Harry's protection

[Hannah]

No: HPFGUIDX 113053

Neri <nkafkafi at y...> wrote:
<snip>
> I also don't like Heart, Humanity, Life, Hope and all that kind of 
> > stuff. I think JKR is not a symbolist. She writes an adventure 
> > story, not an allegory. 
> > Therefore, IMO the power-behind-the-locked-door will turn out to 
> > be some magical power that JKR invented. 
<snip>

Kneasy wrote:
> Interesting reasoning, and I can see it as just the sort of thing 
> JKR would do. If it does turn out so, I might just be able to bear 
> it, depending on how it's presented in the story. 
> 
> But if, by my standards, a tidal wave of yuck sloshes through the
> plot-line, then I shall feel compelled to inflict an alternative 
> offering on the members 
<snip>

Hannah now: I don't think there will be a 'tidal wave of yuck' (what 
a great turn of phrase :-) ).  JKR has never resorted to this 
before, even when dealing with very emotional topics (deaths of 
Lily, James, Cedric and Sirius, for instance).  The emotional stuff 
in Harry Potter is much more effective because it is portrayed in a 
subtle, understated way.  JKR never lets it descend into mush.  

Take that very powerful scene in GoF, where Molly hugs    
traumatised!Harry.  Just as Harry is about to burst into tears, 
Hermione swats Rita and the emotional bit ends abruptly.  It would 
have been all to easy for JKR to allow us to wallow for a few pages 
in misery, with tears, recriminations, Harry sobbing into his 
pillow, Sirius howling at the ceiling, Molly covering him with 
kisses and assuring him that she loves him etc, etc.  But she 
doesn't.  And it's more realistic and effective for that.

Another example is PoA.  In the forbidden media version, the ending 
(and parts of the middle) descends into mawkish sentiment, with 
Sirius and Harry gazing into each other's eyes and delivering pretty 
yucky lines.  JKR could have written exactly the same thing in the 
book.  But she didn't, instead producing a much tighter, more 
exciting ending, which doesn't lack emotional impact, but doesn't 
make you want to throw up either.

JKR deals with difficult issues and painful topics, but her 
cleverness lies in mixing these with the mundane, and plenty of 
humour.  It's one of things that make them fantastic books.  Even if 
love is the redemptive power that will overcome LV, it's going to be 
combined with some exciting battles, good jokes, and hopefully not 
too many vomit-inducing scenes.
Hannah