Fan Focus: Brett – July 17, 2011

22-year-old Brett from the United States

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

I first became interested in Harry Potter when I heard there was a book, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, in the library at school that you had to have parental approval to read. Knowing that my parents would never consent to “questionable reading material” I immediately devised a plan to sneak that book out of the library. The plan was for someone to ask to go to the bathroom and I would hand them the book out the library window. I got caught and had to devise a new plan. In hindsight, I should have gotten someone else to get permission and just borrowed it from them. I decided to just grab the book and run though which surprisingly worked. As I snuck the book to and from school the combination between the controversy of allowing children to read the book as well as the relatability of the plot had me hooked. By the time Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire was released my parents finally allowed me to read the books, although, I had been doing so for several years under the covers with my “wand”; a flashlight. I was finally free to read the books in my treehouse, in the living room, on the swing set and essentially anywhere else I wanted. It was exciting to me. I must have read the first four books of the series a hundred times in the month before school started back.

Deathly Hallows Part Two comes out this month! How are you feeling, with the end of the movies so near?

Confused. I realize the story was basically over when the last book was released a few years ago, but Harry Potter has been part of my life for almost 15 years and even as an adult I am having a hard time coping, although aren’t we all having the same issue. On the other hand I am extremely excited. They have truly done this amazing literary series justice in the process of turning it into a collection of very well done films. Deathly Hallows is my favorite book in the series and Part I of the final installment was amazing. The Tale of the Three Brothers is done brilliantly. My favorite part of all movies, generally, are the props that usually go unnoticed like the family portraits on the wall or the wear and tear on everyday items like pots and pans or shoes and clothes. The crew that works on the Harry Potter films are definitely some of the best in the props world. I am very excited to see Part II, but it will definitely be bittersweet.

Of all the things Dumbledore left the trio in his will, what would YOU prefer to get? The Sword of Gryffindor, the Deluminator or The Tales of Beedle the Bard? (Submitted by Liam McBey)

It’s so hard to choose, but I would choose the Deluminator. Obviously for the cool factor but also for the practicality. I would never need a book light to read again. It would also be nice to have since Dumbledore seems to have invented it. Similar to Ron I sometimes stray from the company of supportive friends and it would always be nice to have a guiding light; pun intended. On the other hand I love to read and collect books so The Tales of Beedle the Bard would be an amazing addition to my collection. The Deluminator just seems to take the cake on this one for me. As awesome as it would be to have the sword of one of the founders of Hogwarts I’ll have to take the Deluminator. Also considering there is supposed to be a replica in the WB shop soon I think I’ll order one, unless of course someone reading this wants to buy me one?

Much like Godric’s Hollow for Harry, where is the one place you’ve yet to visit that holds significance in your life?

This was by far the hardest question to answer and unfortunately I have yet to come up with a proper answer. So I am just going to kind of float my way through this with nonsense. I have always wanted to go to Europe. Even before Harry Potter I found it interesting. Now obviously in connection with Harry Potter it would be awesome to go to the places mentioned in the books or the places they are modeled after. It would also be cool to go to the place J.K. Rowling wrote portions of the book. I am also a sucker for the accents. So I know this was a terrible answer but my life has been pretty uneventful do there aren’t many places that I am interested in that I haven’t been that also hold a place in my heart; most of is reserved for Harry Potter related things obviously.

You’ve just learned about the Deathly Hallows from Xenophilius Lovegood. Which do you wish you could possess?

I know for sure I wouldn’t want the wand because I’m not really a fighter, but that isn’t what you asked me. I definitely would take the invisibility cloak. How awesome would it be to be invisible whenever the hell you wanted? Not to mention it would be easier to stay out of trouble considering I pretty much stay in trouble. Also as everyone already knows from The Tale of the Three Brothers the cloak is a much better investment than the stone. I could also hide stuff under the cloak. It’s really an all around better idea if you think about it. I would make it into a snuggie for sure. No maybe a fashionable burqa or wait… Nah never mind I would never destroy such an priceless item. Seriously though an invisibility cloak snuggie would sell billions.

The locket Horcrux affects each wearer differently. Do you think it would affect you as much as it does Ron? If you were the one to kill it, what images and ideas might it first taunt you with? (Submitted by Lauren Watson)

I like to say I am hard to crack but I know it isn’t true. I try to play it cool and say what people think doesn’t bother me but obviously as a normal person it does have an effect on my life. When did this turn into Dr. Phil? Anyway, the point I’m getting to is it would probably affect me quite a bit. Maybe not as much as it does Ron because that was serious, but probably more than Harry and Hermione. If I had to destroy the Horcrux then Voldemort may have never been killed. I honestly don’t think I would have it in me. I’d be scared of what I would see so much that I would never know what I would actually see. Harry sees a Dementor when he faces the Boggart and Lupin tells him it is a good thing that he fears fear. So I think that’s what I will chalk issue up to be; the fear of fear. For the sake of the question I will go out on a limb and say I would see people making fun of my love for Harry Potter. As a twenty-two year old adult dude it happens often and I brush it off so if that’s all that happened I would definitely demolish that locket quickly.

What do you believe King’s Cross Station represents for Harry? (Submitted by Hannah89)

I think Kings Cross is his link or his bridge to what he considers his true home, Hogwarts. I feel he really believes that he is actually a wizard when he walks between platforms nine and ten for the first time. For every trip thereafter when he goes through Platform 9 3/4 he is entering his world, the world of a wizard. This is the place that separates Muggles from Wizards and it is the door to his real family. Remember that Kings Cross holds many fond memories for Harry. It is where he first meets Ron and the Weasley family.

Do you have anything else you’d like to add? Maybe a theory you still believe to be true, a shout-out, praise for yours truly?

I am in the process of moving from Florida to Louisiana so I would like to say goodbye to everyone in Florida that will be reading this and being super jealous because this is awesome. Also thank you MuggleNet this has been nice to write as I work on completing my move. It has definitely eased the stress and emotion. Now if only I can get through this last film as smoothly, unlikely. And lastly, thank you Kat for choosing me. I don’t know anything about you or I would elaborate on the thanks, write you a song, get one of those airplanes that spell things in smoke, or something else silly and unnecessary.