Hints for DASH 7 Rita Skeeter Puzzle

Page 1: Quick-Quotes Quill

Quick-Quotes Quill – hint 1

The Quick-Quotes Quill writes three-word phrases that are alliterative (each word starts with the same letter) and describe what it hears – but with one twist: one of the words the quill writes is the antonym of its meaning in the original statement.

Quick-Quotes Quill – hint 2

The first letter for each Quick-Quotes Quill phrase (in clue order) is:
L R H A C O M B T S F D Q U P D C G

Page 2: Grid

Grid – hint 1

The left-pointing 4 in the top row of the grid is lying, so it must be shaded. The three squares that are adjacent to that 4 should be marked as unbugged (rule #2). Since the 6 in the top row is now marked as unbugged, it must be true. There is only one way to satisfy it (shading alternate squares starting immediately below the 6).

Caution: Never assume that a number is true; wait until a square is marked as unbugged before trusting its number.

Grid – hint 2

After shading the grid squares to satisfy the 6, the 0 in the left column is now obviously lying, so it should be shaded.

Since the 6 in the top row has bugged squares immediately to its left and below, the adjacent square to its right must be unbugged so the 6 can connect to the other unbugged squares (rule #3).

Grid – hint 3

In the top row of the grid, the 4 to the right of the 6 must be true (see Grid hint 2 if that's not clear). It can only be satisfied in one way.

The 8 in the lower left corner must be false (it's impossible to shade 8 non-adjacent squares), so it should be shaded. The 5 next to it in the bottom row must be true (rule #2). With the shaded square already in the bottom row (from Grid hint 1, satisfying the 6 in the top row), there is only one way to satisfy the 5.

Grid – hint 4

Previous hints have resulted in shading the top and bottom squares in the right-most column of the grid. Since the bottom square is shaded, the 1 above it must be true. The shaded square at the top satisfies the 1, so no other squares above the 1 can be shaded; mark (dot) those squares.

Page 3: Final answer

Final answer – hint 1

Fill the blanks on page 3 with the antonyms written by the Quick-Quotes Quill (page 1), using the given letters to determine where to place each word. Select one letter from each antonym by using certain numbers from the map of bugged locations (page 2).

Final answer – hint 2

The unbugged (unshaded) numbers from the map – in order from left to right, top to bottom – specify which letter to use from each antonym. (A 0 will take no letter from the corresponding word.)

Final answer – hint 3

The first letter for each Quick-Quotes Quill antonym, in final answer order (page 3), is:
C M R H D U F L O S B C P T D G A Q