So come up to the lab, and see what's on the slab.
1. Name: Emma
2. Age: 15
3. If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you choose? That is a really hard question because I totally love so many countries. I’m really obsessed with different cultures as well and I’ve been pretty lucky in my life, getting to visit some very different ones. But in the end, I have to say I’d pick right here, which is in Perth, Australia. I’m a patriotic person. I love where I live. Truthfully, I think it’s had a great influence on my life, and I think that our own culture has made me like I am. I’m laid back and I love summer. I couldn’t be somewhere where it was cold; I think I’d just die. And I love having an Aussie Christmas, when it’s warm and you can sit outside.
4. What would your Room of Requirement look like? At the moment, it’s pretty simple. My iPod (which, at the moment, is stuffed full with The Rocky Horror Picture Show music, which is my latest obsession, a really comfy couch, a plasma TV, and a stack of my favourite DVDs. I’m a movie-a-holic. I watch everything. But I’d love to have some movies like Moulin Rouge (my favourite movie for life), Harry Potter series, Rocky Horror (naturally), some Romantic comedies, and some that are new to me. Ha. Maybe that wasn’t so simple after all.
5. Who is your least favorite Harry Potter character? Oh gosh, I’m probably going to end up offending somebody. But in the end, it boils down to Peter Pettigrew. He is such a pain. I can’t think of anything worse than betraying your friends just to save yourself, and do that in a sneaky way that frames another of your friends! I just thought that he had no heart and no backbone.
6. Is the glass half empty or half full? If we’re talking figuratively, like taking the glass and talking about life, then I’d say half-full. But if I’m really talking about a glass, I just say half-empty. It doesn’t mean anything, it’s just ... me, and what I say.
7. Give us a quotation (Can be from a famous person, a song, or even a poem-whatever you want) you feel represents your life or personality. I always seem to use the same one, but I’ve never heard one that affected me quite so much. It’s from the film The Hours, and Virginia Woolf says “You cannot find peace by avoiding life”. And I just thought, wow. Because I am, on occasion, very guilty of doing that myself. I’m probably what you consider quiet and shy. But in the same sentence, practically, I’m contradicting myself and saying that I’m not always like that. I talk well to adults and strangers. I’m quite boisterous around my friends. But around my own peer group, especially people at school, I’m one of the quiet ones.
8. In your life, who comes first: family or friends? GAH. I hate this question. I get along well with my family, so it’s not easy for me to say friends. My friends are wonderful and mean the world to me. And they know more about me than my parents do. But that’s now. I’m hoping and thinking that will be friends forever, but with my family, I know they will be there for me for life. So, I say family.
9. What is your favorite childhood memory? That is so hard! You guys know how to make it tough, huh? Well. I had this teacher who’s now a friend of mine, and the years I was in her class were my best primary school years. I was 8 and 9 when I had her. I just remember sitting next to her one lunchtime (we were in the stage where we all loved the teacher, at least the girls, anyway), and she had long, straight, dark brown hair. And I have curly, light brown, frizzy hair. And I just sat next to her, brushing her hair with my hands, and wishing it was mine. I felt really happy at that moment.
(Of course, I’m sure there were ones that meant more and that I had more fun on, like vacations and sleepovers and holidays and Christmases and stuff. But at the moment, this is what means most to me).
10. What would you say is your biggest flaw? I’m a really messy person. I’m obsessive about things. I get hooked on something and I can’t let go. I think I have some self-esteem problems, but they’re not, you know, serious. As I mentioned, I am shy. It’s annoying sometimes. Worst, though, is my procrastination. I leave stuff until the last minute. You know the person who does assignments the night before (and without sounding up-myself here) does OK? Yeah. That’s me. I’m not saying I get the best marks on these assignments (let’s say I could do better) but I end up doing well enough to get a low A or relatively high B, you know.
11. If you had been at Hogwarts during Harry’s fifth year, do you think that you would have joined the D.A.? Yeah. I would have. I like breaking rules, but I don’t really like getting caught. I think I would have found this safe, fun, and helpful. I can imagine myself there.
12. Describe how you react to difficult or stressful situations. Usually, I don’t take things too seriously. I’m usually the one saying “It’ll be fine!” to all my friends who are really worried. But if I do get worried about something, I kind of get really hyper. If I’m nervous, I get the whole stomach turning, sweaty hands thing. I don’t cry in front of other people, but I do cry in my room and stuff. I hold it in until I’m in my bed at night and let loose. Sometimes I like doing that, because it really does make you feel better. I don’t know.
13. Which do you value more: compassion or justice? It would have to be justice, I think. I think that I’m a fair person. It’s not uncommon for me to be the mediator in people’s arguments. And I listen to both sides and come to the best decision without any bias. I just think that justice is really important.
14. Would you say that you’re a child at heart, or that you have an old soul? I think I sound a lot more mature online than I am in real life. I write maturely. That’s something I’ve always done. I sound older when I write than I am, I think. But in real life, I’m pretty immature. But at the same time, there’s this part of my brain that I think is really smart. It’s not a part of me that gets used often. But sometimes when I’m thinking about something, I really surprise myself. So I guess I’m a bit of both.
15. Which Hogwarts House do you think that the Sorting Hat would place you in? I know I’m a Ravenclaw/Gryffindor mix. I’m Ravenclaw at hogwartsishome, and a Gryffindorin the more recently sorted hogwarts_rising. That said, I’m a Ravendor at fourhouseunion. A year ago, I would have said Ravenclaw, no questions. I was 14 and about the same maturity I am now. But now I’m saying Gryffindor, no questions. It’s like I’ve changed houses, although I was always a mixture. I’m not saying I’m really smart, but yeah. I’m above average. But I’ve dealt with a lot of stuff, and I would use courageous as a word to describe me. I’m physically brave. I didn’t cry when I broke my wrist. I’ve dislocated my knee 5 times and put it back in myself 4 times without crying. (I did cry the last time though. I did some serious damage that time). I’ve had 4 operations. My mum’s had cancer twice. And I am emotionally brave from that stuff, too. I don’t know. But now, Gryffindor is me.
16. If you have a picture of yourself and feel comfortable posting it, please do so! Pictures are fun!
God, I don’t know, they’re all huge or lousy. Whatever. This is weird and stuff. Just ignore the hair stuff. I’m second from the right, with the white jumper.
