Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (SPOILERS)

[jynni]

I think Hannah Abbott is briefly mentioned in bk 1 during the sorting.

[NappingAthena]

Hannah Abbott was a Hufflepuff in Neville's year, but that's all I remember.

[tipsygrrl]

I can't explain why the Dumbledore-is-gay news makes me happy, but it does. I assumed that was the subtext in the last book (the super-intense teenage friendship between Dumbledore and Grindelwald), but I didn't imagine we'd ever get confirmation.

I've seen people on LJ complaining that this makes Dumbledore's relationship with Harry "icky" now. That's sad and ridiculous. Their relationship is the same as it ever was, and there's nothing icky or awkward about it.

[Eeyore]

Thanks for the info on Hannah Abbott.

And tipsygrrl, that IS ridiculous. What - like people can't have friendships with gay people? Dumbledore was a father figure to Harry in the same way that Molly Weasley was a mother figure. Nobody accused that relationship with an older het woman as being icky or sexual in anyway.

Are these LJ people teenagers or adults, do you know? (Although I don't know if I want the answer.....)

[tipsygrrl]

eeyore said:

Are these LJ people teenagers or adults, do you know? (Although I don't know if I want the answer.....)

Not sure about the ages, but I'm thinking both. There's some wank about this whole thing featured on Stupid_Free right now, and some of the comments at the Leaky Cauldron site are fun/angry-making reading, too.

Crazy over-invested people will wank about anything to do with Harry Potter, so this news is like a big gift from JK Rowling to the crazies in her fandom.

[Deleted]

Here is the question about the goats (transcript from The Leaky Cauldron):

Q: In the Goblet of Fire Dumbledore said his brother was prosecuted for practicing inappropriate charms [JKR buries her head, to laughter] on a goat; what were the inappropriate charms he was practicing on that goat?

JKR: How old are you?

Eight.

JKR: I think that he was trying to make a goat that was easy to keep clean [laughter], curly horns. That's a joke that works on a couple of levels. I really like Aberforth and his goats. But you know Aberforth having this strange fondness for goats if you've read book seven, came in really useful to Harry, later on, because a goat, a stag, you know. If you're a stupid Death Eater, what's the difference. So, that is my answer to YOU.

But that did not capture JK's shock when this little child asks her this. She stuttered and stammered before thinking up a clever response. She was enormously witty and quick, though.

It looks like The Leaky Cauldron is deleting homophobic comments on the site now, but I am still really disappointed by some of the responses. Everyone in the crowd (except that one snotty mom) seemed to be thrilled that Dumbledore was gay.

[kostgard]

But that did not capture JK's shock when this little child asks her this. She stuttered and stammered before thinking up a witty response. She was enormously witty and quick-witted, though.

That is so awesome. I wish she'd said something like, "Ask me again in 10 years." She seems like such a cool lady. I was reading a story about the "big announcement" and she was laughing about all the fan fiction it will probably spawn.

It looks like The Leaky Cauldron is deleting homophobic comments on the site now, but I am still really disappointed by some of the responses. Everyone in the crowd (except that one snotty mom) seemed to be thrilled that Dumbledore was gay.

When I read that the crowd's response was so positive, that just made me happy. But then I read the comments left on the CNN story about how "sad" this is, and how the books are "ruined" for them and that this is all part of Rowling's liberal agenda to corrupt young minds. Sigh.

[Deleted]

I've never understood how you can like someone's story - that, you know, THEY made up - and then get all pissed and act like their opinions or beliefs or further plot/character developments somehow corrupt said story, like it's this sacrosanct thing completely divorced from its creator. Hello.

[Maddiemoo]

I'm actually pretty surprised that Dumbledore plays for the other team. I guess I just never really thought of him in a relationship with anyone -- he seemed more asexual to me. Still, how awesome of J.K. to be brave enough to put that out there, that's fantastic.

(Though I have to admit, when I went online and saw the headline, "J.K. Rowling Says Potter Character Is Gay" I was SURE she was finally outing Sirius, ha!)

Also, it warms the cockles of my cold dead heart that Neville married Hannah Abbott. I noticed her during OotP when she proceeded to lose her mind over OWLs and I had a soft spot for her from there on out. In the sixth book her mother gets killed and it totally broke my heart. Her and Neville are completely adorable.

[Deleted]

I just don't understand why these people are upset that Dumbledore is gay. First off, he is fictional. Second off, if your kid is old enough to be reading Harry Potter (which is chock full of death, tragedy, and suffering) then they are old enough to have "that" talk. Third, why does it have to change anything about Dumbledore's character or relationships with the kids, other than giving a deeper meaning to the tragedy with Grindelwald.