Reasons for Patronus change/ A little about JKR and romance

[Lynda Cordova]

No: HPFGUIDX 135799

CathyD wrote

JKR did not say (it was part 2 of the interview) that the romance between Tonks and Lupin was a red herring. What she said was: " I've used that on Percy and I've used that to a degree on Tonks in this book, as a red herring. But having said that, I disagree inasmuch as mine are very character-driven books, and it's so important, therefore, that we see these characters fall in love, which is a necessary part of life. How did you feel about the romance?"

Throughout most of the book we were let believe Tonks was in love with Sirius, upset about Sirius' death, the change in her patronus, and that perhaps Mrs. Weasley wanted Tonks at the Burrow to come between Bill and Fleur. JKR wanted us to get the idea that something was wrong with Tonks, that she'd been Imperiused or that who we were seeing as Tonks was really someone Polyjuiced to look like Tonks. That was the red herring in this case, she truly is in love with Lupin. However, and perhaps JKR doesn't know she did it, back in Order of the Phoenix, whenever we see Tonks being clumsy, tripping over the troll leg, knocking over chairs, breaking the plate at the Dursleys, she's always within about 20 feet of Remus.

Lynda says:

I was surprised while reading HBP at the apparent depression that Tonks was feeling over Sirius death, not that the death of a relative in a manner which is extremely violent does not and should not cause deep grieving, but because to me, it was obvious from OOtP that Tonks was in love with Lupin.  She's overly clumsy in his presence, hangs around him as much as possible,etc.  So when her patronus changed, and characters were speculating that it might be a dog, I thought, "a dog, yeah, maybe--but couldn't it be a werewolf?  She was interested in Lupin.  I know she was from the context of the last book."

Also, just a bit here on the romantic relationships throughout the books.  If you think about it, there's not a lot of romance in the books at all.  Its nearly all outside the text.  There are no tender scenes between the Dursleys.  Although Arthur and Molly have a loving relationship almost nothing physical is shown between them.  Hermione and Viktor go out together, as do Ginny and Michael Corner and then Ginny and Dean, but with the exception of the snogging in HBP, almost nothing is shown.  Of course, we were treated to a little of Harry's burgeoning feelings for Cho in the last two books, but even there, not much beyond the physical attraction and some rather awkward small talk.  Even Percy and Penelope and Bill and Fleur and handled mostly outside the text, although I loved the final scene with Fleur and the Weasleys.

 

Lynda