Chapter Nineteen
The Lion and the Serpent
Useless Fact: This is the chapter I read first when I got my copy, purely on the basis of the title.
( Read more... )
Useless Fact: This is the chapter I read first when I got my copy, purely on the basis of the title.
( Read more... )
I like the part later where he assesses how she's not as good a Seeker as him (of course not, who could be?!) and of course, she plans to meekly step aside and play a less high-profile position.
I mean, I get that it would be kind of bratty for her to hang on to it, and that she isn't the player he is (although she's pretty close, Sue that she is) but I'd like her ten times better if she told him to piss off while she enjoyed a bit of the glory.
And yes, Ginny recalls every detail of Harry's life, whereas he can't remember her even being possessed.
There's a great precedent for a relationship, and one that is present in every single one of Harry's - it's all about him, and if you want any support or attention yourself from him? Too bad.
I really hope she has something planned for them.
I hope so. I like them too. *has tiny miniscule amount of faith left* ;)
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I mean, I get that it would be kind of bratty for her to hang on to it, and that she isn't the player he is (although she's pretty close, Sue that she is) but I'd like her ten times better if she told him to piss off while she enjoyed a bit of the glory.
That's the one part that annoys me most, I think, in all the descriptions of Ginny so far (and this comes from someone who saw her as a stereotype already in CoS); that she's almost as good a Seeker as the hero, but not quite. And that she's oh-so-ready to step aside for the hero when he comes back. She's not allowed to be pose any kind of threat for him (or his ego) whatsoever, becaause if she posed an actual threat, or showed any kind of resistance, then she wouldn't be a very good girl now, would she? It's all about "making the man feel better", being there for him to ease his fall (ie, winning the cup for him, when he can't himself), and then gracefully stepping aside and let him win the personal glory he so well deserves for himself, once he's yet again, capable. Frankly, if JKR plans to set up H/G romance, as I think she does, then I must say I simply can't understand why she won't let Ginny just stay and fight for the position a bit, I mean, that might actually create some tension between H/G, something they so far lack in every meaning of the word.
Have you heard the song "Bobby's Girl"? The lyrics go:
"I want to be Bobby's girl, I want to be Bobby's girl.
That's the most important thing for me.
And if I was Bobby's girl, if I was Bobby's girl,
what a faithful, thankful girl I'd be.
When people ask of me:
"What would you like to be,
now that you're not a kid anymore?"
I know just what to say,
I answer right away:
"There's just one thing I've been wishing for."
I want to be....
Each night I sit at home,
hoping that he would phone,
but I've no doubt he has someone else.
Still in my heart I pray,
there soon will come a day,
when I will have him all to myself"
That song just soooo reminds me of Ginny and H/G! You can exchange all the "Bobby" for "Harry", and that would be it!
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It's a pattern present in a lot of Harry's relationships, that he has to be the very best; but that doesn't make it any healthier (look at H/Hr - she's smarter than him, it appears, but come OotP and she's maturely assessing that actually, he did better. And anyway, there's more important things! And of course, she's willing to be second-banana to him, and make sure that in the DA he has enough 'authority' - dude, she raises her hand to him.)
I love the end of OotP - ooh, look! Ginny hurt her ankle! Hermione's passed out! So's Tonks! And Luna! Thank goodness Harry has a fellow man to depend on.
See this is why slash is so popular in this particular fandom - neither Harry nor the author is apparently very fond of equality between the sexes.
At least enemyships mean that someone's trying to equal Harry, even though the decks are rigged; rather than meekly stepping aside.
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Not to mention, with all her "cleverness" and knowledge, she's always disabled one way or another by the end of the books, so that Harry can save the world on his own. PoA appears to be a jarring exception of this, since they both get to run out and save Sirius and Buckbeak (who is an Innocent!Animal, unlike you know, the animals who are guilty :D er, sorry, I just find the expression kind of funny regarding animals), but at least Harry gets to make his corporal patronos and save everybody else there.
And anyway, there's more important things!
"Like FRIENDSHIP and BRAVERY"
Thank goodness Harry has a fellow man to depend on.
Yeah well, that's Neville, so it doesn't count.
See this is why slash is so popular in this particular fandom - neither Harry nor the author is apparently very fond of equality between the sexes.
Not that slash writers necesarily put more stock on "equality between genders" than Harry or JKR does, but yeah, it's definitely a reason for why it's often more tempting to ship teh boys with other boys.
At least enemyships mean that someone's trying to equal Harry, even though the decks are rigged; rather than meekly stepping aside.
Though "enemy-ship" doesn't necessarily equal "slash" you know. ;-) I don't think Pansy would be very likely to step aside for Harry either (though maybe that's just wishful thinking...)
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Ugh. That just reminds me of frigging Movie!Buckbeak - look how cute it is! (I love that bit in PoA about how Hagrid's had dangerous animals before, but this one's "positively cute" and seems "harmless". Presumably Norbert and Aragog were more dangerous since they hurt Gryffindors.) It nuzzles Harry and saves him and Hermione from the werewolf! Marvel at the stupid line about saving two innocent lives! Seriously.
My sister, who has no fandom interests whatever (she won't read the books, she sees the movies under duress, and loathes each character equally) was mystified by that.
'Uh. Didn't the bird thing bash the balding kid?'
'Yep.'
'So how does that make it innocent? Was it all an optical illusion?'
'I know! -'
''K, shut up now.'
Not that slash writers necesarily put more stock on "equality between genders" than Harry or JKR does, but yeah, it's definitely a reason for why it's often more tempting to ship teh boys with other boys.
True. I guess I cut them more slack because most are younger than JKR (I presume!) and may be unconsciously influenced by the text's presentation (like, there was a thread on Pansy recently, basically: 'Why does she get portrayed in fanon as a shrill stupid harpy who only cares about looks and Draco?' Um. Because that's the way she comes across in canon. I mean, I like Pansy, myself, and I too get irritated when Shrill!Canon!Pansy gets turned into the Pansy that Malfoy loathes and is repulsed by, but that's bad Draco characterisation more than Pansy. The whole 'Pansy is ugly and superficial' trip is all in the text. Along with 'look how silly girls who have the slightest sexuality are'.)
I don't think that every single writer who writes a sexist fanfic would suddenly change if JKR's text was more feminist, but I don't think it would hurt.
Though "enemy-ship" doesn't necessarily equal "slash" you know. ;-)
Oops. I guess I'm a bit het-phobic here!
My first fandom was BTVS, tho, and my first OTP was Buffy/Spike.
I don't think Pansy would be very likely to step aside for Harry either (though maybe that's just wishful thinking...)
I hope not! But then you get into a whole new set of issues (I think I've got a bit on imho, H/P somewhere... *digs* http://www.livejournal.com/users/roxannelinton/28230.html)
I read a good, IC D/Hr short the other day tho, which might please you ;) http://www.livejournal.com/users/florahart/146266.html#cutid6
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True. I guess I cut them more slack because most are younger than JKR (I presume!) and may be unconsciously influenced by the text's presentation
The age thing is questionable, since fandom is of all ages, and I guess if it's one thing being in fandom has taught me, it's that age doesn't necessarily bring maturity, nor does it necessarily make a person more politically (and feministically) aware. But yes, no doubt are we all influenced by the source material, even if we try not to be. And an interesting question would be if readers are so willing to adapt the views on girls/women pesented in the books, because it really matches their own ideas, or whether they adapt the views because they are the ones presented in the books, and it's quite difficult to go against them? Or something.
I don't think that every single writer who writes a sexist fanfic would suddenly change if JKR's text was more feminist, but I don't think it would hurt.
No, it would definitely not hurt, but it might not make as big difference as one might think. Did you use to read fanfic, when you were B/S:er? Because my impression was that the majority of the writers there made that relationship, and the characters, fit much better in the traditional gender stereotypes, then the writers of the show ever did. Otoh, it might very well have been worse if the Canon!character had fallen neatly into their gender roles, so... yeah.
I hope not! But then you get into a whole new set of issues (I think I've got a bit on imho, H/P somewhere... *digs*
Yeah, I remember that entry, it was interesting. But I must say, even though I can completely see where you're coming from with both the "it makes Pansy a disloyal friend" factor and the "it's so good to have someone not loving Harry, and having them falling in love with him, seems like a punishment", I can't see why both of these wouldn't apply to H/D as well.
I read a good, IC D/Hr short the other day tho, which might please you ;)
Heh, interesting. I have to wonder if Hermione would really care enough about Draco not getting the Dark Mark though. Because I'm sure Harry wouldn't. ;-)
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It reminded me of women's situation after the second (and in fact, even the first) World War, when they were "naturally" expected to return to homely stove and bed as soon as the men were back to take over the really important work, which miraculously the women had been able to do on top of raising their children under difficult conditions and without being trained to do so in the first place. Just like Ginny did extremely well without ever having practiced Quidditch before (because - surprise!- her dear brothers didn't let her, assuming she couldn't do it anyway)and don't tell me flying on a broom stick is sufficient training for playing - it's just like claiming a footballplayer got that good by running around whenever nobody was watching!
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