UNOFFICIAL LEAKYCON CONTEST

Rules:
1. You must be a follower of our blog and supply the name under which you follow us when you submit your answers.
2. You must be attending LeakyCon 2011 for at least one day in order to collect your prize.
3. You must submit your answers to endofanerablog at yahoo dot com by midnight (EST) on June 10th.
4. You must check back for the winner to be announced in a post in this blog. We will not send out an email to the winner. They must respond with an email to the email address above to set up a time to collect their prize at LeakyCon within seven days from the announcement date.
5. The winner will be chosen by the number of correct answers provided. If there is a tie, a winner will be drawn.

6. If the chosen winner has not contacted us after their week is up, we will chose another winner. The second winner will have a week to respond, and another will be chosen and so on until someone claims the prize.

7. You do not need to answer every question in order to submit your answers, but obviously the more you answer, the higher your chances of winning.

Prize: The winner will receive a hand-made pygmy puff as well as an assortment of other surprise HP goodies.

1. What protective item did Neville buy to protect him from being attacked in CoS?
A. A purple crystal
B. A rotting newt tail
C. A green onion
D. All of the above

2. When was Professor McGonagall born?
A. October 14, 1930
B. October 4, 1925
C. September 10, 1928
D. September 4, 1925

3. Which broom was Wood's second choice for Harry in SS?
A. Comet 260

B. Comet 290
C. Cleansweep 5
D. Cleansweep 7

4. Where did Malfoy get hit with the swelling solution in CoS?
A. Eyes
B. Ear
C. Nose
D. Mouth

5. What was the word Dudley had just learned at the beginning of the American version of SS?
A. “No”
B. “Can't”

C. “Won't”
D. “Don't”

6. What color was Hermione's polyjuice potion in CoS?

A. Yellow

B. Green

C. Murky Brown

D. Khaki

7. Which of the following classes were all at nine o'clock in the trio's third year?
A. Ancient Runes, Care of Magical Creatures, and Muggle Studies
B. Arithmancy, Divination, and Muggle Studies
C. Divination, Muggle Studies, and Ancient Runes
D. Care of Magical Creatures, Muggle Studies, and Arithmancy

8. How many types of ingredients are there in polyjuice potion?
A. 10
B. 6
C. 7
D. 8

9. How much does it cost to ride the Knight Bus?
A. 14 sickles
B. 1 galleon
C. 15 sickles
D. 11 sickles

10. When was Buckbeak scheduled to be executed?

A. Sunset on June 9th
B. 7pm on June 10th
C. Sunset on June 6th
D. 7pm on June 8th

11. How many Quidditch World Cup tournaments had been held prior to the one in 1994?
A. 400
B. 440
C. 421
D. 422

12. What other magical creature, besides a Dementor, will a Patronus work against?
A. Lethifolds
B. Fwoopers
C. Red Caps
D. Boggarts

13. In SS, what was the headline on the paper clipping Harry picked up at Hagrid's, while Ron was talking with Hagrid about Charlie's work with dragons?
A. Break-in at Gringotts
B. Gringotts Break-in Latest
C. Gringotts Break-in Update
D. Gringotts Break-in Suspect

14. Which historical figure liked the sensation of the flame freezing charm so much that they allowed themselves to be caught no less than 47 times?
A. Bridghid the Bizarre
B. Sulwyn the Strange
C. Wendelin the Weird
D. Odelia the Odd

15. What did Aunt Petunia serve for lunch the day the Weasleys came to pick up Harry from Privet Drive?
A. Grapefruit
B. Cottage cheese and carrot sticks
C. Cottage cheese and grated celery

D. Yogurt and raisins

16. How old would Frank (the caretaker in GoF) have been on his next birthday?
A. 77
B. 76
C. 75
D. 73

17. When was the portkey the Weasleys, Hermione, and Harry took to the Quidditch World Cup scheduled to arrive?
A. Five past five
B. Seven past five
C. Six past six
D. Five past four

18. Who raised the trophy after winning the World Cup?
A. Troy and Moran
B. Lynch and Connolly
C. Quigley and Moran
D. Troy and Quigley

19. Who was the announcer of the news that Harry was listening to from under the window in the garden?
A. Rod Remington
B. Mary Dorkins
C. Hannah Summers
D. Micheal Leclerk

20. What was the name of the second Gurg of the giants?
A. Golgomath
B. Karkus
C. Bran
D. Morholt

21. How much do primary apparation lessons cost?
A. 10 galleons
B. 12 galleons
C. 15 galleons
D. 8 galleons

22. What society did Hector Dagworth-Granger found?
A. The Most Extraordinary Society of Charms
B. The Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers
C. The Most Extraordinary Society of Seers
D. The Most Extraordinary Society of Herbologists

23. How many of the original Order of the Phoenix members were definitely killed?
A. 12
B. 6
C. 8
D. 10

24. When was Sturgis Podmore arrested for attempted robbery?
A. August 31
B. August 30
C. August 13
D. August 3

25. What color was Ginny wearing at the wedding?
A. Blue
B. Pink
C. Silver
D. Gold

26. Who didn't know if his father was a wizard or not?
A. Lee Jordan
B. Michael Corner
C. Dean Thomas
D. Dennis Bishop

27. What were the names of the Cattermole's three children?
A. Maisie, Ellie, and Alfred
B. Mary, Ellie, and Alfred
C. Mary, Esme, and Arnold
D. Maisie, Ellie, and Arnold

28. What was the name of the junior minister who was acting like a chicken?
A. Alexander Reynolds
B. Ronald Pierce

C. Herbert Chorley
D. Thomas Cole

29. What is Dumbledore's favorite type of jam?

A. Raspberry
B. Strawberry
C. Apricot
D. Blueberry

30. Complete this line from a wizard rock song: “If you take felix felicis, you just may get lucky, but you gotta wait in line ________ ”

31. Name the artist that sings the song from which these lyrics were taken, “You must stop to see the memories take shape. Going down to the graveyard, coming home”.

32. Which character in A Very Potter Musical screamed, “Ah, Ginger”?

33. Which Twilight team is Umbrigde on in A Very Potter Sequel?

34. In Potter Puppet Pals' video “Potions Class”, how does Snape finally get Harry's attention?

35. Name three bands that have members on the channel fiveawesomegirls on youtube.

36. How many children played baby Harry in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone?
A. 4
B. 3
C. 2

D. 1

37. Which cast member broke their wrist during the filming of CoS?
A. Daniel Radcliffe
B. Rupert Grint
C. Emma Watson
D. Christian Coulson

38. How many Ford Anglias were destroyed to create the scene in CoS where Harry and Ron crash into the Whomping Willow?
A. 4
B. 21
C. 20
D. 14

39. Frances de la Tour, who plays Madame Maxime in GoF, was born in which country?
A. England
B. France
C. Scottland
D. Germany

40. Which actress with whom Daniel Radcliffe worked prior to the HP films told Daniel's mother he could be Harry Potter himself?
A. Emilia Fox
B. Maggie Smith
C. Jamie Lee Curtis
D. Catherine McCormack

41. Alan Rickman played an Irish revolutionary and president in which film?
A. The Wind that Shakes the Barley
B. Michael Collins
C. Rebel Heart
D. The Treaty

42. John Hurt, who plays Ollivander, has been nominated for two Oscars. Name one of the films for which he was nominated (a bonus point to anyone who can name both).

43. True or False: Mugglenet once had a patriotic layout.

44. Name three Harry Potter-related books written by people involved in Harry Potter fansites.

45. Name the band that sings the song from which these lyrics were taken, “Storm is comin' and I've gonna be ready. There's a fire in my home. There's a little boy who needs his daddy. Angel flying all alone”.

46. Complete this line of lyrics from a wizard rock song: “He loved his friends; he would help out any of us if we were in need. And he loved your mother with a fire like you wouldn't believe, but I can't quite describe exactly how he felt about you. ____________"

47. The following lyrics were taken from a popular HP song parody on youtube: “But that's ok. You're not afraid to name the name who must not be named, and I knew when you decided, you went to go and find him, you'd be fine”. What was the title of the popular song that loaned its tune for this parody.

48. Name one youtube collab channel that is being used to gear up for LeakyCon 2011.

49. Bonus: How old was Kat when she first picked up a Harry Potter book?

50. Bonus: Name one sign that Kat and Brae were destined to go to LeakyCon.

Kat's Favorite Potter Experiences

We've had our share of amazing experiences related to Harry Potter that we thought we'd share a few of them!

Harry Potter, The Exhibition: The first time I really got out to meet other Potterheads was at the exhibit in Chicago two years ago. We went for my birthday, and, despite some transportation issues that stranded us in Chicago for an extra day, it was amazing!

We waited around with a bunch of children and some other fans that seemed about our age dressed as Gryffindors (pfft). When they finally let us in, I was brimming with excitement, and the man walking behind us kind of made fun of me a little bit. Once we were inside, though, I wasn't the only one freaking out. That's not to say my excitement still didn't draw looks. In particular, I remember frolicking through the Dark Forest portion of the exhibit with all the Dark Arts artifacts. I almost started crying in front of Bellatrix's Azkaban robes and ran back to find Brae who was waiting in line to sit on the chair from Hagrid's hut. Some preteens followed me, laughing that anyone could be that serious about HP. I also was made fun of for being so horrible at quidditch when I tried to score a few goals at one of the interactive parts of the exhibit and for being so weak that I had trouble removing the mandrake from its pot. And then there was the lady in the gift shop who gave me an odd look when I said something about their lack of Slytherin and Dark Arts gifts. She asked why I'd want that, paused, and then added that she thought I must be a Slytherin...as if it was something to be ashamed of! Come to think of it, I was made fun of a lot that weekend...

The only problem I had with the exhibit was that they chose children to be sorted. This is fine, and I understand their reasoning. However, if they were trying to get these kids excited, they should have chosen actual HP fans and not toddlers who had no idea what was going on and couldn't appreciate the experience. One of the kids they chose for the sorting from our tour group was about two or three and when asked what his favorite house was, he answered with “Batman!” Really? Did they think that he'd appreciate being sorted more than the girl in the back hyperventilating on her freakin' birthday?!?!

Here's a video I did right after we got back (I'm not going to lie; it isn't that great, but I thought you guys might want to hear more about the exhibit. My videos now are much better):

The Ollivander's Experience: That problem with the exhibit was rectified at Infinitus last year during Night of a Thousand Wizards when they let us into the Wizarding World of Harry Potter after close. Brae and I grabbed butterbeers and chugged them while we waited in line for the Ollivander's experience because we'd done almost everything else in the park already during the day (incidentally, I would NOT recommend chugging frozen butterbeer as it leads to nausea and a brain freeze). I was not sure where we'd be standing when we got into the shop and, thus, unsure if I'd be picked for the wand ceremony. I am quite pick-able (just look at my picture...I tend to stand out in a crowd). Luck was on our side, and we were let in first for our group and Ollivander pretty much made a beeline for me! I immediately dumped everything I was carrying in Brae's arms and commanded him to take enough pictures to fill up the entire memory card in my camera. I've never felt such an interesting combination of excitement, luck, slight embarrassment (due to my excessive shyness), and the jealousy of others. Needless to say I bought the wand he chose for me to keep as a souvenir so I could retell that story every time someone spotted it!

Harry Potter and the Trip to the Emergency Room: One of the main topics of HP vlogs and blogs is to relive a few memorable experiences from your reading of the books. Most of my first readings of the books were pretty boring to retell (unless you find me stuffing my face with comfort food during some of the more horrible deaths in OotP, HBP, and DH to be super exciting) except for DH.

I ran out with my mother the night it came out and started reading it in the checkout line at Kroger. I don't think I took my nose out of the book until my mom came into my room the next morning to take me to the doctor.

For the rest of this story to make sense, you must understand that whenever I have had a physical ailment, it is always the oddest thing that could possibly happen to a person so that I need to see several doctors and specialists before anyone can figure out what it is. For the weeks leading up to the release of DH, I had seen about five different doctors to figure out why I felt like I had something painfully stuck in my throat, had a few X-rays, and some random tests. The day DH came out, I was scheduled to see a specialist so they could stick a scope up my nose and down my throat to see what was stuck there (a very fun procedure for those of you that haven't had it /sarcasm). We arrived early and sat waiting (me with my nose in DH like a few other people in the waiting room), then they took us back to the procedure room to wait for the doctor (I remember I was mid-chapter at this point and I detest having to stop in the middle of a chapter, especially if there's no change in scenes in sight as a natural stopping place, so I wasn't about to put my book down). When the doctor came, I read through almost the entire procedure (despite the fact that my eyes were tearing because of the pain...that stupid anesthetic spray doesn't do anything really) until they removed the scope. Again, for those that haven't had this procedure, there's an odd sensation when they remove the scope that sometimes prompts people to pass out or become lightheaded. I was apparently in the passing out group. When I came to, my first words were “Who took my book?” My mom said the doctor was slightly worried that I was confused and disoriented (or perhaps too obsessed with HP), but she knew I was back to normal when she heard me say that. The doctor then tried to explain that my lingual tonsils were inflamed and give me a list of instructions on how I'd need to treat this problem, but he made the fatal mistake of returning my book beforehand, so my mom was in charge of taking notes. I mean, really, what is physical health and comfort when compared to HP?

Harry Potter Questionnaire Pt. 2 - Kat

So, I lied. I got inspired and had time before work tonight, so I got another post finished for you guys. So, here's my second post today (Brae's house post and part two of the questionnaire will be up sometime in the near future so I don't leave him too far behind).

13. Who would be your favorite teacher at Hogwarts?

I'd probably like Lupin for obvious reasons, but I'd also probably like McGonagall. I've always liked teachers that pushed me, if I felt I could really live up to their expectations. If I couldn't, I'd probably hate her with a passion that burned with the white hot intensity of a thousand suns. Flitwick always struck me as nice and fun, but his teaching style never seemed like it would suit me because it was too laid back. I might not hate Slughorn if I managed to get into the Slug Club. The only ones I really doubt I'd like are pretty obvious like Umbridge, Lockhart, Binns, Trelawney, etc. as well as Moody (I'd probably freak out in ever class when he yelled about how horrible and dangerous the world was) and Hagrid (who would probably be responsible in some way for my premature death by letting me handle a creature I so wasn't ready for).

14. What lesson would you enjoy the most?

Hm...I know which I would hate, but which I'd enjoy would depend on who was teaching and how skilled I'd actually end up being in that area. I'd HATE Herbology (because I hate being dirty and uncomfortable), Arithmancy (math...ugh!), Care of Magical Creatures (I'd probably spend the entire lesson running from something terrifying), History of Magic (*snore*), Divination (*double snore*), Muggle Studies (we're not that fascinating), and possibly Ancient Runes (though runes and divination do fascinate me in real life, the lessons never seemed particularly thrilling in the books). I'd probably like Charms, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Transfiguration, and Potions.

15. Which position would you want if you played Quidditch?

I don't think I'd play quidditch or like flying much at all (I'm terrified of heights), but if I had to choose, I'd probably be a beater. I can't catch worth a darn, so that pretty much rules out all the other positions. Plus, it seems like a good outlet for aggression.

16. What are your favorite spells (or potions)?

Aguamenti! No, I'm kidding, but there is a hilarious story from RP behind that one (someone tried to drown someone else using this spell after freezing them with Petrificus Totalis. It was the single most hilarious moment in the history of RP). Or how about Feraverto because I often find myself in dire need of a water goblet but with a spare bird or rat lying around...?

For reals, though, I'd say the summoning charm because I'm that lazy (can we say “accio remote”, “accio double stuff”, and/or “accio hottie”?), the muggle repelling charm (because who doesn't want to get rid of those nasty muggles always hanging around?), or the pack and wizard space charms (because I often travel and hate packing and unpacking with a passion, especially when it comes to having to choose what to leave behind due to a limit of space).

17. What would your Patronus be?

It's boring, but it would probably be a cat. I've always had a real connection with cats (hence me letting people call me Kat despite my hatred of most nicknames I've been given through the years). My first real pet (that lasted for more than a few months) was a cat, and we had a very strong connection.

18. What would Amortentia smell like for you?

Sandalwood (my inner hippie/Pagan is coming out), chocolate (yes, I'm a girl), and lavender. Yes, I realize that together those would probably smell atrocious, but I've always wondered if you smell them all at once or separately.

19. What would your boggart be?

I'm a bit of a scaredy-cat to be honest, so I don't know. A giant spider is a real possibility (though I hate to admit I'm like Ron in any way). It would be difficult for it to turn into something to resemble my fear of heights, so that one might be out. Other than that, ghosts, ax murderers, and random other horror movie monsters rank high here.

20. Do you think you're like any of the characters? Which ones?

I really don't think that I am. I like to think I'm like Hermione (without being annoying) and Dumbledore so that I can be intelligent but still approachable, helpful, and loving. McGonagall wouldn't be bad either since I do have a love for rules and tend to push people to be the best they can.

In terms of looks, I'd say I'm more like (movie) Luna, (book) Narcissa, and/or (book) Fleur if only because of my hair and complexion.

21. How did you react when your Hogwarts letter didn't arrive when you turned eleven?

If I'd read the books then, I'd probably have been sad. Since I didn't pick up SS until I had already turned 12, I never had that build up of anticipation and the let-down of actually being a muggle. I do remember being pretty darn sad once I truly fell in love with the books that I couldn't just run off to Hogwarts. I am still holding out hope for Pigfarts, though, and I'm working on the rocket ship dilemma!

22. How do your friends/family react to your HP obsession?

My family is okay with it, for the most part. My dad even likes HP after listening to SS on tape during a fifteen hour car ride one summer (I fell asleep, but he never turned it off) and watching the movies with me (sometimes taking me to the midnight releases to see them). My sister will watch the movies with me and my dad, as will her husband. My brother is a fairly big fan, though he's nowhere near my obsession. He's read all the books, even the little ones like Beedle the Bard and Fantastic Beasts and seen all the movies. He was jealous when we went through the slideshow I made of Infinitus pictures, but that's about where it ends. He'd die laughing if I ever told him I listen to wizard rock, which I'm fairly sure he doesn't know exists. My mother hates the fact that I'm as obsessed as I am and takes every opportunity to try to talk me out of going to conventions, laughs at me when I mention HP, and generally thinks I'm too old to still be as involved in the fandom as I am and like a “children's book”.

For the most part, my friends are cool. Some don't like HP, but they tend to keep that quiet around me. The rest like it, but aren't as into it as Brae and I are (Merlin's beard, I love having a fellow Potterhead for a roommie!)

23. Do you have any inside jokes that relate to HP?

OMG! Yes! Well, I don't know if they'd classify as “inside jokes”, but we get weird looks when we use them, so I'm dubbing them “inside”. Brae and I attempt to incorporate “Anything off the trolley dears” and “Just what you wanted, actually” into just about every conversation. We'll also quote AVPM and AVPS at the drop of a hat. Oh, oh, oh! Brae just reminded me about “Finnigus Shamigan”. One night, we'd been up for hours watching HP and talking when one of us tried to say Seamus Finnigan, but it obviously came out wrong (ironically it might have been when making fun of his unclear speech in HBP when he attempts to say “Don't you dare talk about my mother like that” and it comes out “Donyoudaretalkaboumymodderlikedat”). The rest is history.

Also, freshman year of high school, my friends were just about as obsessed as I was, and we'd wait on my front porch for Dumbledore to either drop off Harry or a Hogwarts letter, developed intricate theories about how my algebra teacher was a werewolf (there were charts involved), and played quidditch in my backyard. Yes, we were 14...and it was awesome! I'm counting these because we sometimes still refer to them.

24. If you were at the store and saw Harry Potter buying whole milk, what would you do?

First, I'd probably be wondering why he was buying whole milk (bleck!). Then, I'd pinch myself. Once I was sure I wasn't dreaming, I'd probably direct him toward the Squirt.

If we're talking about Daniel Radcliffe, I'd probably just go about my business. The only interest I have in him is when he's playing Harry (often poorly).

If we're talking about Darren Criss, I'd absolutely die!

Advice for Your First Con

Before the Conference:

Plan ahead: Start figuring out a budget (realizing that you might not stick to it once you're in the park and face-to-face with that adorable stuffed Fluffy or chosen for the wand ceremony at Ollivanders because you have to buy the wand after that, no matter what they told you at the park, if only so you can wave it in the face of every other HP fan you meet and proclaim yourself the best and biggest fan of them all) and saving money to deal with said budget (and extra for when you go over). Also figure in anything you'll want to buy before Leaky like costumes, accessories, wizard rock (because you have to get in the mood!) and biggies like plane tickets, cab fares, hotel rooms, etc.

Know your limits: If you absolutely cannot stand fangirls and/or nerds, the last place you will want to be is at a HP con. I'm not saying you won't have fun, but you might want to avoid events like Starkid, Potter Puppet Pals, and wizard rock as well as keeping a good distance from any of the Starkid cast for the entire weekend. We all love HP, so just go with it and let the love out! It's your chance to be a total geek and no one will say anything!

Schedule your time (but not too much): Make a list of things you'd really like to do while at LeakyCon (programming, meet-ups, parties, and other events) in order of importance. Look at it for a few moments and realize you will not be able to do everything. Accept this fact and move on. It will not affect how good of a time you will have at the con. Try to avoid scheduling every minute of every day (we don't need to synchronize our watches to meet at The Forbidden Journey at precisely 3:15) so that you can relax, go with the flow, and generally enjoy the planned events of the con as well as the impromptu fun that pops up.

Network: If this is your first (or among your first) con, you are definitely not alone in thinking you won't make any friends or that it will be difficult to do so. Heck, that's the whole reason behind this blog! There are ways to allay these fears. Go to the Leaky Lounge and start talking to people there. Get on Youtube and search for LeakyCon over the past few months (or LeakyCon 2011) to find vloggers who are going (including me!). Find other LeakyCon blogs, read, and comment on them. Jump into video challenges Leaky does on their youtube channel. Join groups devoted to LeakyCon on MyLeaky, Mugglespace, Facebook, and other networking sites. Wherever you see someone discussing the con, try to jump in if it strikes your fancy.

Plan your wardrobe: We take clothing and costuming very seriously here (that's why it's covered so much). Say it with me: Florida is hot and humid. Remember that when packing robes, sweaters, and scarves. It's July, people. It will be sweltering. Think about a battery operated fan (with mister) or something. I'm not saying not to wear your robes, just remember you were warned. Also, if it's that hot outside, think about what that means it's like inside: it's often quite chilly in the hotels and restaurants so wear layers if at all possible. It also tends to rain a bit, so a poncho or umbrella would not be a bad addition.

Be prepared: Yes, I was a Girl Scout and I take this very seriously. Bring things you don't think you'll need (or hope you won't) like medicine for upset stomachs, headaches, and colds. Madam Pomfrey will not be in attendance, and you can't let a little cold ruin your HP fun!

Bring snacks: Now, you don't have to go overboard here and bring enough food to feed the Gryffindor Quidditch Team, but some bags of pretzels and bottles of water are not a bad idea. Food isn't always a priority at the conference, and you might find yourself waiting in a four hour long line with nothing to eat realizing you haven't eaten since breakfast yesterday. Remember, food is the first of the five Principal Exceptions to Gamp's Law of Elemental Transfiguration so if you're not prepared you'll go hungry or be forced to pay the prices at the hotel and park restaurants, which can be quite steep.

Pack early: The earlier you pack, the more time you have to analyze what you're bringing, think of things you might need, take out things you won't, and so on. We found that when packing for a trip like this, folding a duffle bag flat and putting it in a carry-on is a great idea to fit all the stuff you buy in Florida on the way back without having to pay baggage fees both ways (gosh, it would be nice to do the expanding charm from the books). Other than that, we brought two hanging bags for robes and costumes which we checked and a carry-on with a laptop so that we had our wrock library and a place to download and pictures we took every night so we didn't have to buy extra memory cards or worry about not having enough space when that perfect picture of Lauren Fairweather came around. That said, you might still want to pack as light as you can so that you don't have to worry about buying things and how you'll get them home. Don't forget your camera (and extra memory cards), video camera, possibly a laptop, phone and charger, and any other devices to help you function at the con.

Sleep: It might sound dumb, but four days with HP fans can really drain one's energy, especially with late night concerts, events, movies, and parties. So, try not to arrive run-down. This is not your typical vacation, folks!

During the Conference:

Talk to people: Yes, I'm horribly shy and terrible at this, but people are all pretty awesome there for the most part, and you know you have something in common, after all! So, meet friends! Do it!

Stay in touch: As I said when I discussed having a loose schedule, things pop up and you want to be able to do the fun stuff that's made up on the spot. Perhaps there's a surprise jam session by Darren Criss in the common room or something. How do you hear about that? Well, a great way is to get the twitter accounts and phone numbers of those you meet at the con. That way, if they find something fun, you're just a text, call, or tweet away (note: this is about the only time I approve of twitter). At Infinitus, they also had a twitter account for program and room changes that was pretty important. I'm assuming Leaky will have the same thing.

Squeeze in the boring stuff: I know, I know. You're surrounded by HP fans for perhaps the first and last time in your life, the Wizarding World is just a boat ride away, and there's a workshop on fun things all day, but try to fit in enough time to eat a little something every so often, sleep a few hours each night, and stay hydrated (even if your only option is Squirt)! As we said, Florida is hot and you'll probably be sweating a lot with excitement, because of heavy costumes, and/or from playing Quidditch. You can't enjoy the con if you're passed out, too tired, or in the hospital from heat exhaustion. So, listen to your body and don't neglect yourself for the sake of HP. Also, hygiene is another area you shouldn't skip just to go to that panel on slash or something, especially not if you want to meet friends.

Think ahead: So you want to meet Darren Criss, see the Starkid performance, watch Ministry of Magic perform, and see the Potter Puppet Pals show? That's great! So does everyone else. Expect lines...expect long lines...expect long lines the likes of which you haven't seen since the release of Deathly Hallows. If memory serves, the line for A Very Potter Sequel started at 8 or 9am at Infinitus, and the show started at around 5pm. By the time they opened the doors, the line had wrapped itself around the entire conference space...twice! Think about these things ahead of time so you don't arrive fifteen minutes before it starts and expect a front row seat. Though they're long, lines don't have to take up your entire weekend. Hang out, bring snacks, and bond with those around you or take turns with friends to hold your spot so you can get food, go to programming, take bathroom breaks, and so on.

Speak up about your needs: If you have special needs, make sure they are heard. The Infinitus staff was excellent about this! An hour before AVPS I just went up and said I was legally blind and needed a front row seat for both me and my companion, and they said they'd take care of it. Half an hour later, they tracked me down and escorted us to our seats before anyone else was in the room. So, know that they will help you in any way that they can if you just ask.

Broaden your horizons: Let's say that you don't like wizard rock (for some reason). Go to a wizard rock concert while you're at LeakyCon! It's an experience you won't want to trade, believe me! Just watch some video from conferences past to see fans swaying to inspirational music about Dumbeldore, crying while singing along to songs about Remus and Tonks, or screaming their heads off and moshing to songs about Gryffindor. Just GO! You will not regret it, even if you walk out saying the music was mediocre, you'll have to admit the fans were totally awesome! I'd recommend Ministry of Magic if this is what you're after (or perhaps Oliver Boyd and the Remembralls if you want to cry).

Be smart in the park: If you have limited time in the park outside of the LeakyCon event, try to do your shopping during peak hours as well as ride the smaller rides (as in, not The Forbidden Journey). Yes, the lines to get in shops might be long, but the Ollivander's Experience and ride lines are atrocious! You're better off trying for those during the after hours event. You might also consider getting the app from the Leaky Cauldron that lets you know about wait times for rides.

Costumes: If you dress up in a totally awesome way, people will want your picture and possibly your autograph so don't plan to do a whole heck of a lot if you have a kick butt costume! Just enjoy your Lockhart moment and go with it.

After the Conference:

Share your experience: Next year there will probably still be HP cons happening. Your advice, experiences, and reviews might help people make up their minds on whether or not to go. More importantly, there are ways to keep in touch with those who also attended LeakyCon. Last year, Infinitus put up a gallery online where attendees could share their pictures and videos from the event. This was greatly appreciated since there were a few events that I didn't get pictures at or my pictures turned out all blurry. I'm not sure if LeakyCon will do this or not, but I loved it since we didn't get video of my wand choosing with Ollivander (though we got a few good pictures), and someone ended up posting a video they took of it later (which I promptly lost track of online after my squee moment).

Keep in touch: HP might be ending, but the friendships you make at LeakyCon don't have to. Facebook new friends, call them on the felly-tone, and generally stay in touch. (Are you ready for the cheese?) After all, the HP fandom is all about the friendships we find and bringing people together. Remember, “the weapon we have is love.” (I warned you!)

Legend Says We're the Best...

But it ain't just a myth! Swish and Flick says it best in their song Pure-blood.

*gasp* The infamous Pureblood Club is back on Mugglenet Interactive.

Brae and I had been discussing bringing back the group for a while now, but we wanted to make some changes. So, after a few days of brainstorming, altering character backstories, and research, we posted the new thread on MNI last night. So far we don't have a lot of RP interest other than some older members coming back, but if you're interested, feel free to send me an owl and apply for membership. All the information you'll need is in the first post of the thread.

Sadly, this isn't going to be a permanent thing. Given my hectic schedule in real life, I cannot commit to running this group on a long-term basis, otherwise we would have brought back both Pureblood Club and Hydra (and possibly Patronus Club). So, we're just reviving the group until LeakyCon (and perhaps a bit after that until we wrap up the last of the plots we've come up with). So, if you're wanting to gear up for LeakyCon and want to try RPing a darker character, you're welcome to check it out.

Here's the link to the thread: Pureblood Club: Out of the Ashes

Also, if you're interested in finding out a bit more on PC, I'm thinking about adding a few more chapters to my story which can be found here for three galleons a chapter.