Using a Bamboo tablet, and a snapshot of Mrs Norris. I wonder why Pottermore is not letting this pass through moderation? I submitted this more than a week ago, under Familiars.

POTTERMORE SUGGESTIONS

NAVIGATION
- the site has some stunning artwork put into what are called MOMENTS, wherein a user navigates through the chapters of the book in fragmented detail. However, the movement is so stilted, the lag to get somewhere builds you up … the little tidbit we get from JKRowling basically are bits of her research (“Exclusive Content”) that never made the book. Of course, some of us already know Nicholas Flamel after googling the guy during Sorcerer’s Stone. Bits and pieces are interesting but, like I said, it gets built up so much that it becomes almost disappointing.

- recurring favorites, objects in scenes etc. can tend to be confusing. We go back to the information about them, some being exclusive content about bit characters in the books who were never explored (these were interesting) but some are just recurring and litter the site.

MORE USER-EXPERIENCE
- We were able to get books from various parts of the adventure, but they are in the trunk and then what? I would very much like to open them and take a look. Any chance we would be able to read and even eventually add content to these books in our trunks?

- I got in the 7day window during day 5 and got in Sept23. That’s a stretch. However, i expected duelling to be fully functional. What more when it opens to the public now? The announcements they post on pottermore’s tumblr are quite sparse.

INTERACTION
-while its great that we are able to bond with our fellow housemates, we need a private way to do it too…why would Pottermore say that we need to make sure we know who we are adding if we only meet them online? How can we add their nicknames if the messaging system on in the common rooms is very limited? With the birth of real time chat in 1996 (or so), this message board system is 20 years obsolete. I know its meant to be a safety issue for the underage fans, but most of them create tinychats anyway.

I’ve tried to add 10 different people from my Facebook list also in Pottermore, but forgot to add their nicknames. I’ve had to ask them one by one via FB to let me know who they are. There should be a way to do it without leaving the Pottermore site.

- Using the turntable.fm model, we should also be able to design our own avatar/ use preset avatars and dress them. See turntable.fm for this again. The user’s chat in real time and speech bubbles pop out over their heads when they talk. What the user just said will then also reflect in the chat box on the corner of the room.

The house should be made to look like a 3D space, not just a message board that doesnt update in real time. Like the common area where seamus and neville hang around in, with the fireplace and couch (and our avatars).

EVERY OTHER HOUR ACCESS? REALLY?
I noticed that they assign access hours to users. Yet they are adding more users and also opening registration to all in October.
Are they mad? They cant give limited access to everyone! People can only go online a few times a day! They need to add servers or figure out this thing fast! Otherwise they are really going to lose the interest of their fans.

One of the fascinating things about Pottermore that truly draws me in is the sense of competition. I feel like I’m in HS again! Successfully brewed potions lets one gain the most points for their house, and in all common room, I’m sure everyone is scrambling to get to first place.

The following tips are from my virtual housemate from Slytherin RuneMarauder63 – this guy/gal is brilliant:

Potion tip for new students

1. You only lose points if you overheat the cauldron. If you have overheated the cauldron, press back or refresh.

2.  Alternate between the blue and orange buttons to maintain a temperature so the meter is green, green means no explosions.

3.  Don’t count the ingredients, go by what the counter says, if in doubt, check your book, make sure the step is crossed out.

4.  You can add ingredients and stir while a potion is heating up and the meter is green. Do this if you feel confident.

5.  Cauldrons only matter on how long they take to heat up. Do not waste Galleons on fancy cauldrons.

6. When dealing with bottles in potions, pick them up by the top and tilt it in gently using the cauldron to balance it.

7.  Remember to only buy ingredients that don’t regenerate, like mucus, fangs, or unicorn horns. No more Galleons until Chamber of Secrets.

8. If you have glitches, try using chrome or keeping potions in a separate tab. That should help fix it.

9. If you are told you added the wrong amount of ingredient. Be a little slower and focus on making it all go in.

Note: I found this happens with lavender and you should drop it vertically from center. Otherwise drop it near center

** Boils is 3pts, Antidote is 7pts, Sleeping Draught is 11 and the rest are 9pts

Lastly, let me add that:

- Writing the instructions down on paper or a computer sticky should minimize your going through the instructions. You only have a minute or so to complete (there is an hourglass timer on the upper left part of your cauldron).If you run out of time, click BACK or REFRESH!

- PATIENCE IS A VIRTUE. Because of the recent site glitches, my potions spoil because I can’t access the site or it asks me to start all over again. You can’t really do much at this point except KEEP TRYING!

-  how-to vids available on youtube (of course!) are EXTREMELY useful:
like this :

Today I got this on twitter. I truly believe it. Had always been a gryffindor. Always.

Hate to break it to you #Potterheads, but the truth is out — #Pottermore sorting is 100% Random…! There are many ways to prove this
1. How are there almost equal amounts of people in each Hogwarts house?
2. Why was everyone so suprised when they found out their house? I’m a Hufflepuff, and i LOVE it, but i know that that house wasn’t right for me. Since i was a little girl, I’d always been a Gryffindor at heart.
3. My friend and I got into #pottermore at the same time. We both put in the same answers for ALL of the questions, yet, she was a Slytherin.
Why? Because i believe that us #Potterheads shouldn’t be sorted online by an electronic sorting hat (I’m not trying to diss pottermore here…), but by the real one, himself. #Potterheads, you can be in whatever house you want — remember, the Sorting Hat takes your opinion into consideration.

However, once the shock wore down, I kind of like being in with the bad guys. It’s like being in a play – you get cast as the bad guy, but it doesn’t mean anything really. Just play your part and have fun! I’m sure the girl was lying… there are about 200 different questions that JK Rowling purportedly designed for the sorting event. I doubt those two girls in #3 got the same answers for all questions. I do believe there is an algorithm involved… and that is why all houses have close to the same number of people. At this point, it’s all about luck. But what the hey. If you are a true HP fan, you will love every house, and that includes the snakes! Got it? Alright.

Now what am I gonna do with this???