Fave/least fave - Harry's character - Fleur - Veritaserum - Weird Sisters

[Martin Smith]

No: HPFGUIDX 28518

Hi everybody!

Starting with the faves etc...

Favourite characters (excluding Harry Himself):
1. TOT (The Other Trio): Lee Jordan, Fred and George Weasley
As you all know, having a clear picture of who I am ;-), Lee Jordan is
exactly how I was in school. We all need a good laugh (especially during
dark times) and Lee and his best friends provide that constantly. Plus, the
twins have proven that they truly care for Harry, and are probably his
closest friends outside The Original Trio.
2. Hermione Granger
To come from a totally different background (muggle) and dominate the
wizarding world with such confidence never stops impressing me. She's witty,
charming and smart, and she is so with no intention of impressing the other
students whatsoever, IMHO. She is basically the wizarding UK equivalent to
my all time favourite Simpson, Lisa. Sign me up for S.S.H.I.A.B.B. any day!
3. Moody/Crouch
Any of these two will do (at least if the real Moody is anything like the
act Crouch put up). The bouncing ferret, the constant vigilance, the total
devotion to his Dark Overlord... His/their peronality/ies is/are so strong
that it practically rises from the pages of the book and make me commit to
constant vigilance myself.

Those who nearly made the list (in no particular order): Ronniekins, Trevor,
Dedalus Diggle, Lucius Malfoy, Snape, Lupin, Mme Maxine's horses (gotta love
them for their great taste in beverage!)

And the not so fave ones:
1. Hagrid
The loveable, gentle giant has unfortunately been around in popular culture
ever since Disney decided to make all those literary figures into bears
(Baloo (who of course really /is/ a bear), Little John etc). They hardly
differ at all, it's all a big blur of teddybearesque craftsmen, which
unfortunately means I can't name one, all of them being indistinguishable
from the other. Hopefully Rubeus will add some character to his clich
further on, but for the time being, I could live with him getting much less
sceentime. Plus what Jenny said.
2. Crabbngoyle
Siamese children, related by the fists. Why must all yay-saying henchmen
always be a duo, with all muscle and no brains? Or is it just me being
prejudiced? Maybe they're really kind, caring, intelligent and warm, but are
just afraid to go against naughty, evil Draco and his father's dirty money?
Nah...
3. Dobby-Dobby Binks
Although, I have to admit, he made quite the improvement in GoF, he still is
the Gungan of Potterverse, and, more frightening, he is so in a galaxy
really, really close not too long time ago.

Those who nearly made the list (in no particular order): Fudge, Crookshanks,
all the screwts, Quirell, and what's-his-name who went with Fleur to the
ball.

Dream dates:
(since we don't have that dating culture here in Sweden, I have to go with
the knowledge I got from various American sit-coms and movies)
1. Fleur Delacoeur
What can I say? I'm just as shallow as the next guy, and going out with a
stunningly beautiful woman with a French accent really impresses the lads...
<vvbg>
2. Madame Rosmerta
I get the impression that she's busty, down-to-earth and generally happy,
all of which are traits I find attractive in a woman. She would probably
laugh at all my jokes, too.
3. Joanne Kathleen Rowling
She is obviously very intelligent, self-confident and attractive. I also
believe she is really nice, too. And she is disturbingly rich...  ;-)

Those who nearly made the list (in no particular order): Hermione (since
she, IMNSHO, was born in 1980 and thus is 21 by now it's OK for a 26-year
old to date her, right?), Jenny from Ravenclaw, McGonnagall, the lead singer
in The Weird Sisters (see below)

Amy Z (my list-elf, btw):
>As you can tell, I'd have a thing or two to say to Tabouli's snooty
>academic.  Empty character indeed!  I snort in his/her general direction.

I fart in your general direction, I believe the quote goes... Not that I
ever do.
Anyway, no need for snorting or farting just yet. A concept that has worked
well ever so often is to make the lead character in a series (cartoons,
books, what-have-yous) rather blank in order to make it easier for the
reader to identify with himer. A great example of this is Tintin. Tintin
himself was full of personality in the early years, but quite frankly the
comic was rather crappy back then. When Herg introduced the more colourful
characters (captain Haddock, professor What's-his-name-in-English etc) he
faded Tintin's personality into total neutrality. Any reader can relate to
Tintin (he doesn't even have an age, for all I know he could be anything
between 18 and 40) and that is part of what makes it the best (IMHO) comic
ever. With that in mind, it wouldn't be all too surprising if JKR had let
Harry be a somewhat tabula rasa, characterwise. However, I don't think she
did. Harry is mostly (emphasise on mostly, there are exceptions) calm,
neutral, objective, observing (and more). But these are all strong
personality traits, and do not make Harry an empty character. So, in
conclusion, the sneering and snooty academic Tabouli mentioned is generally
not way out of line, but in this specific case (Harry Potter, that is) s/he
is, IMO. Therefore, I won't fart in hiser general direction, but rather in
hiser specific one.

Cindy wrote:

>In a way, Fleur gets cheated a bit,
>doesn't she?  Cedric and Harry have lots of interaction (and Cedric
>gets to reveal his outstanding character).  Harry interacts with Krum
>in "The Madness of Mr. Crouch" (and Krum gets to reveal his
>insecurities).  But where is Fleur's big scene with Harry where she
>gets to reveal her character?  There really isn't one, other than
>thanking him for saving her sister.

Is it okay with a "Me too" if it is inside a longer post? Maybe I'm just
affected by Fleur's veelaism (yet another example of how JKR's magic
sometimes work in real life), but if there are any Fleur Support Groups out
there, I'd like to join. I did fly to Jupiter on my broom, you know. And my
father is the richest wizard ever, so I can afford the two knuts it costs to
join.

Cindy:
>As for the
 >Grindylows, it doesn't take much to fend them off -- just shoot sparks at
them.

Amy Z:
>I think it can't be that easy; otherwise, the entire Dark-creature section
>of DADA would simply consist of the rule "Stomp on creature very hard with
>boot."   There's a knack to dealing with each creature, and then you have
to
>learn the particular spell.  Every school has its own curriculum, and
>grindylows might not have been on Beauxbatons'.

Plus, IIRC, grindylows can be found in Britain and Ireland, but not in
France.


Susanna Luhtanen wrote:

>Crouch gave Harry Veritaserum

Luckily he didn't rant on like that guy in Hitchhiker's guide to the Galaxy,
because had he done so, telling the whole truth about *everything*, GoF
would be even longer. Which I, btw, wouldn't have a problem with.


Rowena asked:
>I don't think 'Twisted Sister' is an all girl band
>so why should the Weird Sisters be?

Amy Z replied:
>I'm pretty sure they're not.  IIRC, there's a famous Quidditch player
>(female) whose son (male <g>) plays in the Weird Sisters.  Am I
>hallucinating?  Anyone got a QTTA handy?

I believe the Weird Sisters are from Ireland and consists of aforementioned
Quidditch-son, Kirlie McCormack (from QTTA), on guitar and his (my
beliefs/hopes) stunningly talented and pretty sisters Andrea (lead vocals,
tin whistle), Caroline (drums, bhodran, piano, vocals) and Sharon (violin,
vocals).
Although I, as a Swede, would love to see Dave's vision of ABBA reunited
come true. If there is an ABBA-Teens, why not an ABBA-Witches?

Well, back to work,

Martin, who wishes someone "over there" could digitalise tonight's episode
of the Simpsons Halloween special and send it to me as an mpg-file
(especially the segment where Lisa, the wiz kid,  is haunted by the evil
Lord Montyvort)