Refreshing Innocence of HP Preteens

[meboriqua at aol.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 24638

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Mindy, a.k.a. CLH" <mindyatime at j...> 
wrote:

 <I love the innocence of her books, reading about adolescents and 
preteens who are NOT involved in steamy relationships. I really hope 
she keeps up this standard, so that her books will remain suitable for 
young children to read as well.>

What interesting comments!  I personally think HP is chock full of 
sexuality, but it's how JKR deals with it that makes it so 
appropriate.  There are no curses and no overt sexual scenes.  
However, we know that they are there; Hermione says "Ron!" at 
something Ron calls Malfoy in GoF, and there are a number of couples 
hidden in the rose bushes during the Yule Ball and I'm sure they ain't 
talkin'.

Other examples of sexuality:
-Ginny's very obvious crush on Harry in CoS
-Harry's very obvious crush on Cho starting in PoA
-Veelas
-Every boy's reaction to Fleur
-The tension between Ron and Hermione, which, IMO, is enough to heat 
up each and every dorm room at Hogwarts
-Moaning Myrtle spying on Harry in GoF
-Sirius Black's mere presence :-P

I'm sure there are others, and I am quite sure that some of these 
existing situations will be more developed in OoP, but I don't expect 
JKR to turn them into lurid and steamy descriptions.  I mean, we won't 
be reading about how Ron and Hermione were caught bathing together in 
the Prefects' bathroom (I'd enjoy reading about that though).  What 
JKR does do, and you said this, Mindy, is keep us mostly focused on 
Harry's world, his struggles, the magic he is learing, and so on.  She 
will undoubtedly continue to do that and I'm sure that this time next 
year we'll all be posting to our hearts' contents about what Snape is 
up to next or what exactly Harry's parents were doing that the Big V 
(I like that name too, Tabouli) was after them...

--jenny from ravenclaw, who's all for some romance in HP 
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