Hogwarts Herald

The morning after encountering the three headed dog, Ron & Harry were quite excited about their adventure. Neville, on the other hand, just wanted to stay away from them and the danger they seemed to bring along with them, and Hermione just wants to forget it ever happened. She decides that these are not the type of boys she needs to associate with. It is at this point that I began wondering to myself if perhaps Hermione was sorted into the wrong house. After all, Gryffindor is “where dwell the brave at heart”. Perhaps someone of her intelligence and love of learning would have been better suited to Ravenclaw, with the Wise old Raven as their mascot, rather than the brave lion. Anyhow, back to the story. Ron & Harry are spending their free time trying to figure out exactly what might have been in the safe that was now being guarded by a giant monstrosity at Hogwarts.

“It was a horrible sight. Twelve feet tall, its skin was a dull, granite gray, its great lumpy body like a boulder with its small bald head perched on top like a coconut.”

(more…)

So many new characters, so many new faces. Where to start?

How about with the Weasley family? In this chapter we meet a mere 4 Weasley brothers, and little sister Ginny. Dad must have been at work at the time because he’s not there seeing the boys off to school. Judging by what we know of Arthur Weasley, I find this a bit odd. He is a very family oriented kind of guy and for him to not send Ron off for his first day seems very out of character for him. Of course by this point we don’t know whay kind of character he has, or even if there is a Mr. Weasley, so it doesn’t really matter.

Mrs. Weasley is the epitome of the loving mother Harry has no memory of ever having. She is cheerful and pleasant, and obviously very caring toward her children, without actually coddling them. In other words, she is the Anti-Petunia. She handles five children, two animals, and lots and lots of luggage without blinking, and actually takes the time and kindness out of her heart to help Harry. Throughout the series we see this over and over. Molly Weasley faces horrors that no mother should ever have to face, and while on occassion we see it waring on her, she always has a smile and a hug for her children. Any children really. One of the greatest scenes featuring Molly, is I think, one of the most powerful scenes in the entire series. It was in Order of the Phoenix, and it is with great dismay that I realized that it was not included in the film. The scene of which I speak, is of course one of great foreshadowing as well, as Molly Weasley faces the boggart. She is found curled up in a ball whimpering, Ridikkulus, over and over again as the boggart changes one by one into each of her loved ones, dead, in one grotesque way or another. By the end of the final battle, she is fortunate to have lost only one of her children, but no mother should ever have to lose any of them.

Speaking of her children…

(more…)

First, let me say something nice about these before I talk about how they kinda weird me out: They’re amazingly detailed…and the clothes and shoes are truly impressive.

But that hair. It gives me the jibblies.

Is that Harry? It looks a little more like Harry’s long-lost sister. Actually, it’s almost a spitting-image of my Mom in the late 70’s/early 80’s.

I don’t mean to be hard on these dolls, but they really do look a little possessed. Maybe that’s just the nature of dolls, but Harry looks like he’s going to conjure up an axe and bludgeon people.

But Harry’s not all there is. There’s also a Mary Kate Olsen doll. Or is it Ashley? Actually…it’s Ron Weasley. If you want to see it… (more…)