#and ootp wasn't out yet

[impishtubist]

Me in 2003: SIRIUS BLACK DESERVED BETTER Me in 2023: SIRIUS BLACK DESERVED BETTER

[profoundmakerdreamerss-blog]

It is funny to me how Harry Potter is literally the main character, yet people tend to go like he didn't suffer that much or he wasn't "abused"; Like, how can one misunderstand the literal main character of the damn franchise?

He wasn't abused; yes okay. He absolutely did not grow up inside a cupboard; the tiny place that is mostly reserved for brooms or cleaning supply. He absolutely was not treated inferior to the other child who lived in the same house. He was totally was not treated like a "freak" or a "stain" that his family was ashamed off. He grew up inside a cupboard while there was a literal unused bed in the same house. And you want to know what that screamed to a child, a baby — who slept inside a cupboard while there being a perfectly usable room right there? You are worth nothing and we don't love you and we are ashamed of what you are.

He wasn't starved, or at least he was fed; Yeah, no. We see it from the first book. How Vernon was no food for you and in the cupboard you go — and by the looks of it, that was like his most common punishment. And then, in the second book — you practically see it happen. He was locked, inside a room with only a can of soup that he shared with Hedwig. Now, tell me what it would do to a child — to be given food through a cat flap, and fun fact? Harry got to eat less than people on war rations; in short? He was starved, yes.

He wasn't abused physically so it's not abuse; As for people's thinks abuse isn't abuse until it's physical (which is inherently wrong because abuse isn't only physically, fyi); Harry has learned to dodge Vernon and he states that, very proudly when his uncle tries to grab him. He dodges a flying pan and states that fact, again very proudly as if it is the norm; do you know how heavy pans are? And do you know what would happen when one hits you? If you want an even clearer proof; Vernon Dursley strangles Harry in Ootp. There you go. Also, in the first book, we clearly see Vernon encouraging Dudley to hit Harry. Read between the lines and actually try to understand what that signifies.

And favourite part; When he wasn't treated like a prisoner, or a freak— he was their servant. And that is very much canonical. Tending Petunia's garden during summers and drinking from the water hose in the garden because of how hot it was? Having to wake up early so he can tend the kitchen and when he wasn't doing all that he is locked away. And it is all canon.

In conclusion, Harry— not only grew up to think that he was inhumane, undeserving of love, a freak that didn't even get to have his own bed because someone like him didn't deserve it, physically harmed enough times that he dodges them out of reflex and also the Dursleys' glorified servant; that is not even taking into account what Harry went through in Hogwarts. And after all that if someone tells me; this child, right here — didn't go through much then well, maybe read the books again?

[thegirlwhowrites642]

An unpopular hinny opinion?

You know what's funny? I have like fifty different takes I could give you, but I'm going to go with something that's been living rent free in my head since I wrote Harry and Ginny's reunion.

.

I believe in the first months after the war, Harry wouldn't be particularly fond of Ginny's friendship with Neville, I believe he would be jealous (not because he would actually have anything to worry about of course). I don't think it's something that would ever become a problem, but if during those months someone had asked Harry if he wanted to hex Neville, he would've waited a second before saying "no".

But this opinion of mine is based on what?

Neville, like Luna, has always been closer to Ginny than Harry, this is not a mystery. I've always found very telling for example how in OotP, Neville and Luna get involved in the Ministry business because of Ginny, in contrast, Ron and Hermione get involved because of Harry. Harry goes because of Sirius, and Ginny underlines how she wants to go because of Sirius. It's a very significant moment that defines the dynamics we'll see again in DH.

Neville's closeness to Ginny is also remarked by Ginny being the one reminding James to say "hi" to Neville in the epilogue.

The thing is though: while Neville and Ginny are friends, they aren't close enough in the first six books to justify Neville being Albus' godfather. So, of course, the experience that would explain Neville being appointed that role is Neville and Ginny's year leading the rebellion at Hogwarts (also in the perspective that an epilogue should be justified by the previously told story). This means that Harry left Ginny and Neville's relationship before the hunt as a good friendship and came back to a much closer bond. From Harry's perspective, it's a bit like it happened in a second. In a way, to him, it's unjustified, and therefore on some level menacing.

Now, this is the premise, but there are other elements.

Neville had already been once a potential love interest for Ginny: when they went to the Yule Ball together. A date for Ginny that was carefully chosen by the author to not trigger any reviling feelings for Ginny in Harry. Neville at the time was someone Harry considered a loser, in no way a potential threat. And yet even back then, Harry's first worry, after he started dancing, was making sure Ginny was having a terrible time with Neville (lol). [I'm not saying Harry was in love with Ginny, but the first two books already establish a subconscious attraction towards Ginny]

After the war though, Neville is a war hero, and someone Harry has already recognised as valuable.

Plus, the idea that Neville was smart enough to ask Ginny to be his date goes to touch one of Harry's great regrets: not having noticed Ginny earlier.

With this am I saying that Harry doubts Ginny's love for him? No.

But the immediate post-war period is a very emotionally fragile one.

The simple fact that Neville and Ginny were involved in a dangerous situation together at Hogwarts is already potentially quite annoying to Harry. Not only is Harry used to being involved in anything dangerous that happens at Hogwarts, and not being part of this one thing would increase a sense of exclusion, but once Harry makes his peace with how in danger Ginny was during the war, the fact that Neville was there to protect her and he wasn't would annoy the hell out of him (he would also be grateful to Neville but that comes later). Harry's one priority in life is Ginny's safety and it's also a way in which he channels his love for her. I know it's a bit of a toxic male take, but I do think realistically Harry would live Neville's ability to be there for Ginny as a sort of "invasion of territory", protecting Ginny is his thing, during the war, it was the only way he had left to love her. The breakup is after all Harry's way of brainwashing himself into thinking that will keep Ginny safe.

Again, Harry would be aware that Ginny doesn't have romantic feelings for Neville, but sometimes a bit of jealousy can't be helped. Harry is possessive of Ginny, not in a toxic way, but let's put it this way: he's definitely on the spectrum's opposite side of a person who would want an open relationship.

I'm also quite sure that Ginny being someone any breathing creature drools after doesn't help to convince Harry Neville does not have feelings for her.

To summarise, the factors that would feed into Harry's jealousy would be a sense of inadequacy and a sense of exclusion from Ginny's life that he already displays in the sixth book. What originally started to trigger Harry's feelings for Ginny was the annoyance of not being a constant part of her life and the worry she was choosing someone else over him after years of subconsciously taking for granted she would never do that (any possible love interest of Ginny is never shown in a good romantic dynamic with Ginny until Dean, until Harry can be jealous because the story is ready for him to be).

[expectopatronum81]

Unpopular opinion

Ron and/or Hermione should have died in the deathly hallows. And I say this as someone who loves these characters (probably Hermione more than Ron), but here me out

Now let's be fucking real, I really like ron, but he really wasn't skilled or prepared enough to fight in a war against voldemort, be it magically or mentally. And that's ok! He's still 17, he's not meant to be fighting a war. And to some degree he probably knew that the chances of him actually making it were pretty slim too. But he still stuck with Harry anyways coz there's no way he was going to let his best friend go through with this alone. Because that's who ron is, he'd rather die fighting beside his best friend, for his family, his muggleborn gf and for the cause than play it safe and hide.

Now coming to Hermione, things get a tad trickier here. Yes, she is very skilled and powerful and quick on her feet. But is she powerful enough to take on an army of adult DEs who've trained for years and have experience from the first wizarding war? To win against the darkest wizard who ever lived, who's said to be worse than Grindelwald, who's the most powerful wizard in the whole world after Dumbledore? No, I'd say she isn't. Because she's also fucking 17, she's not even done with school yet. But I think she'd live longer than Ron, or that there's a better chance of her making it out alive. But if she did die it would be extra heartbreaking coz a) Harry (and the readers) just lost 2 of the people who had been there from the very beginning, b) Hermione's parents would live on in Australia, not remembering that they had a daughter, not knowing that their daughter gave her life in hopes of saving her friend and creating a better world.

I majorly have 2 specific reasons for being this sadistic. The first one is the fact that the plot dumbs down it's main villain and his followers just to make the kids win. Voldemort (during Harry's time) is probably the dumbest villain ever written, he doesn't live up to his hype. People have already discussed how stupid his gof plan was. In ootp, during the DoM fight Lucius says that voldemort can't come get the prophecy himself coz the ministry is filled with ppl and he would risk revealing himself. But it's possible for 6 mostly dumb teenagers and an army of DEs, (who hv just escaped azkaban and are sought after by the ministry) to enter in undetected? Doesn't 👏 make 👏 any 👏 sense. The supposedly feared DEs who were trained by voldemort himself can't win against a group of teenagers. It's surprising how long it takes them to take the kids down in the DoM battle. The thing is though, this is out of character for ALL of them. It seems like they were dumbed down just so the MCs could make it out alive. Voldemort during the first WW started out as absolutely no one to having the highest class of the wizarding society obeying his every command. The whole wizarding world was so afraid of him that they wouldn't even say his name. The DEs picked out member after member of the original ootp, mostly coz they were outnumbered but also coz they're fucking death eaters. And ur telling me these guys can't fight kids? Pathetic. Also it doesn't make sense that most of the adults from the first war are dead but all the kids live. Like did the war become safer or sm shit? Instead i would have loved it if the trio got away with things in the first few books, but then realised what a war against voldemort actually means later on. But they won't back down, and they'll still stick with their friend and fight for each other and the cause anyways, and that vil have real, legitimate consequences

Now, the second reason is that it would have been an amazing but heartbreaking callback to book 1. Ron sacrifices himself in a game of chess and Hermione says that there are more important things than books and cleverness, like friendship and bravery. Ron's line of "It's you who has to go on Harry, I know it! Not me, not Hermione, you!" would have also come full circle. Back then they were still 11, so they could still get their happy ending. Now they're in a real war and the stakes are higher, but they'll stick to what they started anyways. Ron sacrifices himself so the other 2 can move forwards, Hermione's intelligence gets her further but she still needs to part with Harry. Harry needs to leave them behind and face voldemort alone because that's how it was always meant to be

And finally, it would have given us a more bittersweet ending to the series instead of that vanilla 'all is well' epilogue. Harry has lost almost every one he loved. But there's still life, there's still hope, and he lives by cherishing their memories and making their sacrifice have meaning. Kinda like the ending of the hunger games. Ik this is a kids book, but Harry Potter as a series is incredibly deep and deals with a lot of fucked up shit, so I think it could handle it if it was written well.

Thank you for coming to my TedTalk

[midnightstargazer]

Not to defend the overall narrative surrounding house-elves, but probably the #1 reason I'm so sympathetic to Regulus is that he didn't make Kreacher drink the potion.

House-elves are the lowest of the low in Wizarding society, and virtually nobody questions or objects to the way that they're treated. The narrative wants us to believe the Blacks were kind to Kreacher, but what we're actually shown says otherwise: his living conditions leave a lot to be desired, he harms himself as punishment for disobedience or failure, and then of course there's the whole beheading thing. I don't blame Regulus for any of this, because he was a child and would've had no say in it. But I think it's important to understand, where house-elves are concerned, his family wasn't that different from the Malfoys.

And yet, while I know some people do interpret his actions in a very uncharitable way (he was just upset that his property was damaged, etc.), I think there are signs that there was more to it than that. Kreacher himself states that "Master Regulus always liked Kreacher" (DH ch. 10), which implies that from an early age he showed him kindness and affection. Regulus described Kreacher's task for Voldemort as an honor for both of them; how many wizards would even consider whether or not something was an honor for their house-elf? And, while it's suggested he loaned Kreacher to Voldemort willingly, I don't think it's a coincidence that he ordered him to come home afterwards. He might not have suspected the task would be a death trap, but he knew it would likely be illegal and possibly dangerous. I interpret the order as an intentional precaution.

The exact reasons why Regulus turned against Voldemort are very open to interpretation. It could be he believed that making a Horcrux was going too far. It could be, as Sirius suggested, that he got squeamish about the reality of what being a Death Eater involved. But I do think protectiveness towards Kreacher must have been at least part of his motivation.

Why? Because he drank the potion himself.

This isn't an accident, either. It's emphasized by the narrative: Harry initially assumes Regulus ordered Kreacher to drink it, only to be corrected. It's portrayed as a shocking twist, and for good reason.

For most wizards, especially ones with Regulus's background, making the elf drink the potion would be the obvious solution. Hermione is right when she says what Voldemort did isn't that far outside the norm. Slughorn, who is generally one of the more positively portrayed Slytherins, used a house-elf to test wine for poison. The Blacks' family tradition is, specifically, "beheading house-elves when they got too old to carry tea trays" (OotP ch. 4) - so, they don't just preserve them that way after their death, they kill them as soon as they are no longer useful. Brutal physical punishments seem to be common, and their enslavement is accepted as normal and right by literally every character except Hermione. Wizarding society as a whole does not value the lives or welfare of house-elves.

But in the cave, Regulus prioritizes Kreacher's safety above his own. He drinks the potion himself rather than ordering Kreacher to do it, and once they've got the locket, he tells Kreacher to leave him behind. Regulus could very likely have made it out of the cave alive if he had been willing to sacrifice Kreacher, but instead, he ensured that Kreacher would be the one to survive.

Despite everything he had ever been taught about house-elves and their place in society, despite openly holding blood purist beliefs, despite it meaning the all-important family name would die out, he put Kreacher first. He kept Kreacher safe at the cost of his own life.

[ashesandhackles]

Yeah, I also struggle to imagine Severus and Remus becoming friends in canon. Remus is extremely passive aggressive and way too loyal to James, while Severus is very open about his disdain for certain people, including Remus and especially James. If I were Severus I would also find it extremely hard to trust Remus given their history. Remus is also the kind of person who’s willing to do anything to fit in and be liked, while Sev is comfortable with his own company. Both make sense given their circumstances. Contrary to popular belief, Sev did NOT hate Remus because he was a werewolf - he hated him because he was and quite frankly remained one of his bullies. Yet at the same time, I love both characters and I’m fascinated by their dynamic. I do think there is a version of reality where under different circumstances, they could have gotten along. Now, I’m wondering, do you think there’s any version of reality where Severus and Sirius could have been friends?

I have answered this somewhere before - but I am going to quote my friend @dragonlordette on this and explain why they are incompatible:

"Snape is unafraid to be himself to the point of being bullied and disliked his whole life, while Lupin is avoidant. These two characteristics don't lend themselves to complementing each other, they just lead to Snape disrespecting Lupin. As an alternative example of a more "complementary" case of opposites attract, Tonks is sociable while Lupin is avoidant. This means she can help him out his shell, but she is not so committed to "staying true to herself" that she would find lupins tendency not to speak up to his friends weak (like snape would). It's a more complementary strength.

I just feel like nearly every trait of Lupin and snape is mutually exclusive, rather than complementary. "

My own take is that, "Remus enjoys being around people who are aspirational - someone whose life he can live vicariously through (James, teen Sirius, Tonks) or someone he can look up to (Dumbledore). Severus is aspirational in a way that won't speak to Remus."

In canon, from the way I read it, Snape is on backfoot by what he considers is Remus' dishonest civility. He cannot effectively argue with Remus when Remus is polite but inwardly hostile/oppositional - see, here: Verbal Fencing Between Snape and Remus , Neither Likes Nor Dislikes Severus

He tries to avoid Remus the best he can, because one, there is genuine fear there from the teenage brush off of the Whomping Willow incident and he is constantly wary and hypervigilant. My reading of Remus is harsher than a lot of the fandom, but I really don't see a scenario of them getting along. (I'm sure other interpretations may make that feasible, but it's not my vision of who these two characters are)

Also, it's clear to me that Remus, while acknowledging that his friend's behaviour with Snape wasn't great, isn't too fond of him himself. (he will try to lighten how James' behaviour looks - see end of POA, OOTP chapter post SWM). He disapproves of Snape as an authority figure - as demonstrated by the Boggart lesson (Snape's jibe about Neville pissed him off - he raises his eyebrows at him, which in Remus language, is "ticked off"), and the fact that while he agrees with Snape that Harry shouldn't be in Hogsmeade, he will not let Harry be in Snape's power to deal with.

Sirius, on the other hand, as hot take it might be - but as my friend @saintsenara pointed out, Snape enjoys baiting him ("how is the cleaning going?"), engaging with him because Sirius is upfront (the entire kitchen scene). Snape knows how to deal with that kind of language, it's batting in a language he knows, whereas with Remus, he is never sure of what he is getting.

Sirius and Snape are narrative mirrors, explicitly in canon. Sirius and Remus are narrative stand-ins for when James is important for Harry's development, while Snape's story becomes more important when Lily is important to Harry's development:

They have much in common:

- people who lost their best friends and the most damaged by it.

- Sirius punishes himself for James' death by staying in Azkaban for 12 years, Snape atones for his own guilt by being a spy.

- Snape and Sirius both live in their childhood homes, and they both act as prison. For Sirius, it is imposed on him, for Snape - it seems to be self inflicted.

- anger issues, to put it lightly.

- intensely loyal, and very very brave. But great capacity for cruelty.

- Snape spent his teenage years running away from his Muggle roots, Sirius spends his teenage years running away from aristocratic pureblood house

As my co-writer and friend @thedreamermusing pointed out: "Also: Snape has father issues; Sirius has Mommy issues. Their lives run parallel more or less- Sirius and Snape both form a formative best friend friendship in their childhood, are both drawn sorted in their houses in an effort to cement their own family complexes (Snape and his mom, Sirius and his family), both base their identities om the basis of belonging to a community (Snape-DEs, Sirius- Marauders), both form their moral complexes by becoming the opposite of their roots (Snape loves the dark arts and blood supremacy, Sirius hates the dark arts and hangs muggle posters), both have a cruel sense of humour (Snape thinking dark magic is just a laugh, Sirius thinking feeding Remus Snape a la Carte being a joke), both of them joining a group to further themselves away from their roots after school, both of them risking their lives to protect their bestfriends, both of them making a terrible mistake by trusting the wrong person that leads to their best friend dying, both of them punishing themselves for the next 12 years to atone, both of them using the memory of their bffs as the one shining light in their miserable lives to keep going on, both of them forced in their childhood homes in the last part of their lives, both of them finally dying for Harry."

Essentially, they have a capacity for understanding each other in a way because there is an intense projection involved in how they interact with each other. I have answered bits of that dynamic here and how their dialogue flows, where they throw words back at each other whereas the one with Remus involves Remus taking the rug from under his feet. So yeah, basically I don't see it with Severus and Remus - but like I pointed out, the way I envision the two characters might not align with others :)

[weirdraccoon]

Fig’s reaction to Em-Sea’s PTSD? Maybe she got issues from the repository battle (fig did not die she saved him with her ancient magic and daddy fig lives it’s a cannon event he is alive😭).

Em-Se wakes up in a cold sweat every night and has a hard time falling back asleep. She tries to keep it from Fig as much as she can bcuz she doesn’t want him to know just how bad she’s struggling. She uses the glamour charm to hide the bags under her dark and bloodshot eyes, she’s pale and thin not eating, tired all the time.

Every time she hears a loud bang she thinks it’s a goblin camp trying to attack her or poachers trying to kill her. Shes constantly looking over her shoulder afraid that one of the knights she faced (idk wtf else they were) is sneaking up on her.

Em-Sea is really fucked up and one night she wakes up shaking and sweating, gets out of bed and falls to the floor from a really really bad nightmare so the girls in her dorm put her arms around their necks and take her to the infirmary. Kinda like the same scene where harry had the nightmare in OOTP and went to dumbledores office.

I'm feeling out of sorts today so Imma take those feelings and put them in here, so: ANGST, my favorite (plus little comfort since you asked but just a tiny bit cause yeah)

"Are you sure you're all right?"

MC jumped at the voice behind her. Poppy was peering at her with a worried frown on her face. If MC didn't know better, she'd say the dark bags under her eyes were visible to the world. However, she knew better and had become a professional in glamouring spells and makeup. So, whatever had Poppy worried wasn't the sleepless night or nightmares MC was careful to hide.

"I'm good," she answered with a cheeky smirk. "Why are you asking?"

Poppy only side-eyed her and sat next to her. It was common for students to sit at different tables, mainly because everyone had friends or family in different houses. MC, especially, seemed to find a friend in all four houses even if she belonged to the one.

"Nothing," Poppy sighed when MC didn't crack.

Her happy mask was on full display and not even Fig knew MC had been having mental issues, and he knew everything about the girl. Truth was, MC's nightmares were often about the repository. Sometimes Fig died in there, other times she died, and other times Ranrok escaped and tore Hogwarts down with all her friends inside.

Less frequent nightmares starred Mr. Salomon Sallow dying under her wand. Or Sebastian dying under his uncle's wand. Or, the worst yet, Sebastian dying under her wand.

All in all, she didn't want to go to sleep anymore. She stopped sleeping in the dormitory, choosing to spend her nights in the Room of Requirement where no one would be aware of her cries or fears.

Not even Deek. The elf had left when it was clear she was ready to care for her animals, plants and potions by herself.

What. She was good at faking it.

So far, at least.

That day was particularly exhausting, and MC fell asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow. She didn't even take her tie off. Or her shoes.

And, when the nightmares came, they were more real than ever. First Sebastian killing his uncle only to be killed by Anne who then turned into Ranrok and killed Fig. Then Ranrok turned into a dragon and chased her all over the highlands.

She ran.

She ran as fast as she could. Her legs burned and her feet hurt. Her head was killing her.

"Finally, you silly girl," Ranrok purred, closer and closer. "Your power is mine, MC."

She could only cry out, however, no sound came out of her mouth. Ranrok's claws grabbed her arms and she trashed, trying to escape.

"MC," Ranrok chuckled. "MC, MC."

She started crying. She tried to yell. Scream for help. The castle was close maybe someone would hear.

"MC! Merlin. Aguanenti!"

MC spluttered and blinked. Blinked again. She was in the Defense Tower. How did she-?

Fig was staring at her with wide terrified eyes.

"I was late grading some essays," he explained uselessly. One of his hands was still grabbing MC's arms, where her nightmare had put Ranrok's claw. The other hand had his wand, aiming away from her but ready to stop her if she tried anything that could hurt her.

"I was-," MC trailed off.

I was so tired I forgot to take a dreamless potion. I was so tired I forgot to lock the Room.

"I'm so tired," she ended up confessing.

Her voice broke and tears began running down her face. Once she started, she couldn't seem to stop. She sobbed. She cried and cried and Fig pulled her into his arms, not caring that her runny nose and tears could ruin his robes.

"Oh, MC," he shushed, rocking her back and fort a little. "I'm so sorry."

For not noticing. For not offering help. For not helping when he knew how difficult it was for her to ask for help in the first place.

"I just wan'it to end," MC wailed between sobs. "All'of'it!"

Fig closed his eyes, pained to his soul at hearing such words with such heavy meaning coming out from a barely sixteen year old.

He could onlu hugged her tighter.

He'd make sure she knew she was not alone.

[soup-of-the-daisies]

You talked about rambles so uhm.. have this essay i guess?? sklfjd this got wayy longer than i thought it would:

Sirius and Regulus and especially the was Sirius talks about Regulus is SOOOO interesting to me? probably because i'm also an eldest child

"my idiot brother who was soft enough to believe [our parents]" is just so.. bitter? resentful? hurt? to me? I firmly believe Sirius used to believe W&O too, but then got to Hogwarts and was in for a Rude Awakening and slowly changed. It can't have been easy, even if he had prior doubts, to learn to disregard and actively denounce everything his parents ever told him.

They were harsh and strict and expected so much from him. Put him in all these little boxes and made him jump through hoops because he had to be the perfect little heir to the Black name (basically royalty) but they were his parents and parents love their children. They care. He was eleven when he started to not only doubt his parents ideals, but also their love for him because with every "no" and "that's not true" and "muggleborn, not mudblood" they (especially Walburga) get harsher and harsher.

Maybe he even went to Regulus with it in his letters in the year Regulus wasn't at Hogwarts yet? "Potter said [something going directly against what their parents told them] and was completely serious about it! Can you believe it?" "Do you think father was right when he said ... because Potter said ..." "James told me mother was wrong about ..." And he tried to explain his own wavering belief in their parents and Regulus, who was still firmly under their thumb, refused to listen.

Maybe Regulus talked to their parents about these letters and he got an furious letter from Walburga. Or he got the cold shoulder when he got home from his first year not knowing why until they brought it up icily during dinner?

I believe that Sirius saw Regulus believing their parents over him as a personal betrayal. "soft enough to believe them" aka he loved/respected/trusted them more than he did me or he would have listened to me

honestly i don't know if any of this made sense but it's certainly rambling

Yes. Yes, this is good. VERY good.

In my perspective, Sirius calling Regulus ‘soft’ and an ‘idiot’ is, apart from hurt for a little brother who ‘betrayed’ him/his trust, also something that he’s parroting. Like that his parents used to say it, you know? Sirius is intelligent, headstrong, magically powerful, and a leader at his core: ideal for the future head of the family. I’d say his rebellious tendencies and sharp retorts were initially encouraged (amusing, cute, and impressive; he was an outgoing and sharp child, and people who don’t like children like that), until it backfired on them.

Regulus, while being clever himself, I’ve always seen as significantly less outgoing. He’s not mentioned until OotP, though he could’ve been mentioned (at least in passing) during both PoA and GoF. I don’t see him as having been very… outstanding, I suppose. Probably quiet at home too, and agreeable. Not something you’d want in an heir, ideally. Calling him a soft idiot could easily be a way for O&W to force him out of his shell, be more Sirius-esque without the need for rebellion.

But then he joins the Death Eaters, and his parents (though perhaps unhappy that he’s such a follower) are at least proud that he agrees with their ideas, and Sirius just thinks—they were right. Apart from the cold shoulder or the tattling after Sirius started Hogwarts, he’s radicalised now as well, listened to their parents’ ridiculous bigotry and agreed with it to the point of becoming a follower of Voldemort. Voldemort, who obviously doesn’t care about people’s lives, least of all about the ideas he’s spouting (how many purebloods got killed by DE’s, in comparison to muggles and muggleborn? How is that superiority?). It’s a confirmation: Regulus is soft and can’t think for himself, Regulus is an idiot who decided to side with a extremist maniac instead of genuinely considering the facts.

I do think Sirius cared for his parents, a little bit. He flees to his mother’s room when he’s upset, and he doesn’t take the opportunity to slander his father for his paranoia in protecting Grimmauld with spells. I think he cared for Regulus more though: soft, idiotic Regulus, who was too quiet to think to disagree, too stupid to think further than the ideas he surrounded himself with, too scared to consider his brother’s rebuttals to the bigotry.

It’s hurt, yes. Because it could’ve been better. Because Regulus could have lived.

[consistentsquash]

https://consistentsquash.tumblr.com/post/735968615712653312/favourite-snape-characterisation-in-fanfic This range is genuinely shocking. From outside Snape fandom look like they agree on Snape's characterization unlike Marauders fandom. How are these different headcanons coexisting without discourse friction?

Hiya!!

The actual range in Snape fandom is huge!!! That post is my personal Snape reading range. Lots and lots of great fic with softer/darker Snape characterizations on either side of that range.

My takes as a reader below the cut. YMMV. Also tagging @danpuff-ao3 who knows this fandom inside out, @perverse-idyll who is the best for history <3

Of course Snape fans have pretty strong personal takes on Snape characterization. But folks are probably older on average and more chill? This type of ship is a pretty different vibe compared to other popular ships because of the powerdynamics and age gap. Also a lot of folks probably exhausted forever because Snape fandom OoTP/HBP/DH was pretty intense. Plus Lily. It was the type of intensity which really burned out a lot of folks. Not saying we dont have headcanon wars but like its a different stage of fandom compared to Marauders. I am pretty jealous of the level of activity in Marauders tbh but otoh it can also get exhausting. Snarry/Snape fandom isn't really huge like Marauders. Probably shrinking based on the fandom ship stats. Also a ton of folks are multishippers. Those folks are chill about headcanons because they probably have different dynamics for Snarry/Snack/Snupin/Snamione/other ships.

Tl;dr we have headcanons and stuff. Folks probably dont notice because other ships/fandoms have more activity. It's not really a cult with one standard Snape characterization version. Not saying we don't do cults because Snapewives was a thing :D

Also hard to generalize. Snape multishippers/Snape OTP fandom, Snape het fandom/Snape slash fandom, Snape age gap fandom/Snape peer ship fandom, Snape shipping fandom/Snape gen fandom have some overlaps but also lots of differences. Also the folks interested in the type of Rich Pure Blood Snape before OoTP/folks interested in reading/writing him after OoTP/after HBP/after DH are really pretty different because his character arc had lots of twists.

Maybe check out the Snarry fanlore article to get an idea about that range/history. Also really good info on the history side in this interview from Ellen Fremedon

The only list that I really stayed active on was the Snape slash list, and pretty much I made the transition from Star Trek to Harry Potter when I found the Snape slash list and realized that that was where the grownups were. It — especially at that point in the fandom it was very Balkanized, and the Snape slashers were actually renowned at that point for generally being level-headed and rational grown-ups that it was fun to be around. (laughs) Well, because they were grown-ups who'd been in other fandoms before and who'd come to this out of other fannish communities and knew the fucking social norms and were not a bunch of feral teenagers that had to be socialized. And they also were not heavily invested in shipping wars because they were Snape slashers and they knew that Snape was not going to get a boyfriend in the books. Ever. So, we were not looking for textual validation. (laughs) So, yeah, it was sort of its own little polite, well-mannered, sane — it sounds crazy saying this at this point now, but that's really, yeah, it was where the nice, polite, well-mannered rational grownups hung out when I first got into Harry Potter fandom. (both interviewer and interviewee laugh) Well, remember this was also before any of the movies, so there wasn't the Alan Rickman thing going on yet either.

[sofoulandfairaday]

I really enjoy your posts about Bellamort alongside your interest in Bella/Rod. Voldy seems aromantic to me and I like the idea of how much their attraction is highlighted even if both characters are fucked up.

I was wondering what your thoughts are about love re: Bellamort. I think it's love but it's just tainted? I don't think I have a good enough grasp on Voldy to say how they got together and what the relationship meant.

Ah, anon, isn't this the million-dollar question? (And one to which I have no answer)

The thing about these two is that we will never have a definitive answer because, unfortunately, the HP book series isn't about them. Their relationship is something that we see glimpses of, from Harry's POV, and that is really only explored for Bellatrix's character, (almost) never for Voldemort. We see his actions towards her, but never his thoughts on her, not even during Harry's incursions in Vold's head (and I personally think we were robbed, but I digress...)

I'll try and keep this answer brief - not because I don't wish to answer, but because there would be simply too much to say and most of it is speculation. Also, my idea of these characters is ever-evolving, so it might not even be definitive. I have made several smaller posts regarding aspects of their relationship (and even those were long), so if you want you can also check out those.

Was Bellatrix in love with him? Yes. There is no other answer but yes. Now, one can spend hours online arguing with this HP fan or that one - "was it love love or obsessive love?" Doesn't matter. She loved him. She was the high priestess of his religion, his most faithful lieutenant, his most formidable warrior, the only one who would have stuck by his side when the world was burning, no matter what. Now, amongst Bellamort fans we can try to analyse whether this love was pure or tainted. It certainly was selfless. But it was also a love born of darkness, a love that corrupts, that pushed her to do monstrous things. It corroded her and sustained her at the same time. It must have hurt her, too. She obviously thought he was worth it, and she wasn't an idiot, no matter how the fandom paints her. So make of that what you will.

Was Voldemort in love with her? Errrrrr... Whatever "in love" means, I guess. First of all, one has to remember that Lord Voldemort was originally the villain of a 77K children's novel about an 11-year-old boy wizard. Of course, Deathly Hallows is vastly different in terms of tone, style, and maturity, and is essentially Young Adult... and yet, it doesn't have the time or the space to do Vold justice as a character. I can understand why. They say actions speak louder than words, so let's list them: he saves her (and is discovered by the whole Ministry in the process) at the end of OotP; he never punishes her violently, even when she fails; he entrusts her with a Horcrux; he tells her his secrets (and even Snape admits this) up until the fiasco at the Ministry; he talks about saving "the Lestranges" from Azkaban at the end of GoF, not a word is spared for any of his other DE; he screams when she dies. If CC is to be believed (I don't like it), he made a baby with her. She talks to him "as if to a lover". She definitely meant something to him, that is beyond dispute. Now, what that something was, I can't say with certainty.

My personal interpretation is that it wasn't unrequited, that he came to realize that, at the very least, he needed her. He was sexually attracted to her. He confided in her. He taught her the Dark Arts. I think that whatever part of his broken, mangled, soul could love, loved her. Was it pure? Nah. Was it selfless? Nope. Was it enough? I like to think so. I like to think that he loved her unknowingly, that he fought it tooth and nail every single step of the way, that he made up excuses:

It's not love, it's devotion/adoration

It's not faith, it's loyalty

It's need, it's an alliance between dark wizards

It's lust, not love

Whatever. Whether he loved her because he wanted to be loved (adored), or for any other reason, I like to think that it was enough.

I also like to think that he realized it the second he saw her fall. That he pushed it from his mind, hated her for dying, while talking to Potter. That when talking about Snape agreeing there "purer, more worthy" women, she flashed before his eyes. I also know he denied it until the very end because that is who his character is.

But maybe. Just maybe. Harry Potter is not the only person who is offered a chance to stay inside Limbo or move on. Maybe Bellatrix met her equivalent of Albus Dumbledore too, as soon as she struck the floor of the Great Hall. Maybe there was a baby there, alone and crying, broken and almost flayed, but still alive. Maybe, winning her inevitable disgust, she picked him up. Maybe, he stopped crying. [in lighter words, Rodolphus is my baby and imagining them all in a fluffy (and smutty) setting brings me comfort]

[startanewdream]

20 questions game

Thanks @jfleamont for the tag!!!

1. How many works do you have on AO3?

76

2. What's your total AO3 words count?

989,546 (next update will probably get me to 1MM!!!)

3. What fandoms do you write for?

Nowadays, only HP.

4. What are your top 5 fics by kudos?

Light beam (1010), Eyes glistening (with the ghost of my past) (731), A cup of tea (632), A bad word (590), One minute (524)

5. Do you respond to comments? Why or why not?

Whenever I can! I love getting and answering comments, but I'll admit sometimes I am not in the right mind so I postpone it, then I feel ashamed so I don't reply—it's a terrible fault, I know it. Sorry. I do appreciate any comment!

6. What's the fic you wrote with the angstiest ending?

I don't think I write angst endings ops I'd say the fall but only because James lives and Sirius dies is sad no matter what.

7. What's the fic you wrote with the happiest ending?

All my fics are happy help Five Stages of Starflower because it's a Jily-get-together fic I guess?

8. Do you get hate on fics?

I've been told that my Lily in The song remains the same made people give up on Jily, so wow for me I guess.

9. Do you write smut. If so what kind?

Yes... The kind that doesn't make me want to crawl into bed with embarrassment, so, yk, a healthy dose of touches and soft descriptions, little dirty talk, lots of feelings, and no mention ever of the word penis.

10. Do you write crossovers? What's the craziest one you've written?

Does AU count?

11. Have you ever had a fic stolen?

Not really.

12. Have you ever had a fic translated?

Yeees, and it was so nice!

13. Have you ever cowritten a fic before?

Not... yet, hopefully.

14. What's your all-time favourite ship?

Look no other ship has ever made me go to bed crying at two in the morning like Buffy/Angel so I'm a Harry/Ginny girl through and through, though it's a close with with James/Lily.

15. What's a WIP you want to finish, but doubt you ever will?

Looking at you exit song (for film). Sorry.

16. What are your writing strengths?

I enjoy my characterization, that feeling of being inside the character's mind and grasping them; I like to think I write fanfic because I can make those characters not sound OOC. I write what I enjoy reading, so hopefully my descriptions and dialogue flow easily.

17. What are your writing weaknesses?

English isn't my first language, so there's probably a lot of grammar issues. Not plotting the whole fic. Worrying too much about how my writing will be perceived rather than just enjoying the process.

18. Thoughts on writing dialogue in another language for a fic?

Go for it?

19. First fandom you wrote for?

Harry Potter. Probably a version of OotP, which wasn't out when I first joined fandom.

20. Favourite fic you've ever written?

the thing about (il)licit affairs was my fave fic to write, Until Spring Comes Again was a joy for the plot; but my fave is probably bury it and rise above, that one has a piece of my soul.

Sorry if you were tagged already, but let me try @chdarling @velvethopewrites @displayheartcode @siriuslychessi @gryffindormischief

[narcissa-black-supermacy]

So so so...I saw your thing. Your character list thing. Ranking them and stuff.

Talk to me about James. Tell me why you love him so much.

And, while you're at it, if you'd be so kind, tell me about Narcissa too. Because I'm not discounting her. She has her merits, of course she does. But I want to know why you love her (also a little surprised she was number 4?)

asdjkh you know it's not the first time i get this sort of question and it's always funny to me how people ask about Narcissa and often about James, but nobody ever questions Bellatrix, regardless of how high I put her. like...oh, i see. unhinged crazy dagger throwing hot lady. understandable, have a nice day. (if villain bad why hot?)

anyway;

James will always be my number one <3

He is my favourite and easiest POV to write, I love his head. His character is more simple, compared to many others who come with a lot of trauma and baggage (like Sirius, Reg, Remus, Lily, Snape, the entire golden trio), which is why he often gets overlooked, but I love that about him. I love simple characters.

He comes from a rich pure-blooded family which, at that point in time, isn't involved in the war. He doesn't really have to fight. He doesn't have to work, or get good grades. He doesn't have to defend people like Lily, or befriend people like Remus and Sirius. He is a Gryffindor variant of Draco Malfoy, a spoiled only son, but instead of going in that direction, he chooses to be kind because he just has this ridiculously strong sense of justice inside him.

And yet, he's not a flat character. He is smart. Sharp. Bold. Highly intelligent. He can be very very cruel to people he does not like (see SWM in OOTP - "it's more the fact that he exists, if you know what I mean" is such a CRUEL line, ouch).

He inspires everyone around him. People follow him into battle, I often find myself wondering if people like Sirius, Peter, Remus and Lily would have ended up involved with the Order at all if it wasn't for James.

He's truly my biggest comfort character. Out of the entire list of the 5, he is the only one I would actually want to be friends with in real life (sorry Blacks).

Now, Narcissa.

Cissy is...important to me on a personal level. I grew up in a super conservative religious environment, that's inherently bigoted in every possible way. I know a lot of women like Narcissa.

She is this...typical archetype of a woman who does and gives everything for the people around her, and always remains strong and composed and honorable, and plays her role "like a good girl", but is also completely underappreciated, unnoticed, not counted, not taken seriously, disrespected by men and hated by other women (rich, traditionally beautiful, arrogant, your typical "mean girl").

And in the end - it's a closure to Lily's story. Harry Potter stars with Lily Evans, who sacrificed her life for her son, and gave the world a chance to defeat Voldemort. Then it ends with Narcissa, who also risks everything for her son, and gives the world the chance to end him once and for all. She was able to do it because she is a side character, because she was not taken into account or taken seriously by anyone.

Harry Potter is a story of a mother's love, that is always underappreciated and not taken into account, but ends up being stronger than anything.

[shadow-waterglow]

Darling, dearest, dead

699 w. Short and sad. Also, rough draft.

OotP-timeline, Sirius looks in the mirror of Erised.

Dumbledore didn't discuss with him exactly what possessions he moved on Grimmauld Place for keeping, and maybe that's why he was so unprepared to stumble over it in one of dusty rooms. He wasn't really cleaning, he just wandered there out of restless, useless ache to do something with endless hours he was spending locked in.

The first thing he wanted to do was to break it. One shaky, pained breath later impulse only got worse - break it and take the piece with him.

It was an old mirror, but not murcky and dark like those old cursed things in this wrectched house. It was shiningly clear and beautiful, and he would recognize it even without the inscription on golden frame.

I show not your face, but your heart's desire.

Wasn't that just the most blessed, the most malicious magic in the world. Sirius was looking at himself standing beside James Potter.

It took him one heartbeat to realise that it was not James he last saw alive. That one he remembered as bright as if it was a flash of light under eyelids - fraying Puddlemore sweater, gestures still having that broad teenage affect, so painfully young and smiling in goodbye even after all war took from them and would still take. On the other side of the mirror, throwing an arm around reflected Sirius' neck, was James Potter who got to live those fourteen years.

Features more sure and strict, unfamiliar wrinkles at the corners of smiling lips and eyes, a neat shape of facial hair he always wanted and never got while he was there. Different glasses rim, thin and light, just like those Fleamont Potter wore for reading. It made him sway, feeling of looking again in James' eyes, that very same bright hazel.

James in the mirror put his arms tighter around Sirius' reflection, his smile a touch sadder. His lips were moving with no sound, but so easy to read -

Miss you too, Pads.

and Sirius laughed out loud, bitter and hurt and raspy, when he realised he will never hear how James' voice would change into maturity, if his laughter would be deeper still. He almost felt it again, this vibration of James' laughter through his own chest, and it hurt too, sweet pain, lovely sensory memory. Azkaban void tried to take from him all those happy little sensations of James, but for as long as he's alive they are in his skin.

James in the mirror turned his head so his lips would brush the hair away under Sirius' ear, his favorite spot to nuzzle in public too because he knew, bastard, that it was the gentle point that could get Sirius to melt. He used to push James' head away, playful, 'get off me with your deer sensibilities'. It mage him shake now, the cold absence of touch under the ghost of kiss, but still he almost felt it.

"Still as sappy as I left you," Sirius said, grinning though his legs were unsteady and he could taste the salt on his lips.

The mirror under his fingers was cold and hard. Intricate ancient magic, Sirius was sure he could duplicate it if he was really, really deidicated, but it still would be just a mirror.

And yet Sirius looked and looked. In this twilight hour, in this room, it didn't matter this James didn't exist.

Sirius loved James at eleven, loud and vibrant and so overeager, he loved James at fifteen, lanky, self-assured and nasty, he loved James at twenty, with this new lost expression when no one looked, more worried, more fierce. He loved James while losing his mind over the body lying motionless on the floor, dust from debris so white on his hair. He loved James resting in peace in cold ground while he was writhing in cold well-deserved living hell. He loved James now, when James was a wish, a prayer, a trick of light in magical object.

Always moving fast and so short-sighted you stumble over furniture without glasses, your eyelashes so thick and black your eyes always seem lined, you smell sharp and sweet, you love me the same and you're mine, mine, mine.

[merlinsbudgiesmugglers]

Thanks for the tag @celestemagnoliathewriter!

3 ships: 1. Hinny (see next answer). 2. Remadora - currently rereading OOTP with the TTB Server bookclub and I'm loving the little snippets of Remadora that we get. 3. Tedromeda - They just gripped me last year and I don't know if I'm finished with them yet.

First ever ship: I have a very specific memory of being in primary school, and it would have had to have been around year 2 when I first got the Harry Potter books. My best friend had just read CoS (which she read first for some reason) and we were having a very long discussion about Ron and Hermione because I thought they would end up together but she was a Harmione fan and I remember, very clearly, saying 'Harry and Hermione won't get married! He is going to marry Ginny!'

Now it wasn't really something I thought about much until OOTP came out and that's when I started reading Hinny fanfic, and then when HBP was released I was a very happy Hinny shipper.

Last song: El Tango de Roxanne - Moulin Rouge (Movie)

Last movie: Maverick - I put off watching it because I'm such a huge fan of the original Top Gun, but it was so much better than any of my expectations

Currently reading: Re-reading The Wisteria Society of Lady Scoundrels - Highly recommend!

Currently watching: Rewatching That 70s Show

Currently consuming: Nothing, deciding what I'm going to have for dinner

Currently craving: Chicken Schnitzel and Chips (my friend just sent me a picture of the pub feed she's having for dinner)

Tagging: @turanga4 @lanaturnergetup @hinnyfied @starlingflight @artemisia-black (sorry if you've been tagged already!)

[heartofspells]

Hiiii!

So I want to know more about lies I tell myself (is it the Christmas one where they break up? Or maybe it wasn't you and I'm getting confused sorry)

And Common Scents (if snippets it would be perfect i think I'm already in love but maybe it's still just an idea)

And the Remus raising Harry and Sirius loses even if it's going to break me

Thank youuuuu💛

Heeeeeeey!

Haha! Lies I Tell Myself is the Wolfstar falling in love in their 30s that @impishtubist inspired. Set during OotP and riddled with angst, because of course it is, but we're also aiming for some fluff here as well. I don't have anything new for it yet, but I'm planning to get back to it very soon.

Remus raising Harry and Sirius losing is more of a rough idea now, with only the beginning bit written out. Basically, it's the height of the First War, and Sirius is starting to crumble. He tells Remus he doesn't want him anymore, that he doesn't love him, and they split. Sirius falls hard after that. Halloween still happens, James and Lily die, and Sirius, already too far down the rabbit hole, falls harder. Remus ends up with Harry instead and Sirius trudges through his life in a haze of his own creation. Until he runs into them years later by chance, then he becomes obsessed, essentially stalking the pair. Remus notices, because of course he does, and he tells Sirius he has no problem with Sirius being part of Harry's life, but he's got to shape himself up first.

Common Scents is...old, and not much has happened with it. Remus owns a perfume shop he inherited from his mother that caters to Muggles, but also has special access and items for wizarding kind as well. Sirius and James stumble in one day while they're Christmas shopping for Lily. Small little snippet below.

--

"This is pointless, James," huffs Sirius, eyeing the cloud of breath hovering in front of his face balefully. "There’s nothing down here."

James doesn’t even glance his way. "You’re mad, Black. There are loads of shops this way. We’ve been in a dozen already."

"Oh yes, I know," Sirius bites out caustically, "but you didn’t let me finish. There’s nothing down here for you."

"Good thing we’re shopping for Lily and not me, yeah." James smirks and shoves his hands in his pockets.

Sirius rolls his eyes. "Same difference," he mumbles.

James finally looks at Sirius. "It’s really not – "

Sirius continues as though James hadn’t spoken. "C’mon, Potter, it’s freezing," Sirius whinges, stomping his feet on the frosty pavement to enforce his words. "Let’s call it a day and you can try again in a few days. Without me." James opens his mouth to provide Sirius with some biting retort or another, but Sirius clamps a cold hand over James’ mouth and shouts in excitement, "Look! There’s a shop. I think we should go in there. We’re going in there."

James’ eyes lose focus for a brief second as though he is contemplating something. Sirius’ eyes widen in horror as he realises what’s about to happen but doesn’t have enough time to remove his hand before James gives it a good, long, wet lick.

"Yeurgh!" exclaims Sirius in disgust, removing his hand and giving it a violent shake. "And you call me an animal."

James glances across the street to the shop Sirius had previously been excited about. Sirius’ "Merlin, I’ve been violated!" goes ignored. "That’s a café, Sirius. What would I get Lily in there? A cup of tea?"

"What did you eat today? Molasses?"

"Though I suppose they could sale prepackaged things," muses James, still ignoring Sirius. "Lily loves those flavored coffees."

"Wait. Is that smell coming from my hand? Merlin, this is vile. Why did Lily even give you a second look?"

"It is cold," murmurs James thoughtfully. "It wouldn’t hurt to go inside and see what they’ve got to offer. S’pose we could warm up a bit while we’re at it."

"Good man," says Sirius, patting James on the shoulder, effectively ridding himself of saliva. James glares at him. "And just so you know, using my maneuvers against me isn’t fair play." James wiggles his tongue in his friend’s direction and Sirius steps back, nose crinkling in repulsion.

‘I should have let the Giant Squid keep you that time he got hold of you," says Sirius with a delicate sniff, turning his back on James and walking towards the café. He hears a soft scuffle as James scrambles to follow him. "I highly doubt you would have plastered your disgusting tongue all over him."

[chocfrog-enjoyer]

For the ask game: 💛

TY for the ask anon (°▽°)

Personally Dramione

I know why it’s popular, the good girl/bad boy trope has been popular for a long time or the opposing sides of conflict trope but this is something I cannot get behind

As someone who values canon a lot and while I love fanfiction I mainly refer to canon when talking about actual characters. 

Some of my reasons:

They showed absolutely 0 interest in eachother. Both hated absolutely everything about one other and not even in the enemies-to-lovers could be way. They were just plainly not interested.

While Draco became a Death Eater because Voldemort wanted to punish his father he was still an extreme blood purist and fully believed in all of the discriminatory views. He wouldn’t want a „mudblood” 

Draco bullied Hermione. I mean he bullied all of the golden trio but I think that Draco’s bullying towards Hermione was especially cruel when he would constantly call her a terrible slur, comment on it, wish her death and comment on her looks. 

«The smug look on Malfoy's face flickered. "No one asked your opinion, you filthy little Mudblood," he spat.» CoS

«"Saint Potter, the Mudbloods' friend," said Malfoy slowly. "He's another one with no proper wizard feeling, or he wouldn't go around with that jumped up Granger Mudblood. And people think he's Slytherin's heir!"» CoS

«Last time the Chamber of Secrets was opened, a Mudblood died. So I bet it's a matter of time before one of them's killed this time...I hope it's Granger," he said with relish.» CoS

«Malfoy went on.

"Bet you five Galleons the next one dies. Pity it wasn't Granger —"» CoS

«"Want one, Granger?" said Malfoy, holding out a badge to Hermione. "I've got loads. But don't touch my hand, now. I've just washed it, you see; don't want a Mudblood sliming it up."» GoF

«"You're joking, Weasley!" said Malfoy, behind them. "You're not telling me someone's asked that to the ball? Not the long-molared Mudblood?"» GoF

«Weasley, your shirts untucked, so I'll have another five for that. Oh yeah, I forgot, you're a Mudblood, Granger, so ten off for that."» OoTP

«"Yeah, like you'd dare do magic out of school," sneered Malfoy. "Who blacked your eye, Granger? I want to send them flowers."» HBP

Often in order for Dramione to work people need to get Ron out of the picture and often it’s in a way of bashing the character 

In order for the characters to work together a LOT of their personality needs to be changed and they become too OOC for me

Most of what I saw of this ship didn’t even fall under the good girl/bad boy trope, rather bully/victim or master/slave

When you have to force two characters into drastic and uncomfortable situations for them to even see that there might be a possibility of something different than hatred it becomes a bit forced for me

Definitely some of it came from the actors themselves in the movies. When I see blooper of Tom and Emma those really can be cute but only when the characters they play are out of the picture. 

And outside of my personal opinion and just a general one: Jegulus

One of the most illogical yet somehow popular ships. We barely get told anything about Regulus yet a lot of people made up his whole personality and decided that James would be crazy over him… ( it’s not like… he was crazy in love about someone else right? Lily? Or like he had an extremely close best friend that would make a much better choice for a ship? )