Archive of Riddles

Verity Weasley - May 9, 2008 2:23 pm (#2939 of 2981)

The answer to the riddle is not Nymphadora Tonks or Mundungus, but ... Dryleaves has it again! It is Crookshanks.

With features like mine I could work in a bar,
Crookshanks is described as having a bottlebrush tail which would undoubtedly come in handy for cleaning bottles at the Hogs Head - much better than Aberforth's dirty rag.

But my half-blood status means I'll go far.
Crookshanks is half Kneazle, and they have an excellent sense of direction.

A Weasley?
Not me.
But I could be.
With Crookshanks' ginger fur (hair) he'd fit right in with the Weasley family.

Not Harry's left foot, but a petty criminal's lower leg.
The giveaway clue! Petty criminal = crook + lower leg = shank (more commonly applied to animals, as in lamb shanks).

Well done Dryleaves!

Dryleaves - May 11, 2008 2:59 am (#2977 of 2981)
Edited May 11, 2008 4:27 am

The riddle: The answer is not Gryffindor's Sword, not the Basilisk, not Sectumsempra, not a Dementor, not the potion in the cave where Slytherin's locket was hidden, not Nagini, but yes, Swedish Short-Snout: it is a basilisk fang! Congratulations! I look forwards to your riddle!

And now, the explanation:

Wickedest of wicked, beware!
Horcruxes are the wickedest of evil things and can be destroyed by the venom of the basilisk fang.

But if you’re innocent, don’t think I care!
You can be sure that I will kill

’Cause murder is my only skill
The fangs are lethal and will kill anyone who is bitten by them, good or evil.

A regent’s weapon, one of two
The basilisk is the King of Serpents and it has two ways of killing: one is its poisonous fangs the other is its stare.

And when I hit, then you should know
That only weeping is of good to you
The antidote is phoenix tears.

Edit: I think it is time to start a new thread now, but I don't feel confident enough to do it, so it would be great if someone with more experience (or daring) would do so. I fear I would mess it all up!

Swedish Short-Snout - May 13, 2008 6:05 am (#49 of 2993)
Edited by May 13, 2008 7:08 am

Julia is right - the answer was the Gryffindor Chasers, Katie Bell, Angelina Johnson and Alicia Spinnet. Congratulations, Julia!

Come and seek the first one! Hear the sound
From the tower's top, high above the ground. Bell.

And when you're searching for the second one:
It's not (though so it sounds) the werewolf's son. Remus Lupin's middle name is John. Johnson.

To find the third, you'll have to look
at the answer of a riddle from the book -
what does it do? The answer of a riddle from the book was a spider. Spinnet.
Our job is to attack. No explanation needed.

It's late, we'll leave, but we'll come back. They all leave Hogwarts late in the series, but return to fight Voldemort.

Julia H. - May 14, 2008 1:50 am (#72 of 2993)

Well-guessed, Dryleaves! So the three types of potion are cough potion (mentioned in HBP), love potion and Wolfsbane potion.

The explanation:

You have to recognize these three:
One is, I hope you will agree,
A wicked witch's ill trademark
This is cough, "the wicked witch" is Umbridge and her "ill" trademark is "hem hem". (Ill was intended to be a give-away word.)

Another: neither bad, nor dark
It may be sweet or may be sour
The world is conquered by its power
A feeble attempt to give a concise description of love.

The third though never runs or flies
Is still alive. Because it is a plant. Its name implies
(though it has names, more than just one)
It can defeat that which can run.
Wolfsbane: also known as monkshood or aconite, "that which can run" is the wolf.

Three words but not the answer yet
For that a fourth word you must get
One with the first, second and third

A pair for each is the same word. Potion.

Congratulations again!

Dryleaves - May 14, 2008 9:29 am (#80 of 2993)
Edited May 14, 2008 10:31 am

The answer to the riddle is not Ariana Dumbledore and not the Fat Lady, but I had hardly posted the riddle before Julia gave the right answer: Phineas Nigellus.

The explanation, if needed:

Framed in a crowded place
Well, he is in a frame... And he is put into Hermione's beaded bag with everything else that's in it.

Forced to live my name
Hermione puts a blindfold on him, so everything he sees is 'Black'

Still, not all is disgrace
In the circle I am all the same
He still has his portrait in the circular Headmaster's office at Hogwarts and he is one in the circle of former Headmasters that helps the present one.

Congratulations Julia! Now you're "stuck" with both the riddle and the hangman!

Julia H. - May 16, 2008 10:14 am (#124 of 2993)
Edited May 16, 2008 11:28 am

It is, Dryleaves! I thought so when I saw your comment! So, the riddle is yours and here is the explanation:

There are six of us, three on either side
We are different, listen to our guide:
So, there are six types of O.W.L. marks, three above and three below pass level.

"I give you more than any hopes you had"
Exceeds Expectations.

"I am so needy, I will make you sad"
Poor. ("Needy" is a synonym and this mark will certainly make one sad.)

"A lowly monster I am in the fold"
Troll. (A troll is a monster and it is lowly because that is the lowest mark.)

"I am, however, frightful to behold"
Dreadful. ("Frightful" is a synonym.)

"I am perfect: no starting point or end"
Outstanding. Perfect, because that is the best mark, while the second half of the line is a reference to the circular shape of O. (A circle has no beginning, as we know.)

"If you are modest, I can be your friend".
Acceptable. If one has only modest ambitions, a simple A will be OK.

Hint 1: Sorting and ordering will help.
The marks are mixed in the riddle.

Hint 2: "We are connected by achievement."
They all mark academic achievement.

Dryleaves - May 17, 2008 11:54 am (#154 of 2993)
Edited May 17, 2008 1:04 pm

The riddle: the answer is not the Goblet of Fire, not Xenophilius Lovegood, not Rita Skeeter, not the Diary, not Rufus Scrimgeour but, as Julia guessed, it's the Silver Doe!

The explanation:

And so arrives an uninvited guest
Well, the Doe is not invited but totally unexpected.

Not unwelcome when so appropriately dressed
If Snape had come himself Harry would probably have wanted to fight him, but the doe is beautiful and looks quite like the opposite of Snape, which is very appropriate... Harry feels good in her company and doesn't really mind her being there

Will socialize, connect, but not get trapped
The doe is friendly and will try to make contact with Harry, but walks away and only lets him follow, never catch her.

Quite a dancer, though this is not a ball
She is very light of foot.

Leaves a present, intricately wrapped
The Sword of Gryffindor, under the ice of the pool.

Turning out to be not a gift at all
The sword is not really a gift as you have to earn it to be able to use it.

Congratulations Julia! It's your turn to make a riddle!

Julia H. - May 19, 2008 6:00 am (#194 of 2993)

Well, another riddle is solved. Congratulations, Dryleaves, the answer is indeed: Fang. The riddle goes back to you!

A murderous monster always to kill
Commanded and ruled by an evil will;
This clue can have two different answers: either the basilisk or Nagini. Both kill at Voldemort's (Tom Riddle's) order.

A half-blood in an unusual way;
Hagrid. He is not the usual wizarding-muggle half-blood but a human-giant half-blood, which seems to be much less frequent. (Though Freshwater is right, Snape is also an unusual half-blood in his own way.)

A pure-blood, one in seven, we may say:
Bill Weasley.

They all share something, judging by the name
Fang (judging by the name of what they have "in common").

Although what it means may not be the same.
The snake's fang, Hagrid's dog (Fang) and the fang in Bill's earring. Totally different things in fact.

Dryleaves - May 19, 2008 11:47 pm (#214 of 2993)

The riddle: The answer is not Teddy Lupin and not the riddle Harry and Hermione from the horcrux locket, but the second guess was not wrong at all, Freshwater. The answer is the Marauders. Congratulations! The riddle is yours!

The explanation:

Twin stars brutally divided
Quidditch star James Potter and Sirius, two stars, separated when James is killed (2/2=1)

Two actors changing parts
Peter Pettigrew is the real traitor and Sirius the true loyal friend, but Sirius is accused for being the traitor and Pettigrew seems to be the friend (2)

Two must be lost forever
James is dead and Pettigrew is believed to be dead and is later revealed to be the servant of Voldemort (2 lost = 2-2=0)

One left, lonely, when the story starts
Lupin seems to be the only one left, since James is dead and Pettigrew is supposed to be so too, and Sirius is in Azkaban. (1)

Add now the results of every line above
1+2+0+1=4

To get the number of the hearts
There were four Marauders

That reunite, though one in mirrored form
They meet again in the Shrieking Shack, but James is represented by his son Harry, who looks almost exactly like him

Then scatter, actors changing back their parts
The truth about Sirius and Pettigrew is revealed. The Marauders will split up again as Pettigrew joins Voldemort (and later both Sirius and Lupin die).

Hmm... This riddle seems a bit far-fetched to me now when I write down the explanation... Good job, Freshwater!

freshwater - May 27, 2008 5:19 am (#330 of 2993)

Yes, Julia, it is the scar on Harry's hand that reads "I must not tell lies." Well done!

Secretly made, secretly kept.
Umbridge didn't make it well-known, and Harry tried to hide it from his friends.

Evil intent and embarassment.
Umbridge was evil in her intentions to make Harry stop telling the truth...Harry was embarassed by the scar and didn't want to show her any weakness in telling DD or others.

Threat, compliance and defiance, in one.
Threat: from Umbridge; compliance: by Harry, he quietly did as she instructed; defiance: he wouldn't complain about the scar or stop telling the truth.

Especially for James' and Lily's son.
Harry...right.

Product of an evil mind.
Umbridge

Yet truth and justice I did not bind.
Harry kept on tellling the truth and things worked out in the end.

Magically made, it will not heal.
A reference to the injury made by the blood quill, and to magically induced injuries not able to be healed by magic

Evidence of wrong-headed zeal.
Harry showed the scar to Scrimgeour the next year --or was it 7th year?-- as evidence of the Ministry's mistakes

What am I?

Julia H. - May 28, 2008 10:06 pm (#361 of 2993)
Edited May 28, 2008 11:08 pm

Pesky, the fact is that Julia did make it that obvious! LOL! The answer is indeed the Half-Blood Prince's Potions Book.

My career started on an autumn day
I did my job in the average way.
This is the first "life" of the potions book 50 years before Harry. Whoever was its first owner, (s)he must have used it as most students use a textbook. The "autumn day" is the beginning of a school-year (50 years ago).

There came someone who brought about a change
The Half-Blood Prince, who changed the book.
I became unique, enriched, improved, strange.
Unique, as no other potions book will be like this one; enriched and improved because of all the additional information/instructions that the Prince added and because these instructions were improvements; and strange because the Prince added new spells as well, which did no concern potion-making.

I gave my treasure secretly away
Harry secretly used the knowledge found in the book.

But there was a price my friend had to pay.
The "friend" is Harry, who considered the book (or rather the "Prince") a sort of friend; and of course Harry had to pay the price after using Sectumsempra.

Congratulations, Pesky! The riddle is yours! I'm looking forward to reading it!

PeskyPixie - Jun 9, 2008 6:38 am (#543 of 2993)
Edited Jun 9, 2008 7:40 am

Dryleaves, you've got it! The riddle most certainly refers to young Severus' greying underpants!

I'm Flawed, Not Fully Black Nor White =>'not fully black nor white', why it's grey of course! Quite a 'flaw' for white undies.

Friendships Bloom, Then Allies Fight =>James and Lily supposedly begin their be-yoo-ti-ful friendship (love 'blossoms' between the two), while best friends Sev and Lily snap at each other, ending their 'alliance'

Witness To Both Love And Rage =>these greying underpants are witness to both the 'love' and 'rage' in this scene

For I've Lived To A Ripe Old Age =>speaks for itself

Hint 1: Dumb Witness =>as far as I know, these pants weren't made for talking!

Hint 2: In essence, one, or perhaps ... two? =>well, it's one pair of underpants, but a pair refers to two.

I felt like being a bit goofy in this riddle, but that doesn't mean I don't feel bad for poor Severus in this situation.

Well done, Dryleaves! The riddle goblet passes over to you!

Dryleaves - Jun 10, 2008 12:24 am (#561 of 2993)

Alas, that riddle didn't even last the night! The answer is not poor Snape and not Hagrid, but his equally hairy friend, Aragog. Congratulations Orion! May your riddle have a longer life!

I will still provide a short explanation:

A foreigner I am
Aragog was originally from a distant country, but came to Hagrid as an egg.

And as strangers often are
Accused, though innocent I was
It was not fair, by far
Aragog was accused of being the monster in the Chamber of Secrets and of having killed Moaning Myrtle, but he was of course innocent.

I found a home, a family, a friend
He found a home in the Forbidden Forest, had his friend Hagrid, who found him a wife, with whom Aragog formed a big family.

Yet, lucky was the day, I finally did end
It was on the day of Aragog's funeral that Harry drunk the Felix Felicis potion and managed to get the real Horcrux memory out of Slughorn.

Orion - Jun 13, 2008 8:39 am (#632 of 2993)
Edited Jun 13, 2008 9:43 am

Yes!!! Julia, you have it! The de-puzzling of the puzzle:

People think I’m pretty cool.
There is (inexplicably) a Sectumsempra fan club. (*furtively tries to hide fan club membership card*)

If you do you are a fool.
(Imagine best prissy teacher's voice: "Children, it's not big or clever to use the Sectumsempra...")

Like an ice cream we were named,
Hissy alliteration SsssssectumSsssssempra sounds like Ssssseverus Sssssssnape's Ssssssuper Ssssslytherin Sssssssundae. Just like Sssssseverus Sssssssnape himself.

I and Daddy, both are famed.
You can say that again.

Our names remind you, too,
Of the pet out of the zoo.
The Ssssssnake who said "Thanksssss, mate" and went to Brazil.

Own me, sure, you’d like to, yet I'd like to be able to cast a Sectumsempra, wouldn't you?
Meet me, rather not, I bet. It's ultimately preferable to be at the rear end of a Sectumsempra than at the receiving end.

Hint 1: Not after, only like an ice cream. Sort of similar sounding. Alliteration accumulation!

Hint 2: Pesky named it. How does she think of stuff like that.

Hint 3: Running Gag #1 related stuff was always a speciality of Julia. And the Sectumsempra was always a speciality of Running Gag #1. Says Remus. And you didn't get it!!!

Hint 4: 'Ear, 'ear, I can 'ear the distant sound of a Sundae! 'Ear, 'ear, now it's clear.

Julia H. - Jun 15, 2008 1:17 am (#670 of 2993)
Edited Jun 15, 2008 2:18 am

Congratulations, TBE, the answer is really wand cores, more precisely the ones Ollivander uses.

Gifts of innocence, of life and of might
a gift innocence: unicorn hair
a gift of life: phoenix feather
a gift of might: dragon heartstrings

Magical power from magical sources
These things come from magical beings and are used with the purpose of making wands of magical power.

While we are hidden, safely out of sight
Inside the wand. (If the core becomes visible, it is a bad sign meaning the wand is broken.)

Magic is done by magical forces.
The wand works.

EDIT: Cross-posted with Orion! Thanks for the guesses!

PatPat - Jun 28, 2008 3:03 pm (#907 of 2993)

And we have a winner, folks! Verity, it is indeed a bezoar. Well done!

Once, tested and failed
The first time we hear of a bezoar is in Harry's first potions class, when Snape questions him about it and he has no idea what it is!

Twice, chosen, cheated?, and won.
The second major mention of a bezoar is in Harry's potions class with Slughorn, when he chooses it as his antidote (Hermione thinks he cheated) and is praised by Slughorn.

Thrice, gratefully hailed,
The third time Harry gratefully grabs it to heal Ron after he is poisoned.

when wounded, nearly done.
Ron was seriously wounded by the poison and nearly died.

Hint 1: Forget me once,
Shame on you.
Forget me twice,
Shame on me
Forget me thrice,
a tragedy.
Clearly Harry forgot or didn't know the bezoar the first time he heard it and was humiliated by Snape. The second time, if he forgot it, he would have again been humiliated in potions class because he didn't know how to make an antidote. The third time, had he forgotten it, Ron would have died, an awful tragedy!

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

Verity Weasley - Jun 29, 2008 4:09 am (#925 of 2993)

Thanks Dryleaves, I wasn't sure whether Running Gag #1 was Harry or Severus but it was neither of them. In fact, your guess is correct - it is indeed Griphook.

I'm there at the beginning and there at the end.
We first meet Griphook in book one, and then not again until book seven.

I may have helped but I'm not really a friend.
He helped the trio break into Gringotts but he had his own motives.

On the same side but not united.
Griphook was on the same side, being against Voldemort, but he did not feel any affinity with wizards.

Honourable outsider, loyalty divided.
Griphook had a strong sense of Goblin honour and he was an outsider - that is, he was not part of the wizarding community. Again the loyalty divided part refers to him helping the trio in the fight against Voldie but really doing it for his own reasons.

Who or what am I?

Congratulations Dryleaves, the riddle is yours.

Dryleaves - Jul 2, 2008 11:50 pm (#991 of 2993)

An explanation:

One seems loyal, almost like a dog
Though some rather compare him to a wooden log
Pius Thicknesse seems to be a Minister loyal to Voldemort, but he is imperiused, and is like a puppet, just filling his place.

Two are feline, they come from the same place
Scrimgeour is described as looking like a lion and Kingsley Shacklebolt's patronus is a lynx. They have both been working in the Auror's Office.

Though they seem alike, they don’t move with equal grace
Kingsley seems to be able to fit into most situations, like working for the muggle Prime Minister. Scrimgeour walks with a limp.

Another may seem sweet, but when disturbed he might
Arch his back and hiss and spit and misdirect a bite.
Fudge is sweet, and seems nice, but when he feels threatened as Minister he becomes rather unpleasant and directs his forces towards DD, whom he thinks wants his place, instead of towards the real threat, Voldemort.

And the hint:
We are all one and the same
Yet each of us has a face and a name
They are four different people, but they are all the Minister of Magic.

PatPat - Jul 5, 2008 12:26 pm (#1042 of 2993)

You've got it, Orion! It is the pond where Harry found Gryffindor's sword. Well done!

Within me, victory.
In the pond is the sword which is necessary to destroy the horcruxes

Within me, death.
Harry almost dies in the pond. Also, the sword means "death" to the horcruxes.

Without me, defeat.
Without the sword in the pond, Harry and co. could not have destroyed the horcruxes and defeated Voldemort.

But I steal your breath.
Obvious. Harry almost drowns in the pond.

Stubborn I am.
The pond does not give up the sword easily.

Darkness I hold.
Again, a reference to Harry almost dying in the pond.

The answer's inside me.
The answer to how to destroy the horcruxes is inside the pond.

The answer is bold.
Harry must use his Gryffindor courage and boldness to jump into the pond and retrieve the sword.

Hint 1: Don't scream, cry, or yelp
It's as simple as asking for help. The sword is known to come to those worthy Gryffindors who ask for help. Also, Harry needs help to retrieve the sword from the pond.

Good job, Orion! I look forward to your new riddle.

Orion - Jul 6, 2008 1:28 am (#1061 of 2993)

Yes, Verity, you're right! Congratulations!

Hello, Two-Legs, you are cute. She's flirting with Cedric.
Careful, don’t slip, watch your foot. It's slippery on the tiles.
What’s that thing? Looks like a pear. The golden egg.
Voices of my home I hear! She hears the merpeople sing.

(NOTE: The riddle-creator did not state the answer in her post and the riddle-solver's explanatory post was not copied for these Archives before WX closed.)

Verity Weasley - Jul 6, 2008 2:31 pm (#1079 of 2993)

Pesky, I'm sorry, it's not the invisibility cloak, and freshwater, it's not the three items from Dumbledore's Will, but ... dun, dun, dun ... PatPat's gone and solved it again! It was the moleskin pouch given to Harry by Hagrid.

In the present you will find
It was a birthday present from Hagrid.

What it is you want to hide
It's for hiding things, or keeping things safe - only the owner can get them out.

Two things broken, one incomplete,
Harry kept the shard of mirror and his wand in his pouch - both broken. He also had the first page of his mother's letter - incomplete.

Two in one, a guide for feet.
The resurrection stone inside the snitch was two items in one, and 'a guide for feet' was my attempt to refer to the Marauder's Map without giving it away completely! (Obviously did not work, LOL).

Congratulations PatPat, you are 'riddle mistress' once again.

PatPat - Jul 13, 2008 4:34 pm (#1226 of 2993)
Edited Jul 13, 2008 6:57 pm

Woo hoo! Verity's got it! It is Harry retrieving Slughorn's memory at Aragog's burial. Soli, you've got most of it, but here is the explanation below:

An unbelievable request,
Hagrid asks Ron, Hermione, and Harry to go to the burial and they can't believe it.

sad, for one. Exciting for
an unexpected guest.
Sad for Hagrid, exciting for Slughorn because he gets the Acromantula venom. (As soli said!)

And for one more
a hidden detest
A hidden detest for Harry. He pretends to care about Aragog, but really doesn't at all. (Though what Soli said works too!)

but, a surprising solution
for an important quest.
Ron and Hermione can't understand why Harry wants to go to the burial, but, surprisingly, it works and Harry gets the memory

Hint 1: Important is the question and intent
But focus your thoughts on the event. Most people were guessing things that had to do with requests. I wanted everyone to focus on the event itself rather than the request as the event was the answer to the riddle.

Hint 2: Fortune is few and far between
but it's important for the secret you must glean.
"Fortune" was intended to direct you to the lucky Felix Felicis which was crucial for Harry obtaining the memory.

Hint 3:
Take your time.
Be discreet.
Your job, you know,
is to reveal a deceit.
Harry had to take his time and be discreet about getting the memory from Slughorn. His job was to reveal Slughorn's deception with his memory.

Hint 4:
Deception, secrets, and lies.
An important clue is size.
The first line again leads you to the fact that Harry is trying to reveal Slughorn's deception. "Size" refers to the fact that Aragog is an oversized spider, Hagrid is a giant, and Slughorn is a greatly overweight wizard.

Well done, Verity! Look forward to your new riddle.

Verity Weasley - Jul 14, 2008 11:25 pm (#1263 of 2993)

Congratulations rcs, you've got it! It is Mrs. Norris! Here's the explanation.

A faithful servant in a stolen moment
Mrs. Norris is very faithful and loyal. The 'stolen moment' part was a clumsy attempt to hint at the Filch connection without being too obvious. 'Filch' is another term for steal.

Loyal and unwavering in duty
Again, she is incredibly loyal and faithfully helps Filch with his patrols.

Illuminating vision but spouse unseen
Mrs. Norris is described as having 'lamp-like eyes', hence 'illuminating vision'. Her spouse is unseen because although she is Mrs Norris, we never hear of a Mr Norris.

An unconventional beauty
Filch describes her as 'my beauty, my sweet' but she is described as scrawny with bulging eyes.

Hint:
I'm loyal and devoted
but grimy, dusty-coated. Again, she is a loyal companion, and she is described as 'dust-coloured.'

Congratulations again rcs. I look forward to your riddle.

rcs - Jul 15, 2008 1:45 pm (#1268 of 2993)
Edited Jul 15, 2008 2:46 pm

Yep, freshwater, it is the Fountain of Magical Brethren. I don't think I've EVER managed to come up with a riddle that lasted more than a few hours.

Here's the explanation:

Luster of gold, nobility, The statues are golden, the wizard is described as "noble"

Mysterious beauty, The beautiful witch
Guardian of treasure, watcher of heavens, The goblin, the centaur
Obedience and duty, The house-elf
Taken all together yield
A monument, a shield.
The fountain is a monument, but it also was enchanted to block LV's curse in the Ministry battle.

Looking forward to your riddle, freshwater. And next time it's my turn, I'll REALLY try to think of something harder. I promise.

freshwater - Jul 15, 2008 4:00 pm (#1276 of 2993)
Edited Jul 15, 2008 5:02 pm

It's not Pigwidgeon or Kreacher, but yes, TBE, it is Peeves! Well done!

I'm pesky and troublesome,
Peeves is always bothering folks and making trouble

I listen to no one,
he pays no attention to students or Filch telling him to go away

Except for nobility,
but he does listen to the Bloody Baron

The prince of hilarity,
Peeves salutes Fred Weasley when he tell him to "Give her hell for us, Peeves." in OotP

And maybe the changeable one.
and he responds to Prof. McGonagall telling him to go away, and "It unscrews the other way."

Who am I? Who else, but Peeves?

Leaving him out of the movies was a tragic loss of humor and fun, IMHO. **tapping my wand on my hand and wondering if it is possible to send a Bat Bogey Hex by owl....or maybe by Howler?**