Now that the spell is over and J.K. Rowling with tears running down her cheeks finally presenting the last installment of Harry Potter to the world, I wouldn't be surprised if I'm still caught in a magical web spun by fictional characters turned household names. The enchantment still lingers and whether jinxed or cursed, the entire reading community is as good as stunned for not knowing what to do next after a ten-year journey with the boy who lived to Hogwarts, the Burrow, the Ministry of Magic, and all the places no one but a single mom dared come up with.
We traveled with Harry since his first year at Hogwarts. He was only eleven and new to the Wizarding community but already battling full-grown wizards for the elusive Sorcerer's Stone. We feared for his life when a basilisk that used to dwell in the Chamber of Secrets almost takes his life. What their second year fake Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher lacked, their third year professor, werewolf Remus Lupin, makes up for in a series of practical exams and real lessons. Harry finally gets to meet his godfather Sirius Black, a wrongly accused escaped prisoner of Azkaban.
I was about to say Harry's third year is his best but come Triwizard Tournament on his fourth year, the 14-year-old comes face-to-face with not only grindylows and foreigners, or a Moody impostor and a sphinx asking for a spider, but Lord Voldemort himself back from the dead, or incorporeal state, to be precise. Almost everybody wonders why the prefect badge went to Ron in their fifth year but Harry, having been cleared of all charges (for using magic outside Hogwarts) wouldn't have wished otherwise upon learning about the prophecy that tied him with the Dark Lord. With a newfound ability to penetrate his enemy's mind, Harry prepares for another adventure. My favorite character Sirius Black dies fighting alongside the Order of the Phoenix and into the veil his soul rests.
Snape finally gets the coveted Defense professorship, and where he lovingly gave our hero a big fat D in Potions, his new position gives a different light to his character that leaves the readers asking, hoping and even debating on his true intentions. Given his clear access to Voldemort's past, Harry sixth year is no ordinary quest. Snape, who turns out to be the mysteriously clever half-blood prince, kills Dumbledore, Harry suppresses his love for Ginny, and is left with the task of finding and destroying the seven Horcruxes before finishing off what his enemy started nearly fifteen years ago.
Ah, to be in a world where broomsticks fly and photographs move; where house elves, goblins, centaurs, giants, and merpeople co-exist with the wizards. And not until Harry's 17th year on earth, blood status is checked and Muggle-borns are wanted. Voldemort and his Death Eaters take over the Ministry of Magic, the Daily Prophet, and (surprise, surprise) Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry with Snape appointed as headmaster. Harry, Ron, and Hermione camp from one forest to another while infiltrating different institutions with hopes of obtaining the Horcruxes and the Hallows, and finishing the mission thrust upon them.
Times have changed. The Dark Lord's name is Taboo and Snape's deepest secret is revealed. And as Harry finds some of his loved ones at the receiving end of the Killing Curse, he sacrifices himself and dies, only to live again and carry out the prophecy. Hogwarts becomes a battle scene and bears witness to the fall of Remus and Nymphadora Lupin, Fred Weasley, and Bellatrix Lestrange, among all the other wizards and witches who fought to their deaths.
Harry faces off with Voldemort, and with a swipe of his Elder Wand, he kills his enemy with no more than "Expelliarmus!".
No doubt any Harry Potter fan is doing or have done what I'm attempting to do now. That is, imaging that I'm one of the beloved series' characters or better yet, fantasizing about living in a world with Hogwarts and Diagon Alley, Quidditch and Chocolate Frogs, and dreams with spell-binding consequences.
Now, if I was in Harry's world and had to chose...
Blood Status:
Half-blood
Which house in Hogwarts:
Ravenclaw or Slytherin
What animal to bring in Hogwarts:
Probably a snowy or tawny owl
Favorite Hogwarts teacher:
McGonagal and Flitwick
Favorite subject:
Potions, Transfiguration, Ancient Runes
Least favorite subject:
Divination, Muggle Studies
Most adored ghost:
Sir Nicholas de Mimsy-Porpington
Favorite Diagon Alley shop:
Flourish and Blotts
Favorite Hogsmeade shop:
The Three Broomsticks
Kind of wand:
Holly and unicorn tail...doesn't matter though coz the wand chooses the wizard.
Quidditch or not?:
Nah...not the sporty type
http://www.destinationbride.com/files/regions/new-zealand.jpg
Yokohama Cosmoworld:
3-minute roller coaster ride with Claudio: Y700
Ferris University Staff:
Ito-sensei: best and coolest language teacher evah!
Dormitory:
Claudine couldn't stand the heat inside the lounge so she opens the sliding doors. She jumps when the alarm goes off, realizing only too late that it was past curfew (and that the police-linked alarm system has been activated). Dorm manager asks why she did it and Claudine could only apologize in the politest, most earnest manner. The TANGA factor? The lounge is equipped with two air conditioning units. Way to go, Claudine.
Hiroshima Study Tour:
Here's an excerpt of a supposedly hushed conversation between two Filipino girls amid an important tour lecture at the Underground Communication Room in one of the city's preservation sites:
Michelle (whispers): unsa'y "sleepy" in Japanese?
Dynamic Tokyo Tour:
I was glad Mich won the SONY writing contest that sent us preparing for a whole-day tour of Japan's capital, complete with lunch at the swanky Four Seasons hotel and an afternoon cruise at the Sumida River.
Tokyo Disney Resorts:
Tip: While in Japan, visit Disney Sea as it is only found in the land of the rising sun.
Kamakura:
We got to meet the Great Buddha and see what's inside him too!
Ueno:
Cherry blossoms and beer-drinking men, boating on the lake, and Jesman's unfortunate encounter with Grace's skirt *snicker...snicker*. Ah the fresh scents of spring...
Osaka:
Universal Studios Japan may not have half of Disneyland's charm but it certainly rocked. Spiderman the Ride and Snoopy's Water Slide, you completed my day at the theme park.
Kyoto:
Early in the morning, just prior to sight seeing, Claudio forgot to secure the Durian safely inside his duffel bag when we left the Utano Youth Hostel. By the time we returned to claim our rooms, the door to the storage area where we left our stuff already had a sign that said "DO NOT PUT DURIAN INSIDE THE ROOM". (!!!)
Oh well, I guess some Filipino tourist made these Japanese aware of the nasty smelling Durian waaay before our little slip. hahaha
Needless to say, with its historic temples sharing the landscape with futuristic buildings, Kyoto is THE BEST PLACE EVER!
This is a story about how we all dressed up for nothing, how church-boycotting Dirgy attended service, and how cap boy Boaz wore formal long sleeves...
how Donna and I looked like SUSG tWS party hopefuls...
how Nutri-fit walker Jordan decided against snoozing and only Micah got to usher...
how we ambled along the pavement looking for ways to appease our tummies.
Coughing on a Wednesday
Poor Odie for having Category 1 Tuberculosis and poor tWS staff (a.k.a. the Union)for fearing for their lives. Poor me for having just learned about the airborne TB and silly me for being so ignorant. Odie's my friend but if he's coughing all his pathogens away and we'll be working in close proximity with him, and he turns out to be contagious then I'm filing a restraining order. haha! Talk about sensationalism.
But seriously, as his illness is still level 1, he's no more dangerous than a kid with acute gastritis. He's under medication so there shouldn't be a problem as regards health issues and airborn diseases PROVIDED that he's getting enough sleep and eating the right kind of food.
Donna and Mich are gradually talking Odie into maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Kim is warning the Ed board to have their chests X-rayed, and some staffers are whispering, albeit in the open, about possibilities of acquiring TB. Apparently, Dirgy's killing himself if he contracts his Editor's celebrated illness. And until Odie steers clear of his midnight routine and strictly follows a balanced and guaranteed eating habit, I'm flying as far away as possible from the chamber.
Especially since I'm coughing myself...
No hard feelings Odie!!!
