Silver lining and where to find it.

[Carol]

zanooda:
> 
> I don't intend to analyze it, I just need to translate it, LOL! Or rather, to help someone else to translate it :-). I can't think of the exact same idiom in my language, plus the "I was looking for" part is rather confusing, so I need to find a way to say it differently. What would it be: 1. "This is my only consolation". 2. "This is what I wanted to hear". 3. "I knew there must be something good in all this" or something else :-)? One more thing: do you guys also think she says it a little ironically, or is she dead serious :-)?
>
Carol responds:

Isn't there any equivalent Russian expression? The idea is that every bad thing (in this case, Harry's going off to fight Voldemort without her) has some good in it (in this case, at least he won't be dating any other girls). I agree with the people who think that she's trying to make a small joke, maybe to keep from crying (very British of her), but I think she also really does find consolation in the fact that he won't have many "dating opportunities." 

"I was looking for" means that she was trying to find something to be happy about or at least some form of consolation. I think we can take that statement at face value; she needed something to cheer her up and sustain her while he's away.

The present she gives him to remember her by is obviously that passionate kiss (interrupted by Ron and Hermione).

But you wanted an equivalent expression. I would just say, "That's the consolation I was looking for" (or "hoping for" if "looking for" doesn't make sense idiomatically).

Carol, wondering what we would do without these lovely proverbs and metaphors