Purebloods, Mrs Norris, literary parallels, love, Moderators

[Tabouli]

No: HPFGUIDX 31659

Heather (uma):
> Maybe your second theory isn't unsalvageable. One of the Evans would very likely be *some* degree of cousin to someone in the Wizarding world.

You know, if there are only a few thousand wizards in Britain, those dyed-in-the-wool purebloods must be appallingly inbred.  Maybe that's why Squibs are turning up - a genetic mutation which is starting to flourish because there's no new blood.  (could Draco have a couple of unmentionable Squibs in the family?  Idea for fanfic: ten years on, Draco and Pansy give birth to a Squib...).  Could half-bloods in fact be more powerful wizards, due to hybrid vigour?  Look at Harry, and Voldemort!  (as a Eurasian I have a natural leaning towards theories of this type, of course).  What about Dumbledore?  Do people think he is a pureblood?  Curious...

heathernmoore:
>  (I have a pet "wild thornberry" that "Mrs. Norris" is so named literally, and that she is some woman Argus had an affair with in his youth, who was cursed to be a cat by her Death Eater husband for cuckolding him with a mere Squib. 

Ahaaa!  Do I espy a new recruit for F.L.I.R.T.I.A.C. (Filch's Lover Is Regretting Transformation Into A Cat)?  (if you really want to read my backstory for this, the archives will most likely be your friend...).  You will note, O Marauders' Map theorists, that someone noted that *Animagi* (and, presumably, people stuck in animal form) show up on the Map, and that Mrs Norris does, so if we accept this, I think we have evidence, ladies and gentlemen...

On the subject of parallels between the Potterverse and sundry other works, like King Arthur (an old fave o' mine - I have a King Arthur tarot deck!), the events of WW2, Cinderella, LOTR and so on, I'm always a bit reluctant to credit this - for me this takes away from an author's creativity somehow, unless of course it's intentional, ingenious and notably different (see the 'Clueless' derivation of Jane Austen's 'Emma', for example).  I like a bit of allegory and mythological reference as much as the next HP fan (see Narnia, or even 'The Silver Metal Lover', which is Demeta/Persephone), but I don't like the idea that we can find the 'right' original story and use it to predict what will happen, or force existing events into its framework.  Though those of you who like this, go ahead, don't mind me...

William:
> I believe that the seven challenges at the end of PS (six barriers, 
plus the Mirror of Erised) symbolize the seven books of the HP 
series, in randomized order.<

This, on the other hand, I find a rather interesting idea, though it would be better if they were actually in order.  I'm sure at a pinch one could force parallels between the tasks and the books in order...

(not sure):
> >  Call me a cynic. This is a nice sentiment, but a false one. For 
large chunks of society, it's money, or society, or getting-my-own-
damn-way, or elitism, or alcohol, or everything *but* love which conquers all.<

(Tabouli, whose deeply romantic soul has taken a lot of battering, dons her saddest and wisest face)

FWIW, my view on this is that love *does* conquer all, but for a limited period only.  All those things that love temporarily conquers have a nasty habit of rising up and overthrowing love later in real life.  Maybe in the first flush of romance money and life philosophies and social class and life direction and age and looks and blood and other people's opinions and children etc.etc.etc. don't matter, but if the problematic issues are strong and/or numerous enough, they'll be pretty hard to ignore or conquer forever.  The problem with romance is that when all's said and done, a relationship, especially one where two people live together, is a practical arrangement, with practical consequences.  If people live together, they are sharing time and space, they have to cooperate and work out resources together, they have to organise their life goals with each other in mind... all pretty complicated stuff, and vulnerable to the sort of things love may initially conquer.

Finally, on the subject of SHIPpers vs LANDLUBBERS, list policies, splinter lists and so on, I can't help feeling that the Moderators on a list of 3000+ people deserve some appreciation.  Managing so large a group with several sister lists, moderated status policies, and so many daily lists requires considerable time and effort, all of which is voluntary.    Give 'em a break, eh?  Perhaps we should have an Association for the Care and Celebration of our Long-suffering And Industrious Moderators (A.C.C.L.A.I.M.)...

Tabouli.


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