm (#2511 of 2986)

I think we have a winner!!! Well done, Jenniffler, the answer to the riddle was the drawer in Filch's office that was marked "confiscated and highly dangerous", but I'll pay "Filch's Fiend Files"! Congratulations, now I feel a little better about pinching the riddle from you so quickly last time!

Here goes with the explanation...

Perhaps I could help you,
If you couldn't hide. - This refers to the Map, which was found in the drawer, and helped Harry escape Filch's clutches many times when he just had to run for it in the first couple of books.

But then could I tempt you? - Not everyone would be as brave as the Weasley twins who were tempted enough to risk even more trouble to get into it!

And what would you find?
Danger? Adventure? Pleasure? Pain? - Goodness knows what's in there!

What one man fears
Is another man's gain. - Filch is probably terrified of most of the stuff that would be in there, but as we know, Harry and the twins gained tremendously from its contents!

So can you make the sacrifice? - To get into Filch's office you would have to break a rule, which means risking detention or house points.

And can you take the risk? - Then, once you get in there, you would need to risk more trouble to get into the drawer!

Or leave concealed my secrets
For generations yet to miss. - As we know, students have benefitted from the contents of the drawer even generations after they were put there. (And who knows, in a hundred years’ time the fanged frisbee might be an ancient treasure!!)

Hint 1: It's not an enchanted object. Obviously. It's a drawer.

Hint 2: If you found me, you would probably find enchanted objects. Again, this one's obvious. Plenty of enchanted stuff in the draw. (well, we know of at least one!)

Hint 3: I could be very helpful if you need to watch your step. Another reference to the map - you can watch your step quite literally!

Hint 4: Seeing double might lead you to me. A reference to the Weasley twins, which some people picked up on, as they did in fact get there once!

Hint 5: Of all the guesses so far, the Marauders' Map might show you the way, but not if you're looking for the path ahead. Well the map might show you the way to Filch's office if you wanted it to, but what this one actually referred to was the history of the map itself - instead of going forward, go back:[/b] before Harry it belonged to Fred and George, and before that, it lived in Filch's draw!

Hint 6: It isn't so much a place as a thing. But you could also call it a place for things. That one's pretty self explanatory, I think.

Hint 7: Try going a little further. Or thinking a bit smaller... Again, self explanatory. A lot of guesses then were referring to passages, or things guarding passages, but you need to go a bit further and actually get to somewhere. (somewhere being Filch's office, of course).

Hint 8: The "men" referred to in the riddle are different sorts. This was designed to point you towards Filch, who's a squib, as opposed to Fred, George and Harry, who are wizards.

Hint 9: It's not a trunk, but it does belong to someone. Another obvious one.

Hint 10: If you want to avoid me, try "cleaning up" your act. Harry originally got into Filch's office by leaving a trail of mud through the castle!

Well, I hope that wasn't too exhausting for you all. Take it away, Jenniffler!!

Jenniffler - May 28, 2007 8:43 am (#2603 of 2986)
Edited May 28, 2007 10:11 am

HH11, I am handing it to you. But I am absolutely convinced it is "I must not tell lies." You have won. Thank goodness, I was getting desperate for clues that didn't make sense.

Never Forget:
Needle got me there. - The point of a quill is a type of needle. A needle has an eye Eye = I.

Stench is in the air. - The smell of old books and decay gets everywhere (also freshly pressed grape juice). Stench = must

Raveled like a net - Nets are raveled with knots. Knots = not

Like the end of Rover. - A tail = tell

And it falls over. - Most things that fall over lay there. Lay = lies.

Official answer= I must not tell lies.

Hint 1: Not my normal style. I The same way was not letting me progress . It]s detention--lack of progress

Hint 2: Guess my riddle, but don’t delude yourself in a con. Don’t lie (Umbridge did nothing but lie)

Hint 3: In a kind of stench, or scent, you could find part of the answer, but never have to smell it. Must Umbridge brought a foul atmosphere to the school with her and stagnation.

Hint 4: My style is almost always a definable object set in a certain and memorable situation. This riddle differs from that form by 1) not only being a person (It’s Harry’s Scar), 2) a concept, 3) an object, 4) an event and also 5) magic. Puns are very tricky, I couldn’t resist.

Hint 5: There are five bold lines in my riddle. The answer is found in the fifth book. it had 5 words

Hint 6: I did pick a "battle" of sorts. Not a conventional one. Harry thought of it as a battle of wills. He would not show weakness.

Hint 7: Good writing, no this riddle is not, but the concept is good if anyone can achieve it. Umbridge it so evil, masking torture in the form of teaching a moral lesson.

Hint 8: At the end of Rover, a tail. Cannot say more. see riddle

Hint 9: Truth is hidden in words, especially if you don't think or talk. ‘Wands away class, there will be no need to talk.’

Hint 10: It happened at Hogwarts.

Clue 1: I hate to sound like a broken record but I find it imperative (must) that you ‘pick out’ my riddle (knot) then relate (tell) it to me with imPUNity.

Clue 2:A pink cardigan and a matching bow, here comes Umbridge, oh no! That Umbridge is evil is no secret, but we know pink hides motives about her modus operandi

Clue 3: If we are in Umbridge’s Office, why do I keep seeing ancient text tied up with stories strewn about? b This translates loosely to mean the same thing as the answer and the riddle.

Clue 4: Style A stylus (feather quill) depends upon the raw materials, (blood) perchance I meant (parchment) verily? (Truth)

Edited to add cat plates! ROFL

HungarianHorntail11 - May 29, 2007 8:21 pm (#2633 of 2986)

You have it, Audrey!

Placed - Placed secretly with Ginny
Neglected - Harry found a neglected diary in the girls' bathroom.
Staked - Harry staked a basilisk fang through it.
Rejected - Lucius' rejection of it freed Dobby.

Good going! It's all yours!

Elanor - May 31, 2007 12:18 pm (#2658 of 2986)
Edited May 31, 2007 1:19 pm

You've done great john!

It was Hermione indeed, more precisely: Her-my-oh-nee as Hermione teaches Krum how to pronounce her name.

You were very close in your explanation:

It's not his: because it's her
It's not yours: because it's my (/mine)
Even not his own: because Viktor says: Herm - own - ninny
Though weak there... certainly!: for "nee"/knee; Viktor is a bit "weak at the knees" when it comes to Hermione!

Next riddle is all yours John!

John Bumbledore - Jun 1, 2007 7:31 pm (#2683 of 2986)
Edited Jun 1, 2007 8:36 pm

Jenniffler, you are correct! The answer to my riddle is Bilius, Ronald Weasley's middle name.

'Tis hidden inside, - The first post of the riddle had the letters b-i-l-i-u-s hidden within the post, black in color and Times New Roman in font face in contrast to the indigo Comic Sans MS used in the rest of the post. But more directly Ron seldom uses his middle name so it seems hidden and is in between (thus inside) his given name and surname.

in the middle of three, - It is the middle of his three names and Ron is the middle of Harry+Ron+Hermione the trio that we so commonly refer to as HRH.

Formed from a curse breaker, announcer, and we. - Bill is the curse breaker, Lee Jordan was the announcer, and us is the other pronoun for we. Bill+Lee+Us making Bilius

Now, Jen, you have both the hangman and the riddle.

Well done.

John Bumbledore <)B^D≈

Jenniffler - Jun 2, 2007 6:46 am (#2692 of 2986)

Peeves is right! "Give her hell for us, Peeves!" Well, they found the right guy for the job!

I said it was easy PatPat. Now it's you turn to find a riddle. I'll be back much later on in the day to check what you present.

(Note: The answer is not stated in this post, and the riddle-creator’s explanation was not available/copied for these archives, unfortunately.)

PatPat - Jun 9, 2007 7:26 am (#2755 of 2986)

Well done, Phelim! It is Accio! Explanation follows:

Angelic antics expressed - Angelic here is used to mean "sweet". Molly used Accio to expose Fred and George's hidden Ton-tongue toffees in GoF. Also, the alliteration of angelic antics indicates the first letter is A.

Aided in success - Harry used Accio in GoF to succeed in the First task. Also if you look "in success" you get the CC which is the second part of the answer.

Once, he forbid me - In OoP, Harry stopped the DE's from using Accio several times to retrieve the prophecy. Also, "me" indicates "I" which is the next part of the answer.

But, when enlightened, flee - In GoF, after the Priori Incantatum where Harry and Voldemort were surrounded by light ("enlightened"), Harry uses Accio to bring the portkey to himself so he can flee. Also, when a person is enlightened, they often exclaim: Oh! indicating "O" is the last letter of the word. (OK that one may have been a stretch!)

Who, are what, am I?

Hint: Refusing to see the truth is dragging you down Harry's inability to perform the Summoning spell was keeping him from flying on his broom.

Hint: Let the light guide you toward the answer and you will find the secret to my success. This was intended to point you toward the Priori Incantatum scene in Goblet when Harry and Voldemort were surrounded by light. Also, to make you look at the word suCCess again.

Hint: Progress you need I see. Though it is not my reason to be. Many of the guesses involved modes of travel. Accio was used to help Harry to travel twice, his broom and the portkey, but travel is not really the intended purpose of the spell.

Hint: Alliteration is a beautiful thing. See explanation above

Hint: Neither invisibility cloak nor Dragons I be, though one of these could lead you to me. This was intended to point you toward the dragon scene in GoF where Harry used Accio.

Hint: Take my advice. Ask Hermione. After taking Moody's advice about the first task in GoF, Harry ran to Hermione for help with the Summoning charm.

Hint: Neither Filibuster nor Mirror am I
But I have been used
to see a Fred and George lie Molly used Accio to see Fred and George's ton-tongue toffees.

Hint: Watch what you eat A hint about the ton-tongue toffees

Hint: Part of my riddle is related to Fred and George mischief but it's more about discovering it rather than the actual mischief. Self explanatory

Hint:
Hide them! Hide them!
She's a human Geiger
Whoa! She found them
She's a Saber-toothed Tiger! This was to point you to Molly and the ton-tongue toffee scene.

Hint: It is not Mrs. Weasley, but you have correctly interpreted the Tiger clue. Follow that and it may bring you the answer. "Bring you the answer" was meant to lead you to summoning charm.

Anyway, great job, Phelim! Look forward to the new riddle.

Phelim Mcintyre - Jun 15, 2007 12:08 am (#2829 of 2986)

Yes Elanor it is the weighing of wands.

Bouquet refers to the wine (the aroma of the wine is it's bouquet) and the flowers.
The bird is the birds from Krum's wand and the shiny is the stars that come from another one.

Elanor - Jun 19, 2007 9:35 am (#2866 of 2986)
Edited Jun 19, 2007 10:37 am

Lina, you got it!! Congrats!!! It was the symbol on the DH's spine indeed, the one we had to re-create in order to take the third WOMBAT test.

Here's the explanation of the clues:

None, one, three, - They refer to the circle ('O' for zero, none), the line (shaped like a 1) and the triangle.

A thorny problem - A "spine" is also a "thorn" and the symbol on the DH's spine is still a "problem" for us!

None, one, three,
Enter the game - Because one needed to re-form it in order to enter the "game", the WOMBAT

None, one, three,
One is my end... - You had to take the three shapes and make them "one", the "end" part was also a reference to the last book.

Who or what am I?

Hints:

1) The answer is not the Horntail I'm afraid (though I have no way of knowing if the answer actually has a link with it...)!

Because we're still waiting for the DH...

2) "thorny" should not be taken too literally, though at the same time it has to be taken literally...

3) You won't find that kind of "thorn" on any living thing.

4) That "thorn" tells a lot, though one doesn't know exactly what it is saying.

5) The answer, though very mysterious still, is not a character.

6) It's a great idea you've had Jenniffler even if the answer is not a rune (at least as far as we know for now - if there is a link between the answer and runes, we'll only find out in about a month now... ). It is not bound to the Runes class either.

All clues here were playing with the idea of a thorn being a reference to the spine and also underlining the fact there are things we don't know about it yet!

Looking forward to reading your riddle Lina!

1Lina - Jun 22, 2007 5:18 am (#2936 of 2986)

Yay, Azi! It is indeed the Snape's puzzle standing on the way towards the Philosopher's stone.

Explanation:

You have to read me - there was a poem with the bottles containing potions with the instructions on how to find the right potion.
and watch carefully - the bottles differed in shape and color, so you had to watch them carefully to understand the instructions.
and use your Muggle abilities - Hermione said that Muggles use logic much more often than Wizards.
to move in right direction. - to be able to go through the flames.

1st hint: Actually, you know where is the right direction. You just need me to tell you how. - The kids knew that Harry had to go through the flames, they needed just to know which potion he had to take to be able to do it.

Well done, Azi, the riddle is yours!

14: Answer

azi - Jun 24, 2007 6:17 pm (#2985 of 2986)
Edited Jun 24, 2007 7:18 pm

Yey, PatPat! It is Dilys Derwent.

A river or two. - There are two rivers in the UK (that I know of) named Derwent.
Will care for you! - Dilys was a healer and also a popular headteacher, which suggests she was the sort of person to care for people.
Silver tresses, - Her hair is in silver ringlets
Double successes - She was both a successful healer and an acclaimed headmistress

Clue I - Hogwarts is part of the right direction to go in. Her portrait is at Hogwarts, but also in St Mungo's

Clue II - Merpeople is the wrong species. She is human/whatever a portrait is classed as

Clue III - I said Hogwarts was part of the right area to look in, now go through those front doors, up some steps, along some corridors, through some more doors and you might make it to the place where the ???????? is. A very confusing way to get to DD's office. ???????? = portrait

I think the other clues were self-explanatory...maybe...

Take it away PatPat!

PatPat - Jun 30, 2007 10:39 am (#65 of 2987)
Edited Jun 30, 2007 11:43 am

Well done, Phelim! It is Apollyon Pringle, the caretaker when Molly and Arthur were in school.

First is heavenly light personified - Apollo was the Greek god of the sun, thus the sun personified
hold your surprise and - O! is an exclamation of surprise. Take the O off of the end of Apollo to get Apoll
question instead. - Add Y (why) in place of the O to get Apoll - y

Next is cancelled not - Something that is not cancelled is still "on". This gives Apoll - y - on
and a painting copy - A copy of a painting is called a "print"
but without an herbal draw. - Tea is herbs drawn through a strainer. Take the "T" off of "print" to get Prin

Finish with extreme happiness, singled - "Glee" is extreme happiness. Single the double "e" to get Prin - gle
and find an angry keeper. - A caretaker is a keeper of the castle. Apollyon Pringle was so angry when he caught Arthur out of bed that Molly said Arthur's "still got the marks."

Hint 1: Look to the sky to find some answers Intended to point you toward the sun

Hint 2: I can't afford the Van Gogh. What can I buy? When we want a painting but can't afford it we get the print.

Hint 3: hmmm. Too bad they didn't have Harry's invisibility cloak! If Arthur and Molly had an invisibility cloak, they might not have been caught.

Hint 4: Argus Filch is a step in the right direction. Take a few more steps. Backwards. Obvious. Apollyon was a caretaker before Filch.

Great job, Phelim! Look forward to your new riddle.