Seeking my home away from home....

[sunflower_pixie]

• What sort of profession in the wizarding world would you choose and why? I would be a comparative literature and/or a muggle cultural studies professor since those are the kinds of courses I am normally interested in. I would also write poetry, most likely about muggles and their interesting ways which would allow me a more creative outlet, something essential to me, a balance between the creative and the intellectual.
  
  
• If you could teach one class at Hogwarts, what would it be and why? As above, I would most likely teach a comparative literature or muggle cultural studies. I find that reading a different nation's/culture's literature gives a way of seeing into the thought processes and emotional language of a nation/culture that you would not be able to get from a guide book or a sightseeing tour. I would also be interested in muggle culture and how that impacts (if indeed it does) the wizarding world. I would want to explore the entertainment world of the muggles in order to better understand them.
  
  
• This year, The TriWizard Tournament is being held once again and you're of age. Do you put your name in the Goblet? Why or why not? I would, and then I would probably regret it, and then I probably wouldn't be picked to compete. I tend to go after things I want without thinking about the consequences sometimes and then worry that I've been too rash. Ultimately, though, I doubt that I have what it takes to win the TriWizard Tournament.
  
  
• If you could choose your animagus form, what would it be and why? I'd be a dog, as they tend to be my favorite animals. My chinese astrology sign is dog and I really do tend to exemplify typical dog traits such as: loyalty, sensitivity and empathy with others, takes personal offense at injustice, keeps promises, stays calm in a crisis, honest, intelligent, straightforward, and responsible. On the downside, we dogs tend to be "difficult, upset and shocked more often than the other signs. Dog types do not tolerate weakness. They will work to push the weakness or the whole person with weakness out of their lives (the pack) if the behavior continues. They can sometimes be worriers and overly critical" (from wikipedia.com).
  
  
• What HP character do you identify with most and why? Harrmione? Hermionarry? Definitely a combination between Harry and Hermione. I was given up for adoption when I was a baby and raised by people who were, to say the least, not exactly the best parents in the world. They were horribly abusive. When I was 26, I reached out and found my birthmother. I actually am living with her now, 10 years later. In this way, I identify all too well with Harry. I was raised by people incapable of loving me and found (in my birthmother) my Hogwarts. Like Hermione, I have always been the person who enjoys studying and school, the person who is considered nerdy and may not be popular, but the person you know you can come to when you need help on a paper or a test.
  
  
• What would you see if you looked into the Mirror of Erised? Probably me looking happy and healthy. I have always struggled with depression and I'm always terrified when I am feeling well that I will slip back into that illness, so I imagine that I would feel some great sense of relief as a result of looking into the mirror.
  
  
• If you won a million dollars, how would you spend it? Well, first I would buy a house and a car for my birthmother, I would put money in trust for my half-brother, and for myself I would buy a big chunk of land, build a house for myself and about ten smaller cottages. Since I was 18 (18 years ago, now) I've dreamed of having an artist's/writer's colony for women who have been abused in any way; a place where they can come and create and know that they are safe. I'd use the money to start the colony and then work on getting grants in order to keep the place running.
  
  
• What was your ideal job as a kid? Has that changed? What is your ideal job now? I think that the first job I wanted was a veterinarian, but that was dashed when I realized that I was very allergic to cats. Since then I've wanted to be a truck driver, a lawyer, a computer hacker, a best-selling author. Now my ideal job would be teaching at a university, writing and publishing poetry, and running an artist's/writer's colony for women who have been abused.
  
  
• If you were able to invent one spell, potion, or charm, what would it do, what would you use it for or how would you use it, and what would you call it? My spell would be called Festina Lente, from the Latin for "Hurry, slowly" and it would allow me to have the time to process information in a nanosecond. This would be helpful not only in a personal way, I'd actually have time to consider something completely in a split second, and come to an informed decision for what is in my best interest (see my answer about the TriWizard tournament for how that would help), but I'd also be able to use my ability to help others.
  
  
• If you were to face a boggart, what would it turn into? And what does it turn into when you throw the counter-spell, Riddikulus? A gruesome combination of my mother and father when they were abusing me. They/It would turn into a smaller version of themselves, a la the "Fear, Itself" episode of Buffy, illustrating that while they may have seem all powerful and gigantic when I was small, that I am an adult now, in charge of my life, and no longer living in fear of them.
  
  
• What do you look for in a friend? Someone who has enough in common with me that we always have something to talk about or do together that is interesting to both of us, yet who is different enough that they have more to offer in the relationship than things I have already experienced (and I would hope that this would go both ways), and someone who is loyal, caring, and patient with me.
  
  
• What trait most annoys you about other people? Hands down, intolerance. I don't understand how anyone can hate anyone because of their race, their sexuality, their gender, their nationality, etc. My adoptive aunt and uncle called me a bleeding heart liberal when I was six, and while I had no idea what that meant at that age, I recognized the fear and hate behind their statement. I wear the bleeding heart liberal tag proudly. I care deeply about people and I don't like to see someone hurt because of who they are, and if that is a bad thing, I don't want to be good.
  
  
• What do you think are your top five abilities or qualities?
  Empathy: I can easily put myself in someone else's place and understand how they might be feeling.
  
  Intelligence: I'm both book and street smart; while I adore getting lost in a book or some sort of theory, I am not naive, and I know how to take care of myself and others.
  
  Loyalty: In me, unless you do something that hurts me deeply, you have a friend for life. I may not live where you live, and we may not talk all that often, but you will always know that you can call me at 3 in the morning if you need to talk.
  
  Honesty: If you ask for my opinion, I will give it to you, while still reminding you that it is my opinion, and not necessarily right for you.
  
  Non-Judgmental: I don't tend to judge people's actions because I know that I don't want to be judged harshly either.
  
  
• What do you think are your top five weaknesses or worst qualities? Procrastination: Oh, I'm horrible. I am a pathological procrastinator and I wish that I could fix that.
  
  Depression: Definitely a weakness, not in the "I don't realize it is a medical condition sort of way," because I do, but I've lost so much time with friends and myself to this disease, and I realize that I will never be able to get back what I've missed out on while I've been out of it. There is a self-involvement that comes with depression that frustrates me. I hate feeling like all of my energy is consumed by my illness.
  
  Demanding/Perfectionist: I expect a lot of myself, too much, really, and sometimes (and especially when coupled with procrastination) I become paralyzed and unable to move forward. This has caused me a lot of problems in the past.
  
  Fear: I have a problem being scared of trying things that I am worried I will not do well. I'm terrified of disappointing the people I love.
  
  Critical: While I am, for the most part, non-judgmental when it comes to other people, I'm overly critical of myself.
  
  
• Define in your own words the following key traits:
  
  • Courage: Doing something that is counterintuitive to your safety, whether physical or emotional, such as running into a burning building to save someone else or giving up a child for adoption you know you cannot raise.
    
  • Loyalty: Always being there, no matter what or when, putting the other person before you if necessary.
    
  • Intelligence: I believe in the theory of multiple intelligences - that everyone has different strengths and weaknesses; and I think that intelligence is often linked to a person's passion.
    
  • Ambition: A double-edged sword. While an admirable trait, unchecked it could become dangerous. Ambition is best when it is used in the service of others.
    
  
  
• Name: Staci (sunflower_pixie)
  
• Age: 36
  
• Where did you find out about us? A few months ago I was going through Harry Potter communities looking for icons and stumbled upon y'all.