Merry Christmas To All, and To All a Bad Guy

‘Twas the night before Christmas
And down in the Chamber,
Tom Riddle was standing
Right next to a reindeer.

Be it Dasher or Prancer?
The young man knew not.
For he’d killed it, you see;
The blood was starting to clot.

He hissed, loud and clear –
A most startling sound.
Then deep in the shadows
Came a sight to astound:

A snake, black as coal
And with eyes all aglitter
Like lights on a tree –
A most fearsome critter.

But Tom showed no fear
Of the almighty beast.
In fact, he was here
To offer a feast.

“It’s Christmas time,”
Mused the future Dark Lord,
Stroking the Basilisk
That he so adored.

“Upstairs, all the students
Have put down their pens.
Cards written, gifts wrapped
To give to their friends.”

“But I have none,” Tom Riddle
Said with a shrug.
The snake coiled gently
In a writhing, cold hug.

And here, the boy smiled –
A rather rare sight.
And it seemed that this night
Was a little more bright.

“I have no friends but you,”
Tom Riddle proclaimed,
And offered the reindeer
He’d earlier maimed.

Blood sticky and sweet
Drip-dripped on the stones.
The snake hissed in delight
And crunched at the bones.

“Merry Christmas, my friend,”
Tom Riddle did sigh.
The snake hugged him closer.
“And to all a good night…”

MERRY CHRISTMAS, READERS!

- Love The [Festive] Bad Guy

Exploding Cauldrons and Procrastinating

I have several assignments I should be working on. I have pages of notes that are screaming to be written. There are general house-cleaning chores impatiently waiting to be completed.

Instead, I went on Pottermore and amused myself for over an hour.

Then this happened:

I put in a splash too much of Flobberworm mucus, and BOOM! My cauldron exploded. I now need to get a new one, and regain the five points that I lost from my house.

Clearly, an exploding cauldron is the Universe’s way of telling me to get my arse back into my seat and get some actual work done.

So… Geez, Universe. Fine. You could’ve asked nicely, you know…

- Love The Bad Guy

You’re Eagle, Lion, Badger, Snake; Your House Does Not Your Future Make

Hello audience! As seems to be a growing trend with me, I’ve found something awesome on the internet, and feel it is necessary to share it with, so you, too, can feel some awe.

Today I’m posting a wonderful Hogwartsy-type song by NotLiterally.com, a parody of Lady Gaga’s Born This Way.

It’s called Sorted This Way, and it is fantastic. Enjoy!

- Love The Bad Guy

Harry Potter and The Awesome Website

I know I’m a bit behind the times with this post… But have you all checked out Pottermore?! I mean, my God, that site is just fantastic!

The basic idea of Pottermore is to allow fans to learn more and delve deeper into that series we all at least know, if not love: Harry Potter. Unfortunately, only the first book is up for exploration, leaving many cranky people to guess when The Chamber of Secrets will be unveiled.

Nevertheless, The Philosopher’s Stone awaits you, with all seventeen glorious chapters imbued with gorgeous images (check out the ones below! Amazing, right?), hidden items to add to your trunk, and never-before-seen information about characters and locations, written by J.K. Rowling herself.

And, of course, it wouldn’t be a Harry Potter site without those little touches: going to Ollivander’s to receive your wand; being sorted into a House; and battling it out for the House Cup.

I’ve done all these things, and had a grand time doing so!

Here’s my awesome wand:

Here’s my awesome house:

(I was not at all surprised to be sorted into Hufflepuff, of course.)

And here’s the awesome House Cup hour glasses:

(Sadly, Hufflepuff is losing. By a lot. I can’t help but fear that some people recreate a Pottermore account if they aren’t happy about being sorted into Hufflepuff, meaning we have many members, but not a lot of active participants. Sad, really…)

Once you’ve been sorted into a House, any items you collect in your exploration of the chapter go towards House points. You can also duel other people and make potions. Seriously: It. Is. FUN!

If you’re already on Pottermore, or if I’ve reignited that Harry Potter lust within you and you’re on your way to creating an account, then come connect with me! My username is ScarletProphecy11225.

Hope to see you over there!

- Love The Bad Guy

“Lion King” would have been better with more Voldemort in it

Let’s face it, readers. You should know me well enough by now to accept that, if I find something funny and Harry Potter related, I’m gonna share it.

And this is pretty freakin’ hilarious. Enjoy!

- Love The Bad Guy

Love The Bad Guy’s Thoughtfulness

Saw this, and simply could not resist sharing it with you all.

Told you he was awesome.

- Love The Bad Guy

A Rose By Any Other…

What is it about names that I find so difficult?

There have been many occasions where I’ve sat myself down before a blank page, and pulled a character from thin air. Little titbits of information form the semi-recognisable shape of a person. Half the time, I find that their complete back-story doesn’t hit the page, but I know the truth. My readers may never be told that my protagonist was exceptionally close to her teacher, hence her adoration for canon literature, or that my villain lost his parents at a young age and bounced around foster homes. They may not know — they may not need to know — but I will, and with that information, my characters have the chance to spring from the page, in-depth and rounded and alive.

This is usually where I hit the proverbial brick wall.

Chances are good that I already adore this character, whom I’ve tried to pour heart and soul into. Now he needs a name — how hard could that be?

Unimaginably so, apparently.

Names have to be perfect, right? You don’t want to slam symbolism into your readers’ faces (there is little to like about a hero named “John Goodman”), but it isn’t very special to give all of your characters generic names like Jack, Mary, Mr Smith, and so forth.

Let’s think about J.K. Rowling, author of the Harry Potter series. She had many names that were unusual, but not unheard of (such as Ron, Hermione and Ginny). But then she had names that dripped with backstories. Remus Lupin, for example, references the term ”lupine” (i.e. “like a wolf”), as well as the Roman mythological twin, Remus, who was suckled by a wolf as an infant. Both of these inspirations are masterful when the reader discovers the character is, in fact, a werewolf.

Another example (of which there are many) is Melissa Marr, who wrote the Wicked Lovely series. This author even goes so far as to provide a glossary of sorts at the end of one of her books, which explains some of the sources from which she drew inspiration for her characters’ names. Two quick examples are Aislinn, her protagonist, whose nickname becomes “Ash”, which reflects nicely upon the book’s ideas of a Summer Court of faeries, within which the girl becomes entwined. The other example is a Dark Faerie named Irial – Marr appreciated the obscurity of this name’s uncertain etymology, and the fact that his nickname was “Iri” (pronounced, quite aptly, as “eerie”!).

There are too many examples of authors who have put great thought into the names in their books (feel free to share some of your favourites!), but we now return to my dilemma:

With so many great authors to compare myself to, how to I find a name for my character that works?

Well, it’s been pointed out to me recently that maybe I needn’t stress so much. After all, what would a reader appreciate more — a character whose name alludes to hidden, metaphorical origins, or a literary person who seems ready to leap from the book and sit beside you.

Silly question, really.

This week, a university lecturer supplied a task. He asked us to offer some street names from our town. He then combined these into character names. Some made sense; some were a little silly. But it didn’t matter. We just had to run with that name, and create that person’s story.

And you know what? This activity was so much fun! It didn’t matter what the character’s name was, not really. What mattered was the person we created.

Once upon a time, thinking up character names was one of the most entertaining part of my writing. Somewhere along the line, it became a stressful act, burdened by an unnecessary sense of gravity.

But I think I’m finally getting back to basics. And it feels good.

- Love The Bad Guy

An Evil Pattern

I stumbled across a friend on Facebook today who is undertaking the “30 Day Harry Potter Challenge“. Like 90% of the population, I adore Harry Potter, so naturally, this took my attention. And while I do not have the perseverence to undergo the month’s worth of Facebook statuses, I couldn’t help but notice a recurring pattern in my answers.

Tell me if you spot it.

(Note: If you’re trying to avoid spoilers, LOOK AWAY! LOOK AWAY NOW!)

30 Day Harry Potter Challenge (…in 1 Day)

Day 1 – Favourite Book in the Series: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (the serious lack of Voldemort-ness is overcome by the epicness of Remus Lupin and Sirius Black).

Day 2 – Least Favourite Book in the Series: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (I didn’t like how the series ended. Maybe this was a result of my subconscious mind rebelling against the possibility that it was all over…)

Day 3 – Favourite Character: Lord Voldemort.

Day 4 – Favourite Villain: Lord Voldemort.

Day 5 – Saddest Moment: I sob like a baby every time I read the final line of Chapter 29 in Half-Blood Prince: “And he knew, without knowing how he knew it, that the phoenix had gone, had left Hogwarts for good, just as Dumbledore had left the school, had left the world … had left Harry.” I’ve read the sixth book often, but Dumbledore’s death get met every single time.

Day 6 – Favourite Professor: Remus Lupin – don’t you just wanna hug him?

Day 7 – Least Favourite Professor: Dolores Umbridge – the woman who we all love to hate.

Day 8 – Favourite Subject: Care of Magical Creatures (’cause Hagrid is just fantastic, and I want a hippogriff).

Day 9 – Least Favourite Subject: Divination (’nuff said).

Day 10 – Favourite Shop in Diagon Alley: Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.

Day 11 – Most Handsome Character: Tom Riddle Jr.

Day 12 – Most Beautiful Character: Luna Lovegood.

Day 13 – Most Missed Dead Character: Lord Voldemort.

Day 14 – Favourite Book Cover: Toss-up between the Bloomsbury Children’s editions for Prisoner of Azkaban and Goblet of Fire. Although, as a whole, I adore the dark, simple covers of the adult editions.

Day 15 – Favourite Tri-Wizard Tournament Challenge: The final maze one – it had Voldemort in it!

Day 16 – Your Favourite Hogwarts House: I have two – Hufflepuff (because they seem to be all-round good people) and Slytherin (if I have to tell you why, you haven’t been paying attention).

Day 17 – Favourite Animagus: Sirius Black (how cute is he when he’s chasing pigeons?!). But McGonagall is pretty bad-ass, too.

Day 18 – Favourite Unforgivable Curse: If you haven’t pointed your finger at someone who’s been pissing you off, and shouting “AVADA KEDAVRA” in a loud and demanding tone, then you, my dear reader, are missing out on something grand.

Day 19 – Favourite Horcrux: Nagini. (He gave part of his soul to his snake! How adorable is that?!)

Day 20 – Funniest Moment: “Now, you two – this year you behave yourselves. If I get one more owl telling me you’ve – you’ve blown up a toilet or –”
“Blown up a toilet? We’ve never blown up a toilet.”
“Great idea though, thanks, Mom.” …
“Don’t [cry], Ginny, we’ll send you loads of owls.”
“We’ll send you a Hogwarts toilet seat.”

Day 21 - Most Emotional Moment: There were many emotional moments throughout the series. Dobby dying. Fred dying. Sirius dying, and then joining Lily, James and Remus (WHY DID SHE KILL REMUS?!) in the forest to comfort Harry. But the most emotional moment for me (and yes, I know how sad this is going to sound) was the mental image Rowling painted after Voldemort was killed, in which she says that his body was in the Great Hall, away from everyone else. The poor guy’s dead, he wasn’t gonna hurt anyone! Why did they have to put him in his own little sad, dead corner? (Okay, mentally disturbed rant is over.)

Day 22 – Aspired Quidditch Position: Umm… Is spectator a position?

Day 23 – Favourite Patronus: Severus’s doe. Can I hear a unanimous “Awwwwww!”?

Day 24 – Your Own Patronus: Probably a cat. Likes luxury and independence, but secretly hopes for everything to be brought to her on a silver platter.

Day 25 – Favourite Dursley: Marjorie Dursley – that woman was great for a laugh, especially in the film, which helpfully broke the tension of Harry’s departure by showing her massive balloon form in the distance, shrieking.

Day 26 – Favourite Wand: Hagrid’s pink umbrella.

Day 27 – Favourite Magical Ability: The ability to put your thoughts into a pensieve. Wouldn’t that be nice?

Day 28 – Favourite Death Eater: Draco Malfoy. He’s another reason why I didn’t enjoy Deathly Hallows all that much. I felt like Rowling was building him up for something great, but it just never happened.

Day 29 – Favourite Hogwarts Portrait: The Fat Lady. (Do you think she takes offence to that title? I would. Surely she has an actual name we could all be using…?)

Day 30 – Favourite Spell: Expecto Patronum – and now I’m sad, because I’m thinking of poor dead Remus, which makes me think of poor dead Sirius, which makes me think of poor dead Voldemort.

*sigh*

- Love The Bad Guy

 

Why I Love That Bad Guy: Lord Voldemort

Let’s be honest – most of the people who come to my blog do so for one reason: curiosity. When you bless your little slice of the internet with a name like “Love The Bad Guy”, people tend to notice. It’s ambiguous; it’s funny; quite frankly, it’s a bit weird, but you roll with it. You come for the name, and I’m honoured to find that some of you stay for the stories.

I’ve made it clear that I have a soft spot for villains. However, thus far, I have only talked the talk – it is time that I walked the walk.

So, I am introducing the first of an ongoing segment here on “Love The Bad Guy”.

I call it: Why I Love That Bad Guy.

And who better to start with than my blog’s image and, dare I say it, mascot: Lord Voldemort.

Name: Tom Marvolo Riddle (a.k.a. Lord Voldemort)

Origin: Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling

History:
Tom Riddle was born on the 31^st December, 1926, and grew up in a Muggle orphanage. At the age of 11, Professor Albus Dumbledore informed the half-blood of his magical heritage, and the young boy began his schooling career at Hogwarts. Sorted into Slytherin, Tom soon learned of his powerful bloodline as the Heir of Slytherin and began to study dark magics.

After leaving school, Tom forged an identity as the Dark Lord Voldemort. Using Horcruxes, he began to ensure his immortality, but was foiled on the day that he attempted to murder Harry Potter, when the child’s mother sacrificed herself and caused Voldemort’s killing curse to rebound back to him, destroying his body and ripping him of his powers for thirteen years.

You know the rest…

Why I Love Him:

• He takes his studies seriously (…Too much of a good thing, perhaps?)
• Intelligence is sexy.
• You have to admit – for a 71 year old…

…he doesn’t look half bad.

• I love a man with power, and this guy has enough of it to fill all of Gringotts Bank.
• He can talk to snakes. Clearly, he is an animal-lover.
• He sets a goal, and he goes for it. I like his determination.

I Would Love Him More If:

• …he hadn’t gone and died. That would have been super. (FYI, if it had been me, I would have had Voldemort win at the end of the series. No one would have seen that ending coming…)

Favourite Quotes:

Tom Riddle: “Greatness inspires envy, envy engenders spite, spite spawns lies. You must know this, Dumbledore.“

Voldemort (through Quirrell): “There is no good and evil, there is only power…and those too weak to seek it.“

Interesting Fact About Voldemort:

Vol de mort is French for “flight of death”.

Verdict: AWESOME

- Love The Bad Guy

DAY 14: Book Whose Main Character You Want To Marry

I sat down to a Literature tutorial at university last semester and we began to discuss that colossal literary giant, “The Canon”; this led to a conversation about our favourite books, and those that we feel are in someway important to read. Around me, students began to state their favourite books: Great Expectations, Wuthering Heights, Heart of Darkness, Things Fall Apart, Pride and Prejudice – the list was never-ending. I nodded to some suggestions and balked at others, but all the while, a little voice in the back of my mind was asking, “Why are we only mentioning the classics?”

So I spoke through the din of conversation and said, “What about Harry Potter?”

Lightbulbs pinged above everyone’s head as we started a new discussion about why the Harry Potter series was important to our generation. It was as the class was coming to an end that I added, somewhat dreamily, “And reading Harry Potter is how I discovered my literary soul-mate.”

Many people nodded in sheepish agreement, while my tutor asked curiously, “We were just commenting on the fact that Harry is almost an empty slate – a character with whom everyone could associate. What is it about him that you like so much?”

I stared blankly for a moment before laughing. “Oh, Harry Potter isn’t my soul-mate. I was talking about Tom Riddle.”

That’s right, people. My Literary Soul-Mate is Tom Marvolo Riddle from the Harry Potter Series.

Needless to say, my fellow classmates gave me some rather concerned looks. “You mean, Tom Riddle Junior? As in, Voldemort?” one student questioned. My confirmation led to an awkward silence. Thank God for the end of class.

But it shouldn’t come as a surprise to you all. My blog is called Love The Bad Guy. And it doesn’t get much badder than Lord Voldemort. Remember: maybe the only thing those villains needed was a hug…

…And I could hug that all day.

- (In) Love (With) The Bad Guy