Potions, Potions, on the wall...
Name: Lizzie
Age: 18
AIM Screename ( if you have one ): silverbirch29
Who referred you here - username and house, if possible: cyanidecoffee, who is a Slytherpuff! *waves*
1. Which of the Harry Potter books have you read? Which did you enjoy most?
I have read all six books many times. I’m currently quite upset because I have just moved to university and carefully packed my Harry Potter books but accidentally left ‘Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix’ at home on my bedside table and am missing it already.
My favourite book is the first one -‘Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone’ (yes, I’m a Brit, excuse my funny English spellings!). I adore the way that Rowling introduces the Wizarding World to Harry. It has always been a favourite daydream of mine to imagine being introduced to a whole new magical world, to start afresh, to be able to perform magic… I think that Rowling’s writing is unsurpassed in the first book - I really felt as if it was me walking for the first time into Diagon Alley and discovering that I was famous at the same time as trying to assimilate this new world.
In my opinion, the best scene is that when Harry looks into the Mirror of Erised. The whole idea of a magical mirror that shows your heart’s desire is fascinating and immediately has the reader wondering what they would see. I always think that it is a question that no one can actually answer until they themselves look into the mirror - people so often deceive themselves into thinking that they want something that really doesn’t mean all that much to them.
2. How do you feel about Voldemort as a character? (Not as a person.)
Voldemort as a character is that odd mix in that he’s brilliantly terrible. He fails, utterly. He is the perfect mix of arrogance, cruelty and evil. He also has the whole poor-orphan history that acts a touch of spice to his story: should we pity him? Who should we blame for how he turned out? He does have a few fatal flaws, but these are necessary in his character and they help to make him a typical villain - he can never win! I always find it intriguing just how many people try to make excuses for him - I don’t see how they do it. Yes, so he was in an orphanage, but does that mean that it’s okay for all orphanage kids to turn into evil maniacs? He was written to be a villain that can be defeated and he fills the part perfectly.
3. Which Harry Potter character can you most relate to? (In the sense of personality, intelligence, character traits, etc.)
I identify with Remus Lupin, not in that I turn into a savage, hairy animal every full moon, but in that I am intelligent and yet sometimes go along with things that I know I shouldn’t, because I don’t like to go against my friends. I’m very grateful for the friends I have and so I tend to do what they say is a good idea, even if it isn’t really. And I don’t even have Remus’ excuse. I am always aware that I’m easily led - I tend to be a follower and no matter how much I try not to be, I am easily swayed by the people that mean most to me.
Lupin seems to have the role of ‘quiet marauder’ although these two words are a contradiction in terms. He is hardworking and dedicated, but has a mischievous streak and knows how to have a good time. I’m like that - people who don’t know me see me as quiet and studious but when my closest friends hear that they laugh, because I’m actually pretty loud and high for a lot of the time.
4. Who is your favorite Harry Potter character? Least favorite?
My favourite characters are the Weasley twins. Yes, I know that they are technically two, but I’m counting them as one. I can’t help but adore their humour, that spark of utter mischief and their overwhelming cheer in the light of danger. They get a lot of abuse in fandom for being ‘cruel’ and I suppose that some of their practical jokes push the boundaries somewhat… but boundaries were made to be stretched, right? When it comes down to it, they’re still young and irrepressible and the consequences of their actions don’t mean as much to them as perhaps they should. That just makes them more likeable to me though - they aren’t perfect and I’m sure they’d admit it. Well, maybe not actually. However, the twins would be good to have around - they’re fun and funny but are also willing to give their all to what they believe in and can be serious when they need to be. I would also state that they are extremely loyal to their family, but their attitude towards Percy does go against this. However, I feel that their loyalty to the rest of the family blinds them to Percy’s problems and goals in life and that is the cause of their admittedly harsh treatment thrown in his direction.
My least favourite characters are the Dursleys, although since you asked for one only I will have to say Vernon Dursley. Family is very important to me and the casual cruelty of Vernon towards his nephew makes me angry. He uses Harry as a method of making himself feel superior - he likes to feel that he gave an ungrateful orphan a good home and he rubs this in Harry’s face as often as possible. Dursley thinks himself morally correct in that he doesn’t beat the boy - he stays his hand even when punishment is so obviously deserved. Vernon obviously uses Harry as proof that his own genes are excellent - The Evans family produced Harry and Dudley and since Dudley is so blatantly the ‘better’ child - healthier and bigger, the Dursley genes must provide great things according to Vernon’s skewed logic. He also takes great pleasure in misguidedly spoiling his own child deliberately in front of Harry just so he can laugh at his unfortunate nephew. I despise Vernon, not just for his appalling treatment of Harry, but also for the ruining of his own son. Dudley has been raised to believe that he is the be-all and end-all of everyone’s life which is now causing problems for him socially and medically. He is also encouraged to become a mindless bully and although not all together due to Vernon, a good part of Dudley’s behaviour can be blamed on his upbringing.
5. What thing, event, or person has had the most impact in your life? (Please don't use yourself because you can't think of someone/something else. Think hard!)
I’m going to go for an event. Two years ago, there was a fire at my house and a large portion of it was destroyed. I was in the house at them time, and my escape and the resulting aftermath has left a large impression on me. The main thing that it taught me is just how little material possessions matter. I lost almost everything in the fire, and although I can’t say that I don’t miss much, I will always be grateful that all my family escaped unharmed. Suddenly all my clothes and books and other material items didn’t matter so much and I think it taught me to be less greedy and to start appreciating what I had. It was a kick up the ass that I certainly needed.
The fire also taught me valuable lessons about my family. I belong to a close-knit family group but living together afterwards was difficult. My mother blamed herself. My grandmother’s way of dealing was to talk about it constantly whereas my Dad’s method was to never mention it at all. I had nightmares, my brother became an insomniac. We dealt, though and that’s all that matters, in the end.
6. What makes a friendship valuable to you?
A true friendship to me is a mix of so many things: loyalty, trust, laughter, equality, understanding, love. I’m generally very open and I trust my friends with a great deal of things about me and so trust is a very important factor for me in a friend. I like friends who know how to have a good time, but who are also there for me when I need a shoulder to cry on. I’m loyal to my friends and I expect loyalty back. True friends would never give up on a friendship, even if I pushed them away for some misguided reason, and they would be understanding and accepting of anything I tell them. I like friends who will argue with me and tease me but you know they’ll stick by you in times of crisis. My friends are extremely important to me and my little-seen temper comes into play much more often on their behalf than on mine.
7. If you had a hero (real or literary) who would it be? (Please keep in mind that we're asking IF you had one, and again please don't use yourself because you can't think of someone else. Be creative!)
Faramir from Tolkein’s ‘The Lord of the Rings’ - but book!Faramir not film!Faramir. I love Faramir because he’s a younger sibling (like me) who has an older brother who is often seen as his superior. Despite this, Faramir shows the world that he has more strength than Boromir where it counts and goes on to become a hero and make true friends. He proves himself without seeking glory and yet he has another aspect to his character that I see as more important: he befriends a hobbit. These small creatures must seem like children to Faramir but he takes the trouble to get to know Pippin and I admire him for that. He is patient and kind and good and yet we know that he struggles to conquer himself - it’s not easy for him to do the right thing but he manages it.
8. What are your personal aspirations for your future?
Well, I’m currently a student reading Veterinary Science, so obviously I want to graduate in that. Other than that, I’m just a mass of crazed dreams. I want to backpack around the border of England for no particular reason. I want to visit every country in Europe and I would love to go to the USA at some point. There are so many things that I want to do, but it basically comes down to the fact that I want to have fun, I want to live life as much as I can, do all the things that if I don’t do I’ll regret later in life. I have an imagination and I want to use it. My head is full of ambitions and as long as I can tick a few of the list I’ll be happy.
9. What are your most prominent personality traits, good or bad? Which one do you feel best defines who you are as a person?
I always hate answering this question because I get paranoid that I sound as if I am blowing my own trumpet, but I will try to be honest…
Indecisive - I’m a hopeless case. Once I have a chosen path I’ll stick to it, no matter what, but reaching that decision is the hardest part. Just to illustrate this, I’ll confide that it took me a long, long time to decide which personality traits were my most prominent.
Loyal - my friends and family are extremely important to me and I get very defensive if anyone says a word against them. I may grumble about my family and tease my friends, but I love them so I’m allowed to - anyone with malicious intent can go through me first before reaching them.
Opinionated - I like a good debate over things. I have a bad habit of bluffing my way through arguments even if I don’t have a clue what I’m talking about just because I find it interesting to compare other people’s views and see how they present their cases. I have many opinions on many different matters but I’m not so stubborn that I can never admit defeat - I study the art of graciously conceding arguments because I’m often wrong about things.
Inquisitive - I like asking questions, I like knowing things. I’m also untactful and the two can make for a dangerous combination, but I do know how to hold my tongue so there’s hope for me yet.
The quality that best defines me is ‘fun’ I think. Now, I’m not using that to say that I am fun, but that I like fun. I don’t take many things particularly seriously and I don’t take offense easily. I prefer to bowl through life in my own happy way - however I would like to think that I can put aside the partying and jollifications to be there for my friends when they need me to.
10. What house combination do you feel you're most like? Least like? (This is not pushing. It shows whether or not you are self-aware and may not have an influence on the voting process.)
I love sorting other people, but I’m absolutely hopeless at analyzing myself. Oh well, here goes…
Well, I’ve been sorted Hufflepuff in other communities, and I can see that part of myself relatively clearly. I’m loyal and accepting, but I’m also tough and too stubborn for my own good. I think my most accurate house combination is probably Ravenpuff - I always think of that house as having a kind of practical intelligence which I do happen to possess. My family and friends are important to me but I’m also inquisitive and like to look at things from all angles.
I stated my secondary house as Ravenclaw, but I admit I mostly arrived at that conclusion by the process of elimination. Although I’m passionate about many things, I’m not overly brave and I always thought that that probably ruled out Gryffindor for me. As for Slytherin, well, I don’t really do subtle and I don’t have their particular brand of intelligence, much to my disgust. I’d love to develop my Slyth and Gryff sides because I do feel rather lacking in those areas.
11. Why should we not squib you?
You shouldn’t squib me because if you do, I’ll cry. I feel that I would make a good addition to this community, but it is of course up to you to decide my fate. I will respect your decision.