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episode 19

Episode 19 - Insider Interview Part I transcript
Insider Interview Part I
Host: emmagrant1
Guests: daddybear716, drusillas_rain, vampireanneke, snapetoy, and doloresjane.


Emma: This is Emma Grant, reporting from Prophecy. I'm going to walk around and find some slashers to interview, see how they like the conference, and how they liked The Deathly Hallows.

I'm sitting here with Vince, who I've just run into hanging out in the lobby. Vince, tell us a little bit more about yourself.

Vince: Okay, um, on LJ I'm known as daddybear716 and also as yarnguy716. I got into the fandom through the knitting communities and that brought me to the fandom and the conferences and to slash, of course. And I do some reading, some writing, a lot of lurking, and, um, I'm in a sorting community as well, hogwartsishome.

Emma: What have you enjoyed most about Prophecy so far?

Vince: Um, this was the first time that I sat on a panel, so I was up on the stage, talking with people. I was nervous, but it was fun and I've gotten so many people coming up to me and telling me how much they enjoyed it, which is really cool. So it's helped me meet a lot of new people, as well.

Emma: Oh that's awesome. Well, let's switch topics a little bit. Overall, what did you think of Deathly Hallows?

Vince: Um, for the most part, I enjoyed it. I was excited to read the final book. I don't agree with everything she did, I didn't like everything she did, but overall I did enjoy the book.

Emma: What do you think was the slashiest moment in the book?

Vince: Um, since I'm a Ron fan, it had to be how bitchy Ron got when Viktor showed up at the wedding, because you know he just wanted to take him up to his room and do him.

Emma: What's your favorite new pairing after Deathly Hallows?

Vince: Um, I'm so Viktor/Ron, I really, you know, I hear all the other pairings, I'm looking forwarding to seeing some stories and artwork about them, but my number one is still Ron and Viktor.

Emma: That was great, that Viktor made an appearance in the book. Was that just for you?

Vince: I think it was.

Emma: So, did you like the epilogue?

Vince: I think it's great the JKR wrote some fanfic of her own. Too bad she didn't have a beta. Um, I kinda bounce back and forth to "What epilogue?" or, "Yea, but after they left platform 9 3/4, it was Ron and Harry who went home together because they're a couple now."

Emma: Okay, do you have anybody you want to say hello to who's not here?

Vince: Um, just my friends back home in Buffalo: Malibu, Johnny, Chris. And they all know I'm being a big geek here and can't wait to hear all my stories when I get home.

Emma: Awesome, thanks a lot.

Vince: Thank you.

---

Emma: I just ran into drusillas_rain sitting here in the lobby. Could you tell us a little more about yourself?

Drusilla: Um, well, I'm from Toronto originally, so when I heard that the convention was going to be held in Toronto this year, I really had no excuse to not attend. And I'm in fandom, I've been in fandom for a couple of years, mostly on Live Journal, reading, writing.

Emma: What have you enjoyed most about Prophecy so far?

Drusilla: The impromptu drabble sessions. I've been to two so far; it's Saturday, so the con's only been going on for two days. Um, but last night and the night before, a group of us have been getting together. Uh, fiona_fawkes has been throwing out really neat prompts and we spend about 15-20 minutes writing and then we just go around the circle and read out what we wrote, and some have been really sad and some really funny. It's been neat.

Emma: You're gonna post those, I hope.

Drusilla: Definitely.

Emma: Awesome. Well, let's switch topics a little bit. Overall, how did you like Deathly Hallows?

Drusilla: I really enjoyed it. Um, I only read it the one time on the weekend, trying to get through it as quickly as I can, just to find out what was going on. I hadn't been spoiled at all, which was miraculous considering how much mainstream media was reporting before the actual release. Um, but it was exciting, it was adventurous... I mean, I had nitpicks, of course. Overall, I really liked it, though.

Emma: That sounds like a pretty common assessment of the book. What do you think was the slashiest moment in the book?

Drusilla: All the Harry/Draco. It got to the point where even my husband, who is always calling me crazy for reading too much into the Harry/Draco in the previous books - he actually put the book down at one point and just muttered that he couldn't believe that I was right about it, so...

Emma: That's great. What's your favorite new pairing after Deathly Hallows?

Drusilla: Probably AS/S, um... It's the name, I don't know, it's just- how can you not love that, so.

Emma: That's true. That's, like, the best pairing name ever. What do you think about the epilogue?

Drusilla: Can I say, "What epilogue?" Yea. It was, um... I can see the attraction to the everyday, non-fandom reader. That's kind of the ending I think I probably would have liked to have if I wasn't so invested in fandom and so invested in the characters, in wanting something more for them. Um, but in a way, it tied it up nicely for your everday, average reader who wants a family and a happy ending, and that's pretty much what we got. But yea, I'm still ignoring it.

Emma: Me too. Do you want to say hello to somebody that's not here?

Drusille: Um, a couple of people. lusiology, from UK, enchanted_jae, mordyn4, and, uh, probably, actually, everyone at the Lupin/Snape community on Live Journal, as well.

Emma: Awesome, thanks a lot.

Drusilla: Thank you.

---

Emma: I'm sitting here with Anneke [vampireanneke], who over the last couple of days has been dressed as Lucius and today is dressed as Luna. Tell us a little about yourself?

Anneke: I'm Anneke, I'm from southern California. I've been into Harry Potter since right before the first movie. Um, read all the books before the movie and got addicted, and now I can't stop dressing in the costumes. I'm more known through the anime circles, and so I socialize a lot with Harry Potter people through the anime circles.

Emma: Cool. Well, what have you been enjoying about Prophecy so far?

Anneke: I enjoy just getting to dress up in the costumes and it's almost- there's this sort of secret sub-culture between the costumers because you sort of pretend you're a little bit the character and you make fun of the characters, especially playing somebody serious like Lucius Malfoy. Um, it's fun to not be... to take the character in a humorous way, a humorous take they would never do in the books. It's kinda fun, 'cause laughter's the most fun thing to do in the world, you know? It makes life enjoyable.

Emma: I think that's definitely one of the best parts about coming to the con, too, is seeing all the people in character and in costume. It's a lot of fun. Overall, what did you think of Deathly Hallows?

Anneke: The most suprising thing I found about Deathly Hallows is I finally actually like Harry. I have not liked him in any of the other books, and I was like, "Wow, I actually like Harry, finally. He's finally a decent character." So, but um, I liked that it did wrap up things, and I think the most amazing thing was that- I've gone to these conventions a lot and all the theories have been thrown around, and no one was exactly right about anything. It was- there was enough to throw you off. Even if you thought Harry would die, he came back to life. Even if you thought Harry was going to die and come back to life, you didn't exactly... There was enough to throw you off of it. The whole hallows theme brought in - that was just, like, left field and all the people who had the theory about Harry being the horcrux- but then you had the tiara come in, so you're like, "Well, there went that theory," and then the Harry-is-the-horcrux came right back at you. So I like how she did keep the readers- you know, as you're reading, she kept you guessing.

Emma: Yea, that's really true. What do you think was the slashiest moment in the book?

Anneke: Um... Oh, it had to definitely be the seven Potters. I know in the movies they're gonna- in movies, they make everything so much more slashy, and you know there's gonna be the, um, Fleur, dressed as Harry, kissing Bill just because she can. So that's where the slashiest, I think, is the whole seven Harrys naked in the kitchen.

Emma: Yea, I'm looking forward to that one too. Well, what's your favorite new pairing after Deathly Hallows?

Anneke: Well, I'm surprised that I like Harry, so now I don't mind Harry in pairings, so it doesn't really matter- as much as I avoided Harry. I tended to keep to the, you know, Lucius and Snape and Draco, you know. But now I'm like, "Ah, I can tolerate Harry." So, haven't figured out a new pairing, yet, that I like, but...

Emma: And what did you think about the epilogue?

Anneke: Um, I actually liked the epilogue. I mean, I know a lot of people didn't. I have more issues with the interviews after the epilogue, um, because she gave you enough information that you can then twist and, you know, mess around, which actually, I think, in regards to your previous question, you know, new pairing? Actually, I've sort of fallen in love with the idea of Draco and Luna. Before she did the interviews - afterwards, she said who Luna married - I kinda liked the idea of Draco marrying Luna and... Just like, when she was at the Malgoy manor being tortured, Draco's kinda confided in her like he did Moaning Murtle, you know. So I can see them actually getting together, then. Then the interviews afterwards just sort of crushed that idea, you know, so. I didn't mind the epilogue, it was the interviews, you know, afterwards that just destroyed anything you could do with the epilogue.

Emma: There's a fic in there somewhere, I think. Well, do you want to say hello to someone who's not here?

Anneke: Um, well the- I'm really wishing the southern-California Harry Potter people that... there's this circle of them that all just do the anime conventions out there. I've really been trying to get them to come out to these Harry Potter conventions 'cause they're really good friends and slowly... slowly I'm going to twist there arms to come here to these.

Emma: Well, thanks for talking to me.

---

Emma: I'm sitting here with novembersnow. Uh, would you tell us a little about what you do in fandom?

NS: Uh, well, I occasionally write fic - I used to write more frequently, but it's tapered off a little bit, but I do still write occasionally and I read a lot.

Emma: So I know you just got here today, but out of the two panels you've gone to, can you tell us a little about what you've enjoyed so far about being here at Prophecy.

NS: I really just- I enjoy hearing other people in fandom talk about the types of things they read, what they see in the books, what they see in the fics they read and that they write. Um, you know, sometimes it's a different perspective on what I see. Sometimes it's things I don't read at all, and so it's fascinating to find out what's going on in other corners of the fandom that I don't frequent.

Emma: Yea, I really agree with that. I like that part of it too. So, what did you think of Deathly Hallows?

NS: I loved it, I really did. I was a little unsure going into it because, you know, at the end of book six when it was clear that book seven was not going to be another year at Hogwarts, I was kinda apprehensive, because the Hogwarts part really is one of my favorite elements of the series. But I think that JK Rowling really carried it off. I thought the, um- it was action packed, there were a few parts that maybe dragged a little bit, but overall... I mean, I will freely admit that I sobbed through the last five or sochapters. Um, and it was just- it was riveting and, you know, at the end of the book, I just sat there and sort of hugged it. Um, and it was an incredible experience.

Emma: Oh god, that sounds like me reading it. Well, what would you say is the slashiest moment in the book?

NS: Well, I really think that the broomstick ride with Harry and Draco would have to be the key.

Emma: That was a big one for me, too. Well, um, what's your favorite new pairing after Deathly Hallows?

NS: I have to confess the Albus Severus/Scorpius is intriguing to me. I haven't read a whole lot of it yet, um, but oh there's bunnies dancing around in my head, so...

Emma: Yay! Well, what did you think of the epilogue?

NS: I had mixed feelings about it, honestly. The first time I read it through... you know, I was like, "Well, what the heck is this all about? I'm not really that fond of it." But the longer I turned it over in my head, the more I actually kind of liked it, I confess. I know it's kind of cheesy and there's a lot in there that, you know, people called years ago, but it just- it made me so happy to see Harry with a family and clearly, you know, in a place in his life where he's enjoying himself, where he's content and enjoying some well deserved peace. So for that reason, I enjoyed it.

Emma: And finally, is there anyone you'd like to say hello to who's not here?

NS: Um, I think I'll say hi to supergrover24. She's not so much in fandom anymore, but she hangs out occasionally.

Emma: Cool, thank you.

---

Emma: I'm standing here with snapetoy, who I was very excited to meet for the first time.

Toy: Oh, I was so excited to meet you too, Emma.

Emma: That's so cool. So, can you tell us a little bit more about you and what you do in fandom?

Toy: Okay, um, I'm snapetoy. I'm mainly known, I suppose, for the Snape/Harry pairing, which I write. I'm best known, probably, as the girl with the wand - I like a little bit of wand play. And, um, I write, I am really interested in fannish infrastructure, so I'm an editor with the sshp_prophet and I was one of the people who organzied bringing Walking the Plank back, and so I've been delighted to be a part of that and, yea, so- fannish infrastructure, that's what helped build and maintain the community.

Emma: Oh yea, that's all really important stuff. It's great to have people doing that. What have you enjoyed the most about Prophecy so far?

Toy: Actually, for me, it's all about the people. I live in Australia, so for me, coming over and actually getting a chance to put faces to names, to actually hug people. I mean, it's really nice to say, "*hug*", but you just can't beat putting your arms around a body and saying, "Oh my god, it's you and we have been friends for so long," and being able to put that in place.

Emma: That's really true. Overall, what did you think of Deathly Hallows?

Toy: Okay, as a book, I actually really like it. I have some problems around the structure - it did feel a lot like, "We went camping on our summer holidays" for a lot of it, but um- but beyond that, it did all the things that it needed to do as a book and, um, I love JKR. She has given us the most magnificent sand pit to play in. So, that's what I think I liked most about it. I really did like it, and we're not going to mention- well, we are going to mention, that moment where, you know, he moved no more and I just had to put the book down and cry and cry and cry.

Emma: Aww. Well, what do you think was the slashiest moment in the book?

Toy: Harry looking into Snape's eyes, you know? What could be more- what could be more right? And I suppose I have to say at that point, that even though while I accept that JKR believes she has killed Snape, I'm just saying: No portrait, no funeral, no body, he's a potions master, he's carrying a bezoar, needed Harry to actually have those memories, therefore he couldn't die until he'd seen Harry, and how was he to know that he was gonna, you know, he was going to see Harry immediately after Nagini bit him. I'm just saying, this is Jo-logic. Real world logic tells us that he had to be prepared.

Emma: Cool. Well, what's your favorite new pairing after reading DH?

Toy: Gee, new pairings are really hard because still, it's really about the Snape/Harry for me. I don't know that I'm actually going to be able to write Snapledore anymore. I've written Snape/Dumbledore, but I'm still going to have to work through that and I may have to do some work on that. But, um, new pairings... I actually didn't come away with new pairings.

Emma: And what about the epilogue?

Toy: What epilogue?

Emma: Good answer. Um, do you want to give a shout-out to somebody that's not here?

Toy: Absolutely. I want to give my shout-out to gmth, who rules my world, and is a magnificent human being, and unfortunately can't be here, and I love you Gina.

Emma: We miss you, Gina. Thanks, snapetoy.

Toy: Thanks Emma!

---

Emma: I'm sitting here with Dolores Umbridge [doloresjane, aka hazelhawthorne] and I have the great honor of being able to interview her for slashcast. So Dolores- I'm sorry, Madam Umbridge, would you like to tell us a little about yourself?

Umbridge: Why certainly. I am Undersecretary to the Minister of Magic, Cornelius Fudge, and he has appointed me Hogwarts High Inquisitor just to make sure nothing fishy is going on there.

Emma: Alright. Well, what have you enjoyed about being here at Prophecy so far?

Umbridge: I've really enjoyed being an Unspeakable. Keeping control in the presentations has been wonderful, as has making sure the students are properly disciplined.

Emma: I've seen that famous black quill of yours come out quite a bit. What sorts of things have you been making people write lines about?

Umbridge: There was one individual who was found fondling the house elves. He was instructed to write, "I must not fondle house elves." "I must not slash," "I must not snore," "I must not fondle teachers," "I must not do the chicken dance," "I must not throw my friends to the wolves," and many others.

Emma: Good. Well, you've certainly done a good job keeping people in line here. So, I assume you've read Deathtly Hallows. Overall, what did you think of it?

Umbridge: I especially liked chapters twelve and thirteen, because I'm in them.

Emma: What do you think was the slashiest moment in the book?

Umbridge: I'm not certain how to answer that.

Emma: Alright, well, we'll move on then. Do you have any favorite new pairings after reading the book?

Umbridge: My favorite pairing is still, even though he's been disgraced and is out of power, Dolores Umbridge/Cornelius Fudge.

Emma: Is there a lot of fic out there on that one?

Umbridge: It depends where you read?

Emma: Okay. So what did you think of the epilogue?

Umbridge: I didn't read that far, I wasn't in it anymore.

Emma: And finally, would you like to give a shout-out to somebody who's not here?

Umbridge: I hope you're well, Cornelius.

Emma: Thanks, Dolores, for being with us, and I hope you enjoy the rest of Prophecy.

Transcribed by kriken