[HPforGrownups] Re: "A Little Romance"

[Erika L.]

No: HPFGUIDX 93797

Robert Jones wrote:
>In her recent interview, JKR was asked >if Harry would fall for 
>another girl or would be too busy for >romance?  She answered 
>that "he'll be busy but what is life >without a little romance?"  But 
>I doubt romance will be a prominent part >of Book 6, and shippers who 
>analyze each syllable for clues are >going to disappointed.  JKR will 
>pay a lot more attention to the plot >about LV and make romance a 
>minor side issue at best.  These aren't >teenage romance novels, 
>afterall.  So there will be little >romance.

First of all, I'd like to say that I agree that romance will only play a minor role in book six. But here's the shocking part... I am a shipper and I will _not_ be disappointed by the relegation of romance to the level of sub-plot or sidenote.

I really believe it is unfair to imply that shippers are only looking for romance in the books. No, the books aren't teenage romance novels and I wouldn't be interested in reading them if they were; I think many other self-professed shippers would say the same. The fact that some people enjoy discussing, for example, the Vampire!Snape theory does not mean they want the books to turn into Anne Rice novels. Likewise, the fact that some people enjoy shipping and tend to "analyze each syllable for clues" does not mean they want the books transmuted into romance novels.

Joj wrote:

>The question is will it be a little side >plot, or will it play an important part >in the overall plot?  Will jealousies >and misunderstandings change things?  I >think there will be some sort of >triangle between the trio that will >impact the overall plot.

That's certainly possible. There are several scenarios that could play out which would lead to another temporary breakup of the trio as in books two and three. But it could also be that romance will be more important on the level of character development than plot development. After all, Harry's relationship with Cho in OoP didn't impact on the plot at all, but I think it was still an important element of the story. If nothing else, it showed in a very tangible way the impact Voldemort has already had in the short time since his return. Cho and Harry are both damaged by Cedric's death even though Cho, much like Cedric was, is only an innocent bystander in all this.

    So really I don't think whatever romance we see in future books has to take a central, or even plot-related, role to be interesting. As has been said, the novels are not romances. And I for one wouldn't have it any other way ;)

Best
Erika (Wolfraven)
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