The Invisible Hermione!

No, sadly, I have still not been able to concoct that invisibility potion I've so often dreamed of. Sigh...however, something else incredible did happen!
Hilda of http://hildald.blogspot.com (previously sophiadesk.blogspot.com), has--and this is awesome--gotten a book published! Congratulations to Hilda for that big accomplishment.
Her book, The Invisible Spy (get my post title now?), is about 14-year-old Sophia. On her birthday, she wishes to be able to spy on people without anybody noticing and, well, I think you can guess from the title what happens next! To learn more about The Invisible Spy, check out these links I stole from Hilda's blog:

1) Paperback book: 

~ To buy it directly from the publisher, click here.

~ To buy it from Amazon.com, click here.

~ If you live in Europe, click here.

~ To buy it from Barnes & Noble online, click here. (It's cheaper here.)

2) To buy the ebook, click here.

Congratulations to Hilda, and be sure to check out her book using the links above!


Onto my next subject: School. Yes, as of the 27th, I too am back at school. *Sigh...* You know, school wouldn't be so bad if they taught you the important things in life like...

• How to balance a banana on your nose while riding a unicycle
• How to cast spells or make potions
• How to survive the Hunger Games with only a feather pillow and a marker
• How to put your foot behind your head

But NO, they're all, stuff-that-helps-you-get-a-job-and-a-life-and-actually-support-a-family and whatnot.
Seriously, school, it's time to face the facts: you're pointless.
Sorry this was such a short post, but I'm running out of time right now and I have to go! I'll post more later!
~Hermione

Harry Potter Tag!

Hello, lovely people! As you know, I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan! So, I was tagged by July A. Emmance (link at the bottom of this post), to answer some questions! Let's do this.
Favorite Book? How do you expect me to choose? They're all so good!
Favorite Film? Deathly Hallows Part 2. Cried...so...hard...
Least Favorite Book? Again, they're all too good!
CAUTION: NEXT QUESTION CONTAINS SPOILERS!

Parts of the movies/books that made you cry? When Dumbledore dies, when Ron watches the locket, the beginning of the last book 'cause it was the last book, the end of the last book, the end of the last movie, when Sirius dies, when Hedwig dies, when the snakes tells Harry about when his parents died, when Fred dies, right before Remus and Tonks die in the movie, when Hagrid thinks Harry died, when Snape dies, and most of all, "The Prince's Tale" :'(.

YOU CAN READ NOW
If you could hook up with any Harry Potter Character, who would it be? DRACO MALFOY!!!!!!!!!
Favorite character? Can't choose...love 'em all...Umbridge was the only character I really hated, though...
Which of the Deathly Hallows would you choose? The invisibility cloak...durr...
Which house would you be in? SSSSSSSSSSSSSSLYTHERIN!!!!
If you could meet any member of the cast who would it be? Alan Rickman, with Tom Felton a close second.
Have you played any of the video games? Yes, at a neighbors house.
Which Quidditch position would you play? Seeker!!!
Were you happy with the ending? Heck yeah!
How much does Harry Potter mean to you? So much...I just...okay, this is going to sound really corny, but Harry Potter changed my life. I've always had a pretty big imagination, but when I started reading Harry Potter, it just opened up a new door to this world beyond the average person's imagination...but I guess you could say that Miss Joanne Kathleen Rowling isn't quite the average person. J.K. Rowling used her wild imagination to create a world that seemed like a reality for the longest time. And it still does.
And now, after that small speech, I am tagging Mars, a fellow Harry Potter fan.
July's blog: http://julyaemmance.blogspot.com
Mars' blog: http://inkdropperr.blogspot.com
Congrats, Mars, and thanks, July!

A Breath Away From Where You Are...

*SPOILER ALERT* This post contains spoilers for the musical/book Les Miserables and a MAJOR spoiler for the movie The Dark Knight Rises. To avoid, do not read the green and pink sections.
I'm a crier. I cry at songs, books, movies, etc. And the title of this post? That's from the Les Mis song, "A Little Fall of Rain." In this song, Eponine, one of the female leads, is dying in the arms of the man she loved but he never loved her in return. Well...he loved her, but like a sister, I guess. Anyway, she's dying and there are two lines I cry at:
1. The line featured above--"A breath away from where you are; I've come home from so far.
2. "You would live a hundred years if I could show you how."
What other songs do I cry at? Well, this may not really be considered an actual song, but it's sung! It's the Epilogue/Finale from Les Mis. Notice a patter? LOL. It's where Jean Valjean, the main character joins Eponine and the other female lead, Fantine, in heaven.
Another song I cry at is the finale from Wicked. Yeah...I cry a lot.
Anyway, I'm still working on 101 Ways to Use Magic to the Fullest. It's a lot more time consuming than you'd think...anyway, I should probably tell you what's been going on over the past few days.
I return to school on the 27th. Noooooooooooooooooooooooo!!! Yes, I'm SO dreading school. I mean, here's what school has taught me:

• Never eat glue.
• Rulers are not toys
• Colored pencils are way better than crayons.
• But you still can't eat either of those.

You see? I know all of the important things in life. So why do I still need to go to school? I know that school supplies are not food and not toys. My many years of learning have been successful; hopefully, from what they have taught me, I will never have to go to the emergency room because my mouth is glued shut.
In other news, did anyone see The Dark Knight Rises? I did a few weeks ago and I'm a wee bit ashamed to say...I cried. But can you blame me? Batman was exploded in attempt to save Gotham city, and Alfred crying was just too much to take. However, The director left it open to interpretation whether or not Batman was alive. Which. I. Hated. I mean, it was creative and all, but was it real or Alfred's imagination? That killed me. 
Oh, and while we're on the topic of Batman, does anyone know if Barnes and noble sells Marvel or DC comic books? And if not, where I can find some? Ha, that was such a nerdy question. Oh, another thing you might like to know about me: I'm a nerd and proud :D.
Yes, I know, this has been one ranting post. But, at least it's over now and you can all go back to your lives that are probably much more exciting than mine at the moment :P.
Remember: never eat glue and you'll turn out okay!
Ciao,
Hermione

I'm Just Awful

I'm so sorry! I've been just awful about posting...shame on me. I'd like to say I've been busy...but that would be lying. I do have one excuse: Harry Potter. 
Yes, I'm re-re-re-re-rereading the series. It's funny how sometimes I forget how amazing the books are...but, of course, that's MY opinion. I just want to let you know that no matter how strongly I hold that opinion I will NOT make rude remarks like "WHAT THE HECK IS WRONG WITH YOU!!!???" or something like that. I will disagree with you, not argue. (There's a difference, right?)
Anyway, I have recently realized that with every great book there are flaws. So, I present to you...
THE PROS AND CONS OF HARRY POTTER
For those of you who haven't read the series, this can help you discover if the books is your cup of tea. It certainly was mine. Actually, I don't really like tea, so...mug of cocoa? No, no, it's to hot here to think about drinking hot cocoa. WAIT! I'VE GOT IT! Glass of lemonade. Okay, read on and discover if this is your glass of lemonade. I like that, people should say it rather than cup of tea, don't you think? Oh, right, the post.

Pros

• The characters are practically alive.
• It's as though you have entered the story yourself.
• The words come alive and paint a picture in your mind.
• It's not a book meant exactly for humor, but you find yourself laughing hysterically at some parts.
• You also might find yourself crying at others.
• J.K. Rowling was able to put the characters' emotions into you.
• You think you know a character...but then you discover there's so much more *ahem* *cough* Snape.
• J.K. Rowling wrote Gilderoy Lockhart based on someone she knew... I find that highly amusing for some strange reason.
• The detail is simple yet i gives a clear picture in your mind.
• I just HAD to choose a Harry Potter names as my pen name!
• The names...let's just take a moment and think of how creative the names are: Hermione Granger,  Vernon Dursley, Dudley Dursley, Albus Dumbledore (Dumbledore means Bumblebee in old English), Minerva McGonagall, Neville Longbottom (Longbottom...I just...oh my gosh...), Pavarti and Padma Patil, Severus Snape...I could go on and on!
• I have so many more reasons, but not a lot of time!

I'm sorry, this would be an EXTREMELY long post if I continued, so I had to stop.

Cons

• 7th book: Why are they camping so much?
• Harry gets a little aggressive in the 5th book...it's kind of scary.
• You get really attached to a character...and BAM! Just like that, they're dead.
• James...such a jerk...I just hate him...so much. Except I love him 'cause he's Harry's dad. I'm complicated.
•  Seriously, what is up with all the camping in the 7th book?
• That's it.

I want to here YOUR opinion on Harry Potter. Do you like it? Why or why not? Was it your cup of--I mean, glass of lemonade? Please none of that "EVERYONE WHO LIKES HARRY POTTER IS STUPID, EVERYONE WHO HATES IT IS SMART," or vice versa.

Until next time, when I present...

101 Ways to Use Magic to the Fullest!

The Origin of My Pen Name, and WHY it is Called a Pen Name

Yes, I know; that was a very long post title. But now you all know what I'm going to be talking about, so you can skip this post if you wish, UNLESS you are one of the people who has sent me emails about revealing my pen name. I am going to tell you all about it.

Let's start from the beginning.

In the beginning, there was nothing. Then, an explosion called the Big Bang Theory...no, sorry, too early.

Let's try this again, assuming that the Universe was magically created somehow.

Anyway, a girl sat at her computer, attempting to begin a blog. However, she lacked one thing:

A pen name.

As the girl sat there, considering different names to use to disguise her real ones, her eyes fell upon a Harry Potter book.

Struck with inspiration, the girl flicked through the book...

Okay, you know what? Let's just skip that. I chose Hermione after Hermione Granger, as some of you may know. Others who haven't read the books* are probably unaware of who she is, but never mind that.

Several months later, the girl had received two or three emails asking what her real name was. For no apparent reason at all, just curiosity. Therefore, she decided to make this post, explaining why she couldn't reveal her real name.

And now, here we are, and I am making this post, explaining why I can't reveal my pen name.

When someone has a pen name, it is so that they don't have to reveal their real name. A pen name is what you use when you write/blog something for the world to see--i is, of course, entirely optional. Anyway, I used a pen name to cover up for my real name, so that it wouldn't have to be revealed. So, by revealing my real name, that would be completely defying the purpose of a pen name

So please, don't ask me about my real name again.

TTFN!!! (Comment if you know what this stands for and what awesomely awesome character says it!)

Hermione

*READ THEM NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm Very, Very Late...

On June 29, I was nominated by (again) Seana J. Vixen, a.k.a The Totally Insane Writer for...The One Lovely Blog Award--or rather, I have met an untimely "death by a mutant toaster gone haywire."  It is now July 15, and I still haven't posted. So, I'm going to do this quick and get it over with (I don't like the work, but I do love to brag that I've won something :D).
Okay. Let's do this!
Rules:
1. You have to thank the person who nominated you.
2. You have to tell 7 things about yourself.          <But I just told 10!
3. You have to nominate 15 blogs.                      <Really? 15?!
And we begin.
Thank you Seana. As I said above, I do like to brag that I've won something! So, thanks again to Seana...although I guess that the mutant toaster gone haywire has killed me by now...
And now the facts (I will try to do different ones than from the previous award).
1. I don't know what to write.
2. I still don't know what to write.
3. Thinking about what to write...
4. Still thinking about what to write...
5. Am I really this boring?
6. Sometimes, I randomly get an idea, then forget it as quickly as it came.
7. Now is one of those times.
Well! That was easy!
And now the 15 blogs.
Hannah the Banana
Bookworm/Future Author
inkdropperr
July A. Emmance
The Totally Insane Writer (It never said I couldn't...;D)
The Creative Clique
Everything Hermione! (Again, it never said I couldn't...;D)
Writer and Bookworm
Books, Books Everywhere
Blog of a Homeschooler
Sophia's Desk.
Jenny's Blog
I Waste So Much Time
Okay, so I didn't nominate 15, neither did Seana! So...shhh! 
I'll be posting more later, just needed to get caught up on everything!
Until then, apply your sparkles every night before going to bed, and you won't be eaten by a unicorn. At least, if it's on a sparkle-free diet.

Oh, Goody!

I have been nominated for the Liebster Blog Award! Hurray!
Of course, there has to be rules so...here they are!
1. Each blogger awarded must post 10 facts about themselves.
2. Each blogger must post answers to the 10 questions their tagger left for them.
3. Each blogger awarded must tag 10 other bloggers.
4. Each blogger awarded must then set 10 questions for all the other bloggers that they tagged.
5. You may not tag the person that tagged you.
From this I have concluded that...this person loves the number 10.
All right, let's do this!
I would first like to start off by thanking Miss Seana J. Vixen--she is the one who tagged me. And now, on to the 10 facts!
1. My favorite color is sparkle.
2. I LOVE to bike!
3. My favorite teletubby is Po.
4. I detest the number 4. It's always seemed rather stuck up to me.
5. If I were a unicorn, I would be white with silver hair, and covered in sparkles.
6. I feel rather guilty, saying how I detest the number 4 on fact number 4. Ah, well. I suppose that's what it gets for being so stuck up.
7. My favorite number is 21. I'm not quite sure why, though...
8. My favorite song is Status Quo, which I'm guessing most of you (except for Zozomagozo) have heard of.
9. I am very happy right now because I'm almost to ten.
10. I have no idea what to put here.
Okay...on to answering the questions!
1. If you could enter the world of your favorite book, which book would you pick?
Easy. Harry Potter. Next!
2. If I told you a rampaging unicorn was coming your way, what would you do?
Figure Voldemort was chasing it, move aside and scream "ALL RIGHT, VOLDY, COME GET SOME!"
3. What do you do for fun?
Watch StarKid, listen to StarKid, read, draw, read, bike, read, read, read.
4. Who do you consider to be your role model?
Team StarKid.
5. What is your favorite mythical creature?
A unisus (cross between a unicorn and a pegasus).
6. Do you have favorite place you like to read, write, or do whatever it is you do?
Hmm...no, not really. I usually just do whatever it is I do (even I'm not quite sure what I do) wherever I currently am.
7. Do you enjoy cooking, or is it a disaster zone when you cook?
I enjoy cooking, and it was only a disaster zone when I tried to make pancakes for my mom on Mother's day and forgot to use cooking spray on the pan...
8. What is the most frightening dream you've had?
Okay, so I was emailing Joe Walker (of StarKid) and I was like "OMG!!! I'M SUCH A BIG FAN!!! I LOVE YOUR WORK!!!" and he wrote back "thanks, but I'm quitting StarKid." That was terrifying.
9. If you had just one day to live, what would you do?
I'm going to assume that I could do anything. Fly to Chicago and meet the StarKids, meet J.K. Rowling, run around with no pants screaming "I CAN'T AFFORD PANTS! MY COSTUME HAS TO BE AERODYNAMICALLY PERFECT!!!" and spend my last hour with my dog. Yep. That sounds like a pretty good day to me.
10.  I'd wager you're sick of answering these questions by now. What would you rather be doing?
Running around with no pants screaming "I CAN'T AFFORD PANTS! MY COSTUME HAS TO BE AERODYNAMICALLY PERFECT!!!" Or meeting StarKid. Whichever :D.
And now, since this thing will never end, onto the nominees. Yes, I know most of them were nominated by Seana, but she pretty much stole all the blogs I was going to use :(. Anyway...
1. Bookworm/Future Author
2. July A. Emmance
3. Hannah the Banana
4. Writer and Bookworm
5. Jenny Blog
6. Sophia's Desk
7. Blog of a Homeschooler
8. Books, Books Everywhere
9. The Creative Clique (yes, I know Seana contributes to this blog, but let's just keep our mouths shut and no harm done!)
10. Everything Hermione! (Hey, it never said I couldn't nominate myself!)
And finally, the questions:
1. Can you afford pants? Or does your costume have to be aerodynamically perfect?
2. If you had a choice between one million dollars or for your greatest wish to come true, which would it be?
3. What is your greatest fear?
4. What do you want to be when you grow up?
5. There are 8 dogs and 6 cats on a bus. Which is driving, and which is wearing the sombrero?
6. Did the last question make any sense?
7. Okay, the tabby was driving and the terrier was wearing the sombrero. Do you find this logical?
8. What is your favorite play/musical? If you aren't sure, then how about your favorite movie?
9. If you could meet three people--any people, a book character, superhero, whatever--who would they be?
10. I'm so glad this is the last question! Are you?
Done! Hurray!