sweetheart redux: 4 Interviews with the Girl Gang at Hogwarts

I was a 23 year old beauty, excited to have gotten a job as a mortuary/cemetery clerk at Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills Memorial Park, where the upper management were some of the worst people I've ever met and the internment services were conducted by rote – it was the McDonald’s of memorial parks: “Oh, your young daughter just died of leukemia? Fill out this paperwork and we'll call you up to the front desk when you're number is called.”

I lasted there for two and a half years before quitting -- it was an intense last conversation with my soon-to-be ex-boss.

"You're the only person who feels that I'm unfair," she said.

"Sorry, but that's completely not true. Nobody would tell you what they think of you to your face, but they all hate you and think you're unfair and look forward to days you call in sick."

Then, I was unemployed for centuries, in a little suburb called Monrovia. I was a substitute teacher, which brought in about $150 a month. Still, the only thing I ever used my credit card for was to go to matinees at the beautiful Krikorian theatre on the main street there.

One time I went to see the Harry Potter film Chamber of Secrets. I was all alone in the theatre, thank god, because transformative moments are ideally solitary. I’d always wanted to be a witch. I had a few different close friends throughout grade school that I talked into being witches with me,and I also tried to conduct spells by myself all the time. I loved to feel I could use magic to wish things away.

Hermoine,Ron, Harry Potter -- these kids were so brave. I loved all the years of watching both their faults and their strengths develop: Ron is loyal but somewhat average; Harry was cursed with tragedy but becomes a hero, with almost enough action in his life to distract him from being an orphan; Hermoine is a kick-ass genius bitch. Yes, I followed these fictional characters for years and I like their fictional personalities, but why are the Harry Potter movies so important to me? They are just the thing that comforts me. Dumbledore looks like my mom's old best friend who died of cancer. The meanest seeming man, Snape, is the bravest and most patient man. Neville Longbottom, the buck-toothed zero, leads the final battle against the Nazi-like (obsessed with pure blood) bad guys. I love to hear the opening credits music when I'm depressed or having horrible PMS or insomnia.

Today, when I know I am going to have a bad day at work, I either wear the Gryffendor scarf I knitted, the golden snitch necklace with a watch inside, my other, non-functional golden snitch necklace, or my necklace that says “expecto patronum” in lovely cursive and has a silhouette of an elk underneath. This makes me a happy dork. My love of Harry Potter is often the thing that makes weird people think I'm normal and normal people think I'm weird.

Whatevs. There is nothing wrong with being a witch or wizard. That sentence doesn't even make sense. Not only is there "nothing wrong" with being a witch or wizard, but it is also the absolute best thing to be. Here are a few interviews with friends who like or love the Harry Potter stories.

Miss G

Which do you prefer, the books or movies?

Movies.  I only read the books after the movie series was finished to fill in some of the backstories - not really a fan of them.

Why do you most appreciate about the Harry Potter stories?  For example, does it exemplify the scariness of childhood for you?  Does it make you feel distracted from the real world?

I used to be really into witches and witchcraft as a young child, so I sort of recognized Harry Potter as something I would've been obsessed with as a seven year old.  Also the art direction in the movies is amazing!! They really do a great job creating a world you want to be part of.

Whose side did you end up on:  Dumbledore or Snape?

It never occurred to me that one needed to pick a side.

Did you fall in love with the stories as a child or an adult?

I wish they had Harry Potter when I was a child.

If you loved the story immediately, do you remember why?  Or the ah-ha moment of your first exposure to Harry Potter?

I was only slightly aware of the Potter phenomenon when the first film came out.  I definitely was not planning on seeing it, but a friend wanted to go and I just fell in love with the aforementioned look of the film.  I had also just moved back to the States from the UK and the Britishness of it made me feel less homesick.

If it wasn’t love at first sight, what was it that eventually drew you to the stories?

No, it was pretty much love at first sight

Were you unhappy with the conclusion?  If so, how would your ideal ending go?

I have no complaints about the conclusion. [On a somewhat related note, I am unhappy that Stephen Fry was never cast in any of the movies]

Does the story touch on any of your political beliefs, i.e. feminism or socialism?

No. I think the plot is pretty much a soap opera with wands.

What is your favorite character and why?

Because I prefer the films, my favorite characters are based on performances rather than actual character personalities. I think Imelda Staunton was great. I also love Julie Walters as the Weasley's mum and Maggie Smith is always amazing.  

Miss G lives in Northern Ireland.  Sometimes she blogs at the garment thread.

http://garmentthread.blogspot.com/

Kim Burly

Which do you prefer, the books or movies?

The books, no question!

Why do you most appreciate about the Harry Potter stories? For example, does it exemplify the scariness of childhood for you? Does it make you feel distracted from the real world?

I like that I was able to completely lose myself in them. As a kid I would put myself into the stories I was reading and I was able to do that all over again as an adult when I started reading HP.

Whose side did you end up on: Dumbledore or Snape?

TALK ABOUT CONFLICT. You spend a whole series thinking one thing and then getting hit with Snape's selfless goodness. I cried so hard. Team Severus for sure.

Did you fall in love with the stories as a child or an adult?

I was a dumb idiot and refused to read or watch the movies until the summer the 7th book came out. I think I was 25 or 26 and I read the whole series in the month of August. It's now my august ritual.

If you loved the story immediately, do you remember why? Or the ah-ha moment of your first exposure to Harry Potter?

I tried reading sorcerers stone when it first came out because my sister had it, but I think that I abandoned it because she liked it so much, so therefore it must be lame. When I picked it up again years later I was sucked in as soon as I met Hagrid. There has never been a literary character more like my dad.

If it wasn’t love at first sight, what was it that eventually drew you to the stories?

My cousin Brit-nasty was obsessed and spent her junior high and high school years lamenting that Daniel Radcliffe as so dang short and she would always have to wear flats with him. She's kind of a badass, so I figured that anything she loves can't be that bad.

Were you unhappy with the conclusion? If so, how would your ideal ending go?

I liked it UNTIL the stupid epilogue. Did we really need to see all of the kids of the characters going off to Hogwarts? How convenient that they ALL managed to have kids within the same year of each other. Still a little pissed that it all ended up in such a bland and fanfic way. Cut that out and it would have been perfect.

Does the story touch on any of your political beliefs, i.e. feminism or socialism?

When I first read it I was still pretty religious and the struggle between good and evil, Snape's sacrifice, it all fit pretty well with my Christian values (funny that so many Christians thought it was so bad. Now I'm more agnostic leaning but I still appreciate that those parallels came out as I initially read it.)

What is your favorite character and why?

Luna Lovegood. She's quirky, smart and totally happy with who she is, even though people around her didn't always get where she was coming from. Plus, I'd like to think I'd be sorted as a ravenclaw and we'd be pals.

Kim Burly does thealphablonde.com

Jocelyn

Which do you prefer, the books or movies?
I have only ever seen the movies. I'm planning for us to read the books aloud as a family when my kids are big enough. It's hard to wait!

Why do you most appreciate about the Harry Potter stories? For example, does it exemplify the scariness of childhood for you? Does it make you feel distracted from the real world?
I think there's something about magical solutions to life's problems-- and magic livening up boring aspects of life-- that appeals to me. For example, I'm always fascinated with the paintings and newspapers, and I'm super thrilled when the wizard world brushes close by the muggle world, like at the train station. To think that there is secret magic all around.

Whose side did you end up on: Dumbledore or Snape?
I don't consider it a divide. From my perspective, Snape was a sort of jerky person, but he was loyal and loving to the memory of Harry's mother, and to dumbledore, as an extension of that. The moment where he has to kill dumbledore is so baffling and heartbreaking, but to me it just shows how close they were. And dumbledore, though he has this sort of uncomfortable relationship to power, ultimately, I think he was nevertheless always on the side of right and good, and that counts for a lot to me.

Did you fall in love with the stories as a child or an adult?
I was probably 30 when I saw the first one. I was against the series because my mom and mother-in-law were both way into it and I wanted-- I still thought I had a chance of being different;)

If you loved the story immediately, do you remember why? Or the ah-ha moment of your first exposure to Harry Potter?
No, I saw the Goblet of Fire first, and I thought it was an action movie, way too scary for kids. I didn't really see the appeal at that time. But I was working in a kids' hair salon, and kids could choose to watch a movie during their haircut, so I saw tiny bits of the first two that way, and the kids talked so passionately about them, I was moved to bring them home and watch them after that. And the part where they are flooded with letters about Hogwarts, I was so overcome with emotion about that for some reason. Being wanted? Having a calling? So for me that was critical in terms of drawing me into the story. I like the sweetness of the first two.

If it wasn’t love at first sight, what was it that eventually drew you to the stories?
Oh, I think I just answered that.

Were you unhappy with the conclusion? If so, how would your ideal ending go?
The only thing I wanted was for Neville and Luna to get together, because Luna is my favorite. I like everything else. I love the deathly hallows story and I was glad Harry renounced the elder wand.

Does the story touch on any of your political beliefs, i.e. feminism or socialism?
I doesn't immediately occur for me that way. It's more like a fundamental good versus evil alignment, which I consider to be a core aspect of my personality.
What is your favorite character and why?
Luna. She's good, she's mystical, she has smart ideas. And of course, she's very whimsical.

Jocelyn likes to read and is a student of progressive education. She is an LA native with two little kids.

Red Velvet

Which do you prefer, the books or movies?

Both have their strengths and weaknesses! I read and enjoyed the books first, but haven't re-read them recently. These days, I'm more likely to watch the movies -- though I prefer watching the Rifftrax versions, as the films can drag in spots, and absolutely have elements of the ridiculous.

Why do you most appreciate about the Harry Potter stories? For example, does it exemplify the scariness of childhood for you? Does it make you feel distracted from the real world?

What I appreciate most about Harry Potter is the world-building. I think that the works are definitely flawed -- the Social Work Grad Students Tumblr does an excellent takedown of what's most problematic about the series from a social justice perspective, which boils down to: the adults are mostly completely untrustworthy, Ron is the quintessential Nice Guy, and Hermione's anti-slavery crusade for house elves is treated dismissively by most everyone including J. K. Rowling. Her entire book-by-book review is really insightful, and very much worth a read!

Despite its flaws, it's still an interesting universe with whimsical details. And I appreciate a good dose of whimsy and escapism in my entertainment.

Knowing about the series is also an easy way to make small talk. I was teaching in South Korea when the last book came out, and a fellow expat quickly made friends in our small town by loaning out the book to everyone who asked for it. I read it in two days, and could then identify fellow nerds to befriend by seeking out who else read that title, which was handy.

Whose side did you end up on: Dumbledore or Snape?

Honestly, I didn't really like either character. Snape was a bully, and Dumbledore made things considerably more difficult and obscure for everyone than they needed to be.

Don't get me wrong -- I love Alan Rickman -- but I much prefer Luna Lovegood and Hermione. Give me a brainy lady any day.

Did you fall in love with the stories as a child or an adult?

I started reading them as a teen, because my younger sister was reading them. I didn't expect to enjoy them as much as I did, but found myself reading the entire series before I knew it. Again, it was the thrill of being drawn into a well-realized world. Which is interesting, as fantasy generally isn't my bag; however, I have a weakness for Young Adult fantasy, stemming from a childhood love of the Chronicles of Narnia series.

Were you unhappy with the conclusion? If so, how would your ideal ending go?

I was! I thought the epilogue was unnecessary and too pat. I also would have preferred to see more Neville, as I thought that the late-in-the-game reveal that he might have been The Chosen One was interesting and underexplored.

In truth, Harry's a pretty lame protagonist: he knows very few spells, isn't a great wizard, and is just not that interesting a person. I don't think character development is Rowling's strong suit; one of the things that makes the Potter universe interesting is the fact that there's this world to explore with many, many characters who aren't fully realized. So it's interesting to imagine what might have been.

What is your favorite character and why?

Luna Lovegood, as I love an unapologetic female eccentric.

Red Velvet thinks about female eccentrics a lot, and has written zines about spinsterhood, sexting, heartbreak, job interviews, terrible puns, moving, and narwhals. Drop her a line at catherinettezine@gmail.com and she will probably send you some.

Various Occasions of me Brandishing Wands, etc.