We have now completed Day 3 of the Pottermore Magic Quill challenge.
Here are the approximate times that the clues have been posted so far:
Day 1: 9am BST (4am US Eastern, 1am US Pacific)
Day 2: 10am BST (5am US Eastern, 2am US Pacific)
Day 3: 11am BST (6am US Eastern, 3am US Pacific)
As you can see, the clues so far have been posted roughly one hour later than the clue was posted on the previous day. It is not known if this pattern will hold. In fact, we should probably assume that it will not. Pottermore does not want to become too predictable concerning the times of the Quill challenge.
Confirmed: Tomorrow’s challenge will take place between 2.00pm and 6.00pm BST, so it will not fit the previously established pattern.
Here are paraphrases of the clues that have been posted:
Day 1: Find the number of owl breeds listed on the sign of the Eeylops Owl Emporium and multiply by 49. (Book 1: PS/SS)
Day 2: Find the chapter in which McGonnagall calls off the Gryffindor-Hufflepuff Quidditch match and multiply by 42. (Book 2: CoS)
Day 3: Find the score Gryffindor was leading by in the Gryffindor-Slytherin match before Harry catches the Golden Snitch and multiply by 35. (Book 3: PoA)
As I have already noted previously, each day will focus on a different book. Clue 4 will come from Goblet of Fire (GoF). It will be some sort of number. And it will almost certainly be multiplied by 28 (7 books * 4 days/chances remaining).
In addition, the Pottermore website says that the clues become easier starting on Day 4. I think that the only clue thus far that has been remotely challenging is Clue 1. So if it’s going to be getting easier, expect it to get very easy. They are probably making the clues easier because the books get so much longer and more complex starting with GoF.
Here are the challenges involving the Magic Quill:
Once you have solved the clue, multiplied it by the required number, and entered the solution into the address bar of your web browser (after the slash in the following address: http://quill.pottermore.com/ ), you will be redirected to another site to do something with the Magic Quill. The site you will be redirected to has some sort of a relationship with the Harry Potter series. I mention this so that you will not freak out when you suddenly find yourself redirected to some third party website.
Here is what you’ve had to do with the Quill so far:
Day 1: Catch the Magic Quill. (redirected to the Sony website – the creative team behind Pottermore)
Day 2: Find a picture of the Magic Quill. (redirected to the Warner Brothers website – the studio behind the movies)
Day 3: Levitate the Magic Quill. (redirected to The Guardian, UK – on an article concerning Pottermore)
Once you have accomplished this part of the challenge, you will be redirected to registration.
Here is some speculation concerning the Day 4 clue:
Here are some numbers that I would have on hand before the release of the next clue:
Day 4: Goblet of Fire:
- How many students enter the TriWizard Tournament?
- How many schools participate in the TriWizard Tournment?
- How many challenges are there supposed to be in the TriWizard Tournament?
- What age is a student supposed to be in order to participate in the TriWizard Tournament?
- How many Death Eaters arrive at the graveyard?
- How many Death Eaters are missing from the graveyard?
- How many murdered people emerge from Voldemort’s wand when his wand is locked with Harry’s?
Remember, this is all speculation. But basically, I think the numbers you will most likely need to focus on are associated with either: The Quidditch World Cup, The TriWizard Tournament, or Voldemort’s return at the graveyard. And since this clue is supposed to be easier, I’m guessing that it will involve the TriWizard Tournament. And of course, I could be completely wrong about any of this!
Once you have the number required for the clue, you will need to multiply that number by another number. If the pattern holds, that number will be 28.
Here is some information on technical issues:
I’m not Tech Support, and I don’t represent Pottermore, so anything I say here I’m just saying as someone who has been through the process and has an opinion about it. :)
But… there has been a known issue with Yahoo Mail. Here is what Pottermore Insider said earlier about the Yahoo problem:
Q: I registered for early access yesterday with a Yahoo email address and have yet to receive my verification email. What’s happened to my email and will I still be able to verify in time?
A: There is a delay with verification emails going out via Yahoo! Mail and related providers (such as BT Yahoo!), which means that, while emails are being sent out, they are being delivered at a greatly reduced rate.
We are currently talking to Yahoo in order to resolve this problem and will update this blog post with new information as we get it.
More recently, this issue has apparently been resolved. Here’s the latest update:
Q. Is there any update on the Yahoo! Mail issue?
A. This has now been resolved and everyone who registered with a Yahoo! Mail account on Sunday or Monday should now have received their validation email.
If you still don’t want to chance it with Yahoo, you can always set up a non-Yahoo account for your Pottermore verification email. Gmail seems to have been the most reliable service so far.
In addition to the Yahoo issues, some people are finding it impossible to complete the registration process. This may or may not be a technical issue. It’s possible that Pottermore registration has closed down for the day before you finished registering. If that happened, you are not registered and will have to wait until the next Clue is posted on the next day. Sorry. :(
If Pottermore registration is still open, though, you might want to try again – perhaps in another browser. The Pottermore website and the Pottermore Insider will indicate when registration has closed.
Here is what you should know about selling and buying Pottermore accounts
Don’t do it! It’s not worth it!
Pottermore is free, and everybody will be able to register once the Magic Quill contest is over. Even people who complete the Magic Quill contest are not guaranteed immediate entry, just early entry.
None of us knows right now exactly when we will receive our Welcome email. For some of us, it could be on the day after the Magic Quill contest ends. For others of us, it could be 3-7 weeks later. And for some of us, it could be as late as the day before Pottermore opens to the general public.
Pottermore will be open to the general pubic at the beginning of October. That is only two months away. It is not worth spending as much as $800 on eBay for something that you will be able to gain for free in just a couple of months – particularly when none of these Beta test accounts guarantees immediate access.
Here is what Pottermore Insider has to say about buying and selling early access Pottermore accounts:
Q. I have seen Pottermore early access accounts being sold online on places like eBay. Is it okay to buy or sell Pottermore accounts?
A. No. Please do not buy, sell, or transfer Pottermore early access accounts. Obtaining Beta registration for Pottermore with the intent of selling on those registration details for monetary gain not only deprives genuine fans the chance to gain early access, it is also expressly prohibited in The Magical Quill promotion Terms & Conditions.
We have the right to terminate any Pottermore accounts that are sold online.
Access to Pottermore is, and always will be, completely free so please don’t be tempted by people selling Pottermore accounts online. You will only be wasting your money – and there are still more clues and chances to come!
Basically, if you try to sell an account, they are probably going to go after you. If you buy an account, you are being very foolish. And anyway, it’s really not that hard to pass the Magic Quill challenges successfully! So have fun with this. Experience it yourself, and don’t try to buy the experience!
I will be posting an update later today if Pottermore Insider posts a time window for Day 4. Good luck to those who want to give Day 4 a try!
Expecto Patronum! 