ADMIN: Denoting Opinions & Beliefs (versus canon facts); SHIP: Problems with the concept of G/H

[Penny & Bryce]

No: HPFGUIDX 35096

Hi all --

A brief ADMIN note on the subject of distinguishing one's opinions or 
hopes or beliefs from *facts.*  We do in fact strongly encourage and 
advise people to do this.  It's easy to add in a quick "IMO" or "I 
think" or "I believe" or "I hope."  Please don't assume that others will 
"know" that you're joking or making assumptions or stating opinions. 
Make it very clear!

When things are stated as bare fact (when in fact it was merely the 
poster's opinion or something the poster picked up in a fanfic), we 
expect that the statement came from canon or from JKR's pen or mouth. 
If you're quoting JKR, it's also extremely advisable to get the wording 
right & state your source (i.e., the Scholastic chat from Oct 2000).  If 
you don't, you can expect that any number of the regulars here will 
chime in & demand to know your source (and/or tell you that you've got 
the quote wrong).

Heidi wrote:

 
>  > 2. Married? Can I borrow the Ewwww acronym for this? Can we get an
>  > acronym which covers the issue of Why 16 Year Old Girls Should Not
>  > Be Married Or Even Engaged Even in the WIzarding World

I'll join that one!  More later on why I still can't understand this 
widespread but as-best-I-can-tell-unsubstantiated assumption that 
witches & wizards marry early and that all Hogwarts match-ups end up in 
marriage shortly after the couple leaves Hogwarts.

Devin wrote:


>Admittedly, friendships among siblings isn't
> the best sign to point to, but Ginny also seems to get along well
> with Hermione when they are together.  Having common friends, I find
> in real life, is a common enough precursor to a romantic
> relationship.

Yeah, except that the Trio actively & affirmatively excludes Ginny so 
far.  This might change in OOP, but for now, your theory is based on 
possibility rather than reality.  Ginny isn't part of the Trio.

> and see, but I think Rowling has set up some great romance fodder
> here, and I don't think she'll let my hopes/predictions down.

Ah, but some of us will be disappointed; JKR can't please *all* the 
shippers I don't think!  She would have to be a true magician to write 
something that made all the shippers happy on some level.  <g>

> 
Devin wrote:
>  > > My basic point of take-off for the H/G ship is in their common
>  > bond
>  > > in having encountered Riddle/Voldemort.  I note that it is not at
>  > all
>  > > the same thing to encounter Riddle as it is to encounter V.  Yet,
>  > I
>  > > say, the same person is certainly responsible for the worst
>  > portions
>  > > of each of their lives, and only they have come face-to-face with
>  > > dear old R/V and lived to tell the tale recently. 

Ginny didn't really come face-to-face with Riddle though.  "The last 
thing I remember was him coming out of the diary," she told Harry.  She 
was *unconscious* during the entire scene in the Chamber.  I've never 
bought this as a bond worthy of cementing a romantic relationship 
between Harry & Ginny (or as a starting point).  It's not like Ginny 
*did* anything to assist Harry .... Harry saved her life (so there's a 
bond on *those* grounds), but it's not like feisty little Ginny took on 
Riddle, fighting alongside Harry.  <g>


> I note also that you don't counter my belief that they have a common bond in
> stamina, understanding, and kindness (good bases for relationships if
> I ever heard any).  

Stamina?  She succumbed completely in the Chamber.  Understanding and 
kindness?  Lots of people are understanding listeners & kind 
individuals.  IMHO, we don't know enough about Ginny to judge what sort 
of partner she might be for Harry.  All we know is she has puppy love or 
a crush on him; he, by contrast, has never given her a second glance.


> One more thing, doesn't it seem to anyone else that in this world,
> marriages seem to happen pretty early and out of Hogwarts?  James and
> Lily were so YOUNG to be married and have a year-old child.

How do you know how old they were when they married?  How old they were 
when they had Harry?  Did they date anyone else or were they Hogwarts 
sweethearts who married shortly after finishing their studies?  Did they 
date at Hogwarts, break off & then get together several years after they 
left Hogwarts (both having dated others in the interim)?  We don't know 
any of these things for certain.

> Arthur and Molly are a Hogwarts marriage.

Again, we don't know if they only dated each other at Hogwarts, we don't 
know if they dated others after they left Hogwarts, we don't know when 
they married each other.  Too many unknowns!

Penny