Fan Focus: Daniel – July 4, 2010

DANIEL
Age 15, United States

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

I discovered Harry Potter around nine years ago when walking through a store with one of my aunts. I came across a copy of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, which caught my eye when I saw the cover with a boy wizard flying on a broom; I had a very wild imagination, so I was immediately prompted to pick the book up. I opened the book up to a random page, which happened to be the part when Norbert hatches in Hagrid’s hut. The first movie was coming out around the same time, so my mom decided to buy me Harry Potter merchandise after I had told her about seeing the book in a store, and I immediately took to all things Harry Potter, buying any and all Harry Potter merchandise I could find, from scented Harry Potter markers to elaborate Harry Potter blankets. I had not yet read the book, but some time after collecting Harry Potter stuff, I asked my mom to pick up the book for me at the library, and as soon as I finished reading it, everything just… Clicked. I just had to read the rest of the books, and escape once more into Harry Potter’s world, and hence I became a fan of the Harry Potter books.

It has been over two years since Deathly Hallows came out and we found out how the series ended. Do you have the same reaction to the ending now, as you did then?

The loyalty I feel towards J.K. Rowling and her world has made me a blindly accepting person when it comes to the many fantastic plot lines and mechanics of Harry Potter’s world. Although I felt that the main storyline of the book ended on a satisfactory note, with love representing the ultimate vanquisher of evil, and Harry finally able to have a family of his own, now I must admit I am not entirely satiated by the epilogue’s contents. There were so many questions that were answered by Rowling outside of the book, mostly pertaining to what the many different characters did post-war. Upon re-reading the book, I find that Rowling could have easily taken her time to include those details in the epilogue, but didn’t because she was too caught up in the fact that she had written it such a long time ago, and wanted to keep the original version virtually intact. Apart from that, I feel that the series’ overall conclusion was everything I expected it to be (on the unpredictable level), and more.

There are quite a few organizations/clubs at Hogwarts. Which you would rather join and why: Dueling Club, Dumbledore’s Army, or S.P.E.W.?

I firmly believe in teaching young wizards how to properly defend themselves against aging, menstruating, toad-faced women. So sign me up for Dumbledore’s Army – with a part-time gig in the Dueling Club.

If you could attend Hogwarts, Which class do you think would be your favorite?

I would thoroughly enjoy Potions with Snape. All my life, I have had to deal with difficult characters in real life. Characters who do everything to thwart you simply because they don’t like who you are or where you come from. I, fortunately, have learned to deal with those types of people effectively, so I wouldn’t have a problem putting Snape in his place if he attempts to disrupt my enjoyment of Potions. That is to say, if he ever tries to weaken my perfect Draught of Living Death, I will brew some Polyjuice Potion, drop in one of his hairs, and go around Hogwarts telling students how much I enjoy listening to Celestina Warbeck alongside my fuschia pygmy puff. However apt I may be at putting him in his place in Potions, I, unfortunately, cannot do anything about his greasy hair. That, my friends, is a lost cause.

Which class would be your best, whether you liked it or not?

I have a knack for getting myself out of trouble at the very last minute. It’s not that I want to be in that kind of situation all the time, but I think I would excel at Transfiguration, as I would have to use it constantly to transfigure myself into a fly or a speedy bird and get out of trouble. I would have plenty of practice, and probably be able to supercede the “tabby-ness” of Animagus Professor McGonagall. An Outstanding in Transfiguration would definitely not be out of the question come OWL-taking time.

Okay, be honest. We got you this year with our April Fool’s story about JKR writing a Potter prequel featuring Elvendork. However, if she really wrote it, it would be so…

Dorky! (What else?)

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Thank you to MuggleNet for being there for me these past 10 years, giving me my fill of Harry Potter mania, for showing me so much generosity by helping me out with my community endeavors, and ending my high school career on such an awesome, Harry Potter-related note. Also, I would like to thank J.K. Rowling for giving me a hero to look up to during my childhood, and for showing us that the most important things in life really emerge from the love we work to show one another. It truly is the most powerful form of magic. I can only hope for the opportunity to thank her personally one day.