Fan Focus: Libby – April 27, 2003

LIBBY
Age 14 – Queensland, Australia

It’s amazing how J.K Rowling can write books about teenagers and make them believable. Also, something that has inspired so many people to create songs, fanfictions, and artwork of their own has to be truly special. One of the great things about the Harry Potter books is that they have someone for everyone to relate to. There’s Ron for the likeable kids overshadowed by friends or family, Hermione for the bookworms, Neville for the ones not so good at classes, Ginny for anyone who’s ever felt like they never really fit in anywhere and Harry for any underdeveloped child with something like glasses or braces. I haven’t covered every single character here but you get the idea ;). But I guess my love for these stories boils down to the moment that I first saw Hagrid take Harry through the opening into Diagon Alley and it was then that I believed.

How and when did you get into Harry Potter?

I first received Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone for a present on my 12th birthday. I’d never really read stories about wizards and witchcraft before so I wasn’t sure if I liked it. I bought the second book and halfway through I was hooked.

Which Harry Potter book is your favorite?

Definitely Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. It’s the one book that does not involve Harry being recognised as the golden boy of Hogwarts and receiving some sort of reward (apart from seeing Sirius and Buckbeak escape with their lives). It also reveals SO much and introduces the characters of Lupin (whom I love because he’s so tiredly adorable) and Sirius (the years in Azkaban may have hardened him against physical difficulty, but he is still emotionally vulnerable when it comes to Harry, and that’s endearing :-D).

What character can you relate to most?

Ohhh, this is a hard one. I don’t really like her, but I can relate to Hermione quite well. I know what it’s like to be the class nerd or considered a know-it-all. I’ve also been a part of a trio of best friends before, and it is quite difficult when the other two are closer to each other than to you.

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

I’m quite looking forward to it, but there’s also the possibility that the couples won’t be to my liking. I have this strange desire to see Ginny Weasley and Draco Malfoy form a relationship. I think it’s time that SOMETHING is done about Ginny’s crush on Harry (either she transfers her affections to someone with whom the feeling is mutual, or Harry asks her out). I like the idea of Ginny and Draco because they’ve disliked each other for so long and it would be interesting to see how the families would cope.

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

Well, I have no idea about Harry to tell you the truth. He could hook up with ANYONE (Cho, Ginny, Hermione, etc). And as for Ron I think he’ll get together with Hermione. Those two would be so cute as a couple! Hermione doesn’t really seem to be THAT interested in Krum…perhaps she was only acting like that because Ron wasn’t making a move. (Remember she looked furious whenever Fleur paid Ron attention!)

What character do you think will die in book 5?

Well I don’t really wish to see anyone dead, but if I had to chose I would say the obvious (Colin Creev[e]y, etc) or someone unimportant. I don’t think it will be Ginny because it would be too tragic of an end for her. I mean she’s loved Harry for so long, and for her just to die would be cruel and sooo sad.

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

I’d really like to be in Slytherin or Ravenclaw. Slytherin because they are so determined and ambitious and I admire that, and Ravenclaw because…well…they’re just so intelligent! The Sorting Hat would probably put me in either of those, because I have characteristics from both of the houses.

Do you have any interesting HP stories to share?

Well, for a few months I was obsessed with Harry Potter and I wished and wished I was a witch. I would try and gather as much information and memorabilia from the books and movie as possible, thinking that that would somehow bring me closer to my dream. Then I watched the first movie one day and realised that Dumbledore was right. It does not do to dwell on dreams and forget to live. Dreaming about being a witch wasn’t living. So watching Harry Potter snapped me out of my Harry Potter fantasy and made me remember to live! Ironic huh?

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

I don’t think that Harry Potter encourages children to practise witchcraft or anything like that. I think it encourages people (children and adults) to read, to use their imagination and it teaches us that a hero is not perfect, physically or mentally. Harry Potter is one of the most famous names in the world and he wears glasses and Dudley’s hand-me-downs which are far too big for him. He’s also had his fair share of arguments and mentally-taxing moments. But this didn’t matter to anyone in the book so it didn’t matter to anyone in the real world. What does matter is courage, loyalty and friendship and I think that the generation that is currently growing up in this Harry Potter world can see that.