1. How do I get to the Hogwarts Grounds?
If you are too young to Apparate to nearby Hogsmeade, and you have no enchanted Ford Anglia at your disposal, I guess you’ll have to resort to some sort of Muggle transportation, which for most of you means an non-magical automobile of some sort. There is no map included with your letter because we all know from “Hogwarts, A History” that Hogwarts is Unplottable - however, MY address from the small scrap of parchment enclosed (the other side of the website information) in your Owl Post CAN be plotted easily by the map engine of your choice (Google Maps, MapQuest.com, etc).
2. Where should I park my muggle vehicle?
The street is fine, but do try and car-pool with others if possible.
3. Darn! I’d really like to come, but I can’t because…
Fear not! If you can’t attend, Professor Trelawney has foreseen with her inner eye a future celebration in November, just in time for a certain movie to come out in theaters.
4. Hooray, I can attend! But I have some other Potter fans I know who would love to come…?
Sure!
Bring them along…if you could please let me know how many people you are bringing when you RSVP, I would appreciate it…gotta have enough butterbeer & pumpkin pasties to go around, you know! Please keep in mind, there are a lot of people coming already, and I (and Sean) would really love it if you would be considerate of who and how many you intend to bring. There may also be kids and our families there, so please consider that. If you have any hesitations, this might not be the party for them. You can always ask.
(Translation: Please don’t bring 10 of your rowdy friends we’ve never met to this party)
5. Are children welcome?
Yes, children are welcome! You are of course welcome to bring toys of your own as well if you like. There may be some drinking at this party as well, so if that is a problem, you may want to consider other options. My only other comment is that since I do not have children consistently at my house, even though I will try my best to make everything as safe as possible, my house is not childproof, so please take responsibility for watching your own children inside as well as outside.
6. What if I’m coming from far away?
My guest room has already been claimed by the longest-distance traveler, so I can’t offer the rest of you privacy, but I do have two large couches, a yard with room for tents, an extra tent, and plenty of floor space with extra pillows and blankets for anyone who would like to stay the night.
7. Do I have to come in costume?
As Professor McGonagall wrote in her letter to everyone, it will be safe to wear wizarding attire BUT dressing in the Muggle manner is not a problem, since she is aware many guests will need to arrive via Muggle transportation and would not want to arouse suspicion.
(Translation: No, you do not have to come in costume.)
8. Will there be a costume contest?
Yes, the categories are Most Authentic, Most Creative, and Best Costume, so start planning your costumes now! I have already heard of some GREAT ideas, so the competition should be fun to see!
I know that Sean and I will be in costume, Sean as a certain International Quidditch Player and myself as his love interest from book four.
9. Will we be Sorted when we arrive?
Yes, the Sorting Hat will sort you into one of the four Hogwarts Houses when you arrive. We will try to keep characters in their established Houses wherever possible, however we might have to adjust slightly to be sure we have even teams for Quidditch.
10. Did you say “Quidditch?” Will we actually be playing Quidditch?
Yes! We will have a Quidditch pitch (a-hem beer pong table) set up in my garage, but without broomsticks because the International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy of 1692 strictly enforces the 1419 Wizard Council decree that “Quidditch should not be played anywhere near any place where there is the slightest chance that a Muggle might be watching or we’ll see how well you can play whilst chained to a dungeon wall.” Complete adjusted rules will be posted alongside our Quidditch pitch.
11. Should I bring any food or drink**?
Yes please! As you saw on the flyer enclosed in your owl post letter, Hogwarts is hosting a new contest sponsored by The Daily Prophet, Witch Weekly and The Quibbler for the Hogwarts Kitchen Academy Award for Best Edible Creation (unofficially called the “Dobby”). For you aspiring house-elves, prove your mettle by bringing your best edible efforts inspired by the food or candy available at Hogwarts! Perhaps a new treacle tart recipe might inspire Headmaster Dumbledore to hire you at Hogwarts, a new twist on Cockroach Clusters could lead to a career at Honeydukes, or a Canary Cream could lead to a position at the newly-opened Weasley’s Wizarding Wheezes store in Diagon Alley! Be as creative as you like! Just please bring enough for all your fellow judges to have enough of a sampling to be able to give you a proper vote!
Here are links to help in your inspiration:
Food & Drink - http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizworld/food.html
Candy - http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizworld/candy.html
The Hogwarts Kitchens will still be providing the standards like butterbeer, lemonade, assorted Honeydukes candies and other Hogwarts-style food, so I don’t think you’ll leave either hungry or thirsty if you just bring yourself and your appetite.
**Since neither Sean nor I really drink, we will be providing non-alcoholic beverages. However, we have two refrigerators and a couple coolers, so feel free to bring your own alcoholic beverages, and someone to side-apparate you home if need-be.
***After further inspection, I found a couple spelling errors on the flyer. I would like to claim that they were intentional by death eaters infiltrating the Daily Prophet, but honestly, it was just the tiny print and me not triple checking before having them printed. lesson learned.
12. What would Erinn like for her birthday?
Due to the fantastic fun that will be had at this party, I request no gifts, please. The presence of friends in celebration is gift enough!
13. That Marauder’s Map..!!??
After some internet research, folding ideas, and 2 rainy days at the cabin, I finished drawing the original map in brown colored pencil. It was then the combination of time, the talents of any good witch, and the use of technology that gave you the one in your invitation. Now that is MAGIC!
(Did anyone find RIST in one of the walls, or Shiloh sniffing around the grounds…hehe)
Any other questions just ask!
