After reading one stupid comment too many...

[fpb]

I know I have read an essay that made the point that Mrs.Rowling had built up to Ginny-Harry much better than a lot of Philistines like to pretend. Can someone point me to it? Right here and now, I am not really in the mood to go and write one for myself, and I would like to have something to respond if I ever hear that ignorant opinion again.

On the other hand, does anyone doubt that the sudden apparition of Remus-Tonks in HBP is in the nature of a JKR rapsberry at certain fannish obsessions - just as, in my view, her sudden and incomprehensible invention of a black Blaise Zabini?

Lucius Malfoy is the most overrated villain on the planet. He is unintelligent, arrogant and whiny.

Finally, the twits who insist that Dumbledore is a manipulative bastard are the same idiots who are currently pretending that Israel could defend itself from Hezbollah without destroying bridges or killing people. It's called a war, dolts.

Comments

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I'd missed the whole Blaise Zabini argument - though I heard about through fandom_wank. Him being black just doesn't strike me as being in the least bit significant - like you say, he's a minor character. So he's black? Okay, whatever.

But I don't think R/T is quite as unnecessary to the plot as you seem to. Granted, it's not crucial - but I think it relates to some of the central ideas in the books. If I recall, someone, possibly Molly, says something along the lines of "Dumbledore would be glad to know there's a little more love in the world." And that's important.

Also, I personally like to know that Remus actually has something happy happen to him for a change. The man's had so many things go terribly wrong in his life - just this once, it's nice to see something go right. And to me as a reader, it doesn't matter who he's with, as long as it makes him happy.

(Which isn't to say that it isn't a jab at the fandom - it could well be - but if so, I think it works rather well.)