A Very Special Fandom Friday :: 5 Fandoms I’m Thankful For

Happy Thanksgiving Week! We are now officially in the holiday season, so get ready to turn out your wallets and loosen your waistebands. This week’s topic was supposed to be 5 Black Friday Needs, but I scoff at the very idea of Black Friday; people violently fighting over material goods a day after “giving thanks” for what you have? Sounds a bit ridiculous to me. Instead, since I’m still filled with Thanksgiving joy (and food), I decided to do the topic 5 Fandoms I’m Thankful For.

It’s been really cool seeing the responses other people gave for this topic. A lot of people gave the same answers, but the reasons were so different and sincere. With that said, here are the fandoms that made the biggest impact on my life.

Pokemon

Pokemon was my first extreme obsession. When I was 8, I saved up my allowance to buy Pokemon Red for Gameboy, and it just escalated from there. My best friend Sarah and I would color golf balls to look like pokeballs and throw them around the backyard, I had a huge binder full of trading cards that was the envy of the third grade, and I even basically wrote a Pokemon fanfic for a creative writing project. Pokemon exposed me to many facets of being a nerd: collecting, trading, cramming as many facts about it into your head, even the wonders of the convention when my parents took me to a Pokemon card tournament at the local mall. Unfortunately, it also taught me that your favorite franchise can let you down. As more and more pokemon were created, and spinoffs and games were cranked out, the magic that the original 150 had on me could not be replicated. I am now a pokemon hipster.

 

Game of Thrones/A Song of Ice and Fire

I haven’t been on the Game of Thrones bandwagon as long as some have; I completely didn’t know about the books until I heard of the show, and I didn’t tune into the show until the second season. But ever since then, I’ve binged everything Westerosi. I love how George RR Martin based a lot of his world on many epics that have also inspired me!

What’s interesting about the GoT fandom is it’s something that even the “cool kids” have gotten on board with, so there’s a good chance that wherever you are, you can find someone to talk about it with. It’s a great uniter! I even recall a disasterous first date I went on, where we sat in awkward silence until we bonded over some Lannisters. It still didn’t save the date, but it was better than nothing.

Lit Lovers

Those who are obsessed with literature are a special breed. They’re the kind of people who could spend hours in a bookstore or laugh at author puns. Fortunately for me, these are the best kinds of people. Being a bibliophile has introduced me to some of the most important people in my life, including best friends and my amazingly nerdy boyfriend! It also makes buying gifts for eachother incredibly easy.

Harry Potter

Oh Harry, how do I describe what a profound impact you’ve had on my life? For almost two decades now, I’ve been a little more obsessed with Harry Potter than the average fan. I truly do not trust anybody who doesn’t also love the books (and I’ll make a pass for movies). Everybody who crosses my path gets sorted into a Hogwarts house. Like many other of my favorite fandoms, I’ve met friends through our shared obsession. This is something I truly hope I can pass down to my someday, maybe kids and hope it touches them as much as it’s touched me.

Lord of the Rings

The most important fandom in my life, by far, is the Lord of the Rings. Without it, my life would be vastly different. That may seem melodramatic, but if I didn’t fall in love with the movies, I wouldn’t have fallen in love with the brilliant soundtrack. If I didn’t fall in love with the score, I wouldn’t have become interested in instrumental and classical music. I wouldn’t have decided to try harder at playing the clarinet, and wouldn’t have joined the marching band. I wouldn’t have the friends and experiences that I’ve been so lucky to have. I’d be an alternate universe Erin. Thanks JRR Tolkein!

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As always, 5 Fandom Friday is brought to you by The Nerdy Girlie and Super Space Chick. Follow them to participate!

A Hogwarts Story

Oh, you want to talk Harry Potter? Well you’ve come to the right place. I’ve seen a number of Harry Potter tags going around the blogosphere, but this particular one that I saw on Like Gwen Stacy‘s blog caught my attention; it had me imagining myself wandering the halls of Hogwarts (and certainly not the first time I’ve had these thoughts). So here’s my Hogwarts Story for the world to see!

Are you Pure Blood, Half Blood or Muggle Born?
Definitely a half blood. I grew up with the magic of the wizarding world, but also got to experience movies, amusement parks, and other muggle fun. The best of both worlds!

Which wand chose you (what is is made of)?

Maple and unicorn hair, 10 1/2 inches, light and aerodynamic. JK Rowling says that “maple wands are by nature travellers and explorers.” Perfect for someone who’s dream is to travel the world like me! Unicorn hair is also a good fit since it’s consistent and faithful.

It may say it’s a DeathEater wand, but the swirl design is totally my style.

Did you take an Owl, Cat, Toad or Rat with you?

I’ve always wanted a cat, but my family is allergic. If I were to go off to Hogwarts, I’d get a kitten to keep me company and curl up with me on my big four-poster in the dorms.

Where did the Sorting Hat place you?

I’m torn! The Pottermore Sorting Hat placed me in Gryffindor probably because I am always up for a good adventure, but I’d say I was more of a Hufflepuff. Family and friends are extremely important to me and I’m very loyal to them. I’m also naturally friendly and optimistic. Plus, in Gryffindor, everyone would always be trying to outdo each other and show off. Can’t we all just hang out and get along like Hufflepuffs?

What house did you want to be in?

I initially wanted to be in Ravenclaw, surrounded by people who love reading and learning. Thinking about it now, I probably would never be able to guess the riddle to get into the Common Room.
Which lessons are your favorite and least favorite?

Potions for sure! It’s fascinating how you can bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death! Spells are cool and all, but potions can last longer and can be used by anybody. The chemistry behind them would also be very interesting to find out more about.

I would probably bomb Transfiguration and end up with a furry goblet like Ron. And Arithmacy. No, just no.

The form your Patronus takes is…

A rabbit; shy and skittish at first, but once I gain your trust, I’m cuddly, affectionate, and a bit hyperactive.

When confronted with a Boggart, what does it look like to you?
Being a Hufflepuff, I adore my family and friends. The worst thing in the world would be if something happened to them. A boggart would probably create terrible scenes of this if I ever encountered one.

Do you partake in any school sports or magical hobbies?
I would absolutely love to play Quidditch; although not exactly athletic, I can get very competitive. Plus, I don’t think flying would ever get old! Being a Chaser would totally be my position of choice, but who knows if I’d be able to make the team. If not, there are other things to do! Hopefully Hogwarts has a school band and I’d want to write for the school paper.

If you have free time, where would you be found hanging out?
There are probably a million cool places to hang out at Hogwarts, but I think my favorite place would be down by the lake. I’d be one of the kids hanging with the giant squid.

You are most likely to get detention for what?
Doing magic in the halls, for sure. How could I resist?! And there’s no promising that I wouldn’t sneak into the Prefect’s bathroom.

What career do you want after leaving Hogwarts?
I’ve always been interested in wand lore, so after Hogwarts I’d try to get an apprenticeship under Ollivander and eventually take over his business when he retires. I doubt that there can only be three types of cores like he says, so I’d make it my mission to try all sorts of magical properties.

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If this post had you thinking of what your life would be like in the Wizarding World, feel free to take this post and link up in the comments!

Magicians at Hogwarts :: A Crossover Post

In my last Fandom Friday, while thinking of the perfect crossover, I became obsessed with the idea of the studets of Brakebills, the magical academy of Lev Grossman’s Magicians Trilogy, attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Before reading The Magicians, I had often heard it referred to as Harry Potter for grownups. There are two things wrong with that statement; 1) Uhh, what do you mean? Harry Potter is totally for grownups, 2) A school for magic is about the only thing they have in common. Regardless, wouldn’t it be great if the two mixed and mingled? If so, our favorite British witches and wizards would be cussing like sailors and having heated, sexy affairs, and the American magicians would probably just be puzzled that they have to use wands for all their magic, but would have a blast playing Quidditch!

This little fantasy had me sorting Grossman’s characters into houses (as I do with everyone I meet) and speculating what their years at Hogwarts would be like.

 

Quentin // Ravenclaw

Illustration by Cecilia Bohlin courtesy of levgrossman.com

Quentin had the Sorting Hat in a dizzy. Great potential surged through him. Incredible power and immense self-worth for sure, but with little respect for how his actions affected others. Would it be Sytherin? It was clear to the hat that this boy was among the smartest in the room and he was well aware of it. He had excelled in all his previous studies and would have been on his way to the Ivy League. Would it be Ravenclaw? Minutes seemed like an eternity as the hat bounced between its final decision, and the Great Hall held its breath. It then became clear that Quentin Coldwater was the laziest son of a b—- who had ever walked through these halls, and had the ambition of a housefly. Certainly not Slytherin material.

“RAVENCLAW” It shouted.

 

Alice // Ravenclaw

Alice wanted to disappear on the spot. Having everyone’s eyes upon her was her worst nightmare. “Make this quick,” she thought, and it was. The sorting hat could sense that she had a natural talent for magic, just like her parents, who it had sorted years ago. It would come as easy to her as breathing and she would be one of the greatest Hogwarts had ever see. “Ravenclaw!”

Alice gave a huge sigh of relief, not out fear of where she would be placed, but because she was finally out of the spotlight. She made her way to the Ravenclaw table and sat as close to the end as she could. Her excited housemates laughed around her, but she kept her head down. It was only when she felt the presence of someone’s eyes on her that she looked up. That Coldwater boy was staring at her. She shot him daggers, her expression screaming “What are you looking at?!” It seemed to work.

During the first few weeks, she flew through her classes with flying colors, but always on her heel was Quentin. What was his deal anyways?

 

Eliot // Gryffindor

A buzz rang in Eliot’s ear as he walked up to the hat. He probably shouldn’t have had that third glass or wine, or was it the fourth? Or that bottle of butterbeer… or that shot of fire whiskey he downed in the secrecy of the bathroom stall. It didn’t matter, he wasn’t nervous. In fact he was loving the throngs of people waiting on the edge of their seats to see where he ended up. The first thing the Sorting Hat picked up was that Eliot was a natural born leader, but quick to throw himself into risky situations. The obvious choice was… “Gryffindor!”

He smirked to himself as he went to find a seat at his house’s table. A rakish blond wizard caught his eye and gave him a wink. “This is going to be a good year,” Eliot thought as he unloaded a flask of vodka into his pumpkin juice.

 

Julia // Slytherin

At last. After all the anguish she had gone through, Julia was finally here at Hogwarts. How could she have lived in the Muggle world while all her friends had gone on to learn magic, their true calling? Julia would have done anything, even kill, to earn her spot here. Luckily it never came to that. Instead, she had ventured down Knockturn Alley to gain as much knowledge as she could, eventually proving that she had magic in her blood. There was only a slight side effect to that; she now was a bit too familiar with the dark arts.

“Sytherin!” the house announced without even touching her head.

 

Janet // Hufflepuff

Janet confidently strode up to the hat, but inside her mind was racing with insecurity. Eliot was her best friend and he had already been placed in Gryffindor. What if they didn’t end up together? What if she was all alone? What if she didn’t make any friends? They had already planned to throw wild parties in the Common Room with butterbeer flowing like a river, boys on both their arms. Within an instant, the Sorting Hat could tell that she was fiercely loyal to her friends and shouted “Hufflepuff!” Janet’s face fell and she glanced longingly over at Eliot.

However, the first night at Hogwarts, Janet broke into the kitchen’s store of mead, conveniently placed by the Hufflepuff common room, and gave her fellow house a night that would go down in history.

 

Penny // Slytherin

“This is another tough case,” the Sorting Hat thought, and it wasn’t just trying to fit over Penny’s mohawk. Now here was a young man who really knew how magic worked. So much so, that he would be able to create his own spells. Ravenclaw would truly help him tap into this skill. But he was also a loose cannon; a student who wouldn’t play well with others. He would strive to prove himself no matter what the cost, whether it be the feelings of others or their lives. There was only one place for someone as ambitious as him, “Sytherin!”

Penny turned as if he were walking back to his designated table, but instead went right past and straight out of the Great Hall. He had no time for this kumbaya shit.

Within no time, Penny find the Room of Requirements and spend much of his time locked away in there, his powers growing stronger and stronger.

 

Josh // Hufflepuff

Illustration by Trevor John Polcyn courtesy of Lev Grossman’s Pinterest page.

Josh had already made so many new friends that he didn’t even hear the Headmaster call his name. By the second time it was announced, he made a joke to excuse himself and walked confidently up to the hat. Would it be possible to charm the pants off the Sorting Hat? If so, Josh was determined to do it. The hat instantly sensed his good nature and the value he placed on friendship. It also could feel uncontrollable bursts of power surging beneath the boys skin. “Hufflepuff!”

He gave a touchdown dance, and quickly made his way back to the table to rejoin the conversation.

When Quidditch tryouts came around, Josh would earn his spot as one of the Hufflepuff team’s beaters. But no hard feelings when he knocked you off your broom.

5 Fandom Friday :: Crossovers That Would Make My Heart EXPLODE

Long weekends are sure good for catching up on Fandom Fridays! This is probably the first timely post I’ve written in months, which was amazing because this was a TOUGH topic. I was stumped thinking of 5 crossovers that would make my poor heart explode. I’m a fan of a lot of things, but appreciate them for their own universe and characters. I tried to come up with crossovers that share common motifs and would make somewhat sense if they happened to cross paths. Here’s what I came up with.

Thursday Next x Dr. Who

The Doctor can travel through time and space; Thursday Next can travel through fiction. Together, they’d go on the most amazing adventures ever! Thursday probably wouldn’t settle to be a Companion, but they’d have a blast working together.

Game of Thrones x Lord of the Rings

Far far away, there are two magical continents: Middle Earth and Westeros (and many more if you count Essos, Sothoryos… etc). Both are steeped in Medieval culture and inhabited by myths and magic. Imagine if those worlds crossed. Daenerys’s reign would probably go a bit differently if Smaug was one of her dragons, and HBO would give the Fellowship the grittier, sexier reboot it deserves.

The Magicians x Harry Potter

How would our favorite witches and wizards survive in the cynical magic realm of Fillory? Did Harry, Ron, and Hermione go to college at Brakebills? Would Quentin and his magician friends thing Hogwarts teaches parlor tricks? Only a crossover could tell!

Disney Crossovers Galore!

Since Disney broke news about Frozen’s Anna and Elsa being Tarzan’s sisters (a link I frankly don’t really buy), I’ve decided that more Disney movies need to be linked. Particularly the Disney princesses hanging out. We’ve seen Rapunzel at Arendelle, but I’m sure she could totally bond with Jasmine over helicopter-parents. And Mulan and Merida would have a blast turning down suitors to kick ass instead. When can we get a movie of them hanging out?

Buffy x Twilight

Hoooooooboy! Shit would go down! I would love to see Buffy tell Bella that dating Vampires can funk with your heart, and Willow telling Jacob that he might have a chance; werewolves can make decent boyfriends.

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As always, 5 Fandom Friday is brought to you by The Nerdy Girlie and Super Space Chick. Follow them to participate!

5 Fandom Friday :: 5 Spin-Offs That Need to Happen

Lookee here, lookee here, I’m actually catching up on some Fandom Fridays! This week’s was 5 Spin-Offs That You’d Like to See. This was a fun and pretty easy one, especially when it comes to worlds that were built so well that you never want to leave them. Here are the spin-offs that I’d be into in a heartbeat.

 

Anything and Everything Harry Potter

I’m super psyched for Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, but I want more! The Wizarding World that JK Rowling created was my entire childhood and much of my early adulthood, and it still remains the most creative, fascinating story to me. I crave more of Hogwarts, witches, and wizards, whether it’s the Marauders, the Golden Trio’s lives after school, or a whole new generation. There’s just so much more to explore in that world!

 

Amy and Rory in the Past

The departure of Amy and Rory in Dr. Who had me crying more than the departure of any other companion. They do not die tragically or lose all the memories they had of the doctor (like Donna, another tear jerker), but instead are sent back in time by Weeping Angels. But do we really accept that a feisty couple like Amy and Rory settled down once trapped in the Roaring 20s? No way! I imagine they keep saving the world even without the help of the doctor, and I’d love to see a spin-off of them doing so, with lots of gorgeous period costumes of course!

 

Spike from Buffy the Vampire Slayer

How come Angel got a spin-off series and Spike didn’t? Angel was way boring. A series following the adventures of William the Bloody or Spike fighting on the streets of New York would be so entertaining! Just any excuse to have more Spike in our lives would be pretty great.

 

Plum from The Magician’s Land

Quentin, the protagonist of Lev Grossman’s Magicians series, may no longer be allowed to visit the magical land of Fillory ever again, but his protege, Plum, is still young, developing her powers, and has ties to the fantasy world. Pus, she’s badass and sarcastic, and certainly not an awful human like Quentin. I would love to see Plum go back to continue her studies at Brakebills, then explore the Neitherlands.

 

A Bronn and Tyrion Bromance

Ahhh! They’re the greatest! There are tons of hilarious pairings in Game of Thrones; Tyrion and Jorah, Bronn and Jaime, Jaime and Brienne; but none are as amazing as Bronn and Tyrion. My perfect TV show would simply be a sitcom of them and their awesome bromance.

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As always, 5 Fandom Friday is brought to you by The Nerdy Girlie and Super Space Chick. Follow them to participate!

5 Fandom Friday :: All About the Dads

Wow, my blog is entirely 5 Fandom Fridays! Being two weeks into a new job does not leave much time to write interesting blog posts, but I try my hardest to make time for these fun prompts. Which leads me to this week’s 5FF! Last month we celebrated the great moms in books and television, so it seems justly so that we do the same for our Favorite Fictional Fathers! This list resonates with me especially because my own father has been so influential in my nerdiness. He fueled my Pokemon card addiction and once drove me through the boonies while on vacation to get a midnight release of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Obviously my dad is the best, but here are some fictional dads that are pretty great too!

Tywin Lannister

Is it a little weird that the first dad I thought about for this was Game of Throne’s Tywin Lannister? He’s definitely not winning any Father of the Year award. But his character is fascinating! He may not necessarily like his children, but understands they are his children nonetheless. He understands the power of family ties… maybe? He will pull whatever strings necessary to ensure his family survives, even if that includes murderous dinner parties. Even in the trial of his youngest son, Tyrion, when it seemed like everyone was on a witchhunt, Tywin had the court in the palm of his hands to ensure that the worst that could happen would be banishment to the Wall. Tyrion may have blew that one though. Despite his cruelty, Tywin is by far one of my favorite characters in the Song of Ice and Fire series due to his unequivocal intellect and strategy, as well as remaining cool as a cucumber while single-handedly ruling an entire kingdom. He also delivers some biting quotes.

My favorite Tywin quote because it accurately sums up my problem with Cersei.

Let’s not forget how in the show, HBO made a great decision of replacing Roose Bolton with Tywin at Harrenhall in Season 2, so that he could take Arya under his wing. His best parenting moments are probably with her. Perhaps Arya is the child he’d wished he had?

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Arthur Weasley

Just look at him! He’s so lovable! Like his wife Molly, Arthur worked hard to raise seven kids, making ends meet at a job where no one acknowledged his efforts. His heart is big enough to also be a father figure for Harry and to love his son Percy even when he was being a little turd. Through his fascination with Muggles, Arthur reminds us not to fear what we don’t understand; instead, find out more about it. Ask questions! Take it apart! More of us should live with the same wonderment as Mr. Weasley; we’d have so much compassion for all the different people in this world.

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Jean Valjean

Jean Valjean never intended to be a father. He had a lot on his plate with being the mayor of a town, hiding his true identity, and running from the law and all. But when he rescues the young Cosette on behalf of Fantine’s dying words, being a father to her becomes his one true calling. At times, Valjean can be a bit of a helicopter parent, but it’s for Cosette’s best interest. If anyone finds out who he is, he could be arrested and no longer give her the comfortable life he has promised her. This is such a sacrifice and so much is at stake. What makes Valjean such a good father is that he realizes he can’t hold on to his daughter forever. Once he realizes that Cosette is truly in love with Marius, he risks everything to bring them together because her happiness is what ultimately matters to him.

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Hans (Papa) Hubermann

The Book Thief is a novel guarantee to make me bawl my eyes out. And a lot of that has to do with the relationship between Papa and his adopted daughter Liesel. When they first meet, Liesel has been torn away from her mother and home, and therefore is sullen and despondent. Papa manages to crack that exterior shell and create a safe haven for her among the terror of Nazi Germany. Most importantly, he teaches her how to read and lights the spark for her voracious appetite for books. Like many of these great fictional fathers, Hans has a steadfast moral compass and speaks up for what is right. This compassion allows him to touch the hearts of all who meet him.

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Red Forman

Oh Red, the curmudgeon with a heart of gold. It’s hard to get my head around how such a hardass could be married to someone as sweet as Kitty. Regardless, together they make a great parenting team. 95% of the time, Red is surly to everyone around him, but despite his outward appearance, he is willing to do what’s best for those he cares about. He definitely subscribes to the tough love method of parenting with his son Eric, and he usually motivates others by threatening to stick his foot up their ass, but it has helped Eric and his group of friends become a relatively well adjusted group of young adults. He would hate the fact that he has worked his way into the hearts of all That 70s Show viewers.

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As always, 5 Fandom Friday is brought to you by The Nerdy Girlie and Super Space Chick. Follow them to participate!

5 Fandom Friday :: Happy Mother’s Day!

As Mother’s Day approaches, let us appreciate the great moms out there on TV and in books. This week’s 5 Fandom Friday is Favorite Fictional Moms! Afterall, they were there for you when you were missing your own mom, but you’ve been binge watching Netflix too late into the night to call her.

Kitty Forman

Kitty Forman from That 70s Show is BY FAR my favorite fictional mom. She raised two kids, as well as their many friends, loves her family unconditionally, and also has a career as an extremely competent nurse. She’s silly and lovable, AND gives great advice. She can also teach you how to dance!

Molly Weasley

Who doesn’t adore Molly Weasley? She’s one badass witch! And you have to be to raise seven kids. Not only that, but she is a surrogate mother for Harry, puts up with her husband’s crazy muggle contraptions, and holds down the headquarters for the Order of the Phoenix. Not to mention, she would literally kill for her kids

Linda Belcher

Alriiiiiight! Linda Belcher of Bob’s Burgers is a great mom. She is always supportive of her three kids, Tina, Gene, and Louise, no matter what their weird dreams are. She also helped her husband achieve his life goal of opening a burger shop. Even in adversity, Linda always has a song in her heart.

Lorelai Gilmore

Coffee-fueled Lorelai Gilmore has been there for her daughter, Rory, through thick and thin. She may not be the mom I’d want to have personally—she’s a bit of a self-saboteur—but she and Rory have a relationship like no other. Lorelai would be a great friend though, as she has an encyclopedic knowledge of pop culture and is always up for a spontaneous good time.

Leslie Knope

Parks and Rec’s Leslie Knope is probably the greatest ever. She’s a super hard worker, an amazing friend, and just a superstar of a human being. We don’t know her as a mother to her triplets for most of the show, but if she treats them in any way like she does her friends and coworkers, they are probably showered with personalized gifts, delicious breakfast foods, and have their own holidays dedicated to them.

Happy Mother’s Day to all the moms out there; fictional or real!

5 Fandom Friday :: Magical Items I NEED to Own

Drumroll please…

Hey everyone! It’s 5 Fandom Friday, brought to you by The Nerdy Girlie and Female Geek Bloggers community. I missed last week since I was travelling the country, so this week I’m coming back in full force! This week, the theme is 5 Magical Items You Would Want to Own. Immediately my mind jumped to basically everything Harry Potter related, but don’t worry, I threw in some other things too.

An Invisibility Cloak

This was the very first thing I thought of. Being not very deviant by nature, I’m not entirely sure what I would even use it for. I would probably just drop some eaves on people’s conversations or do some hardcore people watching. That’s about it. Maybe sneak into a movie. Regardless, I need an invisibility cloak.

A Pensieve

Man, do I ever need one of these!? Sometimes there are so many thoughts going through my head that I feel like I’m going to combust. A pensieve would solve that by neatly storing them until I want to check on them again. It’s like the ultimate diary. It would also be very useful in recalling my extremely weird dreams. The downside is that I would probably over analyze past events causing me to go crazy a la that Black Mirror episode.

The TARDIS

I am such a history geek! I would love to hop in my TARDIS and chill with the greatest minds in history; I’m sure they’re great drinking buddies. I would try my hardest not to alter history as we know it, but no promises. And when I’m tired of travelling through time and space, I hear it has a great pool.

A Firebolt Broom

“Take off on my broom, I’m gonna fly circles around you.” This would be my primary mode of transportation, though it may not be ideal in these cold, New England winters.

Lembas Bread

Everyone in Middle Earth be cray about Lembas Bread; I simply need to try some for myself. Made by elves, it must be the most delicious thing ever! And it would be so handy on a hike or long car trip. Clearly food is a major priority for me.

What would your magical items be? More importantly, could you get any of these for me?

Going Back to Hogwarts with the Harry Potter Re-Read

“Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home.”

Here it is; the incentive I need to stop being such a bad blogger. That incentive, of course, is Harry Potter (like all incentives should be). Since starting work at the most khaki wearing, cubicle dwelling job ever, the Harry Potter series have been on my mind a lot. While waiting to actually have a role here, checking out some small posts about new Pottermore content have led to perusing Potter Pinterest boards, listening to Potter podcasts, and even inspired a small, super nerdy fanfic (I’m really bored, ok?!). I’ve got Hogwarts on brain! So when I saw Book Journey’s Re-Read Challenge on Bitches with Books, I had to jump on board… even if it is a little late. In the next few months, I will be devouring all seven Harry Potter books, while trying to squeeze in my other readings, and blogging about any memories they have stirred up or new thoughts that they have inspired. Sound good? I thought so too.

Before I embark on my magical quest, I’ll let you know a little bit of my history with the series and what House I’ll be earning points for.

On my tenth birthday, my aunt came back from a business trip to London toting my present: Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone and Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. Instantly I was enthralled by their colorful covers depicting castles, flying brooms, and mystical creatures like unicorns, phoenixes, and a certain three-headed dog. The very same day I was playing pretend with my younger cousin, imagining a tennis ball was the golden snitch depicted on the first book, which I was under the impression was the titular sorcerer’s stone. After that, my life became entwined with Harry’s. I waited for my owl the following year, I “dated” my first boyfriend when he had a fling with Cho Chang, and I graduated high school when the Golden Trio’s last adventure was released. Basically, if I was to make a list of the most influential pieces of culture in my life, Harry Potter would be either first or second (he can duke it out with the Lord of the Rings movies). Since I have read all seven books at least once (and I believe six of them twice or more) I will be participating in the challenge as a seventh year. In all honesty, I should probably be a professor.

Additionally I’m in…

ta-da! Hufflepuff!

Every sorting quiz from Pottermore, down to shoddy Buzzfeed ones has placed me in Gryffindor (really, I’m flattered), but I know where I truly belong. It’s probably my thirst for adventure, travel, and willingness to try new things that have labeled me brave and noble, but god, I hate confrontation and wouldn’t want to do any of those things without my friends by my side. Power to the Puff!

So don your capes and get on your brooms; let’s get this Harry Potter Read-Along started!