Tonks will always be my favorite Hufflepuff, but Dumbledore is definitely my favorite character. He's witty, wise, has some of the best lines in the book, and is also extremely flawed. It took me back a bit after reading the seventh book. I think I felt a lot like Harry - did I know this person at all? But it all completely makes sense. For someone to be as wise as Dumbledore, you'd have to go through some pretty life changing experiences. Dumbledore has his secrets and sometimes he's wrong, but I can't blame him for any of that.
On a side note, in honor of Harry's birthday, I dug out my Sorcerer's Stone game and started playing it. Hopefully, the youtube link will work by the time this is posted. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AE7Cw9vegkU
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Please keep off the dirigible plums.
You should all know by now that I identify most with Hufflepuff house, so it might seem odd that my favorite character is a Ravenclaw whom I adore because of characteristics that could be considered Hufflepuff in nature.
Ladies and gentlemen I give you the ever-hopeful, joyfully kind, and unfailingly loyal Luna Lovegood.
Despite being bullied and made fun of in school, Luna trusted the trio and the rest of the DA without question. She doesn't behave as if she ever expects them to be unkind to her, which is some kind of amazing. It is almost implied that Luna never had friends before Ginny, Neville, and the trio and yet she didn't even hesitate to join them on their rescue mission to the Ministry of Magic. Despite being shunned for her oddities in the past, it took a single branch of friendship from those five to inspire unshakeable loyalty. She never grew bitter or resentful, and never closed herself off from her peers. She lived hopefully for the day she would have a true friend and saw those hopes fulfilled.
As for being kind, who else but Luna could be trapped in a dungeon for months and still be courteous and helpful to others? She took care of Ollivander as best she could in a very terrible situation. He called her, "an inexpressible comfort...in that terrible place." When Harry, Ron, Dean, and Griphook arrived she reacted with neither agitation or despair. Just by the way she spoke, casually mentioning the nail they use when they need to break things being in proximity to the water jug (which was important because she was living in an environment in which they could not see), we can tell she made the best of the situation. She didn't even get upset with Ron when he was being difficult and instead spoke with "please" and "thank-yous."
Dobby's death was quite a blow to Harry, but Luna's suggestion that they close Dobby's eyes must have been healing for Harry's heart, giving the elf an appearance of peace and dignity no less deserved than Dumbledore himself. Remember it is she who spoke Dobby's eulogy with respect, saying all the words Harry could not.
As for loyalty, Luna never backed down. She stood with the DA against Umbridge and at the Battle of the Ministry. She stood against Death Eaters on the Astronomy Tower. She stood against the Carrows both before and after her stay at the Malfoy Manor. She stood until the end.
Luna is the most Hufflepuff Ravenclaw I've ever heard of, and I do believe that at the center of our hearts we should all have a little Hufflepuff inside.
Monday, August 5, 2013
The Boy Who Might Have Been
Neville Longbottom.
Show of hands: who's surprised? No one? Yeah, that's what I thought.
See, I wrote a 20 page paper on Neville for Dr. Diehl. I could just copy and paste that here, but I'll summarize for y'all. :)
I adore Neville.
I adore Neville because of his quiet strength and his core of iron and the fact that he broke the cycle. This is a kid who, at eleven, stood up to the most popular kids in his grade because he believed that their actions were wrong. He stood up for his morals and values even at a time when he had trouble standing up for something as basic as himself. Throughout the series, nothing gets in his way of pursuing what he feels to be morally right. His morals are more important to him than his own image.
I adore Neville because he is a quiet hero, an almost unwilling hero, and he never seeks glory, largely because he constantly feels he doesn’t deserve it. He lives everyday with the belief that he will never be good enough (because his grandmother is a horrible, awful human being who I despise more than any other character in the series), but he goes out and does what needs to be done anyway. He’s Harry’s foil, and he’s the character who keeps Harry honest, because he could easily have been the boy in Harry’s place. He grows into his legacy and his abilities in Deathly Hallows and becomes a full fledged BAMF, the underestimated hero, and the one who, if left up to him, would remain unsung. Because Neville has never seen himself as heroic. He was only ever doing what someone more heroic than him wasn’t around to do, only ever doing what needed to be done.
I adore Neville because the kid argued with the Sorting Hat about where he belonged; when the Hat wanted to put him in Gryffindor, Neville shook his head and said he wasn't brave enough and he should be in Hufflepuff instead. And the Hat sure as hell didn't listen. He put Neville where he belonged and forced Neville to grow into his Gryffindor-ness, and holy cow does he.
I adore Neville because he became a leader and he instilled hope and he spun a story so everyone could get through those awful, awful days, but the moment it was time to hand over the reigns, he did so. I adore Neville because when Harry passed the torch, Neville alone out of anyone had some inkling of what Harry was going to do, and he let him know that the fight would continue and that no one was giving up, no matter what. I adore Neville because he killed a freakin' snake and said "I'll join you when Hell freezes over" and just became an all-around, damn-straight BAMF.
And I adore him because for all of that, he's still one of the most humble people in the series, and after everything was over, he became a Herbology professor, not an Auror, not a fighter, a teacher and a gardener, and he led a simple life, and it was enough for him.
Basically, I adore Neville because he wonderful and amazing and perfect and I would leave Chase for him in a heartbeat, if he were real, which Chase knows and has accepted.
Neville is my hero and absolutely my favorite character.
Show of hands: who's surprised? No one? Yeah, that's what I thought.
See, I wrote a 20 page paper on Neville for Dr. Diehl. I could just copy and paste that here, but I'll summarize for y'all. :)
I adore Neville.
I adore Neville because of his quiet strength and his core of iron and the fact that he broke the cycle. This is a kid who, at eleven, stood up to the most popular kids in his grade because he believed that their actions were wrong. He stood up for his morals and values even at a time when he had trouble standing up for something as basic as himself. Throughout the series, nothing gets in his way of pursuing what he feels to be morally right. His morals are more important to him than his own image.
I adore Neville because he is a quiet hero, an almost unwilling hero, and he never seeks glory, largely because he constantly feels he doesn’t deserve it. He lives everyday with the belief that he will never be good enough (because his grandmother is a horrible, awful human being who I despise more than any other character in the series), but he goes out and does what needs to be done anyway. He’s Harry’s foil, and he’s the character who keeps Harry honest, because he could easily have been the boy in Harry’s place. He grows into his legacy and his abilities in Deathly Hallows and becomes a full fledged BAMF, the underestimated hero, and the one who, if left up to him, would remain unsung. Because Neville has never seen himself as heroic. He was only ever doing what someone more heroic than him wasn’t around to do, only ever doing what needed to be done.
I adore Neville because the kid argued with the Sorting Hat about where he belonged; when the Hat wanted to put him in Gryffindor, Neville shook his head and said he wasn't brave enough and he should be in Hufflepuff instead. And the Hat sure as hell didn't listen. He put Neville where he belonged and forced Neville to grow into his Gryffindor-ness, and holy cow does he.
I adore Neville because he became a leader and he instilled hope and he spun a story so everyone could get through those awful, awful days, but the moment it was time to hand over the reigns, he did so. I adore Neville because when Harry passed the torch, Neville alone out of anyone had some inkling of what Harry was going to do, and he let him know that the fight would continue and that no one was giving up, no matter what. I adore Neville because he killed a freakin' snake and said "I'll join you when Hell freezes over" and just became an all-around, damn-straight BAMF.
And I adore him because for all of that, he's still one of the most humble people in the series, and after everything was over, he became a Herbology professor, not an Auror, not a fighter, a teacher and a gardener, and he led a simple life, and it was enough for him.
Basically, I adore Neville because he wonderful and amazing and perfect and I would leave Chase for him in a heartbeat, if he were real, which Chase knows and has accepted.
Neville is my hero and absolutely my favorite character.
Sunday, August 4, 2013
Men of Mischief
This will not come as a surprise at all. My favorite character is one of the . . . .
The Weasley Twins.
Fred and George Weasley fascinated me from the moment we saw them horsing around with their mother at the train station. Their love of jokes and mischief endeared them to me. It helped that I have a thing about twins. They have always fascinated me and they usually end up being my favorite characters regardless but the main reason that I fell in love Fred and George was the depth that Joe gave them. JK maked them each their individual person, even if they are mostly lumped together. Like any other character that isn't the Trio each of them got their own personality and layers that made them 3 dimensional . It's so easy (especially for identical twins) to get written exactly the same. Fred and George do everything together, they even act the same most of the time. Joe could have easily left it at that, but she didn't. My absolute favorite scene with the two of them is in "Goblet of Fire," when Harry overhears them aguring over the leprechaun gold that was given to them. It's really the first time that Harry and the readers (who aren't looking for it) really see how different they are. Fred is more aggressive then George, though George can be just as bad, especially if you drag his family into it. George has a little bit of a softer side and Fred is definitely more reckless.
In the beginning I liked Fred more than George. He was more dangerous, reckless, 'edgy'. He had some of the best fan fiction because he needed to be 'tamed' more than George. I could see George settling down and becoming a family man, but Fred? Not so much. When we were giving our predictions about who was going to die in the 7th book I said "I hope both the twins make it, but I have a feeling that's asking to much. So Fred better be the one to survive." Yeah. . . .I cried like a baby. It was a bad day. . . After the 7th book, as I started to read fan fiction and researching them more and more I don't think Fred could have survived George's death. George was a little more independent than Fred. George was the one that was reeling him in and I think Fred relied more on George than George relied on Fred. George has grown on me. So I can now say with confidence that
George Weasley is my favorite character.
The Weasley Twins.
Fred and George Weasley fascinated me from the moment we saw them horsing around with their mother at the train station. Their love of jokes and mischief endeared them to me. It helped that I have a thing about twins. They have always fascinated me and they usually end up being my favorite characters regardless but the main reason that I fell in love Fred and George was the depth that Joe gave them. JK maked them each their individual person, even if they are mostly lumped together. Like any other character that isn't the Trio each of them got their own personality and layers that made them 3 dimensional . It's so easy (especially for identical twins) to get written exactly the same. Fred and George do everything together, they even act the same most of the time. Joe could have easily left it at that, but she didn't. My absolute favorite scene with the two of them is in "Goblet of Fire," when Harry overhears them aguring over the leprechaun gold that was given to them. It's really the first time that Harry and the readers (who aren't looking for it) really see how different they are. Fred is more aggressive then George, though George can be just as bad, especially if you drag his family into it. George has a little bit of a softer side and Fred is definitely more reckless.
In the beginning I liked Fred more than George. He was more dangerous, reckless, 'edgy'. He had some of the best fan fiction because he needed to be 'tamed' more than George. I could see George settling down and becoming a family man, but Fred? Not so much. When we were giving our predictions about who was going to die in the 7th book I said "I hope both the twins make it, but I have a feeling that's asking to much. So Fred better be the one to survive." Yeah. . . .I cried like a baby. It was a bad day. . . After the 7th book, as I started to read fan fiction and researching them more and more I don't think Fred could have survived George's death. George was a little more independent than Fred. George was the one that was reeling him in and I think Fred relied more on George than George relied on Fred. George has grown on me. So I can now say with confidence that
George Weasley is my favorite character.
Saturday, August 3, 2013
The Gamekeeper and The Antihero
This topic was actually fairly difficult for me. I love Harry Potter, if not for the genius that is J.K. Rowling and her marvelous ability to turn a plot, then for her awesomely believeable yet magical characters. In other words, I have many "favorites", but these two stand out:
Rubeus Hagrid. The Keeper of the Keys and Grounds and Hogwarts :) Rubeus Hagrid is one of my favorite characters, for starters, because of his unbending loyalty. I am not surprised at all that he was originally sorted into Gryffindor, where dwell not only the brave at heart but also the just and loyal. He willingly puts his life on the line for those who have shown him kindness, and to those he feels the need to protect. It all seems to start with Dumbledore. Because Dumbledore showed Hagrid the ultimate kindness of keeping him on as gamekeeper after he was expelled, Hagrid would do anything for him. For instance, when Dumbledore asked him to please bring the infant Harry Potter to Privet Drive, he jumped at the chance. Not only did Albus Dumbledore ask him for assistance, but he also knew that there could be a baby in trouble, and a baby who was the offspring of two other people that he admired. And don't ever think of insulting Albus Dumbledore in front of him. He may just turn your kid into a pig =P
Another reason that Hagrid is one of my favorite characters is his comic relief. Hagrid is morbidly hilarious because of his love for all things dangerous. What makes it even more funny is that Hagrid legitimately doesn't see how dangerous most of the creatures are. He hatches a baby dragon in his hut and keeps it there, convinced that Norbert will be safe even though he's very quickly outgrowing the place and slowly demolishing it from the inside out. He was expelled from Hogwarts for a similar reason when he harbored a deadly Acromantula in the castle. Granted, he was expelled because he was framed by Riddle, but still, he shouldn't have been keeping that creature in the castle. He also brings dangerous and unsettling creatures into his Care of Magical Creatures classes - Blast-Ended Skewts, Hippogriffs, and Thestrals come to mind. Students often don injuries as a result. I can sympathize with Hagrid on this because I often feel that people look at me funny when I watch a shark attack a seal and exclaim, "Look how COOL!" I mean, I feel awful for the seal, of course, but in general, the more dangerous it is, the more I'm going to think it's awesome. It's good to know someone else like that exists, even if he's fictional.
Draco Malfoy. Ah, the class asshole. Everyone knew one in school, and for Harry, it's the self-important, arrogant son of the even more self-important and arrogant Lucius. I did a paper studying Draco's character for our HP class with Dr. Diehl, and one of my topics was the reasons why Draco became and stayed such a jerk throughout his seven years at Hogwarts. The first reason was his parents. They let him get away with anything, indulged his every whim, and treated him as if he was a gift to the entire world. The result was a child who expected others to treat him in the same way. When Draco then arrived at school, he found Crabbe and Goyle, who took all of Draco's crap and acted exactly as he wanted them to act - like his lackeys. No one in Slytherin - the only group of people whose opinions Draco really valued - gave him any reason to not act the way he always had growing up, so why should he stop? When he saw that Harry Potter - another young wizard of fame - was nothing like the way Draco thought he should be (i.e., like him), yet still gets attention, Draco retaliates with bullying and derogatory remarks. I think Draco is fascinating. From the first time he walked into the book in Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, I hoped that we would see more of him. I love a character in need of redemption :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HARRY POTTER!
Rubeus Hagrid. The Keeper of the Keys and Grounds and Hogwarts :) Rubeus Hagrid is one of my favorite characters, for starters, because of his unbending loyalty. I am not surprised at all that he was originally sorted into Gryffindor, where dwell not only the brave at heart but also the just and loyal. He willingly puts his life on the line for those who have shown him kindness, and to those he feels the need to protect. It all seems to start with Dumbledore. Because Dumbledore showed Hagrid the ultimate kindness of keeping him on as gamekeeper after he was expelled, Hagrid would do anything for him. For instance, when Dumbledore asked him to please bring the infant Harry Potter to Privet Drive, he jumped at the chance. Not only did Albus Dumbledore ask him for assistance, but he also knew that there could be a baby in trouble, and a baby who was the offspring of two other people that he admired. And don't ever think of insulting Albus Dumbledore in front of him. He may just turn your kid into a pig =P
Another reason that Hagrid is one of my favorite characters is his comic relief. Hagrid is morbidly hilarious because of his love for all things dangerous. What makes it even more funny is that Hagrid legitimately doesn't see how dangerous most of the creatures are. He hatches a baby dragon in his hut and keeps it there, convinced that Norbert will be safe even though he's very quickly outgrowing the place and slowly demolishing it from the inside out. He was expelled from Hogwarts for a similar reason when he harbored a deadly Acromantula in the castle. Granted, he was expelled because he was framed by Riddle, but still, he shouldn't have been keeping that creature in the castle. He also brings dangerous and unsettling creatures into his Care of Magical Creatures classes - Blast-Ended Skewts, Hippogriffs, and Thestrals come to mind. Students often don injuries as a result. I can sympathize with Hagrid on this because I often feel that people look at me funny when I watch a shark attack a seal and exclaim, "Look how COOL!" I mean, I feel awful for the seal, of course, but in general, the more dangerous it is, the more I'm going to think it's awesome. It's good to know someone else like that exists, even if he's fictional.
Draco Malfoy. Ah, the class asshole. Everyone knew one in school, and for Harry, it's the self-important, arrogant son of the even more self-important and arrogant Lucius. I did a paper studying Draco's character for our HP class with Dr. Diehl, and one of my topics was the reasons why Draco became and stayed such a jerk throughout his seven years at Hogwarts. The first reason was his parents. They let him get away with anything, indulged his every whim, and treated him as if he was a gift to the entire world. The result was a child who expected others to treat him in the same way. When Draco then arrived at school, he found Crabbe and Goyle, who took all of Draco's crap and acted exactly as he wanted them to act - like his lackeys. No one in Slytherin - the only group of people whose opinions Draco really valued - gave him any reason to not act the way he always had growing up, so why should he stop? When he saw that Harry Potter - another young wizard of fame - was nothing like the way Draco thought he should be (i.e., like him), yet still gets attention, Draco retaliates with bullying and derogatory remarks. I think Draco is fascinating. From the first time he walked into the book in Madame Malkin's Robes for All Occasions, I hoped that we would see more of him. I love a character in need of redemption :)
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, HARRY POTTER!
Friday, August 2, 2013
Happy Birthday Harry
So in honor of Harry's birthday this past week this week's topic is your favorite character in Harry Potter. Who, why. Is there a tie? Is there a difference between book and movie? It's Harry Potter so I know that these will be fantastic posts :)
Thursday, August 1, 2013
A friendly reminder to take things one day at a time
This topic isn't exactly easy for me either, but for different reasons. If you're going to write down the lyrics of your favorite song, it really helps if your favorite song HAS LYRICS. I'd guess at least 95% of my "favorites" are instrumental works. Yep, I'm a music nerd.
That said, there is one I've been listening to a lot lately, because the message is one I need to hear right now.
"Story" by Sam Tsui
You're stressin' me out, the way you obsess,
And worry about what happens next.
Can we just enjoy the here and the now?
You're livin' your life like something you read
Always just a couple lines ahead.
You're dyin' to know if it all works out.
Chorus:
Oh, what's the point of reading the last page before you can even start?
Just have faith that gettin' there can be the best part
Can we write our story? Take it one page, baby, at a time.
What's the point if we're only gonna worry how it ends?
We can take it fast, we can take it slow, if we just take each step as we go.
Our story, our story... one page at a time.
You figured it out. You wrote it in pen.
You know how you want our plot to end.
You said it was so no room for surprise.
Try letting it go, live for now, live for this,
Not the same old lines, from the same old script.
And maybe you'll find you'll enjoy the ride.
Chorus
Go on predict the clock while I sit right here wonderin' where you are.
What good's a perfect ending if you just pretend to see that far?
I'm on your side don't get me wrong. I want to write this story too,
Not one you've already written. No, I'd rather make it up with you.
Can we write our story?
Chorus (to end)
It should come as no surprise that I love the reading imagery in the lyrics. The music is upbeat and happy, what my family would call "Get Goin' Music" (something you put on when you have to do something you're not that excited about and need a mood booster to get it done). He also does some clever things relating the song to others on his album, using phrases from other tracks and using the exact same motives with them. And I really like the message - I'm the kind of person that he could be singing this too, especially right now with so much upheaval in my life.
For some other of my favorites, have a listen to the Sherlock and/or Doctor Who soundtracks - both are written by geniuses, and I find something new that's really cool on every listen!
(In other news, who decided it could be August already? Nobody asked me!)
That said, there is one I've been listening to a lot lately, because the message is one I need to hear right now.
"Story" by Sam Tsui
You're stressin' me out, the way you obsess,
And worry about what happens next.
Can we just enjoy the here and the now?
You're livin' your life like something you read
Always just a couple lines ahead.
You're dyin' to know if it all works out.
Chorus:
Oh, what's the point of reading the last page before you can even start?
Just have faith that gettin' there can be the best part
Can we write our story? Take it one page, baby, at a time.
What's the point if we're only gonna worry how it ends?
We can take it fast, we can take it slow, if we just take each step as we go.
Our story, our story... one page at a time.
You figured it out. You wrote it in pen.
You know how you want our plot to end.
You said it was so no room for surprise.
Try letting it go, live for now, live for this,
Not the same old lines, from the same old script.
And maybe you'll find you'll enjoy the ride.
Chorus
Go on predict the clock while I sit right here wonderin' where you are.
What good's a perfect ending if you just pretend to see that far?
I'm on your side don't get me wrong. I want to write this story too,
Not one you've already written. No, I'd rather make it up with you.
Can we write our story?
Chorus (to end)
It should come as no surprise that I love the reading imagery in the lyrics. The music is upbeat and happy, what my family would call "Get Goin' Music" (something you put on when you have to do something you're not that excited about and need a mood booster to get it done). He also does some clever things relating the song to others on his album, using phrases from other tracks and using the exact same motives with them. And I really like the message - I'm the kind of person that he could be singing this too, especially right now with so much upheaval in my life.
For some other of my favorites, have a listen to the Sherlock and/or Doctor Who soundtracks - both are written by geniuses, and I find something new that's really cool on every listen!
(In other news, who decided it could be August already? Nobody asked me!)
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