Late, Late, Late...

Hi!!!

I know. I'm late. If you know me at all, I am usually. However, I can honestly say that this time I was legitimately busy with school and work. Anywho moving right along.

LET THE HARRY POTTER CHALLENGE BEGIN!

Day 1 - Favorite Book in the Series
Whoo! Hitting it hard right out of the gate, huh? This is a super tough question. I totally love the entire series, but I think probably book 4 is my favorite (Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire).

The tri-wizard tournament is such a great platform to introduce the scope of the wizarding world. Plus, I really think that it is the first time Harry feels the weight of who he is and what he is capable of for the first time in the series. I love the Hermione/Ron dynamic in the book and how Ron is incredibly jealous of Viktor Krum, but cannot admit it. I just really really love the book and think it's super fun.

As I'm thinking about it, I also enjoyed the fact that it was sort of before Harry started brooding over the fact that he has to save the world. It's still a semi-innocent time for him in that he is just emerging out of his naivete into a world that is much darker and intense than he expects. I also loved how long it was. This was the first SUPER long book in the series and I just couldn't/can't get enough!!!

My favorite line from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire is...well, I have a few. Here is the one I found the funniest:

"Muggle women wear them, Archie, not the men, they wear these," said the Ministry wizard, and he brandished the pinstriped trousers. "I'm not putting them on," said old Archie in indignation. "I like a healthy breeze 'round my privates, thanks."

Here is the most inspiring:

"If you want to know what a man's like, take a good look at how he treats his inferiors, not his equals."

And the most quintessentially Hogwarts:

"By Gryffindor, the bravest were
Prized far beyond the rest;
For Raven claw, the cleverest
Would always be the best;
For Hufflepuff, hard workers were
Most worthy of admission;
And power-hungry Slytherin
Loved those of great ambition."

I'm not sure if I told you that I am a part of Pottermore. It's super fun because you get a wand, and you get sorted into a house... IDK. Maybe I'm just a huge nerd... ;) Anyway, I was sorted into the Hufflepuff house. At first I was OUTRAGED. Seriously. How could I be in Hufflepuff when I was so OBVIOUSLY a Gryffindor?  I mean, really? C'mon Jo Rowling. Hehe.

However, after doing some reading on Hufflepuff on and off the Pottermore site, I realized that I am a Hufflepuff. Here is some light reading on the Harry Potter wiki on what Hufflepuffs are: http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/Hufflepuff

And Jo (aka J.K. Rowling...did you know we're on a first name basis?) herself said this of Hufflepuff House:

"This may surprise people, but it is the truth...In many, many ways, Hufflepuff is my favorite House. Here's my reasoning, bear with me. There comes a point in the final book where each House has the choice whether or not to rise to a certain challenge, and that's everyone in the House. The Slytherins, for reasons that are understandable, decide they'd rather not play. The Ravenclaws, some decide they will, and some decide they won't. The Hufflepuffs, virtually to a person, stay, as do the Gryffindors. Now, the Gryffindors comprise a lot of foolhardy and show-offy people, that's just the way it is, I'm a Gryffindor, I'm allowed to say it. You know, there's bravery, and there's also showboating, and sometimes the two go together. The Hufflepuffs stayed for a different reason; they weren't trying to show off, they weren't being reckless, that's the essence of Hufflepuff House. [...] I can only say to you, that I would not be at all disappointed to be sorted into Hufflepuff House."

I hope I'm not coming off as defensive. I merely want to educate you on Hufflepuff House...which is actually why I love Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire the most...because it is the only book that has a Hufflepuff in the spotlight--Cedric Diggory. :) Growing up I had the HUGEST crush on him. Yes, he was a bit thick...but he was loyal and had integrity. Way to represent Cedric.

So, that's it for today. I'm not sure if the Harry Potter Challenge will be a daily thing, but I am going to try to post when I can (or more accurately when I remember...sorry!). For now, I leave you with a little bit of my own magic. :)