Do you think the sorting hat saw something more than Slytherin in Draco Malfoy?

Thursday, October 6, 2011

Pottermore!


Ahh! I havent posted to this blog in way too long. I wish I had time to read Harry Potter.... maybe the day will come.

Anyhow, in the meantime, I have been busy on Pottermore! I was granted early admission (registration is open to all sometime soon) and it is so cool! Pottermore allows you to travel through each chapter of each novel, and almost re-live the experience. It provides great visuals and graphics, as well as many interactive things, such as having a wand choose you at Olivanders, and getting sorted into a house. I am only a fraction of the way into the site, and I already love it. There is some great new material from JK Rowling, too, regarding places, objects, characters, and things of that sort.

As for now, you'll just have to listen to me talk about it. But when the sign up is available to everyone, I encourage you to do so. I promise you'll enjoy it!

Meanwhile, I think I'm going to start back at the Prisoner of Azkaban. Hopefully more posts soon!

-Rip

www.pottermore.com

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Hang with me.....

Hi everyone,

Today I would like to politely ask you to keep hanging in there if you noticed that I havent posted in forever! I am not allowed to read Harry Potter for the seemingly constant book reports I have for English class, so I have not been with our friends Harry Ron and Hermione lately. I will pick back up again as soon as possible.... trust me! I miss it. :-(

Please continue to check regularly. Thank you,

-Rip

Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Harry's Introduction into Dark Wizardry, Foreshadowing at Work

Wow! A lot has happened since I posted last Saturday, both at Hogwarts and here in Homewood! School has resumed, and time for Harry Potter nightly is dwindling. :-(

Tonight I would like to just say a brief something about Harrys "intro" into the world of Dark Wizardry, as I enter the end of Chamber of Secrets. So we know that Harry had his little encounter with trouble at the end of his first year; Professor Quirell being controlled by Voldemort, and trying to take the Stone. This may have wet Harry's lips of Dark Magic, but this is nothing in comparison to the dark, dark magic he will encounter in his future, when it isnt going to end happily with Gryffindor winning the house cup.

In the Chamber of Secrets, Harry is brutally confronted with these types of forces, the petrifying of Hermione driving it home. He sees what powerful wizards are willing to do, and what types of horrific things exist in the magic world.

Also, we begin to see those subtle signs in Harry that clear up in the Deathly Hallows when Harry discovers part of Voldemort is actually living inside of him. One of these that I LOVE is the sorting hat. I think the sorting hat is the coolest thing; it shows us time and time again its ability to dig so deep into a persons soul that even they are confused upon its judgements. We saw it with Neville, and we see it with Harry. I would be interested to hear Draco Malfoy's session with the sorting hat. Although we obviously know he is in Slytherin, I have always thought that there was something more to Malfoy..... Hm...... I am thinking this could be our next poll.

POLL QUESTION: Do You think the sorting hat saw something more than pure Slytherin in Draco Malfoy?

-Rip

Hermione won the favorite character poll. We will have to have another sometime with different characters.

Saturday, August 6, 2011

Neville Longbottom: Good Intentions, Reserved Pesonality

Hello Readers!

Well, I was just looking at the "stats" of this blog, or how many readers I have, and I must say I am very satisfied! I am really enjoying this, and I hope you will continue to read.

So yesterday I finished the Sorcerer's Stone. I think thats a record: a 72 hour time period! The first in the Harry Potter has always been one of my favorites. It is so lighthearted and magical, one cannot help but be mesmerized.

Today I want to analyze another one of my favorite characters in HP; Neville Longbottom. Sometimes when I hear his name, I want to just shake my head and laugh, and just say "Oh, Neville." I feel as if this sums up many of my feelings toward Neville. Neville plays an interesting role in the 1st book. He is the outcast among the crowd--the one that no one understands, and most dont bother and try. But he has found refuge with Harry, Ron, and Hermione, a uniquely kind trio found in the Hogwarts student body. When we first see Neville, he is desperately looking for his toad from his Gram. This is an instance where Hermione really helps him out. Another very important example is that of Harrys first broom flight; attempting to rescue Nevilles Remembral from cold hearted Malfoy. Harrys keen eye could tell Neville did not posses the confidence to dig into his deep-down bravery and retrieve it himself.

My choice of words was very delicate in my last sentence. I began to say something like "...tell that Neville did did not have the bravery...". Then, I quickly erased this writing, for I had spoken incorrectly, and doing so led me to this simple way of relaying to you how I feel about Neville: He has the courage. He has it. Neville possesses the bravery inside his soul to do great, great things, as we even see in a small dose towards the conclusion of Book 1, and later, in a huge amount in the conclusion of Book 7. This just goes to show how Neville truly is constantly digging--digging deep within himself to find the bravery, courage, spirit, and warm heart that the Sorting Hat saw on his very first day at Hogwarts.

Before I close, I would like to share one of my favorite quotes from the Sorcerer's Stone, and the series as a whole:

You might belong in Gryffindor,
Where dwell the brave at heart,
Their daring nerve, and chivalry,
 Set Gryffindors apart. (The Sorting Hat)

-Rip

[Looks like Hermione is winning the character poll. Be sure and vote!]

Thursday, August 4, 2011

Snape Evolving: 1

So today I want to mark the beginning of I series that I will spontaneously continue throughout the blog: Snape Evolving. My personal favorite character in HP is Severus Snape. Most's reaction to this is "What?" or "But hes a bad guy!". You could say that Snape has made poor choices throughout his involvement in Harry's life, but I think it is fascinating how J.K. Rowling subtlety develops Snapes character throughout the series, and allows our thoughts of him to go from one pole to the other, but reveals toward the end his deep ties with Harry's life.

The one example that I just read as I finish up the Sorcerer's Stone, is of when Harrys brand new Nimbus 2000 is jinxed and throws him off. Hermione, weary of Snape's intentions, immediately jumps to the conclusion that he is behind it when she sees him performing some sort of magic toward Harry. Later, if we think back on the instance, Snape was actually counteracting a jinx placed by Proffesor Quirrel, who obviously ends up being under the control of Voldemort. This instance is proof of Snape looking out for Harry.

When Rowling announced she would be closing the series with the Deathly Hallows, I was of course disappointed, but very satisfied when I completed the series. I felt every loose end was tied into the conclusion and that it was a very well rounded and complete series. The only thing I would LOVE to see her continue to delve into is the relationship between James Potter, Lily Potter, and Severus Snape. I find Snape's connection to Harry and Snape, himself absolutely fascinating. Also, I feel as if we never get a really really good grasp on the details of what really happened that night when Voldemort made an attempt on Harrys Life. I would like more on that, also.

How am I doing? Thanks to all my readers! Again, bear with me as I experiment with this blog.

-Rip

POLL: Any suggestions for our next question??? :-)

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Harry's Hardship and its Effect on his Life

Hello readers! This is my first post on my Harry Potter blog, so bear with me as I find exactly what I want to do here!

Today, as I approach the end of Sorcerer's Stone, I would like to explore how what Harry had to go through as a child might have affected him as a grown wizard.

NOTICE: If you have not read the series or seen the movie, and do not wish to read information regarding what occurs in the series, I advise you not to read this blog. Thanks!

So obviously Harry had a little less than a normal childhood; his parents perished when he was just an infant, and he was left to be raised by his wicked muggle aunt and unlce, Petunia and Vernon Dursley. Harry was oppressed through his childhood. Cooped up in his cupboard under the stairs, Harry didnt have friends to play with, children to interact with, or even loving parents to properly care for him. In Petunia and Vernon's mind, their only job is to keep Harry alive.

Harry couldnt ask for things for his birthday and Christmas. He didnt have people there to assist him in little things like tying his shoes; he was forced to figure these things out for himself. In my opinion, albeit this was certainly not an ideal childhood, it was a great benefit to Harry later in his Wizarding career. He mentally matured very quickly, and was intent to solve problems by himself, due to the absence of parents to do so for him.

Look at Draco Malfoy as an opposite example. Draco was raised with both of his parents living, and although there is a shallow depth of information regarding his personal life, we can infer that he lived a very privileged and easy childhood. Now, throughout the series, you can tell when Draco is faced with decisions and adversities and his mommy and daddy arent there to assist him, he cowers away in fear while Harry steps up to the plate to do the noble thing, without a single request from those around him.

I suppose what I am saying is Harry's hardship has made him a very well rounded and level headed individual. What do you guys think?

-Rip

P.S. the current poll question (see top of page) is "What is your favorite harry potter character?"

Welcome!

Hello everyone! Welcome to Harry Potter: Adventures of Magic and Bravery. Many of you have probably visited from my photography blog, Lens of An Amateur. www.lensofanamateur.blogspot.com. This blog will be a little bit different.

I am rediscovering the joy of the Harry Potter series by reading them once again. I have been a fan for years, but now I want to read the books and take a closer look. I plan on discussing opinions, thoughts, theories, questions, and all sorts of other things. Please, if you are a HP fan, comment and share yours with me as well.

Thank you! I look forward to begin blogging the world of witchcraft and wizardry...

-Rip