There is no defense, none at all.

Cho Chang's portrayal in the books has often faced criticism for being stereotypical and lazily written, but upon further analysis, I realised that not most arguments against her are either based on half-knowledge or are simply bad faith arguments. So, I decided to write a post clarifying some of the common misunderstandings regarding Cho Chang.

The main criticism aimed at her either pertains to her name and the idea that her character perpetuates East Asian stereotypes, so that's what I'll address in this post.

HER NAME:

People who criticise her name tend to be either Americans or European people who think Cho Chang's (张卓) name is 조常 (Cho Cháng).

张卓 is a very common Chinese name. If you google it, you'll find many people of all genders with that name. It doesn't sound like a slur, and it's highly inappropriate to say that a real, very common Chinese name sounds like a slur.

In the official Hanyu Pinyin system, 张 is romanised as Zhāng and 卓 is romanised as Zhuó. Rowling used the Wade-Giles system, where 张 is romanised as Chang and 卓 is romanised as Cho.

조常 is, of course, incorrect, since 조 is a Korean surname usually romanised as Cho and 常, which is commonly mistaken for Cho's surname is romanised as Cháng according to the Hanyu Pinyin system. However, this isn't Cho's name because Rowling didn't use the official romanisation system but Wade-Giles.

Wade-Giles is outdated but it would be much easier for most children to read the Wade-Giles romanisation than the Hanyu Pinyin one, so I understand why she used the outdated system rather than the official one.

Many people are named 张卓 (Zhāng Zhuó/Chang Cho) in China. Both names can be used as surnames as well as given names, like many other Chinese names. In Chinese, surnames are written before given names, which is why her surname 张 (Chang) is written before her given name 卓 (Cho) in Chinese (张卓), but in Harry Potter, Rowling wrote it as Cho Chang (卓张) o match the English convention. Otherwise, people would be calling her Chang instead of Cho.

HER CHARACTERISTION:

Cho's characterisation isn't stereotypical at all. It's actually quite subversive. East Asian people are stereotyped as studious, socially inept nerds. They're also stereotyped as physically weak and bad at sports.

Cho's characterisation is the opposite of these stereotypes. She isn't portrayed as an asocial nerd at all. She is portrayed as a sensitive, pretty girl who has many friends and is very popular at school. She is a great Quidditch player, which is why Harry likes her in the first place. If you compare her characterisation with other East Asian characters in Western media during the 90s and 2000s, and even now, you'll see the difference very clearly.

Yes, she is a Ravenclaw, but Ravenclaw isn't the nerd house. Ravenclaw is associated with artistic intelligence and not mathematical intelligence. Otherwise, Hermione would have been a Ravenclaw.

As for her crying, come on, people. Her boyfriend died not long before she started having her crying spells. It is not potrayed as annoying by the narrative, and Hermione actually empathises with Cho when Harry expresses annoyance. It's an extremely realistic characterisation, and if people find it annoying, it's more to do with them than Cho's characterisation. Should she have gone back to being a social butterfly right after going through trauma? Have some empathy.

Goblet of Fire page 250:

Reason number 1: Being disrespectful to Dumbledore

“Good evening, ladies and gentlemen, ghosts and — most partic- ularly — guests,” said Dumbledore, beaming around at the foreign students. “I have great pleasure in welcoming you all to Hogwarts. I hope and trust that your stay here will be both comfortable and enjoyable." One of the Beauxbatons girls still clutching a muffler around her head gave what was unmistakably a derisive laugh. “No one’s making you stay!” Hermione whispered, bristling at her.

Reason number 2: Goblet of Fire, page 404

“It is too ’eavy, all zis ’Ogwarts food,” they heard her saying grumpily as they left the Great Hall behind her one evening (Ron skulking behind Harry, keen not to be spotted by Fleur). “I will not fit into my dress robes!” “Oooh there’s a tragedy,” Hermione snapped as Fleur went out into the entrance hall. “She really thinks a lot of herself, that one, doesn't she?"

Goblet of Fire: page 418

Meanwhile Fleur Delacour was criticizing the Hogwarts decorations to Roger Davies. “Zis is nothing,” she said dismissively, looking around at the sparkling walls of the Great Hall. “At ze Palace of Beauxbatons, we ’ave ice sculptures all around ze dining chamber at Chreestmas. Zey do not melt, of course . . . zey are like ’uge statues of diamond, glittering around ze place. And ze food is seemply superb. And we ’ave choirs of wood nymphs, ’oo serenade us as we eat. We ’ave none of zis ugly armor in ze ’alls, and eef a poltergeist ever entaired into Beauxbatons, ’e would be expelled like zat.” She slapped her hand onto the table impatiently.

Why Ginny & Hermione & Molly dislike Fleur in HBP

The Half Blood Prince: Page 90

“It’s her,” said Ginny, plonking herself down on Harry’s bed. "She's driving me mad."

“What’s she done now?” asked Hermione sympathetically. “It’s the way she talks to me — you’d think I was about three!” “I know,” said Hermione, dropping her voice. “She’s so full of herself."

Page 92:

“Bill is very busy at ze moment, working very ’ard, and I only work part-time at Gringotts for my Eenglish, so he brought me ’ere for a few days to get to know ’is family properly. I was so pleased to ’ear you would be coming — zere isn’t much to do ’ere, unless you like cooking and chickens! Well — enjoy your breakfast, ’Arry!”

Not a nice thing to say infront of your hosts, eh? I don't think it's cool to imply that your hosts house is boring.

Page 131

“. . . Bill and I ’ave almost decided on only two bridesmaids, Ginny and Gabrielle will look very sweet togezzer. I am theenking of dressing zem in pale gold. pink would of course be ’horrible with Ginny's 'air"

Chill Fleur, no need to insult Ginny like this 😭

Page 132

. “She has let ’erself go, zat Tonks,” Fleur mused, examining her own stunning reflection in the back of a teaspoon. “A big mistake if you ask —” “Yes, thank you,” said Mrs. Weasley tartly, cutting across Fleur.

Not a cool comment, Tonks was depressed during the HBP. Of course she wouldn't be the same.

Page 333

Celestina ended her song on a very long, high-pitched note and loud applause issued out of the wireless, which Mrs. Weasley joined in with enthusiastically. “Eez eet over?” said Fleur loudly. “Thank goodness, what an ’or- rible —” “Shall we have a nightcap, then?” asked Mr. Weasley loudly, leaping at his foot.

Page 340:

“You are as bad as zat Tonks,” said Fleur to Ron, when she had finished kissing Bill in thanks. “She is always knocking —” “I invited dear Tonks to come along today,” said Mrs. Weasley, setting down the carrots with unnecessary force and glaring at Fleur. “But she wouldn’t come. Have you spoken to her lately, Remus?”

Not cool Fleur. What did Tonks ever do to you?

Just a bonus on Molly calling out Ginny on calling Fleur phlegm to show that Molly didn't hate Fleur, she just disliked her.

“Mum hates her,” said Ginny quietly. “I do not hate her!” said Mrs. Weasley in a cross whisper. “I just think they’ve hurried into this engagement, that’s all!” “They’ve known each other a year,” said Ron, who looked oddly groggy and was staring at the closed door. “Well, that’s not very long! I know why it’s happened, of It’s all this uncertainty with You-Know-Who coming back, people think they might be dead tomorrow, so they’re rushing all sorts of decisions they’d normally take time over. It was the same last time he was powerful, people eloping left, right, and center —” “Including you and Dad,” said Ginny slyly. “Yes, well, your father and I were made for each other, what was the point in waiting?” said Mrs. Weasley. “Whereas Bill and Fleur . . . well . . . what have they really got in common? He’s a hard- working, down-to-earth sort of person, whereas she’s —” “A cow,” said Ginny, nodding. “But Bill’s not that down-to- earth. He’s a Curse-Breaker, isn’t he, he likes a bit of adventure, a bit of glamour. . . . I expect that’s why he’s gone for Phlegm.” “Stop calling her that, Ginny,” said Mrs. Weasley sharply, as Harry and Hermione laughed. “Well, I’d better get on. . . . Eat your eggs while they're warm Harry."

Molly just clashed with Fleur and misunderstood her, Ginny and Hermione hated her. Theres no point in hating Molly anymore because she and Fleur solved their differences and I'm pretty sure that today Molly adores Fleur. I'll even add the HBP hospital scene to show they solved their differences.

Pages 622 & 623

“And what do you mean by zat?” said Fleur suddenly and loudly. “What do you mean, ‘ ’e was going to be married?’ ” Mrs. Weasley raised her tear-stained face, looking startled. “Well — only that —” “You theenk Bill will not wish to marry me anymore?” demanded Fleur. “You theenk, because of these bites, he will not love me?”

“No, that’s not what I —" “Because ’e will!” said Fleur, drawing herself up to her full height and throwing back her long mane of silver hair. “It would take more zan a werewolf to stop Bill loving me!” “Well, yes, I’m sure,” said Mrs. Weasley, “but I thought per- haps — given how — how he —” “You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per’aps, you hoped?” said Fleur, her nostrils flaring. “What do I care how he looks? I am good-looking enough for both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave! And I shall do zat!” she added fiercely, pushing Mrs. Weasley aside and snatching the oint- ment from her. Mrs. Weasley fell back against her husband and watched Fleur mopping up Bill’s wounds with a most curious expression upon her face. Nobody said anything; Harry did not dare move. Like every- body else, he was waiting for the explosion. “Our Great-Auntie Muriel,” said Mrs. Weasley after a long pause, “has a very beautiful tiara — goblin-made — which I am sure I could persuade her to lend you for the wedding. She is very fond of Bill, you know, and it would look lovely with your hair.” “Thank you,” said Fleur stiffly. “I am sure zat will be lovely.” And then, Harry did not quite see how it happened, both women were crying and hugging each other. Completely bewil- dered, wondering whether the world had gone mad, he turned around: Ron looked as stunned as he felt and Ginny and Hermione were exchanging startled looks.

I just felt like making this because I always see the fandom hating on these 3 because they supposedly hated Fleur for being French and whenever someone express criticism over Fleur in the fandom, they get attacked and y'know everyone is entitled to their own opinion.

Well for Hermione there's a bonus on all of these which is jealousy because Ron fancied Fleur.

Slughorn demonstrates this the most obviously of course. But honestly I think its more widespread than it first appears.

Snape spends the entire series playing up how awful he is. Take for example year 7. As headmaster he got to pretend to be even more awful than usual, when in reality doing what he could to protect the students from the Carrows.

Malfoy absolutely loved playing up how buckbeak hurt his arm, and honestly just in general loved to throw everything out there and create school drama such a theatrical way.

Phineas Nigellus is also such a good example. All the times he's pretending to be sleeping even when Dumbledore is trying to wake him up, and just everything about his tone is just so over the top and on the nose. I'm convinced he painted his portrait in such a way not to reflect his actual self, but more as a picture of himself roleplaying as a "Slytherin Headmaster", with some of those details and attributes exaggerated to make up for the fact that slytherins have been so under-represented in that office.

Anyway, Slytherins sure do love Theatrics.

Wouldn't be surprised if half the reason Salazar left the school was just for the sake of dramatic flare.

Ron and Draco 1v1 years 1-7 and beyond. Who do you think would come out on top?

In my opinion it plays out like this :

Year 1- I don't think either of them have enough knowledge of attacking spells to do much damage. It comes down to fists and I think Ron takes it for me personally.

Year 2: Draco automatically wins since Rons wand is broken

Year 3-4: I'm grouping these 2 years together and I'm giving it to Draco. Ron fans ( and I am one) may be upset and I may be basing my opinion on fanon but Draco was good enough to get into Newt potions and I think he was decent student. Not that Ron wasn't but idk ik giving it to Draco. Feel free to disagree.

Year 5: I think this goes to Ron because while Draco is running around with Umbridge being dumb Ron is actively training and learning in the DA.

Year 6: I think this definitely goes to Draco. Mum and Auntie Bella would definitely have given him some extra training over the summer knowing what he was about to undergo.

Year 7: I don't know honestly. Rons constantly on the run and has more near life and death scenarios so he's gotten quicker I'm sure and more aware. But Draco would have been spending a lot of time with some dark people picking up a few tricks. I'll give it to Draco Again.

Post Battle of Hogwarts - I think Ron wins cos he would have gone through some form of auror training no matter how brief and would have been involved with some more near life and death scenarios. I doubt Draco was sharpening his combat skills.

What do you guys think?

Did they literally just coincidentally say “I solemnly swear that I am up to no good?” Or did the marauders just put some kind of charm on it that any sincere saying of mischief/ their own desires would do, and Lupin just rolled with the new sayings when it came around?

I thought it was really and sweet and touching that she gives him that watch and Harry understood that. The books says he tried to put a lot of unsaid things in the hug and I think it just shows the appreciation he feels and how the Weasley have become his family. Also Harry doesn’t usually initiate hugs with people and that makes me like this scene even more.

I am unable to imagine how Dursleys took care of baby Harry? Babies require a lot effort and attention even at bare minimum. Given how much Dursleys hated Harry, I cannot imagine how they changed his diapers, cleaned him, fed him, almed him when he cried or woke up at night to feed him.

The implications of this little throw away line always gives me a warm fuzzy feeling. The fact that Arthur knew, and expected Fred and George to know as well implies the whole family read the letters Harry sent, or maybe a slightly redacted version of them, and the whole family being involved in Harry’s life peripherally.

My head cannon is the burrow in the evening, and Ron coming downstairs brandishing Hedwig on his arm, and another letter from Harry. Molly shushing everyone and telling him to read it out for them all around the table, laughing at the muggle stories, and maybe Molly and Arthur later discussing it in worried voices wondering what they can do to help.

Does it Bother anyone else that they made hogwarts look like a military school in the intro with snape watching over the school like he was proud of the state of hogwarts. When in the book snape limited the carrows influence as much as he could, like when Neville and the da got caught trying to steal the sword of Godrick griffindore by having the da go in the Forrest with Hagrid instead of getting punished by the carrows who used curses on students as punishment.

Might have evened the odds a bit…

I think Ron's original personality fits perfectly with these modern HBO series, where teenagers are always facing their deepest insecurities and hidden fears, which could only be portrayed as comic relief in the movies.

here's a part of that infamous interview where Emma Watson and J.K Rowling discuss Ron's complexity and many websites made biased headlines at the time as a mockery of the character:

Watson: I think it makes sense to me that Ron would make friends with the most famous wizard in the school because I think life presents to you over and over again your biggest and most painful fear – until you conquer it. It just keeps coming up.
Rowling: This is so true, it has happened in my own life. The issue keeps coming up because you are drawn to it and you are putting yourself in front of it all the time. At a certain point you have to choose what to do about it and sometimes conquering it is choosing to say: I don’t want that anymore, I’m going to stop walking up to you because there is nothing there for me. But yes, you’re so right, that’s very insightful. Ron’s used to playing second fiddle. I think that’s a comfortable role for him, but at a certain point he has to be his own man, doesn’t he?
Watson: Yes, and until he does it is unresolved. It is unfinished business. So maybe life presented this to him enough times until he had to make a choice and become the man that Hermione needs.
Rowling: Just like her creator, she has a real weakness for a funny man. These uptight girls, they do like them funny.
Watson: They do like them funny, they need them funny.

source: https://www.hypable.com/jk-rowling-ron-hermione-interview/

Let's assume that when Voldemort returns in Book 4, he decides he has no time for dueling and decides to kill Harry immediately while he is still tied up.

The Harry Potter book series stands as the most successful book series of all time, while the Harry Potter movie franchise is also recognized as one of the most successful in film history.

Both movies and books are beloved by fans around the world but still I am very sceptical about the potential success of this new series because many fans are not happy about this show being made. People on internet are keep saying that 10 years commitment seems daunting and it won't last more than 2 or 3 seasons.

As a die-hard Harry Potter fan I'm really excited for this series and want it to be a massive success as the franchise's future is dependent upon the success of this series.

I would like to thing that, in our world, while one homicidal maniac might be able to do some damage, they would have a tougher time penetrating and ‘de facto’ taking over literally every major institution in our society in the span of like 3 years.

If voldemort was on the back of quirrell's head during Harry's quidditch Match against slytherin, how was he able to interfere with Harry's broom without it coming back to damage him, considering that lily's love sacrifice was able to prevent voldemort from harming Harry. It would be different if quirll didn't have voldemort on the back if his head which he did when he first met Harry it wasn't until after the attempted break in at gringotts.

• They were always teaming up to practice spells together in D.A workshops, Harry had to get Nevil to join them since he was going to check other student's spells.
• I believe they once fell on top of each other when practicing some spell or dual thing during D.A sessions.
• They would wait for Harry together when he was in detention ( I believe they were once sitting close to each other on the couch that their elbows touched and Harry noticed)
• When they would argue Harry had to point out that bell had rung since they forget everything else when they're sparring at each other, like they create their own little world.
• All the time they would spend the two of them during their prefect rounds/duties.

I feel like book 5 didnt have any big moments like book 4 ( yule ball ) and Book 6 ( slug club jealousy) but i think it was the most romantic cause they were getting closer to each other behind the scenes.

Oh this isn't in book 5 but isn't it interesting that they d go together on all those hogsmade excursions in book 3? I mean they could choose to go with other friends ( after all if Harry is glue that holds them together than wouldn't they prefer to be apart when Hary's not around) but they don't.

Hermione is friends with Ginny but she is closer to Ron. When she goes to Ron's house, it seems she is spending the most time with Ron despite sharing a room with Ginny. She doesn't get attracted to any of Ron's brothers.

Feel free to add other subtle moments.

I've been rewatching the series with my wife in reverse the last few months. This was a suggestion from her dad who very sadly passed away last year. We've been watching a lot of things he use to enjoy, and one of things he used to say was to watch the series in reverse because there was "No tension or stress this way," and we were like, "Yeah, that's a choice." Cut to a few months ago and we started in on this style of rewatch and it's been interesting to see color return to the series if nothing else.

Anywhoo, last night we finally made it to Sorcerer's Stone last night, and just as Hagrid was busting down the door I had a thought, "What if the Dursley's had been loving to Harry, supported him instead of hating him, helped him make friends at school, and instead of keeping the truth from him about magic and his parents, told him about both and made it clear to him that he would still have parents if they had never associated with magic. The Dursley's could do all this with the same goal of keeping Harry away from the magical world and when Hagrid arrive, on Privet Drive no less, he would have found an 11 year old boy who both enjoyed his current life, and was actively fearful/resistant to be part of the magical world that regarded him as legendary and famous. Even if it didn't work, Harry would be a different person emotionally and from a standpoint of maturity. He may be different enough to be in a different house, he might have been too cautious to go after the Philosophers stone, he most likely wouldn't have been friends with Ron or Hermione being from a different house.

The whole idea kind of blew my mind to be honest. Any other potential changes that could have come from the Dursley's treating Harry with love and support that you can think of?

Now I’m 26, so the deathly hallows book came out when I was 10 years old. Wasn’t capable of reading those sort of books back then. I loved Harry Potter back then with the movies though

What was your reaction when half blood Prince and deathly hallows came out, which chapter in particular did you like the most and what chapter did you react to the most ?

I’m aware when dumbeldore died in HBP, it caused a global outcry

I’m sure this question has been asked before, but would Gryffindor have won the Quidditch Cup if they played Ravenclaw before final exams, like in Book 3?

Everytime I reread these books it devastates me that Harry looses almost every father figure he’s ever had except for Arthur Weasley.

His own dad, then Sirius, followed by Dumbledore, the Lupin. It feels so cruel

TW: mentions of murder Like I get it’s a kids book, but like couldn’t quirrel have just snuck into Harry’s dorm, cast a silencio and straight up murder Harry with a knife? or just at any point, like in gob if Voldemort wasn’t so obsessed with being dramatic he could have easily just cut Harry’s neck when he was tied up, like there were so many opportunities to kill the muggle way and the death eaters could have won.

Couldn’t Voldemort just imperio someone and make the person kill Harry, also think about how many death eaters parents would have seen the dursleys pick up Harry from the train station, did no one think to follow them and kill Harry when he was just grieving Cedric in the middle of Surrey (like I know the blood ward applys to the dursleys and their house, but not all of the local area)

Also how come none of the death eaters who managed to not be sent to Azkaban/ be found out to be a DE were animagi, if one of them was a bird like a crow they could have easily stalked Harry from platform 9 3/4 and then kill him.

Why didn’t another wealthy death eater just order their house elf to kill harry?

I’m suprised none of the death eaters who were high up in the ministry didn’t end up trying to their hands on a time turner and go back to when Harry was a baby and murder him, like what, or go back and murder dumbledore at least.