Pottermore, amongst many other things

I respect, entirely and earnestly, the confidentiality towards the Pottermore experience until it is open for public thus my feedback on it will be devoid of photographs of any kind.

First and foremost - I went gaga went my email arrived in my gmail. Great thing about having a smart phone, it goes right to your hands like an owler! And on entering into the virtual world of my childhood for the very first time, I'm absolutely blown away! The artwork, exquisite. The memories? Priceless.

As you follow through the story, you'd begin a lovely journey. Along the way you'd find pieces of trinkets that you collect to win points (eventually they become house points but we'd get there in awhile) and there are interactions on some pages which makes the pretty graphics even more impressive. Love it.

Then you get enrolled into Hogwarts, or in Harry's shoes you get admitted, and off shopping in Diagon Alley you go. And the fun begins, with more of your input now. You answer a series of questions, and you're awarded with your wand. Mine is a 10 inch Elm with Unicorn Core, Rigid. Ollivanders also explains what each wood/core signifies and it can all be found in HP's wiki. I've had someone from Pottermore sharing that their wand is 'surprisingly swishy' which tickles me to no end! Siriusly!

And then you follow through the book's journey, read previously unknown information (fantastic), and then off to the sorting hat you go. Again, you answer a series of questions, and off to your house you go. As for me, named a Ravenclaw and loving it! Afraid I never am with a green thumb, and am without much courage and sly thinking. In the Ravenclaw common room, you are given a message board to share with everyone thoughts and information. There has been many kind Eagles on the board and one of them even shares interesting riddles I enjoy solving.

And so you continue exploring the story, with interactions and treasure hunting, it will soon be revealed to you that a crazy house-cup competition is going on. How do you help your house? YOU BREW POTIONS LIKE THERE IS NO TOMORROW.

No kidding.

Because it is the one and single way to earn points for your house once you're done with the treasure hunting and the story reading. So everyone simply battles it out with their ability to brew non-stop. I have -sheepishly- been doing that as well. Cannot let the Snakes win this! No, I simply cannot live it down! That's all I'm doing on Pottermore now, and waiting forever for the second book and other features to open up :)

Amongst other matters, I'm enjoying a relatively short week at my new job. All's good baby! And my mum's site is going to complete soon, whew!

A little sadist in we

Pain loves misery and misery loves company.
Sounds like a formula of triangular torment.

Speaking of triangles, I dreamt of some weird fandom triangle-love-story just the other day and it got me pondering. Prior to that, I barely gave it much thought. But if there is anything I can say about it, the following words from the youtube video (of one of the best HPDH soundtrack) speaks its very essence:

"JK rowling wrote a better love story in one chapter then stephie meyer did in for novels

luv4dalittlemermaid 3 weeks ago 36 "

Spot on! Anyway dream was kinda weird, played like an extended scene from a movie when Snape and Lily were best of friends. And then there's this deleted scene with very good music from HBP (here) makes me wonder, why do they delete such brilliance (Snape's expression ftw)?? Just as why for no reason they excluded the whole "Lily called a mudblood" scene. UGH!!

But oh I love gloomy music and shall play these gloomy soundtracks all day long. Lalalala~

A Harry Potter Tribute

I can imagine the movie beginning with this music. I can imagine Harry Potter's life beginning with this music. And the tragedy he went through as a child, amplified as I re-read the chapter of him visiting Godric Hollow for the first time.

Two years odd ago, goodbyes were said and I no longer await for a new book with feverous anticipation. Now, goodbyes are being said again to the characters and actors who owned the roles they played. Severus Snape, you are Alan Rickman personified.

Let's not even begin talking about deaths before it gets me choking before I can finish this tribute-like thing I'm trying to pen/key in this episode. Here are some of the best quotes from The Series That Spellbounded Many.

Draco Malfoy - is not my favourite character, Tom Felton is a seperate issue alright? But Draco's tortured moments made me re-think, he was born into an elitist family and nobody has power to overwrite something like that. Unlike Voldie, Draco felt remorse and disgust at the violence a Death Eater wields and this makes him human.
Awesome quote - "Azkaban - the wizard's prison, Goyle. Honestly, if you were any slower, you'd be going backwards."

Severus Snape  - had the best ending in the entire series, fullstop. Bitter, we always knew that about Snape. But it was the entire setup for his character, and that sweetness we had not expected from Mr Sour-faced that made everything so bittersweet. Heck, just watch/read the last of the series to understand all that cryptic talk!
Awesome quote - "Oh, very good," interrupted Snape, his lip curling. "Yes, it is easy to see that nearly six years of magical education have not been wasted on you, Potter. 'Ghosts are transparent.'"

Albus Dumbledore - is another surprise you did not see coming. Or were you perceptive to his choices of silky, purple robes and graceful demeanour? Hard to imagine a great wizard like him had a past, and things he has done he wishes to improve on. Even the highest revered, is only human.
Awesome quote - "You fail to recognize that it matters not what someone is born, but what they grow to be."

Remus Lupin - is my favourite DADA teacher, it would be Riddikulus to not be! I'm guessing there's no surprise there, a good sense of humor and intelligence, and most of all the humility he embodies is all very pleasant and likeable. Though he eventually became bitter and almost ran from his wife, it was all done in the name of protecting loved ones.
Awesome quote - (On the five signs to identify a werewofl) One: he's sitting in my chair. Two: he's wearing my clothes. Three: his name's Remus Lupin.

Lily Evans - Basically, the reason why I chose the song at the start of the post. You learn about Lily slowly throughout the series. But you first learn of her sacrifice, for her son. Voldie never meant to kill her, and her love manifested into an ancient spell which protects Harry even in her afterlife. She's one of my favourite female characters apart from Herm and Tonks.
Awesome quote - "I wouldn't go out with you if it was a choice between you and the giant squid."

Um, after-thought, this list is starting to feel like the 'dead list'. I think with the exception of 1, everyone else on it is dead.