- What sort of profession in the wizarding world would you choose and why?
I'd definitely choose Healing. This is because being a doctor/surgeon is something that I've aspired to be since I was twelve, and I feel that Witch or not, I'd want to be someone that saves lives. I understand that Healing isn't the only way to do this, but it is something that is close to my heart because of family history. And while the profession does have emotional ties/family support, it's also because the sciences and mathematics are two of my best subjects, if not favorite. Apart from that, I'd also consider writing because I love doing it! I've been reading since I was six, and as soon as I realized I could do it decently, I started writing fanfiction and occasionally, originial fiction. I'd love to work for the Prophet or the Quibbler, but I'd also be okay with starting out working at Witch Weekly or maybe a Quidditch magazine.
- You have to venture deep into the Forbidden Forest one night. Pick one Harry Potter character other than Hagrid and one object (muggle or magical), besides your wand, that you'd want with you.
Luna. It may sound crazy, but I believe that not only would Luna be brave enough to face whatever's in there along with me, she'd also be a source of constant amusement. Luna seems to be one of the most complex characters in the books. She's slightly crazy, but she accepts the fact, adding normalcy. At the same time, she's brave and strong, kind and smart, and she can hold her own when she has to. One object that I'd have is my gold chain with my Maa pendant. Basically it's a pendant of one of the Hindu goddesses, and it's something that I like to have on me at all times so that I feel I'm not alone. It's important to me and touching it always calms me down when I'm in situations that I'd rather not be in.
- If you had the opportunity to live forever, but your family and friends did not, what would you choose? And if you did choose to live forever, what would you do with eternity?
The world is nothing without the ones that you love. Sooner or later, they'd pass away and there would be nothing left. Of course, I could always find new people to be around, but love cannot be replicated. To live with the pain of losing my parents, siblings, love of my life, and then to continue on would be too much for me. I'm an emotional, passionate person, and while I do live for myself, the people that surround me are an important part of who I am. Without them, there's really no point in immortality.
- If you could travel back in time to one point, when and where would you go? Why?
I'm not sure if this means to a point in my life or to a point in time in general, so I'll just answer both.
In my life: Definitely Christmas 2009. As Hindus, my family doesn't really celebrate Christmas much. Not only that, but we tend to be seperated across various coasts and continents, and during that one Winter Break, everything was so perfect. We didn't do anything special at all, just stuffed ourselves into my uncle's living room, watched some movies, played a few games, and ate desserts all weekend, but it was the one time in my life that I remember thinking was absolutely perfect.
In time in general, I would go back in time to the reign of the Mughals in India. Hopefully I'd be able to sneak into Akbar's palace, and disguise myself as someone who was allowed to be in Court. I'd do this to see the talents of Birbal at work. In India, Birbal is known for his legendary wit and intellect. To witness someone who is such an integral part of Indian history at work would be something that I would absolutely love to do.
- What HP character do you identify with most and why?
Malfoy. Malfoy's made a lot of bad decisions in the books, and while mine aren't so extreme, I can definitely say that mine parallel his. Not only that, but he's grown a lot as a person, growing from an eleven-year-old who wreaks havoc in Harry's life because he was rebuffed to a man of 36 dropping his 11 year old son off at King's Cross. Personally, I feel that Malfoy had guts to send Scorpius to Hogwarts. Also, if he still believed in what his parents did, he'd be sending his son to Durmstrang.
Anyways, I can see myself responding the same way Malfoy did to Harry after Harry rebuked his offer of friendship in the first book. As a child, I was unaware that the world wasn't at my fingertips and I couldn't get what I wanted. I grew out of it, and so did Malfoy, but he was a bit of a jerk to a lot of people during his time at Hogwarts, simply because he thought he was better. I got better grades and had better things and my friends and I acted like we were the shizz. We were not, in fact, the shizz, but like I said, we got over it. Malfoy went through his sixth year in a constant state of panic, of nausea. He was worried about his future; what would happen to him; what choices would he make and how would that make his family feel about him? I made some bad decision my Junior Year, and I was (still am, since I'm still a Junior) worried about where I'd go to college and what was going to happen to the rest of my life? Would my parents hate me if they found out I had a C in Calculus or in Chemistry? I lied and I hid things and I sank into a depression, afraid that no one would be able to help me. Eventually everything came out into the open and I learnt my lesson. While I wasn't in a life or death situation, it certainly felt like I was, and I feel (unfortunately) that my life does *slightly* parallel that of Draco's.
- What would you see if you looked into the Mirror of Erised?
Would it be silly to say a boy? It doesn't matter, I'm going to say a boy, anyways. Also, a diploma from NYU and then Columbia School of Physician's and Surgeons. But mainly just the boy, because I've loved him since I was six years old, and even though people say it's not possible, I believe it is. Nothing else matters, if I've got the one person that does.
- Do you believe that moral actions should be judged by the intentions behind them, or by the consequences they create?
It depends. Everything in life can't just be black and white. There are people's emotions and feelings and that always gets messy. If you start out with the intention of helping your best friend get their job back but only make it worse, then you should be judged by the end result, since it shouldn't have happened in the first place. I can't give you a cut and dry answer, because I wouldn't be answering it honestly. There are certain variables; who is involved, what exactly are you doing, are you aware it can backfire, etc., etc.
- What was your ideal job as a kid? Has that changed? What is your ideal job now?
My ideal job as a child was to be a doctor or a lawyer. I've narrowed it down a bit, definitely, because I don't know if, as a lawyer, I'd always be on the side of the truth, and that's something that is definitely important to me. My ideal job now is to be a surgeon. Some surgeon out there helped to save my grandmother's life, and my aunt's life and...well, my dad's teeth, but he loves his teeth, so yes. Surgery is important to me.
- If you were able to invent one spell, potion, or charm, what would it do, what would you use it for or how would you use it, and what would you call it?
I'd use it to cure diabetes. Point a wand at someone, say a spell, and BOOM the pancreas is working properly again. I know that there are other diseases such as AIDS or HIV or cancer, but diabetes affects more people than ever, and isn't magic supposed to be the most powerful thing on Earth? Figuring out a name requires me being creative, but I'd go with Pancreato. Because it would make your pancreas work. :D
- If you were to face a boggart, what would it turn into? And what does it turn into when you throw the counter-spell, Riddikulus?
The boggart would turn into a really large, slimy, green snake with big green eyes (I had to take a few deep breaths while typing that). When I throw the counter spell, it turns into my math teacher in a prom dress.
- What do you look for in a friend?
Someone who can put up with my level of insane, who is as smart as I am (or ambitious. Equality is important in a relationship, platonic or no). Defintely someone who supports me, and lets me be a good friend to them to. I wouldn't want to be the only one taking something away from this friendship. Most importantly, I look for someone who I can be myself around and who can be themselves around me. No judging, no worrying. We are who we want to be.
- What trait most annoys you about other people?
Changing your mind because of something that someone else says. If you have an opinion, please stick to it. Just because the guy you like or your new boss decides that the color green is the best thing since sliced bread, doesn't mean that you have to agree, unless you actually do. It annoys me when people jump the bandwagon in two seconds just because they think it'll help suck up.
- What do you think are your top five abilities or qualities?
01. My energy. I am constantly thinking; my mind does not stop running, and I’m always waiting to just do something new.
02. Loyalty. One of the things that people have told me is that I’m loyal. If I truly consider you my friend, no matter what it is you’ve done, I will be there for you.
03. Hardworking. I put my all into any- and every- thing that I do. At times, I can get a little lazy, but I go crazy if I’m not being productive for long stretches of time (for me, that’s about a day and a half). I work well under pressure and I’m efficient.
04. I love to learn. I pick up things from all sorts of books that I read, and I’m constantly paying attention to the things around me. Most of the time, in school, I do well simply because I’m learning new things.
05. I’m persistent. When I was younger, I used to give up easily, but eventually I realized that if you try for something hard enough, if you’re desperate enough, if you want it really, really badly, it’ll happen. But, you have to MAKE it happen. I’ve long since learnt that you have to make things come to you, and I try and embody that in most of my actions.
- What do you think are your top five weaknesses or worst qualities?
01. When I drink coffee, I am of no use to anyone. I have a caffeine allergy, so I get really bad headaches, nausea, I lose focus, and basically I feel like crawling under a rock and dying.
02. I am a very blunt, honest person. I do have a mental filter, but oftentimes, it shuts off, or, more often, I don’t realize that something I say can hurt someone. I try to stick to safe topics, but when I get fired up (like when we’re talking about politics) I can say a little too much.
03. Easily distracted. Bright, shiny things, new books, my father dangling car keys in my face, all just a few of the list. I go by “work hard, play hard.” When I’m working, I work, but when I get ready to stop working, I play hard.
04. I am really emotional. Many times in the past, when people have said something to me, I take it personally. It may not be meant that way, but I take it that way. I cry in a lot of movies, I cry when I read books, sometimes I’ll listen to a song and it will make me feel nostalgic and I will feel depressed. I’ve gotten better at keeping my emotions in check lately, but I still act like a crazy person sometimes.
05. I can be egotistic. I like to be good at everything I do, and when I find out I’m not I go and sit in a corner and I brood. Eventually, I either get over it or try to overcome it and actually BE good. It takes a while, but I always reach a conclusion.
- Define in your own words the following key traits:
- Courage: Standing up to someone or something, facing your fears, and doing something for someone else or something else because it is necessary. Forgetting your inhibitions and become a stronger person.
- Loyalty:Doing something for someone even if you currently are not on good terms with them, because they mean something to you. Because they need you to do something. Believing in them even when you don't want to. Trusting them not to hurt you.
- Intelligence: Using your mind to figure things out on your own. Discovering new things, being passionate about something.
- Ambition:Wanting something so badly that you will do anything within your moral compass to get it. Generally linked with "working hard" but can also be considered a fire that burns and makes you want to do more.
- Name: Meha
- Age: 16
- Where did you find out about us? I Googled Harry Potter Sorting Communities LiveJournal once I found out about Hogwarts_Elite. I didn't like the layout of that one much, so I looked for the next one I could find, and this was organized, seemingly legit, still running, and has active members and voting procedures.
- Do you plan on being active in the communities once you are sorted?
Absolutely without a doubt. I love Harry Potter, and I don't think that I was the only one who cried when her letter didn't come that summer when I was eleven. Anyways, the comm seems like a place where I can unleash my inner nerd, and I can't wait to get to do that!