(no subject)

[green_queen]

Ugh, so sick of the boredom that is my life right now.

And tomorrow my mother, father and sister are going away, leaving me alone in the house for about a week and a half (more or less.) I wouldn't mind but since I'm not doing much other than working and I'm still not seeing my friends much, I get the feeling it's going to be a very lonely week and a half.

Today I applied for a passport but I need my birth certificate, which I can't find. Buggery.

Next interest - GREEN

Is my favourite colour. That's pretty much all there is to it. I gravitate towards it unconsciously, I just pick up green pens before others or green clothes in stores. As a result, I was given the nickname Green Queen in year 9. It stuck.

HARRY POTTER

My interest in Harry Potter, I'm sorry to inform you, cannot possibly be contained in one post. While it may seem at this point that I am a bigger Lord of the Rings fan than Harry Potter fan, this is probably only because in the case of Lord of the Rings I love the movies (and actors) more than the books. With Harry Potter, I am a book fan first and foremost.

I began reading Harry Potter in June of 2000 (exam season at the end of year 10.) I was babysitting my sister's friend one evening and while she was doing her homework (and probably sneaking in a couple of computer games while doing so) I saw the first Harry Potter book on the table. I'd heard about HP from the supercool Liz (suika713) and asked if I could borrow the book. Two hours later while walking home I nearly got hit by a car, stepping off the curb in Tokyo with a book in front of me.

I was pretty much immediately hooked. I read all the following books in one sitting each, and have read books 1-4 ten times each for definite (don't know about in between my twice-yearly readings.) Intellectually my favourite character is Snape because he's such a fascinatingly awful unsung hero, and emotionally my favourite character is Sirius, who I'm in love with for his flaws as much as his strengths. My least favourite is that slimy little rat-faced bastard Peter Pettigrew. My favourite book is Prisoner of Azkaban (as is my favourite of the films.) I've done speeches and written essays on Harry Potter, and I have so much HP merchandise that it's outgrown its second location.

I think what I love the most about the books is the accessibility of the writing and the characters, as well as consistent and strong storylines. Harry is an engaging and imperfect hero, and in spite of some stereotypes all the characters, no matter how small, are three-dimensional.

The first two films didn't disappoint me on my first viewing because I was just so excited to be seeing the world I'd read about on screen for the first time (at a superhuge premiere in Tokyo, no less, with the prince and princess and everything) that it didn't even occur to me that they might be bad. On review I've discovered a lot more flaws, and the cheesy ending on CoS just hurts. The casting, however, has been excellent all the way through (never got into Richard Harris as Dumbledore, but otherwise it's been perfect) and the locations are gorgeous, but in spite of how much Chris Columbus obviously loves and cares about the books it was Alfonso Cuaron who really breathed life into the series on film.

Unfortunately I cannot take the Harry Potter fandom online. It's absolutely overrun with teenies and the Harry/Hermione vs. Ron/Hermione shipper wars are enough to drive anyone mad. I don't read fanfiction either, I'm too much of a purist for it, with the notable exception of shoebox_project, which is so brilliant it transcends fanfiction. Seriously. Read it. No, I mean it.

Okay, here's the stuff you really came for: the pictures and the links!


Our first-ever look at the kids who would be playing Harry, Ron and Hermione - Dan Radcliffe, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson.


Then in the second film...


and through to just after the third!


Our Harry, Dan Radcliffe, and the scar (remember what a big scandal it was when we discovered it wasn't going to be in the middle of his forehead?)


Ron, Scabbers and the book-perfect smudge on his nose.


Nerdy Hermione.


In no way did I put this here just for the sake of showing it again. Nope.


I love this picture so much.




Snape! Alan Rickman does such a great job playing Snape with just enough menace.


Ginny, my fifth favourite character.


Prisoner of Azkaban!












Alfonso Cuaron. Where's the sign-up list to be the mother of his children?


Harry and Hermione in the upcoming Goblet of Fire...


and Ron, Ron's dress robes and Harry in the same :D


shoebox_project marauders! I want their Sirius so. damn. bad.


A picture of Harry that Tom drew for me. I love it so much.


JK Rowling has to have the last word, of course.

I'm only on one really good HP community, hp_graphics, but if anyone knows of any PLEASE tell me!

JKRowling.com is actually run by Jo and it's a very swanky site. She always posts interesting tidbits such as the colour of Sirius's eyes and lets the fans know all the latest news there, which is wonderful.

The Leaky Cauldron has been my home page for about...oh, 3 years now. It's a Harry Potter news site and it's great for all the goss. Checking out the comments section is always an interesting read too.

HPANA is pretty good for pictures etc.

And if you ever want to know anything about Harry Potter - if you can't remember the name of a character, or in which book a certain even took place - the Harry Potter Lexicon is utterly brilliant.

1. How did you first hear about HP?
Liz started bringing it up at school, she loved it.
2. Did you first read the book or saw the movies?
Read the first book first, like a good girl.
3. What was the first book/movie you read/saw?
Philosopher's Stone.
4. Do you remember the moment when you got hooked for the first time?
Pretty much as soon as the first chapter was over. I liked the idea that the book didn't start with the main character!
5. Do you like the movies or do you think the books are much better?
Books are better, but I love PoA.
6. What’s your favourite actor/actress?
WHO is my favourite. Bah. Alan Rickman and Gary Oldman (but I love Bonnie Wright from the kids.)
7. Which actor/actress do you think fits particularly well in his/her role?
Oh, gods, I think almost all the casting was just fantastic. I do love Rupert Grint as Ron (even if the writers do screw him over a bit) and the aforementioned actors though.
8. Are the movies the way you imagined the whole world? Which are the differences?
Well, Richard Harris lacked spark, but since I don't have a good visual imagination pretty much everybody else was just perfect. I think the only major difference was the scar being off at the side on Harry's forehead.
9. What’s your favourite character and why?
Who! WHO is my favourite character! Arg.
I like Snape the best intellectually. His complexity fascinates me, the fact that he is constantly helping people he can't stand because he knows it's the right thing to do. He must be very lonely.
Sirius is my favourite though, I can't help loving Sirius. Reading his name is enough to pull at my heartstrings these days. He had it so hard but he was loving and loyal and crazy and passionate to the end.
10. In which house would you be in Hogwarts?
The grammar in these questions is appalling. I'd be in Ravenclaw, I think.
11. Why wouldn’t you fit into the other houses?
I'm not hard-working enough to be a Hufflepuff or cunning and ambitious enough to be a Slytherin, and I just don't feel like a Gryffindor.
12. What would be your favourite subject?
That's hard. My favourite subject at school was English and they don't do anything like that at Hogwarts. Transfiguration is pretty cool.
13. Your favourite teacher?
Who would be if I was there? I guess Hagrid, he makes me smile.
14. Would you do some extra curricular activities and if yes which?
The Harry Potter fan club! Nah, kidding. I don't know of any I'd do.
15. Would you like to play Quidditch?
I'm not that sporty. I'd support it though!
16. If yes, which position would you like to play in?
I like the idea of Beater, but I'd suck at it.
17. In which animagus would you like to turn?
*gives up on grammar* I have no idea, I don't know what kind of animal I'd like to be.
18. Which kind of shape would your boggart turn?
Giant praying mantis.
19. How would you make him look stupid?
I don't know, give him funny sunglasses and a fake nose and make him tapdance? Still scary, though.
20. What kind of patronus would you conjure?
A frog!
21. In which time you’d like to be in Hogwarts? (when Tom Riddle or the marauders or Harry Potter were there?)
Marauders, if only to get a glimpse of Sirius in the hallways every so often.
22. Would you have joined the DADA?
You mean Dumbledore's Army? DADA is Defence Against the Dark Arts.
Yeah, I definitely would.
23. Which characters would you like to hang out with?
Marauder era - Sirius, Remus, James and Lily. And maybe Kingsley and Marlene McKinnon, they're cool.
Book era - All the Weasleys but Percy, Luna, and Harry, Ron and Hermione.
24. With which character would you most likely start a romance / affaire with?
Oliver Wood. Hummina.
25. What profession would you like to have in the magic world?
Erm. I think I'd like to be a reporter, actually.
26. If you got go into one shop at Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, in which would you go?
Honeydukes.
27. What magical creature would you like to have as a pet?
A Fwooper, they're awesome! Or a cat.
28. What would you like your wand to be like?
I dunno, somethind dark and flexible with a green fwooper feather in it.
29. Death Eater / Aurors?
Auror
30. Dumbeldore / Voldemort?
Dumbledore
31. Malfoy / Weasleys ?
Weasleys
32. Griffendor / Slytherin?
Slytherin (oh for fuck's sake, you'd think they could at least spell Gryffindor correctly)
33. Pureblood / Muggleborn?
Muggleborn
34. What’s your favourite quote?
"Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret."
"I have gone temporarily deaf, Harry, and haven't a clue what you're saying."
"Good idea. It's often infested with Nargles."
35. Do you already have ordered your copy of HPB?
Waiting to pre-order it at a store as nearby as possible.
36. How do you think the book series ends?
With book 7.
37. How many people die? Guess who!
A few more, and I'm thinking Dumbledore.
38. What would disappoint you if it would happen / not happen in the last two books?
I would be disappointed if Draco never became more interesting (though with 'Draco's Detour' that doesn't sound very likely) or if Snape went bad.
39. Do you read Harry Potter Fanfiction?
Only Shoebox.
40. Yeah? What’s your favourite pairing?
Remus/Sirius
41. Here’s the place to put the link to your favourite author/ story:
shoebox_project
42. What doyou think is the most overused storyline / the worst Mary Sue at HP FFs?
No idea. I'm guessing girl with purple eyes and black hair who can talk to unicorns comes to Hogwarts and instantly Harry/Ron/Draco/Snape/Oliver/whoever falls in love with her.
43. Do you have a Harry Potter costume? Why yes or why not?
No. I don't really dress up.
44. If you could possess one item of the Harry Potter universe, what would it be?
A wand.
45. With which universe would you like to have a crossover with Harry Potter. Do you think it would work?
I don't like crossovers much.
46. Do your friends know you love Harry Potter?
People I've never heard of know I love HP. So, yes.
47. Do you write your own Fanfiction / make some kind of FanArt / have a site about Harry Potter or something that’s connected with this universe?
I make icons.
48. Do you like JK Rowling?
Stupid question. Yes.
49. Do you visit HP sites and if yes what’s your favourite site?
JKR.com and TLC
50. What question should this meme have asked, too?
Grammar advice.

Pics and links behind the first cut.

Just hasn't met the right girl - 186 days
Green Queen

Comments

[truffle-shuffle.livejournal.com]

I know you said you're too much of a purist to read fan fiction (Shoebox excepted), but I thought I'd recommend one fic to you that even the purists can't deny. After The End is by far the most canon-faithful, brilliantly written fic I've ever read, despite the fact that it was written before the release of Order of the Phoenix, and therefore Sirius is alive. Once you're in it, you forget that he's not supposed to be alive, and you start to wish that what you're reading was secretly written by Jo. In all honesty, it's as good as any of the actual HP books, and really worth the read. It's long, it's beautiful, and when it ends, it leaves you wanting more. I don't think I'll ever find a fic that could come close to it, even Shoebox, which is the first HP fic I started reading because I, too, am a purist.

[green-queen.livejournal.com]

I've read a bit of that for someone else. I agree that it's good, but it doesn't actually do all that much for me. I think that the ideas were clever but it falls into a conflict-resolution-conflict-resolution pattern that frustrated me. Still, at least they accepted Ron/Hermione as canon. lol

It was nice to see Sirius alive, too *sad*

[sionnain.livejournal.com]

*waves*

Hi! I've been assigned to read di0nne's flist by a mutual pal, zazuomgwtf. Anyway, I squealed like a kid because I am a huge Harry Potter fan (please note icon). I wanted to say that I had the same reaction with fan-fic, and still do to an extent as sooo much of it painful to read. I'm usually only interested in reading about the bad guys, as I've a fond spot for the dark side and a strange Malfoy-love.

I do write fan-fic (well, okday. I'm writing *one*. It's called "Ice") and it's a Lucius/Narcissa story, set in their early courtship/marriage. I try to write canon, because I cry when people hurt me by making Lucius redeemed, or happy, or any of that. The forces of evil are more interesting when they stay that way! I love complex "baddies"--my favorite example being Melissande from Jacqueline Carey's "Kushiel's Dart" trilogy. I think that is why I chose to write Lucius/Narcissa--I like to explore the motivations of characters and attempt to make people both attracted to/repelled by characters at the same time. Sorry, /rant.

*I can talk about HP forever!*

Anyway, I wanted to say hello and say that I share your interest. I'm pretty canon-specific in fan-fic as well, and I find more that I don't like than ones that I do, but wow, when you find some that are worthy...there are some talented writers out there :)

Also, I concurr about the fav. book being Prisoner of Azkaban! I also liked that movie the best, although I'm partially fond of CoS because I really like Jason Isaacs, haha :) My bizarre Malfoy obsession aside (and I for one hope Draco Malfoy and Lucius remain unreedemed and therefore far more interesting) I love(d) Sirius (he seems to me to be a perfect example of a complex character), and my favorite from the forces of "good" would be Remus, followed by Snape.

So sorry for writing a novel :) I hope you don't mind that I posted! Have a great day, feel free to check out my LJ :)

[green-queen.livejournal.com]

Jason Isaacs is awesome :D unfortunately he cannot make up for the godawful ending, though.

I don't hope Lucius and Draco are redeemed, just more well-rounded. As for Remus, I love him but in a more...I don't know, platonic way I guess. Not the same way as Sirius.

Thanks for posting!

[sionnain.livejournal.com]

Hee, the snake was pretty cheesy!

It can't beat the over-complicated plan to capture Harry in Goblet of Fire. Why, I ask you, did Barty Crouch Jr. just not turn any object into a portkey? It was a very Cobra-commander plan if you're a fan of GI Joe :) I think were I a senior Death Eater, I'd have staged a coup after that silliness of a plan. I mean really, it was v. complicated. Doesn't stop me from adoring the Tri-Wizard tourney and all that, but you know.

I agree about the well-rounded. I think Draco would have a chance to find the error of his ways, but I think perhaps it might be a bit too late for Lucius. Still, he fascinates me.

See, I told you I could talk about this forever. Must return to work....*Grins*

[green-queen.livejournal.com]

I wasn't referring to the snake, I meant the "everybody loves Hagrid" ending. The snake was mediocre but not terrible.

Because it had to happen at the end of the book for the story to work, silly! I like to think there's some very practical reason, like Harry would be too badly missed before that, or the spell needed to be done at a certain time of year, or something.

I'd like to see more of the relationship between Lucius and Draco. I think my favourite Draco moment was when he stole the other SLytherin's present at Christmas in the CoS movie, because that fits into my idea of him - he has everything but he can only feel good by taking something away from other people.

This is fun though!

[sionnain.livejournal.com]

Oh, I can go with their being a reason, but I'm too much a child of the 80's not to see the vague Cobra-Commander (or even, perhaps, Serpentor) similarities. *laughs*

There is this really annoying tendency in fandom to write Draco as horribly abused. I think Lucius probably is harsh with him, but Draco is too spoiled to be anything except ridiculously over-praised.

Indeed, it is much fun!!!

[green-queen.livejournal.com]

I never saw any of that stuff.

I don't think he's abused in the same was as Snape, but I think he might be abused emtionally, at least by his father. I'd like to see a bit more from Narcissa as well - with her sister and husband being Death Eaters, she should be interesting herself. I think she's probably a bit Petunia-ish over Draco.

[sionnain.livejournal.com]

That is who I'm writing my fic about, Lucius and Narcissa. I am fascinated by her. I think it is very telling when, at the end of the fifth book, it is mentioned that Kreacher went to Narcissa to tell her about Sirius. I think this implicates Narcissa as a very equal partner in L's schemes.

I would love to see complex characterizations of the Malfoys (ha, that's what I'm trying to write, I guess) but I generally that way with any fictional enemy. I think that's why I always liked Magento in the X-Men so much--you understand why he hates humanity, and it isn't as "easy" to pick sides.

[pinkegogirl.livejournal.com]

oh my god! how YOUNG did they look in the first one!!
cant wait til the next film/book. yay!
xxx
miaow..alan rickman....

[green-queen.livejournal.com]

I can't wait either :D