2007: THE YEAR OF HARRY POTTER!

What a great day today was!

2007-03-25T00:57:00.000Z

Well dont get your hopes up its nothing major! So I think I may have mentioned last week that I wrote another letter to Jo just to thank her for her previous, update her on a few personal things and ask a few questions! Please forgive me for asking what now seem like silly questions-but i had so many and i didn't want to overload poor Jo and i wanted to ask some that weren't to spoilerish that she may even answer! Well I saw "may even answer"...Jo did!
The smile on my face when I saw the postman this morning drop that letter into my hand! Im not posting the letter as I think I should respect the privacy of Jos comments to me in it-after all it was primarily a personal letter! But I will share with you three of the questions Jo did very nicely answer-i hope she doesn't mind if I do! Oh but even more special i thought was the fact Jo handwrote the letter-it feels so much more personal and is so beautiful! Getting it framed like the other one! Cherish them for life!

So question 1-like i said these arent best questions so please forgive me!

Is Regulus Black, Crookshanks?

Jos response: "No. Nice theory though"

Question 2:

Will D's portrait be a source of information for Harry?

No.

Question 3:

Will Horace Slughorn be of any more use in DH with his knowledge of Horcruxes?

No.

So. Three no's. Im good at my theories lol!!
But Jo did say:

"Sometimes 'nos' tell you quite as much as 'yeses' though!"

And that is very very true!!
Not that I would have expected a "Oh Yes Regulus is Crookshanks! Hes also R.A.B!" answer but a No ends that for me...I still think hes RAB though-and alive!

Have a comment on what you think of Jos answers and what they may mean!

Sorry for lack of blogs-as Ive expalined the big move is happening this week so Im mad busy!
Now im off to bed as Ive a "family meal" tomorrow to say goodbye to everyone!

Take care,
Ryan

A lame excuse!

2007-03-22T01:47:00.000Z

Hello!!
So sorry ive not been posting last few days! Ive been working-making up for lost time! Anyway getting ready for the big move-less than ten days now!
You can tell how late I am working-its now almost two in the morning!! Ive been working on getting some Potter news-not much happening really....apart from a page count of course! With the 608 page rumour I managed to get some confirmation that it was rubbish, little did i expect Scholastic to send a press release about the paper they were going to use! But tucked away in that press release was a tiny piece of info-784! Still no word though from Bloomsbury about the UK edition!! Also I managed to confirm for some people who had asked me that the international trailer for Order of the Phoenix IS NOT being released this weekend with teenage mutant ninja turtles-but i did hear "It will be released later this spring!" Finally another thing I was asked was if the American audio version of Deathly Hallows would be released on July 21st with the book-the answer I got back from Mr Jim Dales people was that yes it would be!!
Finally I must say if you have time head over to The Snitch as it was a plesant discovery of mine recently! Special hello to news poster their Raadhika-who has been so nice and thanked me so much for several of those wee pieces of news!! Head their if you can!!
Eagerly awaiting chapter 8 of The Golden fortress!!
Thats all from me for now-next time ill write more, promise!
take care, leave your comments and I'll try and reply!
Night,
Ryan

Emma Wat-the hell is going on-son???

2007-03-18T14:29:00.000Z

What a weekend for Emma Watson fans! Sadly that doesnt include me. So on saturday The Sun reported that Emma had a terrifying experience with a stalker in the grounds of her school-but thrown into that article was something fans where waiting for-news that Emma had signed for the final two films. Of course until WB confirmed this to Leaky or MN this was always going to be called a rumour. But then today, Sunday, The News of the World- a sister newspaper to the Sun, claimed that Emma had QUIT. She was tired of being "that girl from Harry Potter." Face it Emma-thats what you are. She has said herself before that she had an easy way to the top. Now she whinges about it-a true diva. OHHH but it doesnt end there. Now BBC NEWSROUND say that WB have confirmed that Emma has NEITHER QUIT NOR SIGNED. However they do say that they are confident that she will sign. What a weekend! Im sure WB wouldnt come out saying "Ohh crap were in trouble-Emma wont sign and we dont think she will...." so this statement could just be buying the time, keeping fans happy!

Until we have official word she has signed for HBP and DH i wont believe anything else!
Where do the rest of you stand on Emma-happy or sad to see her go??

Still no confirmation!

2007-03-15T14:08:00.000Z

I have emailed several people trying to get confirmation regarding the trailer description-but still no response Im afraid! A few news sites have started to pick up on it including Snitch Sneeker and The Snitch-they do of coruse warn us not to get to excited as its just a rumour! Im becoming more doubtful by the day as I have realised that the actual description on IMDB was written by someone called ENYAFREAK who by chance was one of those at the test screenings and had a review published on Mugglenet-that person would know the scenes and script to include in the description if it was lies. I hope its not-why the hell would someone get pleasure out of lying-i cant see it being false! Plus the fact WB have not said its false is good too i suppose!

Anyway i was trying to get some info about Deathly Hallows today and I sent a few questions to a few people-sadly noone would give me a clue as to even when we would find out the amount of chapter or even word count but I did get one very exciting piece of news from a contact-"We will release the cover art in the coming weeks!"

I was shocked because apart from not expecting a tip off that it was coming-I didnt expect it to come so soon!! I really really cant wait to see what it looks like-i hope its not to revealing but at the same time I hope it leaves us guessing!!

No idea sadly what "coming weeks" means in terms of amount of weeks but I still think it sounds close enough!

Anyway im off to do some work-for a change!-ill post back im I get any more updates!
Hope your all well-nearly the weekend!!
Ry

RUMOUR: THEATRICAL TRAILER DESCRIPTION

2007-03-13T17:12:00.000Z

DONT HAVE A CLUE IF THIS IS ACCURATE BUT TOO EXCITING NOT TO POST!!
I have emailed a few contacts and will let you know if its real!!

wb logo

Shot of the houses of parliament
Shot of a train in Kings cross
Shot of the Ministry of Magic atrium filled with wizards
Shot of a closed door at the end of a dark coridoor
Panning shot of the veil, the ripped curtain blowing slowly in the wind
Shot of Harry walking through the station, the crowd parts and a man stands in pin stripe suite.
Fear shoots across Harrys face, the figure turns around, Voldemort stares back at harry,

shoot to black screen

Voiceover: Voldemort has gone into hiding, he's biding his time, gathering his followers.

Fast cut aways of A groups of masked figures surrounded by candles,
Shot of bella opening her eyes looking crazed.
Harry sat at the table in Grimauld place.

Harry: Why will nobody believe me?

Shot of a newspaper article landing on a table.

Sirius: Fear is a dangerous thing Harry

Harry standing facing court officials

Hermione: the Minister is trying to discredit you

Shot Umbridge at the podium in front of the school.

Umbridge: Let us usher in a new era of innovation

Ron: Whose the old broard

Hermione: (voiceover) Dolores Umbridge, Shes the Ministers secretary.

Shot of a classroom door swinging open

Umbridge: good morning children

Shot of Ron looking to Harry in confusuion
Umbridge stands Smugly at the front of the classroom

Umbridge: i will be taking over as Defence against the dark arts teacher, Wands down, textbooks out.

Hermione looking frustrated
Shot of kids writing.

Hermione: How can copying from a book teach you to defend yourself

Voiceover: she's taking over hogwarts

Shot of Filch Hammering new decree into the wall

Umbridge: this is my school now Mr Potter, i make the rules here.

Shot of kids looking miserable in the courtyard
Shot of Hermione bowing her head

Sirius: these are dangerous times, you must be prepared

Shot of hooded figures sweeping past a blown out wall
Shot of Bella laughing manically in the MoM
Shot of a tree being uprooted in the woods, Ron falls back to the floor

Hermione: You can teach us

Harry turns to Hermione dumbstruck
Shot of the DA practiscing, Ginny fires her Patronus, Luna pointing her wand
Shot of Ron approaching Hermione

Ron: dont worry i'll go easy on you

Ron is blasted into a wall, Hermione smiles at him.

Harry waking from a sleep

Ron: is it that dream again?

Shot of Harry in Dumbledores office

Harry: somethings not right

Quick Shots of Harry sweaty looking scared, Mcgonegall looking upset, Luna looking solemn

(The music swells to a halt)

Three large bangs (knocks on a door) against a black screen

Shot of Umbridge looking up, she walks to the Doors of the great Hall. they Swing open.

Shot of the educational decrees exploding off the walls
Shot of Bella throwing a spell
Shot of Umbridge pointing her wand at Harrys neck

Harry: get Back

Shot of The RoR walls exploding
Shot of Umbridges head explodes into flames, Fireworks shooting everywere
Shot of kids running riot through hogwarts

Umbridge:(voiceover) Order, i will have Order

Shot of Lucius grabs the scruff of Harrys collar
Shot of Harry and the others stand in a blue room thats rotating
Shot of Azkaban walls exploding
Shot of Grawp scooping down to pick something up
Shot of Glass headin towards Harry

Voiceover: he's seeking the knowedge to destroy you

Shot of Voldemort Pointing his wand in the minestry of Magic
Shot of Dumbledore bursting into flames
Shot of Sirius standing next to Harry firing a spell, he turns to harry with a solemn look

Harry: SIRIUS!!!

the screen goes black

HARRY POTTER AND THE ORDER OF THE PHOENIX

JULY 13TH

SUPPOSEDLY ITS COMING WITH TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES IN TWO WEEKS!

I dont want to get my hopes up-but I have already!!

Saturday!

2007-03-10T23:17:00.000Z

Thought i should check in before bed! What a day! So ive a dilemma. Im moving to Spain-Valencia-in less than a month. Really looking forward to it-going to work for a new english speaking radio station! Im just back from a weeks visit-and one of the things on my-to-do-list remains unchecked. What was that? Well it was this-Find a cinema that shows films in english.
Not very sucessful. And now im panicking! What if i cant find a cinema to show OotP in english???!!! If the worst comes to the worst Ill have to fly home to Ireland and stay with family for a few days-but that would break a tradition of going to the first showing with my mum, sisters and brothers (They are all fans too!) so we can all discuss it afterwards. It really wouldnt be the same! I know its still four months of so I have plenty of time to find a cinema in Valencia but Im still worried! With regards to DH im not really worried as I intend to get myself to the biggest event in the country on July 20th for midnight-wherever Jo is!
Still no info on that event yet but im sure it will be even bigger than the Edinburgh event for HBP-it will be nothing less than phenomenal to be there-even in the crowd!
Im excited even thinking about it!! Not much else happening this weekend-spent most of early afternoon in bed with an awful headache but feeling much better now! Plenty to do between now and the big move-got to pack all my editions of the books from around the world somewhere safe so no harm comes to them!
Oh before I go hello to Dena from MySpace! We had a great conversation on theories that I had mentioned to JK in a letter I sent her. Dena has some wicked theories that will please all fans of Neville-which includes me!! Also just to say I read the first seven chapters of Harry Potter and the Golden Fortress-see post from the other day-and I have to say-IT WAS AMAZING! I had to tell myself it wasnt really DH!! Draco fans will be horrified, Petuinia haters will feel differently and everyone wanting to know what happened at Godrics Hollow will be delighted!! Of course I must reitterate-ITS NOT REAL! BUT ITS A BLOOMING GOOD READ IF YOUR DESPERATE FOR SOMETHING NEW!! ONE OF THE BEST FANFAICS WITHOUT A DOUBT!!
Finally-Happy B'day to Lupin! Hopefully he survives the war and has lives happily ever after with Tonks. Sorry to be optomisitc but I think Lupin will die-I believe all the Marauders will die in the end. Even Peter.

Right-im off! Night everyone!
Ryan

Sign that Petition!!

2007-03-09T18:31:00.003Z

Finally! Something interesting! So by now most of you will know Jo is suing this prats at eBay who constantly refuse to remove these illegal copies of HP. The injunction which prevents eBay from listing illegal copies (namely e-versions of her books), is binding until a hearing on May 23rd. Now Jo has come looking for our support-NO BOTHER AT ALL!
Neil Blair-Jo's lawyer contacted Marjorie at JKR'S ARMY
and asked for some sort of way of getting fans support. Time for a petition!
I signed it about 15 minutes ago and there were 240 signatures-
quick check to see if the publicity on mugglenet is making a difference...393! WHOA! If we have that much of an increase every 15 minutes....SUPER! WELL DONE EVERYONE!!

Reading some of the comments on MN though im surprised that some people are against this. They must be sellers on eBay. Heres one view-
"Sign a peition? For such a nonens? This is riddiculous. Are you JKR's houseelf?
Us Houseelves? Nope. Let me tell what we are-we are real fans who hate to see fellow fans ripped of with fake crap. Thats what we are. Idiot. Although. If i was a houself-id like to work for the Weasleys. Imagine the fun....:)

The Goldren Fortress

2007-03-08T21:51:00.000Z

Brilliant. So ive been posting about the blog on mymyspace
and got SO many friends requests following it! One of which came from The Golden Fortress.
Who I hear you ask? Well to be lazy ill take what they said about themselves!

We are a group of people trying to translate the German FanFiction "Harry Potter und die Goldene Festung" (Harry Potter and The Golden Fortress) into English. It's a fictional story of a possible 7th book after the "Halfblood Prince". It's about 700 pages long, written by Loons Gerringer who is just a fan of the books as we all are. Since we are all Germans and not English native speakers it takes some time to translate the story. So we are looking for English native speakers who 1. love the world around Harry Potter as much as we do 2. would like to help us with the translation 3. would read the translated story, check grammar and spelling and hopefully 4. enjoy the story as much as we did and still do

Sounds interesting doesnt it?
A great way to pass a few months! Well if your interested just head to their myspace and leave them a message!
Also hello to Isabel-she thinks we should all burn down the idiot from below who thinks Jos a mediocre writer! Whilst i think its a reasonable suggestion I must decline the offer!
Maybe the death eaters could pay him a visit instead..... :)

Any particular time suit you Rosncranz?

AMAZING NEW NEWS!

2007-03-08T18:26:00.000Z

Thats my sarcastic voice.
To be honest i dont know what news im expecting. Anything from Jo would be nice or even news on the Theatrical trailer for OotP. But No. Nothing. WAIT! Breaking news from fansite....Warwick Davis was a fan before the books. In what is described as a "brief interview"-yea one quote worth repearing for crying out load-Warwick said:

"I was in to J.K. Rowling's books about Harry Potter long before I was offered the part of Professor Flitwick and I've loved reading every one since then. So, yes, I'm is really looking forward... like you... to the next book."

Ohh super! Im thrilled. Hes waiting for book 7. Can i be on the news because Im waiting to?!
I must admit I had a smile on my face this morning because i got a mention on Leaky! Sad i know but still it made my day! I sent them the little story on Emma Watson donating stuff to charity for an ebay auction! I know if I had the cash id be bidding but sadly I dont! But hey best of luck to any of you bidding and I hope plenty of cash is raised for the Wild Trout Trust! The two products can be seen here-
Signed Hogwarts Express Train Set and Emmas Tote Bag.

Anyway its election result day here in Northern Ireland so im off to watch the news and then fill an hour with the soaps. Ahh the joy of having a life. Whats the chances of anything interesting happening in the next 90 minutes whilst im gone? Thought so....chat you later on! Ry

Mediocre? You Twat.

2007-03-07T20:21:00.000Z

Ok-i know its mainly Deathly Hallows im going to be writing about but i couldnt resist this.
Im sure many of you have seen the first reviews of the Order of the Phoenix online the past few days. Well despite being annoyed at a few things-which i wont even bother mentioning as they are the same things that upset everyone else-one review on AICN caught me eye. So the writer who requests we call him Rosncranz if we talk about him. Ohh yea Im gonna talk about ya. So. This guy gets chosen and ends up at the screening. Git. Blah blah blah he thinks the movies ok, gives a B+ and seems ok about it bar a few things.

So before Rosncranz begins hes nice enough to inform us as to "where I stand on the potter franchise." Oooh super!

I am not a big Potter fan; I don’t like the way Rowling writes so I only read the second book in its entirety, and passed on the rest. I have however seen all of the films, which really only started getting really good with Cuaron’s “Azkaban,” which then was bested by Goblet of Fire in my opinion. The weakest of the series was without question Chamber of Secrets. So that’s where I stand in reference to the Potter franchise.

But what annoyed me was that this guy had a dig at Jo. He says.....

"I think the subject and mediocre writing of Rowling stops it from ever being an all around amazing series."

First of all Im pleased that as a non-fan he felt it was good enough for a B+ and he enjoyed it. But how dare he call Jo a mediocre writer. God that makes me angry. Mediocre-WHAT?! Of course he hasnt read all the books. he read CoS-thats it. So he failed to see the development and improvement-if that was possible in Jos writing over the series. I know many people who havent read the books will see the film-but to be so critical of the writing when they have only bothered to read one of six books. Idiot. Why do some people have all the luck and get chosen for these things!!!

Though I will say the general consensus is that Evannah Lynch is superb as Luna! YAY! Cant say im surprised. Jo said she was perfect. And she knows! Special mentions for Helena Bonham Carters 'eccentric' Bellatrix and Imelda Stauntons super performance as Umbridge! I really cant wait to see them all!!
Daniel has supposedly improved-I wonder if Emma has too? Hope the rumours of less screen time for Ron arent true though-i will be very very very very unhappy......

The Wait.

2007-03-07T17:22:00.000Z

Hello there!
OK. So like every other Harry Potter fan I have been bored out of my mind waiting for news on what until December we only knew as Book 7. Then came the title. I wont even write it-I'm sure you know it by now! So with a title we began speculating. Naturally. But then excited turned to greed! Honestly it did-not content with having a title, we needed a release date! Ill admit I was surprised it came so soon. Delighted, but surprised. Even more surprising was the fact the book is actually just 4 months away! So with statue busts signed and editing on-going no more news has since appeared about Deathly Hallows. And im bored. Ive been on Leakynews and Mugglenet every hour of every day. Refresh after Refresh. Waiting for the next bit of news. But.....nothing. Zilch. Its gone dead. Attention quickly switches back to Order of the Phoenix. Im delighted its come out so close to DH. What a month July will be!! But i needed somewhere to talk and write about Deathly Hallows-even if i am talking to myself most of the time!
So i decided to use this place. So between now and July 16th I intend to post everything and anything. Lets share the wait, the expectations, the excitment-the end. As that horrible shruken head from Jamaica said..."Its gonna be a bumpy ride!"