Harry and Hermione (WAS Harry and Women)

[frankielee242]

No: HPFGUIDX 41402


Darrin wrote:
> The books are far too chaste for such real world vulgarities as the 
> Virgin/Whore theory.

I agree-- the kids are... kids. Besides, wasn't the Virgin/Whore
theory debunked?
 
> Witness the Percy/Penelope relationship. Percy, a 16-year-old, is 
> upset because he is caught KISSING his girlfriend. How Victorian can 
> you get???

Actually, I thought Percy's sneaking around and getting upset over
Ginny catching him with Penelope (CoS) was based in the fear of what
Fred and George would do when they found out. They were darn gleefull
when they did, too (CoS). Neither one of the twins are embarrassed or
"victorian" about the prospect of dating (GoF).

> Girls moving in school hallways in packs IS TRUE! Some feminists just 
> can't remember being adolescents.

EVERYONE in high school moves in a pack. The geeks for safety in
numbers, the jocks for strength in numbers, the drama and choir kids
for a few minutes of extra rehearsal, the juvenile delinquents for the
odds-- it's hard to bust an entire group for something before they
scatter.

Gents, I'm gonna let y'all in on a little secret. Women go to the
bathroom in groups to talk about you. And try on each other's shoes,
touch up the ol' lipstick, eyeliner and mascara, straighten pantihose,
go through each other's purses and make cell phone calls to people who
haven't shown up yet or left early. And at some point to actually pee.
Sometimes even feminists walk the school halls and go to the bathroom
in groups.

> The one real hint of sexuality we get (and not the homoerotic 
> nonsense put forward because Harry had to rescue Ron) is what was 
> going on in the bushes after the dance. 

Oh LORD. At fourteen, my best friend would have been tied to that
statue in the lake, too. I want no part of any discussion speculating
why Fleur had to rescue her sister, if people are thinking that way.
These are KIDS we're talking about, folks!!  Of course Cedric and
Victor rescued their girlfriends-- the first real "love of your life"
is one helluvan all-consuming roller-coaster ride from hell. Remember?
 
> Heh-heh... I bet Snape VOLUNTEERED for that job, the little pervert.

Hadn't thought of that.  ;}  I thought he was just trying to get away
from Karkarof and took the opportunity to take points off the other
houses. He seems to be the sort of authority figure (when it comes to
his own house) who employs the "don't ask, don't tell" and "anything I
didn't see didn't happen" concepts. If he did volunteer, it would be a
good place to get out of socializing with the other staff members,
though. Oh, to be a fly on the wall of the Hogwarts Staff Room... you
can't shut a mixed group of adults in a remote castle for the better
part of a year without SOME intrigue.

(Here I must apologize for thinking in the way Darrin got annoyed with
people above. At my urban, 1,500 student senior high school (ages
14-17) there was a bit of student folklore that said "If a virgin ever
graduates, the watertower will collapse and you don't want anyone to
drown, do you?" I bet Slytherin house would have a similar story... )

> Watching Hermione's slow and subtle growth from almost genderless 
> extra buddy to complicated young woman has been a joy to watch. She 
> is not only brainy, but she's self-aware.
> Anyone that says these girls are unrealistic -- and that Ron's 
> behavior, Harry's fear of asking girls to the dance and the 
> general "ewww...girls" of the early books is some psychobabble theory 
> doesn't remember that age.

What I enjoy most about all of the books is that JKR has perfectly
captured the mindset of children that each age!!  Fourteen-year-old
girls are far more mature than fourteen-year-old boys. In the next
three books I hope we'll see Harry and Ron finally catch up to
Hermione and Ginny. Watching them all grow up is one of best parts of
these stories.
 

Frankie, who remembers quite clearly, thank you, and never wants to be
seventeen again.

PS. Sort of off-topic-- Through the links on a English/American slang
dictionary site I found a funny, funny site called Playground Law that
people have sent schoolyard memories to. If anyone wants the link,
just let me know.