Dallas Theory - Shipping

[brwneil]

No: HPFGUIDX 133249

Dallas Theory

Since finishing the book, I, like most of you, have been reading what 
others think about it.
1.  H/Hr fans are upset, some so greatly that they claim to have 
given up on the HP series.
2.  R/Hr fans are quite happy.  They wish there had been kissing, but 
otherwise are on cloud nine except for Ron's actions toward 
Lavender.  Many feel it was too much.
3.  H/G fans don't know quite what to feel. Suddenly it was there and 
just as suddenly over.
4.  Overall most fans feel the shipping was poorly written.  You felt 
more lust than love Ex.  Harry and Ginny just seemed to happen.  No 
sign of it in book five, no build up in this book.  Just suddenly 
Harry looked at her and was in love.
5.  Characters seemed out of character, especially Hermione.


The Dallas theory addresses all these problems.  The name of the 
theory comes from an old television show that I never saw.  One of 
the stars quit and was written out of the show.  After being absent a 
season he was rehired, problem was that his character had been killed 
off.  Now this was not a sci-fi or fantasy show so the character 
couldn't be simply brought back to life.  The writers decided to have 
his wife wake up and hear him in the shower.  She had dreamed his 
death and also the whole previous season of the show.  What a get 
around.  Fans weren't pleased. 

I don't expect JKR to say book six didn't occur.  It did and 
everything that happened actually came to pass, but the Dallas theory 
believes that some actions that took place were love potion induced.  
You can stop reading now if you want, but I wish you'd hear me out.

Actually I found the trio to all be quite in character until we 
reached page 183 and the first potion lesson.

"It's Amortentia. It's the most powerful love potion in the world. 

it's supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what 
attracts us, and I can smell freshly mown grass and new parchment and—
"

And I feel something that was characteristic to Ron because Hermione 
seems fine for a while, but then seems to have trouble concentrating 
when they start working on their potions.  

"Amortentia doesn't really create love, of course. 
It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love.  No, this will 
simply cause a powerful infatuation or obsession.  It is probably the 
most dangerous and powerful potion in the room."

They chose the one nearest a gold-colored cauldron that was emitting 
one of the most seductive scents Harry had ever inhaled:  Somehow it 
reminded him simultaneously of treacle tart, the woody smell of a 
broomstick handle, and something flowery he thought he might have 
smelled at the Burrow.  He found that he was breathing very slowly 
and deeply and that the potion's fumes seemed to be filling him up 
like a drink.  A great contentment stole over him; he grinned across 
at Ron, who grinned back lazily.

I think the potion is much more powerful than Slughorn realizes and 
that from this point on, all three will be affected, but only if they 
come in contact with one of the scents they smelled.

We as readers are accustomed to potions that wear off quickly.  To 
accept this theory you must be willing to accept that this potion 
lasts months perhaps forever if not canceled out.

The first example of Hermione greatly out of character is when she 
helps Ron to make the Quidditch.  Hermione does not cheat and would 
probably feel Ron better off with the extra study time. 

Now over night Harry gets the hots for Ginny and Ron, who supposedly 
loves Hermione, starts kissing sessions with Lavender Brown.  I don't 
know what either smells like at the present time, but I'm sure at 
some point Harry refers to Ginny smelling like flowers at the Burrow.

Ron, despite hating Lavender's Christmas present continues to see her 
until he eats the Chocolate Cauldrons and suddenly can't stop 
thinking about Romilda Vane.  Then after being cured and poisoned, he 
wakes up saying Er-my-nee.  From that point on he wants nothing to do 
with Lavender.

I know some of you don't want to believe love potions, but don't let 
your ship or personal feelings sway you.  Actually, as far as 
shipping goes, this is a plus for R/Hr's because it means Ron was not 
cheating on the girls he claims to love.  Hermione is obviously happy 
when Ron breaks up with Lav.  We don't know if this is potion or true 
feelings or a combination of both 

Accept for Harry and Ginny breaking up, we don't have much to do with 
the ships anymore.  Ron and Hermione sit together at the funeral, but 
that isn't the time or place for passion.

Now lets look at the points listed at the beginning.

If this was all love potion than ships remain as they were in book 
5.  Nothing gained, nothing lost.  H/G most certainly isn't ruled 
out; actually if it is to happen, it will now seem more believeable. 
The big point to me is that if they were under the influence of a 
potion then the shipping was not written poorly, but instead, exactly 
as it should have been.  Also, we have a reason why are characters 
were at times acting out of character.  The trio was all under the 
influence of the potion.  

Other reasons I believe the Dallas theory.  It puts all the ships 
back into play.  Say what she may, Rowling does not want to lose any 
readers, Scholastic doesn't want to lose any customers and WB doesn't 
want its up coming movie affected.  I believe that if this theory 
doesn't become popular by the time the movie is ready to screen, 
Rowling will actually come forth and say something to the affect that 
the characters weren't acting fully of their own accord.

So where does this leave us if you accept my theory.  Well, ship wise 
about where we were at the end of book 5 except for two things that 
may or may not be important.  One is that Ron says Luna is growing on 
him.  The other I find more distressing.  Ron seems to have developed 
a jealousy of Harry. He doesn't like when Harry or Hermione do or say 
nice things to each other.  I'm afraid there may be trouble a head 
for the trio.  

Thanks for taking the time to read.
Neil