CHAPDISC: DH, EPILOGUE

[kneazlecat54]

No: HPFGUIDX 185518

<snip>
> Carol responds:
> 
<snip> I agree that JKR had another purpose, which I take to be
> moving forward to the next generation to show Harry being what he's
> always wanted to be, Just Harry, a happily married family man with
> normal kids who somewhat resemble him and Ginny, along with his
> happily married best friends and their children. She gives us a
> glimpse of Hogwarts, letting us know that in many respects its still
> what it was when we originally became enchanted by it, and yet 
there's hope for a reconciliation with Slytherin that did not exist 
when Harry entered the school... <snip>.

Laura says:

Carol, I wish I could share your optimism about student relations at 
Hogwarts, but I suspect that more parents share Ron's attitude than 
Harry's.  I'd be less pessimistic if JKR had shown more Slytherins in 
the Battle of Hogwarts, but one Slughorn doesn't compensate for the 
rest of the house deserting the school as quickly as they were able.  
No Slytherin parents participated either, except for Narcissa Malfoy, 
and she did the least possible to find out whether her son was alive.  
There will still be too many orphaned children at Hogwarts for the 
school to be truly at peace.  
> > 
> > 2. One of the complaints about the epilogue is that it is
> heteronormative.  Is that a fair critique?
> 
> Carol responds:
<snip>JKR was writing for her own satisfaction. I doubt that she gave 
even a passing thought to what critics who use words like 
"heteronormative" would think of her books.

Laura says:

Sure, but outing DD after canon was closed raises the whole subject.  
If she'd never said anything, there would be no reason to ask it, 
other than the reason that always exists.  But once she opened the 
issue, it's fair to ask where the rest of the gay wizards and witches 
are. 
> 
> > 3. James and Albus have very low opinions of Slytherin House,
> despite their parents' attempt to teach them otherwise.  They are
> firmly attached to Gryffindor.  What, then, do you think has changed
> in the relations among houses and the reputations of the various
> houses in nineteen years?
> 
> Carol responds:
><snip>It isn't as bad as it was. Even with Ron's teasing, it's
> likely that little Scorpius will get along better with Albus Severus
> and Rose than Draco did with Harry and Hermione. And their children,
> perhaps, may even be friends.

Laura says:

Again, I think you're overly optimistic.  The kids will know very well 
who the bad guys were in the 2nd war.  I have no reason to believe 
that the Slytherins of Draco's generation are repentant, and their 
kids will have absorbed that attitude.  

<snips remainder>

Thanks, Carol!