Fan Focus: Beatrijs – October 24, 2010
16-year-old Beatrijs from the Netherlands
First off, how did you become a Harry Potter fan?
I became a Harry Potter fan when I was about six years old. I had heard about the movie (Philosopher’s Stone) and I wanted to see it, but my mother wouldn’t let me, unless I had read the book first. So obviously, I wanted to read the book. At first, I wasn’t that enthusiastic about it and I stopped reading PS, but a few days later I was bored, and started reading again. Then the book captured me completely. Then I went to the movie and I found it fantastic. And of course I wanted to know what happened next, so I read all the books that were out at that time, and, of course, I went to the movies. Since then, I only got more and more into Harry. I read and re-read the books, and watched and re-watched the movies. Also, Harry helped me through some rough years at primary school where some blokes found it funny to bully me. It really helped!
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, I do. The day DH came out in Dutch, I raced to the bookshop and bought a copy. When I got home, I started reading and twelve hours later, I had finished it. I was a bit overwhelmed with everything, but eventually it all dawned on me. I re-read it a week later and I discovered new things I first missed. I still do. Now that I know what JKR means with everything she wrote, I understand it all a lot better, but I enjoy it better too! It still is my favourite HP book, along with PoA. Also the ending, fantastic! Exactly how I would end it! (then again, I can’t write nearly as well as JKR can, so that’s a bit irrelevant)
The Deathly Hallows split was announced last month. If you read the spoiler, what do you think? Where would YOU split the movie?
First, I thought they’d split it when Harry dived into the pond to get the sword and then would feel the locket kind of strangling him. You know, like everything is lost. Ron’s gone, Harry’s dying. It would make a brilliant cliffhanger I think!! (and it’s exactly the middle of the book). But now that I know they are going to split it where Voldemort gets the Elder Wand, I think that’s perfect. All dark, you don’t know what’s going to happen, how Harry’s going to survive… Spot on!
Did you watch the Deathly Hallows trailer? If so, thoughts? If not, why not?
I did. I thought it was amazing!!! It seems like they are going to follow the book exactly! And where they don’t follow the book, I think it is for the better. For example, that Harry isn’t disguised as Barny at the wedding. Now they can do so much more between him and Ginny! And people will probably understand better. The only downside might be that they did show a lot! But I don’t mind, I know how it ends anyway! But hands down: a very good trailer!
Deathly Hallows: Part 1 is now less than two months away. How are you feeling, knowing that this movie marks the beginning of the end?
At this point, I am only excited. I really can’t wait for it! I think I will be crying afterward, but I think it’ll be the hardest with Part 2, because it will be the definitive ending. But I’m really looking forward to this movie! There’s so much I want to see! I’ll probably end up in the cinema every week after school…
Are you doing anything fun: having a party, dressing up, etc., for the big premiere of Part 1?
Nope, not particularly planned right now. I have a very important kind of math test day, the day after the midnight-release in our country, so I can’t go to that. That really sucks! But I might be going to Amsterdam with my parents and brother, to the famous cinema there.
Is there a particular scene that you are looking forward to the most? One that you are dreading?
I am soooooo looking forward to the whole Burrow thing! I want to see the wedding, and of course the relationship between Harry and Ginny! And of course, I am looking forward to the Seven Potters scene, and the pictures look amazing! So that will work out well I think. I don’t particularly dread a scene, but I am bracing myself for Malfoy Manor. I think it will be very intense and sad and crying and horrifying and scary and, well… You get the picture. Also, I’m dreading Dobby’s death a little bit. I guess I’ll have to bring enough tissues, if I heard Emerson and Eric correctly…
Is there anything else you would like to add?
I’m thinking of doing my graduation paper (profielwerkstuk in Dutch) about HP in comparison to the Roman history! There certainly are similarities! And of course, I want to thank Jo Rowling for writing this amazing series that helped me through a lot, and where I grew up with. When the last film is released, I’ll start my last year at school, so my childhood really ends there. Thank you Jo! You made my life!