Fanmix Challenge

I've decided to do a 15-day fanmix challenge. Mostly because I'm a crazy person. I don't know why I always do daily challenges when I know I'm horrible at them.
But anyway, here it is:

1. For your OTP
2. For a female character
3. Songs you've recently fallen in love with
4. Expressing a certain emotion
5. For a TV show
6. For a certain type of relationship
7. For a male character
8. Songs you were obsessed with growing up
9. For a movie
10. For something supernatural or mythological
11. For a fictional friendship
12. Songs that cheer you up
13. For a book
14. Dedicated to a friend
15. Whatever you want

I already started so I'm getting ready to post the first day's challenge. In the way of blogs, you'll probably have seen that post before this one.

So I Was Watching Deathly Hallows Part 2

You know the part after Harry shows up in the Great Hall and McGonagall "fights" Snape (I put it in quotes because all he really does is throw a few shield spells and fly out the window)? And then Voldemort talks in everyone's head and demands that they give him Harry Potter. And Pansy says, "What are you waiting for? Someone grab him!" And then Filch comes in shouting about students out of bed and McGonagall says his arrival is opportune. She says, "Please escort Miss Parkinson and the other Slytherins out of the Great Hall...the dungeons'll do."

So anyway, I was thinking about this and it seems horribly unfair. I mean, throughout the books, J.K. Rowling talks about how not all Slytherins are evil or bad. But rather cunning and, if anything, usually out for themselves. But that doesn't make them evil. And I felt like, when McGonagall sent all the Slytherins to the dungeons because of one, well it was horribly unfair. Granted, on a realistic level, it probably made their battle easier as, I'm sure, a number of the Slytherins were, or would've done, sided with Voldemort. I just found it to be against the principles usually put forth in the series (books and movies).
But again, that's just what I think. And I wouldn't really worry about it if it seemed that there was a reason for doing so, such as the Slytherins needing to be in a certain place for something else to happen later on. The only thing I can think of is that Draco, Goyle and Zabini apparate from the dungeons to the Room of Requirement to intercept the trio. Also, I just realized this, I thought you couldn't apparate in Hogwarts. I suppose Snape or the Carrows could have removed this for some reason but that doesn't make much sense. Plus, the teachers had been placing protective enchantments for a while by this point and I think that would have been one of them (if not already in place).
Back to the original point, however, this moment here is the only time we see the Slytherins in relation to the dungeons. Then, this scene isn't even in the movie, really. It's in the deleted scenes.
So was there a reason for sending all the Slytherins to the dungeons? If you have any ideas, let me know. Or if you think I'm reading way too much into this, keep that to yourself. Just kidding, tell me that too.
Love you and, as always, thanks for reading!
-Alyssa

Have You Seen the Official Teaser Trailer for Despicable Me 2?

I found this so hilarious. I cannot even tell you. I showed it to my dad and I don't think he found it nearly as funny but whatevs!
POOOOTAAAATOOOOOOOO

I'm friends with Ginny Weasley

And I convinced her to start a Tumblr! If you want to talk to her, you can find her tumblr here.

Oh and I'll be talking about NaNoWriMo tomorrow. I'm pretty excited about it.

love you,
Alyssa

Dear Remus Lupin,

I've always felt bad for you. Not because of your "furry problem" but just because I think you went through so many things in your life. You lost one friend (James). Then learned that another friend (Sirius) killed another friend (Peter). I can only imagine what this would do to a person. Then the feeling of not fitting in fully with wizards because of your lycanthropy and not fitting in with werewolves because of your having tried to live among wizards. That must be difficult.
And then you found Tonks and I think you were afraid to let yourself be happy. And then you had Teddy which tortured you.
It was like no matter what you did you couldn't escape yourself. And then Teddy lost his parents in the Battle of Hogwarts. You didn't even get to know him.
All of this hardship from such a young age, how could we not feel sorry for you?
I know we miss you but I hope you're happy and with Tonks. And we will tell Teddy about how wonderful his father was.

Always,
Alyssa

Dear Sirius Black,

I know I'm probably going to get some negativity for this but I never really liked you as much as everyone else did. I don't know why.
Don't get me wrong. I loved that Harry finally had some semblance of family and a father figure. And I was happy that you were there for him. But you also annoyed me too. I didn't like that you were immature, you were stuck in the past, stuck on the injustice of your imprisonment. I understand but I still couldn't fully like you. There was just so many things about you I didn't like.
Nonetheless, I know you meant a lot to Harry and he meant a lot to you. And I was still sorry to see you die as it was like Harry losing his family all over again. I think it was that idea that cut me deeper than losing you specifically. After all, Harry had only known you for two years.
I'm sorry. But I hope you're happy nos wherever you are. You deserve it no matter what faults you may have had.

Always,
Alyssa

Dear Rubeus Hagrid,

It's feels so weird calling you Rubeus. You'll always be just Hagrid.
Hagrid, you've always kind of reminded me of the uncle that I've never really had but always wanted. You're a big teddy bear, not very bright but loyal and caring. And, what more could you ask for really?
I don't really know what to say here in this letter. Thanks, Hagrid for being a friend to me and a friend to Harry (even though you did send us into the forest looking for Aragog).
Thank you for supporting Dumbledore until the very end. And we forgive you for all the mistakes you've made.
We all love you, Rubeus Hagrid.

Always,
Alyssa

Dear Minerva McGonagall,

I think you may be my favorite professor at Hogwarts. I know on the outside you come across as severe and stern but underneath that you are caring, loyal and even willing to have a bit of fun.
I also think you have one of the most interesting backstories. Perhaps it's just because we've only known you the way you are and never really thought about what came before. It is a sad story but I think it made you stronger.
I admire your strength and your deep love for people important to you.
I'm not quite sure what I want to say to you. It's like talking to a stern teacher that you were always a little scared of but changed you for the better.
I appreciate all that you have taught us, professor.

Always,
Alyssa

Dear Albus Dumbledore,

Sometimes I've been very frustrated with you. Other times I've looked at you like the grandfather I never really had.
I do believe you were tortured by your past and the decisions you made. And I'm sorry about what happened between you and Grindelwald. But I also believe that you really did spend the rest of your life trying to atone for your past. A lot of people, I think, struggle to look for all the things you did wrong and look past all the great things you did. I don't really need to go into it. One need only look at your Chocolate Frog card.
In short, Albus, I see you as a conflicted and inwardly tortured character. But also incredibly good. I'd love to be able to talk to you. Even if only about woolen socks.

Always,
Alyssa

Dear Cedric Diggory,

You died so young. You wouldn't even have been considered an adult here in America. And you were killed for such an awful reason - simply because you weren't the one he wanted. A simple "problem", with a simple "solution".
I'm sorry we didn't get to learn more about you. In fact, most of our knowledge of you was imparted by Dumbledore after you were dead - fair-minded, a good student, and a fierce friend.
We will mourn the loss of a great Hufflepuff and a good friend as we have mourned the losses of so many others.

Always,
Alyssa

Dear Fred and George Weasley,

Let me start and say I'm sorry this is late. It was supposed to be written yesterday. But with that extra to ruminate, I still have no idea what I want to say.
Fred, I think I speak for everyone when I say we miss you. It wasn't fair that you had to die so soon. You were still so young. But rather than focus on the fact that you're gone we'll try to remember all the great things you've done.
George, I can only imagine how you're feeling and I'm sorry that you have to experience. But I hope that, while it may never truly go away, it does start to become manageable. Everyone is there for you, we all understand.
I think it'll be a long time before anyone forgets you guys. You'll be forever remembered as the ones who left school in an explosion of fireworks (terrorizing Umbridge and interrupting exams, no less). You'll be remembered as the twins that started a wildly successful joke shop in the middle of a war. We'll always remember you as the one's that made us laugh when we felt like crying, that reminded us not to take everything too seriously.
We can never repay either of you for that. We can only say thank you.
So, thank you.

Always,
Alyssa

Dear Luna Lovegood,

Luna, there is so much in my head, swirling around, that I'd love for you to know. But my brain doesn't seem to want to put it into words to put on paper. Perhaps Nargles are behind it. After all, you told us yourself that thy make your brain go fuzzy. But I'll give it a shot, anyway.
Luna are my favorite character. You are strange and bizarre in all the best ways. It was in Alice in Wonderland where Alice asked her father: "Am I mad?"
And her father said, "Yes. All the best people are."
You aren't afraid of being laughed at for what you believe. You are not at all bothered by not having friends (even though, of course, you do). And you're happy and serene and a good friend and sweet and just a pleasure to be around (or, at least, I assume so from reading about you; I wish I could meet you).
I suppose, if you read anyone else's letter, you'll see that I've said this to just about everyone but I really wish we were friends. You inspire me to be more myself and not care what people think because, really, what does it matter? I love that you believe in things that most people are sure don't exist. And I love that you are so dreamy and stuck in your own head.
I just think you would be a wonderful friend, I wish I could know for sure. But I suppose I'll just have to reread your adventures and the adventures of your friends.

Always,
Alyssa

Dear Ginny Weasley,

A lot of people have a lot of different opinions about you. Some peple love you, some think you're an unrealistic Mary Sue, some say you're a bitch and still others call you a slut. But I don't think you would have cared about any of that. You would have said screw them, as long as you had your friends and your family. And that is what I love about you Ginny Weasley.
When you couldn't have Harry,you didn't sit in a corner and cry like some female protagonists we know. You dated other people, you showed him what he couldn't have, but you never lost your childhood love for him. You never really gave up on him.
You're fiery and happy and a great friend. I'd love to be more like you, more willing to speak up for what's right, indifferent to what other people think of me. You make me stronger, Ginny.
While you have your faults, it's all the great things about you that shine through. That's why you are so well-liked, people love your personality and your liveliness. That's why I like you, anyway.
And, for the record, I don't think you are a Mary Sue, a slut or a bitch. Just a normal girl that happens to have magical powers.

Always,
Alyssa

Dear Neville Longbottom

I think in the beginning of the series, you were regarded as a humorous character - you were clumsy, forgetful, and very unconfident. And I think you were scared and unsure about the hat's desicion to put you in Gryffindor.
And now, 7 years later, we see that the sorting was right all along. We started to realize as the years went by, that you, Neville, were just as much a hero as Harry Potter.
I've always kind of wanted to be friends with you. At first, simply because you seemed like a sweet person, if a little bumbling. But then, I realized that you had taught me so much about self-confidence and what being a hero means. I still want to be friends with you, now because I would improve simply by being around you.
Another thing, I know if would have felt great to avenge your parents and kill Bellatrix, but then I think the satisfaction would have worn off and unease settled in. I'm glad you didn't have to kill anyone. I think it would have changed you for the worse. I'm just glad it didn't have to happen that way.
Neville, you are one of the characters I love the most. I see myself in you and what I'd like to become. And I see a wonderful friend.
Hannah is very lucky.

Always,
Alyssa

P.S. I'm sorry you're getting your letter a bit late. My owl, Juniper, was off hunting while I was writing and didn't come back until after midnight. But I suppose, better late than never, yeah?

Dear Draco Malfoy,

What exactly should I tell you? What do I want to say to you? I don't think you are a bad person. I don't think you ever were. I think you were confused and you trusted your parents. They knew what to do, they knew what was right. No one wants to think they're parents are bad people.
I think your story was one of confusion, frustration and questioning and yours was one of the most intriguing in the series.
I hope now you see what is important in life, more than wealth and blood status. And I hope you're happy, as everyone deserves that.

Always,
Alyssa

I can play Hedwig's Theme on the ocarina

I bought an ocarina after playing Zelda: Ocarina of Time because I wanted to play the songs from the game. But now I've done that and I'm kind of bored of it. So I'm trying to find some free sheet music of popular songs (non-public domain) so that I can play them. It's a lot harder than you'd think. Apparently you can't download sheet music of a copyrighted song, which is, of course, all of them. So, I'm not having a good time right now. But, for now, I shall entertain you with a video of myself playing Hedwig's Theme from Harry Potter.
*Just as a disclaimer, I do not own any of this - Harry Potter is owned by J.K. Rowing and Hedwig's Theme belongs to John Williams*

*Oh and just another disclaimer, I made this on Photobooth on my Macbook so the quality isn't great. Sorry about that.*

I will definitely post more videos as I learn more.

And did I tell you that I started a vlog. It's not good by any definition of the word but whatever. I'm excited to do it and that's all that matters yeah? Here's the link: Nifty Elishings (that's the title - there's a story behind it which I will tell here in a moment).
Yeah so please don't judge me, they're probably going to be really bad and I'll probably quit within a month, if I last that long, even.

But, anyway, here's the story behind the title. Elishings, first of all, isn't a real word. I googled up blog name generators and there was one (I'm sorry, I don't remember what it was called) that spat out words that didn't exist but sounded plausible. Elishings was one of the first words I got and I quite liked it (obviously). But it just didn't sound like a title to me, so I figured I had to describe the elishings, so I ended up with nifty (which is one of my favorite words). And that's why my vlog is called Nifty Elishings. It's quite a boring story really.

That's all I wanted to say for the moment. I will talk to you again soon once something interesting happens inside my head.

EDIT: I just watched that video back on my blog page and I realized that it cut off the last two seconds. Ugh! Sorry.

I hate (most) remakes

Confession time: I've never seen Footloose. But I knew it was a classic. So when I saw that they were remaking it I was thinking, "Why does everything need to be ruined by greedy companies desparate for money?" I've always been wary of remakes. They're very rarely necessary or well done.
But with this remake of Footloose coming out and the trailer being on every channel every ten minutes, I kind of want to see it. I won't say it looks good because I've seen neither the original or the remake. But it has sparked my interest. I want to watch the original and comment on it. Then watch the remake and do the same. I'd like to make it a (very short) series on my blog here. It'll probably be about three posts.
Once I see the original, I'll let you know where I plan to go from there. I may watch the trailer again and think it looks horrible.
But I wanted to do this because it's just like reading a book before seeing a movie, which I'm very adament about (by the way, there's a website about that, called Read It 1st).
Anyway, we'll see.
This is our time to cut loose.