Real mature there buddy. I clarified that it was a rant. That kinda happens when I'm ranting/babbling at the mouth on line. No need for insults, heesh.

And how exactly does my post translate into freak status all of a sudden? I was just trying to throw out ideas for people who want to continue using OoTP as a stepping stone to get something going. And granted, starting it after that book isn't what the problem is necessarily because, in my opinion, the books 6 and 7 were a disappointment. And, if you think about it, since JKR was so horrid at writing romance, there never was much of ship in her world in the first place. You essentially have a Mary-Sue creation to appeal to Harry without even truly exploring her character or trying to make her original. Then, you have Hermione and Ron which seems to try and prove the opposities attract business, but honestly, they really don't have anything in common.

And, I've already explored Bill/Fleur. Comes out of nowhere. And the fact and JKR seemed to want to interbreed everyone with the Weasely family. Kinda ridiculous to me. So in reality, we have HONKS as much as any other ship. It has just been repeatedly dragged through the gutter more times than it has been lifted up. Considerably more so infact.


And I didn't say that story I linked was perfect by any means. It's considerably better than your average HONKS story. I'll grant you Tonks comes off as sympathetic, but the author's characterization of her isn't all that bad.

The problem is, a lot of good, general plot points have been taken and perverted into a worthless pile of junk based on how Harry and Tonks have been written.

Just to get a creative line out there, inverting the ending of HBP or DH into a darker, more brutally realistic offshoot could be a more original place to start than OoTP. Voldemort takes control? The order goes into seclusion. I dunno. I'd have to think about it.

The only thing that ever holds anything back in writing is an unwillingness to do something different, more difficult, and far more creative than what has been done already. Something that can in a way, make up for some short comings the more recent books had. A brutal, realistic HP universe while still keeping true to the general principle of how the characters were created, but infusing a bit of creative license....Number one being, Potter being far too...well, good?

Anyway, that's quite enough ranting out of me on the subject. I plan to write my own HONKS story, but I'll be taking my time rather than taking the easy road, which is quite hard sometimes as a writer.

 

A poorly organized ramble/rant doesn't warrant respect. When you were mooning about Tonks, it evoked fangirls describing the appearance of the latest anti-hero in leather they've become infatuated with. Likewise, very mature.

That's the definition of the average Harry/Tonks, in addition to the fashion makeover. Then there's the insecure Harry, who goes from mentioning every sympathy card - loneliness on birthdays, disbelief that Tonks thought he kissed well, etc. - to aggressively kissing her in a few thousand words.

I think the best way to start the Harry/Tonks romance is when it is nonexistent. I remember in a fic by IP82, Kingsley, Tonks, and the other Aurors viewed Harry as a celebrity and simply a protectee, which I consider to be the most realistic opinion Tonks would hold of him.

The most common timeframe for these fics is in the summer of fifth year. That's a few token exchanges of 'Wotcher' - I actually haven't figured out why she uses this as a greeting - and polite smalltalk. It's only in Half-Blood Prince that they have a meaningful, but still awkward, interaction that's based on a misconception. Harry thought she was crying over Sirius and tries to comfort her, when she's depressed over Remus.

That's why I think all the fics where Tonks proactively seeks out Harry and they're on casual familiarity are bullshit.

 

*Sigh*...

I'll grant you I was a bit melodramatic. I have the balls and a large enough sense of self-respect to admit that. Call me a hapless romantic at times. But really, it was just a vent because Tonks was truly one of the best female characters that JKR created. She was just ruined. A larger role would have been nice. Ugh. I'm not explaining myself very well.


Let's try it this way. I see what you're saying about the issue being a HONKS romance. It seems illogical based on age differences. Not so much the fact that there's a difference of about 6 years or so, but the fact that if you take in the time line of OoTP, he's only 16. What reason would a 21-23 year old have to independently seek out someone that age and help when they don't really know them. Do I have your argument straight?

My point, that I have failed thus far in trying to explain, is that a HONKS romance can work. The key thing to make it successful, or interesting, is not allowing the fluff or even the romantic relationship in general, to override the story itself. That's the thing about good fantasy books like a Robert Jordan, a Steven Erickson, a Patrick Rothfuss, or a Brandon Sanderson. They don't necessarily focus on the romance, but rather use it in parts to help progress the story or make it more believeable.

The issue is just the timing and creation of a HONKS fic imo. It can't just start off with them suddenly confessing undying love for each other. I don't see it being believable other than them starting off as friends.

A good way to use this is to set it after DH or something and have em paired up as Aurors.

Basically, with the right writer, and the right plot and timeline, I don't see any reason why there can't be a successful FF story that has HONKS romantic elements that aren't overpowering. I'm basically saying, it can't just be dismissed out of hand because there hasn't been a truly engaging and well thought out one yet.

A good start that was very finished, is a story on ff.net called, The Key to Summer. The sequel was dropped, but it set up a believable comradery between Harry and Tonks will only a slight tease that there may or may not be something romantic between them.


I do understand what you're saying about the story I presented though. I just merely think it is one of the better "fluff" I guess you could say, pieces and considering how much HONKS I've read, that's what I consider it so highly. So...

 

A post-DH story wouldn't be possible because Tonks would be dead, but I get your point, a story where Harry is older, post-Voldemort, would eliminate the age difference, which actually I'm not too bothered by. Tonks always read like a teenager at heart to me anyway.

Tonks spontaneously seeking out Harry doesn't make much sense. In canon, most of the people in the Order, her included, have little concern for him. Even Molly Weasley's concern is very token and shallow, he visits the Barrow, then she insists on him eating more. It's passive, a mothering reflex instead out of genuine concern.

I sense that plenty of writers think that way too, but their way to circumvent that is equally bad, if not worse. Instead of having her find him, they trigger the Harry/Tonks by having the Dursleys mess up Harry and force her to intervene. It's just unoriginal and tiresome to read. That's just as contrived.

I agree, the key to writing a good Harry/Tonks story is avoiding the wrong decisions.

 

Yep, avoiding the wrong, and very tempting easily ones, while at the same time being able to pick out the things that are not only originally, but make sense, is what is key to making it work. And yes, the whole B.S about Harry having issues with the Dursely's and Tonks magically appearing to save him, is painfully bad writing and thoroughly recycled.


As I've said, the key to a good story involving the two and the tip off of whether or not it will be good, I think, lies with their first meeting of sorts. You're probably right in that Tonks would probably find it hard to care a lick about him as, with the books, she's spent all of like a week, if that, with him..

Only way to go is to think up some plot line where they are forced to interact and get to know each other, where it's not just one of them engaging conversation. And that's the chief problem for these stories. Authors just haven't figured out a solid way to go about it, so they just try and wing it.

And that's why you need to deviate, at least a bit, from canon to get it to work...But JKR has thoroughly screwed up a great many characters, that keeping to canon would make for a horrid FF story between the two. That's where taking liberty with the correct non-canon elements comes into play. You just need to know how far to push and how much to hold back until things settle in.

 

wow SilverDrow it is pretty much my toughts

about spending time together lets say we do a indy harry who shapeshifter like tonks and has good relation with minister -rufus wasn't ass hole etc.- an wanted to a bodyguard or teacher and choose tonks. let say tonks moves harry's house they are roommate for summer. after school starts Harry starts sneak to the home."used time turner made his own golems etc." after christmas they start dating secretly -after harry learned evrything.-


too much clishé? I donno but I thing it would be good if author doesn't screw up.

edit: why should harry stutter like Queril? in all honks stories Harry never sure himself

I don't wanna see little kid any more grrr

 

A post-DH AU where Tonks survives could be a good start. Harry being Teddy's godfather (and taking his role seriously) and becoming an Auror would lead them to spend much time together.

I'd start somewhere like 5-10 years down the line, to avoid the age difference problem and create a good background of frustration between Harry and Ginny.

Or maybe it's stupid.

 

JWH - Yeah, I would read that. But who would want to fuck a girl that's been impregnated by a werewolf? Not to mention the fact that the werewolf was one of his father's best friends. Don't get me wrong, it would probably make an awesome story, but based on Harry's relationship with the Weasleys and the all-consuming guilt he would feel if he even thought about Tonks that way, I doubt he'd ever pursue it.

Plus, as mentioned by others, she dies in DH - so something would have to be AU to make it work.

EDIT: Oh hey, I know... What if Harry accepted Remus' offer to join them on the Horcrux hunt despite his reservations about Remus leaving Tonks behind? In some ways it would be even more squicky since now Remus is his mentor, but it would provide a reason for Tonks to live (contrived slightly just to make sure she's not at the Battle of Hogwarts and Remus is the only one that dies) and give a further reason for Harry to feel like he owes Teddy something. It seems workable - I've certainly never seen anything come remotely close to that plot.

 

Yeah, that's what I thought too. Hence the need for one hell of a writer to pull the transition from the One Big Happy Weasley Family to Honks.
Ginny being jealous because Harry spends so much time with his godson (and consequently, Tonks) could be the beginning of the end.

The AU could be that Teddy wasn't yet born when the Battle of Hogwarts happened --> Tonks stays at home, Lupin dies but Teddy and Tonks survive. It's not too much of a stretch IMO, it seemed to me the timing was rather tight in canon.

EDIT (damn your ninja skillz) : Wouldn't Tonks blame Harry for 'taking Remus from her', in misplaced anger ?

In my idea, you could have Lupin save Harry's life at the Battle of Hogwarts if you want HP to feel even more of an obligation towards his godson.

 

honestly
I wouldn't read that one

 

Those are some good ideas. Altering the DH ending, tweaking it in just enough spots to try and make a HONKS relationship plausible. Harry probably would help Tonks take care of Teddy out of obligation at first and all...The whole Tonks hating Harry at first could provide some tension, then couple that with Harry becoming distant from Ginny because that.


My only issue with that, for me, is how much I just loathe Ginny's character and the whole Remus/Tonks thing to begin with. I don't know if, as a writer, I could tolerate enough interaction of Harry and Ginny that would be necessary to then create HONKS. It would be forced and strained for me.

But, another way you could spin it is to alter the DH ending in a different way. Instead of Remus/Tonks marrying, they could have just been dating and Remus remains killed off in canon. Then, you could turn Harry winning around and have Voldy winning, in a way, and creating a whole new form of government. It would be something that would force Harry to deviate from being the "golden boy who can do no wrong" to someone who realizes you sometimes have to do evil (or something close to it) in order to fight or outwit evil. Then bring Tonks in as a partner of sorts. As a twist, she could be unwilling at first. She doesn't quite know what to do with herself and doesn't want any more pain in her life and wants to salvage as much of her bubbly personality as she can. I dunno really. Or, you could incorporate the whole (metamorph=outlawed, hated, seen as a creature that needs to be locked up) as something Voldemort would want in his newly constructed regime. I don't he would want someone who can freely alter their appearnce at will without potions or transfiguration, as that could cause problems for him. (Spies and the like) And, if you must, you could use the whole R/T thing and keep Teddy around and have that be her reason for not helping out Harry in the new underground movement, but Harry needs her abilities for missions, and they partner up, creating some tension.

That seems like a faily logical way they could get together. You can still easily keep elements from canon in there and alter other elements to suit the story. You could still use a brooding, but even more deeply flawed Harry than what is used in the OoTP plot point. A Harry who has a grimer outlook on the world and needs someone with that bubbly personality to keep from going completely over the edge and descending into darkness.

And again, you need that right amount of canon and non-canon to get the two to interact together. It's going to be harder, I think, to do that if you don't have the R/T element (as much as I hate to say it) than without. But, if you have enough creativity you should be able to pull it off. I dunno, have Harry actually seek out Tonks since, if you use the outlawed creature point, she'd be living in seclusion....

:awesome I think I just found myself a good point to start a HONKS story that could actually work. I actually kinda like the idea of the baddy winning for once and taking control and beating the beat down on our favorite characters, both emotionally and physically. You don't often see it in fantasy. It could provide some good political and spie intrigue as well if you do it.


Come to think of it, if I can get a decent plot straightened out, I think I will forgo the whole R/T relationship..I might incorporate, just a smidge, some Tonks/OU Character romance or forgo that and just focus on Tonks being alone.


And yea, the whole idea of Tonks getting banged by a Werewolf (imagine what that could erm....do to ya, not to mention a werewolf baby) and then getting together with that girl who not only got banged by said werewolf, but another dude who is kinda like a father figure you to, at least an uncle figure to you.

 

Ugh, lost my original reply because of an internet crash, but I figured I'd remark on this a bit.

Sorry Andro, but I think you're forgetting the extraneous case here.

I'm going to do a bit of self-promotion here out of the sheer goodness of my heart - Renegade Cause. Yep, my WIP and currently a strong contender for the possible Harry/Tonks idea. Harry first meets Tonks on Sirius' suggestion as somebody who could sympathize with Harry's views. She just gets caught up in the turmoil that erupts around Harry as one of the few people Harry's rising paranoia allows him to trust. Currently, any ships are taking a big backseat to plot, but the possibility remains there.

There's my two cents. And btw, tasoli, fix your grammar and capitalization or GTFO. Your posts are barely comprehensible.

 

Ahhh. You wrote countdown eh? That was quite the original piece. Very dark story throughout.

 

I wrote a short one shot (in WbA) that is very similar to this plot bunny. Check her out...

 

I agree with the idea that Honks can only really happen after the fifth year - HBP makes it less likely than ever. A pet peeve of mine is getting a few pages / chapters into what has the makings of being the first really good Honks fic, ever, and seeing Tonks give Harry a set of weights. He's a skinny and bespectacled teenager. He's not a muscle-charged pubescent casanova. It ain't OOC, it's an OC plot with Harry's name and past.

I still have high hopes of finding a Honks fic that's truly great. I was even toying with the idea of writing one myself, but another pairing has my attention for now.

 

I've never really been a huge fan of HONKS. They all seem to be pretty generic to me: Harry is angsty after sirius' death, tonks helps comfort him, and it develops into something more.
or
Harry vows to get stronger, does so overnight, in which he is described as;"After the potions and rituals, Harry now stood a towering 6'2, through his thin black shirt you could easily see his rippling abdominal muscles, his eyes fixed by the rituals brought out beauty that would make any lady swoon, as he put his hair in a ponytail you could see the various piercings covering his ears.."
this naturally means tonks wants him.
or..
Tonks is the only one who is willing to help harry train against the evil, manipulative Dumbledore and his order.
overall I could never really get into it.

 

That's bad writing more than a bad idea. And in defense, most ships go that way.

Fleur comes back (healer seem to be a popular choice, but I don't have the math on that), is upset that men seem to only be interested in her for being a veela, and ZOMG Harry is not affected by her charm. Cue epic battle against everyone, followed by smut.

Doesn't make the pairing bad, just proves that most people shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a keyboard.

Tonks, pre-Lupin, is fun, quirky, capable but not overbearing, and generally seems to be the kind of girl 99% of guys would want to be with. That she can shapeshift at will into anyone, and seems the type that would be up for it (not the classic ZOMG Harry, you're the first boy - NO MAN - who wanted to see me as I am...) is a serious bonus. The sort of bonus that puts her ahead of Fleur in an HP 'who'd you rather'.

While making it work in terms of a story might require a bit more skill than most are capable of, it's pretty clear why the appeal exists.

 

Having just seen HPB in the theater, I fully support any story that keeps that foxy lady out of Lupin's hands.