Recently I had the excellent chance to sit down with a hot beverage and some pumpkin pasties with the new admin and Head of Gryffindor Memrah. This active Professor of Care of Magical Creatures, Co-Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, Head Referee of Hogwarts and much more has been often seen around Hogwarts, dragging reluctant hippogriffs across the courtyard or dodging spells gone awry in the dungeons, or posting up various jokes in the Portal. She goes by C, Christiana or Merman, and first joined the site late in Year 30, but wasn't sorted into Slytherin until Year 31. As we sat in her office in Gryffindor tower there are a few markings of that Serpentine past, a green and silver scarf hanging on her coat rack, a few Slytherin awards proudly hung behind her desk, but the walls are in her new colours maroon and gold.

 

What brought you to mH?

 

I have been on a Harry Potter community in the past that had tapered off and died after the last movie came out, and missed the community, so I googled other ones to see if I could find a similar one that was still around.

 

How did you find your early years on mH and how are they different to how new sorts experience now?

 

My early days were quite boring, as I was in King's Cross so long, and there wasn't hardly anyone else in there, which hasn't been much different from recent years. Similarly, I was sorted only to find out that the common room was similarly slow. However, I could tell that people on site were friends based on their discussions in the c-box and desperately wanted to break into that community. So, I stuck around and tried to be as active as possible, despite being bored much of the time, as I had no jobs yet. Second year I was made Prefect and obtained three jobs, so that made things considerably busier. It was actually a bit overwhelming to go from nothing to a lot in one fell swoop. Third year was the year I really came alive on site though. That year had the first Student Challenge that I could participate in, and the site just came alive with it. It was the type that permeates all of the castle, and things were just active and lively across the board. All four of the houses were very even in active members and house points, if still fairly small, and it was just a great time. Currently, I think the abolishment of the flying test as a requirement for Underage will change that experience for new members considerably. Needing to pass it in order to play Quidditch makes a lot of sense, and is a very appropriate place for it, allowing the Underage process to become more streamlined, but also stay true to canon.

 

When did you graduate and what was your transition to purple like?

 

I graduated in Year 38 and my transition was actually rather seamless. I only really lost two jobs (R.O. and Dueling Ref) and gained Historian and Head of the DIMC immediately, so I had plenty to do. My house was also very active, and so for me being an alumna simply expanded my reach, as being a professor kept me in the castle, and heading the DIMC put me in the thick of a lot of site things. I missed Slytherin, of course, but still talked to everyone, and really just enjoyed my first-year purple.

 

So you were recently made admin, was this something you have wanted for a while?

 

Yes, lol. I am not a very ambitious person in real life, predominantly because I have to feel something is achievable and be absolutely sure I wish to go for it in order to do so, but on mH, once I know something I could be good at is achievable, I typically want it. However, I didn't actually chase it, or try to obtain it. I know from experience on the site that you're either going to be chosen for such things, or you aren't, so I just did as an alumnus what I always do without making that a goal or anything of that nature. I also mainly wanted it because I do a lot of things that affect the site on a large scale, but not being an admin left me out of some discussions that pertain to my areas, so I occasionally felt like I was trying to work without being truly in the know about relevant things.

 

What's it like switching from green and silver to maroon and gold?

 

It was quite tough at first. I love the Gryffindors, and I get along with people of all houses,

but I've just bled silver and green for so long, and have a very loyal heart, so it's kind of

like being asked to change your identity completely. I am very much enjoying it though :-)

 

What has been the biggest challenge for you becoming a HoH?

 

Hmm... probably simply trying to encourage the members of the house, keeping them engaged, while being mindful of their outside commitments and such. I have mostly just made myself available, present in the common room, and tried to check in with everyone, but not everyone is especially communicative so it can be challenging to discover what else the students need from me at times.

 

Finally what advice would you give new sortees?

 

To remember that the best things in life are worth waiting for and often working for. This site is a great place to be, but is also somewhat what you make it, so jump right in and you'll have a great time :-)

 

Thank you so much to Memrah for taking the time to answer some questions and I personally look forward to what she can achieve in her time as Gryffindor HoH!