Fan Focus: Aimee – January 2, 2011

AIMEE
Age 13, New Zealand

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

I actually wasn’t a fan until relatively recently. I don’t have one of those stories about how my parents or perhaps some other relative read the books to me before bed and I grew to love them. My Harry Potter fan story begins when I was five. My parents had rented the Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone DVD. Now, they warned me it might be scary, but I still decided to watch it with them. For some reason, five-year-old me was terrified by most of the movie and the second Seamus’ feather exploded, I left to count sequins or something similar. From then until I was around 10, I was quite against the series. Then, my teacher recommended to my parents that I read the books, being the avid reader I was. So, my mum bought me Harry Potter and the Order of the Pheonix. I read the first few pages. they were quite interesting, but I didn’t want to admit that to my mum who I’d been telling otherwise about Harry Potter for years. So, I came up with a plan. I told her “It makes no sense because it’s the FIFTH BOOK!”. The next day, she went out and got me the first book. I finished it in three hours that night. That was when I first became hooked on the series. I gradually lost interest in the series again, but around and year and a half after that, I began reading Twilight. I found it quite interesting so I began listening to a podcast I found (I had just gotten my first iPod at this point). This podcast happened to be Imprint. From there, I started listening to Smart Mouths. I tried to persuade some others to listen, but they refused to listen. I told one of my friends who had recently become a Harry Potter fan (finally deciding to read the book) that they had a Harry Potter podcast. She agreed to listen if I did. So began listening and that once again sparked the Harry Potter fan inside me.

Imagine a world where you are 10 years old and do not know wizards exist. One day, a letter from Hogwarts comes, just for you. Would your reaction be disbelief, like Harry’s? Or something else?

I would probably be thinking in my head ‘I KNEW IT!’ the whole time I was reading the letter. I’d be thinking something along the lines of, ‘I KNEW IT! I knew I was different. This explains so much. I was right about magic! It does exist! I knew everyone else was stupid for not believing in it.’ I would then proceed to rub it into my parent’s faces. Then they would probably act in a similar way to the Dursley’s. I’m sure they’d write to the return address saying that there’s been some sort of mistake. Then they’d proceed to complain about it and say it was a scam trying to get our contact information.

Finally convinced that you’re a wizard and are off to a school you’ve never heard of, to do magic that you didn’t believe was possible, you head to Diagon Alley to get some school supplies, including a pet. You can choose from a toad, a cat, or an owl. Which would you choose and why?

Something I’ve always wondered is if, for some strange reason, someone had a hybrid of all three, would they be allowed it at Hogwarts? Well, if I were to choose from those three, I’d probably choose a cat. I WOULD choose an owl, but that would remind me too much of Hedwig. Plus, after the discussion we had in our French class about cats vs. dogs, I’d definitely choose a cat out of those. Cats are also very interesting. They have retractable claws for one AND their urine glows in the dark (fun fact). Imagine how amazing a MAGICAL cat would be?

There are so many new people to meet on the Hogwarts Express! Which Harry Potter character would you become fast friends with and why?

Probably Hermione. I wouldn’t say ‘because we’re both smart’ as my answer because I honestly don’t know how well I’d do in a wizarding school. I’d probably try to have a facts battle with her relating to muggle knowledge and we’d laugh over that later. I’d also probably try to correct her facts if I thought they were inaccurate, angering her and causing me to laugh. Then I’d try to settle things with her and adopt her into my ‘group’ I’d try to start.

You’ve heard so much about a test that you’re going to need to take first thing when you get to Hogwarts! You are terrified until you see that it’s only a hat that sits on your head, and shouts out the house that you’ve been sorted into. What does the hat tell you?

It would say something along the lines of, ‘Ahhh… yes. A very great mind here. Yet, you are also quite cunning and deceptive with a bold heart when it comes down to it. You’re quite a challenge. It’s as if you’re many different people, yet, all rolled into one intelligent girl. Hmmm….’ At that point, I would say under my breath, ‘Ravenclaw. PLEASE be Ravenclaw’ Then HOPEFULLY, I’d be in Ravenclaw.

You love ALL of your classes at Hogwarts, learning how to make things fly, and to even fly yourself! There’s just one that you really dread going to, and that class is…?

Herbology. Although plants do interest me greatly, I’d prefer to view them in my own time. In addition to this, I have a strange fear of ‘pointy’ plants or generally plants which look dangerous. I’d probably be very frightened while in herbology, always on the edge of my seat. I’d just sit there, hoping the plants don’t somehow attack. After all, magical plants can do worse than ours.

Congratulations! You made the Quidditch Team for your house, and first year’s NEVER make the team! What position are you playing?

I’m playing a Beater. I’d probably miss the snitch if it were right in front of me, so I wouldn’t be such a great Seeker. I’m an alright defense player in most sports, but defending more than one hoop would be too much for me, especially on a broom. I’m not really one to pass balls along the court, so I don’t think I’d manage passing quaffles on a broom with my below average hand-eye co-ordination, ruling out being a Chaser, leaving me with the position of Beater. I can hit most balls with most types of bats and they usually carry some distance, so I think I’d have the best shot at trying to hit flying bludgers away from the rest of the team.

Do you have anything else you’d like to add? Maybe a theory you still believe to be true, a shout-out, praise for yours truly?

Nothing in particular really. I’d just like to make a shout-out to my friend Yenushka who reads MuggleNet as well. She’s DEFINITELY a bigger Harry Potter fan than me and a much better one (depending on your definition of better at least). I also have a personal book recommendation for people who love Harry Potter (who are generally around my age at least). Try the CHERUB series by Robert Muchamore. It’s about a branch of military intelligence that trains orphans to be agents. It’s getting VERY popular over here and the last book was released a few months ago.