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Top Ten: Favorite Harry Potter Characters

melydia suggested I write this list, and I thought it a good theme for a list. However, it was harder to write than I’d expected. I seem to like characters in Harry Potter most when they’re with other characters. I love the Marauders, for example, but I wouldn’t put Peter Pettigrew on my list of favorite characters. I love the trio, but I just don’t think I love Ron enough to put him in the top ten. Sorry, Ron. So creating this list forced me to look at each character alone… which is not something one typically gets in a book that’s from one character’s point of view.

Harry Potter Characters by  Marta/Art Dungeon

Harry Potter Characters by Marta/Art Dungeon

 

Top Ten Favorite Harry Potter Characters

  1. Remus Lupin- No big surprise that Remus is first on this list (which is really not in any particular order, honestly). I love Remus; he’s my absolute favorite character in the series. He is kind, damaged, strong, wise, brave, friendly, supportive, fun-loving, bookish, and a whole lot more.
  2. Sirius Black- I must admit that my fanon Sirius is probably the reason he makes this list. I do really love his moments as a godfather to Harry. And though he has his faults, I do truly love his character, his desire to be useful and to help Harry, his fun-loving nature, the fact that he entered a war when he was a teenager and then never got a chance to really grow up, and his single-minded quest for revenge.
  3. Neville Longbottom- Neville is the character I most admire and wish I could be. He’s… himself, which is not always perfect but is many times just fine. And he’s brave exactly when he needs to be, brave enough to be a BAMF and get the last horcrux.
  4. Harry Potter- I’ve noticed not a lot of people would call Harry their favorite character (it’s almost like Harry is too easy an answer), but most people would put him on a list of top favorites as without Harry, there wouldn’t be much of a story. I will always love following Harry on his journey from a muggle-raised little kid to an adult who’s saved the world multiple times.
  5. Rubeus Hagrid- There’s just something about Hagrid; maybe it’s Harry’s fondness for him that rubs off on me? I love how he cares for Harry, being supportive and friendly and telling him what he needs to know even when maybe he shouldn’t (I have a thing about grown-ups in YA who don’t tell kids important things, which is why Sirius and Hagrid make this list and Dumbledore does not). I love the Hagrid knows his place and is grateful for a job and home, but still aspires to be more and help however he can; he’s got a Hufflepuff’s loyalty.
  6. Molly Weasley- My favorite mother in the series, Molly is such a strong woman and a great example of motherhood. She’s a stay-at-home mother and certainly all the cooking and cleaning chores fall to her, but you know she had to be strong-willed to raise seven children. I love how she cares for Order members and for Harry like she does her family. And then there are so many great moments like her boggart and protecting Ginny during the battle.
  7. Luna Lovegood- I love Luna. It’s impossible for me to not love her. Sometimes I think she’s way too weird. Sometimes she reminds me of kids I knew at school who were a bit eccentric. But I’ve got to admire her for just being herself, for being creative, and for doing what’s right every time.
  8. Hermione Granger- I probably resemble Hermione more than any other character in the books… though I see a lot of myself in many of the characters and I definitely don’t have Hermione’s bravery. I love her role in the trio, but I also really admire her as a standalone character–her respect for knowledge, her morality, her selflessness, her dedication, her friendship.
  9. Severus Snape- I’m maybe not as in love with Severus as some of my friends (or as Remus in some of my stories), but I respect the man a lot… even though, if he hadn’t blabbed part of the prophecy to Voldemort, the story would have been a whole lot different. He went through a lot of changes in his life, which are interesting to see. But I mostly feel sorry for the man. I also think he was, despite being brilliant, a terrible teacher.
  10. Oliver Wood- Feels a little weird to go with a tertiary character when characters like Ron and McGonagall aren’t on this list. But I just had to include Oliver, probably because I’ve spent so much time with him in fics. I love his obsessiveness and passion for what he loves–that sometimes makes him forget common sense. And I’m pretty sure my cheer and happy dance when he showed up at the battle was honestly the LOUDEST cheer I gave while reading the entire last book.

Top Ten: Christmas Wizard Rock

There’s a whole lot of Harry Potter Wizard Rock out there for the holiday season. There are even a few songs about Hanukkah and Ramadan out there. I managed to cut my list of over 150 songs down to, um, ten favorites. The first seven or eight were easy. After that… how do I choose just a few more? The songs I chose are a wide variety, but mostly ones that evoke strong emotions in me. Also, for someone not so fond of the latter Jingle Spells albums, I sure did pick a lot from JS4. Surprise!

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Top Ten(ish): Fandom Holiday Moments

Some of my favorite Christmas or holiday moments in fandom. I’m utterly indecisive (why did I think that weekly top ten lists was a good idea?). So here’s my top ten… and a couple others thrown in. I expect this post will contain possibly a spoiler or ten.

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12 Days of Fandom Ornaments: #7

My Christmas tree is a mix of ornaments from my childhood and ones from later on in my life. Many of them are related to my favorite fandoms, naturally. I thought I would showcase one every other day in December in a 12 Days of Fandom Ornaments series.

Day 7: Hufflepuff Pride

Ornament07

Number seven on here has got to be Harry Potter related! This was made for me as part of a Harry Potter swap last year. It’s great to be able to sport my Harry Potter house colors on my Christmas tree!

Top Ten: Fandom Merch I Don’t Want for Christmas

When searching online I found far too many fan-made or non-commercially produced fandom products that creeped me out from Edward Cullen’s giant face staring at me from a shower curtain to inappropriately printed thongs. So I decided that all the items on this list had to be officially licensed items.

Top Ten Things I Will Not Enjoy Receiving as Christmas Gifts:

  1. Planet of the Apes Sky Diving Parachutist- Did I miss the part of the movies where the apes sky dive?
    FandomMerch10
  2. I Heart Ron Weasley Pillowcase- I love Ron… but not in these dress robes, of all things. Also, I already own one of these
    FandomMerch09
  3. Thor Alarm Clock Weight- Why does a god need a weight? And why would you make an alarm clock shaped like one? Hammer, guys. Thor’s got a hammer, not a weight *facepalm* And Thor doesn’t even need to sleep. Double-fail.
    FandomMerch08
  4. Downton Abbey Lip Gloss- Because when I watch Downton Abbey, the one thing I notice is the glossiness of their lips
    FandomMerch07
  5. Destroyed Cassandra Doctor Who Action Figure- First off, Cassandra in her “skin” form is barely in the episode this action figure is from. Second, this isn’t an “About to be Destroyed Cassandra,” it’s a frame where the character used to be and isn’t any more. The character isn’t even alive at this point and isn’t even included.
    FandomMerch06
  6. Hunger Games Lightbulb- Put a bird on it! I saw this at Toys R Us a few weeks ago. It was super cheap but even that wasn’t enough to make me buy it. I don’t have the faintest idea what I’d do with such a thing
    FandomMerch05
  7. JarJar Binks Lollipop- First off, it’s JarJar, and who needs that? Second, did anyone in charge of creating this even imagine what it would look like to suck on his tongue? I do NOT want anyone to be that intimate with JarJar.
    FandomMerch04
  8. Star Trek Metal Detector- Oh dear. It looks vaguely Enterprise-like. But I’m not sure what this has anything to do with Star Trek. But there’s not a lot that’s less pathetic than a metal detector
    FandomMerch03
  9. Twilight Perfume- “The Forbidden Fruit Tastes the Sweetest”. First off all, ick. Second of all, am I supposed to be eating this perfume? Double ick.
    FandomMerch02
  10. Ugly Duncan Mug- I’ve got a Highlander bathrobe, a Highlander golf cap, a Highlander wallet (actually, two, because my first one accidentally went through the wash). But even I can’t handle the Ugly Duncan Mug with the katana & ponytail handle
    FandomMerch01
    Above photo is from Gail Kallen’s great AA Con Photos gallery

Magical Music

DracoandtheMalfoys-CheattoWin Draco and the Malfoys released a new single today and the promise of their first new studio album in almost five years. I’ve only listened to the single six times now 😉 There’s something so thrilling about the prospect of new Wizard Rock. I don’t like to say that it’s dead, because art doesn’t ever die. But it certainly isn’t as popular as once it was. Only a couple touring groups came to my town last year, for example.

“Faced with two choices–To die or to sin–
You know we would all cheat to win.”
~Draco & the Malfoys, Cheat to Win

 

Cheat to Win isn’t necessarily my style, musically, but I really like it. It’s catchy and, well, speaks a bit of truth. I’m a rule-following Hufflepuff. Not all Hufflepuffs are as anal about rules as I am, but I hold the concept of fairness to all above almost everything else in this world (note to self: remember to grab that Nelson Mandela book out of the car before the next snow/ice storm hits tonight). So, no, I would NOT cheat to win at most things. But if it’s a matter of cheating or dying, heck year I’m going to choose cheating. But it brings up the question: why do I like this song so much, even if the underlying Slytherin concept in it is against the core of who I am as a person?

“We’re not always well-behaved, we don’t always do what’s right
We’re really good kissers, but I must warn we bite.”
~Swish and Flick, SLY in Slytherin

 

And it’s not just this song, either. I’m completely guilty of jumping up and down and shouting “Gryffindor” at Ministry of Magic concerts when Gryffindor Rally Cry is played. I could not have bought Swish and Flick’s album fast enough and I listen to its Slytherin songs far more than the Hufflepuff in me is willing to admit. So, yeah, my WRock playlist has its fill of JFF and Oliver Boyd songs. But you’ll also find Draco & the Malfoys and the Parselmouths popping up just as often. Why is that?

“Fools underestimate me; I am a woman.
I’m more pure than you’ll ever contemplate
There’s no denying fate.
You’re just jealous about my purpose.
It’s not my fault that your blood
Leaves you second-rate.”
~Snidget, Bella

 

One of the things I like most about fan creations is getting to see someone else’s interpretation and passion for something I love. We all come at fandom with a shared understanding of canon. But the way individuals and fanon interpret it is not just fascinating but appealing to me. I love reading fanfic that shows me a brand new angle on characters I already love. I love going to meetup discussions with people who have different thoughts, viewpoints, and interpretations. And I adore fandom music that makes me feel different things. Most WRock is just plain fun–not deep, not life-changing. And I have a special place in my heart for the music that speaks right to me, completely in-line with my thoughts and favorite things about the characters and story. But when a song is actually able to convert me for 2-5 minutes into another person, to let me see things from a different point of view, and to let me rejoice in some of the values I don’t even share, that’s true magic right there.

Craft: Harry Potter Pin Fail

Far more people RSVPed for the annual DADA (Harry Potter Meetup) Yule Party this year, which means I am scrambling to fill Christmas crackers (which, I hope, I’ll feel up to assembling tomorrow after my trip to the hospital for another test). Which meant that I once again attempted to make pins. There was more desperation in this attempt, so I kept working until I got some right. I found a fantastic tutorial. However, I ruined a whole lot of supplies in the process, which was painful but a good lesson for me to learn. I’m used to trying something, getting it right, and moving on. I’m not used to having such a high learning curve and wasting money and time in the process.

Buttons
Me: 6
Badge-a-Minit: 14

Fail! Luckily, I found a few from last year, so I will definitely have enough for all the crackers now. What a relief!

Category: crafts, fail, merch  Tags: , , ,  2 Comments

Ouch? A Discussion of Wands

I own some wands. Seven of them, in fact. My first (and primary) is my special Willow wand, as willow is my spirit wood. It is always at the center of my wand display. Flanking it are two Warner Brothers Studios wands, one for Remus and one for Sirius. They are significantly heavier. I don’t use these wands, merely keep them for display, but I love looking at the intricate designs and personality in them, because they suit my two favorite characters so well. I have three wands that were handcrafted–one from an extremely artistic friend (it’s green and has leaves on it; perfect for a Herbology-loving Hufflepuff) and the other two from swaps (one is small enough to fit in a whimsy jar).  And I have a Harry Potter light-up wand that glows red; that’s my Wizard Rock wand because it’s perfect for occasions where you must cast lumos and dance at a concert.

“It’s dance time.
C”mon wizards and witches,
Get your wands up!”

~The Ministry of Magic, Dance Time

My wand collection

My wand collection

WeasleyWandsI got an email from Warner Brothers a few days ago that partially featured a sale on Fred & George Weasley’s wands. The wands come together in a lovely W&W stand. I’d seen their wands before, but I’d never taken a serious look at them, as I honestly think I’m all set as far as wands go. I remember thinking how nice it was that Fred’s wand and George’s wand look so different. To me, the twins are a great pair, but they’re not interchangeable. So it was neat that their wands are definitely not as identical as they are physically. And the display stand is quite beautiful, especially with the little Ws at the top of the columns.

George’s wand looks a little bit like a broom, but with crisscrossing, intricate designs. It’s got a pleasing look to it and it seems like it would be satisfying to hold. On the other hand, there’s Fred’s wand. It looks lovely in the display stand picture, perhaps with rows of designs. But when you look at it close-up, it’s more like a pine cone. Ouch! How does he even grip this thing, let alone do magic with it?

FredsWand

The only thing I can figure is that, knowing Fred, it must be a joke. Given canon, it’s thought his wand might be better for transfiguration work. Perhaps it’s the wand itself that is transfigured. “You thought that was my wand? Ha! That’s not my wand. This rubber chicken here, that’s my real wand!” Almost as bad as a glass of water that thinks it’s an oak tree? You be the judge. All I know is that this wand has got to be a bit uncomfortable. I wouldn’t want to be gripping this tight for hours while doing spellwork or during an intense battle unless I had on some pretty nice gloves.

Mix Yourself–Fandom Edition!

Recently I joined a swap-bot swap in which we were tasked with assembling 10 songs into a playlist that represent us, based on certain requirements. I thought I did a rather good job of it: Mix Yourself!

I must admit that I did have a difficult time not including any fandom songs in the list. I had to settle for Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance” instead of the Ministry of Magic’s “Dance Time,” for example. So, I decided to create a second version of this playlist, including just fandom songs. Here is the result: Mix Yourself–Fandom Edition!

I’m slightly disappointed that so many turned out to be Harry Potter songs–not because I don’t love them (obviously I do, or I wouldn’t have put them on my list) but because I have so much fandom music and its a shame there’s no Sherlock, Hunger Games, or even Doctor Who music on this list. But I was limited to songs that best represented these categories.

Please note that these songs may contain spoilers!

1. A song that makes you happy
(Harry Potter) Just a Hufflepuff by Oliver Boyd & The Remenbralls

2. A song that reminds you of something sad
(Supernatural) I’m Okay by Elizabeth Smart

3. A song that is your guilty pleasure
(LOST) Mr. Eko by the Oceanic Six

4. A song you liked when you were younger
(Harry Potter) 99 Death Eaters by Draco & the Malfoys

5. A song that makes you want to dance
(Harry Potter) Dance Time by the Ministry of Magic

6. A song that reminds you of your favourite season
(Harry Potter) Candle in the Window by Tonks and the Aurors

7. A song people wouldn’t expect you to like
(Harry Potter) Astoria Greengrass and the Pure-Blood Prince by Swish and Flick

8. A song you’re currently obsessed with
(The Hobbit) I See Fire by Ed Sheeran

9. A song that you never get tired of
(Supernatural) Tuesday by SPN Guitarwriter

10. A song that you think everybody should listen to
(Harry Potter) It’s Real for Us by Lauren Fairweather