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sareaOK, think of your favorite Harry Potter 'ship. Are you thinking of it? Imagining all the things that you enjoy about it?
OK, now pretend that those two characters cannot be paired together romantically. Ever.
Who would you want to see them paired with? Would you rather see them alone, if they can't be together? What character would you absolutely *loathe* the idea of them being paired with?
LOL, I have been waiting to see if we'll get any more thoughts from other
people before I posted my reply, because I have had so. much. fun. reading
them. But it's Monday, I'm at work, and I'm bored, so I'm going to go ahead
and share my $0.02 now. <g>
With every previous post so far, there has been at least one point in the
post when I've thought to myself, "Damn straight, sister!" And then I
realize I sound lame and try to stop thinking.
Anyway, like many of the respondents (all except Moon beam, I think), my
fave ship pairing is Draco/Ginny, which isn't all that surprising right now
because we put out the call about this list on the Draco/Ginny list, and
both Jade and I have written primarily D/G-centric stories so far.
In some ways, I wish I had more of an open mind when it came to ships.
(This is true for all fandoms I'm into, not just HP.) I wish I could enjoy
them all equally -- imagine the fanfic possibilities if that were the case!
I'd always have something good to read. But the truth of the matter is, I
have my preferences, and I can't change that. I seriously admire people
like, for instance, Danielle, who makes a lot of sense when she says that
what matters most is the writing, not the ship. For me, they both matter.
<g>
Like the two Jens, I'm not a big fan of Draco/Hermione. I have no idea why
this is. Okay, I have a small idea. I like Draco. I like Hermione. Put
them together and I'll run screaming the other way. My theory as to why
this is (and I completely appreciate that Moon beam and many others are big
fans of this ship, and more power to them). Like probably 99% of the
fandom, I'm an avid reader of Cassandra Claire's (hereafter known as CC, as
I'm lazy) Draco trilogy (DT). When I first read Draco Dormiens (DD), I was
completely knocked flat on my ass for two reasons: 1) I never thought I'd
ever get into HP fanfic; 2) I never thought I'd like Draco Malfoy. CC
totally changed both those things for me in one story. I was completely in
love/lust with Draco as he was portrayed in DD.
And get this: I loved Draco/Hermione at that point. I was bitter that she
chose Harry over Draco, because by then it was all about Draco for me.
Then I read Draco Sinister, and once Draco and Ginny started flirting, once
it was made apparent that Draco felt some attraction for her, it completely
turned around for me. Then suddenly all the USTy moments between Draco and
Hermione were read with one eye closed. Every time they shared a scene I
had to brace myself. Why? The only thing I can think is that with Harry
and Hermione clearly paired as one another's true love, for either Hermione
to pine for Draco or Draco, wonderful character that he is, to forever pine
for someone he can't have, would be wrong. To me. I think he deserves to
love someone, and have that someone love him back completely. And now, that
person is Ginny for me.
And I fully admit that how I view the characters in the DT influences
greatly how I see the characters in the fandom, because if it weren't for
the DT, I wouldn't be here.
Intellectually, I know that in fanfic, Draco/Hermione actually makes a lot
of sense. They have a lot of animosity between them, which in fanfic
typically translates to unresolved sexual tension. They are opposites, yet
are both smart enough to handle themselves in a confrontation. Draco is
mean to Hermione, which brings immediately to mind that age-old adage that
boys only tease girls when they like them. And so on and so forth. So I
can at least *understand* why people would be into D/H, even if I'm not into
it myself.
All this to answer the question of who would I loathe to see Draco with. <g>
As for who *else* I'd like to see him with ...
I have to separate Canon!Draco from Fanfic!Draco the way Jen Bennett did.
While it'd be totally astounding and exciting to see Canon!Draco with
Canon!Ginny, probably it's not going to happen (doi). In that case,
Canon!Draco can be paired with pretty much anyone and it would be equally
disappointing to me. There isn't really one that I'd prefer. I'd rather
NOT see him alone, though -- because even though he's a snotty brat, I
wouldn't want Harry or the others to be able to hold that over him.
Because, again, I think that he and Harry ought to be equals; just on
opposite ends of the spectrum.
Now to Fanfic!Draco, I agree w/ Danielle that Draco/Harry would be a good
read. I'd probably have zero interest in any other slash pairing for him.
As for female companions, if this is a somewhat-redeemed Draco as is
typically found in fanfic, I'd prefer to see Draco alone rather than with
any gal but Ginny. What can I say, Brooding!Alone!Draco is pretty damn
sexy, too. <g>
Ginny's turn, and again, I have to separate the canon and the fanfic
character. We hardly know anything about Ginny in canon, and what we've
seen so far doesn't paint her in the most interesting of lights. For the
longest time I was a big Harry/Cho fan, and knowing that JK likely intended
Harry for Ginny and vice versa made me v. irritated. However, I think I
could live with Ginny/Harry in canon, simply because I can't see either of
them with anyone else. (Plus, Canon!Ginny/anyone else would be pretty darn
boring imho, whereas I'd be interested no matter who Harry was paired up
with. So really, my being able to stomach Ginny/Harry is less about Ginny
than it is about Harry.)
Fanfic!Ginny, however, is usually pretty likable, whether she's spunky or
whether she's shy. I adore pairing her with Draco because they're even more
complete opposites than he and Hermione, and I like to think that she brings
out the side of him that he isn't even aware is there -- and of course, he
resents it every step of the way. I wouldn't want to see Ginny left alone,
however; I'd rather see her paired with Harry, or Seamus, or Dean, or even
Colin (I'm against pairing her w/ Neville, though, simply because
Fanfic!Ginny is usually too good for him -- sorry Neville). The caveat to
this is that she ought to pine for Draco the whole time. <g> (Now you
ask, What if Draco were with another girl and he pined after Ginny? My
answer is: Nope. Draco should be alone.) The only guys I'd loathe to see
Ginny with (I haven't seen much slash for her, so I'm just ignoring that
possibility here) are her brothers. Weasley incest squicks me. <g>
If Ginny couldn't pine for Draco, I'd like to see her with Tom. Tom Riddle
is much less creepy in fanfic than he is in canon.
So, there are my answers. They're not written in stone, because things
change. Maybe canon (in the form of OotP) will introduce some new concept
that will turn all this on its head. Can't wait ...
To summarize:
Canon!Draco: Doesn't matter, as long as he's got *some*one.
Fanfic!Draco: Harry, or Sexily Alone
Loathe him to be with: Hermione (or if Fanfic!Draco, any female and male
other than Harry)
Canon!Ginny: Harry
Fanfic!Ginny: No real preference, though she should not end up alone, and
should pine for Draco; if will not pine, then Tom Riddle
Loathe her to be with: Any of her brothers (less strongly, Neville)
I'd be v. interested in doing this topic again a year from now to see if any
of our answers change. <g>
Sarea
OK, now pretend that those two characters cannot be paired together romantically. Ever.
Who would you want to see them paired with? Would you rather see them alone, if they can't be together? What character would you absolutely *loathe* the idea of them being paired with?
LOL, I have been waiting to see if we'll get any more thoughts from other
people before I posted my reply, because I have had so. much. fun. reading
them. But it's Monday, I'm at work, and I'm bored, so I'm going to go ahead
and share my $0.02 now. <g>
With every previous post so far, there has been at least one point in the
post when I've thought to myself, "Damn straight, sister!" And then I
realize I sound lame and try to stop thinking.
Anyway, like many of the respondents (all except Moon beam, I think), my
fave ship pairing is Draco/Ginny, which isn't all that surprising right now
because we put out the call about this list on the Draco/Ginny list, and
both Jade and I have written primarily D/G-centric stories so far.
In some ways, I wish I had more of an open mind when it came to ships.
(This is true for all fandoms I'm into, not just HP.) I wish I could enjoy
them all equally -- imagine the fanfic possibilities if that were the case!
I'd always have something good to read. But the truth of the matter is, I
have my preferences, and I can't change that. I seriously admire people
like, for instance, Danielle, who makes a lot of sense when she says that
what matters most is the writing, not the ship. For me, they both matter.
<g>
Like the two Jens, I'm not a big fan of Draco/Hermione. I have no idea why
this is. Okay, I have a small idea. I like Draco. I like Hermione. Put
them together and I'll run screaming the other way. My theory as to why
this is (and I completely appreciate that Moon beam and many others are big
fans of this ship, and more power to them). Like probably 99% of the
fandom, I'm an avid reader of Cassandra Claire's (hereafter known as CC, as
I'm lazy) Draco trilogy (DT). When I first read Draco Dormiens (DD), I was
completely knocked flat on my ass for two reasons: 1) I never thought I'd
ever get into HP fanfic; 2) I never thought I'd like Draco Malfoy. CC
totally changed both those things for me in one story. I was completely in
love/lust with Draco as he was portrayed in DD.
And get this: I loved Draco/Hermione at that point. I was bitter that she
chose Harry over Draco, because by then it was all about Draco for me.
Then I read Draco Sinister, and once Draco and Ginny started flirting, once
it was made apparent that Draco felt some attraction for her, it completely
turned around for me. Then suddenly all the USTy moments between Draco and
Hermione were read with one eye closed. Every time they shared a scene I
had to brace myself. Why? The only thing I can think is that with Harry
and Hermione clearly paired as one another's true love, for either Hermione
to pine for Draco or Draco, wonderful character that he is, to forever pine
for someone he can't have, would be wrong. To me. I think he deserves to
love someone, and have that someone love him back completely. And now, that
person is Ginny for me.
And I fully admit that how I view the characters in the DT influences
greatly how I see the characters in the fandom, because if it weren't for
the DT, I wouldn't be here.
Intellectually, I know that in fanfic, Draco/Hermione actually makes a lot
of sense. They have a lot of animosity between them, which in fanfic
typically translates to unresolved sexual tension. They are opposites, yet
are both smart enough to handle themselves in a confrontation. Draco is
mean to Hermione, which brings immediately to mind that age-old adage that
boys only tease girls when they like them. And so on and so forth. So I
can at least *understand* why people would be into D/H, even if I'm not into
it myself.
All this to answer the question of who would I loathe to see Draco with. <g>
As for who *else* I'd like to see him with ...
I have to separate Canon!Draco from Fanfic!Draco the way Jen Bennett did.
While it'd be totally astounding and exciting to see Canon!Draco with
Canon!Ginny, probably it's not going to happen (doi). In that case,
Canon!Draco can be paired with pretty much anyone and it would be equally
disappointing to me. There isn't really one that I'd prefer. I'd rather
NOT see him alone, though -- because even though he's a snotty brat, I
wouldn't want Harry or the others to be able to hold that over him.
Because, again, I think that he and Harry ought to be equals; just on
opposite ends of the spectrum.
Now to Fanfic!Draco, I agree w/ Danielle that Draco/Harry would be a good
read. I'd probably have zero interest in any other slash pairing for him.
As for female companions, if this is a somewhat-redeemed Draco as is
typically found in fanfic, I'd prefer to see Draco alone rather than with
any gal but Ginny. What can I say, Brooding!Alone!Draco is pretty damn
sexy, too. <g>
Ginny's turn, and again, I have to separate the canon and the fanfic
character. We hardly know anything about Ginny in canon, and what we've
seen so far doesn't paint her in the most interesting of lights. For the
longest time I was a big Harry/Cho fan, and knowing that JK likely intended
Harry for Ginny and vice versa made me v. irritated. However, I think I
could live with Ginny/Harry in canon, simply because I can't see either of
them with anyone else. (Plus, Canon!Ginny/anyone else would be pretty darn
boring imho, whereas I'd be interested no matter who Harry was paired up
with. So really, my being able to stomach Ginny/Harry is less about Ginny
than it is about Harry.)
Fanfic!Ginny, however, is usually pretty likable, whether she's spunky or
whether she's shy. I adore pairing her with Draco because they're even more
complete opposites than he and Hermione, and I like to think that she brings
out the side of him that he isn't even aware is there -- and of course, he
resents it every step of the way. I wouldn't want to see Ginny left alone,
however; I'd rather see her paired with Harry, or Seamus, or Dean, or even
Colin (I'm against pairing her w/ Neville, though, simply because
Fanfic!Ginny is usually too good for him -- sorry Neville). The caveat to
this is that she ought to pine for Draco the whole time. <g> (Now you
ask, What if Draco were with another girl and he pined after Ginny? My
answer is: Nope. Draco should be alone.) The only guys I'd loathe to see
Ginny with (I haven't seen much slash for her, so I'm just ignoring that
possibility here) are her brothers. Weasley incest squicks me. <g>
If Ginny couldn't pine for Draco, I'd like to see her with Tom. Tom Riddle
is much less creepy in fanfic than he is in canon.
So, there are my answers. They're not written in stone, because things
change. Maybe canon (in the form of OotP) will introduce some new concept
that will turn all this on its head. Can't wait ...
To summarize:
Canon!Draco: Doesn't matter, as long as he's got *some*one.
Fanfic!Draco: Harry, or Sexily Alone
Loathe him to be with: Hermione (or if Fanfic!Draco, any female and male
other than Harry)
Canon!Ginny: Harry
Fanfic!Ginny: No real preference, though she should not end up alone, and
should pine for Draco; if will not pine, then Tom Riddle
Loathe her to be with: Any of her brothers (less strongly, Neville)
I'd be v. interested in doing this topic again a year from now to see if any
of our answers change. <g>
Sarea
