On a dreary November day, I apparated right in front of the Three Broomsticks in Hogsmeade. Students walked around, chatting excitedly about pumpkins and the new curriculum of Hogwarts. It made me remember my own days at Hogwarts. There was a new craze every year and for a moment I wondered what these students were up to in their Hogwarts lives, what music they enjoyed, or which special dances they learned.
But I was not there, in Hogsmeade, to waste my time drowning in nostalgic dreams. I was there to meet another legend of Slytherin House.
This month I was waiting for Adele (AdeleTheHobbit), who was not against being interviewed by me about the latest crazes at Hogwarts and her life as a legend. She kindly made some time to meet me before visiting Honeydukes to buy her favourite sweets.
MR: How do you feel about Legends in Slytherin?
ATH: I think it's great that people are rewarded for their efforts in Slytherin but I also feel that everyone is the best at something and some never get the recognition that they deserve. Overall though I love that people are recognised for their efforts and commitment to the House. It's lovely to see Slytherins supporting and congratulating each other all the time.
MR: Would you say you are a legend as well? (And perhaps why?)
ATH: I don't think I am a legend in Slytherin at all but I feel that some people would disagree with that as well. I do my best to welcome people to the House, get involved with as much as I can within the house, and just be a friendly face within the House. It's a known fact that I've always wanted to win the Heir of Slytherin and it's great to know that I've been recognised. I feel joy and am honoured to have won the title. I'm so grateful for that and it feels like I've achieved my top honour now. I'm really happy and just want to thank everyone who is my friend because Slytherin has given me so so much and everyone is doing their bit for Slytherin and trying to be a legend in their own right.
MR: The topic of the month is crazes, so what craze were you really into in your youth?
ATH: There were so many I was into. There was Pokémon and a fair few other TV shows. The classic one that caused mayhem in school was trying to keep the Tamagotchi quiet and alive whilst not drawing attention to the fact I never trusted my mum to feed Pongo for me. Then there were the various tv shows that came and went plus the various toys... if you didn't have the latest toy then you were always left behind. So many crazes in my youth.
MR: Is there a craze you are still into, after many years?
ATH: Disney, for sure and I'm very much into Lord of the Rings again. The classic cartoon such as Tom and Jerry, Wacky Races. It's hard to remember what were crazes when I was younger so I'm going off what I was into as a child and there are some things that I would say that have made a comeback with me... Lord of the Rings for one, Disney, I'm even wanting to watch Thunderbirds... the puppet series from Gerry Anderson... again for some reason. I wish to get all of those shows again and watch them.
MR: If you could choose, what thing (item, music, film, etc) would you wish to be a craze amongst all people? (And perhaps why?)
ATH: This is a hard one but I would possibly have to say the Tamagotchi so the younger generations can know the pain and worry we had trying to keep them alive and quiet at school or leaving them home with the parents and hoping they were still alive when you got home. They were like real pets and I cared very much for Pongo. Luckily he survived a fair few lives but I'll never forget my first taste of having a pet... even if it was electronic.
MR: What would a craze be like in the Wizarding World? Would they be very different from Muggle crazes?
ATH: I think it would have had some magical aspect to it for sure. There is nearly always magic involved in the Wizarding World for sure. I do think in some ways that there would have been some similarities though in that it would have been a craze that came and went and then maybe came back, maybe. There may even have been some that the Muggleborns introduced their magical friends to as well.
MR: What could have been a craze at Hogwarts during the years Harry studied there?
ATH: I think the Weasley Twins' products would have been crazes... some have even stuck around. Maybe some new sweets and drinks from various places and certain issues of publications could have been crazes as well .
Thank you, Adele, for your intriguing answers! It was great to have an interview with you. After finishing our drinks we happily went our way and I was sure to find out more about crazes at Hogwarts and perhaps even the Muggle world.
See you next month!