The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly (Was: Book 6 &7 clichés)

[Campbell, Anne-TMC-Rcvg]

No: HPFGUIDX 91320


Kitten wrote:
<< In the next upcoming books, what would be the most horrible, mind  
numbing, clichés that JKR could write? What would bring you to your 
knees, while you yell from pure joy? >>

Well, just couldn't keep my mouth shut here, although I added another category--'The Ugly'--IE plot cliché's that would be good but also make you twinge, either because it will hurt to read, of if it's handled wrong, it'll be...well, bad...

Anyhow...

THE GOOD

(I agree with)
 
An Interesting, complex, "Good Slytherin" {Kitten and Siguine} I'm also getting a bit tired of the 'All Slytherin are bad/nasty/unfriendly' etc. If Rowling really is trying to beat the 'don't-believe-in-stereotypes horse' to a well-deserved death, here's one of the best places to start!

Any other house besides Gryffindor winning the House Cup. {Kitten and Siguine again} I would LOVE to see the Hufflepuffs get it--I mean, geez, they're everybody's chew toy....

Snape becoming Headmaster of Hogwarts somewhere in the future. {Siguine's--I have to admit this one just makes me grin gleefully!} I wonder if he would surpass Phineas as "Hogwarts Least Liked Headmaster"....heh

Harry ending up with a minor character like Susan Bones, Just NOT Hermione, Ginny, or Luna. {Kitten}  Although I'm not really big on SHIPS, I find I have to agree with this. I'm all for Harry having a happy ending, but I doubt ANY girl is in his immediate future. Maybe someday, when this is all over and he's had a few years to recover, but I doubt it will happen in view of the audience (Unless Rowling does a 'what happened to them' rundown at the end of book 7), but even then, I see him with someone...else.

Okay, some of my own 'goods'....

I admit, I want to see a vampire, since Rowling keeps threatening us with one (although her 'vampires' might be the Dementors, actually...which means we've all missed the boat...). Of course, though, I DON'T want to see an 'obvious' vampire (Look below under 'BAD'...^^;)

Remus getting his rights as a human re-instated so he can quit living like a vagrant and get a real job, a real home of his own...maybe even a wife...er...life....^^;
 
Umbridge getting more than the slap on the wrist she'd had so far--I would even be glad to see that she WAS a DE, or at least a Voldy supporter...after all, where did she learn that Unforgivable...and where did she get that pen?!

Snape being 'proven' once and for all, to be one of the 'good guys'. Okay, he might be a selfish, bastardly, self-interested good guy, but still a good guy. I still hold to the old adage 'Not everyone who craps on you is your enemy'

Everyone actually living through the last two books. Don't know if that's in the works, but hey, we can always hope.



THE BAD...
 
Snape as a traitor, actually setting up Dumbly for a fall, or a vampire. Needless to say, I agree on all three. Not to mention that the mere IDEA of any one of the stereotypes he's been pushed into so far because of his mannerisms, dress, attitude give me the hives.

Cuddly!Draco, DE!Draco, Redeemed!Draco. The kid has a 'tude that's likely to rival Snape's someday--but that doesn't automatically equate 'bad'. By the same token, the kid is not exactly an angel, although I don't think he has what it takes to become a DE....

Any other of the Snape 'stereotypes' being followed through on. (Spasms)

A sudden 180 of Snape's attitude...it's what the man is, guys. Love him or leave him...just don't brainwash him (Shudders at the thought of things such as Romantic!Snape, Cuddly!Snape. Running-Through-the-Feild-Of-Flowers!Towards-His-True-Love!Snape, etc). This isn't a literary remake of Invasion of the Bodysnatchers...I think...^^;

Anyone coming back from the dead (I don't include Sirius as 'dead', BTW). If I want this kind of plot, I'll go invade my Lucas/Spielberg/James Cameron (Abyss) movies....^^;

Snape being anyone's long lost relative (**Heavy, respirated breathing** "Luke....I am your father, Luke.....")

Lily (or James) being related to Voldemort/Tom Riddle/Mark Evans....(See above snarky comment ^^;)
 
Harry being permanently 'crippled' by all of this. He's been resilient so far....Dead Harry would also be a bit clichéd, and make me spaz.

Harry 'stooping' to DE levels...I'm not for the "Love will take care of it" scenario either, but this isn't a Japanese anime we're reading (The only time I understand rooting for the hero when he goes on a vengeful killing spree--why? Because it's part of the culture. A big part), so using your enemies ways against him isn't cool. I don't mind if he HAS to kill Voldy (which is a distinct possibility), but I will find Rowling and force feed her her own book if it comes down to Harry throwing an Unforgivable and screaming "SEE HOW IT FEELS VOLDEMORT?!"
 

THE UGLY:

Dumbly dying. Although it would be a good plot device, and there are good reasons to remove the man {Harry needing to stand on his own two feet and poor Dumbly being an old man being two of the most practical reasons}, it would still sting....a lot more than any of the deaths thus far in the books...

Any other house besides Gryffindor winning the House Cup, they can't possibly win all the time. {Kitten and Siguine again} I put this here too. Why? Well, I don't know if anyone has noticed, but other then in book 5...Harry has been on the team the whole time they've been winning. NO offence to the 'hero'...but....um...well, I think you know what I'm getting at...

Snape and Harry finally understanding each other. No sappy junk...just understanding. A little respect...and the ability to talk to each other civilly and mean it.

Sirius returning from behind the Veil (Although I would lean more towards "BAD" for this one)

Sirius being a Vampire (Poetic Justice for a man who so vehemently is 'against' the Dark Arts and its creatures--give him a little understanding, and maybe he and Snape will quit sniping at each other...well, quit sniping at each other quite so much...^^;)

Ron and Hermione SHIP....about the only SHIP I see happening....

One or more of the mysterious 'mates' of the teachers being a DE or otherwise evil (or a past victim of the same).

Snape having a 'tragic loss' (which might explain his joining the DE and/or turning away from them) in his past. Of course, this is SO cliché that likely we'll all retch reading it the first time, no matter how well Rowling might write it...lol.

Mark Evans being more then just a red herring...as long as he's more than just a 'long lost relative'....

Harry defeating Voldemort single-handedly. It'll be one thing if he and old Moldy go it mano-a-mano in the final battle, but if Harry pulls a 'superdude' number and takes on all the DE by himself (and wins), I'll be peeved. He better have some help...significant help....

Anne