One Big, Happy Weasley Family

[moongirlk at yahoo.com]

No: HPFGUIDX 10917

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., Penny & Bryce Linsenmayer <pennylin at s...> 
wrote:
> Hi --
> 
> moongirlk at y... wrote:
> 
> Even though this was addressed to Cassie's post, I'll respond 
quickly
> since I know I posted along the same lines --
> 
> > Then why make the comparison?  I'm not asking for the natural 
laws of
> > the universe to be broken, just for the poor kid to get a loving,
> > supportive, happy place to be after it's all over.  Why is that 
so bad?
> 
> It's not bad to wish Harry will have a happy supportive family 
someday.
> But, I don't think One Big Happy Weasley Family is the *only* way 
for that
> to happen.  Why *couldn't* he be happy with Hermione?  

He probably could.  I'm not saying he can't, or that the happy family 
idea is the only way, I'm just responding to the way some people 
react to the idea.  Whenever it comes up people act like it's a 
completely invalid possibility - like it would be the weak way out, 
so I had to defend it.  It's my personal choice for a wish - not an 
expectation, but a wish for something pleasant and happy after all 
the strife.  I just choose to like this idea because it gives them 
*all* the opportunity to be happy *together*.  I'm not trying to say 
you should feel the same way I do, just that it seems kinda strange 
that people hate the idea so much.  Is it just because it's not H/H?  
Or is there something I'm missing that makes it so laughable?  

Why couldn't he be
> happy playing the field until he's 35?  

He could, and then end up with Ginny - I certainly don't think 
they'll be getting married in the great hall at the end-of-year feast 
or anything!

I'm not suggesting Harry shouldn't
> be happy at the end of the series (or that he shouldn't have a 
glimmer of
> happiness lurking on the horizon in any case). But, I don't think 
JKR is
> likely to go for the "tie everything up in a neat little bow" 
Victorian
> novel ending that One Big Happy Weasley Family requires (isn't 
there an
> English lit term for this -- gads, it's been too many years!  
Ebony?).  I
> think it would be hard work for JKR to make that sort of ending 
plausible
> & satisfying to the discerning readers.

See - that's why I had to respond - you imply that those of us who 
like the idea are somehow discernment challenged.  Can't help it if 
that kinda irks me.

> 
> It seems like adherents to this theory tend to pair off Ron with 
Hermione
> and then say, "ooh, what about Harry?  Oh, well, he can be with 
Ginny and
> then everyone's happy" (which, btw, *is* the "Harry Problem" that 
the
> R/H'ers insist doesn't exist -- pairing him off with Ginny (who's a
> sidelines character that we don't know much about at this point)
 because
> they've paired Hermione off with Ron).

I can't say for everyone, but you've completely missed the point with 
me, because I want Ginny and Harry together because I want them 
together, not because he can't be with Hermione.  I have no Harry 
problem.  I think he and Hermione are ill-suited (and as an aside, 
that Hermione and Ron would, as they mature, bring out the best in 
each other [see the Buckbeak incident that ended the 
Scabbers/Crookshanks argument]).  Ginny, while initially star-struck, 
was very cute and witty in her early pursuit of Harry (c'mon - you 
can't be a little moved by the fresh-pickled toad rhyme? It's 
adorable!).  And I think she has already matured quite a lot.  I have 
mentioned before her grace in the situation with Neville and the Yule 
Ball, and the way she comforted Ron after the Fleur incident.  She 
seems to be Hermione's closest girl friend, and Hermione's a pretty 
decent judge of character.  I think her experience with Riddle is 
going to end up being helpful to the gang in general at some point, 
as she probably knows some things about Voldemort's childhood self 
that nobody else really can. I don't think JKR would have wasted her 
time making Ginny the 'plot device' as somebody put it, in CoS if she 
didn't intend on using her in some significant way in the future, and 
I think she will be shown to be a good match for Harry.  It's a gut 
thing, and the happy family is a very cheerful, huge added bonus, in 
my opinion. 

> 
> > Are you saying that if there is some incarnation of the happy 
family
> > theory in the end, you will think less of JKR and no longer 
respect her
> > work?  I really do want to know - would it affect you that
> > way?
> 
> It would depend on how it was done (IMO).  I think it would be an 
amazing
> feat if she takes what she has said will become a darker, more 
complex
> series & then gives the whole thing a believable happy ending along 
the
> lines of One Big Happy Weasley Family.  I guess I sort of expect an 
ending
> that doesn't tie everything up entirely -- leaves some things to the
> reader's imagination.

Very possible, in fact probable, but it doesn't stop me from liking 
the idea, and it wouldn't stop me from being thrilled if she did it, 
nor do I think it would cheapen the story, as so many seem to think.

kimberly
the undescerning reader ;)