Archive of Riddles

mona amon - Sep 11, 2009 7:35 am (#220 of 1343)
Edited Sep 11, 2009 8:39 am

Congratulations, SSS! You have solved the short-lived riddle.

And now for the whole kaboodle, to use Orion's words~

A godfather's love - Sirius loved that motorbike, according to Hagrid.

Expanded and enhanced
It must have been expanded or Hagrid would never have been able to ride it. And it was enhanced with dragon fire and other cool things, and besides it could fly!

Right there at the opening
And there at the close
But never in-between.
This can refer either to the fact that Harry was brought to the Dursleys for the first time on the motorbike and left for the last time on it, or to the fact that we see it only in the first book of the series and in the last, but never in-between.

Looking forward to your riddle, SSS.

Swedish Short-Snout - Sep 16, 2009 10:40 am (#241 of 1343)
Edited Sep 16, 2009 11:41 am

You're right, Dryleaves - the answer is Dobby's tea cozy!

I'm always on top, I'm special, I'm hot
It's on top because it's a hat. "Special" is rather self-explanatory. "Hot" because it keeps you warm.

Some may think I'm weird, but I know I'm not Not = knot

I serve in an unusual way
different than most of my kind
Most tea cozies aren't used as hats.

And I will get replaced, one day,
by others my master will find.
Dobby replaces his tea cosy with Hermione's knitted hats.

Hint 1: The opposite of uncomfortable. Cozy.

Hint 2: A symbol of freedom. It's clothes.

Hint 3: There's a pun in the riddle.

Dryleaves - Sep 19, 2009 7:06 am (#260 of 1343)
Edited Sep 19, 2009 8:07 am

A combination of Ravenclaw wit and Slytherin ambition did the trick! Congratulations, Swedish Short-Snout! The answer to the riddle is indeed Snape and Sirius shaking hands in GOF. The riddle goes back to you!

The darkness was double
Sirius Black and Snape, who is black except for his sallow face and his hands.

and ancient the sign
Shaking hands is a very old symbolic gesture in some cultures.

Brief the alliance
They let go of each other as soon as possible.

of what must entwine
It is Dumbledore who as good as orders them to take each other's hands.

Hint 1: Trembling limbs
Shaking hands...

Hint 2: Forced gesture
As Dumbledore tells them to do it.

Nice work, SSS!

Swedish Short-Snout - Sep 21, 2009 3:46 am (#270 of 1343)

Julia, you have it! The answer was indeed the chrystal chandelier in Malfoy Manor.

Darkness triumphed when I fell - It went dark.

but hope was alighted as well - Harry & co were given a chance of escape.

A last defiance, a desperate try - Dobby defies his former masters for the last time...

that did succeed, though the price was high - ...and gets killed, but Harry & co escape.

Who or what am I?
Everyone seemed to be thinking of happenings instead of concrete things, so I added this line.

Hint: Look up to me. - It's hanging from the ceiling.

Congratulations, Julia! Looking forward to your riddle.

Julia H. - Sep 22, 2009 7:41 am (#280 of 1343)
Edited Sep 22, 2009 8:52 am

LOL, Dryleaves, you've got it! That's the perfect answer.

You have explained this short-lived riddle very well, but here is an "official" explanation anyway, just for the record:

A is hiding, holding B
Hogwarts Castle is hidden from Muggles ...

B is round, containing C
the circular office in the castle ...

C is dark, it's hiding D
with the black cabinet in it ...

D is hard, inside is E
the stone Pensieve in the black cabinet ...

E is moving, holding me
the memories are swirling ...

Though in E, I should not be.
and Harry has plunged into them without permission.

Congratulations, Dryleaves! I look forward to your next riddle.

Dryleaves - Sep 24, 2009 11:46 am (#314 of 1343)
Edited Sep 24, 2009 12:48 pm

Mais oui, Julia! The answer is Mollywobbles! Congratulations!

Obviously, this riddle was really far-fetched, so I hardly dare to explain it... But it must be done, so:

Here I come, how I sway
Sway = wobble...

See the lights along my way
When Molly is forced to say it when other people are listening, her cheeks turn bright red (and one might assume that her eyes glow when Mr. Weasley whispers this name in a romantic moment).

Open fire, secret glow
Refers to the fact that she blushes when the name is pronounced in public, and that you can probably see that she likes to be called this by her husband when they are alone.

I'm the one who makes them show
The name is what causes the reaction.

Though I'm quiet, I will tell
If something's wrong or all is well
The name is whispered, but will tell if it is really Molly who is standing there and not a poly-juiced Death Eater.

Hint 1: I make certain things glow, but I myself is not alight.
The name is just a sound, but makes Molly's cheeks turn red.

Hint 2: The fish is unsteady.
There is a species of fish called Molly and (in this case) it wobbles...

Hint 3: I am preferred in private, not in public.
See explanations above.

Hint 4: An appellation.
It's a name (or nickname).

Congratulations, Julia! It's time for you to make the next riddle now!

Julia H. - Oct 7, 2009 12:14 pm (#422 of 1343)
Edited Oct 7, 2009 1:31 pm

A winner at last! ***applauds***

Sorry, Orion and Legolas, the answer is neither Angelina nor Wormtail, but SSS has found the correct answer: It is indeed Neville's Mimbulus Mimbletonia!

Here is the explanation:

Wishes of a happy day
Neville receives the Mimbulus Mimbletonia for his 15th birthday.

Coming from so far away
Neville's says that his Great Uncle Algie has brought the plant from Assyria.

Joker's love and lion's pride
The "joker" is the generous Great Uncle (known to have been responsible for a couple of practical jokes), who still must love Neville (as he gives him a rare present that Neville really likes). The "lion" is, of course, Gryffindor Neville, who is very proud of his Mimbulus Mimbletonia.

Hopes for offspring far and wide.
Neville plans to breed from the Mimbulus Mimbletonia.

I am not a friendly one
The Mimbulus Mimbletonia speaking...

When attacked, I will not run
Well, it is a plant and it has a fantastic defense mechanism.

I can help you find your rest
In OotP, "Mimbulus Mimbletonia" is the password to Gryffindor Tower. The students need its name if they want to get a good night's rest!

But don't make me meet your guest.
Cho (as a "guest") visits Harry in his compartment on the Hogwarts Express, resulting in a very embarrassing experience for Harry, who is at the moment covered with the disgusting defensive liquid of the Mimbulus Mimbletonia.

Still, in good hands, by the end
I become a cuddly friend.
At the end of the OotP-year, Neville is gently stroking his Mimbulus Mimbletonia, while the plant is giving out soft crooning sounds.

Hint: I might be a time traveller.
The plant is allegedly from Assyria, but that's an ancient empire. It is never explained.

Hint 2: I fought Harry Potter and his friends.
Harry, Neville, Luna and Ginny are at the receiving end of the fabulous defense mechanism.

Hint 3: An adjective that can be used to describe me may remind you of a certain Slytherin at night.
The Mimbulus Mimbletonia is grey like Snape's nightshirt.

Hint 4: I was attacked by the one who loved me.
Neville tested the defense mechanism, using the tip of his quill.

Hint 5: Heart? Lung? Kidney? No!
Harry thinks the Mimbulus Mimbletonia looks like a diseased internal organ.

Hint 6: If you are a Gryffindor, remember my name!
It is a password, one that Neville can remember!

Hint 7: One of three, but not the fellow from St. Mungo's and not the one to spend a holiday with.

It is not the healer (i.e. the fellow from St. Mungo's) and not the hag (the "definition" is a reference to Lockhart's book Holidays with Hags) - the hint refers to the joke Ron told and Madam Rosmerta did not laugh at in HBP about the hag, the healer and the Mimbulus Mimbletonia.

Congratulations, SSS! I look forward to your next riddle!

Swedish Short-Snout - Oct 8, 2009 5:18 am (#428 of 1343)

I knew this riddle would be easy, but still... 19 minutes must be a record. You're right, Julia, the answer is Dumbledore's beard.

My first is unable to say - Dumb

My second's being shown the way - led

My third's what you have before you have steel - -ore

plus the sound of an animal that looks like an eel - -s

My final is another word
that looks like it should rhyme with heard - beard

Swedish Short-Snout - Oct 13, 2009 8:10 pm (#445 of 1343)

Verity, you were very close, but the answer is not the blackthorn wand. It's not a centaur or Trelawney, legolas, and it isn't Fred and George either, Orion. Victoire, unfortunately Peeves isn't correct either.

However, we do have a winner. The answer was Bella's wand. Congratulations, Julia! It seems like the riddle baton is a boomerang - throw it away and it comes back to you.

One, two, three, four - It is 12 3/4".

In trickery I've played a part - The Trio used it when they broke into Gringotts.

In battles too, with burning heart - The battle in the Department of Mysteries, for example. "Burning heart" refers to the dragon heartstring.

I may be nutty, but I'm not ashamed - It's made of walnut. Since wands seem to pick up the personality of their masters, I don't think it's ashamed of the things it's done.

I have no master; I will not be tamed - It has a mistress, not a master. Ollivander describes it as unyielding.

Who or what am I?

Julia H. - Oct 20, 2009 8:19 am (#494 of 1343)
Edited Oct 20, 2009 9:30 am

Orion, thanks for the guesses, but the answer is neither Voldemort nor any of his AK's. LOL at no resemblance to the Potter's cat!

But we have a winner today: Congratulations, Victoire! The answer is indeed Padfoot, Sirius's Animagus form. Well done!

Here is the explanation:

I was here and there, then I was nowhere
Depending on what shape Sirius was wearing...

I was born of love,
I.e., the Marauders' friendship toward Lupin.

born to shield and share
Sirius became an Animagus to protect himself against a werewolf bite and to share Lupin's difficult nights.

born of labour long, duty left undone
It took years for Sirius to become an Animagus, and he did not register though in principle he should have.

once upon a time I belonged to one
Padfoot was Sirius's Animagus form.

named for me at birth,
Sirius is the name of the Dog Star, and Black means, of course, 'black'. Padfoot is a black dog. Sirius seems to have been named after his future Animagus form.

named for me then twice
Sirius was called "Padfoot" by his friends even in his human form.

one mistake was made, we both paid the price
Sirius was imprisoned by mistake (it seemed Orion interpreted this clue correctly ) and, in Azkaban, he sometimes sat in the shape of a black dog, i.e., "both" Sirius and Padfoot were locked up.

I was born to share,
Sirius and Padfoot shared the same identity.

to accept a chore
The task of keeping Lupin under control.

I did see some light, darkness even more.
Padfoot mainly roamed at full moon nights, so he must have seen the light of the moon, but it was still night, and it must have been still quite dark, especially in places like the Forbidden Forest. In the later years as well, poor Padfoot saw more darkness than light (assuming that the cell in Azkaban was quite dark).

Hint: I never saw the one that I belonged to.
Padfoot and Sirius never saw each other...

Victoire, the next game is yours! I look forward to your riddle!

Victoire Weasley - Oct 21, 2009 10:16 am (#497 of 1343)

Edit:

Wow, three minutes after my post, that must be a record! Even though you said Dumbledore I'm counting your Dobby guess, Legolas, so the riddle baton is now passed to you.

It was so obvious I don't even think it needs an explanation.

Sorry gang, that wasn't much fun. Victoire shall go iron her hands now and leave the riddle writing to the professionals.

legolas returns - Nov 12, 2009 12:34 pm (#580 of 1343)

Congratulations! The answer is Arianna's portrait

Beginnings and endings.
The start or end of the tunnel into the Room of Requirement

My begining was fixed but who knows how long I will behave like I do.
Will I be the same again? Fitted to the wall. After the war was over there was no need for anyone to be fed or anyone to find the ROR just to sneak out of the castle. I would imagine that she would revert to a normal portrait when the ROR was empty.

Uncertainty over how I left remains.
Nobody knows who struck the fatal blow

Unusual circumstances demanded I disappear at request and re-appear later.
Most portraits go to the next door portrait or the other one of the pair but Arianna went to collect Neville

I am slightly different from the rest of my peers. See above

Hint 1: It wouldn't have needed Trelawney to look at the tea leaves to tell you that there was a skull and a club (perhaps you might look at CH6 POA). What do the skull and club stand for? The skull and club points you to who or what I am. I have nothing to do with POA.club=an attack, Skull=danger in your path

Hint 2: Prone to unexpected outbursts Arianna could not control the magic.

Hint 3: Gone but not allowed to be forgotten. Rita Skeeter made people wonder what was going on.

Hint 4: It is in not an animal.

Hint 5: Definitive proof of my existence was found when in a tight corner. The portrait, Aberforth/Albus spoke to Harry about her. The trio ducked into the Hogs Head after setting the Caterwauling alarm went off.

Hint 6: NOT a Black.

Hint 7: My dirty washing was hung out for people to root through. Rita again.

azi - Nov 17, 2009 11:17 am (#605 of 1343)

Congrats Victoire, the answer is Dawlish!

Outstanding - He got Outstanding in all of his NEWTS.
But Confused - Dirk Cresswell reckons he was Confunded when he escaped from him in DH.
Tough - Dawlish is described as a tough-looking auror.
But Defeated - Twice by DD ('Sneak' incident in OotP, when tracking DD in HBP) and also by Dirk Cresswell in DH.
Able - DD says he thinks he is probably a very able Auror during the 'Sneak' incident.
But out at sea - Last we know, Dawlish is somewhere out at sea towards Azkaban.

Potteraholic - Nov 21, 2009 6:52 am (#628 of 1343)

Riddle Update #7 (and the final)

Thanks for your guess, legolas, but Julia cracked the code! Congratulations, it was indeed 'Daily Prophet'!

My identity consists of a pair.
'Daily Prophet' is 2 words.

The front brings to mind a recurrence.
The front, the 1st of the 2 words, and a recurrence brings to mind 'daily'.

A similarity, of sorts,
The similarity, of sorts, was the pronunciation of the words, (and not the spelling or meaning).

brings up the rear,
The rear, the 2nd of the 2 words.

to an advantage, at times quite excessive.
The definition of 'profit' which sounds like 'prophet'.

What, or who, or where would I be?

Hint 1: The first line refers to the number of words in the answer.
(Maybe this explanation of line 1 will give you a window into how this riddle’s wording works?)

Hint 2: The answer is not a living thing.

Note: In the 1st riddle update, I changed a word and added punctuation that was not in the original post.

Looking forward to your riddle, Julia.

Julia H. - Nov 23, 2009 11:27 pm (#637 of 1343)

Thanks for the guesses, everyone! LOL, I suspected that this one would be a short-lived riddle. The answer is neither the Ministry of Magic nor the flying key that unlocked one of the chambers leading to the Philosopher's Stone (very good guesses both), but SSS has solved the mystery: The answer is indeed the Order of Merlin!

Congratulations, SSS!

The explanation:

The first part of the riddle gives you the words of the answer, the second part adds some extra information.

Take what goes from up to down
"Order", in the sense of 'instruction', given by the commander/boss etc. to subordinates.

What you need to run a town
Another reference to "order" in a different sense - you need order to run a town, a country, a school etc.

Take what gives one owner's right
"Of" is a preposition with a possessive meaning (among others).

Take a wizard of renown. - Merlin.

When you have got all these three. - Order + of + Merlin.

You have one that may be three
The Order of Merlin is one concept, but we know about three different versions: first, second and third class.

It's for black and it's for white
Among the recipients, we find Sirius's grandfather (a member of the Black family) and Albus Dumbledore ("Albus" means 'white').

But it's lost when one gets free.
Snape does not get the Order of Merlin when Sirius escapes.

Well done, SSS! I look forward to your riddle!

Swedish Short-Snout - Nov 27, 2009 12:06 pm (#646 of 1343)

It can't have been very tricky, Julia, since it was solved on the first guess. Well done, mona amon, and congratulations! The answer was indeed the fox killed by Bella.

Red meets green - Red fox, green AK spell.

in a flash of light
Two were seen;
one was black, one white
Dark Bellatrix and pale Narcissa.

Green meets red
in the dark of night
One lies dead
could not flee nor fight.
The fox.

Congratulations, mona! Looking forward to your riddle.

mona amon - Nov 28, 2009 5:12 am (#652 of 1343)

Legolas, the answer is not the Dark Mark, but it's Tonks' Patronus as Julia has already guessed!

Herald of the late one's plight
Tonks sent her patronus to Hogwarts to anounce the arrival of Harry, who was held up on the Hogwarts Express.

Indicator of turmoil.
The patronus has changed because of the emotional upheaval she's going through.

Wasn't it about Padfoot?
Harry thinks that Tonks is blaming herself for Sirius's death and wonders if the patronus (which he doesn't see clearly) represents Padfoot.

No, Moony!
But we find out later that Tonks is in love with Lupin, and that her patronus has changed to represent him.

Well done, Julia! Your turn next.

Julia H. - Dec 4, 2009 11:58 am (#696 of 1343)
Edited Dec 5, 2009 2:27 am

I declare SSS the winner, as her guess is really close. The answer, however, is not the electric fire, but the Dursleys' original, blocked-up fireplace. Congratulations!

Legolas, thanks for the guess. Dudley and Aunt Marge are two of those who have been close to the answer (physically).

Here is the explanation:

Though I lack what I have in my name
A fireplace without fire.

Not my fault: Someone else is to blame.
It must have been either Vernon's or Petunia's idea to block the fireplace and get an electric fire.

When I joined one day those with no lack
When it was connected to the Floo Network, i.e., to fireplaces with fire...

With the burden of that I did crack.
Too many Weasleys cramped in a small place - they had to burst the boarded-up fireplace open to get out.

Whose mistake was it then what transpired?
I.e., what happened to the Dursleys' living room...

No, not mine - all the same, I was fired.
Fire: Pun: 1. Creative use of the word: Mr. Weasley lit a fire in the fireplace to send the boys to the Burrow. 2. Not so creative use of the word: The fireplace was afterwards disconnected from the Floo Network, losing its temporary "job".

Hint: There was a substitute - quite interesting to some.
The electric fire - Mr. Weasley found it interesting, of course.

Hint 2: Of the guesses so far, only four have ever been near me.
Hagrid and Lupin visited the Dursley-house, Harry's wand spent some time there, and Petunia, of course, lived there all the time.

Hint 3: I was "perfectly normal" before.
This hint tried to direct your attention to the Dursleys. It was an ordinary Muggle ("normal") fireplace until Arthur Weasley came along.

SSS, I look forward to your next riddle.

HungarianHorntail11 - Jan 3, 2010 9:20 am (#709 of 1343)
Edited by Potteraholic Jan 3, 2010 1:27 pm

Sorry Legolas, it's not.

You've got it, Orion! The Astronomy Tower.

Looking to be as close as you can
This is the place to see the following.

to see a swan dive of sorts
DD's fall off the tower

to see the loyalty of man?
Snape kept to his word to DD despite how he felt about following through with it; also, DD prevented Draco from becoming a murderer at his expense.

Here, the pinnacle of places
It is one of the highest points and used to view the stars. Also to let the reader know it is a place I'm looking for.

for the subject of choice;
Astronomy Class.

a dwelling where works of discovery and erudition
Discovery of the stars and planets, and learning take place here.

can display the future or expose separation.
The Centaurs looked to the heavens to predict the future and DD made his plea to Severus (sever*us) here.

That was fun and I'm glad it wasn't an impossible quiz, lol.

Take it away, Orion!

Edited to include the answer to the riddle (the Astronomy Tower), for the Riddles Archive.

Orion - Jan 13, 2010 6:59 am (#735 of 1343)
Edited by Potteraholic Apr 11, 2010 1:26 pm

Edited to include information from the following posts (#732, #733, and #734) to provide a full explanation of the riddle's answer.

Post #732, Orion: What??? Moanging Myrtle? No, legolas, that's not the answer! Not enough legs. Ron and spiders, legolas, Ron and spiders!

This person here’s not scared of me
That’s nice
But another one who lives here
Would be very scared indeed

Who or what am I?

Hint 1: I, the Speaker, am actually in movement. The question is: From where to where?

Hint 2: I distantly remember having seen the Ford Anglia. That must have been ages ago, regarding my normal lifespan.

Hint 3: I wasn't in the recent movie. How unfair! But alas, I'm so small.

Post #733, HungarianHorntail11: Are they the spiders out back in the broom shed of the Burrow?

Post #734, Julia H.: HH11, that's a very good guess, I think you've got it! Except that the riddle sounds like the answer may be only one of those spiders. Let's see what Orion says. BTW, I read your previous riddle only after it was solved, but I liked it very much. It was a great riddle.

Post #735, Orion: Yes! Legolas, indeed your answer is correct, but Julia is, as always, correct, too. Which little spider is the speaker? I'm sure you'll see the answer with the help of the first line. I'm not posting the whole riddle again because the answer is, from here on, quite clear.

Post #736, legolas returns: Is it the spider on Dumbledore’s hat?

Post #737, Orion: Yes, legolas. Congratulations! I'm looking forward to your new riddle.

legolas returns - Feb 2, 2010 10:06 am (#765 of 1343)

Congratulations! Orion you are correct-Gemino charm is right .

Charming yet duplicitous
A charm that makes an identical copy

Confusing but maintaing the status quo..
The horcrux Hermione took from Umbridge's neck was duplicated using the Gemino charm. Umbridge would not be able to tell the difference and she would not realise that the original was missing

Watch you don't get overwhelmed! The complications were put right shortly afterwards making the recent past look like the distant past.
In Bella's vault the items had been charmed so that they multiplyed in number and burnt anyone touching them. They almost got overwhelmed by the amount of stuff and the burns. The burns were quickly healed with potion which made them look like injuries that had healed a long time ago.

In extreme circumstances the answer was used when prudence would suggest a different approach.
If you were in the MOM surrounded by advancing Dementors you might just want to grab the chain and then make a quick exit. Hermione duplicated the chain and put the fake one around Umbridge’s neck.

In the Muggle world a similar tool can be used when emailing groups of people.
I was thinking of how you can CC (carbon copy) someone so that they get a copy of the message.

Orion - Feb 5, 2010 3:07 am (#773 of 1343)

Yay! You're correct, legolas, it's the duel between Draco and Harry which never happened because Draco didn't show up. Congratulations!

Some things I did:

- involve four people: - Ron, Harry, and originally Draco and Goyle.

- scare the two of those people who turned up out of their wits, plus another person who didn’t have to be there at all: - Ron and Harry, and Neville who was towed along.

- make one other person very angry: - Hermione who sort of towed herself along.

- lead to an important discovery: - Fluffy and the trapdoor.

- set a whole chain of events in motion: - The final duel with Quirrelmort.

- force another person to answer some uncomfortable questions: - Hagrid.

Not bad for something which never happened at all, is it?

legolas returns - Feb 26, 2010 4:17 pm (#790 of 1343)

Congratulations Orion… the Invisibility Cloak is the correct answer.

This should be quite simple.

Ancient of days
The cloak is very old in comparison to those made of Demiguise. It does not become less effective over time.

Unobtrusive
You can walk past someone and they won't see you.

Multifunctional
You can sneak off to get food like James did, you can go on Adventures at the full moon, wander around the castle, dissaperate under it. The list is endless.

Impenetrable
You can't accio it, nobody can see you under it.

Compact and fun
It can be folded small.
Harry pranked Malfoy with it and he had a few trips to Hogsmede and stuff like that.

Orion - Mar 1, 2010 9:07 am (#798 of 1343)

LOL Verity! You interpreted the old dusty books and the running spy correctly, but mona amon has it. It's indeed the elf-made wine.

What doesn't congeal despite its looks Looks like blood.
What's in between old dusty books Spinner’s End.
What's coveted by wizard cooks I’m sure you can make a rather good coq au vin with it.
Ask legolas! Ask legolas! Knows a thing or two about elf-made wine.

What'd every forumer'd like to try? You'd like to, wouldn't you?
What's owned by our running spy And not by me, shame.
What's watered down if women cry Urgh. I wouldn't drink anything Narcissa had slobbered into.
Ask legolas! Ask legolas!

mona amon - Mar 3, 2010 7:24 am (#806 of 1343)

Yes Legolas, it is the Philosopher's Stone! Over to you!

Despite what you may think
I can't help you think
I can't make you witty or wise
-- Since it's called the Philosopher's Stone, you'd expect something philosophical out of it, I guess.

I bring you fine gifts -- Gold and eternal life

but to handle them I think
you need to be witty and wise.
-- Unlimitted wealth and everlasting life in the hands of a fool wouldn't be a good thing.

Affluence I give
for evermore - Affluence = gold, evermore = eternal life

Do you want that?
Choose wisely! -- Last two lines were inspired by DD's quote about the stone, "Humans tend to choose the things that are worst for them."

Looking forward to your riddle, Legolas!