I'm not too much into the romance fiction that most would call "fluffy", "cute" or "gay" nor am I into the harem-fad that Kinsfire and crew started. Or smut.

Despite general disdain for the romance (maybe I was never loved), I still think there are some unique characters in Potter that still don't get much coverage. I bring it up only because almost every story has romance and it'd be a relief to read one that wasn't Hermione, Ginny or Tonks (sorry Tonks fans, Tonks is getting around). It'd be neat to read their characters transitioned decently into fanfiction and it would be great if it wasn't 100% smut without a plot or 100% fluffy bullshit without a plot.

So I guess the point of this discussion, or survey perhaps, is to see what characters in a story DLP members want to see a Plot-Driven!Harry matched up with. Plot driven. For example, not plot driven = any Kinsfire story or 90% of H/G stories.

Eitherway, I'll suggest we do it in a top three format (you don't have to add a reason) and I'll start.

1. Harry/Luna -- what the hell is the deal with finding any stories involving this character, even at DLP (cheers Syaoran)? A member of the Battle at the MoM bunch and she's still pretty much inaccurately portrayed as mentally challenged/inventing animals up every five seconds or just generally sucking.
2. Harry/Fleur -- Potter Law: Only canon-proven babe. Fleur's always interesting if it doesn't descend into smut every three hundred words.
3. Harry/Hermione -- Despite this being the staple (along with Ginny) for fics that will begin to suck or end badly or involve Hermione suddenly having a body under a robe that apparently hides everything, I still enjoy Hermione as a character. Bite me. It makes sense canon-wise and so it's easier to transition into if it was made into a copacetic story.

 

I disagree with h/hr making sense canon wise, and although i don't like the canon pairings i see the logic.
h/hr doesn't work IMO because..
1. Hermoine tends to waver on some of her decisions (see her idea for the DA).
2. Hermoine is controlling, harry doesn't need a controlling figure in his life, he already has Dumbledore.
3. Hermoine just doesn't seem like a good match for harry's personality IMO, she always seems to think that when somethings wrong see an authority figure when Harry rarely likes authority.
As much as i want to puke when i say it, h/g works, although JKR could've done it with a better, underused, character like susan or katie.
1. Ginny portrayed as smart.
2. She seems supportive.
3. When somethings wrong she seems like she can help harry through it or knock some sense into him.
4. She seems independent.
After writing this i kind of want to vomit because i never thought i would defend h/g and if it wasn't for h/hr i wouldn't have.
Hermoine/Ron makes sense to me..
1. Ron has been controlled all of his life by a dominating woman (his fat, loud, obnoxious mom).
2. Ron needs hermoine to motivate him to be better.
3. There personalities seem to fit. Ron is hot headed and needs someone to look over his shoulder constantly while Hermoine has been doing this forever.

In conclusion. I can't believe i just wrote this post, i really need to puke now..

 

For me, the problem with Luna is that she's really hard to write in character. Some, like nonjon, do it remarkably well, but I for one have to be able to get inside a character's mind and thought process to be able to write them, and I find myself unable to do with with Luna. And then assuming one can get her in character...she doesn't work in a serious story as a romantic partner for Harry IMO. Harry/Luna works in humor fics well, but in a serious plot, novel length type story, she either doesn't work, or is made to be OOC to force her to work, at which point she ceases to be herself and becomes some ACC with blonde hair and the name Luna Lovegood.

Top three...I don't really bother with any pairing other than Harry/Cho these days, so that would be my number one. Two and three I guess would be Harry/Fleur and Harry/Lily, which are about the only others I'm tolerant towards. Of course, a well-done OC always works, like the one in Daughter of Darkness.

 

Killginny:

That really wasn't the point of the discussion - we could have a discussion on the qualities of both H/HR and R/HR (of which there are none) for days. This happens at the Chamber of Secrets forums, frequently.

What is the point of this discussion is to list the top three Harry/girl pairings you'd like to see in Fanfiction and why. I was presenting my reasoning for it additionally, which is not necessary for the discussion.

And which while it can be commented on, you still must adhere the purpose of this thread before doing so or refrain from posting.

 

People don't need to fit like stacked spoon to be eligible for partners. And neither do stacked spoons always make very good partners. There does, in fact, need to be some Polarity in ideals and personality between two people, that makes a very dynamic relationship. My mum and dad are a good example.

H/Hr
That said, I don't think any of them would make very good matches at the moment, because still there is a lot of growing up to do. But if taking a pick, since seeing by Harry reputation and the general attitude of the wizarding world towards him doesn't make it likely he'll have a lot of number's in his little black book) - taking that in mind, H/Hr is the ship I would support, if any.

And I'd really like to see a Harry/OC done very well. I thought Paffy's Behind Blue Eyes would have satisfied that but...

ManSlut Harry has been done too many times to be of any intrest to me anymore.

I hate the idea of a Harem. While, yeah, it's cool for the male vanity, it just seems disturbing, somehow.

H/Ginny - I attribute my hatred mainly to Fanfics and Book six. Oh, and the parts in OoTP Ginny acts all tough and bitchy. (During Wesal Dad scenes)

H/H - Read one, H coems back form the future to have sex with himself because apparently, He is the only one who can best understand himself. But anyways, it was funny in a sick twisted way.

Harry/Lily - Very intresting, is a very twisted way. Also, the allure of the older, sexy female.

Harry/anyone older than 30-40... Please, no thank you.

Harry/Hand - Don't see too many of these around.

 

I had to laugh when I read that, it ould be quite a hilarious fic.

 

Got it, in that case i like to see h/fleur, h/susan, h/katie, and h/gabrielle.
Pretty much because Fleur and Gabrielle are veelas and are the only characters in the books described as beautiful. H/susan/katie because going in to book six JKR had a real oppurtunity to develop other minor characters and give them a bigger role and when she didn't it pissed me off. Throughout series JKR had talked briefly about Susan and then in OOTP we got even more info on her and i figured her to be sorta like Sirius. Mentioned a couple of times before becoming a major character. Katie on the other hand, why not, she's never used in a pairing and i don't know why..

 

Arg! I can't believe you people!

Fictional Character A is so incredibly, obviously made for Fictional Character B! Why anyone would ever want to write Fictional Character A/Fictional Character C romance is beyond comprehension. Everything we know about Fictional Character C says that they're a bossy, stupid, stalking, loony-tuned whore who's more like a sister to Fictional Character A.

And seriously, Fictional Character A and Fictional Character D? I mean like... ewww. I mean like Fictional Character E and Fictional Character D are like pure kismet.

Fictional Character F is old enough to be Fictional Character A's mom! That's soooo wrong. Squeeeee. No matter if Fictional Character G is the uber-hotness!

And besides, as the books of factual fiction tell us, Fictional Character H is definitely richer, prettier, and a better lover because I mean like, the author said so in an interview. And of course Fictional Character A doesn't need Fictional Character J because Fictional Character K already gives him all the trait and other trait you need to make true love. I love a good Fictional Character K.

If half of you could hear yourselves you'd want to beat you up.

That said, the three ladies at the top of my list would be:
1). Harry/Hedwig
2). Harry/Hogwarts
3). Harry/Giant Squid

 

The point of this thread wouldn't be to argue qualities that make them the ONLY character for Harry but a thread to discuss which characters you like seeing paired with Harry (with some characteristics from canon maintained). It's optional to mention why you'd want to read about them, specifically. It's like liking Dark!Potter or Independent!Potter or a whole different host of things. It's a small flavor, but a flavor to the story nonetheless.

And discussion will always flourish under such a contested aspect of the book but it should be light. After reading the responses, I don't see anyone I'd want to beat up, as KillGinny corrected his error quickly.

Also, while it is Fanfiction, we still remember canon and if a character - Hermione - felt awkward to us there, we find it hard to move on in fanfiction. Less established characters will probably always gain more popularity, as well, since the author can write them the way they want them without being called OOC (Girl!Zabini). On the flipside, fanon characters - Ginny - can ruin Fanfiction and Canon. Eitherway, some people, perhaps a majority, will read a story and instantly use their experience with the character (even if its just the name) to make an opinion.

I haven't got a problem with it, really.

 

Harry/Hedwig! " Oooh, thats right girl, give me an afectionate nip there.. "

Seriously, people nearly jizz themselves about how close Harry is to Hedwig but then completly forget about her, it shall happen no more!

'Harry/Fleur or Harry/Gabrielle are some of my favorites for some reason, really I like to see any minor character done.

But Harry/Hedwig will always be teh bestest..estist?

 

Harry/Fem!Harry is the way to go.

Why waste time looking for someone compatible when you have someome you've lived with your entire life - yourself?

I mean, Harry isn't scuicidal or depressed, so he must be pretty comfortable with himself.

Harry/Luna is good as well, as her character is interesting and, more importantly, odd.

Something about Harry having to deal with 'Luny Lovegood' is appealing.

If those aren't possible, Harry/Nobody is good as well.

If you can't write romance - don't. I prefer my Harry a lonely, psychotic bastard anyways.

 

I vaguely remember a fic where Hedwig turned out to be a woman animagus. I think I stopped reading at that point.

I don't much like romance and don't really understand some people's obsession with pairings, but anyway... If I had to choose one of the book characters that have rated more than just a passing reference, I'd probably go with Harry/Luna, mainly because she's interesting and doesn't seem to care what others think about her. She would have to be written well though.

 

Haha! So true, so true.

1. Harry/Nobody
2. Harry/FemOC
3. Harry/Gabrielle

 

Harry/Slytherin!Girl: My opinion is that Harry really needs to get over the Slytherin prejudices that he has been experiancing through his years at Hogwarts, and what better way than to date one? a female one...

Harry/CasualSex: Another is just various woman that he isn't seriously in love with. This wouldn't stop him from doing what he needs to do, but wouldn't leave him feeling lonely and depressed, like canon Harry.

As I am running out of ideas, I will leave it at two for now and edit if anything else comes to mind.

 

I'm a fan of the nontypical pairings

either Patil twins (or both some smut ones are good)
Fleur
Gabrielle
Slytherin girl

only problem is that its rare to find them that are well written and even rarer for them to be complete.

 

Harry/Luna
The lack of fics with this as a general pairing is what inspired me to write my own. The few that have it are often more poorly written than many H/G fics, and that's saying something - although the pairing does tend to be redeeming. This is the one pairing that I feel that canon hasn't done enough to disprove the likelihood of it occuring (I feel that even though H/G is apparently canon, it was not done well enough and it was contradictory enough that it could easily be refuted by any non-biased reader). Luna further remains a mystery, and given Harry's knack for finding them, I like the idea that she may become his next inscrutable puzzle. Ginny is too easy (pun fully intended) - let's try for someone with some depth to them.

Harry/Fem!Blaise
This was one of my favorites, and it makes me want to write an AU to deal with this (instead, I'm contenting myself on writing my own novels, thanks). A very sarcastic Blaise Zabini, usually with dark hair and a sarcastic, dry wit is one of the best reads ever. 'Draco664 ftw'.

Harry/Hermione
I used to really be deeply involved in this 'ship. I still think it's more likely to have happened than H/G but that's probably because I respect Harry's intelligence. I think that despite her faults, an intelligent Harry would be more likely to enjoy the company of a woman who despite being a complete and total pedant seeks knowledge like it were soup on a rainy day. I see her as immature for her age - unable to relate properly with her peers, and willing to regurgitate information purely for the rush it provides when she gives a teacher a textbook answer. I don't see Hermione being overly domineering - I see her as being a dysfunctional immature child. I think there's potential for growth in their relationship once Harry calls her on being a bossy little bint - but until then, she'll always be Herman.

 

Giving 3 points for a 1 vote, 2 for 2 vote and 1 for a 3 vote:
1. Fleur, 17
2. Luna, 11
3. Other/Original Character, 7
T4. Nobody, 6
T4. Hedwig, 6

As of 10:02PM AZ Time

Fleur is really popular but I still haven't seen too many stories that execute it to where you don't cringe a bit.

 

That's because they try to do the French accent and fail miserably. That in itself is cringeworthy.

 

Okay... my top three pairings for Harry... Hmm. Aha!

1. Harry/Nobody
I've always been a fan of the loner anti-hero, who doesn't get the girl in the end. Makes me feel better about myself, for some strange reason.

2. Harry/Fem!Harry
Only ever read a handful of stories with this pairing, with Amersion's one being the best. I think the only reason I enjoy reading it is because I'm a fan of Ranma/Ranko pairings aswell.

3. Harry/Lily
There's just something about this pairing that really makes it hard to stand up after reading one of Vash's Harry/Lily stories.