not reading userinfos ;) j/k.. CSI, Rainbow Brite, High School Musical (*shame*), coloring :D
1. Name: Audrey
2. Age: 24 (I originally put "23" - sometimes I forget how old I am *^^*)
3. Gender: Female
4. What are your hobbies/interests outside of HP? How do you feel these hobbies/interests contribute to your personality?
Outside of Harry Potter, I'm an English teacher (there, I said it). I spend the majority of my time concerned with eighty twelve to sixteen year olds (and one incredibly endearing seventeen year old). I spend most of my actual and thinking time on these students (teaching them how to communicate clearly through writing; giving them the ability to improve their reading comprehension; being a counselor slash second mom slash big sister).
I also like CSI (as my subject line shows). I get into the mysteries - trying to figure out "whodunit" and "howdunit." I also like the relationships portrayed on that show; not just the romantic links between Grissom and Sarah, but how they all interact with each other (particularly Catherine and Warrick).
But none of my interests shape me; rather, I shape my interests. I teach my kids as myself, rather than let teacher consume my personality (this is why I do not own a single denim jumper dress, or "ABC 123" apron, or apple-with-worm sweater).
5. Which Harry Potter character do you feel you can relate to the most? Explain. Which character is your favorite? Again, explain.
I can definitely relate to Luna Lovegood - especially at that age. We're both people who have been given all kinds of intellectual freedom by our parents, and then tossed into a world where the other kids were guided into thinking in some kind of majority method (oh wow... I can tell I'm gonna hear it about this). I imagine that she was also somewhat isolated from her peer group during elementary development, which definitely lends more to that idea of free thought.
Okay, I'll state it plainly: I was an outcast. Kids thought I was weird. I was a "bottom feeder." To the rest of the school, Luna was these things, too; until Harry, Ron, and Hermione communicated with her to find out her true personality. They realized that she was unique, not scarily odd. In my secondary school experience, only a few of the lucky ones discovered what an awesome person I am.
As for my favorite character, I am a complete twin fan. I remember being so disappointed when movie one came out - they were so geeky looking! I have a complete attraction to bad boys (those types of kids are my favorite students, too, because they have so much personality). I think I liked them because they were mischievous, but not complete jerks - their pranks weren't malicious and they didn't betray anyone's trust to entertain the masses...they found their own ways.
6. Give us explanations and reasons for and against you being sorted into each house.
(haha, I used my own guide to houses at _belong for this ;))
a. Gryffindor
For: I definitely have a lot of passion. I love teaching and throw myself into it no holds barred. If I'm going to do something, I try not to do it only half way.
Against: I am a freaking chicken. Although the idea of conquering my ideas is exciting, it will remain an idea. Let's have a magnified moment of Audrey to show her total fear of life: all of Audrey's friends jumped down this five foot cliff at the beach....Audrey sat on her butt and slid down.
b. Hufflepuff
For: I do tend to stereotype, but I am just as easy (if not easier/quicker) to break them down as soon as I get to know the person. I come to take people for how they present themselves instead of who they are. Once I accept you into my life, I am extremely loyal and am incredibly supportive of the diverse beliefs of my friends.
Against: I do reach a point in which I think that another's beliefs or actions are completely ridiculous. At that point, Audrey support ceases. Also, I have been known to go against what I think is right in order to save my own skin.
c. Ravenclaw
For: I love to read. I love to learn. I am constantly analyzing my own actions and other events. Often, I sit back and watch myself think (you should try it; it's fun) just to gain a better perspective on why I make certain decisions. I do this often in relationships: why am I attracted to this person; am I really jealous, or is this just a knee-jerk reaction? Plus, I am a grammar fiend. I know I will make mistakes, but I try to correct them (and learn from them for future reference) - I've actually corrected a few mistakes in this application *^^*
Against: There are many pursuits of knowledge that I'm sure would improve my life, but I am just too lazy to go after. I know this contradicts my Hufflepuff response - I guess what I mean is that if I'm not into something, I won't give it my full effort (whereas, I will if it's something that piques my interest). I can also be a complete airhead (many many "duh" moments), especially when around a large group of people. The bigger the crowd, the dumber I get.
d. Slytherin
For: As stated earlier, I sometimes will go against morals in order to save myself. In the past, I've blamed a problem on someone else (my fault or not) in order to not be the guilty party. As soon as I get into trouble, my immediate reaction is to figure out how I'm going to talk myself out of it. I am definitely one of those girls who flirts with service people (waiters, clerks, etc) to get better help.
Against: Despite all of this, I'm not really competitive. I have no problem if someone is better than me at something, just as long as I meet my own standards. I don't need to be ahead of everyone; just far enough along so that I can survive/exist/make it.
7. What was your least favorite moment in HP?
I can't stand the romance (haha, I see that's an example in the next question discussing why I like Harry Potter). It's not that I disagree with the idea of these kids hooking up with each other; I just think J. K. Rowling does a horrible job portraying the relationships! I thought Harry/Cho was just a bit too quick if she was still all enamored over Cedric. (What girl could kiss another boy after her boyfriend died?). I thought Lupin/Tonks was way too out of the blue - we had no buildup of it, no reason to believe why there was an attraction except for the fact that she said so.
8. What about HP appeals to you (e.g. the romance, the adventure, the friendships, the fantasy, the mystery)?
I love the adventure and the mystery of the Harry Potter series. In the first four, I loved how the entire book was covered in clues, only to reveal "whodunit" at the end. In book one, "who would've suspected poor Professor Quirrel?" In book two, who could have fathomed that this awesome book that showed us so much of Hogwarts's history could be from the mind of Voldemort? In book three, who could have imagined that this scary killer we're hoping Harry doesn't meet is, in fact, his God father? In book four, who would've thought that one of the few people we could trust was Voldemort's right hand man (and all of the "zomgs!" that went with that scenario). I guess what I'm trying to say is that nothing in the series is as it seems; it makes you think, but it still is insanely shocking when you do reach that conclusion.
I also enjoy how intricate Rowling is with her explanations and histories; plus, I like how she intertwines everything and still allows the plot to flow. I like that there aren't entire chapters devoted to context and backstory that pull us away from the main plot line; rather, we learn about necessary past events through stories told to Harry and through his dealings with the Pensieve.
9. What would you do if your friend was in danger? What would you give up in order to save them? Would you lay your life on the line?
During my first year of teaching, we went under lockdown because an armed bank robber came in the direction of our school. I decided that if he entered our classroom, I would do anything I could to protect my students.
That said, we really don't know our true reaction to a situation until we've had to put ourselves in it. I've never had to sacrifice anything for a friend, so I don't know what I'd do if asked.
I can tell you that there are things I won't do. I won't gouge out my own eyeball to get a key to save myself (or a friend... and, yes, that was a Saw II reference. I cringed). I won't give up anything I've worked hard to attain and I won't do anything that would get me into severe trouble. For example, there are things I won't do for under-age friends because it will result in me getting arrested and permanently losing my teaching certificate. No one is worth my pain and suffering, especially if the situation is the result of their poor choice.
(A day later, I talked with the person closest to me about the whole eyeball thing. He said that he wouldn't gouge his eyeball out for me, either, but he would find a way to save me. He has a point: there will be no such thing as a situation in which the only way to save myself/someone is to remove our eyeball. Yay, logic, logic!)
10. If you could only store one memory in the Pensieve to visit over again, which one would it be? Why?
I would store a hodgepodge of my sophomore year of college: the late-night art galleries put up in our dorm hallways, volunteering at a haunted house, making up songs about Gundam Wing boys to Moulin Rouge tunes, "Mertzing" each other (building random sculptures in each others' doorways). This was the year that I found a group of people who were just like me: completely abnormal in a good way. I found a group who accepted me for who I am; as opposed to some high school friends who let me hang around because they felt sorry for me (see my Luna response). This was the year that I had fun and didn't stress about anything. I miss that person - why do I have to be a grown up?
11. What excites you the most in life? Where do you get the most joy and fulfillment?
I love my job. I love that I've taught some of these kids for three years and I can see how they've grown academically, socially, and emotionally (okay, yes, and physically, but that's not my focus). I love that I can show a student an essay that he wrote two years ago to demonstrate to him how much he has improved. I love watching kids make choices that forever change their lives: like one of my eighth graders who chose last year, in seventh grade, that he was tired of failing and receiving the "dumb" label, so he decided to straighten up his act.
I also live to have fun. I don't understand people who want to wallow in their own misery. Sure, I have my depressing moments, but I end up arguing myself out of them (or I get tired of all of the negative emotion). There are so many adventures to be had - why sit in a pile of nothingness?
12. If you were in Harry's position during the "Snape's Worst Memory" incident, how would you view Peter, James, Sirius, Lily, Remus, and Snape differently? Why?
I remember my exact reaction to that scene: I was so mad at James. However, I almost found it refreshing that Harry's father wasn't the golden boy to whom he was originally portrayed; I liked seeing that he, too, made mistakes. Plus, it made it all seem a bit more realistic to see that James was a bully back in the day. I've had enough experience with watching people grow up to see that often we do not reflect who we were in adolescence, so I can definitely understand that James's bullying/showoff tendencies did not follow him into adulthood (ie, he wasn't a jerkoff grown up).
However, in Harry's place, I'd feel really betrayed. I'd grown up thinking of my dad as a role model - almost a hero - only to find out that he had similar qualities to my biggest peer enemy (you gotta admit - the whole "Snape's Worst Memory" incident painted James to be a lot like Draco). I'd start to wonder if the stories about my dad were true. I'd probably go through a long phase of hating my dad.
(This all is written, of course, with my perception of Harry as being someone who often doesn't think through a whole situation before acting. High emotion; low logic.)
But let me actually answer the whole question ;p
I'd almost feel sympathetic toward Snape until his reaction to Lily. Here he is practically crying out his dislike toward being the target, yet when someone shows a bit of humanity, he shuns it because he can't see past his own prejudices. This, I think, makes Snape worse than James. James chose to pick on Snape for choices that Snape made; whereas Snape chose to pick on Lily for circumstances she couldn't help (for more info, see my response to question 20).
I'd still hold my respect for Lily and Remus as I don't feel they did anything wrong. I'd understand Sirius a bit more - I'd definitely understand why he was chosen for all of James's confidances because he was definitely the latter's right-hand-man/encourager in everything. Remus seemed to hold a bit of his logic; possibly too much for James's taste, which set the former aside.
And Peter..well..I can't freaking stand him, anyway. I know myself, and I know I would talk out of both sides of my mouth for self-preservation, but he just takes it a little too far. You can save your skin without having to pledge ultimate allegiance (actually, making the commitment to that level is really dangerous - the deeper you're in, the harder it is to get out...the deeper you're in, the harsher the punishment when you do betray...the deeper you're in, the weirder the trust gets (you're either really trusted, or suspicions about you grow faster)). But, to answer the question, my opinion of Peter wasn't altered in that flashback; if anything, my reaction to him was, "you freaking weasel."
13. If you had access to a time turner without worry of not being able to return, nor any other restrictions, what would you use it for and why?
Haha! I talked about this with my significant other last night. When we met, he was very anti-relationship. We've actually been dating for three months, and he just recently was able to use the "r" word and "g" word in reference to me. I asked him what he would do if, when I originally introduced myself in August, I had said, "hey, I'm Audrey, and in a few months, we are going to be in a serious relationship." He said he would laugh at me. I'd love to be able to do that just to see his face.
In all seriousness, I'd love to go back and have some of my questions answered that history books just can't do. What did people look like back in the day? What did they dress like in non-photographic times (when they weren't wearing their Sunday best)? Who was Jack the Ripper? I'd love to learn all of the ballroom dances from Renaissance times.
I'd also love to go back to the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Friday after and NOT SPEED so that now, I wouldn't be paying two speeding tickets and watching my insurance rates soar like the Hulk roller coaster!
14. In the Philosopher's Stone (AKA Sorcerer's Stone), Neville had a choice: he could let his friends go out at night when they weren’t supposed to and potentially they could lose points for his house, or he could confront them and stop them from breaking the rules. What would you have done in his situation?
I have the tendency to be extremely passive-aggressive, so I probably wouldn't confront them, but I would find a way to let my opinion be known and/or stop them. I know myself very well, and I know I would probably discuss my feelings about them to anyone who would hear (in other words, I'd talk smack about the trio).
I probably wouldn't follow in Draco's steps and tattle to the teacher (though, yes, I am aware that Draco wasn't risking points from his own house). I'm not a tattler by nature (in my quests to stay out of trouble, I tend to deny knowledge of any other participants), and, from my own experiences, I know that authority doesn't always handle things correctly.
15. Who (dead, alive, or fictional) do you most admire? This can be someone from real life or from Harry Potter.
L. Ron Hubbard is freaking awesome. Anyone who can make up a completely asinine idea of a religion (sorry if there are any Scientologists here - but, come on, we're all born with little alien souls inside of us?) and then make scads of money off of it is a total genius. You really have to know how to play the game in order to convince THAT MANY people that your idea is viable - people even put their reputations on the line to support it (hello, Tom Cruise)!
16. What is your favorite book outside of Harry Potter? What is it about this book that endears it to you?
I hate this question. I like every book on the planet. Plus, when I'm asked about "favorite" in broad categories, my mind tends to go blank. This is why I have no favorite color.
I like stories in which the main character solves a huge problem in his life (or figures out something about himself) without major consequences - in other words, he gets to go back and fix it. Recently, my eighth graders read Touching Spirit Bear which was that all over. I like the idea of people getting a second chance and really becoming fantastic human beings, instead of wallowing in their own misery and being wastes of space.
17. In Goblet of Fire, Harry was chosen for the Tri-Wizard Tournament even with the age-line. Ron was unable to enter because of the age restriction even though he really wanted to be a part of the Tournament. Was Ron right to be jealous/angry at Harry? Were Harry's reactions appropriate? Why?
In the past, Ron and Harry have shared everything, so I think Ron was rightly suspicious of this one quest of Harry's that the latter didn't share. In the past, whenever something weird would happen to Harry, he would immediately tell his best friend. This time, there was no precursor - it just happened. I can definitely understand how Ron felt betrayed and didn't have the emotional ability to process anything Harry said to him. In short, he needed time to rationalize.
Harry's reactions were not appropriate. Then again, I'm not too happy with Harry's inability to handle his anger in books four and five. He doesn't listen to Ron's expressions of betrayal (if that makes sense), rather, he is too quick to defend everything. He should've listened to Ron before jumping all over his rebuttal.
Random thought: Bakhtin introduced the theory of the novel as a work being a jumble of "truths" (points of view or perceptions); each character represented a different view. Harry Potter is a lot like that. When he and Ron fought, we got the reaction of being hot headed through the boys, but we also got the logical response from Hermione. Maybe that's why I have such a problem with Harry - because he always represents the point of view that I wouldn't take.
18. Which class would you look forward to the most at Hogwarts? Which classes do you/did you excel in most at school?
I would be the A++++++ student in Muggle studies. Why? Because I am a freaking Muggle-born. I would definitely be the genius kid who knew everything that everyone looked to for help, but I know myself and I know I would get frustrated in doing so and end up becoming this hermit who snapped at everyone who needed a question (actually, I'd probably get frustrated at their inability to grasp a simple concept such as flipping a light switch or turning on the vacuum).
I'd probably also like potions (uncapitalized because you only capitalize names of classes that are either languages or followed by a number; I taught my students that last week) because it was the "fun" part of chemistry. I love mixing things to see what happens, which I show now in my cooking (over Thanksgiving, I discovered that if you add a little flour to pecan pie, the sweet gooey inside doesn't run all over the place...but you need to add a bit more butter and corn syrup to make up for the blandness).
In high school, my favorite classes were the electives - especially the art classes. I loved the environment in those classes. It wasn't teacher lecturing student; rather, "here's your clay; here are the requirements; it's due Tuesday."
In college, I liked the classes which had professors who got really excited about the subject. When I read The Things They Carried in American lit, the professor brought in the Dixie Chicks CD with "Traveling Soldier" just so we could hear the sorrow. He cried; it showed that he was incredibly passionate about the content.
19. In the wizarding world, all 5th year students are required to pick a career to focus on going into their 6th and 7th years at Hogwarts. What career path would you choose? Why? How does it relate to what you wish to do (or are currently doing) in the future?
Okay, no sixteen or seventeen year old has completed enough development to truly know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. In college, most of my friends changed their major two or three times, and many ended up in a career that they didn't envision for themselves right off. I mean, look at Harry. He said that he wanted to be an Auror, but we can see from his path by the end of book six that something else is in the cards for him.
Let's all have a captain obvious moment: of course I'd want to be a Hogwarts professor ;) I'd love watching those little wizards learn and develop. I'd love to provide guidance for those who are confused so that we could possibly have fewer Voldemort followers. I have no clue what I would teach...as I am not a wizard, I don't know what each area requires. With my abilities in language, I'd probably do well in ancient runes.
20. In the Wizarding world, some pure-blood wizards consider Muggle-borns "filthy" and "horrible." In our world, people are categorized by their wealth, racial background, and appearance. What are your opinions on Muggle-borns? What are the qualities that you value in others?
Children, it's story time. Once upon a time, Audrey met a boy named Byron (name has been changed). Byron grew up in an insanely abusive household. After child services snatched him away, he was bounced among foster homes during his adolescence. Byron received no emotional support during his development, causing him to have no faith in himself. Byron dropped out of high school and proceeded to make many decisions that resulted in him having fun at others' expenses.
Today, Byron has attained his high school degree and is enrolled in college, completing a pre-law program. He has decided that he doesn't like the people with whom he formerly surrounded himself and is taking many steps not to become that person. He quit associating himself with the people who encouraged his negative behaviors and is filling his life with quality people.
The moral of the story: no, you don't have to grow up in a certain environment to achieve specific goals. Just because you came from a Muggle background does not mean you can be a successful wizard. You should be based on your current abilities and decisions, not those made in the past (and amended if bad) or by your origins.
21. You have stumbled across five magical wells. One is the Well of Common Sense and Logic, the second is the Well of Creativity, the third is the Well of Optimism, the fourth is the Well of Physical Strength, and the fifth is the Well of Beauty. You can only drink from one well, but once you do you will be endowed with that ability for the rest of your life. Which well do you think you would definitely not need, and which do you think you would want to drink from?
With my stress levels, I'd want to drink from the Well of Optimism. Too often, I become caught up in the negative "what if's" and forget to focus on reality. I think that having a good attitude about everything will keep me from getting distracted by my own pessimism.
I definitely do not need to drink from the Well of Beauty. My own looks are something that I struggle with and I know I won't feel satisfied with a miracle cure. I finally got fed up with the amount of weight I gained from college, so I started running. I've lost forty pounds on my own. I think the Well of Beauty is a bit too close to the miracle diet cures, which frustrate the mess out of me (especially the "cyclone" diet... of course you'll lose weight if you drink nothing but unsugared cranberry juice for five days straight; but then you'll gain it back because your body will go into starvation mode and store all of the calories you consume when you start eating again AND YOU'LL GAIN IT ALL BACK PLUS SOME /rant).
22. If you had to make 5 Horcruxes, who or what objects would you choose and why? Meaning, what means the most to you and why what significance does it have that you would want to put your soul into it?
Haha, if I were evil Voldy, I'd make them out of things that no one would suspect! I was entertained by Portkeys in that they were just rubbish articles lying around that no one would bother picking up. I think that trusting your soul to be in something like that is a bit risky (what if the trash cleaner came around and it was compacted and I couldn't find it again!!!), but no one would fathom that a nasty snot-encrusted tissue would be of danger ;)
But, I get the point of this question (duh, it's explicitly stated), and I'll play good Audrey :)
My fairy wings: If I could have any super power in the world, it would be to fly. With this desire, I am obsessed with wings. I have several sets of costume fairy wings; I even have wings tattooed onto my back (for those who know me, I promise that a more up-to-date picture of my back art is coming).
A book: Any book. Reading is just freaking awesome. I'd love my soul to be attached to that.
My day planner: This is probably the most important item to me since I started teaching. I use a half-page sized one with all blank lines. I fill it up with not only my lesson plans, but things that happened that day to keep in mind for future reference.
Fred, my fish plushie (named so before the existence of Harry Potter): I've slept with this thing every night since I was twelve (yes, I started sleeping with my childhood stuffed animal at twelve). He helped me through college. Part of my soul is probably in him because he's what I go to every time I cry (I've sobbed into that poor thing).
Quincy: Technically, the Quince is no longer alive, but if he were, he's the one animal to whom I'd tie myself. Quincy was my white betta who ate out of my hand (he wouldn't eat unless he jumped out of his bowl to catch food off of my fingers). He used to stalk my fingers across his bowl. I even wrote several haiku to him on my Myspace.
23. What would your boggart form be and why?
I fear rejection, which was a fear prodded at by a past relationship. I was treated as if I didn't matter, yet still tossed enough little danglies to keep me leaping for more. I often have nightmares about being chased but unable to see, scream, or run away (entrapment, possibly). Other times, my nightmares are about needing to make a decision and being completely unable to.
My boggart would be blindness (if that makes sense). Metaphorically and literally, I fear not being able to clearly see both myself and others.
I'm sure this is probably cheating =p
(Sidenote: remember in movie three the boggart turning into that clown AFTER the "Riddikulus!" ? That thing was SCARY; how was it someone's relief?)
24. Anything else you want to tell us before we sort you? Also, please tell us where you heard about this community. (Members who refer new applicants receive points, so please try to be as specific as possible.)
I like to sing in the shower. Not really, but I'd be embarrassed as all getout if I received "no" votes for not following a "we're just making sure you read the rules" rule. I do sing in the car, though...with my windows rolled down and the music blaring. I r no shame. I was referred by Ravenclaw (yes, the entire house - even if I'm not placed there (I see a lot of Gryff in this app, not that I'm pushing..just reflecting), I want my eagles to bask in the glory ;))
2. Age: 24 (I originally put "23" - sometimes I forget how old I am *^^*)
3. Gender: Female
4. What are your hobbies/interests outside of HP? How do you feel these hobbies/interests contribute to your personality?
Outside of Harry Potter, I'm an English teacher (there, I said it). I spend the majority of my time concerned with eighty twelve to sixteen year olds (and one incredibly endearing seventeen year old). I spend most of my actual and thinking time on these students (teaching them how to communicate clearly through writing; giving them the ability to improve their reading comprehension; being a counselor slash second mom slash big sister).
I also like CSI (as my subject line shows). I get into the mysteries - trying to figure out "whodunit" and "howdunit." I also like the relationships portrayed on that show; not just the romantic links between Grissom and Sarah, but how they all interact with each other (particularly Catherine and Warrick).
But none of my interests shape me; rather, I shape my interests. I teach my kids as myself, rather than let teacher consume my personality (this is why I do not own a single denim jumper dress, or "ABC 123" apron, or apple-with-worm sweater).
5. Which Harry Potter character do you feel you can relate to the most? Explain. Which character is your favorite? Again, explain.
I can definitely relate to Luna Lovegood - especially at that age. We're both people who have been given all kinds of intellectual freedom by our parents, and then tossed into a world where the other kids were guided into thinking in some kind of majority method (oh wow... I can tell I'm gonna hear it about this). I imagine that she was also somewhat isolated from her peer group during elementary development, which definitely lends more to that idea of free thought.
Okay, I'll state it plainly: I was an outcast. Kids thought I was weird. I was a "bottom feeder." To the rest of the school, Luna was these things, too; until Harry, Ron, and Hermione communicated with her to find out her true personality. They realized that she was unique, not scarily odd. In my secondary school experience, only a few of the lucky ones discovered what an awesome person I am.
As for my favorite character, I am a complete twin fan. I remember being so disappointed when movie one came out - they were so geeky looking! I have a complete attraction to bad boys (those types of kids are my favorite students, too, because they have so much personality). I think I liked them because they were mischievous, but not complete jerks - their pranks weren't malicious and they didn't betray anyone's trust to entertain the masses...they found their own ways.
6. Give us explanations and reasons for and against you being sorted into each house.
(haha, I used my own guide to houses at _belong for this ;))
a. Gryffindor
For: I definitely have a lot of passion. I love teaching and throw myself into it no holds barred. If I'm going to do something, I try not to do it only half way.
Against: I am a freaking chicken. Although the idea of conquering my ideas is exciting, it will remain an idea. Let's have a magnified moment of Audrey to show her total fear of life: all of Audrey's friends jumped down this five foot cliff at the beach....Audrey sat on her butt and slid down.
b. Hufflepuff
For: I do tend to stereotype, but I am just as easy (if not easier/quicker) to break them down as soon as I get to know the person. I come to take people for how they present themselves instead of who they are. Once I accept you into my life, I am extremely loyal and am incredibly supportive of the diverse beliefs of my friends.
Against: I do reach a point in which I think that another's beliefs or actions are completely ridiculous. At that point, Audrey support ceases. Also, I have been known to go against what I think is right in order to save my own skin.
c. Ravenclaw
For: I love to read. I love to learn. I am constantly analyzing my own actions and other events. Often, I sit back and watch myself think (you should try it; it's fun) just to gain a better perspective on why I make certain decisions. I do this often in relationships: why am I attracted to this person; am I really jealous, or is this just a knee-jerk reaction? Plus, I am a grammar fiend. I know I will make mistakes, but I try to correct them (and learn from them for future reference) - I've actually corrected a few mistakes in this application *^^*
Against: There are many pursuits of knowledge that I'm sure would improve my life, but I am just too lazy to go after. I know this contradicts my Hufflepuff response - I guess what I mean is that if I'm not into something, I won't give it my full effort (whereas, I will if it's something that piques my interest). I can also be a complete airhead (many many "duh" moments), especially when around a large group of people. The bigger the crowd, the dumber I get.
d. Slytherin
For: As stated earlier, I sometimes will go against morals in order to save myself. In the past, I've blamed a problem on someone else (my fault or not) in order to not be the guilty party. As soon as I get into trouble, my immediate reaction is to figure out how I'm going to talk myself out of it. I am definitely one of those girls who flirts with service people (waiters, clerks, etc) to get better help.
Against: Despite all of this, I'm not really competitive. I have no problem if someone is better than me at something, just as long as I meet my own standards. I don't need to be ahead of everyone; just far enough along so that I can survive/exist/make it.
7. What was your least favorite moment in HP?
I can't stand the romance (haha, I see that's an example in the next question discussing why I like Harry Potter). It's not that I disagree with the idea of these kids hooking up with each other; I just think J. K. Rowling does a horrible job portraying the relationships! I thought Harry/Cho was just a bit too quick if she was still all enamored over Cedric. (What girl could kiss another boy after her boyfriend died?). I thought Lupin/Tonks was way too out of the blue - we had no buildup of it, no reason to believe why there was an attraction except for the fact that she said so.
8. What about HP appeals to you (e.g. the romance, the adventure, the friendships, the fantasy, the mystery)?
I love the adventure and the mystery of the Harry Potter series. In the first four, I loved how the entire book was covered in clues, only to reveal "whodunit" at the end. In book one, "who would've suspected poor Professor Quirrel?" In book two, who could have fathomed that this awesome book that showed us so much of Hogwarts's history could be from the mind of Voldemort? In book three, who could have imagined that this scary killer we're hoping Harry doesn't meet is, in fact, his God father? In book four, who would've thought that one of the few people we could trust was Voldemort's right hand man (and all of the "zomgs!" that went with that scenario). I guess what I'm trying to say is that nothing in the series is as it seems; it makes you think, but it still is insanely shocking when you do reach that conclusion.
I also enjoy how intricate Rowling is with her explanations and histories; plus, I like how she intertwines everything and still allows the plot to flow. I like that there aren't entire chapters devoted to context and backstory that pull us away from the main plot line; rather, we learn about necessary past events through stories told to Harry and through his dealings with the Pensieve.
9. What would you do if your friend was in danger? What would you give up in order to save them? Would you lay your life on the line?
During my first year of teaching, we went under lockdown because an armed bank robber came in the direction of our school. I decided that if he entered our classroom, I would do anything I could to protect my students.
That said, we really don't know our true reaction to a situation until we've had to put ourselves in it. I've never had to sacrifice anything for a friend, so I don't know what I'd do if asked.
I can tell you that there are things I won't do. I won't gouge out my own eyeball to get a key to save myself (or a friend... and, yes, that was a Saw II reference. I cringed). I won't give up anything I've worked hard to attain and I won't do anything that would get me into severe trouble. For example, there are things I won't do for under-age friends because it will result in me getting arrested and permanently losing my teaching certificate. No one is worth my pain and suffering, especially if the situation is the result of their poor choice.
(A day later, I talked with the person closest to me about the whole eyeball thing. He said that he wouldn't gouge his eyeball out for me, either, but he would find a way to save me. He has a point: there will be no such thing as a situation in which the only way to save myself/someone is to remove our eyeball. Yay, logic, logic!)
10. If you could only store one memory in the Pensieve to visit over again, which one would it be? Why?
I would store a hodgepodge of my sophomore year of college: the late-night art galleries put up in our dorm hallways, volunteering at a haunted house, making up songs about Gundam Wing boys to Moulin Rouge tunes, "Mertzing" each other (building random sculptures in each others' doorways). This was the year that I found a group of people who were just like me: completely abnormal in a good way. I found a group who accepted me for who I am; as opposed to some high school friends who let me hang around because they felt sorry for me (see my Luna response). This was the year that I had fun and didn't stress about anything. I miss that person - why do I have to be a grown up?
11. What excites you the most in life? Where do you get the most joy and fulfillment?
I love my job. I love that I've taught some of these kids for three years and I can see how they've grown academically, socially, and emotionally (okay, yes, and physically, but that's not my focus). I love that I can show a student an essay that he wrote two years ago to demonstrate to him how much he has improved. I love watching kids make choices that forever change their lives: like one of my eighth graders who chose last year, in seventh grade, that he was tired of failing and receiving the "dumb" label, so he decided to straighten up his act.
I also live to have fun. I don't understand people who want to wallow in their own misery. Sure, I have my depressing moments, but I end up arguing myself out of them (or I get tired of all of the negative emotion). There are so many adventures to be had - why sit in a pile of nothingness?
12. If you were in Harry's position during the "Snape's Worst Memory" incident, how would you view Peter, James, Sirius, Lily, Remus, and Snape differently? Why?
I remember my exact reaction to that scene: I was so mad at James. However, I almost found it refreshing that Harry's father wasn't the golden boy to whom he was originally portrayed; I liked seeing that he, too, made mistakes. Plus, it made it all seem a bit more realistic to see that James was a bully back in the day. I've had enough experience with watching people grow up to see that often we do not reflect who we were in adolescence, so I can definitely understand that James's bullying/showoff tendencies did not follow him into adulthood (ie, he wasn't a jerkoff grown up).
However, in Harry's place, I'd feel really betrayed. I'd grown up thinking of my dad as a role model - almost a hero - only to find out that he had similar qualities to my biggest peer enemy (you gotta admit - the whole "Snape's Worst Memory" incident painted James to be a lot like Draco). I'd start to wonder if the stories about my dad were true. I'd probably go through a long phase of hating my dad.
(This all is written, of course, with my perception of Harry as being someone who often doesn't think through a whole situation before acting. High emotion; low logic.)
But let me actually answer the whole question ;p
I'd almost feel sympathetic toward Snape until his reaction to Lily. Here he is practically crying out his dislike toward being the target, yet when someone shows a bit of humanity, he shuns it because he can't see past his own prejudices. This, I think, makes Snape worse than James. James chose to pick on Snape for choices that Snape made; whereas Snape chose to pick on Lily for circumstances she couldn't help (for more info, see my response to question 20).
I'd still hold my respect for Lily and Remus as I don't feel they did anything wrong. I'd understand Sirius a bit more - I'd definitely understand why he was chosen for all of James's confidances because he was definitely the latter's right-hand-man/encourager in everything. Remus seemed to hold a bit of his logic; possibly too much for James's taste, which set the former aside.
And Peter..well..I can't freaking stand him, anyway. I know myself, and I know I would talk out of both sides of my mouth for self-preservation, but he just takes it a little too far. You can save your skin without having to pledge ultimate allegiance (actually, making the commitment to that level is really dangerous - the deeper you're in, the harder it is to get out...the deeper you're in, the harsher the punishment when you do betray...the deeper you're in, the weirder the trust gets (you're either really trusted, or suspicions about you grow faster)). But, to answer the question, my opinion of Peter wasn't altered in that flashback; if anything, my reaction to him was, "you freaking weasel."
13. If you had access to a time turner without worry of not being able to return, nor any other restrictions, what would you use it for and why?
Haha! I talked about this with my significant other last night. When we met, he was very anti-relationship. We've actually been dating for three months, and he just recently was able to use the "r" word and "g" word in reference to me. I asked him what he would do if, when I originally introduced myself in August, I had said, "hey, I'm Audrey, and in a few months, we are going to be in a serious relationship." He said he would laugh at me. I'd love to be able to do that just to see his face.
In all seriousness, I'd love to go back and have some of my questions answered that history books just can't do. What did people look like back in the day? What did they dress like in non-photographic times (when they weren't wearing their Sunday best)? Who was Jack the Ripper? I'd love to learn all of the ballroom dances from Renaissance times.
I'd also love to go back to the Wednesday before Thanksgiving and the Friday after and NOT SPEED so that now, I wouldn't be paying two speeding tickets and watching my insurance rates soar like the Hulk roller coaster!
14. In the Philosopher's Stone (AKA Sorcerer's Stone), Neville had a choice: he could let his friends go out at night when they weren’t supposed to and potentially they could lose points for his house, or he could confront them and stop them from breaking the rules. What would you have done in his situation?
I have the tendency to be extremely passive-aggressive, so I probably wouldn't confront them, but I would find a way to let my opinion be known and/or stop them. I know myself very well, and I know I would probably discuss my feelings about them to anyone who would hear (in other words, I'd talk smack about the trio).
I probably wouldn't follow in Draco's steps and tattle to the teacher (though, yes, I am aware that Draco wasn't risking points from his own house). I'm not a tattler by nature (in my quests to stay out of trouble, I tend to deny knowledge of any other participants), and, from my own experiences, I know that authority doesn't always handle things correctly.
15. Who (dead, alive, or fictional) do you most admire? This can be someone from real life or from Harry Potter.
L. Ron Hubbard is freaking awesome. Anyone who can make up a completely asinine idea of a religion (sorry if there are any Scientologists here - but, come on, we're all born with little alien souls inside of us?) and then make scads of money off of it is a total genius. You really have to know how to play the game in order to convince THAT MANY people that your idea is viable - people even put their reputations on the line to support it (hello, Tom Cruise)!
16. What is your favorite book outside of Harry Potter? What is it about this book that endears it to you?
I hate this question. I like every book on the planet. Plus, when I'm asked about "favorite" in broad categories, my mind tends to go blank. This is why I have no favorite color.
I like stories in which the main character solves a huge problem in his life (or figures out something about himself) without major consequences - in other words, he gets to go back and fix it. Recently, my eighth graders read Touching Spirit Bear which was that all over. I like the idea of people getting a second chance and really becoming fantastic human beings, instead of wallowing in their own misery and being wastes of space.
17. In Goblet of Fire, Harry was chosen for the Tri-Wizard Tournament even with the age-line. Ron was unable to enter because of the age restriction even though he really wanted to be a part of the Tournament. Was Ron right to be jealous/angry at Harry? Were Harry's reactions appropriate? Why?
In the past, Ron and Harry have shared everything, so I think Ron was rightly suspicious of this one quest of Harry's that the latter didn't share. In the past, whenever something weird would happen to Harry, he would immediately tell his best friend. This time, there was no precursor - it just happened. I can definitely understand how Ron felt betrayed and didn't have the emotional ability to process anything Harry said to him. In short, he needed time to rationalize.
Harry's reactions were not appropriate. Then again, I'm not too happy with Harry's inability to handle his anger in books four and five. He doesn't listen to Ron's expressions of betrayal (if that makes sense), rather, he is too quick to defend everything. He should've listened to Ron before jumping all over his rebuttal.
Random thought: Bakhtin introduced the theory of the novel as a work being a jumble of "truths" (points of view or perceptions); each character represented a different view. Harry Potter is a lot like that. When he and Ron fought, we got the reaction of being hot headed through the boys, but we also got the logical response from Hermione. Maybe that's why I have such a problem with Harry - because he always represents the point of view that I wouldn't take.
18. Which class would you look forward to the most at Hogwarts? Which classes do you/did you excel in most at school?
I would be the A++++++ student in Muggle studies. Why? Because I am a freaking Muggle-born. I would definitely be the genius kid who knew everything that everyone looked to for help, but I know myself and I know I would get frustrated in doing so and end up becoming this hermit who snapped at everyone who needed a question (actually, I'd probably get frustrated at their inability to grasp a simple concept such as flipping a light switch or turning on the vacuum).
I'd probably also like potions (uncapitalized because you only capitalize names of classes that are either languages or followed by a number; I taught my students that last week) because it was the "fun" part of chemistry. I love mixing things to see what happens, which I show now in my cooking (over Thanksgiving, I discovered that if you add a little flour to pecan pie, the sweet gooey inside doesn't run all over the place...but you need to add a bit more butter and corn syrup to make up for the blandness).
In high school, my favorite classes were the electives - especially the art classes. I loved the environment in those classes. It wasn't teacher lecturing student; rather, "here's your clay; here are the requirements; it's due Tuesday."
In college, I liked the classes which had professors who got really excited about the subject. When I read The Things They Carried in American lit, the professor brought in the Dixie Chicks CD with "Traveling Soldier" just so we could hear the sorrow. He cried; it showed that he was incredibly passionate about the content.
19. In the wizarding world, all 5th year students are required to pick a career to focus on going into their 6th and 7th years at Hogwarts. What career path would you choose? Why? How does it relate to what you wish to do (or are currently doing) in the future?
Okay, no sixteen or seventeen year old has completed enough development to truly know what they want to do for the rest of their lives. In college, most of my friends changed their major two or three times, and many ended up in a career that they didn't envision for themselves right off. I mean, look at Harry. He said that he wanted to be an Auror, but we can see from his path by the end of book six that something else is in the cards for him.
Let's all have a captain obvious moment: of course I'd want to be a Hogwarts professor ;) I'd love watching those little wizards learn and develop. I'd love to provide guidance for those who are confused so that we could possibly have fewer Voldemort followers. I have no clue what I would teach...as I am not a wizard, I don't know what each area requires. With my abilities in language, I'd probably do well in ancient runes.
20. In the Wizarding world, some pure-blood wizards consider Muggle-borns "filthy" and "horrible." In our world, people are categorized by their wealth, racial background, and appearance. What are your opinions on Muggle-borns? What are the qualities that you value in others?
Children, it's story time. Once upon a time, Audrey met a boy named Byron (name has been changed). Byron grew up in an insanely abusive household. After child services snatched him away, he was bounced among foster homes during his adolescence. Byron received no emotional support during his development, causing him to have no faith in himself. Byron dropped out of high school and proceeded to make many decisions that resulted in him having fun at others' expenses.
Today, Byron has attained his high school degree and is enrolled in college, completing a pre-law program. He has decided that he doesn't like the people with whom he formerly surrounded himself and is taking many steps not to become that person. He quit associating himself with the people who encouraged his negative behaviors and is filling his life with quality people.
The moral of the story: no, you don't have to grow up in a certain environment to achieve specific goals. Just because you came from a Muggle background does not mean you can be a successful wizard. You should be based on your current abilities and decisions, not those made in the past (and amended if bad) or by your origins.
21. You have stumbled across five magical wells. One is the Well of Common Sense and Logic, the second is the Well of Creativity, the third is the Well of Optimism, the fourth is the Well of Physical Strength, and the fifth is the Well of Beauty. You can only drink from one well, but once you do you will be endowed with that ability for the rest of your life. Which well do you think you would definitely not need, and which do you think you would want to drink from?
With my stress levels, I'd want to drink from the Well of Optimism. Too often, I become caught up in the negative "what if's" and forget to focus on reality. I think that having a good attitude about everything will keep me from getting distracted by my own pessimism.
I definitely do not need to drink from the Well of Beauty. My own looks are something that I struggle with and I know I won't feel satisfied with a miracle cure. I finally got fed up with the amount of weight I gained from college, so I started running. I've lost forty pounds on my own. I think the Well of Beauty is a bit too close to the miracle diet cures, which frustrate the mess out of me (especially the "cyclone" diet... of course you'll lose weight if you drink nothing but unsugared cranberry juice for five days straight; but then you'll gain it back because your body will go into starvation mode and store all of the calories you consume when you start eating again AND YOU'LL GAIN IT ALL BACK PLUS SOME /rant).
22. If you had to make 5 Horcruxes, who or what objects would you choose and why? Meaning, what means the most to you and why what significance does it have that you would want to put your soul into it?
Haha, if I were evil Voldy, I'd make them out of things that no one would suspect! I was entertained by Portkeys in that they were just rubbish articles lying around that no one would bother picking up. I think that trusting your soul to be in something like that is a bit risky (what if the trash cleaner came around and it was compacted and I couldn't find it again!!!), but no one would fathom that a nasty snot-encrusted tissue would be of danger ;)
But, I get the point of this question (duh, it's explicitly stated), and I'll play good Audrey :)
My fairy wings: If I could have any super power in the world, it would be to fly. With this desire, I am obsessed with wings. I have several sets of costume fairy wings; I even have wings tattooed onto my back (for those who know me, I promise that a more up-to-date picture of my back art is coming).
A book: Any book. Reading is just freaking awesome. I'd love my soul to be attached to that.
My day planner: This is probably the most important item to me since I started teaching. I use a half-page sized one with all blank lines. I fill it up with not only my lesson plans, but things that happened that day to keep in mind for future reference.
Fred, my fish plushie (named so before the existence of Harry Potter): I've slept with this thing every night since I was twelve (yes, I started sleeping with my childhood stuffed animal at twelve). He helped me through college. Part of my soul is probably in him because he's what I go to every time I cry (I've sobbed into that poor thing).
Quincy: Technically, the Quince is no longer alive, but if he were, he's the one animal to whom I'd tie myself. Quincy was my white betta who ate out of my hand (he wouldn't eat unless he jumped out of his bowl to catch food off of my fingers). He used to stalk my fingers across his bowl. I even wrote several haiku to him on my Myspace.
23. What would your boggart form be and why?
I fear rejection, which was a fear prodded at by a past relationship. I was treated as if I didn't matter, yet still tossed enough little danglies to keep me leaping for more. I often have nightmares about being chased but unable to see, scream, or run away (entrapment, possibly). Other times, my nightmares are about needing to make a decision and being completely unable to.
My boggart would be blindness (if that makes sense). Metaphorically and literally, I fear not being able to clearly see both myself and others.
I'm sure this is probably cheating =p
(Sidenote: remember in movie three the boggart turning into that clown AFTER the "Riddikulus!" ? That thing was SCARY; how was it someone's relief?)
24. Anything else you want to tell us before we sort you? Also, please tell us where you heard about this community. (Members who refer new applicants receive points, so please try to be as specific as possible.)
I like to sing in the shower. Not really, but I'd be embarrassed as all getout if I received "no" votes for not following a "we're just making sure you read the rules" rule. I do sing in the car, though...with my windows rolled down and the music blaring. I r no shame. I was referred by Ravenclaw (yes, the entire house - even if I'm not placed there (I see a lot of Gryff in this app, not that I'm pushing..just reflecting), I want my eagles to bask in the glory ;))