Hi!

[cinna_schtick]

• What sort of profession in the wizarding world would you choose and why?
  The position of Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher at Hogwarts would be enjoyable and rewarding. Not only is the material interesting, but it would have so many practical applications as well. I love teaching kids when they're willing to learn, and from what I've seen most kids seem interested in DADA when it's taught right. I've also always been fascinated with the darker side of things. The key to defending yourself against an enemy is understanding it. Now if only the class wasn't cursed...but then, if I knew my DADA I might be able to lift the curse.
  
  
• If you could teach one class at Hogwarts, what would it be and why?
  *see above*
  
  
• 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?
  Definitely. If I didn't get chosen I wouldn't get bent out of shape, but there's still the chance I might. Why not take that chance?
  
  
• If you could choose your animagus form, what would it be and why?
  Oddly enough, I would want to be a hippopotamus-one of the most badass vegans of the animal kingdom. They have very few natural predators, a sense of society, and spend a lot of time in the water. The only time they're ever in danger from predators (other than maybe poachers) is when they've just been born, and even then their mothers are there to take care of them, and they're fiercly protective of their young. Oftentimes not even humans can harm them.
  
  
• What HP character do you identify with most and why?
  Probably Snape-he was me in high school (gender aside). I remember what it was like to be misunderstood and isolated, and become cynical and embittered because of it. I don't feel that way anymore, but I still have “Snape-ish” moments from time to time. Plus it’s fun to be sarcastic when I’m angry.
  
  The character I identify the most with now would have to be Neville. I've always been told by friends, family members, and teachers alike that the only thing holding me back is a lack of confidence in my own abilities. For a long time I was nervous and unsure of myself, which would make me screw up and embarass myself in front of teachers and classmates. Once I got to college I resolved to be a new, more confident person at a new school. It's not nearly as drastic a change as your parents' torturers escaping from jail, but I feel like a I had a Neville-esque turning point then.
  
  
• What would you see if you looked into the Mirror of Erised?
  Myself, being completely independent and content with who I am, and yet still being able to connect with friends and loved ones. I hate feeling like a freeloader in any situation. Even if people say they don't mind helping me out or taking care of me, part of me still feels like I'm a burden. I still value the time I spend with friends and family, so though I'd want to be solely responsible for myself, I would like to keep them close as well.
  
  
• If you won a million dollars, how would you spend it?
  If there were no taxes I would have to pay, I would (1) donate $250,000 to various charities and organizations (especially ones to promote literacy, stop domestic violence, and raise awareness of safe sex practices in teens) , (2)put $250,000 into savings, (3) invest about $10,000 in the stock market, and (4) use the rest to pay for graduate school for either library science or museum work, a house, a car, and possibly towards opening up my own bookstore.
  
  
• What was your ideal job as a kid? Has that changed? What is your ideal job now?
  When everyone else in preschool wanted to be a Ninja Turtle or a Little Mermaid, I said, "I want to be a marine biologist." I love the beauty of the sea and wanted to do what I could to preserve it. I also wanted to scuba dive in a coral reef, go to the bottom of a deep-sea trench, and swim with sharks. It was mainly the pay (or lack thereof) that dissuaded me from this as a career. Now I still want my job to involve the sea in some way, but in more of an educational aspect. I’d probably want to teach children about it in a museum or an aquarium. (Then you usually get the kids who are in better moods because they get to get out of school for a field trip, lol.)
  
  
• 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?
  Hmm…I had an idea for one that I wanted to explore in my Harry Potter fanfic, after I heard Legilimency used without one’s consent described as “mind rape.” It would be some sort of spell or potion that would wire your mind to not only let you know when someone was trying to read it, but also give them kind of a mental equivalent of a knee to the groin. Or maybe a Taser. It’s a bit like Occlumency, only it magically repels mental intruders. As for what to call it, umm...Protegemency? (since "protego" is the shielding charm). I took a Self-Defense class in college, and it's something empowering I think everyone--especially every woman--should know to some degree. That sort of inspired me here, with creating a type of magic that defends against another, potentially harmful, type of magic.
  
  
• 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?
  My boggart would be a huge crowd of people, probably people I know and people who will be important to my social climbing and work abilities in some way, ridiculing and condemning me. For the counter-spell, I’d put them all in monkey suits, because I think it’s hard not to laugh at people in monkey suits. I would then have a chance to turn the tables on them.
  
  
• What do you look for in a friend?
  Honesty. If-heaven forbid-they decide to turn their back on me, I want to know why. A friend should definitely have a sense of humor, and be able and willing to laugh at you if you deserve it. Of course, you should always be willing and able to do the same to them. Intelligence is a plus for me, but not a requirement by any means. Liking Harry Potter is also a plus, but if they happen to not like it, and give me good reasons why they don't (not just, "'cause it just sucks"), I won't like them any less.
  
  
• What trait most annoys you about other people?
  Closed-mindedness, without a doubt. If you’re going to condemn something, at least take time to know what you’re condemning. Use your mind before you actually go and try to speak it.
  
  
• What do you think are your top five abilities or qualities?
  1) I’m a pretty creative thinker, and things like writing, drawing, and music come easily to me. I don't have to think too much about them, I just do them.
  2) I is smart. (Or so people tell me…) I love learning new things, to the point of being addicted to the History, National Geographic, and Discovery channels.
  3) I think I’m a very compassionate individual. If I see a person or animal in need I want to do what I can to help them. When there turns out to be nothing I can do I have a hard time wrapping my brain around that.
  4) I’m open-minded about other people’s cultures and ideas. No matter what your view is, I'll at least listen to it. Who knows, you might have a few things to teach me. Plus, being a Libra I tend to look at both sides of the story.
  5) Even though it might take me a while, after I hit a rough spot in my life I always manage to bounce back. I’m like slow-acting rubber, seriously. Example: I had to withdraw from college this past summer b/c of stress and failing grades, and now I have a job, a 3.0 GPA, and am 2 courses shy of my B.A. in Psychology.
  
  
• What do you think are your top five weaknesses or worst qualities?
  1) I’m extremely self-conscious. Hardly a moment goes by where I don’t worry about what others think of me.
  2) I’m indecisive. It takes me forever to make even the most trivial of decisions, and once I decide on something I’m not positive I’ll be sticking with it for long.
  3) I get addicted to things fairly easily. I don’t mean anything you'd normally thing of when you think addiction, like cigarettes and alcohol (which I only drink in moderation), but normal everday things like caffeine and the Internet (esp. Livejournal).
  4) It’s harder for me to “stay the course” than most people. It’s not so much that I get discouraged, it’s more that I get distracted. I find other projects that I'm interested in as well, which makes it harder to focus in on one particular goal.
  5) I have trust issues. I’m always worried about losing friendships, and it’s even worse if I’m in a relationship. I worry about people leaving and not knowing the reason why--to me the worst part is not knowing. It’s much better than it used to be, but I’m still working on it.
  
  
• Define in your own words the following key traits:
  
  • Courage: Courage, to me, isn’t defined by a lack of fear, but by a control over it. Courage means facing danger as it comes rather than running away.
    
  • Loyalty: Loyalty is standing by a friend, loved one, cause, etc. even through difficult situations.
    
  • Intelligence: Intelligence is the ability to adapt successfully to whatever environment one might encounter.
    
  • Ambition: Ambition is a burning desire to be better and higher than what you are at the current time, to push yourself to your limits, and then push harder.
    
  
  
• Name: Rachel
  
• Age: 22
  
• Where did you find out about us? Through jellybellys