When our kids were little, they loved Harry Potter, especially Ryan, who has the exact same birthday at Harry.
I never read the books because of reasons, and I only saw the first couple of movies, also because of reasons.
Recently, Anne and I decided that we would finally read the books, and we’re about halfway through the first one (I’m a couple chapters ahead of Anne, because I had some time on an airplane that I spent … wisely).
Yesterday at Wondercon, while we were walking to our panel, I told Felicia that we were reading the books, and trying to describe to her how much I love them.
“I just … I really want to go to Hogwarts,” I said.
“They’re building one at Universal Studios,” she said.
We passed through a curtain and approached a set of large, closed doors.
“No, I don’t want to go to an amusement park recreation of Hogwarts,” I said, “I want to go to Hogwarts. I want to go to a train station, run though a wall to platform 9 3/4, and take a train to Hogwarts, where I will learn how to be a wizard. I want Hogwarts to be real.”
I noticed that she’d taken a subtle step away from me, which was probably a good idea. I was getting excited.
“What house are you?” She said. Our escort opened the doors and led us into an enormous corridor that was over twenty feet high, equally as wide, and a few hundred feet long. Chairs were stacked along one wall, and the other wall had doors in it that granted access to the various meeting rooms where the panels were held.
“I’m pretty sure I’m Ravenclaw,” I said.
“No way, dude. You’re totally a Slytherin.”
“I am not a Slytherin!”
“Yeah, you totally are a Slytherin.” Felicia crunched up her nose and grinned at me. “My brother’s a Slytherin.”
“Dude, I’m going to be Ravenclaw … or maybe Gryffindor. But I really think I’m Ravenclaw.” Our footsteps and voices echoed off the cement floor and walls. I imagined that we were in a castle.
“I’m Ravenclaw,” Felicia said.
“When I get home, I’m taking the test at Pottermore, and I’m going to be Ravenclaw, too.” We arrived at the door for our panel, and waited while the panel before us finished up. We talked a little bit about what we’d make sure to cover on the panel, and I realized that the corridor we’d just walked down was perfect for riding a longboard skateboard.
The previous panel walked out, the room filled up with people who were there to see us, and after a quick Tabletop trailer, we went inside for our panel. It was great.
When I got home last night, I was too tired for taking the sorting hat test at Pottermore, so I took it this morning. I was honest in all of my answers, and spent a fair amount of time thinking about some of the questions. I wasn’t trying to get the house I wanted (and I don’t know enough about Harry Potter to manipulate the results, anyway), so I was incredibly happy (and a little relieved) when I found out that, yes, I was in Ravenclaw.
I know it’s a silly thing, and I know I’m a little too old to really care about it, but reading Harry Potter makes me feel like I’m part of something that’s special, that means a lot to a lot of people.
And I know it’s silly to care about what house I’m in … but I’m really glad to be in Ravenclaw, because I have a lot of books I need to read.
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I’ll admit that I’ve yet to really read the books. I tried when the first book came out and couldn’t get myself past the beginning. Might be time for me to try again.
I do highly recommend that – once you’ve finished the books, of course – you read a fan fiction by the name of “Harry Potter and the Methods of Rationality”. It’s really really well done and I believe it’s going to be finished some time this year (it is up to 103 chapters).
I think you’d really enjoy it. It can be read at hpmor.com. There’s also a 17 chapter book out for it that is for free distribution. I’d give mine to you, but I’m on the east coast and broke.
The tag line for HPMoR is “Petunia married a professor, and Harry grew up reading science and science fiction.”
i read the books twice, saw most of the movies 3 or 4 times.
BTW i’m in hufflepuff. and in case anyone feels like making a disparaging remark about hufflepuffs, please read this instead;
http://www.tor.com/blogs/2013/07/everyone-should-want-to-be-a-hufflepuff-or-stop-the-hogwarts-house-hate
I haven;t gone to do the test yet but I’m guessing I will be in Hufflepuff too. I’ll go see now. 🙂
I am! I wonder how many people guess their house and get it wrong? Should think most people get it right.
if you are interested in what the books would have been like if Harry was a skeptic might i suggest http://hpmor.com/
I am also Ravenclaw #highfive
In a way, I feel sorry for you reading the books for the first time. The story is SO well done, that it really is a before-and-after situation. I consider it akin to Ringworld, or LoTR – there’s what you knew about stories BEFORE you read this story, and then AFTER. I consider it a pillar of the genre now, like Song of Ice and Fire, or the Belgariad. It really is that good.
I apologize for all the mind-blown moments you are about to have as you guys progress thru the books. It really gets so much better as it gets worse.
Good luck
I read the books for myself and then when my kids were old enough, I read them all to them. Voices for each character and everything. I wanted them to experience the books the way I had (so I used the voices in my head). My children have both gone on to read the books by themselves many times over now. I always thought I should be placed in Gryffindor, but I answered all the questions honestly and I ended up in Hufflepuff! I was surprised but not disappointed. J.K. Rowling is an unmitigated genius who has provided untold hours of fantabulous freedom and imagination to millions around the world. I am so glad you will be one of us soon!
Doing the voices is possibly my favorite part of reading the books aloud. My seven-year-old got a little burned out on the books after Goblet of Fire, so we gave it a rest, but I pushed to pick them up again so I could continue my amateur vocal impressions.
Ha! My son loves my reading them aloud for this reason. He’s requested I do voices for his friends too if they’ve not heard them yet.
There’s just something extra fun about reading with voices 😀
I also just picked up the Harry Potter books and films for the first time a month ago. I am also totally Ravenclaw. I also am named Will. So. You know. Weird.
Maybe you should check out http://www.hogwartsishere.com/ if you want to really experience Hogwarts.
you are never too old to like Harry Potter. that’s one of the great things about it.
If it counts, I can see you as Ravenclaw. But then, I can also see myself as a writer, so…..
I thought for sure I would be in Ravenclaw or Gryffyndor because I’m pretty smart and pretty brave. Like you, I answered the questions honestly and tried not to manipulate the results, but Pottermore saw fit to sort me into Slytherin. SLYTHERIN!
And then I found out Tonks was Slytherin and I’m at peace with the decision. 🙂
Also started reading the books late. Had only seen the movies. But like you Wil I fell in love. For interest sake I lisend to the no audio book too ( the Jim Dale vesion – Not that I have any thing against Stefan Fry but.. Jim’s version is great).
I love Ravenclaw and Slytherin,what is your account on pottermore?
Omg, I just came across this! I was sorted into ravenclaw but I felt a bit sad because I’ve always thought, truly, that I would be a gryffindor but I feel a bit better now!