Hello, all.

I suppose I'm expected to pour out my heart over here; for all you poor souls that actually scour this page, here goes.

I'm obsessed with Harry Potter.

Then again, I suppose there's very little actually shocking, or the least bit intriguing, about that statement. I can't imagine that got anyone slack-jawed, or prompted a shocked gasp.

Moving on, I consider myself a unique commodity in the world of authors, in the sense that: my love for writing and reading doesn't impede my fanatic sport self. Over the past few years, I have grown steadily more interested in football and basketball, in addition to soccer. I even joined an amateur football team, though my time there probably slowly approaches it's end as college nears.

What else is there about me that might tickle your fancy?

I speak Dutch. Why that is? I'm not exactly comfortable sharing. I can only say that it cost me a whole year on the academic ladder and I sometimes harbor regret that I didn't dedicate that year to French, instead. After all, French allows me to communicate to over 220 million people all over the world, whereas Dutch connects me with barely 25 million people over the world.

Well then, back to Harry Potter; I most certainly don't mind.

My favorite? That would have to be Slytherin! Harry fics. Personally, that is because Harry's character and mannerisms never really agreed with me. He came across as a whiner, and that very properly grated on my nerves. Don't get me wrong: Harry went through a whole lot in his life. I just feel like that there was so much... MORE that he could have been. The word 'pathetic' sprang to mind on several occasions as I read Harry flounder through his Hogwarts years. He wasn't outright lazy (that was reserved for his best friend, after all), but he certainly lacked motivation and a certain drive. He was uncool, and outside of the fact that he was the Boy-Who-Lived, socially, he was of very little relevance. It seems harsh: but sometimes, I struggle to see why so many hate Snape. I don't but I certainly don't love him, either; he was mostly right about Harry, however, in my opinion.

Next up is Lily/James. Now, I must confess right off the bat to a small fetish: I like a little role-reversal here. I know the official, canon story: James pined away after Lily for years, getting slapped with rejection all the way up until seventh year (where he "deflated" his head). I, personally (perhaps in a small display of masochism), enjoy seeing James suffer rejection after rejection. What irritates me is the lack of evolution or build-up that is generally present in Lily/James stories. We jump from Lily brutally shooting down James, to Lily confessing to Alice, perhaps, that she was unaware that "that damned Potter" had feelings (you know, like a human being), meanwhile in another part of the castle, perhaps with a bottle of Firewhisky in hand, James would make dramatic declarations to sever all contact with Evans, a vow that barely lasts a day as Lily realizes that she, in fact, harbors feelings for the prankster, and depending on the rating of the story, they kiss or descend into intercourse.

Why can't it be that James matures in his own merit? I refuse to believe that the core of a young, incredibly talented and gifted, entitled, heir would change for a girl. At that age... It's unlikely. Is it not more plausible that an event (perhaps the passing of his parents, or a brutal Death-Eater attack that he barely escapes or something equally dramatic) would elicit a similar, grown-up, deflated, mature James. Would that not be more pleasing? To see Lily enraged at learning that Potter was Head-Boy, only to realize that he'd changed. Only to realize that he barely had time for her, and that his pranking had lessened dramatically and that he was almost always off (practicing, dueling or something of that nature, not that she knows, of course), the only trait of his that still manages to irritate her. He is helpful, but also incredibly respectful of her boundaries and space. Patrols are light, and she becomes grateful for his company. As Hogsmead approaches, she begins to wonder if he'll break and ask her out, perhaps even hoping he will. Is that not better?

I personally feel it is. Of course, that doesn't color Lily Evans golden, radiating and proclaiming an angel incapable of wrong. It doesn't worship her but it's more realistic, it's more real. I feel, anyway.

Well, peeps, this is where I must leave you: I've postponed my studies too long; any further postponement could be fatal. Toodles!