Losing Sirius - supporting Penny

[lrcjestes at earthlink.net]

No: HPFGUIDX 20813

--- In HPforGrownups at y..., "Amy Z" <aiz24 at h...> wrote:

> Nah.  Pile on the angst!  However, speaking of tragedy, I do draw 
the 
> line at killing Sirius.  Is there something personal going on here, 
I 
> wonder?  I am so drawn to Harry's parent issues that you'd think 
I'd 
> lost =my= parents in infancy.  My dad did come very close to dying 
> when I was only in my 20's, so maybe the thought of Sirius dying 
> pushes some buttons.  I know Harry's going to suffer in the next 
three 
> books, and in my perverse way I'm looking forward to it, but 
Sirius . 
> . . that would be so cruel.

I agree...and not just because Sirius is my favorite...glances 
around...REALLY.  JKR has begun to allow Harry to rely on Sirius as a 
mentor and a father figure.  Would she be so cruel as to tear that 
away again?  He is just beginning to trust adults and go to them for 
help.  I'm counting on her compassion for Harry to keep Sirius alive.


Penny wrote:

> Gasp!!  When Harry met Sally is my favorite romantic comedy, 
<snip>  I also strongly believe that 
> friendship is the foundation for a solid marriage.  My husband is 
my best 
> friend.  So ... that does no doubt influence my perceptions of 
shipping.   
> Ron & Hermione are friends too, but their bickering (the tensions 
as you 
> say) is really off-putting to me.  I can't fathom a relationship 
like that.
> 

I just have to creep out of lurkdom and support Penny on this one.  I 
was best friends with my hubby before it ever turned into romance.  
We palled around together in college.  He helped me through physics, 
I got him through a geology elective.  We were buddies for quite 
awhile before we ever kissed.  For those who haven't experienced that 
I can see why H/H does not have the appeal.  But for those of us who 
*have* experienced its very powerful.  You know this person really 
well.  You really really like him or her.  When the paradigm suddenly 
shifts and something makes you think about romance with this person, 
all those uncertainties are already resolved.  When that first kiss 
does come, its not like kissing a brother.  Its just so right.

> <<<I suppose I also simply do not, at this point, see any
> tensions between Harry and Hermione the way I see tensions between 
Ron
> and Hermione.  I'd like to see their relationship (friendship or
> otherwise) be developed a bit more, though, because I am still not
> sure why they appear to be attracted to each other (Ron doesn't seem
> like my type at all).>>>
> 
> I take it from your last comment that you identify with Hermione?  
So many 
> of us do.  Maybe we're projecting which boy we'd choose?  :--)  
Again, I 
> fail to see why "tensions" in a relationship are necessary; in 
fact, I don't 
> see them as a good thing at all.  Maybe it's just me. :::shrugs:::
> 

Hollywood and romance novels have led a lot of people to believe that 
a relationship is not intense without tension, fighting, anger, 
resistance, and spats.  A relationship can be very intense even if 
you agree on a lot of major issues.  Passion does not have to derive 
from anger or spats.  We aren't used to seeing relationships without 
spats, because it wouldn't be dramatic enough to hold a viewer, but 
it does exist.  In fact I venture to suggest that it exists far more 
often than Hollywood would allow us to believe.  Passion without that 
tension is really very pleasant and not in the least boring. 

I was a confirmed no-shipper before reading a certain H/H fanfic, 
which wholeheartedly converted me, but I really think any long term 
relationships will not be settled in canon.  I agree with Magda when 
she wrote:

> Once JKR gets the Trio out of Hogwarts
> they can meet other people and broaden their horizons.
> 
> It would be a very claustrophobic thing if they were paired off with
> people they've known since they were all 11 years old.

The only trouble is that JKR has said she will not write post-
Hogwarts.  That's why there is fanfic.

carole