(no subject)

[matchgirl42]

• What sort of profession in the wizarding world would you choose and why?
  If I had the choice, I would strive to be an unmentionable in the Dept of Mysteries at the Ministry of Magic. I have a very inquisitive mind, and I thrive on challenges, and learning new things. I tend to get bored quickly with the mundane, and seek out new things constantly. I am also fascinated by the unknown, and I love digging to the bottom of things. I was the bane of my teacher’s existence in school, for lo, I was always the student asking “Why?”, All. The. Time.
  
  
• If you could teach one class at Hogwarts, what would it be and why?
  I would love to teach Charms, because I find it fascinating; it’s quite a varied subject, and more complex and powerful magic than one would think on first blush. It’s also not as easy as one who grew up hearing the commercials for Lucky Charms might think. It takes knowledge - not only knowing how to perform a certain charm, but knowing as well which charm is the most appropriate to use in a certain situation. It also takes practice, practice, practice, to get the pronunciation and any movements needed just right; you don’t want to think you’re performing the right charm, you want to know. And it takes willpower…most specifically seen with the Patronus charm.
  
  
• This year, The TriWizard Tournament is being held once again and you're of age. Do you put your name in the Goblet? Why or why not?
  Yes, because I crave challenges and adventure. I would be nervous, of course; who wouldn’t be? However, I’ve always believed the definition of courage to be, knowing you’re deeply afraid of something, for good reasons, but overcoming that fear to do what is right and/or highly valued.
  
  
• If you could choose your animagus form, what would it be and why?
  I would want to be a cat. They are at turns both unobtrusive and intimidating, when they want to be. Both states would come in handy in a variety of situations. Also, they are quite common, making them easy to overlook and ignore, which would be handy in situations requiring stealth.
  
  
• What HP character do you identify with most and why?
  I identify most with Ginny Weasley; not the star-struck shy girl you see at first (although I can be quite shy at times), but rather with the determined young woman she becomes in book three and onwards. I’ve always been of the determined mindset; I was named “the little train that could” in high school. I have quite the stubborn streak; once I set my mind to do something, I see it through to the best of my abilities. Also, once people get past my shyness, they often find me to be vivacious and outgoing. I also like to think that I share with Ginny her “trial by fire” mindset. Like her living through the experience of being possessed by Voldemort, I too have been through my own trials by fire and have come out the stronger, I feel. And, too, I’m the youngest child in my family.
  
  
• What would you see if you looked into the Mirror of Erised?
  Myself, surrounded by a loving family, children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
  
  
• If you won a million dollars, how would you spend it?
  Truthfully? I’d likely blow through a bit of it at first; I’ve gone too many years of having to do without to not have that knee-jerk reaction. I would reign it in rather quickly, though. I’d pay off all my bills, buy myself a comfortable home (preferably a farmhouse in the country), then spend the rest on family and close friends, and also on certain charitable causes.
  
  
• What was your ideal job as a kid? Has that changed? What is your ideal job now? My ideal job has always been, and remains, to be a writer. I was quite the library monkey as a child, and have always been drawn to writing. Deep in the bottom of a storage box whose secret location is known only to me, is a novella that I wrote at age 10, entitled the Neverending Box. Its plot, storyline and characters will always remain a mystery to others, but it will always remain near and dear to my heart, being the first complete novella that I have written. I have yet to be published, alas; part of that is letting the mundane details of my life distract me from my writing. And yet, I continue to work at it, and to hope. One day…
  
  
• 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 would likely develop a charm that would make it possible to read/learn by osmosis. There is so much knowledge in the world, too much for one person to acquire in a lifetime. This charm would be named “percipio,” which is latin for “to gain, learn, perceive, understand.” I would use it to learn as much as I can in the time allotted to me in this life; likely I would use it in a library, and just soak up the knowledge. *swoon*
  
  
• 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?
  When I faced the boggart, it would quite likely turn into the Wicked Witch of the West, from the Wizard of Oz. I’ve been deathly afraid of this character since I first saw the movie as a child. And when I threw the counter-spell, it would start to giggle in an air-headed, infectious way, and sprout wildflowers. Something utterly absurd like that.
  
  
• What do you look for in a friend?
  I look for honesty and trustworthiness, above all. I also look for both similar and varied interests; the former because without those, we’d have no connection and nothing to talk about or do; the latter because varied interests are what keep things interesting!
  
  
• What trait most annoys you about other people?
  The trait I find most annoying is self-absorption, to the point where a person utterly lacks consideration for those people, places and things around themselves. I often wonder to myself if these people can even be human, and how they would feel if the tables were turned.
  
  
• What do you think are your top five abilities or qualities?
  My top five abilites/qualities are my tenacity, my creativity, my compassion for others, my forthrightness and my ability to stay cool under pressure (that last learned during 15 months as a 911 Operator).
  
  
• What do you think are your top five weaknesses or worst qualities?
  My top five weaknesses/qualities are my tendencies to be lazy and timid; my tendency to get caught up in the details and forget the big picture; my vanity/ego[Leo? Moi? Surely you jest. ;)]; and my typical irish flash-point temper.
  
  
• Define in your own words the following key traits:
  
  • Courage:As I said earlier(but let me sum up): knowing your in deep sh*t, but doing what you think is right, regardless.
    
  • Loyalty: A promise you make to a person, cause, or community. Hard to give, even harder to earn.
    
  • Intelligence: There are many variations of intelligence, but what it boils down to, for me, is using the brains you were given.
    
  • Ambition:To strive to better oneself or one’s environment; this can be good or bad, depending upon who is being ambitious, and for what reason(s).
    
  
  
• Name: Mary
  
• Age: 28
  
• Where did you find out about us? from karinablack