Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince

BehrHunter · Post by **BehrHunter** » Wed Jul 20, 2005 10:21 pm

I agree!

Hermione belongs with Won-Won

Hahahahaha! I love that nickname!

Post by **bistyboo1974** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 7:58 am

OK, I hope all of the H/Hr 'shippers who are still clinging to an ounce of hope need to read part deux of the TLC/MuggleNet interview with Jo:

MA: How much fun did you have with the romance in this book?

JKR: Oh, loads. Doesn't it show?

MA: Yes.

JKR: There's a theory - this applies to detective novels, and then Harry, which is not really a detective novel, but it feels like one sometimes – that you should not have romantic intrigue in a detective book. Dorothy L. Sayers, who is queen of the genre said — and then broke her own rule, but said — that there is no place for romance in a detective story except that it can be useful to camouflage other people’s motives. That's true; it is a very useful trick. 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?

[Melissa puts her thumbs up and grins widely while…]

ES: We were hi-fiving the whole time.

JKR: [laughs] Yes! Good. I'm so glad.

MA: We were running back and forth between rooms yelling at each other.

ES: We thought it was clearer than ever that Harry and Ginny are an item and Ron and Hermione — although we think you made it painfully obvious in the first five books —

JKR: [points to herself and whispers] So do I!

ES: What was that?

JKR: [More loudly] Well so do I! So do I!

[All laugh; Melissa doubles over, hysterical, and may have died.]

ES: Harry/Hermione shippers - they're delusional!

JKR: Well no, I'm not going to - Emerson, I am not going to say they're delusional! They are still valued members of my readership! I am not going to use the word delusional. I am however, going to say — now I am trusting both of you to do the spoiler thing when you write this up —

[More laughter.]

JKR: I will say, that yes, I personally feel - well it's going to be clear once people have read book six. I mean, that’s it. It’s done, isn’t it? We know. Yes, we do now know that it's Ron and Hermione. I do feel that I have dropped heavy -

[All crack up]

JKR: - hints. ANVIL-sized, actually, hints, prior to this point. I certainly think even if subtle clues hadn't been picked up by the end of “Azkaban,” that by the time we hit Krum in Goblet...

But Ron — I had a lot of fun with that in this book. I really enjoyed writing the Ron/Lavender business, and the reason that was enjoyable was Ron up to this point has been quite immature compared to the other two and he kind of needed to make himself worthy of Hermione. Now, that didn't mean necessarily physical experience but he had to grow up emotionally and now he's taken a big step up. Because he's had the meaningless physical experience - let’s face it, his emotions were never deeply engaged with Lavender -

[Much laughter in which Melissa emits a "Won-Won"]

JKR: - and he's realized that that is ultimately not what he wants, which takes him a huge emotional step forward.

ES: So he's got a little bit more than a teaspoon, now there’s a tablespoon?

JKR: Yeah, I think. [Laughter]

MA: Watching all this, were you surprised when you first logged on and found this intense devotion to this thing that you knew was not going to happen?

JKR: Yes. Well, you see, I'm a relative newcomer to the world of shipping, because for a long time, I didn't go on the net and look up Harry Potter. A long time. Occasionally I had to, because there were weird news stories or something that I would have to go and check, because I was supposed to have said something I hadn’t said. I had never gone and looked at fan sites, and then one day I did and oh - my - god. Five hours later or something, I get up from the computer shaking slightly [all laugh]. ‘What is going on?’ And it was during that first mammoth session that I met the shippers, and it was a most extraordinary thing. I had no idea there was this huge underworld seething beneath me.

ES: She’s putting it into a positive light!

JKR: Well I am, I am, but you know. I want to make it clear that delusional is your word and not mine! [Much laughter.]

MA: You're making our lives a lot easier by laying it on the table -

JKR: Well I think anyone who is still shipping Harry/Hermione after this book -

ES: [whispered] Delusional!

JKR: Uh - no! But they need to go back and reread, I think.

ES: Thank you.

JKR: Yeah.

Er, THAT ought to clear things up for them!

Believer · Post by **Believer** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 3:50 pm

I admit that for book 1 and 2 that I wanted Harry and Hermione together because it just seemed that the two of them were closer and seemed more comfortable together than Hermione and Ron did. Like in Book 1 when ron was making fun of how hermione always knew the answer in class and she over heard him making fun of her... it was harry that was worried that she ran off obviously upset. And it was Harry that was worried that Hermione didn't know about the troll. He remembered her being missing when everyone was in a state of panic. Then in book 2 when Hermione was un-petrified... the first thing she did was run up to harry and give him a big hug, but an akward hand shake to ron. And I thought that naturally Harry being our hero deserves the girl.

But then around the third book I was worried that if Harry and Hermione got together ron would feel like the third wheel and his self esteem would be even lower than it was. I mean he was already known as "Harry Potter's best friend". And While Harry could have any girl he choose because of his popularity, Ron always had a harder time getting girls to look at him because they were too busy swooning over harry. Hermione was the only one that acted normal around harry (not counting the older girls). I felt that the only real chance ron had with a girl at Hogwarts at the time would be Hermione. I thought that for ron's sake maybe harry should be put with another girl.

As the books progressed I noticed the casual side comments that ron would make... being sincerly impressed by Hermione's intelligence. His extreme jealousy of Victor in book 4. I was slowly but surly brought into the comfortable idea of Ron and Hermione being a couple. I knew that Harry would never feel like a third wheel... He was too busy saving the wizarding world to notice. Ron and Hermione together just felt right. And that is how I became a Ron and Hermione supporter. :D

-Brittni aka vixen007

P.S. Though the harry and ginny coupling, I thought, came out of left field in book 6 I think it fits. Harry needs a strongwilled girlfriend. Someone who can look past the hype and see harry for the humanbeing that he is. Can see that he gets scared at times too and needs someone to comfort him, to lean on, to support him and understand that he has a dangerous destiny and needs a partner, his equal, not a girl that will get upset with him because he missed their date due to an encounter with dementors! He needs someone that will hit him upside the head for falling for such an obvious trap!

BehrHunter · Post by **BehrHunter** » Thu Jul 21, 2005 9:41 pm

Harry needs a strongwilled girlfriend. Someone who can look past the hype and see harry for the humanbeing that he is. Can see that he gets scared at times too and needs someone to comfort him, to lean on, to support him

Couldn't have said it better myself! :D

Applebylicious · Post by **Applebylicious** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:47 am

Okay, after reading that interview...LMFAO! Has anyone bothered posting that on the Auror thread at Fanforum?? Because they're still over there coming up with theories of how their ship isn't completely sunk to the bottom of the deep blue sea...and I don't know whether to laugh or cry for their poor, DELUSIONAL souls.

:

hugs, Linds

Applebylicious · Post by **Applebylicious** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 12:56 am

Ugh neve rmind...I went over there and looked and duude...they're all hysterical. Talking about how the HBP sucks, when only days before they were all hunky dorey with it - while they were still clinging to the shred of hope that H/HR might actually still happen.

There's even a friggin petition started trying to make JK change it to H/Hr being canon!! I just...don't get it. I'm a Sidekicker, but if they didn't happen in the books...would that stop me from reading it, and/or starting a peition to bug the author?? Um, no. Harry Potter is too cool with or without me getting my way on relationship crap. Blah...

I'm glad that MY Auror friends are normal.

:

Post by **bistyboo1974** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 8:15 am

Applebylicious wrote:There's even a friggin petition started trying to make JK change it to H/Hr being canon!!

WHAT?? As if she'd ever do that. Argh.

Believer - I myself (a die-hard H/G and R/Hr 'shipper) even thought H/Hr after reading Sorcerer's Stone. It just seemed logical, you know? Hero gets the girl -- and after all, Hermione was pretty much "the girl" back then. But after reading books two, three and four, R/Hr struck a chord. They were the first HP couple I officially 'shipped, until I got into fan fiction, where the possibility of H/G grabbed me by the throat and mesmerized me. I blame some really awesome fan fic ("After the End" ...check it our at the Sugarquill if you've never read it) for opening up the possibilty, then I read evidence from the books...from their first meeting in the train station as little kids (Harry met Ginny before Hermione...plus, Jo made comments how train stations are romantic to her...her own parents met at King's Cross) to little things that cropped up up until Goblet. It wasn't really until Order that I truly convinced myself this 'ship could ACTUALLY set sail. Jo wasn't dropping anvil-sized stuff for H/G, but it was definitely there in Order...the chocolate in the library scene, Ginny's catching of the Snitch right from under Cho's nose... So, I don't think H/G came out of left-field, but the die-hard *coughdelusionalcough*

H/Hr 'shippers probably definitely think so.

Well, enough of my 2 cents for now.

Post by **bistyboo1974** » Fri Jul 22, 2005 9:43 am

Even Entertainment Weekly is in on the prediction game. Here's what they had to say about what might be coming in book seven:

First things Dursley Harry will return to the Dursleys on Privet Drive as he promised Dumbledore. Of Aunt Petunia (his mom's supposedly nonmagical sister), J.K. Rowling told Katie Couric on Today, ''There's more to her than meets the eye.''

Horcrux of the issue Before a final showdown with Voldemort, Harry must find and destroy as many as four Horcruxes, objects in which the Dark Lord has hidden part of his soul. (Two others were already neutralized.) One Horcrux, the locket Albus Dumbledore and Harry seek in book 6, was swiped by someone initialed R.A.B. — probably Regulus Black, late brother of Harry's godfather, Sirius. (In book 5, Harry and Co. found ''a heavy locket that none of them could open'' in Black's mansion.)

Hogwarts and all With the headmaster murdered by a teacher — talk about bad PR — there's some doubt the school will reopen for Harry's final year. Harry claims he won't be back regardless. But Rowling this month acknowledged there ''must obviously be a new'' Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, implying classes will resume. Plus, Voldemort might seek the Gryffindor sword Dumbledore said is safely hidden there.

Dead as a Dumbledorenail? The late headmaster had a long tie to phoenixes (he owned one named Fawkes), suggesting the possibility of a return — perhaps to tell Harry the ''thrilling'' story he never shared in book 6 of how he grabbed the ring Horcrux. Dumbledore's portrait at Hogwarts is last seen ''slumbering''; Rowling has never indicated how soon portraits begin to animate.

Brotherly love Rowling has said book 7 won't introduce any ''major'' characters, though previously minor ones may play bigger roles — including a member of the Order of the Phoenix whom readers ''have not yet met properly.'' Could this be Aberforth Dumbledore, brother of Albus, the Hog's Head barkeep who overheard the fateful prophecy about Harry?

I thought of DD's phoenix connection many times, but I was afraid I was just getting my hopes up.

cardinalgirl · Post by **cardinalgirl** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 5:36 am

I just read through this whole thread, and I'm so glad I did! HBP just made my little shipper heart sing to the highest mountains! I'd decided on Ron/Hermione and Harry/Ginny after watching the first movie the first time, before I'd even touched the books, and man, if Lind's avi doesn't have it right on the dot, after years of shipping... PRICELESS!!!

This even has me itching to go in search of H/R fic, and maybe even to write a one-part Hermione POV... even though I have previously been known to swear that Roswell was and always would be the only fandom I would actively participate in.

After all, after this book, how could I resist?

I admit, until I read the second-to-last page, I really was worried for a moment that Harry really would leave everyone behind and go off on his own, and I just about had a heart attack until Ron spoke up, I was thinking, NO WAY, Rowling, no WAY are you giving me all that good Ron/Hermione stuff and then just leaving them behind in the dust, only to be heard of maybe at the end of the book or something... not that I really thought she would do that, but I was terribly worried for a moment.

And the break-up with Ginny at the end was the closest to tears I got throughout the book (I don't cry too easily with books). I knew it was going to happen, but it still broke my heart. At least we know that they both love each other, and they'll be together as soon as logically possible, which means that I want Harry to knock off Voldemort ASAP! lol

I did love the "creature" in his chest. Just described things too perfectly. :D

On to less shippy subjects... I'm afraid it must have been Dumbledore himself... there's no way they could've fooled Fawkes.

And personally, I thought the green-potion-drinking-scene was a bit weak... it just seemed a tad ridiculous to me, the way Dumbledore was shouting all those things... I thought for a moment that he was seeing the terrible things happening at the school, and that's why he was so distressed, but as we didn't actually get an idea of what he was seeing/feeling, it didn't really work for me. I guess the movie will have to save that scene for me...

And I agree that there has to be more to Snape than Harry sees. Either it was vitally important that Draco lived (and remained innocent) for some reason, or Dumbledore simply understood that he himself would be a necessary sacrifice in the never-ending fight against evil.

I did know it was Draco that Moaning Myrtle mentioned about being a "sensitive boy" and all that. I really felt bad for him in this, and I'm glad that he's being given a bit of a softer side in this book. The poor kid! He was only sixteen! It's not his fault he has evil, stupid parents who've led him down the wrong path... *sigh* Also, I'm glad that Harry's realized that Draco isn't even at all who he should be worrying about, that even Harry had realized that he was just a kid who'd made bad choices.

Also, I do think Dumbledore will show up in some way in the next book... he's bound to, right? Then again, Sirius hasn't, and I was rather waiting for that...

:

Either way though, I'm now on the edge of my seat for the last one! I think this was my favorite so far, with Goblet of Fire as a close second (thumbs up for the Krum jealousy, of course, but thumbs down for killing off Cedrick, who I was completely in love with) and from those interviews, Ron and Hermione can only get better in the next one!

Post by **bistyboo1974** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 12:13 pm

cardinalgirl wrote:and maybe even to write a one-part Hermione POV...

Oh, please do! I find myself only capable of writing H/G fic, but I'd love to read some new R/Hr stuff, especially post-HBP.

They were, after all, the first HP couple I 'shipped and I love 'em.

I have a recommendation for you, if you haven't already read it. As a R/Hr and H/G 'shipper, I believe you will really enjoy this one:

After the End by Arabella and Zsenya

It was written before OOTP and HBP, so technically it's AU, but it's so well-written...it's awesome.

Also, I do think Dumbledore will show up in some way in the next book... he's bound to, right?

Well, how about the portrait in the headmaster's office? He was still snoozing when we glimpsed him, but you'd think he'll be awake at some point in book seven, right?!

Believer · Post by **Believer** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 6:36 pm

Behr Hunter - Thanks for the kind words of agreement.

Applebylicious - a petition! they have got to be kidding! With Roswell it was different. and I would agree to a petition of the idiot writers in a heartbeat. But it's different with a book. It's more sacred I think. The show was written with a new ep every week, where as the books took years and I think it's wrong to mess with that. Or maybe it's in some way do to the fact that I like where the book is heading (not that I like when Dumbledore or Sirus were killed; but I do see how it was necessary to Harry's growth as a character) I hope I'm making some sense.

Bistyboo- I'm glad that you understand my feelings for first starting out as a Harry/Hermione fan. The way you described it was exactly right. Now that you mention it, there were signs suggesting Harry and Ginny if you were looking for it. I got sidetract with the action that I missed the romance unless it was spelled out for me. I admit that I was a little slow.

Better late than never though.

Cardinalgirl- I was also upset about the H/G breakup. He has finally found the perfect girl and now he has to break up with her. I understand his thinking in wanting to protect ginny but I thought he was so stupid. Breaking up with her doesn't prevent Voldermort from using ginny to get to harry. Harry still cares about her so she can still be used.

I'm torn right now. I know harry has to go off on his own to find the horcruxes and destroy Voldermort, but he still needs to become more skilled with defense of the dark arts. He needs to become a better skilled wizard to think clearly and calmly in battle and the one who could have done that job well just got killed (I miss Dumbledore already

: ). In the end it will be just Voldermort and Harry to the death. Harry needs to be prepared and so I want him to go back to Hogwart and learn all that he can of potions and spells, but at the same time I know that he has to go in search of the remaing pieces of Voldermort's soul.

Post by **majiklmoon** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:35 pm

lalalalala lalala lalalalalalalaWelcome to the good ship DENIAL lalalala lalalala lalalalalala

This is not your traditional ship...this is the ship that is sailing on into denial land....in denial land, Alex is still alive, Angel's baby was not created with some evil hell god, but with the DNA the monks took from her to make Dawn....Max and Tess did not sleep together and the baby is all a mind warp, and joining us on the good ship denial are these two little tidbits...Dumbledore is not dead and Harry and Ginny will end up together

BehrHunter · Post by **BehrHunter** » Mon Jul 25, 2005 10:51 pm

I would like a ticket for that ship!

Now boarding! OH look... my seat is next to Harry, he also brought Ginny!

Post by **bistyboo1974** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 8:23 am

lalalalala lalala lalalalalalalaWelcome to the good ship DENIAL lalalala lalalala lalalalalala

Yeah, go ahead and book my passage on that ship...

[shameless plug] I updated my story [/shameless plug]

cardinalgirl · Post by **cardinalgirl** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:18 pm

bistyboo1974 wrote:
cardinalgirl wrote:and maybe even to write a one-part Hermione POV...
Oh, please do! I find myself only capable of writing H/G fic, but I'd love to read some new R/Hr stuff, especially post-HBP. They were, after all, the first HP couple I 'shipped and I love 'em.

Honestly I don't know if it would be worth it.... it would basically just be me bragging about the fact that they're so obviously going to get together now.

:

bitsyboo1974 wrote:I have a recommendation for you, if you haven't already read it. As a R/Hr and H/G 'shipper, I believe you will really enjoy this one:

After the End by Arabella and Zsenya

It was written before OOTP and HBP, so technically it's AU, but it's so well-written...it's awesome.

Thank you for the recommendation! I was going to ask for a couple, since I wouldn't even know where to begin looking! lol I'm afraid I'm off to read now, and heaven help me if I get caught up in HP fanfic... Roswell takes up too much time as it is. lol

Thanks again!

Post by **bistyboo1974** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 12:53 pm

cardinalgirl wrote:Honestly I don't know if it would be worth it.... it would basically just be me bragging about the fact that they're so obviously going to get together now. :

But you never know if you don't try!!

Thank you for the recommendation! I was going to ask for a couple, since I wouldn't even know where to begin looking! lol I'm afraid I'm off to read now, and heaven help me if I get caught up in HP fanfic... Roswell takes up too much time as it is. lol

Thanks again!

You're welcome, and don't fret about getting caught up in HP fanfic. It's well worth all the time it sucks up.

On another note, I had to bring this over from my LJ, because it is too funny not to share with lods of people:

Bisty wrote:OMB, people. I just had a Depends moment, thanks to this: Harry Potter: Trapped in the Closet, Under the Stairs A radio station in Atlanta (Q100) has put the first four Harry Potter books (fifth to come soon) to music, spoofing R. Kelly's "Trapped in the Closet Ch. 1-5." It is hysterical. I was eating lunch when I heard the first part and nearly choked to death from laughing with food in my mouth.

Post by **majiklmoon** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:10 pm

I'd also like to suggest Hermione Queen of Witches there are five books

Also

Carpe Diem

Alpha and Omega

Post by **bistyboo1974** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 3:21 pm

I never did read Arabella's HQW (but I'm sure it's awesome, as she is an awesome writer!), but I can attest for the quality of Imogen's stories.

They're all classics in the HP-fandom.

I also have to recommend Caitlyn's Lessons For Life as a great read. It's also been around awhile (pre-OOTP), but it's so well written, even with all of the differences from canon.

Post by **majiklmoon** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:24 pm

I borrowed HQW for part of An Acceptable Risk - the never ending story

HWoW is the BEST..it's Hermione's perspective of the first four (fine now) years at hogwarts

cardinalgirl · Post by **cardinalgirl** » Tue Jul 26, 2005 9:43 pm

Thanks for the suggestions! I'll get right to reading!