Year One: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone

Hello, all! I'm creating this in retrospect to preserve memories as well as inform new invitees on the ins and outs of our HP parties. If you were a "first year" last July, then you experienced my first go at this and will be prepared to call me on all my slacking this year ;) I set the bar (and I don't just mean last year's adult potions) with last year's party and hope I can keep up the magic with this year's celebration.

Year One: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone Party
Invitation: Digital invites straight from Hogwarts including tickets for the Hogwarts express.

Costumes: Attendees for the first year had the opportunity to dress as anyone from the first book/film.

Those are some good lookin' Potterheads ;)

Our guest list first year included:

Albus Dumbledore, Prof. McGonagall, Prof. Quirrell (with Lord Voldemort hiding under his turbine), Petunia Dursley, The Grey Lady (Ravenclaw House ghost), the Sorting Hat, and several students, some of which were sorted into Hogwarts Houses.

"Not Slytherin. Not Slytherin..."

Even Petunia lived out her dream and was sorted... into Ravenclaw :)

A trip to Diagon Alley and Ollivander's Wand shop was enjoyed as guests made their own custom wands!

We feasted together in the Great Hall illuminated by bewitched candles.

Then off to classes to learn Herbology, Transfiguration, and Charms... 

while adults able to cross the Age Line hit Potions ;)

Wingardium Leviosa

Swish and flick!

Until we were warned by Prof. Quirrell of a TROLL in the Dungeons!

Quirrell seems suspiciously happy with himself...

Outside Prof. McGonagall led an attack on the troll giving everyone a chance to use their new spell against the brute.

That is one STURDY paper mache troll head!

Looks as though the Sword of Gryffindor has presented itself to Prof. McGonagall, a worthy Gryffindor in time of need.

THAT did it!

You'd think his head would've been filled with rocks!

Next we enjoyed a friendly match of night Quidditch.

Voldemort coming out from under that turbine for some fresh air...donning his Slytherin tie ;)

Explaining the Quidditch rules

She's got the Quaffle!

Beater off his broom.

That beater has fallen from his broom...again!

Don't worry. Everyone left with a golden snitch ;)

We finished the evening with a visit to the Mirror of Erised which bears the inscription "Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi" or " I show not your face but your heart's desire." We took turns glancing into the mirror and shared what we each saw.

McGonagall is so serious :)

By this point McGonagall was seeing herself sitting down, slipping her shoes off, and enjoying a stiff potion! ;)

The party was a lot of fun even though several families had to bail on us. I hope that we can continue to have fun and grow our party and participant list every year! :) Let me know below if you have any questions or comments. I'll be sure to add a post of some costume, decorations, and recipes for anyone interested.




Disclaimer: I do not own any rights to Harry Potter and am merely an obsessed fan who takes pleasure in sharing my love of the stories and characters with others :)