LUMOS SORTING APPLICATION

Name: Mara


Age (13 or up; we stick to LJ rules): 18


Location: Ontario, Canada (the lovely place with extreme temperatures on every end of the spectrum. From -20 in the winter to +36 in the summer, what more could a girl ask for!)


Where did you hear about this community? Interest search "sorting"


How much time are you willing to invest in this community? I'm not sure. I'm around a fair amount during the summer, but I'm starting univeristy in the fall, which will probably send my normal online schedule way out of whack.


PART 1 – Canon


1. Have you read all the books? Yes, although I have to admit I didn't read the first three right away. I read one, two, and three the spring before book four came out. Prior to that, I'd been skeptical about "Harry Potter". I was convinced I was far too mature to invest time in such childish books. Then I actually read them, and ... well, yeah. Here I am, and here I'll stay. I've purchased/received books four, five, and six the day they came out, with much freaking out occurring.


2. Give us your personal interpretation of each Hogwarts house (in
terms of atmosphere, mentality, intra-house relationships et cetera –
these are just a few examples).

Gryffindor - I've always had the impression that the Gryffindors are very proud of themselves. They know Gryffindor is considered to be "the" house to be in, and don't hesitate to show it. Their pride can be their greatest asset, but their greatest downfall as well. Courage is supposedly the top quality of a Gryff, but you don't have to feel courageous, or know how you'd react in a situation to do well there. Take Neville for example. He didn't know he was brave, yet he was placed in Gryffindor, and when the time came, he acted on sheer instinct. Gryffindors try to be accepting of everyone, but are short tempered, and sometimes blinded by anger or prejudice (often à la Slytherin.)

Hufflepuff - There's so much more to Hufflepuff than the stereotypical "niceness". Sure, 'Puffs are nice, but they're so much more. Hufflepuffs are dedicated in every sense of the word. They work hard and set goals. They're wonderful friends because of their immense dedication to the things they care about. And they're the most trustworthy and honest housemates overall. On the downside, I think Puffs can be too easy to trust, and are likely to get hurt over and over again. But being in Hufflepuff doesn't mean you're a doormat. I think they'd be some of the worst people to cross, because of their loyalty and sensitivity.

Ravenclaw - Smart, yes. Sensible, yes. Dedicated, not so much. I think Ravenclaws have the most tendencies out of everyone to be lazy. The most "Ravenclaw-ish" people I've met know they're smart, and therefore sometimes feel they don't need to work as hard as others. But at the same time, they're the most willing to put out 200% for something as soon as the effort is needed. They're serious about everything, but that doesn't mean they can't have as much fun as the next person. They have sharp wit, which makes them exciting, and are strong leaders in nearly every situation.

Slytherin - Slytherins want to achieve greatness, and do everything possible to do so. They test and stretch limits, they're ready to fight for what they want. They're intelligent, but the main quality that stands out is their independence. They don't need praise from others, they don't need loyalty, and they will sell others out if it's to their benefit. But that doesn't make them horrible people, it makes them ambitious and brave. Their bravery isn't the "golden courage" promoted in Gryffindor, but the ability to carve their own path.


3. What would be your favourite flavour of Bertie Bott’s Every
Flavour Beans and why (note: as the name implies, all possible flavours
exist)? Hmm. I'd probably have to say butter creme filled chocolate. They melt in your mouth, and they make me never want to finish them to take the taste out of my mouth. *heaven*

4. If you were on your House’s Quidditch Team, which position would
you preferably play and why?
I would actually prefer not to play Quidditch, if I can choose that as an answer. I'm not a big fan of competitive team sports. I love playing games (say like ultimate frisbee) recreationally with friends, but competitive team sports have always been difficult for me. I'm not the strongest athlete, and am often "the weakest link" on a team. This causes me to become frustrated with myself, and with others, who won't pass, or won't let me play. If I have to compete, which in sports I really prefer not to (academics is another story), I prefer it to be in an individual sport, where I have no one to blame but myself if I screw up.

If I had to choose a position, I'd choose Seeker, as I'd have the least chance of injuring myself, or someone else. But only if I were actually good at it, and didn't have to face an angry mob after the game.


5. (Optional) What HP conspiracy theory do you hold true unless it
is textually proven otherwise? (i.e. Snape is a vampire, Ron is
Dumbledore, etc. –there are loads of these theories. Feel free to contribute
your own)?
Snape is evil, through and through (which has been proven,and disproven, then proven and disproven again and again throughout the series.) **WARNING HBP SPOILERS AHEAD** Dumbledore's overwhelming faith in Snape in book six really drove me up the wall, as I still feel he is not on "our side". The theory is now floating around that Snape killed Dumbledore to make it seem as if he is fighting for Voldemort, and because he couldn't break the Unbreakable Vow. I don't believe this, and have and will always believe that Snape is teh evil.


6. (Optional. If you can't answer #5, make sure you answer this
one.) What is your favorite book aside from HP and why?
My favourite book (even over Harry Potter, please don't shoot me!) is a novel by Nicholas Christopher called A Trip to the Stars. I purchased it a couple of years before actually reading it, but when I did, I was thoroughly overwhelmed by the beauty of it. It is beautifully written with poetic descriptions that catch your minds eye and keep you imagining. The characters are flawed, but it is written in a way that beautifies their flaws as well, while keeping them down-to-earth at the same time. The story is a combination of historical fiction, mixed with fantasy, mixed with drama, (my three favourite genres), but you lose yourself in the story as if it were happening in front of you and you could reach out and touch the characters. It's a wonderful wonderful book, has been my favourite for over a year, and considering the number of books I read, that's no small feet.


7. What would your Room of Requirement look like?
Apart from it looking exactly like Hagrid's Hut... It would depend on the situation, to be perfectly honest. It could have any number of things depending on whether I was in trouble, or whether I was just looking for a place to call my own for a little while. But I guess it would always have a book with pictures and notes, a book of "comfort" I guess. Photos and notes from people who care about me reminding me that things are going to be okay, all I need to do is hold on.


8. Describe your wand and tell us why you picked that design.
Ten and a half inches, willow and unicorn hair. The willow is defined as the wood of feminity, as well as dreaming, intuition and deep emotions. I frequently remember my dreams, and am known among my friends as "the dreamer". They are odd, but have been strangely prophetic and clear. I also am frequently emotional, and rely on emotions and gut reactions in making decisions. The unicorn hair is for strength.


PART 2 - You

Please go here
and fill out the short Myers-Briggs test.


9. Paste the URL of your results (TOP 5) including its description
here.

Your #1 Match: ESFJ

The Caregiver You are sympathetic and caring, putting friends and family first. A creature of habit, you prefer routines and have trouble with change. You love being in groups - whether you're helping people or working on a project. You are good at listening, laughing, and bringing out the best in people. You would make a great nurse, social worker, or teacher.

Your #2 Match: ESFP

The Performer You are a natural performer and happiest when you're entertaining others. A great friend, you are generous, fun-loving and optimistic. You love to laugh - and you like almost all people equally. You accept life as it is, and you do your best to make each day fantastic. You would make a good actor, designer, or counselor.

Your #3 Match: ISFJ

The Nurturer You have a strong need to belong, and you very loyal. A good listener, you excell at helping others in practical ways. In your spare time, you enjoy engaging your senses through art, cooking, and music. You find it easy to be devoted to one person, who you do special things for. You would make a good interior designer, chef, or child psychologist.

Your #4 Match: ISFP

The Artist You are a gifted artist or musician (though your talents may be dormant right now). You enjoy spending your free time in nature, and you are good with animals and children. Simply put, you enjoy bueaty in all its forms and live for the simple pleasures in life. Gentle, sensitive, and compassionate - you are good at recognizing people's unspoken needs. You would make a good veterinarian, pediatrician, or composer.

Your #5 Match: ENFJ

The Giver You strive to maintain harmony in relationships, and usually succeed. Articulate and enthusiastic, you are good at making personal connections. Sometimes you idealize relationships too much - and end up being let down. You find the most energy and comfort in social situations ... where you shine. You would make a good writer, human resources director, or psychologist.

(Just so you know, I don't feel number 2 is accurate in the slightest. I'm a pessimist, who tends to get "down" fairly easily, and often relies on others to get me back "up" again. I don't like being the centre of attention, and tend to judge people harshly upon first meeting.)

10. Who do you admire most and why?
I have a habit of really really admiring someone, and then getting disappointed because in some way they let me down. It's a horrible habit, and as much as I try not to, it's something that happens far too often. I guess right now I admire my former Calculus teacher, because of her unfailing kindness. She has the ability to treat every student as a human being, whether they do well in her class or not. And she truly cares about every single person she teaches. She had the ability to make me smile, no matter what was going on in my life, and feel safe and respected. She's one of a select few people I trust completely.

In general, I admire women who possess the strength to overcome challenges, and still come out on top.


11. What would you like to have accomplished at the end of your
life?
With univeristy starting soon, I've been contemplating this one a lot of late. At the end of my life, I would like to be satisfied. It sounds ridiculous. I don't know exactly what I want. I don't want to be famous, or overly rich, or ridicuously well-liked, I just want to be happy with what I have accomplished. On my death bed, I want to be able to look back and say, "Good, you made a difference," in some small way. If that's being a talented executive, or a politician, or a mother, or all of the above, I don't care. I just want to be happy with my choices, and have only minimal regrets.

12. Would you sooner commit a crime against your kin or your
countrymen?
That's a really tough call. Your "kin" is forgiving, your "countrymen" decidedly less so. I tend to live by the rule, you can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends, interpreted as, you don't have to like your family, but you're stuck with them, and your friends are the people you choose to spend your time with. Family has more of an obligation (though not always) to forgive your transgressions, whereas friends can walk away with less pain attached to the decision, if they feel you have truly violated them. If I were choosing between friends and family, I would choose family and hope they would forgive my mistake. If it were a choice between family and acquaintances, I would choose the "countrymen", as I have no real attachment to them, and I don't have to face them in the future.

Reading back over that answer, it's not really all that sensical, nor logical, and I'm not sure how to make it better understood. I guess the fact is, I don't know what I would do, and I don't want to commit a crime against either group. I would feel immense guilt for violating my family, but more pain for violating others.

13. What would your animagus be and why?
I believe my animagus would be a cat. Cats are independent creatures, but are also very well loved and loving at times. They're stealthy, and don't tend to disclose their emotions to strangers. They can be incredibly trusting, then untrusting should you double cross them. They are very intelligent, and know how to get what they want, yet not to the extent that they are manipulative. I feel these characteristics are very fitting of my own personality

(and would you believe I am a dog owner.)

14. What would your patronus be and why?
I believe my patronus would be an elephant, as absurd as that sounds. My aunt tried to start me with an elephant collection as a baby (resulting, I had many MANY stuffed elephants as a child.) But the reason is my great grandmother. Recently, I came into the possession of her photo album. One of the last picture before she died was of her holding me, and a gift from my aunt. The expression on her face was one of pure love and acceptance, something I've never experience, in my family or elsewhere. She died before I had the opportunity to get to know her.


15. What career would you consider if you were indeed part of the
wizarding world and why?
As a part of the wizarding world, I would like to work for the Ministry of Magic in some form. I really do like politics, and would like to fight with the ministry to make it a less corrupt system of government. Working my way up to be the "backroom girl" for the Minister (aka the brains behind the operation) would be an ideal job for me. I don't much care for the spotlight, but I like to get things done.

If not, I would consider staying on at Hogwarts as a professor. I'd love to teach Transfiguration, should Professor McGonagall ever retire, or Charms.