Fan Focus: Serena – September 12, 2010

SERENA
Age 15 – Canada

First off, how did you become a Harry Potter fan?

I first received Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone from my Aunt and Uncle for my 6th birthday when I was in Senior Kindergarten. I looked at the cover, thought it looked boring, and it stayed abandoned on my shelf for a while. It seems unbelievable that I could ever have thought Harry Potter would be dreary! Silly me. It’s the love of my literary life and my favourite franchise by far. Anyways, before I decided to finally pull it off the shelf and give it a chance, my mom took me to a screening of the new movie Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone. I liked it! Therefore, I decided it was time to read the books. Shortly after, I received CoS for Christmas, and PoA for my next birthday; I was hooked!

It has been over three years since Deathly Hallows came out and we found out how the series ended. Do you have the same reaction to the ending now, as you did then?

Yes and No, actually. I had the same reaction to all of the deaths each time I read DH (sobbing, in Dobby’s case), and was VERY happy that Harry survived Voldemort and married Ginny; but some things that changed over the past couple of years were my overall comprehension of the ending. Before, I didn’t quite understand the King’s Cross scene, and what the wailing baby was, and the whole encounter was real or not. I didn’t know if Harry was dead or just in a state of unconsciousness. As I got older I remembered that no magic can reawaken the dead. Every time I reread any Harry Potter book, I realize new things. So my perspective, reactions and understanding change ever so slightly as I look more and more into Harry Potter.

Deathly Hallows: Part 1 was screened in Chicago to a very lucky audience, including some MuggleNet staff members! If you read the reviews, what did you think? If you didn’t read them, why not?

I did read the reviews (all of them, I think, if I’m not mistaken), and I believe that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I is going to be THE Harry Potter movie – not to mention THE movie to watch this fall! I am please with the way David Yates has directed the past two HP films and I know he’ll do a good job appealing to the fans. Dobby’s Death – it sounds like if I had a breakdown just reading it in the book, visually it’s going to be very emotional! But of course it has to be that way, to capture the whole grief and reality of this Wizarding War. I also love Jany Temime’s costumes that have been showing up in the movie stills! She’s done a great job for the characters’ personalities and things like that will enhance the film experience. There’s just one thing I’m disappointed in: the fact that there is no flashback of Regulus and Kreacher obtaining the locket. I would’ve liked to have seen more of the Blacks, and since Sirius is dead, I was looking forward to that scene in particular.

The Deathly Hallows movie split was announced this month via Entertainment Weekly. If you read the spoiler, what do you think? Where would YOU split the movie?

At first, I was surprised and a bit disappointed that they had chosen that point to split it. I was worried that since part one is ending two-thirds of the way through, it might be lacking in detail compared to part two. Now, after it sunk in, I realized that Voldemort getting the Elder Wand is a real cliff-hanger and a great spot to split the films. Again, it puts into perspective how much of an uphill battle Harry is fighting, and it’s going to make it even more of a gut-wrenching ending. The Dark Side has power now, and Harry’s going to have to get through that. It’s an excellent ending, but if I could choose where to split the films, I would pick- actually, now that it’s chosen, I can’t think of a better place!

WWoHP had it’s 1,000,000th visitor this month – already! Have you visited the park, or have plans to? What were/are you most excited to see/visit?

Oh, how I wish I could go! My parents aren’t being very agreeable about it, because they’re not the biggest fans and we just went to Walt Disney World in Orlando a couple years ago. I really would like to go soon, though, and hopefully get a job there when I’m older. The attraction I want to see most is probably Hogwarts’ interior and the Forbidden Journey ride (even though I get motion-sickness, I’d ride it anyway!), Ollivander’s Wand Shop, and the Frog Choir.

Harry Potter: The Exhibition announced that it’s final US stop was going to be Seattle! If you’ve made it to the exhibition, what did you think? If not, are you excited for the Seattle stop?

I’m from Canada, and I happen to have a membership to the Science Centre where the HP Exhibition was stopping by! I made it there FOUR TIMES, and took different friends / family members each time. I loved it so much; especially the Teachers’ Costumes, Daily Prophets and Wanted Posters, and you wouldn’t BELIEVE how much money I spent in the Gift Shop- all worth it, though 🙂

OMG! Emma cut her hair off! Love it, or dislike it?

I loved her long, gorgeous hair, so I was a bit upset when she cut it off. I’m more used to it now, but I still preferred her long hair. The new style makes her look older and very sophisticated, though, and I respect Emma Watson for doing what she wanted to do with her hair regardless of what others will think. Congrats to her!

Is there anything else you would like to add?

I share a Birthday (June 5) with Draco Malfoy. My favourite canon pairing in the series is Draco / Astoria, Favourite Character, Sirius Black. I want to shout out to SNUFFLES aka GELILA, and anyone who has enhanced my HP experiences, added merchandise to my collection, or talked about / participated in Harry Potter-related activities with me. And, thank you so much for picking me as MuggleNet Fan of the Week! 🙂