So after a pretty long wait, on early Tuesday morning (3am AEST) I finally got my owl telling me my Pottermore account was ready. Of course, it was another day before I could even get past the busy server (Muggles—can’t trust their technology, really.)

Consider yourself warned—SPOILERS AHEAD.

I prepared myself to have low expectations because over the past four/five months the Pottermore hype just blew out of proportion, and I have to say I am still feeling underwhelmed by the present experience.

Pottermore is the brain child of JK Rowling, designed to enrich the reading experience of Harry Potter, enhanced by interactive media and social networking. It will also officially release the Harry Potter series in ebook and audiobook format. I think the premise is brilliant, and for the most part of what I’ve participated in it’s successful. At first glance the user interface has impressive visual flair and elegance. There is a distinct lack of sound and music score, lagging Flash elements and some navigational frustrations. However, what compensates for these significant flaws are the matte paintings, used for every single Moment in a Chapter. They are simply stunning works of art – magical and evocative in their own right. The UI is still in beta mode, so improvements undoubtedly will be made before it is open to all in October.

What I was most excited about and what I imagine is also the most exciting for other users is the Sorting Ceremony and the visit to a  Ollivander’s (to choose a wand).

In the past when I’ve taken those typical online Sorting quizzes, about 80% of the time I get Ravenclaw, and the rest Gryffindor, with Slytherin and Hufflepuff being marginally behind. So I was quite certain I’d be placed in either Ravenclaw or Gryffindor. Yet to my utter amusement (I literally went HAH! HAH! HAHAHA! at my computer screen when I saw the result) and yes, shock, the dear ol’ Sorting Hat had placed me in Slytherin! Come again?! Clearly I do not know myself well enough.

What is most amusing is the welcome message from the Prefect of the House. In my case, it is Gemma Farley. I’d love to read the other Houses’ messages, but for now I am quite content with my lot as a Slytherin. I appreciate that JKR so wittily and fondly reassures the reader that just because they are placed in Slytherin it doesn’t make them an evil person, or a person with evil tendencies. Although, as an experiment later (after access is available to everyone) I’d like to make another account just to see if I end up in Slytherin again… I could have swung every which way – I have a niggling feeling I was maybe an answer or two away from being a Ravenclaw. I wish I’d recorded how I answered the questions – surely they weren’t all of a Slytherin-like nature? I mean, just because I prefer Black to White doesn’t make me a Slytherin does it? A Hufflepuff could well prefer Black too. I’m very curious about the algorithms used to calculate these variables.

Still, when I consider it now there are a few generic signs that would suggest I’d be suited to the olde house of the dungeons – the ambition, the potential to be great. “We’re not bad people. We’re like our emblem, the snake: sleek, powerful, and frequently misunderstood.” Even Merlin, the greatest wizard of all, was a Slytherin. Beat that Dumbledore!  Plus, green and silver are such delicious colours. Actually, the colour combination is my favourite out of all the Hogwarts Houses.

What clinched it for me is this passage:

We sleep in ancient four-posters with green silk hangings, and bedspreads embroidered with silver thread. Medieval tapestries depicting the adventures of famous Slytherins cover the walls, and silver lanterns hang from the ceilings. You’ll sleep well; it’s very soothing, listening to the lake water lapping against the windows at night.

Ahhh the perks of living down under… ;)

Meanwhile, I am very happy with the wand that chose me: 13.5 inches, hazel with unicorn hair, unyielding. That one word always reminds me of Bellatrix Lestrange (another Slytherin, who turned out severely deranged, but let’s not go there…).

That all being said, this is only a game after all, but unlike other games, it’s also given me a lot of food for thought about me as an individual in a pluralistic society. Not to mention I’ll need to think of inventive ways of crawling into the Gryffindor dormitories to be with Ronald, hah!

Feel free to friend me – I am DreamScale80. Though you’ll need to let me know who you are first!