Shine like a Patronus!

Well, we've got a little over 14 hours until the great event tonight! HOORAY! I'm super excited and I know that Mags and the Silent Partner (aka Ash) are as well.

About a week ago, Mugglenet posted an article about a new campaign that the Harry Potter Alliance has created. It's called, "What Would Dumbledore Do?" It's very similar to the "What Would Jesus Do" campaign years and years ago. Just ask yourself what would Dumbledore do in this situation.

But as Christians, we are called to an even higher standard. We are called to love like Christ loved. And Dumbledore is a fictional character. Christ is not. And NOBODY loves like Christ does. We can aspire too, but we're humans. We are flawed. Only our creator can show unconditional love.

So tonight, instead of asking yourself, "What Would Dumbledore Do?" in the midst of crazy fans (myself included), mobs of children, and a lot of excitement ask yourself, "What would JESUS do?" How can you love those around you? How can you serve them? How can you let the light of Christ shine in you tonight like a patrounus?

"Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:15-16

HALF-BLOOD PRINCE! FINALLY!!!!

Well, this time tomorrow, Ash and I will be waiting in line for HBP!

I'm seriously SO excited about this!

I know it's been a while since we've posted anything, and so I'm sure our readers are few and far between, but do any of our readers have any plans tomorrow? Wednesday? Thursday?

I leave you with this quote from Dumbledore:

"I am not worried, Harry," said Dumbledore, his voice a little stronger despite the freezing water. "I am with you."

Half-Blood Prince Commercial

Only 67 days, only 67 days, only 67 days...

Updates

Hello fellow Muggle brothers and sisters!

It seems that we have been a bit absent lately, and for that we apologize. Grags is busy setting up the summer program for her youth group, and Mags recently completed a run of a musical. How exciting to be blessed with business!

It seems it has been so long since our last update that we haven't even mentioned the DATE CHANGE OF THE MOVIE! Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince will be released on Wednesday, July 15th - two days earlier than previously stated! If only Grags and Mags lived in the same city and could see it opening midnight together! Alas, they will have to enjoy the film across Texas, but at least they will have matching, homemade shirts! Grags has a longer history in the fandom than Mags, and she has many homemade shirts from such excursions as movie openings and book release parties. This will be Mags' first HP shirt!!

Let us all celebrate together for the joy these books and films bring to so many, as well as the connection they form between people. Hooray and Amen!

Love and Harry,
Grags and Mags

Meet Matt Lewis Contest

As posted by LewisLovers.com and jkrfan.com, here is the latest wonderful contest:

Do you want to meet Matt Lewis? Well here is your chance!LewisLovers.com and JK Rowling Fan are teaming together to bring you the chance to win 2 tickets to the Florida Supercon Convention on June 5-7 in Miami, Florida! You can meet Matt along with tons of other stars from various movies and series!
All you have to do is enter the MEET MATT LEWIS CONTEST is tell us in less than 100 words why you should meet Matt! Email all entries to contest@jkrfan.com ! Include your name, email, state of resident, and phone number so we can notify you if you win!Winners will be announced by May 25, 2009! Check the site for more information!
Official Rules & Regulations: You may only enter one time. Anybody under 18 must have parental permission before entering. There will only be one winner in this contest and that choice is final. Winner must provide their own transportation to and from the event. Winner will be notified by May 25, 2009 with more details.

NEW TRAILER

Surprise from the WB!  Here is a link to the new trailer:

New Half-Blood Prince Trailer 

This trailer is darker than the previous ones and really focuses on the fall of Voldemort.  

One of the most interesting quotes I've heard from the movie so far is this one:

"Years ago I knew a boy who made all the wrong choices."

-Albus Dumbledore

Thoughts on this quote?

Mags' Reaction

If I am remembering the "second trailer" correctly, my initial reaction was to squeal loudly in public. I was expecting not to see it, based on the viewing experiences of Grags and The Silent Partner. So when the music started, and the gray clouds rolled over the WB logo, I literally squealed. Bear in mind, friends, that I was sitting alone in a movie theater full of tweens. Rather than shrink back in embarrassment, I threw my body forward to the edge of my seat.

From that first, light-hearted moment , and then into the dizzying side-along Apparition, my attention was held (which is sometimes hard to do). I remember watching Ron pass out between Harry and Slughorn, and then they go on to talk about Love Potions, which is a hilarious bit. BUT, when I read HBP again over Christmas I realized that this scene with Slughorn is actually when Ron is poisoned! I'm not sure how I feel about them editing it to be funny, when it will turn out to be so tense.

OK, friends, prepare to judge me. When they show Draco in the mirror, panicking... my heart kind of stopped beating for a second. Um, could someone please tell me when this little blond twerp grew up and became an attractive young man?

HARRY/GINNY KISS!!! HARRY/GINNY KISS!!! HARRY/GINNY KISS!!!

Man, this trailer packs a lot of intensity into two minutes, and yet they maintain so much humor! I really can't wait for it to come out.

NOW, if you haven't seen this featurette (from TODAY Australia) watch it now:


EGADS!!

I was beyond excited to hear about the "OPPUGNO" scene, where Hermione commands the canaries to attack Ron. My first reaction when I watched it, though, was overwhleming disappointment! I felt like she had no conviction! Plus the birds are supposed to attack him, as in scratch him up, but instead they smush into a wall (slightly humorous, but still). However, upon watching it again (and again and again), I have decided that I love it. It isn't what I wanted, but I do like it. It has more of a gut-wrenching grace; you can almost hear her heart break when she says it, and that face - Ron, what is wrong with you?! Go after her!

I am so excited to see this movie (even though I feel like we will have seen the whole thing in trailers by the time it comes out), and unlike Grags, I am going to remain optimistic for as long as I can.