Post by Isabella O'Malley on Mar 25, 2014 12:15:35 GMT -5
[presto]
FORTY-THREE
FEMALE
HEADMISTRESS
PUREBLOOD
HETEROSEXUAL
LAUREN GRAHAM
ISABELLA AINE O'MALLEY
 An Interview with the Headmistress of Hogwarts Isabella, it's so good to see you again! I don't think we've seen each other in quite some time - how have you been? I've been fantastic, Emma, thank you. How have you been? Oh, just great! You sound fantastic, by the way. Any special reason? This is how I always am. I'm like a... a child in a sweet shop! You sure it has nothing to do with it being summer holidays? Positive. I actually miss it - being at school, I mean. You're dedicated, that's for certain. Thank you. I take that as a compliment. Alright, let's start off with some background for our readers who don't know you so well. You're Isabella and you're the Headmistress of Hogwarts. Tell us where you're from. Well, I think most people know that I am from Ireland. Born and raised. I still live there, actually. And you did not go to the Hogwarts, correct? That's right. My mother is French, so she really wanted my brother and me to go to Beauxbatons. She got her way, obviously. What was that experience like? Beauxbatons? Oh, it was great. I loved it there. And it was away from... everything that was happening at Hogwarts. You mean, with Voldemort coming back and such? Yes. So you're glad that you weren't really a part of that? I mean... yeah. It's -- I give tremendous credit to anyone who had to deal with any aspect of the war. Am I glad my family was safe and out of harm's way? Of course. I feel like -- like if I had gone to Hogwarts instead, my life could have turned out differently. Well, I know it would have. So, I'm thankful for my mother's insistence. How do you think your life would be different? Well... I don't have any prejudices. I wasn't raised that way. And I can be very outspoken when I want to be, especially when I was a teenager. I'm a peace, love and happiness kind of girl, you know? I think... I might not be here today if I had gone to Hogwarts. Your family is pureblood, correct? Yes, but even that didn't have much merit unless you sided with Voldemort. That's true. So, your family wasn't involved in the war at all? Not really. We heard about it, of course, and I openly spoke my thoughts. But I was in France, so it's not as if that would make much of a difference. The only people who had to listen to me were the girls I shared a dorm with. [laughs] [smiles] Tell us how you ended up at Hogwarts after all. Oh, Emma, you're going to bore your poor readers.... The short version: after some time and extra training, I managed to get a job there as a Transfiguration professor. And your position now? Sometimes I don't even know how. Minerva really threw me a bone when she picked me, out of all the other qualified witches and wizards who wanted the job. I honestly didn't believe her when she told me. Why do you think she picked you? I... I have no idea. [long pause] I'd like to think that it's because she saw something in me that she didn't see in others. I guess... I guess I like to think that I bring something special to the school-- You're the youngest Headmistress Hogwarts has seen. Yes. [paused] I think that's part of the reason why I got the job. I'm young and it's easy for me to relate to the students, which is something that I think is so important. After Minerva left, the older professors followed her. I've replaced most of them with younger professors - I probably sound terrible to your readers right now! I've picked people who are exceptional at their jobs, gems in their field of discipline, but who will also be able to relate to students. So, most of them are younger. It sounds like you really want to connect students and professors. I suppose so. I feel like it makes a better environment for the students to learn. It's... progressive. Do you have many complaints from parents? None that I can think of right now. Though change is difficult, especially for people set in their ways. What would you like to tell parents, right now, if they have a complaint? To contact me and we'll see what we can do. Not everyone is going to be 100% happy, but communication is important. So true. You mentioned Hogwarts being progressive, which is interesting. Is there anything else about the school you would like to see happen? There is, actually. I don't want to stray away from tradition, but I feel that it's necessary at times. It's 2024 and not much has changed at the school since it was founded. I wanted to appeal to the Ministry to offer more electives. I know a lot of our students have hobbies that are forced to be put on hold when they come back to Hogwarts in September - especially the students who live primarily in the muggle world. I know there are a few dancers, some who play instruments or sing and I'm sure we've got some poets in the crowd. I would like to see new electives such as dance, music, creative writing and maybe even health education. Health education? Yes. Students spend the majority of the year at Hogwarts and they come from all different backgrounds. They go through puberty at Hogwarts and what if they don't understand what's happening? Maybe they're embarrassed to talk to their friends about it. It's a bit... muggle, but I think it's important. You sound very passionate about these possible changes. I am. I think it's important for students have to options. What if some of them don't want to end up in the wizarding world after Hogwarts? Unfortunately, they don't have many other options. Well, there is the new Higher Education branch of the Ministry, headed by Olaniyi Shafiq. Yes, I read that interview. Brilliant idea from such a young woman. And a much needed position after all these years. It's very unique. [pause] So, Isabella, can we get a little personal? It wouldn't be a very good interview if we didn't, Emma. [laughs] How is your love-life? Nonexistent. Really? Yes. I live a sad life, alright? No, you're just independent. And you've got a school to run. I'm sure most of your professors don't have love-lives either. Actually, two of them got engaged - to each other, I mean. The others... you're right. I'm not sure if they have much time for dating. Is there a lot of dating between professors? No, not at all. Digger and Emily had gone to school together, which I didn't know when I hired them. It wouldn't have changed my mind about offering them the positions, but I think their case is special. And they're adorable together. That's sweet. It really is. Alright, then, what's your ideal date? My ideal date? Oh, Emma, I don't know! Isn't that a question for the youngsters? [pause] Honestly? Just hanging out around a campfire on a beach, listening to the waves lap against the shore. That sounds really nice, actually... Yes, it really does! [pause] So, really: no boyfriend? [shakes head] No boyfriend, Emma. Okay. Let's talk about your family. You mentioned your mother being from France? Yes. My mother is from France and my father is from Ireland - he went to Hogwarts. How did they meet? Um, I think an anti-war rally of some sort. Would you consider them activists? They were, yeah, I think so. They still do... advocate, but they're older, so they do a lot of traveling. Sounds like fun. Do you ever go with them? Occasionally! But at my age, it isn't cool to travel with your parents. [laughs] True, true. Do you have any siblings? I have one older brother, Henry. And that's it - it was just the two of us growing up. How was that? It was fine, actually. He's a bit older than me - five or six years? But it was fun; I love having an older brother. He's married, actually, and has two kids - two boys. My nephews are fantastic; I love them like my own. Are they older or younger? Older. One works for the Ministry and the other recently started his own business in Knockturn Alley, selling potions. Oh, yes, I think I heard about that. Haven't been in, I'm afraid. He seems to be doing quite well. I'm very proud of them - of both of them, actually. It's important to have family support you. Definitely. Well, Isabella, is there anything else you'd like to talk about? Nothing that I can think of. Okay. Well, as always, it was a pleasure. Thank you. HANNA 24 GMT -5 |
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