How and when did you get in to Harry Potter?
Wow, funny story. I'm sure some of you will be appalled to hear, but I've been an uber-geek of the Harry Potter variety for nary a year now. It was right around the time that CoS came out in the theater. I decided to buy the first DVD first. I watched it and it hit me like a ton of bricks...I didn't know what I had been missing. I immediately watched it again the next day, then went to the theater within the next couple of days and saw CoS, Yes I know..."bad Colin" saw the movies before reading the books? But you heard, I hated reading. Books? Nooooooo. But now I had no choice. I knew that I had just seen the first two parts of the greatest story ever told, and I couldn't wait to see what happened next. Now this is where my anal-retentiveness shines through. I had resigned to the fact that I had to read now. I was ok with that. But now I had to read the first two books also. There could've been something they didn't show that was crucial to the story. So in the end, I read the whole series by New Years last year and I was hooked...sooo bad. That's when I found MuggleNet, and The Leaky Cauldron, and Godric's Hollow, and all of the other fantastic HP sites. I had to do something to bide my time as I sat on my hands like the rest of us in an eager patience, waiting for the magical day of 6/21/03. Coming to all of the Harry Potter sites and movies sites only increased my sickness, but that was ok. I figured if THIS was sick I had better get some medicine because it ain't going away. At least, it hasn't over the last year and I don't expect it to get any better. With any luck maybe it'll get worse.

Which Harry Potter book is your favorite?
Goblet of Fire. I knew Harry was going to be in the Tournament, I just didn't know how. Then the tasks were so enthralling. I still get goosebumps thinking about the First Task. Not to mention the duel with Voldemort at the end. It was just so exciting. I know most say Prisoner is their favorite, and it's a close second, but Goblet gets my vote.

What character can you relate to most?
I would say...Ron. I'm not really ever the main character, but I usually play a big role in the supporting cast. I'm the kinda guy who is ALWAYS there when needed and willing to be leaned on for support.

Are you satisfied with the handling of the "boy/girl stuff" in book 5?
For the most part I was fine with it. I did however expect a few more sparks to be flying in the Ron/Hermione department. I was glad that Harry did finally make something happen with Cho, and after the way she acted, I'm glad he took the route he did. I understand where she was coming from, but Harry had a good point too. Let go.

What did you think was the most exciting thing that happened in book 5? What was the most disturbing? What left the biggest impression on you?
Most people would say the most exciting part was the battle with the Death Eaters at the end. For me though, I would have to say the best part was when Dumbledore showed up and dueled with Voldemort. I started rocking in my seat when Dumbledore came in and I just knew he was going one-on-one with Voldemort (never mind the chapter picture). I also had a great rush of satisfaction when Dumbledore called him "Tom". I knew he'd be upset at that.

As far as disturbing...Umbridge. Not so much HER as much as her actions at Hogwarts. The detentions, bannings from quidditch, the way she treated everyone, it was almost impossible to bear. Then when you find out that she sent the dementors to Little Whinging and tried to use the Cruciatus Curse on Harry, that was the last straw for me, I was cheering when the Centaurs carried her into the bowels of the forest.

Was the character that died the one you thought it would be? (Be honest now!)
ABSOLUTELY NOT!! My first inclination was Hagrid. Hagrid is always getting into trouble or harboring some large creature that could hurt him. Besides, when you think of a FAN of Harry's, you don't really think Sirius. He loves Harry, but I wouldn't say fan. Fan makes me think more of Arthur or Molly Weasley. I'll tell you, I thought my theory was disproved when Arthur was bitten my Nagini in the Department of Mysteries, I thought he was a goner for sure. I knew it wouldn't be Ron or Hermione even though my heart skipped a beat when she was hit by that curse from Dolohov.

Which house would you like to be in and why? Do you think the Sorting Hat would place you in that house?
I'm going to sound like a broken record here, but Gryffindor. I find myself to be more brave and loyal to the ones I care about. It is those characteristics that stand out, more so than those most prominent in the other houses. However if another house, it would not be Slytherin, I'm not particularly mean spirited and cunning. Not the type to put my own neck before others. Again not so much Ravenclaw either. A good group nonetheless, but my intelligence is not that of a Ravenclaw.

...I would say if Gryffindor was not the fit for me,
Hufflepuff must be what is meant to be.
For if Gryffindor is not the house in which traits of mine are found,
then Hufflepuff may be the common room where I’ll be found around

Pardon the burst into "Sorting Hat-esque" song. I don't know what came over me.

Do you have any interesting HP stories to share?
Nothing more than the usual, I dragged my girlfriend with me to the midnight release party of OotP and since have turned her into a potterphile. Though she's not yet done with Year 5, she has fallen into the trance with the rest of us.

Do you have anything else you'd like to add? Maybe a theory you've concocted, a shout-out?
The only theory I have thus far, is that the whole Evans family I think is probably a wizarding family. I think that is why Petunia harbors such animosity toward the wizarding community, because her whole family was such and she didn't get the power. I believe she is a squib, 100%. Others disagree with me, but I'm convinced. We have never heard of any other Evans family members. They never talk about Lily and Petunia's parents. They don't ever say anything about brothers or other sisters. I think there is a lot more there...which is also where Mark Evans fits in. I think.

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