Over-used trope that you love to read anyway
Many tropes become so popular that they are overused to the point of becoming cliché. When that happens a lot of fans stop reading those stories, thinking ‘if you’ve read one, you’ve read them all’. This is true, to an extent. However, sometimes that is the point. Sometimes I don’t want to read something new and exciting and unique. Sometimes, I just want to snuggle up with a bar of chocolate and an old, familiar story-line without having to re-read one of my favourites. The fact that genre-specific templates exist shows that I am not alone in this.
I find that, once again, I must provide more than one answer to the question asked. This time, however, it is not because I couldn’t choose just one. Rather, it is because it is a specific combination of over-done tropes that provide the plot that I love so much. Individually, they are not always present, but there is generally some combination of the following:
- Independent Harry: Harry accept his head of house ring or is otherwise emancipated, or simply rebels, taking control of his own life, and fighting the war his own way.
- Dumbledore Bashing: Sometimes Dumbledore is truly evil, other times he is simply misguided. Either way, he is incredibly manipulative and follows a Greater Good mentality.
- Weasley Bashing: In this trope, some of the Weasleys are greedy, self-centred gold-diggers using Harry for his money and fame, or knowingly helping Dumbledore to implement his agenda. Sometimes these stories involve all of the Weasleys. More usually, however, it is only Molly, Ron and Ginny, with the rest of the Weasleys taking Harry’s side when they find out. Those are the ones I prefer. I just cannot envision any scenario where the twins or Arthur would betray Harry.
- Love Potion: In these stories, the only reason Harry finds himself attracted to Ginny is because he is being fed a love potion. Often, but not always, Hermione is also being fed a love potion facilitating her attraction to Ron.
- Powerful Harry: In independent Harry stories, Harry is often extremely powerful. This may come in the form of one or more of the following: magical power, political power, physical strength, near-genius level intelligence or extreme wealth.
- Abused Harry: These stories often have Harry being abused far more severely than in canon. This is usually a deliberate action on Dumbledore’s part in order to have him come to Hogwarts pliable and subservient in order to be groomed as a sacrifice.
- Bound Power: Often in independent Harry stories containing Dumbledore bashing, Harry has, at some point, had his power bound. This is usually discovered in consultations with Goblin healers.
There you go. My favourite overused tropes all listed in one spot. Anyone who reads even a little bit of Harry Potter fan-fiction will immediately recognise everything on this list.
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