Name: Baby Boomer reviewed Chapter 6 on Jul 17, 2008 07:24 pm

I found it odd that Harry and Cho did not embrace during the kiss, barely touched each other at all.

Name: frizzl3fairy reviewed Single on May 07, 2008 05:36 pm

I seriously don't understand why people continue to disparage the thesis and the evidence of this essay. It does a great job of explaining the loopholes in the books, and gives hope to those who don't like the horrible H/G. Those who don't like hearing from someone who doesn't blindly swallow JKR's every word without reading between the lines doesn't have to read this essay.

Name: Daydream reviewed Single on Aug 14, 2007 08:20 am

I find the whole "Love Potion" theory utterly ridiculous. I believe in a D/G attraction and am a fan of the Snape/Lily/James - Draco/Ginny/Harry love triangles, but I can't buy this.

First of all, you think too far. It's like you're trying to decode a secret message. JKR wites these books for entertainment, and if she were to write things that way and expect us to figure out a different meaning for everything that is said, people wouldn't buy those books.

Second, Hermione would not do that, no matter what. It is stated that she doesn't think love potions are dark or dangerous, but she still has a good judgement and knows love can't be created that way. She wouldn't risk hurting both Harry (when he would find out that he was being dosed) and Ginny (when she would find out that Harry wasn't really attracted to her). If she was happy when Harry and Ginny got together, it is because she was a friend of Ginny's and knew that they were right for each other.

Finally, I don't know why people have so much trouble accepting it, but Harry did love Ginny, or at least like her, perfectly naturally. IMO, he began to be attracted to her in book 5, when she finally started to be more herself. But he was struggling with loads of different feelings, including his fading attraction to Cho and the loss of Sirius. Early on in book 6 we start to see a developping relationship between Harry and Ginny, like when he feels annoyed that she spends time with her other friends or laughs at her jokes. I believe that Harry liked Ginny totally honestly.

Thus, I do not deny that there may be some attraction between Ginny and Draco. Especially coming from the latter. it is not impossible that they both like Ginny and that she dates Harry because she thinks Malfoy hates her. However, I don't believe in the "love Potion" thing.

Name: steph reviewed Chapter 8 on Jul 11, 2007 03:25 pm

Gah! You can't leave our update like that! I havent seen it yet so I MUST know how good the H/L was and/or what you took from it??

Ok...sorry I sound like a stalker...but your writings are so interesting I feel like I want to pick your brain

Good luck with painting the house =)

Name: steph reviewed Single on Jul 10, 2007 02:36 pm

Another added note I think you should add to your essay...when Harry asked Luna to the party the text says..

page 311..

"How would you like to come to Slughorn's party with me tonight?'
The words were out of Harry's mouth before he could stop them; he heard himself say them as if it were a stranger speaking."

I found that passage odd....."as if it were a *stranger* speaking...." Maybe that means he hasn't been acting like himself lately(due to being drugged?)

Make of that what you will..you are better at analyzing the text than me!

Name: creamtea reviewed Single on Jul 03, 2007 10:00 pm

RESPONSE FOR WITCHFIRE

Thanks for your comments - politeness is always appreciated, particularly as sometimes I'm not very polite myself.

Anyhow, to explain: There are two people who wrote this collection of essays, I wrote Chapts 1, 3 and 4 - Anise wrote the rest. They are all under Anise's name as at the time of writing I did not have a publication point and Anise published here for me. I assume with 'Chapter 1' you're talking about my LP one?

You raise vaild points - unfortunately it will look as though I am now brushing you off when I say that my response to your points on the interviews is in Chapter 3 and to Hermione's motivation - Chapter 4.

When you read them, you will see instantly from their titles that I am not being evasive. As it is, the fact that I wrote an entire essay on each of those very issues just shows how seriously I took those points.

Name: witchfire reviewed Single on Jul 03, 2007 03:12 am

Hello,

Firstly, I'd just like to congratulate you on the obvious level of literary competence you possess, and the thorough research you've clearly undertaken. Secondly, I regret that I could only manage to read the first chapter of your essay, and I'll get back to the rest of it at a later date, but thought I should comment on the particular part I've read.

So far I'm not entirely convinced with your argument and although I've gone to the chapters/pages sourced, cannot yet reconcile myself with the idea of Hermione dosing Ginny with a love potion. It's a shame you refuse so vehemently to take symbolism into consideration as I believe it is an inherent ingredient to fully understanding and appreciating the text. I personally don't feel that a complex analysis can be carried out, or the potential nuances embedded within the text fully realised, without considering the symbolism woven throughout the entire series.

Symbolism aside, I like to form my opinions using as wide a variety of sources as possible, first and foremost of which would be JK herself and I'm not sure you truly regard her quoted interviews/statements etc., as they're intended. This, however, may be put down to a simple difference in personal opinion.

In any case, the main flaw of your argument in my opinion was your portrayal of Hermione, her archetypal characteristics and overall psyche. I believe you've misunderstood her motives and purposes as a character. I also think you've read too much into the absence of "flowery smells" and obvious lack of references/inquires concerning Ginny on Harry's part, which constitutes a central component of your argument. I think it's imperative to consider the fact that compression is inevitable in a novel and therefore it is simply not possible to include every minor detail or hint pertaining to Harry/Ginny in particular. Thus, omission of inquires concerning Ginny and other signs of his feelings towards her are of little significance and cannot be interpreted as a sure sign of interference via love potion on Hermione's part. I also think that, on the whole, Harry’s and Ginny’s relationship is more an avenue of provision for Harry's growth and development than a core plotline.

Continuing the above points I think it's safe to assume that it wasn't necessary to litter subtle hints and clues about Harry’s true feelings for Ginny as their relationship was a minor sub-plot and canonical Harry is given to moody, adolescent introspection and consequently, entitled to concealment of his feelings. Thus, JK included the most important and relevant scenes concerning Harry and Ginny’s fleeting relationship/romance, as she saw them and quite frankly, as an author myself, I can empathise with her. I don’t pretend to be privy to JK’s thoughts, however and this latter paragraph has been pure speculation-based opinion.

-Witchfire

PS: Refrain from sarcastic/superfluous retaliation would be much appreciated; as it's apparent that you’re far more intelligent than that.

Name: steph reviewed Chapter 8 on Jul 02, 2007 10:55 am

Just writing to say I saw a quote on hpana from director Yates who says the next film will be "less intense and more, sex, drugs, and rock n' roll..."

Interesting quote....sex, DRUGS and rock n' roll...

drugs=love potion perhaps??

Name: ShutUpMalfoy reviewed Single on Jul 01, 2007 06:57 pm

Hello.

I just want to say that I have personally known Anise for more than three years. I have never heard her say a single disparaging word about the HP books or JKR except as it relates to H/G. You see, there are a number of people who like the HP books that think the appearant romance between them is shallow, fake, and hollow. We also have strong evidence to believe that the books will not end with Harry and Ginny getting married, having 18 kids, and playing a Scrabble-style wife swap with Ron and Hermione. That's the way of all books. People can like them overall but not like specific parts. I liked the Lord of the Rings, but couldn't stand the Rivendell chapters. Let Anise like the chapters she likes, and you can like the chapters you like.

Name: dreamworld reviewed Single on Jul 01, 2007 03:23 am

You're forever saying you're going to explore things in more detail later, aren't you. Why not just get to the point rather than going tl;dr on everyone? I always thought that from a stylistic point of view it was better to be concise. To tell you the truth, I think I would respect this sort of pseudo-intellectual 'criticism' more if you'd whittled it down to 'H/G sux because I say so. I have reasons, but I can't tell you why. I'm forever procrastinating through my verbal diahrrea.'

Name: hill reviewed Single on Jun 30, 2007 10:43 am

Personally I have to wonder if you left out all your point 'you'd get to later' so that you can change them to fit the future circumstances and claim to somehow 'still be right.'

I'm glad you've proven to everyone that you still have a library card, but really, your analysis is so skewed that it all adds up a very well written, irrational mess.

You claim that what you're displaying is rationality, but I just don't see it. Before HBP came out, you had many theories born out of this same 'rationality' and when they didn't come through, you changed your tunes, started up with senseless hatred, and labeled JKR as a poor author (but only when it comes to where you were wrong- how odd!)

I don't know why you continue to read the books at all, when major parts of them offend you so much, you obviously don't have a high reguard for the author, and think that you are more of an authority than anyone. THAT is was REALLY makes me wonder about how rational and logical this all is.

I hope you let out the last part of your essay before the next book comes out, that way you can't edit it after wards, or pull some other act of cowardice.

One thing I need to point out, about your segway part of the essay- JKR doesn't have as much control over the films as you claim. That is total rubbish. She doesn't, and never will. She checks their scripts, and has been asked questions when they want to change something (like adding a graveyard in movie three, which she nixed, or adding Kreacher in after she said they shouldn't have cut him in movie 5.) You said she even spent time with the editing process etc. Where did you get this information? Interviews? Tabloids? Your own imagination? You seemed to leave THAT tidbit out of this very long essay. I wonder why THAT is?

Author's Response: The dogs bark, but the caravan passes on.

Name: Rhemus reviewed Chapter 8 on Jun 30, 2007 05:58 am

I don't buy it. Doctor Panglosse, "All's for the best in the best of all possible worlds."
You begin with a list of changes and then insist that every single one of them is an improvement. You assert that there ain't no such animal as a WTF moment.

The movies are much closer to the Books than regular movies. I can accept them cutting stuff to fit the 2 hour format. Hollywood needs eye-candy, so movie!Hermione being prettier is inevitable. I refuse to believe that every change is automatically an improvement.

I agree that Hermione punching Draco is an improvement, but straight haired bimboesque Hermione does not have the zing she had in the first 2 movies.

GoF: Harry fights the dragon was very exciting and cinematic. I enjoyed it at the time. But they spend all that time and drop SPEW. Neville giving Harry the Gillyweed was just to save money on CGIing the Elf.

Luna tells Harry aboot Thestrals. I approove of that change because it is more Luna screen time. Then the whole scene is rendered meaningless and futile because the Sextet flies to London on broomsticks and Thestrals are a complete waste of time.

Other characters speak Ron's lines and now the curse extends throughout clan Weasley. Hermione introduces Luna. WTF? Hermione has never met Luna and hates everything she stands for.

Movie!tDH: Molly lies dying in Arthur's arms. Hagrid and Hermione walk in. Hagrid howls in grief.
Hagrid: Arthur doesn't want you to die Mollywobbles. He loves you.
Hermione: Molly loves you too Arthur. She wants you to kiss the children for...

Name: steph reviewed Single on Jun 25, 2007 04:28 pm

Hey..your site has changed since I last read your original theory...I can't wait to come back and read all of your theories(even though I could care less about Ginny and or/Draco..sorry...)..good and through work! Even if the love potion one isnt true--which I thought it had to be after I read the book, I mean why such a strong emphasis on love potions in this book anyways???--it's still great. So cool to have another love potion believer!!