Harry Potter and the HP Couples (twas only a matter of time)
This is probably going to be at least a two part post, as there are a ridiculous amount of couples and possibilities in this seven book, eight movie series. Tons of characters to mix and match! XD So I will probably be missing a lot when I write this first post....
This post will be broken up into four categories--but not, like my HSM Couple post, in order of preference, but in order of canon, non-canon straight, non-canon slash. My opinion on the couple will just follow after they're named. The canon post may contain couples that have already broken up over the course of the series, but I still consider them canon as they did at one time exist in-series. Non-canon couples may contain some heavily hinted nearly-canon couples, but if they were never mentioned as actually being in a relationship in the series, I don't consider them canon however close. Oh, and random pairings JKR has mentioned outside the books happening later on, meaning pairings with a person we know nothing about or a person they didn't speak to in-series (coughcoughNeville/Hannahcoughcough), I'm not going to list.
Again, all links go to HP Wiki, and all icons have their LJ makers listed if you hover over them.
Canon -- Past Canon -- Non-Canon (straight) -- Non-Canon (slash)
Canon
Harry/Ginny:
Hate it. Or more precisely, hated the way it came about and am thus against it. Ginny's hero-worshipping of Harry was cute, but Harry never showed any signs of reciprocation until the middle of the sixth book (yes, middle--he was only angsting over Sirius in the beginning); where Harry was suddenly obsessed with her and she became a Mary Sue. Looking at her away from the couple, I've begun to appriciate and like her more, and have started to see why the couple could work--but the fact that it came about (or specifically, Harry's romantic feelings for Ginny came about) so out of the blue tarnished my opinion of Ginny and ruined this couple for me. (That, and the fact it seems Harry was the sole namer of their children and he's not good at it--Seriously, did Ginny have any imput? Aside from maybe their daughter's middle name?)
Ron/Hermione:
The canon couple I probably have the least issues with. Now, when I first read the books when I was younger, I wanted Hermione honestly to be with Harry. I didn't ship them rabidly mind you, but I did somewhat want the two of them together. But my mother (who I used to read the books with) saw this couple coming and loved it so I eventually converted to it too. They are pretty cute, and probably one of the most realistic couples with all the fighting and miscommunications they deal with. Plus, they really won me over in Deathly Hallows, where Hermione knew when to put other more important things ahead of their relationship, Ron's insecurities about the two of them were portrayed, Ron's really devout devotion to save Hermione when she was being tortured, and Ron's thinking of the house-elves that causes Hermione to snog him in the middle of the battle. (XD I still laugh reading that part!)
Remus/Tonks:
Don't like it, not at all. Again, totally out of the blue couple (though this one has the excuse of happening behind the scenes--but still!), and what particularly annoys me about this one is the fact that Remus is pretty obviously gay. The werewolf metaphor totally works with that. And I had liked Tonks before this too, and this made me like her less. Although I selfishly find the idea of Remus having a son cute, I truely think the only reason he married her was to make her happy, and the fact that the person he really loved was gone (whoever that may be, or maybe even just the fact that even his last good friend was gone and he didn't want to be alone). Tonks seems to genuinely love and care for Remus though--this is especially obvious during the Battle of Hogwarts, when she kept asking people where Remus was, and then runs off worried when she hears he was battling Dolohov. But I just don't see that romantic affection from Remus for her...
Bill/Fleur:
I love Fleur, so I'm already biased towards this couple because it kept her included in the story past Goblet of Fire. But also, they are cute on their own. They appear very much in love, often around and smiling at each other and knowing what the other wants without thinking. And Fleur especially often speaks so fondly of Bill and his various traits. Finally, Fleur's resolute declaration of Bill's scars only showing that he is brave and she still loves him anyway really says a lot about her character and their relationship.
Arthur/Molly:
(Yes, Mr.&Mrs. Weasley) I wasn't going to include this pair since they didn't get together during the course of the series, but I have to say that they really act and are portrayed just like a perfectly realistic and loving married couple. They bicker, they get sweet, they depend on each other for support, yet they are also whole and strong individuals perfectly capable of standing on their own when they have differing opinions. I love the two of them, and they probably are one of my most favorite fictional married couples. Not to mention despite their lack of money, they raised a wonderful bunch of kids (even Percy! The scene where he comes back is one of the best Weasley scenes), so they obviously work pretty well as parents too.
James/Lily:
Another couple that didn't get together during the series, but I want to mention anyway. I like that we did get a chance to see how they acted before they got together, and James's obvious interest in Lily before she even hought about giving him the slightest chance. They weren't "meant to be" from the very beginning. If anyone hasn't realized yet, I'm in love with the Marauders and pretty much any subject dealing with that whole time period and era, so James and Lily's relationship does hold my interest. I'd love to have seen them when they did start dating, and how Lily fit into James's life and with his friends (and vice-versa). But still the fact that James died trying to save her life and the affection Lily has about James in her letter Sirius (or Padfoot as she calls him--though I'd love to know how that letter got into his room!) shows they were quite the happy couple, as well as so many other characters opinions of them. However, I still don't like Harry naming his children after them (at least not their FIRST names!).
Lucius/Narcissa:
Draco. That is the sole reason for this relationship that I can see. The two of them aren't that affectionate a couple, and actually aren't seen together that often until Lucius and the entire Malfoy family lost favor in Voldemort's eye. They do get a bit affectionate then, but I still think like Bellatrix married her husband because she was expected to, Narcissa did the same with Lucius. They do get along though, and work well enough as partners. And they both do love their son.
Vernon/Petunia:
I'm not fond of either of them, nor do I like their son that much, so this isn't a very romantic couple in my eyes. However, they seem to have fairly similar opinions and a love of normalcy. Petunia seems to compliment Vernon nicely, calming his tempers or being the less or more emotional one when the situations call for it.
Past Canon
Harry/Cho:
This couple, though I disliked it while reading it in the beginning (at the time I was protective of Harry and wanted very much for him to stay single when I accepted Ron/Hermione) is very founded and quite believable. Harry shows interest in her long before they got together (back to POA I realized he acts bashful and chivalrous around her during their Quidditch matches), and their relationship however short is understandable given the loss they both expierienced and the other's connection to it. The relationship itself was a disastor, but true-to-life and I'm happy to see they remained friends afterwards (however jealous Ginny is of Cho).
Cedric/Cho:
Cedric...I've got a bunch to say on him but that's for another entry. Cho was obviously quite smitten with him, so it's tragic the relationship ended so suddenly. But Cedric...I don't know, my gaydar goes off with him. He just seems like the "perfect boy", "perfect son", "perfect student", and I just feel like he would be dealing with something like that while succeeding so well in everything else. Although Cho was the thing that Cedric would "sorely miss" in the second task, I don't think he really had romantic affection for her.
Viktor/Hermione:
What I like most about this couple is the fact that Krum takes interest in a Muggle-born witch--someone who would not have been able to attend Durmstrang Institute. I like the fact that they stayed friends and in touch after the Tournament. They are an unusual couple, which is what I find most intruiging about them, you wouldn't expect the brainiac to be paired up with the superstar athelete. They didn't work together well, but they do seem to have some affection for each other.
Ron/Lavender:
I hate relationships based on snogging. I've seen it happen before, and it really just disgusts me. When the only time the couple is seen together is when they're doing that--not even holding hands or smiling at each other, no, making out, I just hate it. And now thanks to this relationship, Lavender is forever in my mind "the girl who Ron was always snogging". It was a fairly realistic relationship though I suppose, since horny teens do have those kinds of relationships. Lavender did seem very interested in Ron, but I think it was more the prospect of having a boyfriend than Ron himself. I feel sorry for her, but Ron really didn't seem interested in anything other than snogging, and the "My Sweetheart" necklace i think was a pretty good example of how much they knew each other.
Hagrid/Olympe:
This is mean, but I don't think I'd like Hagrid with anyone...XD I don't know why, but I like to picture him just with his many big and dangerous animals. But I don't think Olympe and Hagrid were a good couple either...she was in denial of what she was, and seemed to like things peaceful, beautiful, and elegant--which I don't think fits any of Hagrid's favorite animals, or his accepting attitude.
Draco/Pansy:
I don't really think they were actually ever a couple, and was contemplating putting them in the non-canon couples list, but then I keep remembering the scene where Draco was lying his head on Pansy's lap and I can't imagine Draco allowing that unless she was his girlfriend. Past that though, I think Pansy just likes him because he's the pretty much most powerful Slytherin in their year, and his family's high-class reputation. I really don't think Draco opened up to anyone during his years at school (except perhaps Moaning Myrtle, at least in that one scene in HBP).
Past Boyfriends/Ginny:
Wasn't really interested in any of Ginny's past relationships, nor do I think was she as she didn't seem to be too upset over any of them after they ended, not to mention I believe she was the one doing most of the breaking-up.
Coming up next...Non-Canon Couples! Het and Slash. If you have any requests for that--as the possibilities technically are unlimited, I'd like to hear them! I'm going to try and list the non-canon couples I know are popular or I know people are interested in (Sirius/Remus, Draco/Hermione, Draco/Harry, Harry/Ron, Snape/Remus, Harry/Hermione, Harry/Luna, Ron/Luna, Harry/Neville, Draco/Neville to name a few) or that I happen to think will work, but please feel free to request me to talk about another non-canon couple!
(Oh, and if I missed any canon couples--and I really did try to include all the significant ones that were definitely considered couples in the books (I don't consider Yule Ball dates or anything official couples), please tell me!)
This post will be broken up into four categories--but not, like my HSM Couple post, in order of preference, but in order of canon, non-canon straight, non-canon slash. My opinion on the couple will just follow after they're named. The canon post may contain couples that have already broken up over the course of the series, but I still consider them canon as they did at one time exist in-series. Non-canon couples may contain some heavily hinted nearly-canon couples, but if they were never mentioned as actually being in a relationship in the series, I don't consider them canon however close. Oh, and random pairings JKR has mentioned outside the books happening later on, meaning pairings with a person we know nothing about or a person they didn't speak to in-series (coughcoughNeville/Hannahcoughcough), I'm not going to list.
Again, all links go to HP Wiki, and all icons have their LJ makers listed if you hover over them.
Canon -- Past Canon -- Non-Canon (straight) -- Non-Canon (slash)
Canon
Harry/Ginny:
Hate it. Or more precisely, hated the way it came about and am thus against it. Ginny's hero-worshipping of Harry was cute, but Harry never showed any signs of reciprocation until the middle of the sixth book (yes, middle--he was only angsting over Sirius in the beginning); where Harry was suddenly obsessed with her and she became a Mary Sue. Looking at her away from the couple, I've begun to appriciate and like her more, and have started to see why the couple could work--but the fact that it came about (or specifically, Harry's romantic feelings for Ginny came about) so out of the blue tarnished my opinion of Ginny and ruined this couple for me. (That, and the fact it seems Harry was the sole namer of their children and he's not good at it--Seriously, did Ginny have any imput? Aside from maybe their daughter's middle name?)
Ron/Hermione:
The canon couple I probably have the least issues with. Now, when I first read the books when I was younger, I wanted Hermione honestly to be with Harry. I didn't ship them rabidly mind you, but I did somewhat want the two of them together. But my mother (who I used to read the books with) saw this couple coming and loved it so I eventually converted to it too. They are pretty cute, and probably one of the most realistic couples with all the fighting and miscommunications they deal with. Plus, they really won me over in Deathly Hallows, where Hermione knew when to put other more important things ahead of their relationship, Ron's insecurities about the two of them were portrayed, Ron's really devout devotion to save Hermione when she was being tortured, and Ron's thinking of the house-elves that causes Hermione to snog him in the middle of the battle. (XD I still laugh reading that part!)
Remus/Tonks:
Don't like it, not at all. Again, totally out of the blue couple (though this one has the excuse of happening behind the scenes--but still!), and what particularly annoys me about this one is the fact that Remus is pretty obviously gay. The werewolf metaphor totally works with that. And I had liked Tonks before this too, and this made me like her less. Although I selfishly find the idea of Remus having a son cute, I truely think the only reason he married her was to make her happy, and the fact that the person he really loved was gone (whoever that may be, or maybe even just the fact that even his last good friend was gone and he didn't want to be alone). Tonks seems to genuinely love and care for Remus though--this is especially obvious during the Battle of Hogwarts, when she kept asking people where Remus was, and then runs off worried when she hears he was battling Dolohov. But I just don't see that romantic affection from Remus for her...
Bill/Fleur:
I love Fleur, so I'm already biased towards this couple because it kept her included in the story past Goblet of Fire. But also, they are cute on their own. They appear very much in love, often around and smiling at each other and knowing what the other wants without thinking. And Fleur especially often speaks so fondly of Bill and his various traits. Finally, Fleur's resolute declaration of Bill's scars only showing that he is brave and she still loves him anyway really says a lot about her character and their relationship.
Arthur/Molly:
(Yes, Mr.&Mrs. Weasley) I wasn't going to include this pair since they didn't get together during the course of the series, but I have to say that they really act and are portrayed just like a perfectly realistic and loving married couple. They bicker, they get sweet, they depend on each other for support, yet they are also whole and strong individuals perfectly capable of standing on their own when they have differing opinions. I love the two of them, and they probably are one of my most favorite fictional married couples. Not to mention despite their lack of money, they raised a wonderful bunch of kids (even Percy! The scene where he comes back is one of the best Weasley scenes), so they obviously work pretty well as parents too.
James/Lily:
Another couple that didn't get together during the series, but I want to mention anyway. I like that we did get a chance to see how they acted before they got together, and James's obvious interest in Lily before she even hought about giving him the slightest chance. They weren't "meant to be" from the very beginning. If anyone hasn't realized yet, I'm in love with the Marauders and pretty much any subject dealing with that whole time period and era, so James and Lily's relationship does hold my interest. I'd love to have seen them when they did start dating, and how Lily fit into James's life and with his friends (and vice-versa). But still the fact that James died trying to save her life and the affection Lily has about James in her letter Sirius (or Padfoot as she calls him--though I'd love to know how that letter got into his room!) shows they were quite the happy couple, as well as so many other characters opinions of them. However, I still don't like Harry naming his children after them (at least not their FIRST names!).
Lucius/Narcissa:
Draco. That is the sole reason for this relationship that I can see. The two of them aren't that affectionate a couple, and actually aren't seen together that often until Lucius and the entire Malfoy family lost favor in Voldemort's eye. They do get a bit affectionate then, but I still think like Bellatrix married her husband because she was expected to, Narcissa did the same with Lucius. They do get along though, and work well enough as partners. And they both do love their son.
Vernon/Petunia:
I'm not fond of either of them, nor do I like their son that much, so this isn't a very romantic couple in my eyes. However, they seem to have fairly similar opinions and a love of normalcy. Petunia seems to compliment Vernon nicely, calming his tempers or being the less or more emotional one when the situations call for it.
Past Canon
Harry/Cho:
This couple, though I disliked it while reading it in the beginning (at the time I was protective of Harry and wanted very much for him to stay single when I accepted Ron/Hermione) is very founded and quite believable. Harry shows interest in her long before they got together (back to POA I realized he acts bashful and chivalrous around her during their Quidditch matches), and their relationship however short is understandable given the loss they both expierienced and the other's connection to it. The relationship itself was a disastor, but true-to-life and I'm happy to see they remained friends afterwards (however jealous Ginny is of Cho).
Cedric/Cho:
Cedric...I've got a bunch to say on him but that's for another entry. Cho was obviously quite smitten with him, so it's tragic the relationship ended so suddenly. But Cedric...I don't know, my gaydar goes off with him. He just seems like the "perfect boy", "perfect son", "perfect student", and I just feel like he would be dealing with something like that while succeeding so well in everything else. Although Cho was the thing that Cedric would "sorely miss" in the second task, I don't think he really had romantic affection for her.
Viktor/Hermione:
What I like most about this couple is the fact that Krum takes interest in a Muggle-born witch--someone who would not have been able to attend Durmstrang Institute. I like the fact that they stayed friends and in touch after the Tournament. They are an unusual couple, which is what I find most intruiging about them, you wouldn't expect the brainiac to be paired up with the superstar athelete. They didn't work together well, but they do seem to have some affection for each other.
Ron/Lavender:
I hate relationships based on snogging. I've seen it happen before, and it really just disgusts me. When the only time the couple is seen together is when they're doing that--not even holding hands or smiling at each other, no, making out, I just hate it. And now thanks to this relationship, Lavender is forever in my mind "the girl who Ron was always snogging". It was a fairly realistic relationship though I suppose, since horny teens do have those kinds of relationships. Lavender did seem very interested in Ron, but I think it was more the prospect of having a boyfriend than Ron himself. I feel sorry for her, but Ron really didn't seem interested in anything other than snogging, and the "My Sweetheart" necklace i think was a pretty good example of how much they knew each other.
Hagrid/Olympe:
This is mean, but I don't think I'd like Hagrid with anyone...XD I don't know why, but I like to picture him just with his many big and dangerous animals. But I don't think Olympe and Hagrid were a good couple either...she was in denial of what she was, and seemed to like things peaceful, beautiful, and elegant--which I don't think fits any of Hagrid's favorite animals, or his accepting attitude.
Draco/Pansy:
I don't really think they were actually ever a couple, and was contemplating putting them in the non-canon couples list, but then I keep remembering the scene where Draco was lying his head on Pansy's lap and I can't imagine Draco allowing that unless she was his girlfriend. Past that though, I think Pansy just likes him because he's the pretty much most powerful Slytherin in their year, and his family's high-class reputation. I really don't think Draco opened up to anyone during his years at school (except perhaps Moaning Myrtle, at least in that one scene in HBP).
Past Boyfriends/Ginny:
Wasn't really interested in any of Ginny's past relationships, nor do I think was she as she didn't seem to be too upset over any of them after they ended, not to mention I believe she was the one doing most of the breaking-up.
Coming up next...Non-Canon Couples! Het and Slash. If you have any requests for that--as the possibilities technically are unlimited, I'd like to hear them! I'm going to try and list the non-canon couples I know are popular or I know people are interested in (Sirius/Remus, Draco/Hermione, Draco/Harry, Harry/Ron, Snape/Remus, Harry/Hermione, Harry/Luna, Ron/Luna, Harry/Neville, Draco/Neville to name a few) or that I happen to think will work, but please feel free to request me to talk about another non-canon couple!
(Oh, and if I missed any canon couples--and I really did try to include all the significant ones that were definitely considered couples in the books (I don't consider Yule Ball dates or anything official couples), please tell me!)