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[mouseydork]

• What sort of profession in the wizarding world would you choose and why?
  I can see myself being the same in the wizarding world as I am in the muggle one. I'd want to be a writer but I'd either lack the drive, the story, or the respect for the publication. You couldn't pay me enough to write for The Daily Prophet or The Quibbler. I couldn't write something I didn't believe and I couldn't have my writing surrounded by that in which I didn't believe. I'd like to think I'd be the one that would come through and put out some underground publication that strove to tell the truth but I'm not into actually running something. But if it should come to pass, I'd be all for joining the staff. Failing that, I'd be a teacher. I don't think I'd want to leave Hogwarts after having spent seven years of my life there because I even feel that way about my own high school. And, honestly, I think it's something I'd be naturally good at - I enjoy teaching and I think that could work for me. I don't think it would ever be something I'd strive for but more something that would hit me at the last moment and I'd know it was right. That's sort of what I've been going through lately - ignoring my future as a teacher but knowing, deep down, that's where I'm supposed to be.
  
  
• If you could teach one class at Hogwarts, what would it be and why?
  Having had the teachers that I've actually had in the muggle world, I'd gravitate instantly toward History of Magic. But my interest in teaching any subject has always come from the teacher and, frankly, the Hogwarts professor would probably make me detest everything about it. Due to my undying love for and respect of McGonagall, my wizarding passion would probably go toward Transfigurations. I'd hope to be an adequate replacement - I'd know I could never live up to my hero, but I'd like to think that I could be half of the strong, tough but fair, level-headed teacher that she is.
  
  
• 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?
  No, no, no, no, no. Also, no. I'm not the kind of person who's athletically inclined and I think endurance and knowing your way around a broomstick would be crucial to the Tournament. I don't think I'd be able to compete in something where a good portion of the people in attendance were rooting for me to fail - I'd put too much pressure on myself and inevitably find myself paralyzed by my nerves. I don't perform well in front of others unless I have a script and some relatively specific blocking. I'd be impressed with those that could compete and maybe even a little jealous but, ultimately, I'd know I'm more fit to cheer than to compete.
  
  
• If you could choose your animagus form, what would it be and why?
  I'm a cat person, I can not tell a lie. They're quiet and I have this incredible respect for the way they move. I think that comes from my past as a dancer (even though I do have a hatred for Cats that can't quite be matched) - they're graceful, sure-footed, and they can do things with their shoulders that even some of the best Fosse dancers can only imagine. While I don't think it would be the most useful of forms, it would have advantages such as the sneaky way they can move around. And I love the way they're perceived - it's not all positive but I'd say they do give off an air of intelligence. Granted, my cat can't sleep on the couch for five minutes without falling off and she chases spiders that aren't really there but she at least looks the part.
  
  
• What HP character do you identify with most and why?
  This is hard to answer without feeling like I'm swaying it a certain way. If I'm completely honest with myself, I can really relate to Ron. (And it kills me to admit because, really, I don't like him much at all.) I lack the motivation to do well in school because I don't always see it as important but we both find ourselves panicking at the last minute. However, unlike Ron, I get the good grades because I can pull off that last minute thing. (I'm always worried that that's going to catch up to me.) We're both secondary characters that desire success. I have a friend who is very much like Harry, actually, she's the girl that everyone loves and expects to shine. She doesn't always want the attention but it's hers for better or for worse. And then there's me who would like just a few minutes of that but I did know when I signed on to that friendship, that's how it was going to be. I also think he and I have similar senses of humor. The sarcasm and the inadvertently funny comments.
  
  
• What would you see if you looked into the Mirror of Erised?
  It just might be me, several years down the line, accepting an Emmy - best actress/supporting actress in a comedy series or best writing in a comedy series. I'd thank the friends and colleagues I'd grown to love and the lover who supported me even when it seemed like I was insane. And maybe I'd throw in a plug for my soon-to-be-published tell-all somewhat-satirical biography of Lorne Michaels. And maybe, just maybe, I'd be holding a pair of woolen socks. (Actually, that's a lie. I hate socks.)
  
  
• If you won a million dollars, how would you spend it?
  I'd pay off any outstanding debt I had, splurge on a nicer apartment, donate a good portion to my favorite charities, buy a pair of shoes that are not worth the amount of money they would cost, and invest in some of the most low-risk ways to insure I was taken care of for the rest of my life.
  
  
• What was your ideal job as a kid? Has that changed? What is your ideal job now?
  When I was five, I wanted a career to match Lucille Ball's. Now that I'm seventeen, I want a career to match Tina Fey's. I wouldn't say that's a very big change at all except for the kind of comedy and the area of expertise. It's taken me a long time to go back to that area though - I've done everything possible to get as far away from my love of sitcoms as I possibly could. I've stated that I wanted to be an artist, a detective, a lawyer, a psychiatrist, a journalist, a CIA agent, a professional student, an economist, and a pilot but I've always come back to TV. I know it's a little silly, I know it's crazy far-fetched but this is the only thing I think I have the determination to actually GO AFTER with any amount of dedication.
  
  
• 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?
  There's this improv game that they did a lot on Whose Line is it Anyway? where players start a certain scene in a normal way and then a "director" comes in to give them a prompt that suggests a different style. This is really useless but I think it would be really cool if there was some kind of charm where you could randomly change the style of any scene you happened to be involved in - soap opera, film noir, action movie, late night talk show. It's sad but I'd use it merely for my own amusement - class would be a little more interesting if the teacher randomly seemed to think she was a guest on Conan. It would probably cause more harm than good but I think I'd make it so it would wear off pretty quickly.
  
  
• 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?
  Coverage of the 2004 presidential election? No, I'm joking.
  
  Earlier this year, I injured my knee really badly - to the point where it cost me two surgeries, nearly six months on crutches, and two months of physical therapy. During that time, I've confronted my biggest fear - the lose of my ability to lead the life I wanted. The life where I could dance at my best friend's wedding or go skiing or just be able to ride a bike whenever the inspiration hit. And, to me, my knee doctor represents the lose of the leg I thought was healthy. I have it back, but I think he would be it. He'd probably turn into Jack Donaghy or Tracy Jordan from 30 Rock because, really, those two can get me to laugh faster than anything right now.
  
  
• What do you look for in a friend?
  Oh I have so many patterns but I don't really actively look for any of them - I guess I just have a "type." I befriend people who are strong in their beliefs; not because they're blind to other opinions, but because they're not. I've spent years transforming from the girl my parents wanted me to be to become the one that I believe to be real and I know I'm going to spend the rest of my life growing and changing and I like to have friends that understand and respect that.
  
  I like my friends to have a sense of humor that I can appreciate but I also like to be able to have actual conversations with them. And for me to be able to open up to someone, that takes a while, so they need to be willing to let a friendship grow and develop.
  
  I do, however, seek the companionship of those that I can acknowledge to be smarter than I am. A lot of people are, but it takes a lot of respect toward a person before I can let go and admit it.
  
  
• What trait most annoys you about other people?
  The inability to admit that they're wrong. There's a difference between pride and ignorance. Being proud of one's accomplishments isn't irritating, being unable to see anything but is.
  
  
• What do you think are your top five abilities or qualities?
  I'm intensely loyal to those I let myself become close to. I'm the first to jump up and tell someone off when they insult a friend and always going to be there for a phone call in the middle of the night. I've learned during my time in high school that gossiping is nasty business and so I just don't.
  
  I'm organized. I'm the girl that can be counted on to know exactly where something is and when something is. I don't forget dates, appointments, or really anything. I can be counted on to be exactly on time if not a few minutes early. I'm known by my teachers as the girl they hire to clean their desks. Actually, in hindsight, this is probably an obnoxious quality to most teenagers.
  
  I think I have a fairly decent sense of humor. I know when to use it and when to put it away and that's almost more important than having one to begin with. If you can't use yours properly, you deserve to have it taken away. (I'm looking at you, Chris Columbus. Or was the movie version of RENT not a joke?)
  
  I'm an idealist and, well, this one kind of sucks too. I believe that a world where politics are honest is actually feasible if we can recognize who to vote for. I believe that there is a potential for world peace if we can put aside our egos. I believe that our planet can be "saved" if we can learn to separate wants from needs. And, yes, I believe all those conditionals are actually possibilities.
  
  I'm open minded. It's how I've gone from the girl who parroted her parents to the one that challenges them. I refuse to close off any one belief until I've given it some serious consideration.
  
  
• What do you think are your top five weaknesses or worst qualities?
  I sometimes forget that not everyone shares my beliefs and I suspect that can make me seem insensitive at times. I try to surround myself with a mixture of people but most of my friends are, unfortunately, very liberal people. Because I'm around that all the time, I can sometimes be tricked into thinking that my immediate surroundings are the reality.
  
  Speaking of reality, I'm an idealist. Yes, yes, I know I listed that as one of my good traits but I believe it to be both. Believing that a "perfect" world is possible reinforces my dreamy behavior. My imagination is overactive and that doesn't help.
  
  Things that are new or unknown really frighten me. I'd like to be brave, I'd like to be able to face the unknown but, a lot of the time, I can't. My self doubt stops me more often than I would even like to admit.
  
  I'm shy. Terribly, terribly shy. I've gotten better as I've gotten older, but I'm still not exactly comfortable being myself in front of new people. I don't think it will ever be something I'll truly conquer.
  
  I can be terribly self-righteous and irritatingly insecure and it can change on a dime. Sometimes my ideals make the most sense possible and sometimes it feels as though I'm the only one in the world that has no grasp of reality.
  
  
• Define in your own words the following key traits:
  
  • Courage: I'm guessing that the "in your own words" thing means I can't quote Atticus Finch? Too bad, I really want to. Facing what you're afraid of; knowing that you might not win but beginning anyway.
    
  • Loyalty: Being able to trust and be trusted. I don't think anyone could be truly loyal without trusting the person to which they wish to be loyal. It needs to go both ways, as so many aspects of relationships do.
    
  • Intelligence: The ability to recognize that you're not always right. A grasp of basic logic can be helpful as well.
    
  • Ambition: The intelligence to know what's good for you, the courage to face the possibility of failure, and the trust in yourself and those around you. I think only with utilizing courage, loyalty, and intelligence can you ever get what is truly to be desired.
    
  
  
• Name: Katie
  
• Age: 17
  
• Where did you find out about us? To be honest, I don't even remember. I've been through so many journal changes and I have memory of this community that spans back a year or so. It was probably mentioned by one of the people that were on my friends list one or two journals ago.