[HPFGU-OTChatter] Tink-Tink-Tink!

[Amanda Geist]

**a substantial yet wispy cloud wafts in and views the celebrations. Oh,
what the hell. It floats down to join in.**

> * Name(s).

Amandageist, a founding L.O.O.N., premier Snapologist

> * Provide the etymology of your signature/handle/moniker/email
> address. In other words, how and why did you choose the name
> you use on the HPfGU lists.

My name is Amanda. And I was one of the original volunteers for the first
group of list-elves. About a week after the system was rolled out, I got a
real-life job--and so was the first elf to resign. For whatever reason, the
Mods at the time wanted me to stay on the MEG list and be generally useful.
John, a Mod at the time, decided if I wasn't an elf I must be a poltergeist,
and so he named me Amandageist. So I was also the first list poltergeist; it
became precedent later for other elves, if they wanted to stay on MEG and
help, to become list geists. I thought the name sounded very clunky at the
time, but I admit it's grown on me.

I'm a founding L.O.O.N. because I'm one of the first three, I think. At
least my name was involved in the first round of what became one of the
longest running in-jokes on the list, the League of Obsessive Nitpickers.
Joywitch invented them, I believe; I'd have to check my notes.

Snapologist = Snape apologist, and I'm the premier because I believe I've
been defending him longer than all but a handful of die-hards, and because I
have a good track record of, if not converting them, arguing Snape-haters to
a standstill "you may have a point" position.

> * Whose signature/handle/moniker/email address at HPfGU
> (a)  do you wish you had come up with first?

Nobody; although I'm charmed by many, they fit their owners better than
they'd fit me.

> (b)  intrigues you?

Almost all of them. They all seem to have such "story potential" behind
them.

> * If you lived in the Potterverse, who would you be, and what
> would you do for a living?

I would be me, and I'd probably do some variant of what I do now. I'm a
technical editor, and I love it--so I bet I'd be some sort of spell
researcher, involving the adjustment of minute details that have much larger
effects.

> * What would you see in the Mirror of Erised?

A shapely, attractive woman, who otherwise looks remarkably like me,
including the stretch marks and graying hair, and wearing a wedding ring
that looks a lot like mine. She'd be dressed better and have lots of money
in her purse. She'd also be wearing my sideways smile, and would be on her
way to meet friends and family for some fun event.

> * What shape would a boggart take, if you chance upon one?

Myself or loved ones as car accident victims.

> * What happy memory will you rely upon, if you are to conjure
> up a Patronus?

My mother. My wedding.

> * What form might your Patronus take?

I think Patronuses and animagus forms are the same; they both seem to be the
shape of the essence of one's self. That said, see below.

> * What might your animagus form be?

I have it on good authority that it would be a beaver. It's a long story.

> * What gifts would you register for in Diagon Alley?  Or would
> it be Knockturn Alley?  How about at Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes?

Diagon Alley, definitely. Um. I want a wand, of purpleheart and/or rock
maple. And I want an owl. And I like to read--I think Gilderoy Lockhart's
books would be a great addition to my bathroom collection.
At the Wheezes? Oh, I don't know. I'd pick up some things for my kids,
they'd have a great time with that stuff. I'd also probably pick up a couple
of their stronger items for my husband to use on some people he works with.

> * Times being what they are...what is your favorite flavor of
> jam?  What is your dearest ambition?

I don't care much for jam, but I guess black rasperrry. I prefer maple
butter *cough*Sheryll!*cough*.

Dearest ambition? To see my husband not have to live as unhappily as he
does, worrying about money and staying in a job where they abuse him, in
order to provide for us. So probably to be where we aren't living paycheck
to paycheck and can not have that worry in the backs of our minds all the
time.

> * Which of the HP books is your favorite?

Ugh. I hate this question. In descending order:
Prisoner of Azkaban/Half-Blood Prince
Goblet of Fire
Order of the Phoenix
Sorcerer's Stone
Chamber of Secrets

> * Who is your favorite character?

Do I really need to answer that?

> * What do you hope will happen in Book 7?

All the answers given; I fear it ending and some things never resolved.

> * What do you think will happen in Book 7?

I will lift from an email to Amy Ze Newly Married, who asked me: "So what
happens next, Professor Binns?" To which I responded:

I believe you're looking for Professor Trelawney.

Harry and the Order go on believing Snape is a turncoat.
Harry goes searching for Horcruxes.
Hermione discovers the tarot and thus they realize they are looking for,
among other things, Rowena Ravenclaw's wand.
Ollivander has it. His ancestor made it (they've been in business for two
thousand years, after all). He's hiding; they have to find him before the
other side does.
--but if Voldemort hasn't Horcruxed it yet? Maybe Ollivander's hiding
because he is in danger for the simple reason that he can tell Harry that
he's looking for a wand.
We hear reports of Snape doing things that can be interpreted in two ways
but will be presented as only Evil!Snape.
Harry will confront Voldemort with Snape present.
Harry will be unable to defend himself from Voldemort; Snape will assist him
unobtrusively, so that Voldemort cannot tell.
Harry will have to trust Snape--or tell V. what Snape's doing.
Snape will die.
Snape may or may not have been truly evil at various points in the books or
their prehistory--but his final choice will be for the good.
Harry will not believe this until in hindsight.
Harry's not understanding will be part of what led to Snape's death.
Harry will learn why Dumbledore trusts Snape, from a memory Dumbledore left
safely bottled in his office somewhere..(pick up theory from my post to old
crowd/HPFGU)
Harry will immediately understand why Dumbledore didn't tell him in the
first place.
Harry will immediately wish he still didn't know.

> * Given all the books whose titles are canon (see
> http://www.hp-lexicon.org/wizworld/books.html ) which would you
> read cover to cover *first*?

The Philosophy of the Mundane: Why Muggles Prefer Not to Know, by Professor
Mordicus Egg. Because I like to understand.

> * What's in your Scrapbook for JKRowling.com ?
> ( http://www.hp-lexicon.org/about/sources/jkr.com/jkr-com-scrapbook.html )
It used to be full, but I can only access it from work (the home connection
is too slow), and I haven't had time to play there in so long, I think it's
empty again. Alas. But I did do a screencap and verify that bug is a doxy,
back when, if that counts for anything.

> * What's your personal best for Expert Level Minesweeper?
Like I have time to play that anymore, either, or sufficient brain cells to
remember scores.

> * When did you join HPfGU?  How did you find us?
September 16, 2000, and I explain how I found the group in my annual
anniversary post. Read in three weeks.

> * Point us to your delurking post...how was that maiden voyage?
Well, it was either my first or second post where I postulated Snape loved
Lily--I haven't had time to check back too far, but I may have been the
first to go public with that (at least after the switch to yahoo). I
remember my first post asked why there wasn't more discussion on Snape. If
only I'd known...

> * Point us to your favorite posts, your own or otherwise.

Oh, my mind is terrible. The FAQs, they have almost all of them, including
the ones of my own I'd remember. I do think I did well on "What Snape Knew
and When" and "Amandageist Explains it All" but I'm sure there were other
treatises I'd be proud of if I remembered them. Others--oh, the erudite
elite that I worship! I fear to list a few of you, for I surely won't
remember you all, but I envy almost all of you your gift with words and turn
of phrase. Many the time I have bent double over my keyboard gasping with
laughter, or sat stupefied at a zinger point or beautifully made argument.

> * Point us to, in hindsight, what you now wish you'd never said
> [ex.: ships sunken by new can(n)on, being flagged by LOONs...]

I can't think of anything. Remember, though, I was one of the top
posters-by-volume for years; that's a lot to remember. I had a lot more time
then.

> * Have you been around since August 2000?  What were the hot
> topics for you personally five years ago, post-GoF?

I've been around for a lot of it. Um. It varied. I was never much of a
shipper, and TBAY intimidated me; character discussions and points of canon
were always my forte, and are still my main areas of interest.

> * What things about you often come as a surprise to others?
That I'm insecure. And that I don't breathe fire. And that I'm reasonable in
discussions. I got such a reputation as a battleaxe.

> * Things you do when not staring at the computer:
Work. Wash clothes. Chase children (who were 5, 3, and >1 when I joined the
list, and are now 10, 8, and 6). Work more. Plan things to do when Sheryll
visits. Work. Try to remember the name of that man I live with. Do kid
birthday parties. Work. Catch up on email. Neglect MEG duties. Work. Make
children clean house. Make them do it again. Work. Watch Alan Rickman
movies. Oh, and I work a lot.

> ** Got a question of your own?  Ask it here.
Is there anyone out there I frightened, in their first post or two? Because
I have heard I used to be an intimidating presence on the list.

**feeling pensive, the misty vapor makes one more pass through a tray of
drinks, causing Rylly Elf to drop them and squeak imprecations, and then
drifts through the nearest wall**

~Amandageist