Friday Five: Harry Potter!

This week, the RevGals have two different Friday Fives for us, and I’m going to play them both. First, the wonderful magical Harry Potter edition!

1. Which Harry Potter book is your favorite and why?

My favorite is Prisoner of Azkaban. I’m not sure exactly why. It was shorter, and I think better written than the fourth and fifth books. And Harry annoyed the bejeebers out of me in Order of the Phoenix with his whininess. He reminded me very much of Luke in Star Wars (Episode 4) – complaining about his fate. I know there’s a place for complaining, but sheesh – enough already! I did love the animagi, and Harry’s conjuring of a Patronus, plus his realization that he had conjured it and not his father. That was powerful stuff.

2. Which character do you most resemble? Which character would you most like to get to know?

Hrmph. I’m probably either a Professor McGonagall or Hermione Grainger. I was always good in school, and while I have a deep faith in the chain of command and in the way things should be done, I also can be mistrustful of authority, especially arbitrary authority. But I tend to be the one who answers all of the teacher’s questions, and yes, I’m guilty of being the annoying student who corrects the professor (though I try not to do this too often).

I think I would really enjoy sitting down for tea with Mr. & Mrs. Weasley. Their home is wonderfully chaotic, but loving and homey. And Molly and Arthur have a gift for making guests feel welcome. And I’m sure they have wonderful family stories to tell.

3. How careful are you about spoilers?
a) bring ’em on–even if I know the destination, the journey’s still good
b) eh, I’d rather not know what happens, but I’m not going to commit Avada Kedavra if someone makes a slip
c) I will sequester myself in a geodesic dome to avoid finding anything out

I’m a (b). I’d prefer to enjoy the surprises. If someone spoils them, though, I’ll just give them a hard time and never let them forget how they ruined Harry Potter for me. 🙂

4. Make one prediction/share one hope about book 7.

I think Dumbledore pulled an Obi-Wan. I also doubt that the question, “So is Snape really good or bad?” will be answered in a clear-cut fashion. As satisfying as an clear answer would be, I find myself really savoring the mystery surrounding Snape.

5. Rowling has said she’s not planning any prequels or sequels, but are there characters or storylines (past or future) that you would like to see pursued?

I’d like to know more about Snape’s past, more about how he was associated with Voldemort, and what he was doing for the good guys. Dumbledore clearly trusts him completely, and I know there’s a reason for this.

I’d also like to know more about the centaurs in the Forbidden Forest, and maybe some of the other beasties as well.

I can’t wait for my new book to arrive! I’d been hoping to be at the bookstore at midnight with my daughter to buy this one, but I’ll be at home in my sling recovering from my rotator cuff surgery. Mine will arrive from Amazon on Saturday.