Wow, JKR.

[snorkackcatcher]

So Dumbledore was in love with Grindelwald, eh? Now THAT'S an interview revelation. And here was I thinking that she wasn't going to say anything much new beyond minor details. :D On the whole I'm quite pleased, since this was one speculative ship I could actually see the possibilities of. And of course, I'm obviously a Bad Person because it also offers excellent opportunities to just sit back with a bag of popcorn and watch the wanksplosion. :)

I'm not sure what to make of the 'unrequited love affair' bit, though -- if it was an actual affair, and Gellert had some kind of feelings in return even though they were nowhere near as strong, it would help to answer the question of how Dumbledore beat him in their duel despite the latter having an 'unbeatable' wand. Although of course it would add extra OHNOESTEHANGST. All of the sources I've seen which use the phrase are indirect quotation, though, so I'd really prefer to see an actual transcript to make sure that the Newsweek reporter didn't get the wrong end of the stick! (Since Neville is described by her as 'meek and hapless', it suggests that she may not actually have read the last couple of books.)

Fortunately, this doesn't scupper any stories for me that weren't already scuppered by DH. (There was one vaguely planned Epic in which Albus would have had a sock-knitting Muggle wife at one point, but that was jossed in DH in one of the most irritating ways possible -- by having something similar to the central idea, but incompatible with it, unexpectedly become canon. And I already recycled the sock-knitting idea with Ariana in To Dwell in Dreams anyway.) Although it can be a bit nerve-wracking for the poor fanfic author to have a drip-feed of new information in this way. Just write the damn encyclopaedia already, Jo! :)

ETA: Oh yeah. Another odd quote no-one seems to have mentioned yet -- from the Leaky, JKR talking about dating: She also says of Ron, who she admits has "dated Ron more than once," that "Ron is funny, very funny; he’s insensitive. There’s a lot of immaturity about Ron, and that’s where a lot of the humor comes from. He’s not much fun to date, but he’s great as a friend." Will the Harmonians like that or not? :)

Comments

[annuscka.livejournal.com]

I'm so disappointed that fandom_wank hasn't got anything on this yet. I mean, it must explode sooner or later.

Although it can be a bit nerve-wracking for the poor fanfic author to have a drip-feed of new information in this way. Just write the damn encyclopaedia already, Jo! :)
Indeed - I'm speed writing my WIP so I might manage to get it through with no major injuries ;)

[snorkackcatcher]

With any luck, we've got a few years before the Encyclopaedia appears. :) There's bound to be info in dribs and drabs, though (although I think that's the end of this tour?).

[annuscka.livejournal.com]

Probably, yes. I'd love more MWPP info, it's just my Lestrange fics she constantly squanders! Heh. (That's what you get for starting off somewhere very far away from even presumable canon, I guess).

Isn't she going to Canada, too? As exciting as all this is, I'd be happy to know when the potential bombs will stop dropping...

[snorkackcatcher]

I'm not sure. I don't think there are UK gigs, though. :)

[annuscka.livejournal.com]

I'm sure I read the Canada thing somewhere... *digs in Mugglenet's archive*
Hey, I did read it! Good to know brain works sometimes - she's in Toronto on the 23rd, apparently. So this must have been the last US apperance?

[magnolia-mama.livejournal.com]

Keep an eye on clairvoyant_wank and fandom_lounge. Stuff is beginning to trickle in. ;-)

[annuscka.livejournal.com]

Ooh, shiny!! Thanks ;)
Unfortunately this is largely offensive rather than funny, but... HP wank is HP wank.

[snorkackcatcher]

It can only be a matter of time before it turns into a flood. :)

[jesspallas.livejournal.com]

I'm desperately scrabbling to find these bits and bobs to keep ALMT canonised though I have a horrible feeling it won't survive the encyclopedia without revision!

I have to admit, I'm not desperately surprised about Dumbledore. Not to say the thought had ever crossed my mind, but that it doesn't seem particularly out of place now it's *ahem* out. But I think I might want to share your popcorn when word of this spreads through fandom ;p not to mention that it should put pay to the argument in some quarters that Remus, Sirius, Draco, Harry, Ron, Tonks etc have to be gay because in that whole world, someone had to be. Well, congrats guys, regardless of your ship, you got the big one...;p

[snorkackcatcher]

Will any fics survive the Encyclopaedia? :)

I've seen about a dozen posts already -- the most common opinion seems to be squee, although there are some who are getting sniffy on the grounds that it was cowardly not to put it in the books.

[annuscka.livejournal.com]

I have such a massive problem with the whole "should've been in the booooooks!!!". Er, why, exactly? (Also, how, as we didn't read from Dumbledore's POV?)

[snorkackcatcher]

I suppose Aberforth or Doge or Bathilda might have mentioned it, if they knew (though they wouldn't necessarily). Maybe the latter did, in fact, given Rita's insinuations about his relationship with Harry. Unfortunately Harry never got round to reading that chapter as it didn't advance the plot ...

[trude.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. Another odd quote no-one seems to have mentioned yet -- from the Leaky, JKR talking about dating: She also says of Ron, who she admits has "dated Ron more than once," that "Ron is funny, very funny; he’s insensitive. There’s a lot of immaturity about Ron, and that’s where a lot of the humor comes from. He’s not much fun to date, but he’s great as a friend." Will the Harmonians like that or not? :)

Well, Rowling has said she was a bit like Hermione when she was a kid, hasn't she? And in one of her recent appearances she joked said that her husband is a bit like Harry!. So obviously she KNOWS that Harry/Hermione is Meant To Be, she was just forced by her publisher to write Harry/Ginny because that would sell more!
Or something. ;-)

[jordan179.livejournal.com]

The reason why Ron's relationship with Hermione works, despite Ron's basic immaturity, is that Hermione is a managing sort of woman: Ron's immaturity lets her dominate and manage him, and means that her management of him is actually good for him. Hermione would probably be less happy with someone as mature as herself.

[snorkackcatcher]

Well, Ron probably grew up quite a lot over the next nineteen years, I guess. :)

[snorkackcatcher]

The really entertaning thing about that was her whole 'apparently there's a whole Internet war about this' comment, as if half the audience weren't right there in the trenches. :) To all those conspiracy theorists -- dudes, she really doesn't keep up with all the fanon ...

[a-t-rain.livejournal.com]

Heh, I think my f-list just exploded :)

I like this revelation, although honestly, I'm not even trying to keep up with all the new interview canon (and I think fic writers are free to use it or ignore it, as they like).

[snorkackcatcher]

Yeah -- the trouble is that the interview-canon becomes the most common version by default, so it always feels a bit odd ignoring it. :) I suppose it depends too on what kind of new info it is -- if it's something like Dumbledore having been in love with Grindelwald, something that impacts his actual story actions, it's harder to ignore than just something like who Neville marries years after. (Not that I actually care about that one, although I was a bit disappointed by 'Cho married a Muggle' -- I rather liked the idea of Cho/Michael.)

[tree_and_leaf]

And of course, I'm obviously a Bad Person because it also offers excellent opportunities to just sit back with a bag of popcorn and watch the wanksplosion. :)

Oh, I'm with you, popcorn and all!

[snorkackcatcher]

*puts feet up, reaches for bucket*

[magnolia-mama.livejournal.com]

I'll bring the beer. I get the feeling we'll be eating a lot of popcorn, and we need something to wash it down with.

I wonder if someone's drawn up a bingo card to accomany the wank this will bring?

[snorkackcatcher]

I hope so. Must remember to fetch a few bags of Doritos too ...

[jesspallas.livejournal.com]

I've got the hot chocolate and the beanbags. :)

[snorkackcatcher]

You were saying? :)

[isis-uf.livejournal.com]

iamstarmom was at the Q and A and had the foresight to record it. She's transcribing it now and has covered the bit about Dumbledore's love life already in case you'd like to take a look.

[snorkackcatcher]

Excellent!! It always helps when someone takes proper notes. And I see she didn't mention the word 'unrequited', at least not in that bit ...

[isis-uf.livejournal.com]

Yup! In fact, it seems as though she didn't really characterize their relationship at all, beyond relating it to a Bellatrix/Voldemort unhealthy obsession.

[gloryforever.livejournal.com]

The first thing I thought when I read about AD/GG was "well, at least now the wand thing makes sense!".

But really, she'd better write that Encyclopaedia thing soon!

[snorkackcatcher]

Gonna be a while, I think. Which could be a good thing, as basically if you take it as canon practically every fic ever written will be jossed. :)

[quivo.livejournal.com]

She also says of Ron, who she admits has "dated Ron more than once," that "Ron is funny, very funny; he’s insensitive. There’s a lot of immaturity about Ron, and that’s where a lot of the humor comes from. He’s not much fun to date, but he’s great as a friend.
o_O Okay, I know I'm metathinking this, but why would anyone want to have this kind of person as a best friend? Insensitive, immature people aren't fun to be friends with in RL-- mostly rather painful, if my limited experience is anything to go by.

[snorkackcatcher]

Well, he has his good points too, I guess. :)