I've been struggling for a while with the concept of this blog versus the inevitable - that enthusiasm would wane and it would end up just me. I am now at peace with this timeless struggle, have accepted that it will always happen, have moved on, and will now seek to entertain without the weight of George on my shoulders.
That feels better.
In a week's time, Adam and I will be heading over to Costa Rica. I'll be spending a month there, he'll be spending a bit less. We'll also be heading through New Zealand, the US and Mexico. It's going to be a ball, so watch this space for photos and updates of the trip - don't forget to click "follow" in case I get bitten by a deadly spider, and in my dying moments don't have time to notify you of the blog I just wrote.
On another note, all the Georges that matter now have access to Beta Pottermore. Jeremy "didn't care" about Harry Potter while we were all madly refreshing the site to get the clue so we could multiply the answer by the specified number at the unspecified time and put it in the url and go to the site to find the magic quill so we could sign up. But now that we're all in, he's crying himself to sleep at night. Georgessociate Megan is still waiting.
The site is much as it promised but for a few Beta buggles. You can virtually navigate through the first book, through a few locations per chapter. At each location, there are things to find, collect or look at. Certain objects unlock exclusive content written by JK Rowling. This content includes backstory or information that she wrote for the books but never included (or never intended to).
The part we were all looking forward to most was the purchase of our wand and the sorting hat. Here are our results:
Note:
- Wand length is usually within the range of 9-14 in, and seems to relate to a 'personality size'. However, it also may have to do with eye colour and height, as these "measurements" were taken.
- Wand flexibility can have much to do with the owner's adaptability to change. However, it's also the sum of the wand wood, kind of magic and the owner's experience.
GRYFFINDOR
Anyone accepted into Gryffindor
is in for a bit of a disappointment.
Explored extensively in the books,
there's nothing to learn apart from
their "Daring, nerve and chivalry
Set Gryffindors apart."
Adam
Phoenix feathers are the rarest wand cores, for they are picky when choosing owners. They learn slowly, but demonstrate the widest range of magic. This core shows its on initiative on occasion and performs magic without the sanction of the owner.
Apple wands are suited to owners of high aims and ideals. They are not common, and are not suited to dark magic. Wizarding superstition suggests that apple wand possessors will be well-loved and long-lived, and Ollivander has noticed that owners demonstrate great charm. Most peculiarly, these people have a talent for learning magical languages.
HUFFLEPUFF
The Hufflepuff common room entrance
is located past the kitchens. By tapping the
second barrel from the bottom in the middle
of the row, to the rhythm of "Helga Hufflepuff".
Tapping the wrong barrel or the wrong rhythm results
in a good shower of vinegar. Hufflepuff has produced
the least dark wizards, and plenty of intellects also. Their
main traits are patience, hard work and constancy.
Jess
Unicorn hair is the most consistent and least prone to fluctuation of all cores. They are the most difficult to turn to the dark arts, and are always most faithful to their original owners. They do not create powerful magic (though the wand wood may balance this) and the core can die if the wand is 'mishandled'.
Vine wands are uncommon and choose wizards who seek a greater purpose, have great vision and often astound those close to them. They have depth hidden from view. Vine is a highly sensitive material and has been known to emit magic when a suitable owner approaches.
Martin
Sycamore chooses an adventurous owner. So eager is it for new experiences, it may burst into flame if presented too often with the mundane. Vivacious and thirsty for knowledge, such an owner will find their wand to be quick to learn and adapt - so much so that it is prized as one of the best wand woods.
RAVENCLAW
Ravenclaws have always been
a mostly transparent house.
They love knowledge above all else; even
above each other. They have produced the
highest number of inventors and intellectuals,
and they're not afraid to boast about it.
The entrance to their common room illustrates
their thoughts about other wizards - it is in plain
sight, and if you answer the door's question, you
can get in. This is apparently enough to keep
out intruders from other houses, who couldn't
possibly know the answer.
Jane
Fir wands are attracted to the most resilient and strong-minded of wizards. Their sense of purpose must not waver, and they fail to perform in the hands of the capricious or indecisive. They are best at transfiguration. Fir owners are sometimes intimidating.
SLYTHERIN
Though Slytherin is traditionally
the "evil" house, it is understood in
the books to be the house of those
with unrelenting ambition. The exclusive
Pottermore welcome message for
Slytherins divulges some missing information,
such as the amount of dark wizards also
turned out from Gryffindor and Ravenclaw.
The house is revealed to have a disrespect
for Ravenclaw, as Slytherins value kinship
more highly than crawling over the next
person for the best mark. They consider themselves
Gryffindors but better.
Caitlin
Holly is among the rarest types of wood, and is attracted to owners on a dangerous or spiritual quest. It is considered protective and works to help those who are impetuous or quick to anger.
Dragon heartstring make the most powerful wands with the most impressive magical capabilities. They learn more quickly than other kinds of wands. They will bond strongly with whoever wins their allegiance and are turned more easily than other cores to the dark arts (though this is at the will of the owner). It is prone to accidents.
Jasmine
Cypress wands are associated with nobility, and were once likely to die a heroic death. Cypress owners are brave, bold and self-sacrificing. They are not afraid to confront the flaws in themselves or others.
*cries*
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