The Newsroom

I’ve recently had the privilege of interviewing numerous Hogwarts is Here users, new and old. I asked them a series of questions, ranging from when they joined the website to the impossible to answer question of who their favorite Harry Potter character is. I enjoyed the process of reading so many great answers and am thankful for the overwhelming response I’ve received. Without further ado, I present to you the questions and answers.

When did you first join Hogwarts is Here?

Caitlin Fox: “I first joined in October 2015.”
Claire Peters: “March 31, 2014”
Leena O’Hare: “I first joined in about December 2014. I rejoined in October 2016!”
Rhiannon Fleetwood: “Late April 2014”
Lurkelly Leikez: “19th April 2014”
Naomi Rivers: “July 2015”

How did you first hear about Hogwarts is Here?

Caitlin Fox: “I originally found it because I was searching online for something to get involved in that allowed me to meet other people from the fandom.”
Hermione G.: “I was so desperately wanting to take online Hogwarts courses, so I searched "online Hogwarts courses" and found "Hogwarts Is Here.”
Rose Wesley: “I heard about it first through Buzzfeed”
Leena O’Hare: “I found out about HiH through an online search and I checked it out!”
Dani: “I was searching the web and it was there, like magic”

Have you taken any courses on the website yet? If so, which one is your favorite so far?

Claire Peters: “Transfiguration”
Rose Wesley: “I love Charms and Ancient Runes. I really like Herbology and Transfiguration”
Bush Baby: “Potions and History of Magic”
Naomi Rivers: “Herbology and DADA”

If not, which courses are you most excited for?

Owen Hastings: “I look forward to Defence Against the Dark Arts and Charms lessons”
Dani: “I am most excited for Potions”
Aida: “I’m interested in DADA and Astronomy”
Naomi Rivers: “I am looking forward to getting started with Alchemy and Care of Magical Creatures”

Is there anything you would like to see added to the website that isn’t already?

Owen Hastings: “it would be great to have roleplaying sub-section in Forums with major rooms of Hogwart's castle laid out, done descriptions and people would be able to do their role play threads as if they were in those rooms or places.”
Caitlin Fox: “I don't really know the feasibility of something like this but whether we could arrange a map to be made of Hogwarts and we could pick our location in our posts?”
Rose Wesley: “I would like a tutoring systems, just one on one because I know they have the study table discussion in the Great Hall. It can be kind of hard to help someone if there are three or four other people trying to help other people.”
Naomi Rivers: “I'd like to be able to co-auther a book. It'd make collaborating so much easier. And I also think that blocking people on the feed would be a nice thing to have. Some people you just can't get along with no matter how hard you try and I think it'd be best to be able to remove them from your feed (and making it impossible for them to comment on/see your posts perhaps).”

What part of the website appeals to you the most?

Hermione G.: “I like the option of writing a book for the library. I also like the idea of the home button, where you can chat with everyone”
Leena O’Hare: “Both the courses and the way [users] can interact.”
Aida: “I love the Backstory feature! People can go on my profile and check my story, and I don't need to tell them everytime. It's really helpful and cool. I like to read other people's Backstory. Everyone is so creative!”
Rhiannon Fleetwood: “The Great Hall”
Lurkelly Leikez: “Definitely the courses. I think it is a dream of every Harry Potter fan to attend Hogwarts and the site almost makes it a reality. This was the first Harry Potter site I have ever signed up to because of the courses”

If you have to pick only one, who is your favorite Harry Potter character?

Claire Peters: “That is like asking a mother to pick her favorite child! Probably between Luna or Bellatrix though.”
Dani: “Draco Malfoy or Severus Snape, I can’t really decide.”
Aida: “Remus Lupin”
Rhiannon Fleetwood: “Luna Lovegood”
Bush Baby: “Snape”
Naomi Rivers: “Luna Lovegood”

Which Harry Potter book is your favorite?

Claire Peters: “Order of the Phoenix”
Hermione G.: “The Tales of Beedle the Bard”
Leena O’Hare: “Deathly Hallows”
Dani: “That question is impossible”
Aida: “Philosopher’s Stone”
Rhiannon Fleetwood: “Prisoner of Azkaban”
Lurkelly Leikez: “Prisoner of Azkaban”
Bush Baby: “Goblet of Fire”
Naomi Rivers: “Sorcerer’s Stone”

I would like to give a big thanks to the people who contributed their time and answers to this interview and were wonderful throughout the process. A very special thanks to Owen Hastings, Caitlin Fox, Claire Peters, Hermione G., Rose Wesley, Leena O'Hare, Dani, Aida, Rhiannon Fleetwood, Lurkelly Leikez, Bush Baby, and Naomi Rivers for their contribution to this article. This article would not exist without their answers.