My New Year Resolution
Aaah, a new year, the time for making new year resolutions. This time right now, one week down from the big day, would be the time to break them left right and centre. Well, after seeing myself fail miserably through exercising, playing a sport regularly, trying out all flavours of Naturals, sticking to a time-table, studying regularly and many other such futile resolutions, I believe my faith in the concept of a new year resolution has dwindled. I request the readers to go through this very short excerpt from Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by JK Rowling. I find I am very much similar to Harry in this case, will be extremely modest and sarcastic and stuff with friends and online, but when it come to talking to a girl, well, not that quick in the top floor. I quote:
"At the end of an hour, Harry called a halt.(from the DA lecture)
ʹYouʹre getting really good,ʹ he said, beaming around at them. ʹWhen we get back from the holidays we can start doing some of the big stuff ‐ maybe even Patronuses.ʹ
There was a murmur of excitement. The room began to clear in the usual twos and threes; most people wished Harry a ʹHappy Christmasʹ as they went. Feeling cheerful, he collected up the cushions with Ron and Hermione and stacked them neatly away. Ron and Hermione left before he did; he hung back a little, because Cho was still there and he was hoping to receive a ʹMerry Christmasʹ from her.
ʹNo, you go on,ʹ he heard her say to her friend Marietta and his heart gave a jolt that seemed to take it into the region of his Adamʹs apple.
He pretended to be straightening the cushion pile. He was quite sure they were alone now and waited tor her to speak. Instead, he heard a hearty sniff.
He turned and saw Cho standing in the middle of the room, tears pouring down her face.
ʹWha—?ʹ
He didnʹt know what to do. She was simply standing there, crying silently.
ʹWhatʹs up?ʹ he said, feebly.
She shook her head and wiped her eyes on her sleeve.
ʹIʹm ‐ sorry,ʹ she said thickly. ʹI suppose… itʹs just… learning all this stuff… it just makes me… wonder whether… if heʹd known it all… heʹd still be alive.ʹ
Harryʹs heart sank right back past its usual spot and settled somewhere around his navel. He ought to have known. She wanted to talk about Cedric.
ʹHe did know this stuff,ʹ Harry said heavily. ʹHe was really good at it, or he could never have got to the middle of that maze. But if Voldemort really wants to kill you, you donʹt stand a chance.ʹ
She hiccoughed at the sound of Voldemortʹs name, but stared at Harry without flinching.
ʹYou survived when you were just a baby,ʹ she said quietly.
ʹYeah, well,ʹ said Harry wearily, moving towards the door, ʹI dunno why nor does anyone else, so itʹs nothing to be proud of.ʹ
ʹOh, donʹt go!ʹ said Cho, sounding tearful again. ʹIʹm really sorry to get all upset like this… I didnʹt mean to…ʹ
She hiccoughed again. She was very pretty even when her eyes were red and puffy. Harry felt thoroughly miserable. Heʹd have been so pleased with just a ʹMerry Christmasʹ.
ʹI know it must be horrible for you,ʹ she said, mopping her eyes on her sleeve again. ʹMe mentioning Cedric, when you saw him die… I suppose you just want to forget about it?ʹ
Harry did not say anything to this; it was quite true, but he felt heartless saying it.
ʹYouʹre a r‐really good teacher, you know,ʹ said Cho, with a watery smile. ʹIʹve never been able to Stun anything before.ʹ
'Thanks,ʹ said Harry awkwardly.
They looked at each other for a long moment. Harry felt a burning desire to run from the room and, at the same time, a complete inability to move his feet.
ʹMistletoe,ʹ said Cho quietly, pointing at the ceiling over his head.
ʹYeah,ʹ said Harry. His mouth was very dry. ʹItʹs probably full of Nargles, though.ʹ
ʹWhat are Nargles?ʹ
ʹNo idea,ʹ said Harry. She had moved closer. His brain seemed to have been Stunned. ʹYouʹd have to ask Loony. Luna, I mean.ʹ
Cho made a funny noise halfway between a sob and a laugh. She was even nearer to him now. He could have counted the freckles on her nose.
ʹI really like you, Harry.ʹ
He could not think. A tingling sensation was spreading through him, paralysing his arms, legs and brain.
She was much too close. He could see every tear clinging to her eyelashes…"
I just experienced all the biopsychological phenomena that Harry went through (without the kiss of course) but yes, Rowling has captured the "felt a burning desire to run from the room and, at the same time, a complete inability to move his feet." and the "paralysing feeling" very nicely. So my new year resolution for the year 2011 (and I hope I fulfill it) would be to feel comfortable around everyone and anyone.
"At the end of an hour, Harry called a halt.(from the DA lecture)
ʹYouʹre getting really good,ʹ he said, beaming around at them. ʹWhen we get back from the holidays we can start doing some of the big stuff ‐ maybe even Patronuses.ʹ
There was a murmur of excitement. The room began to clear in the usual twos and threes; most people wished Harry a ʹHappy Christmasʹ as they went. Feeling cheerful, he collected up the cushions with Ron and Hermione and stacked them neatly away. Ron and Hermione left before he did; he hung back a little, because Cho was still there and he was hoping to receive a ʹMerry Christmasʹ from her.
ʹNo, you go on,ʹ he heard her say to her friend Marietta and his heart gave a jolt that seemed to take it into the region of his Adamʹs apple.
He pretended to be straightening the cushion pile. He was quite sure they were alone now and waited tor her to speak. Instead, he heard a hearty sniff.
He turned and saw Cho standing in the middle of the room, tears pouring down her face.
ʹWha—?ʹ
He didnʹt know what to do. She was simply standing there, crying silently.
ʹWhatʹs up?ʹ he said, feebly.
She shook her head and wiped her eyes on her sleeve.
ʹIʹm ‐ sorry,ʹ she said thickly. ʹI suppose… itʹs just… learning all this stuff… it just makes me… wonder whether… if heʹd known it all… heʹd still be alive.ʹ
Harryʹs heart sank right back past its usual spot and settled somewhere around his navel. He ought to have known. She wanted to talk about Cedric.
ʹHe did know this stuff,ʹ Harry said heavily. ʹHe was really good at it, or he could never have got to the middle of that maze. But if Voldemort really wants to kill you, you donʹt stand a chance.ʹ
She hiccoughed at the sound of Voldemortʹs name, but stared at Harry without flinching.
ʹYou survived when you were just a baby,ʹ she said quietly.
ʹYeah, well,ʹ said Harry wearily, moving towards the door, ʹI dunno why nor does anyone else, so itʹs nothing to be proud of.ʹ
ʹOh, donʹt go!ʹ said Cho, sounding tearful again. ʹIʹm really sorry to get all upset like this… I didnʹt mean to…ʹ
She hiccoughed again. She was very pretty even when her eyes were red and puffy. Harry felt thoroughly miserable. Heʹd have been so pleased with just a ʹMerry Christmasʹ.
ʹI know it must be horrible for you,ʹ she said, mopping her eyes on her sleeve again. ʹMe mentioning Cedric, when you saw him die… I suppose you just want to forget about it?ʹ
Harry did not say anything to this; it was quite true, but he felt heartless saying it.
ʹYouʹre a r‐really good teacher, you know,ʹ said Cho, with a watery smile. ʹIʹve never been able to Stun anything before.ʹ
'Thanks,ʹ said Harry awkwardly.
They looked at each other for a long moment. Harry felt a burning desire to run from the room and, at the same time, a complete inability to move his feet.
ʹMistletoe,ʹ said Cho quietly, pointing at the ceiling over his head.
ʹYeah,ʹ said Harry. His mouth was very dry. ʹItʹs probably full of Nargles, though.ʹ
ʹWhat are Nargles?ʹ
ʹNo idea,ʹ said Harry. She had moved closer. His brain seemed to have been Stunned. ʹYouʹd have to ask Loony. Luna, I mean.ʹ
Cho made a funny noise halfway between a sob and a laugh. She was even nearer to him now. He could have counted the freckles on her nose.
ʹI really like you, Harry.ʹ
He could not think. A tingling sensation was spreading through him, paralysing his arms, legs and brain.
She was much too close. He could see every tear clinging to her eyelashes…"
I just experienced all the biopsychological phenomena that Harry went through (without the kiss of course) but yes, Rowling has captured the "felt a burning desire to run from the room and, at the same time, a complete inability to move his feet." and the "paralysing feeling" very nicely. So my new year resolution for the year 2011 (and I hope I fulfill it) would be to feel comfortable around everyone and anyone.
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