How did you become a fan of Harry Potter?
Megan: When I was nine, my teacher picked Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone as our "read aloud book". I immediately fell in love with it - I especially remember thinking that the line "Aunt Petunia often said that Dudley looked like a baby angel - Harry often said Dudley looked like a pig in a wig." was the funniest thing I'd ever heard. Within a few weeks, I was switched into a different class and I was devastated. However, my teacher bought a copy of the book for every student switching out (Thanks, Mr. Nessan!) and I raced through it. Even then, I was visiting Harry Potter websites, playing Harry Potter games, and dreaming about going to Hogwarts. Though I was extremely disappointed when I didn't get a Hogwarts letter on my 11th birthday, I have continued to be insanely obsessed (to put it mildly) with the books ever since.

Allison: I was first introduced to Harry in 3rd grade by the librarian at my school. She suggested a book called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone for our class reading, and I think for that I must owe her some sort of lifelong debt. So, we read it, I loved it, and I quickly became a level of obsessed that I believe made my parents worry. And not much has changed-eight years later, I'm still here! (Thanks again, Ms. Gilman!!!)

Which of the four Hogwarts houses would you like to belong to?
Gryffindor, of course!! Gryffindors are known for valuing bravery, but they are also great friends, excellent Quidditch players, fun people, and definitely the best partiers. It would be amazing to be in the same house as "Gred and Forge". There would never be a dull moment, what with the twins testing their "products" and giant posters of Harry that yell insults about Umbridge and the Ministry. Also, with graduates like the Marauders, Albus Percival Wulfric Brian Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Hagrid, it's hard to deny that Gryffindor is the best house. Also, red and gold totally bring out our elbows! (Šjust kidding)

If you had the chance to act as one of the characters in the movie version of the books, who would you pick?
Ernie Macmillan would be a blast to play! His pomposity and the countless hilarious lines about him make him one of our favorite characters. One of our favorite moments in the Order of the Phoenix is in the first DA meeting in the Hog's Head, when he says that the DA might even be more important than the OWLS, and then "looks around impressively, as though waiting for people to cry, 'Surely not!'" However, since we wouldn't be very qualified to play a boy, we would both love to play Luna Lovegood!! She's so free-spirited, kooky, fun, and a genuinely good person! We love her honesty and think radish earrings would be quite the fashion statement. Her offhand comments about things like Wrackspurts and Nargles keep us laughing like someone's just put an extra strong cheering charm on us :. Also, we would pay all the Galleons in Gringott's to deliver the lines about the Rotfang Conspiracy, the Quidditch commentary, and the classic, "Is that why you dyed your eyebrow yellow, for the party? Should I do mine too?" However much we want to play Luna, we would never want to take the part away from Evanna Lynch. We love the dreamy quality of her voice and think she is perfect for the part! We are so happy that someone as fanatical as all of us MuggleNet-ers was selected, because Luna is a role that needs and deserves to be played by a die-hard fan!

What are your thoughts about the upcoming fifth movie?
We think that the Order of the Phoenix movie will be the best one yet! The fifth book is so funny, emotional, exciting, suspenseful, and moving at the same time that we know that the movie will be an incredible experience. Still, we know that the book is very long, and cuts will have to be made. 9 There are so many things we're looking forward to seeing that it's hard to know that some of the book's great moments will not be included in the movie. Some of the things we look forward to most are The Marauders, Luna Lovegood, the DA, Gred and Forge's incredible, legendary goodbye, Dumbledore's stylish departure (when Fudge attempts to arrest him), Umbridge's demise, and the big showdown between Dumbledore and He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. Also, we really hope that Gambon will do a better job portraying Dumbledore because Dumbledore is such a wonderful character who deserves to be portrayed accurately. We really wish he would read the books so he would actually understand Dumbledore's gentle, funny character and realize that the real Dumbledore would NEVER yell or shake Harry. But even with the cuts and inaccuracies, we know we'll still be at IMAX at midnight, in our Hogwarts robes with butterbeer in hand.

What do you think of the release date of Book 7? (7/21/2007)
We are a bundle of mixed emotions. On one hand, we're ridiculously excited to read it and find out the fates of all the different characters. On the other hand, it makes us want to cry in a corner for eternity. The Harry Potter series has been such a huge part of our lives for so long that we won't know what to do with ourselves when the anticipation is over. It's hard to believe that it's ending and that we will finally know the answers to the questions we've been asking ourselves since book one. So while we will be ecstatic while camping outside the bookstore before July 21st, we are definitely going to need that helpline.

Do you like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows as the title for Book 7? What do you think it means?
Allison: First off, we both think that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is an awesome title! The word "hallows" itself is very enigmatic and intriguing, and leaves a lot of room for speculation. Sure, it is a very dark title, but since when have the books been light and carefree? And I have complete trust in Jo Rowling's writing-I know that the book will put to rest any misgivings about the title. Personally, I think that the "Deathly Hallows" is a place, and relates in some way to the Horcruxes. But mainly I'm just looking forward to reading it, and trying not to worry too much about what it means (which is difficult)!

Megan: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, despite the darkness, is one of my favorite titles. Personally, I think "hallows" could be a reference to Sirius! According to one definition, hallows means "Šthe beginning of the Witches' Year, when the Veil Between the Worlds grows thin and the spirits of the dead may return to EarthŠ" I think this means that Sirius will possibly communicate with Harry in some way. JKR said that we haven't seen the last of the mirrors and, as we've seen by the Marauder's Map and the portraits, people can make themselves heard after death, even if they don't become an "imprint of a departed soul". However, since Sirius is my favorite character, I might just be foolishly optimistic. Also, Hallows could refer to the Halloween (Hallow's Eve) when Lily and James died.

Who is one character you think will die in Book 7?
We think that Bellatrix will die in the seventh book because she just has too much bad karma. We don't need to list all the terrible things she's done, but she definitely is one of the cruelest characters in the book. She is one of the few characters that has no compassion at all. For instance, even though we still want to introduce her to a blast-ended skrewt, Narcissa at least shows that she cares about her family. Bellatrix only ridicules her sister for her distress. ("If I had sons, I would be glad to give them up to the service of the Dark Lord!") We don't want Neville (one of the coolest, bravest characters) to have to sink to the level of a Death Eater, because he's just too kind-hearted, but we hope he gets to avenge his parents in some way. However, we wouldn't mind if Voldemort meets his end, as well.

If you had the opportunity to meet JK Rowling, what is one question you would ask her?
Megan: If I ever actually met JK Rowling, I'd probably lose the ability to form sentences, but I would ATTEMPT to ask her (even though I know what the answer would be) to write more Harry Potter books, and books about the Marauders' years at Hogwarts. And then I would thank her for writing the most amazing books ever and tell her that she's a genius and give her a high five. Woot!

Allison: If I ever had the wonderful chance to meet JK Rowling, I would beg her to write that encyclopedia of all things Harry Potter that she has mentioned. That would not only be the most wonderful source of information ever created, it would also save me and many other fans from serious post-Harry depression. After that, I might attempt to explain how wonderful her books are, give her a hug, and then quite possibly faint.

Is there anything else you would like to add?
First off, thank you SO MUCH for making us Fans of the Week, Mandie! MuggleNet is our absolute favorite Harry Potter website and we think the entire staff is so awesome!! We visit MuggleNet every day, and you guys never fail to amaze. Also, hello to all of our other Harry Potter-crazed friends - Erika, Amanda, Jenni, Sarah, Mary, Sophie, and Kayla! You guys rock! GO HARRY! :D

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