Harry Potter, Fanfiction, and Fandoms

My first experience with fanfiction, as I said in class, was Harry Potter. At the time, I really had no idea what I was getting into or even what it was called. I can’t even tell you where I found it. I have no idea. I wasn’t really on any fan sites all that much. But I do remember reading it and feeling really conflicted. Fanfiction is a really great outlet for creative expression and for interaction with a text. I think it’s a healthy way for people to get involved in a fandom — not that there are a lot of unhealthy ways…but I’m sure there are…I don’t know. 

I was conflicted because I was afraid that it would ruin the books for me, even more than a movie adaptation of a book ever could. Because it’s something that could happen, but it doesn’t. It’s not canon. I didn’t like that. I was under the impression that canon was important and anything else is just wrong and not worth my time. But, I liked it, too. It was a really weird place for me to be. I’m almost positive it was a Draco/Hermione fanfic. At the very least, it was Hermione. And I read it. And I read some more. And then, I eventually forgot about fanfiction. 

I still don’t really read it. I’ll read those short little blurbs on Tumblr. You know, the “what if Sherlock…” or “CAN YOU IMAGINE IF LESTRADE…” (I do love my Sherlock) I still feel slightly guilty about reading things that aren’t canon. It’s just weird. It’s not “right.” But, then I’ll read something that is really interesting and well-written, and I wonder if I’m just overreacting. Maybe I’m too conventional about my fandoms. 

I also remember, way back when, that there was a fan video that I really liked. It was a Hermione/Ron/Harry love triangle video. I loved it. And that is, in a way, fanfiction. This is the video: 

I am only slightly ashamed that I loved this as much as I did. It also made me want to watch all the movies they used to clips: Ballet Shoes (which I love!) and Driving Lessons (which I also love!) 

I also remember seeing a lot of artwork for Harry Potter ships. I mean a lot. I can picture a Hermione/Draco one in my head. I wish I had kept these in links somewhere. 

Harry Potter was, probably, the first real fandom that I was a part of. I spent so much time on mugglenet.com and watching videos and listening to Tom Felton’s music — I bought a few. They’re really good. And now, when I listen to them, all I can think of is Harry Potter, my experience watching and reading them way back when, and all the other movies. I just loved Harry Potter so much — I still do. 

I don’t know what it is about Harry Potter, but it has a massive effect on the fans. It’s been a while since the last movie came out, and there is still so much hype and so many new things coming out on Tumblr, and I can’t imagine that it’ll fade away for a long time. 

I think that the Harry Potter fandom also had a direct and huge impact on other fandoms. I feel like it is one of the earliest fandoms for people around my age and is the reason that things like The Hunger Games and Twilight had such huge and vocal followers. It revolutionized the fandom. 

Harry Potter rules!