Jump to content
Gryffindor Common Room

Prof. Maxim Trevelyan

Professors
  • Content Count

    834
  • Rubies

  • Joined

  • Last visited

  • Days Won

    29

Posts posted by Prof. Maxim Trevelyan


  1. The sun blazed overhead, warm and golden, as you follow the group assembling near the sand courts. Enter Mary Sue bouncing toward you and your group with a clipboard in one hand and a whistle in the other. Her neon visor matched her cheerful demeanor. She claps her hands, instantly drawing everyone’s attention.

     

    "Alright, team!" she exclaims, pointing at the volleyball net. "You might think this is just a fun game to pass the time between waves, but oh no, my friends! This is serious business. Beach volleyball has rules, strategy, and the kind of drama that makes Shakespeare look like an amateur."

     

    She sweeps her arm toward the net, where a few locals are already engaged in an intense rally. You turn just in time to see someone dive for a save, sand flying everywhere. 

     

    Mary Sue gives a satisfied nod. She pulls out a volleyball from seemingly nowhere and spins it on one finger like a pro. 

     

    "Now, who’s ready to learn the basics?"

     

    Go to this site and put together the jigsaw puzzle you find there to see where you will fight your own volleyball battle.

     

    Post your jigsaws below (max 600x600 pixels) by 11:59 pm HOL-time on 31st December to earn 10 rubies.


  2. Whether it is on a beach or in the corner of a little sandbox, chances are you have tried your hand at building something out of sand at least once. Maybe it was an ambitious “castle” fit for a rock or a shell, or maybe it was just a suspicious-looking mound with some holes poked in for flair. Let us be honest, though - your masterpiece probably did not tower above your knees. Do not feel bad; it is hard to channel your inner architect when the wind, the tide, and some rogue toddler with a shovel are working against you.

     

    On the beaches of Trope Village, sandcastles do not have to deal with such nonsense. Forget collapsing towers and soggy moats - these sandy palaces are structurally sound miracles that laugh in the face of physics. No drying out, no caving in, and certainly no children stealing your flag. 

    Solve the sandcastle puzzle below to show your sand masterpieces.

     

    KB9BSU2.png

     

    A sandcastle puzzle consists of a square grid with some exterior 'sandcastle' clues. Every square in the grid must be filled with a digit from 1 to 5 so that every row and column contains one of each digit, as in Sudoku. Each digit placed in the grid can be visualized as a sandcastle tower of that many feet. A '5' is a 5 foot tower and so on. Each number outside the grid reveals the number of 'towers' that can be seen from that point, looking along the adjacent row or column. Every tower blocks all towers of a lower height from view, while taller towers are still visible beyond it.

     

    Send your solution to me by 11:59 pm HOL-time on 31st December to earn 10 rubies.


  3. You thought you were safe. You thought you could enjoy your perfectly packed beach picnic in peace, maybe even indulge in some fries, chips, or that glorious sandwich you made with care. But then - WHAM! - a sneaky beak and a pair of beady eyes swoop down, and your lunch is gone. Just like that.

     

    These feathered fiends, the snack-stealing seagulls lurk on every beach, boardwalk, and seaside café, ready to snatch anything you’re not guarding with your life.

     

    How would you guard your food against this mischievous menace? Write your strategy in 80 words or more.


    Post your strategies below by 11:59 pm HOL-time on 31st December to earn 10 rubies.


  4. You sigh dreamily as your faze flits over a sparkling blue ocean with golden sands stretching as far as the eye can see. Seagulls cry overhead. Your bus comes to a stop, and Mary Sue, a bubbly guide in an impeccably stylish sun hat and oversized sunglasses, steps off, waving enthusiastically at the tourists.

     

    "Welcome, darlings, to THE Beach! Oh yes, that Beach. You know the one. The place where every show has at least one story line to get their heroes a break, families bond over volleyball, and every single summer blockbuster finds a reason for a slo-mo walk along the surf."

     

    She barely finishes speaking when you are already out of the bus, holding your beach bag in your hands. You have everything you need for a relaxing time by the sea, dipping your feet into the warm, and not coarse, sand.

     

    Your task is to show all the things you have in your beach bag. You can complete this as a graphic or write about it in at least 100 words. You need to include at least 5 items.

     

    Post your beach items below (max 600x600 pixels if you use a picture) by 11:59 pm HOL-time on 31st December to earn 10 rubies.


  5. Welcome to Trope Village!

    Where Every Vacation Feels Like a Bestseller!

     

    Looking for the ultimate getaway? Say hello to Trope Village, the vacation resort where every day is a storybook adventure. Whether you’re here for a romantic escape, a family adventure, or a solo quest for inner peace (with dramatic sunsets included), Trope Village has it all. 

     

    Stay in our Charming Inns: Every room comes with a mysterious diary in the drawer, an oddly helpful concierge, and a perfect view of the “quirky local festival” happening outside. Expect at least one meet-cute before breakfast!

     

    Explore the Enchanted Woods: Guaranteed 100% full of magical glowing creatures, secret portals, and a mandatory lost-and-found true love story. Don’t forget your lantern as there’s always fog at just the right time.

     

    Participate in the Annual Small-Town Competition: Bake pies, chop wood, or win that slow-dance-off at the community barn! Bonus points if you’re the big-city visitor who “just doesn’t get this small-town charm” … until you do.

     

    Shop on Main Street: Every boutique is run by a lovable eccentric who may, or may not, hold the key to unraveling the town’s ancient mystery. Or maybe they just have amazing handmade candles. Either way, you win.

     

    Visit our Entertainment Spaces: Catch nightly performances that are always spectacular, even when the lead accidentally steps in at the last minute! From karaoke to comedy, you’re guaranteed a spotlight moment. Yes, the mic works even if you dramatically tap it first.

     

    Don’t Miss the Busy Dinner Service at Destiny’s Tavern: Because every good trope village needs a tavern where deals are made, secrets are spilled, and someone’s always strumming a lute in the corner.

     

    Tired of Relaxing? No problem! Get swept into a conspiracy, a scavenger hunt, or a dramatic declaration of love during a thunderstorm. At Trope Village, the plot always thickens.

     

    So, what are you waiting for? Trope Village is calling your name (probably by destiny, prophecy, or at least a very dramatic carrier pigeon). Book your stay today - because your perfect story starts here! 

     

    Villains, misfits, and hopeless romantics especially welcome!

     

    *****

     

    There will be sixteen tasks offered during this activity, with four being published every week.

     

    Each task will be worth 10 rubies and people who complete all tasks will get an extra 20 rubies. That is 180 rubies in total!

     

    Timeline

    December 3rd: Week One posted

    December 10th: Week Two posted

    December 17th: Week Three posted

    December 24th: Week Four posted

    December 31st: everything due

     

    If you have difficulty completing a particular task for accessibility reasons, please reach out and we can discuss an alternative.


  6. After the raffle proceeds were collected and ideas for the community center poured in, it was time to create the floor plan! The mayor invited the most creative minds behind the best ideas and asked them to collaborate, designing the rooms that would soon serve the entire wizarding community.

     

    Help out with the floor plan and solve the slitherlink puzzle below.

     

    gjVS3Gl.png

     

    Instructions: To solve a Slitherlink puzzle you must draw one single loop by joining the dots with horizontal and vertical lines. The loop cannot touch or cross itself at any point. Wherever a number appears in the grid, there must be that many horizontal and vertical line segments adjacent to it (immediately left/right/up/down).

     

    To earn 20 rubies, send your solution to me with the title 'Task 12: Floor Plan' by 11:59 pm HOL-time on October 31st.


  7. Oh no! Strong wind blew across the village square and before the organizers could get the weather under control, it tore down the village hall banner. While the mayor and some others rushed to calm the pandemonium, you decided to make a run for the banner so many of you worked hard on.

     

    Sew the seams together to make the banner whole by solving the provided hashi.

     

    A9541Dj.png

    Click here for a bigger picture.

     

    To earn 20 rubies, send your solution to me with the title 'Task 8: Sewing a Banner' by 11:59 pm HOL-time on October 31st.


  8. And the jury has come back with deliberations! Thank you to all the participants in this year's motto contest! :) It was quite a tough decision and we got many, many wonderful mottoes!

     

    *drumroll*

     

    Third place: Forged in Bravery: 1100 Years of Godric’s Legacy

    Submitted by River Fenwick.

     

    Second place: Bravery is its own reward

    Submitted by Prof. Amy Lupin.

     

    First place and the motto of this year's Gryfftoberfest...

     

    Manely Chivalrous

     

    Congratulations to Prof. Sindor Aloyarc for the winning motto!


  9. The best time of the year is coming!

     

    We call upon all of HOL, students and staff alike, to submit mottos for our annual Gryfftoberfest! This year, our theme is "Celebration at Godric’s Hollow  to mark  the 1,100th anniversary of Godric Gryffindor's birth", so channel your inner bard (or party planner)   and join us for a month of fun.

     

    Gryfftoberfest is an annual celebration where all of the Gryffindor house and our friends come together for a month-long party of butterbeer and craziness! Mottos should represent our theme and Gryffindor as a whole!

     

    There are some rules, of course...

    • Keep your mottos to 15 words or less and entirely HOL appropriate.
    • You must be happy for people to reuse your motto on signatures and other creative submissions.
    • You will earn 5 rubies per Motto for the first 5 you submit (so 25 in all). You can submit more for consideration but you will not earn rubies for them.
    • Third place will win an extra 10 rubies, second place an extra 15 and first place an extra 20 rubies for your gem collection.
    • Winners are decided by the Gryffindor staff.

     

    Send your mottos to me (Prof. Maxim Trevelyan) in a Gryff PM and title it "Motto Contest 2024". Remember to include your name and your house in the message. Please try to send all your mottos in one or two messages so my inbox does not stage a revolt.

     

    The deadline is 11:59 PM HOL time on Friday, September 27th 2024.


  10. Our lovely Fat Lady not only guards the entrance to our common room, but also hosts a forum for all kind of discussions.

     

    Do you want to discuss something you have read or watched lately? Do you have thoughts on anything related to Harry Potter? Maybe you just want to share something silly?

     

    Whatever it is, this is the place to talk about it.

     

    Please make sure you follow HOL and Gryffindor forum rules when posting and reply to threads, thank you!

     


  11. In this post, you will find the current staff of Gryffindor House and what positions they hold. You can also consult our guide down below if you have a matter you need to raise with one of us, but want to make sure you approach the right person!

     

    CHAIN OF COMMAND

     

    The chain of command is as follows.

     

    Student → Junior Prefect → Prefect / Professor → Prefect in Charge (if there is one) → Deputy Head of House → Head of House

     

    What the Different Ranks Mean

    Junior prefects (JPs) are students who have volunteered to help out around the Common Room and may later become full prefects.

     

    Full prefects help run Gryffindor but also have responsibilities to the whole school. The Prefect in Charge (PiC) oversees all the other prefects and junior prefects - we may not always have a PiC depending on the number and seniority of staff.

     

    Professors are teachers who have chosen to be part of Gryffindor. They are not expected to help out around the Common Room but lots choose to do so.

     

    The Deputy Head of House helps the Head of House with everything relating to Gryffindor.

     

    The Head of House oversees everything related to Gryffindor, including appointing staff and making sure things run smoothly.

     

    OUR STAFF

     

    The current head of house (HoH) is @Prof. Sky Alton.

     

    @Prof. Maxim Trevelyan currently serves as Deputy Head of House (DHoH).

     

    Our prefect team currently consists of prefect @Janne Halla and junior prefect @Lorainia Riverrider.

     

     

    We currently have one Gryffindor professor: @Prof. Amy Lupin

     

    WHO TO CONTACT

     

    Junior Prefects and Prefects are your first port of call. They are here to help organise events and keep the house a safe, fun environment. If you are having an issue with someone or something in the house, please raise it with either a Junior Prefect or a Prefect. Even if they do not think they can deal with it, they will pass it on to the right people higher up in the chain of command.

     

    Also, if you have an idea for Gryffindor, please pass that along to a Junior Prefect or a Prefect as they are always looking to work with students to improve the House.

     

    If you feel an issue is particularly serious or you are not comfortable discussing it with a Prefect, please approach the Deputy or the Head of House: they can talk to other authorities in HOL if needed.

     

     

     


  12. What are Rubies?

     

    Rubies are Gryffindor’s internal points: you will earn them for taking part in activities and generally being active around the Den. Not only do they look pretty in your personal miniature hourglass, you will also have the chance to vie for our very shiny termly awards for the highest ruby count.

     

    Both Gryffindors and visitors can earn Rubies through activities. Gryffindors will also have the chance to earn them through actions that support the House, taking part in things in our Gryffindor-only area and similar. Only Gryffindor staff have the power to award Rubies.

     

    The number of Rubies you have earned during the current term will be displayed beneath your name on the Common Room and also on your profile. In addition, you will also be able to check the Ruby standings on the main page where the top earners are displayed. The Ruby count will reset every term: any Rubies you earn over the summer will be added to your total for the next term.

     

    At the end of each term (autumn and spring), the prestigious awards I mentioned earlier will be awarded: The Phoenix Award for the Gryffindor with the highest number of rubies and The Lionheart Award for our top earning visitor. To be in with a chance of scooping one, you will need to have your ear to the ground for Gryffindor goings-on and be as active as possible around the Common Room.

     

    Good luck!


  13. Do you want to combine fun and sports? Look no further than marble runs. An interesting tidbit, the longest marble run was recorded in 2017 and it was 2,858.9 meters long. Though some runs are more racing-oriented, with one in particular sponsored by an extremely popular talk show!

     

    Alas, as the competitors were preparing for the annual marble run, the captain marbles of five teams went missing! 

     

    There are five marbles hidden somewhere around the Den - the Gryffindor forum. Your job is to find them and get them to their teams so the 2024 Marble Run can proceed.

     

    • Marbles are hidden in the areas accessible to all members.
    • Each marble will be accompanied by a quote related to sports so you’ll know it’s the right one.
    • When you find a marble, you need to either submit to us the link (by using the ‘share’ button, you should get the link) OR the title of the thread and who is the author of the post in which the marble is hidden (e.g. Title: Sparkly Shiny Unicorns, author Prof. Sky Alton) OR a combination of both.
    • Do NOT share any locations you found with anyone either via PMs or in public forums. Keep it fair, everyone!

     

    To earn 10 rubies (2 per found marble) and get the chance to choose cards for this task, please send your findings as indicated via the group PM you should have set up with us by 11:59 pm HOL-time on the 18th of August.

     

    The cards for this task are Ten of Diamonds, Ten of Spades, and Seven of Hearts.

     

    Once you’ve completed the task, please pick two (2) and let us know via the Exploding Snap message chain you should already have with us.


  14. First, it was an event meant only for people living in the nearby villages. Now, it attracts people all over the world with winners coming from the United States, New Zealand, Australia, and, most interestingly, Nepal and Japan.

     

    I am talking about cheese rolling, an event first officially recorded in 1826, though it is thought it is at least 600 years old. Until 2013, cheese rolling involved a 9-pound Double Gloucester cheese rolled down the hill with a one-second start before the competitors. 

     

    While the aim of the race is to catch the cheese, the food can reach 70 miles per hour of speed, so the goal is to just be the first to go over the finish line. The winner gets the cheese. 

     

    Solve the cheese and trees puzzle below to locate all the tasty cheese and become the cheese rolling champion!

     

    zdMcWrG.png

    Find all of the cheese.

    Every cheese is attached to exactly one tree, and every tree is attached to exactly one cheese.

    The number of cheese is the same as the number of trees.

    The clues tell you how many cheeses are in that row or column.

    A cheese can only be found horizontally or vertically next to a tree.

    Cheeses are never next to each other, neither vertically, horizontally, or diagonally.

    A tree might be next to two cheeses but is only connected to one.

     

    To earn 10 rubies and the chance to choose cards for this task, please send your solution via the group PM you should already have set up with us by 11:59 pm HOL-time on the 18th of August.

     

    The cards for this task are Six of Diamonds, Ace of Clubs, and Four of Clubs

     

    Once you’ve completed the task, please pick two (2) and let us know via the Exploding Snap message chain you should already have with us. 

×
×
  • Create New...