Silver lining and where to find it.

[Steve]

--- In HPFGU-OTChatter at yahoogroups.com, "zanooda2" <zanooda2 at ...> wrote:
>
> Here is another translation-related question on DH. Remember how Ginny invites Harry to her room on his birthday? She says that she wants to give him something (like what?! :-)) to remember her by, because he can meet some Veela during his travels, and he answers that there won't be many opportunities for dating. Then she says: "There's the silver lining I've been looking for"(pp.116 and 99 US and UK respectively). 
> 
> Ok, I know what "silver lining" means (something good in something bad, right?), but still, it's not very clear to me what she wants to say. ...
> 
> 
> zanooda
>


bboyminn:

Just a reminder that Ginny and Harry are not in a deep 
philosophical conversation here, it is light breathy flirty
banter.

In general, the reference is forst to the common idiom 'Every
cloud has a silver lining' which comes from John Milton's 
'Comus'in 1634 - 

"Was I deceiv'd, or did a sable cloud 
Turn forth her silver lining on the night?"
 
So, the simple most general definition is -

"A hopeful or comforting prospect in the midst of difficulty."

So, in the flow of conversation, in a surely teasing flirty
way, Ginny says that Harry might find a Veela while he is
traveling around. Harry respond that dating opportunities
are going to be few and far between on the road. And Ginny
response with 'that's the silver lining I was looking for'.

Just on that level, the darkness is that Harry will be on
the run from Voldemort doing work for Dumbledore, but the
good part of all that dark, is that Harry won't be dating
anyone. It is a lighthearted comment.

I don't think this is intended for deep analysis, I think it
is just casual somewhat flirty conversation between two 
people. 

Steve/bboyminn