I won't speak of the Horcrux..
01. Name: [Jillian]
02. How did you find out about Hogwarts Elite? [I was a member several years ago and really enjoyed it.]
||MIRROR OF ERISED||
03. What do you wish to accomplish in life?
[This has really changed in the past while, as I am currently six months pregnant. Right now, the things that I want to accomplish are all wrapped up in the dreams I have for my child. I want to be able to provide my child with all of the advantages that I didn't have and to generally be able to provide the best life I possibly can for them. As a future parent, I think that one of my greatest accomplishments would be to see my child become a well-rounded, successful person- in whatever way they define success, as long as it is through doing or achieving positive things. In order to see that happen, I will have to be a capable and loving parent. The idea of becoming a parent scares me quite a bit, because I think it is the heaviest responsibility someone can face, but it has always been a dream of mine to be a mother and I am also excited about it. There are several mundane things that I want for myself (a Master's degree, a higher income, a leadership role in my profession), but these, again, are at the moment secondary to what I want for my child. If they can assist them to be a better person and for me to be a better parent, great. If not, they are not worth it. ]
04. Describe exactly what you would see in the Mirror of Erised. (This is not the same question as #03.)
[I've been a terrible procrastinator throughout my life and let a lot of opportunities pass me by that I now regret. In the mirror, I would see myself as having the things I could have obtained if I had only worked harder to obtain them. The main image would be of me as a lawyer. I had wanted to become a lawyer from the time I was a child, but didn't apply myself enough at school to get the kinds of grades I would have needed to enter Law School. I feel like I accepted my "second best plan" by going into social work, and never really got over that. Social Work is a great profession, but I think that I was truly meant to be a lawyer and missed the boat. The mirror would reflect me as a successful, accomplished lawyer who had a brilliant career ahead of her, and as being able to achieve a good work-life balance. That was always one of my biggest dreams, and the fact that I didn't achieve it through my own lack of follow through will probably bother me for the rest of my life.]
05. What makes a person deserving of your respect?
[I think there are different levels of respect. Every human being should be afforded the basic dignity of being treated with respect, but truly, deeply respecting someone is an entirely different matter. I think that that kind of respect has to be earned and isn't or shouldn't be given out just by virtue of the person's position or status. I don't have a set list of traits or accomplishments that cause me to respect someone. It really depends on the person, and the situation. I have great respect for Martin Luther King, Jr., for example, for all of his amazing work with the Civil Rights movement and his tremendous courage and faith, but I also have respect for Madonna, for her ability to thumb her nose at society and do what she wants no matter what people think of her. They are different types of respect and on entirely different levels, but the feeling of respect is there nonetheless. Someone has to make a lasting impression on me to gain my respect, in a positive way. I don't have to like them or agree with them, but I do have to be able to recognize them in some manner for things they have done or the way they live their life.]
06. What is your biggest pet peeve?
[That depends if we are talking about serious things, or petty things. On a serious note, it would be when I feel I am not being taken seriously and/or being treated like a child. That has always driven me up the wall. I like to know that my voice and opinions have been heard and taken into account. I enjoy a good debate and don't mind at all when someone disagrees with me- what I do mind is when they refuse to even hear what I have to say and have a single-minded attitude. I am 34 years old, but it seems that some adults still consider that a "kid" and like to treat me accordingly. That is something that I just can't abide. I will gladly take advice when I ask for it and when it's warranted, but these types of people often seem to like to assume that those younger than them know nothing and they are there to "parent" them. I have shown myself to be a capable adult, and think that it's not asking too much to be treated that way. If we were talking about petty things, those (that know better and/or don't have an excuse) that use poor grammar, honk their horns outside of the house instead of knocking at the door, and use bodily functions for humor really get on my nerves. ]
07. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
[My anxiety. I am an incredibly anxious, easily startled person. If there is nothing to worry about, my mind will search for something until it finds it. I really don't enjoy being this way, but it seems to be deeply ingrained in my nature. Worry has gotten in the way of me truly enjoying life on many occasions. I wish that I was more positive rather than envisioning the worst case scenario all of the time. This is likely something I could change with a lot of time and effort, but it seems so much a part of my personality that it's difficult.]
08. If you could do any one thing and suffer no consequences, what would it be?
[I'd like to quit my job and to be able to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. If there were no consequences, that would mean that I wouldn't take a financial hit for it, so things would remain as they are. I don't like having to live by a schedule and would love to be able to come and go as I please, to travel, to simply just BE without having to worry about going to work. It sounds like such a small thing, but I am not a morning person and love to sleep in. The idea that I could sleep as long as my body tells me to without having to wake up to an alarm clock would be a dream come true, but I'd need to quit my job to be able to do that.]
09. What do you think are your top five positive characteristics?
01. [Strength: Not in the physical sense, but in the inner-self sense. I am an incredibly strong person who has managed to make it through some very difficult times. I usually end up being the one that is comforting others or being there for them, even when I am going through a hard time myself. People tend to see me as someone that they can lean on and that has it all together. I often don't, and feel like the opposite inside, but manage to keep going no matter what. ]
02. [Intuition: I can read people and situations very well, and as a result, am able to adapt myself to just about any environment quickly and easily. I can usually tell people's true intentions, and am rarely wrong about a gut feeling I get from a person upon first meeting them. When my inner self is telling me that something is not quite right, or that someone is a person that I could be friends with, I listen to it, as it's been proven useful and reliable in most cases.]
03. [Quick Wit: I think best on my feet and on the fly. I'm quick to respond to questions asked of me and to make decisions. I am rarely at a loss for words, and am also witty in the sense that I have a very dry, sarcastic sense of humor. Not everyone appreciates this type of humor, but it provides amusement for me, at least. I enjoy being in a "triage" type environment where I have to think, act, and respond quickly, and generally perform well in a crisis as a result.]
04. [Leadership: I enjoy being in a leadership role and have been successful at this when I've been given the opportunity. I think being a leader is more than just being in a specific position where you are asked to be in authority: it's about not being afraid to step out against the crowd and do what you want to do, without fear of what others might think. I still fear what others can think of me at times, but it doesn't stop me from doing what I want to do. I have a lot of "raw" talent for leadership and it seems that I'm often chosen to be in leadership roles and it falls naturally to me. ]
05. [PLACE ANSWER HERE]
10. What do you think are your top five negative characteristics?
01. [Laziness: I am incredibly lazy often. If I can find a shortcut to do something that I'd rather not do, I will do it. Unless it is something that I am very interested in or really want, I don't put 100% of effort into most things. That's kind of embarrassing to admit, but there it is. I like to just lay back and do nothing a lot of the time. I don't enjoy doing things that produce long-range results: I like to see immediate gratification or else I get bored and give up. I've not gotten as far as I could have in life, in many areas, through sheer laziness.]
02. [Unforgiving: I can forgive small things easily, but if someone does something to deeply disappoint or hurt me, I will hold on to a grudge for a very long time. Sometimes I never let it go. I've lost a lot of friendships over the years this way, as there will come a point where I'm "done" with someone and will just cut them off from my life. The matter has to be fairly serious for this to happen, or consistent, but I have a hard time extending forgiveness to others in these situations. I know in my heart that this is really only harming me, but part of me just won't let go of wrongs that have been sent my way.]
03. [Bad-Tempered: I have a bad temper that is quick to flare up. I'm also very moody. My temper has caused me to say things that I've later been ashamed of and not been able to take back. I have a real need to vent when I get angry, and sometimes, I will vent to the wrong person and they get the brunt of my anger when they don't deserve it. My temper has definitely gotten better than when I was younger, but it still is something that I need to work on.]
04. [Fickle: I change my mind very easily, and change interests quickly. I will throw myself completely into a hobby or idea, and then lose interest in it a week later and abandon it. I'm not the most loyal person in the sense that I will move on to something else if a better offer comes along, or if it catches my interest. I am loyal when it comes to personal relationships, but not when it comes to interests or ideas. I wish that I was more set in my ways and consistent, being so changeable is difficult even for me to keep up with, let alone other people.]
05. [Procrastination: This goes hand in hand with my laziness. I leave most things to the last minute, and don't plan ahead. Long range plans and organization bore me; I prefer to do things as they come up. I was the type of student, for example, that would do a ten page paper the night before it was due. This trait comes through in particular if we are speaking of something that I really don't want to do. Rather than face it and get it over with, I will put it off until sometimes it's too late.]
||HOGWARTS, A HISTORY||
11. Who is your favorite character in the Harry Potter series?
[If I had to pick one, it would be Hagrid. Hagrid won my heart from the first book when he came to rescue Harry from the Dursleys. Hagrid just struck me as such a genuine and lovely character. He is far wiser and more knowledgeable than his simple facade, and would do anything to help those that are his friends. I liked how he never ceased to believe Harry and his friends when they shared with him their discoveries, and the fact that he stuck by his principles and ethics despite all the adversity that he faced (i.e. getting expelled, getting sent to Azkaban, etc.). Hagrid's soft spot for animals is something that we both have in common: I can't bear to see or even hear of an animal being mistreated (I had to skip through the part of the book where Buckbeak was executed.) and love how Hagrid is caregiver to all of the creatures that come his way. ]
12. Who is your least favorite character in the Harry Potter series?
[Dolores Umbridge. She reminded me of every awful teacher that I had in school, or of the snobby PTA ladies that I came in contact with as a child. I know that she is pretty universally disliked, but she stands out as the character that really bothered me the most. There was nothing that I could find TO like about this character. She was just plain nasty and abusive, and her condescending attitude was insufferable. I think Umbridge was a bully and the things she did were unforgiveable. This kind of goes without saying, but misery seemed to follow her wherever she went and she had no redeeming qualities that I could find. This also made her a one-dimensional character for me. I would have liked to have seen some different sides to her personality, as I think everyone has a good side, but in this case, it just wasn't shown.
13. What was your favorite plot or character revelation in the Harry Potter series?
[The Tri-Wizard Tournament. I felt that this was when things took a turn in the series: The characters were becoming older and more mature, and the threat of danger and evil became very real. It had been present before, of course, but with the death of Cedric Diggory, I saw that the author was not going to necessarily protect the beloved characters or the innocent in these books. Everyone was potentially in danger. This was when things got "real" for me and Voldemort's power became more prevalent in my mind. I think the death of Cedric aged the characters, too..when people are very young, they tend not to think that death can happen to one of them. Even with all of the near-misses that Harry experienced, I think Cedric's death was still a turning point for him. Cedric represented all that was good and noble, and he was still slain by evil. That usually doesn't happen in most stereotypical stories, and I liked that Rowling took that approach- despite the fact that I was sad to see Cedric go as a character as I really liked him. ]
14. Describe the canon qualities for each house that accurately reflect you.
• Gryffindor: [I'm fiery, passionate, and outspoken like a Gryffindor. I like to make my opinions and thoughts known, and to engage in lively debate about them. I also tend to be impulsive and to act before I think. I will easily stand up for myself and for those I care about- in fact, I find it hard not to. It's easier for me to speak out than it is for me to stay silent. I think that I've demonstrated some courage in my life, when it comes to weathering adversity and coming through it intact. I have a lot of fears, but am typically able to face them, and I see this as a courageous trait.]
• Slytherin: [I'm adaptable like a Slytherin- I can read situations very quickly and respond in kind, and have also been known to do this to my advantage when it suits me. People find me hard to figure out, as I seem to be constantly changing. My core personality stays the same, but my outer self can seem different depending on the situation and/or who I am with. In spite of my laziness, I'm also ambitious. If there is something that I really, truly want, from the trivial to the serious, I will become very focused on it and not give up until I attain it. As mentioned, I think that I also have a tendency towards natural leadership ability which Slytherins typically demonstrate. I prefer to lead rather than to follow. ]
• Ravenclaw: [I'm pretty intellectual, and place great value on education and higher learning. I think that an education is something that you can use in life regardless of where you end up, and that being self-educated is just as important as receiving formal education. I honestly love to learn, research, and study the things that interest me. I'm quite witty and mentally sharp, and able to learn quickly.]
• Hufflepuff: [I consider myself to be kind and caring, and see these values as virtues that should be expressed by and to anyone. It doesn't cost anything to be kind, and is a courtesy that often gets missed in today's society. I try my best to treat others well and respectfully, and to be fair. I am loyal to the people that I love and care about, and will stay true to them. I might be fickle with ideas, but never with those that I deeply care for. ]
15. Describe the canon qualities for each house that do not accurately reflect you.
• Gryffindor: [I'm not chivalrous as per Gryffindor traits, and actually don't set much store by chivalry; I think it's largely outdated, even in the modern sense that it gets defined. I see chivalry as doing certain deeds because one has to or should, not because they want to, and find it to be kind of phony as a result. Most Gryffindors also have the gift of not taking themselves too seriously. I don't. While I have a sense of humor, I take myself far too seriously and need to learn to laugh at myself more. ]
• Slytherin: [Slytherins tend to place great value on tradition, and I'm wary of most traditions. I find that when tradition is cited as the reason for following something, it's usually because there isn't a better or more reasonable explanation for why you're doing it- It's almost like an excuse. I don't believe that just because something has always been done a certain way that it should continue. In fact, I prefer to shake things up and make change. While I'm ambitious about things I really want, there are also things that I won't do to get them. I have limits. Slytherin's quality is typically that the end justifies the means, and I don't believe that. I think if you have to cause serious harm or damage, it isn't worth it.]
• Ravenclaw: [I'm not as dedicated to studies and learning as Ravenclaws are. While I love to learn, I only really become committed to learning about things that interest me. If a subject bores me, my mind will switch off. While I have academic aptitude, I don't work up to my potential, and Ravenclaws are typically more consistent than I am and serious when it comes to academia and learning. I'm also not terribly creative. I have an imagination, but putting my ideas into practice can be a challenge for me.]
• Hufflepuff: [Well, I've said I am lazy- so that rules out "unafraid of toil". I'm not hard working, I will admit it. I think life is too short than to spend it working hard. Work, to me, is a necessary evil and not something that I enjoy. It's just a means to an end (hopefully) and I always wish I could skip over it, and look for shortcuts to get something done quickly. I am also the most impatient person you will probably meet. I hate waiting for things, and when something is taking too long, I get agitated and bored. I get restless when expected to be patient, and dislike having to be if circumstances call for it. ]
||HOGWARTS EXPRESS||
16. Age: [34]
17. Optional: Link us to where you have promoted this community in your personal journal to earn your future house five points. [PLACE ANSWER HERE]
02. How did you find out about Hogwarts Elite? [I was a member several years ago and really enjoyed it.]
||MIRROR OF ERISED||
03. What do you wish to accomplish in life?
[This has really changed in the past while, as I am currently six months pregnant. Right now, the things that I want to accomplish are all wrapped up in the dreams I have for my child. I want to be able to provide my child with all of the advantages that I didn't have and to generally be able to provide the best life I possibly can for them. As a future parent, I think that one of my greatest accomplishments would be to see my child become a well-rounded, successful person- in whatever way they define success, as long as it is through doing or achieving positive things. In order to see that happen, I will have to be a capable and loving parent. The idea of becoming a parent scares me quite a bit, because I think it is the heaviest responsibility someone can face, but it has always been a dream of mine to be a mother and I am also excited about it. There are several mundane things that I want for myself (a Master's degree, a higher income, a leadership role in my profession), but these, again, are at the moment secondary to what I want for my child. If they can assist them to be a better person and for me to be a better parent, great. If not, they are not worth it. ]
04. Describe exactly what you would see in the Mirror of Erised. (This is not the same question as #03.)
[I've been a terrible procrastinator throughout my life and let a lot of opportunities pass me by that I now regret. In the mirror, I would see myself as having the things I could have obtained if I had only worked harder to obtain them. The main image would be of me as a lawyer. I had wanted to become a lawyer from the time I was a child, but didn't apply myself enough at school to get the kinds of grades I would have needed to enter Law School. I feel like I accepted my "second best plan" by going into social work, and never really got over that. Social Work is a great profession, but I think that I was truly meant to be a lawyer and missed the boat. The mirror would reflect me as a successful, accomplished lawyer who had a brilliant career ahead of her, and as being able to achieve a good work-life balance. That was always one of my biggest dreams, and the fact that I didn't achieve it through my own lack of follow through will probably bother me for the rest of my life.]
05. What makes a person deserving of your respect?
[I think there are different levels of respect. Every human being should be afforded the basic dignity of being treated with respect, but truly, deeply respecting someone is an entirely different matter. I think that that kind of respect has to be earned and isn't or shouldn't be given out just by virtue of the person's position or status. I don't have a set list of traits or accomplishments that cause me to respect someone. It really depends on the person, and the situation. I have great respect for Martin Luther King, Jr., for example, for all of his amazing work with the Civil Rights movement and his tremendous courage and faith, but I also have respect for Madonna, for her ability to thumb her nose at society and do what she wants no matter what people think of her. They are different types of respect and on entirely different levels, but the feeling of respect is there nonetheless. Someone has to make a lasting impression on me to gain my respect, in a positive way. I don't have to like them or agree with them, but I do have to be able to recognize them in some manner for things they have done or the way they live their life.]
06. What is your biggest pet peeve?
[That depends if we are talking about serious things, or petty things. On a serious note, it would be when I feel I am not being taken seriously and/or being treated like a child. That has always driven me up the wall. I like to know that my voice and opinions have been heard and taken into account. I enjoy a good debate and don't mind at all when someone disagrees with me- what I do mind is when they refuse to even hear what I have to say and have a single-minded attitude. I am 34 years old, but it seems that some adults still consider that a "kid" and like to treat me accordingly. That is something that I just can't abide. I will gladly take advice when I ask for it and when it's warranted, but these types of people often seem to like to assume that those younger than them know nothing and they are there to "parent" them. I have shown myself to be a capable adult, and think that it's not asking too much to be treated that way. If we were talking about petty things, those (that know better and/or don't have an excuse) that use poor grammar, honk their horns outside of the house instead of knocking at the door, and use bodily functions for humor really get on my nerves. ]
07. If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?
[My anxiety. I am an incredibly anxious, easily startled person. If there is nothing to worry about, my mind will search for something until it finds it. I really don't enjoy being this way, but it seems to be deeply ingrained in my nature. Worry has gotten in the way of me truly enjoying life on many occasions. I wish that I was more positive rather than envisioning the worst case scenario all of the time. This is likely something I could change with a lot of time and effort, but it seems so much a part of my personality that it's difficult.]
08. If you could do any one thing and suffer no consequences, what would it be?
[I'd like to quit my job and to be able to do whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted. If there were no consequences, that would mean that I wouldn't take a financial hit for it, so things would remain as they are. I don't like having to live by a schedule and would love to be able to come and go as I please, to travel, to simply just BE without having to worry about going to work. It sounds like such a small thing, but I am not a morning person and love to sleep in. The idea that I could sleep as long as my body tells me to without having to wake up to an alarm clock would be a dream come true, but I'd need to quit my job to be able to do that.]
09. What do you think are your top five positive characteristics?
01. [Strength: Not in the physical sense, but in the inner-self sense. I am an incredibly strong person who has managed to make it through some very difficult times. I usually end up being the one that is comforting others or being there for them, even when I am going through a hard time myself. People tend to see me as someone that they can lean on and that has it all together. I often don't, and feel like the opposite inside, but manage to keep going no matter what. ]
02. [Intuition: I can read people and situations very well, and as a result, am able to adapt myself to just about any environment quickly and easily. I can usually tell people's true intentions, and am rarely wrong about a gut feeling I get from a person upon first meeting them. When my inner self is telling me that something is not quite right, or that someone is a person that I could be friends with, I listen to it, as it's been proven useful and reliable in most cases.]
03. [Quick Wit: I think best on my feet and on the fly. I'm quick to respond to questions asked of me and to make decisions. I am rarely at a loss for words, and am also witty in the sense that I have a very dry, sarcastic sense of humor. Not everyone appreciates this type of humor, but it provides amusement for me, at least. I enjoy being in a "triage" type environment where I have to think, act, and respond quickly, and generally perform well in a crisis as a result.]
04. [Leadership: I enjoy being in a leadership role and have been successful at this when I've been given the opportunity. I think being a leader is more than just being in a specific position where you are asked to be in authority: it's about not being afraid to step out against the crowd and do what you want to do, without fear of what others might think. I still fear what others can think of me at times, but it doesn't stop me from doing what I want to do. I have a lot of "raw" talent for leadership and it seems that I'm often chosen to be in leadership roles and it falls naturally to me. ]
05. [PLACE ANSWER HERE]
10. What do you think are your top five negative characteristics?
01. [Laziness: I am incredibly lazy often. If I can find a shortcut to do something that I'd rather not do, I will do it. Unless it is something that I am very interested in or really want, I don't put 100% of effort into most things. That's kind of embarrassing to admit, but there it is. I like to just lay back and do nothing a lot of the time. I don't enjoy doing things that produce long-range results: I like to see immediate gratification or else I get bored and give up. I've not gotten as far as I could have in life, in many areas, through sheer laziness.]
02. [Unforgiving: I can forgive small things easily, but if someone does something to deeply disappoint or hurt me, I will hold on to a grudge for a very long time. Sometimes I never let it go. I've lost a lot of friendships over the years this way, as there will come a point where I'm "done" with someone and will just cut them off from my life. The matter has to be fairly serious for this to happen, or consistent, but I have a hard time extending forgiveness to others in these situations. I know in my heart that this is really only harming me, but part of me just won't let go of wrongs that have been sent my way.]
03. [Bad-Tempered: I have a bad temper that is quick to flare up. I'm also very moody. My temper has caused me to say things that I've later been ashamed of and not been able to take back. I have a real need to vent when I get angry, and sometimes, I will vent to the wrong person and they get the brunt of my anger when they don't deserve it. My temper has definitely gotten better than when I was younger, but it still is something that I need to work on.]
04. [Fickle: I change my mind very easily, and change interests quickly. I will throw myself completely into a hobby or idea, and then lose interest in it a week later and abandon it. I'm not the most loyal person in the sense that I will move on to something else if a better offer comes along, or if it catches my interest. I am loyal when it comes to personal relationships, but not when it comes to interests or ideas. I wish that I was more set in my ways and consistent, being so changeable is difficult even for me to keep up with, let alone other people.]
05. [Procrastination: This goes hand in hand with my laziness. I leave most things to the last minute, and don't plan ahead. Long range plans and organization bore me; I prefer to do things as they come up. I was the type of student, for example, that would do a ten page paper the night before it was due. This trait comes through in particular if we are speaking of something that I really don't want to do. Rather than face it and get it over with, I will put it off until sometimes it's too late.]
||HOGWARTS, A HISTORY||
11. Who is your favorite character in the Harry Potter series?
[If I had to pick one, it would be Hagrid. Hagrid won my heart from the first book when he came to rescue Harry from the Dursleys. Hagrid just struck me as such a genuine and lovely character. He is far wiser and more knowledgeable than his simple facade, and would do anything to help those that are his friends. I liked how he never ceased to believe Harry and his friends when they shared with him their discoveries, and the fact that he stuck by his principles and ethics despite all the adversity that he faced (i.e. getting expelled, getting sent to Azkaban, etc.). Hagrid's soft spot for animals is something that we both have in common: I can't bear to see or even hear of an animal being mistreated (I had to skip through the part of the book where Buckbeak was executed.) and love how Hagrid is caregiver to all of the creatures that come his way. ]
12. Who is your least favorite character in the Harry Potter series?
[Dolores Umbridge. She reminded me of every awful teacher that I had in school, or of the snobby PTA ladies that I came in contact with as a child. I know that she is pretty universally disliked, but she stands out as the character that really bothered me the most. There was nothing that I could find TO like about this character. She was just plain nasty and abusive, and her condescending attitude was insufferable. I think Umbridge was a bully and the things she did were unforgiveable. This kind of goes without saying, but misery seemed to follow her wherever she went and she had no redeeming qualities that I could find. This also made her a one-dimensional character for me. I would have liked to have seen some different sides to her personality, as I think everyone has a good side, but in this case, it just wasn't shown.
13. What was your favorite plot or character revelation in the Harry Potter series?
[The Tri-Wizard Tournament. I felt that this was when things took a turn in the series: The characters were becoming older and more mature, and the threat of danger and evil became very real. It had been present before, of course, but with the death of Cedric Diggory, I saw that the author was not going to necessarily protect the beloved characters or the innocent in these books. Everyone was potentially in danger. This was when things got "real" for me and Voldemort's power became more prevalent in my mind. I think the death of Cedric aged the characters, too..when people are very young, they tend not to think that death can happen to one of them. Even with all of the near-misses that Harry experienced, I think Cedric's death was still a turning point for him. Cedric represented all that was good and noble, and he was still slain by evil. That usually doesn't happen in most stereotypical stories, and I liked that Rowling took that approach- despite the fact that I was sad to see Cedric go as a character as I really liked him. ]
14. Describe the canon qualities for each house that accurately reflect you.
• Gryffindor: [I'm fiery, passionate, and outspoken like a Gryffindor. I like to make my opinions and thoughts known, and to engage in lively debate about them. I also tend to be impulsive and to act before I think. I will easily stand up for myself and for those I care about- in fact, I find it hard not to. It's easier for me to speak out than it is for me to stay silent. I think that I've demonstrated some courage in my life, when it comes to weathering adversity and coming through it intact. I have a lot of fears, but am typically able to face them, and I see this as a courageous trait.]
• Slytherin: [I'm adaptable like a Slytherin- I can read situations very quickly and respond in kind, and have also been known to do this to my advantage when it suits me. People find me hard to figure out, as I seem to be constantly changing. My core personality stays the same, but my outer self can seem different depending on the situation and/or who I am with. In spite of my laziness, I'm also ambitious. If there is something that I really, truly want, from the trivial to the serious, I will become very focused on it and not give up until I attain it. As mentioned, I think that I also have a tendency towards natural leadership ability which Slytherins typically demonstrate. I prefer to lead rather than to follow. ]
• Ravenclaw: [I'm pretty intellectual, and place great value on education and higher learning. I think that an education is something that you can use in life regardless of where you end up, and that being self-educated is just as important as receiving formal education. I honestly love to learn, research, and study the things that interest me. I'm quite witty and mentally sharp, and able to learn quickly.]
• Hufflepuff: [I consider myself to be kind and caring, and see these values as virtues that should be expressed by and to anyone. It doesn't cost anything to be kind, and is a courtesy that often gets missed in today's society. I try my best to treat others well and respectfully, and to be fair. I am loyal to the people that I love and care about, and will stay true to them. I might be fickle with ideas, but never with those that I deeply care for. ]
15. Describe the canon qualities for each house that do not accurately reflect you.
• Gryffindor: [I'm not chivalrous as per Gryffindor traits, and actually don't set much store by chivalry; I think it's largely outdated, even in the modern sense that it gets defined. I see chivalry as doing certain deeds because one has to or should, not because they want to, and find it to be kind of phony as a result. Most Gryffindors also have the gift of not taking themselves too seriously. I don't. While I have a sense of humor, I take myself far too seriously and need to learn to laugh at myself more. ]
• Slytherin: [Slytherins tend to place great value on tradition, and I'm wary of most traditions. I find that when tradition is cited as the reason for following something, it's usually because there isn't a better or more reasonable explanation for why you're doing it- It's almost like an excuse. I don't believe that just because something has always been done a certain way that it should continue. In fact, I prefer to shake things up and make change. While I'm ambitious about things I really want, there are also things that I won't do to get them. I have limits. Slytherin's quality is typically that the end justifies the means, and I don't believe that. I think if you have to cause serious harm or damage, it isn't worth it.]
• Ravenclaw: [I'm not as dedicated to studies and learning as Ravenclaws are. While I love to learn, I only really become committed to learning about things that interest me. If a subject bores me, my mind will switch off. While I have academic aptitude, I don't work up to my potential, and Ravenclaws are typically more consistent than I am and serious when it comes to academia and learning. I'm also not terribly creative. I have an imagination, but putting my ideas into practice can be a challenge for me.]
• Hufflepuff: [Well, I've said I am lazy- so that rules out "unafraid of toil". I'm not hard working, I will admit it. I think life is too short than to spend it working hard. Work, to me, is a necessary evil and not something that I enjoy. It's just a means to an end (hopefully) and I always wish I could skip over it, and look for shortcuts to get something done quickly. I am also the most impatient person you will probably meet. I hate waiting for things, and when something is taking too long, I get agitated and bored. I get restless when expected to be patient, and dislike having to be if circumstances call for it. ]
||HOGWARTS EXPRESS||
16. Age: [34]
17. Optional: Link us to where you have promoted this community in your personal journal to earn your future house five points. [PLACE ANSWER HERE]