30 Days of HP Meme - Day 22
01. Discuss how you got into Harry Potter
02. Your favorite book
03. What house would you be in?
04. Your favorite movie
05. Wizard Rock: discuss
06. Your favorite character(s)
07. Song that reminds you of HP
08. Your favorite ship(s)
09. Fanfiction: discuss
10. Favorite book moment(s)
11. Character you're crushing on
12. Favorite movie scene
13. Least favorite character(s)
14. Moments in the books/movies that made you cry
15. Whatever tickles your fancy
16. How have you participated in the fandom over the years?
17. Your favorite celebs from the movies or fandom
18. If you could change one thing about canon, what would it be?
19. A favorite fanart
20. A favorite quote
21. How has the HP fandom connected you to other fandoms, interests, or people?
22. Your favorite villain
23. Share some HP icons
24. Rant about Steve Kloves something
25. Song that reminds you of HP
26. What aspect of the books has been best translated to film?
27. What aspect of the books has been most poorly translated to film?
28. Hogwarts subject you would most like to take
29. Favorite location
30. Whatever tickles your fancy
22. Your favorite villain
I'm picking Snape for this, though I will quibble a bit with the characterization of him as a *stereotypical* villain - I think he was far too complicated to slap such a simple label on him. He was mean to everyone in general, nasty to Harry to an extent that bordered on the ridiculous, abusive to the only true friend he ever had, a miserable man, and a part of him really did follow Voldemort's beliefs (when he was young, if not into adulthood). On the other hand, he also *did* spend most of his life risking said life as a double-agent, he took on Draco's task from Voldy even knowing what that would likely mean for himself, and he showed mercy to Harry when Harry chased him down after Dumbledore's death (and removed the DE's from the school before they could do even more harm).
Now, there was a lot he did that was really repugnant, and I'm not sure that his actions in Dumbledore's service ever truly redeemed his mistakes and past bad actions. I also think that his supposed "love" for Lily was more than a bit unhealthy (and is *not* a factor in any redemption he might have achieved). But he is my favorite villain because of the way that JKR crafted him as a complicated, agonized man who was the catalyst for so many other events in the story. It's the dramatic function he serves in Harry's tale overall that makes me choose him for this.