Ayreon is right, for all we know, how can we presume they think like human beings? No, even some human beings think like that. But, it's proved by canon that Fleur isn't like that.

Fleur canon is such a disapointment, she is the Best from (?) Southern Europe, and can't save her ass twice. Then she graduates and becomes a housewife, that while boring, isn't a disqualification per se. But then she is a do nothing housewife from what we know, and she even isn't the best housewife, since Molly outshines her in everything.

 

That's fucking amazing and were I capable of writing non-insane (female) characters, I'd give it a try. I'm completely balls at writing regular human, so to speak, interaction that doesn't have at least some aspect of an unhinged mind, even if it's just from one of the participants of said interaction.

Also, goddamnit, when are we gonna get the next chapter of An Alternative Prophecy?

 

I've seen a few like that but invariably Fleur turns into a bitch at the same time and the authors seems to want to bash Fleur.

 

Huh, never seen a fanfic where Fleur got bashed. Link one or two, if you remember them, I'm curious.

 

I don't remember the names but they plot usually goes something like: Harry discovers his true love, year four rolls around, because Harry is so perfect Fleur wants to poach Harry off true love, fight ensues, because harry is perfect he will never abandon true love etc.

It's usually pretty awful.

A pet peeve: life debts meaning you can enslave someone/force them to marry you. Also not fulfilling a life debt causes you to lose your magic.

Hate the concept with a passion. Often it's because of some Ministry law for some reason meaning the Ministry somehow has the power to create laws of magic.

 

That life debt pet peeve reminded me of something similar, the damn life debt = sex bond. No thank you I say

 

I was about to argue with you until you hit: ". . . unless their specific arc is about beating that lack of confidence . . . thing." Yeah, I think you're dead on with that. It's okay to have a secondary character that has it and doesn't necessarily overcome it, because it gives that character a different way of viewing things and shades the story, but to have it disappear as soon as the first guy pays attention to her . . . just, no. And in MCs? No, no, and no, unless it's exactly like you said.

With Harry, I can understand it a whole lot more based on the emotional abuse and neglect. But, if someone is going that route with him, again, just like you said, it needs to be based in reality and handled in a believable manner.

Oh, and banging Fleur does not fix all that.

 

I can honestly say I've never come across that one. Looks like I was lucky.

 

Basically any Veela fic tbh.

 

Nonsense, banging Fleur fixes everything.

 

Gotta agree here, that would solve all my problems.


Or double them, not sure.

 

Meh, Fleur is overrated.

 

This.

Usually because Harry saved Gabrielle or Fleur they now owe him a life debt and if he doesn't marry/enslave them they die 'cus Veela magic. Also, Gabrielle usually spontaneously ages a few years at this point so Harry isn't having sex with someone who is physically a preteen.

 

Don't think so, since all we have is the authors words to describe her, which tells us she's one of (the?) most beautiful women in the entire series. If you could actually form your own opinion on her looks (say using the movie) I could see your point. But we only know what the author told us as fact.

Kind of related to the point earlier where female characters authors tell us are beautiful need to be constantly told so by other characters even though we, the reader, know that it's so.

 

In terms of what? Looks?

 

In term of usefulness in story. Some people on DLP react, "just add Fleur (or Harry/Fleur) - it will instantly improve the story".

Nope. In fact due to tragically bad fanon and mostly lack of canon adding Fleur is not a good way to improve story.

 

Can't say I've encountered fics where Fleur was just sort of dropped in an attempt to improve a story. Sure, I've read Harry/Fleur stuff, but what the hell do you expect there to be in the first place if not Fleur?

That said, a few folks seem to follow some kind of unwritten template for stories containing Fleur, and they do it badly. Sure, it can be horrible, but that could be said for practically any character's inclusion in a fic.

 

Some pairings may attract awful writing (Daphne and Ginny for example) but that doesn't mean every story of that pairing is awful.

 

I agree, though you could say that for almost any pairing where a character's character isn't firmly entrenched in canon. Unless you don't even care if you completely change their character... But then you're writing an OC. (I give Harry somewhat an exception for this rule though since canon Harry sucks...).

 

That too, yeah.

Also, we can't have Harry's love interest (if we are talking in ff terms) be in every way superior to him.

Fleur is more knowledgeable and experienced than Harry. She's better at magic, etc.

She is quite simply too good.