effyeahpottermore:

I’m setting up a Skype chat where we can discuss Pottermore and Magical Quill developments throughout the next few days. If you’d like to be included in that chat, please add me (Ravenclawdia) on Skype and include Pottermore in the attached message!

(We’ll still be posting information here; the chat is just a place for us to hang out and organize ourselves.)

Guide to Pottermorewatch!

Everybody is having a meltdown over this for one reason or another, so here’s a few tips for all you wizards.

I know that many of us have experience with waiting en masse for hours for one wizarding event or another, but we’ve never done that online unless you were forced to stay at home and watch the MuggleNet countdown reach zero while others were in line (bitter? me? never!). So this is kind of a first.

Rumor has it that we’re going to be waiting until noon in the GMT zone, which is about eleven hours from now (8PM ET). If that’s true, one of the big things will be—

Staying awake.

Chances are, you’re in a timezone that is kind of inconvenient in the grand scheme of Pottermore timing. Lots of us will want to stay awake through most of the wait, so as to not miss anything and because staying awake for things like this is a big part of the experiences.

• Caffeine is, generally speaking, your friend. Use it well.
• Have things around to keep your mind stimulated. Things like books and chats will usually do the trick, because you have to actively think in order to keep reading or talking. Movies work for some people, but for others they just help lull them to sleep. Try setting up a chat or SynchTube with some friends who are into Potter. You could also try things like going into MuggleNet’s trivia chats, where you can talk to other Potterheads as well as test and expand your HP knowledge.
• Cold showers will work wonders.

That being said, staying up is optional. It’s for those who really want to remember the wait and staying up with online friends. Nobody’s going to kill you for setting a convenient alarm or taking a few naps here and there. 

Pottermorewatch courtesy.

There’s already been a fair bit of fandom drama, and that is never enjoyable. This is a big deal, and nobody wants to look back on it with memories of debates turned sour or insults thrown around like hexes sticking out.

• If you’re excited as can be, awesome! Flaunt that. These are once-in-a-lifetime experiences and it’s in your unwritten Bill of Potterhead Rights. But focus on being excited. Don’t get mad at others for not being excited, and try to ignore the Muggles who will try to get you down. If people are grumpy about excitement, scroll on by and keep the interactions to people who are squealing and allcaps-ing right along with you.
• If you’re not too excited, awesome! You do you. But don’t whine about it, and don’t belittle those who are flailing beyond control right now. These things are amazing experiences for us, especially when we can do it online with thousands of wizards who are too far away to do this with us offline. Try blacklisting Pottermore on tumblr saviour (google it), or simply logging off tumblr. Don’t rain on parades. It’s not cool, it doesn’t make you look cool, and Rachel Berry will angrily sing you into the next century. Not pleasant.

The next section could fall under this, but there’s so much controversy surrounding it that it deserves its own subheading.

Leaky attendees are not Voldemort.

Not even if they were cosplaying as him.

I’ve seen so much hate around that topic. As most of us know, Leaky attendees will get some advantage ahead of the rest of us in regards to Pottermore early entry. That doesn’t mean you can Avada Kedavra them through debates or anonymous hate, dudes.

• Nobody knows what’s going on. Not even people who went to Leaky. Confusion is everywhere, and those claiming they know what’s up are either J.K. Rowling, Melissa Anelli, or lying. So don’t jump down their throats saying it’s not fair; they don’t know what’s up, either.
• There were only a couple thousand attendees. That is nothing out of the million who will be selected for beta testing. So even if they do all get spots— which is unlikely—, it’s not the end of the wizarding world.
• Beta testing is not designed to be fair. I know it sucks, and I know that lots of us couldn’t afford or manage to get to Leaky— trust me, I’m in that situation, too—, but beta testers seek out people who will be frequently and passionately involved. They’re doing this to find bugs or glitches that can be fixed before the site opens to the public in October. Leaky attendees are people they know will be quick to help. They did not ask for this.

Not bragging.

Pretty simple. If you get in early, Pottermore yourself silly! But don’t brag. This is something that matters immensely to loads of people; try to be sensitive about it.

Making the most out of the next half-a-day!

This is one of those things we’ll look back on, so make the most of it!

• Wrock out. Music is magic far beyond many things, and music about magic is one of the best things to come out of this fandom. Take advantage of it. Some good bands to get you started are Harry and the Potters, Ministry of Magic, The Remus Lupins, The Whomping Willows, and Lauren Fairweather.
• Have marathons! Be it reading books, watching movies, or watching certain musicals, fill the next few hours with Potter. Not only is it a good way to Avada Kedavra time, it’s a fantastic way to celebrate Harry’s and Jo’s birthday.
• Dress up. Obviously you don’t have to, but putting on all your wizard garb might just add magic to the moment.
• Blog about it. Let your excitement be known. Your tumblr can act as a pensieve, and months from now, you can look back and see just how you felt in these moments. You’ll also find friends with common interests and make kickass memories. You can look through the Potter- and Pottermore-related tags to find some blogs, too!

However you spend your time Pottermorewatch-ing, don’t forget to do what makes you happy throughout it all. This is the first step in a brand new era of Potter; let’s ring it in right.

Don’t forget to be awesome, and don’t forget that it’s real for us.