Why Non-Canon Shippers Override Established Canon in Harry Potter Fan Communities

It's a common occurrence in the Harry Potter fan community to come across interpretations and fan fiction that go against established canon. This phenomenon has “Harmione” and “Dramione” shippers in hot water. Let's delve into why these shippers insist on reinterpreting the stories in a way that contradicts what the author and canon sources suggest.

Why Harmione Shippers Insist on the Idea of Hermione Loving Harry More Than Ron

To address this, let's revisit a canon scene: "Ron gagged on a large piece of Kipper. Hermione spared him one look of disdain before turning back to Harry." Writing similar interactions between Hermione and Harry in a fanfic often incurs strong backlash, especially from Harmsy (Harry/Ron) shippers who do not accept the canon ending. In a Harmione fic, Hermione is often portrayed as steadfastly choosing Harry over Ron, which fans view as “character bashing”.

This behavior demonstrates a pervasive tendency among non-canonical shippers to rewrite established narratives for the sake of their preferred characters. Just as the Hindi saying goes, "kuch toh log kahenge" (people will say anything), fans will continue toStateToProps

Why Dramione and Drarry Shippers Persist Despite Canon Discrepancies

Another example is the Dramione (Draco/Hermione) ship. This pairing is only possible in fan fiction if Draco uses a love potion or an Imperius Curse. Similarly, Darryl (Harry/Draco) fans often cite alleged sexual tension between the two characters in the books, despite Harry's clear disdain for Draco. These interpretations show how non-canonical shippers will go to any lengths to justify their preferred pairings, regardless of canon evidence.

Yet another ship in question is Freymi (Fred/Hermione). Despite their limited interactions in canon, these interactions often display Hermione's sometimes insufferable demeanor, similar to that of Molly Weasley. Hermione's behavior with Fred could be accurately described as condescending or patronizing, further hindering any romantic potential.

Ignoring the Author’s Intentions and Established Canon

The driving force behind these fan theories is often a deep-seated frustration with the author's plot and character developments. Many fans believe they can interpret the books better than the author herself, particularly when J.K. Rowling has made clear statements about her characters. This belief, known as the “author-as-owner” fallacy, is misguided and reflects a misunderstanding of copyright and creative ownership.

When a story is no longer solely the author's, it becomes part of the public domain. However, fan works should respect the original narrative. Transformative works like fan fiction serve as a creative outlet for fans to explore alternative narratives, while remaining firmly in the realm of fan works.

What some fans fail to recognize is that fan fiction is precisely for this purpose, and there are websites specifically for this activity, such as or Wattpad. Alternatively, creating original fiction with original characters is another way to explore storytelling creativity without stepping on canon toes.

The Impact of the Movies on Fan Theories

The Harry Potter film series has also contributed to fan theories and reinterpreting canon. Film adaptations, while faithful to the books, often misrepresent aspects of the story to fit cinematic timelines or visual aesthetics. For example, Hermione's character development took a significant hit, particularly in the later films. She became a “Mary Sue”, a term used to describe an overly perfect and unrealistic female protagonist, and was made to look more brilliant than even the characters intended for those traits. Ron's portrayal also suffered, often appearing as a bumbling and less intelligent character than the books suggest.

Subsequently, the movies cultivated “Harmony”, a sub-fandom focused on the Harry/Hermione pairing, which somewhat exaggerated the lack of interaction between the two in the books. This led to the belief that Harry and Hermione sharing romantic tension was at odds with the books' portrayal of them as awkward without Ron's presence.

In conclusion, non-canonical shippers often override established canon due to a desire to see their preferred pairings become a reality, driven by a mix of fan passion and creative overreach. However, it is essential to respect the original narrative and engage in fan works within the boundaries of copyright and the spirit of the original work.