Of DH and D/Hr
My internet connection isn’t broken anymore! But I think my heart is, a little.
D/Hr
It was going so well before that terrible, terrible epilogue. It practically ruined the whole book for me. I wish JKR had ended it at Chapter 36.
Maybe I’m too optimistic, or too much of a hardcore shipper, but I found so many basis for redemption, so many things that the brilliant writers of our ship could have worked with. There was so much hope for D/Hr.
Chapter 1 showed a Draco that was scared and helpless, unable to do anything but watch Voldemort hold court in his home. I loved how he looked to his parents after being made an object of humor regarding babysitting Tonks’ cubs, and the way Narcissa shook her head imperceptibly, as if telling him to bear it some more, keep that stiff upper lip and stay strong, before moving her gaze back to the wall. When Voldemort demands that Lucius gives his wand, he hesitates, then Narcissa touches his wrist. At his wife’s touch, Lucius draws out his wand and gives it up. Obviously, love exists in the Malfoy family.
Chapter 9 showed Draco being forced to torture Rowle (“Do it, or feel my wrath yourself!”), and terrorized into doing so (“Malfoy’s gaunt, petrified face.”). Draco is clearly not a willing participant.
In Chapter 23, Draco is asked to identify the Trio. When asked, “Look, Draco, isn’t it the Granger girl?” He hesitates in identifying her (“I…maybe…yeah.”), doesn’t confirm it even though 6 years of being classmates must have made her instantly recognizable, as compared to Lucius who has seen her only a handful of times and yet identifies her immediately (“Yes, yes, it’s Granger!”). While Draco does not speak up against Hermione’s torture, we don’t know what’s going on in his mind. Whatever it is, he does not enjoy the occasion as might be expected. In fact, he is shaken by the Hermione’s ordeal at the hands of Bellatrix (“He could hear someone scuttling down the cellar steps; next moment, Draco’s shaking voice spoke up from behind the door.”).
In Chapter 31, Crabbe and Goyle is shown to be worse than Draco. I liked the differences between them. Draco was more of a thinker, while Crabbe and Goyle were hopelessly slow (“…said Malfoy with ill-disguised impatience at the slow-wittedness of his colleagues.”). Crabbe called Hermione a Mudblood and actually attempted to Avada Kedavra her, while Draco did not, not even once, call her a Mudblood nor try to harm her physically with so much as an Expelliarmus. The Trio saved Draco’s life, something that could have had significance D/Hr-wise later on.
In Chapter 36, I was touched how, amid all the chaos and fighting and Voldemort Being There, all that really mattered to Lucius and Narcissa was finding Draco (“Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy running through the crowd, not even attempting to fight, screaming for their son.”). I loved how Narcissa noticed that Harry was breathing, and instead of turning him in like any other Death Eater would have done, she only wanted to know if Draco was alive and if he was in the castle, then covers up for Harry by shouting that Harry is dead. My heart went out to the Malfoys at the scene where the three of them were huddled together, unsure whether or not they were supposed to be there.
I never believed that Draco was abused as a child, and now I’m even more convinced that he wasn’t. It’s obvious that they really care for each other.
Although there was no outright redemption nor suddenly and heroically Stupefying one of the Death Eaters, Draco wasn’t beyond hope. I was actually quite happy. I was starting to visualize some of the post-War fics I’ve read, where Draco rebuilds his life, and he and Hermione forge a tentative friendship and try to put the past behind them as she realizes that he is no killer and was really just terrified into the entire mess by Voldemort.
Then that blasted, useless epilogue. I won’t even attempt to compare it to cheese, because it gives cheese a bad name and I like cheese. All the buildup of the Malfoys being Not Truly Evil and Just Terrorized Into It and Being Really Caring About Their Family… then nothing. I wasn’t expecting Draco to suddenly declare his hidden devotion to Hermione in the epilogue, of course…but I was hoping for some kind of acceptance, of reconciliation, or even just a nod or a backhanded apology to Hermione and acknowledging her role in the War and/or in saving his life.
When I read the line Draco Malfoy was standing there with his wife and son, oh, it cut straight to my poor shipper heart. I was heartbroken. I actually felt a physical pain, like my stomach was being twisted and punched at the same time. It was much worse than reading about Ron and Hermione, although that pained me, too. I think it’s because I’ve come to terms with R/Hr for years, since GoF, whereas I never imagined Draco getting married at the end of it all, to someone who wasn’t Hermione.
(And I still can’t get over the concept of Draco and Hermione having canon!sex with Other People, and producing offspring that didn’t have Draco’s hair with Hermione’s eyes, or Hermione’s hair with Draco’s eyes.)
My only consolation over R/Hr is that it’s not a good match at all. She’ll outstrip him career-wise, will be frustrated by his lack of drive to succeed and of any academic inclinations whatsoever, and he’ll constantly be plagued by insecurities. For all we know, they’re divorced in the epilogue and only just drove together to see Rose off. :D
I wish Book 7 had wrapped up more open-endedly relationship-wise, where the readers were free to imagine their own couples, instead of saying so fixedly and explicitly who ended up with whom.
What about the fanfics, my classmate asked. Ever the optimist, I said to her that there’s always fics that could be set during the war months, the post-War years, the unmarried years. And even if they’re married to different people, well, I’ve read fics where D/Hr carries on a relationship even if they’re married to Pansy and Ron. Or they could separate or divorce or get an annulment. Our writers are brilliant; they’ll think of something. They always do.
If anything, I think the book just made my love for D/Hr stronger. *hugs ship* And I’m relieved neither Draco nor Hermione died. That would have been much worse. I’m off to drown myself in D/Hr fanfics now. I need comfort. ;) At any rate, I’m going to pretend the epilogue doesn’t exist. :D
Other Stuff
(Yeah, for me, there are just two divisions when it comes to HP: it’s D/Hr and Other Stuff :D)
Neville was brilliant and so brave. And his Gran was finally proud of him. I almost cried when he pulled out the sword from the Sorting Hat. Only a true Gryffindor…
Mrs. Weasley, wow! All we ever hear from her are cooking spells and cleaning spells, then she singlehandedly takes down Bellatrix Lestrange in a duel. How cool is that?
Felt bad about Fred, Lupin, and Tonks. Didn’t see the point in them being killed off.
Oh, Snape. *sob* He should have been given more page time. I would have wanted to see Harry and Snape talk. I would have wanted to see Snape’s story come out while he was alive, in a tense and emotional confrontation with Harry, instead of Harry just watching it in a post-mortem flashback. Snape should have been cheered by the crowds like the hero he was. He should have lived to see the victory, to see the new day his sacrifices and courage made possible.
(And I was a bit miffed at the Patronus he was given. Mean, nasty, snarky, sarcastic triple-agent Snape, with such dry, biting wit and intimidating, billowy black robes, has a pretty, wide-eyed doe as a Patronus. Good thing that Death Eaters probably didn’t have much reason to conjure a Patronus, or else Snape would’ve been laughed out of the group. Really, it’s almost like Darth Vader having a pink lightsaber with a glittery handle. Snape’s memories and his vow to protect Lily’s son were illustration enough of how much he cared for Lily. Shouldn’t have foisted the doe on him. )
The teachers were so cool! McGonagall taking charge, Flitwick muttering complex incantations, Sprout thinking of all the deadly plants she could block the Death Eaters with, Trelawney hurling crystal balls. I was totally cheering!
Scorpius Malfoy and Rose Granger Weasley. I think I may have found a secondary ship to D/Hr. *grin* Oh, and Bloody Baron/Grey Lady. :D
D/Hr
It was going so well before that terrible, terrible epilogue. It practically ruined the whole book for me. I wish JKR had ended it at Chapter 36.
Maybe I’m too optimistic, or too much of a hardcore shipper, but I found so many basis for redemption, so many things that the brilliant writers of our ship could have worked with. There was so much hope for D/Hr.
Chapter 1 showed a Draco that was scared and helpless, unable to do anything but watch Voldemort hold court in his home. I loved how he looked to his parents after being made an object of humor regarding babysitting Tonks’ cubs, and the way Narcissa shook her head imperceptibly, as if telling him to bear it some more, keep that stiff upper lip and stay strong, before moving her gaze back to the wall. When Voldemort demands that Lucius gives his wand, he hesitates, then Narcissa touches his wrist. At his wife’s touch, Lucius draws out his wand and gives it up. Obviously, love exists in the Malfoy family.
Chapter 9 showed Draco being forced to torture Rowle (“Do it, or feel my wrath yourself!”), and terrorized into doing so (“Malfoy’s gaunt, petrified face.”). Draco is clearly not a willing participant.
In Chapter 23, Draco is asked to identify the Trio. When asked, “Look, Draco, isn’t it the Granger girl?” He hesitates in identifying her (“I…maybe…yeah.”), doesn’t confirm it even though 6 years of being classmates must have made her instantly recognizable, as compared to Lucius who has seen her only a handful of times and yet identifies her immediately (“Yes, yes, it’s Granger!”). While Draco does not speak up against Hermione’s torture, we don’t know what’s going on in his mind. Whatever it is, he does not enjoy the occasion as might be expected. In fact, he is shaken by the Hermione’s ordeal at the hands of Bellatrix (“He could hear someone scuttling down the cellar steps; next moment, Draco’s shaking voice spoke up from behind the door.”).
In Chapter 31, Crabbe and Goyle is shown to be worse than Draco. I liked the differences between them. Draco was more of a thinker, while Crabbe and Goyle were hopelessly slow (“…said Malfoy with ill-disguised impatience at the slow-wittedness of his colleagues.”). Crabbe called Hermione a Mudblood and actually attempted to Avada Kedavra her, while Draco did not, not even once, call her a Mudblood nor try to harm her physically with so much as an Expelliarmus. The Trio saved Draco’s life, something that could have had significance D/Hr-wise later on.
In Chapter 36, I was touched how, amid all the chaos and fighting and Voldemort Being There, all that really mattered to Lucius and Narcissa was finding Draco (“Lucius and Narcissa Malfoy running through the crowd, not even attempting to fight, screaming for their son.”). I loved how Narcissa noticed that Harry was breathing, and instead of turning him in like any other Death Eater would have done, she only wanted to know if Draco was alive and if he was in the castle, then covers up for Harry by shouting that Harry is dead. My heart went out to the Malfoys at the scene where the three of them were huddled together, unsure whether or not they were supposed to be there.
I never believed that Draco was abused as a child, and now I’m even more convinced that he wasn’t. It’s obvious that they really care for each other.
Although there was no outright redemption nor suddenly and heroically Stupefying one of the Death Eaters, Draco wasn’t beyond hope. I was actually quite happy. I was starting to visualize some of the post-War fics I’ve read, where Draco rebuilds his life, and he and Hermione forge a tentative friendship and try to put the past behind them as she realizes that he is no killer and was really just terrified into the entire mess by Voldemort.
Then that blasted, useless epilogue. I won’t even attempt to compare it to cheese, because it gives cheese a bad name and I like cheese. All the buildup of the Malfoys being Not Truly Evil and Just Terrorized Into It and Being Really Caring About Their Family… then nothing. I wasn’t expecting Draco to suddenly declare his hidden devotion to Hermione in the epilogue, of course…but I was hoping for some kind of acceptance, of reconciliation, or even just a nod or a backhanded apology to Hermione and acknowledging her role in the War and/or in saving his life.
When I read the line Draco Malfoy was standing there with his wife and son, oh, it cut straight to my poor shipper heart. I was heartbroken. I actually felt a physical pain, like my stomach was being twisted and punched at the same time. It was much worse than reading about Ron and Hermione, although that pained me, too. I think it’s because I’ve come to terms with R/Hr for years, since GoF, whereas I never imagined Draco getting married at the end of it all, to someone who wasn’t Hermione.
(And I still can’t get over the concept of Draco and Hermione having canon!sex with Other People, and producing offspring that didn’t have Draco’s hair with Hermione’s eyes, or Hermione’s hair with Draco’s eyes.)
My only consolation over R/Hr is that it’s not a good match at all. She’ll outstrip him career-wise, will be frustrated by his lack of drive to succeed and of any academic inclinations whatsoever, and he’ll constantly be plagued by insecurities. For all we know, they’re divorced in the epilogue and only just drove together to see Rose off. :D
I wish Book 7 had wrapped up more open-endedly relationship-wise, where the readers were free to imagine their own couples, instead of saying so fixedly and explicitly who ended up with whom.
What about the fanfics, my classmate asked. Ever the optimist, I said to her that there’s always fics that could be set during the war months, the post-War years, the unmarried years. And even if they’re married to different people, well, I’ve read fics where D/Hr carries on a relationship even if they’re married to Pansy and Ron. Or they could separate or divorce or get an annulment. Our writers are brilliant; they’ll think of something. They always do.
If anything, I think the book just made my love for D/Hr stronger. *hugs ship* And I’m relieved neither Draco nor Hermione died. That would have been much worse. I’m off to drown myself in D/Hr fanfics now. I need comfort. ;) At any rate, I’m going to pretend the epilogue doesn’t exist. :D
Other Stuff
(Yeah, for me, there are just two divisions when it comes to HP: it’s D/Hr and Other Stuff :D)
Neville was brilliant and so brave. And his Gran was finally proud of him. I almost cried when he pulled out the sword from the Sorting Hat. Only a true Gryffindor…
Mrs. Weasley, wow! All we ever hear from her are cooking spells and cleaning spells, then she singlehandedly takes down Bellatrix Lestrange in a duel. How cool is that?
Felt bad about Fred, Lupin, and Tonks. Didn’t see the point in them being killed off.
Oh, Snape. *sob* He should have been given more page time. I would have wanted to see Harry and Snape talk. I would have wanted to see Snape’s story come out while he was alive, in a tense and emotional confrontation with Harry, instead of Harry just watching it in a post-mortem flashback. Snape should have been cheered by the crowds like the hero he was. He should have lived to see the victory, to see the new day his sacrifices and courage made possible.
(And I was a bit miffed at the Patronus he was given. Mean, nasty, snarky, sarcastic triple-agent Snape, with such dry, biting wit and intimidating, billowy black robes, has a pretty, wide-eyed doe as a Patronus. Good thing that Death Eaters probably didn’t have much reason to conjure a Patronus, or else Snape would’ve been laughed out of the group. Really, it’s almost like Darth Vader having a pink lightsaber with a glittery handle. Snape’s memories and his vow to protect Lily’s son were illustration enough of how much he cared for Lily. Shouldn’t have foisted the doe on him. )
The teachers were so cool! McGonagall taking charge, Flitwick muttering complex incantations, Sprout thinking of all the deadly plants she could block the Death Eaters with, Trelawney hurling crystal balls. I was totally cheering!
Scorpius Malfoy and Rose Granger Weasley. I think I may have found a secondary ship to D/Hr. *grin* Oh, and Bloody Baron/Grey Lady. :D