Prof. Sky Alton

The wind tosses snow around you as you struggle down towards the edge of the Forbidden Forest where everyone is gathering. Merlin’s pants, it’s cold! At least there’s a huge bonfire crackling away down there and a huge vat of pumpkin soup bubbling away… That should help a little. The Situation It’s nearly the end of term and the teachers have realised that everyone is far too excited to stay in doors. That’s why everyone in the school has been invited to a grand snowball fight out in the grounds. You’d better hurry up, things are about to start! The Location: You can roleplay anywhere in the grounds, though anyone who ventures into the Forbidden Forest will have far worse than snowballs to contend with. Remember to give the guidelines a read before diving in. Have fun!

Approved Sylvia Lavergny - First Year Moni Balamy - First Year Aria Lancaster - First Year Rhosewen La Ni - First Year Elora Agassi - Ravenclaw Visitor Mathilde Renard - First Year Notes @Kylie Antoinette and @Milky Granger I fixed the capitalization in your names and you were also approved as first years.

Wow, where did November go? We're steaming towards the end of term so make sure you know what assignments you still have left to complete and when they need to be done by. Most classes have a final deadline of 15 January but this can vary from class to class, so it's always important to check. Remember to double check what you need to do to pass and earn a quill as well! We're still lagging behind a little in the cup race but don't get downhearted: that can all change very quickly. If we've proved anything over the last few years, it's that if we all pull together, we can do marvellous things. Remember that even if you can only do a little, it all helps us get glory for Gryffindor! For those of you who are creative and/or fancy earning yourself some extra points, you still have just about enough time to complete the department projects for this month. The Art Department are inviting you to decorate a tree with things you’re thankful for, as well as creating a board to help your fellow students keep motivated. In the Library, they’re turning back time and inviting you to tell tales of holiday disasters. Library Deadline: 30th November Art Deadline: 1st December There will be fresh projects for December though so remember to keep an eye out for those! The Howler, the school newspaper, is open for submissions for the second issue! This time the theme is 'All that Glitters', so it's bound to be a dazzling edition. Whether you want to write an article, create a puzzle, report on something from the wizarding world or show off your artwork, there's something for everyone. Remember you can earn up to 60 points! Deadline: 7 January 2022 December is always a fun-filled month around HOL, so I'll be bringing you the news of some special events very soon.

Approved Kayley Emma Potter - First Year Rejected Jocelyn Sun - I'm afraid I couldn't find you in the HOL database.

Hi everyone! It's great to see you all getting stuck into things here at the Three Broomsticks - Madam Rosmerta will be delighted. Just a couple of housekeeping notes: Remember to send us your location choices once you've done your first task. A few people have made a brilliant start and done a task outside the pub but haven't yet set up a group PM with me, Lorainia and Iverian to tell us where they'd like to go next. If you finish the adventure and want to visit locations that you didn't pick on your first run through, feel free to ask us for the passwords. However, we won't be offering rubies for any tasks you complete in locations that weren't on your original journey - it'd just be for fun. Remember though that you can earn additional rubies by revisiting your original locations and completing the other tasks that you didn't do the first time round.

Approved Skylar Peyton - Hufflepuff Visitor

Welcome to Choose Your Own Adventure: The Three Broomsticks! Hogsmeade is buried under a fluffy blanket of snow. Shoppers are flocking to the village on the hunt for the latest deals and sooner or later, they’ll need a comfortable place to sit and a restorative glass of butterbeer. Where better than The Three Broomsticks? This is an incredibly busy time for Hogsmeade’s most popular watering hole and Madam Rosmerta is at her wits end. She’s decided to offer work experience to anyone from Hogwarts willing to give her a hand. Do you think you’ve got what it takes to work at this most beloved and cosy of wizarding venues? Let’s hope so! The activity works like this: You’ll start outside the pub (that topic is in this main forum and I've linked it below). Once you’ve completed a task, you’ll be able to choose between Location A and Location B. Whichever you choose, we’ll send you the password to access that particular subforum. Once you’ve completed a task in the location you chose, you’ll be invited to pick between Locations C and D. You’ll keep making decisions until you’ve played your way to the end, visiting the start, 3 secret Locations and then the Finish. So, you’ll be visiting 5 in all. In each location, you’ll find a little section of the story and some tasks. In each, you’ll be able to pick between 3 tasks. You only need to complete 1 (one) to move to the next location, though you are more than welcome to complete the other 2 for additional rubies. Rubies Each task is worth 10 rubies. It’s possible to earn 30 rubies in every location (3 tasks per location) except the Finish, where there is only one task. That means that if you did all the tasks in every location you visit, you’d be able to earn 130 in total. Even if you only do one task per location, you’ll still earn 50 rubies. To play, you’ll need to set up a group message with myself (Prof. Sky Alton), Iverian Gnash and Lorainia Riverrider all included. This is where you’ll be submitting any puzzle solutions and also where you’ll be making your choices and receiving your passwords. If you need help setting one up, just let us know! If you’re having trouble with a particular task for accessibility reasons, drop us a line and we’ll work with you to find a suitable alternative. We will do our very best to respond to submissions and location choices ASAP but please be patient. If you haven’t heard back from us within 3 days, feel free to give us a gentle poke. Everything is due by 11:59 PM HOL-time on 19 December. Better hurry, Madam Rosmerta is waiting!

If you have any questions about the activity, ask them here and we'll get back to you ASAP. If it's a question about one of the puzzles, please send us a message instead. :)

Hogsmeade looks like a scene from a snow globe as you make your way down the main street. The wind gusts, sending snowflakes dancing. The shopfronts are aglow and each has tantalising piles of products on display. You are tempted to have a really quick peek at Honeyduke’s seasonal specials but your nose is already chilly and you have a job to do. You arrive outside the Three Broomsticks and take a deep breath to try to calm the butterflies in your stomach. You glance at the pub sign and see it’s looking worse for wear. There’s a chalkboard off to one side that seems to have special offers written on it but they all look a little out of date. At least one of them mentions a midsummer barbecue… “There you are,” Madam rosmerta calls from the doorway. She’s wearing a very fetching cape in violet velvet with a fringe of silver tassels that glitters as she throws her arms wide. You start to feel a little underdressed. “Lots to do around here, so we’d best get started.” she peers anxiously at the sign and the chalkboard. “My, this place really could do with a spruce up…” Here are 3 options. You only need to complete 1 (one) of them to move to the next stage of your adventure. If you’d like to do either or both of the others for more rubies though, you are more than welcome. Option 1: Help touch up the Three Broomsticks sign by completing this jigsaw. Post your completed puzzle below for 10 rubies. https://www.jigsawplanet.com/?rc=play&pid=0f4dfaa66e4c Option 2: Did you dress to impress? Using either words, a doll maker or a digital graphic, show us the outfit you chose for your work experience. Alternatively, why not design something fabulous for Madam Rosmerta to wear? If you choose to write about it, make sure your description is at least 80 words long. Post your outfit below for 10 rubies. Option 3: Come up with 5 seasonal events and/or special offers for Madam Rosmerta to advertise on her chalk board. Write a slogan or a brief sentence of explanation for each one so people know what to expect. Remember, this should make people want to step inside! Post them below for 10 rubies. Once you’ve finished at least one task, send us a message (creating a group PM with Prof. Sky Alton, Iverian Gnash and Lorainia Riverrrider all included, if you haven't set one up already) letting us know whether you choose A or B for your next location.

Approved Matilda Lovegood - Ravenclaw Visitor Fae Steros - First Year Notes veve2233 - I changed your display name to @Veve Gold to match your HOL name and you were approved as a Ravenclaw visitor.

The happiest of birthdays to @Patrick James! I hope you've had a ridiculous amount of cake.

Approve Paige Short - First year

Happiest of birthdays to the one and only Lorainia Riverrider. I hope it's a tremendous day. I'll get the cake and red/gold balloons!

I slap Luna to welcome her to The Den

Approved Neave Granger - First Year Kayne Moonblade - First Year

8479

False, I'm not a huge sports person but I enjoy watching them equally. Doesn't like getting up early

Gold

Rejected Rose Weasley - Please use a valid HOL name and try again Notes @Luna Lemongrass I fixed the spacing in your username to match your HOL name and you were approved as a first year.

Well, we did it! We found Godric's island. And leaving aside that little scuffle we had with pirates... and that terrible storm.... and that incident with the Grindylows... we all had a lovely, relaxing trip aboard the good ship Golden Lion. Thank you all for joining us for another Gryfftoberfest adventure! All rubies should be awarded now but if you think anything is missing, please PM one of us so we can look into it for you. Our fishing game netted a huge pot of rubies. Everyone who took at least 10 turns received 185 each! Special congratulations to Harry Walles, Louis Walles, Maxim Trevelyan and Prof. Tarma Amelia Black for completing all 12 main tasks and earning themselves the Gryfftoberfest Award for this year. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm off to try and get the sand out of my robes.... and my shoes.... and my hair. Thank you, everyone!