SHIP: Ginny/Harry, Remus/Tonks, and RL experiences

[Frances Marie]

No: HPFGUIDX 136287


> Del replies:
> This definitely shows that the readers' experience accounts for a 
lot
> in how they understand a romance that is little developed.
> 
> Harry/Ginny: many people have said that they enjoyed being able to
> project their own experience of teen romance on that ship. I, on 
the
> other hand, hated not being told more about them, because I have 
*no*
> teen romance experience to project on the ship, so it just feels 
empty
> to me. JKR provided an outline: some were able to fill it in 
because
> they knew from experience what the whole picture looks like, but I 
was
> unable to fill it in because I have no idea what the picture is
> supposed to look like. I am left with only the worthless, empty 
outline.



Fran:  
I can kinda see the need to have "experience" in order to 
fill in the gaps; however, I don't think it's necessary for readers 
to have had a teenage romance in order to understand Harry and 
Ginny.  If I was any character from the books as a teenager, it 
would be either Luna or Snape; however, when I read the scene where 
Harry comes back from detention and sees Ginny--and just kisses her 
because she had that "blazing" look in her eyes/on her face, it 
worked for me.  Not because as a teenager, I had a romance like 
that; nor because I've kissed anyone like that upon seeing a 
particular "blazing" look on their face (not that I'd be against it; 
I just haven't).  Heck, I can't say any of my relationships have 
panned out so well that I could relate it to any of the 
relationships in the books--maybe I'm gifted and have a vivid 
imagination.

I didn't NEED for Harry to have been pining for Ginny for three 
books for this to make sense--because I truly believe it can occur 
to you one day that, hey, I do love her/him.  You refuse to accept 
it because it's taboo for one reason or another: she's my friend's 
sister; he's my best friend; etc.  I can believe he realizes that he 
won't be able to see her whenever--because they are in different 
classes, different grades, and she's dating someone else--and it 
bothers him.  I can see where he realizes he loves her truly--and 
it's not necessary to have the stomach pains of anxiety that came 
with dating Cho.  And it's not like he's not attracted to her.  His 
nighttime dreams where he's very glad Ron can't do Occlumens is 
rather apparent that the scenerios weren't probably PG.

And if you still don't care for them as a couple because Ginny isn't 
likeable because she's a "hothead"--bear in mind, so is Harry.  They 
should understand each other completely--since he was practically 
unbearable in OotP.  If she's sarcastic and irreverent (if her 
imitations are anything to go by), she's not the only one.  Ron is 
frequently both; as is Harry; and as is Hermione (though she doesn't 
necessarily do imitations--she IS sarcastic and can unman a young 
man at 10 paces if he doesn't watch himself).

Don't generalize that the only people who can get H/G together are 
those who had "the experience".  Some of us get it just fine, 
regardless of experience.


Fran.