Fan Focus: Brittany – February 23, 2003

BRITTANY
Age 14, Illinois, USA

Harry Potter is my past, present, and future. No, but really, I love Harry Potter. And no, I’m not just talking about the orphan wizarding boy, but his whole world and everything in it (even You-Know-Who). I think that it’s the pure sense of unreality and playfulness, as well as sorrow and suspense that draws people to Harry. You can open one of the books and be whisked away into a world of the unknown, yet familiar. We all know that witches fly on brooms, but a game consisting of four hyperactive balls played in the air? What a way to escape! Whenever I’m out of reading material, I can always turn to my Harry Potter books because with each time I complete the series, I find something new and exciting around each new turn I take. The books are so deep, and there is so much that we have yet to learn and understand, it almost makes me speechless (which is a rare case for me). I don’t believe that owning 50 Harry Potter dolls, the soap, the toothbrush and having your whole bedroom turned Harry makes you a fan (though I admit to having some dolls, calendars and a very nice book collection), but the understanding of the books, growing while you read and, above all, taking great pleasure in reading them, no matter what anyone says.

How and when did you get in to Harry Potter?

In Fifth Grade (I’m now in Eighth), my teacher started reading this book called Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. I love reading, but I usually never listened to when the teacher actually read to us. At recess, I joined in with the other kids, saying Harry Potter was stupid and that we wished my teacher would read something else to us. Well, once a month, my teacher raffled out books and I received one that I had already read, so I swapped with another kid for the soft cover of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. When I got home, I went to the page where my teacher left off that day, and before I knew it I was sneaking through the halls with Harry in his invisibility cloak, hating Draco Malfoy with Ron, and brewing up potions with Hermione. I finished the book that night, and have been hooked ever since.

Which Harry Potter book is your favorite?

I would have to say The Goblet of Fire. Not only is this book the longest in the series (so far), and remember my motto is “The more Harry, the better,” but before this book, I, like Harry, had never really thought of there being magical schools, or magical anything for that matter, outside of Hogwarts and what is familiar to Harry. Also, with the Quidditch World Cup, and each of the three tasks (and maybe even the Yule Ball) comes such suspense, it leaves me in awe every time. Everything just comes to a knot and makes so much sense in the end, I was surprised I had never thought of these things before. It always makes me think, “How does J.K. Rowling do it? What will she do next?”

What character can you relate to most?

I think I can relate the most to Hermione. While I might not be the beststudent in my class, I know I’m pretty smart. I raise my hand a lot in class and sometimes actually like being part of class discussions. Also, I am usually very worried about my grades, and when I work with a group, I find I sometimes tend to be very bossy.

What do you think of the inevitable boy/girl stuff coming in Book 5?

As long as none of the “mushy stuff” overlaps Harry’s adventure, I know I won’t mind it. I’ll be very upset if nothing happens between Ron and Hermione. Who could have a doubt in their mind about them after the second movie?

Who do you think Harry will “hook up” with in book 5? What about Ron?

In all honesty, I think that Harry will play the “lone hero” type of thing. Sure, he’ll have crushes, it’s only natural, but I really can’t see him actually “being” with anyone. Not Cho, not Ginny, not even the new American transfer student (grin), no one. Ron, on the other hand, I think will start to realize and… Erm… Explore, if you will, his feelings for Hermione. They’re definitely there!

What character do you think will die in Book 5?

Oh, I hate deaths. Even Cedric, who we knew little about, came as a shock to me. At least now I’m forewarned. I think that it will be Hagrid who dies. I believe that he and Madam Maxine will go to befriend the giants and somehow, during some sort of accident, Hagrid will die in the process. I remember watching a TV interview and J.K. Rowling said it was a very hard death to write (while stifling tears) and what could be more painful than getting rid of good ol’ Hagrid?

Which school house would you want to be in? Do you think the Sorting Hat would place you in that house?

I would want to be in Gryffindor, but not for the obvious reasons. First off, I love the colors! They’re so bold and strong. Second, my high school mascot will be the Griffin, which is said to be unbeatable by man or beast, so I’ve grown to like it. I think that the Sorting Hat would place me in Ravenclaw, though. Not to brag, but I find that I’m quick to learn things and I usually try hard when it comes to schoolwork (then again, Hermione got into Gryffindor…).

Do you have any interesting HP stories to share?

My friend, Katie, moved next door to me the summer of Sixth Grade. I got to know her a little and soon found out that she loved Harry Potter, too! Now, we always share ideas and theories (though sometimes Katie needs to explain hers more than once to me…) and we have a ton of Harry Potter memories together! From making home-made butterbeer to finding out how to make those darned scarves, we’ve done it all!

First off, we went to see Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets on opening day together. We arrived at the theater two hours before the show started, though they let you in only a half an hour beforehand. Well, the nice manager (who now knows us because we’ve gone to see it so many times) let us in an hour before. Because boredom overtook us (and we could hear the snake banging into the chamber walls from outside) we made up Harry Potter chants and made up ways to get the best seats in the house.

Second, the day after opening day, Katie and I got some friends together (Sara and Sarah) and after working on some homework together, went to get movie tickets for – guess which movie – Harry Potter! The time we originally wanted was sold out, so we begged and begged our parents until they finally let us go to see the 10:30 p.m. showing (which got out at 1:30 a.m.). That day, thanks to Katie’s dad’s computer knowledge, we made Harry Potter T-shirts! Each of us had a house emblem on the left hand corner of the front (Sara, Sarah and I had Gryffindor, Katie had Slytherin) and each had a picture of different Harry Potter boy on the back, with their last name above it. Sara – Oliver Wood, Sarah – Ron Weasley, Katie – Draco Malfoy, and Brittany (me) – Harry Potter (no one wanted Harry, so I got lucky!).

Third is a story that I cannot tell you yet. Why? Because it will take place late at night June 20 and early morning June 21. Yes, Katie and I are going to the Barnes and Noble midnight Order of the Phoenix party! I’m planning on making a cloak and going decked out in my wizard gear. Some of my fellow Harry Potter fanatics from school will probably go as well. I think it will be a great experience, as probably only very devoted fans would stay up until midnight for the sake of a book.

Do you have anything else you’d like to add? Maybe a theory you’ve concocted, a shout-out?

Well, I’d just like to say that I’m so excited to finally be a Potter Profile! It took me so long to write up my entry, and I’m very pleased that I was picked out of the many who entered.

Also, I just wanted to say that I really do love Harry Potter. I’ve gained so much knowledge about the world around me and about myself through these books, and I always have and always will encourage others to read them.

To my fellow fans: Keep loving Harry! Don’t take anything from anybody. Be true to yourself and follow your heart and you can’t go wrong.

And a shout out to everyone at MJHS and LWEHS!

**Peace, Love, Harry Potter – I’m done